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?”

And I heard Orpheus Fowler got the boot from Mr. Fowler himself, kicked right out the door and dragged off

15. 15.

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

a rubines when he needs for teen couldn’t help but

towered her gase Her eile Inded as she contemplated

maintained a gentlemanly demeanor at work, yet she

alen know that Hamiliars gentility was just

he was the epitome of courtesy and grace.

be anything but truly kind? Natalia’s mind suddenly wandered to Hamilton as a child. Back then, he was

the man he was now?

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

desk

placed the documents in front of Harnilton, “Mr. Fowler, I need

handing them back to Natalia, he looked up and

a polite, detached smile, “Much better.”

health?” he

paused for a moment and continued, “Fine as well.”

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

She hesitated before asking, “Anything

watched her for a moment in silence. “Are you in such

“I’ve got work

asked, “The class reunion is this weekend, right?”

was surprised he

“If you’re busy,

come.”

Chapter 82

her to the reunion, she had felt a flicker of

that night, all excitement had drained away. What was the point

inscrutable. And he finally said, “Since I promised

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

a solid reason to go? Or do you have something to hide, something you fear that I might see?”

a touch of exasperated

perfectly normal to bring a boyfriend to a

that one day, these terms of

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

on time.”