The Fake Heiress and Her Purrfect Partner novel Chapter 49

**Chapter 49**

Nina felt her heart race, a tight knot of anxiety forming in her chest. “Where’s Smokey? You have to take me to him, quickly!” she urged, her voice trembling with urgency.

Coco, nimble and quick, dashed along the top of the wall, his little paws barely making a sound. Below, Nina sprinted after him, her breath coming in quick gasps, her cheeks flushed with a mix of fear and determination.

When she finally caught up, her heart sank at the sight that greeted her. A tabby cat loomed over Smokey, its paw pinning his tail down with an unyielding grip. Beneath the cat’s other paw, a tiny mouse was trapped, quivering in terror. The tabby lowered its head, revealing a mouth full of sharp fangs that gleamed menacingly in the dim light, poised to snap the little mouse’s neck at any moment.

“Tabby Cat, please don’t hurt him!” Nina cried out, her voice laced with desperation. She felt a surge of protectiveness for both Smokey and the frightened mouse.

In a flash, Coco sprang into action, deftly wedging a discarded water bottle between the cat’s jaws just as it prepared to strike. The tabby cat’s fur bristled, its back arching as it hissed with a ferocity that belied its small size. It radiated a fierce energy, making it clear that this alley was its territory, and it would not be challenged lightly.

The cat’s amber eyes narrowed into fierce slits, each strand of fur standing on end, ready to pounce on anyone foolish enough to interfere. “You little punk!” it snarled, its voice dripping with disdain. “Who do you think you are, barging in on my meal?”

Nina, her mind racing, quickly rummaged through her bag and pulled out a meat stick, peeling off the wrapper with trembling hands. “Tabby Cat, we didn’t mean to interrupt your dinner,” she said, her voice steadying as she took a cautious step forward. “How about you try a meat stick instead? It’s delicious!”

The tabby cat lifted its head, skepticism evident in its gaze. “You think one measly meat stick is enough to make me let go of two mice?” it retorted, its tone incredulous.

Nina pressed her palms together, her eyes wide with sincerity. “Tabby Cat, if there’s anything else you want to eat, just tell me—I’ll get you as much as you want, I promise!” The urgency in her voice was palpable; she needed to save both Smokey and the mouse.

The tabby cat’s posture shifted slightly, its curiosity piqued. “So you can understand what I’m saying? Now that’s interesting. I want fish. And don’t you dare bring me any with too many bones,” it commanded, its tone authoritative, as if it were a ruler dictating terms.

Nina thought to herself, ‘This cat really thinks it’s in charge.’ She knew all too well that cats had rough tongues designed to scrape meat from fish bones, but they detested the feeling of those tiny bones getting lodged in their throats, just like humans.

With a flick of its tail, the tabby cat added, “As soon as you bring me that fish, these two mice are free. Simple deal.” The mouse under its paw trembled violently, eyes wide with fear, while Smokey lay motionless, frozen in terror.

Nina realized that if she wanted to gather any clues, she had to rescue the mice first. She quickly dialed Tony, her voice urgent. “Mr. Warren, could you pick me up a pound of fresh fish fillets—any kind, but make sure it’s bone-free? I’ll transfer the money to you right away.”

“Sure thing, Nina,” Tony replied without hesitation, sensing the urgency in her voice.

As she waited, Nina observed the tabby cat’s agitation. It paced restlessly, and she crouched down to take a closer look. To her horror, she noticed a clear sign of a parasite bite along the edge of its left ear. The area was unnaturally red and swollen, with tiny wounds oozing a pale yellow fluid. The fur around it was sparse, a result of the cat’s incessant scratching.

Nina, always prepared for such situations, remembered the vet’s first aid kit she kept in her backpack. She retrieved a small white spray bottle and said, “Tabby Cat, I’m actually an animal doctor. This anti-itch spray is my special recipe—it’s really effective.”

She spritzed a bit of the spray into her palm first, letting the shimmering droplets catch the sunlight. “See? Totally safe,” she assured him, showing her hand as proof. The fresh herbal scent wafted through the air, and she asked, “Smells nice, doesn’t it? How about I give your left ear a quick spritz?”

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