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?”

Mr. Fowler himself, kicked right out the door and dragged off

15. 15.

humed pate is ghosts. Boss, how

a rubines when he needs for teen couldn’t help

towered her gase Her eile Inded as she contemplated the turn of the fast event.

maintained a gentlemanly demeanor at work, yet she wouldn’t have

the alen know that Hamiliars gentility was

the epitome of courtesy and grace.

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

such a sweet boy into the man he was now?

dwell on them. After all, that man no longer belonged to her.

picked up the reports from her desk

and entering, she placed the documents in front of Harnilton, “Mr. Fowler, I

handing them back to Natalia, he looked up and asked, “How’s your arm feeling?”

offered a polite, detached

health?” he probed further.

and continued,

“Don’t overdo it.

asking, “Anything

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

didn’t deny it, “I’ve got work to

asked, “The class reunion is

was surprised he

“If you’re busy, Mr. Fowler, you don’t have to

come.”

Chapter 82

her to the reunion, she had felt a flicker of

excitement had drained away. What was the point of bringing him as her

lingered on her, which was inscrutable. And he finally said, “Since

Hamilton, “Are you worried I’ll meet someone at the reunion? Don’t

really need a solid reason to go? Or do you

a touch

me otherwise. It’s perfectly normal to bring a boyfriend to a

one day, these terms of

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

on time.”