"Here comes lover boy..." Luna Lee teasingly whispered to her friend.

Natalia lifted up her head and saw a good-looking man walking towards her. They were currently at the shop and were finishing some layouts.

"Ladies." Greeted by the aristocrat. Luna Lee just smile at him knowingly and exited the scene.

"Your highness." Natalia greeted the royal prince. They met from the social gathering that was organized by Mrs. Lee. It was only her first week at the country back then. The gathering was set to engage more potential investors for The Belle Shop.

"Natalia, it's beyond office hours. I don't like formalities. Please just call me by my name." The prince uttered while looking intently at the lovely lady.

Natalia smiled and just nodded helplessly.

"Are you going to dinner? Care if I join you?" The royalty asked directly. He has been actively pursuing the lady the first time he met her. It's like the skies were filled by fireworks the moment Natalia smiled at him that night of the gathering.

"Uhmm..yes, I am but---"

"Please, just this one more time." The prince slightly pleaded. His eyes were full of hope.

"O..okay." Natalia replied and sighed. She already rejected the royalty the first time he laid down his intension. She told him that she wasn't ready for a commitment. In her mind, aside from that reason, the main cause was that she cannot give her heart as it was already captured by someone.

Having said that, the prince was persistent on his chase. For him, as long as Natalia is free, anything is possible. He resolved that he can wait. He can endure.

And he's happy right now since it was the second time that the lady agreed to his invitation.

The two dined at one of the finest restaurants in Shanghai.

"I'm leaving the country." Natalia uttered while finishing her meal.

"To Tokyo?" The prince asked wanting to confirm the information he had received from his men.

"Yes." The lady honestly replied.

"Alright. Do you need to fly there this night? I can arrange that for you."

Natalia looked at the generous man. "No need. I already booked one. Thank you for your kindness and for being thoughtful to me these past weeks. I'm sorry Neero.. I couldn't reciprocate what you have for me. I don't want to give you any false hope or anything." She sincerely said to the man.

The Prince of a middle-east country just stayed silent for a while seemingly contemplating. He hanged down his eyes. "I understand. But this is me expressing what I'm feeling. My apologies if it makes you uncomfortable. I just can't control it. This is a first time for me." The man said as he lifted up his eyes to look at the female sitting opposite him.

All his life he's been given great opportunities and having a relationship with the opposite sex isn't an issue. He simply was accustomed to getting what he wants. But now, clinging to his emotion with this lady made him like everyone else. He's not blaming her but thanking her at the realization about how the world really works.

"For the record, does my real background made you reject my intentions?" The Prince asked.

"No. I never even considered it. Your birth mother is a special case and doesn't have anything to do with you and with my answer." The woman honestly told him as she drank her juice.

The truth was, Neero is the half brother of Devon.

After the meal, the prince drove her to the Lee Ancestral Mansion.

As they alight from the vehicle, Prince Neero unconsciously uttered, "You knew that I've already heard from Luna. The things that you've been through under the Yushkova household were unforgivable. If it's the last thing that I can do, you can use me against them." The Prince seriously declared as they stood in front of the main doors. When he learned the truth about his biological parents, he didn't feel anything. He's grateful for the family that he has right now minus the aristocracy.

"No. That's not an option. I've just threatened her one time but that was it. Leave them be and don't get stained by their name. It won't be worthy for you." Natalia firmly told Neero.

When she came to know Victoria's other son, her plan on using him was immediately shut off. He's very different from his birth mother. Thankfully, the family who adopted him has done a great job.

Neero just sighed and agreed. He gave a friendly hugged to Natalia and went on his way saying that he will definitely see her again in the future.

--------------

"Sergei, what time did Mr. Kana set up the meeting for tomorrow?" Alexander called out his assistant, who was sitting not far from him inside his private plane, as he reviewed some office documents on their way to Tokyo.

"Nine in the morning, Sir." The assistant replied. "And also, there will be a shareholders' meeting by 10AM." He added.

"I just need to talk to Mr. Kana and leave. Attend the shareholders' meeting in my place." Alexander said and laid down the documents on the table. He closed his eyes as he felt somewhat dizzy.

Sergei confirmed the condition of his boss. Earlier, he accidentally brushed his shoulder with his and felt the heat radiating from Alexander's body. He shook his head and get a medicine for the man.

#######

Last night, Natalia and Deedee bade there farewell to the Lee family as they will leave first for Tokyo.

"Deedee, how many hours till the meeting?" Natalia casually asked as they boarded the plane.

"Ten hours, young miss." The assistant told her.

Natalia peeked at her wrist watch and planned to use the travel time to get some sleep. Hopefully, they can convince the new owner to reconsider the delay of the renovation of the grand hotel.

