Too Late for Regret novel Chapter 102

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Chapter 102

Charlie’s POV

These trials have been frustrating for me. I’m a man of action. I’m a problem solver, but with this, my hands are tied. I feel like I can’t protect my wife, not as much as I want to. She had Tiffany to deal with, but here we go again to court to see Joyce and Sasha. I knew that Roger was there to help her, but I couldn’t stand to look at him. I can sense his interest in Ana. I watched as she got dressed today. Although I know our baby is there, you can’t even see a baby bump yet. I can’t wait until the proof of our love is evident for all to see.

I would ensure that I had at least three of us there for the remainder of this trial. When we start Tiffany’s trial again. I plan on sitting next to my wife. Rodney is already helping me with that as we speak. Tiffany assaulted me when I kept her from getting to Ana. Which thank God I did, or else Tiffany would have a many more charges against her. The judge allowed those charges to be include.

He was very upset that she would try to attack Ana inside his courtroom. Rodney pushed the fact that Ana was pregnant, which could have terminated the pregnancy. Just thinking about that infuriated me. Tiffany needs to go to prison and leave Ana alone. Yet her parents have not let up on trying to find her a new attorney, with no luck. There’s a reason for that. Both Ana’s father, Reid, and I have warned everyone that if they help the Vaughn’s, they can forget about being in our favor.

It’s making things a lot harder for her to get anyone to step forward and take that risk. Reid already pulled his support at their company. Hudson Vaughn is currently scrambling to find investors. But no one is willing to cross Reid Caldwell. Now that secrets have been exposed, people are hearing about what happened. No one

would be okay with what Tiffany did to Ana. Reid and Alicia are still very upset that they didn’t realize what was going on. I’ve got men keeping a close eye on Tiffany. She is currently trying to get help by offering money to the guards, in an attempt to escape. I can’t let that happen. I need to step things up.

On the few occasions that Ana has spoken about what happened to her in High School. It was usually after a

nightmare, and she really didn’t like to discuss it. Despite knowing that Tiffany and Gretchen were doing it to try to get with Seth and Holden, it was still hard. Knowing why didn’t make the pain and shame go away.

It basically boiled down to no one wanting to rock the boat. Her family might have suspected what was

happening, but did nothing to stop it. My wife was hurt because they didn’t want to face facts. So I will stay

quiet, for now, but one day they’re going to have to face the facts. I know every square inch of her body, and

she still bears some physical scars from what she went through. Some are visible, but most of them are

invisible. The weight of those scars is carried within.

Seeped into the very fibers of her being, almost a part of who she is now. I won’t allow them to continue to

fester. I have been teaching Ana a few self–defense moves. The doctor said that she could continue with

basic moves, but I was sticking with easy training. Things that were effective, but not too strenuous. Ways to get away from someone who would do her harm. After the baby arrives, I will teach her more effective moves.

I told Mark that I wanted to hire a female bodyguard. One that would stay behind, or go ahead of Ana, when she goes to the bathroom, or to work. Most who would do her harm would leave her alone when faced with

1. us. However, I need someone highly trained who would serve as her personal guard. I had a gut feeling that something was about to happen with Tiffany. I’ve learned to listen to my gut over the years, and it hasn’t

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steered me wrong yet. Mark had two people who had been referred.

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I will let Ana decide which one to pick. I just won’t tell her that she is choosing. It’s best if you have a good feeling about your security detail. Just like how she instantly connected with me, Drew, Jon, and Mark. I will be paying for this detail myself. Once things calm down and they are no longer needed for Ana, we will offer them a position with the company. However, many people believe what they’ve heard from Sasha and Joyce. They are all bark and no bite, but Tiffany is different. I won’t let Ana be hurt again, no matter what I have to

1. do.

Today should be the second and last day of this trial. I knew what was coming, and I have to admit that I was looking forward to the show myself. The judge had warned them yesterday. He had made an example out of Regina, yet they still refused to listen to his warning. Sasha had already lied on the stand. The judge even went so far as to warn their attorney. Anyone could see that everything they had done had been because they were horrible people. They just wanted to steal Ana’s designs and were willing to lie and slander her to get

them.

