Chapter 25 Feeling Too Hot
Nathaniel’s lips curled into a smug smile as he leaned back slightly, propping his chin with one hand, his gaze exuding a wicked charm. “You’re right. My wife looks good in anything,” he remarked casually.
Christina felt a slight flush of embarrassment at his praise. Suddenly, Nathaniel seemed much more agreeable to her when he wasn’t being so intimidating. The previously tense atmosphere began to feel a little lighter.
Just as she was about to reply, the sound of the courtyard door opening reached her ears, signaling that her grandmother might be returning. Without wasting another second, Christina quickly pointed toward the backyard door and urged him, “We’ll sort out the agreement later. Hurry and leave now.”
Christina was determined to keep her marriage under wraps, particularly from her grandmother, who had no idea about it. If Nathaniel were caught by Evelyn, it would only complicate things further. Her grandmother was someone she wanted to protect from the complexities of her life with Nathaniel.
Nathaniel’s expression faltered slightly as he realized he was being dismissed. He stood there, feeling as if he were being pushed aside. But Christina was too focused on her goal to notice his petty reaction. She grabbed his hand and started pulling him toward the courtyard.
“Come on, don’t just stand there,” she urged, clearly wanting him out as quickly as possible.
Nathaniel, distracted by the warmth of her palm in his, allowed himself to be pulled along, dazed by the sensation. She led him to the back door, and without hesitation, she released his hand and swung it open.
“That’s it. Go now,” she said, trying to usher him out with as much haste as possible.
But Nathaniel was not done yet. He couldn’t help but miss the softness of her hand in his, and a sly thought crossed his mind. “How dare you make the CEO of Hadley Corporation use the back door?” he muttered, his face contorting into an expression of mock disdain.
Christina, at her wit’s end with his stubbornness, tried to appease him, knowing it would be easier to send him on his way than to argue further.
“Could you please leave first? I beg of you?” Her voice carried a note of genuine plea.
Nathaniel’s lips twitched upward, clearly enjoying her discomfort. His dark eyes gleamed as he stepped closer, lowering his voice into a near whisper, “I’ll leave… only if you give me a kiss.”
Christina’s heartbeat spiked at the close proximity of his breath. The warmth of his words sent a jolt of nerves through her, but she quickly turned her face away, her cheeks flushing a deep red. “You’re such a rogue!” she huffed, trying to keep her composure.
“Ah, I hear your granny unlocking the gate,” Nathaniel teased, still enjoying her unease. He took another step toward her, relishing in her bashfulness.
Christina’s heart pounded in her chest, feeling like a guilty child caught in mischief. She had no choice but to give in. “The only kiss you’re getting is a peck on your cheek,” she muttered, barely able to meet his gaze.
Nathaniel grinned widely, clearly satisfied with her concession. “Deal,” he said smoothly. He turned his face slightly, raising his jaw in a gesture that seemed almost practiced, oozing a kind of effortless, masculine allure. There was a certain pride in his demeanor, as if every movement he made was deliberate and calculated.
Christina, feeling slightly self-conscious, stepped onto her tiptoes to peck his cheek. Just as she was about to do so, Nathaniel, impatient as ever, turned his head, causing their lips to brush against each other. Both of them froze, shocked by the accidental kiss. Christina’s eyes flew wide open, and her heart skipped a beat in surprise.
Realizing what had happened, Christina quickly shoved Nathaniel out the door before shutting it behind her, her breath coming in short, flustered bursts.
On the other side of the door, Nathaniel stood there, his lips still tingling from the unexpected contact. A low chuckle escaped his lips as he savored the moment. Was it a mistake? Or had Christina planned it all along? He couldn’t be sure, but it was a memory that would linger for some time.
Meanwhile, inside the house, Evelyn had been calling out to Christina from within the home, but there had been no response. Christina, guilty and flustered, slipped in through the back and hurriedly called out, “Granny, I was too caught up in my designs and didn’t hear you.”
Evelyn, ever the doting grandmother, raised an eyebrow as she looked at Christina. “Why are you so flushed?” she asked with a concerned expression.
Christina quickly covered her cheeks instinctively, feeling the warmth still lingering from the encounter with Nathaniel. Her thoughts briefly flashed back to the accidental kiss. “I’m just feeling a little warm. Don’t worry,” she quickly explained, her voice betraying her discomfort.
Evelyn didn’t seem to press the matter further, allowing Christina to scurry off to her room. As soon as she was inside, Christina felt a wave of relief wash over her. But the lingering memory of the kiss was enough to make her heart race all over again.
The following morning was sunny, and Evelyn had gone out for her morning exercise at the crack of dawn. Christina, enjoying a rare moment of solitude, munched on a piece of bread when the doorbell rang. She rushed to answer it, only to be met by a woman in a uniform, holding a package.
“Are you Mrs. Hadley?” the woman asked.
Christina swallowed her bite of bread before replying in confusion, “Yes, I am. What is this about?”
The woman smiled warmly. “We’ve got the right person then.”
With a wave of her hand, she signaled for her team to unload several clothing racks full of the latest women’s attire from high-end brands. Christina blinked, stunned by the delivery.
“I didn’t order any clothes. Is there some sort of mix-up?” she asked, her voice laced with confusion.
The woman handed Christina a proof of delivery. “Mr. Hadley has paid for these clothes and arranged for them to be delivered to you. All we need is your signature.”
Christina knew it could only be Nathaniel who would spend so lavishly on such a grand gesture. She hesitated briefly but, not wanting to cause any more trouble for the delivery staff, signed the receipt.
Once they were gone, Christina stood there, stunned by the extravagance of the gift. Three whole racks of new clothes, just for her. She could barely comprehend it. Nathaniel had only mentioned how plain her clothes were the day before, and now this.
Despite her reservations, Christina didn’t want to waste such expensive clothing, so she chose a suit that seemed simple enough and decided to wear it. It wasn’t long before she headed out, intent on continuing her work on the next chapter of her life.
Her first stop was Radiant Corporation, one of the top ten fashion companies in the world. As she stepped into the building, her delicate features immediately caught the attention of everyone around her. She was quickly introduced to her team leader, Gina Tanner, a stylish woman with chestnut curls and an unmistakable aura of confidence.
Christina was given a position and immediately set to work. The first task at hand was a competition between the interns, where they would submit their design drafts. Christina, already prepared with her own designs, entered the competition with the hope of standing out.
By the end of the day, the team leader posted the best design on the announcement board. The design was creative and stood out from the others, and the name at the bottom of the draft paper was Christina’s. Her talent had been recognized—and her journey at Radiant Corporation was just beginning.