Bargaining with the Boss (Honeybrook Love, Inc. 2)

And the best part? The most surprising part?

It didn’t hurt as much this time. It wasn’t like the first time, where every word felt like she was pulling another deep-rooted tooth from her gums.

It was hard, sure, but it was easier.

And maybe, just maybe, it would get even easer from here on out. Like, by admitting what had happened to her, she was letting it

go one piece at a time.

The make-up woman rushed over to her and powdered her face liberally with something pink and shimmery. Natalie coughed, but the woman continued on as if Natalie weren't even there.

Next, she moved to the blonde anchor who was, apparently, very used to the treatment. She even took another sip from her wine as the woman fluffed and primped her.

"You should really have a glass. That can't be an easy story to tell." The anchor tilted her own glass toward Natalie, but she refused as politely as she could.

The most difficult part might be over now, but there were still plenty of rocks in the road up ahead.

Like what she'd have to say about Franco.

And Brooks.

"Suit yourself," the anchor shoved a hunk of her bleached hair behind one shoulder. "But just know that I admire you for that."

"You admire me?" She raised her eyebrows. "I never pressed charges."

The anchor nodded. "Until now. But you are. And that kind of growth is even more admirable, don't you think?"

The cameraman motioned to the anchor and she winked. "We're about to go on. Kim?" She slapped the desk in from of the brunette anchor and the woman seemed to wake from her daze.

"Show time."

"Right, thanks, Catherine." The brunette nodded.

"Anytime, sweetie." Catherine made a private motion to Natalie of what looked like quite a bit of drinking, then grinned and turned her attention to the camera as the countdown from commercial began.

And just like that, she was back in the spotlight.

"Hello Connecticut. We're back this morning with Natalie Gains, the star of last week's charity fiasco. For those of you who aren't familiar with the events, here's a clip of the action."

In a monitor, Natalie watched a miniature Brooks leap toward an even smaller Dominic. She winced. It had been bad enough watching it in real life. Watch it now with the dim lighting and the slow-motion violence made it feel that much worse.

"Now, that's Brooks Adams attacking Dominic Del Rossi, isn't it?" Catherine asked.

Natalie nodded. "He was defending me. He knew about my history with Dominic and when he saw that the restraining order had been violated..."

"He took it upon himself to be Batman?" Kim chuckled. "Figures a millionaire playboy would try his hand at that. I think we're just amazed he managed to untangle himself from his date in time to save you."

On the monitor, an image of Brooks and the woman who she now knew was Debbie Bowhart flashed on the screen.

"Regardless of the situation, I have a lot to thank him for. He might have saved my life last week."

Lana and Catherine nodded in unison, then Catherine reached out and covered Natalie's hand with her own. "Between us girls, though. We're not all that interested in Brooks Adams."

"No?"

"We want to know about this" Catherine pointed to something she couldn't see, and then she found an image of herself on the monitor, her cheeks red and blotchy as Franco smoothed her hair.

"What is going on there, sister?" Kim chimed in.