Beyond The Contract

The small café was filled with clinking glasses and quiet chatter. Sunlight streamed through the large windows, giving it a warm and cozy atmosphere. In the corner of the room, Laura Lambert sat gracefully. Her simple yet elegant white dress reflected her calm and controlled personality. Her cell phone is pressed against her ear, while the expression on her face is one of tension, with her eyebrows knitted together. “Grandpa, this doesn't make sense," she said in a low but firm tone. "It's for your good, Laura," replied the authoritative old voice on the other end of the line. "To inherit the family company, you must marry. We won't be patient, and the Lambert family's reputation can't be risked any longer." Laura let out a long sigh, staring at the cup of coffee on the table. "I know, but this is my life. I can't get married to fulfill this ridiculous requirement." "If you don't get married, we'll find one for you," her grandfather said in an undeniable tone. "The choice is yours, Laura. Don't waste this opportunity." The conversation ended, and Laura put her phone down roughly on the table. Her face turned calm, but inside her mind, it was chaotic. Marrying a stranger? How ridiculous, she thought as she stirred her coffee so quickly that the clinking could be heard. The café door jingled softly, signaling the arrival of a new customer. A well-built man stepped inside. His appearance was simple, but something in the way he carried himself exuded authority. His piercing gaze swept the room before finally stopping on Laura. He reached for the cell phone in his pocket and pressed the call button to the number he had been unable to get, but he still received no answer. His gaze fell to the table before Laura; he smiled faintly and did not continue the action. Nathan Carter stood for a moment, composing himself. He was only 28 years old, a former soldier who now worked as an obstetric nurse. His friends had forced him to go on a blind date, something he didn't want to do. However, he felt his breath catch upon seeing Laura in her white dress. So beautiful... he thought, his heart beating faster. Taking a deep breath, Nathan walked over to Laura's desk. When his shadow blocked the light, Laura looked up, surprised to see a man standing before her. "Hello," Nathan greeted, his voice friendly but slightly nervous. "My name is Nathan Carter. Looks like we have an appointment today?" Laura tilted her head, confused. She sure didn't have an appointment with anyone. Her expression went from surprised to slightly annoyed, though she hid it behind a polite smile. "Sorry," she replied carefully. "It looks like you've got the wrong person." Nathan was stunned. He looked around the café, expecting to find another woman wearing a white dress. But there weren't any. He looked back at Laura. He was scratching the back of his neck sheepishly. "Oh, I'm... sorry. My friends arranged a blind date, and they said she'd be wearing a white dress. I just... assumed. I couldn't call the number they gave me either.” Laura raised an eyebrow, her annoyance fading into curiosity. The man's honesty was refreshing, different from the scheming men she was used to meeting. "Well, I'm not your blind date. But since you're already here, why not sit down for a minute?" Nathan was taken a back. "I don't want to interrupt-" "You're already interrupting," Laura said with a faint smile. "So, let's make this worth it." Nathan chuckled, the deep sound making Laura smile involuntarily. "Well, thank you. Honestly, this is my first time doing something like this." "And here you are, already making quite a unique first impression," Laura replied, half-joking. "So, Nathan, what do you do besides mistaking women for your blind dates?” Nathan smiled nervously. "I'm an obstetric nurse. Most people say it's an unusual job for a man." Laura looked surprised. She looked at Nathan more closely. "Obstetric nurse? That's... unusual. Why did you choose that?" Nathan shrugged. He was used to "Why" questions from people he met for the first time. "I've always wanted to help people, especially at moments like childbirth. It feels great to support moms at their most vulnerable moments. However, I admit that this job often gets in the way of my love life." Laura paused for a moment, trying to digest her answer. Laura thought Nathan's honesty and simplicity stood out, especially compared to the men in expensive suits who approached her to satisfy their curiosity and try to get her into a luxury hotel bed. “What do you do?" asked Nathan, trying to turn the conversation around. He had an undeniable feeling from Laura's expensive-looking appearance. Even though it was simple, it looked unusual. Everything looked luxurious but not overdone. Laura smiled faintly, deciding not to open up too much. "I work in the family business." Nathan nodded, respecting Laura's privacy. "That sounds interesting. I won't ask any further questions." Nathan already had his answer. He smiled slightly, calming his thoughts. Their conversation was interrupted when Laura's cell phone vibrated on the table. She peered at the screen and read a text message from her grandfather: The man looks promising. Consider carefully. Laura's brow furrowed. Laura turned her head towards the door and saw her grandfather's chauffeur sitting by the window just a table away from her, pretending to read the newspaper. "Everything okay?" asked Nathan, noticing the change in her expression. "Yes," Laura answered quickly, standing up gracefully. "But I have to go. Thanks for the chat, Nathan." Laura walked away before Nathan could say anything, leaving him dazed at the table. Outside, Laura was approached by her driver. "Mr. Lambert asked me to hand this over," he said as he handed her a small note, which she reluctantly accepted, knowing that the contents would be damaging to her. Opening it, Laura read: The man seems sincere. You've never been this patient with anyone else. Maybe this is a sign. Laura crumpled the paper in annoyance. "Tell Grandpa I'll make my own choice.” Inside the café, Nathan stood up to leave. His gaze fell on the scarf left on Laura's chair. Picking it up, he hurried outside, hoping to hand it back. However, Laura had already disappeared. Then his cell phone rang with an incoming message. Nathan's eyes narrowed at the stressful message from his actual blind date. "I'm at table number 7. Are you coming or not?!”