Drew and Jon were with us again today. Ana is always nice and respectful to any of my men who work with her. But I can tell that she likes and trusts them the most. Jon even teased her by asking if she had another friend that she could introduce him to. Gwen had Mark, and Emily had Drew. Jon just loved messing with us. We’ve worked with each other for years, so we roast each other a lot. But I knew that Jon was serious

beneath his joking exterior.

We were in place and ready to go well in advance. The reporters tried again to speak to Ana. We knew what they wanted. They wanted early access to what was going to happen today to get the public in an uproar. They would have to wait to find out. They didn’t like her not sharing, but they were ready to find out what they’re next big headline was going to be. After yesterday, they knew that the charges against her were

bogus.

Ana leaned into me, calm and happy, while we waited for everyone to arrive. The new employee I hired arrived ten minutes before the trial resumed. She didn’t speak to anyone and took a seat two rows behind us. I’d driven Ana to the security office early this morning. I left her in the main area, telling her I had something to discuss with Mark. Ana didn’t question anything. She sat down and started going through e–mails.

Mark spoke to both of the women yesterday. Today it was my turn to meet them. We almost canceled the interview with the second woman, but we wanted to give her a chance to explain herself. We always interview in our office, with a hidden camera. It keeps the people being interviewed a little more relaxed. We ran a security company, and they would all suspect a camera was there, but not having it in their face kept things

chill. I knew which one I wanted to hire.

One was clearly the better choice, even on paper. One was easy–going, the girl–next–door type. Attractive, but not in your face about it. She showed up dressed nicely, her long dark hair in a high ponytail, but she would still be able to fight in the clothes she was wearing, if needed. The other was not at all easy–going. I know this because I watched each of their interviews myself to get an idea of who I wanted to protect my wife.

In fact, we were watching them both right now. They were in the seated area in front of our receptionist. Ana was there first, and neither of them knew that she would be the client they were supposed to protect. The second applicant was blonde. Full makeup on, and she was still adding to it at the moment. Before that, she had been checking her hair in her mirror. She was wearing a skin–tight dress and really high heels. There was no way she would be able to protect Ana like I needed her to.

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Ana was on her phone, still answering emails. She sat in the corner, with her back to the wall, so she could see anyone entering the room from either direction. The woman with the ponytail sat near Ana and watched the blonde refreshing her lipstick. The look on her face was amused, but she didn’t say anything; she just watched.

“Hey, are your bosses married? They’re both pretty hot,” the blonde asked the receptionist.

Our receptionist looked at her like she had grown another head right in front of her. “Does it matter if their married? You’re here to interview for a job. You’re not going to be walking away with a date,” she replied drily.

“It matters. You don’t know what will happen between us. No need to hate,” the blonde replied.

She was putting up her makeup into her bag as she waited to be called back. She had a military background,

but no commendations or notable accomplishments were listed in her folder. She did as she was asked, no more, no less. She had played it safe and kept her head down. It wasn’t that she was necessarily a bad

soldier. She just wasn’t a good one, not like the woman watching her was. A woman who apparently was,

tired of staying silent.

“You need to show some respect. You’re here for a job interview, not a dating game,” the woman with the dark ponytail spoke. She shook her head at the other woman like she should be ashamed of herself. Her folder

was thick with several commendations. She had received awards for the two tours she served, as well as

several awards for valor, and her record was filled with numerous accomplishments.

“Who are you to tell me to show respect? I haven’t said anything wrong. I just said they were hot, and they are. It’s not like they don’t know it. I was just asking. You never know what could happen. I came here looking my best, and you showed up here looking like that. Don’t be surprised if you don’t get the job. But that new guy, the one who wasn’t here yesterday, he’s impressive. I wouldn’t mind going a few rounds with him on a sparring mat,” she replied. She kept her voice down, but she was sitting right under the microphone.

“Look’s like you’ve gained another fan, Charlie,” Mark managed to get out as he laughed.

I ignored Mark as I watched Ana. I was waiting to see how she would react to that woman’s comment. I wanted Ana to shut her down. Tell her that she was my wife. I just wanted Ana to claim me as hers.

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“Sorry to disappoint, but although he is, in fact, impressive, he’s also married,” Ana replied drily as she continued to work. I enjoyed watching my wife correct the blonde.

“He is? To who? You? Please, don’t make me laugh. Why would he want you, with me sitting right here? This might be even easier than I thought it would be,” the blonde replied with scorn.

Well, I guess it’s time to go and prove her wrong.

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