NatalieNatalie was here for three days now, and all she could do was look out the window. Her food was sent to her room, which she refused to eat at first. The maid threatened her, but Natalie didn’t budge. She could be awfully stubborn when she wanted to.Her heart was crying as she recalled Theo’s face from the other day. Despite her betrayal, he had come for her. But he had betrayed her too. If he loved her, did he not trust her enough to share everything with her?Trust, it was a word that could make relationships or destroy them. That’s what their relationship had lacked since its inception. Theo had lied. Did he have good reasons? She didn’t know. But what was the proof that Jacobs had been honest? She will have to ask him. Like he would answer.Her stomach grumbled and she drank another glass of water. But she didn’t eat.At dinner time, no one came knocking on her door, the maid barely took away the lunch trolley and Natalie tried to sleep clutching her legs to her stomach. B
TheodoreHe woke up without any alarm, and stared at the ceiling. It was still dark outside, but the faint light of the dawn was lighting up the LA horizon. He sat up in his bed, hanging his legs off the edge.Theo had barely slept. His mind was only thinking about ways to help Natalie. But was there anything he could do? Theo wondered. He couldn’t, because Natalie wasn’t helping him there.Today, he was regretting being a playboy, regretting fucking Jacobs’ fiancée, regretted having to find himself in this mess, because for the first time in his life, he was feeling so helpless.He decided to pay a visit to the Archers.When he called his secretary to schedule a meeting with Michael, he came back with the reply that Michael’s father had refused.Theo smiled. Because it was what he had expected.He had a few meetings to attend. Theo could wait for Natalie for a lifetime, but his work couldn’t.It was almost 5 when he left office once he was done, telling his secretary that he will be
NatalieNatalie was surprised when the maid announced that her brother was there to meet her.Natalie rushed out of the room where William stood.She wanted to run and hug William. She was shaken from last night and wanted to feel safe in her brother’s arms, but she was well aware that William was on Theo’s side, and if he saw anything unusual, he will report it to Theo. It meant unnecessarily risking Theo’s life.So, she walked down the stairs leisurely, and sat down on the couch knowing full well that her brother was expecting a hug. Disappointment was written across his face after Natalie’s stunt. But she put him out of his misery, speaking first. “Why are you here, William?”He didn’t sit down. “I thought I could come see my sister anytime and watch her settle in her new abode.”“Not when you are shaking hands with enemy.” She spoke while choosing a strawberry from the bowl that the maid had just placed, and she took a bite from it.“And who is the enemy here, Nat?”“Your friend,
TheoHe had only stepped out of the Archer house when Theo’s phone buzzed in his pocket, and since it was William calling him, Theo picked it up. “It’s bad news.”These were William’s first words, and Theo sighed. “What is it now? Don’t tell me your sister is already marrying Jacobs.”The idea was heart-wrenching for Theo and he regretted immediately as he uttered those words. He sat in the car and motioned his driver to move.“Worse. There is a mole. Your secretary. Bert.”“What?” Theo wanted to laugh at this suggestion, but then William went on and told him everything. Theo couldn’t believe it, of course.“Well, can’t help but sack him, right?”“Yes. One more thing. Jacobs is taking Natalie to a party tonight.”“What party?” Theo couldn’t help asking.“No idea, but I have a man in place who will be tracking as soon as they leave for it. You ready for a party tonight?”Theo closed his eyes and pinched the bridge of his nose, “Do I have a choice? But before that I have some sacking to
NatalieShe was nervous as cameras clicked. Jacobs’ hand on her waist was like a chain that was tightening with every passing second.“Just smile.” He whispered in her ear and Natalie tried to do what she was told.Questions were thrown at her about Theodore, and she just wanted earth to open up, so she could disappear forever.Some people even called her a slut, and Natalie told Jacobs that she wanted to go inside.Once they were inside, she turned sharply to her date. “You did that on purpose, didn’t you? Wanted me to stand there and take that bullshit from everyone.”Jacobs nodded at some people and then turned to her, his smile not wavering at all. “Fix your face, smile, and don’t make a scene. When you are a naïve little girl who only thinks about herself, and how she had been wronged, this is what happens. So, just shut up and flaunt that mark on your neck.”That was it. Last night when Jacobs had bit her hard, she didn’t know he was planning something. Today, she was getting re
TheodoreNatalie’s words hurt Theodore to the extent he had not imagined. He was waiting for a moment to strike, but things were moving too fast.First, he had seen that mark on Natalie’s neck, and he had been furious. Did she really get so soon in Jacobs’ bed?The images of her writhing beneath him made Theodore afraid of closing his eyes. He wanted to push those thoughts away.When he had seen her on the dance floor, there was no mistaking their closeness. She was moving effortlessly, and Jacobs’ face in her shoulder didn’t seem to bother her.Even when their eyes had met, she didn’t seem guilty at all. Was it all Theodore’s imagination that he had felt Natalie’s care growing for him? Was it a lie what she had muttered in her sleep? Did she not even like him as a human being, because the way she was crushing his heart, it was inhuman.When she told him that Jacobs wanted to marry her, Theodore couldn’t just let the words slide. How could he? He wanted the woman to be his bride and y
JacobsHe was having breakfast. Natalie had refused to come downstairs. Jacobs didn’t care. As long as he was able to hurt Theodore, he will face her tantrums.The butler announced that Nicholas Archer was there to see him.Jacobs sighed. The man was getting on his nerves now.“Show him in the drawing room. I am coming.”Jacobs deliberately took his time with his breakfast, even read the Business section of the newspaper, and then slowly drifted towards the drawing room where Nicholas was getting restless with each passing second.As Nicholas heard his footsteps, he turned and stood up, “What is the meaning of making me wait, Hanson?” He was not happy, Jacobs could see.“Calm down, Archer. I was having breakfast. Did you have breakfast?”“Cut the crap. I have heard news.”Jacobs raised his brows. “What news?”“That you are set to marry the Greene girl. I guess you have forgotten our deal, Jacobs…”“Archer, I had told you that she will be marrying your son, and I meant it. I don’t want
NatalieShe looked at her face in the mirror. It had swelled up, and looked red. Nicholas Archer had hit her pretty bad. It was twice this week, and Natalie wanted to scream. Never in her life that she had been hit, but these days, she was insulted and treated worse than slaves.She shook her head. Who was there to blame? No one but herself.A maid came with a hot water bag and asked Natalie to place it on her cheek.Natalie took it from her and also took the medicine.The swelling had to die down. Natalie wanted to run away. And she will. If marrying Michael, a lunatic, was her destiny, she will change it. These men might look powerful and have guns, but she knew they wouldn’t kill her. She was their greatest weapon against Theodore. Besides, if she dies, Theodore would be relieved of any burdens, won’t he?But she wasn’t going to die. She will run. Run away from Hanson, because she could. She couldn’t look herself in the eyes and think I haven’t tried anything to escape this hell. S