Chapter 64

• Nathalie leaned back in her chair, a slight smile playing on her lips as she sipped her wine. "Look, we're just friends. I didn't know you were seeing him. I'm happy for you," she said warmly, trying to maintain a cordial tone. She wanted to reassure Anna that she'd find someone to appreciate her, but knew better than to speak out of turn. Anna, not even forty, had a figure Nathalie could envy; saying anything disparaging about her appearance would be dishonest.
• Anna sighed, leaning forward with a piercing gaze. "Are you really going to sit here and lie to me, Nathalie? I hoped we could have a mature conversation about you being involved with the man I'm seeing. Maybe I expected too much. You're only 24, after all—not at the level of maturity Ethan requires."
• Nathalie felt her expression tighten, yet she refused to admit anything. Whether Anna was mistaken or Ethan had omitted details about their connection didn't matter. Nathalie couldn't admit to a relationship with Ethan; doing so could jeopardize her career if word spread.