After giving Elena a stern lecture, the police left.
Natalie walked up to Alexander. “I’ll be at your office tomorrow at nine a.m. sharp.”
Then she and Arianna got into her car and drove away.
Inside the car, Arianna was ecstatic. “Natalie, did he really agree to sign?”
Natalie navigated the car through traffic. “Yes, he agreed.”
“He refused to sign for three years, and now he agrees just for Camila White? That bastard. If we’d known, we should have targeted that woman from the start. It wouldn’t have dragged on for so long.” Arianna was indignant, but then a smile broke out on her face. “Natalie, you’re finally getting rid of that jerk and becoming a single woman again! After he signs tomorrow, we have to celebrate and wash away all this bad luck!”
Natalie managed a small smile. “Okay.”
Outside the sales office, Alexander watched the Cayenne drive away.
Camila quietly approached him, gently touching his wrist. “Alex, thank you. Since you’re here, why don’t we get dinner? We haven’t eaten together in so long.”
Alexander pulled his arm away. Aaron Lee had already brought the car around and was holding the rear door open.
As usual, Camila moved to get in.
“I didn’t agree to have dinner with you,” Alexander said, his voice cool. “Out of respect for the fact that we grew up together, I won’t pursue what happened today. But I don’t want there to be a next time. From now on, stay away from Natalie Watson.”
Camila froze, her eyes instantly welling with tears. “Alex, how could you talk to me like that? You were never like this before.”
“I’ve always been like this. Nothing has changed.”
“But you used to say I’d be your bride one day…”
“We were children. We didn’t know what we were saying.”
“But you didn’t want me to go on blind dates, and you weren’t happy when I almost got married before,” Camila insisted, refusing to believe him and desperately trying to prove he had feelings for her.
“You’re right. Alex couldn’t possibly have no feelings for me. He was just angry today.”
Elena breathed a sigh of relief and added in a fawning tone, “Besides, if you want to deal with that woman, you don’t have to get your own hands dirty.”
Camila’s eyes glinted, and a smirk touched her lips. “Of course not. I have someone in mind.”
Inside the Rolls-Royce, Aaron Lee watched Alexander in the rearview mirror. His boss’s face was as dark as a thundercloud.
“Mr. Ramirez, why didn’t you explain to Mrs. Ramirez that you stopped her from pressing charges to protect her?”
Billy Firth’s second auction in Cabinda was scheduled for the end of the month. While not as critical as the first, it still carried significant weight. Natalie’s reputation had soared after she auctioned a piece of calligraphy for sixteen times its value, but this success had also attracted the jealousy of her peers. Local gossip could be vicious, and if news of a theft accusation got out, someone would surely use it against her.
It was clear she loved her work, and Alexander didn’t want this incident to affect her career.
“If you’re not comfortable saying it, I could explain it to her for you,” Aaron offered.

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