Natalie was about to leave for a meeting with a partner when her phone rang, making her panic as she answered in a flurry.

"I told you that I will call you back."

"And you didn't, so I missed you too much." Responded a man's voice.

"Don't call me again. I'll give you a call later, okay?" Although her words were a plea, her tone was stern like she was not giving the other party any choice.

She was about to hang up when the man sighed. "Nat, do you really love me? Why do I have a feeling like you are into someone else instead?"

"I'm not." She was helpless and sighed. "Why do you like to overthink?"

"Then what about the wedding?" He questioned.

"I'll explain that later. It's not what you think, okay?" She answered and wanted to hang up as fast as possible.

"Who are you speaking to?" Came Ava's voice from the door.

Natalie felt her blood run cold. She hung up and turned to smile at her mother. "Mother, when did you get here?"

"When you were busy arguing with someone over the phone. Natalie, who was that?" Ava crossed her arms. Her suspicions did not stem from any of the argument but Natalie's reaction when she got caught. Why did it seem so strange?

"It's Desmond." She answered with a frown, then picked up her bag. "I was about to leave for work. Do you need anything?"

"Why are you arguing with Desmond?" Ava did not drop the matter, and it made Natalie wonder whether she thought of her as a child. How was it her business?

Knowing that shutting her out would only arouse more suspicion, she shrugged. "He doesn't want a church wedding."

Ava frowned, and perhaps because she did not trust her daughter, she took out her phone to call Desmond and ask for confirmation.

"What kind of wedding do you prefer?"

On the other end, Desmond was a little taken aback when he heard this kind of question from Ava. What was the woman up to this time? Just when he was about to ask what drugs the woman was hooked on, he heard a small cough that he guessed to be Natalie's. It took him a few seconds to understand what must be going on. Was she trying to corner Natalie?

"A beach wedding." He tried his luck answering. He knew that Natalie liked a church wedding, so he answered with something that wasn't her preference. Soon after his voice fell, he added, "But if Natalie wants a church wedding, then I can compromise. A wedding is, after all, a woman's most important day."

As expected, Ava sounded less stern. "Then I'll let you youngsters make the decisions."

He smiled and hung up.

When Ava called, he was heading towards the elevator with Zaria to go to their next meeting. He hung up just as they entered the elevator and grabbed Zaria's hand to explain himself even though she already knew what was happening. "She must have gotten herself into a tight spot with her mother."

"Let me guess. Natalie has a boyfriend?" She looked at him and made a guess.

"Mmh. Her parents don't know about it yet." He explained briefly.

She wondered why her parents were still forcing her into marriage with a man who she didn't love even though she already had someone she liked, but she did not want to probe into someone else's personal matters.

"Where are we going now?" He asked to change the topic.

"To the West Golf Course." She answered without referring to the schedule. She would never forget it when they were going to meet that casanova who had previously lingered his lecherous gaze on her. Just the thought of it made her stomach turn.

"I will not let anyone take advantage of you." He pulled her into his arms, knowing what she was worried about.

"I'm worried that I may lose control and end up gorging someone's eyes out." She frowned slightly.

"Don't dirty your hands. If you need any eye gouged out or any hand dislocated, tell me about it and I'll do it for you." He promised as he kissed her temples.

"I don't want you to dirty your hands either." She held his hand, noticing that he was still wearing the watch she had bought him. It seemed to be his new favorite.

"Are you worried about me?" He smiled, rubbing his thumb against the side of her face. He was just about to kiss her lips when the elevator door opened and someone else entered. Feeling bummed, he could only sulkily hold back his kiss.

…

Evan West was once again holding a beauty in his arms—a different one from the one he had the last time.

However, as soon as he set his eye on Zaria, he smiled at Desmond. "You really don't want to think about it?"

"She is not an item to be used for trade." Desmond's eyebrows furrowed as his eyes turned defensive. He pulled her closer to his side protectively.

Zaria didn't initially understand what it was that Desmond and Evan had disagreed about the last time they tried to negotiate, but now she did. It seemed like Evan wanted her in exchange for the deal. How stupid.

As if he was not insane enough, he winked at her and turned to Desmond. "It's not like I'm taking her away forever. I'll give her back."

Desmond glared at him. "Don't even dare to look at her. She's mine."

Evan was initially thinking of asking for Zaria's opinion, but when he heard that she was already claimed, he could only give up.

"Let's talk over lunch." He invited the two of them, having already asked the chefs to prepare specialties for them.

He led the way and Zaria and Desmond followed him into a resort that she didn't know existed within the golf course.

"Feel free to sit wherever you want." He took a seat at a round table near the swimming pool that was outside the resort, then pulled the beauty to sit on his lap.

Desmond sat down opposite him, and like the idiot he was, he pulled Zaria onto his lap.

"You don't want Mr. West and his companion to witness our couple fight, right?" He chuckled in a low tone to stop her from fighting to leave his lap. His words were loud enough to be heard by the duo across the table, but she could do nothing but glare and make a mental note to get back at him for his nonsense.

At the clap of Evan's hands, the food was served.

Desmond stabbed a piece of meat with his fork and brought it in front of Zaria's mouth. "Do take note of what you like."

She smiled when she understood what he meant. "I can't take it like this, can I?"

He could only let her sit on her own chair then resume discussing it with Evan.

"A little birdy told me that you are having trouble with Samantha. That, and the matter regarding your mother." Evan started as he raised his glass to give a toast.

"Little birdies are usually too accurate." Desmond laughed.

Evan dismissed the beauty who was having a good time sitting on his lap. She was displeased about having to leave, but he didn't spare her another glance and she had no choice but to go. He then looked at Zaria meaningfully.

"There isn't anything she can't know." Desmond implied that Zaria could stay.

He cringed slightly, wondering a man could let a woman in on such important matters. Wasn't he aware that these cunning creatures were often the cause of one's downfall if kept too close? Since it was his friend's choice, he had nothing more to say of it, so he went straight to the point. "What if I said that I had a way to tie Samantha down?"

"If this includes you seducing her, forget it." Desmond was dismissed right off the bat. He disliked tricks of seduction, and besides, he didn't think it could work on Samantha. Not when the woman was hell set on getting Liam to be her husband for whatever reason she was pestering him.

"Don't worry. It doesn't involve that." Evan chuckled, his gaze on Zaria.

"You don't give up, do you?" Desmond frowned.

"I'm sure she can accompany me to dinner at least? I'm just curious about her. You can come along." He coaxed.

Desmond was about to say no when Zaria's hand landed on his. She interrupted his words with a "Sure. I'm curious about you too, Mr. West."

"Whatever it is, you can ask me and I'll tell you." Desmond was displeased.

Zaria grabbed her phone from her bag and typed a text message then sent it to Desmond. When he read it, his face revealed a deep frown as he glanced at Evan across the table. "See you tomorrow in the evening."