Garrett was still in his pajamas.His hair was a little disheveled, which made him look like a pitiful child.
Without his glasses, Laney could see the nuances in his bright brown eyes.
Laney suddenly felt bad.She loosened her grip on his collar and pulled away slightly.As she looked at his pitiful face, she found herself at a loss for words, and her anger gradually dissipated.
Somehow, she even blushed! Realizing that, she turned her face away to hide it.
“Forget it.I‘ll let you go this time.”
After saying that, she turned around and hurried out, ignoring Garrett‘s stunned expression.
After walking out of the villa, she took a long, deep breath.
What was she thinking just now? Why did she suddenly blush? Laney buried her flushed face in her palms and kept walking, although she didn‘t know where she was headed.She pushed her feelings to the back of her mind, refusing to fall into his trap.
Laney had long suspected that Garrett liked her.
At the beginning, she had had a bad impression of him.
But after getting along with him for such a long time, she had gradually changed her disposition towards him.But she didn‘t believe that she could be with someone like him.They were worlds apart and didn‘t stand a chance of being together.
Besides, Garrett was never short of girlfriends.He might‘ve never met someone as fierce and challenging as Laney, which was probably why he was so infatuated with her now.
Laney sighed heavily.She regretted not making things clear to Garrett just now.
Next time she saw him, she would draw the line.She then headed back to the Pole Shadow in low spirits.
Recently, a lot of new faces had joined the organization, and she was tasked with developing a training plan for each of them.She soon buried herself in the work and left her worries behind.
In the W Marks Studio, the staff were running around like headless chickens–as usual.The fashion world was constantly changing, so a studio like the W Marks was busy all year round.
At present, Draco had only two assistants, both of whom were buried neck deep in work.Natalie was so busy that she always went to work early and returned home very late.She had been working non–stop, taking few breaks at a time just to eat and sleep.
Sometimes, she‘d even do an all–nighter in the studio.
One night, she had fallen asleep at her desk when her phone started to ring.With her eyes closed, she fumbled around blindly until she found her phone beside the keyboard.She put the phone near her ear and answered tiredly, “Hello, who‘s this?”
“Where are you, Natalie? You haven‘t come home yet.”
Sebastian‘s calm and serious voice came from the other end of the line.Only then did Natalie sit bolt upright in shock.
She rubbed her eyes and said apologetically, “I‘m sorry, honey.I worked until two o‘clock in the morning, so I decided to sleep here.”
“It‘s a Saturday.” Sebastian sighed heavily.
“Have you forgotten about our appointment?”
If it were in the past, Sebastian wouldn‘t have cared too much.
Natalie had always been a workaholic, and he had always been supportive of her work.
However, recently, she had been working non–stop, leaving no time for him and herself.
“I still have some work to do.Can I go see you when I‘m done?”
Natalie eyed the unfinished design drafts on her desk warily.
“I‘ve made a dinner reservation already.It‘ll be up to you whether you make it or not, but I‘ll wait until you show up.”
Sebastian‘s underlying message was clear—that she should take a break from work and have dinner with him.
Later that evening, Natalie went to the Michelin–starred restaurant Sebastian had booked.
Wearing just a simple T–shirt and jeans, Natalie stood out like a sore thumb in the fancy restaurant Sitting opposite her was a calm man with a cold temperament.He propped his chin on his palm and watched helplessly as the woman tinkered with her iPad.
“Is your work really that urgent?”
Seeing the dark circles under Natalie‘s eyes, Sebastian felt tired for her.It had been half an hour since Natalie sat down.She had been on her iPad that whole time, tirelessly working on her design drafts.Natalie broke off a piece of a cookie and popped it into her mouth.
“We just received two big orders.Plus, we‘re launching another line this coming fashion week.Everyone‘s been so busy lately.In fact, Elizabeth‘s still in the office.” Sebastian frowned slightly and plucked the iPad from her hands.
“Can you take a look at me for one second? You can continue working after dinner.I won‘t take up too much of your time, I promise.”
With the iPad taken away from her, Natalie looked at him sheepishly.
“Sorry, honey.I‘ve just been so busy at work lately.When my schedule frees up, how about we go on a trip?”
“So you‘re aware that you‘ve been neglecting me?” Sebastian grumbled.
Realizing he was whining like a child, he coughed in embarrassment and cut the steak for Natalie.
“Let‘s eat first.”
Natalie put on a charming smile and ate the steak that Sebastian had cut into bite–size pieces for her.As she chewed, she looked around the restaurant, deep in thought.
“This restaurant‘s design is pretty simple but elegant.The color scheme will look good on clothes, I think.”
“Why‘s your mind still on work?” Sebastian felt both helpless and amused.
“Please pay attention to your husband, whom you‘ve neglected for so many days.”
From under the table, Natalie gently touched Sebastian‘s thigh and smiled innocently.
“But I‘ve never neglected you in bed.”
With his chin resting on his palm, Sebastian‘s eyebrows shot up.The more he got to know Natalie, the more he felt that she was two different people in and out of bed.Her eyes sparkling, Natalie continued, “It’s really inspiring to work with Draco.He makes me enjoy being a workaholic.And when you‘re doing something you‘re passionate about, you‘ll really forget everything else.”
“Good evening.It‘s a special night for couples.Tonight, we‘re giving out complimentary drinks to the couples dining here.Please enjoy.”
Just then, a waiter approached with two glasses of drinks and some dessert.
Staring at Sebastian‘s glass, Natalie commented, “Your drink is prettier than mine.Yours looks glittery somehow.”
“Then let‘s exchange,”
Sebastian suggested with a smile.He handed Natalie his glass, and the latter marveled at it for a long time.
The color of this glass of drink was like a mix of blue and purple, like the Milky Way galaxy, shining and beautiful She took a sip and her eyes widened in surprise.
“It‘s delicious! Would you like to have a taste?”
Looking at the colorful girly drink, Sebastian wasn‘t interested at all.He proceeded to eat his steak and said, “I can‘t drink.I have to drive later.”
**** *
After dinner, Natalie went back to the studio to continue working.
The deadline was fast approaching.She had been working tirelessly for a few more days.
One night, Elizabeth showed the rest of her design drawings to Natalie.
After a while, she frowned and said, “You don‘t look well, Natalie.Do you want to take a break?”
“Just a little sleepy.I‘ll have another cup of coffee later and I‘m sure I‘ll be fine.” Natalie shook her head and smiled.
“Anyway, are these drawings done? I‘ll go through them later.”
Seeing that Natalie was completely immersed in work, Elizabeth didn‘t say anything more.
Anyway, after tonight, they would finally have some days off.She set down the drawings and turned to leave.
Suddenly, she heard a loud thud from behind her.Elizabeth immediately turned around and found that Natalie had passed out and fallen to the ground.
“Natalie!”
Seeing Natalie unconscious on the ground, Elizabeth hurried back to help her up.Only then did she realize just how pale Natalie‘s face had become.She anxiously wiped the sweat off Natalie‘s forehead and said, “Answer me if you can hear me, Natalie!”
But Natalie didn‘t respond.
In a panic, Elizabeth held Natalie‘s wrist to feel her pause.She even unbuttoned Natalie‘s shirt and lowered her head to listen for a heartbeat.
“What on earth…”
Elizabeth was scared out of her wits.Her eyes were full of shock and all the color drained from her face.She couldn‘t feel a pulse, nor could she hear Natalie‘s heartbeat! She stood up and looked around in a panic.It was already the wee hours of the morning.
Most of the other colleagues had already gone home.
The whole office was dark, save for Draco‘s office.
