Chapter 777 After Seeing Her, No One Else Can Compare to Her
Natalie finished speaking and couldn't help but blink lightly.
Grant stared at her intently.
Natalie probably didn't even realize she had a habit of blinking whenever she lied. Was she lying again now?
Clara smiled faintly, about to say something, when she was suddenly pulled close by someone.
She was pressed tightly against Grant, and she heard him say in a flat tone, "We're getting engaged. You coming?"
As he said this, he kept his eyes fixed on Natalie, not missing any change in her expression.
Natalie's lips trembled slightly.
After a moment, she heard herself say, "Not only will I come, but I'll also bring you a gift. When you get married and have kids, I'll still be there with gifts."
He replied, "Did I say you were invited to the wedding or to see our kids?"
Grant's tone was mocking. "Ms. Devereux, aside from being old classmates, are we really that close?"
There was a hint of moisture in Natalie's eyes.
She knew Grant was deliberately trying to embarrass her. It was indeed embarrassing, but so what? She had already been through the most humiliating experience; what was there to fear now?
Natalie lowered her gaze and smiled lightly. "Yes, just old acquaintances. No need to keep in touch."
She paused and then added, "I have an appointment. Excuse me. Best wishes for a long and happy life together, and may you have children soon."
She was the picture of grace. As she walked past them and up the stairs, Grant kept his eyes on her back, his gaze deep and his facial muscles twitching slightly.
For a long time, he didn't look away, nor did he glance at the beautiful Clara beside him.
"You still can't forget her," Clara said softly. Grant stepped back and let go of her.
Clara tried to hold back but couldn't. "You won't blame me for acting on my own and making her misunderstand, will you, Grant? I just think she's had too much influence on you. You've worked so hard to get where you are today. You shouldn't be involved with someone so opportunistic and materialistic. Just thinking about how she almost ruined you back then makes me..."
Grant interrupted her.
"Go change your dress. This one isn't suitable."
"Why? I think it suits me."
"Ms. Lynn, maybe pink isn't the best color choice for someone your age. Besides, we're attending a business event. Do you think this outfit is suitable? Choose something more formal."
Grant finished speaking and turned to go upstairs.
Behind him, Clara's expression was unpleasant. She remembered back in school, there was an event where Natalie wore a pink chiffon dress. At that time, Grant and Natalie hadn't started dating, and Natalie hadn't even noticed Grant. But when Natalie asked someone to take a picture, Grant, who usually kept his distance from others, stepped forward to take a photo of her.
Under the shade of the ancient summer trees, Natalie looked delicate in her pink dress.
That photo was still in Grant's wallet, even now.
All these years, she still hadn't been able to surpass Natalie. Why?
Clara, no matter how unwilling, had to comply with Grant's arrangements because he was her boss. After all, she admired him and wanted to be with him.
Upstairs in the private lounge, Grace had arrived early.
Ordinary people wouldn't receive such treatment, only the Hawkins family and the Devereux family.
When Natalie came up, her face was pale, clearly not quite right.
Grace had been sitting and drinking coffee, but seeing Natalie's pale face, she immediately stood up and asked, "What's wrong, Natalie? Who upset you?"
Natalie didn't forget her purpose for coming.
Though her eyes were red, she forced a smile. "I'm fine, just got something in my eye. Grace, please sit down."
Grace had been sharp in her youth and was even more so now.
How could she not see through Natalie's excuse?
She smiled. "In such a high-end place, there are still bugs? We should call the manager and have a good talk, otherwise, the money is wasted."
Natalie quickly said, "It happened outside."
Just then, Grant slowly came upstairs. Seeing Natalie with Grace, he was slightly surprised and couldn't help but take another look.
He recognized Grace.
In his youth, when his family was still well-off, his mother had been a fan of Grace.
He hadn't expected Natalie to know her.
Clara also came up. Seeing Natalie with Grace and noticing Grant's slightly dazed expression, she reminded him, "Our seats are over there."
