Chapter 233: Just One Date
"Christopher Grayson." Natalia mumbled as she typed the name into her computer and searched for it.
He had just left her apartment after sharing a pizza with her. Natalia had stood by the door as she watched him leave and before he went into his apartment, he flashed her that killer smile of his again.
She had tried to use tonight as an opportunity to ask where they might have met before, but he still didn’t reveal anything to her.
She gasped as she read all the information about him on the internet. "Started his career at an early age of sixteen, held a full scholarship at Oxford throughout till graduation, took over Gray Industries situated in Cannesville and is now the CEO of the huge establishment?" Natalia read all this silently in awe of all his achievements.
The first question that crossed her mind was; if he was so successful, why then was he living in such a normal apartment close to her own?
And, for the life of her, she couldn’t remember ever meeting someone like him, if she had she definitely wouldn’t forget about it. Where then have they met before?
Natalia leaned back in her chair in front of the computer,
"Could it be that we actually have never met, then why did he say we’ve met before?" Suddenly sitting up, she seemed to realize something, "Could it have been a weird pickup line?"
She couldn’t be certain if it was a pickup line or not, could it be that he’d liked her? After all, why else would he come over with a lame excuse, bringing pizza just to hang out?
She recalled how he’d looked at her when her dress got soaked and once again her cheeks burned up.
But...could he really like her?
"Tsk, stop thinking too much, Natalia, don’t just assume someone actually has feelings for you." She muttered to herself, giving herself a small pat on the cheeks.
Anyway, since she couldn’t figure it out, she wouldn’t think too much into it.
Natalia got up from her computer and stretched, giving a small yawn, she was about to head to bed when her gaze landed on something outside her window, she stood still in her spot, her mouth hanging open.
Though her room had the lights turned off, the room in the house close to hers still had the lights on.
Christopher, seemingly just emerging from the bathroom, had a towel tied low on his waist hanging around the sexy bones down his waist, firm and taut muscles bulging on his chest and arms, and as remnants of water trailed down his sexily chiseled body, it made for an incredibly alluring sight that would have the eyes glued to him.
He casually dried his hair with a towel, but his every move was eye-grabbing and seductive.
Natalia wasn’t one to spy or sneak into someone else’s privacy, but the sight before her was just one that captivated the eye one wouldn’t be able to look away.
But as he dried his hair, he suddenly seemed to turn around as if he’d sensed her gaze, Natalia stiffened even more, but she suddenly remembered that the lights in her room were turned off, so even though he was looking in her direction right now, he was likely to not see her.
So she breathed in relief, but his next actions made her stiffen even more.
Looking right in her direction, he threw away the towel he was using to wipe his hair, his hands slowly reached down to the towel tied around his waist, her eyes widened.
Giving a provocative glance towards her, his eyes narrowing in a sinfully seductive manner, his hands were almost taking off the towel when Natalia quickly turned around, closing her eyes with her palms.
Her heart was already beating loudly, she no longer dared to look and quickly went off to bed.
What was he doing, almost taking off his towel? Did he know she was watching him?
Why was she even looking in the first place?
Natalia’s face turned red as she recalled his incredible drool-worthy body. How could someone possibly be able to maintain such a perfect body, she was sure countless women were currently tripping over themselves because of him.
With a sigh, she laid down staring at the ceiling, countless thoughts fleeting through her mind until she fell asleep.
The next morning, Natalia was leaving her apartment wearing a tank top and tights along with a hoodie, about to go for a run down the streets, she had just gotten outside when the door to the neighboring house opened, for some reason she stopped in her tracks as Christopher walked out of his house in normal everyday clothing, he seemed to be heading for a run as well.
And the minute she saw him, the image of his body from last night reappeared in her mind, her face was quick to flush even if she willed it not to.
Looking at her, a smirk came upon his lips as he placed his hands in his pockets, approaching her,
"Good morning, neighbor, oh my, you look so red, are you alright?" He asked with a taunting tone.
Natalia looked away, biting her lips in frustration at how she had no control over her mind, why did she have to blush at this moment.
"Did you enjoy the show from your window last night?" He asked, making her swing up her head to look at him in shock, "Spying from the window is cute, but you can come out and tell me if you are attracted to me." Placing his finger on his lips, he added softly, "I won’t judge." He winked.
"Wha... I’m not attracted to you!" She quickly said defensively.
He smiled, "Yes, so you say, but still couldn’t take your eyes off me last night."
