Chapter 2

AJ arrived at the club around 11 and was quickly waved through the door by security. Obviously they had been told who he was with. He took in the energetic crowd as he made his way to the stairs that led to the left. He pushed his hat back slightly as he took in a blonde to his right. She smiled at him seductively but he kept moving. There would be time for that later. Taking the stairs two at a time AJ entered the loft to find the other men already there. They were all immaculately dressed as usual. AJ nodded at them as he took a seat in one of the empty chairs.

"AJ, what did you think of Charlie," Ghost asked.

"Seems like she knows what she's doing," AJ commented as he fixed himself a drink.

"Look who I found downstairs," a female voice announced from the doorway. The men turned to see Lilly pulling Charlie into the room. Wearing a green dress and black stilettos she was a stunner. AJ took in her appearance appreciatively. John whistled lowly.

"Damn Charlie," John said loudly. "Did you get all dressed up for me?"

"Oh please blondie," Charlie said as she swept into the room and perched on the arm of AJ's chair. She plucked his hat off his hat and set it on her head. "You're not the only man on the planet you know."

AJ smiled slowly at her as she winked back. His arm quickly snaked out and pulled her off the arm of the chair and into his lap.

"I see how it is," John replied with a shrug.

"So long as you see how it is, besides from what Lilly has told me you've turned into a playboy, you don't need to add a repeat performance to your list of conquests," Charlie said with a smooth smile.

"Please you know you want me baby," John said smugly.

"Silent, that's the only way I want you honey, silent." Charlie smirked at him before returning her attention to AJ. "Tell me about you."

"Not much to tell," AJ replied as he sipped his drink.

"A man of mystery," Charlie said. "I like that, means you're good for business."

"What about you," AJ asked.

"Nah, you don't get off the hook that easy. You've got to give a girl something to go on."

"You've got beautiful eyes," AJ said as he studied her green eyes.

"Yours aren't half bad either." Charlie tucked a strand of hair behind her ear as she studied him. "You're changing the subject, don't like to talk about yourself?"

"Like I said, there's not much to tell. I went to Yale, but I'm here now and that's all that matters."

"Sounds like you've got secrets my friend," Charlie commented.

"Don't we all?" AJ gently took his hat off her head and placed it back on his own. "I'll keep mine to myself for now, if that's all right with you Miss Charlotte?"

"I'm not one to pry." Charlie nodded slowly and glanced around the room. "So if you aren't going to tell me anything about your past why don't you tell me about something else?"

"What," AJ asked.

Charlie shifted in his lap as she turned back to look at him. Her cell phone rang in her purse catching her attention. She picked her purse up off the floor and quickly pulled her cell out. She sighed softly before answering it. "Hello," she said as she stood up and moved away from the men. "I'm out right now, can it wait until tomorrow?"

AJ watched her as she listened to the person on the other end. Several emotions flickered across her face as she ran a hand through her hair. "I know that, but the last time I checked I was the one you put in charge out here, so it's my call," Charlie said firmly.

This got the attention of the other men in the room, they stopped talking to listen to Charlie's conversation. "It's not like that and you know it! I make calls based on the risk of the investment and the amount of return we are going to get. I don't care if he's pissed off, I'm your daughter and this is my operation. Look at my numbers and you'll know I'm right about this."

Gordon exchanged a look with John as they listened to the conversation. It didn't sound like things were going well for Charlie as far as her family and business was concerned. "No I'm not, not only did I get our money back on that deal I'm working on a new job as we speak. I'm not making calls based on my emotions and I want to know how he found out about this job. I'm not doing it for John, it's a business deal. We've been guaranteed a cut of the profits which are substantial."

The expression on Charlie's face rapidly changed as she listened to what the caller on the other end was saying to her. Her jaw dropped open in shock. "You're serious right now," she asked.

She pressed a hand to her forehead as she listened to the response. Charlie turned her back on the guys as she continued to listen. "Listen to me, I've worked my ass off out here and I've done everything you ever asked of me. I've given up things that mean more to me than you know so that I could do what you wanted. Hell, I didn't go to college because you told me that you needed me working for you. I let you dictate who I've dated because it made you happy. I've put everything on hold to do this for you, and now you are going to take it away from me because your men can't handle taking orders from a 22 year old girl. It will be a cold day in hell before I let that jackass run the business I worked so hard to build for you, not for me but for you. I'm your daughter and he's just another guy who wants a piece of what we've worked so hard for. You owe me this much."

With that she hung up the phone, her hands visibly shaking as she reached over and clutched the railing to her left. "You can stop pretending like you didn't hear all of that," she said without looking at the crew.

"Everything ok," John asked as he stood up and crossed to her. He gently laid a hand on top of her shaking hands before wrapping his other arm around her waist. Charlie leaned into him out of habit, her head resting against his shoulder.

"Did that sound like things are ok," Charlie snapped softly. John knew her well enough to know that she wasn't taking her anger out on him, she just needed to get it out.

"Anything we can do to help you love," Gordon said, "You know we'll do it."

"It won't change anything," Charlie said softly as she released the railing. She turned to look at John her eyes swimming with emotion. "He's taking it away from me, he wants me to be a girl. He said he's doing what he thinks is best for me," she whispered. She rested her hands against John's chest as he wrapped both his arms around her waist and pulled her closer to him.

AJ briefly thought about what John had said in the parking lot of Charlie's office, about things being over between them. This didn't look like something that was over. "I hate to bring this up now, but what does this mean for our job," AJ asked.

Charlie closed her eyes for a moment as she thought about things. "It's still on, my father can't shift leadership over night. It will take a couple of weeks," she explained as she stepped back from John. "In the meantime, I'm going to fight back. If he doesn't want me in his business I'll start my own. I'll take everything I've built with me and this douche bag can start from scratch. Anyone feel like committing arson?"

"You want to burn down your office," Jake asked in surprise.

"I built it, I don't want them in it," Charlie assured them. She checked the time on her cell phone before picking up her purse. "Don't worry guys, even if my dad pushed me out immediately I've already ordered and paid for your stuff it's not being delivered to the office, you'll be covered. I've got to go over there and start transferring files."

"I'll come with you," John offered. "You don't want to be by yourself if one of your dad's guys shows up."

"Thanks," Charlie said gratefully. "I'll see you guys in a couple of days."

John led Charlie down the stairs and out of the club. Lilly noticed them leaving together and quickly made her way back up to the loft. "Are you guys aware that John just left with Charlotte," she asked.

"It's business," Ghost said quickly. "Nothing more."

"Didn't look like nothing to me," Lilly commented.

Jake looked at AJ for the first time since John and Charlie had left. "Hey, don't sweat it," Jake said to the blond. "They've got history."

Hearing his comment, Lilly immediately looked at AJ as well. "Wait, were you thinking of going for it with her?"

AJ squirmed uncomfortably as he glanced at the others. "Look, I don't want any trouble, she's beautiful and seems like an interesting girl, but it's obvious that things aren't as over between her and John as they thought. I don't want to get in the middle of that," he explained.

"Trust me, John doesn't want to fall back into things with her," Gordon said, speaking for the first time since offering their assistance. "He's a creature of habit and he cares about her, but after what happened last time I doubt he's going to let things go that far again."

Everyone looked at AJ waiting to see if he believed it, of course none of them knew if they believed it either. "I guess we'll have to wait and see," AJ finally said.

Author note: If you enjoy the story please review and let me know what you think! I love hearing from you guys and I always respond to any questions or comments you guys have!