CEO's Runaway Mate and Her Cubs

After Lara's initial worries dissipated, Katy and Michael turned out to be quite fun. Even though she wasn't sure that telling Doctor Mason's name would be all right, especially with the doctor, they hadn't judged or inquired any further about the motives of the therapies.

They focused on gossip - regarding other stars - and fashion.

«I've heard that the reason why Abby Brown hasn't appeared in public for a while is that she has seen a wrinkle next to her lip,» Michael remembered at some point. «Since she doesn't know how to survive it, she doesn't want anyone to see. Until she accepts it... or goes under surgery.»

«Surgery for a single wrinkle?» Lara murmured, confused. «Isn't that too extreme? Not to mention that Abby Brown doesn't have one, I'm quite convinced. What is she? Thirty?»

«Thirty-two, my dear. Enough for wrinkles,» Katy explained. «Look at me! I have one here, next to my right eye. And I'm only twenty-eight!»

«I can't see it.»

«Here, here,» Katy said, tapping on a spot on her face.

Lara squinted, trying to find any trace of it, but there was just a very, very light sign.

«Oh, if that's a wrinkle, then I should hide as well,» she said.

«It's different for you!» Michael started, tasting the unstable terrain.

How could they make Nate Woods's woman wonder about wrinkles like that? If she started thinking she looked old because of them, he might kill them!

However, what of it? She could just ask him to find a good doctor to remove those. Nate Woods would have been happy to help for sure.

«Different?»

«Other than your beauty, your wrinkles give your face more expression. You look more real than a doll would. I'm sure CEO Woods likes that part of you just like everything else.»

He winced when he noticed the blushing. Had he said anything too forward? But it was true: the few tiny wrinkles around Lara's eyes appeared only when she smiled and made her even more beautiful. He wasn't even sure those could be called wrinkles.

As for Katy, she was being over-dramatic like always. People in the entertainment business had a different approach to looks, but applying the same standards to regular people was not just unfair but also dangerous.

Why would Lara Clayton need to look more like Katy Dixon or Abby Brown? She was perfect as she was, and she had attracted Nate Woods while the other two hadn't ever exchanged a word with him.

It was something that a few wrinkles couldn't hide. Lara Clayton was beautiful, sure, but she also had charisma. Even though it was well-hidden by her shyness.

Michael nodded to himself, content with his analysis. He was looking forward to seeing more of that woman, but he had to wait for the time to be ripe. She wouldn't open up with strangers, after all. But, for sure, there was a treasure of person to be discovered.

«So, dear, will you tell CEO Woods about us?» he inquired.

If they managed to get closer, the day to know her real self would certainly come.

«I don't promise anything, but I will talk with Nate about it. Maybe, there is something you can do for the company even if we're really, really busy.»

«As for Abby Brown,» Katy said, returning on topic. «You seem to know more than we do.»

«What?» Lara muttered. How could they read it on her face so clearly? She had done her best to look detached and ignorant. When had they caught her trail of thoughts?

«Oh, don't try hiding it. She was seen with CEO Polenta when the feud started. Now, CEO Polenta is in prison, and she doesn't appear as much as she used to. She didn't even go to her favourite restaurant last Friday!»

«I don't know where she is, really. And there's nothing between Nate and that person. That one was a criminal who has stolen money from his own company and left his employees. He's not in prison because someone tricked him. That's the right place for him!»

«Oh, sure, sure,» the couple chuckled.

They didn't believe the whole story, of course. Even though Lara's expression was absolutely convinced. If anything, she did believe her own story.

Since everything had started with a picture with all four of them, it was obvious that Abby Brown was somehow involved in the feud with Luciano Polenta. Being on the wrong side, she was hiding to make Nate Woods forget about her existence.

As for Lara, she seemed to hold no grudge. Seemingly, Abby Brown didn't make the mistake of going after the wrong man. She wasn't so close with Polenta either. She knew one thing well: dangerous men were good enough for watching from afar, drooling after them and sending them the admiration of many kinds. But not to have them next to oneself.

Not everyone could bear living with someone as dangerous as Polenta was. Or as Nate Woods, for that matter.

It had become evident to everyone that he wasn't as harmless as he seemed when he smiled politely. There was a beast behind his facade, and it had been awoken by Lara Clayton's appearance.

Everyone knew better than to mess with her.

Oblivious to the thoughts of the two people in front of her, Lara enjoyed their time together. They were nice and didn't inquire about personal matters. They were there for fun, and she was too.

There was no talk about the real estate business, even though the gossip wasn't as interesting when one doesn't know who's the main subject. However, Lara heard many interesting stories that entertained her even without knowing the face of the protagonists.

When she returned to Nate, quite a while later, he was still talking business. She sighed, relieved he wouldn't feel abandoned for the few minutes she had spent with his endorsers.

However, her heart skipped a few beats when he grabbed her hand, without forewarning, in search of comfort. He had noticed her absence and needed to make up for those eternal few minutes he had been without her.