CHAPTER 18
I walked downstairs, my stomach growling softly as the aroma of freshly cooked food filled the mansion.
The dining room was already occupied.
Nicholas sat at the head of the table, leisurely cutting into his steak as though nothing had happened a few hours ago.
Mike stood beside him, while the Stewart siblings occupied the seats on the opposite side of the table.
The moment Kyle saw me, his face lit up.
"Little girl!" he waved excitedly.
Mike smacked the back of his head.
"Behave yourself."
"Ouch! Michael, are you trying to make me dumb?" Kyle complained, rubbing the back of his head.
Taylor snorted. "Too late."
Olivia covered her mouth to hide her laughter while Skyler quietly turned a page of the book in his hand.
I couldn't help but smile as I took my seat.
A woman who looked to be in her late twenties stood up immediately.
She wore a fitted black suit, her long brown hair neatly tied behind her head.
"Good evening, Miss Lana. My name is Kate Harrison. From today onward, I'll be your personal manager."
I blinked in surprise.
"My manager?"
She nodded politely.
"Mr. Nicholas hired me this morning."
My eyes instinctively shifted to Nicholas.
"You... hired me a manager?"
He didn't even raise his head.
"You'll be returning to work."
I frowned.
"I thought I wasn't allowed to leave the mansion."
"I never said you couldn't."
I stared at him in disbelief.
This man really had a habit of making me question my own memory.
Kate cleared her throat before placing a black leather briefcase on the dining table.
"If I may..."
Nicholas nodded once.
She unlocked the briefcase and carefully arranged several documents before me.
"These are endorsement contracts from different brands."
I looked down.
Luxury perfumes.
Jewelry.
Skincare.
Fashion magazines.
The pile seemed endless.
"There must be at least thirty contracts here," I muttered.
Kate smiled professionally.
"Actually... these are the only ones Mr. Nicholas approved."
I looked at her.
"The only ones?"
She nodded.
"We received over two hundred invitations."
I nearly dropped the contract in my hand.
"Two hundred?"
"Yes."
I slowly turned toward Nicholas.
"You went through all of them?"
"I did."
"You rejected over a hundred opportunities without asking me?"
"One hundred and seventy-three."
"..."
"Actually," Kate corrected softly, "one hundred and seventy-eight."
I could only stare at him.
"You counted?"
"I don't like wasting my time."
Kyle suddenly raised his hand.
"Boss actually stayed up until three in the morning reading every single contract."
Taylor kicked him under the table.
Kyle yelped.
"What? I was just helping."
Nicholas slowly lifted his gaze.
Kyle immediately lowered his head and continued eating as though nothing had happened.
Kate pushed another pile toward me.
"These are movie scripts."
My eyes brightened immediately.
I picked up the first script.
A romantic movie.
Before I could even open it, Nicholas spoke.
"Not that one."
I frowned.
"Why?"
Kate awkwardly scratched her cheek.
"It contains several intimate scenes."
I slowly looked at Nicholas.
"You actually read the script?"
"I did."
"Twice," Mike added before taking a sip of water.
Nicholas shot him a glance.
Mike immediately looked away.
I couldn't believe these people.
"So you rejected it because another man kisses me?"
"I rejected it because another man touches you."
I folded my arms across my chest.
"What if the script is good?"
"It isn't."
"You didn't even let me read it."
"I already did."
I bit my lower lip to stop myself from arguing further.
Kate quickly slid another script toward me.
"This one is an international production. The female lead is an independent lawyer seeking justice for her late parents. There are no intimate scenes, and the storyline is excellent."
I flipped through the first few pages.
It actually looked interesting.
"I like this one."
Kate smiled.
"I had a feeling you would."
Dinner continued peacefully after that.
Kyle kept trying to steal pieces of meat from Taylor's plate until Olivia smacked his hand away.
Skyler quietly ate while reading his book, earning a disapproving glare from Mike.
For the first time since arriving at this mansion...
Dinner actually felt... normal.
As Kate packed the remaining contracts back into her briefcase, she handed me a slim folder.
"These are the contracts I recommend you sign first. Read them carefully before making your decision. If there's anything you don't understand, I'll explain everything tomorrow."
I smiled gratefully.
"Thank you."
She nodded warmly.
"It's my job."
Nicholas stood up, adjusting the cuff of his shirt.
"Mike."
"Boss."
"Increase the mansion's security starting tomorrow."
The cheerful atmosphere around the table disappeared instantly.
Mike's expression turned serious.
"Did something happen?"
Nicholas stared through the large glass window overlooking the dark garden outside.
His golden eyes narrowed slightly.
"I have a feeling..."
"...an uninvited guest is about to make his move."
None of us understood what he meant.
But judging from the look on his face...
Whoever he was talking about...
Even Nicholas wasn't taking him lightly.