She Was Never Just the Billionaire’s Wife (Natasha and Chase) novel Chapter 36

Chapter 36 The Unexpected Comfort

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Piper stands in front of my desk, tapping her manicured fingernails against the surface.

Julian lounges on the leather sofa in the corner, a sititk playing on his lips.

“You’re falling apart, Nathanial,” Piper states, her voice sharp.

“Father expects the Bauer merger closed by the end of the month. Your sudden drop in productivity is an embarrassment to the Morton name.”

“Get out of my office, Piper,” I tell her.

My voice sounds hollow.

I know Piper and Julian are salivating at the thought of me dropping the ball.

They’ve hated me since the moment my mother married their father, and that hatred only increased when it became clear that I was a brilliant businessman and a real contender to take over the company some day.

But all I can think about is that Nat’s dead.

My sweet little sister is gone, and I’ll never get to apologize for leaving her behind.

For not refusing to leave without her.

Julian chuckles from the sofa.

“He’s mourning, Piper. Give the golden boy a break.”

Julian’s tone holds zero sympathy.

“Business doesn’t pause for grief,” Piper.snaps, mirroring our step-father’s favorite lecture.

“If you can’t handle the pressure, step aside. I’ll take over the Bauer negotiations myself and show Father who truly deserves to run this company.”

Standing up, I plant both hands flat on the desk.

“Get out. Both of you.”

Piper narrows her eyes, but she turns on her heel and marches out.

Julian follows at a much slower pace, his mocking smile never fading.

Sinking back into my chair, exhaustion settles deep into my bones.

Tracking Nat down was supposed to be my greatest victory.

Finding her alive was supposed to fix the hole my mother left in our family.

Instead, I found out she’s been dead for five

A soft knock breaks the quiet.

years.

Expecting my assistant, I speak without looking up.

“Cancel my afternoon meetings.”

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“I don’t work for you, Nathanial. Cancel them yourself.”

My head snaps up.

Gloria Osborn stands in the doorway, looking as sharp as ever.

Seeing her here, in the heart of Morton Enterprises, is a shock.

We’ve stood on opposite sides of the battlefield for years, trading shafp insults and fighting for the same

contracts.

“What are you doing here?” I ask, my guard instantly going up.

I don’t have the energy to fight with her today.

Gloria’s dark eyes scan my face, taking in my bloodshot eyes and wrinkled shirt.

“Mason told me about the Bauer meeting,” Gloria says quietly.

“He told me you found out Nat died a few years ago.”

A hard knot forms in my throat and I look away, staring blindly at the city skyline.

“Word travels fast.”

Gloria stops right in front of my desk and without asking for permission, she pulls up a chair and sits down.

“I’m so sorry, Nathanial. Losing family is a terrible thing,” Gloria says softly.

“I remember how much you talked about her. I know how much finding her meant to you.”

Hearing her speak about our past strips away my defenses.

Back in London, before the ambition and the bitter rivalries, Gloria was the center of my world.

She was the only person who understood the crushing pressure of my step-father’s expectations.

“I left her behind. I spent all this time building an empire to share with her, to make up for leaving her.”

Gloria reaches across the desk. Her hand covers mine and her skin is warm and steady.

“You were a child yourself, Nathanial,” Gloria reminds me, her voice firm but gentle. “You didn’t make the choice. to leave. You can’t carry the guilt for your mother’s actions.”

Looking down at our joined hands, an undeniable comfort washes over me.

The ruthless corporate shark is gone, replaced by the woman I used to love.

The woman I planned to marry.

She traces my knuckles with her thumb, and the simple, caring gesture sends a jolt of electricity up my arm.

Looking into her dark eyes all I see is genuine sorrow for my pain.

A dangerous question echoes in my mind.

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