Chapter 496

Nathan smiled, but there was an undercurrent of sorrow in his expression. His voice was barely above a whisper as he confessed, "I was terrified that I'd lose control if I saw you again—just like I did yesterday."

He stepped forward, blocking her path. "Zoe, if you hadn't shown up today, I would have lost it completely and hunted you down. But you came."

For three years, Nathan had relied on sheer willpower to suppress his emotions. He had fooled the world—but never himself.

Evelyn's grip on the file loosened slightly, her long lashes veiling the storm in her eyes. After a tense silence, she withdrew her hand. "We should focus on discussing our partnership."

Nathan lowered his gaze, a faint smile playing on his lips as he walked to the desk and picked up a folder. "Here’s the list of candidates. Wesley gave it to me."

Evelyn froze. "Why would he hand it to you?"

For a fleeting moment, she reverted to her old self—sharp, guarded. Even if this was strictly business, Nathan found solace in that familiar fire.

He moved closer, extending the file toward her. "Because his concerns align with ours."

Evelyn took it, scanning the names. Wesley Donovan was among them.

"Mr. Donovan is running for president?" Shock rippled through her. Hadn't he just taken over Ashton Group?

Nathan nodded. "Mr. Henry must have mentioned his background. His family has always been in politics. His grandfather was elected president two terms ago but was assassinated within three years."

Evelyn studied him. When it came to work, Nathan slipped effortlessly into his usual composed demeanor—serious, restrained. "Wesley knew his grandfather’s death wasn’t just an accident. That’s why he’s spent years pretending to be nothing more than a reckless businessman."

Nathan glanced up, catching her intense gaze. Deliberately—or perhaps not—he closed the distance between them. "Do you have a question?"

His face filled her vision, snapping her back to reality. She averted her eyes, feigning calm. "So that’s why Mr. Donovan is working with you?"

Nathan’s lips curved. "Yes."

Evelyn’s ears burned, just like they used to. Despite the years, some things never changed. She had grown sharper, more polished—but the core of her remained.

She could feel his eyes on her. Swallowing hard, she forced her voice steady. "Then why involve me? You and Wesley are already collaborating. Neither Reginald nor I could secure a deal with him."

Nathan’s gaze softened. "Because I can’t show my face. I still need you."

"Couldn’t Mr. Donovan handle it?"

"Wesley’s position is too precarious. But you—you’re Alice." His tone dropped, intimate.

Evelyn stiffened, refusing to meet his eyes. She took a step back, but his arms encircled her, spinning her into a hold she knew too well.

"Nathan, let me go!" She struggled.

"Stop fighting, Zoe." He buried his face in her shoulder, his voice thick with desperation as he held her tighter.

Something in his tone made her freeze.

She gritted her teeth. "Is this why you called me here? To use business as an excuse to manhandle me? Don’t forget—none of your men stand a chance against Sadie. I swear I’ll—"

"You won’t." Nathan nuzzled against her, his breath warm against her ear. "You’d never let her hurt me."

Evelyn pressed her lips together, bitterness twisting her expression. "Still so arrogant, Nathan."