Chapter 158
Hamilton had lost his appetite.
Hence, the dinner plans they had made just fell apart.
Mr. Bran had wanted to have dinner with Ryan, but it was clear Ryan wasn't playing ball, and that was that.
The trio left the office together, with Mr. Bran politely seeing them out.
Ryan and Natalia walked ahead, deep in conversation, about the opening ceremony of the international expo that evening.
Hamilton squinted at their retreating figures and, unable to help himself, lit up a cigarette.
The thick smoke did little to obscure the bitterness in his eyes.
Mr. Bran chuckled as he watched him. "I thought Ms. Jenkins was with you."
Hamilton snorted.
He used to think so, too.
He had always believed Natalia was his for the taking.
A tantrum, a temporary split, he figured it was just a flash of anger.
She would come back when she cooled down, he thought.
Until today, when he heard Ryan call her Nat.
It hit Hamilton then - Ryan wasn't like Ronin.
Sure, he had been mad at Natalia over Ronin before.
But deep down, he knew that playboy wasn't for her.
If he could see it, so could Natalia.
With Ronin, at best, it would end up as some sugar daddy arrangement.
A fling he could break if he pushed hard enough.
But Ryan was different.
He could tell Ryan was serious about Natalia.
The way he looked at her had a cautious tenderness that spoke of real intent.
And Natalia didn't seem to mind Ryan's attention.
Hamilton suddenly realized.
entertain the idea of anyone but
when it came to
like he'd never felt before surged within
forward, catching up with the
resuming her talk with
in
had Linda book a flight for this
stopped in her tracks, turning
got things to do. I'll head back to Silkwood City tomorrow. No need to worry about me, Mr.
Hamilton frowned. "What things?"
a
eyed her skeptically. "Really? No meetings when you're away, but as soon as you
just Ryan's ploy to get
there was a meeting; what else did
patience waned. "Believe it or not,
quickened her pace, putting distance
was on her heels
have Linda book for tomorrow. I'll
he finished,
got a business empire to run, Mr. Fowler. You should head back." With that, Ryan
his face a mask of cool contempt. He let
you being a bit too
into the car,
it natural to be attentive to
wake, crushing his cigarette
Natalia. "Hamilton
she responded without
had noticed it,
like Hamilton wouldn't keep coming back to her if
never in short supply around
if he regretted it now, he would likely forget her soon enough once someone new came
a deep breath,
else on her
force yourself to have dinner with anyone on
tell he didn't
background, he probably wasn't
myself," Ryan
work, your life. It's not just
at a loss for
moment, she managed
really not good enough
face cooling for the first
meeting his suddenly stern gaze. Even his cold look had an imposing
just want to lay out my situation for you. If you don't mind it, we can talk about 'us.' Otherwise, I'm afraid
expression softened, but the concern
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