Chapter 325

Harrison shoved her freezing hands deeper into her coat pockets, the snowflakes melting against her skin.

"Nathaniel, I brought you..."

Lucas reappeared, clutching a pair of cashmere-lined gloves. He'd sprinted back to Silver Pines Hotel when he noticed Harrison's reddened fingers.

But Nathaniel had beaten him to it. The imposing CEO now stood beside Harrison, both sheltered beneath his black umbrella.

Lucas's shoulders slumped. His thoughtful gesture suddenly felt pointless.

He approached the pair. "Nathaniel, what brings you here?"

Though Lucas had graduated top of his class at Westfield, he still felt like a schoolboy in Nathaniel's presence.

The alumni crowd swarmed closer. "Nathaniel! You said you weren't attending. What changed?"

Curiosity buzzed through the group like static.

Nathaniel's gaze swept over them. "Business nearby," he said, voice like velvet over steel.

Harrison's eyes narrowed. Business? In this remote ski town? The coincidence stretched credibility.

"Stay with us!" someone begged. "We're hitting the fondue place tonight!"

"Snow and cheese - perfect pairing!"

"You're buying, right Nathaniel?"

The billionaire merely nodded. "Of course."

At The Velvet Lounge, the group claimed a window booth. Several alumni tugged Harrison toward their end. "Sit with us, Harrison!"

They adored the petite genius, treating her like a kid sister.

Lucas moved to claim the seat beside her - natural since they were the youngest. But Nathaniel's commanding voice cut through the chatter. "Lucas. Sit here."

He indicated the chair beside his own at the head of the table.

Chuckles erupted. "Go on, Lucas. When Nathaniel calls..."

"Honestly, you remind me so much of him at your age."

Lucas was Westfield's golden boy - tech CEO before thirty, with the same razor-sharp intellect as Nathaniel. Some even called him "Mini Nathaniel."

Reluctantly, Lucas changed course. "I'm not in Nathaniel's league. But I'll keep trying."

The fondue pots arrived - one classic, one flaming with chili. Outside, snow swirled; inside, steam curled from bubbling cheese.

Nathaniel watched Harrison from across the table. She dunked crusty bread into the spicy pot, cheeks flushing pink. Her lips glistened, redder than the chili oil.

Lucas couldn't look away. "You like it hot?"

Harrison nodded. "Mmhm."

Nathaniel's fingers tightened around his fork. Since when did she enjoy spicy food? He remembered her wincing at black pepper.

The alumni turned to Harrison. "So what have you been doing since graduation?"

Everyone leaned in. The prodigy's post-college life was a mystery. As far as they knew, she wasn't employed anywhere.