CHAPTER FOUR

Charlotte quickly averted her gaze after she realized she had stared for too long.

"Correct me if I'm wrong folks, but that was one of the loveliest voices we've had." Michael said aloud.

The crowd cheered in response. Charlotte felt heat rise to her face as she blushed. Her fingers still trembled slightly as she handed the microphone to the young boy who stood beside her. It wasn't just the cheers from the crowd that made her shake but it was the gaze of those blue eyes on her. She thought she could feel him watch her and it caught her off guard.

Charlotte took a glance at the owner of those beautiful eyes but he didn't have his eyes on hers anymore. This time, he spoke to Michael as the young man sent the microphone up to him.

Feeling a bit embarrassed, Charlotte prepared to sit when -

"A woman with a voice like yours needs to sit up here. Or am I right folks?" Michael said with a microphone this time.

The crowd agreed and Charlotte just couldn't stop the laugh that escaped her. Not that she found it funny, she wanted any way to relieve the tension that gripped her.

Michael descended with his arm stretched out to her.

"Would you like to perform a number at our wedding? Honey, what do you say?" He asked his wife who just laughed at him.

Charlotte placed a hand over her mouth to hide her shy grin. Michael stood before her and gave her a bow.

"Allow me to take you to your new seat." He said with an air of elegance.

Charlotte took his hand gracefully. As they walked with the crowd hooting and whistling and cheering, Charlotte could only think of one thing.

Well, two things.

Her legs were still a bit wobbly and with every step she took, she prayed they wouldn't embarrass her in the heels she wore.

The second thought dominated her mind when she realized where Michael led her.

He was taking her to the swat right beside the blue-eyed man. She bit on her inner lip as she tried to keep her cool.

 The man shamelessly kept his eyes on her from the moment Charlotte realized it to the moment she sat. It was after she sat that he focused elsewhere.

She shifted in her seat as discreetly as she could. Her new seat was much more comfortable than her previous one, much softer, and it helped calm her nerves.

Charlotte took in a deep breath as silently as she could. It didn't help that his cologne was distracting.

She thought he smelt of apple pine and vanilla. It wasn't a combination she thought she'd notice in a cologne but my, it worked.

She wondered if he smelt hers.

Did he like it?

She shook her head at her thoughts.

She could already tell this day was about to give her more than she expected and she didn't know if she could handle it.

"Alright! Now to get this program rolling. We've already spent quite a lot of time so we'd keep the rest of what we have planned short and sweet."

Michael paused to glance at a sheet he held. Charlotte guessed it was the program outline.

"We already know why we're here don't we? Every year, a man I will introduce soon enough dutifully organizes charity events like this one to give us the opportunity to pool in our resources to help the very communities that raised us."

He paused to take a sip of water.

Charlotte shifted in her seat, trying to remain in a ladylike position. She just felt so many eyes on her from the audience. It made her feel so self-conscious.

"I don't know about you but that just feels so darn good. Now, without further ado, I present to you the key man behind all this, who is also single, might I add, Prince Lucas Caron."

Charlotte was a bit surprised when the blue-eyed man who sat beside her stood just as the crowd began to clap. Without realizing, she too began to clap as she watched his every movement to Michael.

Michael gave him a salute which was almost comical partly because of their height difference.

 Prince Lucas took the microphone from Michael and turned to the crowd. He smiled.

Charlotte thought his eyes were his killing point but when she saw that smile, she felt her whole world change. It was perfect in a rugged kind of way. It gave her bad boy with rich money kind of vibes. It took her a while to tear her eyes away from him but before she could, he turned his attention to her.

Charlotte's cheeks turned red. He had just caught her checking him out. Oh God

"Thank you. Thank you." Prince Lucas said softly.

"But please, another round of applause for Charlotte. She indeed has a gift." He said, directing everyone's attention back to her.

The crowd clapped and cheered again. Charlotte smiled and lowered her head bashfully.

Soon enough, the applause died down

"Thank you Michael for the lovely introduction. I'm Lucas, some call me Prince Lucas. I'd rather be called Prince Lucas if I'm being honest."

The crowd laughed.

"Um, so I along with Michael and so many wonderful people like yourselves made this happen today. I just want to say thank you for being here and donating to help those who really need it."

Charlotte clapped with the crowd.

"I don't usually like to go to some parts of my past but let's just say I used to be a person who depended on people like you to survive. So I know how much this means to children and adults at the bottom of the chain."

He paused for his words to sink in. For some reason, those words stuck to Charlotte.

"Last year, the donations were quite overwhelming but rest assured, they were put to good and true use. The team and I gathered the funds you gave us to feed and clothe underaged children we found on the streets of Edson. We managed to send some to orphanages and assisted them to get them adopted by capable and responsible children. But by far our most impressive achievement was Darla."

Prince Lucas looked in her direction and for a moment, Charlotte wondered if it was her he referred to.

 A slender brunette with glasses who looked about 16 stood up from behind her and walked to him. As she walked, the crowd clapped although it was obvious they were unsure why they clapped.

Prince Lucas held her close.

"This is Darla. She is one of the ambitious and talented children who we took in our hands and sponsored her education. Right from the start, we knew Darla was meant for great things and she didn't disappoint. She is an aspiring architect but also a woman in tech. You wouldn't believe that at 15, she's already built a helper bot to do little tasks she desires."

The crowd clapped with more vigor after he said that. Darla played with her fingers behind her back as she avoided eye contact but she had a shy proud smile on.

"I don't want to spoil it too much. After my time on stage, her inventions as well as the other amazing works of children like her will be displayed for you to marvel at."

Prince Lucas looked at Darla with a kind smile and quietly told her to take her seat.

"None of this would have been possible if not for you. With every penny you give, a life is saved and a future is assured. Just like last year, I stand here to humbly employ you to be as generous as you have been before to make the community we know and love a better place. Thank you."

The crowd roared with cheers as he gave the microphone back to Michael and returned to his seat.

Charlotte told herself to keep her eyes off him as he walked but she couldn't. She watched his every movement and how his brown curls bounced slightly as he walked till he sat.

Beside her.

Suddenly she was reminded of his powerful but gentle cologne. Charlotte couldn't pick out all the exact ingredients but she loved it. She stopped herself from taking a deeper breath of it.

"My, my what did I tell you? He is just so kind and pure at heart, a complete charmer. And single ladies. He's single, did I already say that?"

The crowd laughed as he laughed. Prince Lucas smiled.

"But as he said, without you amazing folks, none of this could have happened. We are so grateful for your support year after year. As I speak, donation tables are being set up in almost every corner. You can't miss it, I promise." He said with a wink.

 Charlotte shook his head at his humor.

"However way you want to lend your support is very welcome. Be it cash, cheques or coupons."

A murmur arose from the crowd.

"Yes, coupons. We were also surprised last year but believe me, it's brilliant. So whatever way you want to show your support, we're here for you."

He paused to take a breath.

"And yes, before I descend the stage, after this segment, the creative and mind-blowing works of the people you helped us to support will be displayed here to all who are interested to see. Believe me, they're amazing. Okay, bye for now."

The crowd applauded him as he walked off the stage.

Charlotte let out a sigh of relief unconsciously. The first half wasn't as bad as she thought. Now, she had to make a plan on what to do and how to go about it.

She could distribute her cards and get more people on board. They were in the spirit of giving so they would give you her.

Hopefully.

She smiled at the thought.

"Would you like me to take you around?" Prince Lucas asked her. Charlotte found herself lost in those piercing blue eyes once again.