Standing before Love

There weren’t many other people at the State Science Center at this hour. Meanwhile, it was also Natalia’s first time here. Back when Matthias had asked Heather out, he would always decide on places that she liked. With other women, he didn’t think too much about it.

Natalia surveyed the place curiously. She was only in her early twenties after all, and since she was still a young woman, she had a strong sense of curiosity. Moreover, she felt that the place was extraordinarily fascinating since Matthias was the one who had asked her to come with him—this was probably how the mind of a person in love worked.

“Do you find all of this boring?” Matthias turned to ask Natalia, to which she shook her head. She always ended up shy whenever she was with him, and it was to the extent that she didn’t dare to look Matthias in the eye.

“It’s all very interesting.” Natalia didn’t forget to emphasize that.

Matthias smiled since he was pleased to hear this. “As long as you’re having fun.” He had been worried that Natalia would not be interested in the displays here.

Meanwhile, the woman nervously clutched at the hem of her shirt. She hadn’t taken a good look at her appearance when she left her home earlier, and she felt utterly defeated right now. She was embarrassing Matthias as she stood next to him in her dowdy outfit. She had happily gotten into his car without even thinking about her clothes, not to mention that she had gone out without makeup today. Needless to say, it left her insecure.

Naturally, Matthias didn’t know about Natalia’s thoughts. He just couldn’t understand why she perpetually kept her head lowered, and she looked like she had no confidence at all. This made Matthias unconsciously think of Heather, for the woman had always been brimming with confidence. In fact, those around her would be drawn to her because of the aura she exuded.

Heather gave off an unattainable air, and even Matthias was never able to succeed in his pursuit of her. There was just a world of difference between the two women.

Although Natalia said that she liked the science center, Matthias didn’t feel that she was genuinely happy, wondering if this place wasn’t to her taste. Had it been Heather, he would have taken her somewhere else without a moment’s hesitation. However, the person before him was Natalia, not her. Matthias was excited to be here, and he couldn’t figure out another decent place for them to go. Hence, he decided to continue looking at the exhibits since he loved the technology on display here. He was absorbed by the exhibits, and it was closing time soon. It was already evening by the time they left the science center, and night always came earlier during winter season.

Natalia looked off to the side, for she didn’t know what to do. When Matthias looked at her, his heart dropped before he gave it some thought and said, “It’s getting late. I’ll send you back.”

Natalia had been waiting for Matthias to announce where they would be going next for their date, but she hadn’t expected it to end here. Disappointment flashed across her heart, but this was within Natalia’s expectations.

“All right, thank you,” Natalia answered politely, but the disappointment on her face was still apparent.

Matthias glanced at her, but he didn’t say anything else. Instead, they simply walked straight toward the parking lot. He felt that he must have gone crazy for inviting Natalia, and he was completely worked up by Heather.

While they were in the car, Matthias thought about what he had been wanting to say to Natalia. He had kept delaying it all day, and he nearly forgot about his main motive. However, was there any need for him to tell her about that matter? Matthias couldn’t be sure.

The two of them were silent, neither of them taking the lead to speak up. Natalia nervously clutched at her seat, for she still wasn’t courageous enough to talk. Everything that she wanted to say to Matthias was stuck in her throat.

Meanwhile, the latter mulled it over and over. He couldn’t let things drag on, so he just opened his mouth.

“Now that you’ve resigned, are you going to look for another job?” His question was phrased in a polite and inoffensive manner.

Natalia initially didn’t understand what Matthias had said, so she was taken aback by this sudden question. Still, she answered his question with utter seriousness and replied, “Yeah, I’m planning to look for a new job as soon as possible, but my educational qualifications aren’t up to snuff. It won’t be easy looking for another job.”

Matthias continued to ask Natalia like he was an elderly family member speaking to her. “Have you ever thought about what kind of job you’d like to apply for?”

Natalia turned her head to look at Matthias. She wanted to find some hints in his expression, for his questions were getting weirder and weirder that she couldn’t answer him. At the sight of his face from the side as he drove, Natalia was starstruck. She thought that Matthias was cool no matter what he did.

It wasn’t until he turned to face her as well that Natalia frantically answered, “Maybe sales or something like that will be a good fit for me.”

“Being a saleswoman is a job that’s great for picking up new skills. If you’re confident, you can come and interview at our company.” Matthias finally found a good opportunity to extend a job offer to Natalia, and the latter stared at Matthias uncomprehendingly as she wondered if her ears were playing tricks on her. She had Googled Matthias’ name before, so she knew that the Locke Group that Matthias headed was one of a handful of mega corporations that went unrivaled in Bradfort City—no, even the entire country.

Natalia’s heart leaped for joy at Matthias’ offer to let her work at the Locke Group. She couldn’t describe her current emotions. If Matthias hadn’t been there right now, she would definitely have jumped up right there and then. Naturally, she was willing to take up his offer.

“Are you really letting me work at your company?” Natalia didn’t dare to believe it, so she asked him again. Her eyes were wide open at this piece of good news that had befallen her, and her excitement radiated from her entire being. Seeing Natalia’s simple joy, Matthias’ mood improved greatly all of a sudden.

