Levi was gone when Natalie woke up. He had a full day executive committee meeting, and she'd taken a day's leave. She and Colleen had to meet Sam's contact down at the police station to officially lay a case of assault on Paul. Sam had agreed to meet them there.She checked her phone and read the texts from Emily. She was dying to know how her evening at the Empress had gone and whether she'd told Levi yet.She didn't want to entertain Emily so early in the morning, but if she kept quiet, her friend would keep pushing.Reluctantly, she typed up a brief text, keeping the details to a bare minimum. 'His mom confronted me, I told her the truth. Levi proposed, and I said no.'Like Natalie knew she would, Emily called immediately."Oh My God! Mr Scissors proposed?" she screamed on her end of the line.Natalie held the phone away from her and snapped, "Keep your voice down. Do you want the whole company to hear you?""Sorry," Emily whispered. "And you had to take leave today! I want all the
"Ready to push on?" Sandra asked when they returned to the meeting room.Natalie nodded and took the bottled water from Levi, and sat down."Okay, let's talk about your sexual history before Dreams.""Do I have to?" Natalie asked."It will come up," Sandra said. "We don't want any surprises.""Fine," Natalie said. But it wasn't fine. She had no desire to talk about her past relationships with the father of her children in the room. But what else was she supposed to say?"How many past relationships?""Two.""Were they physical?""With all due respect, I don't see how this is relevant.""You are laying a charge of sexual assault. We need to show that nothing in your past suggests your behaviour may be questionable.""So if a woman is promiscuous, her claims are less credible?" Natalie demanded."As I've said, we don't want any surprises.""Both relationships were never physical," Natalie replied, at last, her cheeks burning hot with mortification."Can we contact both exes?"Natalie lo
They met at The Empress.It was the same restaurant where Andrei Ivanov had pulled a gun on him. The same table too.Levi stood just inside the door, gritting his teeth. He hated that it had come to this. But there was no way he'd put Natalie through the trauma of a trial.The interrogation the day before was brutal on her, and he knew it would only get worse once the case went to trial."Fuck it!" he growled under his breath and crossed the room.Andrei looked up from the menu, his face splitting into a cold smile when he saw him approach."Well, well, if it isn't the mighty Van Holt," he drawled, a look of sheer glee dancing in his eyes as he stood up and shook his hand."I was very surprised when I got your call." Andrei continued as they sat down."You've been calling me like a little bitch; it was only right that I return at least one of your calls," Levi murmured as he picked up the menu and glanced over their signature drinks."So that's how you want to play this?" Andrei asked
A week after they met with Detective Sandra, Natalie woke up to the news of a famous plastic surgeon in Rock Union indicted on several counts of sexual assault and grievous bodily harm playing out on all the major networks.Natalie sat in front of the TV in the living room with Colleen on the floor, at her feet, while Levi and Mark hovered in the background.Watching the police raid Paul's clinic just a few blocks away made their case all the more real and left Natalie absolutely terrified.Emily called and announced Aunty Viv was arrested at the crack of dawn for money laundering and racketeering. The police had seized several laptops and electronic devices when they raided her properties all over the country.Aunty Viv's bail hearing was scheduled for next week sometime, but Emily didn't expect it to be anything less than half a million Rands."She wants to meet you as soon as she makes bail, Nat. She thinks you can make this mess go away."Natalie declined the meeting.Now that the
The following afternoon, Natalie rushed home to prep for Colleen's surprise party. Emily and Seth were there in no time with four pizza boxes, and Mark showed up almost an hour later with an assortment of coolers and spirits."So much?" Natalie teased as she watched him chill a few coolers in the fridge."We have enough reason to celebrate, don't we?" he winked at her, leaving her wondering if he knew.No, she mentally shook herself. There was no way he knew. Colleen wouldn't tell him before she told Levi first. Her secret was still safe."How are you holding up?" she asked as she helped him hang a massive 'welcome home' banner on the wall.Emily followed it up with colourful string lights, squealing like a little kid when she turned them on and off."I don't know," Mark smiled. "Sometimes I have to pinch myself, you know, to make sure it's not a dream, and she's truly back."Natalie nodded. She understood. It was all she'd done since she moved in with Levi. Every time she was in his
Just one last time, Natalie thought.She was like an addict, craving one more hit, chasing that first high. She closed her eyes, anticipating his arousal, when she heard his zipper open.The moment Levi pushed into her, filling her up completely, she could feel herself come undone all around him. He pulled out quickly, chuckling as he gently nibbled her earlobe."Not yet," Levi said sternly, smacking her bare ass lightly. "You don't cum till I say so!"She nodded, holding his gaze in the mirror. He eased into her again so slowly she wanted to scream. It was agony the way he teased in and out of her."Please. Stop. Teasing. Me." She moaned, unable to control herself.He pulled her face to his and kissed her hard; the rhythm of his thrusts as he held her close to him sent her world spinning on its axis."Oh God, oh God Levi," she cried, at last, whimpered and shaking as she convulsed on him. Moments later, she felt his warmth deep inside her as he shuddered over her.It took her a long
The meeting with the board of Van Holt Industries had just begun when Angela came in with his iPad and a severe frown on her face.She leaned into him to deliver some terrible news."Mr Van Holt, HR would like you to authorise Ms Taylor's leave of absence—""What are you talking about?" He cut her off, dumbfounded by her announcement. Nothing she'd just said made any sense.Angela swiped and tapped on the screen and brought up Anna's email. He scanned it quickly, his heart thumping furiously in his chest."What the hell is this?" he demanded as he pushed the device away, stunning everyone—his father included—with the ferocity of his tone."Get Ms Taylor on the phone right now," he carried on as he got up and began to pace to the room. "And tell HR not to process the damn leave. Do you hear me, Angela? Ms Taylor will not be going anywhere.""Yes, sir."Leviticus gave him a warning look, but he ignored him. He didn't care about anything at that moment when his world was fast spinning ou
Natalie looked up when she saw his shadow looming over her.She licked her lips again, and all of Levi's self-control flew right out of the window. He yanked her off the bench and crushed her to his chest. She squirmed and tried to get away, but he held on tight and kissed her hard."Do you have any idea how nuts you drive me?" He cried in her hair when they finally pulled apart.He grabbed her backpack and hauled it over his shoulder, and took her hand. "Let's go home.""I can't," Natalie yanked her arm away and took a step back. "I'm sorry, I can't come with you.""It wasn't a request," he told her softly.When she refused to follow him willingly, he picked her up and carried her in his arms."Put me down!" Natalie fidgeted, but no matter how hard she tried to wiggle out of his grasp, he refused to let her go. The thought of never seeing her again made him break out in cold sweat.He made his way through the crowds, not in the least bothered by the curious stares following their prog