Rejected: A love story

Chapter 160: Something missing

Her thoughts drifted back to Nathan’s office, to the photograph of the boy on his shoulders. She had assumed the boy was his son, but now she wasn’t so sure. There was something about this whole situation that didn’t add up.

"Yummy, mummy!" Mateo said, holding up his cone proudly.

Viktoria blinked, snapping out of her thoughts. She smiled at him, reaching over to wipe a bit of chocolate from his cheek. "I’m glad you like it, baby."

But even as she smiled, her mind was somewhere else. She couldn’t shake the feeling that the boy wasn’t just a coincidence.

Later that afternoon, back in their hotel room, Viktoria paced the floor while Mateo napped. She couldn’t stop replaying the moment in her head; the boy’s stare, the way he ran. And the resemblance... it was too much to ignore.

She grabbed her phone from the bedside table and sat down on the edge of the bed. Her fingers hovered over the screen as she debated what to do. Should she call Nikolai? Tell him what happened?

But what would she even say? That she saw a lady who looked exactly like her in a photograph? It sounded ridiculous, even to her.

Instead, she opened her email. Alex had sent the confirmation for tomorrow’s meeting with Nathan.

Her chest tightened again at the thought of seeing Nathan. She didn’t know why, but something about him unsettled her. It wasn’t fear, exactly. It was... something else.

Viktoria sighed, setting the phone down. She glanced over at Mateo, who was curled up in the blankets, his small chest rising and falling with each breath.

She walked over to him, brushing a hand over his curls. "What am I doing, baby?" she whispered.

Mateo stirred slightly but didn’t wake. Viktoria sat beside him, her hand resting gently on his back. She felt like she was standing on the edge of something, something big but she didn’t know what it was or how to prepare for it.

The next morning came quickly. Viktoria dressed Mateo in a simple blue shirt and khaki shorts, tying his little sneakers as he sat on the bed, swinging his legs.

"Are we going to see the man again?" Mateo asked, his voice curious.

"Yes, baby," Viktoria said, smiling softly. "We’re going to see Mr. Keith."

"Will he be nice?" Mateo tilted his head, watching her closely.

Viktoria hesitated for a moment before nodding. "Yes, he’s nice. Don’t worry."

She wasn’t sure if she was saying it for him or for herself.

They arrived at Nathan’s office a few minutes before 10. Viktoria held Mateo’s hand tightly as they walked through the lobby.

The receptionist greeted them with a polite smile, unlike the first time she was staring at her like some ghost. "Good morning, Miss Viktoria. Mr. Keith is expecting you. Please, go right in."

"Thank you," Viktoria said with a small smile.

She pushed open the door to Nathan’s office, and there he was, standing by the window with his back to them. He turned when he heard the door, his expression unreadable as his eyes landed on Mateo first, then on her.

"Good morning," Nathan said, his voice calm.

"Good morning," Viktoria replied, guiding Mateo into the room.

Nathan’s gaze lingered on Mateo for a moment longer than Viktoria was comfortable with. She felt her chest tighten again, that same strange feeling from before.

"Please, have a seat," Nathan said, gesturing to the chairs in front of his desk.

Viktoria sat down, pulling Mateo onto her lap. She could feel Nathan’s eyes on them, and it made her skin prickle.

"I reviewed the proposal again," Nathan began, his tone professional. "And I must say, it’s impressive. I believe this partnership could be very beneficial for both of us."

"Thank you," Viktoria said.

Nathan’s eyes flicked to Mateo again. "And how’s the little man today?" he asked, his tone lighter.

Mateo looked up at him, his big eyes curious. "I’m okay," he said softly.

Nathan smiled faintly, but it didn’t quite reach his eyes. "That’s good to hear."

Viktoria felt the urge to ask him about the photograph, and about the boy from yesterday, but she didn’t know how to bring it up.

Nathan leaned back in his chair, his gaze settling on Viktoria. "I’d like to move forward with the partnership," he said. "But I do have a few questions about the timeline and logistics."

"Of course," Viktoria said, nodding.

When the meeting finally ended, Nathan stood and walked them to the door.

"Thank you for coming," he said, his tone polite but distant.