Grant finally looked away and walked to his seat.
Grace, with her sharp ears, heard this and leaned down to ask Natalie, "Is that man the bug that got in your eye?"
Natalie bit her lip. "Grace!"
Grace laughed and elegantly sat down, pushing a cup towards Natalie. "Have some coffee! We can talk about the interview slowly. I'm quite free now, no more shows or appearances."
Natalie liked her.
She quickly complimented, "But Grace, you still exude the same elegance as ever. My mom always speaks of you with admiration."
Grace looked at her face and couldn't help but smile.
"Your mom admired me? Back then, countless women envied her."
Natalie had heard about Grace and Andrew's past. She smiled shyly. "Grace, you're doing well now too! Your husband is handsome and loyal."
Grace chuckled. "You know how to flatter me!"
In their communication, Natalie almost forgot about Grant. Her face became lively and radiant.
She was the child of Andrew and Chloe, naturally very good-looking.
Grant could never forget the thrill of seeing Natalie for the first time.
Later, when she pursued him, no one knew how much he had to restrain himself to reject her again and again.
Because at that time, his family had fallen on hard times, and his father had gotten into trouble.
Who could have known, later...
Grant sat quietly, occasionally sipping his coffee, which tasted especially bitter today without any cream.
Clara came out in a black dress.
Grant glanced at her and said, "Let's go."
Clara couldn't help but say, "I haven't put on makeup yet!"
Grant paused, then said lightly, "I'll wait for you in the car."
Clara was unhappy, but when she looked at Natalie on the other side, she suddenly understood why Grant's mood had changed. It was because Natalie looked happy.
Grant couldn't tolerate Natalie being happy.
In Grant's mind, after all these years of unhappiness, what right did Natalie have to be happy?
So Clara smiled slightly and said gracefully, "Alright, I'll be quick."
Grant didn't respond.
He was indeed unhappy. He had thought that meeting again, and after announcing his engagement, Natalie would lose her composure. She was almost crying, wasn't she? So why could she turn around and smile so brightly?
Grant walked slowly down the stairs.
Outside, a black Mercedes was parked. Grant got into the back seat, and the driver, thinking he was going to smoke, considerately rolled down the window.
"Roll the window back up," Grant said calmly.
The driver quickly complied.
Grant leaned back in his seat. He was in his prime, handsome, and every move he made was pleasing to the eye. In the business world, countless women had thrown themselves at him, but Grant had never been moved. He had always been unable to let go of Natalie.
How many years had it been? Almost eight years!
The best years of a person's youth are just a few.
For eight years, he had climbed to his current position fueled by this hatred. He could now compete with the Devereux family. He should have used every means to destroy the Devereux family, but he didn't. Instead, he hesitated, caught up in his feelings.
Grant leaned back with his eyes half-closed.
After a while, he reached into his pocket and pulled out a thin wallet.
He opened it, revealing a photo in a transparent sleeve. It was a picture of 20-year-old Natalie.
She was wearing a light pink uniform, smiling innocently and sweetly under a tree.
Grant looked at it quietly, his long fingers trembling slightly as he held the wallet. The more innocent and sweet 20-year-old Natalie was, the more deeply she had hurt him later.
He thought, that if Natalie hadn't left him back then, maybe he could have found redemption, and he wouldn't be like he was now, with a mind full of business and no life.
The only light in his life had left him just like that!
At that moment, the car door opened, and Clara's voice sounded, "Mr. McCall, I'm ready."
The next second, she saw the photo.
The atmosphere was tense. Clara was about to say something when Grant put the photo away and said lightly, "Sit in the front."
Even Clara's good temper was worn thin.
She had been by Grant's side for years, working hard. She was his assistant in name, but how many times had she been forced to drink at social events, and how many times had she been groped... She did so much for him.
But in the end, Grant still longed for Natalie.
Why? Why Natalie?
Clara lost her composure. She was the daughter of the vice president of the Syeattel Chamber of Commerce, a woman of high status. She couldn't accept her failure, so her tone became aggressive. "Grant, when will you forget her?"
