*Chapter fifteen*
Dave scanned his house meticulously, until everything was perfect.
A smile flew across his lips. He had great and wonderful plans for the evening. One that would change both his and Natalie's life.
He couldn't help but approve the smug eager to display. He stared at whitish substance held in his hands.
Tonight, whatever happens he was positive he'll awake in the glorious arms of his stainless beauty. And all thanks to his brilliant ideas. He showered praises on himself going over the plan. Natalie was here solely for an urgent business reassessment, since he had feigned illness and a whole lot of things and couldn't be in the off
He hadn't quite been present at the company of late,wanting the whole 'phase' to cool down. He was rather scrupulous in quickly tidying his affairs,hence there wasn't enough evidence to prove Krystal group involvement in the accusations.
Nonetheless, it took a toil on the company,most of the business deals Krystal Group were in on were cancelled, leading to the fall in Krystal Group stock value. It was disastrous, everything he worked for crumbling down.
He needed to find a way out of this. Krystal group lost it's Influential investment,but the most bewildering, is that RECO Corp still pushed through with their contract.
'At least that didn't go south.'
But it aroused some curiosities, why RECO Corp still forged in with the deal.
'My stainless beauty.' He picked up his phone and glanced at the time. It was definitely about time.
Just on his words,he heard the arrival of Natalie's car.
Natalie strode gracefully into the house which was once hers. It was all the same, but it felt different.
The atmosphere couldn't agree less. She was back for the first time since her rebirth. She gazed at the her welcomer.
Her demeanor calm and emotionless with a glint of coldness. She wasn't here for smiles and relaxation.
Taking several strides over,she caught up to his stance,letting out a small tight smile,which drew across her seductress pink lips.
Dave was beaming with obvious exuded joy,there was no doubt he had plans for her and so did she.
Dave quickly got composed. "Sorry for the trouble" He stared deep into her ever perfect sky blue eyes, all he could unravel was nothing but sheer coldness from those eyes. The funny thing was that's what intrigued him the most. Ever since from the party, something in those eyes were appealing. No woman had ever gazed at him like that. At some point he had thought she had hated him but lately his beginning to think otherwise. He was determined on pulling down the walls of this woman.
Again with that. The irritating voice of Dave rung, Natalie had just got here but it was obvious she was already sick of him. To tired to speak, she threw a smile,cutting between her perfectly painted pink lip. Her smile apparently seemed to be working wonders.
Natalie pursued right after him, she took a meticulous glimpse of the interior. Though the outside looked exactly like before,the inside was foreign to her. This wasn't her home,it wasn't the place she had swore to love Dave until her very last breath. The irony was she really did.
To Jeanine last breath she had loved him.
"Do you like it" Dave felt the need to open his disgusting conniving little lips.
"Not bad" Was all she could offer,she settled down in the couch, she was here for business, at least before the action begins.
He began with the gentlemanliness,if only he knew who he was dying to please. Natalie was anything but enjoying the situation. Her attention was abruptly called out as his voice unpleasantly filtered through her ears. "Natalie would you like anything...soda,juice or-"
"Water would be fine" She shuffled on her seat,hoping this monkey wouldn't as much oblige and thankfully he didn't. She watched his as he dispersed into the kitchen, immediately she was up,roaming aimfully. "With a little ice cubes"
She bellowed to his back,positive it would buy enough time. She reached into her bag and brought out a mini device,an almost unnoticeable camera, scanning exactly where would be a perfect fit. 'Gotcha' and she placed it.
At the thuds of his foots she placed the device and was about,giving her own home a tour. Right now she was nothing more than a visitor. As she looked around it didn't surprise her,there were no photos of her,none of the ones that once colorfully decorated this home.
Neither of her Father's. The only evidence of her once blissful union with Dave was the wedding picture that hung proudly on the wall.
Knowing Dave,he had left this as a tribute to earn sympathy. She gazed into what used to be her life wandering how she could be so naive and vulnerable. Dave was back with the clacking sound of the glasses and some appetizers.
She took hold of the water,both at the dinette, bringing the glass to her lips,pretending to be taking a sip. Dave was a master of disguise and if she could boast on how well she knew the man before her,he would jump at the chance of taking her to bed. And just a hunch,he had no doubt spiked it.
The thought of that disgusted her. She would rather die than let Dave reclaim her.
"Shall we" His ever irritating voice echoed through,gesturing at the 'business work' they both hid under,they was no needing a shaman to know this wasn't about work.
The work charade commenced, bringing the glass to her lips every now and then,Dave couldn't be trusted but he wasn't stupid. Whatsoever he had planned out was definitely a drama after this supposed work meeting.
Natalie glanced at her phone, letting a little smile,it was Asher and she could feel the tensed muscle of Dave as he peered on the screen. Natalie eyes veered through the side,the business review would soon be over and she prayed Dave would make a move and she would jump at the opportunity to spend the night.
Just as her thought ran deep,a throbbing sound,shed a light.
Rain. It had begun raining.
Even the rain was by her side.
Her demeanor still expressionless, this was something she had learnt from Asher, never let people have the slightest inkling on your thoughts.
Dave and Natalie rounded up their work, the rain not slacking, bringing out it's magic. The crisp air filtered through, Natalie hadn't even noticed until a blanket was over her shoulders.
She glanced up and not so to her surprise it was Dave. Every other girl would have melted by such gentleman act but she was repulsed by it.
She watched as Dave dropped the cup of hot chocolate he held before her. It was once her favorite but now she preferred the raw taste of black coffee.
"Thanks" She managed to say,to fill the awkwardness.
"I hope you like it.I'm in fact a pro at making it" Natalie, gave the cup another look. 'So it's in here' She smirked mentally. Giving it a pretending sip.
