She Was Never Just the Billionaire’s Wife (Natasha and Chase) novel Chapter 9

(Natasha)

Adrenaline from the Blackwood Gala still keeps me buzzing the next morning.

Accepting Chase’s bet was not an impulsive choice. It was a call to war, and wars need an army.

Because I’m not allowed to get anywhere near Mason, he immediately sends someone to help.

Early in the morning, a loud knock sounds through my hotel room.

“Natasha, meet Gloria Osborn,” Mason’s voice comes through the phone pressed to my ear.

He sounds very pleased with himself.

Opening the door reveals a woman who looks like she eats business rivals for breakfast.

Gloria is a few years older than me. She has a sharp haircut, dark eyes, and a no-nonsense personality.

She doesn’t smile or shake my hand.

Stepping right into the room, she drops a heavy briefcase onto the table and pulls out a stack of non-disclosure

agreements.

We work well together immediately.

Finding a good business partner is rare, but working with Gloria is easy.

There are no fights over who’s in charge. We’re just two women speaking the high-stakes language of acquisitions.

The next few days turn into an endless blur of planning and caffeine-free tea.

God, I miss coffee.

Deep tiredness settles into my lower back. My body feels twice as heavy as I drag myself around. But slowing down is impossible.

Every time I feel too tired to think, a sharp kick against my ribs wakes me up.

The baby growing inside me is the only motivation I need.

This child needs a mother who knows how to fight, not someone who gives up as soon as things get hard.

Breaking down Jeffrey Bauer’s company numbers takes hours of work, but the effort feels glorious.

We finally spot the huge mistake in Warren Global’s offer, and it changes everything.

Once our own business plan is ready, the victory feels amazing. Beating Chase at his own game is exactly how I get my life back.

Gloria closes her laptop firmly.

“That’s enough for today,” she declares.

“We’ve earned a break and a nice dinner. I’ll pick you up at seven. Wear something fancy.”

She doesn’t ask if I feel up to it.

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She doesn’t look at my swollen ankles with pity, and she doesn’t suggest ordering room service because of my condition.

She treats me like an equal. And after the last few months, that feeling is priceless.

Over dinner, we stop talking about Bauer’s business and Gloria focuses on my

life.

Working for Mason while still married to Chase is complicated, there’s no denying that.

Gloria slowly swirls the red wine in her glass, watching me closely.

“Your marriage and the Warren family,” she says in a low, direct voice. “It’s a bomb waiting to explode.”

Her honesty is refreshing.

Most people offer annoying advice about patience, or how divorce should always be the last option.

Gloria gives me only support and friendship.

She knows a bad situation when she sees it.

“The bomb already went off,” I reply calmly, taking a sip of water.

“Right now I’m just walking through the ruins.”

Our talk eventually returns to the business project, and we start discussing the people around Jeffrey Bauer.

Saying Nathanial Morton’s name makes the table suddenly quiet.

Gloria stops lifting her wine glass and her mask of confidence drops for a second, revealing deep sadness.

“Do you know him?” I ask carefully.

Putting her glass down, Gloria stares at the wine.

“Intimately. We dated years ago, when we were both living in London. It was a serious relationship. We even talked about getting married.”

A wave of surprise hits me.

Nathanial is a stick-up-his-ass, wealthy man from an old family. Gloria worked hard for everything she has. They’re as different as Chase and me.

“What happened?”

“Sonia happened,” Gloria’s voice is full of bitterness.

“His little sister hated the idea of him loving someone else. She ruined our relationship on purpose. She told lies, created fake problems, and always played the crying victim when he questioned her stories.”

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