Chapter 044 Jamie Returns
"Here, have some coffee," Jagger offered, his voice echoing through the duty room. He poured a steaming cup and placed it before Natalie, his movements precise and deliberate.
"Thanks," Natalie murmured, her fingers curling around the warm ceramic. The heat seeped into her, chasing away the chill that clung to her damp clothes and wet hair. The drizzle outside had been relentless, leaving the windows fogged with condensation.
The room was a haven of warmth and comfort, but Jagger seemed preoccupied. Once he had ensured Natalie was settled with her coffee, he busied himself with other tasks, his attention focused elsewhere.
Natalie remained silent, her frazzled nerves gradually soothing in the quiet. Perhaps it was the strong heating in the room, or the calming effect of the coffee, but she soon found herself drifting off, her head resting on the table.
The shrill ringtone of a cell phone jerked her awake. Blinking in confusion, she realized Jagger was no longer in the office. His jacket, however, was draped over her shoulders, a silent testament to his thoughtfulness.
Startled, she noticed the persistent ringing of the phone. It was Jagger's, abandoned on the desk. The caller ID flashed a familiar name - Traylor Kroger, a renowned cardiothoracic surgeon.
Quietly, she folded the jacket and placed it on the chair before returning to Rosalie's hospital room. Rosalie was still unconscious, her face pale against the stark white sheets. Natalie took out a white flower she had picked at Stanley's grave and placed it on the bedside table, a symbol of her determination to save her friend, no matter the trials she faced.
Meanwhile, Adrian had just returned to the Verono branch office of the Howard Group. He had barely finished a video conference when Brice handed him a phone, his voice formal as he announced, "Mr. Howard, you have a call from Mr. Cook."
Adrian took the phone, his voice steady as he answered, "Colby."
"Adrian, Jamie's back..." Colby informed him.
Adrian's brow furrowed slightly. "When did he get back?"
"After you left Vachilit."
A moment of silence followed.
"Adrian, when you return, let's get together and put the whole Andrea thing behind us," Colby added.
After ending the call, Adrian sat back, his legs crossed, his mind lost in thought. The name Andrea stirred a sense of unease within him. He picked up his phone, his finger hovering over the name "Natalie" for a long moment before he finally dialed Alice's number.
The sudden ring of the cell phone startled Natalie. She was still at the hospital, her heart pounding as she quickly silenced it and hurried to the staircase. It was Alice's phone in her hand, the caller ID reading "Adrian." Her nerves were on edge.
It had been days since Natalie had heard from Adrian. She had thought their parting had marked the end of their connection. But since Curtis had asked her to impersonate Alice until Alice recovered, Natalie had kept Alice's phone with her.
Taking a deep breath to steady herself, she answered the call. The line was silent, and Natalie found herself holding her breath, the quiet so profound she could hear the other's breathing.
"Are you asleep?" Adrian's voice broke the silence.
"I was just about to rest when your call came in."
"So I'm disturbing you."
"Not at all."
"I'll be back early next week."
Leaning against the wall, her fingers gripping the phone tightly, Natalie managed to reply, "Yeah, I'll wait for you." Her voice was hesitant, tinged with a reluctance she couldn't hide.
She knew that the person who would be waiting for him wouldn't be herself.
Adrian laughed, his deep, husky voice sending a jolt through Natalie. Fearing she couldn't hold back her emotions, she quickly feigned a yawn and said, "I'm a bit tired now, let's talk when you come back, goodnight."
On the other end, Adrian was about to say something but eventually said softly, "Okay, goodnight."
After hanging up, Natalie leaned against the wall, clutching the phone. Alice's words from earlier echoed in her mind. Now, even hearing his voice seemed like a luxury.
She didn't know what else she could possibly look forward to.
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