The Contract Said No Strings Attached (Charlotte) novel Chapter 153

The man strode up, urgency etched across his face. “Ma’am, I want to be with you. Please, let me date you!”

Mrs. Austin stared at him, completely lost, her eyes wide in disbelief as she tried to make sense of what was happening. Stammering, she managed, “Wha—what on earth are you talking about?”

But the man’s expression was deadly serious, his gaze burning with intensity. “Ma’am, I like you. Really, I do. Ever since I first saw you, my heart hasn’t stopped racing. I want to be with you, to start a family with you!”

Mrs. Austin was utterly dumbfounded. Of all the things she might have expected today, a random stranger making such a ridiculous declaration certainly wasn’t one of them.

She opened her mouth, searching for words, but nothing came out.

Garcia, standing nearby, shot Mrs. Austin a look that was hard to decipher—something between surprise, suspicion, and a hint of barely-concealed amusement.

Snapping out of her shock, Mrs. Austin shoved the man’s arm away and turned to leave. “Garcia, let’s go.”

But the man wouldn’t give up. He clung to her desperately, refusing to let her go.

Flustered and angry, Mrs. Austin shouted at Garcia, “What are you just standing there for? Call someone! Where’s security? Why isn’t anyone coming? I’m being harassed here!”

Garcia finally jolted into action, hurrying to the door and shouting, “Help! Somebody, help!”

The man still wouldn’t let go, babbling nonstop. “Ma’am, just give me a chance, please. I promise I’ll treat you right. At least let’s exchange numbers and talk in private?”

Wait, why did that last line sound so familiar?

Mrs. Austin was furious, her cheeks flushed with anger. “Let go of me! You lunatic!”

At that moment, several security guards came rushing in. Taking in the scene, they quickly separated the man from Mrs. Austin.

Even as they restrained him, he kept struggling, shouting, “Ma’am, I mean it! Please, don’t turn me away!”

One guard looked to Mrs. Austin for instructions. “Mrs. Austin, what should we do with him?”

Breathing hard, Mrs. Austin straightened her clothes and smoothed her hair. “Throw him out. And make sure he never sets foot in here again!”

Garcia looked just as uncomfortable, unsure what to do.

Mrs. Austin shot a glare at the gawking onlookers. “What are you staring at? Don’t you have anything better to do?”

Her outburst only made the crowd more brazen, and the gossiping grew louder.

Unable to bear it any longer, Mrs. Austin grabbed Garcia and hurried out, pushing through the onlookers.

Once back in the car, Mrs. Austin collapsed into the seat, her heart still pounding.

Garcia slid in beside her, voice tentative. “Are you alright, ma’am?”

Mrs. Austin waved her off, trying to steady her breathing. “I’m fine. That was just… completely insane.”

Trying to reassure her, Garcia said, “Don’t let someone like that get to you, ma’am. He was probably just unhinged.”