Lost In A Daydream

 

It took Colton two months to track down and reach Charlotte. She was working in a hotel in California and came down to her parents house in Reno for the weekend. Colton met her and told her everything that happened and showed her the pictures too. When he showed her the message she gasped with horror. 

“”What a terrible thing to do, Colton? I don’t love him so whoever I chose to be with shouldn’t affect him this way. He shouldn’t have destroyed an innocent girl’s life just to take it out on you. I’m so disappointed in him!” said a shocked Charlotte. 

“Will you then help me to go to the root of this? I love Victoria and she’s been locked in her house ever since the incident. I just can’t get to her. I don’t know what’s going on. I need to talk to Pete but I don’t know where he’s hiding,” said Colton, helplessly. 

“He’s in Australia I know. He messaged me last month that he wanted to meet me. I didn’t reply,” said Charlotte.

“Even I know that he’s in Australia but I’m too busy with work at the moment. My business partner is unwell and I’m having to manage it all on my own,” said Colton. 

“Oh, that’s bad,” she said. “So, what do you want me to do?” asked Charlotte. 

“Are you married?” asked Colton.

“No, I just broke off with my last boyfriend. He was cheating on me,” said Charlotte. 

“I’m sorry that you had to go through that,” said Colton. 

“We all are going through sh*t. Are we not? I really want to help you with this girl since I somehow feel responsible for this mess,” said Charlotte. 

“No Charlotte. This isn’t your fault. I don’t know the facts right now but still if it’s anyone’s fault it is Pete’s,” said Colton. “And maybe mine as well,” he sighed.

“How is it yours?” asked Charlotte. 

“I judged her too soon without knowing the facts,” he admitted in a guilty tone.

“You didn’t know Colton. Anyway, everyone makes mistakes. Let’s try to make amends now, right?” she asked. Colton nodded at her. “So what do you want me to do?” asked Charlotte. 

“I want you to announce our marriage. Send Pete an invitation card to this address. I’m sure that will being him to Reno, “ said Colton. 

“And then?” asked Charlotte. 

“We both can charge him. He would never lie to you. I have proof against him. These pictures as well as a recording. I met Carmen a month back. She’s the only witness to Victoria’s presence that night at Pete’s house. I had to record my conversation with her without her knowledge. It’s e light to prove that Pete indeed had her in his bedroom and might have spiked her drinks,” said Colton. Charlotte’s eyes went wide.

“I never expected him to stoop so low,” she said looking disappointed. 

“So when do we proceed with all this?” asked Charlotte. 

“You can create a wedding invite and dispatch it to him. Keep the wedding after a fortnight,” said Colton. 

“I’ll do it and arrive here next weekend,” said Charlotte. 

“What if he goes to California to see you?” asked Colton. 

“He doesn’t know that I’ve joined work there. He’ll come to Reno first,” said Charlotte. “I’ll inform my parents. They’ll call me over,” she added. It was a foolproof plan. So Charlotte went back to California to do as asked. However her dad suffered a heart attack and she had to return immediately to Reno. All their plans got postponed.  

After a month, Davion had gained his strength back and took over the reigns of his business empire just like before. It gave Colton the break he needed badly after having overworked himself for nearly a year. Greta made a special dinner as Colton had come over. They all sat down to eat but Sofia noticed that Colton wasn't his usual self. He ate very little and hardly talked about anything else other than work. Sofia noted his unshaved beard, the dark circles underneath his eyes, the sad look on his face. Was it because of Victoria? She noted that he avoided her eyes all throughout the meal. The dinner was over and Sofia went to the nursery to cater to Celestine. She wanted to talk to Colton and ask him about the friend who took advantage of Victoria but was afraid to ask due to Victoria's threat.

“I’m planning to shift away from Reno, bro. You’re fit enough to handle the business here. I might go away to Las Vegas or New York,” said Colton. Davion understood what he was hinting at.

