Echoes Of a Forsaken Heart (Natalia and Hamilton) novel Chapter 151

Natalia hesitated in her stride, thinking she might have misheard.

Linda repeated the message on the other end of the phone.

"Ms. Jenkins, there's a snag with the project you're overseeing. You'll need to take a business trip."

Natalia remained silent for a moment before asking, "Do I have to go myself?"

"The client specifically requested negotiations with the project head."

After a brief pause, Natalia agreed.

After all, she hadn't formally resigned from Ivy Gemstone.

"I'll need my assistant to accompany me."

There was a moment of silence from Linda before she replied, "Alright, Ms. Jenkins, I'll inform your assistant to meet you at the airport tomorrow."

The next day, Natalia was up early, packing her things for the airport.

Once there, she received a call from Ronin.

"Ms. Jenkins, it's the weekend—you must have some time now, right?"

Natalia offered a tight-lipped smile. "Sorry, Mr. Joyner, I'm at the airport heading out on a business matter."

Ronin was clearly taken aback.

"Business on the weekend?"

Natalia didn't elaborate; after all, it was an internal affair at Ivy Gemstone.

Ronin sounded slightly irked. "I suspect Hamilton did this on purpose."

Natalia chuckled softly, "Mr. Joyner, I still haven't left Ivy Gemstone, remember?"

With no other option, Ronin let it be.

"Well, when you get back, how about I pick you up? There are some details about the new company launch I need to discuss with you."

After a moment's thought, Natalia agreed.

"Okay."

She didn't mention the photo she had seen the night before. It wasn't necessary.

Though she could sense Ronin's interest in her, their relationship was strictly professional.

Entering the departure lounge, Natalia reviewed documents while waiting for Tess.

An hour before boarding, with no sign of Tess, Natalia couldn't help but call her.

Tess sounded surprised when she answered.

"Boss? Why are you calling at this hour? Is something wrong?"

Natalia's face darkened.

"Didn't Linda tell you about the business trip?"

Tess replied, "No, should I be joining you, Boss?"

Frowning and massaging her temples, Natalia realized it was too late for Tess to make it now.

"No need, just get some rest."

After hanging up, Natalia took a deep breath and called Hamilton, only to be met with the beep of a disconnected call.

A surge of anger welled up inside her. She hadn't initially thought this trip was a ploy by Hamilton. Given his character, he wouldn't joke about company business. But now, she couldn't help but think otherwise.

She didn't bother calling Linda again. This wasn't something Linda could decide.

Boarding time came quickly. Natalia, pulling her suitcase, boarded the plane and saw Hamilton sitting beside her assigned seat.

Her lips tightened as she approached.

Once inside, Natalia returned the coat to Hamilton and rummaged through her luggage for a thick sweater of her own.

Hamilton watched her every move, his brows knitting together tighter and tighter until he finally let out a sardonic chuckle.

"So eager to draw a line between us, huh?"

Natalia remained silent.

She had no intention of arguing with him in public.

They proceeded to their business meeting at the partner company.

Somehow, the other party had caught wind of some insider information and insisted on pushing down the partnership fee by ten percent.

Neither Natalia nor Hamilton agreed to such terms, and the negotiation ended in a stalemate.

By the time they returned to the hotel, it was well past 10 PM.

However, upon arriving at the hotel, Natalia discovered that Linda had only booked one room for them in the sprawling establishment.

Clutching her ID, she turned to glance at Hamilton.

He was just leaning casually against the front desk, arms crossed, observing her.

"I didn't book the room."

Natalia scoffed.

Even if Hamilton wasn't the one who booked it, she was certain he had a hand in it.

"I'll get another room," she announced.

The receptionist offered an apologetic smile that seemed to stretch a mile wide.

"I'm terribly sorry, but Boria City is hosting an International Expo right now, and accommodations are quite scarce. This is, unfortunately, the only suite we have available at the moment."