Chapter 69 These Things Are Not Your Responsibility.
Nathaniel stood at the window, his eyes fixed on the figure below. Christina’s smile was visible even from this distance, her hand waving up to him as if the small gesture could bridge the gap between them. His chest tightened slightly, the warmth spreading through him despite the cold air of the office.
For a brief moment, time seemed to slow. It was a rare thing for him to feel so… connected to someone. Most of his life had been filled with work, responsibility, and a controlled distance from others, but Christina had a way of breaking through that barrier. She made him feel seen, in a way no one else ever had.
“See you soon,” Nathaniel murmured to himself, his voice barely audible.
Down below, Christina stood there for a few moments longer before turning and walking toward the waiting company car. The sight of her leaving tugged at him in a way he couldn’t quite explain. It wasn’t like him to feel this unsettled, this aware of how much he would miss her presence.
He snapped back to reality as the phone call ended, and with a deep breath, Nathaniel returned to the meeting, his mind still half-occupied by the image of Christina’s waving hand.
Later that night, after the meeting wrapped up and the office cleared out, Nathaniel found himself walking through the hallways with a sense of urgency. It wasn’t just the business at hand that kept him up late; it was the weight of everything that had happened recently—the growing connection with Christina, the surprise of their relationship moving so quickly, and the reality of how much she had started to mean to him.
As he entered his office, the faint sound of footsteps caught his attention. Sebastian, ever the observant assistant, was already standing by the door.
“Mr. Hadley, is everything all right?” Sebastian asked, glancing at Nathaniel’s serious expression.
Nathaniel paused for a moment, his mind racing through the day’s events. “Everything’s fine, Sebastian. Just a long day.”
Sebastian didn’t press further but gave him a knowing look. “You’ve been quite distracted recently. More so than usual.”
Nathaniel didn’t answer immediately. He knew Sebastian was right. The usual focus he prided himself on was starting to waver, and it was all because of one person—Christina.
He shook his head slightly, forcing himself to focus. “I need a report on the Dapner Corporation partnership tomorrow. Make sure it’s ready for the board.”
“Understood,” Sebastian replied, sensing that Nathaniel wasn’t in the mood for any further conversation.
Later, when Nathaniel returned home, he found Christina already there, the soft glow of the living room lights casting a peaceful ambiance around the space. She was sitting on the couch, scrolling through her phone, a content smile on her face.
Nathaniel didn’t say anything at first, just stood in the doorway, watching her for a moment. There was something comforting about seeing her in his space, as if she had already become an integral part of his life in ways he hadn’t expected.
“How was your day?” Christina asked, glancing up and giving him a warm smile.
He walked over to her, his expression softening as he sat beside her. “It was long, but it’s over now.”
Christina nodded, putting her phone down and turning her full attention to him. “I was thinking about what you said earlier, about the promotion… it’s a big opportunity. Are you sure you’re okay with me going?”
Nathaniel reached out, taking her hand gently in his. “You’ve earned it. This is your chance, Christina. You’ve worked hard for it.”
She smiled, leaning into him slightly. “Thank you, Nathaniel. I… I’m glad you’re supportive of this. It means a lot to me.”
Nathaniel looked at her for a moment, his gaze intense. “You don’t have to thank me. I’m always here for you, Christina.”
Her heart fluttered at his words. She wasn’t sure when it happened, but something had shifted between them—something real and steady, despite the complications of their lives.
“How about we just focus on tonight?” Christina suggested with a playful smile, leaning closer to him. “No more talk about work, promotions, or anything else. Just us.”
Nathaniel’s lips curved into a rare smile as he agreed, pulling her into a gentle embrace. The tension of the day seemed to melt away in that moment, and for the first time in what felt like forever, everything was right.
They sat together in silence for a while, just enjoying each other’s presence. And as the night went on, Nathaniel couldn’t help but feel a sense of peace settle over him. Whatever came next, whatever challenges awaited them, they would face them together.
Christina had become his anchor, and somehow, he knew—no matter what happened, this was just the beginning.