''No need. He must be tired, no need to trouble him. Aunt, I will handle this myself."
''Have you gone online? Your sister also came and she was interviewed at the airport. I don't know what that kid is thinking, she insulted the Song Family but I must say I love her guts.''
''I will call her. Aunt, I'm at work, let's talk when I come home.'' Natalie hung up the call and turned to go and saw Dindin looking at her from a corner pillar. She shook her head and decided to ignore her and went away
Dindin looked at Natalie as she took her place at the queue and said on the phone, ''Mimi, I don't think your sister is coming. She just went to eat her lunch. Okay!''
FOOD COUNTER.
Lucy turned halfway towards Natalie and asked with a worried gaze. ''Hey, are you alright?''
She looked at the many eyes that followed Natalie as they moved along the queue.
Natalie nodded her head. ''I'm fine!''
Natalie placed her tray on the table after Lucy and received her food. ''Please, can you take back the rice, I'm sorry!''
Lucy looked at her and asked. ''Why? Don't you like rice?"
''Not that, I can't eat it.''
The woman behind the counter took back the rice and asked, ''is there anything that you prefer, Miss?''
''Nothing, thanks!'' Natalie picked her tray and was about to go when the main chef walked out from the kitchen and called her name.
''Miss Jun, right?''
''Yes?'' Natalie looked at him surprised.
''I got your order!'' The chef said and personally took the tray from her and placed a lot of sausages and eggs into it with sauce before giving it to her.
''How did you know?''
''Enjoy your meal, Miss!'' The chef said and bowed before leaving.
Natalie held the tray and turned to face the people that were now looking at her. When she turned, everyone pretended to be doing something else.
Lucy tapped Natalie's shoulder, ''let's go!''
Lucy watched Natalia curious after they found an empty table and sat down to eat.
''The more I know you, the more I think you're mysterious; like a puzzle.''
''You must find me really strange, right?'' Natalie asked nervously. The last thing she wanted was to be seen weird by her new friend.
Lucy chuckled. ''I do, but in a lovely way. So, how did the chef know about your food preference?''
''I don't know. I was surprised. Only three people know I can't eat any carbohydrate foods especially rice prepared outside because of the additives added to it.''
''Whoa, you really can't eat that, why?
''I don't know. It just happened that way. The only one whose rice I could eat was my husband and sometimes my friend but apart from that I literally live on meat, eggs and sausages and hotpot.''
Lucy frowned as she looked at their side, ''Dindin is taking pictures of you.''
''I know, but, don't worry. I will get them from her before we close from work. Let's eat!''
.....
VP OFFICE.
''Hello, Bronze, thank you for doing me that favour. Every day, prepare the same thing for her.'' William said into the phone before hanging up.
Amy knocked at the door and entered with some documents in her hand. ''William, this is the list of potential artistes we can consider as the spokesperson for Janice.''
William looked at the profile of their former brand ambassador and asked. ''So, Eunice is really retiring to get married?''
''Yes. So, we need a new spokesperson. Right now, there are three actress making waves, so I got some information on them for you to look at.''
William sighed. ''Okay, this is the part I hate the most about our job. Interacting with these arrogant celebrities just drains me out.''
''Then, I will leave you to do your work, I'm going for lunch.''
''Enjoy your lunch. I will be here watching an interesting show on TV.'' William said and turned on the TV to watch the live broadcast of Mimi's press conference. He looked at the setting and smiled. ''Natalie, let's see how you come out of this. Even I am curious.''
.....
Blue Sky Hotel.
Conference Hall.
Mimi clenched the phone in her hand tightly and looked at the hall almost packed with reporters. She nervously looked at the backstage they were at and said to her parents. ''Dad, Mom, Dindin just called me. She said she heard sister speaking to someone on phone saying she won't come here. She is currently at the cafeteria eating. How can she still have the appetite to eat when my life is on the line?'' Mimi said and bit her lips feeling ridiculed by Natalie's actions.
Mrs. Solace furrowed her brows and chuckled. 'Is that really what she said?''
