*Spoiler alert* *Chapter 37*
*The Confrontation*
Natalie's POV
I pulled open the office door tiredly,moving swiftly in my red blazer jumpsuit, throwing my black leather clutch unto the office couch. I took a glimpse at the time. It was then I felt the weird presence that no doubt settled on my chair.
Instantly I took a swift glance at my office, well nothing was out of place,but that still didn't dismiss the fact that this was a bloody intruder.
I straightened my legs to stand firm in my black ankle belt heels,my hands unmoving from my waist. "Who the bloody hell are you?" I say swiftly, my demeanor calm and neutral, my blue orbs boring right through the back of my chair. I watched the chair move gently, finally spinning around,and instantly my insides froze in wild astonishment at the sight of the bloody bitch in my office and on my fucking chair. Emma Brooke.
I echoed her name once more,mentally, as the hairs on my skin rose in downright disgust. My blue orbs stuck on her. Something had changed in her,well aside from the seemingly heavy makeup stuck to her face. Something's definitely wrong,and thankfully I had a guess.
She remained silent,her painted lips parting to form a ridiculous smile. I could feel my bones twitching in a certain manner.
She knows
Just on cue her repulsive voice filled my office. "Hello" She raised her right hand moving it robotically in the weirdest manner,matching up to the hideous smile that deepened. I braced myself for the next word that would follow. "Jeanine" She said, mimicking the voice of a child.
I stood still frozen on my spot, certainly not out of shock nor fear but at the steamy emotions that somehow resurrected deep within my heart. My red painted lips grew a lip tight smile.
"Jeanine" She muttered as if testing the familiar manner it rolled out of her tongue. "It's been so long since I called your name aloud."
Now she knows. Awesome! I relaxed my smile. Well it's certainly about time.
"Jeanine" She called out again,obviously pleased at herself causing me to roll my eyes.
"Goodness Emma you sure took your sweet time." I say uncaring while stalking over.
"It really is you!" She exclaimed falsely, clasping her hands ridiculously.
"Thought that much was pretty established now Emma. I don't remember you to be one with the bird brain." I replied sarcastically, in similar tone, offering one of my sardonic smile.
"Cocky. I like" Emma placed both infectious hands of hers on my table.
"And cocky you'll get if you don't get the fuck up from my chair." I blurted keeping my voice in check,nursing my flaming fury.
Her eyes widened a bit before bursting out in one deafening laughter. Sometimes I only wonder how Dave stands her. Emma pulled herself out of my chair moving slowly in her yellow short dress exposing so much of her chest. Typical Emma.
I stalked over, grabbing a disinfectant from my table spraying a bit on my chair.
"Jeanine I must say you grew a lot humorous too."
"And you disappointingly dumber." I settled on my chair leaning forward.
"Oh Jean, aren't you at bit curious on how exactly I found you out?" Emma settled on the chair before me,her hands cautiously holding unto her blue clutch. I withdrew my gaze back to her. I smiled at her obviously foolish attempt of having all this recorded.
"In truth Emma I don't fucking care." I say frankly watching her expression grow cold.
"The birthday gift...the bloody notes...." She laughed coldly probably remembering something. "The cactus plant and the sickening presence of someone always watching me. It was all you wasn't it?" Emma bulging eyes,devouring me.
I chuckled at her last sentence."Everything was my doing, except for the 'sickening presence' Emma, that's all you and your insanity" I rolled my fingers on the air jeeringly, loving every bit of her maddening expression.
"How did you survive?" Her voice deadening to frighten a lifeless cat.
"Thought you knew it all."
We stared fiercely at each other for what seemed like forever. "You should have just died Jeanine."
"Again sorry to disappoint."
"I really don't know what you hope to achieve but-"
"But what Emma? Isn't it obvious you bloody bitch" I spoke rather calmly, enunciating each word through gritted teeth. My voice icy, I saw her eyes flinch. Her surprise stare was on me. I smiled bitterly at her, it's time she got it right.
This was no Jeanine, that naive, foolish dropout was long dead and forgotten. It's Natalie Reed now.
She smiled,her brown orbs growing a darker shade.
"You survived jean. After all this time why remain quiet?" Emma asked the obvious, her foolishness was certainly ludicrous.
"Isn't it obvious Emma." I voiced coldly.
"You are back for revenge, aren't you."
"I see you still have some sense of your own. Delightful."
"I always knew you were Jeanine." Emma sounded,her voice almost as a whisper. "I could never forget those sickening blue orbs of yours,Jeanine Smith. Dave may be stupid,say probably dumb not to recognize you but I certainly not Jean." She paused,she drew in some air which sounded like a hiss. "Too bad,you'll soon be joining your bastard child,in hell where you belong."
