Chapter 100 Is There A Problem
Madison couldn’t bring herself to believe that Christina was capable of anything. Nathaniel must have said that without much thought.
Yet, seconds later, Nathaniel’s words caught her off guard. “All right. Make sure you learn a thing or two from her, then.”
Madison stood still, wondering if Nathaniel’s comment was a joke. Christina, coming from a nouveau-riche family, might have a university degree, but she was just an unaccomplished designer. She might know something about sewing and tailoring, but Madison doubted she had any knowledge of red wines and their production years. And yet, Nathaniel still wanted her there? Even if Nathaniel was protective of her, he shouldn’t risk turning an important lunch into a circus.
Madison paused for a moment, her mind working to formulate a plan. After a few seconds, she composed herself, clenched her teeth, and flashed a smirk. “Certainly, I will,” she replied before leaving the room.
As soon as the door clicked shut, Christina emerged, looking startled like a rabbit. She stared at Nathaniel, her voice filled with disbelief. “You don’t intend to take me to that lunch, do you?”
Nathaniel met her gaze with a cold glint in his eyes. “Any problem with that?”
Christina’s eyes widened as she gazed into his steady gaze, her thoughts racing. Of course, there’s a problem! A huge one! How could he say that to Madison so confidently? Even the smallest mistake in a high-profile event like that could turn her into a laughingstock.
She wanted to protest, but Nathaniel’s piercing gaze made her swallow her words. After a long pause, she sighed. “All right. As long as you don’t think there’s a problem, it’s fine with me.” What else could she say?
A few moments later, Sebastian walked in with some snacks for supper and arranged them on the coffee table.
The moment Christina caught the aroma, she eagerly dug into the snacks, much like a hungry squirrel foraging for food. Nathaniel observed her, amused. “Just stick close to me throughout the meal.”
At that point, Christina had already forgotten about the business lunch. “So when you said I was capable, were you actually referring to yourself as being capable?” she casually remarked, taking a bite of lamb shank. Did he say my capabilities were on par with Madison’s? So, he was only saying that because he knew I could count on him?
Nathaniel smiled, his voice playful as he sliced the steak into pieces and fed her a bite. “Isn’t that true?”
Christina, her mouth full of food, could only nod in response, unable to speak. She had never met someone who would go to such lengths to praise himself. As the only one indulging in supper, she continued to eat, leaving Nathaniel to watch her devour the food with amusement.
Nathaniel, surprised by her hearty appetite despite her petite frame, gave her a bemused look.
“Go to the bar counter and get yourself a drink. I need to take care of something, but I’ll be back soon,” Nathaniel instructed as he stood up and returned to his seat, his focus shifting to his work.
Christina, feeling thirsty, noticed that although Sebastian had prepared an array of delicious food, there was no drink. She walked over to the bar counter, scanning the bottles on the shelves. After a moment, she noticed a bottle labeled “fruit” in Anglandurn writing. Assuming it was fruit juice, she decided to give it a try.
As she opened the cap, the aroma of blueberries greeted her senses. She poured herself a glass and took a sip. However, the taste was strange—a slightly fermented flavor that made her pause. Could it be expired?
She took another sip, but the peculiar taste lingered, confusing her further.
After finishing his work, Nathaniel glanced around but couldn’t find her. Walking over to the bar counter, he spotted Christina sitting in a corner, holding the small bottle in her hand.
Crouching down slightly, Nathaniel’s eyes fell on the Anglandurn label. “Why did you drink wine? Didn’t you say you were thirsty and wanted water?”
Christina frowned, the dizziness from the drink clouding her thoughts. She muttered, “Your fruit juice must have expired… It tastes awful…”
Before Nathaniel could explain that she had actually drunk wine, Christina’s head suddenly fell against his shoulder. He looked down to see her passed out, her warm breath brushing against his neck, sending a tingling sensation down his spine. His nerves tightened with anticipation.
A faint smirk curled at the corner of Nathaniel’s lips as he gently lifted her into his arms.
He walked out of the office and into the elevator, heading toward the parking lot.
Meanwhile, back in the office, Madison had been sorting through documents when she noticed Nathaniel carrying Christina in his arms as he walked past her. A frown creased Madison’s forehead. How did Christina end up in his office?
Her gaze then fell on the white jasmine flowers hanging from Christina’s bag. The unique floral pattern caught her attention, and she recognized it instantly as the same design Ada had created for the Hadley residence. It couldn’t be a coincidence, could it? If Christina was indeed Ada, everything would make sense. No wonder she always covered her face with a mask.
As Nathaniel got into the car, he ordered, “Scenic Garden Manor.”
The driver nodded in acknowledgment and started the engine.
Nathaniel held Christina in his arms as the night grew darker. The interplay of light and shadow through the car window illuminated the soft, delicate features of the woman in his embrace. Her complexion was luminous, her long lashes resting gently on her lower eyelids, giving her a serene, almost doll-like appearance.
The faint aroma of alcohol mixed with her natural fragrance created an intoxicating blend that surpassed any wine he had ever tasted.
Nathaniel held her close, his eyes closing as he found himself drifting off to sleep. The comfort of her warmth in his arms proved irresistible, and he unknowingly fell into a light slumber.
While half-asleep, memories of an overseas business trip with Sebastian and Madison resurfaced in his mind. It had been many years ago, in a coastal country. The business negotiations had gone smoothly, and after dinner, Nathaniel had some wine. However, when he returned to his hotel room, he began feeling unwell. His body burned with an intense heat, and he spent the entire night submerged in a bathtub filled with ice water.
Since that night, Nathaniel had developed an allergic reaction to women. His body would turn red when in physical contact with them, and in severe cases, he’d have trouble breathing. The agony of that night replayed in his mind every time he touched a woman, trapping him in an endless cycle of suffering.
Half an hour later, the car stopped at their destination.
The driver, sensing Nathaniel’s icy demeanor, didn’t dare speak. Nathaniel opened his eyes, beads of cold sweat forming on his forehead.
He held Christina securely in his arms and exited the car. Returning to the room, he gently placed her on the bed and embraced her tightly. Despite the ample space on the bed, they occupied only a small corner of it.
The room was silent, but the warmth of Christina’s body provided a soothing balm to the storm that raged inside Nathaniel. He held her even closer, his heart yearning to merge their beings into a perfect harmony.