Mimi nodded her head. ''Yes, Dindin and Natalie are now colleagues at Janice Jewellery. She got a job there.''
As they chatted, they were unaware of the presence of the small figure hiding behind the props. Xia hid her small body securely as she recorded everything that they were saying in the backstage. She was the one who told Natalie not to be there. She was determined to get some leverage they could use over the Song family.
Mrs. Solace turned to Mimi who looked as if she had been wronged. It hurt her to see her daughter feeling so helpless because of that arrogant Natalie who didn't respect or see her as her mother. ''Then she leaves us with no option than to reveal that she is a part of the Song family.''
''You would do no such thing!'' Mikael walked over to them as he said in a chilling voice.
Mimi and her parents turned to look at the direction the voice came from with surprised gazes.
''Mikael Sun?'' Mimi's heart started beating fast for the wrong reasons and her face turned red.
''Natalie is my family member, if you dare mention her name in anyway, I will make you pay for it!'' Mikael said as he stood in front of the Song family members.
Mrs. Solace looked at him saying. ''Mikael Sun, this is our family matter. Even if you don't like it, Natalie is my daughter and that makes her a part of the Song family.''
Mikael chuckled as he turned to face Mrs. Solace. His chuckle was half-hearted and filled with mockery as well as his words that came out next. ''From what I know, you left her at a young age, and she shares no blood with the Song family, so how does that make her a part of the Song family? You and her are far from being families according to my intel and Natalie feels repulsed about being referred to as a member of your Song family.''
Mr. Daniel looked at Mikael and couldn't watch anymore. ''Mikael Sun, this matter was started by Natalie. It is only right that she clarifies this so that our Mimi doesn't suffer injustices.''
At the corner, Xia covered her mouth to prevent herself from screaming out and getting her cover blown. She was so thrilled by what she was hearing.
''Injustices, that is new. It was your Mimi who sent those pictures to the reporter.'' Mikael said and turned to look at Mimi whose face had turned red.
Mrs. Solace turned to face Mimi. ''What?''
Mimi took a step back and shook her head, ''No, It's not true. Mom, it's not true!''
''I don't speak without evidence. This is the confession of the reporter and transfer of money receipts from your daughter to the reporter. The reporter has already been arrested. I only didn't come to your daughter because it should be Natalie who would decide the punishment for her. After all, you were once her mother."
"Now, you have just three options, find a different way to divert the attention of the public, apologise to Natalie in front of all these reporters and confess or you keep mute and deny the whole thing till the end. Excuse me!''
Mikael finished and turned to go, he looked over at Xia and their eyes met and he gave her a smile before walking away.
Xia quickly came out of her hiding place and followed him leaving the Song family members speechless for a moment.
Seeing her cover had been blown, Mimi looked at her parents desperately saying. ''Mom, dad, is not true. I'm being framed. I am innocent.''
Mrs. Solace looked at Mimi feeling disgusted. No matter what Natalie was still her daughter and as long as she didn't misbehave there was no reason for her to keep attacking her. Even if they weren't talking, she still didn't want any harm to go to her especially harm caused by her stepdaughter. Mimi really disappointed her this time with her actions.
''This is the evidence. What are you denying again? Solve this problem yourself. I'm out of here. You just made me lose face in front of someone who used to call me aunt.'' Mrs. Solace said to Mimi and walked away.
Mr. Daniel sighed and turned to his daughter ''Your mother is very angry. What are you going to do about it?''
''Dad, please, you can't leave me to do this alone.''
''I will cancel the press conference!''
''Dad, no. That will just mean I accept the allegations. No matter what, we still have to bring Natalie Jun over here even if we have to drag her.''
''If you do anything to Natalie right now, the Sun family will not leave you alone. You are an actress. Do whatever you can to get out of this.'' Mr. Daniel walked out towards the conference hall.
Mimi clenched her fist and screamed. ''This is all your fault, Natalie. I don't care who is backing you. I will destroy you!''