''This is beautiful. Mikael Sun, your wife is so brilliant and gifted. You should help her grow and become more resourceful''

''I will do that, Mrs. Aoi''

''Natalie, I am sorry for my words earlier on. I retract my words back''

''No need to apologise, Mr. Aoi. You were afraid I might ruin a beautiful jewellery and I understand''

''Make sure you attend the party tomorrow. I have a surprise for you tomorrow'' Mr. Aoi said to Natalie.

''Yes, we will be there''

''Let's go, honey'' Mr. Aoi held his wife's hand.

''We will see you off, Mr. Aoi'' Mikael held Natalie's hand and they walked out with the couple.

Mikael and Natalie waited till the couple were gone before they turned towards his car. Natalie's face became brit red and she lowered her gaze.

''Honey?'' Mikael said and chuckled as he teased her.

''This is all your fault. why didn't you tell me about such an important thing? Is that why you came to find me this morning at the hospital?'' Natalie's expression became serious.

''Yes, but someone decided to pull a fast one on me'' Mikael looked at her heels and frowned, ''don't you feel uncomfortable in those high heels? You hardly wear high heels''

''I just picked what I could find. Whose fault is it?'' Natalie raised her brows.

''I have something in the car that you can change into. Wait for me'' Mikael went to the car and opened it. He removed a pair of black crocs and brought to her.

''Why do you have crocs in your car?''

''I bought them in case you ever need to change footwear, let me help you'' he squatted and touched her legs and she shivered and blushed.

Mikael took his time and carefully removed the shoes from her feet and placed the crocs in front of her. After she wore the crocs, he took the shoes and stood up facing her.

''Natie, do I make you nervous?'' Mikael asked and stepped closer to her.

''Huh?'' Natalie looked away, not daring to make eye contact with him.

''Let's go'' Mikael held her hand and they went to the car.

…..

Xia finally finished editing the news item she was going to put out and yawned. She stretched herself on the chair before standing up.

''I feel so beat. Nights like these I just want to grab a beer and seek in bathtub with bubbles floating around my beautiful sleek body'' she muttered and turned but the sudden presence of someone who wasn't there frightened her and she fell back. ''Oh my soul…Frederick, what is wrong with you? I almost gave up my ghost'' her expression was clearly that of fright.

''I'm sorry, Xia. I didn't want to distract you so I waited for you to finish'' Frederick said bashfully as he touched his hair.

''What are you doing here? It's almost 11:00PM'' Xia adjusted her bag as she looked at the son of her boss. This wasn't the first time he had snucked up on her.

''I was going home when I saw the lights in your work area on. I thought you would come out soon but you didn't. I decided to check up on you''

''Oh, I had work to do. I needed to edit and complete a write-up before I go to Black Horse tomorrow for the interview with the CEO''

''I see. Let's go, I will send you home''

''No need. Someone is here to pick me up''

''Who? A man?''

'''Mm''​

''Xia, is there really not a chance for me? I really care about you''

''Frederick, we've had this conversation over and over again. It is my rule to never mix business with pleasure. There is not a chance for you. I have to go now''

''I won't give up'' Frederick suddenly said shocking Xia.

''You won't give up?''

''Yes, I believe my sincerity will touch you one day. As long as you don't have a boyfriend, I will keep coming to you''

Xia shook her head and started walking out. She had lost all energy and didn't want to talk anymore. When they got to the entrance, she stopped and turned to ask him.

''Right, have you met the CEO of Black Horse personally?''

''Yes, I know Connor''

''Connor?'' Xia's voice seemed to choke. The name seemed to evoke some emotion in her but she masked it up immediately and asked, ''his name is Connor? How does he look like? I couldn't find any picture of him on the internet. He seems more like a secretive person''

''Connor has always been mysterious. Then, again, who in their family isn't mysterious? Both two brothers are so mysterious, only a few know them. JSC and CSC are both mysterious men''

''Well, I guess I will find out who he is once I go there to interview him tomorrow. I was surprised he picked me. I know for a fact that big corporations had asked for an interview but he accepted only mine and even made me the official reporter for their upcoming homecoming Ceremony. Who did I save in my past life to be blessed this way?''

''Don't fall for him''

''Huh? What do you mean?''

''Connor is very handsome. He and his brother inherited the Mexican genes of their mother, they look so handsome. Don't fall for you, you will be setting yourself up for heartbreak. I heard he is celibate. He hasn't had a girlfriend before and he keep women at an arm's length away''

''Really? Then, why did he pick me to be the reporter?''

''Probably because you are literally a tomboy. He might have even thought that you are a guy that's why he chose you''

''Hey! You are so obnoxious'' Xia glared at him and walked away.

''No, I didn't mean that in a bad way'' Frederick hurried after Xia.

….

Natalie hurried inside when they arrived at the villa. She changed into her slippers and went straight to get a cup of water from the fridge.

''Natie'' Mikael mentioned her name, making her turn to face him. She had a confused gaze as she stared at him. ''Thanks for tonight''

''You are welcome. Want some water?'' she asked and he nodded his head but instead of waiting for her to get him a cup, he took the cup from her and drunk from it.

''That's mine…'' Natalie flushed.

''Have you thought about it?'' Mikael asked.

''Huh? Thought about what?''

''The marriage? I gave you time to think about it''

''Let me ask you this, Mikael. Why do you want to marry me? Are you doing this because of aunt, or is it out of pity?'' Natalie asked and he turned to face her.

''Do I look like someone who is sympathetic towards people? Natie, I am marrying you because it is the most rational thing to do. I am doing it because I want to, because you are the person I feel comfortable with and know I can spend the rest of my life with, without worries''

''But, we don't have feelings for each other. Marriage is between two people who love each other''

''We can slowly grow those feelings. Besides, I am confident that I can make you like me as time goes on'' Mikael said and Natalie blushed.

''Before that, there is something I need to let you know. It's about my marriage with Thomas'' Natalie didn't know if what she was about to do was the right thing to do or not, but she felt that the step they were about to take was one that they could never turn away from once they took it.

Her heart skipped a beat when she met Mikael's gaze. They looked at each other for some time with none looking away. She felt a tingling in her body. An anticipation of some sort of the kind of married couple they were going to be.

''I'm listening Natie'' Mikael sipped the water and pulled out the chair to sit. He watched her with an unwavering gaze.

''Your brother and I…'' Natalie's voice quivered as she spoke, ''your brother and I were in a contract marriage. It was something I proposed and he accepted. I did it to spite my mother and also to gain power to be able to fight against them. I was simply using your brother to gain the power that I needed''

''I was wondering when you were going to finally tell me the truth, Natie'' Mikael's gaze remained calm as he asked. He didn't show any sign of shock. It was contrary to what Natalie had imagined in her head.

''You… did you know about this already?'' Natalie asked.

''I am Mikael Sun. I've known about it for a while now but I was waiting for you to tell me the truth yourself. You did try to keep the secret but it was actually easy for me to find out about that''

''Why? Why didn't you confront me about it? I was using your brother, anyone in your shoes would have gotten angry. Why do you look so calm?''