Dinner date

Chapter forty one.Natasha.The restaurant was quiet and elegant, tucked away from the busiest part of the city. It wasn't overly formal, which immediately made me relax.As we settled into our seats, I looked around."This is nice.""I thought you'd prefer somewhere quiet.""You remembered?""Apparently, I'm becoming thoughtful."I laughed."Don't let it get to your head."Dinner passed more easily than either of us expected. We talked about everything except work. We argued over which dessert to order. I insisted on chocolate cake. Sebastian wanted cheesecake.Eventually, we ordered both."You know," I said, laughing as I watched him take another bite of cheesecake, "for someone who pretends to be disciplined, you're doing very well.""I changed my mind.""About what?""I've decided I like being irresponsible occasionally."I smiled."See? I'm improving your life already.""Debatable.""You came out for dinner on a weekday.""I did.""You ate dessert.""Yes.""You smiled at least f

A Decision We Didn't Plan

Chapter Forty-Two.NatashalI woke up the next morning with a strange feeling.Not happiness exactly.Something quieter.Something that had settled somewhere deep inside me and refused to leave. I stared at the ceiling for several seconds before remembering the previous night.Dinner.The laughter.Sebastian admitting that he liked it. And the way he'd looked at me when I told him I liked simply being with him. I covered my face with both hands."What are you doing, Natasha?" I was talking to myself again. That wasn't a good sign. I finally got out of bed and walked toward the bathroom. By the time I finished getting ready, I had convinced myself that I was overthinking everything.It had been one dinner.One good evening.That was all.Except when I walked into the kitchen, Sebastian was already there. And somehow, seeing him made the apartment feel different. He stood by the counter, reading something on his tablet while drinking his coffee.He glanced at me."Good morning.""Mornin

The Decision Becomes Real

Chapter Forty-Three.NatashaBy the time we reached the apartment, I was still thinking about the dinner.Not the food.Not the teasing.Not even the fact that both families had been watching us like we were some sort of fascinating experiment.It was Sebastian's answer.We've decided to get married.He had said it so firmly.So naturally.As though the decision had already been made long before we sat at that table.I walked into the living room and dropped my handbag on the sofa.Sebastian closed the door behind us.For a few seconds, neither of us spoke.Then I turned around."You really said it."He loosened his tie."Yes.""You didn't even hesitate.""I didn't have a reason to."I stared at him."You know you just changed everything, right?"He looked at me."Did I?""Sebastian.""What?""You just told our families we're getting married.""I know.""And you're acting like we just agreed on what to have for breakfast."His lips twitched."Breakfast is more complicated."I stared a

The Man Who Wouldn't Let Go

Chapter Forty-Four: DuncanThe file landed on the desk with a quiet thud.Duncan stared at it.He had been staring at the same documents for nearly an hour, but nothing seemed to make sense anymore.Everything was slipping, Natasha had changed. Sebastian had entered her life.And now there was another problem.Marriage.Again.He had heard about it that morning. Natasha and Sebastian were getting married. The news had reached him through someone he trusted, which made it even worse.Duncan leaned back in his chair."So it's happening."His assistant stood quietly across the room."Apparently."Duncan dismissed him with a gesture. When the door closed, he reached for his phone. He stared at Natasha's contact for several seconds.Then he called.No answer.He tried again.Nothing.His jaw tightened.A third attempt.Still nothing.He threw the phone onto the desk. This wasn't how it was supposed to happen. Natasha was supposed to remain trapped in the situation he'd created. The divorc

Something Worth Choosing

Chapter Forty-Five.NatashaI had underestimated my mother.Completely.By Saturday morning, she had already sent me pictures of wedding dresses, venues, flowers, invitations, cakes, and table arrangements.I sat on the sofa staring at my phone."This woman is planning an entire country."Sebastian looked up from his newspaper."She seems efficient.""Don't encourage her.""I wouldn't dare."I narrowed my eyes."You were laughing yesterday.""I don't recall.""You absolutely were."He folded the newspaper."How many dresses?""Twenty-three."His eyebrows rose."That's excessive.""Thank you.""I meant twenty-three isn't enough."I stared at him.Then he smiled.I threw a cushion at him.He caught it effortlessly."Violence?""Deserved."He placed the cushion beside him."You have a busy day.""Apparently."He stood."Get ready."I frowned."Why?""We're meeting my mother.""Again?""She wants to discuss the wedding."I groaned."I knew this was coming."He walked toward the hallway."

An Unpleasant Encounter.

Chapter Forty-Six.NatashaI had never understood why choosing a dress had to be such a complicated process.There were hundreds of them.Different colors.Different styles.Different lengths.And somehow, every time I thought I'd found the perfect one, another dress appeared that made me question my decision.I stood in front of a large mirror, holding a dark green dress against myself."What do you think?"Sebastian looked up from his phone."It's nice."I narrowed my eyes."Nice?"He glanced at the dress again."Very nice.""You're not even looking.""I am now."He locked his phone and gave me his full attention.I raised an eyebrow."Better?""Much."He studied the dress for a moment."The color suits you."A smile threatened to appear on my face."You could have said that from the beginning.""I was trying to avoid giving an opinion I wasn't qualified to give.""You're a billionaire. Surely you can distinguish between a good dress and a bad one.""I can.""Then?""I prefer you in