Chapitre 10: Meeting Justin Harper
The next morning, after breakfast, Noah handed over all the information about Natalie to Justin. Justin went through the tablet, carefully reading each and every detail to know Natalie better before their meeting.
Natalie Ford, the eldest daughter of the Ford family. Her mother died in an accident when Natalie was seven. Her father, Jay Ford, brought his mistress Clara home, along with her daughter Briena, who was a few months younger than Natalie. After her mother's death, Natalie became a troublemaker in the family and hated her stepmother and half-sister. During her first year of university, she was accused of plagiarism during a perfume creation competition, said to have stolen her half-sister Briena's work, and was expelled from the school. She made several attempts to harm Briena, and was often punished by the family.
In the same year, Natalie tried to harm Briena by causing an accident just before an important piano competition, almost costing Briena's career as a pianist. To punish her, the family sent seventeen year old Natalie away to a far-off place, Zyros City, a place nothing but living hell, filled with dangers. The Ford family did not provide her with any monetary support, leaving her to fend for herself, more likely leaving her to die there.
"Where is the information about her five years in Zyros?" Justin asked, curious about how she survived there.
"I'm sorry, Mr. Harper. Even with our best sources, we couldn't obtain any information on Ms. Ford's life there. Xyros City is ruled by mafias, and it's difficult for outsiders to infiltrate it to get any information," Noah said, looking regretful for failing this task.
Justin read further. Natalie returned home two years ago and started working with Ivan Brown in his company. Given her dynamics with the family, he understood why she didn't work in her own family's company.
He was quite surprised to read about Natalie's achievements at such a young age, as she single-handedly took care of the R&D department as a director and even created the best-selling perfumes for the company, which saved it from bankruptcy.
"She seems to be quite talented," Justin mumbled.
"Miss Ford resigned from her job and left the company," Noah informed Justin before she moved to the next page.
"Resigned?" Surprised, Justin read the next page and understood that her position had been given to Briena, who was now Ivan's fiancée. "Such an idiot."
"Mr. Brown?" Noah asked.
"The one who can't separate personal and professional matters and loses such a precious asset to the company is nothing but an idiot," Justin commented, clearly recognizing Natalie's contribution and dedication to her work.
"Any data on who she married?" Justin asked.
Noah hesitated slightly, as he hadn't been able to gather that information either. "The man's name is said to be Aiden Handrix, but we couldn't find anything about him, as if someone is intentionally hiding everything related to him, or as if the man does not exist at all," Noah explained. "But we are trying our best to find out."
Justin's expression changed, finding this situation strange.
"There is a video footage we got from her office when she resigned," Noah offered, trying to make up for the missing information. He played the video for Justin.
The footage didn't exactly show the inside of Natalie's office but provided a view from the outside through the glass walls. Inside, she was seen setting a file on fire. Later, her conversation with Briena and Ivan could be heard before the entire floor was drenched in water from the sprinklers, and Natalie walked out of her office looking victorious.
Justin and Noah were stunned by her actions. She had set a fire in the office and left with her head held high, without any hesitation!
Justin somehow started to believe what he felt about Natalie while watching her in the video from the reception area. She was more than she revealed to others.
Putting the tablet aside, Justin asked, "Any news on her whereabouts?"
"Ms. Ford is staying at her friend's apartment after being thrown out of the home. She is on the way to the head office. Our people are waiting for her outside the office building. They will bring her here."
Natalie reached the head office of the Harper Group. Just as she stepped out of her car, a man in a dark suit approached her. "Ms. Natalie Ford?"
Natalie turned to look at the man after closing the door. "Yes?"
"I am here to take you to Mr. Justin Harper," the man informed her politely.
She scrutinized him carefully. His appearance and demeanor suggested he worked for someone in power, but she eyed him with suspicion. "How do you know I'm here to meet someone?"
The man remained calm. "Mr. Harper was informed that Ms. Ford wishes to meet him, so he sent me to bring you to him personally."
Though still doubtful, she agreed. "Alright."
"Please follow me." The man guided her towards a black luxury car and opened the door for her. Though hesitant, she sat inside anyway, holding onto the hope of finally meeting this man.
The car stopped at a luxury hotel nearby, where Justin was staying. The man led Natalie to the presidential suite on the top floor of the hotel. They entered the suite, where a man was waiting for her in the drawing room, sitting on the sofa. His one leg folded over another, a hand resting on the armrest, his expressions calm and composed.
"Ms. Ford, please have a seat," instructed the man who brought her, standing off to the side.
Natalie sat in a chair opposite the man, feeling confused as she looked at the man ahead. This wasn't Justin Harper. She looked around the room, hoping to see the man she was supposed to meet.
"Ms. Ford, were you looking for me?" The man asked.
"No. I was looking for Mr. Justin Harper," she replied, starting to get irritated, "You're not him, so cut the act and stop wasting my time." straight away
"How can you claim that?" The man's voice barely changed, but Natalie had a feeling he was trying to keep himself calm. "I could have you arrested for this insult!"
