The golden lights of Elle Restaurant glowed softly in the early evening haze, casting a warm reflection against its tall, glass windows. Nestled in a quiet corner of the city, the restaurant was known for its elegant French decor—floral centerpieces, crystal wine glasses, and vintage paintings lined along cream-colored walls. It was a peaceful place, meant for quiet conversations, away from curious ears.
Charlotte sat at a small table near the window, nervously twirling a strand of her ginger hair, her red eyes glancing repeatedly at the door. Her pale, white skin caught the dim light and made her flushed cheeks stand out even more, the color deepening as her emotions bubbled under the surface. Her nose, as always, was a touch too red—something she'd hated growing up, but now had resigned herself to. She hadn't expected to be meeting someone like him here, of all places. But desperate times called for risky plans.
Moments later, Sabestian entered, immediately drawing attention. With his tall frame, dusky skin, and striking green eyes, he looked out of place in such a cozy establishment—more suited to boardrooms and business galas. His confident, easy stride gave away his success; people respected him, envied him, even feared him in the competitive wine world. And yet, here he was, meeting her, in secret.
As he slid into the seat opposite her, Charlotte leaned forward.
"...Sabestian... I need your help," she said, her voice low and serious.
He blinked and raised an eyebrow but smiled faintly, leaning back in his chair. "...Okay, I'm always there for you... Red. Tell me—what do you need? I can give you everything you want."
Charlotte frowned. "'Red'? What's that... a nickname?"
Sabestian chuckled. "Well, I've noticed your face. Your nose—always so red. You look... cute, in a weird way. That's why... from now on, I'll call you Red."
She rolled her eyes, clearly unimpressed. "...Whatever. Just don't say it in front of people. And always act like we don't know each other. I can't take the risk of getting caught by my siblings."
He shrugged. "Okay... Red. As you wish. So, what do you need? Tell me."
Charlotte drew a deep breath, glancing around to make sure no one was listening. The elegant hum of soft music and quiet conversation gave her some reassurance.
"Well," she began, her tone darker now, "I found out that my brother is a freakin' fraud. Or better—he's a fucking scammer. He uses cheap, sometimes even expired, ingredients to make wine... and he sells it as vintage. I have the proof. But there's a problem."
Sabestian's jaw tightened. "What is it?"
"I need a big event... a major winemaker event. Something big enough to ruin his reputation publicly, where the media can't be silenced. Something that leaves a permanent mark."
Sabestian looked confused. "But... can't you just hold a press conference? Or talk to the police?"
Charlotte slammed her palm lightly on the table, her red eyes flashing. "No, dummy! If I say even a word to the authorities, there's a chance they'll tip him off. I know all cops aren't corrupt, but I've got trust issues. And about a press conference? That won't work either. David will bribe the media to bury the story. It'll fade away in a week. It needs to be loud, public, and live—where he can't escape or deny it."
Sabestian nodded slowly, impressed by her resolve. "...Okay. I accept—you're smart. So how can I help you make this news explode?"
Charlotte leaned forward, whispering. "I want you to collab with my brother."
He stared at her like she'd just told him to jump off a cliff. "...What?! You just told me he sells bad wine. That would ruin my business!"
"Hear me out, dude," she insisted, placing both hands flat on the table. "Look. You collab with him. You two launch a new wine together—something that gets the attention of all the industry bigshots. The media will come, the elite winemakers will attend, everyone will be watching. And when it's your turn to give a speech... you drop the bomb."
Sabestian stayed silent, eyebrows furrowed, trying to absorb her plan.
"You say you just found out the truth," she continued. "You say you had no idea David was a fraud. And then you show the proof. Live. On camera. No press filtering, no delay, no one to stop you. That way, you walk away clean—and he gets buried."
She smirked, confident. "It's a win-win."
He sighed, running his hand through his dark hair. "As you say, Red. I just hope this doesn't backfire on me."
"It won't," she assured him. "Now, call my brother's secretary. Ask to schedule a meeting. Make it sound business-y. Don't worry—seeing how rich and successful you are, David won't even ask questions."
Sabestian took out his phone and stepped aside, pacing slowly while speaking calmly to David's assistant. After a couple of minutes, he returned, placing the phone down.
"Red... the meeting is arranged. Tomorrow, 8 PM. Wednesday night."
Charlotte sighed in relief. "Nice. I should go. It's already 4:30 PM. I don't want anyone at home getting suspicious. It's not my thing to go out. I don't have friends... so I can't even lie about it."
Sabestian grinned. "Okay... as you wish, Red. Bye."
She shot him a warning look but didn't argue. "Bye."
Charlotte left Elle Restaurant and caught a cab. The traffic was slower than usual. The sun was dipping behind the buildings, casting long shadows on the streets as people bustled about their evening routines. The ride home felt longer than it should have.
She reached her house at 5:10 PM, the quiet creak of the gate louder than usual.
As she stepped inside, she was immediately greeted by her sister's voice.
"Charlotte, where have you been? I've been looking for you," said Melody, arms crossed, eyes narrowed.
Charlotte's breath hitched. She hadn't expected this.
"...I—I was at a restaurant," she stammered. "Eating by myself. I wasn't in the mood to eat at home."
Melody scoffed. "Whatever. Bitch, why didn't you feed my cat? Do it right now."
Charlotte lowered her eyes. "Okay, Melody. I'll feed Kiri right now."
She walked into the kitchen, poured some dry food into the ceramic bowl, and placed it down in front of the fluffy gray cat, who purred softly and rubbed against her ankle.
Once Kiri was taken care of, Charlotte hurried upstairs to her room, closing the door behind her. The moment it clicked shut, she dropped onto her bed, pulling her knees to her chest.
Her room was the only place where she could breathe. The soft pink curtains fluttered with the evening breeze. Posters of books, marine animals, and peaceful oceans lined the walls—a stark contrast to the chaos outside her door.
Her mind raced.
I don't know how this shit will end up... but I hope it's in my favor.
She stared at the ceiling, imagining the fallout—the media frenzy, the betrayal on David's face, the gasps from the crowd when the truth was revealed. It had to work. It had to. Her brother had walked on too many people to get to the top. He deserved to fall.
Charlotte didn't consider herself a hero. She was quiet, awkward, often overlooked. She didn't have many friends. But she had courage—and a truth that needed to be told.
And with Sabestian's help, maybe this time... justice wouldn't be a whisper lost in the wind.
It would be a scream that echoed through every glass of fake wine David ever sold.
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