CHAPTER 3

"Hello, everyone. Allow me to introduce myself, at least, to the new staff. I assume that in past four years new employees must've been recruited." I take a few steps, closer to the crowd. I continue, "I'm Natalie Richardson. As most of you might know, I was involved in an accident, last year and I lost my legs. I had to give up my position to Caleb and have him act on my behalf. However, as you can now see, with the help of therapy, I'm back on my feet. Literally. As of today, management reverts to as before. I will take in the reins of the company, as CEO and as the highest shareholder of Carrington Industries."

The crowd remains awfully silent as the employees look at me. I notice some of them whisper amongst themselves, but I ignore.

"Ma'am?" A lady creeps out of the crowd, a bouquet of flower in her hand. I smile at her gesture but the next words that come out of her mouth rip the smile off my face completely.

"Welcome back ma'am. This is for Mr. Carrington. I heard today marks the fourth year of his death." She says, handing me the bouquet.

My legs begin to falter and I try to control them. My breathing increases. It would be another of my panic attacks. Control yourself, Natalie. You can't let them see you like this. My subconscious warns me. I take the bouquet of flowers and I manage to give a small smile. I head up the stairs, unsure of where I was heading to exactly. Thankfully, I spot the female washroom. I quickly rush into it. I toss the flowers into the dustbin. I open the tap and splash some water on my face.

"He's not dead. He's not dead." I whisper to myself.

"It's better you accept that he's never returning. Unless, you've heard of someone returning from the dead."

I turn around to see a smirking Kelly. She continues, "I'm not afraid of you."

I raise a brow in confusion, "I beg your pardon?"

"What has Caleb ever done to you? Why do you hate him so much? He's done nothing but try to improve the company and succeed at it!"

I had to choose my words carefully. If my suspicions were correct, Caleb alongside Kelly were a dangerous duo. Caleb, a murderer. "You." I point at her. I continue, "Should be answering my questions. Why don't you explain to me as to why you lied about your name not once but twice. How long have you been married to Luke? Why did you lie to me at the party in the manor that day? What is really your name, Kelly?"

She scoffs. "Kelly Claire Andrews. Claire is my middle name, and Andrews is my father's. Did your paralysis happen to affect your brain?"

"If you weren't pregnant, trust me, I'd slap the hell out of that mouth of yours. Don't you ever speak to me in such a rude manner, ever again because you definitely will not like to see the angry side of me."

She sighs, "I won't let you throw Caleb away. If you try to fire him, I will sue you for unlawful termination."

I chuckle, wondering how on earth she became so bold. I'd really missed out on a lot the past four years. The perfect idea comes to my mind, and I speak. "Fine. I may not be able to fire him but I will definitely do something much worse." I respond and take my leave.

****

"Ms. Richardson!" I hear multiple choruses as I enter the HR department. I nod, responding to their greetings.

"I would like to have Luke's former office renovated. It's not noon yet so I believe that can be fixed before tomorrow?"

"Absolutely ma'am!" A woman responds. Faith Evans, I see on her identification card. She must've been the current head of the department.

Thankfully, there are no whispers about the office being Caleb's or anything of the sort. At least, I don't hear them.

"Would that be all, Ms. Richardson?"

"Yes." I respond, turning to leave. I stop. "Actually, one last thing. I'd like to know everyone's name. I'd like to get to know my staff, Faith?"

She giggles awkwardly, "Evans, ma'am." She responds. I can tell she wants to extend her hand for a shake, so I take initiative. I stretch my hand out for a handshake. She smiles and takes my hand. I look at the crowd, expectancy in my eyes.

"Reine Lopez. It's nice to meet you, ma'am."

"That's a lovely name, Reine."

I move to the next employee. "Stella Marks."

"Good to meet you." I respond.

"Ashanti Wilson."

"Hello, Ashanti."

"Ken Adefoye, ma'am." The first male staff answers.

"Hello, Ken. I hope you treat the ladies nicely?" I respond and in a split second, the room is filled with laughter.