Natalie rolled her eyes, unbothered by his threat. She stood up and loomed over him threateningly, "If this is some kind of prank, you should know that I'm quite good with mixed martial arts, and I'm not afraid to use my fists!"
Chapitre 11: I Am Not Your Husband
"What makes you think I'm not Justin Harper? Have you seen me before?" The man asked, his eyes widening in surprise.
"Even if I hadn't seen him, I could tell you are not him," Natalie replied confidently.
"May I know how?"
She looked into his eyes and answered, "There are many reasons, but this is the most important: You don't look like someone who feels he owns the entire world. However, you do look like someone who works for such a person—a person important enough to dare to impersonate him."
The man was taken aback by her reply, but kept his calm until he received any order from his boss.
"Then, do I look like the one who owns the world?" A deep and dignified voice interrupted their conversation.
Natalie turned her head to the left to see a tall man standing at one of the doors to another room, wearing a pricey black suit, looking straight at her. With deep-set eyes, long and arched eyebrows, and thin lips, he had a dignified, distinguished look. With his sharp features and dashing looks he gave off an undeniable air of nobility and elegance just by standing there.
Justin Harper.
For a moment she felt like it was a dream, she was finally meeting the man who had his picture attached in her wedding certificate. The man walked towards the sofa to sit in his place. Noah emptied the place for Justin and stood on one side of the sofa, resuming his role of an attentive assistant.
On the other hand, Natalie found it difficult to take her eyes off of this man and followed him till he sat opposite to her. His deep gaze met her still one. He raised a brow at how boldly she was staring at him without saying a word.
Snapping back to her senses, Natalie felt awkward and picked up the glass of water from the table, taking a few sips. She could feel his piercing gaze on her, and suddenly, his presence felt overpowering. He hadn't said anything, yet there was an aura about him that left others feeling pressured and quiet. Was it because he could be her husband, or was he simply the kind of person who emitted such an imposing aura?
"I hope now you don't mind answering the question my assistant asked earlier," Justin began. "Why are you looking for me, Ms. Ford?"
She cleared her throat as she placed the glass of water on the table. "Mr. Harper, I am Natalie Ford—"
"I do watch and read the news," Justin interrupted her, indicating that he was aware of the scandalous news about her. "You are quite famous, I must say."
She felt a surge of irritation at his words. This was the man that was responsible for her latest scandal, but he was now pretending to be ignorant. "I wish to strangle the one who made me infamous."
"Thoughts of self harm can be a sign of psychological issues, Ms Ford," Justin commented with a raised eyebrow.
Her brows knitted in rising anger at his words. He was basically blaming her for her situation, implying that he had nothing to do with it! She wished to shout that she was the victim here.
Justin could clearly sense her anger and found himself enjoying provoking her. "Ms. Ford, it seems I am the first to diagnose you with potential psychological issues. But I'm sure I will not be the last."
Natalie truly felt like strangling this man. He was infuriating not with just his almighty presence but with his words as well.
'Calm down, Nat. Anger is not going to take you anywhere. This is not Xyros.'
She inhaled deeply to calm herself before she began, "Mr. Harper, do you have another identity besides the one you currently own?"
"No?" His deep, authoritative voice reached her ears. She observed his expressions and felt he wasn't lying. But then, people in the business world could be skilled at hiding their true thoughts.
"Do you, by chance, have a twin brother, Mr. Harper?"
"No."
"Do you know a man named Aiden Handrix?"
"No."
Natalie opened her bag and pulled out a document. She placed it on the table. "Maybe this can refresh your memory."
Noah picked up the document and handed it to Justin. Curious, Justin looked at it, only to receive the shock of his life. The man that this newfound stepsister of his is said to have married looks exactly like him.
If not for the different name written on it, he might have thought it was him, and would have been even more annoyed to see that he had married his stepsister.
If not for the different name, he might have torn this document right away.
Justin controlled his emotion and acted unaffected. He handed it back to Noah to give it back to Natalie. Noah finally looked into it and was equally shocked as Justin. He could not help exchanging glances between Justin and the picture on the document. How much he tried to find a difference, he failed and asked himself, 'Does he really have a missing twin brother?'
"Ms Ford, may I ask for your intentions in meeting me?" Justin asked, sounding calm and composed.
"I believe you're smart enough to understand it, Mr. Harper," she said, turning to Noah. "Mr. Assistant, you can go and check the authenticity of this wedding certificate before your boss accuses me of forging a fake one."
Noah looked at Justin, who nodded in agreement. Noah immediately left, knowing they needed to verify the document's authenticity on their end. It was hard to believe there could be someone out there who looked exactly like Justin. Even if it wasn't for Natalie's sake, they needed to investigate for Justin's protection. Given Justin's position, it wasn't safe to have a double out there.
Justin turned to Natalie. "So, you think I'm your husband?" he asked, feeling ridiculous inside, as the woman in front of him was his stepsister. However, he had to keep their true relationship from her until he knew her better and was sure she wasn't greed driven.
"After seeing that wedding certificate, any sane person would make a similar guess," she answered.
"But I must disappoint you—I am neither Aiden Handrix nor your husband."
Cadeaux
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