Chapter 73: Chapter 73

CHAPTER 30

Two hours later..

"Rise and shine, Laurel." I say, as I smile at her face, standing over her. She looks around, alarmed. She realizes her hands are bound. "Where the hell have you brought me, Natalie!" She yells, trying to release her hands.

I scoff. "Tsk. Tsk. You really, really sound crazy now, huh?" A nurse comes in. "Oh, your medicine just came. Go ahead, please." I say to the nurse.

"Don't touch me!" Laurel yells. She looks around then back at me, "You need to let me go, I'm with Luke's child, Natalie, remember that! Let me go, right now!"

"I'm sorry, but I can't do that. You see, this will be your new home. You separated me from not only my father, but Luke too. Don't get me wrong, I have nothing against your child. It's you I hold a grudge against. Therefore, you must suffer for your bad decisions. You must suffer for your wickedness, Laurel." I say, as I watch the nurse give the shot to her. I continue, "This will make you lose your mind. You'll go completely insane, and everyday, you'll be forced to relive whatever you’re hiding in your mind. The thing that scares you the most, you will relive it every single day."

She growls and moves violently, trying to break free. "Natalie, I promise you, you will pay! I'll kill you! Let me go! Don't you dare give me that!" She yells.

I grab her hair. "Even I am disgusted with myself. My conscience roars at me every single night, but you set this in motion." I release her hair. The nurse goes out. Thankfully, she knew not to mention a word of what she'd seen or heard to anyone else. If she did, she was as good as an accomplice. "You won't be getting out of here anytime soon, Laurel. Get used to it." I say. I walk out of the room, ignoring her calls and pleas.

I break down on the stairs, looking behind me. I had gone too far, and there was no turning back.

Natalie's voiceover

When scars refuse to fade off and constantly remind you of old injuries, forgiveness becomes the least of options for a person. Everyday, constantly looking at my son, and remembering my fathers death, I was reminded of the betrayal of the very man I loved.

My thirst for redress and my search for peace of mind had turned me into something so bitter, malicious and vile. I had become a reflection of what I hated most. When betrayal cuts this deep, someone has to pay. I was ready to pay for my sins if it meant at the end of the day, I could destroy those who ruined my life.

"I'm sorry I took so long." I say, as I get on the spa bed, ready for a session. I was tensed after all. Lydia ignores me. "Lydia?"

"What? I'm not even mad anymore. I'm used to it. Your revenge matters most to you. You don't look at anyone else. You're even starting to neglect Louis."

I pause, looking at her head, annoyed. "Don't say that ever again. I am a damn good mother and I would do anything for my son. Do you realize I wouldn't even have a son if these people succeeded in murdering me?"

"Well, you do. So enjoy your life with him while you can, Natalie. Life's too short!"

"I will. I know I haven't spent time with Louis for a few days, but that's going to change now. I'm focused."

***

Lydia had left after the spa session. I knew she was pissed and I had to pacify her. However, I had more pressing issues to attend to. I'd just received an e-mail from Lee Martins. Turns out, I did in fact know Kelly. I'd met her about 2 years ago, at the party at Carrington manor. She looked so different and it had been a long time since I'd seen her. Her real name was Kelly Andrews, at least, that's what she told me during our first meeting. It was fishy that she introduced herself as Kelly Claire two years later.

Next day..

It's 9:50am. I'm already in C.I, waiting for Caleb in his office. I needed to confront him, ask him why he would bug my office, and under whose instructions. I had my doubts. I needed to clear them once and for all.

He walks in at exactly 10:00am. Our eyes meet. He looks rather surprised.

"Good morning, Ms. Richardson. I don't believe we had a prior arrangement. Is there a problem?"

I scoff, smiling. "There's really no need for the niceties, Caleb." I say, as I get up, heading to his chair. I sit on it. I cross my legs. "Why did you have my office bugged? Did Luke send you?"

He doesn't let his expressions give the truth away. He maintains a straight face. "Your office was bugged? Since when?"

