Wife by Day, Boss by Night by Thalia Quillspeak

Chapter 1

“Natalie Wright!”

The sharp bark of her name jolted Natalie awake, and her eyes snapped open to meet a pair of brooding, dark eyes.

She blinked, disoriented for a few seconds, before realizing where she was.

Brian Howard’s gaze fell on her petite figure, and his pupils contracted sharply. Without a word, he grabbed a blanket and tossed it at her.

Natalie scrambled beneath the covers, her clear eyes quickly misting with tears.

She watched Brian rise from the bed, his back to her as he strode into the bathroom. Feeling adrift, she managed to utter a single word, “Brian…”

Her voice trailed off as Brian’s icy stare cut through her. “Brian?” His tone was too cold, too cutting, and Natalie’s heart skipped a beat, prompting her to correct herself hastily, “Mr. Howard…”

of it. She wasn’t sure if he was drunk or what, but she could smell a faint hint of whiskey and something

a blur,

she tried to explain, she caught sight of a long, bloody gash across Brian’s

she could get a clear look, Brian turned, grabbed her chin with a fierce grip, and growled, “Natalie, do you think you can win

protest. But her plea was cut short

his unguarded expression, and

the housekeeper, Sadie,

a shirt, his voice commanding. “Put this on

He wanted her to leave with the house full of

to tremble, tears streaming down her face. She clutched at Brian’s arm, pleading softly,

off her hand with a force that sent her tumbling back onto the bed, his face a mask of frost. “Natalie, you’re just like

words stung more than

1/2

Chapter 1

or intervene in her parents‘ affairs. She only remembered