CHAPTER SIXTEEN: THE NIGHTMARES

NATALIE

The water, though warm and with a sweet scent streamed into my nostrils, quickly restricting my airflow and caused life to slowly seep out of my body. I couldn't even gasp for air, the sedative had spread quickly, my limbs felt so weak that I couldn't even move them. Then Isabella walked in, her hands pressed me down, held me under the water while I fought a fruitless battle to save my life.

I gasped awake, struggling hard to steady my breathing. My lungs burned, eyes blurry as memories from the night I died in the bathtub began to flood in. I could still feel it vividly, Isabella's strong hard against my chest as she pushed me down to my death.

As the memories flooded in, as that night flashed before my eyes, the pain gradually began to give way to something else, something more deadly, more dangerous, something that pushed at my chest harder than the pain I felt—rage.

I tore the sheets off my body, reached for my robe by my bedside and draped it over my shoulders.

According to my bedside clock, it was just 2am.

The paper work I had been reviewing before I slept off lay on my bedside table.

Ignoring all, I poured myself a glass of champagne instead and moved to stand and moved to stand by the glass walls and watched the quiet city.

My skin crawled, goosebumps covered my arms, I rubbed it. It was a cold night, but the chills I felt wasn't a result of the cold, it was the nightmare.

The memories flashed rudely in front of my eyes, the triumphant look on Isabella's face as I drowned haunted me.

I brought the glass to my lips and took a long sip.

Although I had drawn satisfaction recently from Isabella's constant rage at my presence, her disappointments at Rafael's closeness to me, her confusion on my true identity and motive, I didn't think she was getting as much as she deserved. She deserved ridicule, public shame and embarrassment, and I would see to that.

Downing the remaining contents of my glass, I walked over to my study to continue working on the paperworks I had received from Emma the previous day.

*********

A few hours later, when the sun was already starting to rise from the horizon, a familiar black limousine pulled into my driveway.

My lips stretched into a smile as I descended the staircase, rubbing my eyes that were swollen from the obvious lack of sleep.

Lorenzo stood in the hall, both hands in his pocket. His all white suit shimmered, making him stand out.

"Happy birthday, brother." The words rolled out of my lips as I approached him. I noted the uneasiness that still lingered within as I uttered the word 'brother'. I had never had a brother, it still felt strange having to call someone my brother.

Lorenzo spun around, a delighted smile on his face.

"You are not dressed for work?" He asked, running his eyes down my frame.

I folded my arms across my chest.

"I have about..." My voice trailed off as I looked at the clock. "Thirty minutes to do that." I said.

"So, how do you plan on celebrating your birthday today?" I asked

Lorenzo reached into his pocket for his cigarette. I didn't get a response immediately, not until he had puffed out a large amount of smoke from his mouth to float into the air. "I'm thinking dinner," I continued, "I can arrange..."

"I'm having a smaller feast at the Da Luca mansion in the heart of the city," Lorenzo cut me short. "It would just be family and friends with a few business partners." Lorenzo puffed out smoke again, his eyes resting on me. "So, do well to invite your friends." He added.

"Friends?" I asked, narrowing my brows. "You mean Rafael?"

Another large cloud of smoke floated into the air, giving just enough space so I could look into Lorenzo's face. His he gave a lopsided smile.

"And whoever cares to come with him."

"And Isabella."

A moment of silence passed between us, but the silence was accompanied by knowing looks shared between the both of us.

"Anyways, sister," Lorenzo said, dropping his cigarette on the ground and crushing it under his shoes. "I just dropped by to check up on you. I need to run along and check on some shipments."

"Thanks for your generosity, brother. And see you at dinner in the mansion tonight." I said, smiling softly. "I also have to run along, my thirty minutes is quickly running out."

My work clothes, a crisply ironed, gray tailored suit lay on my bed as I stepped out of the bathroom, draped in my white towel, Emma had made sure of that.

All dressed up now, I unboxed the emerald bracelet I just had delivered to me. It had been difficult getting an exact replica, but here we are. Rafael has gifted Alina an exact type of this bracelet on their first year anniversary.

