Chapter 14

Chapter 14

“Mr. Howard, the FireWing deal went down on that register over there.” Brian’s assistant Reid gestured toward a checkout machine nearby, whispering to Brian, who was standing close.

Brian glanced at the machine and then looked back in the direction where Natalie had been, only to find she had disappeared.

“What are you looking at?” Two men approached Brian and sat beside him, inquiring.

“Nothing.” Brian replied after a moment, his gaze returning to the present.

He was probably overthinking it. Why would Natalie be in a place like The Aerie? It was an upscale club with high standards for its patrons. She couldn’t afford to get in, even if she wanted to.

When Natalie slipped out through a different exit, she looked back several times to ensure she wasn’t followed before she sighed with relief. In a secluded spot, she quickly changed into another outfit.

The day had brightened as she stepped out onto the bustling streets, hailing a cab without hesitation.

“Where to?” the cab driver asked.

Natalie glanced at the medication for Matthew in her hand and said, “Heavenly Pastries, please.”

Heavenly Pastries was a renowned bakery in Streamville, famous for its morning delights. Matthew was particularly fond of the food here. And as luck would have it, she was on her way to pick some up for him.

The bakery was always bustling, busy from dawn until noon.

When Natalie arrived, the place was packed.

“Could you please wait outside for a bit? We’ll have your pizza ready to go shortly,” the server said apologetically.

With time to spare, Natalie found a spot near the entrance and sat down there, a few seats away from the waiting others.

The day was overcast and drizzly, with raindrops dancing in the wind and speckling Natalie’s clothes.

A car pulled up before Heavenly Pastries, and a woman, meticulously dressed and sheltered under a clear umbrella, stepped out. She frowned, clearly annoyed by the rain.

“Mr. Howard mentioned he’d be coming for lunch today. He’s quite fond of the pastries here, so we should have some set aside for him,” the Wright family’s servant mentioned softly to Gracia,

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Chapter 14

who was visibly displeased.

“It’s more meaningful when you select them personally.”

Gracia nodded grimly and, upon raising her eyes, locked gazes with Natalie, who was sitting in

the corner.

After a brief stare–off, Gracia contemptuously smirked and turned away as if she hadn’t seen Natalie addressing the waiting manager. “You have a table upstairs, right?”

“Of course, of course! Ms. Wright, just two minutes, please,” the manager replied, nodding eagerly.

A server brought over the packaged pizza Natalie had ordered. “Your order is ready. Please come to the register to pay.”

Natalie stood and walked to the counter, pulling a hundred–dollar bill and two fifties from her purse and handing them to the cashier.

“You’re short twenty,” the server said.

Gracia watched and couldn’t help but chuckle softly.

Natalie didn’t even have a full two hundred in her purse. How pitiful.

Embarrassed, the servant was about to step forward to cover the difference for Natalie when Gracia stopped him with a gesture.

Ignoring the scene, Natalie continued to rummage through her bag and pulled out a ten–dollar bill with a handful of change, placing it on the counter.

She hadn’t had the chance to set up a bank account since her return from Bluestar. The money was what King had stuffed in her bag before she left. After spending some, all she had left was the small changes.

The server counted the money and handed over the pizza to Natalie. As Natalie reached out to take them, Gracia knocked the paper bag to the ground subtly.

Not far away, Reid was stepping out of a car to buy a box of pastries when he caught sight of Natalie and Gracia at the bakery’s entrance. He paused for a second and turned to look at

Brian in the car.

L