Nathaniel Nathan reached out and tapped Vera Xavier's nose. "Don't do anything this foolish again. You revealed far too much valuable jade this time, and now you've attracted trouble."
Vera Xavier rubbed her nose and glared at him. Nathaniel Nathan pulled her into his arms and said softly, "But you don't have to worry. No matter how much trouble you stir up, you'll always have me."
Vera's heart softened at his words. All her earlier dissatisfaction and complaints instantly vanished into thin air.
'He's mastered the carrot-and-stick approach. He'll hit me with the stick at just the right moment, but when he's afraid I might fight back, he'll toss me a carrot to coax me back into line.'
'I'm completely powerless against him. And now I'm actually thinking that even though his personality is insufferable, he's genuinely good to me. I guess I'll just have to put up with it.'
She nestled against him in his arms and said softly, "Nathaniel Nathan, I have an idea."
