Natalie leaned back in her seat and thought for a moment before smiling. "It''ll be a while. The people Wendy ced there won''t leave until Joanna shows up. A new boss always wants to make their mark, so Joanna will definitely start by firing a batch of employees, including some of thepany''s key personnel."


    "She''ll rece them with her own people, and by the time she realizes it''s an empty shell, it''ll be toote. Without the resources, even with what she has, thepany will stagnate."


    Natalie imagined she''d get to see Joanna absolutely livid.


    Business was tough these days. No matter how capable Joanna was, she''d only be able to maintain the status quo.


    That window of time would be Natalie''s best opportunity.


    After Zenobia''s baby''s one-month celebration, she would take Marshall abroad.


    "Will Mr. Monroe be interested in the project we''re working on?" Luna asked, a little worried.


    Natalie smiled. "Don''t worry. As long as the technology is solid, he will be."


    Luna felt a sense of pride. Natalie hadn''t been idle these past two years; she had been developing software all along.


    "You''ve been working so hard these past two years. If your professor knew, she''d be thrilled. She was so disappointed when you turned down her invitation to join her research team back then."


    Natalie smiled apologetically. "I just really don''t enjoy being cooped up in ab all day. The data is so tedious. That life isn''t for me."


    It wasn''t that she didn''t want to stay. Part of the reason was Sebastian, but she genuinely disliked it.


    Luna didn''t press the issue. A person''s energy is finite, and Natalie was already exceptional.


    The snow had lightened by lunchtime. When they reached the restaurant, Natalie got out and told Luna to go park the car.


    Matthew had arrived before her and was already waiting at the entrance.


    "Natalie." Matthew opened his umbre and came to meet her, carefully angling it to shield her from the wind.


    Natalie smiled. "Mr. Monroe, it''s been a while!"


    "About half a month. You''ve lost weight," Matthew said with a pang of concern. She really had; her chin looked sharper.


    Natalieughed. "No, I haven''t! I''m just wearing a lot of winter clothes. On the ind, I ate very well every day Even with the heavy snow, we had fresh seafood."  fo


    "Come on in, I ordered your favorite the braised ribs."


    Matthew held open the heavy curtain door for Natalie. Watching her cheerful back, his gaze softened.


    Natalie hurried inside with a smile, and Matthew followed after closing his umbre.


    Not far away, Sebastian and Sean were also arriving at the same restaurant for lunch.


    From the car, Sebastian spotted Natalie immediately.


    He froze for a second. He hadn''t


    seen her in half a month, and set


    looked thinner. Her sharp chin made her features even more defined.


    These past two weeks, the city without her had felt hollow, leaving an ache in his chest.


    Watching her and Matthew''s close interaction, his hands clenched into fists, his eyes burning with rage.


    His grandfather spoke highly of Matthew. Natalie liked Matthew.


    She said she loved him. Could love just vanish like that?


    Was she in love with Matthew now?


    Sebastian sneered. She clearly hadn''t taken hisst warning to heart, still daring to meet with other men.


    With a dark expression, Sebastian strode into the restaurant.


    Sean saw the icy look on his face


    and felt a surge of anxiety. The


    president was about toet


    vel


    This


    was a sign of extreme fury