Chapter 48 Are These Love Bites?
Natalie’s POV
Before Rafael could reply, knocks on the door made him frown. He glanced at his wristwatch and roared, “Come in.”
His secretary entered and closed the door behind her. A look of trouble on her face, she cleared her throat and stammered, “Sir, I know you ordered me not to interrupt you or let anyone through. But Miss Debbie is here, and she insisted on seeing you now. Even though I told her that you’re in a close meeting with Miss Natalie. I could barely hold her back from barging in.”
“What did she want?” he asked.NôvelDrama.Org: text © owner.
Before the secretary could reply, the office door swung open, and Debbie walked in. She stared at each one of us with a broad smile, then stepped towards me and hugged me, saying, “Hey, Natalie. Long time no see. I missed you.”
Then she held my hands and added, “We should make sisters day together one day.”
She looked at Rafael and added, “Your sister will be my sister once we marry.”
“What’s wrong? Why are you here?” Rafael ignored her statement and asked her with a sharp tone.
She let go of my hands and walked towards Rafael. Touching his arm, she cheered, “I missed you. Can’t a girl miss her future husband? Right, Natalie?”
I blinked, not knowing what to say. Overwhelming emotions showered me. I felt the urge to leave; her fake soft voice made me sick. Thank God my phone rang at that particular moment. I saw my friend Rebecca’s name on the screen. I picked up the call promptly and walked away from them towards the office’s big window. I didn’t want to hear their conversation.
“Hey, Nat!” Rebecca’s voice rang through the phone.
I smiled at her cheerful voice; she was always happy.
“What’s up?” I asked, glancing at Rafael. I expected to find him immersed in conversation with Debbie, but instead, I found him glaring at me while Debbie was trying to capture his attention.
“We have a party tonight and no excuses. Fello and I haven’t seen you for a while. We missed you, girl,” she mumbled with a hint of complaint.
Indeed, I missed them a lot. Sitting and chatting with my friends was like a therapy session.
“Okay, send me the address, I’ll come,” I said, glancing back at Rafael. He was still looking at me but sitting at his desk.
I ended the call and stood before the desk, where Debbie was sitting on the opposite seat, crossing her legs.
She stared at me with disdain and hatred. Why wouldn’t she? Certainly, she would look at me that way, knowing that Rafael wasn’t paying attention to her at that moment.
“Who was on the phone?” Rafael questioned me.
I raised an eyebrow and replied, “It’s Rebecca. She’s asking me to meet her after work.”
“Where?” he asked again.
“Why are you asking? Are you willing to accompany us?” I teased him, knowing he couldn’t reveal his true intentions before Debbie and his secretary.
He leaned back in his seat and said, “If I had time, why not?”
I felt the burning gaze that Debbie was shooting me with, but I ignored her.
I looked at my wristwatch and said, “Excuse me now. I have a meeting I need to prepare for in thirty minutes.”
Before I turned around to leave, Debbie lifted her head from her phone. It seemed she was typing a text message. She said, “It’s the first time I saw you wearing a scarf around your neck; it suits you. Is it a new look for the meeting? Is it that important?”
Unconsciously, I touched the scarf and tightened it around my neck. I had totally forgotten that I was wearing it.
“Oh, it’s just for a change, nothing more,” I said and turned around to leave. Once I extended my hand to hold the door handle, the door swung open, and Jack barged in. We crashed into each other, and I fell to the ground. A small scream escaped my mouth from surprise, but no harm had happened.
Rafael rushed towards me, swiftly pushing Jack aside, and asked with concern, “Did you get injured?” He extended his hand to help me.
I pushed his hand away and chuckled when I saw the concern on Rafael and Jack’s faces. “No, I’m fine,” I reassured them. I didn’t want to cause awkwardness.
I stood up, unaware of the fallen scarf on the ground, and shook hands with Jack.
He chuckled and jokingly stared at Rafael, accusing him, “It’s because of you, man.”
Rafael raised an eyebrow and asked, “Because of me, what? Did I tell you to barge in like a bull without even knocking?”
“Yeah, I saw your Bugatti, it’s twenty, twenty-four. How much did it cost you? When I saw it in the parking area, I was astonished.” Jack said with joy.
“Take it easy, man, it’s not mine!” Rafael calmly said, glancing at me.
Jack’s eyes furrowed as he asked, “Then whose is it? No one in the company can afford it,” then he looked at Debbie with the realization, “Oh, it’s yours?”
Rafael looked at me. I shook my head, not wanting him to say it, but his smile widened, and he said, “It’s Natalie’s.”
Jack paused for a second, staring at my face. Then, as if he realized something, he smiled, winked at me, and said, “Congratulations.”
Damn it.
I glared at Rafael with fury, then looked at Jack and smiled, “Thank you!”
Debbie stood beside us with a broad smile and said, “Congratulations, Natalie. Finally, your hard work at the Merrins Group has borne fruit.”
I felt as if she knew something. I don’t care if she does, but I have to learn more about the suspected shipment she told me about. She shouldn’t know anything about me and Rafael now. Sometimes I feel sorry for her. She thinks she’s going to marry Rafael, but I know they don’t love each other. Their engagement was based on personal benefits, not love.
Even though I see her acting sweetly now, pretending to care and be happy for me, I’ve known the truth for a while: Debbie can’t love anyone other than herself.
I smiled a small smile and replied, “Thank you!”
Then I turned towards Rafael and said, “I have got to go. No time left for the meeting.”
Before I opened the door, Debbie said, “You forgot this.”
I turned to her just to see the scarf between her hands. With a genuine reaction, I touched my bare neck.
She handed it to me and whispered, “Are these love bites? After all, it seems you’re having fun with Daniel. Or maybe someone else?” she finished her sentence with a vicious low tone.