Chapter 294: Busy With The Mistress

The banquet continued, with everyone eagerly waiting to see if the NextEra CEO would arrive, even if there was the slightest chance of his appearance. Meanwhile, they enjoyed drinks and conversations.

Natalie was seated at one of the tables, frequently glancing at her cellphone while sipping wine, her expression far from pleased.

"Stop staring at your phone already," Mia said with a frown. "It’s not like he’s going to jump out of it if you keep looking."

In response, Natalie downed the wine in her glass in one gulp and slammed it onto the table. She signaled a server and picked up two more glasses of wine.

"Slow down! You’ve already had enough," Mia warned. "Once he returns, you can take your revenge. But don’t get wasted at such a big party. You have an image to maintain as a CEO."

"My ass!" Natalie retorted before finishing another glass.

"Craving for a spanking?" Mia teased, chuckling. "I’ll let your husband know you’re asking to have your back broken."

Natalie scoffed mockingly. "He... he never broke my back."

"What? You mean you two haven’t done it at all?" Mia asked, her eyes widening in shock. "In my opinion, he always looks so horny for you."

Natalie shook her head. "He just won’t go ahead, as if something’s stopping him. Never mind—it’s his loss."

"Stops himself?" Mia repeated. "Do you think he’s got someone else? A mistress? Now that you’re his wife, the other woman would be the mistress."

Natalie glanced at her sharply. "Do you really think so?"

"Rich men are known for these things, especially when women throw themselves at them so easily. Well, he’s a man, after all, and you can never fully trust a man with his desires."

Natalie gripped her glass tightly. "No wonder he’s all talk but won’t do it with me."

Ryan and John, doing their jobs as her bodyguards and moving like silent ghosts, acted as though they had heard nothing. With Natalie drinking and clearly angry with her husband, they knew they had to stay alert.

Mia’s cell phone rang. She sighed as she looked at the screen and said, "I need to take this. Don’t drink too much while I’m gone. I’ll be right back." She glanced at the two bodyguards. "Look after her."

Natalie simply picked up another glass of wine. Mia sighed. "I didn’t know you’d turn into a hopeless case in love too," she remarked before answering the call and walking away.

Natalie called for the server. "Put all the glasses here on my table."

The server hesitated, glancing at the already emptied glasses on the table. "All of them?"

"Are you deaf?" she snapped, a clear indication that she was intoxicated. "All of it," she repeated.

John finally stepped in. "Ms. Natalie, you’ve had enough."

She shot him a cold glare, her face turning flushed red due to drinking. "You dare to stop me, huh? Want to lose your job?" she raised her slightly drunk sounding voice, "Go stand on the side."

"Ms. Natalie—"

"You’re just like your boss—no, your previous boss! So stubborn and always getting on my nerves by not listening to me..." she continued, cursing him while dragging Justin into her tirade.

John was taken aback, while Ryan couldn’t help but suppress a smile.

he thought.

Natalie turned back to the server. "Didn’t you hear me yet?"

The server nervously started placing the glasses, but she waved him off. "Don’t bother. Just put the tray down."

Having no choice, the poor server set the tray on the table and hurried off.

John looked at Ryan, who finally put on a serious expression and said, "Ms. Natalie, Mr. Harper wouldn’t like it if you—"

"Now I have to cater to what your boss likes or doesn’t like?" she snapped, glaring at him. "Does he even care about me? That jerk didn’t message me once the entire day, and here he is, appointing his dogs to monitor every moment of my life. Hypocritical bastard. I’m sure he’s busy with his mistress."

"Ms. Natalie—"

"Get lost, you two," Natalie spat, picking up another glass.

The two quietly stepped aside, watching her drink.

"When is he coming?" John asked.

"On the way," Ryan replied.

Meanwhile, unaware of the drama unfolding on Natalie’s side of the hall, the other guests continued speculating about the arrival of the NextEra CEO.

"Is he not coming?"

"He likes to keep himself in the shadows, so it’s highly likely he won’t show."

"No one’s ever seen his face. If he shows up today, do you think he’ll reveal his identity?"

"Who knows. Maybe yes, maybe no."

Briena, having changed into a new dress, decided not to court trouble this time and stayed quietly by Ivan’s side. She wasn’t sure what unpredictable move Natalie might make next.

"Briena, Ivan, when the NextEra CEO arrives, make sure to get his attention and arrange a meeting for our companies," Sephina instructed.

"But Grandma, he’s said to be associated with Natalie," Briena pointed out. "She won’t let him meet us."

Sephina scoffed. "Rich men like him might keep a few sluts on the side, but they don’t let women interfere with their business decisions. I’m sure he’s just having fun with a married woman."

"Briena, those are just rumors. No one truly knows if the man who spent money to dance with her, or the man who is supporting her, is the NextEra CEO," Irene said. "If he were, Natalie would have already used his name to gain more advantages in the business world. Instead, she never said it’s him because she knows she can’t lie without facing consequences."

"You’re right," Briena replied, glancing in the direction where Natalie was sitting at the last table, away from everyone. "A scandalous woman like her can’t be lucky enough to have the support of such a man. She only deserves a gigolo."

"The way she’s drinking, I’m sure she’ll cause a scene," Irene chuckled. "Shall I give her a hand?"

"Don’t create any trouble," Ivan warned his sister. "Stay by my side."

Irene quietly shut her mouth, though she noticed her brother glancing in Natalie’s direction as well. He seemed worried about how much she was drinking.

Irene leaned over to Briena and whispered, "That bitch still manages to seduce my brother. You have to play your game well."

Briena gritted her teeth. She knew it all too well—these days, Ivan kept looking at Natalie, but she had to lie for her own dignity. "Don’t worry. It’s just because they’ve been friends since childhood."

"My brother is still soft toward that bitch. He needs to stop being so kind," Irene said. "Anyways, what do you think? If I manage to come across that CEO, do you think he’d be interested in me?"

Briena looked at Irene. She was undeniably pretty, just like the other spoiled daughters from rich families. "It’s possible."

Irene smirked. "It’s time to find a match for me, then—a rich and handsome man."

Briena smirked lightly, her thoughts turning darker.

Just then, a little chaos erupted at the entrance of the hall. Several bodyguards in crisp black suits began to enter in two rows, taking everyone by surprise. Guests standing in the way were quickly cleared, creating a large open space for someone to make their entrance.

"Is the CEO here?"