I Refuse to Be Your Second Choice novel Chapter 55

Natalie and Arianna sat at the bar, each ordering a cocktail and watching the bartender work his magic.

As Arianna watched, she noticed something out of the corner of her eye. In the span of just a few seconds, Natalie’s glass was already empty.

“Another one,” Natalie said, pushing the empty glass forward.

“Whoa, hold on! What are you doing? That’s not how you drink,” Arianna protested, grabbing her arm. It was obvious Natalie was trying to get drunk.

And people only tried to get drunk for one of two reasons: they were either ecstatically happy or desperately sad. Natalie did not look happy.

“Did you and Alexander fight again?” Arianna asked gently, recalling the tense exchange between them earlier. Natalie’s mood had plummeted the moment she got in the car.

“I knew seeing him was a bad idea!” Arianna muttered angrily. She wanted to say more but bit her tongue, worried it would only upset Natalie further. She softened her tone. “Natalie, if you’re really struggling, why don’t you ask your company to transfer you back to London? I’d miss you like crazy, but I hate seeing you like this.”

Arianna was convinced that as long as Natalie stayed away from Alexander, she would be fine.

A fresh drink was placed in front of her, and Natalie took a sip.

“Arianna, am I pathetic?”

She thought she was over it. She thought Alexander no longer had any power over her. Even when she’d felt that familiar pang of hurt before, she had quickly suppressed it, believing she had finally built up an immunity to him.

But a moment ago, when he had shown such disdain for her return to Cabinda, that old, suffocating tightness had seized her heart once again.

Seeing the redness rimming Natalie’s eyes, Arianna’s heart ached for her.

“Who says you’re not allowed to be sad after a breakup? Is there a law against it?” she said fiercely. “Natalie, you feel whatever you need to feel. It’s your heart. You can be happy, sad, or angry whenever you damn well please.”

Perhaps it was the alcohol kicking in, but Natalie’s lower lip trembled, and she felt a sudden urge to cry. She threw her arms around Arianna. “Arianna, I’m so glad I have you.”

On the second floor of the bar, Samuel Thompson was descending the stairs, followed by an assistant. He paused when he saw a familiar figure at the bar, one eyebrow raised in surprise.

Natalie Watson? And she was… hugging another woman… crying?

Samuel was intrigued. He made his way over.

“Ms. Watson, fancy meeting you here.”

Hearing her name, Natalie let go of Arianna and looked up.

He explained, “A friend of mine is looking to auction a piece from his collection and wants to work with Billy Firth. But according to your company’s policy, the item has to be appraised first. He’s quite eager, so I was hoping to pull a few strings for him. Would you be willing to take a preliminary look?”

It wasn’t exactly bending the rules. A preliminary look was harmless. If the item met the criteria, it would simply proceed through the normal channels.

“Of course, that’s no problem. Just set up a time with your friend,” Natalie agreed.

Samuel smiled. “No need to schedule anything. He’s actually upstairs right now. If you’re free, I can take you up to meet him.”

Natalie was a bit surprised. “Alright.”

Arianna assumed they had business to discuss and prepared to stay behind, but Samuel insisted she join them. He claimed that since he had interrupted their evening, the least he could do was not leave her sitting alone.

Samuel led the way, stopping in front of a private room.

“Here we are,” he said, pushing the door open.

The room was filled with people. Natalie’s eyes scanned the crowd and then froze on one particular spot.