As soon as it was time to get off work, Natasha's phone rang.
“Mommy, have you finished work?” At the other end of the line, Denise's voice was full of expectation.
“You're calling me at the exact time. What else can I say?”
“Does that mean you're not working overtime today?”
Natasha could not be clearer about her intentions. “No, I don't have to work overtime, so I'll pick you up later.”
“Yeah! We'll wait for you, then!” Denise was overjoyed.
“Well!” After hanging up the phone, Natasha packed her stuff, clocked out, and left.
The school was half an hour's drive from Natasha's office, so when she arrived, most of the students had already left.
She called Denise's number. “I'm here.
Where are you guys?”
“Oops! I forgot to tell you, Mommy. Gramps came and fetched us earlier,” Denise replied.
“So, what should I do?”
The moment Natasha finished asking, a voice came from above her head. “You are Denise's mom, Natasha, aren't you?”
Hearing the voice, she looked in its direction and saw in front of her, a gentleman who fitted the description of the director of school affairs just as Denise had described.
Wearing black and standing upright, he looked energetic and fresh. His facial features really did resemble Yohan Yamaguchi, the good-looking and famous actor.
No wonder, Denise had such a crush on him.
On the other end of the line, Denise laughed as she heard Zachary's voice. “Mommy, enjoy your chat with him. I'm
hanging up the phone!”
Without waiting for a reply, Denise hung up the phone.
Awkwardly, Natasha put away her phone. Facing the man in front of her, she nodded. “Yes, that's me.”
“Denise told me your phone cannot be reached so she asked me to wait here and inform you that her grandfather came to pick them up,” Zachary explained.
“Thank you. Just now... there was no signal on my phone.” Natasha was forced to lie which was against her natural inclinations.
Zachary smiled. “I'm Zachary Lynch.” As he spoke, he stretched out his hand.
“I'm Natasha Watson.” Natasha shook his hand politely.
“I know, since Denise talks about you often,” Zachary said with a gaze that was both sincere and gentle.
After encountering Kenneth, an old man who was all fang, tooth, and claw, Natasha was suddenly at a loss in front of this
handsome gentleman.
“Shall we go for a cup of coffee?” Zachary asked.
What?
“Isn't this what Denise wanted?” Zachary was rather frank.
Natasha burst out in laughter and nodded. “Okay!”
“I know a nice cafe, but we have to drive there!” He gestured at the car parked outside.
She nodded and they entered the car together.
Zachary was a gentleman at heart. Every gesture and move that he made was graceful and elegant. He did not say much, but everything he said was sincere and sounded novel like a breath of fresh air.
“Denise says that you have all just returned from abroad,” he said.
She nodded. “That's right. We just came back one week ago.”
“It must be quite a challenge, looking after three kids all by yourself,” Zachary mentioned.
“To be honest, it's a challenge for them to take care of me.” Since he was frank, Natasha did not try to conceal the truth.
Zachary burst out in laughter. “All your three kids are lovable and sensible.”
She was quick to admit to this. “Indeed, they are really adorable.”
Whilst chatting freely, they soon reached the cafe which he had spoken about.
The environment inside the cafe was good, quiet, and stylish. Zachary and Natasha chose a table by the window.
After ordering from the menu, they chatted.
At this exact moment, Kenneth's car was passing by outside. He had drunk too much the day before and was having a hangover which made him irritable. He just happened to look out of his car and there was Natasha seated inside leaning against the window, in the company of a man.
“Stop the car,” he said suddenly.
The driver stopped the car immediately.
From Kenneth's position which was facing the window where Natasha was seated, he could see clearly every movement of the two inside the cafe.
Seated next to Kenneth, Thea was puzzled by Kenneth's behavior, but when she looked in the direction of his gaze, immediately she understood why.
It seemed as if the things that we wish to avoid would come to pass.
Seeing Kenneth being emotionally affected, Thea took a deep breath and looked away.
“I went to Prosper Technologies today.”
Hearing that, Kenneth turned around and looked at her.
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