I chuckle. "If you aren't guilty, you should deny. Don't you think so, Mr. Davies?" I ask, looking at him. At this point, I was 50 percent sure that Caleb had ulterior motives. I just had to confirm my suspicions and find out exactly what he wanted to do.

"I take orders directly from Mr. Carrington. If he didn't ask me to do it, I didn't do it. I'm not your man, Ms. Richardson."

"If my ex-husband didn't have you do it, and if you didn't do it, who did? Surely, not I."

He nods. "You've made yourself a lot of enemies in the company. It might just be one of them. There's a lot of people pulling strings to get you out of the company, Ms. Richardson."

"Really?" I ask, as I notice his eyes on the couch. I continue, "Well, then, thank you. I'll leave now." I say, as I begin to find my way out. I exit his office.

"1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15." I pause. I turn around and head back to his office. "I'm sorry, I forgot my phone on the couch. So clumsy." I say, as I pick my phone. He smiles at me. I smile back.

***

I play the voice recording as soon as I enter my office.

Caleb speaking; "Sir, she found out we had her office bugged. I told her it had nothing to do with you. She bought it. Yes, sir. I'll be with you shortly."

I laugh hysterically as I drop my phone in my purse, replaying the recording in my head.

"Now, I know the truth.” I say, recalling Caleb look at my phone. He had lied against Lucas.

I had intentionally left my phone in Caleb's office and he had gotten wind of it. He thought that I'd probably left my phone there to catch him in a lie, but in fact, I set him up, and he fell right into my trap. Why was he after Luke? Why did he lie? I couldn't fathom possible reasons, but I knew that Caleb could either be a very good ally, or a very dangerous enemy.

My door doings open. It's the security. "What is it? You barged into my office, how dare you?" I ask, perplexed.

"Ma'am, we've been instructed to escort you out of the building."

I chuckle, amazed. "Excuse me? By who? Do you know who I am? I'm not some rando off the streets. Can't you see my nameplate?" I ask, eyeing them.

"We've gotten orders from Mr. Carrington. I'm afraid you have to leave, ma'am."

I frown. "Where the hell is he?" I ask, pissed.

****

"Incase you've forgotten, I give the orders around here, Mr. Carrington. How dare you send these geldings to throw me out?" I ask in a very loud tone, as I approach Luke from behind. He turns around. He looks cleaner than the last time I'd seen him. He smirks at me. I look at him, irked. Why the hell was he smiling? He looked so good doing it.

"Now, don't be rude, Natali— I raise my hand up in the air, stopping him. "Ms. Richardson to you. You don't get to call me by my first name like we share some casual relationship. It's Ms. Richardson to you." I warn him.

He sighs. "Ms. Richardson, I hate to break it to you, but I've had enough of your drama. This isn't a TV show or a fashion show where you come all day, dressed like a doll. This isn't the runway. I've allowed you here for too long. It's time to leave."

"I beg your pardon? I am, and remain Chairman of C.I. I still have my shares— "Aht. Aht. Aht." He says, waving his fingers at me. Caleb comes forward, handing me what I assume are some documents.

"What are these?"

"A merger." He responds, and I freeze. So this was it. This was how he planned to humiliate me and throw me out of C.I. I look up at him, not surprised.

"This is illegal. You know that. You had this backdated."

"Do you have any proof of that?"

"You've used your influence and connections, I know what you're capable of. To get rid of me, you jeopardized the company by merging with PRJ."

He looks extremely surprised. "How'd you know that?" He asks, looking back at Caleb.

"If this was your attempt to humiliate me, especially coming a few days after I threw you out of the manor, then I must say, it was a very pathetic attempt." I tear up the papers and throw them at him. "I won't argue with you, but I'll be back and when I do, beloved, I'll make sure to burn this bloody place down." I say, as I find my way out of C.I. Luke 1, Natalie 1. Now, it was really going to be one hell of a ride.