Chapter 196: Nathaniel’s new assistant
Nathaniel lingered for a moment, thoughts swirling in his head, before finally stepping into the closet after her. She was selecting clothes when he closed the gap between them and slipped his arms around her.
"Good morning," he rasped, pressing his face against her shoulder, inhaling the faint scent of lavender clinging to her skin.
Zara’s body tensed. Bitterness churned in her chest. He had spent the night in the study, clinging to memories of his first wife. Yet now, the moment he saw her, he was acting tender and affectionate.
Did he really see her as nothing more than an outlet for his desires?
"I’m sorry," Nathaniel whispered. "I dozed off in the study."
"It’s fine," she replied flatly, her tone sharp and dismissive. "I’m running late. Let me get dressed."
Nathaniel could sense her displeasure. He gently turned her to face him, his gaze searching hers. "You are upset, aren’t you?" he asked softly.
Zara lifted her chin slightly, forcing herself to meet Nathaniel’s gaze. His eyes were steady, full of a sincerity that almost convinced her he truly cared. But the more genuine he looked, the deeper her pain grew.
’How can he look at me with such honesty, as if I’m the only woman he sees, when I know that’s not true? How can he hold Nora in one hand and me in the other, pretending both are equal?’
She scoffed inwardly.
Nathaniel’s love for Nora was undeniable—he carried her memory like a sacred flame. No matter how much time had passed, no matter what promises he made, that love had not faded.
Zara knew she could never replace Nora in his heart. The memory of him asleep in the study, clutching Nora’s photograph, burned in her mind. The image cut deeper than any sharp words could.
’He still loves her... and he always will. No matter what he tells me, no matter how many times he touches me, his heart will never belong to me. I’m just a body to warm his bed, a presence to fill the void and make life easier.’
Her chest tightened with a familiar ache. She could feel the weight of jealousy, of inadequacy, of despair pressing down on her, threatening to pull her into the same spiral of self-doubt she had fought against for so long. But she refused to drown in that darkness again.
She couldn’t let the heaviness in her chest take over. Not now. ’If I let myself spiral into these thoughts, I’ll lose myself again. I can’t afford that. I have responsibilities, I have work. The event next week... that has to be my focus.’
She had work to do, responsibilities that demanded her strength.
"The event is next week. I need to leave early," she said evenly, though her voice carried the bite of frustration she couldn’t quite hide.
Nathaniel studied her for a moment but didn’t push back. He simply nodded and stepped aside. "Alright. I’ll drive you to the office. Wait for me."
"No need. Just head straight to your office." Without waiting for his reply, she turned and disappeared into the changing room.
Nathaniel stood there, scratching his head, bewilderment etched across his face. ’She is angry with me,’ he thought. ’What do I do now?’
Meanwhile, Zara leaned against the changing room door. Her hands clenched at her sides. She wanted to scream, to cry, to ask him why he couldn’t let go of Nora—why he couldn’t love her the way she longed for. But instead, she swallowed it all down, steeling herself.
’What a fool I am, always hoping he’ll see me, when his heart was never mine to begin with.’
~~~~~~~~~~~
At Nathaniel’s office...
The interview was in progress. He sat with a composed face, though his mind wasn’t on the candidates—he was only waiting for Ian to show up. To maintain appearances, he acted serious, making the process look fair so no one could accuse him of favoritism.
At last, Ian walked in, adjusting the thick black-rimmed glasses perched on his nose. He stepped up confidently and placed a file on Nathaniel’s desk.
Nathaniel blinked, momentarily taken aback. ’So this is Ian—the one Kelvin recommended as my assistant.’
The boy looked far too young, barely out of college. His hair was slicked back with gel, but the suit he wore seemed several sizes too large, nearly engulfing his thin frame. Nothing about him gave the impression that he was fit for the demanding role of his assistant.
Nathaniel could hardly believe it. This young boy, fumbling with his bulky glasses, didn’t look like someone who could handle the weight of such responsibility. His first impulse was to reject him outright. But then Kelvin’s stern warning resurfaced in his mind, urging him to think twice.
"Ian Shaw?" Nathaniel’s tone carried quiet authority as he lifted a brow. "How old are you?"
Adjusting his glasses once more, Ian gestured toward the file on the desk. "All my information is there, sir," he replied calmly.
’This boy!’ Nathaniel muttered inwardly, irritation flickering across his face. He leaned forward, resting his hand firmly on the file without opening it. "I asked you something. Answer me directly."
"Yes, sir." Ian straightened his posture as he began listing his credentials. "My name is Ian Shaw. I’m twenty-five years old."
’Twenty-five?’ Nathaniel’s brows shot up in disbelief. With his lean build and boyish features, the boy looked barely twenty.
"I hold dual master’s degrees—Human Resource Management and Finance Management," Ian declared, his voice sharp, clipped, and confident, each word carefully measured.
Nathaniel’s interest stirred despite himself. ’Double masters?’ His fingers moved, opening the file as Ian continued with professional clarity, "My previous experience includes working in a service firm that outsourced me to larger corporate projects, where I was tasked with handling critical operations and adapting to diverse work environments..."
Nathaniel barely registered Ian’s words—his focus locked on the details laid out in the file. By the age of twenty, Ian had already earned two master’s degrees. But what truly made Nathaniel’s brow arch was the revelation that Ian had worked as a corporate spy.
The firm he had been employed at specialized in placing highly skilled, well-educated individuals inside major corporations to extract intelligence from competitors. Ian had been one of their operatives.
Nathaniel muttered a sharp curse under his breath. ’Kelvin... you actually sent me a spy to serve as my assistant. You...’
With a decisive thud, he snapped the file shut, his gaze lifting, fixing on Ian.
"I am the ideal candidate for this position," Ian declared, a steady confidence burning in his eyes behind those thick lenses.
Nathaniel remained silent, his gaze fixed on Ian, thoughts tangled in suspicion. Behind that awkward, unpolished exterior, he sensed the presence of a cunning fox. If Ian weren’t shrewd, Kelvin would never have recommended him.
"There is no denying your talent," Nathaniel finally said, though hesitation lingered in his tone. "But before I bring you on, I need to speak with Kelvin. Call him—now."
Ian blinked at him, then replied firmly, "That’s against protocol. However, I’ll notify you the moment I receive any update from him."
Nathaniel’s eyes narrowed, irritation simmering. "Are you defying me?"
Roberto had never questioned him—not once. Yet this young man dared to speak back to him even before being officially hired.
"I’m only adhering to the rules," Ian responded in a mechanical calm. "It’s for your own safety, sir."
Suppressing his growing frustration, Nathaniel gave a curt nod. "Fine. Head to HR and finalize the hiring process. Make it quick—you are coming with me to a meeting."
He waved Ian off, reaching for a cigarette. But just as he struck the lighter, Ian moved with startling swiftness, placing a pack of nicotine gum in his hand.
"Why not try this instead?" Ian suggested.
Nathaniel froze mid-motion, staring at him with incredulity.
"It’s the better choice," Ian pressed, sliding the pack into Nathaniel’s palm. "It’ll help you quit smoking."
Before Nathaniel could respond, Ian snatched the file from the desk and strode out of the room.
Left behind, Nathaniel glared at the pack of gum, his frown etched deeper. "What the hell..."