Chapter 16: Condition

Norwan is stunned when Natalie calls him by his full name; this is the very first time that Natalie calls him using his full name. He was also stunned while looking at Natalie; it seemed like Natalie was a very different person. From the red lipstick on her lips, short brown curly hair, and how she dressed. These things Natalie hadn’t done before. Norwan also remembered what Natalie told him about her hair.

“When will you cut your hair? It’s too long.” Norwan asked, so Natalie smiled at him and put down the utensils she held.

“I will only cut my hair if we break up and I move on from you,” Natalie said with a wide smile.

“That’s ridiculous. Why would you even do that?” Norwan asked, so Natalie chuckled and walked in his direction.

“Because I believe that my hair is the witness to how our relationship started, and all our memories resemble my hair.” She answered, which made Norwan smile secretly.

Norwan swallowed after he remembered what Natalie said to him.

“What can I help you? Mr. North,” Natalie said. Norwan observed her for a second and saw the coldness in her eyes and even her expression.

“I came here to talk to you about our partnership,” Norwan said, so Natalie smiled and nodded.

“You should just call for a meeting for that, Mr. Norwan. Although I appreciate your efforts to be here today.” Natalie said and signaled Norwan to sit at her table. Norwan sits and looks at her. This time, he could see Natalie’s face closely and was amused while looking at her.

“She still pretty after all,” Norwan said to his mind.

“Don’t look at me like that, Mr. North. It makes me think that you’re interested in me.” Natalie teased, so Norwan chuckled.

“I don’t have time for your bullshitness, Natalie. Let’s get straight to the point.” Norwan said. Natalie smiles and observes Norwan's attitude toward her.

“He doesn’t change at all. He is still impatient in every little thing.” Natalie said to her mind.

“I will not sign this termination document you sent to me this day as I am not going to accept your fucking idea to terminate our partnership,” Norman said, so Natalie chuckled and poured some wine into her glass and got another glass from the nearest glass section at her.

“Come on, Mr. Norwan, don’t tell me you still wanted to have a connection with me after all?” Natalie asked and poured the other glass of wine and gave it to Norwan; Norwan looked at the wine glass and chuckled.

“I didn’t know you were drinking wine.” He said before he accepted her offer. Natalie smiled, but the coldness in her eyes was still there.

“Of course I did. It’s just that I stopped drinking when I first met you and learned that you dislike women who drink wine.” Natalie said and sipped her own glass. Norwan watched her drink her wine and remembered telling Natalie what she hated about women.

“So you change yourself for me, huh,” Norwan said, smirking and then drinking his wine. Natalie put down her glass and laughed.

“Of course not. Why would I even do that? That thing is not my business and our topic now.”Natalie said and looked at the termination papers.

“Tell me, Mr. North, why would I stay partnered by your business?” Natalie said, and Norwan saw how her aura changed as she started to ask that question.

“It’s because you will lose investors if you terminate our partnership; just think of this, Natalie: 50% of your share income comes from my business,” Norwan said. That's why Natalie laughed like she had heard a joke from Norwan.

“Come on, Norwan, don’t make me laugh,” Natalie said, acting like she was wiping tears.

“Are you dreaming that high? Or you’re just an irresponsible CEO of your company who knows nothing about the share income of his business?” Natalie asked to get something below her desk and put it on her desk.

“This is the tracker of how your business performed, and upon checking this tracker, I’ve seen that you didn’t do well this year as your rate and demographic income rate all go down,” Natalie said, watching Norwan browse the tracker she put in her table.

“Or maybe you’re busy with something. That’s why you didn’t track your business performance very well.” Natalie added a smile to Norwan as soon as he looked at her.

“Where did you get this?” Norwan asked.

“In your employee. Am I not allowed to do that?” She asked and acted sarcastically.

“Of course! You don’t have the authority to do that!” Norwan growled, knowing that his staff had given important documents to Natalie.

“I do have the authority to do that, Mr. North,” Natalie said seriously. “First, I am the new CEO of my company, so I have the authority to get the tracker to see if partnering in your fucking business is worth it or not,” Natalie added and rolled her eyes because she was getting angry now that Norwan is still acting like this.

“Second, I would fucking want to correct you about your fucking reason to stay partnered by your business. Upon looking at the demographic and increase rate of your tracker, I see no reason to stay partnering in your business as it goes low down to the minimum rate that our company required to have.” Natalie added and smirked.

“And last, maybe you’re just scared of losing your rank this year, Mr. North,” Natalie said, so Norwan frowned.

“This has nothing to do with my rank, Natalie,” Norwan said, so Natalie laughed.

“It is. Since we started collaborating with you, your business has gained popularity since we were still married.” Natalie said, so Norwan was stunned.

“Now that we are not bound to each other anymore, I would like to cut what is the connections we have, and I’m starting it to our business.” She added.

“So you’re taking it personally, huh?” Norwan asked, so Natalie laughed and shook her head.

“Personally? No, I’m just doing what I think is best, Dale.” Natalie said, which caused Norwan to be stunned as Natalie called his second name.

Norwan sighs and nods after a few minutes of being stunned.

“Then tell me how to maintain our business partnership?” Norwan asked and looked into Natalie’s eyes.

“Are you asking for a condition just to stay our company partnered by your business?” Natalie asked and laughed.

“My business is important to me,” Norwan said, so Natalie smirked and nodded.

“Then, I will disregard that partnership termination on one condition,” Natalie said and smiled.

“Kneel down,” Natalie added, which caused Norwan to frown.