5. Liz
Chapter five
Liz
I sit in the passenger seat, the hum of the engine the only sound as we drive through the sleepy streets of Ocean Bay. It’s Monday morning, and I’m heading to work with Nate. It still feels surreal to even think that I am actually working with Nate Kingston. He's my brother’s best friend, the man who has somehow become this enigma in my life.
I steal a glance at him from the corner of my eye. He’s in a black suit today. The crisp white shirt underneath highlights the broadness of his shoulders. He's clenching his jaw as usual. But what I notice most is the hint of stubble on his chin. It adds an extra layer of ruggedness to his already striking features. The man is just. plain. gorgeous. And I can’t seem to look away.
It’s ridiculous, really. I should focus on how this new job is going to play out, or on my to-do list for the day. But here I am, wondering if it’s a terrible idea to be working so close to him.
How am I supposed to function when the mere sight of him in a suit makes my heart race? I steal another glance, hoping he doesn’t notice. His hands grip the steering wheel so tightly that his knuckles pale. I wonder what’s going through his mind.
It's probably not the same thing that’s running through mine, that’s for sure.
We pull up in front of Max’s school, and I turn to watch as he clambers out of the backseat. He’s his usual grumpy self, his brow furrowed, and his little mouth set in a pout. It’s a stark contrast to the cheerful kid I spend my days with, and I have to stifle a laugh. Mornings are definitely not Max’s thing.
"Have a good day, Max," I say, trying to brighten the mood as he trudges toward the school gates. He merely gives a half-hearted wave without looking back. I can’t help but smile at the stubbornness he shares with his father.
Once Max is inside, the silence in the car feels louder somehow. I glance over at Nate again, trying to figure out what to say. The air between us is thick with something I can’t quite place. Tension, maybe? Or just... awkwardness?
I clear my throat.
"I never got to thank you properly... for giving me this job," I say, keeping my voice light. "It means a lot."
Nate’s eyes remain fixed on the road, his expression as stoic as ever.
"It’s a risk," he mutters, almost more to himself than to me. "I don’t even know what you’re qualified for."
I bristle a little at that, but I remind myself that this is who he is. He's grumpy, guarded, and always bracing for the worst.
"Well, lucky for you, I’ve got a decent amount of experience," I say, trying to inject some humor into my voice.
"I’ve worked as a personal assistant before, and trust me, I’m more than capable of handling whatever you throw at me."
Nate glances at me for a brief second, his brow raising ever so slightly.
"We’ll see."
I should be offended, but instead, I feel... intrigued. His skepticism doesn’t bother me as much as I thought it would. If anything, it makes me want to prove him wrong, to crack that hard exterior of his. I smirk, deciding to tease him a little.
"Was that almost a smile I saw just now?"
Nate’s lips twitch, but he quickly schools his expression back to its usual blank slate.
"You’re imagining things."
I chuckle, feeling oddly triumphant. Even the tiniest hint of a smile from Nate feels like a win. Maybe this whole thing won’t be so bad after all. He is grumpy, sure, but there’s something about the way his stern facade falters every now and then. It makes me wonder what he’s hiding beneath all that broodiness. And then I see his pure joy when he’s with Max. It shows me yet another side of his personality – maybe the truest one that he has buried somewhere.
As we pull into the parking lot of his office, I’m awestruck. His building isn’t massive, but it’s sleek, modern—classy. It’s the kind of place one would expect from someone as meticulous as Nate.
"Wow," I say, glancing up at the glass exterior. "This is... impressive."
Nate cuts the engine and glances at me, one brow raised.
"What were you expecting? That nothing’s changed in seven years?"
I laugh, shaking my head.
"I don’t know... could be that Ocean Bay would still be the same small town it was when I left. But this" I gesture to the building: “this is something else."
Nate shrugs, like it’s no big deal, but I can tell by the slight puff of his chest that he’s proud of what he’s built here.
"Things change," he says before opening the door and stepping out.
I follow him inside, trying to keep up as he moves through the lobby with purpose. The staff greets him as we pass by, offering polite "good mornings" that he returns with curt nods. He’s efficient, no-nonsense, the epitome of professionalism, and yet there’s something about the way he carries himself that’s... magnetic.
