Charlotte's POV

I was leaning against Nathan while lying on the bed in his suite. He was traveling his hand up and down my arm absently.

"My father invited you for dinner tomorrow evening." I informed him after placing a soft kiss on his bare chest.

"What?" He asked nervously as he sat up on the bed.

"I postponed it as much as possible, but he insisted. I couldn't decline his invitation again as my father said he wouldn't accept any excuses this time." I said, giving him a sympathetic look.

"Why did he invite me?" He asked, panicked.

"Are you afraid of my father?" I asked, amused, raising my eyebrow.

"No, of course not." He mumbled, running his hand through his disheveled hair. "I just... I don't understand why he invited me suddenly." He added, puzzled.

"He has been asking me to invite you to the mansion since he found out about our relationship. Probably, he wants to talk to his daughter's boyfriend man-to-man." I winked at him.

He breathed deeply. "Charlotte, we are not a normal couple. I told you I am not ready for a serious relationship."

I gritted my teeth, annoyed and sat down on the bed, ruffling my hair. "Yes, I remember. However, I don't think you want my father to know we just fool around." I commented dryly, giving him a knowing look.

He heaved a deep sigh, leaning his head against the headrest, his eyes closed. "There is no escape from this dinner, huh?" He asked hopefully.

"No." I shook my head. "So be ready." I resumed, leaning towards him, and placed a chaste kiss on his lips before getting up.

***

"Are you ready?" I asked Nathan as we approached my parents' mansion. He looked so nervous, but he didn't admit it when I asked about it in the car.

"Yes." He nodded and breathed deeply, tightening his grip around the bouquet he bought for my mother.

Once the housekeeper opened the door, we went towards the living room.

Nathan greeted my parents politely and gave my mother a bouquet of pink roses.

"Thank you, Nathan." My mother gave him a warm smile, looking happy.

When Nathan approached my father, my mother slowed her pace and whispered in my ear. "He is such a gentleman."

"Yes, he is." I nodded, giving her a bright smile.

After chatting for a while, we started having dinner. My father started asking him questions about our relationship, and he even asked discreetly if we planned to marry, making Nathan uncomfortable. From his expression, I could feel, he prayed with his inner voice that this dinner would end as soon as possible.

Once we finished having dinner, my father suggested Nathan to drink coffee in his office. Nathan begged me with his eyes, asking me to intervene, but I couldn't do anything about it.

After thirty minutes, Nathan and my father joined us. As soon as I saw Nathan's face, I understood it wasn't an easy conversation.

"Are you okay?" I whispered, resting my hand on his thigh as he sat down on the couch beside me.

He nodded, giving me a slight smile, and pulled away slightly. I looked at him, puzzled and folded my arms over my chest, sighing.

I was sipping my coffee when Nathan's phone buzzed. He pulled it out of his pocket and read the message. His expression changed instantly. He gritted his teeth as his body tensed up. Then Nathan placed his phone back into his pocket without replying and stood up abruptly.

"Thank you for your invitation. I had a good time, but it will be better if I leave. I have a meeting early tomorrow morning." Nathan said, giving my parents a grateful smile.

"You are welcome. And thanks for joining us." My father replied politely as my parents stood up.

Nathan turned his gaze from them to me and suggested. "If you want, you can stay longer."

"No, I have to wake up early tomorrow as well." I replied as I grabbed my bag, standing up.
"See you later." Nathan said, resting his hand on my lower back.

"Take care." My parents saw us to the door.

As soon as we got in the car, Nathan started the car. He was gripping the steering wheel tightly while driving the car, lost in his thoughts. He still looked tense.

"How about having a relaxing bath together?" I asked seductively, caressing his hair tenderly.

"Not tonight. I really have a meeting early tomorrow morning." Nathan refused, giving me an apologetic look.

I sighed, disappointed and nodded. I bit my lower lip nervously and asked in curiosity. "Did my father ask about marriage again when you were in his office?"

"Not directly." He breathed deeply without taking his eyes off the road.

I heaved a loud sigh and ran my hand through my hair, annoyed. Yes, he wasn't so eager to visit my parents, but seeing him sulking made me angry... and disappointed, making me question our relationship. Would he confess his feelings to me one day or not? Or did he have feelings for me?

"We arrived." Nathan commented, interrupting my thoughts as  he parked his car in front of the building.

I nibbled my lower lip and breathed deeply. "Do you feel anything towards me?" I asked firmly, looking into his eyes.

Nathan looked at me, confused. He cleared his throat, running his hand through his hair, and mumbled. "Why do you ask? Don't tell me you want us to marry as your father implied." He commented sarcastically.

I gritted my teeth, trying to hold my anger. His words made me regret asking that question.

"No, don't worry." I replied dryly and forced a smile. "I just want to know how you feel towards me. And I don't talk about lust."

He heaved a loud sigh, leaning his head against the headrest. "Can we talk about it later? I am tired right now." He gave me a begging look, looking bored.

"No. I want to talk about it now." I stated firmly, folding my arms over my chest.

His jaw clenched. He closed his eyes, breathing deeply, and looked at me. His gaze softened.

"I have told you before, Lottie. You are dear to me." He gave me a tender look, grabbing my hand.

"But you don't love me." I commented sadly and pulled my hand away.

"Lottie..."

"Good night, Nathan." I mumbled dryly and got out of the car without letting him say anything.

As soon as I walked into the elevator, tears ran down my cheeks.

***

When I was about to leave my office, I saw Nathan. He gave me a nervous smile, holding a bouquet of red roses in his hand.

"What are you doing here?" I asked, folding my arms over my chest.

"I am sorry for yesterday." He gave me an apologetic look, extending the bouquet towards me. "There was some problem at Stardust. So I was preoccupied by it, and it affected my mood. If I said something which hurt you or behaved like that, I apologize." He added honestly.

I grabbed the bouquet, biting my lower lip, and mumbled. "Thank you. They are beautiful."

"Would you like to have dinner with me?" He asked hopefully.

"Yes." I nodded, giving him a slight smile. He breathed deeply in relief and gave me a charming smile.

When we were about to walk towards the elevator, I noticed a bodyguard following him.

"You have a bodyguard?!" I asked, puzzled.

"Yes." I rubbed the back of his neck, resting his hand on my lower back, leading us towards the elevator.

My eyes widened in surprise as I saw two bodyguards waiting for Nathan beside his SUV. Another man was sitting on the driver seat in the black car behind Nathan's car. He had the earpiece like the others as well.

When I looked at Nathan, worried, he gave me a slight smile and led me towards the car without saying anything.

After we had got in the car, the bodyguard which I saw with Nathan upstairs got in the car and started it. I turned my gaze from him to Nathan who was sitting beside me; he was lost in his thoughts.

"What is going on, Nathan? And don't tell me there is nothing serious." I said firmly.

He heaved a loud sigh and ran his hand through his hair. "There is some problem at Stardust as I told you. It is just a precautionary measure." He gave me a reassuring smile.

"What is the problem at Stardust?" I asked, worried, grabbing his hand.

He gave me a tender smile, leaning towards me, cupping my cheek. "Don't worry, Lottie. I will handle it." He placed a chaste kiss on my lips.

I sighed and stated firmly. "It is serious. I know it. Do you think I didn't notice how often you were lost in your thoughts? There is something bothering you and it is so serious. If it wasn't this serious, you wouldn't walk with an army of bodyguards."