had
11:23 Fri, Sep 5
Chapter 40
Chapter 40
Evelyn couldn’t fathom why Nathan had summoned her, but he had saved her the day before. Annoyed as she was about the three days‘ pay deduction, she still made her way to the top floor.
She nodded to Joey on her way out, then stepped into Nathan’s office to find him buried in documents. She didn’t disturb Nathan, just took a seat across from his desk.
Nathan was strikingly handsome. His features were sharp and flawless, hitting every note of her aesthetic.
His good looks were totally different from Adrian’s: Adrian carried a softer, almost effeminate charm, while Nathan exuded rugged resolve.
In the blink of an eye, Evelyn ran through the comparisons, and in her assessment, Nathan outshone Adrian in every aspect.
Nathan finished with the documents, closed them, set them aside, and looked up, locking eyes with Evelyn’s unguarded, admiring stare.
“Are you settling into your new job?” he asked abruptly, catching Evelyn off guard. She was confused about his
purpose.
Evelyn complained in her heart, ‘Withheld my pay this morning, and now you’re playing the concerned boss? Trying to butter me up so I’ll work for free? I did marry young after graduation, but I’m not some workplace rookie. Your capitalist gimmicks won’t fool me.‘
“Mr. Ford, thank you for asking. I’m quite satisfied with the current working environment.”
Evelyn kept her tone formal. She knew it was better to say little until she figured out Nathan’s angle. Fewer words meant fewer missteps.
“Good. A partner of ours is interested in the public welfare film you worked on. He’s going to embark on a similar project, focusing on rare animal protection. You’ll come with me to meet him later.”
Evelyn sensed there was more to it, but under his authority, she had no room to refuse. Leaders‘ orders were orders anyway.
“Understood, Mr. Ford.” She agreed readily.
Half an hour later, she and Nathan were driving to a restaurant.
Inside a private room, a middle–aged man rose from his chair as they entered, hurrying to greet them. He was Fabian Carroll.
“Mr. Ford, please have a seat.”
Once Nathan sat, he turned to introduce Evelyn to Fabian.
“Mr. Carroll, you’ve seen Mrs. Rivers‘ capabilities. Feel free to discuss any details directly with her.”
11:23 Fri, Sep 5
Chapter 40
Evelyn stood politely to shake hands with Fabian. But the moment his palm met hers, he let his thumb brush hers in a deliberate, subtle caress. A surge of revulsion suddenly hit Evelyn.
Yet this was a critical company partnership. She knew she couldn’t let personal feelings jeopardize the deal. Clenching her jaw to mask her disgust, she gently but firmly withdrew her hand.
“Mr. Ford, you must have a million things to attend to. Mrs. Rivers and I can take care of the rest. You don’t need to linger on my account.”
Fabian sounded to be considerate, but the undercurrent was clear: he wanted Nathan gone, his eyes lingering on Evelyn with thinly veiled intent.
Evelyn sat quietly but nervously beside him, her mind racing. She wondered, ‘If Nathan leaves and Fabian oversteps, should I fight back, or grit my teeth to save the deal so long as he doesn’t cross my bottom line?‘
The conflict coiled in her chest, but before she could spiral further, Nathan smiled.
“Thanks for your thoughtfulness, Mr. Carroll. But I’m actually free today. I heard you brought a vintage red you’ve been keeping. I think I finally get the chance to taste it.”
Nathan knew Fabian’s true colors perfectly well. Just now, Fabian’s subtle actions seemed quite sneaky, but he’d caught a brief glimpse of them.
What irked him more was Evelyn’s reaction. She didn’t flinch or recoil, just quietly enduring it. He thought, ‘What’s wrong with her? How could she just swallow such an insult?‘
But then he remembered how sharply she’d stood up to Adrian and Clarissa, and it clicked: she was holding back to protect the company’s interests. Then, the flicker of irritation ebbed.
Even though Nathan insisted on staying, Fabian’s disappointment was fleeting and swiftly masked. He thought, ‘There’ll be more chances to get close to this beauty. No rush.‘
The meal dragged on with clinking glasses and forced pleasantries until Nathan’s phone rang. He stepped out to answer it, leaving Evelyn alone with Fabian.
Gone was the pretense. Fabian’s eyes blazed with lust as he reached for Evelyn’s hand. Evelyn snatched it back just in time before Fabian could get what he wanted.
She said, “Excuse me, Mr. Carroll. I need to use the restroom.”
Evelyn fled the private room, her stride’s quick with frustration. In her rush, she crashed into someone walking out of the restroom.
It happened to be Clarissa. She complained, “Fuck! Watch your steps!”
Clarissa clutched her belly, panic etched on her face. Obviously, she was protective of the child she carried.
The moment she saw Evelyn, a flicker of anger passed across her face.
“Ugh, why do I keep running into you? What bad luck!” Sarcasm laced Clarissa’s tone, and she stepped back warily as she stared at Evelyn nervously.
11:24 Fri, Sep 5
Chapter 40
“Are you here trying to hurt me and my baby? I’m warning you, Ady’s in this restaurant. He won’t let you get away with it if you touch a hair on my head.”
Clarissa hovered, her arms wrapped tight around her belly, her eyes squinted in suspicion.
Evelyn almost laughed at how fiercely Clarissa guarded her belly. “What are you so scared of? Guilt? Fearing I’ll get back at you?
“Relax, Clarissa. I won’t lay a finger on you. I want you and Adrian chained together for life. You think he’s a treasure? To me, he’s already rotten. I prefer to stay away from him in case I catch any disease.
No vulgarity crossed Evelyn’s lips, but each word sliced sharply.
She’d ducked into the restroom to get away from Fabian and cool off–before she lost her temper and taught Fabian a lesson–only to run into Clarissa.
With her back to the door, she didn’t see Adrian lingering there, who followed over to wait for Clarissa out of
care.
He’d heard all Evelyn’s words, which hit him like a blade.
Bitterness flooded Adrian. He’d thought Evelyn was just angry with him, that she’d come around. After the neighbor’s harassment, he’d even offered an olive branch, but Evelyn only returned him with sarcastic remarks.
Now he realized Evelyn was truly determined to separate from him and their son.
Clarissa’s triumph was immediate, her chin lifting defiantly. “Ady, I told you I could make it myself. Why did you still come over?”
She sashayed past Evelyn, looping her arm through Adrian’s with a grin that screamed victory.
Evelyn scoffed, turning toward the stalls.
She mused, ‘Clarissa, keep preening yourself. Now you just got some trash I tossed aside. You think you’ve beaten me because you managed to steal Adrian? Please. That’s not a win. It’s a joke.’
“Ady,” Clarissa purred, loud enough for Evelyn to hear, “I just heard Horizon Group’s here to meet Mr. Carroll from Denview Group. Do they send Mrs. Rivers here to handle that?
“Rumor has it Mr. Carroll’s a lecherous wolf in sheep’s clothing, taking advantage of his work authority to prey on women. I can’t believe Mrs. Rivers is willing to sacrifice a lot for her job.”
Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.
