Chapter 833 Pregnancy, It's a Good Thing!
However, Natalie was now pregnant, and this involved her and Oliver's child. As such, she decided to speak to him first.
Originally, she planned to prepare Oliver's favorite dish and bring it to his office to make him happy, hoping he would not be able to refuse her. However, with only half an hour remaining, she decided to call Oliver instead.
Oliver answered the phone quickly.
"Oliver, what are you doing?" Natalie asked gently, her voice carrying a hint of affection.
Oliver raised an eyebrow and replied, "What's up? Just get to the point."
Natalie paused briefly before responding, "Can't I simply call you without having an ulterior motive?"
Oliver knew that, after being together for so long, a sudden call from Natalie, accompanied by her sweet voice, meant more than it seemed. It felt similar to the times when Lilian had asked him to buy bags for her.
"I want to participate in a photoshoot for the cover of a magazine in Paykston tomorrow. Can I?" Natalie asked directly now that he had seen through her.
"Natalie, you're four and a half months pregnant," Oliver reminded her seriously.
"I know, and so does the magazine. They're aware I'm pregnant."
"Natalie," he said with a hint of resignation.
"Many international supermodels were five to six months pregnant and still walked the runway in high heels at the Victoria's Secret fashion show. I'm no less capable than them, don't you think?"
Oliver sighed. "You're trying to trap me with this trick question."
To him, there was no right answer to this question. If he answered yes, it meant agreeing to her request. If he answered no, he would be denying her ability, and it would also lead to an argument.
Natalie said coquettishly, "Oliver, I really want to do this photoshoot!"
Her voice was filled with an endearing charm.
When he heard his name, his expression changed, and his eyes darkened with emotions. After a pause, he suggested, "I have a meeting tomorrow and can't accompany you. Ask the magazine to reschedule the shoot."
Natalie was speechless. He actually suggested that a renowned magazine reschedule the photoshoot? In her opinion, it was absolutely absurd.
"No, they only have time tomorrow," Natalie lied. She was unsure how long the team would be in Paykston, but she never wanted to cause any inconvenience. Moreover, she was the secondary party in this contract.
After a beat, Natalie quickly added, "Don't even think about trying to change the team's schedule! Don't be so rude!"
Oliver, planning to have Collin contact the team, felt quite helpless.
"Oliver, I'm pregnant, not critically ill. Do you know there's a condition called depression?"
Natalie mentioned this, although she knew her mental state was excellent.
Despite spending most of her time at Rosewood Estate since returning to the country, Marjorie organized many engaging prenatal education activities for her every day. Flora and Jane visited often, and Mia also came by a few times with Lilian. Her life was far from boring.
Natalie continued to persuade Oliver, and eventually, she obtained his consent. She joyfully prepared to go to work with Emily.
…
At the RisingKing Group.
A tense silence had fallen over the conference room.
The executives stared at Oliver, who was seated at the head of the table, stunned.
After a moment, a senior executive broke the silence, asking, "Oliver, is Natalie pregnant?"
Oliver nodded. His expression was still dark due to Natalie's insistence on working.
The executives exchanged glances, sensing their boss' mood. After a moment of telepathy, they seemed to have found a solution to lighten the mood.
"Congratulations, Oliver!"
"Congratulations to Oliver!"
"You and Natalie are really good at keeping a secret! Congrats!"
"Your baby will surely be very smart and cute, surpassing his or her peers!"
''Oliver, you're so lucky to have Natalie! And soon you'll have a lovely little baby!''
They were unsure if Natalie was expecting a boy or a girl, so they were very careful with their words to avoid any missteps.
With this attempt, Oliver's mood visibly improved. A hint of a smile even appeared in the depths of his eyes.
"Let's continue the meeting," Oliver finally said. His expression was no longer as dark as before.
In the second half of the meeting, Oliver's mood was notably better. Although the M&A team's cases were not handled perfectly, he did not dwell on the issues. For departments that had performed well, he even promised to double their bonuses for the quarter on the spot.
Everyone left the meeting happy. Indeed, Natalie's pregnancy was a cause for celebration!
…
The photoshoot took place in a studio located in the park district of Paykston.
Natalie had instructed Casey, who was still recovering from injuries, to stay behind. A bodyguard arranged by Oliver, along with Emily and Lilian, accompanied her to the shoot instead.
The team from VOGUE had previously worked with Natalie during Lindwell Fashion Week, and their mutual respect facilitated a smooth collaboration.
For the shoot, the team selected a fluffy dress to subtly disguise Natalie’s growing belly. The shoot was inspired by 'Mona Lisa's Smile' to leave viewers guessing about her pregnancy.
"Great! That's a wrap!" the director called out, "Well done, Natalie!"
"Everyone, thanks for the hard work!" Natalie responded, exchanging pleasantries with the team.
Emily then proceeded to coordinate with the post-production team.
Checking her phone, Natalie noticed several missed calls from an unknown number. A single missed call might be a mistake, but several indicated something more urgent. With a sense of foreboding, she returned the call and heard the transfer tone of a hospital line.
"Hello, Paykston University Medical Center," the voice on the other end said.
The mention of Paykston University, where Lucas was studying, sent a chill through Natalie.
"Hello, you just called me several times, but I didn't answer," Natalie replied anxiously.
"Are you a family member of Lucas? You need to come over quickly; Lucas has had an accident," the caller informed her.
Natalie hung up, grabbed her bag, and hurriedly prepared to leave.
"Natalie, where are you going?" Lilian, noticing Natalie’s sudden change in demeanor, asked.
"There's something urgent. You and Emily go back together. I have the bodyguards with me, so don't worry," Natalie said, trying to mask her worry as she quickly left, followed by her four bodyguards.
The studio was located on the seventh floor.
Natalie and the two female bodyguards entered one elevator, while the two male bodyguards took another one.
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