Hannah was relieved that Natasha had not changed her cellphone number. “Hey Natasha, it’s me.”
The excitement of the woman on the other end was apparent. “Hannah? Is that really you? Where have you been? I was so worried about you. Did you know that Mr. Norton was almost going crazy? Does he know that you’ve returned?”
Natasha was guilt-ridden about losing track of Hannah. More than a mere dereliction of duty, the sense of loss was also personal. So how could she not be emotional at hearing Hannah’s voice?
Hannah could not help but sigh. She could totally imagine how devastated Fabian must have been when she went missing.
“No worries, it’s nothing. I just went away for awhile. How about yourself? Where are you now? I heard that you’ve left the very next day after I was gone. Are you still in the country?”
Hannah tried very hard to mask her sense of contrite toward Fabian.
“Oh, you don’t have to worry about me, Hannah. I quit and joined another company because I thought you’ve left. But I’m still here though.”
Natasha intuitively knew how she ought to respond.
“I see.” Hannah was a little disappointed, as she might have to put up at a hotel herself if Natasha had returned the keys.
“Where are you staying now, Natasha? Don’t tell me that you are holed up at a hotel? Which company are you currently working at? If it isn’t too far away, you could stay with me.”
“Wow, good guessing. To be honest, I was a little down when you left after everything that happened cause you’re my only friend in the country, so I decided on a change of scenery. It doesn’t matter cause I’m really here just to learn Chanaease anyway, but the place where I’m working at now is a little small. Now that you’re back, I think I’d like to come back too, considering that I’m better suited for the work here,” Natasha explained.
Her responsibility was to protect Hannah. Now that Hannah had returned, Natasha had chosen her words carefully so that she could continue to stay by her side.
Hannah was completely in the dark about Natasha’s true identity and treated her like a younger sister. She was naturally delighted to hear that Natasha was willing to come back. “That’s great. I’d love for you to rejoin us and will go inform Mr. Dijon in a bit.”
“Thank you so much, Hannah. I’ll get myself sorted out over here and be right over.”
“It’s no trouble. You’re welcome.”
Hannah smiled when she replied, but meant every word she said. It could only be a good thing for the company to have a foreign intern from an elite school.
Natasha and Hannah continued to chat for a while more before they ended the call. The former went on to call Fabian as she was not certain if he was in the know about this latest development.
“Hello? Mrs. Norton just called me, Mr. Norton. She’s back with the company.”
Natasha wasted no time at all when the call got through.
“Yes, I’m aware of that. And how did you respond?”
Fabian reckoned that Hannah would definitely ring up Natasha when she returned. He would feel much better to have Natasha working alongside Hannah.
Hannah was practically ignoring him now and would surely not return to the Norton Residence at night. He therefore concluded that she must have had the company make arrangements for a place to stay as well.
“I’ve asked to go back to work and Mrs. Norton had agreed. I’d be staying together with her as well.”
Fabian nodded assertively. “Halcyon Hotel, Room 505. Head on in when you arrive.”
Natasha understood him right away, as it was the same as last time. That was where she should pick up her luggage from.
After she hung up, she made straight for the company–where Hannah was at, as ensuring Hannah’s safety was paramount.
