Natalie was in the middle of a pleasant lunch with her colleagues.
“Quinn, your phone’s been ringing for a while now. Someone is probably trying to reach you.” Gerda spoke through a mouthful of beef noodles. She was exceptionally observant by nature, so she was able to hear Natalie’s phone even with all the chatter around them.
It was a good thing, too, since Natalie herself hadn’t been paying attention to the device. She picked it up now, and hurriedly opened her screen to a message from George. He was asking her out, saying that he wanted to apologize to her in person. Natalie paused, hesitating.
George had never treated her badly. If anything, he had always tried to do the best for her. He used to speak up for Natalie whenever Cassie would bully her. He certainly wasn’t as vicious as Lauren or Cassie.
Moreover, George had a gentle, easy going demeanor. It wasn’t even much of a surprise that he had reached out to her after they had fallen out.
After a moment’s consideration, Natalie typed a reply. She agreed to meet with George at a cafe of his choosing.She headed straight over once office hours were over.
Natalie sat there for a good while, but George seemed to be running late. lt was already well past the appointed time.She ordered a cup of coffee just as the sun was starting to set outside.She finally decided to give George a call, but it went unanswered… Natalie told herself to wait for ten more minutes, and if he still didn’t show up, she would just leave. It was the rush hour, so George could have gotten stuck in traffic.
Her thoughts were interrupted by the arrival of the waiter, who set her coffee on the table. The intoxicating aroma was irresistible.
Natalie was just about to take a sip when someone stopped her.
It was Kent.
She had no idea when he had come, but he just slid into the chair across her table as if it was the most natural thing in the world.
“I strongly advise you not to drink that,” Kent warned before grabbing the cup from her hands. He put it back down on the table with a loud clink.
“What do you mean?” Natalie asked, frowning.
“What kind of trick are you playing this time?” Her temples began to throb. She always had a headache every time she came across this man. She had really thought she wouldn’t have to deal with Kent again, what with the collaboration between their companies being over and all.
To be precise, she wasn’t expecting this playboy’s interest in her to last this long. Natalie made to get up, intending to leave the cafe altogether. But Kent stopped her again. He braced his hands on either side of her, trapping her in. His large frame loomed over her dangerously.
The overpowering scent of his cologne washed over Natalie. It was nothing like Sebastian used, neither cool nor refreshing.
“What do you think you’re doing? Back off, or I’ll scream!” Natalie raised her chin defiantly and tried to stand up again, only to sit back for fear of touching Kent. He could tell she was only pretending to be brave. He saw the panic in her eyes. Kent chuckled softly.
“I was just worried about you, you know. The waiter who served you just now is a wanted rapist with an impressive criminal record. Oh, did you want him to have his way with you, by any chance? If so, then please, be my guest.”
“Why should I believe you?” Natalie scoffed.
She didn’t have a good impression of Kent.
“Dine if you don’t believe me, go ahead and drink it.I don’t care,” Kent snapped back.He hated the way Natalie treated him Kent himself knew he wasn’t a reliable guy.But Natalie’s hostility somehow seemed to upset him.
“Look.I’ve hung out with notorious people before, and I’ve seen the world. That man is a rapist.I heard he just got released from jail last month.Logically speaking, no one would hire him, not in such a cafe at least.Something is fishy. Maybe he has sneaked in.He brought you a cup of coffee, but did you see he wait on any other customers? No.It looks like you’re his only target.I asked you not to drink it because I have an inkling he might have drugged it.Have you offended anyone lately?”
Kent had never looked this serious before.
Natalie seemed confused and didn’t know what to say.
“Do you mean someone has set a trap for me?”
“It’s just a guess.But judging from the situation, he seems well prepared.People like him don’t make a random move.Are you here to meet someone? Or did you just walk in on a whim?” Kent pushed the coffee cup aside and studied her face.
“I’m waiting for my adoptive father here.” A shiver ran down Natalie’s spine.
“I don’t think he wants to hurt me.” That seemed unlikely.She knew George, and the man wouldn’t do such a horrible thing.
“How are you so sure? After all, you are just an adoptive daughter.”
Kent was a wealthy man who had seen people from various walks of life.He was more experienced than Natalie and understood how vicious people could be better than she did.
“He just sent me a message, asking if he could meet me here.He didn’t call me.I’m not quite sure if the text was from my adoptive dad or if someone has texted me from his phone.”
Bile rose in Natalie’s throat as two people came to her mind.She suspected Lauren or Cassie had texted her using George’s phone.
Kent trailed his finger across the rim of the glass, smiling.
“Do you have any clue?”
“Well, I think I Know who is behind this. Thank you for helping me.”
Natalie stood up in a huff with her bag.
Moments later, she sat down.
“What happened? Do you want to spend more time with me?”
Kent asked, taken aback by her sudden change in plan Natalie didn’t even bother talking to him She wanted to leave.
However, the two had crossed the line. Natalie could no longer put up with this issue.
Lauren and Cassie had been relentlessly trying to hurt her.
Natalie couldn’t quell her anger.It was time to fight back.She slyly glanced around.
The coffee shop was very quiet, and the surrounding streets looked nothing out of the ordinary.
Natalie wondered if Lauren and Cassie were watching her from a secret hiding place.
If Natalie didn’t drink this cup of coffee, they would probably show up in person soon, thinking she would leave because George hadn’t shown up as expected.
“Hey, what’s going on? Didn’t I tell you that someone might be after you? It’s dangerous.What are you still doing here?” Kent could never make out what Natalie was thinking. That was why he was obsessed with her.
“Mr.Perkins, I appreciate your kindness.But I have something else to do. You can leave now.”
Natalie cast an impatient glance at Kent, nervously tapping her feet.She took out her phone and texted Sebastian.
Sebastian was a strong man.
