Chapter 32
Natalie slowly turned around, trying to think of a convincing excuse as she faced Helen, who was staring at her with a furrowed brow.
“Why do you always bow your head like that? Are you trying to hide your face?” Helen asked, attempting to peek at Natalie’s face, but she continued to bow. “Where are you rushing off to, anyway?” She dismissed her first question and waited for Natalie to respond to the second.
“I needed to use the bathroom,” Natalie mumbled, fidgeting nervously with her fingers behind her back.
Helen nodded and walked away, leaving Natalie feeling relieved. Suddenly, Elvis’s phone calls started coming in non-stop, prompting Natalie to quickly escape through the back door and find herself in the car garage. There, she saw Elvis waiting impatiently, glancing around anxiously.
“I’m here, Elvis,” Natalie said, giving him a light tap on the shoulder.
Elvis wasn’t surprised by her touch, as he had been expecting her. He smiled in relief, but quickly changed to a stern expression as he reached out and lightly pushed her on the head.
“This wasn’t the plan, Natalie,” Elvis said, giving her a disapproving look, but Natalie just shrugged it off.
“I had planned to explore the house, but I ended up spending the whole time with Javier’s mother,” Natalie sighed in frustration as she headed towards where she had hidden her clothes.
“Hurry up and get dressed, Javier is getting impatient,” Elvis urged her.
Natalie paused in retrieving her clothes from the bag and raised an eyebrow. “You don’t expect me to change in front of you, do you?” she scoffed. Elvis quickly turned around, facing away from her.
Natalie smiled and quickly dressed behind the car, ending up in her shorts and singlet.
“How was Javier’s mother? Was she nice to you?” Elvis asked, trying to make conversation.
“Yes, she was really nice. I think I prefer her to his grumpy father,” Natalie replied, finally dressed in her original outfit.
Elvis widened in shock, his jaw dropping. “You’ve met Javier’s father?” he asked.
Natalie nodded, even though he couldn’t see her. “I don’t like him. He’s a bad guy,” she said, her mind drifting back to the scene of Javier’s father slapping Helen. She shook her head in pity. ‘So the rich also cry?’ she thought, sighing out softly.
Assuming she had finished dressing , Elvis turned around and saw her fully dressed. “Why did you say that?” he asked, recalling what she said about Reyes.
Before Natalie could respond, Elvis’s phone vibrated, interrupting her. Assuming it was Javier calling, she waited as Elvis answered the call.
“We’re on our way now,” Elvis said, motioning for Natalie to follow him into the building. He led her through the main door.
A few people gave Natalie curious glances, wondering who had invited someone dressed so casually to such a grand occasion. Natalie ignored the stares as Elvis led her up the stairs.
Elvis pushed open the door to Javier’s room, and they entered to find Javier standing by the window, his back to them.
Slowly, he turned to glance at them, and Natalie was captivated by the handsome orange outfit worn by Javier. Her eyes sparkled as she admired his attire from head to toe. Javier noticed her gaze and playfully snapped his fingers to regain her attention.
“W-what was that” She sputtered, blinking rapidly to avoid eye contact.
“I know, I look handsome,” Javier boasted, sitting on the couch. Natalie scoffed and rolled her eyes, crossing her arms.
The door suddenly burst open, revealing Elvis. Natalie wondered when he had left the room without her noticing but shrugged it off when she saw what he was holding. Her jaw dropped in awe.
Natalie was surprised to see him holding two stunning gowns – one orange and one purple. The orange gown was short with chest openings and sleeveless, while the purple gown was a long, flared dress that swept the floor. Both dresses were beautifully designed, with the purple gown looking elegant and modest without any openings.
“You should choose the orange one,” Javier stated firmly, crossing his leg over the other.
Natalie scoffed, “You can’t make decisions for me.” She rolled her eyes and without further discussion, she walked over to Elvis and picked up the purple gown that had caught her eye.
Javier smiled because he knew she would choose the opposite of his choice for her, however deep down he had liked the purple gown which Natalie had choose. It’s was elegant, and he had pictured it in his head fitting her perfectly.
