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.
it seemed, could entertain the idea of anyone but
utterly resistant when
frustration like he'd never felt before surged within
catching up with
him a glance before resuming her talk with Ryan about the
in without
a flight for this
in her tracks,
I'll head back to Silkwood City tomorrow. No need to worry about me,
Hamilton frowned. "What things?"
got a
you're away, but as soon as you hit Boria City,
this was just Ryan's ploy to get
there was a meeting; what else did he
"Believe it
her pace, putting distance
on
tomorrow. I'll go back
finished, Ryan
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 Natalia, who slid in
stood outside, his face a mask of cool contempt. He let
being a bit
glanced back into the car,
attentive
wake, crushing his cigarette underfoot as if
Natalia. "Hamilton must be regretting
she responded
noticed it,
like Hamilton wouldn't keep coming back
women were never in short
now, he would likely forget
took a deep breath, pushing
had something else
you don't have to force yourself to have dinner with
he didn't enjoy
his background, he probably wasn't keen on dealing
forcing myself," Ryan said softly, looking her
want to be part of your work, your life.
was at a loss
moment, she managed a bitter
I'm really not
furrowed, his face
suddenly stern gaze. Even his cold look had an imposing
you don't mind it,
expression softened, but the
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