The Man and His Assistant

Henry looked at Jace in the rearview mirror, shooting a warning look.

Nathalie noticed Henry adjust the rearview to look at Jace. "It's okay," she whispered gently. "I'm sure that Jace didn't mean it." However, his tone rang threateningly in her head.

"I did and you know it," Jace muttered.

Nathalie turned pink and looked out the window, hiding her face from both of them. No, stop. Calm down NOW, she ordered herself.

Again, Henry shot a look at Jace. Jace made a face back.

They had arrived at the airport. Nathalie waited for Mr. Manchester to park.

"Why is everyone at the airport right now?" Henry huffed as he found a park.

Nathalie observed the parking lot. There were a lot of cars there… "I'm not sure, sir," she answered. When she got out of the car, she opened the door for Jace.

Jace glared at Nathalie. "I can open a car door myself, thank you."

She kept her emotions hidden under her mask. “Of course. I’m sorry.”

Jace snickered and went to the boot to get out his bag.

When he had his back turned, she bit her lip. Maybe she shouldn’t have agreed to come…

Henry read his assistant's mind. "Nonsense. It's perfectly alright for you to have come."

Nathalie gasped slightly. "I… uh…" She quickly cleared her throat. "Do you need me for anything, sir?" she asked professionally.

"No. And no need to be so professional. "

“It’s my job, sir,” she replied, taking a bag from the truck in addition to her own.

"Except we aren't working; were on holidays."

Not me, she thought. "Of… Of course, sir. Is there anything that you need?"

"Yes. For you to relax and stop working," Henry smiled.

Nathalie blinked, completely taken by surprise. "I… I'll try, sir."

"Starting now," Henry said, taking Nathalie's bag off her.

Out of instinct, she reached for it back. "I can carry my own bag, sir," she insisted.

Henry pushed his hand back and away from Nathalie. "No, I will carry it."

Nathalie pressed her lips together and picked up two of Henry's bags from the trunk. "Fine. Then I will carry yours."

"Jace," Henry said, and Jace grabbed his dad's bags.

Nathalie looked helpless without anything to do. "Sir, I…"

"Need to relax and calm down. Vacation, remember?"

Nathalie nodded slowly. "Yes, sir." She went back to the car one last time and took her silver tablet from the seat where she'd left it. He wasn't going to take this from her, no matter what he did. She clutched it in her hand as she followed Mr. Manchester into the airport.

Henry stood closely next to Jace. "I know you don't like the fact of Nathalie being here, but you have to behave."

Nathalie placed herself expertly - standing close enough to be associated with them but far away enough to not invade on the privacy of their conversation.