The judges then approached the girl who had sabotaged Natalie’s table. "Miss Kara, we are truly disappointed by your performance. Your work resembled that of an amateur who had no idea what they were doing. I wonder how you even qualified for this competition. You’ve shown no respect for the workspace or the process of creation. You need to work harder, or you might as well leave this field altogether."
Hearing this, Kara’s expression shifted, and she stamred, "I am sorry." Internally, she was panicking. Have I just ruined my own career? So many people are watching this. What if I don’t get a job in the perfu industry? My dream of working for a good company... what will happen now?
Her gaze shifted to Briena, who was deliberately ignoring her. This bitch, she made do it by offering money, Kara thought angrily.
Yet she couldn’t reveal the truth. Exposing Briena, ant she would risk her being banned from the perfu industry forever and would make things even harder for herself. While Briena being rich would escape the situation.
The first round was over, and the next was scheduled for the following day.
As Natalie was leaving, she crossed paths with Briena in the corridor outside the waiting room.
"After coming in fifth place and barely escaping elimination, do you seriously think you have a chance of winning this competition?" Briena mocked. "This ti, as always, I’m going to win."
Natalie remained unfazed as she replied, "Coming in fifth place is certainly better than paying soone to ss up the chemicals of other participants."
Briena was montarily taken aback but quickly recovered. She glanced around and said, "Stop making things up. Do you think I’ll fall for that and say sothing I shouldn’t, only for you to record it?"
Natalie couldn’t help but smirk. She gently patted Briena’s cheek. "Little sister, you’ve finally grown a few brain cells inside that empty skull of yours, but you’re still far from being smart."
Briena angrily shrugged her hand off, but Natalie imdiately grabbed her wrist in a tight grip, making Briena wince in pain. "I’m not a fan of your voice to record it anymore," Natalie said, pulling Briena closer. Then she leaned in and whispered in her ear, her tone dangerously low and nacing.
"Little sister, this ti it’s not just a voice recording but sothing far more dangerous you’re going to fall into. Trust , when that day cos, you’ll regret even having the thought of ssing up with ."
A chill ran down Briena’s spine. She had always been secretly afraid of Natalie, and hearing her speak in such a way made her feel genuinely scared.
"What are you doing to my daughter?" Clara’s voice interrupted, sharp and concerned.
Natalie released Briena and turned to Clara, her expression calm but her words cutting. "Nothing yet, Clara Ford, but very soon."
Clara imdiately grabbed Briena’s hand and asked, "What did she do to you?"
Briena, still stunned with fear, looked at her mother and slowly ca back to her senses. By the ti she did, Natalie had already left. Briena glanced in the direction where Natalie had disappeared, her expression still laced with unease.
"What happened?" Clara asked.
"Mom... I think... that Natalie is up to sothing," Briena said nervously. "She’s planning sothing against . Does she have proof to show who the true Aroma is?"
"Don’t fall for her act. She can’t do anything," Clara replied firmly. "If she could, you wouldn’t have been signed for that movie, nor would you have gotten first place today. Ignore her. She’s just jealous and trying to scare you because she’s powerless."
Briena nodded to her mother’s reassurances and left with her.
----
Inside Justin’s study, the atmosphere was tense.
"Is there no update on Vincent?" Justin’s cold voice echoed through the room.
"Mr. Harper, since the day Vincent visited Aiden Shaw, he’s been with him. Both of them seed to be planning sothing," Noah replied. "But over the past few days, they’ve both disappeared without a trace, and our people haven’t been able to locate them."
Justin leaned back in his chair, his brows furrowed. "Aiden Shaw wouldn’t leave that woman without reason. We need to find out what happened at any cost. I am sure it’s related to those who are trying harm Natalie and her mother."
"Yes, Mr. Harper. Our people are working on it. There are so promising leads, but we’ll need more ti."
Justin’s expression remained stern. "Who’s looking after that woman?"
"A man nad Eric is with her, and Aiden’s and Vincent’s people are guarding the hospital alongside ours."
"Tell Ryan to bring Natalie straight ho," Justin ordered.
"Yes, Mr. Harper."
-----
Inside the car.
"Take to Mia’s company," Natalie said to Ryan, who was driving.
"Mr. Harper has instructed to bring you directly back ho," Ryan replied.
"But I want to go to Mia’s company. It’s important," she insisted.
"I’m sorry, Ms. Natalie, but I have to follow Mr. Harper’s orders," he said firmly.
"Control freak, jerk, Justin Harper," Natalie muttered angrily under her breath and pulled out her cellphone. She dialed Justin’s number.
Ryan and John stayed quiet, as if they heard nothing.
"Justin, I have so work at Mia’s office. I need to be there," she said, the mont call was received.
"What work do you have there?" he asked.
"I need to practice for the competition, and I’m going to use the R&D lab in her company," she explained.
In response, Justin’s voice ca through."You are coming back ho."
"What?" she exclaid.
"You heard it right. Back ho, right away," Justin said and hung up the call.
She gritted her teeth. "Let go back ho and I will tell him."
----
Justin, who had just hung up the call, was worried about Natalie. He didn’t want to leave her out of his sight. He understood she had important work, but to him, nothing was more important than her safety.
The people they were dealing with were dangerous, and until Aiden and Vincent were found, Justin couldn’t afford to take any risks.
He walked out of the study and decided to wait for Natalie in the drawing hall.
After half an hour, Natalie returned. She stord into the drawing room, her anger evident to everyone present. Ryan and John followed her inside, their expressions resigned.
Noah, who was already there, glanced at John and Ryan, who both gave him helpless looks.
Once more, these three were ready to witness the woman taking her anger out of the formidable Justin Harper.
Natalie walked straight to the sofa where Justin was sitting and stood before him, her face flushed with anger. "Justin Harper, do you think perfu making is a joke, and I’m so magician who can do anything in a mont without putting any efforts?" Her voice echoed through the drawing room.
Justin looked up at her calmly, his gaze fixed on her beautiful, angry face, seemingly unaffected by her outburst.
She pointed a finger at him, her voice rising. "How dare you control like this? How can you... Ahhh!"
Justin, who had been listening to her angry words, leaned forward, grabbed her hand, and pulled her toward him.
The next mont, Natalie found herself on his lap. Before she could comprehend what had happened or protest further, her words were silenced as Justin’s warm lips pressed against hers.
Her eyes, which had been blazing with anger monts ago, widened in shock. Her mind went completely blank.
anwhile, Noah, Ryan, and John exchanged glances and quietly slipped out of the room, pretending they had never been there.
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