Andrew's words warmed my heart, then flooded it with bitterness.
I thought I'd sealed my heart up tight, but these past days—Richard's protection, his concern, the way he'd shielded me at the press conference without hesitation... Those moments were like tiny nails, prying open the shell I'd built around myself.
God, I was hopeless.
He'd hurt me so badly. I'd sworn to escape completely. But the moment he showed me the slightest kindness, I started wavering again, started foolishly hoping.
"Thanks, Andrew." I smiled at him, my fingers absently spinning the water glass. "But I think I can handle things with Richard myself."
I paused. A familiar tightness in my lower abdomen reminded me of the little life I needed to protect.
"I have more important things to worry about now. Anyway, how's your work going? That music festival you mentioned—any luck?"
I changed the subject clumsily. Andrew was smart enough not to press, segueing into talk about work, about a local producer who wanted his band to score a film but with a budget squeezed tighter than water from a desert stone. We chatted idly, the restaurant's soft jazz flowing around us, the aroma of food filling the air. For a moment, I almost believed life could be this simple—lunch with a friend, work talk, griping about unreliable partners, then going home separately, without Richard's psychotic need for control.
But like every cliché script, just as I looked up to order another lemon water, I saw him.
Richard.
He was walking in from the restaurant entrance, wearing a dark blue suit. I knew Richard's wardrobe habits—he only wore that color for formal, important occasions. Probably meeting some business partner. Richard was always busy, everywhere he went.
I was about to look away when Olivia entered my field of vision.
She wore a champagne-colored dress, standing beside Richard, looking perfectly matched.
Richard had his back to me, but Olivia's smile was radiant. Clearly, they were discussing something pleasant.
In an instant, all the blood in my body seemed to freeze, then rush to my head. My fingers jerked, knocking over my waterglass. Ice-cold sparkling water and lemon slices splashed across my arm and the tablecloth. A waiter rushed over, apologizing. Andrew jumped too, pulling out napkins for me.
"Natalie? You okay?" Andrew asked with concern, following my momentarily frozen gaze, but someone walking past blocked his view. He saw nothing.
"I'm fine." I took the napkin, wiping my arm clumsily, but my eyes kept drifting toward the other side of the restaurant.
I watched Olivia reach out, seeming to adjust his sleeve, though it didn't need adjusting. Richard didn't pull away. He even tilted his head slightly, listening to her. Then Olivia stood on tiptoe, leaning close to his ear, and Richard lowered his head.
God.
They were kissing.
All sound vanished in that instant. My ears rang. My heart felt like someone had squeezed it tight, the pain stealing my breath.
So Richard's interest in me was just possessiveness? He simply wasn't used to something that once belonged to him slipping from his control, so he'd chased me to Las Vegas, fooled around with me, tried to drag me back. He just saw me as a pastime, a diversion mixing physical needs with ownership confirmation.
And Olivia, the woman he'd always considered perfect for him, had perhaps never really left his options. Otherwise, why would Richard still be making dates with Olivia while toying with me? Even kissing her.
I was a complete fool.
I'd actually believed—after Richard barged into my life so aggressively, controlling everything—that just because he showed up at the press conference, because of those warm embraces these past days, that Richard cared about me.
How laughable. Reality slapped me senseless.
"Natalie?" Andrew's voice pulled me back.
"I'm sorry, Andrew." I stood, my voice trembling uncontrollably. "I'm suddenly not feeling well. I need to go. I'll get the bill. I'll take you to dinner again to make it up."
I had to leave.
I couldn't stay in this space another second. Every breath seemed contaminated with Olivia's perfume and Richard's scent, suffocating me.
