As soon as it was time to get off work, Natasha’s phone rang.
“Mommy, have you finished work?” At the other end of the line, Denise’s voice was full of expectation.
“You’re calling me at the exact time. What else can I say?”
“Does that mean you’re not working overtime today?”
Natasha could not be clearer about her intentions. “No, I don’t have to work overtime, so I’ll pick you up later.”
“Yeah! We’ll wait for you, then!” Denise was overjoyed.
“Well!” After hanging up the phone, Natasha packed her stuff, clocked out, and left.
The school was half an hour’s drive from Natasha’s office, so when she arrived, most of the students had already left.
She called Denise’s number. “I’m here. Where are you guys?”
“Oops! I forgot to tell you, Mommy. Gramps came and fetched us earlier,” Denise replied.
“So, what should I do?”
The moment Natasha finished asking, a voice came from above her head. “You are Denise’s mom, Natasha, aren’t you?”
Hearing the voice, she looked in its direction and saw in front of her, a gentleman who fitted the description of the director of school affairs just as Denise had described.
Wearing black and standing upright, he looked energetic and fresh. His facial features really did resemble Yohan Yamaguchi, the good-looking and famous actor.
No wonder, Denise had such a crush on him.
On the other end of the line, Denise laughed as she heard Zachary’s voice. “Mommy, enjoy your chat with him. I’m hanging up the phone!”
Without waiting for a reply, Denise hung up the phone.
Awkwardly, Natasha put away her phone. Facing the man in front of her, she nodded. “Yes, that’s me.”
“Denise told me your phone cannot be reached so she asked me to wait here and inform you that her grandfather came to pick them up,” Zachary explained.
“Thank you. Just now… there was no signal on my phone.” Natasha was forced to lie which was against her natural inclinations.
Zachary smiled. “I’m Zachary Lynch.” As he spoke, he stretched out his hand.
“I’m Natasha Watson.” Natasha shook his hand politely.
“I know, since Denise talks about you often,” Zachary said with a gaze that was both sincere and gentle.
After encountering Kenneth, an old man who was all fang, tooth, and claw, Natasha was suddenly at a loss in front of this handsome gentleman.
“Shall we go for a cup of coffee?” Zachary asked.
What?
“Isn’t this what Denise wanted?” Zachary was rather frank.
Natasha burst out in laughter and nodded. “Okay!”
“I know a nice café, but we have to drive there!” He gestured at the car parked outside.
She nodded and they entered the car together.
Zachary was a gentleman at heart. Every gesture and move that he made was graceful and elegant. He did not say much, but everything he said was sincere and sounded novel like a breath of fresh air.
“Denise says that you have all just returned from abroad,” he said.
She nodded. “That’s right. We just came back one week ago.”
“It must be quite a challenge, looking after three kids all by yourself,” Zachary mentioned.
“To be honest, it’s a challenge for them to take care of me.” Since he was frank, Natasha did not try to conceal the truth.
Zachary burst out in laughter. “All your three kids are lovable and sensible.”
She was quick to admit to this. “Indeed, they are really adorable.”
Whilst chatting freely, they soon reached the café which he had spoken about.
The environment inside the café was good, quiet, and stylish. Zachary and Natasha chose a table by the window.
After ordering from the menu, they chatted.
At this exact moment, Kenneth’s car was passing by outside. He had drunk too much the day before and was having a hangover which made him irritable. He just happened to look out of his car and there was Natasha seated inside leaning against the window, in the company of a man.
“Stop the car,” he said suddenly.
The driver stopped the car immediately.
From Kenneth’s position which was facing the window where Natasha was seated, he could see clearly every movement of the two inside the café.
Seated next to Kenneth, Thea was puzzled by Kenneth’s behavior, but when she looked in the direction of his gaze, immediately she understood why.
It seemed as if the things that we wish to avoid would come to pass.
Seeing Kenneth being emotionally affected, Thea took a deep breath and looked away. “I went to Prosper Technologies today.”