"It's taste good" She mentioned fueling his ego. Watching intently noticing his phone vibrating, he moved awkwardly, his fingers dancing across the phone.
It was obvious he was sending a text. Natalie eyes were glued to him.
"Just work" Dave defended, guilty as charged.
"It's a little chilly outside, hope the chocolate helps" Back to that,Natalie rolled her eyes mentally.
"It's taste good" She mentioned. "But I prefer coffee instead.
Dave shot her a look, he knew there was no pleasing this woman at all.
" Really... I'll get you coffee"
Natalie shrugged. "It's alright I'll make do with it." She took another sip. "Guess you had a lot of practice"
"You guessed right. That's was my wife's favorite" Dave chirped in. Seriously, Natalie raised an eye brow.
He had to drag his 'Wife' into this. Alright then. So this was the game they were now playing. Natalie smile crept in.
"Really." She sniffed,following Dave gaze wonder to the frame on the wall. Dave was shameless. "She sound so plain and boring" Natalie shot mercilessly. Whatever made Dave drag his deceased wife into this was not paying off.
With a solemn look,he retracted his gaze to Natalie "She passed away"
"I think i heard about that" Natalie's eyes were now on the frame.
"Such a beautiful and kind soul she was." He was adamant in getting the pity and sympathy he was accustomed to anytime this matter was discussed.
"You're right,she's beautiful indeed. But she looks like a dork. In one glance, one could tell a lot about her."
Dave was taken aback. Her reaction to all this got him awe. She spoke so crude and emotionless. He would be lying if he said,she didn't arouse him.
"What made you say so" Dave prodded, wanting to know her better. He loved the mystery behind this lady. He couldn't read her nor had the slightest idea what she thought unlike Jeanine... Oh...she was a damn open book.
"It's written all over her face. I loathe her kind,wallowing in the face of oblivion." Natalie hadn't lie,She hated what she once was. "Did you love her?"
The question rang severally in his ears. He gazed at her,her expression was calm and deep. He felt a pull towards her,one he had never felt before even with Emma. "I guess I did" it was a damn straight lie,both knew it.
Dave gave the cup of hot chocolate a glance, it was obvious he was getting impatience and she also was. The rain roared loudly winking at the duo of it's presence. No way was Emma coming tonight. It was just Dave and her for the night. The thought made her inner thought laugh astutely.
As if having the exact same thought as Dave,she knew it was time to get rid of the cup. Natalie wiggle her hands,mistakenly spilling the hot chocolate on her creamy shirt,dripping all over on her pants.
"Are you alright" Dave jolted up,picking up some napkins trying to brush it off. But he knew as well as she where this was heading.
He helped her up,leading her to the bathroom to wipe of the stains. Dave was devastated with the failed chocolate attempt but it was already late at night and she would obviously be spending a night here,so many more chances.
He bustled into his bedroom and pulled out one of his shirts. He could only imagine how super hot she would be in those. One night my dear will change your whole life as well as mine. A creepy smile blossomed, even the darkness curled up in fear,dismantling every bit of warmth it had harboured.
Dave gave a knock at the door. "I brought something for you to change into, if you don't mind. It'll be out here" Dropping of the cloth, he faded away to the kitchen, a cup of coffee coming up.
Gently and delicately he prepared two cups of coffee,spiking one cup,moving into the living room where he met her. He didn't hide it. His eyes travelled down her body,to where his carton brown masculine shirt had stopped,right before her thigh, exposing those goddess like legs. He had thought she would be uncomfortable with that but the way she moved about confirmed it all over again. She was different and he was a sucker for that.
"Here" He handed over her well made cup of coffee when his phone vibrated again.
Well it was about time...And hell she knew it was Emma.
Dave dropped of his cup, sliding like a crook he was away. He whispered on the phone,Natalie couldn't make out their conversation but that wasn't her business, after all even the devil deserves some privacy.
"Dave...do you perchance have a more bigger shirt." Natalie yelled to his back. She knew it would be heard on the other end of the call. It was intended after all.
In no less than a second, Dave was done with his caller. His cranked up face,gave it all up. That didn't quite go well with his lover.
Natalie was seated like a cutie doll,Dave slipped on a seat beside her. He was pissed but something good would result from this night. He watched as she took her coffee slowly and soon she was almost done,the drug will any moment from now reveal itself. Before then he should take her up on a conversation. "Thanks for not backing out on our business deal." He begun drinking from his coffee.
"There's no need to" Natalie said yawning,a smile crept on his lips. It's was working.
"Because of the false accusations on Krystal Group, a lot of investors took it the wrong way" He motivated the conversation.
"That's aside,Krystal Group didn't give me a reason to doubt the contract" She yawned,it was obvious her eyebrows were getting heavy.
Dave smile broadened. But something was wrong. His fist held unto the cup.
"Why was he tired all of a sudden" He fought mentally for stability but was drowning deep in his drowsiness. He looked into his cup and then to hers. 'Could it be that-' Before concluding his words,his head slammed on the table and he was overcomed by sleep.
Natalie was still,watching everything unfold before her. 'Oh dear.' She gulped down the remaining coffee on her cup, the one Dave had prepared for his precious self. What was he expecting?. She flipped up his hands,it came back hitting the table hashly. Countless devious thought rushed through her mind.She could kill him now and that would be the end of everything,soon after Emma would follow suit. She enjoyed the idea playing in her head.
As much as she fancied it,Dave couldn't go so easily. Dave and Emma didn't have the guts to laugh at Jeanine face but she would... For herself and her unborn child.
She looked back and forth and with a indecipherable face she stomped off to Dave's room. Her once legal place. Waiting for another drama to unfold.