HIS LAST ASSISTANT

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

Natalie had attended intimidating events before. Corporate meetings, investor presentations, and interviews but nothing compared to walking into the Cole family mansion.

The moment she crossed the threshold, she felt it. She felt the judgment, not spoken, not visible, but present, like a cold draft moving through the house.

The mansion itself was breathtaking. Marble floors stretched beneath crystal chandeliers. Expensive artwork lined the walls. Every piece of furniture looked like it belonged in a museum.

Natalie hated it immediately, not because it was beautiful but because it was a reminder. A reminder that she came from a completely different world.

Beside her, Damien remained calm, as if he couldn't feel the tension, or perhaps he was simply used to it.

A woman approached them. She was elegant, perfectly dressed, her silver hair arranged flawlessly, her posture alone radiated authority.

Natalie didn't need an introduction. This was Victoria Cole, Damien's mother. The woman from the window, the woman who already hated her.

Victoria's eyes swept over Natalie. Not rudely or obviously, it was almost professional, which somehow felt worse because Natalie recognized evaluation when she saw it, and she was being evaluated.

"Mother."

Damien's voice remained neutral, Victoria smiled, her smile was a beautiful and dangerous smile.

"Damien."

Then her attention shifted to Natalie, her smile remained, but the warmth disappeared. "Miss Brooks."

Natalie forced herself to smile. "Mrs. Cole."

Victoria tilted her head slightly. "Welcome."

The word sounded less like an invitation and more like a challenge. Natalie suddenly understood where Damien got his composure. His mother could freeze oceans.

A second figure appeared. He was older, broader, and more distinguished. Unlike Victoria, his expression revealed little. The man stopped beside her.

Damien straightened slightly. "Father."

The older man nodded. "Damien."

Then his attention settled on Natalie, the silence stretched, it was long enough to become uncomfortable, long enough for Natalie to wonder whether she had forgotten how breathing worked.

Finally—

"You're younger than I expected."

Natalie blinked. That wasn't what she expected him to say. "I'm twenty-seven."

A faint smile appeared. "Still younger."

Damien's father extended a hand. "William Cole."

Natalie shook it, his grip was firm, and steady, it was nothing like Victoria's icy politeness. "Nice to meet you."

William studied her carefully, then nodded once as if he was making a private observation. Natalie wasn't sure whether to feel relieved or nervous. Probably both.

•

•

Dinner began thirty minutes later and quickly became one of the longest meals of Natalie's life. The dining table alone could seat twenty people, and the conversation remained polite at first.

They discussed weather, business, politics, and safe topics, and then Victoria struck smoothly and elegantly without warning.

"So."

She set down her wine glass. "How are you adjusting to the attention?"

Natalie's stomach tightened. There it was, the real conversation.

She forced a calm smile. "It's been an adjustment."

Victoria nodded thoughtfully.

"I imagine it has."

The sympathy sounded fake because it was. William remained silent but was watching and observing.

Damien's expression hardened slightly, and Victoria noticed but ignored it. "Public scandals can be difficult."

Natalie set down her fork. "Yes."

Victoria smiled. "And yet some people seem to attract them."

The room went silent, completely silent. Natalie felt the insult immediately, and so did Damien.

"Mother."

He spoke one word, but it was a warning, and Victoria looked completely unbothered. “What?"

Damien didn't answer because they both knew exactly what she meant. Natalie considered staying silent and then changed her mind. For too long, she'd allowed people to define her, but not tonight.

"With respect, Mrs. Cole."

Victoria looked at her, Natalie held her gaze. "I didn't create the scandal."

The room froze. William's eyebrows lifted slightly. He found it interesting.

Victoria's smile sharpened. "Of course."

Natalie recognized the dismissal instantly, and suddenly, she was tired of explaining, of defending, and of pretending, so she spoke honestly.

"People believe what they want to believe."

Natalie continued. "I can't control that."

Victoria's eyes narrowed slightly for the first time all evening. It was a reaction, a real one.

Beside her, Damien remained very still, watching and listening. Natalie wasn't sure why that mattered, only that it did.

Victoria folded her hands. "And what exactly do you want, Miss Brooks?"

The question hit the table like a stone, Damien immediately looked annoyed.

Natalie understood, this wasn't really a question. It was an accusation.

What do you want from my son? From our family? From our world?

Natalie met Victoria's gaze and answered truthfully. "A job."

The silence that followed was almost comical. William coughed, poorly hiding his amusement, Victoria looked unimpressed.

Natalie continued. "I wanted employment."

Then, unexpectedly— William laughed, a genuine laugh, the first one all evening.

Victoria turned toward her husband, clearly displeased, William ignored her. He found Natalie interesting, very interesting.

The family dynamics were becoming clearer and much more complicated.

•

•

An hour later, dinner finally ended, and Natalie escaped onto a balcony overlooking the estate grounds for fresh air.

“Thank God.” She thought.

She leaned against the railing, trying to recover, process, and try not to imagine Victoria planning her murder.

The balcony door opened behind her, she didn't need to turn around, she already knew it was. It was Damien.

"You survived."

Natalie laughed softly. "Barely."

He stepped beside her. The gardens stretched below them, lit by soft golden lights. They looked beautiful and peaceful, unlike the dinner.

Natalie glanced sideways. "Your mother hates me."

"No."

The answer came too quickly, which made Natalie raise an eyebrow.

Damien sighed. "She hates everyone."

"That isn't comforting."

"It wasn't meant to be."

They stood in comfortable silence, which was strange to Natalie. Comfortable silence wasn't something Natalie experienced often, especially not with Damien.

"Why did your father want to meet me?"

Damien looked out over the gardens, thinking, and choosing his words carefully.

"Because he's curious."

"About what?"

His answer came quietly. "About the woman I'm risking so much for."

Natalie's breath caught, the words landed harder than they should have because suddenly she remembered the board, the media, the criticism, the pressure, everything Damien had done, everything he'd risked just for her.

Neither spoke, and then the air shifted subtly. Then, a voice interrupted. "Well."

They both turned, and Victoria stood in the doorway, watching them with an unreadable expression. She looked cold and calculating, and for the first time all evening—

Natalie had the unmistakable feeling that Damien's mother wasn't merely suspicious anymore.

She was worried, and somehow… that felt far more dangerous.