Chapter 8 Is She Your Girlfriend?

• To save time, Natalie had taken a cab to the Foster mansion.
• The Foster residence was located in the southern part of the city, while her company was in the north. The taxi fare had cost her over 30 dollars, a significant expense for her.
• On her way back, she planned to take the bus and then the subway. As she walked towards the nearest station, following her phone's navigation, a conspicuous Rolls-Royce parked by the roadside caught her eye.
• Why did this car look so familiar?
• When the driver rolled down the window, Natalie remembered—it was the car she had seen that morning outside the company.
• Isaac hadn't expected to be stood up by a woman. Just as he was about to head back to the company, he received a call from Rowan Lawson inviting him to lunch.
• Having his driver park the car by the roadside to wait for Rowan, he saw Natalie hopping along in the rearview mirror.
• Feeling quite amused, wasn't she cheerful? She had been crying just a while ago.
• "What are you doing here?" Isaac inquired, leaning out the window.
• The awkwardness of bumping into her boss while trying to sneak away during work hours? Her leave was granted by the HR manager; naturally, the president wouldn't know.
• Natalie lied without missing a beat, "The manager asked me to come here to pick up a document."
• This area was full of affluent residences, so her explanation seemed plausible. Isaac didn't suspect anything.
• "Get in, I'll take you back," he offered, unlocking the car door.
• "No, no! I'll go back myself!" Natalie hurriedly waved her hands in refusal, making up an excuse, "I ... I haven't had lunch yet. I'm really hungry, so I'll go find a restaurant first."
• If they found out she was lying, her meager salary would be deducted again.
• Isaac squinted, scrutinizing the woman who seemed to avoid him like the plague by the roadside.
• "Are you afraid of me?"
• "Of course not ... "
• To be precise, it wasn't fear but dislike!
• Every time she ran into him, bad luck followed. How could she not dislike him?
• "Why are you standing here chatting?" A voice suddenly appeared behind her.
• Natalie turned around to see a man in a light brown shirt and casual suit pants open Isaac's car door.
• Seeing Natalie's pure and beautiful face, a spark of curiosity and gossip lit up in Rowan's eyes.
• Wasn't this the girl he had seen at the bar?
• "Oh, Isaac, who is this lovely lady? Is she your girlfriend?" Rowan teased with a playful grin.
• Natalie's brow furrowed. "You've got it wrong."
• She was most certainly not any kind of girlfriend.
• Rowan's eyes twinkled with amusement as if he had already confirmed their relationship in his mind. He raised an eyebrow and said, "We were just about to have lunch. Why don't you join us?"
• "No, thank you! You two go ahead, I don't want to impose."
• "Why be so polite? I'm probably the one intruding. Come on, hop in!"
• Faced with Rowan's enthusiastic invitation, Natalie felt embarrassed.
• She could have refused and walked away, but Isaac's car was parked right next to her bus stop. Where else could she go?
• With her infuriating boss and a stranger teasing her, what kind of lunch would this be? She'd likely end up humiliated!
• As she wracked her brain for an excuse to decline, Isaac impatiently tapped on the car window frame.
• "Get in! It's work hours; don't act on your own."
• Using work to pressure her, huh?
• What choice did she have but to reluctantly obey?
• Opening the door and settling into the back seat, Natalie pressed herself against the car door, keeping a safe distance from Isaac.
• She had to avoid any physical contact with him!
• Isaac glanced at her with a hint of exasperation.
• Was it really necessary? Did she think he was contagious?
• While Rowan turned to chat with him, Natalie discreetly pulled out her phone and sent a text to Juliet for help.
• "Emergency! Get me out of here!!!!"
• She even added a string of red exclamation marks to emphasise the urgency.