"You know Devonte?" She was puzzled. Did this woman know everyone? First, she was close enough to Desmond to make a deal with him and become his COO, and now she was awfully familiar with her family too? She even investigated her and knew all about her relationship with Devonte?

Lucy was amused at her accusatory glare. "I do not know your boyfriend personally. I just know him from his commercials in Twilight." She picked up her glass gently. "It's not easy to forget the most hardworking model in a production, is it?"

Natalie didn't know whether or not to believe her. Devonte did have a contract with Twilight, he had been their model before. However, this was Lucy Roatta—the woman everyone was warning everyone else about.

"Why did you call me here?" She asked, not willing to stall anymore. She had to get this done with.

"I would like to work with you." Lucy finally said the statement she was waiting for. However, why was she confused instead of overjoyed? She had dealt with many people under different circumstances and knew that nothing came by this easily.

The last time she went to Preston and Fort Group, she could swear that Lucy had made up her mind not to consider the Sparks family as her partners. There had to be a good reason for her to suddenly change her mind.

"Not your whole family, Miss Sparks. Just you." Lucy clarified, realizing that the young woman had a misunderstanding about her previous statement.

"What?" Natalie laughed in confusion.

"Your family conflict is troublesome but you are smart." Lucy explained.

"So you are ready to take advantage of me." Natalie took a sip from her glass of wine.

Lucy was impressed by this young woman who was quite bold and straightforward. It was pleasantly surprising that something good came out of the Sparks. "I didn't say I wouldn't try to take advantage of you. But it would be a win-win for both of us."

"You don't expect me to trust you, do you?" Natalie found it ridiculous.

"Nope."

"Yet you still…" Natalie found her impossible. Why was she fighting a losing battle?

Lucy studied the younger woman with a grin. "Think about it, Natalie. Do you really want to live under your parents' shadows? They don't deserve you."

Natalie was startled that the latter would suddenly bring her family up. Her expression darkened. "It's none of your business. I'll be on my way." She stood and grabbed her bag.

"That's okay. I'm waiting for someone here. Do think about my offer." Lucy sounded confident, certain that Natalie would join her in the end.

Natalie offered her a blank smile and left.

…

"Dev, where are you right now?" She asked over the phone when she got in her car. She had driven out on her own today so she didn't have to worry about anyone snitching on her.

"I'm having dinner at my house, my love. Would you like to join me?" He readily invited her.

"I'll be there soon." It was much better to talk to him in person so she went over.

He was already waiting for her, and he pressed his lips against hers as soon as she walked in through the door.

"That's a warm welcome." She smiled as soon as he pulled away.

"You don't look so warm." He held her cheek in concern. "Honey, you haven't been happy lately. What's wrong? Did something happen?"

"I'm not unhappy." She held his hand. "There's just so much going on right now. I'm sorry if I get grumpy at times."

"You do have a lot to be sorry for." He teased her, pecking her lips before he led her to the dining room. "Do you want to talk about it over dinner?"

She sat down opposite him. "I'll only keep you company. I already had dinner with Miss Roatta just now."

"Miss Roatta? You mean Lucy Roatta?" He paused just as he was about to serve her some food.

"She's popular." She laughed. "And not in a good way, considering your reaction."

"I think she's… alright. Just unpredictable." He laughed.

"Tell me about it." She urged.

He didn't know why she was so eager but he was ready to satisfy her curiosity. "We didn't encounter each other many times. Just when I was shooting a commercial for Twilight." He looked creeped out.

"Was she mean?" She guessed.

"No, just strange." He laughed it out. "I don't know why she got close to me out of everyone she was working with. She said that something about my determination made her see…"

"Made her see what?" She probed.

"She saw her child in me." Devonte concluded, making Natalie burst into laughter.

"The last thing I wanted was for someone to declare that they wanted to adopt me. I swear, she creeped me out." He massaged his temples. "But do you know what I found even more weird?"

"What?" She paused from her laughter to listen.

"She doesn't have a family. And she's calculative. It's almost as though she's hiding from the world while plotting something. She even wanted to collaborate with me on something but changed her mind." He explained.

"That's right! Family." It finally dawned on her.

"What's wrong?" He asked.

"She proposed a deal to me too. However, the prerequisite is for me to be away from my family. And you're right, my love. She is strange in so many ways." She ran a hand through her hair.

She had come here seeking answers and reasons for Lucy's offer but so far, all she had gotten was more questions.

"Perhaps I should ask Desmond."

"Desmond knows about her?" He was puzzled.

"Yes. From the past." She didn't know too much and only knew of what Lucy had told her while trying to cunningly win her trust. "In the present, she is the current COO of Preston and Fort Group."

"That's messed up." He laughed.

She made the call immediately, but Desmond's phone was off. She shrugged. "He must be with Zaria."

"How would you know?" He raised an eyebrow.

"He only turns his phone off when he's with her so there's no distraction." She shoved her phone back into her purse, making him frown. She met his gaze with curiosity. "Don't tell me you're jealous of this too."

"I know, I know. I'm the only man you love while he's like the brother you never got to have." He laughed, having memorized the words she had reassured him with every time he got jealous of Desmond. "I'm not jealous of him as a man. Just of the time you spent together. You even know when he's with his girlfriend." He admitted. He wanted to be the man his girlfriend knew the most and at the same time the man who knew her best. He had no choice but to agree that he would never beat Desmond at it.

"You're unbelievable." She couldn't help laughing.

…

Just as Natalie guessed, Desmond was with Zaria at the moment—only that there was someone else at the table. Theodore. And he didn't look happy to see Desmond in his house and on the same table as him.

When they were done having the most awkward dinner, Theodore was the first to stand and wave Desmond over. "Let's play a game."

"I'd like to accept the challenge but…" Desmond looked the older man over, signalling at his injured limbs.

Zaria massaged her nose bridge. She so badly wanted to exclude herself from this.

"We cannot play golf with me in this state but I'm sure we can play chess." Theodore challenged.

"Yep. I'm sure of that too."

"Or maybe, you can play some other time. Dad, you need to rest." She interrupted them, not trusting either of them to keep their fists to themselves when they were glaring fireballs at each other in the dining room a moment ago.

"There's still a few minutes before I should rest. I can't laze about immediately after eating, can I?" He was not ready to let go of this opportunity.

"He has a point." Desmond agreed.

"No he doesn't." Zaria shut them both sternly. "Dad, you go to play with Des. Desmond, I'll see you out."

"Is it just me or did you speak to him more soothingly?" Theodore observed.

"You too dad?" Zaria was flabbergasted.

Theodore laughed at his own childishness. He hugged Zaria who was about to lose her temper. "Princess, don't be mad at me. It's hard for me, you know. When your little girl suddenly grows up and you're not the only man she looks up to anymore—when her good morning and goodbye hugs aren't for you anymore. I…"

"Dad," She hugged him, stopping him from saying anything more. She would cry if she started thinking about that. "You know that no matter how old your little girl grows, she will forever be your daughter. That will never change, okay dad?"

Theodore hugged her tightly but when he remembered that Desmond was still in the room, he pulled away. "I can't lie about liking him but if he really makes you happy, I'll try not to get in your way. The challenge is still on, by the way."