Wife by Day, Boss by Night

Bradley had only learned the full extent of the Howard family’s situation after graduation, finally understanding the relationship between Natalie and Brian.

Before that, Brian had never shown any disdain for Natalie. Bradley recalled that Brian had always been protective of her dignity. Once Brian went to pick Natalie up from school and overheard some guys talking smack about her, he threw punches without hesitation, and when he returned, his knuckles swelled, a testament to the severity of the fight.

Bradley didn’t know the reason at the time, but later, through an offhand comment from Robert, he learned Brian had defended Natalie against some troublemaking punks.

Brian wasn’t one to fight, but the one time he did in college was for Natalie. It just showed how important she was to him.

Natalie and Bradley exchanged looks, her eyes flickering slightly.

After the tragic plane crash that took Robert’s life, Bradley had become Brian’s closest friend and had gradually come to understand the dynamics between him and Natalie. He felt he had the right to say something about it.

After exchanging a few words, Natalie nodded in understanding. “I get what you’re saying.” Bradley thought she might be feeling uncomfortable because of Madelyn’s presence.

Natalie and Rosie had just about finished their ice cream as Bradley showed them out the

door.

As Natalie was about to leave, Bradley called out to her again.

“What’s up? Something else on your mind?” Natalie stopped in her tracks and looked back

at him.

Bradley thought it over and softly said, “You know how much he loves Nate, but he can’t always make time to have dinner together. But you, every weekend when you came home, he’d clear his schedule to be there punctual for dinner.”

“He was worried you’d wait for him and go hungry or that you’d struggle to break the habit of saying goodnight to him and wouldn’t be able to sleep. Did you know any of that?”

“Natalie, Brian sent you to boarding school not because he disliked you but because he didn’t want you to worry on nights when he couldn’t make it home. Do you understand?”

Natalie stood still, looking at him, silent.

Brian was never the type to bare his emotions for all to see, instead, he always pushed his feelings down and held his tongue.

Natalie would never have known if Bradley hadn’t told her. She had always thought Brian

sent her away because she was a nuisance.

“I do,” she finally replied calmly after a pause.

“Go on. You’re busy,” Bradley said, waving her off.

Then, seeing Rosie waiting for Natalie not too far away, he called out leisurely, “Hey kid, feel free to swing by for free ice cream anytime, all–you–can–eat!”

Rosie, already twenty–five, couldn’t help but frown at being called a ‘kid.‘

“That’s just his way, acting all old and wise,” Natalie said as she walked back to Rosie’s side. Published by Nôv'elD/rama.Org.

Natalie rummaged through her bag, realizing she had lost her gingerbread man–shaped USB drive. She was sure she had attached it to her car keys and couldn’t have mistaken it. After searching every corner of her bag and the car, she still couldn’t find it.

The last time she had used the car was before a trip abroad, with the USB still on the keys. She vaguely remembered seeing it after returning home.

But she hadn’t paid it much mind with everything going on lately.

“Is that USB drive that important?” Rosie asked curiously after helping search for a while.

“What’s on it?”

“Family pictures,” Natalie replied with a stern face.