I Refuse to Be Your Second Choice novel Chapter 17

Natalie reached the top of the stairs, realized she'd forgotten her phone, and turned back.

When she pushed open the door, she saw Alexander holding it.

"Spying on people's privacy is a new low, even for you," Natalie said, her face cold as she strode toward him.

She tried to snatch the phone from his hand, but he held it fast. Her clear, dark eyes lifted to meet his, her expression saying, “What now?”

"Why are you getting a visa? Where are you going?" Alexander finally asked. His deep eyes were unreadable, but a current of displeasure ran beneath the surface. His low, magnetic voice made Natalie's heart jump.

She glanced down at the phone screen, which showed the completed call.

"Not only do you spy, you answer other people's calls, too," Natalie said with a faint smile, not bothering to hide the sarcasm in her voice.

Alexander ignored her taunt, his gaze locked on her.

After a moment, Natalie offered a placid explanation. "That was my friend. Her relatives want to visit her, but they don't know how to apply for a visa, so they asked me to help."

His stare felt like a lie detector, weighing the truth of her words.

"Is that so?"

They were standing close, so close she could see her own tense reflection in his dark pupils.

"If you don't believe me, you can call back and ask," Natalie said, her voice steady, while internally she pleaded, “Please don't, please don't.”

Alexander's eyes remained on her face, but his thumb moved across the screen, pulling up the dial pad. One more tap, and the number would be redialed.

Natalie felt like she had stopped breathing.

“Buzz—Buzz—”

Alexander's own phone vibrated.

Natalie seized the opportunity to snatch her phone back. He glanced at her, said something under his breath, and walked aside to take his call.

She let out a long, quiet sigh of relief and quickly stuffed her phone into her pocket to keep it safe.

Alexander glanced at the woman beside him. "She's my secretary. She studied art history in college and has a keen eye for art."

Natalie remained perfectly composed, a polite smile on her lips. "A pleasure to meet you. My name is Natalie Watson."

Delighted to learn of Natalie's expertise, the mayor's wife praised Alexander for his thoughtfulness and immediately struck up a conversation with her. Natalie held her own, speaking confidently and articulately, and some of her insights earned the woman's enthusiastic agreement.

Alexander watched them, a flicker of something bright and unfamiliar in his eyes. He was so absorbed that he didn't realize the mayor's wife was speaking to him until Natalie subtly tugged on his sleeve.

"Ms. White is here as well. I saw those photos of you two trending online. Are wedding bells in your future?"

Natalie instantly remembered the news article Arianna had sent her. To outsiders who knew they had grown up together, such an assumption was natural. As a "secretary," she knew it was inappropriate to listen to her "boss's" gossip, so she quietly stepped back.

Alexander watched her retreating back out of the corner of his eye as he replied, "I can't believe you saw that."

He hadn't answered directly, but he hadn't denied it either.

Natalie's back stiffened. She quickened her pace, not wanting to hear any more.