The silence in the car was suffocating.
Christy sat stiffly in her seat, staring out the tinted window. She could feel Nathan's presence beside her, his cold aura filling every inch of the space between them.
The Nathan she once knew had been playful, full of life.
This Nathan?
Stone-cold, unreadable, and terrifyingly distant.
She risked a glance in his direction. He sat with one leg crossed over the other, his elbow resting on the armrest as he scrolled through his phone. His expression was blank, but his jaw was clenched, like he was barely tolerating her presence.
The tension was unbearable.
She needed to say something. Anything.
"So… um… how have you been?" she asked hesitantly.
Nathan didn't even look at her. "Focus on your job, Miss Miller."
Christy flinched at the formal address.
Miss Miller.
Not Christy.
Not even Christiana.
He had completely erased the familiarity between them.
Her throat tightened, but she forced herself to remain composed.
"I was just asking"
"Don't." His voice was sharp, cutting through the air like a blade. "I don't have time for pointless conversations."
Christy's fingers curled into her lap.
Fine.
If that was how he wanted to be, then so be it.
She turned her attention back to the window, swallowing the lump in her throat.
The rest of the ride continued in complete silence.
After what felt like forever, the car finally pulled up in front of a towering glass building.
Nathan's first meeting was here.
The driver parked, and Nathan body guard immediately stepped out to open the door for him. Nathan stepped out adjusting his cuffs. Christy followed, clutching the documents she had spent the morning reviewing.
She was about to step forward when Nathan suddenly stopped and turned to her.
His gaze trailed over her, lingering on her slightly wrinkled blouse and tired face.
"You look unprofessional," he stated bluntly.
Christy stiffened. "Excuse me?"
"Your appearance," he said coolly. "Fix it before you enter."
Her lips parted in shock.
She had done her best with what little she had. And yet, here he was, tearing her down as if she were nothing.
Biting back her frustration, she quickly smoothed her blouse and ran her fingers through her hair.
Satisfied, Nathan turned and walked ahead without another word.
Christy took a deep breath, clutching the documents tighter.
This job is important. Ignore him. Just do your job.
Squaring her shoulders, she followed him inside.
As they walked through the lobby, employees greeted Nathan with polite nods, their eyes widening slightly when they noticed Christy trailing behind him.
She could hear their whispers.
"Who's that?"
"His new secretary, I think."
"She won't last long."
Christy ignored them and focused on keeping up with Nathan's long strides.
They stepped into the elevator, and Nathan pressed the button for the 25th floor.
As the doors closed, she stole another glance at him.
His expression remained unreadable, his gaze fixed on the numbers as they ascended.
She had so many questions.
Why had he changed so much?
What happened to him after graduation?
Why was he acting like she was just another employee, as if their past didn't matter at all?
The elevator dinged, interrupting her thoughts.
They stepped out, and Nathan strode toward a large conference room where several high-ranking executives were already waiting.
Christy took a deep breath and followed him inside.
This was her first real test.
And she couldn't afford to fail.
The day dragged on longer than Christy had expected.
Meeting after meeting, she trailed behind Nathan, watching as he navigated the business world with a ruthless efficiency that she had never seen before. He barely looked at her, only speaking when absolutely necessary.
By the time they returned to the office for his last meeting of the day, a private dinner meeting with Senator Wallace. Christy was exhausted.
But the day wasn't over yet.
It was time for the Dinner Meeting
The restaurant was an upscale venue, dimly lit with chandeliers and expensive decor. Christy had never stepped into a place like this before. She felt completely out of place in her simple office wear.
Nathan walked ahead, as composed as ever, while she trailed behind, clutching her notepad.
"Mr. Carter," a deep voice greeted.
Senator Wallace, a man in his late fifties with graying hair and sharp eyes, stood from his seat, extending a hand.
Nathan shook it firmly. "Senator Wallace."
The senator's gaze flickered to Christy. "And this is?"
"My secretary," Nathan said curtly, pulling out his chair.
Christy gave a polite nod. "Christiana Miller, sir. It's a pleasure to meet you."
The senator eyed her for a moment before smirking. "A new one? You go through secretaries fast, Mr. Carter."
Christy stiffened slightly at his words, but Nathan remained unfazed.
"I expect efficiency," Nathan replied coolly. "Not everyone can meet my standards."
