Chapter 9
“Is that guy waiting for you, Natalie?” Olivia nudged my arm and winked, her tone teeming with mischief.
I leaned out to peek, and sure enough, it was Lucas. He was lounging against that sleek sports car, clutching a bouquet and gazing upwards with a gaze that could melt butter. Every soul he crossed paths with, he’d inquire if they knew me, begging them to relay the message that he was patiently awaiting her downstairs.
“He’s been at it for days, girl. Your name’s been the talk of the town around here,” she joked, her eyes twinkling.
I rolled my eyes skyward and drew the curtains shut. I felt a twinge of guilt wash over me.
“Ms. Hanks, the President’s Office is on the line. Mr. Russell would like to see you.” An intern’s voice came through the
intercom.
I picked up the receiver and Benjamin’s ice–cold voice pierced through. “Come up.”
The moment I stepped into his office, Benjamin pinned me against the wall, leaning in to nibble on my neck, murmuring, “Darling, he’s so annoying.”
I ran my fingers through Benjamin’s hair and teased, “Jealous?”
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He snorted and leaned in closer, his teeth grazing my skin. “You’ve been so swamped lately. I miss you.”
I pushed back against his increasingly passionate kisses, panting. “Let’s save it for when we get home.”
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A couple of hours later, as we stepped out of the car and made our way to the restaurant, someone darted out of nowhere, blocking our path. Benjamin instinctively shielded me.
Lucas was a mess, his hair disheveled, eyes bloodshot, a far cry from his usual dashing self. He looked at me with a sinister grin and said, “Natalie, finally, I’ve caught you.”
Benjamin stepped in front of me and confronted him. “Mr. Blunt, what’s your business with my wife?”
Lucas seemed to notice Benjamin for the first time and muttered under his breath, “Your wife? Natalie is my fiancée. We had a wedding ceremony. She’s mine. Who the hell do you think you are?”
With that, he wound up punching Benjamin.
Instinctively, I stood in front of Benjamin and shouted, “Lucas, you’ve lost your mind!”
Lucas stared at me in disbelief. “You’re actually taking his side? Natalie! How could you defend another man?”
Then, Benjamin took my hand and pulled me behind him,
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reclaiming his role as my protector. He let out a mocking laugh
at Lucas.
“Put away your fake tears. You were the one who cheated on her first, weren’t you? You pushed her into my arms at your own wedding. And for that, I have to thank you for giving me a stunning wife,” Benjamin said, his voice dripping with sarcasm.
Lucas‘ fists clenched, veins bulging on his neck as he glared at
- me.
The tension was palpable. Just as the two were about to come to blows, I stepped in between them.
I said, “Lucas, I’ve told you countless times before that we’re over. When you showed up at our wedding with Jessica, and Benjamin appeared, I made the decision to end things with you.
“I’m not your toy. I’m not the pet you discard and then expect to come crawling back to when it suits you.
“I don’t love you anymore. You’re just a chapter in my past. Now, I love my husband deeply. Please, don’t come and disturb me anymore.”
Lucas seemed to be swept away by the storm of his own making.
Then, I took Benjamin’s hand and we were about to leave when Lucas, refusing to accept defeat, reached out and stopped us. He looked at me with a cruel smile and said, “Benjamin, you once said you hated gold–diggers more than anything. You even went as far as to say in front of everyone that Natalie was the exact
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kind of person you despised.”
