Chapter 609

chapter609

As Natalie stepped into her apartment, her phone began to vibrate. It was Austin.

“Mr. Powell,” Natalie answered. The moment she spoke, she realized how hoarse her voice sounded. The tears she had shed on the way home had left her throat raw and sore.

Hearing her raspy tone, Austin furrowed his brow, a wave of concern washing over him. He could sense immediately that she had endured something traumatic today. “Have you been crying, Natalie?” he asked gently.

Natalie felt her resolve crumbling. Her eyes welled up again, but she desperately wanted to shield him from her turmoil. She already felt guilty enough for how much her personal life had affected his career.

“No, it’s likely just a cold. I’m fine,” Natalie lied, her voice trembling. “I’ve already taken some medicine and I’m feeling a bit drowsy. I think I’ll just sleep it off. Please don’t worry about me, Mr. Powell.”

Austin remained silent for a few heartbeats before finally responding. “Rest well, then. If you need anything—anything at all—call me. Don’t push yourself too hard.”

Hearing his steady, supportive voice, Natalie’s nose tingled with suppressed emotion. “Okay,” she whispered before hanging up. Alone in the quiet of her apartment, self-doubt began to consume her. She couldn’t understand why life seemed to be playing such a cruel, relentless joke on her. It wasn’t funny; it was exhausting.

In a starkly different atmosphere, a piping hot stew and a sweet, delicate cake were being served in a cozy, high-end restaurant. The lighting was soft, and the mood was serene. Joe’s gaze lingered on Skylar’s hand as she held a glass of water, the ring on his finger radiating a subtle, confident warmth.

Across from him, Skylar was happily engrossed in her dessert. A small smudge of cream had found its way onto her lip. Without a word, Joe stood up, leaned across the table, and gently wiped the cream away with a linen napkin.

“Is it good?” he asked, his voice low.

Skylar was taken aback, staring at him in surprise. “It’s delicious,” she admitted. Joe wasn’t particularly fond of sweets or rich flavors, so he had only sampled a tiny morsel of the cake, preferring the savory, vegetable-based stew instead.

“That’s good to hear. Enjoy it,” Joe said. His voice was incredibly gentle—the kind of warmth that could completely melt a person’s defenses. Skylar felt her heart flutter as she nodded in response.

Joe returned to his seat, his eyes drifting to a large shopping bag on the chair next to Skylar. He wondered if she had another surprise in store for him.

Nearby, in a private dining room, the atmosphere was far more boisterous, though Charles remained strangely distracted. His colleagues were animatedly discussing their latest film project, sharing deep interpretations of their characters and the script.

Normally, Charles would have been the most engaged person in the room. He took his craft seriously, often offering meticulous analyses of every role. But tonight, he was a ghost at the table.

His friend, Aldrich Grant, nudged him. “Charles, you’re miles away. What’s going on?”

Charles took a slow sip of his drink, trying to shake off the lingering unease from earlier. “It’s nothing.”

In reality, his mind was replaying the startling encounter in the elevator. The legendary Joe Martin—a man known for being untouchable and cold—had actually initiated a conversation with him. He had even asked about his work. It was unprecedented.

“Aldrich, do you know if anyone in our circles actually knows Joe Martin?” Charles asked suddenly.

Aldrich shook his head. “People like that are in a different league entirely. Even top directors and major investors struggle to get a personal meeting with him. Why do you ask? Do you have a connection? If so, you’d be the biggest name in the industry overnight.”

Charles’s lips twitched into a strained grimace. He lowered his voice, the question burning in his mind. “Have you ever heard... whether Joe prefers men or women?”

The situation felt increasingly bizarre. The more Charles analyzed it, the less sense it made. He knew he wouldn't be able to get a moment of rest until he figured out why the titan of industry was suddenly taking an interest in him.