###Invitation
The email sat in Charlotte's inbox like a ticking bomb, its subject line crisp and professional.
Invitation: Hastings Industries Partnership Discussion
Her heart pounded as she stared at the sender's name.
Alexander Hastings, CEO.
Charlotte inhaled sharply, tapping into the email with reluctant fingers. The message was brief and to the point, outlining a proposed meeting at the Hastings headquarters. The company wanted to discuss a potential collaboration regarding her brand—"A Foodie's Journey to Fitness."
Her first instinct? Delete it.
Her second instinct? Laugh at the irony.
Of all people, of all companies, why did it have to be his?
Her fingers hovered over the screen. She wanted to ignore it, pretend she never saw it. But deep down, she knew better. Hastings Industries wasn't known for random acts of charity. If they reached out, it meant they saw her—her brand, her influence—as valuable.
This was a business opportunity. A damn good one.
But it was also Alexander.
And that made it personal.
The doorbell rang, breaking her spiral of thoughts.
She pushed off the couch, opening the door to find Olivia Sinclair standing there, practically buzzing with excitement.
"Oh. My. God." Olivia shoved her phone in Charlotte's face. "Tell me you haven't responded yet."
Charlotte groaned. "I haven't. And I don't know if I will."
"What?" Olivia pushed inside, shutting the door behind her. "Charlotte, this is Hastings Industries. Do you have any idea how many brands would kill to get a meeting with them?"
Charlotte folded her arms. "Yeah, I do. But you also know who invited me."
Olivia paused, expression shifting from excitement to understanding. She sighed. "Look, I get it. Alexander is…complicated. But this isn't about him. This is about you."
Charlotte frowned, but Olivia pressed on.
"I know you don't want to admit it, but Alexander still affects you. Whether it's anger, resentment, or whatever—you feel something. And if you don't face it, you'll just keep carrying it around like some emotional baggage."
Charlotte clenched her jaw. "This isn't about feelings. I just… don't want to be a charity case."
Olivia rolled her eyes. "You're not. You're a rising star. Your content is blowing up. He sees an opportunity, just like every other business leader with half a brain. So go. Hear him out. If you don't like the offer, say no. But don't let your pride cost you a major opportunity."
Charlotte hated that Olivia was making sense.
She chewed on the inside of her cheek.
Maybe… she did need to face him.
---
### Family Reactions
That evening, Charlotte sat at the dinner table, watching her family's reactions as she dropped the news.
Her brother, James, reacted first, and not subtly.
"Hastings?" He scoffed, setting down his fork. "Unbelievable. Now that you're gaining traction, suddenly he's interested?"
"It's not like that," Charlotte said, though she wasn't entirely sure.
James shook his head. "Charlotte, that guy was a self-absorbed prick back in the day. He barely acknowledged you, and now he wants to work with you?" He shot her a pointed look. "Do you really trust this?"
Charlotte exhaled. "It's not about trust. It's business."
James leaned back, arms crossed. "Then let Olivia go instead. If they're serious, they'll negotiate with her. No need for you to deal with Alexander directly."
Charlotte hesitated. That… wasn't the worst idea.
Her mother, Margaret, however, had a completely different reaction. She smiled knowingly, sipping her wine. "Oh, I always thought you two were a good match."
James gagged.
Charlotte groaned. "Mom."
Margaret shrugged. "What? He's a brilliant businessman, and despite his icy exterior, I always had a feeling he cared about you in his own way."
Charlotte let out a humorless laugh. "Cared about me? Mom, he rejected me. Harshly."
Margaret waved a hand. "Men can be clueless."
James muttered, "Or just jerks."
Their father, William, finally chimed in, ever the voice of reason. "At the end of the day, sweetheart, it's your choice. We support whatever you decide."
Charlotte met his calm gaze.
He wasn't pressuring her. He never did.
That's what she loved about her father—he always let her choose.
She drew in a slow breath and nodded.
"I'll go."
James groaned, but Margaret clapped her hands together.
### The Makeover Struggle
Olivia grinned. "Great! Now we just have to make sure you look stunning."
Charlotte raised a brow. "Liv, I'm still fat."
Olivia shrugged. "So? You own it. But we do need to find something flattering."
Charlotte groaned again. "This is going to be a nightmare."
She had no idea how right she was.
---
Olivia dragged Charlotte into her bedroom and threw open the closet doors.
"Alright," Olivia announced. "Time to turn you into a powerhouse."
