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.”
A pang 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.”
Chapter 21
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, I need to clear the air. I 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 I 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 I have slept with you, it has
nothing to do with Ms. Schafer. I'm not a mistress, I 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 I have a clear conscience.”
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.”
Chapter 21
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. I don’t understand what
Mr. Fowler sees in her.”
Natalia warned, “Be careful. If Mr. Fowler hears you, I 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.
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Knowing Hamilton as she did, she
was certain he harbored some
doubts. But because of the previous
2 4 ,
negative pregnancy reports, he didn't
dwell on it too much. Still, she
, 5
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. The content is on
Novelxo.org! Read the latest
chapter there!
Mentioning Hamilton always seemed to sour Scarlett’s mood.
“Was Eveleen really Hamilton's first love?” she asked.
Natalia nodded. “Seems like it.”
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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
aes ) .
thought about it, it wasn't entirely
impossible. The content is on
Novelxo.org! Read the latest
chapter there!
The Schafer family, though not considered high society in Silkwood City, had
Eveleen, a beauty. in her own right.
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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. The content is
on Novelxo.org! Read the latest
chapter there!
Chapter 21
“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, I 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?”