Wife by Day, Boss by Night

Chapter 32

Gavin had said he’d swing by, so Natalie left her door unlocked.

She waited with a sense of ease untii the prolonged silence behind her sparked a nerve. Something felt

off.

She turned around, only to catch Brian leaning casually against the wall, his gaze fixed on her with an

unreadable expression.

Despite bracing herself for any encounter with him, Natalie couldn’t help but shiver, instinctively taking

a step back.

“Disappointed for my presence?” Brian’s voice cut through the tension, laced with a hint of mockery as

his lips parted in a faint

sneer.

Natalie couldn’t recall when he had slipped in, silent as a shadow. The hotel’s partially open restroom

had offered no clues, her focus having been on the running water and her reflection in the mirror. And

then there was the voicemail she had sent to King. Had Brian heard that, too?

She remained quiet for a moment before responding in a low voice, “Please leave.”

But Brian seemed to ignore her request, chuckling softly instead. “I’m curious, does Gavin pay as he

goes, or does he have some sort of subscription with you?” Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive © material.

His insinuation hit her like a slap. Brian thought she was engaging in that sexual business? What did he

take her for?

Natalie frowned, unable to hide her irritation. Pointing towards the door, she demanded with more

force, “I said get out!”

Before her hand could retract, Brian grabbed it fiercely, pulling her towards him against the wall.

She found herself enveloped in his unexpected embrace, her other hand lashing out towards his face

without a second thought.

The sound of her slap was dull, the pain profound.

Brian didn’t dodge but simply bore the brunt of it, and Natalie was momentarily stunned to see his lip

bleeding from her strike.

“Enough?” His eyes shimmered with scorn as he spoke softly.

She had learned self–defense as a child, and it was Brian who had taught her. Now, she was using

those very skills against him.

As panic flickered across her face, he gripped her waist tightly and lifted her onto the bed.

“Brian, let me go!” Natalie had three years of training with King’s security company, where even the

toughest instructors had trouble with her agility. Yet, with Brian, she seemed to have no chance to fight

back.

She struggled to break free, but he captured both her hands with one of his, pinning them above her

head on the bed.

“Since we’re settling Audrey’s debt, am I not a better deal than Gavin?” His eyes were icy as he stared

down at her, his voice a low growl through clenched teeth.

This wasn’t like Brian at all. He was always cold, always biting, but never had he spoken such

shamelessly vile words, never had he forced her to do anything she didn’t want to.

Pain whitened her face, and she gazed at him, close enough to feel his breath, lost and helpless.

“Don’t look at me with those eyes. I’m sick of it!” he snapped, taking a deep breath.

The pressure on her wrists increased.

Ever since she had been brought into the Howard family at six years old, she had looked at him with

those innocent eyes. It wasn’t until that fateful night he realized it was all a ploy, a trickery of Natalie

and Audrey to wear down his defenses and get what they wanted.

Natalie turned even paler. After a moment, her voice trembled as she replied. “You’re not tired of me

looking at you. You’re just tired of me.”

She had spent sixteen years trying to find a way to open the heart of a devil, yet no method seemed to

penetrate his armor.