“Sure, whatever you want, Colt. I’m fine with it,” he told him. Colton looked pleased and went home with a tree mind. Charlotte had finally sent a wedding invite to Pete and they were waiting for him to arrive. However,  their wait didn’t last long. The moment Pete received the invite, he was blind with jealousy and saw red. He called Charlotte but just as planned she didn’t accept his call. That weekend, Pete returned to Reno to confront Charlotte just as they had wanted him to. Colton immediately went to Charlotte's house hearing of his arrival. 

From the main door, Colton could hear him yelling at Charlotte. Anger boiled in his veins and he dashed into the house to catch the culprit. He saw Pete standing in the dining room, and yelling at a calm Charlotte. “How can you marry Colton when you know that I love you so much?” he growled at her.

“You don’t love me at all. You only love yourself Pete,” she pointed out.

“How can you say that when you ignored my feelings all the time and spend time with Colton?” Asked Pete looking hurt.

“The first time and only time I did it was when I didn’t know you, Pete. Ever since I’ve known about your feelings, I had waited for you for two years but you didn’t pursue me. Is it my fault?” asked Charlotte. Pete stood like a statue hearing her. He had no idea that she had waited for him. 

“Then why are you marrying Colton?” he asked accusingly. 

“Because I’ve lost my faith in you. Why did you take a revenge in my name and destroy an innocent girl’s life, Pete? Have you become a monster?” asked Charlotte with tears in her eyes. Pete looked at her with guilt.

“Has Colton complained to you? The ba*tard!” he swore under his breath.

“It is the truth, isn’t it?” Asked Charlotte. Pete looked at his feet.

“No, I didn’t destroy anyone’s life,” he mumbled. 

“Then what were those pictures all about? I could see that Victoria’s eyes were closed in all of them. You spiked her drink to get her unconscious. Then you took advantage of her. Right?” asked a furious Colton. Pete whirled around hearing his voice, his mouth hanging open. But Colton was relentless. He wasn’t letting this opportunity go.

“N no, I didn’t do anything,” said Pete. 

“I have Carmen’s words recorded as well as these pictures. Now if Victoria gives her testimony against you, do you realize where it will lead you to? Prison,” gritted out Colton. 

“Own up, Pete. If you want any future with me, you have to confess to your crime, take your punishment first,” said Charlotte with a solemn expression on her face. Her decision was final. Pete gaped at her for sometime as if not believing what she had just said. 

“But you’re marrying Colton,” he pointed out in a small voice.

“I won’t if you confess,” said Charlotte. All the fight left Pete’s body. Of course he wanted a life with Charlotte. This was all he had wanted. 

“Fine. I’m ready for any punishment. I have committed a crime and have been having sleepless nights ever since. I had befriended Victoria just to take revenge on Colton because he whisked you away. I knew that he had feelings for Victoria. So I invited her to my party which I had planned only for this purpose. She wanted to leave after giving me the gift but I insisted that she stay till the cake-cutting. An incident with Carmen made her upset and I suggested that she watch a movie till the cake-cutting. However, she insisted on staying by Colton’s side,” said Pete making Colton’s eyes go wide with shock. Poor Victoria! Sje wanted to be with him.

“Then why didn’t you bring her to me?” he gritted out angrily. 

“I took her to you but you were too busy with Melissa on your lap, remember?” asked Pete. Colton groaned.

“I wasn’t busy with anyone, you know that. Melissa sat on my lap all of a sudden. I had jerked her off,” said Colton angrily.

“Well, Victoria was too hurt to go back to you. So I took her to my room. I spiked her drink and then when the party ended, I took advantage of her. I had no idea that it would destroy my peace of mind as well. I’m not a criminal Charlotte. I was just blinded by jealousy and heartache,” said a guilty Pete. 

“You could have spoken to me once before taking such a step, Pete,” said Charlotte with tears in her eyes. “Are you ready to go to the police station to confess to your crime?” she asked him. Pete nodded. 

“Whatever the punishment is Pete, I swear to God that I’ll wait for you till you’re free again,” promised Charlotte. Colton was touched by her sincerity. 

“Thank you, Charlotte,” said Pete. Then looking at Colton, he said, “I’m sorry for everything, Colt,” he said. “I’m ready to go to the police station.”