<h4>Chapter 260: Control Freak Jerk</h4>


    The judges then approached the girl who had sabotaged Natalie’s table. "Miss Kara, we are truly disappointed by your performance. Your work resembled that of an amateur who had no idea what they were doing. I wonder how you even qualified for thispetition. You’ve shown no respect for the workspace or the process of creation. You need to work harder, or you might as well leave this field altogether."


    Hearing this, Kara’s expression shifted, and she stammered, "I am sorry." Internally, she was panicking. <i>Have I just ruined my own career? So many people are watching this. What if I don’t get a job in the perfume industry? My dream of working for a goodpany... what will happen now?</i>


    Her gaze shifted to Briena, who was deliberately ignoring her. <i>This bitch, she made me do it by offering me money,</i> Kara thought angrily.


    Yet she couldn’t reveal the truth. Exposing Briena, meant she would risk her being banned from the perfume industry forever and would make things even harder for herself. While Briena being rich would escape the situation.


    The first round was over, and the next was scheduled for the following day.


    As Natalie was leaving, she crossed paths with Briena in the corridor outside the waiting room.


    "Aftering in fifth ce and barely escaping elimination, do you seriously think you have a chance of winning thispetition?" Briena mocked. "This time, as always, I’m going to win."


    Natalie remained unfazed as she replied, "Coming in fifth ce is certainly better than paying someone to mess up the chemicals of other participants."


    Briena was momentarily taken aback but quickly recovered. She nced around and said, "Stop making things up. Do you think I’ll fall for that and say something I shouldn’t, only for you to record it?"


    Natalie couldn’t help but smirk. She gently patted Briena’s cheek. "Little sister, you’ve finally grown a few brain cells inside that empty skull of yours, but you’re still far from being smart."


    Briena angrily shrugged her hand off, but Natalie immediately grabbed her wrist in a tight grip, making Briena wince in pain. "I’m not a fan of your voice to record it anymore," Natalie said, pulling Briena closer. Then she leaned in and whispered in her ear, her tone dangerously low and menacing.


    "Little sister, this time it’s not just a voice recording but something far more dangerous you’re going to fall into. Trust me, when that dayes, you’ll regret even having the thought of messing up with me."


    A chill ran down Briena’s spine. She had always been secretly afraid of Natalie, and hearing her speak in such a way made her feel genuinely scared.


    "What are you doing to my daughter?" ra’s voice interrupted, sharp and concerned.


    Natalie released Briena and turned to ra, her expression calm but her words cutting. "Nothing yet, ra Ford, but very soon."


    ra immediately grabbed Briena’s hand and asked, "What did she do to you?"


    Briena, still stunned with fear, looked at her mother and slowly came back to her senses. By the time she did, Natalie had already left. Briena nced in the direction where Natalie had disappeared, her expression stillced with unease.


    "What happened?" ra asked.


    "Mom... I think... that Natalie is up to something," Briena said nervously. "She’s nning something against me. Does she have proof to show who the true Aroma is?"


    "Don’t fall for her act. She can’t do anything," ra replied firmly. "If she could, you wouldn’t have been signed for that movie, nor would you have gotten first ce today. Ignore her. She’s just jealous and trying to scare you because she’s powerless."


    Briena nodded to her mother’s reassurances and left with her.


    ----


    Inside Justin’s study, the atmosphere was tense.


    "Is there no update on Vincent?" Justin’s cold voice echoed through the room.


    "Mr. Harper, since the day Vincent visited Aiden Shaw, he’s been with him. Both of them seemed to be nning something," Noah replied. "But over the past few days, they’ve both disappeared without a trace, and our people haven’t been able to locate them."


    Justin leaned back in his chair, his brows furrowed. "Aiden Shaw wouldn’t leave that woman without reason. We need to find out what happened at any cost. I am sure it’s rted to those who are trying harm Natalie and her mother."


    "Yes, Mr. Harper. Our people are working on it. There are some promising leads, but we’ll need more time."


    Justin’s expression remained stern. "Who’s looking after that woman?"


    "A man named Eric is with her, and Aiden’s and Vincent’s people are guarding the hospital alongside ours."


    "Tell Ryan to bring Natalie straight home," Justin ordered.


    "Yes, Mr. Harper."


    -----


    Inside the car.


    "Take me to Mia’spany," Natalie said to Ryan, who was driving.


    "Mr. Harper has instructed me to bring you directly back home," Ryan replied.


    "But I want to go to Mia’spany. It’s important," she insisted.


    "I’m sorry, Ms. Natalie, but I have to follow Mr. Harper’s orders," he said firmly.


    "Control freak, jerk, Justin Harper," Natalie muttered angrily under her breath and pulled out her cellphone. She dialed Justin’s number.


    Ryan and John stayed quiet, as if they heard nothing.


    "Justin, I have some work at Mia’s office. I need to be there," she said, the moment call was received.


    "What work do you have there?" he asked.


    "I need to practice for thepetition, and I’m going to use the R&Db in herpany," she exined.


    In response, Justin’s voice came through."You areing back home."


    "What?" she eximed.


    "You heard it right. Back home, right away," Justin said and hung up the call.


    She gritted her teeth. "Let me go back home and I will tell him."


    ----


    Justin, who had just hung up the call, was worried about Natalie. He didn’t want to leave her out of his sight. He understood she had important work, but to him, nothing was more important than her safety.


    The people they were dealing with were dangerous, and until Aiden and Vincent were found, Justin couldn’t afford to take any risks.


    He walked out of the study and decided to wait for Natalie in the drawing hall.


    After half an hour, Natalie returned. She stormed into the drawing room, her anger evident to everyone present. Ryan and John followed her inside, their expressions resigned.


    Noah, who was already there, nced at John and Ryan, who both gave him helpless looks.


    Once more, these three were ready to witness the woman taking her anger out of the formidable Justin Harper.


    Natalie walked straight to the sofa where Justin was sitting and stood before him, her face flushed with anger. "Justin Harper, do you think perfume making is a joke, and I’m some magician who can do anything in a moment without putting any efforts?" Her voice echoed through the drawing room.


    Justin looked up at her calmly, his gaze fixed on her beautiful, angry face, seemingly unaffected by her outburst.


    She pointed a finger at him, her voice rising. "How dare you control me like this? How can you... Ahhh!"


    Justin, who had been listening to her angry words, leaned forward, grabbed her hand, and pulled her toward him.


    The next moment, Natalie found herself on hisp. Before she couldprehend what had happened or protest further, her words were silenced as Justin’s warm lips pressed against hers.


    Her eyes, which had been zing with anger moments ago, widened in shock. Her mind wentpletely nk.


    Meanwhile, Noah, Ryan, and John exchanged nces and quietly slipped out of the room, pretending they had never been there.