Chapter 435

Daniela had just arrived at the office wwhen a leave request from Natalie landed on her desk.

Cedric, working at Elite Lux today, noticed Daniela placing a call to Natalie.

"It's urgent. You might need to come over."

After Daniela hung up, Cedric glanced at her, a puzzled expression on his face.

He had been under the impression that the investigation on Brylee's death had ended and the threats against Daniela neutralized.

He looked at Daniela, puzzled, with a subconscious feeling that she was planning something big.

He turned to Lillian for clarification, but she merely smiled enigmatically and gestured towards Daniela."Daniela specifically instructed me not to involve you in these troublesome matters, so please don't put me in a difficult position, alright? You should ask her yourself."

Cedric, of course, didn't press the issue. He knew Daniela wouldn't confide in him.

The last time he had tried to meddle in her affairs, it had resulted in a major clash, with him ultimately backing down.

"Is there any danger?" Cedric asked, his voice laced with concern.

"Don't you trust Daniela?" Lillian chuckled. "She's meticulous in everything she does, and with you here,she's even more vigilant about her safety."

Cedric nodded in response.

By lunchtime, he had his secretary move all the files from his office to Elite Lux.

Daniela didn't say much, only instructing the secretarial department to replace Cedric's furniture with a ridiculously expensive set. It was such a blatant display of power that anyone entering her office would instinctively glance towards Cedric's now opulent seat.

Natalie arrived at the company at noon, looking as pale as a ghost. "Ms. Harper, here is all the information on this project. If there's nothing else, I'd like to take the afternoon off."

Natalie's eyes were hollow, betraying a deep-seated unease.

Daniela offered a faint smile. "Can you hold on? The negotiating party will be here this afternoon."

Natalie nodded reluctantly.

Throughout the afternoon, she was visibly distracted, her mind clearly elsewhere. Duing dinner,the partners even subtly hinted to Daniela that Natalie's performance as an assistant was slipping.

Natalie overheard their comments and blushed, her inability to focus only worsening.

The previous night, after she and Tobin had just stepped off the Ferris wheel, they had run into Linden, who had greeted them with a bone-chilling smile.

He hadn't said a word, just looked at her with that icy grin.

Tobin had subsequently died in a freak accident.

A coincidence? Natalie didn't think so!

After the banquet, Daniela noticed Natalie's downcast expression. "Natalie, if you're feeling overwhelmed lately, why not return to Harper Group for the time being?"

Startled, Natalie's head snapped up. "I'm fine, Daniela."

Daniela studied Natalie's dazed expression and smiled knowingly. "I heard someone saw you with Tobin last night. He died yesterday, did you know?"

Before Natalie could even begin to panic and offer an explanation, Daniela continued, "I also heard you've been quite close to Linden lately.Is that right?"

Natalie's heart nearly stopped beating. She didn't understand why Daniela had suddenly brought up these two names,wondering if it was a veiled threat or á simple observation.

Either way, it wasn't a good sign.

She desperately wanted to speak, to offer some kind of defense, but Daniela simply waved her hand dismissively. "I'm going home."

The words Natalie so desperately wanted to say remained trapped in her throat. She was left floundering,watching Daniela's figure recede into the distance.

Nina lingered behind. "Natalie, I think she suspects something. Why not just make your relationship with Linden public?"

As Nina spoke, her hands were clasped behind her back, her phone discreetly displaying an active call.

Natalie, her nerves frayed to the breaking point, glared coldly at Nina. "Nina, don't get too big for your boots! Otherwise, I'll tell the world you've slept with Linden."

Nina smirked. "Natalie, Linden is completely devoted to you, but you've been playing him for a fool.Don't you think he'll feel betrayed? Have you ever considered actually being with him?"

Hearing these words, Natalie let out a harsh, mirthless laugh.

"With Linden? Does he even deserve me? Why should I care if he's hurt? To me, he's beneath contempt, a grotesque creature with a face only a mother could love and a stature that barely reaches my shoulder. Just looking at him makes me sick to my stomach. How could he ever compare to me? What a joke!" Natalie's venom dripped with every word.

Nina's smile widened slightly. "But Natalie, Linden is so good to you, even willing to risk his neck and kill Daniela for you. Aren't you even a little bit touched?"

Natalie,shot Nina a contemptuous look. "Touched? What's that worth? Linden is only fit to sleep with you!He's delusional if he thinks he has a chance with me!"

With that, Natalie, no longer able to stomach Nina's presence, hailed a taxi and left.

Nina, still holding the active phone call, inquired calmly, "Did you hear everything?" Back at Daniela's residence, Nina gave Daniela a resounding thumbs-up.

"You're absolutely brilliant, Daniela! Now all we have to do is sit back and watch the fireworks. Linden is sure to take care of Natalie."

Nina had never felt so gleeful, so exhilarated, in her entire life.