Sorry Sir I Don’t Want You Back by Little Angelic Devil

Dahlia and Polly's eyes went wide; they nearly bulged out of their sockets, and the rest of the guests gasped in shock and disbelief.

“Hudson, why did she say that? Why isn't she apologizing for being caught?” Finley asked the questions in everyone's mind anxiously.

Hudson stayed silent, his gaze fixed on Cherise. He did not know how to feel because he was as shocked as everyone by her boldness.

Everyone in the ballroom, except the five people on the stage, Paula and Tristan, looked at Cherise and wondered why instead of denying it, she became proud and went to say those words without fear.

All the young ladies were horrified. If they were caught in such a situation, they would be trying to deny it as hard as they could even if there was evidence like the one Polly had produced and Charles had put on the big screen.

The evidence itself wasn't as scandalous as Dahlia and Polly had said. Yes, they were hugging, but they only kissed each other on the cheeks, well, it was Logan who kissed Cherise on the cheek to be precise.

Logan denied it, Cherise should deny it too. She could have said they were just being friendly since they were a close group of friends, the young ladies thought. But why didn’t Cherise say all that?

Even if she didn’t want to deny it, shouldn't she be apologizing profusely and trying to salvage the situation? That was what they would do.

But what about Cherise? She did not do any of those; she instead said the two men loved her, and she did it proudly. Was she really a gold-digger who was only after julian and Logan's money, and now that she had procured enough, she didn't care about the consequences of her words?

That was Charles Alster, for God's sake! She should be begging for his forgiveness for playing and using his son and not challenging Charles with her bold response! What could she gain from doing this?

Charles looked at his granddaughter and shook his head helplessly when he heard her reply. This girl... Instead of saying they were her brothers, she made everyone question her morals. Cherise winked at her grandpa and grinned widely. If Dahlia and Polly wanted trouble, she'd go along with their evil plan. It would be much more satisfying when, in the next few minutes, her grandpa would slap them with the truth.

Dahlia was the first to recover amongst the guests and cleared her throat before pointing out again, “So, you see, Old Master Alster. Cherise is really the kind of girl who clearly does not belong to our class. She has no sense of shame at all. She has been caught betraying Julian, but instead of apologizing, she feels proud of it”

Charles glanced back at Dahlia, who looked smug, and he rolled his eyes inwardly.

“Is that 50?" Charles asked her.

“Well, you and the rest of the guests have seen the evidence, don't you?” Dahlia pointed to the big screen. “There is no way to act around one's best friend's boyfriend. One does not act intimately with another man if she has a boyfriend.”

Charles nodded as if he agreed with Dahlia, which made her even more smug.

“Just wait, Cherise, you will be thrown out soon and Julian has to break up with you, and no one in the upper society will welcome you in their house. You will return to being a worthless country bumpkin! Dahlia thought in her mind gleefully.

“Katherine, Logan, are you two in a relationship?” Charles asked, both to answer his own curiosity and to clear up the matter for the guests.

They both shook their heads and replied, “No, Grandpa Alster”

Dahlia scoffed. Why were they still trying to deny it? Were they scared of Charles Alster? Or were they trying to protect that slut?

“Katherine, Logan, you don't have to be afraid and deny your relationship,” Dahlia said in a gentle voice like she was comforting them and giving them strength to tell everyone the truth. “Yeah, we all know you went to Hudson and Emely’s canceled engagement party together, and you are her partner tonight too,” Polly added for her mom, desperate to see Cherise being humiliated.

“Katherine, dear," Dahlia turned her gaze toward Katherine, still with that gentle fake voice that sent goosebumps all over Katherine's body.

“You don’t have to listen to Logan and Cherise denying their relationship,” Dahlia said. “We all heard you asking Logan if he betrayed you and he denied it, which is such a shame for such an outstanding young man and one of the top three CEOs in the world.”

Charles looked at Logan and asked, “Logan Jennings, why did you deny betraying Katherine when the evidence is right in your face?”

Logan frowned, and said in a clear voice, “Because Katherine and I were never a couple. They just assumed we were because I was her partner at that party and today. Since we are not a couple, how can I betray her?”

Once again, Dahlia and Polly's eyes went huge. “How can it be?"

“Of course it can, Dahlia,” Katherine looked at them and said calmly. “One can go to a party with a partner who is not their lover. If you remember, I'm a jewelry designer and I always have a partner to go to events, and they are seldom the same person. Sometimes they were the models for my men's collections, other times they were my business partners. It's a known fact all over the world, just like Tristan who changes partners every time he walks down the red carpet.”

“Guity,’ Tristan said and raised his hand. “My partner was usually the leading lady for whichever movie was being promoted.”

“But, but, but," Dahlia was getting flustered. Why didn’t this go according to her plan? “But you were crying when you saw the picture of Cherise and Logan locked in an embrace. You were hurt by it!”

“I actually was trying to hold back my laughter because the whole thing was ridiculous,” Katherine replied with her signature seductive smile. “Paula and Tristan were doing the same as well but you didn’t notice them.”

“This is turning interesting," Keith said, quite enjoying the turn of events. “Your mother will not win this debate,” he added with assured confidence.

Logan and Katherine had denied any involvement between them, and Charles Alster, Paula and Tristan were backing them. No matter how he saw it, Dahlia would not be able to turn this in the direction she wanted.

He glanced at Hudson from the corner of his eyes and saw his best friend worried look. It seemed he was still worried about Cherise.

