Chapter 94
"Are you two really here to take wedding photos for your marriage certificate?"
The staff member at the marriage registration office asked cautiously.
Since this marriage was just a business arrangement, David had asked the staff to keep everything confidential.
Nora sat nervously to the side, her hands gripping her clothes tightly.
Michael, on the other hand, took the initiative to lean closer to Nora.
"Miss, smile a little." The staff member smiled, trying to cheer up Nora. Anyone watching would think Nora was heading to her execution.
Nora glanced at Michael anxiously and forced the corners of her mouth up stiffly.
The staff member sighed helplessly, clearly still not satisfied.
"Jasper said that when Samuel was little, he liked running around the streets naked, and only learned to wear pants after getting his butt stung and swollen by bees." Michael turned his head to look at Nora. "Is that true?"
Nora looked into Michael's eyes, her heart tightening.
Clearly, Michael wasn't someone who smiled easily either, yet here he was trying to make her laugh.
Thinking of the scene of Samuel crying with his bare bottom, Nora couldn't help but laugh out loud.
Jasper had told her about it during a prison visit.
Back then, everything related to Samuel was her light in prison.
The photographer seized the moment, called out to get Nora's attention, and pressed the shutter.
Nora realized what happened a beat too late, her ears burning hot.
When the marriage certificate was stamped and handed over, Nora felt like she was dreaming.
This was Michael.
She never dared dream that one day she would have any connection with Michael.
Let alone getting a marriage certificate and getting married.
"For safety's sake, I'd better keep both marriage certificates." David wanted to take them away.
He was afraid Nora would use them to show off.
Michael frowned, snatched the marriage certificates from David's hand, and placed them in Nora's hands. "Keep them safe."
David looked innocent.
Nora froze for a moment, looking at Michael nervously.
Leaving the marriage certificates with her—wasn't he afraid she might do something with them?
"Since this is a partnership, trust comes first." Michael said flatly.
Nora looked at Michael for a long time, then lowered her head without saying anything.
David drove Nora to Michael's place.
"Since this is a partnership, please take care of me from now on." Michael got out of the car and opened the door for Nora.
Nora looked at Michael, at a loss. "Do we have to live together?"
"The marriage certificate is for the notary office to see. If we don't live together, the people at the probate office won't believe it." Michael saw no need to hide this from Nora.
Nora actually appreciated Michael's straightforward nature. At least there were no schemes or deception—all the calculations were laid out in the open.
"Okay, Mr. Smith." Nora lowered her head.
"You'll start at the company tomorrow. You can call me Mr. Smith outside, but forget it at home." Michael had Nora register her face at the entrance and her fingerprint at the door.
"Use this card freely. It's your living expenses for the next three years. Your salary is separate." Michael gave Nora a card.
Nora took a deep breath. "I don't need money."
"Since this is a partnership, and you're the one helping me get the shares, this is what you deserve. If I partnered with some female celebrity, it would cost ten times this amount." Michael actually felt he was getting a bargain.
Nora's mouth fell open in shock. Working with an actress would indeed cost a lot of money.
She obediently took the card, thinking that as long as she didn't spend recklessly, she could help Michael save money.
"As my future personal assistant, you have a lot to learn. You can coordinate with David about training and requirements." Michael glanced at David.
David quickly nodded.
"The house is cleaned daily by housekeeping. Pick a room you like. Don't bring any of your other things in—have David take you shopping for new stuff." Michael had serious OCD, but he was being respectful enough to Nora.
Nora nodded.
"Oh, and Mr. Smith's study is off-limits. You can't go in." David added.
Michael glanced at David and said expressionlessly, "There are no off-limits areas in the house. Do as you please, but I don't like being disturbed when I'm working."
Nora quickly nodded.
David complained internally—wasn't this a double standard? When he came to the house, the study was off-limits!
"Every morning at 7:30, a chef will come to make breakfast. You can tell the household staff a day in advance what you want to eat." Michael looked Nora up and down. "Take care of your health. Being my personal assistant will be exhausting."
Nora kept nodding, her palms sweating.
"If you need anything, you can tell me in advance." Michael checked the time. There wasn't much else to explain. His phone kept ringing—it was Nolan calling.
"Rest well at home. You'll start next Monday." Michael glanced at Nora, then turned to answer the call and left.
Nora nervously followed behind, watching Michael leave.
Only after he got in the car and drove away did she carefully breathe a sigh of relief.
This man's presence was really too powerful, making her feel like she couldn't breathe.
Nora turned around and looked at Michael's villa carefully, slowly loosening her clenched fingers.
For a long time to come, she would be living here with Michael?
According to David, Michael's schedule was unpredictable—he might not come home every day.
But as Michael's personal assistant, she would definitely have to be with him all the time.
Michael's home was very clean, so spotless that Nora felt she could barely move, as if her very presence and breathing would pollute the air.
She sat awkwardly on the sofa, sitting quietly.
Michael seemed to have something urgent.
Although he said she could pick a room she liked, Nora still felt she should wait for Michael to come back.
In the car.
"Mr. Michael Smith, did Mr. Nolan Smith call you?" David had already guessed.
Nolan couldn't wait any longer.
"Back to the Smith Villa."
Michael sneered.
Luna was trending, and James was still getting attention today. Some media outlets were even starting to dig into the truth about Michael's mother's death.
This was Luna and Nolan's weak spot.
Whether James went to prison or not could be set aside, but they didn't dare let the media dig deep into that matter.
"Mr. Nolan Smith had people suppress the trending topics. Everything related to your mother has been blocked." David frowned, speaking quietly.
"He's feeling guilty." Michael's voice was low.
David's grip on the steering wheel tightened a bit.
Actually, anyone paying attention knew that Michael's mother Fallon's death was very suspicious. Back then, how could she suddenly die just from an allergy?
Michael requested an autopsy, but Nolan, as her husband, refused.
That year Michael wasn't even an adult yet and couldn't shake Nolan, that big tree.
Michael had never married and never gotten the shares that Vance and Fallon left behind, so Nolan never truly realized Michael's independence.
But now, things were clearly different.
James had been taken away by the police, and Luna was at the center of public opinion.
Michael had absolute control.
"You're finally back! Mrs. Smith threw a huge fit and even needed oxygen. Mr. Smith looks grim too. You should go in quickly."
The butler was waiting at the door.
Michael walked into the living room coldly, looking at Nolan sitting on the sofa waiting for him.
It seemed he had run out of options.
"Today I sent people to the hospital to find Nora, but she'd been discharged. You took her away?" Nolan spoke in a heavy tone, with a questioning edge.