Chapter 233 - I Thought You Trusted Me
Natalie raised her eyebrows curiously. Signalling with her forefinger for her to wait, Zaria pushed Ximena for answers. "A pink folder with a Preston and Fort Group stamp on it.
"Oh," It seemed to ring a bell. "That sounds like the folder you left for me to give to Liam. I'm yet to kill you for making me meet up with him. Thanks for reminding me."
If she was confused before, she now felt like her brain had gone through a grinder. "Ximena, are you alright? When did I ever tell you to give a folder to Liam?" Most importantly, she wouldn't even leave the office with such an important folder in fear of losing it. Why would she give it to Ximena?
Ximena laughed like it was a ridiculous joke. "Are you serious? Didn't you leave it to your intern secretary because you were too tired to continue waiting for me? I think your hormones are causing amnesia."
"By the way, what did you want to tell me?" She probed. For some reason, she was convinced that Zaria indeed called her to the company.
Zaria was speechless for a moment before she gathered her brains to spin an excuse. "I don't remember. I've been dealing with too many things at the same time and it slipped my mind."
"Let me know when you remember, okay? Give me a call and tell me no matter what time you recall it, in case you forget it again."
"Okay. See you later." She hung up before her brain could officially explode and took deep, calming breaths before facing the curious Natalie.
"This is definitely a set up. Ximena thinks I had my intern secretary give her a folder for Liam."
"Why in heaven would she assume that?" Natalie was confused too.
"I don't know. But we have a clue."
Natalie studied her seriously. "Assuming Ximena is not playing with your mind and she is really telling the truth, then there is something wrong with your intern secretary." She speculated.
"Looks like this meeting was not in vain after all. We have hints." Zaria smiled. A moment ago, she had wanted to lament about how all that had happened was them falling into yet another trap of the enemy.
She fiddled with her phone absent mindedly. "So basically, someone used my phone to make Ximena think I was calling her on Sunday, then my intern secretary gave her a folder. It could either be the folder containing the missing document, or an empty one. I'm betting on it being empty because the actual document ended up in the West Conglomerate."
"Then Desmond texted me and asked me to meet him urgently at a specific time." Natalie tapped her chin while deep in thought. "I didn't think anything of it."
Zaria found it suspicious too. "What was Desmond's reaction when you showed up?"
"He said he had forgotten about calling me over and would tell me if he remembered the reason. At the time I was so mad at him for wasting my time that I stormed off. But now that I think about it, I'm starting to believe that he didn't even intend to call me in the first place. Maybe someone else used his phone to send me that text message and deleted it."
"It was a set up all along. I was supposed to see Ximena." She concluded, recalling that when she arrived, Ximena had been stopped and was being interrogated by a security guard. It had looked reasonable at first, since Ximena was not an employee of Preston and Fort Group. But why would she be stopped and interrogated while leaving the company instead of before getting in? Perhaps someone had deliberately ordered the security guard to stop Ximena and buy time for Natalie to arrive.
"This was well planned. And we are dealing with multiple moles here." Natalie had to admit when she put everything together.
"Damn, my head hurts." Zaria massaged her temples.
"Then don't think about it anymore." Natalie placed their order.
"The DNA results came out." Said Zaria, in an attempt to change the topic.
"And?" Natalie looked up at her curiously.
"Rosaly is a Fort." She was waiting for Natalie's reaction and it was just as she expected.
"No surprise there." Remarked Natalie, who also thought the DNA test was just going to prove the obvious.
"Right?"
"Does it bother you?" Natalie asked.
"No.?If I knew he had a daughter before we got together, I wouldn't reject him. Not necessarily because he is a father, at least." She tapped her finger against the table nervously. "It's just… I don't even know how I'm going to be as a mother. I can't be sure that I can be a good mother to my baby. As a step mother, would I even make it?"
