As Dave rode the horse closer to Bianca, their eyes met, and he quickly pushed the woman away and got off the horse. Startled, the woman grabbed the reins to steady herself.
Bianca’s eyes focused on the woman, realizing she was Natalie.
She felt confused. Why is Natalie here, and why did she seem so close to Dave?
A twinge of jealousy pricked at her.
Dave moved towards Bianca, ready to speak, but Natalie’s gentle voice interrupted. “Sir, I owe you my thanks. Can I know your name so I can thank you properly later?”
Dave turned to face her, meeting her intense gaze with a cold stare.
“No need,” he said shortly, then he put his arm around Bianca, his attitude suddenly becoming friendly. “Let’s keep practicing,” he said, leading Bianca away with a warm smile, totally different from his earlier coldness.
Natalie was the best actress in the movies.
Wherever she went, men would look at her, but the man in front of her not only saved her but also possessed incredible handsomeness. He was as good-looking as, if not better than, the famous actor Nicolas.
Natalie felt something strong and strange – attraction.
But his distant, unemotional behavior made her feel ignored, which was both new and frustrating.
“Wait, please!” she shouted, stopping Bianca and Dave in their tracks.
Natalie got off the horse and quickly walked over to them.
As she got closer to Dave, she noticed how attractive he was. His eyes were intense, and he had the presence of a top model.
She was amazed by how perfect he seemed, even though she was used to working with good-looking co-stars.
Then, she turned to Bianca and asked with a kind smile, “You’re Bianca Scott, right?”
Bianca looked surprised, not expecting Natalie to know her. She nodded. “You recognize me, Miss King?”
“Of course,” Natalie replied, glancing at Dave and smiling even more. “I work with Phoenix Entertainment, too, so I’ve heard your name around. There are rumors at the company about you getting promoted because of Mr. Wilson’s favoritism. But I don’t think that’s true, right? It’s impressive how quickly you rose to become an executive agent as a newcomer.”
Natalie had a charming presence, and her voice was pleasant. Even when she made sarcastic remarks, she did it with a gentle smile.
Bianca smiled back, her eyes locked on Natalie’s. “You know, they say not to sweat the small stuff when it comes to hiring. Mr. Wilson saw something in me and gave me a chance. People at the office don’t seem to get Mr. Wilson’s vision. They make up all sorts of nasty theories about his decisions. But as the top star of our company, I would expect you to have a clearer perspective than most, both in terms of vision and judgment. Don’t you agree, Miss King?”
Natalie was taken aback by Bianca’s bold response.
With a gentle smile, she replied, “Well, I’m not like everyone else. I do believe in your potential, but I haven’t seen it yet.”
Bianca remained composed. “Patience pays off. You’ll see eventually.”
Natalie chuckled softly, moving closer to Bianca and speaking in a smooth yet unsettling whisper. “Don’t waste your efforts. I’ve already secured the lead role in Vincent’s next film.”
Natalie had learned from Zoey that Bianca was vying for the lead roles in Vincent’s upcoming movie, but she wasn’t worried.
The role needed riding skills, and Natalie had been practicing just for this. She was pretty sure Bianca was doing the same.
But it looked like Bianca wasn’t giving up. She seemed really confident, maybe too confident.
Bianca just smiled slightly and replied confidently, “We’ll see about that.”
Natalie’s face soured. She let go of Bianca’s arm and glanced at Dave. He was focused on Bianca, ignoring Natalie completely.
Her irritation grew. She was a respected actress, better looking and more talented than this agent.
But the harder a man was to impress, the more Natalie found him interesting. She imagined the day when this man would fall for her.
With this in mind, she hid her annoyance at Bianca and forced a smile. “Since we’ve run into each other, why not practice together?”
But Bianca just tilted her head and rubbed her neck. “I’m sorry, I’m really tired. I’ve practiced enough for today. Please, go ahead without me. I won’t disturb you.”
Bianca took hold of Dave’s hand, and they started to walk away. Dave smiled subtly, holding her hand tightly, fingers intertwined.
It was clear this was the real connection between the couple.
Natalie watched them, feeling envious, almost biting her lip in frustration.
Natalie’s assistant couldn’t believe it. They had never seen Natalie overshadowed like this before. This agent named Bianca was just too impressive. Not only was she well-spoken, but she also had a strong presence.
Bianca and Dave walked hand in hand, Dave admiring the softness of her hand. It made him want to hold it forever.
Once they were out of Natalie’s sight, Bianca suddenly let go of Dave’s hand.
With a snort, she said, “Mr. Evans, you’re quite lucky today, bumping into Natalie. She’s a top actress and seems really interested in you. You’re not upset I didn’t let you two talk longer, are you?”
Dave responded with a smile, “Are you feeling jealous?”
Bianca was taken aback and glared at him after a moment. “I’m thinking about your future. If Natalie likes you, it could open up opportunities for you. You wouldn’t have to work for others or pretend to be someone’s boyfriend for the day.”
Dave gently held her shoulders, still in her riding gear, and guided her against the wall. He placed his hand next to her, effectively blocking her path. “Bianca, are you suggesting that I become some kind of kept man?”
His deep voice and scent made it hard for Bianca to resist, and her cheeks flushed.
She replied softly, “That’s not what I meant.”
“Then what did you mean? Should I go back and talk to Natalie? Fine, I’ll leave then.” With that, Dave turned to go.
But Bianca quickly pulled at the corner of his coat.
A satisfied smile appeared on his face. Turning back, he looked at Bianca, who seemed unsure.
“Don’t go…” she mumbled, her head down, speaking so quietly it was hard to hear.
“What was that? You’ll have to speak up; I couldn’t hear you.”
Bianca bit her lip and then blurted out, “Please don’t leave, I don’t want you to go.”
Dave turned back, his eyebrows raising gracefully. He stepped closer and said softly, “Okay, I won’t leave.”