"Hell!" I burst out in an uncontrollable laughter, coming to a halt. "Funny Emma,I've been there Emma." My throat clenched. "And I came back Emma,I came back from hell,to make you pay for everything you did to me. To hurt you,to destroy you and to finally get that insanity of yours kicking in. And I'll make you pay you bitch,You and Dave will curse the day you met me. I'll be your worst nightmare."
The air between us came to a standstill. I stared intently at her,and I could see a passing anxiety.
"You know what-" Emma stated,and I could see her eyes lit devilishly. " I'm thankful you actually survived Jean. I thought of you every single day and couldn't dismiss all the regrets that lingered in my heart. Thinking back,there were a lot of things I wished I said to you." She muttered, whispering like the goddamn bitch that she was. "I hated you, Jeanine"
"The feeling is mutual Em." I said as quickly.
She paused. "A million dollar question Jeanine." She shifted on her seat, shrilling. "How did you feel when you found out about Dave and I being sweetheart from highschool,knowing Dave had always loved me and saw you only as a plan. Ouch! That must have hurt a lot." She said trying her hardest to get under my skin.
Her words reminding me of the night of my rebirth, when I heard Dave's and Emma's truth. I remembered only the pain, unfortunately it did hurt.
"To be honest, it did hurt a lot. I felt betrayed, raging mad but guess what Emma, I channelled all that hate and anger and turned it into something much satisfying Emma, Revenge. And now I'm back,completely different from my shadow self and God so help me Emma,I'll make you pay,for your betrayal, my death and that of my-" I paused choking on my words, I could feel my burning rage and pain,vibrating turbulently within.
Emma eyes widened deviously, placing her hands on her lips, shockingly. "How could I forget" She spoke quickly gasping. "Goodness Jeanine! Losing that bastard child of yours,that's painful. Let's be frank, there was absolutely no way Dave would have accepted that thing."
I chuckled at her remarks,though her words staking my heart but fueling my strong desire of vengeance. "Bastard? You would know better Emma,since you're a bloody bastard yourself." I shot back,getting pleased at the sudden scowl that formed on her face,disapprovingly. Her face heating up in rage. Now that must have hurt Emma, Splendid! "Or did the pleasant life I gave you make you forget your distasteful roots, Emma Brooke." I stood from my chair, moving slowly to her. I loved the way my words maimed her,using the one thing Emma had always hated. I stopped right before her,my blue orbs on her.
"I could just kill you here and get this over with"
"I'll love to see you try Em-"
Emma snickered aloud. "Or rather still,I think I would enjoy seeing you grovel on your knees begging for your life,while kissing my feet of course."
Her words echoing in my head,my laughter soon evaded the air. "That's quite possible Emma but only in your dreams. I'm positive that has played numerous times in your head,but here's something you must know Emma. You are nothing before me,it has always been like this Emma,I'm the best you can never be and you are nothing but Emma Brooke, the underprivileged,the ungrateful bitch that I brought into my home. I cursed the day Emma,that I decided you were worth saving." I inhaled calmly, unmoving my stare.
Emma held her breath. "You've changed Jeanine. A lot crazier than I remember."
Crazy! Me? I smiled. "Really now Emma,a nutcase calling me crazy. You of all people know that insanity runs through your veins. "Or have you forgotten what made your drunken mother burn down the house taking her life." I said coldly, having no trace of sympathy.
"Shut up!" Emma shouted up on her feet.
"Why my darling friend,does the truth hurt so badly?" I mocked, I didn't care and I loved it,surely dead Jeanine would have thought otherwise, but I didn't.
" I wonder how long this charade of yours would lasts. What would you do when Asher Reed finds out you are not his beloved wife Natalie but an imposter,or rather a ghost that should have remained in hell"
I blinked twice,mentally. Staring intently at Emma. I sighed inwardly. So she doesn't know of Asher's involvement. Sweet!
"Hopefully, before then you and Dave would be long dead, burning in hell."
"Not if Dave kills you first,I can only imagine his reaction when I spill the beans,and tell him the truth. You were behind his alleged arrest that cost him a lot,drastically affecting Krystal Group. Oh my Jeanine" She smirked, "Dave will definitely kill you, and this time with his own hands,it'll be fun watching after all you are still his dumb wife."
I restored a smile at the mention of her last word. Wife. "Sadly Emma,I'm still his legal wife,just as you'll always be his mistress good for nothing other than warming his bed." I let out a sentimental sigh of pity.
