I took my seat across from Natalie, maintaining eye contact as I gracefully sat down. The private dining room buzzed with excited chatter as my colleagues marveled at the opulence surrounding us. I kept my expression neutral, refusing to show how much it bothered me that she had access to Julian's exclusive dining room—a space I'd never been invited to despite being his mate.
"Isn't this lovely?" Natalie's voice dripped with false sweetness as she gestured around the room. "Julian reserves this room for special occasions only."
I smiled tightly. "How nice of him to make an exception for a work dinner."
Her eyes narrowed slightly before she turned to the waiter. "We'll start with the chef's selection of appetizers and the 1982 Bordeaux that Julian keeps in reserve here."
The other staff members looked impressed, exchanging glances at this display of intimate knowledge of the Alpha King's preferences. I refused to give her the satisfaction of appearing bothered.
