Chapter 67 A Warning Issued
Adrian observed her with an intensity that was hard to ignore, his countenance growing serious as she sidestepped him as one would a looming flood or a ferocious beast. "I recall distinctly instructing you last night to take me back to Riverside Villa," he reminded her.Natalie responded with a sense of urgency, "You were suffering from acute gastritis, Mr. Howard. If you didn't seek medical attention, the consequences could have been dire." She paused, her voice softening, "You helped me last night, and I helped you in return. We're even now, Mr. Howard."
As she finished speaking, she made a move to rise and depart. However, before she could fully stand, Adrian reached out, capturing her chin in his firm grip. "How did I overlook your talent for debate?" he queried, a hint of amusement in his voice.A smile tugged at Natalie's lips. "Well, now you're aware," she replied quietly. "I must get to work, Mr. Howard. If I'm late, they'll dock my full attendance bonus."Adrian frowned, his hand applying a slow, deliberate pressure. "Is it honorable to work in a place like that?"Natalie winced at his words. "What kind of place? I'm striving to earn a living. You got drunk, and I brought you to the hospital. I believe that to be honorable.""And your education?" Adrian probed."No need for it, Mr. Howard," she retorted. "Didn't you withhold three credits from me? I couldn't graduate on time and had to defer it. I'm just treating it as if I've commenced work a year early."Adrian studied her face in silence, his grip on her chin unyielding. The room was still, the silence stretching out for several heartbeats. With his free hand, he traced a path across her face, his fingertips grazing her forehead, eyes, and nose before coming to rest on her lips. His eyes held no warmth, only an endless, piercing cold."Natalie," he began, his voice colder than she'd ever heard it. "Daniel is my cousin. Dismiss any inappropriate thoughts you may harbor. He's not someone you should touch."It was a warning. Natalie was taken aback. The last time she'd visited the Howard Villa, she'd heard that Daniel and Emily were an item. It had been a considerable time since she'd last seen Daniel. Adrian's words struck her as odd, but she didn't dare probe further. She resolved to sever any further interactions with the Howard family.That evening, upon her return to the Imperial Nightclub, Natalie was summoned to Melody's office. The office was spacious, tucked away in a corner on the third floor. Melody sat behind her desk, a slender cigarette held delicately between her fingers. After taking a few drags, she offered one to Natalie, who declined with a shake of her head."Natalie, this is your compensation for emotional distress," Melody announced, extracting an envelope from her drawer. It was neither too thin nor too thick.Natalie accepted it, her brow furrowing in confusion. Emotional distress compensation? What could that mean? She glanced at Melody, her fingers lightly pinching the envelope. It felt as though it contained around $600.Melody clarified, "The Imperial Nightclub has strict rules, but occasionally, inebriated patrons exploit their state to harass the staff. This is something we can manage. Yesterday's incident was an anomaly, and it won't recur. This money is from Mr. Duncan, intended as compensation for your emotional distress."Natalie murmured her thanks, "Thank you, Ms. Nicholson, thank you, Mr. Duncan."Mr. Duncan? Could he be the Jason from yesterday?"You don't need to thank me," Melody replied. "If you find yourself in a similar situation in the future, be smarter and come to me. I will handle it."In the ensuing days, Natalie worked diligently. She wasn't overly busy during this period. She had been working alongside Denise for a month, and a new waitress, Susan Taylor, had recently joined them.Like Natalie, Susan was a junior at Camhike University. However, Susan had fewer academic commitments and hailed from a well-to-do family, her parents being successful real estate moguls.Denise couldn't help but express her envy. "With such a wealthy background, why are you working here?" she asked.
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