Hearing that, Kenneth turned around and looked at her.
“I also spoke to this Ms. Watson who demanded a million.”
Kenneth frowned. “What did you say?”
“I have no idea what this lady has to do with you, but I did not want you to be bothered by her. So, I paid her off.”
“Did she take it?” Kenneth asked in disbelief.
Thea recalled what Natasha had done. It did not matter how she handled the money. As far as she was concerned, Natasha had taken the money.
Thea nodded. “She took it.” After that, she elaborated, “So, at this moment, it is apparent that she has a new target.”
Kenneth’s countenance took a turn for the worse.
She reminded him, “Kenneth, our company is undergoing expansion. Don’t hinder the projects because of your emotions. Once there is negative news, it will be very detrimental to our plans!”
Kenneth did not respond. At that moment, none of what she said made sense.
Natasha…
At the time they divorced, he did give her money, but she refused vehemently to accept anything.
Now, she is taking one million? Haha… This is really impressive.
“Drive on,” Kenneth said.
At that, the driver resumed their journey.
Thea sat at his side, observing him in silence.
She was certain in her mind that Kenneth would no longer take any interest in the woman who accepted the payout.
No matter what had happened before between them, it is truly over now.
Studying the information she held in her hand, she was secretly relieved.
Zachary and Natasha had a good chat.
Zachary was caring and gentle, making one feel at ease in every way, physically and emotionally.
Natasha was an open book, natural and without pretense. Thus, they felt like old friends at their first meeting.
Since Natasha did not have many friends, Zachary gave her a good impression.
In the depths of her being, she felt that this was the type of man who could make her happy whether as a friend or a husband.
As they chatted, Natasha’s truthful character took over. “Actually, I think you’ve been hoodwinked by Denise. My phone was perfectly fine. She tricked you into coming out to wait for me.”
Zachary was not surprised at all. “Actually, you are the one she hoodwinked, not me!”
“Really? How?” Natasha asked.
“She speaks to me about you every day, so my curiosity was piqued. I said I wanted to meet you and she helped me,” Zachary said.
Natasha was surprised. It was the first time someone made such an effort over her.
“So, you are the one who is being hoodwinked,” Zachary explained.
Only then, did Natasha understand what the whole story was about and she nodded. “Oh, I see.”
“I hope you’re not angry.”
“No, not at all.” Natasha shook her head. “I don’t mind meeting a handsome guy.”
Zachary was as good-looking as any movie star could be and Natasha admired handsome men, so she did enjoy the meeting.
When he sent her home, it was already about nine o’clock in the evening.
After the car came to a halt, Natasha looked at him. “It’s late, so I won’t invite you in. Drive safely on your way back.”
Zachary nodded. “So… can we have a meal together sometime soon?”
“Yes, certainly!” She was only too pleased to have lunch or dinner with a handsome man.
“Let’s exchange contact info, then?” With that, Zachary took out his phone. “Will WhatsApp do?”
Suddenly, Natasha realized that after chatting for so long, they did not even get each other’s contact information.
Natasha took out her phone and let him scan it.
After adding her to his contact list, Zachary said, “I’ve sent you my phone number. If you need my help in any way, just give me a tinkle.”
“I will.”
“Goodbye, then,” Zachary said.
His eyes were beautiful and when he looked at anyone, they showed his care and gentleness as if reluctant to part.
“Yeah.” Natasha nodded.
Zachary smiled, turned around to enter his car and left.
Only after the car had left, did Natasha get ready to go upstairs.
In the next instant, a car came from afar, headed straight for her.
Natasha was still in a daze when the car stopped one meter away.
In the next instant, Kenneth had come out of the car and was rushing toward her, in a fit of rage.
When she recognized the frenzied figure, she frowned and roared. “Kenneth, are you insane?”
Kenneth sneered, “Yes. If I am insane now, it’s because you drove me insane.” Then he pulled her over into his arms and kissed her forcibly on the lips.
Comments
The readers' comments on the novel: Not Twins (Natasha and Kenneth)