Chapter 4

Dan's POV

I was in shock. I felt like the world around me was frozen. Natalie! It was Natalie Kabra. The same evil, clothes-obsessed, gun-pointing Natalie Kabra I hated. Now apparently a famous fashion designer. And pretty. Really pretty.

I shook my head forcefully, as if to shake the thought from my head. What were the odds? What were the odds we would meet ever again? I didn't want to see her. I could have forgotten her.

But what did it matter now I had run into her? I was just going to watch the stupid fashion show and then move on with my life. It wasn't like she would recognize me. At least, that's what I told myself.

"Come on, if we're going to see anything other than the shoes on the models we have to move now," Tammy said to me, and started dragging me toward the runway. As she dragged me through the crowd, I lost sight of Natalie.

Eventually we ended up with a pretty good view, on behalf of Tammy's determined pushing through the crowd - she reminded me so much of Nellie. Soon the show started.

I am proud to say that, as a guy, I did not pay the slightest bit of attention to the designs. I am ashamed to say I did glance at Natalie a few times. From our place I could see her clearly, and I examined her face. The same hint of superiority, the same confidence I remembered, was there. And she had the same hair and look as before. I didn't know why I noticed. It didn't seem like me. But I did.

A couple of times I could have sworn she glanced at me. But as soon as she looked away I dismissed it. She had probably been looking at someone else. Or else it was all in my head. Both options seemed likely.

Before I knew it the show was over. Once again, the crowd seemed to part as Natalie came through. After a few seconds of waving she got into the car she had come in and it drove away.

There, I thought to myself, I'll never see her again.

After a few minutes the crowd started to disperse. Now it was my turn to drag Tammy to the car.

As we reached it, Tammy wrenched her hand out of my grip.

"Wait," she said. "I have a favor to ask."

I didn't like the sound of that. "What?"

"Well, I was planning to somehow show Natalie Kabra some designs I made myself. At the fashion show. To just, you know, get her attention and show her. But I never got the chance. So…"

"So?"

"Well, I know the name of the hotel she's going to check into and I was wondering if we could just drive there, and, you know, see if she's around. This maybe the only chance I ever have to show her my designs. Please drive me there." Tammy said all of this quickly, as if that would help convince me somehow.

"No," I said.

"Please," she tried again.

"No," I said firmly, "and that's final."

Five minutes later we were in my car, driving to the hotel Tammy had told me.

"Only," I said, glancing at her triumphant face, "only because you promised to do my chores for two weeks." And because I do sort of want to see her again, I thought, but I didn't say that. Tammy didn't know anything about the 39 clues hunt, or that I ever knew Natalie. Plus I didn't want to admit it to myself.

Soon we had gotten there, and as soon as we were out of the car, Tammy immediately barged into the hotel. I rushed in after her.

When I walked in, I found Tammy talking to the hotel lobbyist.

"Um, do you know if a Natalie Kabra is staying here?"

"She is. Why?" asked the lobbyist suspiciously.

"I was just wondering if maybe I could -,"

"No, absolutely not. She had a precise request to not be disturbed."

"But -"

Just then the elevator door dinged open. Tammy glanced at whoever the person was, but when she found no interest in them, went back to her argument. I, on the other hand, continued watching them.

The person was a teenage girl, who was wearing plain jeans and a T-shirt. Her dark hair was tied back in a ponytail and covered with a baseball cap, and she was looking down as she walked, hiding her face. It took me a few seconds to notice that there was something strange about how she walked - something familiar. She strutted. In a pair of high heel shoes.

I nudged Tammy. "Is that -?"

Tammy didn't wait for me to finish the question. She had obviously realized who it was as soon as she looked closer. She quickly rushed over to the girl, who paused at the doorway.

"I'm really sorry but there are just some designs I really wanted to show you. I made them myself and - you are Natalie Kabra, right?"

The girl didn't say anything for a few moments. Finally she simply shook her head.

