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I sit in the parked car, engine idling, watching her retreating figure until she fishes out her keys and disappears inside. My mind races with worry—for Jack and the situation at the Langford Building, and for Natalie. I want to respect her drive to face this head on, but I can't possibly allow the risk. She's not going to keep herself safe, so I have to be the one to do it.
I just hope one day she will understand that I'm doing this for her own good.
For a moment, I consider following Nat inside, to try and smooth things over, but the stubborn set of her shoulders as she walked away tells me she's not ready to listen.
Reluctantly, I pull away from the curb, the weight of our unresolved conflict heavy in my chest. I keep an eye on the rearview mirror, half-expecting to see her come running out, determined to follow me despite my objections.
She doesn’t appear, so I force my attention to the next task. As I drive towards the Langford Building, the scene that unfolds is chaotic—a flurry of activity with several police cars and a crowd of onlookers. My heart sinks further, the reality of the danger both closer and more serious than ever.
I park a little way off and make my way towards the building, my phone pressed to my ear as I call Jack. The rings seem to last an eternity before he picks up.
"Hey, Julian. I’m okay," Jack's voice comes through, sounding tired but steady.
"Thank God," I exhale, relief washing over me for a moment before the next wave of concern hits. "They told me you were attacked. What happened? Are you sure you’re alright?"
"Yeah, I got a good knock to the head, but I’ll be released tomorrow. It looks scarier than it is," he tries to reassure me, though the thought of him being physically assaulted is anything but reassuring.
"That’s good to hear," I reply, my eyes now scanning the crowd, taking in the police moving in and out of the building. "Do they have any leads on who did this?" My gut twists because I already know: Mason.
"They didn't say,” Jack answers, then his tone shifts to one more pleading. “Listen, make sure Natalie stays out of there, okay? I don't want her ending up like me."
"Already on it," I say, though the assurance feels hollow. I can't guarantee that Natalie is going to listen to me. "She’s not happy about it, but she’s safe at home for now. Though I expect she'll come visit you soon."
Jack sighs on the other end. "Thanks, Julian. Look after her, and yourself. I’ll see you tomorrow."
We hang up, and as I pocket my phone, I look back towards the chaos at the Langford. I steel myself for what’s to come, my resolve hardened not just to solve this mystery, but to reconcile with Natalie, and to make her understand.
As I’m about to step out of the car to join the police swarming the building, my phone rings. I glance at the screen, a twist of apprehension tightening in my stomach when I see Natalie’s name. I take a deep breath and answer, bracing for another wave of the argument, but hoping we can find some common ground this time.
“Julian, can we talk?” Natalie’s voice comes through the speaker, tense but trying to sound calm. It’s clear she’s still upset, the undercurrent of frustration evident despite her controlled tone.
“I’m listening,” I reply, my hand tightening around the phone.
“I’m sorry about earlier; I overreacted. It’s just…” she starts, her voice thick with emotion. “I just feel like you’re being unfair, keeping me away from everything. I need to be involved, Julian. I need to?—”
I cut her off, unable to keep the frustration from my voice. “I'm trying to keep you safe, Natalie. Why can't you understand that? You’re not even trying to see this from my perspective!”
There’s a pause on the line, a heavy silence that stretches out uncomfortably, and I instantly regret raising my voice. I can almost picture her, flushed and angry, hurt and disappointed.
“I know you’re scared for me, Julian, and I appreciate that, really, I do.” She says each word slowly, deliberate. “But I can’t just sit back and do nothing. Jack’s my brother, and the Langford Building is my project too. If this all goes to shit, we’re both in trouble.”
Her words hit me with the force of a blow, reminding me of the strong, independent woman I fell in love with. She’s never been one to stand on the sidelines, and my attempts to protect her are clashing with her intrinsic nature to take action.
“I get it Nat,” I respond, more gently now. “I’m sorry for making you feel sidelined. It’s just that when I heard what happened to Jack, my first thought was to ensure you’re nowhere near that kind of danger. Maybe I overreacted, but it’s only because I can’t stand the thought of anything happening to you. I'm going to keep you safe, even if it kills me.”
When Natalie speaks again, her tone is sharp, her words slicing through the tentative hope I’d been fostering. “You don't get to decide that for me. I’m not a child. I’m not Aria.”
The comparison stings, and a part of me recoils. “That’s not fair, Natalie. I don't treat you like Aria.”
“Really? Trying to keep me locked away at home, away from anyone else, away from the building? That's not how you’ve been treating Aria? You say this is about protecting me, but this has gone way too far. You're being controlling.”
I clench my jaw, doing everything I can not to raise my voice again. “It’s not about control. I trust you, Nat. It’s the situation I don’t trust.”
“I need to make my own decisions,” she insists, her voice firm. “I'm not going to live my life locked away in an ivory tower because the world outside is too scary.”
“I’m trying to be responsible here,” I reply, frustration mounting from her accusations. “I’m trying to ensure?—”
“Maybe we’re just too different,” Natalie cuts in, her words cold and final. “Maybe we’ll never see eye to eye on this. You want to wrap me in cotton, keep me safe from everything. I can’t live like that.”
