Chapter 18 Turning Down Dinner
Natalie was watching a movie with Bella when Adrian called again.
"Dinner tonight?" His voice was cool and clear over the phone.
Natalie felt a headache coming on.
Technically, he was asking "Alice" out, yet she was just a stand-in. The less she interacted with him, the better. Too many encounters would definitely blow her cover.
Besides, they had an awkward conversation at school just the other day, and she had accompanied him to an auction recently. Wasn't he supposed to be heading to Verono?
Natalie said, "Sorry, I'm at the Skyline Building watching a movie with a friend. Rain check?"
There was a pause on the other end before he finally said, "Alright." Natalie let out a sigh of relief.
Bella glanced at her. "Who was that?"
"A friend," Natalie said simply.
"So mysterious. Not a boyfriend, is it?" Bella teased, raising an eyebrow.
Natalie chuckled, stuffing her phone back into her bag. "C'mon, you know I'm single. Let's just watch the movie."
However, after that call, Natalie couldn't focus on the film at all.
When they left the theater, it was pouring outside. Bella called her family's driver, but traffic was a mess in the rain, and he hadn't arrived yet. Just then, Alice's phone rang again.
It was Adrian.
Natalie turned away from Bella to answer, "Hello?"
"Where are you?" Adrian had just finished dinner with friends and remembered she was at the Skyline Building. Seeing the rain wasn't letting up, he decided to call her.
"I'm still at the Skyline Building," Natalie replied.
Adrian glanced up; he could see the building in the distance. "Wait there. I'll come get you."
Natalie's heart raced. She was with Bella. If he saw them together, would he get suspicious? Would he realize she wasn't Alice?
"No need. My friend's driver is almost here. They'll take me home," she quickly said, gripping her phone tightly, her palms sweating.
There was a brief silence before Adrian replied, "Okay."
Natalie exhaled, her voice shaky as she wrapped up the call.
A few minutes later, Bella's driver still hadn't shown up, but suddenly, headlights cut through the rain.
A black Bentley rolled up slowly.
Natalie froze for a few seconds when she saw the license plate.
It was Adrian's car! He said he wasn't coming. What was he doing here?
Through the window, Adrian's eyes were fixed on her. Just as she was about to duck back into the mall, Bella grabbed her arm and called out excitedly, "Adrian!"
Natalie felt a migraine coming on. Meeting Adrian's gaze, she greeted with a forced smile, "Adrian."
"Why are you still out so late?" Adrian's tone was neutral, but Natalie sensed an underlying message.
To him, she was Natalie, not "Alice."
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