Secret Desires Read Online Free PDF Page B

on edge from what seemed to be their first fight, Natalie sat back down on the couch and buried her face in her hands, unsure of what to do.
     
     
     
    Natalie could barely focus on anything the rest of the day. She found herself checking her phone every half hour just to see if James had so much as texted her, but every time she looked she just felt more annoyed. By nightfall she hadn't accomplished much in the way of work, and resigned herself to bed for the evening, phone charging on her bedside table. She tossed and turned. When she got too warm beneath the bedding she kicked it off and turned down the thermostat, only to wrap herself up in a scarf and blanket when she was too cold twenty minutes later. Only minutes later she was pushing the blanket and scarf away again, kicking them off the bed entirely out of frustration.
    She slept lightly, waking up what seemed like every thirty minutes, each time cursing her brain for not being able to shut off. The nerve of him to ask her to quit her job. Not once, but twice! And yet the concept of him being the one to sever ties with Brighton was absolutely out of the question. He had a contract. But he was absolutely fine with her being unemployed. What was she supposed to do for money? Live off of him? Be his project? Be a trophy girlfriend whose sole duty in life was to please her man? Not Natalie Harlow.
    Each time she woke up throughout the night she turned and flipped her pillow so the cool side was on her face, punching it into the right shape to mould against her head. She was absolutely listless, the lack of deep sleep merely exacerbating her anger.
    It was nearly half past four when she finally abandoned hope of getting any sleep. She sat up in bed, resigned and bitter at her predicament.
    Was James on the verge of giving her an ultimatum? He wouldn’t really ask her to choose between him and her career, would he? No! No. No, he wouldn't do that . She chewed on her thumbnail. He was a controlling man but not domineering. The fact that she was intelligent was one she knew he admired about her. Not that Celine wasn't intelligent. She probably was. According to James, Celine was about societal status, making appearances and being somebody - most notably the wife of a very young, very handsome, very wealthy businessman. But she was motivated by a different type of lifestyle - James' world - and Natalie couldn't care less about it. She wasn't concerned with the trappings of any particular lifestyle except her own. Work hard, get a little ahead, enjoy life. Rinse and repeat.
    Stop! she admonished herself. You are not going to turn into one of those idiots who obsesses over every aspect of her relationship. James is probably just frustrated , she told herself. But if this is who he is then it's better to find out now before... She took a deep breath through her nose and bit the insides of her cheeks. They'd only been seeing each other a few months. If these were James' true colors then she was lucky to find out now before any real feelings were developed. Yes, he was fantastic in bed, was likely the best lover she would ever have, but sex was not something to build a relationship on and she couldn't be with a man who casually told her to quit her job. Not for any reason.
    Natalie glanced once more at the clock and groaned, sleeplessness provoking her to the bone. She grabbed for her phone and swiped it awake, tapping her way to the messages screen to angrily stab out a message to Shane.
    'Coming in early. Will stop for coffee.'
    A brief hot shower managed to relax her enough to get her mind off of James and focused on work. She dressed in black slim fitting trousers, a white button-down collared shirt, and topped that with an orchid colored blazer made from Italian wool flannel - an expensive piece she'd been fortunate to pick up on sale. She clasped on a statement necklace and slipped her feet into a pair of simple patent flats. She applied just enough makeup to make herself