NovelFameChapter 1395: With that, she shook her head again and walked away, leaving Nikolas standing frozen far longer than he would have expected.
Nikolas remained motionless, his eyes fixed on the scene before him. He noticed Alexander lingering long after the meeting had adjourned, clearly waiting for his moment. Rather than leave with the others, Alexander approached Daniela, wearing what he believed was an irresistible smile.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇt"Daniela, what a surprise. I didn't expect our reunion to happen through a business meeting," Alexander said, tugging at the sleeve of his tailored suit—a look evidently chosen by Hamilton's assistant down to the last cufflink.
Confidence radiated from him as he leaned in slightly, hoping to catch her eye and charm his way into familiarity. Daniela lifted her head and glanced at him with cool neutrality. "The meeting is over. If you're still here, I assthere's a reason." Alexander faltered, thrown off by her clipped tone. "Well, I was hoping you'd joinfor lunch." Daniela shifted in her chair and offered a small, knowing smile. “You're not in high school. Don't tellyou're still that bad at reading the room." Nikolas watched as Alexander's confident grin cracked into uncertainty.
Without waiting for an answer, Daniela began straightening the scattered documents before her. "Do you honestly think this partnership happened because of you? If it weren't for the McCoy family pulling strings, you wouldn't even be standing in this room, let alone talking to me." Her expression was stunning-bright enough to disarm most men-but her words carried a bite sharp enough to cut through bone. "I have no interest in exchanging pleasantries with you. I suggest you don't entertain any expectations frombeyond work. If you don't want to look foolish, keep things strictly professional and avoid lunch invitations. Want to know why?" A wicked smile curled at the corner of her mouth, full of amusement at his discomfort.
Nikolas felt secondhand humiliation wash over him. If he had been the one standing across from Daniela, he would have fled by now.
Alexander stood frozen in place. His pride urged him to walk away, but something about her-her poise, her brilliance, the sheer force of her presence-held him captive. His legs refused to move, and his eyes stayed fixed on her flawless face.
Check what's new on g@lSo much thad passed since he'd last stood this close to Daniela. The ache of missing her had beca dull, constant companion, and he despised himself for still feeling it.
Daniela met his gaze for a fleeting second, her expression unreadable. Then she spoke, her words sharp as a blade, "My tcomes with a price comes tag in the thousands-per minute. Can you say the same? Be honest. Do you even make a hundred dollars a minute? Why should I waste my tentertaining you?"
She didn't relent. "You parade around with this smug notion that you matter tobecause I once chased after you. Letcorrect that only ever thought of you as the boy from my past. Even that was an illusion. Without it, there's nothing about you that drawsin. Alexander, I've been meaning to say this for years: the warmth I showed you? It wasn't real. I mistook you for someone else. I never loved you. I never even liked you."
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