"Thank you for having us," Viktoria replied, her voice steady.

Ah, I see where you’re going now! Let’s pick up and keep the flow smooth and natural, sticking to your style. Here’s the continuation:

As they walked out of the office, Mateo tugged on her hand, looking up at her with wide, curious eyes. "Mummy, will this nice man get me candy?"

Viktoria’s heart skipped a beat, her cheeks flushing slightly. She glanced down at him, forcing a smile. "Mateo!" she said softly, her tone both scolding and amused. She turned back to Nathan quickly. "I’m sorry about that, Mr. Keith. He’s just curious, baby. That’s all."

Nathan chuckled lightly, he crouched slightly, his gaze now level with Mateo’s. "Candy, huh? You’ve got a sweet tooth, little man?"

Mateo nodded eagerly, his curls bouncing as he grinned. "Yes! Chocolate!"

Nathan’s lips twitched into a faint smile, but his eyes flicked back to Viktoria, studying her carefully. "And you’re sure he’s two?" he asked.

Viktoria straightened her posture. "Yes, he’s two," she said firmly, though her voice remained polite.

Nathan nodded slowly, his gaze drifting back to Mateo. "He’s quite smart and outspoken for his age," he said.

Viktoria placed a protective hand on Mateo’s shoulder, her smile forced. "He’s a fast learner," she said lightly, brushing off the comment. "He keeps me on my toes."

Nathan straightened, his hands slipping into his pockets as he watched them. "He’s definitely a bright kid," he said, his tone neutral, though his eyes seemed to say more.

"Thank you," Viktoria replied, her grip on Mateo’s hand tightening slightly. "We should get going now. It was nice meeting with you, Mr. Keith."

Nathan nodded, his gaze lingering on them for just a moment longer than felt comfortable. "Likewise," he said. "Have a good day, Miss Viktoria. And you too, Mateo."

"Bye-bye!" Mateo chirped, waving enthusiastically as they walked out the door.

Viktoria kept her smile in place until they were out of sight, but the moment they stepped into the elevator, her expression faltered. She leaned against the wall, exhaling slowly as she glanced down at Mateo, who was happily humming to himself.

As the elevator doors opened, Viktoria took Mateo’s hand again, guiding him through the lobby and out onto the busy street. The warm afternoon sun greeted them, but it did little to ease the unease swirling in her chest.

"Mummy, can I have candy now?" Mateo asked, looking up at her with hopeful eyes.

Viktoria smiled faintly, brushing a hand over his curls. "We’ll see, baby. Let’s get back to the hotel first."

Mateo pouted but didn’t argue, his small hand clutching hers as they walked down the bustling street. Viktoria’s thoughts were miles away, replaying the interaction with Nathan over and over in her mind.

What was she missing? Clearly it felt really big.

●●●●●●●●

"Natasha? This is getting late."

"Well, I have something interesting to tell you, Marcus. It concerns the upcoming gala and an interesting guest that will attend it."

"You can say what you have to say. Go on!"

"Let me be clear—I want Nathan Keith at my table during the party, Marcus. And I want him to get into the VIP suite here upstairs by midnight, drunk and with his guards out of the picture."

Marcus scoffed and crossed his arms over his chest. "Are you nuts, Natasha? Nathan is more than just a guest—he’s the one who sponsors us. If there’s the slightest chance that he thinks that I have anything to do with setting him up, my entire life will come crumbling down in seconds. The answer is no. Not for any favor."

"I wasn’t expecting your help because of favors, Marcus. I am giving you a way to start a new life in two hundred thousand dollars."

"No way."

He hesitated in the doorway, his hand on the frame, but Marcus did not turn to face her. "You just don’t understand. He’s got Alex, he’s got eyes everywhere. If they catch me with the drug or guiding him to your bed, I’ll be a goner."

Natasha stood, advancing toward him until she was just inches away from him. In a low voice that only he could hear, Natasha said, "One million dollars, Marcus. All cash. It will go directly into your account the moment he passes out."

The room fell silent, with the weight of those three words hanging heavy in the air. One million dollars would buy him freedom.

"Half now," Marcus whispered. "I want the payment in crypto. If it doesn’t work out, I’ve never met you."