Chapter 91 Hard Time
The morning had been full of small, nervous moments for Christina, but now, as Nathaniel’s car disappeared down the road, she felt a strange sense of calm settle over her. The day ahead was no less daunting, but at least she had his support.
Back at the office, the atmosphere was no different from any other day. The air was filled with the constant hum of typing, ringing phones, and the occasional murmur of colleagues passing by. But for Christina, today was different. She couldn’t stop thinking about the looming visit to the Hadley residence. Julia’s demands, and the way she had cornered her on the call, were still fresh in her mind.
Christina knew there was more at stake than just the designs. Julia’s sharp intuition, her constant probing… It made Christina nervous. What would happen if her identity was revealed? Would it ruin everything she had worked so hard to achieve?
Her thoughts were interrupted as the door to the design studio opened, and in walked her assistant, Leah. “Ms. Ada, you’ve got a new set of sketches to review,” Leah said, walking over to Christina’s desk with a bundle of papers in her hands. “Also, there’s a client meeting scheduled for this afternoon. Are you prepared?”
Christina looked up, trying to push aside the weight in her chest. “Thanks, Leah. I’ll review them in a minute.” She gave her assistant a quick smile before turning her attention back to the task at hand.
But the moment she sat down, the weight of the situation returned, pressing down harder than ever. Julia Hadley—she had always been a figure looming in the background of Christina’s life, her sharp words and icy demeanor threatening to tear down everything Christina had been trying to build. But now, it wasn’t just Julia’s presence that she had to contend with. It was the looming possibility of exposure.
Christina buried her face in her hands for a moment, letting out a slow, controlled breath. If I can just stay focused…
Her phone buzzed, snapping her out of her thoughts. She reached for it, expecting to see a message from Nathaniel, but instead, it was an alert from the design platform she used. A new message notification popped up—this time, from Julia.
“I expect you at the Hadley residence at 7 PM. Don’t be late.”
Christina swallowed. So soon?
A cold shiver ran down her spine. Every fiber of her being screamed to find a way out of this—this meeting, this exposure, everything. But she couldn’t back down now. Not after everything that had happened.
Meanwhile, back at Scenic Garden Manor, Nathaniel was deep in thought as he reclined in his study, reviewing a few documents. His eyes kept straying to the clock, counting down the minutes until it would be time to pick Christina up again. He had noticed her unease earlier in the morning, but he also saw the resolve in her eyes. She was more than capable of handling herself, even in the face of the unpredictable forces surrounding her.
His thoughts drifted to Julia. The woman was relentless, and though Nathaniel had long since learned to ignore her comments and demands, he couldn’t help but wonder how far she was willing to go to disrupt things.
He had already promised Christina that he would protect her if things took a turn for the worse, but he knew that if Julia found out Christina’s true identity, it wouldn’t just be a battle of words—it would escalate into something far more dangerous.
Nathaniel stood up, walking over to the window. His fingers drummed lightly on the glass as he watched the world move on outside. Julia wouldn’t make this easy for Christina. He knew that. And he knew, too, that he wouldn’t let her.
Back in the design studio, Christina’s day passed in a blur. By the time she finished the meeting with her client, the afternoon sun was beginning to dip low in the sky. She had only a few hours left before she had to leave for the Hadley residence, and the anxiety gnawed at her.
Her phone buzzed again, this time with a text from Nathaniel.
“I’ll be there to pick you up at 6:30. Don’t worry, Christina. I’ve got your back.”
She let out a breath she didn’t realize she’d been holding. I’m not alone in this.
It was a simple message, but it meant the world to her. As long as Nathaniel was by her side, she could face whatever came her way—even Julia.
At 6:30 PM, the familiar black Maybach pulled up outside the office. Christina stood by the door, taking a final look in the mirror. She adjusted the black-laced mask that had become her shield against the world and made sure her outfit was perfect. No detail could be overlooked. If she was going to walk into that house, she had to be prepared for anything.
She stepped out of the office and into the waiting car, where Nathaniel was already sitting, his eyes warm with reassurance as he greeted her. “Ready?”
Christina nodded, though her stomach twisted in knots. “Let’s get this over with.”
As the car drove toward the Hadley residence, Christina leaned back in her seat, trying to clear her mind. But the closer they got to the sprawling estate, the heavier her heart grew. Would Julia truly go through with her plans to unmask her? What would happen if she did?
Nathaniel must have sensed her unease because he placed a reassuring hand on hers. “You’re going to be fine. Just stick to your designs, and nothing else will matter.”
His words offered a small comfort, but Christina knew she had to stay vigilant. One wrong move, and everything could come crashing down.
When they arrived at the Hadley estate, Julia was already waiting by the front door, her gaze sharp as ever.
“Ms. Ada,” she greeted coolly, her eyes narrowing as Christina stepped out of the car, her mask still firmly in place. “It’s good to see you made it on time.”
Christina offered a polite smile, but her heart raced. She nodded slightly, not trusting herself to speak just yet.
Julia eyed her for a moment before speaking again, “Come inside. Let’s get started.”
As Christina walked through the grand entryway, the imposing atmosphere of the Hadley residence only deepened her nerves. She had to focus on the task at hand—taking Julia’s measurements and getting out of there. That was all.
But with every step, she felt the weight of the situation grow heavier. There was no telling how much longer she could keep the truth hidden.