Page 42 of Temporary Wife Temptation

“Hello, Ms. Song,” said the receptionist with a grin. “Bye, Ms. Song.”

Natalie was a sushi fiend. It was a surprise visit but she’d never turn down sushi no matter how busy she was.

“Adelaide.” When she entered Natalie’s office, her sister-in-law jumped up from her chair and rushed over for a hug. “What a wonderful surprise.”

“Are you talking about me or the nigiri plate I brought you?” She lifted the bag holding three paper boxes from a hole-in-the-wall restaurant in Little Tokyo.

Natalie’s eyes glazed over. “I love you.”

Adelaide laughed shyly, pleased by her warm reception. “I got some for Garrett, too.”

“Oh, no. He’s in a meeting for the next few hours.”

“That’s fine. He’s always in a meeting.” She sat at a small, round table by the window and waved over Natalie. “Eat up. We have to finish his portion, too.”

“Not a problem.” Natalie sighed happily, her chopsticks poised over the box.

Full and happy, they sipped green tea in comfortable silence until Adelaide saw her sister-in-law frown. “What is it?”

“Garrett has been looking tense and haggard lately,” Natalie said, her hands wrapping around her mug. “Do you know if he’s worried about something? Is anything wrong at work?”

“You don’t know?” Adelaide stared at her, shocked by her question. Her brother hadn’t told his own wife about the whole mess. Keeping his baby sister in the dark was one thing, but his wife? That idiot. Why did he insist on bearing all the responsibilities alone?

“What don’t I know?” Natalie sat up in her chair. “Garrett hasn’t said anything to me.”

“He’s my brother but he’s so stubborn sometimes.” Adelaide threw up her hands. “He didn’t tell me anything, either. I doubt he even told our dad. He thinks he’s ‘protecting’ us.”

“Adelaide, just tell me.”

“I did some digging around. Everyone thinks I’m a spoiled little princess with an unimpressive IQ, so it’s easy for me to go under the radar and gather intel.” Everyone underestimated her, including her own family. Michael was the only one... She shut down the thought, annoyed she’d let him slip in again. He had nothing to do with this. Nothing to do with her. “It’s Vivotex. They’re considering a partnership with Yami Corporation, a small-time fashion manufacturing company. They don’t have the brand recognition or the manufacturing capacity for any kind of partnership with Vivotex. Yami must have a powerful backer to catch Vivotex’s attention, but we don’t know who that is. My gut tells me this mystery powerhouse is using Yami as a pawn for its own plans.”

“What if Garrett can’t close the deal?” Natalie paled, her brow knitting with concern. “Will your grandmother really block his CEO appointment?”

“I hope not.” When she was a kid, Adelaide used to fight her grandmother like a hellcat over everything—big and small. But somewhere along the way, they reached an unspoken truce. They were too much alike—strong willed, opinionated...and breakable. Anything that doesn’t bend inevitably breaks. “I can’t tell what she’s thinking sometimes, but she has never let me down.”

“Do you think it’ll help if I beg her?” Her sister-in-law grinned but she wasn’t entirely joking.

Tenderness flooded Adelaide’s heart at how dearly Natalie loved her brother. It was no wonder Garrett followed her around like a puppy with hearts in his eyes. They were so perfect together. Adelaide could only hope she too would someday find that kind of love. Before she could turn wistful, she smiled brightly to reassure her big sis.

“My big brother is meant to be the next CEO.” She squeezed Natalie’s hand. “Try not to worry.”

Natalie worried until Garrett came home that night.

“Hello, Mrs. Song.” He walked up behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist. “What are you up to?”

“Making dinner.”

She gave the cherry tomatoes one last rinse and reached out to turn off the faucet. Garrett had been nuzzling the sensitive spot behind her ear, but went still at her answer.

“Dinner?” He sounded more than a little alarmed. “Are you sure? Remember last week...”

Her face flamed. She remembered all too well. Filled with a sudden urge to test her domestic talents, Natalie had tried making lasagna and nearly set the kitchen on fire. Oddly enough, the lasagna had come out unscathed from the fire—as in completely raw.

His apprehension was warranted, but that didn’t mean she’d let him get away with it. Natalie elbowed Garrett in his side. He grunted under his breath and she turned around to face him. He was gingerly rubbing his stomach, but his eyes were sparkling with laughter.

Her elbow had met rock-hard obliques. She doubted he’d even felt the jab. Still, contrite for her violence, she kissed the side of his neck then buried her face against him. He smelled so yummy, musk warmed against male skin.

“I’m only tossing a bag of salad.” She straightened to finish the job. “I ordered pizza for the main course, so you can stop worrying.”

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