Chapter 29 – The Assistant

Emma blinked.

"...Your boss?"

Nathan's smile remained easy and polite.

"Yes."

She stared at him for another second before realization slowly dawned.

"...Nathan?"

"The very same."

Her eyes widened.

"Oh!"

She laughed softly, almost embarrassed.

"So you're Nathan."

"I am."

"The Nathan."

Nathan couldn't help smiling.

"I wasn't aware there were multiple versions of me."

Emma shook her head.

"No, I just... your name came up yesterday."

"So I've heard."

She rested her hands lightly on the counter.

"I'm Emma."

"I know."

The words slipped out before Nathan realized how they sounded.

He laughed.

"Daniel showed me a picture."

Emma's cheeks warmed.

"He did?"

"He seemed rather proud of it."

She looked down for a moment, suddenly fascinated by the tray of bread in front of her.

"I see."

Nathan watched the tiny smile she was trying very hard to hide.

Interesting.

Very interesting.

"I hope I'm not interrupting your work," he said.

"Not at all."

Emma glanced toward the display case.

"What brings you here?"

Nathan answered honestly.

"Curiosity."

She laughed.

"Curiosity?"

"I've been hearing quite a lot about your salt bread."

"My... salt bread?"

"It comes highly recommended."

Emma couldn't help smiling.

"I'm glad someone likes it."

"Someone?"

"You make it sound like there's only one customer."

Nathan decided not to mention that the customer in question happened to own one of the country's largest property development companies.

Instead, he looked around the bakery.

"It smells wonderful in here."

"Mrs. Alvarez would be happy to hear that."

A comfortable silence settled between them.

Then Emma tilted her head.

"So..."

Nathan looked back at her.

"You're Daniel's assistant?"

"That's right."

"You work together every day?"

"I do."

Her expression brightened immediately.

"Can I ask you something?"

"Of course."

"What does Daniel actually do?"

Nathan blinked.

"...Excuse me?"

Emma laughed awkwardly.

"I've been trying to figure it out."

Nathan frowned.

"You don't know?"

She shook her head.

"He only told me he works in a business team."

Nathan stared.

"A... business team?"

Emma nodded.

"That's what he said."

Nathan looked at her.

Then at the bread.

Then back at her again.

For the first time in years, Nathan Collins found himself completely speechless.

Daniel Brooks.

The man whose name appeared in business magazines almost monthly.

The CEO who negotiated billion-pound developments without flinching.

Had introduced himself as...

A guy who worked in a business team?

Nathan had to bite the inside of his cheek to keep from laughing.

That sounded exactly like something Daniel would do.

Emma noticed his expression.

"...Is something wrong?"

Nathan recovered almost immediately.

"No."

"Are you sure?"

"I'm sure."

He smiled pleasantly.

"Daniel has always been... modest."

"Really?"

"Very."

That wasn't entirely untrue.

Emma folded her arms.

"I knew he was being vague."

Nathan considered telling her.

It would certainly save Daniel the trouble later.

But...

He remembered the way Daniel had looked at the photo on his phone that morning.

The warmth in his eyes.

The quiet pride in his voice when he'd said,

She makes very good salt bread.

Nathan smiled to himself.

No.

This wasn't his story to tell.

"So..." Emma prompted.

"What does he do all day?"

Nathan answered carefully.

"He's a very good boss."

Emma blinked.

"...Boss?"

Nathan nodded.

"He leads our team."

That, too, was true.

"He works hard."

"Very."

"He stays late?"

"Almost every day."

Emma frowned thoughtfully.

"I've noticed he replies to my messages really late sometimes."

Nathan chuckled.

"That would explain it."

"What?"

"He usually doesn't check his personal phone during meetings."

Emma's eyebrows rose.

"So he's actually busy."

Nathan laughed.

"Believe me."

"He keeps everyone busy."

Emma smiled.

"I can believe that."

Nathan found himself unexpectedly entertained.

She had no idea.

None whatsoever.

And somehow...

Daniel seemed perfectly content keeping it that way.

"I think," Nathan said eventually, "you'll learn more about him in time."

Emma looked unconvinced.

"You sound exactly like he does."

"Do I?"

"'When the time is right.'"

Nathan laughed.

"That certainly sounds like Daniel."

Emma sighed dramatically.

"He's impossible."

Nathan smiled.

"I've worked with him for eight years."

"And?"

"I haven't changed my opinion."

She laughed.

"I feel validated."

Nathan glanced toward the display.

"So."

"Right."

Emma straightened.

"You came for bread."

"I did."

"What would you recommend?"

She immediately brightened.

"Our salt bread."

"I was hoping you'd say that."

"And..."

She pointed toward another tray.

"The garlic butter rolls just came out of the oven."

"I'll take four salt breads."

"Okay."

"And..."

He looked at the garlic rolls.

"...Four of those too."

Emma began packing everything into paper bags.

Nathan watched her work.

She greeted every customer with the same warm smile.

She remembered an elderly man's usual order before he asked.

She thanked a little girl for helping her mother carry a loaf.

Nothing about her felt rehearsed.

Nathan suddenly understood.

Daniel hadn't fallen for someone extraordinary because of wealth or status.

He'd fallen for someone who made ordinary moments feel warm.

"Here you go."

Emma handed him the bag.

"I hope your coworkers enjoy them."

Nathan smiled.

"I'm sure one of them will."

He paid before picking up the takeaway.

"It was nice meeting you, Emma."

"You too."

As Nathan reached the door, she called after him.

"Oh."

He turned.

"If you see Daniel before I do..."

Nathan waited.

"...Tell him his mystery is getting old."

He laughed.

"I'll consider it."

The bell chimed as he stepped back onto the street.

Still smiling.

—

That evening...

Emma curled up on her sofa after dinner, laptop balanced on her knees while she reviewed lecture notes.

Her phone buzzed.

Emma glanced at the screen.

Daniel

Long day?

A smile tugged at her lips before she even realized it.

She unlocked her phone and opened iMessage.

Emma

A little.

A few seconds later, the typing indicator appeared.

Daniel

How was class?

She leaned back against the sofa, tucking one leg beneath her as she typed.

Emma

Good.

Something interesting happened today, though.

The typing bubble appeared almost immediately.

Daniel

Oh?

Emma smiled to herself.

Emma

I met Nathan.

Miles away, Daniel paused mid-signature.

He picked up his phone and read the message again.

I met Nathan.

His brows drew together.

Nathan?

How?

Before he could respond, another message appeared.

Emma

He stopped by the bakery.

Daniel leaned back in his chair.

One thought crossed his mind immediately.

Did Nathan tell her?

Another message lit up the screen.

Emma

He said you're a good boss.

Daniel blinked.

A good boss.

That was all?

A quiet sense of relief settled over him.

Nathan hadn't told her.

The corners of his mouth lifted into a faint smile.

He typed back.

Daniel

I'm glad you two got along.

Her reply came almost instantly.

Emma

Me too.

Although now I'm even more curious.

You still haven't told me what you actually do.

Daniel looked at the message for a long moment before letting out a soft chuckle.

Somehow...

Nathan had managed to keep the secret.

But he'd also made Emma even more determined to uncover it.