Emma's footsteps in front of my door almost startled me.

"Your car is ready, miss." She announced.

I took one last look at my reflection in the mirror, the dangerous looking and calculative Natalie De Luca, a small smile, then I grabbed my purse.

"Let's go." I said.

I stopped by at my office first, but that was not my last destination for the day, I still had an invitation to hand out.

Just as expected, I met Isabella as a road block when I got to Rafael's office. Always on stand by, watching out like a mother hen protecting her chick from a hawk. Only that in this case, she was the hawk that everyone needed protection from

"Isabella," I said as I stepped into front of her. "Perfect timing." I said sarcastically.

I held her gaze, to see if I achieved the aim with my statement. I did. Her jaw clenched hard, a spark of rage flashed briefly in her eyes.

"Do you need something from Rafael, Natalie? I checked his schedule, it didn't say he had any meeting with you today."

I let out an internal chuckle.

"I don't have a scheduled meeting with Rafael, Isabella, but there is something I would like to speak to him about.

She pointed to the adjoining office. "If you don't mind, you can speak to me about it, Rafael is too busy now and won't see you."

My hands tightened around my purse as I tried to keep a straight face.

"Actually, Isabella, I do mind. I would love to speak to Rafael directly."

"And I said," Isabella's pitch rose slightly above the calm voice she had tried to maintain all through the conversation.

She didn't get to finish her words, because Rafael's door was pushed open at that instant. He seemed to be escorting a business partner. His eyes flashed at my direction.

"I will see you some other time, Mr Caruso. Please, do put my proposal into consideration." Rafael said to his visitor, while watching me from the corner of his eyes.

They exchanged a handshake, and as soon as his visitor was gone, Rafael came over to stand by my side.

"Natalie," he called, extending a hand.

"Did I interrupt your meeting?" I laughed. "I should have just sent my assistant."

"No, it's not a problem at all," Rafael cut in. "I'm glad you came."

Th atmosphere shifted at once, something thick floated in the air, tension, and something else—Isabella's obvious anger.

I believed it wasn't just me who saw the longing I'm Rafael's eyes.

Good, let him crave for me, let him want me so much, and not know why.

"I mean," he corrected when he realised the weight his words carried. "It isn't a problem at all. Let's talk I'm my office."

"If it's a business meeting, I would like to be present." Isabella cut in.

Rafael cut her a sharp gaze. "Isabella," his voice was calm, but I read the warning underneath it, I was certain she heard it too.

"So, to what do I owe this visit?" Rafael asked as we settle in his office.

"Stopping by to check on a business associate," I began, instinctively extending my hand on the table, the one that had the bracelet, stylishly flashing the bracelet in front of his face. "Would do no harm." I finished my statement, keeping my eyes locked into his.

Right! I watched as he stiffened, his face turned white like all blood had been drained from it, he gulped down hard as his looked at the bracelet with wide eyes. I bet if I listened more closely, I could hear his heart beating in his chest.

His eyes moved quickly from the bracelet back to my face.

It was difficult pretending not to have noticed his reaction and my maintain a straight face, but I pulled it off.

"There is a party," I began again, "it's my brother's birthday, and we made it a must to invite a our business associates." I informed him, smiling brightly as I watched his face.

I watched as he tightened his fist.

"Are you there, Rafael?" I waved my hand in front of his face and he snapped back.

"Uhhm... Well, happy birthday to your brother." He said sharply.

"You would come, wouldn't you?" I asked.

"Of course... Sure." He cut in.

"Good. I will send you a message later with more details." I said as I lifted myself from the chair. "I should be on my way, I have something to take care of in my office."

He walked me to my car, and just before I got in, I rolled out the words"Isabella can come to." I said. "To the party, I mean."

Rafael nodded. Confusion still etched on his face as he looked at the bracelet on my wrist.

I could see his eyes calculating, I could almost hear his thoughts screaming 'She is not Alina.'

By the time he is able to gather his thoughts, I would have accomplished my mission.