The Year She Stopped Being Crazy for Him novel Chapter 67

After taking a seat, she glanced at the dishes already laid out on the table and felt a flicker of surprise. They were all foods she liked.

Normally, when dining with Hassan's inner circle, her preferences were never accommodated.

While she was still trying to make sense of it, someone sat down right beside her. The faint, familiar scent of pine washed over her. She didn't need to look to know it was Hassan.

Natalie furrowed her brow, her gaze sweeping the room. Gardenia wasn't here today.

Hassan lifted his eyes, shooting a flat look at Jude. "This is the surprise you were talking about?"

Jude slipped a hand into his pocket and sat down. "Isn't it a surprise? None of you guessed it just now. You lost. Pay up."

Natalie sat there in silence, utterly unimpressed. Were they treating her like a toy for their bets?

She stood up, ready to walk out, but the man beside her clamped a hand around her wrist. His voice was calm. "You're already here. Eat before you go."

Natalie looked down at the long, elegant fingers locked around her wrist. "I'm not hungry."

The man raised his eyes slightly. "You don't like this food?"

"I don't like it."

Jude let out a low chuckle. "Quite a temper you've got there, Mrs. Carlson. All these dishes were ordered specifically to your taste, and now you don't want them?"

Natalie had no idea why Jude was acting like they were old friends. They weren't close in the slightest.

Hassan pressed her back down into her seat. "Eat with us, then I'll take you back. If you leave now, Grandmother will just send you right back to me anyway."

That, at least, was true. Natalie gave up on leaving, picked up her silverware, and picked at the food.

Around the table, the conversation shifted to 'Seven.'

"A lot of investors are clawing at the door trying to partner with her. I saw the design myself—it's seriously impressive."

"No idea where she popped out from. Nobody had ever heard of her before this."

"Wonder which company she'll go with. I heard Hassan is really gunning for her project too. The competition is steep."

Natalie's eyelashes fluttered slightly, but her movements remained entirely neutral as she continued eating.

That is, until she heard the man next to her speak with absolute certainty: "She will choose the Carlson Group."

Her chewing slowed.

She abandoned her plate and stood up to leave.

Hassan caught her wrist. "Are you full?"

She pulled her hand free, her expression icy. "What, if I'm not full, am I supposed to sit here and listen to you talk to your mistress?"

"Sit down and finish your food."

Natalie raised her hand and swiped her glassware violently off the table. It flew through the air, smashing against the corner of the wall and shattering into pieces.

Having made her point, she turned on her heel and walked out.

The entire private room was left in stunned silence.

"Is she out of her mind? Hassan is giving her face, and she just spits on it."

"Seriously. Jude, why the hell did you bring her here? You're just asking for trouble."

But Jude just burst out laughing. He looked right at Hassan. "You've got a wife with a temper like that waiting at home, yet you still have the guts to play around on the side?"