I Refuse to Be Your Second Choice novel Chapter 23

The next morning, when Natalie came downstairs, Alexander was already at the breakfast table. The memory of yesterday’s near-kiss was still fresh, and wanting to keep her distance, she sat at the far end of the long table.

Alexander glanced at her. “Should I leave?” The meter of space between them felt more like a negotiation table than a breakfast nook.

“No need. It’s your house, after all,” Natalie replied matter-of-factly, sipping her soup.

Alexander let out a short, frustrated laugh. He had finished eating. Standing up, he placed a croissant—her favorite—on the plate in front of her. Natalie glanced at the pastry but said nothing, continuing with her soup.

Not expecting a response, Alexander simply said, “I’ve booked a table at Lakeview Drive for seven tonight.”

Lakeview Drive was the most exclusive and expensive restaurant in Cabinda. It was where they had celebrated her birthdays and their wedding anniversary. But ever since their relationship had soured, they hadn’t been back. They hadn’t even shared a proper meal together in months, let alone gone there.

Why was he suddenly asking her to dinner? It couldn't possibly be to reconcile.

Natalie scoffed inwardly, refusing to get her hopes up. “I don’t have time,” she said flatly.

“I have time. Are you busier than I am? It’s settled. I’ll pick you up tonight.” He gave her no room to argue and left immediately after.

Natalie spent the day at home, burying herself in books to prepare for her new job. When she checked the time, it was already six o’clock, and she was still in her loungewear. He had said it was settled, but she hadn’t agreed.

She curled up in the armchair by her bedroom’s floor-to-ceiling window, engrossed in a manuscript on contemporary art that Eugene Ramirez had given her. Soon, a knock came at the door. It was Susan. “Aaron is here. He says he’s here to take you to Lakeview Drive.”

Aaron Lee?

“Tell him I’m not going,” Natalie said, not dwelling on why it wasn’t Alexander, who had claimed he would pick her up himself.

“But Mr. Ramirez made the reservation especially for you,” Aaron’s pleading voice came through the door. “He told me I absolutely had to bring you. Please don’t make this difficult for me. My salary will get docked.”

Natalie remained silent.

Half an hour later, the door opened. She had changed her clothes. “Let’s go.”

She already knew where she stood. There was no need to waste her time watching Camila prove it all over again.

Just then, the waiter began serving the dishes. Alexander, who had been silent until now, finally spoke. “Let’s eat first.”

He had booked this place and cleared his entire evening schedule, all in an attempt to mend things with Natalie. Seeing her cry in front of him that night had felt like a knife twisting in his heart. So what if she loved someone else? He was willing to accept it.

On his way to pick Natalie up, he’d seen Camila being hassled by a man. He had immediately gotten out of the car, and the man had scurried away at the sight of him.

“If your father gives you trouble, tell him I intervened,” he’d told Camila. “I’ll have Aaron drive you home.”

Camila stood there, her eyes welling with tears, her body tense. In the end, Alexander had instructed Aaron to pick Natalie up and bring her to the restaurant.

As the waiter left, Camila’s phone buzzed. She glanced down at a new text message.

[The act is over, Ms. White. Don’t forget the payment.]