47

Nathan had long since stopped paying attention to what Valery was saying. His eyes were fixed on the woman who had just entered the restaurant with a handsome young man he knew very well.

“What the hell is Suzanne doing here with that man?” he wondered with a frown, struggling to control himself and not make a scene.

Suzie and her companion sat down two tables away from them. When she saw Nathan with Valery, she was surprised but quickly composed herself and ignored them.

She enjoyed her lunch, laughing along with Lucius, who was very entertaining. On the other hand, Valery grew tired of Nathan constantly staring at his assistant.

Desperate, she invented a headache so that he would take her home. Nathan didn't want to leave Suzanne with that guy, seeing her smile and enjoy herself was not to his liking.

He was too selfish to see her happy with another man who wasn’t him.

Nathan planned to take Valery home and then take the rest of the day off to go after Suzanne, but his plans were thwarted when he remembered his appointment with the Japanese clients.

When the clock struck six and Nathan still hadn't arrived, Suzanne thought sadly that he must be having fun with his friend since she had seen them leave the restaurant together.

Annoyed, she called her friend Dylan to see if she could stay with him that night. Besides, she needed to vent to someone, she had to tell him about her pregnancy.

When Nathan didn't find Suzanne at the apartment, he thought she had gone to the mansion, but she wasn’t there either. He called her numerous times on her cell phone, but it only went to voicemail.

He kept trying until she sent him a message, informing him that she would be spending the night with Dylan. If it weren't for the fact that he knew her friend didn’t like women, he would have gone to find her immediately.

That was one of his worst nights. Nightmares that he believed were dead resurfaced from the deep and painful parts of his past.

He could hear his little brother’s voice, crying out for help, while their father beat him to death.

***

Suzanne entered the office with a big smile the next morning, but her smile faded when she saw the dangerous look Nathan gave her.

“Good morning,” she said naturally.

“Care to explain why the hell you spent the night out without my permission?” he exclaimed angrily.

“I didn’t think you’d come back,” she said indifferently, while placing the coffee on his desk.

“What are you talking about, Suzie?” he asked, confused.

“You left very early with your friend. When I saw it was six o'clock, I thought you wouldn’t come back early,” she said, while jealousy consumed her inside, though she tried her best to control it.

“Suzanne, after I left the restaurant, I took her home and then went to a meeting,” Nathan clarified.

“Mmm,” she simply replied.

“But tell me, what were you doing with that guy?” he asked, still annoyed.

“Having lunch.”

“Suzanne…” his tone was a warning.

“So, you have the right to go out to eat with a friend, but I can’t eat with a friend? You’re such a selfish bastard!” she shouted the last part angrily.

“Lower your voice,” Nathan hissed.

He got up from his chair when he saw her sway, but fortunately, he managed to catch her in his arms before she hit the floor.

“Damn it, you’re still weak. Stop wasting energy arguing over something that makes no sense,” he scolded. This time, his voice wasn’t cold; it had a touch of concern and tenderness.

He laid her down on the sofa and noticed that something was off with her.

“You should go home, Suzie.”

“I don’t want to.”

“Suzanne…”

“Nathan.”

“You're so stubborn, woman,” he rolled his eyes.

She didn’t respond, fighting the nausea that overwhelmed her. Nathan was looking at her strangely, as if he suspected something.

She forced herself to sit up, but had to sit back down immediately. She knew she couldn’t continue with this charade any longer; she had made a decision.

“Nathan, I have to tell you…” but she was interrupted by the redhead who suddenly entered the office, and behind her was Emilia.

“Sir, I told her she couldn’t come in,” she said, referring to Valery, who had entered unannounced.

Emilia knew her boss well and knew that this was not to his liking.

“Don’t worry, Emilia, you can leave.”

“With your permission, sir.”

As soon as Emilia left, the redhead exclaimed:
"Nathan, darling!" she said, heading towards him with open arms, but he managed to evade her embrace.

That woman was starting to annoy him; he didn't want her around, acting like they were something more than acquaintances.

Besides, he didn't want Suzanne to get stressed. It was evident something was wrong with her, but he promised himself he would call Harper and set up an appointment.

Suzanne rolled her eyes and looked at Valery with disdain, something Nathan didn’t miss.

“Valery, how can I help you?” he asked, trying to be polite.

“Well, you left so quickly yesterday, and we didn’t have time to properly discuss what I told you,” she said, taking a seat next to Nathan.

He had sat back down beside Suzanne, who continued to glare at the redhead.

“Based on the information you gave me, I think it’s a good business deal,” he said, trying to wrap up the topic.

“Oh, thank you, dear,” she smiled contentedly. “How about we go out for a drink to celebrate my new venture?”

“Sorry, but I’m very busy today, I can’t,” he declined seriously.

She didn’t seem pleased with the rejection, but she smiled falsely.

“Girl, get me a glass of water,” she ordered Suzanne arrogantly.

Nathan opened his mouth to protest, but Suzie interrupted him.

“I’ll get it right away. Cold or hot?”

“Cold.”

“Even better,” she thought.

Before leaving, she gave Nathan a smile, and he understood the disaster about to unfold.

As soon as Suzanne left, Valery jumped into his lap.

“How about we resume our old relationship, honey?” she said sweetly, trying to kiss him.

“I’ve already told you what I think about that,” Nathan said, pushing her away brusquely and standing up.

He didn’t want Suzanne to walk in and find this woman on top of him.

He moved away from her, walked to the large window, and turned his back, ignoring her completely.

“How dare you turn your back on me, reject me?” Valery exclaimed, trembling with rage.

“It’s simple, I’m not interested in being with someone like you,” Nathan said disdainfully. “So I ask you not to approach me in such an intimate manner again, or I won’t be responsible for my actions. Are we clear?”

His tone was cold, and Valery was shocked; he had never treated her this way. What had changed him so much?