Aurora covered her nose with her hand and looked at Natalie, "Sorry, I didn't hear what you said. The smell was too strong. What did you say?" she said with mock concern.
Energy for energy. Aurora refused to be stepped on all over again. Natalie frowned, hot rushing to her face as she stared at Aurora. Some people in the office giggled.
She took a step back and spread one hand over her mouth, "Aurora are you trying to insult me? Do you mean to say my breath stinks?" A reasonable person would have let it go to save herself further embarrassment, but that was what Natalie lacked.
"Of course, I do not want to embarrass you, I simply mentioned what I noticed. It didn't offend you did it?" Aurora asked placing her hand on her chest to show concern.
Natalie's chest rose and fell. She curled her hand by her side, about to speak, but Aurora didn't give her the chance, "You were saying something about my wedding."
She took a few steps back, creating a larger space between them. She was well aware of the fact that most people in the room were focused on them to see how this would end, "see, I've placed a good distance between us, you can speak freely."
"Aurora," Natalie said between gritted teeth, her tone rough. She grinds her teeth, holding back from lashing at Aurora's claim about her mouth, knowing that it would only make her the centre of attraction, instead of Aurora.
She inhaled sharply, steadying herself then spoke, "I don't know why you want me to repeat myself. Now that your relationship with Mr. Adams is over, don't you think you should hand Author Jenny over to me? It would create a spectacle if you hold on to the writer you got from the relationship." Her words are slow but harsh.
"What?" Aurora drew her brows together, "Where did you hear that from?"
"Come on Aurora, you don't have to be shy here." Natalie pointed around, "Everyone in this office knows of it. This is why you should have kept yourself in check. Mr. Adams truly is calm, Not every man would be able to put up with you." Natalie's words sounded soft but her tone was harsh.
Aurora raised a brow, wondering who Natalie thought she was to lash out in criticism about her private life. "Why not ask Liam yourself since you are so curious about our relationship?"
With over a dozen eyes still pinned on her, Aurora pulled out her phone and dialled Liam's number. She placed it on speaker. It connects on the third ring, "Aurora, you finally called. I have been trying to reach you. Why are you avoiding me?" Liam's panicked voice resounded in the room.
"It seems there's a rumour in the office and I'd like you to clear that," Aurora said without acknowledging his earlier concerns. She pointed the phone at Natalie, who had started to walk forward. Aurora stopped her by raising one hand.
With her eyes fixated on Natalie, she asked, "Liam, did you end our relationship without informing me?"
Everyone was silent as they anticipated Liam's response. "What are you talking about Aurora?" A frustrated Liam began, "Why would I do that. I'm sorry I pushed the wedding forward again, but I never said we were done. It's my fault so I understand why you are angry."
Aurora smirked, "I am not angry."
"Then why didn't you take your calls?"
"Can I call you back later?"
"Yes, but send me the name of the person who started the rumour. No one is paid to gossip. Since she wants to spread rumours, she can do so outside my company." Natalie's legs weakened at Liam's words and a look of worry clouded her eyes.
Aurora ended the call and returned her phone to her purse. A satisfied look on her face, she raised her eyes at the same time Natalie dropped to her knees, her hands pressed together, "I'm so sorry, Aurora. I spoke thoughtlessly. Please, don't give my name to Mr. Adams. I really need this job."
Aurora looked down at her, wrapping one hand over the other. In the past, she allowed Natalie to walk over her, do her chores and some of her jobs, but not any more.
Tears rolled down Natalie's face as she kept rubbing her hands together; her entire look was intended to evoke the sympathy of Aurora, but Aurora wasn't even moved.
"She deserves this, did you see her trying to bring down Mrs. Carter with her words?"
"Natalie is a senior editor like Miss Aurora, why does she always act superior? Now that her job is at stake, let's see if she still acts superior."
"Miss Aurora is still engaged to Liam, I knew it. With all this beauty, what man would want to push her aside?"
"It seems Mr. Adams is the one in the wrong, did you hear him begging?"
Mummering ensued in the hall as everyone exchanged their thoughts on the scene before them.
Natalie gritted her teeth, she never knew this was what they thought about her. "Please, don't allow me to lose my job. I have a sick mother; without this job, I won't be able to care for her. If I lose this job, she loses medical care, and she will surely die." Natalie sobbed, her voice covered in multiple whimpers."
She crawled on the floor, "We don't want her blood to be on your head?"
"No, her blood will be on your head; it is you who doesn't know how to control her tongue. Don't blame anyone but yourself." Aurora's voice was sharp as she spoke. She started towards her door.
She reached for the door but then stopped and turned, "I won't be telling Liam about you, but this is not because of you or your sick mother." She knows if Natalie were in her position, she wouldn't waste a second to kick her out. But she wasn't like Natalie. The threat of losing her job was already enough to keep her in place.
At noon, Aurora received a text from Liam. She was reluctant to open it at first, since she could vaguely guess the content.
When she finally opened it, the message was just like she had thought.
Liam: Aurora, meet me at my office, we need to speak.
She was about to reply when another message popped into her phone, from a strange number. She tapped on it to reveal the content of the message.
Her eyes widened, and her fingers around the phone tensed as she stared at the message. "Congratulations on your wedding, babe. I'm truly happy for you."