Grant looked up, his gaze filled with the authority of someone in power.
Clara's heart skipped a beat.
Slowly, Grant spoke, "If you're unhappy working at Apex Technologies Group, you can resign. Ms. Lynn, I don't like others meddling in my personal affairs."
Clara couldn't hold back anymore. "You didn't deny our engagement just now."
He replied, "Are we getting engaged?"
Grant sneered, "Clara, you want to use me to satisfy your vanity, and I want to use you to put on a show for Natalie. We each get what we need, neither of us is innocent."
He sat up straighter, looking ahead, and left her with a cold remark, "There are many actresses who can play this role. It doesn't have to be you."
Clara's heart shattered.
She had invested so much over the years and couldn't bear to give up. No matter how unwilling, she had to sit in the front passenger seat. The driver asked for the destination and started the car.
Upstairs, Grace sat by the window.
She had seen everything downstairs and smiled lightly. "That bug doesn't look very happy. Is that woman his new girlfriend?"
Natalie took a sip of coffee to hide her emotions.
"An old classmate, known each other for years."
Grace feigned surprise. "She knows you two dated, right? And now she's pursuing him? That's shameless!"
Natalie smiled faintly. "Grant and I are in the past. It's reasonable for him to be with anyone now."
Grace also smiled. "Your personality is more like your mother's."
Thinking of Andrew, Grace felt nostalgic.
In Syeattel, which famous woman didn't remember young Andrew? Who knew he would end up with Chloe?
Natalie inherited all the best from Andrew and Chloe.
Smart and pure.
All the beautiful words in the world could be used to describe her.
Seeing Grace's expression, Natalie said teasingly, "Grace, are you thinking about my dad?"
Grace suddenly scolded, "You little rascal!"
Natalie lowered her head and smiled, revealing two cute little fangs.
Grace couldn't help but think, "No wonder Mr. McCall can't forget her. After seeing such pure beauty, how could anyone else compare?"
Natalie and Grace had coffee and lunch together. It wasn't until four in the afternoon that Grace let her go.
Back at the office, she handed in the interview draft. The editor-in-chief, Ernest Torres, praised her repeatedly.
"Natalie, I couldn't have done it without you this time!"
"With this piece, our magazine can keep going. Otherwise, I didn't know how to hold on. You know, a big company has been eyeing us for a buyout. I've been holding out, not selling. After all these years, I'm attached to this place. No amount of money can make me sell."
Natalie wasn't listening. She was packing up to leave.
Ernest wanted to treat her to dinner, but she declined. "It's nothing. Grace is an old family friend. I just had a meal and chat with her."
She left with her small bag.
Ernest was still sighing, while colleagues whispered around.
"What kind of background does she have? Even Grace respects her."
"If she calls Grace a family friend, her family must be impressive. Did you see it? Meeting celebrities is as easy for her as us picking vegetables at the supermarket."
"Exactly! She usually drives a regular car, but I saw her at a hotel once, driving a pink Cullinan. You know how expensive that car is, right?"
Natalie didn't hear any of this.
She went downstairs, got into her car, and prepared to leave. She had plans with Clayton to eat turkey legs and have a snowball fight. The snow hadn't piled up last night, so they were going to play in an indoor snow park.
The roads were slippery with melting snow.
Natalie drove slowly, stopping at a red light.
Suddenly, she noticed something and turned around.
In the black business car next to her, sat a familiar man, the window half-down. The man reached out and held a cigarette. His hand and face were both handsome.
It was Grant.
Natalie was slightly stunned, just looking at him, and he looked back at her.
The city's evening neon lights cast a dreamy glow on their faces, making it hard to see clearly.
A series of honks sounded from behind.
Natalie snapped back to reality, realizing the light had turned green. She gripped the steering wheel and gently pressed the gas. Grant didn't follow, as he was headed in the opposite direction.
A white car and a black car, slowly driving away from each other.
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