Echoes Of a Forsaken Heart

Chapter 82

Natalia thought she could shrug off the rumors like a light dusting of snow from her shoulders. But the whispers and stores that followed her through the office comidors all afternoon were enough to chill her bones. It was uncomfortable, to say the least.

Hamilton paused mid–stride, arching an eyebrow at her.

“Giselle’s getting the boot.” He promised.

A laugh escaped Natalia’s lips, “Good.”

That must be the biggest concession Hamilton was willing to make. He wouldn’t step forward to squash the rumors himself. After all, by doing so, he’d practically be confirming their relationship to the world.

Of course, that would also mean admitting that the real homewrecker was Eveleen all this long.

And when it came to Eveleen, Hamilton would never act against her.

So, firing Giselle seemed like the best solution; it would shatter the gossip without exposing their relationship.

Just perfect.

By the next morning, word of Giselle’s dismissal spread through the company like wildfire. The tongues that had wagged about Natalia now lay still.

Yet some things, once rooted in the heart, were hard to uproot. Especially for this kind of salacious rumor

Natalia knew that all too well. Though the chatter had ceased, she could still feel the weight of weird glances from her colleagues. But it seemed all she could do was pretend not to

notice.

After the morning meeting, as Natalia was gathering her reports to update Hamilton on their progress, Tess burst in.

“Boss, Giselle’s been canned!” She cried with excitement.

Natalia nodded in acknowledgment, “Yeah, I heard.”

“Now let’s see who dares spread lies about you,” Tess was puffing up with a triumphant air.

“Pfft, Eveleen’s cousin or not, she still got the axe. Boss, I’ve gotta say that Mr. Fowler’s a decent man.”

Natalia couldn’t help but chuckle, “Decent? Remember when he almost fired you?”

himself, kicked right out the door and dragged off by security.” Tess shuddered at the thought. “They say Orpheus

15. 15.

were as shocked, they humed pate is ghosts. Boss, how

when he needs for teen couldn’t

she contemplated the turn of the

at work, yet she wouldn’t have ques

course, the alen know that Hamiliars gentility was

was the epitome of courtesy and grace. But

took over the Fowler empire at nineteen be anything but truly kind? Natalia’s mind suddenly wandered to Hamilton as a child. Back then, he was a

a sweet boy into the man he was now? It was a puzzle

dwell on them. After all, that man

from her desk and headed to

knocking and entering, she placed the documents in front of Harnilton, “Mr. Fowler, I need your signature on

and signed his name. Instead of handing them back to Natalia, he looked up

offered a polite, detached smile, “Much better.”

he

a moment and continued, “Fine

nodded absentmindedly, “Don’t overdo it. Delegate what

hesitated before asking, “Anything

for a moment in silence. “Are you in such a hurry?” he

“I’ve got work to

slightly before he finally asked, “The class

was surprised

after a moment, she added, “If you’re busy, Mr. Fowler, you

come.”

Chapter 82

first offered to accompany her to the reunion,

point of bringing him as her

said, “Since I promised you, I intend to keep

at Hamilton, “Are you worried I’ll meet someone at the reunion?

eyes tightened, “Do I really need a solid reason to go? Or do you have something to hide, something you fear that

a touch of

to convince me otherwise. It’s perfectly normal to bring a boyfriend to a class reunion, right,

at the corners as a pang of sadness gripped her heart. She had never imagined that one day, these

a deep breath, she forced a smile, “Alright. Then,

on time.”