Bound By Vengeance, Freed By Love

Chapter3

In a dimly lit restaurant, Emily sat across from the stranger who had unexpectedly saved her life. The only sounds in the room were the occasional clinking of silverware and the gentle hum of conversation. Their table was bathed in a golden glow as the warm candlelight flickered between them.

Still processing what had happened, she peered at him over the rim of her wine glass. There was a part of her that found it hard to believe she was here, sharing a bottle of pricey red wine with a man she had only met an hour before, as though they were lifelong friends.

She raised an eyebrow and swirled her wine, saying, "You still haven't told me your name."

The man grinned, secrets hidden in his deep brown eyes. "Nathaniel," he said with ease. "Nathaniel Cross."

Emily shook her head. "And, Nathaniel Cross, do you regularly save upset women from their ex-partners in supermarkets?"

With a slack, authoritative ease, he leaned back and laughed. "Just the ones that are interesting."

As she put down her glass, a smile flickered across her lips. "So, I'm intrigued?"

With his eyes fixed on hers, Nathaniel sipped his wine slowly. "Very."

Emily squinted, not sure if his taunting was real or a practiced move. His confidence and the way he carried himself, as though control came naturally to him, were both remarkable. He appeared to have seen and understood the world.

"Well," she said at last, "thank you." For earlier.

Nathaniel shrugged, his face unreadable. "You owe me no gratitude." “That guy—Daniel—looked like he needed a serious reality check,” he said after pausing.

Her lips formed a sour smile. "That wasn't nearly enough for him."

In a fictitious toast, Nathaniel raised his glass. "To awful ex-partners and dramatic run-ins at the grocery store."

In spite of herself, Emily laughed. It had been unexpectedly cozy to eat dinner with a stranger; Nathaniel had made her feel less like a heartbroken ex and more like a person worth getting to know.

He said, amusement dancing in his eyes, "You have a nice laugh."

She gave an eye roll. "Flattery already?" Do you move this quickly all the time?

He smirked playfully and said, "Only when I know it's working."

"You're absurd."

“Charming is my preference.”

"Arguable."

Nathaniel laughed, staring a little longer than he should have. Emily reached for her glass once more, feeling a chill creep up her neck.

She learned that beneath his teasing was a man who was quick-witted, naturally charming, and unquestionably fascinating as their conversation progressed. With the ease of someone who had overcome obstacles most could only dream of, he talked about life, travel, and business. But there was more—a deep layer that suggested power and mystery.

Nathaniel Cross was not a typical man, as evidenced by the way the restaurant staff treated him and the faint nods of recognition from other patrons. As the CEO of Cross Empire, he was a powerful individual whose influence molded the very structure of the city's affluent communities. Oddly enough, he had noticed her.

After putting down her glass, Emily boldly inquired, "So, Nathaniel Cross… What precisely do you do?"

Nathaniel raised an eyebrow in amusement. "A little bit of everything."

"That isn't a response," she argued.

He grinned. "Investments. Business. Let's just say I tend to make the most opportunities to succeed.

"That sounds purposefully ambiguous."

"Perhaps."

Emily felt a spooky tingle at the back of her neck before she could ask any more questions—like invisible eyes observing. She took a deep breath and looked around the room.

Nathaniel saw right away. His posture changed slightly, but his face stayed calm. "What's wrong?"

Emily paused. It isn't anything. Just a strange sensation.

His eyes darkened slightly. "How strange?"

She let out a sigh and put down her glass. "I'm not sure. As if someone were observing me."

Instead, Nathaniel leaned back and swirled his wine as though he was considering what he was going to say. "Is it common for Daniel to follow you?"

Emily hardly raised her voice above a whisper. Not precisely. However, he disliked losing.

Nathaniel's smile froze. "Not all men do."

He skillfully changed the topic of conversation after noticing the tension. "I could lean in and kiss you if it cheers you up—give him something to be envious of."

Emily almost choked on her drink. "Are you this crazy all the time?"

"You tell me," he said, grinning mischievously.

She rolled her eyes, but her amusement was disguised by the palpable warmth in her chest. They were unaware that a car sat parked across the street from the restaurant, its occupant waiting and observing.

---

In the interim...

Daniel clutched his phone in the dark interior of his car as a voice at the other end broke the news.

The man said, "She was with some guy." Tall, well-groomed, and full of self-assurance. I followed them to a fancy restaurant, the kind you used to take her to.

Daniel tightened his jaw. "Who is he?"

"I did some digging," the voice went on. Nathaniel Cross is his name. Does the name sound familiar to you?

Daniel's blood ran cold as his hands tightened around the steering wheel. The name was familiar, of course.

Daniel felt a jolt. As the CEO of Cross Empire, one of the most prestigious and powerful organizations in the city, Nathaniel Cross was more than just another wealthy playboy. His stature and authority were legendary. And now he was eating with Emily.

Daniel's thoughts whirled. He had taken great satisfaction in maintaining Emily's subjugation for years, treating her as though she were his throne and a valuable possession. He had been out of love for a long time, but he never thought she would move on so quickly. His jealousy erupted with a venom he believed had long been suppressed when he saw her with a man of that size. Even before their divorce, there had been rumors that she had betrayed him, and now there was concrete evidence that she may have been cheating all along.

Daniel said in a cold, low voice, "Watch them." "I want to know everything about that guy."

His mind a flurry of anger and incredulity, he hung up the phone and sank back into his chair. This was far from over. He was unable to comprehend that Nathaniel Cross was already three steps ahead of him and prepared to topple everything Daniel had so meticulously managed.