Chapter 126: I Can Make You Happy
Nathael set down his glass, took a cigarette from his pack, and lit it casually as Maggie's heart raced with uncertainty. The lighter's flame cast a crimson glow on his silhouette as he turned, giving her a cold stare. "What if I said no?" he asked.
Maggie, at a loss, bit her lip, unable to contain her question. "What do you mean? Even if you don't care about our relationship, shouldn't you consider your friendship with Ericko? No matter what, you shouldn't side with the Camerons!"
Nathael's eyes darkened, but his voice remained calm. "Didn't you ask me to leave the Adams and side with the Camerons a while ago?"
"Well," Maggie hesitated, her emotions tangled, "that was in the past."
Nathael avoided her gaze, focusing on the glasses on the coffee table as he took a drag of his cigarette. Sitting beside him, Maggie was overwhelmed with questions. Is he crazy? No. I must have misunderstood him.
"You don't need to assist Ericko and me. Just keep our secret, okay?" Maggie pleaded, her eyes reflecting earnestness.
Nathael chuckled, his voice laced with disdain. "Maggie, I'm a businessman. I can strike a deal with Ronald using what you told me. What can you offer me instead?"
His tone turned icy and aloof, revealing a deep aversion to hearing her name alongside Ericko's—an aversion that surpassed even his previous disdain for Joseph. Perhaps it stemmed from his close bond with Ericko, making him recognize Ericko's superiority over Joseph. Perhaps it was their closeness, making him unable to bear the thought of someone else taking his place. Or perhaps it was simply envy and anger.
Maggie was taken aback, feeling as though they were strangers negotiating a business deal. After a moment's contemplation, she looked at him earnestly. "I can make you happy!"
Nathael remained silent for a moment before extinguishing his cigarette and rising to leave. Maggie panicked, grabbing his sleeve with a hint of spoiled defiance. "I don't care. You can't side with the Camerons, no matter what!"
Nathael glanced at her grip, sneering. "Who are you to tell me what to do?"
Maggie was speechless. Locking eyes with her, he spoke in a low voice, "Maybe I'll tip off Ronald. Consider it a good deed for you."
His intentional provocation infuriated Maggie. Struggling with anger and frustration, she clenched her teeth. "Nathael, karma will get you!"
Nathael leaned forward, delicately grasping her chin. His dark eyes swirled with restrained fury, like an angry sea ready to swallow everything in its path. He couldn't understand why she would use him for the Camerons, then turn around and plot against them for Ericko. He wondered what she truly cared about. In Nathael's eyes, Ericko took precedence over the Camerons, and the Camerons took precedence over him.
Maggie met his gaze, her expression resolute. After a moment, she bowed her head. "Mr. Harris, what do you want?"
Nathael chuckled, a hint of self-mockery in his eyes. Parroting her words, he replied, "I want someone to make me happy." Maggie was speechless. She figured she must have wronged him in a past life, prompting fate to send him to torment her in this one.
In her heart, Maggie didn't believe Nathael would disrupt her and her brother's scheme and assist the Camerons, who were unrelated to him. However, his unpredictable nature added another layer of uncertainty. There was no telling when he might act unexpectedly. Moreover, she couldn't decipher his intentions, adding to her frustration. She would be furious if he had ulterior motives that interfered with her plans. Nevertheless, she resolved to play along to appease him. She was fully committed now!
Gathering her courage, Maggie looked at him with sincerity in her dewy eyes. "Nathael, I've kept a secret for a long time." Her voice was gentle, her usually haughty and insincere demeanor replaced with an extremely convincing sincerity.
Nathael sat opposite her, observing her closely.
"I've liked you for a long time. Ever since I first saw you, I couldn't take my eyes off you."
As Maggie reminisced, Nathael lit another cigarette, intrigued by her words. "I remember it was a dark night. I was waiting under a streetlight in the rain, and the ground produced white mist, which contrasted against the dark sky"
Maggie's voice trailed off as she recalled the first time she saw him. Joseph had promised to pick her up but was delayed. Unable to drive herself, she waited anxiously, fearing she'd miss him if she took a taxi. Her hair was wet from the rain, and she waited endlessly, afraid of the rain getting heavier. It was then that a stranger offered her an umbrella. A luxury car slowed as it passed, and Nathael recognized her inside. "Alex, give her an umbrella," he instructed. "Alright." Nathael dismissed the idea of sending her home, knowing she would refuse and he didn't want to scare her off. He couldn't help but lower the window to look at her.
Draped in a wine-red sundress with thin shoulder straps, she exuded elegance with her slender shoulders and finely sculpted collarbones, evoking the image of a swan gracefully dancing under the cover of night. The rain cascaded down, drenching her attire and accentuating her elegant silhouette. Even though she looked disheveled, her captivating beauty was striking. She seemed to have had a bit too much to drink, making her appear excited and radiant, like a deep red rose quietly placed in the night, with fresh dewdrops rolling down its petals, making it all the more captivating. "Miss, my boss told me to give you this umbrella."
Accepting the umbrella, Maggie glanced upwards involuntarily. Through the partially open car window, she caught sight of a stern yet attractive face. Nevertheless, she couldn't see clearly because of the heavy rain. As the lights flickered on, she could only make out the handsome visage of a man exuding an aura of depth and authority. "Thanks," Maggie nodded, uncertain if he heard her. Alex shifted his gaze and got into the car. Although Nathael's car window had closed, his eyes remained fixed on her as he commanded in a low voice, "Go around the block before heading back."