Christy lowered her gaze, pretending to jot down notes even though she was fuming inside.
So that's how he sees me? Just another temporary assistant?
The waiter arrived, and orders were placed. Christy remained silent, focusing on keeping up with the discussion.
The meeting revolved around a new business expansion Nathan was planning, one that required the senator's approval for certain permits.
"I trust you have everything in order," the senator said, taking a sip of his wine.
Nathan nodded. "You'll find the documents sound. There's nothing questionable."
The senator chuckled. "You remind me of your father. He was always thorough."
Nathan's expression darkened for a split second.
"My father and I are not the same." His voice was sharp.
Christy glanced at him from the corner of her eye. That tension again.
She didn't know much about his relationship with his father, but she could tell it wasn't good.
The senator smiled knowingly but didn't push further. "Well, as long as everything checks out, you'll have my approval."
Nathan gave a small nod, looking satisfied. "I appreciate that."
As the conversation shifted to casual topics, Christy remained quiet. Her stomach growled softly, reminding her that she hadn't eaten since lunch.
Nathan must have heard because, without looking at her, he gestured toward her plate. "Eat."
Christy blinked. "Excuse me?"
"You've been eyeing the food for the last ten minutes. Just eat."
She flushed. "I…I wasn't…"
The senator chuckled. "Go on, dear. No need to starve yourself."
Feeling humiliated, Christy slowly picked up her fork and took a small bite.
Nathan smirked slightly before turning his attention back to the senator.
Christy pretended to focus on her notes, but inside, she was fuming.
He's enjoying this, isn't he?
The meeting wrapped up around 7:30 PM.
Nathan and Christy stepped out of the restaurant, and his car was already waiting for them.
As they slid into the backseat, Christy braced herself for another silent, tense ride.
The driver pulled out of the parking lot, and for the first few minutes, neither of them spoke.
Then, out of nowhere…
"You should consider changing your wardrobe," Nathan said.
Christy turned to him, irritated. "Excuse me?"
"You don't dress the part of my secretary," he said, not even looking at her. "You should fix that."
Christy clenched her jaw. "This is the best I can afford right now."
Nathan finally glanced at her, his expression unreadable.
There was a long pause before he spoke again.
"I'll have the company send you a stipend for appropriate clothing."
Christy blinked in shock. "What?"
"It's an image thing," he said nonchalantly. "I don't want my secretary looking underdressed in important meetings."
She stared at him, trying to figure out if this was his way of helping or just another way to insult her.
"Is this your way of saying I embarrass you?" she asked, crossing her arms.
Nathan gave her a side glance. "Yes."
Christy huffed, turning away.
They sat in silence again, but this time, the air felt heavier.
Then, out of nowhere Nathan asked,
"Why did you disappear?"
Christy turned to him in confusion. "What?"
Nathan's gaze was still on his phone, but his expression had slightly shifted.
"After graduation," he said. "You just… disappeared."
Christy hesitated. "I had a lot going on."
Nathan didn't push further.
The rest of the ride was quiet, but this time, it wasn't just cold silence.
It was something else.
Something unspoken.
After what felt like an endless day, Christy finally closed from work.
9 PM.
She let out a deep sigh as she gathered her things. She had stayed behind to go through the paperwork from all of Nathan's meetings today.
There were reports, contracts, and countless notes to sort through, and she needed to simplify everything for him.
It was exhausting.
Nathan hadn't acknowledged her once throughout the day. The only time he spoke to her was to give commands. And when she tried to ask a question, he barely gave her more than a one-word response.
By the time she stepped out of the office building, her entire body ached.
The city lights flickered around her as she made her way to the bus stop. The cool night breeze hit her face, bringing her a slight moment of relief.
When she finally reached home, she could hear the muffled voices of her mother and sister in the living room, but she didn't have the strength to join them.
She just wanted her bed.
She trudged into her room and collapsed onto the mattress without even bothering to change.
Her phone buzzed.
She lazily reached for it and saw three missed calls from Kate.
I'll call her tomorrow.
Right now, she was too drained for any conversation.
Groaning, she dropped her phone beside her, pulled the blanket over her body, and let sleep consume her.
From the doorway, Grace peeked in, watching her sister's exhausted form.
A small frown crept onto her face.
It was clear how much today had taken out of Christy.
And tomorrow, she'd have to go through it all over again.