We reach his office, and I’m once again struck by how sleek everything is. It’s not too big, but it’s definitely a statement. There are modern furnishings, floor-to-ceiling windows that let in a flood of natural light, and an air of quiet authority. Everything about it screams Nate Kingston.
"This is your office," he says, motioning to a door across from his. I step inside, taking in the space. It’s smaller, obviously, but it’s cozy and well-organized. I have a large desk, a computer already set up, and shelves lining the walls except for on the wall of floor to ceiling glass.
"Wow," I say again, genuinely impressed. "This is... so nice."
Nate nods, as if to say, I know, before disappearing into his own office. I smile to myself, shaking my head. Of course he doesn’t need validation—he’s Nate. But as I settle into my chair, I can’t help but feel a surge of excitement. This job might be exactly what I need.
He makes a telephone call and directs me downstairs to meet with his HR manager. After that housework is complete, I get a cursory orientation to the building and the IT system. Like Nate, his team is professional and direct, and I begin to feel at home in, this, his “other” home.
By ten I’m back upstairs and dive into the work, going through emails, reviewing and organizing his schedule and familiarizing myself with his contacts. Despite Nate’s distant demeanor, I find myself enjoying the dynamic.
There’s something oddly fulfilling about being his assistant ( Not secretary, I think. ). I can keep everything in order while he focuses on whatever deal or project he’s working on.
Hours pass, and I lose myself in the rhythm of it all. Nate hardly speaks to me beyond the necessary instructions, but I don’t mind. His presence is enough to keep me on my toes. And I can’t deny that there’s a strange satisfaction in knowing I’m helping him—making his life easier, even in small ways.
At some point, he steps out of his office and catches me mid-task, his eyes scanning the room.
"How’s everything going?" he asks, his tone clipped but not unkind.
"Great," I say, leaning back in my chair with a smile. "Actually, better than I expected."
He nods, a flicker of something—maybe approval? — before he turns back to his office. I watch him go, my heart doing a strange little flip-flop in my chest.
***
I sit at the far end of the long, polished conference table, a pen in hand and a notepad in front of me. Today marks two days since I started working for Nate, and so far, it’s been… seamless. Very seamless, in fact. Nate, for all his gruffness, is an efficient and commanding leader. And I’m seeing that firsthand during this board meeting.
The atmosphere in the room is serious. But Nate, at the head of the table, leans back in his chair. He commands attention without trying. His presence is undeniable. He’s not the grumpy, closed-off Nate I’ve seen at home, nor the doting father he is with Max. No, here he’s different. Composed and completely in control.
Across the table, one of the board members, a man who seems hell-bent on challenging Nate, leans forward. His name is Peter Walters, and from what I can tell, he doesn’t like Nate one bit. Every time Nate speaks, Peter’s lips purse like he’s waiting for an opportunity to strike.
“And what about the Northgate deal?” Peter says, his voice laced with accusation. “You lost one of our most valuable properties to a competitor. Care to explain how you let that slip through your fingers?”
I hold my breath, glancing toward Nate. Everyone else in the room is watching him too, waiting for his response. His face doesn’t change—there’s no flinch, no hint of unease. Nate simply steeples his fingers in front of him and stares Peter down with a calm, unyielding gaze.
“The person responsible for the leak,” Nate begins, his voice cool, "is already in custody."
There’s a slight murmur around the table, but Peter doesn’t back down.
“And the damage? We have lost that deal for good, Nate. You can’t just sweep that under the rug.”
Nate leans forward now, placing his hands flat on the table, his tone sharpening.
“I’m not sweeping anything under the rug, Peter. I’ve already lined up better options. But if you’d like to challenge that, feel free to bring something better to the table.”
Peter’s eyes narrow, but Nate doesn’t falter. His confidence radiates through the room, silencing any further protests. He glances around the table, ensure everyone understands that this conversation is over. The other board members seem content with his answer. Even Peter settles back in his chair, reluctantly conceding defeat.
I can’t help but admire the way Nate handled the situation. The authority in his voice, the ease with which he navigated the tension in the room—it’s a side of him I hadn’t seen before. This is Nate Kingston, CEO. He's not the grumpy Nate I’ve gotten used to at home, but a man who commands respect without effort.
It takes everything in me to focus on my notetaking, because my mind keeps wandering. Watching him in this environment... it’s hard not to feel something. Attraction. It lingers there, beneath the surface, making it harder for me to focus on writing down the minutes.
