he has changed

Nancy’s P.O.V.

“What did you say?” I asked Chris, shocked by what he replied to my request for a meeting with Nathan.

“You heard me perfectly fine, Ms. Winters. You don’t have any direct business with Mr. Lombart. And all your professional matters are handled by your managers and assistant. So, if there is something that needs Mr. Lombart’s attention, ask your manager or assistant to request an appointment. Mr. Lombart doesn’t think that your direct involvement is necessary.”

I knew that Nathan would refuse to meet me, but this bluntness from Chris was unexpected.

I stomped my foot in a fit of rage and stormed away.

In the past five years, I understood Chris very well. That man was immune to almost everything. The only person who can make him bend is Nathan.

So, it was futile to argue with him. It would only escalate my blood pressure, nothing else.

I walked onto the escalator and closed my eyes while leaning on the back wall.

I needed to stay calm, but for how long?

It had already been six years since she was gone.

Yet, I was still standing at the same spot where I was at that time.

“Cynthia. You dead woman. Why can’t you leave Nathan completely?” I muttered angrily, finding nowhere to vent my anger and frustration.

I banged my fist at the back wall in frustration and jerked my head a little.

The door opened again, and I furrowed my brows in confusion when I saw Nathan’s secretary, Claire, standing outside the elevator.

What the hell?

She was at her cubicle when I left the floor.

How could she be at a lower floor level?

She gave me an indifferent look before stepping inside.

I clenched my fists tightly while stepping aside.

She hit the button for the ground floor and I groaned internally.

I forgot to press the button earlier and that’s why the elevator was still at the same floor. This was a common elevator. Nathan had his personal elevator.

If I hadn’t left nine years ago, I would be the one who married Nathan, and then I wouldn’t have to endure their arrogance.

If…. If I were Mrs. Lombart, they wouldn’t dare to show me this arrogance.

The elevator stopped at the ground floor and we both walked out of the elevator. I was just a step behind her.

I was already in 28 years old. Although I was a famous model and actress for now, with intense competition and young people with high ambitions entering this field every day, no one could predict for how long I would be able to enjoy this fame.

No, this can’t go like this anymore. I tried to win Nathan’s heart again by every possible trick, but the distance between us was still the same.

I heard him asking Chris to investigate someone, but I had no accomplice in the secretarial department who could help me spy on Nathan.

I succeeded in taking favor from Nathan’s mother, Rachel Lombart, but that didn’t change the fact that he even refused to let me, his female companion, in any event.

I closed the door of my car after entering the driver's seat and closed my eyes.

There was a time when Nathan’s world revolved around me, and he maintained our friendship even after he married Cynthia. Back then, he let me be his companion on a few occasions too.

Everything changed after Cynthia’s death.

Nathan stopped caring for me. He left me on my own accord.

If it weren’t for his mother, I would have finished long ago.

I slowly opened my eyes and took a deep breath.

I need to change my tactics now.

I took my phone out and dialed his mother’s number.

“Hey, Nancy. What’s up?” She asked me calmly, making my heart skip a beat.

The problem wasn’t the calmness in her voice, but the detachment.

“Hey, Rachel. I learn from one of my endorsers that SELINE has just launched their winter-fall collection in their showroom. I remember you like their series of fur coats. Let’s go shopping.” I asked her enthusiastically, but my heart was drumming hard against my ribcage.

“That’s a good idea. I will meet you there in an hour.” I took a deep breath of relief when she accepted the invitation.

“That’s great. I will wait for you there then.” I replied in the same way, and we both hung up.

Rachel loved Nathan so much. He was her pride. After Cynthia’s death, she was worried sick for Nathan and knowing his love for me in the past, she agreed to my persuasion.

Now, I needed to keep believing my persuasion so that she could convince Nathan to marry me.

I knew Nathan very well. I only needed a chance to go closer to him and I was sure that I would make him mine again.

I was about to start the car when my phone started ringing. I took the phone from the passenger’s seat, where I threw it earlier.

It was my private investigator whom I hired to keep eyes on Nathan’s whereabouts.

“Ms. Winters. I sent you last night report. Mr. Lombart had three business meetings last night, but one woman who appeared with Mr. Silva took my attention. Her name is Cynthia Williams.” My heart skipped so many beats in a row in fear.

“What did you say? What’s her name?” I yelled in panic this time.

“Relax, Ms. Winters. Her name is Cynthia Williams, but she is not Cynthia Lombart. I have investigated her too and sent you an additional file.” He replied and I immediately hung up and opened the mail.

My heart was now racing a marathon.

No, this can’t happen. Not now, not ever.

Cynthia is dead, and there is no way a dead comes back to life like this.

Surely it can happen in fiction, but not in real life.

A dead is dead.

My breath hitched when I saw her silhouette in the first photo attached to the mail.

She had her back towards the camera, but she looked familiar.

I saw her face in the next photo, which was completely different from Cynthia Lombart, but her eyes…

Nonononono… this is not happening. This….

I can’t let this woman around Nathan at any cost.

She may not be his wife, Cynthia Lombart, but her eyes….

They looked so familiar….

I immediately dialed a number and waited for him to pick up the call.

“Long time no see.” He asked me teasingly after picking up the call.

“I sent you something. Just see that first,” I asked him in a shaky voice.