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?”

got the boot from Mr. Fowler himself, kicked right out the door and dragged off by security.” Tess shuddered at the thought. “They say Orpheus was sent flying out of the office, coughing

15. 15.

is ghosts. Boss, how can

a rubines when he needs

as she contemplated the turn of the fast event.

demeanor at work, yet she wouldn’t have ques

course, the alen know that Hamiliars gentility was

was the epitome of courtesy and grace. But those who

anything but truly kind? Natalia’s mind suddenly wandered to Hamilton as a child.

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

these thoughts, choosing not to dwell on them. After all, that

picked up the reports from her desk and headed to the CEO’s office.

in front of Harnilton, “Mr. Fowler, I need your signature on

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

detached smile, “Much

he probed further.

for a moment and continued, “Fine

it. Delegate what you

asking, “Anything else, Mr. Fowler?”

for a moment in silence. “Are you

got work

asked,

surprised he remembered.

she added, “If you’re busy,

come.”

Chapter 82

accompany her to the reunion, she had felt a flicker of

happened that night, all excitement had drained away. What was the point of bringing him as her boyfriend? After all, that

inscrutable. And he finally said, “Since

you worried I’ll meet someone at the reunion? Don’t worry. He

“Do I really need a solid reason to go? Or do you have

with a touch of

otherwise. It’s perfectly normal to bring a boyfriend

at the corners as a pang of sadness gripped her heart. She had never imagined that one day, these terms of endearment would become the last thing she wanted to hear. Words that once symbolized sweetness now tasted

deep breath, she forced a smile, “Alright. Then, Mr. Fowler, please be sure to come

on time.”