Echoes Of a Forsaken Heart

Chapter 12

Hamilton sidled up to Natalia, his large hand casually wrapping around her waist. A smirk. played on his lips, but his eyes were a chilly expanse of ice. “What’s got you so tickled pink? Mind sharing the joke?”

Natalia offered a strained smile. “Mr. Henkel was just saying your old flame’s coming back to town.”

Hamilton chuckled lightly, not bothering to pick up the thread of that conversation. Instead, he prodded, “And do you find this cause for giggles, Ms. Jenkins?”

Natalia felt a heavy knot in her stomach. What was she supposed to do, not smile? It’s not like she could grab Hamilton and wail about why he could pine for a past flame but not give her the time of day. She prided herself on being more self–aware than that.

“I was just happy for Mr. Fowler,” she said.

Hamilton’s expression darkened. “Well, I’m just overwhelmed by your thoughtfulness.”

Victor watched the sparring pair and couldn’t help but laugh. “Hey, Fowler, when your old flame shows up, give me a heads–up. I’ll take Ms. Jenkins off your hands. That way, it’s not like I’m poaching, right?”

The hint of a cold smile flickered across Hamilton’s brooding face.

“What’s this? You two cooking up a scheme?”

“No!” Natalia blurted out, a bit too quickly.

Victor might not care about Hamilton’s opinion, but Natalia had to.

“I’ve already turned Mr. Henkel down.”

But Victor seemed unbothered. “Don’t be so hasty to refuse, Ms. Jenkins. Sometimes you gotta taste a few dishes to know which one really satisfies your cravings,” he said, leaving them with that thought.

Natalia’s face soured. She suspected Victor was just trying to get back at her. “Mr. Fowler, I really don’t have those kinds of feelings for him.”

Hamilton swirled the liquor in his glass, his expression unreadable.

“Isn’t it just about the money for you, Ms. Jenkins? Why isn’t Victor up to snuff?”

Her smile faded, the corners of her mouth turning white with the effort to keep the bitterness at bay.

“Three years with Mr. Fowler, my standards have naturally risen.”

Hamilton was unimpressed, his gaze heavy on Natalia.

Jenkins, once our contract’s up, you can be with whomever

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14:23

Chapter 12

want to catch you making eyes at any other

nodded stiffly, her spine

Hamilton ignored Natalia, his attention

in the corner, feeling a weariness

take their toll on her, despite her attempts to rationalize her feelings. It hurt because, after

dragged into

he preferred to be in control, behind the wheel. Men with an overbearing

a first love. Yet, she was wrong. Maybe he could handle being out of control, just not with her.

up at their building, the driver long gone.

Natalia asked

his eyes, Hamilton pulled off her

moaned softly, biting back a sharper pain. “Mr. Fowler, I can

grip, pulling her close. “Was chatting with Victor that delightful?”

tensed. “It

you laughed so joyfully with

basic courtesy,”

a low chuckle. “Such good

her chest. The designer dress she wore. didn’t survive the night; it was

can we

“Why? Because of Victor? Are you saving yourself

just how much her few words with Victor had irked Hamilton. It was almost laughable–he didn’t love her, yet he was possessive to a maddening degree. It

just… be gentle? I’m really

quirked. “You could always

shook with their fervor.

her belly protectively. When it was over, he carried her inside with a semblance of

He

in her stomach, but Hamilton didn’t seem satisfied. He resumed his

weakly. “Mr. Fowler, I’m

her legs, leaving her no

usually despised. Irritably, he checked it, but to her surprise, he didn’t snap. His mood shifted, and

alone with her thoughts–empty for

be calling Hamilton at this hour? What could