Rejected: A love story-Chapter 118: The Interrogation

I was reluctant to leave Nathan this morning because of what had happened, but he assured me he’d be fine and back by night. I had resumed my shift at the bakery since my class wasn’t until 1 p.m.

"Two coffees for table three and three pies," Mike said, retreating back to the mixer.

"Right on it," I replied, operating the coffee machine like a pro now. Quickly, I took the customers’ orders to their table. Returning to the counter, I went back to mixing the dough.

"Don’t you think it would be best if you hired at least two more people? Customers clearly love your coffee and baking," I suggested, focusing on the dough. My face was covered by a nose mask.

"Like I said before, Fiona, many people ain’t really serious. I’m a multitasker already, and I can handle everything. It’s better that way than having people complain," Mike replied.

"You know I won’t be here forever, and I won’t always be around," I said, exchanging a brief glance with him. 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝐰𝚎𝕓𝐧𝚘𝘃𝗲𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝕞

He smirked. "Why are you telling me this? Are you quitting?"

"No, of course not! Just saying. I’ve got exams in two weeks, and I’ll need to focus on studying. So how would you manage?" I asked.

Okay, I lied—my exams weren’t for another three weeks. But I had a more important exam to focus on: Nathan.

"Don’t worry, Fiona. My brother’s coming to town in the next two days. He can help me with a few things."

"Alright, if you say so," I replied.

"By the way, how’s your wild friend Tasha?" he asked, smiling.

"Do you like her?" I teased, raising an eyebrow with a smirk.

"Fiona! I’m not into wild girls. I’m into simplicity, honesty, and just the low-key ones," he said, staring at me a little too long.

I avoided eye contact immediately. "Looks like you’ve found her. Your description is too exact," I said, keeping my focus on the dough.

He laughed. "Nah, still hoping to find someone—like you."

I looked up at him, and he was still smiling. Luckily, the bell jingled, signaling a new customer had entered.

"I’ll get that," I said quickly, leaving the counter.

***********

Natasha sat on the white cushion, dressed in all black, her legs crossed elegantly.

"Now tell me why you’ve called," she said flatly.

Leila’s voice came through the phone, full of anger. "Seriously? Have you been brainwashed? Because this isn’t the Natasha I know."

Natasha sighed. "Correction, Leila. I’ve stopped being brainwashed by you. I deserve something in life, not chasing a man who clearly doesn’t want me—" She paused, her voice trembling but firm. "And this is more than just good sex, Leila. It’s about feeling loved, and that’s something you can’t give. You’re manipulative, and I’m done being controlled by you."

Leila laughed coldly. "I see you’ve grown some wings. Do you really think you can run away from me? Seems like you’ve forgotten that the child support you’re enjoying now—I can bring it to a stop in an instant!"

Natasha chuckled, her tone mocking. "Poor little Leila. You’ve underestimated me. Just a little advice: Leo is Nathan’s child—a Keith heir. And not even you can stop that!"

She hung up immediately, leaving Leila fuming.

In a dimly lit room, a man dressed in black from head to toe thundered at the tied-up woman before him.

"What now? She didn’t admit anything!" he roared.

"No, no, no! You heard her! She wants her bastard son to inherit Nathan’s property. That’s why she’s doing all this!" the woman pleaded, her voice trembling.

"Boss is already on the way. He’ll decide what punishment to give you," the man growled.

Just then, another man stepped back, clearing the way for a tall figure dressed in a black suit and polished black shoes. Nathan Keith entered the room, his presence commanding and cold. Even Leila, who had been watching from the corner, looked terrified.

"So, you’re the one who threatened my girlfriend?" Nathan’s voice was sharp, devoid of mercy.

"Please! Please, Mr. Keith—I’m—"

A slap cut her off instantly. The man who had tied her up delivered the hit.

"And who gave you the right to call our boss by his name?" he barked.

Nathan raised a hand, silencing him. His gaze fell back on the trembling woman.

"You’re brave, I must say," Nathan began, his tone icy. "You kidnapped my girlfriend right under my nose, beat her up, and weren’t even afraid of the consequences. How much did you underestimate me?"

