Forbidden Heat

Reiner - Understanding His Love

“Natalia?” Reiner’s familiar voice answered the phone questioningly.

He knew that I was supposed to be working and I usually never called him during my work hours at the

bar.

“Yes, it’s me. Umm…Kat’s birthday is coming up so I was thinking of talking about some plans with her © 2024 Nôv/el/Dram/a.Org.

after work so…can you pick me up like…half an hour later? I don’t want you to wait, you know…” I said

as I tried to sound casual and normal.

“Sure,” Reiner replied without hesitation.

Well, that was easier than I thought. Reiner didn’t ask any questions, and everything seemed to have

settled down well without issues.

“Thank you. I’ll give you a call when I’m done, is that ok?” I asked sweetly.

Reiner is supposed to be busy having dinner with a client, so I better keep this phone call short. I didn’t

want to disturb him when I knew that he was still working.

“Sure,” he replied in short.

“Ok. I’ll hang up now. Good luck at dinner!” I said cheerfully and supportively.

Reiner hung up without saying anything more and I sighed in relief as I stared at the phone in my hand.

Now I had time to talk with Rachael after work. Sorry, Kat, I didn’t mean to use your birthday as an

excuse or anything. I also apologize silently to Reiner for not telling him the truth.

…

The bar closing time arrived along with a mix of emotions that I couldn’t quite understand. It was like I

had been looking forward to this moment so that I could talk to Rachael, but on the other hand, I wasn’t

really looking forward to it. My emotions were a big mess, and I had a hard time understanding what I

felt or what I wanted.

“You can head out without me, I have something to do,” I told Kat.

Kat nodded at me and the way that she pursed her lips together tightly into a thin line told me that she

was actively refraining from asking me any questions.

All the customers have left the bar already. All except for one.

“Shall we?” I said as I came to stand right next to where Rachael was seated.

“Lead the way,” she replied without hesitation as she stood up from her seat.

I could feel eyes on us as I led the way out of the bar with Rachael following after me. It was a bad idea

to talk to her in the bar and I would rather we had a chat outside where I could feel the cool wind on my

skin. I was sure that everyone was curious as to who she was and what she wanted with me; however,

I also knew that no one would ask me any questions.

After leading the way to a quiet spot, a short distance walk from the bar, I came to a stop and turned to

face Rachael. It was time that I finally found out what she really wanted to say to me.

“You wanted to talk to me?” I asked but it wasn’t really a question.

“I’m going to be straight forward about this so that we don’t waste each other’s time. I want you to stay

away from Knight,” Rachael stated sternly.

My cocked my head to the side in slight confusion at her words.

“Umm…I don’t think that’s going to be possible. Afterall, I’m working as his personal secretary,” I

politely declined with valid reason.

“Then quit your job and go back to wherever you came from,” Rachael spat.

“I can’t do that either. I’ve decided to stay here on this island for the time being,” I replied flatly.

“What makes you think that a girl like you has any kind of future with Knight?” she asked as her

eyebrows furrowed together.

This girl is really taking it too far…

“I have no idea what you’re talking about…” I replied with a shrug of my shoulders.

Rachael’s eyes widened as her anger seem to take over. Why does she seem so insecure about her

relationship with Reiner?

“Are you in love with him?” she asked but it was more of an accusation.

“Are you?” I asked in return.

“Of course, I am. We are engaged!” she replied loudly and confidently.

So, I was right, she is indeed very much in love with him.

“Sorry that I had to ask. I heard that arranged engagements and marriages are sometimes done even

when the future bride and groom isn’t in love with each other,” I said with a small smile.

I’ve seen enough of those cases in real life in the Rosenhall family, but I guess she didn’t need to know

that.

Her eyes narrowed dangerously at me, and it seemed like her body was shaking from anger.

Something seemed very off about Rachael and her relationship with Reiner. Something was telling me

that their relationship wasn’t a simply romantic one between a man and a woman who were in love with

each other. However, that wasn’t enough to put my mind at ease. I needed to hear something to make

me believe that Reiner didn’t have any romantic feelings towards her.

“Are you trying to say that Knight isn’t in love with me?” Rachael asked in shock as her eyes widened

at me.

“I don’t know…are you sure that he’s in love with you?” I challenged.

Rachael looked at me with round eyes before she looked away and bit her lower lip. That was when I

was certain that Rachal thought that she didn’t have Reiner’s love and the reason for that was probably

because she really didn’t. I see, so Reiner doesn’t love Rachael either. Maybe that man doesn’t love

anyone at all. It came as somewhat of a surprise to me, but I felt more thankful and relieved that Reiner

wasn’t in love to the woman that he was engaged to.

“I see…so he doesn’t love you…” I said, without bothering to fake some sympathy towards her.

I had more than enough to worry about myself right now that I didn’t have the heart or the time to spare

any sympathy for someone else.

--To be continued…