Then Dahlia seemed to think of another way to humiliate Cherise and insisted, “But it still does not excuse Cherise’s behavior or words. She's Julian’s girlfriend. She shouldn't act intimately with Logan or even be proud of it. We could all see the love in Logan's eyes for her. She already has Julian yet she's encouraging Logan. Do you really want a granddaughter-in- law who is involved with two men?”

Charles closed his eyes and rubbed his temples. Maybe he needs to scold these grandchildren of his for letting themselves be the center of gossip before he announced Cherise identity. “Children, playing around is fun but it is not fun for me to clean up your mess,” Charles said sternly, but his eyes twinkled with playfulness because he was partly playing along with them. He heard snickers coming from the guests and knew who they came from. “Paula, Tristan, you are also at fault for encouraging them and not helping in clearing the issue up."

“Sorry, Grandpa Alster” they said in unison without even an ounce of remorse in their voice. Dahlia, Polly, Emely and the guests were confused. What was Charles saying? What did he mean by them having fun? Why wasn't he angry that his grandson was being played by a gold digger? Did he not care because his wealth would not deplete no matter how much Cherise took from Julian?

But his pride and ego should take a blow after Dahlia and Polly showed that Julian had been played, shouldn't it?

“Katherine, you encouraged them by playing the part of a girlfriend who was betrayed by her boyfriend and best friend. What do you have to say about it?” Charles asked her.

“I'm sorry, Grandpa Alster” Unlike Paula and Tristan, she actually felt slightly guilty when facing the old man. She knew she didn’t need to because Grandpa Alster himself was a prankster, but the thought of having him to clear up the misunderstanding she had caused made her feel guilty.

Charles turned to Logan, “And you Logan, what do you have to say for yourself? Everyone can see the love you have for her. Are you going to deny it?”

“No, Grandpa,” Logan replied without hesitation. “My feelings for Cherise run deeper than love. If she wants me to kill someone, I'll do it. If she wants me to burn the whole world for her, I'll do it. Whatever she asks me to do, as long as itl make her happy, I'll gladly do it”

“Damn, that's one heck of a declaration of love,” Finley said. “I would never do that for any woman. Will do it for the two of you though. How the heck are you gonna top that, Hudson?" “What about you, Julian?” Charles turned to look at his grandson.

“I love her, Julian replied smoothly. “I will spoil her with my love and buy her anything she wants — all her favorites, and everything else she needs. I will protect her with everything I have, even my life.”

Of course he would. He had a sister complex, why would he not? They were very close since they were small and he had been spoiling her as he had promised their granpa.

“My God!" Finley was quite stupefied. He knew he had judged Cherise wrongly before, but was she so special to have warranted the deep love of three of the most successful CEOs and eligible bachelors in the whole world?

He was obviously pro-Hudson, being his best friend and all, and very very concerned at the moment because Hudson was radiating that chilling aura of his that could freeze everyone around him, looking like he was ready to jump onto the stage to declare his feelings for Cherise and took part in the competition to win her heart.

Dahlia, Polly and Emely could not believe what was happening and they stood speechless and rooted in their places.

The guests once again buzzed with whispers of wonder mixed with anticipation. What were they really doing? Was Charles Alster going to make the two men fight for Cherise? But why? She was a nobody. But they also couldn't wait to find out what would happen next.

Who would Cherise choose if she were asked to? The intense Logan Jennings or the sweet Julian Charles?

All eyes turned toward Cherise, who was looking at the two men fondly. She was glad to have two protective and loving brothers even though they had different upbringings and ways of loving her.

Cherise wasn't the only one who was looking at the two men fondly. Charles was happy with how the two brothers loved Cherise. He knew if something was about to happen to him, he didn’t need to worry about her well-being.

Charles smiled and nodded in satisfaction at Julian and Logan. “Good,” he said. “I'm glad you love your sister and will protect her with your life”

The room suddenly fell into a pin-drop silence. Every guest had the same thought - Did Charles say the word “sister’? Who? Cherise was whose sister? Julian Alster and Logan Jennings weren't brothers, so what was the patriarch of the Alster family saying?

Before anyone could recover from their confusion and slightly shocked state, Charles’ eyes swept through the guests, and in a loud and clear voice, he said, “Thank you all for coming. I decided to hold this banquet for several reasons and I was about to announce them when I was rudely interrupted.”

His sharp blue eyes pierced through the crowd and landed on Polly and Dahlia, who both quickly ducked their heads out of shame for being called out.

“As I was saying, there are several reasons for me to hold the banquet,” Charles continued. “The first is to announce that I'll be stepping down as the President of the Alster Group and Julian will take over the position.”

The crowd began murmuring among themselves again. It wasn't explosive news as it had been expected with Charles growing old, but who would be the new CEO? And what about the matter with Cherise and Logan Jenning?

“The second reason is to announce that Logan Jennings is my adopted grandson and has been one since he was a teenager,” Charles stated and held up his hand to stop the rousing murmuring from the guests.

“But most importantly, I want to introduce you to the new CEO of the Alster Group,” he paused and walked toward the center of the stage and held out his hand.

The guests had all held their breath, looking toward the steps leading up to the stage, expecting someone new would come up.

Cherise knew it was time for her introduction, finally stepped forward gracefully and placed her hand on her grandpa’s open palm, her chin held high, looking elegantly mighty, something that could only be achieved by someone from a strong background.

“Ladies and gentlemen, Cherise Alster, my granddaughter and the new CEO of the Alster Group,” Charles announced with a proud smile.