Charlotte leaned against the wall, arms crossed. "Good luck with that."
Olivia shot her a look before pulling out an old dress. Charlotte didn't even need to try it on to know it wouldn't fit.
They went through four outfit attempts before reality hit hard—nothing looked good.
Charlotte sat in the middle of her bedroom, stared at her reflection, surrounded by a pile of discarded clothes, all of which looked either too tight, too loose, or just… wrong.
She sighed, rubbing her temples as Olivia picked up yet another dress, examining it with a critical eye.
"Okay, what about this one?" Olivia held up a sleek black dress.
Charlotte barely glanced at it before shaking her head. "That thing hasn't fit me since—" She stopped. Since before the weight gain. Since before everything.
Olivia sighed dramatically and flopped onto the bed. "You know, for someone who claims they don't care about Alexander Hastings, you're awfully tense about this meeting."
Charlotte stiffened. "I am not tense."
Olivia smirked. "Oh, you totally are. You're acting like a teenager getting ready for prom, except the date is the guy who rejected you years ago."
Charlotte scowled. "First of all, ouch. Second of all, this is business. I just don't want to look… pathetic."
Olivia gave her a knowing look. "Charlotte. Honey. If you truly didn't care about Alexander, you wouldn't be agonizing over what to wear."
Charlotte opened her mouth to argue, but… nothing came out.
Because Olivia was right.
She let out a heavy sigh and collapsed onto the pile of clothes, staring at the ceiling. "Fine. Fine. You win. I just… don't want to look miserable in front of him, okay? You know what I mean?"
Olivia stayed quiet, waiting for her to continue.
Charlotte swallowed hard, words slipping out before she could stop them. "Back then, even though he rejected me, I was still… beautiful. I had confidence. I had people chasing after me. And now? Now I'm just—"
"Stop," Olivia cut in firmly. "You're still beautiful. You're just different now. And different doesn't mean less."
Charlotte gave a weak smile but said nothing.
Olivia studied her for a moment, then asked softly, "Do you still like him?"
Charlotte's breath hitched.
Like him?
Did she still like Alexander Hastings?
She exhaled, staring at the ceiling as she tried to put her feelings into words. "I… don't know. Maybe? Probably. I've liked him for so long. It's like—like a bad habit I can't quit." She let out a humorless laugh. "You ever try quitting coffee? Or sugar? That's what this feels like. Loving him has been a part of my life for years."
She turned her head, looking at Olivia. "But I also know that he's not mine. He's not someone I can just reach for. He's like a scar that never fully healed—something I don't want to touch, but it's always there."
Olivia sighed and pulled Charlotte into a hug. "God, that's so depressing."
Charlotte laughed against Olivia's shoulder. "Yeah, well. Welcome to my life."
Olivia pulled back, giving her a firm look. "Listen, babe. What you need isn't a new dress. You need a new romance."
Charlotte blinked. "What?"
"You need a man. A brand new, completely unrelated, hot man. You've spent years with your eyes glued to Alexander Hastings, and it's a damn shame because the world is full of men who'd worship the ground you walk on."
Charlotte couldn't help but snort. "That's dramatic."
"But true!" Olivia insisted. "Alexander has wasted enough of your time. It's time to expand your options."
Charlotte rolled her eyes. "It's not that simple. You think I can just switch gears and start drooling over some random guy?"
"Yes!" Olivia said, exasperated. "Charlotte, you're stuck. You've convinced yourself that Alexander is the guy, and that's the problem. He's not the only flavor in the world!"
Charlotte tilted her head, amused. "You make it sound like food."
"Because it is like food!" Olivia huffed. "Imagine eating the same fancy gourmet dessert every day. Sure, it's perfect and high-end, but eventually, wouldn't you crave something different?"
Charlotte hummed in thought. "So you're saying Alexander is a Michelin-star dessert, but maybe I should try… what? Fried chicken?"
Olivia pointed at her. "Exactly! Sometimes you just need a greasy, crispy, comforting plate of fries instead of some overpriced soufflé."
Charlotte chuckled. "Alright, alright. I get your point. You find me a 'fried chicken' kind of guy, and I'll give it a shot."
Olivia grinned. "Challenge accepted."
Charlotte shook her head, still smiling.
But deep down, as much as she wanted to believe Olivia was right, she couldn't shake the feeling that Alexander Hastings was a flavor she'd never truly stop craving.But Olivia had a point; she should try a different taste, at least give it a shot—maybe there would be a pleasant surprise.