"You fucking whore,By now you should know Dave too well,he'll give you a slow and painful death when he finds out you've actually been playing him all this time as Natalie Reed."
I controlled the humorous laughter that erupted in my head. I was having far much fun than I had anticipated, I couldn't help but admit Emma was quite ludicrous and overly entertaining. At this point I couldn't lie to myself, I was a bit curious of Dave instant reaction when this bitch runs to him. "Tell him Emma,Oh please don't forget to enlighten him of my plans.
I'll do whatever it takes to ensure your damnation, both you and Dave,I swear to you."
Emma was silent,awfully still,only the glaring waves she sent to me showed her vexation. She wanted to speak but was stopped by the knock on the door. "Come in" I ordered.
My office door jerked open,I lifted my head to see Rachel step inside with suited Calvin.
"Everyone is seated awaiting your presence, Mr Reed asked me to come get you." Rachel spoke fluently, her gaze moving to Emma and then back to me.
"Thanks Rachel,I'll join soon." I dismissed her. "Calvin" I say,pulling his stare from Emma.
"Mrs Reed" He said,watching Emma.
"Do you mind escorting Miss Brooke here out of my company."
Calvin nodded,taking few steps closer to Emma. She moved away, "I'm capable of seeing myself out Jea..." She hesitated. "Natalie." She bit out angrily, through gritted teeth. She snatched her clutch from the table moving to the door.
"Just a minute" I walked to her, smiling, my nerves calm,stopping right before her. I reached for her hand grabbing hold of the blue clutch.
"How dare you Jea-" Emma snapped,her red hair complimenting the colour of her maddening face. She was a hot mess.
"Shush now" I bellowed,mockingly, I pulled open the clutch, taking out her phone, going through it and as expected this willy bitch had it on recording. I lifted my head to meet her brown orbs,smiling coldly. "Really Emma,disappointing." Before she could react,I tossed the smartphone to the marble floor, sending my heel into it.
"What!" She was fierce,her voice resounding angrily.
"Is something wrong Miss Brooke" I asked innocently,my icy reflection in her brown orbs.
"You bloody witch!" She raised her voice,moving her eyes from her smashed up phone to mine.
"Wrong answer!" I sent a slap across,my palm settling harshly on her cheeks. I smiled,seeing the marks registered on her cheeks.
She placed her hand on her cheeks, obviously shocked,staring at me. I knew her next action and I guessed right. Instantly she raised up her bloody hands to strike me,but I held it swiftly,gesturing Calvin to stand back,letting go off her hand. "Too slow Emma" I say,gifting another slap to her.
Emma stood frozen,her sudden grim appearance reminding me of Queen Grimhilde,a character from snow white and the seven dwarfs, I always read to Skylar. "Now you can leave my office." I signaled to Calvin, "Ensure this piece of trash is properly sent out."
Furiously she kicked her legs in motion, pulling the door open. "I will get you for this Jeanine."
"I seriously hope you do" I replied, my voice low and threatening. I watched her leave,moving slowly to my table. Emma Brooke, I whispered her name in satisfaction, Finally she had connected the dots and I couldn't have hoped for a much better time. I smiled sweetly, savouring the ecstasy that danced in my stomach, now the real battle begins. I cooed to the silent whooshing of the air. Making my way to the conference room. I found Asher seated,resting his hand on the center long glass table,he shifted his torso,his emerald green eyes on me as I made my way to the chair beside his. I could feel his heated stare on me,his cherry lips holding a smirk,one I knew meant something. I raised a brow questioningly.
"I heard Miss Brooke was here." Asher inclined forward whispering,smilingly, causing me to chortle at the sudden childly look he had on.
"Yes she was"
"And?"
"And she knows" His demeanor didn't change,his gaze flickering over mine as if inspecting me before letting his smirk disappear, adopting an amusing smile. "We'll talk later"
I smiled. "Shall we?" I say to the rest,watching the directing manager make his way to the projecting screen and we begun. I sighed impatiently,glancing at the time. No doubt Emma was on her way to Dave,I thought smiling,trying to focus. The meeting soon was concluded and I instantly dashed to my office, pulling up my computer. I clicked on the camera directly connected to Dave's office but he wasn't in, I clicked on the camera I had previously installed in Dave's house but still no sign of Dave or Emma. Quickly,I made a call. "Where's Dave?" I asked,listening to hoarse voice at the other end. "And Emma?" He replied,making me sigh. Dave wasn't at Krystal Corp and Emma hadn't turned in for today. "Alright." I disconnected. Staring at the screen before me,just then Emma walked into Dave's home,I smiled, turning on the audio,crossing my legs. This would no doubt be fun.
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