Looking at him, Natasha smiled. “Hello.”
“You're absolutely gorgeous, Natasha. You're the most beautiful person I have ever seen in my life,” Mike praised.
“You're good at flattery, too.”
At this moment, Kenneth spoke. “This is Mike, and I've known him for a long time. This here is Luke, and this is—” When it was Alexia's turn, Kenneth paused for a while before apologizing politely, “I'm sorry. I can't seem to remember your name.”
Alexia's gaze, which was on Natasha initially, now turned to Kenneth. When he said he had forgotten her name, a trace of awkwardness and dejectedness appeared on Alexia's face.
How could he forget?
Instantly, the atmosphere turned awkward. Noticing the change, Dave walked over and said, “Ahem. Let me do the introductions. She's Alexia, a member of DX Group and someone who joined after Kenneth left.”
At his introduction, Natasha nodded and turned to Alexia. “Hello, Alexia,” she said with a smile.
Returning to her senses, Alexia looked at Natasha and quickly regained her composure. Without missing a beat, she smiled at Natasha and greeted her back, “Hi, Ms. Watson.”
Suddenly, Mike cut in, “Alexia, you can call her Natasha.”
At that, Alexia's gaze swept over Kenneth before she said, “He's your boss, not mine. Don't tell me what to do.”
“Didn't you say Boss saved you before?”
“Yes, so he's my savior,” Alexia answered.
“Your savior?” Natasha looked at her.
This time, Alexia stared straight at Natasha and nodded confidently. “That's right. Because he saved me, I could join DX Group. He gave me my life.”
At her last statement, Natasha chuckled. “Little miss, your parents gave you your life, not him.”
Panic flashed across Alexia's eyes, but she declared confidently, “I'm not little anymore. I'm a big girl now, an adult!”
Noting her persistence, Natasha felt she was desperately trying to prove something.
Nevertheless, she took a step back. “Sorry, I didn't mean to offend you.”
“My parents died when I was young. But that day, he saved me and gave me a new lease on life, so I owe my life to him,” Alexia said, staring at Natasha.
A faint smile hung on Natasha's lips as she listened, but her expression gave nothing away.
Again, everyone next to them watched on in discomfort.
Mike even tugged on Alexia's shirt. “Alexia, please stop.”
Begrudgingly, Alexia pursed her lips and went silent.
Then, Natasha turned her head to look at Kenneth and drawled, “Your words reminded me of something. When I was young, Kenneth saved my life too. Without him, I wouldn't be sitting here today.”
“Natasha, are you childhood sweethearts with Boss?” Mike couldn't help but ask.
“Kind of,” Natasha replied.
“T-Then? What happened next?” Mike prompted.
“Oh, I married him,” Natasha said with a laugh.
At that answer, his eyes widened. “That's it? It's that simple”
“Simple?” Kenneth's lips curled upward in an exasperated smile. “What more do you want? She's the one I wanted to take as my wife since I was a child.” As he said that, he turned his gaze toward Natasha. “For the sake of marrying you, I gave my all in saving you back then.”
Natasha stared back at him with a warm smile on her lips.
At Kenneth's confession, Mike's eyes lit up. “Is this what they call 'nothing ventured, nothing gained'? Boss, it looks like you've always been so hard on yourself.”
“Well, as they say, 'no pain, no gain.' I'm willing to place everything on the line for her,” Kenneth said.
Luke, who was sitting next to them, chimed in, “I never thought you were such a romantic, Boss. Natasha, you're a blessed woman!”
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