She Was Never Just the Billionaire’s Wife (Natasha and Chase) novel Chapter 101

(Natasha)

The curb outside the Biltmore is a solid wall of shouting photographers.

Flashbulbs ignite the second my heel hits the pavement, bleaching the night into a harsh, strobe-lit white.

Julian pulls up right behind me. I wonder how the hell he managed that.

He adjusts his cuffs with the casual, loose-limbed arrogance of a man who lives for this exact kind of chaos.

He offers me his arm and I take it, keeping my chin perfectly level as the shouting surges against the velvet ropes.

"Natasha! Who are you wearing?"

"Are the divorce papers signed?"

"Is it true Chase is moving on?"

I don't blink. I don't smile. I let my midnight blue dress do the talking.

It’s cut so deep in the back that it practically doesn’t exist, and the slit on the leg is a deliberate, aggressive provocation.

I’m relying on double-sided tape and shallow breathing just to keep it on my body.

It’s a dress engineered specifically to make an ex-husband choke on his drink.

We clear the red carpet and step through the heavy brass doors into the lobby.

The air inside is thick with the low, aggressive hum of corporate networking.

I hand my wrap to a coat check attendant, ignoring the goosebumps that immediately rise on my skin.

"You look appropriately lethal," Julian says softly in my ear.

"I'm freezing," I tell him.

"Beauty is suffering, Natasha. You’re here to make a statement, and succeeding fabulously."

He grins, “Are you going to tell me I look great as well?”

“You already know you look great. You always do.”

Julian pretends to swoon. “Be still my beating heart. Compliments from the Ice Queen. Can it be that your heart is thawing toward me?”

I smack his shoulder.

“Behave yourself, or I’m leaving.”

The feeling of well-being leaves me in a rush when I look up and see Chase standing near the mahogany bar at the edge of the room.

He’s not alone.

Sonia is pressed to his side so hard you’d need a scalpel to separate them.

A hot, ugly spike of jealousy hits the back of my throat.

Julian bumps his shoulder lightly against mine and lets out a soft, immensely satisfied sound.

"Oh, look. The happy couple."

I tear my eyes away from Chase and look at Julian.

He isn't looking at me with pity, which I appreciate.

He’s looking at the scene across the room like a director admiring a stage play he just directed though.

The math clicks into place instantly.

"You set this up," I say. My voice is deadly quiet.

Julian takes two flutes of champagne from a passing waiter and hands me one.

"I merely facilitated a necessary collision, Natasha. The status quo can’t hold and the only way to end it is by getting the three of you together in a room."

He’s enjoying this far too much.

Julian told me Chase was bringing her to guarantee I would wear this dress and walk through those doors by his side.

And he told Sonia that Chase would be here so she could ambush him.

I look back across the room.

Chase’s jaw is locked tight.

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