I Refuse to Be Your Second Choice novel Chapter 5

She thought that if he could just offer an explanation, there might still be a chance for them.

But Alexander acted as if he hadn’t heard her. He pulled his jacket from her grasp and walked out the door.

Staring at the empty doorway, Natalie let out a self-mocking laugh. How could she still hold out hope for him?

She turned and began packing her things, boxing up some of her clothes and a collection of books on art and antiquity appraisal. She would ship these to London ahead of time to make her departure easier.

She worked through the night. Alexander never came back.

She finally managed a few hours of sleep as dawn broke, waking up again just after eight.

“Arianna, can you pick me up at The Apex Residences in a bit? I need your help with something,” Natalie said into the phone.

Susan wasn’t around, probably out for groceries. Natalie dragged the two boxes she had packed the night before downstairs.

Arianna arrived shortly after.

Seeing Natalie with the luggage, she was stunned. “You’re leaving already?” In an instant, her eyes filled with tears.

Natalie rushed over to wipe them away. “No, no, I’m just shipping some things ahead of time.”

“But it still makes me sad thinking you’ll be gone in a month.” Arianna’s voice was thick with emotion.

Natalie felt a pang of sadness herself. She hugged her friend tightly, whispering, “Don’t be sad… don’t be sad… We’ll see each other again, won’t we?”

Arianna pulled back slightly, wiping her own tears. “You’re right. I promised I’d support you. I won’t be sad. Worst case, I’ll just move to London, too.”

With that, she helped Natalie load the suitcases into her car.

When they arrived, they got the boxes out and were about to head into the shipping company when they heard a loud “bang”.

Arianna’s white Audi had been rear-ended.

“Who the hell—are they blind?” Arianna swore, then yelled, “Does this person even know how to drive?”

Natalie looked over. A black Maybach was parked behind the Audi. When she saw the license plate, her eyes widened.

It was clear they knew each other. Arianna’s eyes darted between them, and recalling what Natalie had told her, she quickly guessed who this woman must be.

“Are you okay? Are you hurt?” Alexander asked, his eyes scanning Camila for any injuries.

Arianna, hands on her hips, laughed in exasperation, her anger flaring. “Mr. Ramirez, she hit my car, not the other way around. And are you blind? Can’t you see Natalie? We were almost hit!”

They had been a few feet away, but Camila’s driving was so bad that if she had swerved even slightly, she could have sent them flying. Arianna wasn’t exaggerating.

Alexander’s gaze shifted and landed on Natalie, standing a short distance away.

And the two large boxes at her feet.

This was an international shipping company. When Natalie saw his eyes fix on her luggage, a knot of tension tightened in her stomach.

“Oh, you must be Natalie. I’m so sorry. I wasn’t feeling well last night, so Alexander was worried and stayed with me. Please don’t get the wrong idea. We’re just friends who grew up together. He used to stay over at my house all the time when we were kids, for whole nights. His parents knew all about it.”

Camila suddenly took Natalie’s hand, her face a picture of remorse. She added in a friendly, intimate tone, “Natalie, let’s be friends from now on.”