Chapter 159
The butler made his exit, leaving Nathan feeling oddly jittery. “Grandma, maybe I should step out for a bit,” he suggested.
His grandmother stared at him with surprise. “You never cared for formalities. Since when did you turn into such a gentleman?”
Nathan quickly made his escape, faster than a jackrabbit. “Grandma, you and Miss Nathalie have business to discuss. I don’t want to interrupt.”
Watching him duck into the study behind the screen, she let him off the hook with a knowing smile.
Soon enough, the butler ushered Nathalie into the room. Frankie eyed the young woman curiously–she had an air of sophistication, a graceful figure, and was undeniably beautiful, but there was a shadow of sadness in her eyes. It was clear she had a story, and it made Frankie a bit wary.
“Please, take a seat, Miss Nathalie,” she offered.
Nathalie sat down with poise, directly across from Frankie. “Ma’am, I’m the Creative Director at ‘Forever Yours, and I’m sorry to drop in unannounced. I came to discuss the possibility of a collaboration.”
Nathalie handed over a stylish portfolio she had prepared, her hands steady, but a hint of nervousness betrayed her calm exterior.
“Ma’am, this showcases our new luxury line. I heard there’s an opportunity to lease the McCoy building, and I’m hoping you might consider us…”
Frankie took the portfolio and set it aside on the coffee table, clearly more interested in Nathalie than the documents. “How old are you, Miss Nathalie?”
Nathalie was caught off guard. She assumed the question was a roundabout way to assess her experience. “I’m twenty–four. I might be relatively new to fashion, but I’m deeply passionate about it…”
Frankie cut her off, “Do you know my grandson, Nathan?”
Nathalie was momentarily speechless. Here she was, ready to talk business, and the conversation took a personal turn. Completely unexpected.
She nodded, “Yeah, I do.”
The elderly lady gave a knowing smile. “Ah, that explains it.”
The mystery of Nathan’s sudden return home seemed to unravel itself.
“Are you two friends?” she asked.
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Nathalie felt a twinge of discomfort. She wanted to tell Frankle they were more than just friends–they’d once been each other’s lifeline, almost like family. But her own insecurities held her back.
She worried that once Frankie learned of her background, she might react like other high–society women and try to keep her away from Nathan.
So, she played it down. “You could say that.”
Frankie was quite shocked. Nathan, with his aloof nature, had never really had friends. Those who tried to befriend him were met with silence, no matter how persistent they
were.
Now, he had a friend. Frankie didn’t care about Nathalie’s background. If Nathalie could break through to her grandson, she had to be special.
“Nathalie, my grandson is quite reserved. He can be moody and distant, but he’s got a good heart. Since you’re his friend, I hope you can be patient with him. If he gets stubborn, don’t hold it against him.”
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