Chapter 8 - Why The Billionaire Protected Natalie Today
Adrian followed me back to Table Twelve, pulling out the empty chair beside me and sitting down with quiet grace.
“Your daughter is a remarkable young lady,” Adrian said, offering Lily a warm, reassuring smile that made her relax instantly.
“Thank you,” I replied, slipping my coat over my shoulders while gathering my clutch and car keys from the table.
“And you handled that situation with a poise that Wall Street veterans would envy,” Adrian added, looking directly into my eyes.
“You still haven’t explained why you stepped in tonight, Mr. Cole. I’m just an interior designer from Chicago,” I reminded him.
Adrian reached into his pocket, pulling out a sleek metallic portfolio and sliding it gently across the white linen tablecloth.
“You were Evelyn Hart’s top protégé before you stepped away from financial risk modeling nine years ago,” Adrian corrected me.
My breath caught in my throat. Very few people in the world knew about my past life before I became Natalie Bennett.
“How do you know that name?” I asked, my fingers brushing against the cold metal edge of the confidential portfolio.
“Because Hart Meridian was founded on the mathematical algorithms you designed when you were twenty-eight years old,” Adrian smiled.
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“And when Ethan Harper tried to use your old encrypted credentials to siphon funds, our security flags went off instantly.”
The pieces of the puzzle fell into place with staggering clarity, explaining why Adrian Cole had appeared at my table tonight.
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