Chapter 111 Meeting Natalie

Chapter 111 Meeting Natalie
Brielle's POV

The restaurant was warm and buzzing with energy as Daylan and I walked in, his hand resting on the small of my back. It felt comforting, and I leaned into his touch, grateful for the support. We were finally getting to meet Rick's girlfriend, Natalie.

"If you don't want to be here for long, just let me know and then we can leave," Daylan said.

"I will let you know," I replied as we walked further into the restaurant.

We spotted Tabitha, Rick, and Natalie at a cozy booth near the back. Rick waved us over, his arm casually slung around Natalie’s shoulders. She looked sweet, her smile soft and a bit shy, and I could immediately tell she was one of those genuinely kind souls. As we approached the table, I noticed how she shifted in her seat, clearly a little intimidated by Daylan’s tall, imposing figure.

“Hey!” I greeted them warmly, giving Tabitha a hug before sliding into the seat across from Natalie. “It’s so great to finally meet you, Natalie.” I smiled.

Her cheeks flushed a little as she smiled at me, her eyes flickering toward Daylan nervously before she returned her focus to me. “It’s really nice to meet you too. I’ve heard a lot about you.”

Daylan nodded politely at her, offering his hand. “Nice to meet you as well, Natalie.”

Her hand trembled slightly as she shook his, and I could tell she was still trying to find her footing. I wanted to make her feel at ease, especially with how warm and sweet she seemed. I leaned in, my voice light and friendly.

“Daylan and I went for a checkup this morning and our baby is still going strong. We are relieved that she will be okay.” I said.

"That's wonderful news," Tabitha said.

"Natalie, what is it that you do?" Daylan asked her.

"I do freelance graphic design," she replied nervously.

"That's so cool, what exactly do you design?" I asked. I was curious about this.

Natalie perked up a little at the change in conversation, and I could see her passion ignite in her eyes. “I’ve been doing freelance work for a while now. Mostly branding and logo design for small businesses, but recently, I’ve started getting into book cover design. It’s been a lot of fun, and I love the creative freedom.”

My mind immediately started spinning with ideas. If Mark came through, and I got to have the company, turning it into a publishing house, I would need someone just like Natalie, someone talented and passionate, to help me bring my vision to life. I smiled at her, feeling the excitement bubbling up.

“That’s perfect,” I said, leaning forward. “If everything goes well with this investor I’m working with, I might need a graphic designer for some big projects. Would you be interested in collaborating if I took over the publishing company?”

Natalie’s eyes widened in surprise and then lit up with excitement. “Really? That would be amazing! I would love to work with you.”

I nodded, feeling a surge of inspiration. “I will definitely keep you in mind. I’m waiting on Mark’s decision, but I have a good feeling about it. You would be perfect for the job.”

Her smile grew, and I could see the relief and joy in her expression. Rick looked equally pleased. It was nice to see him so happy, and I felt a warm sense of pride in him.

"I wrote a book which takes on my own personal experiences, but I've turned it into fiction and changed the relevant names. It can be a painful or powerful read, but so far people are loving it. I first started writing the first chapter in a journal when I ran away from a horrible place, but that is how far I will explain it to you," I smiled, "I've decided that I would like to have my own publishing company. It isn't only something that I want to do or be in competition with others, but it means more," I said.

Natalie was more intrigued, "You wrote a book? I would love to read it," She beamed with excitement.

"Well, you can find it anywhere." I smiled.

As we chatted, and eventually ate our meals. Once done eating, Tabitha had to say something about Rick and him settling down, her eyes sparkling with that motherly concern. “You two make a great pair,” she said, glancing between Rick and Natalie. “So, Rick, when are you and Natalie going to settle down? I mean to get married?” She asked.

Rick gave Tabitha a stern look, as if to tell her that now was not the time for the conversation in front of Natalie. Natalie, on the other hand, blushed furiously beside him. “Mom, that is a decision that both Natalie and I will make in due time.” He forced a smile at her.

Natalie laughed nervously, brushing her hair behind her ear. “Yeah, we are just taking things slow before we actually get married.”

Tabitha gave them both a knowing look. “Well, you look so happy together. It’s a mother’s job to dream a little.”

"It's Rick and Natalie's choice when they want to get married. They need to find each other on a more solid level, although they know they are meant for each other, but they need time, and they will tie the knot when they are both ready." Daylan chimed in irritably at Tabitha, causing her to sigh and take a sip of her red wine.

I smiled, watching the exchanges unfold, but there was something behind Tabitha’s eyes, a flicker of sadness that I hadn’t noticed before. As Rick and Natalie engaged in conversation, I leaned toward Tabitha, keeping my voice low.

“You doing okay?” I asked softly, catching her eye.

She smiled at me, but it was thin and forced. She looked at Daylan, who was mostly quiet this evening. He said earlier at the apartment that he didn't feel like being in company this evening, he just wanted to be with me. But he made the effort to be here for the sake of Rick, “Oh, I’m fine. Just… you know how it is. Watching everyone settle down, and here I am. It’s just a little lonely sometimes.”

My heart squeezed. Tabitha was always the strong one, the one who supported everyone else. It hurt to see her feeling left out. “You deserve happiness too. You know what we spoke about, that you will find the right person.”

She forced that smile again, but the sadness lingered in her eyes. “Thank you.”

We continued chatting, the atmosphere lightening as we laughed over stories and memories. Natalie was finally relaxing, her earlier nerves disappearing as she talked more about her work and her love for art. I could tell Rick adored her, and that made me feel even better about the whole evening.

I excused myself to go to the bathroom, needing a moment to freshen up. Daylan leaned in before I stood up, "Are you okay?" He asked with concern.

"Yeah, I'm perfectly fine." I smiled at him, and then I went to the bathroom.

The bathroom was quiet, the soft hum of the restaurant fading as I closed the door behind me. I reapplied lipstick onto my lips, watching myself in the mirror, and then once I was happy with my appearance, I threw my lipstick in my bag again. But just as I was about to leave, the door swung open, and Tabitha walked in, her expression unusually tense.

“I need to talk to you,” she said, her voice firm.

I blinked in surprise, nodding as I turned to face her. “Sure, what’s going on?”

Tabitha closed the door behind her and crossed her arms, her usual warmth replaced by something colder, more guarded. “I know you’re excited about this potential publishing deal with Mark, but I have to warn you about something.”

I felt a knot form in my stomach. “What do you mean?”

She took a step closer, her eyes narrowing slightly. “Natalie won't work for you when you get that deal. I've already decided that she would be a part of my small publishing division, and if you end up taking her on for your projects, you could be taking away one of my key assets. I’ve been trying to build something too, and I don’t appreciate you swooping in and taking her away.”

Her words hit me like a punch to the gut. I stood there, stunned, not sure how to respond. “Tabitha, I wasn’t trying to take anything from you. I just-”

“I’m sure you didn’t mean to,” she cut me off, her tone sharp. “But be careful. You’re stepping into a world that I’ve been a part of for a long time. Don’t underestimate what’s at stake here.”

And with that, she turned and walked out, leaving me standing there in shock. My heart pounded in my chest as I tried to process what had just happened. I had never seen Tabitha like this, so defensive, so… territorial.

I took a deep breath, trying to shake off the uneasy feeling that had settled over me. When I finally walked back to the table, I plastered on a smile, but my mind was racing. It was definitely about all the deal with Mark and me wanting that company.