After the dinner party, Ashley yfully tugged on Nathan''s sleeve, pouting just a bit. "Nathan, can I ride with you?" Nathan''s face was as unreadable as a poker face.


    Nathalie just shook her head, a bit exasperated. In another life, Nathan and Ashley had been the picture-perfect couple, gracing TV interviews hand-in-hand and winning over everyone''s hearts. But this time around, Ashley seemed to be doing all the chasing. Seeing Nathan''s cluelessness, Nathalie jumped in to smooth things over. "Ashley, why don''t you join us in the car?"


    Ashley''s face lit up, "Thanks a bunch!" She wasted no time and hopped into the back seat.


    Nathan appeared indifferent. He headed straight for the driver''s seat, leaving Ashley''s smile hanging. Nathalie quickly dashed over, whispering, "Isn''t it a bit unusual for a CEO to drive? Let me handle it."


    Nathan raised an eyebrow. "You sure you''re up for it?"


    Nathalie had just recently earned her driver''s license and still felt a bit anxious behind the wheel. But she knew how rare it was to find Regan to help and didn''t want to mess up. "I''ve got this."


    Nathan hesitated briefly, then tossed her the keys. He settled into the passenger seat.


    With a deep breath, Nathalie started the car. She carefully worked the pedals, and the car crept forward like a hesitant snail. Determined not to show any weakness, she focused intently, trying her best not to give Ashley any reason to doubt Nathan''s decision to hire her. Nathan, however, couldn''t resist a little dig, "Nathalie, can we maybe go a tad faster? At this pace, we''ll hit Pulse Technologies sometime next year."Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org.


    Nathalie shot him a sharp look.


    Ashley, quick to notice, added her two cents, "Nathan, your assistant''s driving leaves a lot to be desired. Maybe it''s time to reconsider?"


    Nathan shot back, "She''s not going anywhere."


    Ashley''s smile faded. "Why''s she so special to you?"


    "Because she is special," Nathan said simply.


    Nathalie felt a bead of sweat on her brow. She red at Nathan. "Stop with the games."


    Nathan turned away, gazing out the window, ignoring Nathalie''s frustrated expression.


    Nathalie felt the need to rify, "Ashley, please don''t get the wrong idea. Mr. Nathan only hired me because helped him out once. He took me on because I was struggling to find work, and he let me stick around to help him out."


    Ashley took a closer look at Nathalie. With her petite stature of about 5''3" and glowing, wless skin, she looked like a porcin doll. Herrge, expressive eyes gave her a youthful charm, and her face with perfectly bnced features made her smile seem genuinely innocent. Her innocence seemed to invite protection.


    An idea popped into her head,


    Yet, Ashley wasn''t entirely buying it, "You look so pretty. You could easily be a star, making way more money. Why do you settle as Nathan''s assistant?"


    possibly to stir things up between


    Nathalie and Nathan. "I know a director who would love a beauty like you. I could introduce you, and you''dnd the lead role in his next big film."