Chapter 23
NATALIE
The flowers arrive a week later, midmorning—pristine, white, long-stemmed roses arranged in a beautiful purple box, wrapped in soft gold ribbon. The card, though, is what makes my blood run cold.
‘Pretty flowers for a pretty corpse. Tick-tock.’
No name. No return address. Just jagged, furious handwriting etched in red ink, like someone pressed so hard they nearly tore the paper.
“Layla.” I try to keep the tremor out of my voice.
Layla is grinning as she enters my office. “Seems you have an admirer.”
“Seems so.” I place the card in my drawer. “Do you know who these were from? Did they leave a name at the front desk?”
Layla shakes her head. “I asked, but the receptionist said the delivery guy didn’t know.”
“Okay,” I say after a brief pause. “Get me the number of the service. ”
My assistant looks startled. “Do you really have to go that far?”
“Layla.” My voice is quiet but grim, and she swallows.
“Not that it’s any of my business. Sure. Let me check.”
She returns a minute later with the number, and I wait for her to leave before placing the call.
It’s a short conversation, and by the time I put the phone down, I can feel a hard knot in my chest. Nobody remembers who placed the order.
I find it odd. The person on the phone recalls that the delivery was paid for by cash but doesn’t remember who it was?
He couldn’t even recall whether the person was male or female.
I don’t believe him.
He was probably paid to keep his mouth shut.
“Layla.” I press the intercom button, and when my assistant enters, I say, “Throw the flowers.”
She blanches. “But they’re so beautiful. Can I keep them?”
“Sure. Just get them away from me.”
She gives me an odd look, but does so. Taking out the card, I look over the message, and my lips press into a thin line.
I refuse to feel scared. If Ethan is right and it’s not Lucas harassing me, then it has to be my mother.
Although why she would go to this extent is beyond me.
However, if my mother has decided to come after me, then I won’t go down without a fight.
I unlock the bottom drawer of my desk and retrieve a pepper spray and a set of brass knuckles. I put them into my purse before hesitating. No, it will be hard to retrieve these from my purse in the heat of the moment. It’s not like I will have the luxury of rifling through it.
Reaching into my pants pocket, I slide them in.
Ethan made dark promises last night when his head was buried between my legs, about coming to my office again during lunch. As a precaution, I decided to wear formal pants. I prefer skirts normally, especially in this heat, but I’ll be damned if I let him have his way with me.
I look at the card. I should give this to Ethan, but he’s in the middle of a meeting. Clarice was on the phone with him this morning, discussing his schedule. I know he has a jam-packed schedule today.
“Later, then,” I murmur. I have a busy schedule as well.
First, I head to the Marketing Department where Caleb is waiting for me. Making the introductions, I tell Iris about our lunch plans.
“It’ll be a good opportunity to introduce him to the rest of the team as well,” I tell Iris, who studies Caleb doubtfully.
“I can’t lie. Your resume is certainly good. But given your experience, I’d like to put you in the strategy team. We have four members so far: Joshua, Flora, Steven and Eve. Eve and Joshua aren’t in right now, but you’ll meet them at lunch. I’ll introduce you to Flora and Steven.”
I watch her leave and sigh.
Initially, I was worried Iris would be a little hostile towards Caleb, but she seems to like him well enough. But then again, Caleb is friendly and likeable. And the two spent ten minutes together before I arrived.
I wait for Iris to return. “Well?”
“Well, what?” she asks, sitting down.
“What do you think?”
She gives me a wry smile. “His credentials check out, and to be honest, if Mr. Wilder is the one pushing him on us, then he must have a reason. And his resume is good. Like, really good.”
I study her. “About your laptop. I talked to IT. They have one ready for you. Upload your documents on cloud and have Caleb bring me your laptop.”
“Thanks, Natalie.”
“Sure.”
I head back, and as I get in the elevator, I run into Jake .
“Going up?”
“No, to my office.”
I keep my tone polite, and he winces. “Natalie, do you mind if we talk?”
“I really have to get to work.”
“I’m sorry about what I said that day in the apartment. I understand that things between you and Ethan are—were complicated. I overstepped.”
“Yes, you did.” I meet his gaze evenly.
“I didn’t mean to hurt you.”
Sure, I’d hold my breath on that.
The elevator opens, and he stops me. “Let’s get a cup of coffee at the cafe across the road. My treat. Let me apologize properly.”
I stare at him. “I know about your wager with Ethan. I’m not letting you be godfather to my child, Jake.”
He blanches. “It’s not about that. I have been sitting on this apology for days. It’s time we had this conversation.”
