Chapter 35
The man’s features were unrecognizable underneath the bleeding mess that stained his clothes a deep crimson. His entire body was trembling from the pain
The stench of blood was overwhelming. Natalie couldn’t help but tch at the smell.
A man, who looked like the leader of the group, frowned at her reaction and barked an order, “Drag him to the restroom.”
One of the henchmen, Magnus Steele, paused for a moment before moving toward Natalie.
Landon Moore, another subordinate, gave him an exasperated kick “Mr. Mattel meant the guy on the floor, you idiot.”
Magnus paused. “Huh? Oh, right.“.
He grabbed the mangled man and hauled him away.
Natalie’s stomach twisted again. Just then, an elegant hand handed her a glass of water. “Rinse your mouth.”
Natalie looked up.
The man before her was broad–shouldered. Though he was slightly crouched, it was still obvious that he had a physique that trumped most men. He was dressed in a black dress shirt with rolled–up sleeves, revealing his unusually pale forearms–men of his kind were typically more tanned.
His pale skin was somehow jarring to see–and so was the red hair tie looped around his wrist.
It had to be a keepsake from his lover, Natalie figured—something he couldn’t bear to part with.
Keeping her guard up, she met his gaze, refusing to take the glass of water.
Rowan smiled. “Scared I’ll drug you?”
Natalie’s answer was silence enough.
Instead of getting angry, Rowan straightened and placed the glass of water back on the table. For a moment, Natalie almost thought there was something gentle in his demeanor.
Rowan went back to his seat and rested one hand on the table, the other draped casually over his knee. “Were you hiding from
someone?”
Natalie wasn’t in the habit of chatting with strangers, much less someone as dangerous as Rowan. She didn’t want to make
small talk. She just wanted to leave unharmed.
Her nerves were frayed, and it definitely showed, but she could not let herself be killed for no good reason, so she forced herself to stay composed.
“I won’t tell anyone what I saw here today,” she said. “I’ll take it to my grave. I swear it.”
Rowan raised his eyebrows. “You haven’t answered my question.
Natalie’s heart was hammering in her chest. She had no idea what Rowan was planning, so she could only tell the truth. “Yes, I’m hiding from someone.”
Meanwhile, Landon had already cleaned the blood off the floor and wisely retreated to the restroom to join Magnus, leaving just
Natalie and Rowan in the room.
Cautiously, Natalie stood. “If there’s nothing else, sir, I’ll be going
Jason should be gone by now.
When Rowan said nothing, Natalie pulled open the door and left. Before she could go far, she heard heavy footsteps coming up
behind her.
1/2”
Chapter 35
+25 BONUS
“It’s not safe for you to be alone. I’ll walk you out,” Rowan said.
Natalie was speechless.
It was probably more dangerous to be with him. However, she swallowed her refusal–she might not leave the room at all if she argued with him.
Reluctantly, she let him escort her. They left the room one after the other, the tension between them so thick that one could cut it with a knife.
Halfway through the corridor, Natalie’s steps slowed to a stop.
Rowan looked over at her. “What’s wrong?” he asked, perplexed.
After a pause, Natalie said evenly, “Sir, since you helped me, I’ll return the favor–you should erase the surveillance footage around this time. Leaving evidence behind is never wise.”
Rowan’s dark eyes glinted with amusement. He met Natalie’s calm gaze and asked, “Just looking out for me, are you?”
Admittedly, Natalie was doing this for herself.
Jason was a cautious man. He would definitely check the surveillance footage and see her–that would be bad.
“I’m sure you’re a smart man,” she replied. “No need to ask questions you already know the answers to.”
Rowan smiled. “You’re clever.”
Suddenly, he hooked his arm around her waist and yanked her against him. His embrace was just as cold as his demeanor.
212