"I..." She began but wasn’t able to say anything and shut her mouth, she had, after all, been caught spying,
"And what about you? You tried to take off your towel, are you such a pervert or do you do that to every woman who accidentally sees you through her window, huh?" She retorted, not willing to be outdone by him.
Stepping closer, he said, "First of all, if another woman spies on me through my window, she won’t have her eyes to see the next morning, secondly, no, I don’t put on a show for every woman, just you."
Natalia’s eyes widened as she gazed up at him incredulously, she was unable to say another word, standing there dumbstruck.
"Have you not figured it out yet?" He asked, staring straight into her eyes, "I’m interested in you, Natalia."
For some reason, the way he said it and the intense look in his eyes, her heart skipped a beat.
"No, let me rephrase that, I’m not just interested in you, I’m deeply attracted to you, I like you, Natalia."
She couldn’t believe her ears, wasn’t this man too straightforward? They had only just met.
"You...like me? But you barely even know me, I mean, we only just met." She said as if not believing his words.
"For you we just met, but not for me."
"But..."
"I’m an open-minded person, Natalia, I neither know how to hide my intentions, nor my feelings, I’m sorry I might sound straightforward, but I can’t help it, so if you don’t mind, I’d like to take you out on a date."
Natalia had never been asked out in such a straight-up manner before, especially not from someone she had just met.
She blinked in disbelief a bit, the first time she’d met Christopher, she never expected he’d be someone who’d be able to straightforwardly ask someone out.
After she got over her shock some time later, Natalia sighed.
"I appreciate your feelings for me, Mr. Grayson, but I’m sorry..." She wasn’t able to complete her rejection speech when he said,
"I believe I’ve never told you that I don’t take no for an answer, right?"
She looked up at him, "I..."
"If you plan to reject me, be sure you have a good reason for it." He said with a serious look in his eyes.
"I’m in love with someone else." She said honestly.
He looked momentarily surprised, but the surprise faded a second later, "Alright, is that person your boyfriend?" He asked.
Natalia frowned before she replied, "No, but..."
"Husband?" He asked, cutting her off again.
She gave him a strange look, then replied, "No, but still..."
"Then I see no reason for you to reject me."
"Mr. Grayson..."
"It’s Chris to you, and Natalia, it’s just a date, I’m not asking you to marry me, so you’re in love with someone else, big deal, that person isn’t committed to you and neither are you to him, so how does that stop you from going on a date with me?"
Natalia opened and closed her mouth, she wanted to tell him that she was rejecting him because she wouldn’t be able to fall for him anyway, her heart already belonged to someone else, but then she wasn’t even certain he would let her speak so she just kept silent.
"Go out with me, if after that you still don’t want to give me a chance, then I’ll leave you be." He said in a bargaining manner.
Natalia still felt a bit of resistance, Chris was a breathtakingly handsome man, attractive in every way, she was sure had her heart not belonged to Peter she would be all fluttery inside as he asked her out, but then even if she kept ignoring him she was still in love with Peter.
However, on a second thought, why should she reject Christopher, after all, Peter was still with someone else at the moment.
For three years she had rejected every man who asked her out all because of Peter, she had been unable to give anyone else a chance because she was still not over him, there was no harm in going out with someone else at least for once, even though she knew she would very likely not fall in love with him, there was no harm in just saying yes.
She smirked playfully, "Are you so confident to win my heart, is that why you are just asking for a single date? Let me remind you that my heart belongs to another."
Christopher scoffed, "And let me remind you that I’m a businessman, in the business world we snatch everything we want, it’s winner takes all, your heart is something I want, Natalia, and whether I get it or not depends on my own abilities."
"Hmm, confident, huh?"
Without looking away from her eyes, he said, "Very confident."
"We’ll see then, you’ve got just a single date, Mr. Grayson, after that, I’m afraid you’ll have to give up."
Giving it a momentary thought, he nodded, "Alright, sounds doable, deal."
Natalia smiled at his confidence, just what did he think of himself? How arrogant, but for some reason that made him even more attractive.
With his hands still tucked into his pockets, he made a casual turn, leaving the words, "I’ll pick you up tomorrow by five."
"Five? That early?"
"I’ve got just one date, Natalia, I’ll make the most of it."
With that, he walked away with his hands still in his pockets.
Natalia couldn’t deny that she felt extremely flattered by the fact that he’d actually taken a liking to her, she wished she was still the carefree Natalia who hadn’t given her heart away, she probably would have rejoiced at this, he was so handsome and charming, the exact type she used to die for.
She sighed after he disappeared from her view, she was about to go on her run when she suddenly stopped in her tracks.
Now that she’d accepted to go on a date with him, what should she wear??