“You shouldn’t be asking if I’m okay with letting you work there—you should be asking yourself whether you’re fine working there instead.” Matthias believed that Natalia was a talent that could be molded, and he believed that she would be able to excel in a sales position under the Locke Group.

He had looked into Natalia’s past before, so he knew that she was an excellent and smart student. However, she would probably have to change that distant demeanor of hers; it was better to be warmer and more approachable when it came to sales. Of course, he couldn’t guarantee that customers wouldn’t be sadistic toward her, or that they would win against her mouth. At the very least, she looked like she had a certain level of competency.

“I want to work there.” Natalia hastily nodded. How could she let a chance like this pass her by?

That topic opened up a new wealth of other topics. The initially tense atmosphere dissipated, and they began to chat excitedly. Natalia was filled with curiosity about her new job, so she had plenty of questions to ask him.

This was something that Matthias was good at, so he naturally explained everything to her, sparing no detail. He had once been in the sales department back then, and he was as competent as anyone else when it came to that field.

Without either of them being aware of it, they soon reached Natalia’s apartment block. After all, time always flew by whenever people had fun. Matthias stopped the car, but Natalia was a little reluctant to part since she still had plenty of things she wanted to tell him.

“Remember to come to the Locke Group tomorrow,” Matthias reminded her as she got out of the car.

Natalia revealed a girlish smile and answered, “I know. I’ll definitely be there tomorrow.”

Seeing how Natalia smiled so innocently, he too showed a radiant smile. It was relaxing being with this woman.

After they said goodbye to each other, Matthias continued to drive back into the city. It was already late, so he had to go home and rest. He hadn’t been resting well lately, and he had a tough battle ahead of him in a few more days. Hence, he had to make sure that he got enough sleep.

By the time he returned to the manor, it was already 8.00PM. Matthias got out of his car, but Evan didn’t come to greet him. At that moment, he felt an inexplicable sense of loneliness. He had personally chased Evan out because of a woman, and he didn’t know where the latter was in Bradfort City right now. Nonetheless, he knew that the kind person hadn’t left the city yet.

The earlier fight between the two was meaningless. They had been close friends for years, and they shouldn’t have gotten into such a huge fight over Heather.

In reality, Evan was concerned for Matthias. He had enthusiastically tried getting him and Heather together because he knew that it was difficult for Matthias to fall in love with someone. Likewise, the reason he wanted Matthias to give up on Heather was because he didn’t want to see his friend fall deeper and deeper until he hurt himself. However, when one had been touched by love, it was hard to shake it off.

For the last few days, Matthias attempted to numb himself through different methods, for that was the only way he could stop himself from looking for Heather. He already had no pride left when it came to her, and he shouldn’t embarrass himself that much at the very least. Not only would Heather look down on him for that, he too would not be able to look at himself.

But when the hour was late and the night was quiet, Matthias couldn’t control himself from thinking about Heather, especially when he had no one to talk to.

He had chased Evan out, and he had also pushed Lara and Nikolai away. Right now, his lonely self seemed so pitiful; he didn’t even have one person he could spill his heart to. With that, Matthias laughed at himself self-deprecatingly.

After brushing his teeth, Matthias plopped onto his bed. As he stared at the ceiling, Heather’s face appeared as an image up there. Damn, I’m even seeing things right now.

“Heather, if I can do everything over again, I will not get to know you,” Matthias muttered to himself bitterly.

He knew that if he simply bumped into her, he would definitely fall in love with her again. Heather was his other half, and she was someone that God had sent down to him. Matthias could not be saved, and he could not stop himself from loving Heather. From the very first time he set eyes on her, he knew that she was someone fated for him.

Meanwhile, he wasn’t the only one suffering from a sleepless night—Heather couldn’t fall asleep either. She had already left Bradfort City, but her heart still remained there.

At the same time, another person’s breaths could be heard inside the room. Heather recalled the days she spent with Matthias in Iceland; they had stayed in the same room during that trip, and they had also been intimate.

Leon’s even breaths made Heather sink even further into her memories. She couldn’t move past Matthias; the more she pushed him away, the more her heart wanted to get close to Matthis. She really was a failure of a person.

Through the haziness of her mind, she heard Leon sleep-talking. “Now that you’re here, please don’t go, Heather.”

Those words struck a deep chord within Heather’s heart. Pining after someone was such a painful thing, and Heather felt that she was hurting others as well as herself.

There was nothing on Matthias’ side, so she wondered if Matthias had finally decided to give up on her this time.

Heather smiled self-deprecatingly. She always had the feeling that he would abandon her for some gain, and now, Matthias had really let her go. She had gotten her wish, but a chunk of her heart was lost.

“Matthias, you really are…” Heather muttered to herself, but she was also afraid that Leon would hear her. After all, they were only just a meter apart.

In the bed, there was a man who deeply loved Heather as he slept next to the woman. She wanted to take a good look at Leon’s face with the aid of the moonlight, but she seemingly ended up seeing Matthias’ face instead.