Chapter 181

Nathaniel turned his head toward Evelyn. "Where to now?"

"My place, please." She buckled her seatbelt. "Thanks."

The engine roared to life as Nathaniel merged into traffic. His grip tightened on the steering wheel. "Quit that assistant job. I had Lucas arrange it so you'd have something to do, not to become someone's errand girl."

Evelyn studied his profile. The sharp jawline. The tension in his shoulders.

As 'Mrs. Grayson', playing assistant to some D-list celebrity did undermine Nathaniel's status. She exhaled. "I'll wrap up loose ends first, then resign."

Silence filled the car until they reached her apartment.

Evelyn hesitated before closing the car door. She leaned through the window. "Can I borrow some cash? Those kidnappers tossed my phone. I'm broke."

Nathaniel's piercing gaze locked onto hers. He flung his phone into her hands. "PIN's my birthday."

She fumbled the catch. "Wait...when's your birthday again?"

His glare could freeze lava. The window shot up as tires screeched against pavement.

Evelyn rolled her eyes, pulling up his Wikipedia page. September 17th. "Subtle," she muttered. "Real subtle."

At the Whitmore residence, Cassandra was mid-tantrum when Evelyn arrived.

"That recipe was supposed to make him lose control!" Cassandra shrieked at Victoria. "Nathaniel didn't even blink when I stripped! Do I repulse him?"

Victoria flipped through her dog-eared copy of 'How to Snare a Billionaire'. "Impossible! This worked on your father! Any man who ingests cordyceps must...oh." Her finger paused on the fine print. "'Only activates when near someone he desires.'"

Cassandra's face crumpled.

The front door clicked open.

"You!" Cassandra whirled on Evelyn. "Give back every cent I paid you, you thieving—"

Evelyn's palm connected with Cassandra's cheek before she finished. The slap echoed through the foyer.

Victoria lunged forward. "You little bitch! How dare you—"

Evelyn stepped back, Nathaniel's phone clutched like a weapon. "Try me."