Wife by Day, Boss by Night

Brian had been scrolling through the online comments about the whole Annika scandal and realized that Natalie had a knack for swaying public opinion.

The mess was entirely Madelyn’s own doing. If she hadn’t plagiarized Natalie, Natalie wouldn’t have had the ammunition to hit back so hard.

With Robert’s girl and his own going head–to–head, there was no question he’d side with Natalie.

“What’s wrong? Shouldn’t I heed Grandpa’s orders?” Brian teased, trying to lighten the mood as he saw Natalie’s temper flaring.

“Help her, then,” Natalie retorted icily, slipping out of Brian’s embrace and heading upstairs.

A smirk played at the corners of Brian’s mouth as he watched Natalie storm off. After a moment, he took out his phone and dialed the Howard family’s butler.

“Grandpa’s willing to throw money at Madelyn’s problem. It’s no skin off my back,” he murmured into the phone. “Do as you see fit.”

He was aware that stirring up trouble between Natalie and Madelyn was the only reason Davis was stepping in to fix Madelyn’s mess.

After hanging up, he slowly went upstairs and knocked on Natalie’s firmly shut door.

Natalie was on the phone with her lawyer, saying Madelyn would pay a hefty sum to settle the matter quietly. All Natalie had to do was have her friend take down that damning

video.

But Natalie wasn’t ready to let Madelyn off the hook easily like that.

Hearing Brian’s knock, she quickly exited the chat app.

“Can I come in?” Brian’s voice was low as he waited outside the door.

When Natalie didn’t answer, he turned the knob and entered. Natalie was perched at her vanity, furiously tapping her phone, absorbed in a game.

Brian, perched at the foot of the bed, watched her character’s intense on–screen battle, which turned out to be too fierce as her character ended up dying.

“Come here,” he beckoned softly, extending a hand.

Natalie ignored him, restarting the game.

Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Brian fiddling with his phone, opening some app.

Seconds later, the intro to a cover song Natalie had recorded filled the room.

09:16

Her fingers faltered, and the in–game monsters got the better of her.

Brian watched her, a slight smile on his lips. “Annika’s got a pretty good voice, doesn’t shop

I guess it’s alright,” Natalie replied coldly, “not as amazing as everyone says.”

“Really?” Brian prodded.

She sensed there was more to his question.

“So, what do you think? A few million for a small–time influencer who’s never shown her face online and probably doesn’t make much money. Should that be enough to calm her down?”

Natalie set her phone aside, locking eyes with Brian. “She might be short for cash but seems to have integrity. I doubt she’d cave for a few million.”

Brian laughed again. “Do you know what a million means to them?” ConTEent bel0ngs to Nôv(e)lD/rama(.)Org .

“A decent influencer, the kind you see on TV, might make a few million to maybe thirty million a year. If they exceed that, they’re in the top tier.”

“A few million could support a regular influencer for decades. Annika could accept it and never worry about money again. Get whatever she wants. Why wouldn’t she take it?”

He was reasoning with her, nudging her toward a conclusion. There must be something

if Natalie refused the settlement.

up

Natalie pondered for a moment. Brian did have a point that money talks, after all.

“Are you going to give her the money yourself?” She broke the silence, turning his question