''Okay, Mikael is such a jerk. I thought he was finally starting to be nice to you when he defended you and all that but, with this…he is definitely out to get you.'' Xia sighed and slumped on the couch.
''Right? I thought same. I almost got fooled by him at the library.'' Natalie frowned and rolled her eyes.
''But why is he doing all this? Are you sure you two have never met before? His actions seem weird to me.''
''No, I have never seen or met him anywhere. I would have remembered.'' Natalie tried to recollect any memory of Mikael to no avail.
''Right!''
''I know why he warned Mimi and the Song family to stop harassing me. He did that because he hated having to compete with others when it came to bullying me. you know how children behave? Children will stop playing with old toys that they didn't want but yet, they would hate to see another child play with their unwanted toys.''
''I don't understand the logic.''
''See, he likes, no, he enjoys bullying me, but since he found out that the Song family are out to get me, he went after them because he felt that he was the only one who had the right to bully me. That is what a narcissist does.''
''Then, in this term, shouldn't it be the case of how he would treat an ex-girlfriend? You are neither his ex nor someone he has even the slightest interest in, so why is he doing that to you?''
''He has a twisted mind. You should have seen how he pulled me along at the library. He wants to sabotage me but I won't let that happen. I am going to stand my ground and fight that narcissist.'' Natalie said seriously and Xia chuckled.
.....
Lilac Condos.
William walked into his study room and sat down. He opened a drawer under the table and removed a photo. The photo was of Natalie and there was a sharp contrast between the one in the photo and the current Natalie. This person in the picture looked lively and a lot happier. She had a shy smile and seemed to be looking at someone from afar with a happy gaze.
''Natalie, what the hell happened to you?''
.....
Five years ago.
Good Books Library.
Romance Books Section.
Natalie walked into the library looking bright and beautiful wearing a light pick skirt and a blue blouse with Nike sneakers. She stopped at the romance section of the books looking at a few in the shelf. Her eyes scanned them and rested on a particular book 'Spring lovers' and she smiled and murmured, ''found you!''
She stretched her hand to take the book and another hand also touched the book at the same time. With a frown Natalie looked up and her eyes rested upon a very handsome man. The man took the few seconds of distraction to snatched the book and spoke.
''I got it first!''
Natalie frowned and looked at the book in his hand and spoke. ''That is cheating. I found it first but you distracted me and used that as an opportunity to take the book.''
The man leaned on the shelf with a flirtatious smile and asked her. ''Then, you admit you were checking me out?''
Natalie chuckled and replied, ''you have so much confidence in yourself.''
''And you are so easy to read. I can tell you like what you see.''
''Is that your pick-up line? Because is so outdated. Now, give me the book.''
''No, I won't. I picked it first.''
''I saw it first.'' Natalie said impatiently and the man placed his finger on her lips saying.
''Sssh, put your claws down tigress, we are in the library…''
He stared at the book and sighed. "How about this, I will pay for it then lend it to you later.''
''No can do.'' Natalie turned to go and heard him say.
''I initially wanted this book because I heard a lot of girls love to read it and I wanted to see what was so good about it. Who knows, I could use whatever is inside to woo the girl I like.''
Natalie folded her arms and lifted a single brow questionably at him as she commented. ''I see your looks doesn't have much going on for you then. If you needed the help of a book to woo a girl?''
''No, you're wrong. My looks do everything for me, but can't help being curious about this book. Tell me your reason for wanting this booking?''
''My little sister is a fan of the author 'Purplebride' and I wanted to gift her this book as a birthday present since is her latest book.''
''If you put it that way, then, it can't be helped. How about this? I will let you have this book but in exchange for your time.''
''You are crazy, I don't even know you.'' Natalie replied.
''I am William Yun and my parents arranged a matchmaking session for me and I'm supposed to attend…''
''But you don't want to go and you want me to pose as your date so that you can put the whole dating behind your back, right?'' Natalie interrupted him and William looked at her with a smile.
''Yes, you're a very smart girl!''
''I am. And I am also smart to know that those things don't always end well. How could you ask a random girl to go pose as your girlfriend? Is something wrong with you?''
''Nothing is wrong with me. Do you know Janice Jewellery? That's my mother's company.''
Natalie nodded her head and asked sarcastically. ''Oh, so, you are an heir? Are you joking with me? Is that supposed to change my view about you?''
William noticed the eyes on them. ''Come with me first.''
He pulled Natalie to the counter and paid for the book and pulled her to a corner in the library.
''Stop holding my hand or I will sue you for sexual harassment.'' Natalie brushed off his hand.
''You're one funny lady.''
''What exactly do you want?'' Natalie asked impatiently.
''Do you want the book or not?''
''You…'' Natalie's phone buzzed in her bag and she took it out. ''I have to answer this call.''
She walked towards the door and answered her phone speaking to Alice. ''Alice....''
''Big sister, where are you? The audition is about to start. I need you here with me.''
''I will be there in 10 minutes.'' Natalie said as she walked out to the roadside.
''Calm down and relax. I know you can do it. That role will be yours.''
William watched Natalie from the transparent glass door as she stood by the roadside. A black van suddenly pulled over in front of Natalie and a group of men knocked her inside.
William ran out after seeing it and the van drove away leaving Natalia's phone on the ground. William walked shockingly to the phone and picked it up hearing the voice on the other side and everything seemed to fade away from him.
.....
William suddenly woke up and opened his eyes. He was having that dream again. This wasn't the first time that memory had come to haunt him. He had been dreaming about it since that year.
When he saw her at the interview, he was shocked, but also happy. Happy to see her again and after his investigations, he found out about her food allergies and other things. But one thing he didn't get an answer to was what happened that day.
Who took her? Why they took her? And how she escaped from them? These were questions he wanted to find answers to but he knew he couldn't. even Natalie herself didn't seem to have the answers to that. She didn't even remember him at all.
....
Janice Jewellery.
HR Department.
HR General Office Area.
Natalie's Desk.
Lucy ran out of the elevator excitedly and rushed to Natalie's desk and spoke, ''Natalie, guess who just came into the company?''
Natalia fixed her gaze on her desktop as she asked back, ''who?
''Eunice Nelson and Mimi Song!''
Natalie's finger hit the enter bottom and stopped. She slowly looked up and asked with mixed feelings.
''Eunice Nelson and Mimi Song? They came here together?''
''Yes. Wow! She looked so youthful and beautiful. No one would believe she is in her forties. And Mimi Song, you needed to see her. She is prettier in person but…'' Lucy looked at Natalie with a smile as she continued, ''not as beautiful as you.''
''What do you mean?''
Lucy looked around them making sure no one else was paying attention to them before she said to Natalie, ''I know you have something to do with the Song family. I just had to put one and two together to figure it out after the scandal but, I figured it wasn't something to speak so lightly about so I didn't ask. I was waiting till you trusted me enough to let me in on it.''
''I'm sorry. Is too complicated and I don't want you to get swept up in my mess, that's all.''
''Don't sweat it. I'm your friend and friends should be understanding.''
''I will tell you later on.''
Lucy shook her head. ''You don't have to say it if is difficult.''
''You've helped me so much; I trust you Lucy.''
''I'm happy to hear that and guess what? If you hate her, then, I hate her too. She tried to hurt you.'' Lucy giggled.