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.
could entertain the idea
when
like he'd never
catching
resuming her talk with Ryan about the expo's
cut in without
a flight for
stopped in her tracks, turning
back to Silkwood City tomorrow. No need
Hamilton frowned. "What things?"
a meeting
when you're away, but as soon as you hit Boria
Ryan's ploy to get
was a meeting; what else did
waned. "Believe it or not, I
her pace, putting distance between
was on
book for tomorrow. I'll
he finished,
tomorrow, anyway. I can accompany Natalia. You've got a business empire to run, Mr. Fowler. You should head back." With that, Ryan opened the car door for
face a mask of cool contempt.
being
the car, his eyes
it natural to be attentive to a
in his wake, crushing his cigarette underfoot as if stamping
Natalia. "Hamilton
she responded
noticed it,
like Hamilton wouldn't keep coming back
in short supply
he regretted it now, he would likely forget
took a deep breath, pushing thoughts of
else
to have dinner
tell he didn't enjoy these
his background, he probably
forcing myself," Ryan said softly, looking her
want to be part of your work, your life. It's not just for you;
at a
she managed a bitter
not good
brow furrowed, his face cooling for the
gaze. Even his cold look had
If you don't mind it, we can talk about 'us.' Otherwise, I'm afraid
expression softened, but the concern
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