Tammy looked at me for help. The girl followed her gaze and for the first time spotted me. I then had no doubt it was Natalie as her eyes widened in shock.

"What are you doing here?" she asked, her silky British accent coming through clearly, her tone demanding.

I didn't have a good answer for that, so I gave a typical Dan reply.

"What are you doing here?" I asked.

Natalie ignored my question. "You're Dan Cahill, aren't you?"

I nodded. I didn't really have anything else to say. Meanwhile Tammy looked like a bobble head as her eyes went between me and Natalie.

Natalie seemed to contemplate something for a minute and then let out a short sigh. "Fine, come with me," she said, as she headed for the elevator.

I think Tammy had a heart attack right then and there.

Natalie's POV

I struggled to keep a neutral face as I walked to my reserved seat and sat down. Dan! It was Dan Cahill. I was sure of it now. The same annoying, ninja-obsessed, immature Dan Cahill I hated. Still living in Boston. And cute. Really cute.

Soon the fashion show started. I watched all my designs being paraded down the runway. But as much as I tried to focus on them, my mind kept returning to Dan.

As the show continued, I couldn't help but keep glancing at him. He had the same dirty blond hair, the same mischievous look. A couple times I thought I saw him looking my way but I decided it was just my imagination.

It seemed like the show lasted forever, and when it was done I got up and headed straight to the car. I could hear the crowd calling my name, and I took a few seconds to wave goodbye to them before getting in the car. For some reason I felt like I wanted to leave as quickly as possible.

"To the arranged hotel, Ms. Kabra?" asked my driver.

I simply nodded and took to staring out of the window.

When we reached the hotel, I stood by the elevator as Jason checked me in. Soon we had gotten the luggage out of my car (correction - soon Jason had gotten the luggage out of my car) I went up to my suite to check everything was as I wanted it.

"Ms. Kabra, I thought you might want to look over some of your designs right now," Jason suggested. That wasn't what I felt like doing at all.

"Um, I was actually planning to get some sleep. Jetlag and all…," I lied.

Jason nodded. "Very well," he said. "But later…"

"Yes, of course later," I assured him.

As soon as he had left, I knew exactly what I wanted to do. I wanted to see Boston for real.

I opened my suitcase and pulled out a T-shirt, a pair of jeans, and a baseball cap. They were all hideous, boring articles of clothing that didn't look as if they belonged in even the same room as my other designer clothes, but I had them for a reason. When my face was on the cover of every fashion magazine there is, it's rather hard for me to walk around unnoticed. So they were my disguise - the only way I could blend in.

After putting them on, I opened my hotel door, and after looking both ways, hurried to the elevator.

I tapped my foot impatiently as I waited for the elevator to come up, and as soon as I had gotten in and the doors had closed, I suddenly realized I had forgotten to change into sneakers. I still had my high heels on.

Oh well, I thought, too late to change them now.

The elevator doors dinged open and I stepped out. As I did I noticed there was some girl arguing with the lobbyist, and a person standing next to her. What a nuisance.

I ignored both of them and strode purposefully toward the door. Just as I was about to step out of the hotel, the girl previously arguing ran up to me. I paused.

"I'm really sorry but there are just some designs I really wanted to show you. I made them myself and - you are Natalie Kabra, right?" she said.

I couldn't think of anything to do other then shake my head. I watched as the girl glanced to her right and I followed her gaze. My eyes landed on Dan.

He was just standing there, looking like an idiot, both hands stuffed into his jacket pockets.

"What are you doing here?" I asked, not bothering to disguise my voice.

Dan simply stared at me and then said, "What are you doing here?"

I ignored that. What was I supposed to say anyway? I was staying here! But I couldn't help asking one thing. "You're Dan Cahill, aren't you?"

He only nodded his head. For some reason that annoyed me even more than if he would have said something. Then my hostess self kicked in. I knew what I had to do.

"Fine, come with me," I said.

As I walked towards the elevator I was left feeling that all of this was going to be much more trouble than it was worth.