Echoes Of a Forsaken Heart

Chapter 21

Natalia emerged from the restroom only to find an intern from the marketing department rushing toward her, her face flushed with urgency.

“Ms. Jenkins, it’s a mess. Tess got into a fight with someone.” Natalia’s brows furrowed instantaneously. “What happened?”

The intern hesitated for a moment. “It seems she overheard someone badmouthing you, and Tess just couldn’t stand it. She went over to set things straight, but it turned into a brawl.”

“Where is she now?” “She’s been summoned to Mr. Fowler's office.”

Natalia took a deep breath and headed upstairs. At the entrance to the president's office, the executive secretary seemed to be waiting for her arrival. “Ms. Jenkins.”

Natalia nodded in acknowledgment, “How are things inside?” The executive secretary looked at her, “It might lead to a termination.”

Apang of guilt hit Natalia. She had been with the company for three years, and Tess had been her right hand for just as long. She knew all too well the struggles of Tess’s family life. Her mother was in poor health, and there was a pair of younger siblings to care for. If Tess were to lose her job over speaking up for her, Natalia’s conscience would never be at ease.

Natalia bit her lip. “How’s Mr. Fowler’s mood today?” The executive secretary shook her head. “Not great.” Natalia took another deep breath. “I'll go in and see.” “Alright.”

Natalia knocked, but there was no response from inside for a while. It seemed Hamilton wasn’t in the mood to entertain. After several more knocks, finally, a languid voice came through,

“Come in.” When Tess saw Natalia enter, her eyes, red from crying, welled up with fresh tears. “Boss,” she whimpered.

Natalia went over and patted her, then turned to Hamilton. “Mr. Fowler, this whole mess started because of me. It has nothing to do with anyone else.”

Hamilton was sitting behind his desk, his gaze lifted slightly, his face stormy. “Did you tell her to fight?”

“It wasn’t my call to fight, but the reason for the fight was me. Mr. Fowler, I'll take responsibility for this.”

Hamilton glanced at Tess and the other employee. “Since Ms. Jenkins is willing to take responsibility, you two can leave.” Tess was stunned, then looked at Natalia with worry.

Natalia just offered a reassuring smile. “Don’t worry.”

After the pair left the office. Hamilton cracked a smile. “How do you plan to take responsibility?” “Mr. Fowler, you can punish me however you see fit, but before any punishment, | need to clear the air. | don’t know if you’ve heard the rumors spreading around the office, but Tess was just defending me.”

Hamilton lounged back, a cryptic smile playing on his perfect features. “What rumors?”

Natalia paused for a moment, then said, “That Ms. Schafer gave me a hard time because | slept with you. “And have you?” Hamilton asked with a wicked edge.

Natalia’s lips twitched. “I have.”

“Then, what’s there to argue about?”

Natalia met the man’s gaze head-on. “Even if | have slept with you, it has nothing to do with Ms. Schafer. I’m not a mistress, | haven't cheated, and I’ve done nothing shameful. Even my relationship with you is consensual. Ms. Schafer has no right to reprimand me!”

Hamilton’s eyes narrowed slightly. “You seem quite justified about sleeping with me.” Natalia offered a bitter smile. “At least | have a clear conscience.”Please check at N/ôvel(D)rama.Org.

Hamilton snorted. “Come here.”

Natalia didn’t move.

Hamilton’s expression turned sour. “Do you want Tess to be alright or not?”

Natalia eventually made her way over.

Hamilton pulled her onto his lap and kissed her aggressively.

When Natalia finally stepped out of the president's office, Tess rushed to her, tears streaming down her face. “Boss, how did it go?”

Natalia smiled softly. “It's all good now, get back to work.”

Tess burst into tears again. “Boss, you're the best. I’d walk through fire for you.” Natalia chuckled helplessly. “No need for that. Just be less impulsive next time.” Tess pouted. “But they were so out of line.”

Natalia laughed. “It doesn’t bother me, not one bit.”

Tess was still indignant on Natalia’s behalf. “That shouldn’t give them the right to talk like that! And that Eveleen Schafer, she’s no good. | don’t understand what Mr. Fowler sees in her.”

Natalia warned, “Be careful. If Mr. Fowler hears you, | won’t be able to save you again.”

Tess immediately clammed up but then gasped. “Boss, did you eat too much spicy food? Your lip’s all busted.” Natalia touched her lip; it was from Hamilton’s rough kiss.

Nonchalantly, she said, “Yeah, a little.”

As the workday neared its end, Natalia received a call from Scarlett. They agreed to meet at a dessert café.

When Natalia arrived, Scarlett was nursing a coffee. Handing Natalia a lemon water, she quipped, “Be grateful I’m even giving you lemon water. Someone like you should stick to plain water.”

Natalia smiled. “Did you bring the medicine?” Scarlett nodded, handing them over. “They’re good for nausea. Are you having a tough time?” Natalia stashed the medicine in her bag. “It’s not too bad; just some smells set me off.”

“Try to avoid taking them then.”

“I'm worried Hamilton will get suspicious again.” After Natalia had been sick that one night, Hamilton had rechecked her medication.

Knowing Hamilton as she did, she was certain he harbored some doubts. But because of the previous negative pregnancy reports, he didn’t dwell on it too much. Still, she couldn’t keep using an upset stomach as an excuse forever. So that’s why Scarlett had to fetch her some medicine to settle her stomach.

Mentioning Hamilton always seemed to sour Scarlett’s mood. “Was Eveleen really Hamilton’s first love?” she asked. Natalia nodded. “Seems like it.”

Hamilton never officially admitted that Eveleen was his first flame. And he never let her pry into his private affairs. How they met and why they parted ways were questions she couldn’t even ask. But when she thought about it, it wasn’t entirely impossible.

The Schafer family, though not considered high society in Silkwood City, had Eveleen, a beauty. in her own right.

Eveleen had been the talk of the town among the young elites since she was a child. Heirs and trust fund kids swarmed around her daily. It wouldn’t have been a stretch for her to cross paths with Hamilton.

“Damn, the classic bad boy meets the pure girl trope. It’s disgustingly cliché!” Scarlett burst out laughing suddenly. “Imagine how Eveleen would react if she found out you're carrying

Hamilton’s baby. Would it kill her?”

“I'm not sure about her, but if she found out, it would probably be the end of me.”

“We're just fantasizing here, isn’t it satisfying?”

Natalia pondered for a moment. “You know what, it kind of is.”

They exchanged a knowing look and laughed heartily. Their chat was interrupted when Natalia’s phone rang. It was Hamilton.

She glanced at the screen and answered.

“Be home for dinner.” His voice came through as soon as she picked up.

Natalia replied, “I don’t feel like cooking. Can we just order takeout?”

Hamilton didn’t take to her suggestion. “Ms. Jenkins, | spend a good chunk of change on you

every month, and you can’t even cook one meal? Or is it that you don’t need the money anymore?”