Chapter 264 Unrequited
She was greeted by a gust of cold air upon exiting the private room, dampening the warmth that had arisen in her.
Walking behind Nathaniel, Madison replayed the incident of him spurning Luke for her.
Mr. Hadley cares about me. He rejects another man’s advances toward me as soon as he sees his intentions.
Lowering her head, Madison smiled surreptitiously to herself.
As soon as they emerged from the hotel entrance, Sebastian sent Nathaniel home.
Madison stared until the black Maybach disappeared into the distance before looking away reluctantly.
It was late at night when he arrived back at Scenic Garden Manor.
Nathaniel pushed open the door and found Christina on the couch, exploring an illustration software on her tablet.
She wore her hair in a ponytail and was dressed in a long sleeping gown. She wore a pair of white socks, and the way her feet swung idly looked endearing.
Hearing the footsteps, Christina turned around. She narrowed her eyes. “Have you been smoking, Mr. Hadley?”
The stench of alcohol and burnt tobacco was especially pungent against the faint fragrance of the room.
Only when he sniffed his jacket did Nathaniel realize it stank. “I had business to discuss earlier.”
Like an agile kitten, Christina leaped off the couch and arrived before him in several quick strides. “At a karaoke lounge? Or a private room? Were there pretty girls to drink with you?”
Beautiful women are a dime in a dozen in places like those, with one to light one’s cigarette and another to pour one’s drinks. They’re all the same. Nathaniel is handsome. Surely there will be women who would throw themselves at him even without being paid to.
That thought made her feel uneasy. As there were scarcely any women by his side before, she had never considered that a problem.
This appears to be something I should keep an eye on.
Nathaniel’s gaze darkened momentarily. He caressed Christina’s hair as if he was comforting a small, furry creature. “There are occasions when I’m forced to be at such a place, but I will never interact with them.”
Christina cupped her cheeks in her hands. Her gaze twinkled like a curious child’s. “What makes you so sure that you wouldn’t talk to them? What if you meet someone vivacious and beautiful? Wouldn’t you want to speak with her at all?”
Isn’t it human nature for men to stare at beautiful women? Even I will do a double–take when I see handsome movie
stars or models at work.
Nathaniel’s gaze darkened. His beady eyes seemed to consume her. “I promise I wouldn’t. I’m going to take a shower.”
1/3
As he spoke, he loosened his tie and exposed his Adam’s apple, which bobbed attractively. He had some alcohol and his skin was flushed pink which made him look as if he smelled like a dish.
Christina turned her gaze away from his muscular chest peeking out from his shirt and gave a cough to mask her insecurity. “Hurry up.”
Humming in a*sent, Nathaniel entered the bathroom.
Christina was back in bed by the time he emerged from his shower. He lay down beside her.
Her sweet body scent calmed him. In fact, nobody else made him feel that way.
His lithe arm wrapped around Christina’s waist, pulling her tiny body close to his. It was in this manner the couple savored each other’s heartbeats until dawn broke.
Luke appeared at Hadley Corporation with an a*sistant first thing the following morning.
Entering with freshly brewed coffee, Madison prepared the documents and the computers on which they could make immediate amendments to any term they would go over during the meeting. As soon as the details were ironed out, they could then print the agreement and sign it.
Seated around the meeting table, the five of them spent the entire morning going over the finer points of the agreement, going through several cups of coffee as they did so.
Most of the discussion was conducted by only two people–exemplifying the juxtaposition between business and war. Seemingly irrelevant details contained a calculated division of benefits, which could be taken advantage of by the opponent at the slightest lapse in vigilance.
The terms, spanning several pages, were only finalized that night after much revision. Then, Sebastian left to print the recorded documents.
Luke rose from his seat and straightened his suit. “We’ve finally ironed out everything. Come, let’s have a drink.”
“I have a bar in my office.” Nathaniel, too, stood up. It’s not an unreasonable request to have a drink after completing the negotiations.
In single file, the two men headed for the bar in the office. Madison made them drinks.
Resting an arm on the bar, Luke allowed his gaze to linger on Madison’s exquisite figure. “I never knew how talented your secretary is, Mr. Hadley.”
He had heard long ago that Nathaniel’s secretary was the heiress to the Taggart family, who cast aside her birthright to do something so blatantly obvious that everybody knew her intentions.
Nathaniel gave a slight smile but did not respond.
Madison placed two gla*ses of a mix of her own creation, Playboy, on the table. Luke picked one up and took a sip. “Not bad.”
Madison flashed a confident smile. She had sought the tutelage of a professional to mix drinks.
Then, she turned her expectant gaze to Nathaniel and awaited his feedback.
2/3
Nathaniel took a sip, but his placid features did not express anything beyond that. It looked as if he had drank nothing more than water.
“You should give a comment, Mr. Hadley,” Luke teased as he kept his gaze fixed on Madison. “He doesn’t seem to treasure you at all. Work for me, and I’ll double your salary. What do you say?”
Madison stiffened up.
Is money
what I need? No. It’s Nathaniel. Since I’m getting hit on, there’s no harm in playing along to see if Nathaniel cares about me.
She gave a courteous smile. “Mr. Hadley is good to me. I have no intention of jumping ship for now.”
“For now. Does that mean you might tomorrow?” Luke produced his card and placed it on the table. “Call me any time you change your mind.”
If she takes the card, it means she’s interested. If she doesn’t, it means she is not.
She was in no hurry to turn him down. Instead, she looked toward Nathaniel. I wonder if he would get me to stay if I ever considered another job.
For some reason, Madison grew nervous. It suddenly occurred to her that she had been in Hadley Corporation for over five years. Everything else aside, they had known each other for a long time, and her work had always been impressive. Furthermore, she had been responsible for the collaboration of the Hadley family and the Taggart family on many projects.
Nathaniel wouldn’t let me go, would he?
The room was so silent that the atmosphere became slightly tense.
Nathaniel set his gla*s down casually. “Not everybody has the good fortune of being offered Mr. Larson’s card. Take it.”
Madison’s fist tightened around her sleeve. She could not hide the disappointment in her eyes at those words.
I thought he would reject the offer on my behalf to get me to stay. Obviously, I expected too much.
