295 Impossible duo(1)
âNatalie? What are you doing here?â Zaria was the first to stand and face her.
She was behind Norman before she could process it, and the man was protecting her from what he probably thought was an attack waiting to happen.
âIf you are here to blame Zaria, you are chasing the wrong target. Desmond is to blame if he did not clearly explain things with you.â
Natalie rolled her eyes. âIf I had any problem with Desmond, what would I be doing here?â
Norman cursed, realizing why else she would be here. âIs this about Lucyâs feud with Ava? Trust me, you donât want to get into their fight. They are a pair of nutjobs.â
Once again, Natalie rolled her eyes at him. âI would like to have a word with Zaria, if thatâs okay.â
âYou have to promise not to try to hurt her.â Norman squeezed his eyes shut when Natalie glared at him. âFine, fine. I will leave you ladies to it. Call me if you need anything.â
She replaced Norman on the chair he was sitting on and waved Zaria over. When the latter sat, she let out a breath. âIâm sorry I ruined dinner.â
âYou didnât. Itâs okay.â She assured her. âI didnât think you would come around so fast.â
.....
âTrust me, thatâs far from happening.â Natalie hissed. âI canât believe she would make me call her âauntâ without telling me she really is my aunt. What drugs is she on?â
âThe kind that make one go crazy with the need for revenge.â She laughed at herself after saying it out loud. âWell, I guess Iâm on them too.â
âThis is about Nathaniel Su, right?â Natalie cursed. It had not occurred to her yet. That was her grandfather.
âI still want to pretend my family consists of my parents and I and I have no cousins, uncles and aunts and definitely not a grandfather. Can I?â
âGo right ahead.â Zaria chuckled.
Realizing what she had implied, Natalie sighed. âNo offense, Zaria. You know how much I adore you. Itâs awesome to learn that Iâm your cousin, really. Do you know what the craziest part is?â
Zaria shook her head.
âI once impersonated myself.â
âWhat are you talking about?â Zaria was confused.
âI went to Kara Williams once when I needed to see her, but we are not on the best terms. I had her secretary lie that Iâm Lucy Roattaâs niece so she would let me through. I guess that was not such a lie, after all.â She was amused. âNo wonder she gave me an odd look.â
It took her seconds to realize why Zaria was so silent. âHold on. Oh my God! Kara Williamsâ¦Zaria Williams. Donât tell meâ¦â
âI just found out.â
âWhat the hell?â Natalie had been feeling horrible a moment ago but now, she was not envious of Zaria in the slightest bit.
âHow is that even possible? Kara Williams? That woman could never be any more different from us.â
âSianna is Theoâs little sister.â Norman responded before Zaria did. Apparently, the man had been listening.
âItâs sort of how they met. Lucy and Sianna hated each other and she and Theo fought about it for so long they fell in love. Oh, the good old days.â
Zaria and Natalie exchanged glances that proved they were both thinking about the same thing.
âYeah, thatâs enough talk about family. Come on, letâs go out for some fun. The night is still young.â Natalie placed two hundred-dollar bills on the table even though neither of them had eaten anything.
Knowing she had a lot on her mind and was trying her best to get away, Zaria decided to indulge her.
âDo you have anywhere to do? A place that doesnât involve drinking, at least.â She asked.
âMy place.â Natalie suggested with a wink, then immediately laughed at the distress on Zariaâs face. âDonât worry. I would never do anything to hurt you. You are family and well, Desmond would kill me if anything happened to you. So come with me, maybe spend the night, and Iâll drop you off at work tomorrow, yeah?â
She still trusted Natalie, but she had expected her to want to be alone after the revelation.
Pursing her lips, she nodded. âGive me a moment to get an overnight bag, okay?â
âYou donât need one. My house is always ready for last-minute guests.â
âSince thatâs the case, letâs go. Hold on. Iâll just send a quick message to everyone, to let them know whose basement to check if I donât show up tomorrow.â She joked, but took out her phone to let Desmond know where she would be spending the night.
As expected, he was not happy about it. âAre you going to let me spend the night alone? Itâs going to be so boring.â He complained.
She chuckled. He was cute when he was acting clingy.
âYou will not be bored. Watch Frozen with Rosaly. Iâm sure she wonât mind watching it for the thirtieth time with you.â She blew him a kiss on the phone, promised to make it up to him the following day and hung up before he could make a dirty joke about her promise. Heaven knew he might just say something that would make her want to bury herself in the ground.
Natalie had just started the car when the call ended. She smiled. âI still find it unbelievable that Desmond acts that way with you. Heâs the most serious man on earth.â
âI thought he was a heartless asshole when we had just met.â She told Natalie the story of how they met and as expected, the latter was puzzled.
As the car pulled up into her parking lot, she brought up something she didnât think she would ever have to.
âYou must have heard countless stories about my family.â
âI have.â Zaria did not deny it.
âWould it make you think Iâm crazy if I said I donât want to have a falling out with my parents?â
Zaria frowned, but only because she didnât know where this was heading.
âI know, they are the most selfish duo on earth. But Iâm also certain if anything were to happen to me, they would be devastated.â
Zaria nodded when she finally understood. âYou are not going on about them, are you?â
As expected, Natalie shook her head. âItâs sad that he has no one else in his life. Sure, your family will be his family too when the two of you get married, but itâs still sad to not have his own family when his mother is out there, mourning the loss of two of her children.â
It was unbelievable that she was hearing this from Natalie. âYou know better than anyone what Alyssa did. Desmond hates her.â
âI canât believe Iâm saying this to his fiancée, but no, he doesnât. He is mad at her, but he also wishes things were different.â
She knew exactly what Natalie was implying but it was not her place. So she neither agreed nor disagreed.
âIf they want to reconcile, thatâs up to them, Nat. I will not put myself between them and I certainly will not have him choose between me and his mother. But if he decides Rosaly and Izzie are all he needs, I will not force him into anything either.â
She stopped the car and hugged Zaria. âI just want my best friend to be happy. Well, heâs now my cousin-in-law too, all the more reason for me to want him to be happy.â
While she pulled away, her eyes widened. âDid I just feel movement on your belly?â
Zaria chuckled. âProbably not. That often happens in the second trimester according to doc. But I swear I feel it too, sometimes.â
âMaybe my godchild likes me.â She joked and opened the car door, then rushed out to help Zaria out before she could step out.
âI can get out of a car on my own, you know.â Zaria smiled at her sudden urge to spoil her.
âI know. I just want to help you. Come on, letâs get going. The snacks arenât going to eat themselves.â
Knowing she would not be able to stop her, Zaria gave in to her excitement and hooked her arm around hers as they made way to the elevator.
On the way up, Natalie made a joke about needing balls for what she was planning to do and was yet to explain what she meant when the elevator doors slid open and Ava came into view.