Wife by Day, Boss by Night

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Natalie sat in silence, obediently taking the seat opposite Herbert.

“Hey, Natalie, try this!” Nate beamed, sliding a plate of lemon poppy seed muffins toward Natalie. Brian had mentioned she had a sweet tooth.

It filled Nate's heart with joy that Natalie had come downstairs in the morning and joined him for breakfast.

“Nate adores you, you know. He relies on you a lot,” Herbert said, spoon—feeding Nate a few bites of food before suddenly saying in a low voice.

Natalie glanced at Herbert. Growing up, he was the one person she truly feared because of his commanding presence and Brian's deep respect for him. As a child, the sight of Herbert would send chills down her spine.

Herbert must have been past eighty by then, his hair a bit more silvered than before, but his demeanor seemed gentler.

“I like Nate, too,” she said after a brief silence.Content rights belong to NôvelDrama.Org.

“That's good to hear,” Herbert said, his tone tinged with enigmatic amusement.

Herbert was a stickler for rules, so after quietly eating a few bites, Natalie set down her utensils and said. “I'm full. I need to get to the set.”

“That's all you're eating?” Herbert eyed her plate.

Natalie remembered.Herbert's rule about never eating to fullness, so she had purposely eaten less. She nodded and replied, “Yeah.”

Herbert set down his spoon, which clinked against the fine porcelain bowl, a sound neither soft nor harsh.

Natalie froze, wondering if she had somehow breached his etiquette, and looked at him.

“You can't just nibble on little things if you need to look good on camera. You can't carry a child at this rate!” Herbert frowned slightly and added, “Since when does being skinny equate to being beautiful?”

Natalie wasn't excessively thin, but seeing her delicate wrists, which seemed too frail to hold a knife, had stirred a hint of dissatisfaction in Herbert. His tone was firm, yet Natalie could discern an undercurrent of worry..

But actually, she could easily lift two Nates without breaking a sweat.

Reid glanced over and said, “Mr. Morales, these pastries are high in sugar. One of them has as many calories as one should need. Eating much will make you put on weight.”

Herbert looked at the spread on the table. Since Nate had a sweet tooth, they had prepared many sweet treats for the morning.

“Have a burrito,” he said to Natalie, his voice firm.

Natalie hesitated but eventually picked up her fork and knife and cut into a burrito.

After watching her finish. Herbert seemed satisfied and said, “You can go now.”

Before Natalie could put on her coat. Nate began squirming in Herbert's arms, reaching out to her and calling.” Natalie, Natalie!”

Natalie knew he wanted a kiss, but with Herbert watching, she felt awkward.

Herbert coughed lightly and handed Nate to Reid, saying, “If he wants to see her off, take him to the door.”

Nate was pleased, and together with Reid, they escorted Natalie to her car.

Nate stretched his neck through the p . Coe)window and kissed Natalie's cheek loudly.

“Come back tonight, Natalie,” Nate said.

The set and the military base were on opposite ends of the city, nearly a hundred miles apart.

Natalie would have to rise at four or five a.m. on the shooting day. If traffic was bad, she could lose two to three hours commuting, meaning5 3

she'd have to wake even earlier, hardly getting any sleep.

“Not today.” Natalie replied quickly.

Nate pouted his little face, the picture of disappointment.

)

*I'll come to see you when I get a

» fe)chance.” Natalie's heart softened, and she spoke softly after a few seconds of hesitation.

Nate reluctantly nodded his little head.