******

Now in my car, I'm on my way home. It was at times like these I missed Lydia. I had no friend or companion to talk to or confide in. My mind drifts off to Rocky. I didn't exactly know how to describe my feelings towards him. I did not hate him but I didn't love him either. Admittedly, I still had feelings for him when he stayed at the manor but those feelings died the moment Luke threw me out of his life because of him. I wanted and tried countless time to blame him, hold him responsible for destroying my marriage but I knew better— I was responsible.

Now, I think I just felt indifferent towards him. I had mixed feelings about him being so close to Louis, emotionally and physically. However, separating him from my son wouldn't be the best option. Louis was already asking questions about his father. I couldn't remove the only man close to him just like that.

My mind drifts off to Alex. Oh, Alex. The day I left his home with his child in my womb was intact the last day I'd seen it even heard from him. A few weeks after my accident, I was distraught, mad and bitter that he didn't care enough to check up on me or even place a call. It was all over the news so I'd expected him to know about my accident. However, I was shocked to find out that Alex himself had been committed to a rehabilitation Centre. The news of my accident and the thought of me dying had triggered his disorder. From what I heard from my mother, Alex had even tried to attack his mother, Eleanor.

I wanted and needed to see him. I was hopeful that maybe, just maybe seeing me would make him normal again, but I had wronged him in so many ways that visiting him might be uncouth of me.

Just as I reach outside, approaching my car, a call comes in. I take out my phone and check to see who it is. I decline as I see it's none other than Rocket. I enter my car and for a moment, I wonder why I still had just a car. Rocket calls yet again. I decline.

I look at the rear view mirror to see behind me, but I scream, terrified and shocked at what I'd just seen. It was Laurel. "What the hell?" I gasp, as I take in her appearance. I look at the mirror again but she's not there. My hands are shaking as I remember the night she barged into the manor and shot me. I shake my head, trying to convince myself that it was just my imagination. My phone rings again.

"What the hell, Rocket?! Can you— I pause, listening to his words as soon as I hear my sons name.

"I'm on my way." I respond as I speed off.

****

Arriving at Louis' school, I rush into the building. Thankfully, I see Rocket a few feet away.

"Where's Louis? What happened?" I ask, worried. Rocket doesn't answer.

"I asked where my son is, Rocket!" I yell. The proprietress, Rose, walks in. She ends the call she was on.

"Ms. Richardson."

"Yes, what happened? He said Louis got into a fight. He's a baby, how could he? I'm sure you've got it wrong, maybe someone touched him or—

"Ms. Richardson. Your son hit another student. He pushed him so hard that the boy bled from his head."

I do not believe what they're saying. Louis would never. "That's not true. Where's Louis?"

"He's in the clinic. The nurse is asking him questions."

***

"Louis? Louis? Louis!" I call out to my son as I enter the school clinic. I check multiple but they're empty. Louis isn't in any of them. I didn't want to panic.

"Hi. I'm looking for my son? Louis Richardson? They- they said he was here, in the clinic, but Iv'e checked everywhere, but he's not here." At this point, I can feel the sweat dripping off my face as I remember seeing Laurel earlier.

"He was just here a moment ago. Didn't you see him?"

"No, I didn't!" I yell, as I begin to panic and cry. I rush outside, almost going crazy. "Louis! Son? Where are you?!" There's no response, so I rush back out.

"Ms. Richardson, you need to talk to your son. The parents of the injured child are threatening to sue. Your son is too mischievous. He's made quite a mess."

"What?" I stop, dead in my tracks. I continue, "My son, is missing and might be in danger, and you tell me such horrible things?" I turn to Rocket.

"What do you mean missing?"

I continue sobbing, "Louis isn't here, Rocky." I hold onto his shirt, "Earlier today, I saw her. I saw Laurel, Rocky. What if she has Louis?"

