Ever since that day, Natalie, Neville, and Stanley started hanging out together like they'd known each other forever. You'd often find them tucked in some quiet café corner or lounging in a private room after an event, deep in conversation about businesses, investments, and how the economy was shifting. It was surprising, really — especially Neville. Most people thought he only cared about racing, bikes, and looking cool. But once he started talking, it was clear the guy had brains. He just didn't flaunt it. Natalie noticed that quickly, and she was impressed. Stanley too, though he would never admit it out loud.
Then, of course, came Maverick.
At first, Maverick was… well, dramatic. He stormed into the group one day, all pouty and sulking, loudly complaining that he'd lost his "one and only bestie" — Natalie — to a bunch of boring business guys. Natalie rolled her eyes, Neville laughed, and Stanley just gave him that usual deadpan stare. But over time, Maverick warmed up to them. Especially Neville. Somehow, they clicked.
It was almost like they were long-lost brothers. The only major difference? Their fashion sense. Neville stuck to black — black jackets, black boots, black everything — always looking like he walked off a motorcycle magazine cover. Maverick, on the other hand, loved color. Bright shirts, funky sneakers, and whatever the latest trendy thing was. Still, despite their differences, the bond between them grew fast and strong. They went shopping together, raced together, even did photoshoots together. They were practically glued to each other. And just like that, Maverick forgot he was ever mad at Natalie.
But not everyone was happy with this new little circle.
Joshua, in particular, wasn't thrilled. He kept his distance, always watching with narrowed eyes — especially when it came to Neville. And more so when it came to Natelie, who seemed oddly curious about the group. Joshua wasn't one to trust people easily. He was always cautious, always reading between the lines.
Stanley, too, had his reservations. He used to think most people — Natalie included — only made friends when they had something to gain. That friendships were more like transactions in disguise. That was just how the world worked. But something happened that made him question that belief.
One afternoon, he caught Natalie sitting in the garden with a little boy who had scraped his knee. She wasn't just offering him a tissue or patting his head. She was full-on comforting him, cleaning the wound, humming softly, even distracting him with silly faces until he smiled through his tears. She didn't know anyone was watching. It wasn't for show. That moment stuck with Stanley. He saw a different side of her — not the tough, witty girl who could handle a boardroom or prank Maverick senseless, but someone genuinely kind.
From then on, he started observing her more. She wasn't just good at handling people like him and Neville — people used to keep walls up. She genuinely cared. And slowly, Stanley found himself questioning his assumptions. Maybe not everyone had an agenda. Maybe… just maybe, people like Natalie existed — people who surprised you when you least expected it.
So, he decided to take a chance.
At first, Natalie was confused. Stanley, who barely acknowledged her presence before, suddenly started including her in conversations, asking her opinions, even joking now and then. It was awkward at first, but over time, the air between them lightened. Soon, even Joshua started opening up. Neville and Stanley both noticed it — Joshua smiling more, cracking the occasional sarcastic joke, not stiffening up around strangers as much. It felt… nice.
For a while, they were all just together — showing up at races for Neville, cheering each other on at game tournaments, popping into Maverick's shoots, or crashing private events like a mini squad. There was even a photoshoot offer for all of them together, which Stanley declined with a smirk, saying, "No one can afford this group." It was half-joke, half-truth.
Whenever Maverick got invited to parties or high-end auctions, they'd make sure he was included in the right circles. They made space for each other in their lives — even with their crazy schedules. But slowly, things started to shift.
Stanley got busier than ever, preparing to take over as CEO of Gosling Enterprises. Maverick was juggling college, modeling gigs, and board meetings for his growing business. Joshua was deep into consolidating his control over the mafia, trying to straighten out all the old messes. Neville's family, as usual, was trying to take over his company, dragging him into endless meetings and power plays.
And Natalie?
Well she was quietly planning her escape.
Then one morning, during a routine meeting at Gosling Enterprises, Stanley's assistant leaned in and whispered something into his ear. A second later, the pen in his hand snapped in two. Silence followed. Without needing a word, his assistant dismissed the meeting. As the managers were leaving, they caught a glimpse of their usually calm boss throwing his laptop and everything else on the desk across the room.
"How can you do this, Natalie?!" he yelled at the empty space, more to himself than anyone else.
It hit them all hard. Stanley, Neville, Joshua, and Maverick — they were angry, sad, and above all, shocked. Natalie, who they had come to see like their own little sister — the one who laughed too loud, played too many pranks, and somehow managed to sneak into all of their hearts — had left. No warning, no explanation.
She was annoying sometimes, immature and dramatic, but they loved her for it. She brought energy into their lives. She made them laugh when things got too heavy. She reminded them how to let go and just be. They had protected her, spoiled her, shielded her from the harshness of the world outside. But in the end, she left them behind like it meant nothing.
They searched. God, did they search!
They hired people, pulled every contact they had, turned over every stone — but there was nothing. Natalie had vanished, like smoke in the wind.
Eventually, word got out that she'd left because she met someone. Someone powerful. Someone high up in society. Someone she liked a lot. And just like that, she chose to leave. No goodbyes, no explanation. Nothing.
The group was devastated. Each of them tried to hide it in their own way. Neville went quieter than usual, spending hours on the racetrack. Maverick smiled less, his colorful outfits somehow looking dull. Stanley buried himself in work. Joshua went back to being the guarded man he once was.
No one talked about her anymore. It was an unspoken rule. Like she had never existed. But the silence left behind was loud. They missed her — her chaos, her laughter, even her dumb jokes. And yet, they pretended she was never part of their world.
Because sometimes, pretending is the only way to survive a heartbreak you never saw coming