10. Ben

Chapter 10

Ben

I like Charlie’s friends. They are fuming, just like he was. The quick orgasm I gave him helped calm him down though, so he’s a lot more level-headed than them. We are sitting around his dining table, snacking on jellybeans and chocolate raisins as we try to figure out the best way to make his asshole ex pay.

“Maybe a break-in? Trash his place? I know some people,” Trish offers, frowning when Charlie shakes his head.

“No. We need something more permanent. Something that will really hit home and make him regret ever crossing me,” he says, forehead scrunched in thought.

He told me the gist. Andy is an aspiring athlete. Football. He’s mediocre at best, but due to his good looks and unscrupulous personality, he’s made some connections.

“We should target his career then,” I suggest, preening when Charlie’s face lights up.

“I was thinking the same,” he says. “And we should do it the non-violent way if possible. Kind of how he’s trying to undermine me.”

“But we don’t have any compromising videos of him!” Trish whines, exasperation oozing off her.

“No, but…” Charlie chews on his bottom lip. The action makes me want to kiss him, but I contain the urge. “I met his previous ex once. The guy was livid, but it was just the start of my and Andy’s relationship, so I thought little of it. He was accusing Andy of blackmail and extortion… But, I mean, they parted on bad terms and Andy was the one who broke it off, so I thought he was just being spiteful.”

I turn this information over in my head. If there is an ounce of truth to that, we can work with it. I grin. Good thing I know the right person for the job. “I know a guy,” I start, pulling everyone’s attention to me. “He’s into hacking and stuff. I bet he can help us get some dirt on your ex.”

The adoration in Charlie’s blue eyes almost undoes me. He’s so fucking cute and precious. I can’t believe he ever tolerated someone as shitty as Andy. I was honestly shocked when he told me. The guy went as far as to mock him about his gaming career, even though he makes more in half a year than that asshole will ever make in two. He just did not deserve even a second of this amazing human’s time or attention.

Unable to help the urge to touch Charlie, I grab his hand and bring his knuckles to my lips. A delightful shiver runs through him, his cheeks gaining some color. His two friends give me a look. It’s not a bad one per se, but it carries a hint of apprehension. Good, they know Charlie deserves only the best. Now I just need to prove that I’m the only one who fulfills the criteria.

“But maybe there isn’t anything to be found,” Charlie voices with a scowl, his beautiful face clouding with worry.

Greg, Trish’s partner who has mostly listened so far, nudges him gently with an elbow. “All of us know he’s an asshole. At the very least, he’ll have an embarrassing video or ten. That douche is a chronic alcoholic.”

“Okay,” Charlie deflates a bit, plopping some jellybeans in his mouth. He chews slowly and with a grimace, as if the candy is sour instead of sweet. My heart yearns to bring the smile on his face, and I am about to proclaim that I will make Andy pay for messing with my Charlie, when my lovely gamer spits out the jellies and aims a nasty glare Trish’s way. “You seriously got the shitty mixed ones? You know I hate those!”

Trish grins sheepishly. “Maybe? Thought it might pump you up and fuel that evil streak you have.”

I blink, my brain needing a second to process. Charlie doesn’t like sour candy. He was actually grimacing because the taste really was sour and not because he’s sad or depressed or feeling like the bad guys will get away with crossing him. I laugh, the whole table turning to me. God, I love his energy, his no-nonsense attitude. He’s so small and delicate and elegant. He makes you want to protect him and coddle him and take care of him.

But in reality?

He’s a damn alpha wolf in sheep’s clothing, ready to kick ass.

“You alright there, buddy?” Trish says with a slight lift of her eyebrows, her lips pouty.

“Mhm. All good.” I shoot Charlie a heated glance, wanting to let him know just how hot he makes me feel. “Just processing. I think I might have a thing for nerds with revenge agendas.”

Charlie rolls his eyes, stifling a pleased smile. “Oh, c’mon. You are practically as big a nerd as I am. Minus the pro gaming career.”

Maybe. But I don’t think he realizes that he’s the reason for that. Teenager Charlie was just too damn cute getting excited about video games and I wanted a part in that.

“Okay, my friend’s got something for us,” I say a week later at the little quaint café Charlie took showed me. I liked it so much, we came back multiple times for breakfast.

We also ended up watching that horror movie at home after our revenge planning meeting was over. The following days, we went around London so he could show me some sights. Today was slower, because of the shitty weather, and we mostly lazed around in his apartment. I’ve been crashing there, and he hasn’t kicked me out yet, or even implied he wants me to leave. My heart couldn’t be happier. We are practically together already, though I am not sure he realizes it. But I plan to make my intentions to date him official once this fiasco is over.

“He works quickly,” Ethan comments, his arms crossed as he gives me a hard look. For whatever reason, he’s not a fan of Nigel, but whenever I try to prod him about the reason, he always waves my question away.

“You know, you didn’t have to come. We have shit under control,” Charlie huffs, his hand absentmindedly trailing up and down my thigh.

Ethan gives him a scathing look. “Just be happy I didn’t disown you for hiding something like that from me.”