The woman couldn’t answer; she was trembling and shaking uncontrollably.

"On top of that, you threatened her to break up with me and move far away. What audacity!" Nathan bent down, gripping her face and forcing her to look him in the eye.

"Who do you work for?" he demanded.

"No, no, no one! I swear! I just wanted revenge for Natasha, I promise! I couldn’t watch her suffer, begging for your attention while you gave it away to some stranger you hardly know! I’m sorry!"

Nathan paused, his piercing stare analyzing every word.

"So, Natasha is your accomplice? Interesting," he said, his voice low.

He stood up slowly, his presence becoming more intimidating. Nathan was known for his ruthlessness, but he never unleashed his fury on women directly.

"Beat her until she passes out," he ordered, walking out of the room.

"No! No! Please don’t!" the woman screamed, her voice echoing through the dark space as Nathan disappeared into the shadows.

The woman’s screams echoed louder as Nathan walked out of the room, leaving her at their mercy. He adjusted his suit, his face cold and unreadable.

"Boss, what do we do about Natasha?" one of the men asked, trailing behind him carefully.

Nathan stopped in his tracks. "Keep an eye on her. If she crosses the line again, I’ll handle her myself."

The man nodded, stepping aside as Nathan made his way out of the building. He climbed into his car, he leaned back and closed his eyes for a moment.

Natasha. She was bold—too bold for her own good. But Nathan wasn’t done yet. Not even close. He adjusted his cuffs and stepped into his car, slamming the door shut behind him. The engine roared to life, and he sped off without a second thought.

Meanwhile, Natasha stood in her apartment, pacing back and forth as her thoughts raced. Leila’s threat was serious, but Natasha wasn’t about to back down. She had a plan—one that would protect Leo and ensure Nathan stayed in her life.

Her phone buzzed, and she grabbed it immediately.

"Speak," she said, her voice sharp.

"We’ve got eyes on Leila. She’s been meeting with someone, but we can’t confirm who yet," the voice on the other end said.

Natasha smirked. "Keep digging. I want every detail on her and whoever she’s working with."

"Understood," the voice replied before the call ended.

Natasha tossed the phone onto the couch and sighed. She wasn’t scared of Leila anymore. If anything, she was ready for whatever came next.

Fiona Pov

Back at the bakery, I was still mixing the dough, trying to push away the lingering thoughts of Mike’s earlier comments. I didn’t want to think about what he meant, or why he kept staring at me like that.

"Fiona, you good?" Mike’s voice cut through the silence, pulling me back to the present.

"Huh? Oh, yeah. I’m fine," I said quickly, focusing on the dough.

"Alright. Just checking," he replied, moving to the other side of the kitchen.

I sighed, letting out a slow breath. My thoughts were elsewhere—on Nathan, I was back to missing him every second.

The bell jingled again, signaling another customer had walked in. I wiped my hands on my apron and walked out to the counter.

"Welcome," I said automatically, my voice steady.

The man at the counter smiled faintly. He was tall, dressed in a sharp suit that screamed money. His presence was intimidating, but I didn’t let it show.

"Coffee. Black," he said simply.

I nodded, turning to the coffee machine. As I worked, I felt his eyes on me, sharp and calculating.

"Busy day?" he asked suddenly.

"Always," I replied, not looking up.

When the coffee was ready, I handed it to him, offering a polite smile.

"Thanks," he said, his voice low. Paid then lingered for a moment before turning and walking out.

I watched him leave, a strange feeling settling in my chest. Something about him felt off, but I couldn’t put my finger on it.

Hours passed, and the bakery finally quieted down. I wiped the counters clean, my body tired from the rush. Mike was in the back, humming to himself as he worked.

"You heading out soon?" he asked, peeking around the corner.

"Yeah, class starts in an hour," I replied, slipping off my apron.

"Tell Tasha I said hi," Mike said with a smirk.

I rolled my eyes. "You’re obsessed with her, aren’t you?"

"Maybe. She’s a cool girl" Mike said, shrugging.

I shook my head, grabbing my bag and heading for the door.