She Was Never Just the Billionaire’s Wife (Natasha and Chase) novel Chapter 151

(Gloria)

I have twenty-four minutes.

That is the exact window I carved out of my morning to sit at this corner table at Urth Caffé, drink a latte in peace, and read the quarterly projections for Stein M&A without anyone asking me a question.

Twenty-four minutes of absolute, unbothered silence.

Then Julian Morton slides into the booth opposite me.

I drop my tablet onto the table.

It hits the wood with a loud smack.

I look at the ceiling, close my eyes, and groan out loud.

"Go away, Julian."

"Good morning to you too, Gloria," he says smoothly.

He presses a hand to his chest.

"I’m genuinely wounded. I see you sitting here all alone, looking like a woman carrying the weight of the corporate world, and I thought, Julian, go and brighten her day."

"You are a plague," I tell him. "A well-dressed, sexually transmitted plague. Please vacate my booth."

A waiter materializes before Julian can respond.

Julian flashes him a brilliant, entirely fake smile.

"I’ll be joining my friend," Julian tells the kid. "I'll have an espresso. And a smoked salmon bagel. No capers. If I see a single caper I’m making you eat it."

The waiter nods nervously and vanishes.

I glare at Julian.

"So," Julian says, leaning forward and resting his elbows on the table.

"It must be a bit weird having Nathanial joining you as the Co-director at Stein M&A. Sitting right across the hall from you. Things can get terribly cozy if you end up working late together. How’s that going?"

"Nathanial is highly competent," I say flatly. "We’re busy. It's an arrangement that suits the firm."

"It certainly didn't suit Piper," Julian muses. "I dropped in on her a few days ago to pass along the good news. She looked like she wanted to staple my face to the door. I didn’t know she cared so much about Nathanial."

Julian watches me over the rim of the espresso the waiter just dropped off.

His dark eyes are sharp.

He plays the fool beautifully, but he never actually is one.

"He must be much better company these days," Julian says lightly.

"Who? Nathanial?"

"Yes. Much lighter on his feet. Now that he’s no longer mourning his dear departed sister."

I stop moving.

My mug is halfway to my mouth. I lower it back to the saucer. I make sure my hand doesn't shake, but the sudden cold drop in my stomach is impossible to mask entirely.

"What are you talking about?" I ask.

Julian waves a hand dismissively.

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