With both of them trying to pick up the papers, Clyde’s hand landed on Natalie’s. “You go borrow a hair dryer from the waiter. I’ll handle it here.”
Just then, a cold male voice sounded from behind them. “Natalie, what are you doing here?”
When Natalie recognized the voice, she pivoted on her heel and cast an icy stare upon Brandon. “What brings you here?”
Brandon’s domineering and unruly demeanor was accentuated by his black shirt and suit, while his deep eyes exuded malice.
Natalie averted her gaze from Brandon’s eyes, knowing all too well that she had been dodging him for the past few days, yet he persisted in following her closely.
“What brings you here during office hours?” Brandon approached them, his eyes falling upon Clyde with an unfriendly glare.
“I am here on business. A client requested that 1 meet him at this cafe,” Natalie replied with a frigid stare in her eyes. Walking past Brandon, she made her way toward the waiter, intent on borrowing a hair dryer.
“Hold on a moment!” Brandon seized her arm and pulled her back with a scowl. “Have you made a mistake here and mistaken him for your client?”
How was Brandon aware of that? Natalie’s eyes were filled with bewildered expressions as she asked, “How did you come to that conclusion?”
Disregarding her inquiry. Brandon cast a cold glance in Clyde’s direction and demanded, “What are you doing here, posing as Natalie’s client?”
Clyde was left speechless by the question. He ran a hand through his hair and spoke in a soft and refined tone, “Mr. Larson, I suggest you investigate the matter thoroughly before questioning me. It was simply a misinterpretation.”
“There is no need to look into anything. I saw everything clearly just moments ago,” Brandon narrowed his eyes at Clyde. “You had better start telling me the truth…”
Just as Brandon was about to continue speaking, Natalie cut in abruptly.
“You really messed up, Brandon. Elizabeth can vouch for me. My error led to the confusion, and this gentleman had no part in it.” Natalie interjected Brandon firmly and gave him a blank stare.
When she finished speaking, Natalie was drawn to the bouquet of bright red tulips that Brandon held in his arm.
A slight change flickered across Natalie’s countenance as she pursed her lips, instantly comprehending everything.
“It all makes sense now. That’s why you knew he wasn’t my client!” Natalie retorted with a sneer, wrenching herself free from Brandon’s grasp and departing in a huff, leaving behind the manuscripts.
Elizabeth trailed after Natalie as they headed outside to hail a taxi back to the studio, only to be stopped by Brandon, who had followed them out.
“I have no intention of cooperating with someone as deceitful as you, Mr. L,” Natalie sneered as she grabbed the taxi door handle. “The meeting is called off! I don’t have anything to say to you. Get away from me!”
It was no surprise she found Mr. L’s voice on the phone familiar. That turned out to be Brandon. She found it absurd that Brandon had gone to such lengths to deceive her by posing as Mr. L.
“I do have a project on which we can collaborate. Yet we’re still arguing. Will you agree to my proposal if I go straight to you?” Brandon furrowed his brow and tightened his grasp on the handle. He extended his large hand into the taxi and yanked her out. “Come on. There’s someone I want you to meet.”
Natalie mulled over his proposal momentarily before asking, “Can I trust you, Brandon? You want me to get out of the taxi, but who knows where you’ll try to deceive me into going? I won’t fall for it this time!”
Brandon’s eyes narrowed, darkening with displeasure as he firmed his grip on Natalie. >
A bitter smile played on Brandon’s lips. How was it possible that Natalie was cordial to everyone except him?
The impasse between the two was abruptly interrupted by an elder woman hobbling out of the coffee shop. “Brandon, didn’t you promise to bring me here to see Natalie? How come I haven’t seen her yet?”
“Hannah! Is that really you?” Natalie exclaimed in surprise and joy at the sight of the elder woman. Natalie rushed to embrace Hannah tightly, pushing past Brandon, who was blocking the door.
Hannah chuckled and patted Natalie on the shoulder. “Easy there, dear. What if you trip and fall running too quickly?” Natalie was filled with emotions and struggled to hold back her tears as she thought of the elder woman mentioned in the project document and realized that Brandon indeed wanted to make clothes for Hannah.
“It’s only been a few months, Natalie, but I’ve missed you so much,” Hannah said as she comforted Natalie and wiped the tears from the comer of her eyes.
“It’s entirely my fault that I haven’t returned to visit you often.” Natalie seldom returned to Seacisco once Johanna and Beal had brought her to Barnes. In addition, she hadn’t seen Hannah in a while since she had been preoccupied with her work at the W Marks Studio.
Natalie’s fingers caressed Hannah’s hunched back, finding comfort in the gentle support of her frail frame. Tt was a moment of solace and relief for her.
“It’s hard for you to come to see me because of your busy work schedule. However, Brandon arranged for me to come here and stay for a few days.” Hannah smiled at Brandon as she rubbed Natalie’s back. “Brandon realized we hadn’t seen each other in a long while, so he went to Seacisco in person to pick me up. Since it was my first time in an airplane, my legs trembled uncontrollably. Brandon comforted me over the whole flight.”
Hannah appeared to be unaware of the conflict between Natalie and Brandon. Natalie remained silent, biting her lip and avoiding eye contact.
“You have a slight fear of heights,” Brandon said to Hannah as he held onto her arm. “I’ll take Hannah home now, and you can join us for dinner later,” he then added as he looked at Natalie.
“It’s been so long since I cooked for Natalie.” Hannah’s face lit up with excitement.
Natalie stared down at Brandon before she smiled and turned to Hannah. “No, let me cook for you. I’ll finish work early today.”
Brandon assisted Hannah into the car and announced, “Hannah, Natalie has agreed. Let’s head back and wait for her. I’ve got your room prepared already.” As he glanced over his shoulder, his thin lips twisted into a smirk, and his eyes revealed the success of his scheme, much to Natalie’s frustration.
Elizabeth alighted the car and approached Natalie, her head slightly bowed in apology after observing Brandon depart. “I’m sorry, Natalie. It was my fault. I mistook someone else for your client and caused you trouble.”
“Please don’t blame yourself. Whether you came or not, I would have confronted Brandon and had a huge argument. I suspect he’s up to something, especially since he invited Hannah to Barnes.”
Although she was happy to see Hannah, Natalie couldn’t shake off her inner feelings of sadness and frustration.
At the outset, Natalie believed that a genuine collaborator had arrived, and she entertained the thought of being appreciated for her talent. Maybe she could really be an independent designer!
But then Natalie realized that Brandon orchestrated everything and it would fall according to his plan.
New Book: Beginning with a Daring Encounter
Celsie was tired of being labeled as an introvert, workaholic, and dull virgin by her friends. Determined to prove them wrong, she made a bet that she would do something daring on her 25th birthday. Now that the day had arrived, it was time to fulfill her promise. On her daring to-do list, there was one task: a one-night stand with someone.
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