The Mean Duo ✔

43~ Natalie White

I'm not alone anymore. There is a person worth living for and that person loves me for who I am. I don't know how I'm supposed to feel, it just- I feel whole. And my heart...it just feels full now that I'm walking out of the hell I was trapped in with Xavier's arms enclosed around me protectively.

"Drive home Brian", I pulled my head up from Xavier's chest and instructed Brian on the driver's seat of the white SUV

"But Miss, there's still reporters swarming out there trying to get a word from the Mayor", Brian kept his eyes on the road as he spoke.

"Ah shit! I need to let dad know I'm alive", I started panicking thinking about my father before Brian spoke up again.

"He already knows Miss"

"He does?", I arched a brow at him while Xavier slept on the seat beside me.

"I'm afraid I had to inform him of Project KB at the last moment. He started going haywire when Mr Hawthorn called and threatened him. So I had no choice Miss White"

"It's fine now. I'll deal with him when I get home and about the reporters...do you have a pair of shades I could borrow?"

"Yes Miss", he opened the cubby and pulled out a pair of black Ray bans and handed it to me.

I browsed the internet as we drove, reading all the articles surrounding my car crash and 'death'. Interesting how creative people's minds can be. Since none of the information were confirmed from our end, it's all speculations that people took seriously. They reporters have done absolutely no research and has proclaimed me dead just based on the fake autopsy report, what a bunch of idiots.

Once we reached the street my house is in, I shook Xavier and woke him up as the reporters tried to ambush our vehicle from the outside. They must think that it's my dad in here since they're screaming questions meant for my dad at the vehicle. Well...they are in for a world of surprise when the door opens.

"Brian stop the vehicle", I threw on the shades and smoothened my hair

"But Miss-"

"Just do as I say"

"What are you up to?", Xavier grabbed my arm and looked at me with a serious expression.

"I'm making sure that Hawthorn will be exposed for the monster he is", with that I opened the door and stepped out into the sea of reporters and paparazzi.

"Wait! Isn't that the dead girl?"
"Natalie White?"
"She isn't dead?"
"Miss White how are you alive?"
"Can you tell us of what happened to you?"
"Are you really Natalie White?"

Question after question were thrown at me along with their cameras and microphones as my security and Xavier tried to get me as much personal space as possible.

"Yes you're right. I'm Natalie White. I am Richard White's daughter", I spoke up with a blank face as all the reporters went silent for a second before all hell broke loose.

The reporters went crazy as they shouted their questions one over the other as I tried to make out what the fuck they are saying. Having had enough I shot my hand up and spoke.

"I'd like to make a statement", At that everyone went silent and shoved their microphones up my face.

Grabbing one I started speaking,
"My death was staged.", everyone gasped and started muttering among themselves. "It is true that I did drive that car under some distress but it is not true that I crashed into an black SUV that was trying to turn it's vehicle around. It was placed there deliberately, blocking the road. I have CCTV recordings to support my claim. Once I crashed into that vehicle, about half a dozen guys in ski masks approached my car, broke the car door off its hinges and kidnapped me. This all is recorded on the private, hidden CCTV's we've installed on the street. Once I was kidnapped, I was asked to kill myself...", I trailed off and saw that all the reporters practically had their jaws on the ground while Xavier was clenching and unclenching his fist from beside me.

"They asked me to kill myself with the same gun, he killed my three year old sister- Emma White with.", My eyes watered and I was thankful for the shades I was wearing. Xavier held my hand discreetly as he encouraged me to go on. "Yes my sister was murdered as you all know. But what you don't know is...the driver didn't kill my sister on that day. Sinister Hawthorn did.", The reporters were gobsmacked as they held so damn tightly to their cameras and microphones.

"He killed my sister infront of my very eyes, Yet he wasn't convinted of her gruesome and undeserving death. Why and how you make ask. As the only witness to her death being me and I at that time being traumatised, was unable to testify in court. Therefore they ruled me out as a witness. Hawthorn fabricated evidence and framed the driver for his crimes. He did all this so my dad would step down from running in the elections. With my dad stepping down, he'd have the majority being the second most voted party. His greed to become Mayor severed as he tried to murder me too since my dad refused to step down, again. Hawthorn had me kidnapped and assaulted. I wont let him get away with everything this time. After I confront my father, I will be heading to the police precinct to give my statement. I can only pray that this time, justice be served. For my sister and for me. Hawthorn is a monster that deserves life sentence in the worst prison possible."

I handed back the microphone, adjusted the shades on my nose and pushed past the dumbfounded reporters while they processed my words, as I went inside my home. My dad, waiting beside the gate for me.

Running into his arms, I cried. All the courage I collected minutes ago to speak, dispersing with the wind as I saw his dishevelled and lost state

"I did it dad! I did it!", I cried into him as he held me tightly.

"Yes you did, my princess. I'm sorry for being the world's worst dad to you. I'm sorry I was incapable of doing what you just did. I'm proud of you Natalie and am ashamed of myself", I felt dad's tears on me as I pulled back.

"Water under the bridge dad. I know I shouldn't have spoken to you the way I did. You gave me the best of this world and for that I'm grateful. I did what I should've done long ago dad. I righted my wrongs, I- I hope Emma can rest easy now"

"I'm so proud of you Natalie but please don't run head first into danger again. I don't think I'd be able to forgive myself if something were to happen to you too. I too want to wrong my rights...I-I decided to not run again for Mayor. I'm stepping down from politics and am going to retire in our country house. I will manage our exports and businesses from the sidelines as I rest", Dad confessed making my eyes widened.

I took a great look at my dad and realised that me being involved in Project KB had drained alot of life from him. He suddenly have seemed to have aged 10 years within the day as worry lines and sunken eyes graced his face.

"You're giving up your position?"

"What good of a Mayor am I, if I can't even protect my own daughters? Its high time someone else took the place. Someone better than me", Dad smiled as I hugged him again.

"Whatever makes you happy dad"

"Miss White the police and Mr Malsha- a prosecutor are here", Brian informed as a couple of officers and a man in a tuxedo  made their way towards me.

Turning around, I put my hand inside my shirt and plucked out the recorder in my bra. I handed it over to the prosecutor and started reciting everything that happened to me in more detail as they took down their notes.

Xavier stood by the gate patiently and only came to me when I was done and exhausted enough to faint on the spot.

Placing his hands around my waist, he helped me inside the house and into my room as I felt all the tiredness catch up to me.

"Stay with me", I managed to grab his wrist and mumble out when he placed me on the bed.

"Always", he replied as he got into the bed and pulled me to his chest as I drifted off to sleep, safely in his arms.