The Contract Said No Strings Attached (Charlotte) novel Chapter 199

The two men stood their ground, locked in a silent standoff, neither willing to back down.

After a tense pause, Dylan finally took a deep breath, calmed himself, and said, “Fitch, just let it go. Raina isn’t right for you.”

“Oh, really? So she’s right for you, is that it?” Fitch shot back with a mocking sneer.

He shook his head stubbornly. “Listen, I’m not giving up. It’s not every day I meet a woman who actually makes my heart race. Why would I just let her slip away?”

Dylan’s response was cold, his tone clipped. “Fitch, if you keep pushing like this, you’re just going to make things awkward for everyone.”

Fitch hissed in annoyance. “So that’s it, huh? If you’re not going to help me, fine. But why are you so set on talking me out of it? Are we even friends anymore?”

Dylan’s voice dropped, firm and quiet. “It’s because you’re my friend that I don’t want to see you get in over your head.”

Fitch cut him off. “Enough, Dylan. Save it. My mind’s made up. No matter what, I’m going after Raina.”

Seeing how stubborn Fitch was, Dylan decided it was time to drop the bombshell. “Alright, Fitch, I’ll be straight with you. Raina has a kid—a kid who’s old enough to be in kindergarten. She’s married. You don’t stand a chance.”

Fitch froze for a second, eyebrows furrowing as he processed the news. After a moment’s thought, he finally spoke. “Oh, so Raina’s a young mom. That just makes things more interesting. Honestly, I prefer women like that—mature, with some life experience.”

Dylan’s face darkened even further. He gritted his teeth. “Fitch, I had no idea your tastes had gotten this... unconventional.”

Fitch just snorted and waved him off. “You just don’t get it, do you? Women with a little life behind them are far more appealing. They’re grounded, they get it—so much more interesting than those naïve college girls. I don’t care if she has a kid or a husband. If I want her, I’ll go for it. I’m sure I can beat her husband, anyway.”

Listening to this ridiculous speech, Dylan let out an incredulous laugh, then his voice turned ice-cold. “Fitch, you’re hopeless.”

But Fitch only grinned, unfazed. “Raina’s the cure for what ails me.”

Fitch scoffed, muttering to himself, “What a stick in the mud. He’s not interested, but he doesn’t want me to try either? Well, I’m going to do it anyway.”

—

Later that night, Dylan sat brooding in a dark corner booth at the bar, nursing a drink and craving some peace and quiet.

That was when Thomas Brown swung open the door, slid in beside him, and smirked. “What, are all the women in this city gone? I heard you and Fitch are both chasing after the same girl now.”

Dylan shot him a frosty look. “I’m not chasing anyone. Fitch is the one with the obsession.”

Thomas raised an eyebrow, feigning surprise. “Oh, so that’s how it is. Word is, he’s been going on about some woman named Raina. Says she’s your secretary, and you’ve been hiding her away from him. No wonder Fitch is ticked at you.”

Dylan gave a derisive snort. “He’s surrounded by women all the time. You’d think he wouldn’t care about just one. Honestly, he’s just bored and looking for trouble.”