Whisper Destiny

Chapter 27

~ Natasha ~

I wasn't sure where Catherine was leading me, but the secluded surroundings provided us a rare moment of privacy for tonight. Suddenly, I heard footsteps approaching, but the familiar voice that followed made me exhale in relief.

"Here you go," Louisa said softly, handing Catherine a jacket. "Do you need anything else, Cate?" she asked, her concern evident in her tone.

"I'm good," Catherine replied, her voice a soothing balm in the cool night air. She turned to me, her eyes searching mine with a quiet intensity. "Do you need anything, something to drink?" she asked, draping the long jacket over my shoulders. I shook my head, unable to find words. I pulled the jacket tighter around me, seeking the warm it could offer.

"Okay then," Louisa said, her voice a gentle whisper in the darkness. "If you need me, just give me a call. Here's your phone, Cate. It's been ringing non-stop, so I just turned it off."

"Thanks, Lou," Catherine replied simply. Louisa's footsteps faded slowly into the background. 

After the event tonight, I find myself grappling with how to react around Catherine. She is now technically my fiancée, soon to be my wife. I realize that keeping my distance won't do us any good, especially with so many eyes on us. Our interactions have become more frequent as we work together on the acquisition project of Franc D'Larc Hotel, and I can't avoid her even if I wanted to.

Catherine's dedication and professionalism have become evident through our time working together. I've watched her lead her team with a blend of authority and openness that commands respect. Her sharp intellect and quick problem-solving skills have impressed me, and her perpetual calmness and composure sometimes make me envious. It struck me that, in all the time I've known her, I've never seen her lose control.

The realization hit me like a slow, dawning sunrise, casting long shadows and warm light over my thoughts. I needed to re-evaluate my actions and behavior towards her. Don't get me wrong, I still harbour the anger and resentment towards her, but no longer burning with the same intensity. It's still there, smoldering beneath the surface, but now it's more like a dying ember than a raging fire. I have no intention of staying married to her, but perhaps we can at least be civil with each other. Maybe, just maybe, we can navigate this twilight of our relationship with a semblance of grace.

I glanced at Catherine, who was standing quietly, her gaze fixed on nothing specific. By now, I could read her actions a little better; I knew she was trying to give me some space to myself.

Slowly, I walked over to a nearby bench and sat down.

"We never discussed how we should behave towards each other when there are people around us," I began, my voice low and tentative. She looked at me, her eyes searching mine, then moved closer, the faint scent of her perfume filling the space between us.

"May I sit here?" she asked, her tone gentle. I nodded, gesturing to the seat beside me.

"As I said to you before, I will never push you to do something you don't want to do. I want you to navigate and lead this whole 'marriage partnership' that we have. So, I just want you to be yourself," she responded, her words sincere, her gaze steady.

I let out a sarcastic laugh, shaking my head. "I believe if I acted that way in public, the next day there would be headlines in every front-page news saying, 'Natasha and Catherine's wedding is fake, it is just for the sake of their business,' which I strongly feel my father would not be a fan of."

"News will fade away," she said, her voice calm.

"Oh, come on, you're the most practical person I know. You've said you don't like media attention on your love life," I shot back, my tone sharper than intended.

Catherine smiled instead of commenting on my statement, and then said, "You paid attention to me back then."

Catherine's smile softened, and her warmth radiated beside me, unexpectedly comforting. Her presence had a way of easing the tension, even when the subject at hand was anything but simple.

"If that's the case, we can just act like a normal married couple—no need to exaggerate. Just be civil around each other," she said, her voice calm and measured. "In professional settings, I believe we're doing well in that department. As much as you want, you can just be yourself," she concluded, her eyes meeting mine with a sincerity that caught me off guard.

I nodded, absorbing her words. The truth of her statement settled over me like a gentle wave, washing away some of the tension. "Alright. We'll keep it simple. Just enough to satisfy public expectations without compromising our personal boundaries."

As we sat there, the silence between us was not uncomfortable, but rather filled with unspoken understanding. Her presence felt unexpectedly soothing, and I found myself relaxing, the knots of frustration in my chest loosening.

"By the way, congratulations on tonight. It was a great event," I said, deciding to play along with my role, at least as a business partner. I didn't want to waste more energy on immature acts. We could keep our relationship on a professional basis until our contract ended and we went our separate ways. So far, Catherine had cooperated really well with me.

I saw her smile grow wider, her eyes sparkling in the dim light. "Thank you!. I hope you enjoyed it, and that the whole event didn't make you doze off."

"It was well-organized, and all the collections were impressive," I admitted, feeling a surprising warmth in my chest. "And I believe tonight, I've broken a lot of hearts."

Catherine chuckled softly. Her laughter felt like a gentle caress, softening the edges of my lingering resentment. "I think I've broken a fair number of hearts as well." She turned to me, and our eyes locked.

In that instant, everything else faded away. Her gaze held mine, steady and intense, and I felt a rush of emotions that I couldn't quite name. The cool night air seemed to hum with the unspoken tension between us. It was as if we were standing on the edge of something new, a fragile truce shimmering in the space between us.