I turn around, realizing that this was caused by the school's incompetency. "Sue? Sue, you say? I'll be the one suing you! My son is missing!" I move closer to Rose. I snap my finger, "I can be very terrible, Rosette. Find my son right away or I'll become your worst nightmare!" I yell, and in a split second, Rocky's behind me, holding me back from putting my hands on her. I continue sobbing, the incident of the shooting replaying over and over again in my mind. It was as though I could hear the bullet every second.

"Let me go!" I cry, until Rocky finally lets me go.

"Control yourself, Natalie!" Rocket yells, grabbing my arms.

"I don't think Laurel has Louis. You need to calm down. I got a call from them because my number's here too, alongside yours. I saw Louis go in that way and he hasn't come out of the clinic. He has to be inside there."

"Laurel is dangerous. Why didn't he answer?" I sob, hitting my legs on the floor.

"Mommy?" I hear, and I turn around immediately.

"Louis." I rush to my son and I hold him with all the strength in me.

******

Aunt Ruth, mother, Rocket and Ashley are all gathered in the living room. It's a silent as a graveyard. Louis in bed.

"If only Lucas was still here with us. Things wouldn't be so hard." Aunt Ruth says.

"The boy's getting out of control, my darling. He needs a father."

"He has one, mom. He has one." I respond to Judith, irritated. I was irritated by each and every one of them.

"Where is he then? Why don't you call him?" Judith says.

"Judith!" Aunt Ruth scolds her.

"What? I'm only stating a fact. Natalie the rate you're going, you will go mad. Insane. You better let Lucas be. Let the dead be and move in with your life, darling."

"Why would you say that? How do you expect her to move on?"

"Why can't she? What's so hard about moving on especially considering her sons fragile state?"

"It's natural for kids to miss their parents, Judith. It doesn't mean they'll die, does it? Natalie is living proof of that, don't you think?"

Judith chuckles. "That was low, Ruth. That was low. I sent Natalie away because I was busy. I didn't want to neglect her."

"So you sent her away from you, to be taken care of by maids and servants?"

"She became what she is today because of those decisions didn't she? She has Louis because of my decision!" Judith gets up. She continues. "I agree. I might've been the worst mother, the worst parent, but Natalie, my love, I'm only trying to make sure you don't make the same mistakes I did! Give your son the father he needs and deserves, Natalie. You have the perfect candidate for that, sitting beside you." She says, and walks out on the rest of us.

"Don't listen to her. If you believe Lucas is alive, Natalie, then so do I. Wait for him, Natty."

Rocket sighs. "Aunt, don't you think you're part of the problem? I mean, why are you making here cling onto this false hope that Luke's still alive?"

"Ms. Richardson, do you want some coffee?" Ashley asks. I nod a no.

"You're just saying that because you want her for yourself. This is the opportunity you've been waiting for, isn't it?"

"I'm not trying to take advantage of anything, aunt—

"Don't you dare call me aunt. I'm Mrs. Owens to you. Don't forget you ruined my child's marriage. I'll never forgive you for that."

I get up from the couch and begin to head out.

"Where are you going, Natalie?"

"For a walk, aunt. I need to clear my head."

*****

My mother's words replay in my head, over and over again. Perhaps, it was the first time my mother had ever said something so reasonable and true to me. She was right. Louis deserved a father. He was young, and the influence of not having a father in his life was beginning to show.

From my understanding, what'd transpired between Louis and his classmate was due to a question that was asked by the teacher. Louis didn't have an answer and the said classmate had used it to taunt my son and Louis had retaliated by pushing him away.

I pause as I begin to shiver. I look around me, realizing that it'd been in fact, raining. I was soaked in water and I could tell from where I was, I was far away from home. I don't know how, but I begin to cry on the road. I turn around, trying to walk back home.

"Why did you leave me, Luke? I was, I was going to forgive you." I cry louder, wiping my tears away with the back of my hand. "You didn't let me forgive you, you jerk! You left me and our child alone, again. Why are you so fond of doing that?! God."