Natalie tucked away her bayonet and was about to walk around to the passenger side when Roderick called out. "Ms. Ashford, you'll sit in the back." With that, he stepped out and opened the rear door for her. Natalie glanced inside and immediately spotted a familiar figure. The man sat tall and steady. His black trench coat was open, showing a dark gray casual outfit underneath that. At a glance, his outfit even matched hers. His sharp features looked as if they had been carved with precision—long, narrow eyes and lips with edges so defined. The kind of face you couldn't look away from once you saw it. Natalie gave a polite smile. "Hello, Cassian. Nice to see you again." She had thought about calling him Mr. Holland like Roderick did, but Cassian himself had introduced his full name the last time they met, and they were around the same age too. Natalie wasn't his employee or a business partner. So she simply called him by his first name. Cassian gave her a small nod, which could pass as a greeting. Natalie climbed in quickly and sat down beside him. Roderick shut the door and returned to the driver's seat, starting the engine again. As the scenery rushed past the windows, Natalie couldn't help but sigh inwardly. Riding with a car really did beat walking—One push of the gas pedal and this thing covers in seconds what my legs would take forever to walk. Natalie glanced around the car she couldn't get enough of. She had already run her hands over it several times, and it was just as solid and bold inside as she had imagined. The leather seats were soft and comfortable.As she sat there, she caught a faint scent in the air. It was clean and pleasant, not like cologne, but more like body wash. She figured it must be coming from the man beside her. Natalie couldn't help sneaking a look at Cassian. But the moment she turned, her eyes locked right onto his gaze. Her heart jumped. She quickly snapped her head forward. Great. Busted staring again! But she calmed herself down almost at once. Why panic? If he isn't looking at me, how could he know I'm looking at him? And even if he is—well, he looked first. What, a face that handsome and I'm not allowed a second glance? With that thought in mind, she dared another look. This time Cassian wasn't watching her. He kept his eyes straight ahead, calm and steady, his long lashes casting a faint shadow beneath his eyes. Natalie studied him carefully. His jawline was sharp with not a trace of extra weight. His nose was straight and strong. His face looked like it had been crafted in a video game—perfect and precise. She remembered that Roderick grew vegetables at Hillside Villa. If that was true, then Cassian probably lived there too. How had she never noticed that such a striking man lived on that hill? Maybe because everyone always drove and never walked outside. Just then, Cassian shifted slightly. He seemed to notice her steady stare. His throat moved as he swallowed, his Adam's apple rising and falling. Natalie caught on right away.He knows I'm staring. Now he's probably think I'm some lovestruck fool. But it's not my fault—this guy is simply too eye-catching. Honestly, with a face like that, shouldn't he be used to people staring by now? Why does he look shy? Natalie boldly let herself take two more quick looks at Cassian before finally turning back to face forward. Watching Roderick drive, she asked casually, "I saw this car earlier at the Greenwood Complex. What brought you guys over there?" At the mention of his car, Cassian couldn't help recalling the way she had run her hands over it, studying it from every angle. The memory made the corner of his mouth twitch into a faint smile. Roderick, who hadn't seen that scene, answered seriously, "I live there. Just went back to pick up a few things." "Oh." Natalie nodded and didn't press further.From the rearview mirror, Roderick glanced at his boss, then at Natalie, before finally speaking again. "Ms. Ashford, have you ever heard of the Holland Group?" Natalie's eyes stayed on the passing scenery. She answered without much thought, "Of course. Who hasn't?" It was Northlorn's number-one corporation; everyone heard of Holland Group. She had even used its name earlier to trick Tiffany. Roderick kept his eyes on the road but studied Natalie's reaction through the mirror. "Then do you know the name of the CEO?" "No idea." Natalie shrugged. What does that have anything to do with me? Surely the guy's last name is Holland—something Holland; that's enough. But the moment she said it, something clicked.Wait. Wealthy people living in Hillside Villa ... Last name Holland ... She turned suddenly toward Cassian. Her mind replayed the image of this Hummer parked right in front of Braxton's apartment not long ago. Now Roderick was suddenly bringing up the Holland Group ... Even a fool could piece it together. They had definitely been inside that building earlier and must have overheard her conversation with Tiffany. And Cassian—he had to be the CEO of the Holland Group himself. Natalie felt a flush of awkwardness creep in. Being caught killing someone wasn't a big deal—this wasn't the first time they had seen her use a blade. The world had collapsed, and laws meant nothing now. But those wild lies she had spun? That was a little harder to swallow.She turned toward Roderick and asked, "Did you two overhear what I said to that woman?"