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?”

for the fight was

Chapter 21

Ms. Jenkins is willing to

looked at Natalia

just offered a reassuring smile.

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

smile playing on his perfect

Schafer gave me a hard

you?” Hamilton asked with a

lips twitched.

to argue

not a mistress, I haven’t cheated, and I’ve done nothing shameful. Even

eyes narrowed slightly. “You seem quite justified about sleeping with

offered a bitter smile. “At least I have a

snorted. “Come

Natalia didn’t move.

turned sour. “Do you want Tess to be alright

made her way over.

her onto his lap and kissed her aggressively.

Tess rushed

how did it

good

again. “Boss, you’re the

helplessly. “No need for that. Just be less

were so

Chapter 21

laughed. “It doesn’t bother me,

the right to talk like that! And that Eveleen Schafer, she’s no good. I don’t understand what Mr. Fowler sees in her.”

Fowler hears you, I won’t be able to save you

but then gasped. “Boss, did you eat too much spicy food?

touched her lip; it was from Hamilton’s rough

said, “Yeah,

call from Scarlett. They agreed

lemon water, she quipped, “Be grateful I’m even giving you lemon water. Someone

smiled. “Did you bring

for nausea. Are you having a tough time?”

“It’s not

avoid taking them then.”