Chapter 642 Consequence
While Natalie could not discern Oliver's expression, he had an unobstructed view of her. Dressed in her exquisite gown, she was not like the queen on stage earlier. Instead, she approached him with caution, holding the hem of her dress. Her eyes conveyed a mixture of trepidation and anticipation. She approached him as a kitten might venture from its nest, showing a hint of timidity and joy.
Oliver found himself wondering if Natalie had been as radiant at the wedding he had missed. Had he been there, would she have approached him with that playful shyness, with a hint of timidity mixed with joy?
Oliver extended his arms, inviting her with a soft voice, “Natalie, come here.”
At that moment, the nervousness vanished, replaced by warmth.
Natalie quickened her stride, her high heels' distinct tapping echoing urgently through the hallway.
Oliver stepped forward and wrapped her delicate figure in his arms. The void in his heart seemed to have been filled at this moment. He drew her closer, unable to hold back, he stroked her face and delivered a firm kiss before releasing her.
Natalie laughed upon seeing Oliver's lips smeared with her lipstick. She had opted for a bold, statement red, Dior's 999. The sight of the red lipstick on his expressionless face amused her.
Realizing this, Oliver wiped his mouth with the back of his hand, which only made Natalie laugh more. Her makeup remained flawless; only her lipstick was slightly faded due to the kiss.
Oliver was also amused. He pinched her cheek lightly and said, “Alright, stop laughing.”
"You look funny. You should be glad I don’t have my phone with me,” Natalie said between laughs, regretting the missed opportunity to capture Oliver in such a state.
"Natalie," he said warningly.
Natalie took a deep breath, barely containing her giggles. Oliver took pride in his appearance around her. She thought it was wiser to laugh about it inwardly.
Oliver removed the remaining lipstick with his thumb and the back of his hand. It was minimal, so it was quickly erased.
"When did you arrive? I didn’t see you earlier," Natalie said.
"Didn’t you say that you wanted to keep our relationship a secret?” he asked. He had deliberately chosen an inconspicuous seat over a VIP seat to avoid drawing attention. If he had sat in the VIP seat, it would not take long for people to make the connections between him and Natalie.
"You’re awesome. You think of everything," she complimented him.
Unbeknownst to her, Oliver's striking appearance made him recognizable even in the most unassuming seat, especially if someone intended to disclose his presence and photographs deliberately.
"So?" Oliver prompted.
"So what?" Natalie played coy.
"A reward," he hinted. Verbal praise was not enough.
Natalie contemplated this and rose on her tiptoes to offer him a kiss as a reward. However, Oliver intercepted her lips with his hand, his gaze penetrating hers with evident distaste for the lipstick.
Natalie laughed again. "It’s not that I’m unwilling to reward you; you simply don’t want it!"
Oliver regarded her coolly, "Laugh as much as you want, Natalie. Let’s see if you can still laugh when we go home."
Natalie froze. The fear Oliver had instilled in her that evening remained vivid in her memory.
"Are you going home after changing out of your dress?” Oliver inquired; his impatience evident.
Natalie paused to consider. "It might take a while; I anticipate a call from Emily regarding a meeting with some brand representatives soon. Additionally, I’m not entirely at ease with the situation involving Flora, and Tina's issue hasn’t been fully resolved."
Oliver's expression darkened immediately, his annoyance palpable. It was evident that he was displeased with anyone who delayed Natalie from accompanying him directly home.
"It won’t be long. There’s a party following the show; perhaps you could relax there for a while?" Natalie suggested, trying to appease him.
The venue of the afterparty was also within the exhibition center.
“Why should I attend the afterparty? Moreover, there’ll be many women there. It’s annoying.” Oliver’s mood worsened upon hearing her words.
Natalie sighed to herself, realizing her attempt to appease had failed.
Indeed, Oliver's attractiveness and status made him irresistible. Despite being known as a married man, numerous women were still attracted to him. Now that he was ‘divorced’ and ‘available’, there was no doubt that many women would try to approach him.
"Then, just ignore them,” Natalie said, raising her chin with a hint of defiance, “Moreover, I’ll be there as well. I’ll be watching you.”
Her tone was light and teasing, her eyes alight with playful mischief.
Oliver's gaze darkened with desire, but he restrained himself for the moment. He would have his way with her once they were home.
…
Upon her return backstage, Natalie found Emily Reed waiting for her.
"Natalie, your performance tonight was brilliant! It surpassed my expectations. Several brands have already shown interest in discussing collaborations with you. There's also a jewelry endorsement and a leading bridal brand eager to collaborate," Emily informed her, "I’ll introduce you to them soon, although nothing is set in stone yet."
"Hmm?" Natalie considered the brands Emily had mentioned—all were internationally renowned.
Emily laughed, her pride evident. "Some were eager to dismiss us when we were down, but now, they want to curry favor. It won’t be that easy. We’ll only choose the one you like."
"Thank you, Emily!" Natalie expressed her gratitude.
…
Natalie changed into a sophisticated, champagne-colored evening gown. Although she did not intend to steal the show, it was inevitable that she would draw attention.
When she arrived at the after party with Emily, several brand representatives promptly approached them, lavishing Natalie with praise. They unanimously agreed that after her brief hiatus, she seemed even more captivating than before, and they were keen to collaborate with her.
Emily, hailing from a distinguished family, displayed an innate elegance in her demeanor. Together with Natalie, they navigated through a crowd of influential people and fashion elite, spending a bit more time conversing with Cory Clayton. He had been instrumental in Natalie’s career, offering her substantial support.
After Natalie left to mingle with others, someone approached Cory, asking, "Hey, Cory, you're quite close to Natalie, aren't you? Can you introduce us?"
Clayton responded with a knowing smile, "Didn’t you see how protective Emily was of her? When your brand learned of her injury, you severed ties so swiftly. I recommend you look for a different model."
Natalie's career had flourished, and she had reclaimed her position at the top, peerless in the fashion industry.
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