Ms. Sandra's response was hesitant, her words faltering as she struggled to explain. "We went to make a delivery," she began, her voice trembling slightly.
Nina raised an eyebrow, her skepticism evident. "A delivery? What was delivered and at what time?" she pressed, her tone firm. "All deliveries to our residence are made by registered delivery companies known to us."
Ms. Sandra hesitated once more, her composure wavering. "The specifics of the delivery aren't relevant," she replied evasively. "The important thing is that my husband..." She trailed off, unable to finish her sentence. "What is not necessary?" Detective Bennett interjected sharply, his tone laced with frustration. "You claim he disappeared there but you don't want to tell us what led to his disappearance." His disappointment was palpable as he continued, "Madam, if you don't have anything to say, don't waste our time and don't make false accusations. You might end up in jail."
Ms. Sandra's words faltered once more, but she struggled to respond. "But…but…," she stammered, her voice trembling.
"But what?" Bennett cut in, his patience wearing thin. He turned to Mrs. Northman with an apologetic expression. "Sorry for wasting your time, madam. You can go."
"Thank you, Detective." Nina offered a polite smile as she rose from her seat, preparing to leave. She turned to Ms. Sandra, her tone firm yet compassionate. "Madam, let today be the last time you wrongly accuse the Northman family." With that, she made her way to the door.
Ms. Sandra could only watch helplessly as Nina departed, tears streaming down her face. Who would believe her now?
Nina couldn't help but feel a sense of relief as she exited the police station, glad to have resolved the issue smoothly. With a contented sigh, she slipped into her car, the familiar comfort of her plush leather seat enveloping her. The engine purred to life as she pulled out of the parking lot, smoothly navigating through the sparse traffic that characterized the evening commute.
The road stretched out before her, bathed in the warm glow of the setting sun. With fewer cars on the road, the journey to her husband's office promised to be swift, taking no more than a few minutes. Nina often found joy in surprising her husband at his workplace, a small gesture to brighten his busy day.
As she drove, her thoughts drifted to Luke, wondering what he might be occupied with at this hour. Despite his demanding schedule, Nina cherished the moments they could steal away together, even if it meant catching him during a brief respite in his workday.
Felicia settled into the plush visitor's sofa within Mr. Northman's office, the aroma of freshly brewed coffee wafting through the air as Mr. Nelson entered with two steaming cups. With practiced ease, he placed one cup delicately on the exotic brown wooden table before her, while the other found its place across from her, directly in front of Mr. Northman.
Mr. Northman sat with an air of authority, his posture upright and his gaze fixed on Felicia. She couldn't help but wonder what thoughts churned behind his composed exterior. What was his impression of her unexpected visit? What motives did he suspect lay behind it?
"Good to see you again, Ms. Felicia," Mr. Northman greeted with polite cordiality, breaking the silence that hung between them.
"You too, Mr. Northman," Felicia replied, taking a sip of her coffee before setting the cup back down on the table. "I couldn't help but notice the commotion outside your office this morning as I was heading to my father's office."
Mr. Northman's expression remained neutral as he acknowledged the incident. "Oh, that was nothing. A woman was protesting because of her missing husband," he explained casually, though Felicia detected a hint of underlying concern in his tone.
"Missing husband?" Felicia scoffed softly, her voice carrying a hint of skepticism as she murmured under her breath while reaching for her coffee once more. "Maybe your wife knows about it," she speculated, taking another sip before setting the cup back down on the table.
Mr. Northman's eyebrows furrowed slightly at her remark. "What did you say?" he inquired, his curiosity piqued by her muttered comment.
"Oh, nothing," Felicia replied casually, deflecting his question with a nonchalant wave of her hand. "How is your wife?" she asked, shifting the topic away from her cryptic remark.
"My wife is fine," Mr. Northman answered, his tone slightly guarded. "But why are you here to see me?" he questioned, his gaze piercing as he awaited her response.
"I'm starting my own fashion line," Felicia announced proudly, a spark of excitement lighting up her eyes. "I'm still in the process of setting everything up, but once I'm ready, I'll be sure to notify you."
"That's wonderful news, Ms. Felicia," Mr. Northman replied, offering a warm smile in response to her enthusiasm. "If you need anything, please don't hesitate to let me know."
"Thank you," Felicia nodded appreciatively, her mind already racing with plans and ideas for her new venture. "But for now, I need to be close to you," she added, her tone taking on a more serious note as she met his gaze directly.
"Why is that?" Mr. Northman inquired, his curiosity once again piqued by her cryptic statement. "For business advice and media coverage advice. You are a successful businessman, and I am just starting out. I'll need your guidance most of the time," Felicia explained earnestly, her tone carrying a hint of admiration.
Before Mr. Northman could respond, Nina burst into the room with an air of palpable anger. She swiftly made her way to her husband's side, positioning herself directly beside him as she addressed Felicia with a steely gaze.
"My husband is not a business consultant," Nina interjected firmly, her words laced with a sense of protectiveness. "If you need a business consultant, I can arrange one for you. I'll even cover the costs if necessary."
Felicia's smile remained unwavering, her demeanor unapologetically mischievous. "Thank you, Nina," she replied with a hint of sarcasm, her gaze locking with Nina's. "But I don't need your help. I need Mr. Northman's help."
Nina's expression hardened at Felicia's remark. "My husband is unavailable. Look elsewhere," she retorted, her voice tinged with a mixture of frustration and defiance.
Sensing the tension in the room, Mr. Northman rose from his seat, his hands slipping into his trouser pockets as he addressed the two women. "I've heard you, Ms. Felicia. I'll contact you later," he stated evenly, his tone betraying a hint of exhaustion.
With that, Mr. Northman walked over to his desk and rang for his secretary, instructing him to escort Felicia out. Mr. Nelson promptly entered the room and guided Felicia out, leaving Nina and Mr. Northman alone once more.
As Felicia exited the room, her mind raced with thoughts of her next move. She must get close to Luke for the sake of her father and for the sake of her fledgling fashion line, and she was determined to seize every opportunity.