Wife by Day, Boss by Night

"Jesus, Gracia, you could've burned Natalie's face off with that coffee! if you had, you'd be toast, I swe Rosie thrust a finger at Gracia, her voice a pitch higher in outrage. "I'd rearrange that pretty little face of yours!"

"Let it go." Natalie's grip was firm as she pulled Rosie back from the brink of clawing at Gracia. Her voice was a low murmur, her brow furrowed with frustration, "Let's head back. She's not worth the hassle Gracia stood there, gobsmacked, watching the farce they played.

While Natalie was trying to soothe Rosie, she glanced at Gracia and dismissed her with a wave of her hand. "Would you mind leaving?"

Then, in a whisper meant for Gracia alone, Natelie added, "Ever heard of victim complex, sweetheart? Get it now?"

Gracia froze, the penny dropping a moment later,

"Argh!!!" Her scream echoed in the hotel lobby as Natalie and Rosie walked away. The onlookers piercing gazes and their murmurs of disapproval made Gracia stamp her feet in fury.

Why had Natalie changed so much since coming back from abroad? Why did Gracia always end up losing to her?

Gracia had everything well planned and every move choreographed in advance!

A security guard, fed up with the commotion, stepped forward. "Madam, please leave. You're causing a scene and disturbing our guests, who are quite distinguished."

For the first time in her life, Gracia felt the sting of being ushered away, all eyes on her, her dignity in tatters.

"Get off me! I'll call the cops!" she shrieked.

Upstairs, Natalie and Rosie had reached the safety of the elevator. Hearing Gracia's ongoing tantrum, Rosie couldn't help but pull out her phone, her voice dripping with malice, "Well, let's just call the cops for her and give her a taste of real justice!"

Half an hour later, the sound of sirens confirmed the arrival of a patrol car.

Gracia, still in a heated argument with the security, turned a shade darker as the cops stepped in.

Natalie stood by the window, watching the flickering lights of the police car below, and said to Rosie, "You say Bradley is a rascal, but how does he stack up against her?"

"They're different beasts," Rosie replied, popping some cherries into her mouth. "Gracia is just shameless." Chewing, she continued, her words muffled, "Bradley's just a smooth talker with a bold heart that could deflect bullets."

Natalie figured she'd be called down soon for a statement and started to get ready.

That was when her phone rang with a video call from Brian.Exclusive © content by N(ô)ve/l/Drama.Org.

After a brief pause, she answered.

15:18

"Gracia came looking for you?" Brian's voice was muffled, the phone leaning against a coffee thug, as he multitasked on his computer.

Natalie stayed silent, knowing Brian was busy.

Sensing the topic, Rosie tactfully kept quiet.

The room fell still until the alarm from downstairs reached Brian's ears. He paused his gaze shifting to Natalie. In a fleeting glance, he noticed the faint redness on her neck.

"Are you hurt?" he asked, concern furrowing his brow.

The coffee didn't scald Natalie. It was hot, but not hot enough to cause a burn.

Before she could respond, Brian darkened his expression.

"I'll take care of this. You don't have to worry about it anymore, he said a