Chapter 536
Elizabeth shook her head, not pinning the blame on Derek. “What you said was true, Mr. Ramsey. I haven’t fully recovered from my injury. I apologize for being unprofessional.”
Natalie was right. Elizabeth planned on taking her advice and seeing a doctor for other options for treatment. If she wanted to continue being a designer, she had to deal with her hand tremors first.
Wilder quickly answered for Derek. “Please don’t take it to heart, Miss Perry. Derek has reflected deeply upon his words and actions. We believe that you are capable of completing this project.”
After Natalie stormed out of the room, Derek looked through the project files with careful attention. It was clear that the designs were the work of a perfectionist. Elizabeth made sure that nothing was out of place.
“I’ve never seen anything like it before. Your ideas are unique and I like them.” After his perusal, Derek had nothing more to say. He found nothing lacking with the plans, so there was no need to change the designer. Elizabeth hesitated, “But my injury…”
Natalie had already guessed that Elizabeth would refuse. “Just say yes,” she interrupted before Elizabeth could finish. “The interview is still four months away. We have plenty of time.”
“Mr. Ramsey is a valuable client. We can’t risk a project of this importance over something that has no guarantee,” Elizabeth reasoned, still unconvinced.
“The more I listen to you, the more ridiculous you sound. Have you forgotten? I’m your partner. There’s no way we would fail.” Natalie held Elizabeth’s arm and winked at her playfully.
Elizabeth was deeply touched. Natalie believed in her so much. She was pushing Elizabeth forward, at a time when her confidence was wavering. “Alright. You win, Natalie.”
With a helpless smile, Elizabeth finally agreed, “I look forward to this partnership.”
Derek reached out a hand towards Elizabeth. She shook his hand, her determination steadily finding itself. The deal was finally closed.
“Great! Whew. Haha…” At last, Wilder was able to let out a sigh of relief. “Now that the partnership has been decided, Derek and I will go ahead. He has a shoot for an advertisement scheduled tonight.”
“I’ll walk you out,” Natalie said as she looked at Derek. Together, the three walked out of W Marks.
While waiting for Wilder to bring the car over, Derek took advantage of the relaxed atmosphere and used it as an opening to apologize to Natalie. “I was too harsh earlier. I’m sorry. I’ve had everything go my way since I was young, so I’m not used to not getting what I want. I can be arrogant sometimes, but I’m trying to change that. Wilder doesn’t let me get away with it, and I’ve gotten better at handling myself, especially after entering the modeling industry. But I guess old habits still sl*p out sometimes.”
“It’s fine. It was just a small misunderstanding. It’s not a big deal.” Natalie accepted his apology, and then reminded Derek, “I’m married, Derek. We should keep an appropriate distance from each other. It wouldn’t be good for your reputation, either. You have a career to protect.”
No matter which way they looked at it, it would do neither of them any good. Natalie had just solved the rumors about her and Draco. She knew how troublesome being embroiled in gossip could be. The last thing she needed was another one with Derek. She didn’t even want to imagine how Brandon would react.
However, Derek wasn’t particularly fazed. He had lived abroad and was more liberal about many things. He was no stranger to dating multiple girls at the same time.
Besides, the scandal between Natalie and Draco had caused quite a stir. Even after it had been straightened out, Derek still didn’t buy that the rumors came from nothing.
“So you’ll have an affair with Draco but not me?” Derek looked sideways, bending down and staring at Natalie. She grew more beautiful the longer he looked at her.
Before she could speak, he came close and whispered, his breath fanning her ear, “I like you a lot, Natalie.” Derek’s eyes were dark with desire as he continued, “Don’t worry. Wilder knows how to handle secrets. No one will know about the two of us.”
Expressionlessly, Natalie pushed Derek away from her, maintaining a pointed distance. “The rumors about Mr. Wesley and me are all fake. I’m deeply in love with my husband, and I don’t have time to play with a little boy like you.”
“What little boy? Natalie! I’m already 20 years old!” Derek frowned and petulantly asked, “How old are you?”
r*bbing her forehead, Natalie explained, “You misunderstood me. Please listen to what I’m trying to say here. You don’t really like me like that. Not really. You’re just enjoying the idea of taking something away from someone else.”
Derek grabbed Natalie’s arm, denying everything she said. “You have to give me a chance. I’ll prove myself to you.” Despite his sober tone of voice, Natalie was convinced that he hadn’t understood a single thing she’d said.
Sighing deeply, Natalie closed her eyes to compose herself and said, “I’m sorry but I can’t give you this chance. You have to learn that you can’t just flirt with anyone you take a fancy to.”
Natalie thought of Garrett. He used to be such a playboy himself, but now… He was utterly Laney’s.
However, she couldn’t really compare Derek and Garrett. Natalie had no idea what Derek would grow up to be.
“I’m a desperate man, being rejected by my true love. Will no one show me mercy but God?!” Derek cried, his eyebrows raising to the skies. Natalie was growing increasingly annoyed at his behavior.
Natalie rolled her eyes, realizing what a waste of time and energy it was to try to persuade Derek to alter his course. “Then you can go pray to God now. I have to get back to work. Take care, Mr. Ramsey.” Natalie turned around and left.
Derek collapsed into dep**ssion. She’d scolded him for absolutely no reason!
He told himself that he wasn’t obsessed. Derek could get any woman he wanted. But, then, why couldn’t he get Natalie?
All this time, Wilder had been impatiently waiting in the car outside. “Derek, get in already,” he said.
Derek followed his order but not silently. He sat down and emphatically slammed the door, emphasizing his anger with a loud bang.
“Were you just fighting with Natalie? Judging by how red your faces got, even from back here, it looked like quite the argument.” Wilder tried to sound as lighthearted as possible. In truth, however, he was worried that Derek had messed up badly again and he’d have to deal with it. Derek was in no mood to speak, so he just replied with a small “No”.
Wilder pointedly smacked his lips together. He could see how dejected and upset Derek looked in the rearview mirror. The last time he’d been like this was when he was being bullied by other models when he first entered the industry.
“If you have something to say, out with it already!” Wilder said. “I promise not to speak a word of it to anyone. You’ll feel better if you just tell me now rather than crying to yourself alone at home tonight. If you bottle it up that long, it’ll just interfere with your work tomorrow.” Wilder heaved a sigh.
After not responding for a while, Derek finally replied, “Wilder, I don’t have any idea what love actually is, do I?” This was unbelievable. Why was such a playboy as Derek asking a bachelor like Wilder for advice in this area?
Wilder looked back at him in the rearview mirror and burst into laughter. “You’re talking crazy. True love isn’t something just for everyone.”Books Chapters Are Daily Updated Join & Stay Updated For All Books Updates…
Seeing Derek lean against the window, lost in thought, Wilder changed his tone to a more serious one and added, “Your fans won’t accept you finding true love now, anyway. Just stick to your job, and stop worrying.”
Derek gave a small, humorless laugh. He said nothing more. He opened his window, letting the cool wind from outside wash across his troubled face. Finally, he began to relax.
Meanwhile, outside a certain private hospital in Barnes… After work was finished, Elizabeth rushed over there, having found the location on Frank’s business card. Work time was done. The hospital was very quiet, with very few nurses still left around.
Elizabeth dialed the phone number on Frank’s business card. After letting it ring a few times, there was still no answer. When she saw a nurse p@ssby, Elizabeth caught her attention and asked, “Can you tell me where Dr. Watson’s office is?”
“First left down that hallway.” The nurse pointed the way and proceeded down the hallway, documents in hand.