Chapter Four

Nathaniel Von Richardson was a blonde playboy looking man. He had a smile that could dazzle even the most stubborn non admirers and a charm that could turn nuns to the dark side. He was not always so jock looking until two years before, the transformation shocking those who knew him and those who didn't alike. His confidence grew and he learned to work the charm. He had never been much of an independent person but only because his family was so voluntarily set on being involved in his life. He was the only child of his mother so they were all looking up to him to one day inherit the family business.

At 24 he was done with college and working as a managing director in the headquarter branch of the company. Alongside buying and selling of real estate, his family also owned and ran multiple hotels and fast food restaurants as well as a significant portion of the stock market. If ever anyone was born with a golden spoon in their mouth, it was Nathaniel Von Richardson but he never had any opportunities to decide anything for himself. The only thing he had ever considered himself as having had power over in his life was his friendship with Valerie. They were from two different backgrounds with him having two doting parents who were somewhat controlling but extremely rich and Valerie going from orphanage to foster home and then to the streets when her foster parents declared her a witch at 18.

Nate knew Valerie was the only element of his ufe he would proudly and matter-of-factly say was his personal accomplishment. Their friendship was the only part of his life he had any control of . He was ecstatic when she had gone to him for help. He knew she had killed someone but it didn't matter, She was his best friend which was why when he got the call around eleven o'clock that night from Johnathan, telling him that valerie was nowhere to be found, his chest constricted tightly and he could barely breathe He ended his morning meeting and took the first flight back to look for her. When he got to the house 45 minutes later it was nighttime because of the time difference and he couldn't call the police because she was wanted and in hiding. He called the best private investigators at the company's disposal and had them looking for her. When Jerry Maguire saw her she was already getting into somebody else's cor. Nate then asked Jerry to retreat because he didn't want to alarm her. He instead had him follow her in a car all the way back to the house and even when she walked in and the car drove off, Jerry still followed. By the time Valerie was awake, Nate was gone again. She had slept for over 3 hours as a result of being so sore. Her body felt like she had been in a fight and lost. She had no visible bruises but by the time she was awake there was absolutely no pain anywhere in and on her body. She stretched out of the bed without difficulty and went to have a late breakfast.

The servants at the Von Richardson manor were only employed as a result of Valerie's intended stay at the house, all but three. The butler Johnathan, the head cook and the head cleaner, all of whom served the generation of Von Richardsons before Nate, Johnathan growing up with Albert Von Richardson as age mates. After Valerie's early lunch/late breakfast, she went to sleep again and the second time she woke up, Nate was there.

Nate was seated at the foot of her bed when she woke up. He was staring at his hands with his head down.

"Hi" he said without lifting up his head when she stirred awake .

"Hi" she replied, her voice groggy from sleep.

"Can we talk?" He asked, finally looking at her. His face was calm, his expression controlled.

"Okay." she sat up with her back to the headboard.

"You're free." He looked at her curiously for her reaction.

"What do you mean?" She was confused. A single tear rolled down Nate's right cheek.

"It's been six months since the incident Val. He was homeless, no one is asking questions. You've never been wanted by the authorities. There were no witnesses." Nate's voice was growing louder with every sentence and Valerie was crying too as the realization of the meaning behind his words washed over her.

"I'm sorry Val, I just thought you'd be safe here. I did it for you."

"You lied to me." The feeling of betrayal in Valerie's voice was palpable.

"I didn't mean to, you know I would never lie to you"

"BUT YOU DID!" Valerie's voice was louder.

"You told me the police were sniffing around my house! You claim to have done it to keep me safe but I was never in any danger. You said I was wanted for murder!"

"And I really thought you were!" Valerie was fuming.

"How long have you known?"

"Val…" he began.

"How long?!" She screamed

"Five months." He hung his head again.

"Five months?!" Valerie was off the bed and pacing.

"Get out." She pointed at the door.

"Val." Nate stood up and took a step towards her.

"GET OUT!" It did not matter to Valerie that the house was his, she only knew she didn't want to be in the same room as someone who would comfortably lie to her for months.