Chapter 1117

“Absolutely not,” Nathan refused without a second thought.
Derik waved his hand dismissively. “Bring your best hostess over. Make sure she’s attractive and untouched,” he emphasized. “We don’t want anyone who doesn’t meet those standards.”
The bar owner smiled obligingly. “I have the perfect person. Irene is new here. She’s
a lovely thing, and very proper. I’ll send her right over.”
Within moments, Irene Cooper appeared before them.
Derik looked pleased. “Mr. Lynch, this young lady is both charming and innocent. Irene, you’ll be keeping Mr. Lynch company tonight.”
Irene spotted Nathan the moment she arrived. His commanding presence and youthful good looks naturally made him the center of attention, even among these seasoned executives.
From his central position on the dark red couch, his tailored black suit seemed to draw in the light, lending him a reserved yet compelling aura.
Irene sat down beside him. “Mr. Lynch, hello.”
Not a flicker of emotion crossed Nathan’s handsome features. His indifference was unmistakable in his refusal to even glance in her direction.
“How old are you, Irene?” Derik asked, breaking the silence.
Irene smiled and replied, “I’m 21 this year.”
“21?” Derik said, raising a brow. “That means you’re still in university!”
Irene nodded. “Yes! I have a younger brother still studying, so I’m working part-time to support him.”
While many modern men might hesitate to marry a woman with a younger brother due to perceived financial burdens, the wealthy executives in this room viewed it as an advantage. It signaled a feminine pliancy and a need for protection that fed their own desire to play the savior.
“Make sure Mr. Lynch has everything he needs, Irene,” another executive chimed in. “He’ll treat you right.”
“Why don’t you peel him an orange, Irene?” Derik added.
Irene picked up an orange and began peeling it. Once done, she looked at Nathan. “Mr. Lynch.”
Derik and the others started egging her on, “Irene, you should feed it to Mr. Lynch!”
As Irene gazed at Nathan’s
handsome face, her heart begannet
pounding a wild rhythm. Around man like him, who wouldn’t fee little flustered?
She picked up a segment of the orange and brought it to Nathan’s lips. “Mr. Lynch, here you go!”
Nathan glanced at her. “I don’t want any. Thank you.”
His courtesy was a flawless facade, masking an impenetrable chill that held all others at a distance.
Irene’s pretty face instantly flushed with embarrassment.
Derik chuckled, “Mr. Lynch, there’s no need to be so stern. You’ll frighten Irene!”
Nathan’s gaze swept across the room before he stated, “I’m married.”
A stunned silence fell.
“Married?” Derik exclaimed.
Nathan and Michelle’s marriage was a business arrangement between their families. They never had a wedding, and since their relationship was only for show, they both quietly agreed to keep the marriage private.
Aside from close friends like Adam and other top elites, no one else knew.
Now, Nathan was announcing that he was married.
The crowd was astonished. “Mr. Lynch, how come we’ve never heard you were married?”
“Who is the fortunate Mrs. Lynch?”
“Whoever captured Mr. Lynch’s heart and married into the Lynch family must be truly remarkable!”
An image of Michelle’s exquisite
face surfaced in Nathan’s mind. By
day, she was calm and graceful. By night, she was all fire and passion. This mesmerizing duality wrapped her in mystery, making him ache to discover what lay beneath..net
He pulled out his phone, but the screen showed no new WhatsApp notifications.