Chapter 4

Chapter 4

Natasha walked softly through the company lobby, her eyes roaming every corner, as if she were searching for something or rather, someone. She knew exactly what she was looking for: the "handsome old man" who had captured her attention from the moment their eyes met. But she tried to convince herself that he shouldn't be her focus. After all, her true goal was something else, something she had been planning for over two years.

Ever since she found out about Maximiliano Colt, Jack Colt's brother who was her crush, Natasha couldn't get the idea of meeting him out of her head. A powerful, respected man, and, according to rumors, also irresistibly charming. She dreamed of having him in her life, even if it was just as her sugar daddy. The idea of being the wife of a man like Max excited and motivated her.

However, the sight of that older man, whose identity she still didn't know, was messing up all her plans. Something about him made her question her own desires and ambitions. Was her obsession with Max about to be replaced by a more visceral and immediate attraction?

As these thoughts distracted her, Natasha walked to the entrance, where a taxi was waiting for her. Nervous as she was, she had decided not to drive that morning. With the fear of not being accepted at FashionTech Colt hanging over her head, she thought it safer to leave the car at home and take a taxi.

She got into the vehicle and leaned back in the seat, trying to relax. Her thoughts, however, continued to race. Images of the two men, the stranger and Max, mixed in her mind, and she couldn't decide which one she really wanted.

Natasha had always been a woman with clear goals, but now she found herself torn between her old dream and a new, irresistible temptation. Although she had never seen any photos of Max or seen him in person, she didn't know what her reaction would be upon seeing him, but the other man, tall as a building, irresistible, attractive, there were so many qualities that she sighed longingly.

As the taxi pulled away from the FashionTech Colt building, Natasha felt her heart beating faster. She knew that from that moment on, her life was about to change drastically. What had started as a simple desire to get a contract had turned into something much bigger. The mix of ambition and attraction she felt inside made her restless, and she knew that this new job could take her down unexpected paths.

Arriving at the hotel, Natasha couldn't contain her excitement and immediately called her mother. When her voice came on the other end of the line, Natasha could barely contain her smile as she shared the good news.

"Mom, I made it! I signed the contract with FashionTech Colt!" Natasha said, the excitement evident in her voice.

"Oh, my girl, I knew you could do it!" her mother replied, equally excited. "You deserve every bit of this achievement."

The two continued to talk excitedly about the contract and all the opportunities it could bring. However, there was one topic that Natasha still couldn't get out of her head.

"Mommy, you won't believe it... I haven't met the CEO, Max Colt yet. I'm so excited to finally see him!" Natasha confessed, her voice tinged with anticipation.

Her mother sighed on the other end of the line, her initial joy giving way to silent concern.

"My daughter, do you still have that crazy dream?" - The sadness in her mother's voice was evident. "This man is impossible. What you have to do is move on with your life and find a good boyfriend, someone who can truly be by your side."

Natasha hesitated for a moment, but the truth she had kept for so long came out of her lips almost without thinking.

"But... But mommy, I'm in love with him..." - The words came out softly, as if she was afraid to admit what she felt even to herself.

"In love? How, if you've never seen him?" - Her mother asked tenderly, but also with disbelief. "You were also in love with his brother until he got married. Men like Maximilian Colt only stay with girls like you for sex. Is that all you want from him? If he is, invest. If he isn't, you'll leave with a broken heart." Her mother's words hit Natasha like a painful truth. She knew her mother was right, but it was hard to accept. A part of her wanted to believe that things could be different, that maybe she was special in some way. But reality imposed itself like a shadow over her dreams. "I know that, Mom..." Natasha replied, her voice breaking. "I'll try to forget him." "I doubt I'll be able to now that you'll see him almost every day," her mother said, with resigned sadness. "Take care of yourself, daughter. I don't want to see your heart broken. I love you." "I love you too, Mom. See you later," Natasha said, ending the call. As she hung up the phone, Natasha felt a solitary tear fall.running down her cheek. She knew she was getting involved in something dangerous, something that could destroy her hopes and dreams. But at the same time, she felt irresistibly drawn to the challenge, to the idea of achieving the unattainable. Natasha shook her head, trying to push away thoughts of Max Colt. "My mother is right. Focus, Natasha! Just focus on your work. Maybe you'll meet someone nice... Oh, who am I kidding?" she muttered, sitting down and holding her head in her hands. She stood up and sighed, trying to compose herself. "What do I do? One thing at a time, of course..." She looked at her watch and saw that she still had plenty of time before dinner with her friend Lu. With that in mind, she decided to call the beauty salon and schedule a manicure and pedicure, thinking about changing her nail polish to lighter colors this time. With the appointment set, Natasha realized that it was already noon and decided to have lunch at a nearby restaurant. She put on a light dress and sandals so she wouldn't smudge her nail polish when she got back to the hotel.

"Now that I'm going to live here, I need to find a place to rent," she said to herself as she went down to the building's underground garage to get her BMW and go to the restaurant.

At the restaurant, she received excellent service. Knowing that she would overindulge at dinner, she opted for a healthier meal, ordering a vegetable dish and a fresh orange juice.

"This should last me until 7 p.m.," she muttered to herself, satisfied with her choice.