35

"Suzanne, are you ready…?" Nathan stopped when he saw her on the phone, a wide smile on her face.

He felt the urge to approach and casually ask who she was talking to, but he told himself it was none of his business. Just as he was about to turn around, he heard her say:

"I love you too, silly," she smiled. "Take care, okay? See you soon."

A knot formed in the pit of his stomach, and he quickly walked away, shaking his head and trying to focus on his pending tasks.

They had to travel that same afternoon, and after they both packed their suitcases and had everything ready, they got into an elegant car heading to the airport.

Suzanne wasn't surprised to see Nathan's private jet; it was expected that a man like him would have one of those.

Once in the air, Nathan focused on the work he had piled up and paid her no attention. She was irritated seeing him work so much; they were halfway through the flight, and he was still sitting with several folders in hand.

"Could you stay still in that damn seat?" Nathan spoke suddenly.

"Could you stop that for a while? I'm bored," she said, and her tone came out harsher than she intended.

"Don't interrupt me," he snapped bitterly.

"Is this why you wanted me to come, to watch you work for hours?" she frowned.

"Don't provoke me, Suzanne," he spoke through gritted teeth.

"Can't you stop for at least a minute?"

"Damn it… shut up already, I can't work like this," Nathan closed his eyes, feeling his anger rising.

Suzanne looked at him, stunned. Why was he so angry? Why was he talking to her like that?

"If I had imagined you'd be like this, I wouldn't have come," she said, annoyed, crossing her arms.

Then he smiled mockingly.

"Don't be foolish, you would have come anyway," his gaze hardened. "Don't forget that you belong to me," he declared coldly.

"I hate you," she spat.

"Mmm, you didn't say that last night when you were begging me for more sex."

"You bastard!"

"Hey, hey, watch your mouth."

"You're detestable, Nathan."

"Stop it already!" he warned her, annoyed again.

"Sorry for not obeying you, Mr. Strong," she said sarcastically.

Nathan jumped up from his seat and grabbed Suzanne by the arms, looking at her angrily.

"Stop provoking me already, damn it," he spat cruelly.

That day, it seemed both of them had woken up in a foul mood, but the reality was different.

The conversation he had overheard when she was on the phone had left him feeling this way, as it seemed she was talking to a man.

That had pissed him off, even more so when he heard her say she loved him. Since then, he had been holding back his anger and had focused on work to avoid thinking about it.

"You're hurting me," Suzanne complained, trying to pull away from him.

"Don't change the subject," Nathan glared at her, furious and threatening.

"You started it," she accused.

He tightened his grip, and she looked at him, scared.

"You're making me lose the little patience I have. Right now, I feel like doing something to you that I've never done before," he spat harshly, causing her to shiver.

She shrank back into her seat; she had never seen him so violent towards her. Why was he behaving this way?

Suzanne didn't say anything for a few seconds, mute with fear.

"I'm sorry… I-I won't say anything else," she said in a trembling voice.

Nathan saw Suzanne's pale face and how she trembled, making him frown.

"Did I scare you?" he softened his tone a bit.

She didn't respond. He let her go and returned to his seat, clenching his fists at his sides due to his outburst.

She turned her gaze towards the window, and then tears welled up in her eyes. A sob escaped her throat, and he heard it.

"My God! Don't cry," he asked, distressed, and she only sobbed louder. "Suzanne… Stop," he pleaded.

He didn't know how to handle these kinds of situations and thought she was indeed a very sensitive girl.

She hid her face in her arms and fell asleep shortly after without realizing it. Nathan watched her sleep, and a feeling of guilt washed over him.

When they got off the plane, he took her hand, although they were both still upset. The driver was already waiting for them outside the airport.

They both got in silently, and upon arriving at the hotel, Nathan dragged Suzanne straight to the elevator, and she looked at him, incredulous.

"I'm the owner of this hotel chain," he explained.

Now she understood why he hadn't even stopped at reception. Nathan was filthy rich, more than she had imagined.

"No wonder this man expects everyone to do whatever he asks without a word," she thought irritably.

He swiped the card through the lock, and when the green light turned on, the door opened. Suzanne was still quite upset, so she didn't even look around.

She wanted to be far away from Nathan.

"Stop," he ordered, but she ignored him.

That gesture made Nathan even angrier.

"I should have brought Brigitte. She obeys without question," he muttered angrily.

That infuriated her. How dare he be so rude and boorish?

"Then go find her and leave me alone!" she screamed, beside herself.

He approached her in two large strides and grabbed her arm roughly. He was angry again, and she noticed it by his flaring nostrils.

"Tell me who the hell you were talking to this morning," he demanded, enraged.

She looked at him coldly.

"I don't have to explain anything to you, Nathan," she jerked away until he was forced to release her to avoid physically hurting her.

"I paid five damn million for you, Suzanne," he spat coldly.

"You have no right…" she began to say, but he interrupted before she could finish the sentence.

He looked at her with such coldness that she felt it in her bones.