Chapter 68 She Is My Woman
Nathaniel’s voice softened, almost as if he were smiling. “I’ve had something light earlier. Don’t worry about me.”
Christina’s heart warmed at the sound of his calm tone, and a sense of relief washed over her. Despite the chaos of the past few days, he always seemed to know how to make her feel better.
“Okay, I’ll come by after my celebration,” she replied, her lips curving into a smile. “But if you’re busy, don’t wait up for me.”
“I’ll be here,” Nathaniel said simply. “I’ll see you later.”
After hanging up, Christina returned to the karaoke room where her colleagues were still enjoying themselves. The atmosphere was light-hearted, and the sound of laughter filled the room, making her feel happy for the first time that day.
Anna, spotting her, waved her over. “Come on, Christina, it’s your turn!”
Christina hesitated for a moment, but then she grinned. “All right, all right.”
As she joined her colleagues, the mood lightened even more. It was a welcome distraction after the tension of the earlier events. Still, in the back of her mind, she couldn’t help but think about Nathaniel. Despite the fun of the night, a part of her wanted to be by his side.
Later that evening, after the karaoke session ended, Christina made her way to Nathaniel’s office. The familiar quietness of the building seemed to contrast with the joyful noise she had just left behind, but it felt comfortable.
When she stepped into the office, she found Nathaniel sitting behind his desk, his usual composed expression on his face. The cool, sterile lighting of the office only added to the sleek atmosphere, but there was a sense of warmth in his presence.
Nathaniel looked up as she entered, his gaze softening just a little. “You’re here.”
Christina smiled as she approached his desk. “I said I would be. How was your evening?”
“Quiet,” Nathaniel replied with a small smirk. “I’ve been waiting for you.”
She raised an eyebrow playfully. “Waiting for me? I didn’t know I was so important.”
“You are,” Nathaniel said with quiet sincerity. “And I wanted to hear about your award.”
Christina felt a flutter of happiness in her chest. “It’s still sinking in, honestly. I never expected to win, especially not on my first try.”
“I’m proud of you,” he said, his voice rich with meaning. “You’ve worked hard for this.”
“Thank you.” Christina walked over to where he was sitting and leaned against the desk, her heart warm. “You’ve been a huge support to me, Nathaniel. I can’t thank you enough.”
Nathaniel’s gaze lingered on her, and for a moment, there was a quiet intensity between them. “You don’t need to thank me. I want you to succeed.”
There was something in his eyes that made Christina’s breath catch, a depth of emotion she didn’t quite know how to interpret. She wasn’t sure if it was gratitude, affection, or something else entirely, but in that moment, everything around them seemed to disappear.
She smiled softly. “I know. And I appreciate it more than you know.”
Nathaniel reached out, gently brushing a strand of hair from her face. “You deserve everything that’s coming to you.”
Christina’s heart raced, and she found herself leaning in closer to him. The moment stretched between them, and for a second, it felt like the world was holding its breath.
“Are you still cold?” Nathaniel asked quietly, his hand resting on her shoulder, his touch gentle but grounding.
Christina looked up at him, her smile widening. “Not anymore.”
As they stood there, the soft hum of the city outside was the only sound in the room, but it felt like everything was aligned. Christina knew that, despite the unexpected twists and turns of the night, she was exactly where she needed to be. With Nathaniel, everything felt right.