I Refuse to Be Your Second Choice novel Chapter 139

Alexander watched Natalie command the stage, a shining spectacle, and said to Aaron Lee, "There was no backup auctioneer. Dock the relevant manager's pay for half a month."

Aaron followed his boss's gaze and saw the hint of jealousy on his face. It was clear he was unhappy about other people witnessing Mrs. Ramirez's brilliance.

"Yes, Mr. Ramirez."

Camila knew she had lost her chance. She stood beside him, but Alexander's attention was entirely elsewhere; he didn't even seem to know she was there.

She felt like a clown.

Her eyes shifted to Natalie below, a toxic mix of jealousy and resentment churning inside her.

"Alex, you have work to do, so I won't disturb you any longer," Camila murmured.

Alexander, completely captivated by Natalie, didn't hear a word she said.

Ignored, Camila felt a sting of humiliation. She bit her lower lip and turned to leave in silence.

Natalie's clear, pleasant voice filled the hall, and the sound felt like a drill boring into Camila's skull.

She couldn't believe Natalie had emerged from that night unscathed.

Her plan, which she had suggested to Benjamin, was twofold: eliminate the brother who had always treated her like dirt, and destroy Natalie Watson in the process.

She knew Benjamin's cruel ways with women. Once Natalie was in his clutches, she would be like a rabbit in a tiger's den, with no hope of escape.

Yet, Natalie was perfectly fine. Camila had heard that the hotel Benjamin went to that night belonged to the Ward family, and that Jackson Ward had been hosting a birthday banquet there.

Given the close relationship between the Ward and Ramirez families, Alexander would have certainly been there.

It was obvious, then, that Alexander had saved her.

And it was just as obvious who had beaten Benjamin into a coma.

Her plan had been for Alexander to find out about Natalie *after* Benjamin had assaulted her. It would have been the perfect solution. She couldn't imagine Alexander still wanting Natalie after she had been defiled.

But it had all gone wrong.

Reaching the ground floor exit, Camila took one last look at Natalie. Why did fate always seem to be on her side?

She turned, filled with resentment, and bumped into someone.

"Watch where you're going!"

The person snapped at her. Camila looked up and saw a woman in a designer suit, wearing sunglasses and a mask. A young woman with a ponytail stood beside her.

The young woman quietly apologized to Camila.

"What's taking you so long?" the woman in the suit called back impatiently.

She stopped the staff member who had just spoken with Sophia.

"Who was that woman?"

"Ms. White, that was Ms. Sophia Green."

Everyone at The Ramirez Group knew who Camila White was, so the staff member answered without hesitation.

So, it was Sophia Green.

"When did she get so close to Alex?" Camila asked.

"Ms. Green has consigned an oil painting to The Ramirez Group for auction, so she's had some dealings with Mr. Ramirez."

This Sophia Green was definitely trouble. As if dealing with Natalie wasn't enough, now there was another rival. And this one seemed much more difficult to handle.

Camila gritted her teeth in frustration and finally left.

On stage, Natalie concluded the sale of another lot and handed the slip to a staff member beside her. As she did, she glanced up at the second floor.

Alexander was staring right at her.

The next second, she saw Sophia Green link her arm through his.