Chapter 3

It was 10:30 am when Samuel's assistant sent me a message. "Mr. Hill has an urgent matter to attend to, so today's meeting will likely need to be rescheduled, Ms. Gardner."

In the conference room, the faces of the other team's members had already become very unpleasant.

I calmly picked up my phone and dialed Samuel's number. It rang for quite some time before he answered. It was noisy on his end, with Naomi's faint, sobbing voice in the background. "I'm at the hospital, Charlotte."

I tightened my grip on the phone and asked, "What happened?"

Samuel sounded slightly annoyed as he replied, "I'm not the one who's sick—it's Naomi. She suffered an asthma attack last night and still isn't feeling better."

I stared at the thick acquisition agreement on the table, which represented three years of my life's work. "We were supposed to sign the acquisition agreement today, Samuel."

Samuel fell silent on the other end of the line before letting out a sigh.

He then tried to sound as gentle as possible, as if trying to soothe me. "You can't hold this against Naomi, Charlotte. She's just a patient. You're the one I'm marrying, and you'll be the one standing next to me in the future.

"Naomi isn't feeling well, so it's only right that I take care of her. Do you really have so little confidence in our relationship?"

He was using that same excuse again. He turned my reason and career drive into jealousy and lack of confidence.

I couldn't help but feel a lump form in my throat, leaving a sour, bitter taste.

It was then that my assistant walked into the conference room with a box. "Mr. Hill just sent someone to deliver this, Ms. Gardner."

I noticed a custom fountain pen with my initials engraved on the barrel, and next to it was a card. "You usually prefer Galdorian-made pens, so you should use this one when you sign the contract. It will feel better in your hand."

I gripped the card, feeling a sharp pang in my heart. It turned out he still remembered that moment. Back when my business was just starting out, I had been so nervous while signing my first major contract that my sweaty palm nearly made me lose my grip on the pen.

Samuel's voice became gentler, carrying a hint of reassurance. "Did you receive the pen?"

I hummed in agreement.

Samuel continued, "Just cooperate and sign the contract first. I'll come back tonight to have dinner with you and make it up to you once Naomi's condition stabilizes."

I heard Naomi shouting in the background before I could even get a single word in. "I've been told that I might need to stay overnight at the hospital for observation. I'm scared. Can you please stay with me, Samuel?"

Samuel replied without the slightest hesitation, "I'm not going to leave you, so you have nothing to be afraid of. I'll stay right here with you, Naomi."

He hung up the phone without a second thought after saying that.

I looked down at the fountain pen in my hand. It was a quality pen, the exact kind I liked, but the man who gave it to me never showed up. He thought he could erase all my grievance and embarrassment with a single pen, a card, and a lukewarm promise.

Did he really think I was a pet that would come running at a wave of his hand and be happy with a piece of treat?

Nathan ultimately showed up at 3:00 pm.

I was the only one left in the massive conference room, as the team from the other company had already left.

Nathan opened the door and walked in. He paused briefly when he spotted me. "You're still here, Charlotte?"

He walked closer and looked down at the agreement before me. He immediately furrowed his brows and asked, "You haven't signed it yet?"

He bent over, took the fountain pen from the table, and placed it in my hand. "You shouldn't throw such a childish tantrum, Charlotte."

He gripped my hand tightly, as if he were trying to force me to sign my name. "Haven't you made enough of a scene? Do you have any idea how much money Samuel will lose because of your little fit today?"

I remained silent. I jerked my hand away coldly, causing the fountain pen to drop to the ground with a crisp snap.

Nathan took a deep breath, clearly trying to hold back his anger. He stood and gently tucked away the loose strands of my hair. His movement was gentle, yet his voice carried a patronizing tone. "You should head home first. I'll give you a ride."

It had started raining at one point. Nathan angled the umbrella mostly over to my side, leaving his right shoulder drenched in no time. He was as considerate as ever, still hiding behind the same gentle act.

I walked behind him to the car and opened the door to get in, only to see a drawing board on the front seat. It was an unfinished landscape, signed by Naomi in the corner. I suddenly stopped dead in my tracks.