Call the police and tell them what? That somebody in a black SUV likes the same streets I do. He forced a calm tone. I'm handling it. Evelyn felt genuine fear for the first time since the scandal began.
Not fear for the company, not fear for her reputation, fear for him. "Marcus, " she whispered. The way she said his name made him stop walking. There was something different in her voice, something fragile. "Don't do anything reckless.
" Marcus smiled despite himself. 12 years of working together, and she still believed he occasionally possessed self-preservation instincts. I'll be careful. That's not what I asked. Her voice softened.
Please. Marcus looked up at the skyline. Crownspire Tower dominated the horizon. Somewhere near the top stood Evelyn Carter fighting a war she didn't deserve. For a brief moment, he allowed himself to think about her.
Not the CEO, not the billionaire, the woman, the one who sat alone reading headlines about her own destruction. The one who had whispered that the only thing missing in her life was love. The one who had trusted him long before either of them understood what that trust meant. I'll be careful, he repeated. This time he meant it.
After the call ended, Evelyn remained standing beside her desk. Her hands were trembling slightly. She hated that. Hated feeling powerless. Hated waiting.
Hated knowing Marcus was out there carrying the truth while people with money and influence grew increasingly desperate to bury it. A knock interrupted her thoughts. Come in. The door opened. Her chief financial officer entered.
Thomas Reed, 56 years old, loyal, intelligent, respected, one of the few executives she still believed she could trust. "You look exhausted, " Thomas said gently. Evelyn managed a small smile. It's been that kind of week. Thomas sat across from her desk.
The board is nervous. I'm aware investors are nervous, too. Evelyn folded her hands. Get to the point. Thomas sighed.
Some people think you should step aside temporarily. Anger flashed across her face. Do you? Thomas hesitated. A tiny hesitation, less than a second, but Evelyn noticed.
She always noticed. "No, " he said. "Yet something about the answer felt wrong. Not the words, the timing. " After he left, Evelyn sat perfectly still.
Her mind replayed the conversation repeatedly, the hesitation, the shift in eye contact, the slight tension in his posture. Then she remembered the photograph, the executive team picture. Thomas had been standing directly beside her. Suddenly, the room felt colder. Across town, Marcus finally arrived at Olivia Trent's apartment.