“Where can I change?” Natalie asked glanced around, looking for the changing room.
“Over there.” Elvis was quick to respond, pointing a blur glass door. Motioning her to go and change.
Natalie gave Javier one last glare before heading off to the changing room.
In less than a minute, Natalie emerged in the form-fitting dress that hugged her body perfectly. She walked towards them with her head down and hands clasped behind her back because she felt somehow nervous.
“Wow, Natalie, you look absolutely stunning in this dress. Like a Disney princess,” Elvis exclaimed, rushing over to her with a smile on his face.
Javier rolled his eyes and left the room, a small smile forming on his lips. ‘She looks pretty,’ he thought as he closed the door behind him.
Natalie muttered, “I don’t care about his compliments either. So full of himself.” She raised her eyebrows when she noticed Elvis gazing at her. “Could you please call Kate for me? I’d like her to be here with me,” she said with a smile.
Elvis agreed, “I’ll get your makeup artist first, and then I’ll call Kate.” He reached for his phone.
******
Olivia rushed into her changing room with excitement. “Nana, bring in my dress,” she called out to one of the makeup artists behind the closed door.
Nana quickly abandoned her task and approached the bed, picking up a purple dress. However, her expression changed to shock as she noticed the dress was badly ruined. Uncertain of how to handle the situation, she turned to her colleague for help.
“The dress is ruined!” she whispered, showing the damaged dress to her coworker.
“Oh no, how did this happen?” they all exclaimed in disbelief.
Nana shook her head, “I have no idea, but…” she trailed off, holding up the other two dresses. “Oh no, the same thing happened to these as well.”
Her co-workers quickly began murmuring among themselves, unsure whether to tell Olivia.
“Why is it taking you so long to bring my dress?” Olivia shouted, breaking the silence after Nana’s hesitation.
“Madam, I’m sorry, but your dresses are ruined,” Nana’s voice trembled as she delivered the news, her palm sweating with fear of Olivia’s reaction.
“What do you mean…” Olivia started to say, stepping out of the changing room, but her words trailed off as her gaze landed on the bed. “What did you do to my dresses?” she exclaimed, her eyes wide with shock as she approached her ruined dresses.
“Ma’am, it’s… it’s…” Nana struggled to find the right words to explain, pointing at the dresses and unable to defend herself as her body shook with fear.
Olivia turned around with bloodshot eyes, feeling the urge to tear Nana apart for ruining her engagement dresses. Her anger was like a raging volcano, her chest heaving rapidly. “I asked a simple question! Why did you ruin my dress?” Her voice was calm but laced with danger, as she stormed toward her.
“I swear, I don’t know how it happened…” Nana’s words were cut off by a heavy slap across her face. Tears welled up in her eyes as she turned to her colleagues, who looked fearful and backed against the wall. They silently pleaded with Nana and shook their heads, signaling for her not to involve them.
Nana broke into sobs, “Ma’am, you can ask my colleagues. I swear I don’t know how your dresses got ruined. Ask them.” She pointed at her coworkers.
“Don’t drag me into this, please. I have no idea what happened.” The oldest among them defended herself, “Ask Mary and April, they might have some information.” She shot Nana a stern glare.
“Please don’t involve us. She was the only one who did it,” Mary and April accused.
Nana was shocked and couldn’t believe what she was hearing and seeing. “It’s not true. I didn’t ruin your dress. Please believe me,” she cried out, shaking her head in denial.
“You’ll end up in jail, Nana,” Olivia declared firmly.
Fear gripped Nana as she realized the gravity of the situation. She thought about her sick father and her 13-year-old sister, wondering how they would manage without her. Without hesitation, she dropped to her knees, clasped her hands together, and pleaded, “Please believe me, I’m innocent.” She reached out towards Olivia, but Olivia angrily kicked her hands away and slapped her again.
“No one is going to jail,” Helen intervened as she entered the room and saw Nana on the floor, tears streaming down her face. She was puzzled by the scene and wondered what had happened.