CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Natalie had attended intimidating events before. Corporate meetings, investor presentations, and interviews but nothing compared to walking into the Cole family mansion.
The moment she crossed the threshold, she felt it. She felt the judgment, not spoken, not visible, but present, like a cold draft moving through the house.
The mansion itself was breathtaking. Marble floors stretched beneath crystal chandeliers. Expensive artwork lined the walls. Every piece of furniture looked like it belonged in a museum.
Natalie hated it immediately, not because it was beautiful but because it was a reminder. A reminder that she came from a completely different world.
Beside her, Damien remained calm, as if he couldn't feel the tension, or perhaps he was simply used to it.
A woman
