Chapter 514 Playing With Fire
“Master,” Samuel greeted, his expression stony as he gave Malcolm a curt nod.
Malcolm waved a hand at him. “Don’t look so cold later. Just look at that face of yours! You’ll scare off your junior!”
“My face has always looked this way.”
Malcolm narrowed his eyes and warned, “I’m not the only one who has a soft spot for your junior. Donna and the rest of the rest adore her as well. If you dare bully her, none of us will go easy on you.”
“I’m not interested in my junior in that way.” Samuel took a seat and poured himself a cup of tea. “If you’re thinking about setting me up with her, I advise you to give up early on,” he said impassively.
“Save the talk about giving up till you see her.”
“No need for that,” Samuel shot back without a second thought. The corners of his lips quirked upward as he continued, “It doesn’t matter if she has the beauty to overturn nations. I won’t have that sort of intent toward her.”
His confident statement was the first thing Natalie heard when she entered the room.
A shiver ran down her back when she caught sight of the man’s familiar profile. My senior is Samuel? This is too much of a coincidence. It’ll be a waste if I don’t use this opportunity to tease him!
Samuel’s unexpected appearance sparked Natalie’s playful side once she recovered from the initial surprise.
“Master, since my senior has no interest in me, why do you still insist on setting us up?”
Natalie’s eyebrows moved expressively as she spoke, and her lips curved into a half-smile as she approached the men. “It’s not like this senior is the only guy left on earth! I’m sure my other seniors are brilliant as well, and other masters are bound to have a few outstanding apprentices too.”
Malcolm’s expression shifted drastically upon hearing her declaration. He shot to his feet and began to console Natalie, “T-This guy has no idea what he’s talking about. Don’t take it to heart!” He was worried that Samuel’s words had hurt Natalie’s feelings.
After comforting Natalie, Malcolm turned to jab a finger in Samuel’s face as he berated, “That mouth of yours overshadows all the good in you! Your foolishness just ruined all of my hard work!”
Samuel followed Malcolm’s gaze to see Natalie standing by the door.
His fingers tightened involuntarily around the teacup when he registered her presence.
Tea sloshed about in the cup as the teacup shook from the sheer force of his grip.
“Which outstanding person did you want Master to introduce you to?” Samuel asked, his menacing tone matching his darkened face.
Natalie could tell that her statement had triggered Samuel’s jealousy, but she did not retract her words and instead continued to poke the bear. “My other seniors, of course. Well, anyone but you, really. Didn’t you just say that no matter how beautiful I am, you wouldn’t be interested in me?”
“Watch what you say,” Samuel warned as his eyebrows drew together tightly.
“I was just repeating what you said. What’s wrong with that?” Natalie continued to goad, refusing to back down.
“You’re playing with fire.”
“And what about that?”
Anxiety seized Malcolm as he watched his beloved apprentices leap at each other’s throats at their very first meeting.
Malcolm recognized that Samuel had started the argument with his ugly remarks and reprimanded, “Samuel, just look at what you did! So what if you’re not interested? Did you really have to go and be so rude? Can’t you speak nicely? If you continue to bully your junior I’ll chase you out of this place!”
Samuel felt like he was about to explode from anger as he watched Natalie hiding behind Malcolm. She peered at him over Malcolm’s shoulder and feigned innocence.
Samuel stood up from his seat, walked toward Natalie, and wrapped an arm around her waist.
His possessiveness was palpable as he trapped Natalie in his embrace.
Left out of the loop, Malcolm thought that Samuel was trying to take advantage of Natalie and spluttered angrily, “You b*stard! What are you trying to do to Natalie?”
