Chapter 9

~Natalie~

I cut through the meat on my plate slowly, staring at Lucien from across the table. He didn't look at me,his eyes were fixed on the plate of food before him.

“A picture would last longer,” he raised his head.

“I don't want an ugly person on my phone.” I smiled back at him, tilting my head a bit.

“Ugly?” He smirked. “We'll see about that.”

“There's a banquet tomorrow. CEO Verin’s daughter is getting married soon. You will be my date.”

I frowned. Verin was one of father's core rivals and enemies in the business world, so why would Lucien want to work with them?

“I'm not going.”

“Oh,you will.” He smirked,so sure of himself.

“No, I won't.” I insisted.

“If you don't follow me to the banquet, I'll make sure you never see your brother again,” he laughed.

I kept quiet. How dare he drag Alex into this?! I really couldn't wait to destroy him.

“Where's the venue?” I asked through closed teeth.

“Relax, the dress will be delivered tomorrow. We'll leave by five.” He said and left the room immediately, leaving no room for me to speak.

“Bastard,” I cursed.

After finishing my meal, I went to bed.

I didn't know for how long I'd been asleep, but I met myself in a hospital.

The walls were painted white and the air smelt of blood and medicine. It disgusted me. I looked at the bed beside me. My father laid there, peacefully. I could hear his steady breathing.

Suddenly, his breathing pitched. His chest heaved up and down at an alarming pace. There was blood all over him.

He'd been stabbed in the chest. I wanted to move closer to him, but I couldn't. It was as if there was an invisible force keeping me away from him no matter how hard I tried to break through.

I saw a blood stained knife in my hand. I had…stabbed him. My eyes widened at the realization.

I looked at him, wanting to tell him that I didn't do it. He looked at me. I could see shock and anger evident in his eyes.

His breath pitched again, and he coughed up blood to the bed. He looked at me, eyes wide open. “Why?” He asked.

Hot tears fell down my cheeks. I wanted to tell him so badly that I didn't do it, that I never wanted him dead.

I watched him die over and over, his warm body turning blue and cold.

My eyelids parted, I was on the bed, my pillow soaked with warm liquid from my eyes. It was raining outside,thunder and the constant beating of the window panes by the water.

I sat up, my heart leaping in my chest. My clothes had been soaked by sweat. I took the bottle of water on the bedside table and gulped down the content, trying to forget the nightmare I just had.

Wanting to kill boredom, I grabbed my phone to check if Freya had completed the mission, but there were no texts from her yet.

Even dad's lawyer whom I had texted yesterday hadn't replied.

I scrolled through the news online,and my name was still trending on the top ten searches. I didn't bother to check what the world had the say about my life. I really couldn't care less.

I was about to turn my phone off when a notification came in, it was from an unknown number. My first reaction was shock, thinking the paparazzi or some random blogger had gotten my number, but I saw my dad's name in the text.

My finger hovered around the text for a while before I finally checked it

___

If you want Leon's company back. Meet me at the rooftop after the banquet.

___

The banquet?! Whoever this person was, he was well informed and might have a spy in Lucien home. But,since he was offering to help, I had to at least give it a try.

I tried to sleep again,but I couldn't, still haunted by the images of my former dream. Immediately the sun set, I slid my nightwear off and had my bath.

I texted Freya again, reminding her to be careful and not get caught.

I walked out of the room, coincidentally bumping into Lucien in the hallway. My forehead had hit his arm, it hurt so much.

“Use your eyes please.” He threw me a glance.

“Whatever,” I growled a palm rubbing my forehead to ease the pain.

I sat down at the other side of the table, far away from his threatening gaze. My mind still lingered on the text I had received last night. I searched my memory, trying to see if there was anyone likely to help me after my tarnished reputation, but I couldn't really figure it out.

And…the scare of the dream still lingered a bit in my chest.

Breakfast was laid on the table— toast bread, tea and cake. Lucien had the usual early morning coffee while reading a business magazine.

Halfway through the meal, a set of people entered the house.

“Master Lucien,” they bowed.

“Ah,you're here.” Lucien dropped the tea cup he had between his lips and looked at their company.

“Natalie,this is Anne Frank. He's a popular make up artist. He'll be doing your make up for you. I can't possibly have the media think you're being maltreated, or can I?”

He raised a brow while smirking.

I gritted my teeth but said nothing. I bowed instead, greeting the renowned make up artist.

“Oh my God. You look so beautiful miss.” He said, giving a warm and a bright smile.

I blushed.

“Thank you, you're also good looking.”

“Huh? Don't be fooled Natalie.” Lucien smirked at me.

I rolled my eyes and continued eating my food. When I was done, I led Anne all the way to my room so they could begin work.

He said I needed to take a beauty bath first. Even as a girl, I never knew something like that existed, I was too busy trying to run the operations of my dad's company.