"It has been the top news since yesterday night. I tried bringing it down but it wasn't working" Kelvin said.
Natalie immediately removed the pipes connected to her arm and marched to rush out of the place.
"Ma'am wait!!" Kelvin exclaimed.
Natalie opened the door but her face dropped when she saw numerous reporters waiting for her.
"She's awake!" One of the male reporters exclaimed and others snapped their heads towards her direction.
Natalie immediately closed the door and locked it.
"Mrs. Natalie, a word please!..."
"Open the door!!"
"We need an explanation!!"
"Was that you in the video!!"
Natalie sweeped her hair backwards as she stepped back listening to the reporters throwing questions at her.
"I tried to warn you," Kelvin muttered. Natalie grabbed him by the shirt.
"Get me out of here" She uttered through her gritted teeth.
___
Candy walked into a restaurant, her eyes spotted a man dressed in a fine suit and walked towards him.
"Good afternoon, did I make you wait long?" She asked.
"Oh, of course not Miss. Jefferson. Please sit" He said, adjusting his glasses gently. He is over 50 having some grey hairs and a moustache around his jawline. He is her father's lawyer.
"I've been trying hard to reach you but Mrs. Natalie said you were out of the country and pretty busy to show up. She sometimes mention you are sick"
"I'm here now. Let's get to business" Candy smiled.
The man bought out some files and placed them before Candy.
"All you have to do is sign Miss, and it will be all yours"
Candy smirked, staring at the paper.
___
Natalie couldn't get in touch with Vortex. This only made her anxiety grow the more. He was the only suspect..
Who else could have released the video..
What about Candy? What the actual fuck is going on? Most importantly, why was the video edited and revealed short.
Whoever did this was torturing her and it was working.
Her phone rang and she quickly picked it up. She actually lodged into a hotel to hide herself.
"Hello?"
"It's Vortex, Natalie" The voice sounded and her face slowly squeezed in anger.
"Before you yell, I'm not the one who released the video and sent someone to hurt you. I would never do that" Vortex said.
"Oh yeah? And you expect me to believe that!!"
"If it was me. I wouldn't be calling you right now. It was a hotel worker that did this just to create hype. She is your antifan who came to attack you that night. I've found her and right now, she is with me. All you have to do is follow what I say Natalie"
"What about Candy?" Natalie asked. Deep inside her, she has a strange feeling.
"She is here, the deed is still going on" Vortex replied.
"I still don't believe you" Natalie gritted her teeth.
"Do you want to get out of this mess or not?"
His question made Natalie realize she had no choice.
"Fine, what should I do?" She asked.
"I've managed to prepare the press. I'll give you the script of what to say. This would help you out"
"A press? I can't go out there facing those monstrous reporters ready to tear me apart" She complained.
"Okay bye.."
"Wait!.. fuck wait!" She yelled.
"Are you in?" He asked.
"Yeah fine. Where and what time?" She asked.
After the call ended, Vortex dropped the phone with trembling hands. His head raised up to the devil sitting before him.
His piercing gaze almost made Vortex pee on his pants.
"Hmm, you're so good at it," Diego commented.
Jameson, who was beside Diego, clapped his hands.
"Damn bro, you should be in the movie industry" Jameson said.
Vortex swallowed hard. Of course making a mistake means dying in Diego's hand. That will be hell.
Diego's mind drifted to what Candy promised him..
'I'll repay with whatever you want'
Some crazy thoughts lingered in his head. Whatever he wants...
__
Main hall, at 6 pm, was filled with so many reporters from different companies. Natalie Jefferson, ready to give the netizens an explanation was going viral.
Natalie came up on stage wearing an expensive dress. Her breath stopped seeing so many of them. She felt unsettled about this but had no choice.
She composed herself since she has some bodyguards with her.
"Hello everyone, thank you all for coming today" Natalie started and the reporters snapped furiously at her.
"First, the woman on the video was truly me"
Her words caused an uproar.
"After my husband's death I felt lonely and there after I fell in love with a man. This man showed me the love I've been craving for but at the end I can see he was just using me.." A tear fell off her eyes and she began to act pitiful.
"He threatened me all day asking me to send him money. I tried reporting his case but he was a dangerous man. He threatened to kill my only daughter. I decided one day that this must stop so I didn't send him anything on the day he asked.. I thought he had free me but on the award night, he posted my video. As you can see clearly, his face wasn't revealed but mine was.."
"What is the man's name?!" One of the reporters exclaimed.
"His name is Reed, a dangerous man and..."
A video dropped...
One after the other, the reporters drew out their phones and began to check what just dropped.
"It's the video again, this time it is clear, full and has the sound" One of the reporters muttered. He took his earpiece and heard just a few part.
"This bitch is lying!!" He exclaimed.
Natalie stopped talking and frowned. What is going on? Kelvin, who was behind Natalie, walked towards her and showed the video to her.
The hell?!!!!!!
A female reporter stood up to her feet.
"Hey, what do you take us for? Did you call us her just to lie to our face? You murderer!!!" She yelled.
Natalie's eyes flew open with shock. Did they just call her murderer?!
This is bad! She didn't need to think twice. She turned and ran out of the stage. Luckily for her, she was fast enough to get to her car before the reporters did.
"There's no way out.. Vortex tricked me!" She yelled insanely. "I need to get out of here, book a flight!" she said to Kelvin and he nodded.
She checked her account and to her dismay, her money was gone.
"What?!" How is this possible? The person on her neck is not joking. This is definitely her doom. "Head to the office right now"
Taking the company's private money won't be a bad idea. She just needed to leave.. The police must be looking for her right now.
Getting to the company, she took her private elevator and made her way to her office without letting anyone see her.
Slamming the door open, her eyes came in contact with her nightmare.
The shareholders of the company surrounded her as she sat with both legs on the table, like she owned the place.
Just besides her was the man from the military, the one who noticed Natalie's dark motive the day Jefferson died. He was in his military attire with a hard look on his face.
"C..andy?" Natalie's knee weakened as she managed to speak.
The shock was so much for her, she almost peed on herself
Candy's lips curled up into a smirk and she greeted them.
"Hey, what's up whore!"