As Natalie watched Sadie tremble with rage, she felt her pain like it was her own.
Three years ago, she’d been just the same. Sienna had plotted to steal her corneas, leaving her in darkness for three long years. The hatred for Sienna still burned inside her, and Natalie refused to ever let that fire die.
Gently, she patted Sadie’s shoulder, her voice steady and determined. “They can’t just hurt us and walk away, Sadie. We have to make them pay. Don’t you think?”
Natalie left Sadie’s place and made the short walk to her car. Once inside, she texted Benjamin to let him know that Sadie had agreed to testify against Sienna.
He replied with a “hell yeah” sticker.
Natalie drove with one hand on the wheel, her mind stuck on Sadie’s last words–Sienna had a solo art exhibition coming up.
Sienna’s last attempt to work with Wings of Canvas had fallen through, leaving her scrambling to save her reputation. She just kept digging her own grave.
So, Sienna wanted a solo exhibition? Natalie would make sure she got one she’d never forget.
Natalie stared straight ahead, lips curling into a smirk as she stomped on the gas.
By the time she’d finished handling Sadie’s business and gotten back to the hotel, evening had fallen. She’d just stepped out of the shower, her hair still dripping, when Shane’s call came through.
“Nat, be my girlfriend.”
Natalie was stunned. Without thinking, she checked the caller ID again. It was definitely Shane. Had he lost his damn mind?
“Shane, did you dial the wrong number?”
Shane’s voice cracked on the phone, close to tears. “You’re the only Nat I know. How could I dial the wrong number? I’m in deep trouble here, and you’re my only way out. If you don’t help me, I’m screwed.”
Even with Shane’s panicked, desperate tone, Natalie didn’t bat an eye. She knew him better than that–he was always turning molehills into mountains.
“Enough with the drama. Just spit it out,” Natalie said.
Shane collected himself, his voice dropping to deadly seriousness as he said, “My mom’s trying to force me to marry some stranger. She’s literally dragging me to the city hall right now. So I panicked and told her I already have a girlfriend.”
“And?”
“Come on, Nat. Have a heart. Just play along as my girlfriend this one time. I’ll write all your art appreciation essays this
semester.”
Shane and Natalie were both top students at Musbane’s Serrowell Royal College of Art. While Natalie could paint brilliantly, those endless art appreciation essays? They’d have her pulling her hair out.
Natalie didn’t hesitate. “Deal, but on one condition–you make Benjamin the legal representative for Southelia Group.”
“Benjamin? You mean Benjamin Zimmerman?”
“No deal? Fine. Forget I asked. Bye.”
“Wait! You need to stop flipping the table when you don’t get your way. I didn’t say no.”