The meeting ends, and as the board members begin to leave, Nate stands, exchanging a few brief words with some of them. His eyes flick over to me, catching my gaze for a brief second, before he turns his attention back to the remaining members.
As the last of the board files out, I gather my notes and approach him.
“You handled that well,” I say, my voice light. “Peter seemed... difficult.”
Nate shrugs, his hands in his pockets now.
“He’s always been that way. He is not the only one who didn’t think I could handle running this company when I took over after my father died. They all doubted me at first.”
I raise an eyebrow, surprised by his candidness.
“Really? I find that hard to believe.”
Nate chuckles, but it’s a short, humorless sound.
“Trust me, Liz. They didn’t think I had what it takes. I was too young, too inexperienced, in their eyes. But I proved them wrong.”
I can see the edge of pride in his expression as he speaks, and I can’t help but be impressed.
“Well, I’m glad you proved them wrong. It’s clear how far you’ve come. I mean, look at this place—headquarters to the nth degree, right?”
“Yeah,” he says, his tone softer now.
“Ocean Bay will always be home. This company started here. My father built it from the ground up, and no matter how much we’ve expanded, Ocean Bay will always be where it belongs.”
I nod, understanding the sentiment. There is something about this town, something grounding. Despite all Nate's achievements, he is still tied to this place.
“I guess that makes sense,” I say, smiling.
“It’s home, and it's where I belong.”
Nate’s expression shifts. He's more serious now.
“Yeah, and now I've got bigger problems. Bryan called earlier—turns out, my secretary wasn’t only responsible for selling out the deal. She was also stealing from the company. Liam’s working on transferring back the money she siphoned off to an offshore account. And Bryan’s still digging to see how deep the damage goes. Right now, we believe the damage is contained in her alone, but he will continue to watch for any other involvement.”
I blink, taken aback.
“Wow. That’s... I didn’t realize it was that bad.”
Nate sighs, running a hand through his hair.
“If the board catches wind of this, it’s going to be fire and brimstone.”
“Is there anything I can do to help?” I ask, genuinely wanting to ease his burden.
He glances at me, surprised.
“You’d really want to help with something like this?”
I nod. “Why not? I mean, I am here to work, right? Besides, I’d rather help you than sit around doing nothing.”
Nate looks at me for a long moment, like he’s considering something.
“I don’t get it. Why aren’t you working for Bryan? You graduated at the top of your class in accounting, and I know he’s offered you any position in one of his firms.”
I freeze. “You... you know that?”
Nate’s eyes flicker with something I cannot quite place, and his lips curve into the barest hint of a smile.
“You have no idea how much I know about you, Liz.”
My heart skips a beat, and for a moment, I don’t know what to say, but I dare to ask, “Like what?”
Without missing a beat, he rattles off three key moments that have happened since I left Ocean Bay.
“You graduated top of your class in accounting, landed an internship at that firm in the city... and didn’t you win some award for your research on financial forecasting?”
I’m stunned. “How do you even know all that?”
He shrugs, looking almost... smug.
“Bryan talks. You’re his sister, and whether you believe it or not, you’ve always been someone worth knowing.”
My chest tightens, and for a second, I forget how to breathe. How could he know so much about me? And why does it feel like those words are something more than casual knowledge?
I quickly recover, forcing a smile.
"So, I'm curious. Again, why aren't you working for your brother? I'm sure he would fit you in any of his companies."
“Well, I didn’t want to work for Bryan because... well, he’s too protective. He’d never let me learn anything if I was working under him. I needed space to figure things out on my own.”
Nate’s gaze softens, and he gives me a look so intense it makes my skin tingle.
“I’d do the same if I were him.”
His voice is low, almost a rumble, and there is something dark in his eyes that sends a shiver down my spine. My mouth goes dry, and I need to look away, my heart hammering in my chest.
I dare to ask, “What do you mean by that?”
But, just as quickly, Nate's expression changes. He looks away and the moment slips away.
“What about those tasks I asked you to complete?”
I blink, thrown off by the sudden shift.
“Oh, right... let me check.” I fumble with my notepad, trying to focus, but my mind is still reeling from the way he looked at me a few moments ago. Whatever that was... it was dangerous.
And part of me isn’t sure if I want it to stop.