I Refuse to Be Your Second Choice novel Chapter 84

"That's right. Do you dare?" Natalie challenged him with her eyes.

Alexander scoffed and lifted his arm slightly. "It's in my pants pocket. Get it yourself."

Focused only on getting the phone, Natalie didn't think twice and reached for his pocket without a second thought.

Alexander's suit was high-end and tailored, fitting him perfectly. Since he was sitting, it was difficult for Natalie to pull the phone out.

She shifted closer to him, trying to get better leverage with her left hand.

Alexander glanced down at her. He could see her long eyelashes, her small, delicate nose, and her soft lips. A faint, fresh scent emanated from her, tickling his nose.

Her hand was right by his thigh, and he could feel the light touch of her fingers, almost like a gentle scratch.

In that instant, his Adam's apple bobbed involuntarily.

Natalie, however, was completely oblivious to his state.

Until her eyes inadvertently fell on the evidence of his physical reaction.

She immediately recoiled, pulling the phone out in the process. Her face burned hot. She glanced at the driver, who remained perfectly composed.

"You…" Natalie started, wanting to say that he was being ridiculous for getting worked up when she was just trying to get his phone. But the words caught in her throat. Saying something like that in the confines of the car would feel far too provocative.

"What is it?" Alexander asked, his eyes fixed on the road.

"Your passcode," Natalie said instead.

He glanced at her then. "Don't tell me you've forgotten your own birthday."

The passcode was her birthday?

Natalie's mind flashed back to a time long ago. She had wanted to use his phone once, and though they were married, she felt she should respect his privacy and asked for his permission first.

"The passcode is your birthday," he had told her. "From now on, you don't have to ask. Just take it whenever you want. I have no secrets from you."

The words still echoed in her memory. Not long after that, their cold war began, and she never touched his phone again. She had assumed he would have changed the password long ago.

Natalie entered her date of birth, and the screen unlocked instantly. Her fingers flew across the screen.

A moment later, she handed the phone back to him. "I've saved my number in your contacts."

A child who was not wanted by his father and not protected by his mother. She would never forget.

After work, Natalie waited by the roadside for a taxi since she didn't have her car.

Someone called her name from behind. She turned to see Aaron Lee.

"Mrs. Ramirez, Mr. Ramirez is waiting for you in the car across the street."

"He's picking me up?" She was surprised. When he had dropped her off that morning, neither of them had mentioned him picking her up.

"Yes. Mr. Ramirez was concerned your employees might see the car if he pulled up right in front," Aaron explained.

Natalie nodded in understanding. Their marriage had been a secret until now, and with the divorce just a month away, there was no point in letting anyone know.

Aaron watched her reaction, secretly puzzled. Had he not explained it clearly enough? Mr. Ramirez had parked around the corner out of consideration for *her* feelings.

Once in the car, Alexander looked at Natalie, who was sitting pressed against the door, as if a universe separated them.

"Are you that fond of the car door?"