Ah yes. He found out about Charlie’s predicament when he visited last night. Charlie didn’t think we needed to involve him or stress him with stupid drama, so we never told him. But I’d left my laptop open and he’d peeked and then peeked some more and then had a go at us. Oh, and he also knew we’re ‘together’, so I guess that either Charlie mentioned it, or Ethan figured it out on his own. If I had to guess, it’s the latter.

Trish and Greg vacate their chairs and plant themselves behind the couch that me, Charlie and Ethan are occupying. They place their elbows on the backrest and lean forward.

“Sibling love is the best. But I’m dying to know what Ben’s friend dug up, so can you two kiss and make up already? We know you can’t stay angry at each other for more than ten minutes anyway,” Trish says with a pointed look at the two brothers.

Ethan purses his lips. “Fine. But Charlie has to come with me to that stakeholder meeting.”

“Ugh,” my adorable menace grunts. “You know I hate those stupid meetings!” At that, Ethan’s look turns hard and menacing. “Fine! I’ll go with you.”

I grasp his hand and squeeze it. That’s my Charlie. He gives me a cute little smile that everyone pretends they don’t notice.

“Okay, let’s see what Nigel found,” I say and open the folder he sent me.

There are a dozen videos and just as many emails. The recipients are different, but I recognize a name here and there.

“Open the one that says Axel G. That’s Andy’s ex’s name…” Charlie says, his expressive eyes slanted and hard.

I click on the video and press play. A lithe man not unlike him is led into a room where three big guys are playing cards.

“That’s Axel,” Charlie says as I study the skimpy outfit of the blond man. It’s a mesh top and see-through harem pants. I can spy his dick, so it doesn’t seem like he’s wearing any underwear.

“Get on the table and dance for us, baby,” someone says from behind the camera, his hand groping the guy’s ass.

“Andy, I’m not sure about recording this. If something like this falls into the wrong hands, my dad—”

“C’mon, babe. Do it for me. I promise you have nothing to worry about.”

“I know, but still. His company—”

“Axel,” Andy grates, annoyance dripping from his voice. “Do as I say. You know I hate it when you oppose me.” He fumbles with the camera, the video shaking. “Here. I’ve turned it off. Now go and shake your ass for us, love.”

Wearing the most uncomfortable expression I’ve seen a man make, Axel tries once more to convince Andy to call the orgy off, but the asshole is unrelenting. We skim through the rest of the video. He recorded the entire thing. I also realize that I know who Axel is.

Lips curled and nose scrunched, Charlie stiffens a little next to me. “Open the Axel G email.”

I already have a suspicion about what’s on it. Axel is the son of Bernard Grig, the CEO and lead designer for Grig Fashion. So when the nasty blackmail fills up the screen, I am not surprised. Andy is a real asshole, and he’s forced the Grig Fashion Group to be his sponsor.

“Oh my god, this is disgusting,” Trish gasps, looking as dejected as I feel.

“Piece of shit. I can’t believe he put his hands on Charlie,” Ethan growls, murder in his eyes.

I have a sudden itch to find the asshole and bury him six feet under. But that won’t do anyone any good and would land me in jail. I clench my fists. This here is how we end him, even if it won’t give me the satisfaction of physically hurting him.

We go through the rest of the files. They are similar in nature, some pettier than others. Axel’s case is probably the worst one, but that doesn’t mean that Andy hasn’t caused just as much harm to the rest of his unfortunate victims.

“This ends now. That asshole is going to jail,” Charlie professes and shoves me to the side.

His nimble fingers dance across the keyboard without him even looking at it. It’s mesmerizing. With a flourish, he presses the enter key and the ping confirming an email has been sent chimes. He grabs his phone then, dials someone and puts the call on speakers.

“Hey, Charlie. You finally had enough of playing hard to get?” the sleazy voice from the videos says, sending my blood into a frenzy.

I see red. I want to punch Andy. I shoot up, panting and clenching my hands, but Charlie pulls me back down on the couch with a scowl.

“Stay calm,” he mouths, then turns his eyes back to the phone. “Yes. I’d like to talk about us. I’m lonely.”

Andy purrs on the other end, clearly satisfied. “I knew you would be, love. You’re nothing without me. I know how hard you’ve had it since we broke up. But it’s fine, I forgive you.”

“I didn’t know what I was doing,” Charlie says, a vein twitching on the side of his jaw. “Come see me? I’ll be at the Pothole in two hours.”

“I’ll be there. Make sure you have the key to the bathrooms. I can’t wait to feel just how lonely you were.”

The few seconds it takes for the call to end are excruciating. I feel like I’m going to lose my shit. How dare that bastard speak to Charlie like this? And Charlie? My alpha nerdy adorkable cutie? God, he handled this so fucking well. Better than me. I’m so proud of him.

“You are amazing, you know that?” I blurt out, cradling his face. “You are the kindest and funniest and strongest person I know, and you deserve only the very best. That asshole should’ve never put his dirty hands on you.”

He smiles, the fondness in it a balm to my agitated heart. “I know. I’m a real catch. And that asshole ”—he tilts his head at the two uniformed officers who walk into the café, and waves them over—“is about to get what he deserves.”