Fake Mate Beta Rises to Alpha Heiress (Natalie and Landon) novel Chapter 57

**Chapter 57: Easy-going**

**Natalie’s POV:**

I carefully scooped a generous spoonful of the rich, dark chocolate mousse cake and extended it towards Leonardo, my heart racing a little. “You have to try this flavor; it’s absolutely divine,” I exclaimed, my excitement bubbling over.

Aaron, who was standing a short distance away, had a look on his face that suggested he was on the verge of saying something—perhaps a gentle caution, a subtle warning of sorts. But before he could articulate his thoughts, Leonardo raised his hand slightly, effectively silencing Aaron’s impending words with a mere gesture.

In an instant, realization hit me like a wave. I had just offered him the spoon I had used. My instinct was to retract my hand, but it was too late; Leonardo had already taken the spoon from me and, without hesitation, popped the mousse into his mouth.

The dining room fell into an almost palpable silence, the kind that wraps around you like a thick fog. Aaron’s eyes widened in surprise, disbelief etched across his features as he stared at Leonardo, as if witnessing an unthinkable act.

“Oops! I must’ve lost my mind offering you a used spoon. I’m really sorry about that,” I stammered, my cheeks flushing with embarrassment.

“Mr. Sanchez, you… don’t have a thing for sweets, do you?” I ventured, my curiosity getting the better of me, only to realize that I might have just stepped on a delicate landmine.

Leonardo picked up a napkin with an air of refinement, dabbing at the corner of his mouth with practiced elegance. “I wasn’t into sweets before,” he replied, his tone casual yet contemplative. He paused, allowing the flavors to settle, and continued, “But this? Not as bad as I thought.”

Not into sweets before, but now he found it acceptable? Was it truly the cake that had changed his mind, or was there something more to it?

Could the cake genuinely be that good? I felt my tongue tie itself into knots as I sat across from him, the tension in the air becoming almost unbearable.

I lowered my gaze and nervously finished my own slice of the cake, my mind racing. “Um…”

“You…” Our voices collided as we both attempted to speak at the same time. He hesitated for a moment, then gestured for me to go ahead. “You go first.”

“I just want to say I was a complete mess last night after all that booze. If I did anything stupid, please forgive me,” I apologized again, hoping to clear the air of any potential awkwardness.

Leonardo shot me a frosty look that sent a shiver down my spine. “You don’t have anything else to tell me?” he asked, his tone sharp.

I felt utterly bewildered. What on earth did he expect me to say?

“I figured you’d talk about what happened last time when we met again,” he said, his gaze piercing through me.

“Last time?” The memory struck me like a bolt of lightning. The dance at the dinner party. I should have mentioned that I hadn’t even made it inside.

“I showed up that night, but my dress ripped. It was such a bummer that I had to head home,” I explained, hoping to convey my disappointment.

Leonardo nodded slowly, his eyes drifting down to his platinum wristwatch, a hint of disinterest creeping into his demeanor.

In truth, Leonardo was far more approachable than I had initially thought. I had expected him to be a serious man, but he seemed surprisingly easy-going, hiding a softer side beneath his stoic exterior.

Without acknowledging my words, he gestured toward my plate. “The breakfast will get cold,” he reminded me, his tone practical.

Realizing he was right, I quickly picked up my fork and dove back into the dessert before me, the sweet taste momentarily distracting me from the whirlwind of thoughts in my mind.

Once we finished breakfast, Leonardo glanced at his watch and then turned to Aaron. “Get the car ready. Take Ms. Anderson home,” he ordered, his voice leaving no room for argument.

Not long after I left the imposing Sanchez Estate, which loomed over the landscape like a fortress, my phone buzzed with an incoming call. It was from a company named “Neo Harvest Investment.”

“Ms. Anderson, this is Neo Harvest Investment. We’re looking to invest 300 million dollars into your new project,” the voice on the other end announced with an air of confidence.

I was taken aback, my mind racing. “Three hundred million dollars? We’ve never even crossed paths before. Are you sure you’ve got the right person?” I blurted out, astonishment creeping into my tone.

“Absolutely. We’re genuinely impressed with your team’s skills, and there are no strings attached,” the caller assured me with unwavering certainty.

This unexpected offer sent alarm bells ringing in my head. In the ruthless world of business, there was no such thing as free money. We agreed to meet at their office in an hour to iron out the details.

Just as I stepped into their building, Lily’s call came through, her voice practically crackling with excitement. “Natalie! You won’t believe this! Neo Harvest Investment is a newly-acquired, fully-owned subsidiary of the Sanchez Group. The news hasn’t gone public yet!”