She Was Never Just the Billionaire’s Wife (Natasha and Chase) novel Chapter 99

(Julian)

I’m sitting in the back of my town car, watching the Los Angeles traffic crawl, when my phone buzzes against my leg.

The screen lights up with a text from Sonia.

Are you going to the charity gala tonight?

I stare at the text and let out a short laugh.

It’s tragic, really.

I can practically smell the desperation radiating through the OLED screen.

She doesn't care about the gala.

She wants to know if Chase is going, and if there will be cameras.

She wants an opening.

I type back quickly.

Wouldn't miss it. Heard Chase is presenting the foundation grant.

I hit send and watched the read receipt pop up instantly.

She’s hovering over her device like a vulture waiting for something to die.

I tap the edge of my phone against my chin.

The situation is entirely too static.

If I want Chase off the board, so Natasha will look past him and be dazzled by me, I need to get them out of the rut they’re currently in.

This needs a push. A little spark in the powder keg.

I lean forward and tap the glass partition.

“Change of plans, Marcus. Take me to the Stein M&A building, but stop at that artisan florist in the Flower District first.”

Twenty minutes later, I’m walking through the aggressively modern lobby of Stein M&A.

It’s all glass, steel, and people in sharp suits who look like they’d step over their own mothers for a promotion.

I’m holding a bouquet of eternity roses that last a year and cost nearly two thousand dollars.

As well as a flat white from a place that roasts its own beans.

It’s always best to hedge your bets.

I take the elevator to Natasha’s floor.

I genuinely enjoy spending time with her.

I’m sure she’s the only interesting thing to happen to the Warrens in a decade.

She doesn't tolerate much bullshit, she doesn't bore me, and she possesses a bite that I deeply respect.

Which makes winding her up highly entertaining.

I walk right past her assistant.

She opens her mouth to ask if I have an appointment, but I’m not about to break my momentum for unimportant details.

I push Natasha’s office door open without knocking.

She’s sitting behind her desk, looking absolutely wrecked.

The kind of deep, structural exhaustion that goes straight to the bone.

This is why I avoid getting an actual job. It’s hell on the complexion.

Natasha's staring at her laptop screen like she’s trying to set it on fire with her mind.

“It looks like you can do with a break,” I say by way of greeting.

She jumps slightly, her eyes snapping to me.

“Julian. How did you get past Priya?”

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