Chapter 471
Nathan casually increased the space between them, his face calm but distant, with a polite smile that never quite reached his eyes.
“Happy Birthday, Ashley,” he said smoothly.
He turned to Dominick, who was standing behind him. “Did you bring the gift I asked you to prepare for Ashley?”
Dominick promptly handed over the gift. “Ashley, my boss isn’t exactly a pro at picking out gifts for girls, so I chose this on his behalf. Hope you like it.”
Ashley hesitated for a second, slightly irked by Nathan’s deliberate aloofness. But she knew that winning over someone as frosty as Nathan would take patience and persistence.
She accepted the gift with a gracious smile. “Thank you, Nathan. I really like it.”
Then, she looped her arm through his. “Come on, let me show you inside.”
Nathan tensed up, feeling like a wooden puppet. Anxiety flickered across his face. What would Nathalie think if she saw this?
As soon as they were inside, he gently pulled away from Ashley and quickly instructed Ford, “Make sure any photos of me and Ashley holding hands tonight vanish. I can’t have Nathalie getting the wrong idea.”
Ford chuckled, seeing his boss so jittery for the first time.
Meanwhile, the heads of the Stewart family and Mr. Mason were seated prominently in the center of the hall. Regan waved Nathan over. “Nathan, come have a chat with us old–timers.”
For anyone else, this would have been a great honor. But Nathan, having carved out his own successful path, no longer needed the backing of the older generation, so he felt no obligation to placate them.
He approached them with an indifferent expression and took a seat slightly off to the side. “Grandfather, Mr. Stewart,” he greeted them formally.
Mason shifted uneasily. He’d once held Nathan in high regard, but after choosing Benjamin as his successor, their relationship was never the same.
“Nathan, I’m proud of what you’ve accomplished,” Mason said, trying to smooth things over.
Nathan paused, then replied bluntly, “Would you still be proud if I took over Rowland Inc.? That’s my next move.”
Mason’s face darkened. “You wouldn’t do that. It’s your father’s company. Would you really turn your back on family?”
Nathan gave a cold smirk. “So, your pride in me is conditional. Shouldn’t you be proud of my ability to lead Rowland Inc.? Or is Benjamin the only grandson that matters to you?”
Put on the spot, Mason struggled to keep his composure. “Nathan, must you embarrass me like this?”
Nathan replied, “Sometimes strangers treat you better than family. At least they don’t stab you in the back.”
Mason’s expression was thunderous, a storm brewing behind his eyes.
Regan quickly stepped in to calm things down. “Nathan, it’s Ashley’s birthday. For her sake, let’s call a truce with your grandfather.”
Nathan decided to let it go, at least for now.
