I Refuse to Be Your Second Choice novel Chapter 204

His voice was low, smooth, and impossible to ignore. It had the kind of pull that made Natalie feel like she was teetering on the edge of something she couldn’t quite escape.

Her cheeks burned, her heart thudding so loudly she was sure he could hear it. She tried to pull her hand away, but Alexander didn’t let go.

“You… Don’t do anything crazy,” she stammered, her eyes wide and anxious, like a startled deer.

He leaned in for a moment, studying her. Then he let out a soft laugh, released her hand, and stood up straight. He slid off his suit jacket and handed it to her, placing it carefully in her right hand.

“Since when is a creditor cooking considered ‘making a move’?”

He started rolling up his sleeves as he walked off toward the kitchen.

Natalie just stood there, completely thrown. After a beat, she hurried after him, brows pinched in confusion. “Wait, you can cook?”

Back at The Apex Residences, it had always been her and Susan in the kitchen. Once she’d gotten the hang of cooking, she’d done it all herself, even for him. The last time they’d eaten together, it was still her at the stove. When did he learn how to cook?

Alexander pulled an apron over his head and tied it behind his back. He glanced at her, almost like he could read her thoughts. “There’s a lot you don’t know about me.”

He opened the fridge and frowned at the nearly empty shelves. “How do you even feed yourself? There’s barely anything in here.”

Natalie rolled her eyes. “If I can’t cook, what’s the point of buying groceries? They’d just go bad.”

“That’s just an excuse.”

He pulled out his phone and called Aaron Lee, rattling off a list of things to pick up from the store and deliver.

In the meantime, he started pulling together a meal with what little he could find, moving through the kitchen like he’d done it a thousand times.

Natalie watched, surprised at how natural he looked. He really could cook.

“Are you going to just stand there staring, or do you want to actually help?” Alexander said, not even glancing up as he chopped vegetables.

She snorted. “Like I’d be any use.” She knew she’d only get in the way. This was actually a good chance to work on the contract.

“Not bad,” she said, nodding a little as she tried something else.

Most of the dishes were her favorites. The person who claimed he was hungry had cooked a whole spread just for her.

A warmth flickered in her chest, stirring up feelings she tried hard to keep down.

Sensing it, Natalie straightened, clamping down on her emotions.

“I’m done,” she said, setting her chopsticks aside.

“You barely ate anything.”

“I’m not hungry.”

She stood up. “Eat as much as you want. I need to get back to work.”