"Of course, Zaria." Natalie was almost puzzled that she would be fazed by such a thing. "You are excellent. You treasure the people close to you and are very kind. There is nothing about you that would make your child or stepchild wish to change."
"You are not just saying that because we're friends, right?" Zaria chuckled, but she was serious.
Natalie placed her hand on hers. "Oh Zaria. How I wish you would see yourself the way I see you. At least just this once."
"Thank you." Zaria smiled at her words. It was all the reassurance she needed.
When their food arrived, Zaria immediately dug into her vegetable salad and gushed at how delicious it was. The topping was just right. After babbling for an entire minute on her own, she finally noticed how absent minded Natalie was.
"What are you looking at?" She waved her hand in front of her eyes.
"Nothing." Natalie dug into her food but barely ate a few bites. Her eyes were definitely playing tricks on her. Otherwise, there was no way she could explain having such a horrible illusion as seeing Devonte at the door. That devil should never appear anywhere near her, not even in her dreams. She sighed when she realized that calling him a devil even in her imagination was taking a toll on her. He was the man she had loved for over a decade after all, and insulting him was no different from insulting her judgment.
"Your boyfriend is here. I should make myself scarce." She announced when she saw Desmond walk in. Before he could reach the table, she dashed for the restroom.
Desmond chuckled in amusement when he saw how fast Natalie had scurried away. He circled Zaria's chair to her side and kissed her cheek. "I don't think I bite."
"Now that is a white lie, Mr. Fort. You bite alright. A lot." Her gaze reflexively dropped to his lips as she spoke, making her flustered.
"That only applies to you." He placed a gentle kiss on her lips. It was meant to be an innocent peck but as soon as he had a taste of her lips, he couldn't stop himself. He kissed her passionately, using his lips to express just how much he had missed her. Her feelings mirrored his. She pulled him against her and dug her fingers into his hair, responding to his kiss with just as much emotion. Her heartbeat accelerated when his hand slid to the small of back and his thumb teased circles against her body.
His other hand caressed her thigh. When he teased the hem of her skirt, she stopped his hand with a flushed face. He broke the kiss and looked at her probingly as if asking what was wrong.
"Des, this is a restaurant."
"Right." He pulled away to get himself together. "Shall I drop you off at home?"
"I'll go to Xim's." She grabbed her purse, which he took to help her carry. He footed the bill and helped her to the car.
He had managed to control himself but as soon as she sat down and he caught sight of her slightly exposed thighs, he slid a hand over for a touch.
"You are driving." She reminded him, even though she couldn't wait to touch him either.
"I don't have to drive." He responded, but she didn't give in to the temptation of getting naughty in the car. It wouldn't be funny if they were seen.
He could only keep his hands to himself with much difficulty and drop her off at Ximena's. When they arrived, he pulled her in for a passionate kiss before letting her go up.
"Call me tonight, okay?" He asked, and she nodded her promise.
He was reluctant to head back to the car. He had only got to be with her for a few minutes and it sucked that he couldn't convince her to go home with him. She would definitely say no to that, considering Rosaly was staying the night.
Meanwhile, Ximena stuffed Zaria with fruits as soon as she arrived.
"I'm stuffed already, okay?" She complained for the umpteenth time.
"Really? Then have a slice of mango." Continued Ximena, and Zaria shook her head.
"Tell me the truth. Are you plotting to make me explode?"
"Why would I do that?" Ximena guiltily put the fruits away. She knew Zaria was going to ask her about Liam and had wanted to distract her, which ended in offering tons of food.
"Do you still have the text message I sent you, asking you to come over to the office?" Zaria asked.
"I do. But why do you need it?" Zaria didn't immediately answer her question and realized after a while that there was no better reason for wanting to see it. So, she explained the mole situation.
Ximena's eyes widened before she burst into laughter. "Please tell me you didn't think I had stolen that folder?"
"Xim,"
"I thought you trusted me.." Ximena sounded hurt.
Read latest chapters at f(r)eewebnov𝒆l Only