Chapter 153: What a Coincidence
Nathael's initial good mood soured at her words. So, was she looking for someone else? His dark, narrow eyes, sharp and cold with suppressed anger, fixed on the fearless, arrogant woman before him. He wished he could strangle her. "Don't even think about it," he said coldly.
Maggie remained calm, a controlled expression hiding her helplessness. She subtly turned to the window, a hint of amusement in her eyes. She was a wicked woman; fearing hurt, she guarded her heart, unwilling to fully commit, yet greedily desired his love. After all, who wouldn't want to be cherished above all others?
In his past life, Nathael had proven his feelings, but the past and present were different, weren't they? Alex remained on edge, fearing Maggie might provoke Nathael. Fortunately, they avoided danger. Surprisingly, the notoriously impatient CEO showed remarkable tolerance toward Ms. Adam.
The car stopped at an international shopping mall. Maggie linked her fingers with Nathael's. "Where to?"
"Dinner. There's a nice French restaurant here," he said, gently caressing her fingers. The feeling was strange, yet he couldn't let go. Maggie felt a flicker of hope. She'd be returning home in two days. This trip had been rushed, leaving her little time to enjoy herself.
Of the three designers the Camerons hoped to recruit, two would never work for Honor Wide again. The last, Albert—a sharp-tongued, forty-year-old bald man—was talented but eccentric. Maggie remembered that after joining Honor Wide, his designs had failed to resonate with audiences, leading to a plagiarism scandal and a plummeting reputation. He'd been the least successful of the three. Therefore, Maggie didn't try to stop him from joining; sticking together only suited those who disliked each other.
After they were seated, the waiter arrived with menus. Maggie asked for recommendations, casually ordering several highly-rated dishes. Nathael, presumably a regular, ordered dishes he knew she'd enjoy. Soon, the food arrived.
A woman in a pink camisole and shorts ascended the stairs to the second floor. Beth removed her sunglasses, searching for someone. She spotted Nathael and Maggie. Her heart tightened, a strained expression on her face. He was with Maggie.
Nathael's business trip to Yatria hadn't seemed significant, but she'd heard about Maggie's exchange program. Being in the same city (Misk City), she'd booked a flight. Tracking Nathael down proved difficult; his close associates remained tight-lipped. She'd tried contacting him, but he'd ignored her. Relying on luck, she'd come to Misk City and after three days, found them.
Seeing them together, however, brought not joy but suffocating discomfort. She composed herself and approached, feigning a chance encounter. Pausing momentarily, she said, "Nathael? What a coincidence, you're here too!"
Her surprised yet familiar voice caused Maggie to chuckle. What a coincidence indeed! Across half of Heplait, they'd met by chance in a foreign country.
Beth turned to Maggie, her smile faltering. "Ms. Adam, you're here too."
"Yeah," Maggie replied, propping her chin on her hand and watching Beth as if observing a play. She had no intention of being friendly. It was too fake; even with a smile, they'd never be friends. There was no need to waste emotion.
"Nathael always thought the food here was good. We've eaten here a few times before. Ms. Adam, you must try it," Beth said smoothly, her politeness masking subtle sarcasm.
Maggie glanced at Nathael. Had he been here with Beth before?
Nathael remained impassive. "There's a ski club here. We used to come with a group of seven or eight, organized by Jimmy." Maggie nodded; that explained it. She hadn't thought Nathael would frequent this place with Beth.
Beth's smile stiffened, unprepared for Nathael's explanation.
"Was it fun?" Maggie asked curiously.
"Not that interesting," Nathael replied gently. "If you want fun, I can take you to St. Moritz. It'll be much more enjoyable there."
Maggie considered this; she disliked cold weather and bulky ski suits.
Beth's hand tightened, feeling absent-minded. She'd never seen him treat any woman so well. Was Maggie truly different? Why should she be?
Perhaps Beth's intense gaze was noticeable. Nathael frowned and asked directly, "Aren't you leaving?" The bluntness lacked the patience he'd shown Maggie.
Unfazed, Beth smiled. "I just happened to see you, so I thought I'd say hello."
Nathael remained silent. Beth's phone rang; she apologized and moved to take the call.
Maggie watched Beth's back, then turned to Nathael. "I bet she'll join us after her call," she said slowly.