Chapter 60

Chapter 60

As Madelyn spoke, a flicker of emotion passed through Natalie’s eyes.

It seemed Brian’s repeated misunderstandings about her and Gavin might have a little. something to do with Rosie.

The afternoon press conference for the new show dragged on until nearly five o’clock. As the lead actors left the green room together, the leading lady caught sight of Natalie heading off and called out to her, “Hey Natalie, we’ve booked a private dining room. How about joining us for dinner? The boss is coming too.”

The moment the words left her mouth, there was a palpable shift in the air with a touch of awkwardness.

Natalie knew the last comment was an unintentional slip, so after a brief pause, she replied with a smile, “I have someone waiting at home for dinner.”

Gavin, who had just finished an interview, followed them out and overheard Natalie’s response. looking surprised. “You’ve got dinner waiting at home?”

He caught himself mid–question, noticing the curious glances from the others. To avoid further discomfort, he reached out, gently tugging at Natalie’s sleeve to pull her aside for a private word.

Natalie had been meaning to ask about Rosie anyway, so she followed Gavin to a corner.

“I do have someone at home,” she insisted seriously. She raised her right hand as if taking an oath, “I swear, I’m not lying to you.”

Nate had been calling her with Reid’s phone, sending video after video, begging her to come home for dinner, whining incessantly.

Gavin looked at her, somehow doubtful, and finally relented, “Alright then.” Changing the subject, he asked, “Are you sure you want to cash out all of this year’s company bonus? What do you need all that money for anyway? If you left it in the company, it’d earn interest. You do understand that, right?”

“Yes, I’m sure. I need the cash urgently, and the reason is my business,” Natalie replied firmly.

“Fine,” Gavin acquiesced with a hint of confusion. “Since it’s the end of September, I’ll send your the bonuses from the previous two quarters. That’s over eighty million. I’ll round it up to ninety million.”

After Natalie confirmed the financial arrangements, she hesitated for a moment before asking. “Rosie is your cousin?”

“Yeah, with your high–rolling status, shouldn’t you be matched with the best?” Gavin replied as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

Natalie was speechless. The playboy who was unfamiliar with the mundane complexities might

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Chapter 60

not know how his arrangement troubled Natalie.

Natalie exchanged a look with him, her expression a mixture of frustration and resignation, “Fine, it’s done now.”

She pulled out her car keys from her purse and told Gavin, “You go have dinner with them. I’m driving back.”

As she turned and walked toward the open–air parking lot by the roadside, a screech of tires suddenly pierced the air.

A car rounded the corner out of control, heading straight for her!

Natalie froze for a moment, then spun around and dashed back towards Gavin, pushing him out of the way to safety!

In the nick of time, the car door barely missed her heel and calf, the friction knocking Natalie off balance and sending her crashing to the ground.

Screams erupted from the bystanders.

Natalie’s elbow struck the pavement first, sending a sharp pain up her arm. For a moment, she went blank. By the time she came to her mind, Gavin had already instructed security to stop the car and pull the driver out.

It was a man Natalie had never seen before.

She flexed her elbow and was relieved that there was no dislocation or fracture. She managed to stand up and walked over to the man. With his hands secured by security, he was still seethed with resentment.

“I don’t know you. Why did you try to hit me?” Natalie asked, her voice low and controlled.

“It’s all because of you! You must’ve been playing dirty tricks with the Howard family, causing Gracia’s downfall! I was doing a public service to get rid of a shameless vixen like you…”

Before he could finish, Natalie flew her hand, delivering a stinging slap across his face.

“You think silencing people will…” the man retorted.

But Natalie cut him off with another fierce slap. The sound echoed, a clear sign that she would not tolerate slander or danger.