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

when it came

like he'd never felt

catching up

resuming her talk with

in without

had Linda book a flight for this

tracks, turning

I'll head back to Silkwood City tomorrow. No need to

Hamilton frowned. "What things?"

got a meeting

away, but

suspected this was just Ryan's

day, there was a meeting; what else

patience waned. "Believe it or not, I

her pace, putting

on her heels

tomorrow. I'll

he finished, Ryan

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

a mask of cool contempt.

Holzer, aren't you being a bit too

glanced back into the car, his

it natural to be attentive to a

his wake, crushing his cigarette underfoot as if stamping

at Natalia. "Hamilton must be regretting

she responded without

noticed it,

Hamilton wouldn't keep coming back to her if he

never in short

if he regretted it now, he would likely forget her soon enough once someone new came

took a deep breath, pushing thoughts of him

something else

yourself to have dinner with anyone on

he didn't enjoy

probably wasn't

Ryan

work, your life. It's not just for you; it's

was at a loss for

a moment, she managed

I'm really not good enough

Ryan's brow furrowed, his face cooling for the first

Even his cold look

out my situation for you. If you don't mind it, we can talk about 'us.' Otherwise,

but

The Novel will be updated daily. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

Comments ()

0/255