Wife by Day, Boss by Night

“Sorry...” Her voice trailed into silence, then she returned softly, “But the whole situation hasn't been cleared up yet. I think someone at Galactix Space Tech has taken it upon themselves to target you. It wasn't his directive. He doesn’t even know who you are. So, I kept it from you, planning to investigate it myself.”

“What if it was Brian’s command to kill me? Whose side would you pick?” King fired back without a second thought.

When it was time to take out Brian, Natalie had sided with him, stepping in front of King’s gun barrel.

He wanted to know whether Natalie would choose him instead if the tables turned and Brian wanted him dead.

He waited a few seconds for Natalie's response, but the silence was all he got.

“I got it,” he chuckled softly.

Deep down, he knew Natalie would pick Brian. The moment he reached for his gun, and she didn't hesitate to stop him, it was clear enough.

“I'm suspending your tasks for now,” he said. “Come back to Bluestar when you can, and we'll sort out your resignation.” And with that, he hung up.

When Natalie tried calling back, his phone was already off.

Jumping over the digital fence, she logged onto the “DealDynamics” forum, only to read a system notification that set the whole place abuzz. “King and FireWing are no longer affiliated.”

7

That single post had the forum on the verge of blowing up, with practically every logged-in user being floored by the news.

“No way! I thought King and FireWing were the endgame! I was even thinking of shipping them in a fanfic!”

“And what about that flawless security code FireWing developed for Truth Group? Who'll own it now?”

“What happened to cause this? King's always been good to his crew. Other companies couldn't poach FireWing for billions, and now they split just like that?”

Natalie stared at the words on her screen, her mind a complete fog. Only in the real world did any bond between Kellan and Natalie remain.

The security code was originally King’s blueprint. She just modified it and would never claim it as her own. But leaving Truth Group was something she never imagined.

Messages began flooding FireWing's inbox, and offers to poach her were pouring in. She closed Chapter 195

the message window without a second thought.

After a brief pause, she typed her final words on the forum. “For the last time, FireWing, leaving Truth Group, will no longer appear on DealDynamics. I'm bowing out of the hacking world.”

If King didn’t want her, she'd vanish from the hacking scene on her terms. She never contemplated betrayal, yet King had tossed her aside.

After posting her farewell, she logged off the forum for good.

: , When staring at her phone's contact

5 > , .

list. King's number glaring back at her, she found it hard to breathe. He knew full well what he meant to her.

Time seemed to stretch indefinitely until her phone screen lit up with an incoming call. The ID read, “Brian.”

Brian seldom called her, and the timing seemed too coincidental. She took a deep breath, steadying her emotions before answering.

“Feeling down?” Brian's voice came through softly after a brief silence.

« » . . :Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive © material.

Not at all,” Natalie replied with. . . « ) .feigned indifference. “What's up with

) ”

the call? Aren't you busy?”

Natalie froze. She hadn't expected Brian to be so direct.

13

Was her cover blown that easily?

OldMate was a top twenty contender in the global rankings, known for imitating the moves of the greats so

)well that most couldn't spot the fakes.

Unless, of course, Brian was testing her all along.