--------------

As the plane landed, Natalia and Deedee went directly to the Subarashi Yama Grand Hotel to check in, rest and prepare for tomorrow. They paid for a two-bedroom suite.

"Young miss, do you require anything?" The assistant inquired. They reached their room and Natalia instantly flopped down to her bed.

"No. You can rest as well Deedee." Dismissed by her boss.

Both of them slept for the remaining hours until daybreak.

--------------

"Sir, you need to rest. You can sleep on the way to the hotel." Sergei told his cold boss who has no intention of slowing down. It's almost 8AM in the morning as they got off the plane. He saw the image of Alexander through the rear view mirror and it's not good.

Alexander cleared his throat, "There's no time. I'll rest once the meeting ended. It will only took a short time as I will make them commence the remodeling sooner this week." He said with a hoarse voice while browsing his emails.

Sergei sighed helplessly and can only pray for the well-being of his boss.

After almost an hour of land travel, they've arrived at the Subarashi Yama Grand Hotel.

"Mr. Gates." Mr. Kana bowed down as he welcomed the new owner of the grand hotel. The hotel is already luxurious but they planned on taking it on a higher level. Every hotel that they've owned is on the five-star level.

"Kana-san, genkideshita ka? (Mr. Kana, how have you been?)" Alexander greeted in perfect Japanese accent.

"I'm alright Mr. Gates. Thank you. This way please." Mr. Kana replied and led the way to the meeting room.

"Sencha herbal tea." Mr. Kana's assistant gracefully poured tea on the guests' cups. They slightly bowed their heads in acknowledgment.

It's still five minutes before the meeting and while waiting, Mr. Kana personally lifted up the window blinds. The view of the beautiful Mount Fuji was displayed across their eyes.

Alexander smiled at the scenery but was more focused at the real matter. His presence while sitting down didn't diminished a bit even though he felt kind of sick. "Kana-san, we can start the discussion as we are all here." He gave a smile but not really a smile at the middle-aged man with grey hair thinking that he's just stalling some time to delay the matter.

The middle-aged man twitched his lips as Alexander glanced on his wrist watch that says 9:00AM. His back still facing the entire room as he was looking at the scenery.

"Mr. Gates we're still waiting for someone." Mr. Kana informed him.

Alexander creased his brows and turned to look at the middle-aged man with grey hair.

At the same time, the door of the meeting room flung opened. Two women elegantly walked inside and stopped at the other end of the conference table and directed their attention to the Asian man standing at the right side.

"Mr. Kana, I'm so please to meet you. We're the representatives from The Belle Shop. I'm---"

"Natalia." A low soothing voice echoed the room.

Alexander finally saw her. He saw the woman after a long time and said her name with a hint of longing. She's wearing a formal navy jumpsuit which compliment her feminine features. He shuddered at the sight as Natalia still holds the soft spot in the deepest part of his cold heart.

He maintained his aloof demeanor but his fists were clenched trying to supress his feelings. He lavishly stared at her beautiful form not hearing a word that she had uttered and felt his heart flickered.

'Why are you here?'

That moment, the beautiful brunette woman turned her head to the man who was sitting down. Natalia held her breath as she saw the man who's been hunting her daydreams for the past two months. Her heart wavered and she held tightly on the top part of the chair which was in front of her.

'Why are you here?'

Mr. Kana, who has no idea of the tension that was building up between the two persons, spoke up, "You already knew each other? That's quite good! We can easily reached a compromise." The middle-aged man said delightfully as he invited the two women to sit down.

Alexander stood up without breaking his stare at the lovely woman.

"Sergei, push back the renovation." The cold man lazily ordered and was still looking at Natalia. His lips curved slightly but no one noticed it.

The people inside the room fell silent.

Sergei thought of the consequences that his boss will faced once they get back at the company. Shaking his head, he still acknowledged the order.

"Ahaha..." Mr. Kana broke the stillness with an awkward laugh as he glanced at the two people standing on each side of the long table. "Thank you Mr. Gates. You don't know how much relief your words had brought us." The man sincerely said and bowed his head.

Natalia's legs became weak as Alexander, who's now wearing a black Hughes' three-piece suit, strode towards her direction. The man is very attractive and still maintained his powerful demeanor despite of not seeing him these past months. Her eyes couldn't avert its stare and stayed on Alexander's face. She was sure that the man halted beside her but Alexander continued moving forward.

The aloof boss and his assistant exited the room without any other word.

Once outside, Alexander closed his eyes and slightly twitched his nose remembering the sweet scent a while ago. 'Vanilla....'

Natalia and Deedee were speechless at what had transpired. Mr. Kana then signed the contract of agreement and gave it to the woman's assistant. They said their thank you's and all of them exited the room.

"Natalia..." A baritone voice spoke.