I hesitate.
On one hand, I’d rather let him stew. On the other, I know Ethan cares about him. He doesn’t show it, but I can see it. I don’t want to ruin my relationship with his family.
“Fine.” I press the button for the ground floor. “I can’t have coffee, but I’ll have an iced tea, and you’re paying for it.”
He beams at me. “Of course.”
I stare at him. For a moment, he reminds me of a golden retriever.
The elevator dings again, and we step out onto the ground floor. He checks his phone and sighs. “Give me two minutes. I left my wallet upstairs. Wait for me?”
“Alright,” I say, glancing toward the coffee shop across the street.
Jake heads back into the elevator, and I step outside, lingering on the sidewalk, watching the traffic light flick to green on the corner. I begin walking when my phone buzzes in my hand with a calendar reminder, and I glance down briefly.
I’m halfway across when I see him.
Lucas.
My feet freeze mid-step. My blood goes cold. It’s like the ground disappears from under me.
He looks just like he did that night five years ago. Sharp eyes. A monster in a tailored suit. I stumble backward, heart slamming against my ribs. I whirl to head back toward the building, but I’m too late.
His hand latches onto my arm.
“Not so fast,” he says through clenched teeth, dragging me into the alley beside the building. “We need to talk.”
I shove at him, but he’s stronger. The shadows swallow us, brick and concrete towering on either side. The heat back here is thicker, heavier. Like the air knows what’s coming.
“Let go of me!” I struggle, yanking at his grip, but he slams me into the brick wall. Pain blooms across my back.
“You’re spreading your legs for Ethan again?” Lucas snarls, pinning me with his stare. “Slutting around with the man who destroyed our family? You just can’t help yourself, can you? You stupid little slut!”
“I said let me go.”
“If you scream, I swear?—”
“Let me go, or I’ll call the police,” I hiss, digging into my pocket with trembling fingers.
His hand snaps out, gripping my throat. “You think I care? You think I won’t finish what I started that night?”
The world narrows to the pressure on my windpipe, the flare of panic clawing up my spine. I’m gasping for breath, vision swimming.
For a moment, fear seizes me, sending me back to that night when he walked in and punched me, when he sat on top of me, beating me. I wasn’t even fighting back anymore. My blood was pooling around me, and he kept at it. He kicked me, spat on me, his vile words still haunting me.
My heart is pounding inside my chest. I can’t breathe.
And then?—
Rage boils up, pushing through the fear. I’m not that girl anymore.
I am loved. I am wanted. I’m starting a family.
Fuck him.
My hand closes around the brass knuckles.
One breath. One beat. I draw them, cock my arm back, and slam them into his face with everything I have.
There’s a sickening crunch—bone, cartilage, something—and he staggers back with a howl of pain, blood erupting from his nose.
His hands fly to his face, cursing through the pain.
“How dare you?!” I snarl. “Who the fuck do you think you are?! Just because we share the same blood doesn’t mean you fucking own me! I’m not your property, you thieving piece of shit! And if I want Ethan, I’ll have him. Again and again and again.”
Lucas staggers back, clutching his injured face, staring at me.
My voice is fueled with rage. “You don’t get to control me.
You don’t get to touch me. I’m free to be with anyone I want—Ethan or not.
And you? You’re just a pathetic, jealous bastard clinging to the power you never earned.
You stole from Ethan. Everything you have is because you’re a thief!
Nothing more! And I love that man! I love him to death.
So you stay away from us, or I’ll make you pay! ”
He lowers his hands, eyes blazing with fury. “I’ll kill you. I swear to God, I’ll?—”
“Try it,” I whisper. “And I’ll make sure you rot in a cell for the rest of your miserable life.”
He lunges at me again.
A blur of motion, and Lucas goes flying into the dumpsters. He doesn't land alone, the figure who tackled him is punching him.
Jake!
Jake’s fists fly, one after another, precise and brutal. “Back. Off. Her.”
Lucas shoves him off after some struggle, sneering, “Another one? Jesus, you little tramp, have you been spreading your legs for the whole lot?!”
“Watch your mouth, Lucas!” Jake rolls back his sleeves. “I’ve been waiting a long time to ruin that ugly mug of yours.”
Lucas kicks him in the knee and struggles to his feet, blood smearing his face. “You think this is over? You think I’ll just walk away?”
Jake positions himself between us, shielding me. “Touch her again, and you won’t walk away from anything.”
I stagger forward, breath ragged. “Jake, I’m fine. The baby’s okay.”
Lucas freezes. His gaze whips to me. “Baby?” His face twists. “You let him knock you up?”