Chapter 372
No.1
Just ten minutes prior, Nathaniel had used Dominic’s phone to check on Oliver. He’d explained his own phone had malfunctioned and specifically instructed the boy to reassure Isabella if she returned home early.
Meeting his father’s questioning look, Oliver flashed a mischievous grin. “Daddy, I told Mommy you were in trouble. She was rushing out to find you. See? Mommy does care about you! Have fun!” With a gleeful chuckle, he scampered off on his short legs.
Isabella stood frozen, completely dumbfounded.
The little schemer had tricked her.
A visible lightness seemed to wash over Nathaniel’s features. His eyes locked on hers, a teasing glint in their depths. “You were worried about me?”
Four words. Spoken in a low, husky tone that carried an unexpected tenderness.
Isabella’s cheeks flushed. She turned and walked toward the sofa, forcing an air of calm. “I was just concerned you might get bitten by that snake. You’re still my contractual partner, after all.”
Just contractual partners? That was a weak excuse.
Nathaniel’s lips curved into a faint smile as he watched her. “Isabella, admitting you care about me—or even worry about me—isn’t something to be ashamed of.”
Cough, cough. His choice of words was… bold.
No.2
“Care about you? In your dreams!” Isabella denied it vehemently. “I was worried you’d get hurt because of me. I don’t want to owe you anything.”
Nathaniel gave a slight smirk but said nothing. He took off his jacket, hung it on the coat stand, then moved to sit beside her. “If I really had been bitten… would you look down on me?”
Look down on him?
Isabella frowned. “What about you?” Her gaze was serious, darker than usual.
His lips tightened slightly. “Do you really think I’m that shallow?” His voice was deep and steady, piercing straight through her. His expression was solemn—not dismissive in the least.
For a moment, Isabella almost believed him. But what man in the world wouldn’t care about something like that?
A faint smile touched her lips. “Whether it’s true or not, only you would know. But why did you agree to meet Victoria today? Was it because you wanted to know what happened five years ago?”
At that, Nathaniel’s eyes darkened. He reached for his phone to show her something, but it had suddenly stopped working. He fixed her with a questioning look. “What if I said I only wanted to help you solve your problems? Would you believe me?”
Solve her problems?
Isabella was sharp. She understood almost instantly. “Victoria is a fraud. You can’t trust a word she says. As for what happened five years ago… it’s not a big deal. But if you really want to know, I can tell you.” She picked up the glass of water from the coffee table and took a sip.
No.3
Nathaniel watched her closely. Drinking before speaking—she was nervous. She wasn’t ready.
Just as she set the glass down and opened her mouth to speak, he cut in. “You don’t have to tell me. I just want to know one thing: Does that incident force you to make choices you don’t want to make? Or… does it still cause you pain?” His tone was full of genuine concern.
Isabella’s lips curved slightly. “If it did, why would I have spent so much time with him on stage last night at the ceremony? As for pain…”
She met his gaze, her voice low and intense. “The more you ask, the more it hurts. Even if you knew everything—even with all your resources—you couldn’t fix it.”
“Nathaniel, like I’ve told you before, some things in this world can’t be solved with money or power. Material problems are easy. Matters of the heart… are much harder to untangle.”
It was rare for Isabella to speak to him with such gravity. Nathaniel’s expression grew somber. He had never seen her this serious.
After a moment, he nodded. “I understand. From now on, I won’t pry. But if you ever decide you want to tell me… I’ll be here.”
Isabella’s brow furrowed. He wasn’t going to ask anymore?
Suddenly, Maxwell burst into the room, his voice bursting with excitement. “Boss Isabella! Big news! Huge breaking news!”
“What’s going on?” Isabella’s brow furrowed. Why were her people so jumpy lately?
No.4
Maxwell blurted out, “You won’t believe who Victoria slept with! It was Harrison—Alexander’s personal assistant!”
Isabella’s eyes narrowed. Harrison?
Now that was interesting. She had sent the message to Alexander, but he sent his assistant instead?
And Victoria wanted Nathaniel, but ended up with Harrison?
Maxwell asked, “Should we leak this? Or let Alexander handle it himself?” If this got out, Victoria’s reputation would be ruined.
“No. We watch. Where’s the fun in ending her too quickly?” A cold smile touched her lips, beautiful and dangerous.
A thought struck her. She glanced toward Nathaniel’s room and stepped back into her own. Closing the door, she asked, “What about the task I gave you earlier?”
“I looked into the Blackthorn Syndicate immediately. They’ve had a strong underground presence in Westchester for over a century. Their profits come from assassinations, mercenary work, and similar operations. They use low-level thugs for collections and fights. Essentially, they’re task-for-hire. My findings confirm Victoria had contact with them five years ago,” Maxwell reported.
Isabella’s expression darkened. Knowing it was the Blackthorns simplified things.
But Maxwell wasn’t finished. “They have roughly ten thousand members in Westchester. Causing them trouble is one thing, but capturing every single member is impossible. Most are rarely at their main base.”
No.5
Isabella frowned. Without a full capture, a complete investigation was off the table. They didn’t even know which branch Victoria had dealt with.
Maxwell added, “If you want everyone, Boss, we must strike during their annual gathering. That happens at year’s end.”
The Syndicate’s annual dinner was at the end of the year. It was only June. A plan began to form in her mind.
“Understood. I’ll handle the arrangements. Stand down for now and await my orders.” She ended the call and gazed out the window, deep in thought.
She had a mission tonight. Since they’d identified the Blackthorns, she might as well pay their base a visit later.
Meanwhile…
Victoria awoke filled with anticipation, only to find Harrison lying beside her.
“Ahhh!” A piercing scream tore from her throat. She bolted upright, clutching the sheets to her chest.
Harrison jolted awake. Taking in the scene, his eyes widened in horror.
What had happened? Alexander had sent him to fetch Victoria. How did he end up in bed with her? She was his boss’s woman!
No.6
“Why are you here?!” Victoria snarled, her voice tight with rage. “When did you get here? What did you do?!”
“Ms. Kensington, I’m sorry! I… I don’t know what happened! Mr. Whitmore sent me to get you. I came into the room and then…” He trailed off, too terrified to continue.
Victoria’s fists clenched. Was it the perfume? Had Harrison come in and been affected by its scent? She could have sworn it was Nathaniel!
The perfume’s label mentioned hallucinations, including mistaking one person for another. Had she been under its influence, thinking he was Nathaniel?
That meant Nathaniel never came. It was Harrison all along. She had slept with an assistant!
Seeing the murderous look in her eyes, Harrison scrambled off the bed and dropped to his knees, begging.
“Strike me or scream at me all you want, Ms. Kensington. I’ll contact Mr. Whitmore immediately. I accept full responsibility.”
Oliver retrieved his phone with trembling hands.
Victoria snatched it and smashed it against the wall. Her eyes burned with fury. “Why tell him? Haven’t you humiliated me enough? Do you want Alexander to discard me?”
“That… wasn’t my intention.” Harrison looked utterly bewildered.
No.7
Rage consumed Victoria as she stared at his pathetic expression. She forced herself to breathe deeply. The damage was done. She needed containment. Silence was essential. Her mind raced. “No one hears about today. Act like it never occurred. Understood?”
“But—”
“But what? If I’m not making it an issue, why are you? Do you aspire to marry me?” She hurled his clothes at him.
Harrison shook his head frantically. “No! I wouldn’t dare. I’m leaving now!” He scrambled to gather his garments.