Fake Mate Beta Rises to Alpha Heiress (Natalie and Landon) novel Chapter 209

Chapter 209 My Personal Attention 

Aaliyah’s POV: 

I put the things down. Seeing how upset Landon looked, I guessed it was about Natalie. I’d been on edge myself these past two days. 

I was afraid Natalie would expose what happened between us, but I also hated the idea of Landon being controlled by her and the company falling into her hands. But the situation wasn’t up to me. 

With the company’s sudden troubles, Benjamin had talked to me. He urged me to think of the bigger picture, to think of Landon, and to focus on keeping Natalie on board. Just before Landon got home today, I heard from Louisa about the Scott Group pulling its funding. My heart sank. As much as I hated to admit it, at a critical time like this, Natalie was useful. 

But what could she really do, even with the company shares? 

The IPO was now a distant dream. If she came back to the Richardson Group, it would only be to salvage the project, doing the hardest, dirtiest work all over again. 

I had Nathan. I was Landon’s true Luna. The Richardson family knew where their loyalties should lie. 

Once I thought it through, I could swallow my anger for now. 

“Is Natalie still refusing to accept your apology?” I asked. 

“She said she’d come to the Richardson Group tomorrow morning.” Landon’s answer surprised me. 

I shouted, “She’s coming back already?” 

Landon’s POV: 

“Yeah. It’s a 50% stake. The Richardson Group was her life’s work, too. If it ever goes public, she stands to gain the most. Even if not for our past,” I said, an uncomfortable twinge in my chest, “she’d do it for the profit.” 

Deep down, I never believed Natalie was the type to bow for money. Her agreeing to meet was probably because she still held onto our history. 

“For now, I need you to bear with this,” I told Aal yah, my tone more dismissive than I realized. 

I had to pretend to “break up” with Aaliyah to have a chance at winning Natalie back. 

Aaliyah’s expression became terrible, but she nodded. “As long as Natalie doesn’t provoke me, I’ll behave. After all, my feelings for you are much more real than hers ever were.” 

Real feelings? 

I looked at her. The word sounded so hollow coming from her. How could the woman who used a child and our secrets to threaten Thorn Pack talk about sincerity? 

I used to believe in Aaliyah, and I had true love for her. Because she was willing to endure so much for me. 

But after she threatened the pack with the child and our affair, Natalie had risen far above her in my mind. 

My heart raced. “Who is it?” I asked. 

There was no answer. I looked through the peephole. The hall was empty. Cold fear gripped my stomach. 

The knocking came again, harder and more urgent. I shouted, “Who’s there? Stop playing games, or I’ll call the police!” 

“It’s me. Samuel.” His voice sounded weak, hoarse, and muffled. It echoed in the stairwell, mixed with strained, uncomfortable breathing. 

Samuel? What was he doing here? Revenge? For the tampered data I gave him, or for me teaming up with Natalie to humiliate him? 

“Mr. Scott?” I tried to sound calm. “What do you want? Are you here for payback?” 

Silence for a few seconds, then a breath that was almost a laugh. “To get back at you… wouldn’t be worth my personal attention.” 

He didn’t finish. The words broke into violent reching sounds. 

I winced. Did he really just throw up outside my door? That was a low form of revenge. 

“Mr. Scott,” I asked, “should I call the police, or get you a cab?” I wanted to call Natalie, but it was too late. I had to handle this mess myself. The way he sounded, at least he wasn’t in any shape to be a threat tonight.