Daniel left the State House very pleased. There was a lightness in his steps as he walked out of the building. He had gotten the contract bid awarded to him on conditions, but he knew for certain he would get the contract exclusively in a couple of weeks.
It was almost noon, and he needed to ensure that Natalie didn't get home while the surprise arrangement was on the way, so he had to give her a call to deter her for a while.
He rang her line, but she didn't pick up, so he tried again. She picked up on the third ring.
"Daniel," He heard her voice over the phone.
"Are you home yet?" He asked
"No, I'm not." She replied, looking at her manicured nails. She had just rounded up her second course meal and was waiting for dessert.
"Where are you? I'd like to take you to lunch."
"I've just had lunch." She replied.
"I'm coming. Where are you?"
"I'm at the Chinese garden restaurant." She quipped, taking a sip of her water.
"Place my order, I'll be there shortly." He hopped into his car to meet up with her while he called his assistant to confirm the arrangement with the florists and the jewelry delivery from the Italian store.
"Shit! I forgot the music. Could you arrange for that too? Let me know when it's set." He ended the call without waiting for a reply and called the house to pass some instructions to the butler on his delivery and plans for the night with Natalie.
As soon as he arrived, the receptionist ushered him in with a warm smile and told him the booth Natalie was in. He walked briskly to her lunchroom. She was in the VIP section, which gave her room for privacy.
He liked that.
Daniel pushed the door open just as Natalie was scrolling through her phone and sipping a glass of orange juice.
She looked up to see him smiling at her.
She didn't smile; she simply acknowledged him and continued what she was doing.
"I ordered your meal." She said, looking down at her news feed.
Daniel smiled and sat beside her, causing her to frown.
"What the hell, Daniel?" She looked at him, exasperated at his behavior.
He simply smiled and moved closer to her. "Babe, I'm sorry. Forgive me. Don't you see I'm making amends?"
Natalie scoffed.
"Whatever." She mumbled.
"Natalie-" He stopped when the waiter came in with his meal, smoking hot to the room. As soon as the table was set with his food, the waiter left, leaving them together.
"Babe,' He held her hand with one hand, while he took her phone with the other, placing it on the table.
Natalie sighed and looked at him.
"Daniel, can you just stop this already? I'm not changing my mind. I'm divorcing you."
Daniel laughed. "Come on, babe,' He smiled, bringing her hands to his lips. "I know I messed up. Please, my love. You love me the most, you know that."
She scoffed.
"Your food is getting cold." She spoke softly.
Daniel didn't focus on the food outrightly. He looked into her eyes and leaned in for a kiss. She turned away, causing his lips to land on her cheeks.
He smiled and inhaled deeply. He had really messed up this time. He had a lot of work cut out for him.
"I was thinking we could go for a Jet2 holiday, just the two of us," He said, nuzzling her cheek with his lips and nose, inhaling her scent.
Natalie's breath caught in her throat. Her body was betraying her, just as her mind kept asking her if he was indeed remorseful.
This was the longest he had gone to apologize to her.
It had always been so easy to forgive him.
But how could she forgive him for sleeping with all those other women?
"I don't think that's a good idea. We are getting a divorce. Perhaps you can have that with your next partner.' She said, moving further away from him.
"Babe. I know you are upset, and you are right, I lied and cheated on you, but I don't love any of them, babe."
Natalie was so done, but she wasn't going to lose her composure here, not when they were in a public space.
She closed her eyes for a minute and then opened them to find Daniel looking at her with imploring eyes.
"Eat your food, Daniel." She chided and picked up her phone from the table to continue scrolling through the tabloids.
Daniel sighed and picked up his chopsticks to eat before the food got cold.
While he ate, his phone chimed with a notification from his assistant, James, informing him that everything was set.
He kept his phone back on the table and continued his meal.
He ate in silence while she kept to herself.
"Do you really want to divorce me?" He asked
"Yes, Daniel. Should you even ask that? She responded hotly.
"Let's have a child." He said.
Natalie looked at him, shocked. It was as though he had suddenly developed horns and sprouts on his head.
She laughed.
"In what world do divorced couples or partners in the process of divorce come together for a child?"
"I believe if we have a child, it would bring us closer and we would be easily able to work through things.
"Daniel, please, not this. I mean, how can a child possibly help solve what two adults could not?". She asked. "Don't over-flog this issue. Maybe you love me,' She shrugged. "Maybe you don't. But one thing is certain: our relationship isn't working. It hasn't worked for the past three years. You haven't even been faithful for all of it." She said tiredly
"We can make it work." He said, "Please let's make it work."
"I don't think I have the strength to anymore, Daniel. You aren't who I thought you were. We need to end this."
Daniel paused his meal, his jawline ticking in anger. He was burning hot while she kept saying she no longer wanted the marriage, but he had to control himself because he knew he was in the wrong, and he got caught.
"I won't let you leave me." He said, firmly staring into her eyes.
Natalie looked at him and shuddered quietly.
There was a dangerous aura to the way he said it.
Possessive, in every sense.
Dangerous even. She didn't say a word and continued with her phone.