Taken By The Mafia Lord

"Wow," Eric breathed as soon as he saw Natalie emerging downstairs. His adam's apple bobbed as he took a good look at her, "You look beautiful as always, my queen," He did a ceremonial bow.

"Oh please," Natalie chuckled deeply while rolling her eyes. Sometimes the man could be overly romantic.

She took a good look at him, he was dressed casually with the sleeve of his shirt rolled up his arms. Eric looked laid back - and sexy. Natalie took her eyes off him at once. She can't entertain such useless thoughts about him. The both of them.... you know what? Forget about it.

"You look charming as usual," Was all she said to him.

Eric stretched his hand and she placed her palm in his as he took her hand. That was Eric for you, he always found ways of treating her like a princess. Natalie wondered what she did in her past life to deserve such kindness from him.

Together, they walked outside and he led her to the Mercedes-Benz already waiting for them. Whenever she was around, he loved riding in luxury and comfort, making sure that her time was worth it.

Like the gentleman he was, Eric opened the door for her and helped her get in despite the chauffeur standing at the corner and ready to help her out.

Soon enough, they both settled down and the chauffeur took off just as he informed her, "I'm sorry but this outing of ours might take quite a lot of time, so I suggest you sleep and get a lot of rest before we got there,"

But Natalie furrowed her brows instead, "You shouldn't have bothered if it would take this long. I can imagine the amount of stress it took you to find -"

Natalie was interrupted when he suddenly pressed his finger against her lips and she was stunned, before going red in the face. It was unexpected.

Eric upon seeing her reaction pulled his finger away, however, a giddy feeling filled his chest when he realized she was blushing.

"Talk no more," He told her, "I'm the man, that's my responsibility. Moreover, I had people help me out, it wasn't even that stressful." Eric lied through his teeth. He had spent the rest of the day finding the best location for this date.

Date?

He couldn't even say that out loud for fear of getting rejected again. Fine, he would go through this the slow but steady way. But one thing was for sure, he wasn't losing her this time.

"Even at that, you still..." She stopped when he saw his warning look. However, Natalie asked immediately, "What if I drool in my sleep?"

"You would still look cute to me," Eric answered without thinking and saw the way her brows raised in surprise.

He cleared his throat and answered, "I would call over a makeup artist and she would doll you up to the point you would be like a celebrity on a red carpet,"

Natalie laughed, "If you weren't joking right now, I would think you were flirting with me,"

Eric's expression changed at that moment and he flexed his jaw before looking at her with an unsure expression, "What if I was? What would you do?"

"Don't even think about it," Natalie didn't take him seriously though, and continued laughing. She then leaned back on the comfortable seat saying, "I'll take up your offer of sleeping then. Wake me up when we get there." She shut her eyes.

Honestly, Natalie had no intention of sleeping but she said that to get rid of this awkward air. She had this inkling that Eric felt something for her, no, who was she kidding? He already told her that when they were younger.

Then, they had been younger and he was a promising son, the heir to his father's legacy. Natalie had turned him without batting an eyelid knowing that it was never going to work out between them.

She was five years older than him. Moreover, Natalie was his caretaker and a charity case his family picked up and took care of after those traumatic events. So she knew her place, neither was she ready to commit the worst mistake of falling in love again. Natalie was scared of it, not when it completely destroyed her.

Hence, she rejected his confession and told him that his affection was merely infatuation that would go away with time. Perhaps, his father must have sensed his puppy love as well and moved her away to another country.

Eric must have moved on because not long later, she heard the news that he had a child. Although they didn't get married, she knew Eric, he was a serious person and would never commit such a thing with a person he doesn't like. So she figured out he got over her and was happy now with his daughter and baby mama.

So Natalie focused on herself and he did come to visit, a lot of times actually, along with his brothers and daughter. That was how they got to be good friends over the years without any of them overstepping the line. Natalie hoped it remained that way.... maybe?

Although she had her eyes closed, Natalie couldn't sleep. Her heart was unsettled after the events of the day, she met her daughter? The woman had never felt peace since the day she handed her child over to her father, but after today's coincidental meeting, the guilt increased and was pressing down on her chest.

Who knew what her daughter thought of her? A wayward mother who didn't care about her? She knew Edward, he was a kind man and would put in a good word for her but still, her daughter must resent her.

Natalie was sorry for making her think that she was dead, but it was the best thing for the both of them. She didn't dare to think what that man would do if he had a clue that she has a daughter.

"We're here," Natalie's train of thought was interrupted by Eric's voice and she opened her eyes. Even without looking out, Natalie could guess by that salty smell and crashing waves that they near the ocean.