Page 87 of An Inconvenient Marriage
“If that’s what you want.”
I didn’t appreciate her tone, but I also knew I couldn’t fault her for it. Not really. Sophie had been with me longer than any other employee, and although she didn’t know my past or my reasons for doing certain things, she knew me better than most people.
Everything I’d asked her to do today was out of character. Of course, she’d be confused. I understood that. But it didn’t mean I had to explain myself.
“It is. I’ll check in again in a few days.”
Not waiting for her response, I hung up, only to have the phone buzz to life almost immediately. I recognized the number. I’d memorized it after his previous call. My lips curved into a grin as I answered and pressed the device against my ear.
“Trent.”
“I need to speak to Natalie.”
My grin grew wider. “No.”
“Excuse me?”
“I said, no.” Drumming my fingers on the desk, I happily added, “Consult your dictionary, it roughly translates to fuck off.”
“de la Fuente, if you want my business, you’ll—”
“I don’t give two shits about your hotels or your bleak bank balance. I’ve done what I needed to do.”
“And what’s that?” he sneered.
I desperately wished to be in the same room as Trent, just to see the look on his miserable face.
“I’ve taken what’s yours. The one thing that’s of any use to you. Natalie. I took her and now I’ll break her. By the time I’m done, there’ll be nothing left for you to use.”
The words tasted bitter on my tongue. I’d never do that to Natalie. I couldn’t. I just needed the bastard to know he’d lost. And I was the one to best him.
Funny thing, I thought saying the words out loud would feel better than this.
“What the fuck are you talking about?”
I dragged a hand through my hair. “I’ll leave you to figure it out for yourself.”
“You listen here, de la Fuente. If you think this is over, you’ve got another thing coming.”
He hung up before I could. Not that I cared. My brain was too focused on what I’d said. My conscience too busy urging me to make sure Natalie knew it was all lies. But she’d heard nothing, and by the time we went back to the States, I was going to make sure she was set up for life.
With that bit of self-reassurance, I left the office. I didn’t know exactly where I was heading, but when my feet carried me to the bedroom, it was clear I’d gone searching for Natalie.
Disappointment flooded my veins when I didn’t find her there, but it lasted only as long as it took for me to spot her next to the pool.
Perched on a lounger, she had her knees drawn up with her sketchbook balanced on her legs. There was a beautiful smile playing on her lips while her eyes focused on her hand flying over the page.
I swear, the image stole the breath straight from my lungs.
I’d never seen such a serene expression on anyone’s face before, and I desperately wanted to be a part of it. Wanted to steal some of that serenity if only for a moment just to calm my rambling conscience.
Seconds turned to minutes as I stood there watching her from the balcony of the main bedroom. And the more I stared, the scarier my thoughts became. Because I realized then how damn easy it would be to tear down my walls and give her the one thing I’d never given anyone before.
My mind was still circling that thought when Natalie suddenly looked up. Her smile widened, and when she waved for me to come down, I was only too happy for the distraction. I didn’t need images of happily ever afters distorting what this really was.
A physical relationship. That’s all it could ever be. Inevitably, she’d find someone new and better and leave me behind.
Focusing on that, I quickly changed into swimming shorts and pulled a short-sleeved dress shirt over my shoulders without actually buttoning it up. I hadn’t missed the way Natalie’s eyes had lingered on my chest, and maybe if I kept concentrating on the physical stuff, my brain wouldn’t have time to come up with such ridiculous notions.
