Chapter 1576
No.1
Evelyn retreated subtly. "I should report to HR first."
The rest of the process went surprisingly smoothly. Xavier clung to her like an unwelcome shadow, yet his presence inexplicably tripled the efficiency of every department.
"Wait for my good news!" He thumped his chest confidently before turning and knocking over a colleague's coffee cup.
Alone in the hallway, Evelyn's phone buzzed.
"Evelyn, I overslept!" Iris Cooper's voice was thick with panic. "Are you okay over there?"
"Still waiting for my assignment," she replied softly.
"If anyone dares to bully you, tell me immediately! Headquarters won't stand for it!"
No.2
The call ended just as Xavier reappeared, beaming. "We're sharing a team!"
Evelyn frowned. "Sharing?"
"Just a temporary arrangement." He rubbed his hands together. "Come on, I'll introduce you to everyone."
In the farthest corner of the office, the black-framed glasses guy hunched over his keyboard. Xavier scoffed. "Country bumpkin. He'll be gone after probation."
As the workday ended, Evelyn's phone buzzed incessantly. A flood of dinner invitations poured in.
She left every message on read.
Her thumb hovered over a name in her contacts, hesitating. Should she make this call? Should she even entertain the thought?
No.3
Outside the window, dusk deepened—mirroring the uncertainty in her heart.
"Evelyn." Xavier Stapleton leaned against her workstation, tapping the desk. "I reserved a VIP room at Ocean Palace. Let me treat you to Australian lobster tonight."
Evelyn Sinclair didn't look up, her fingers flying across the keyboard.
Xavier perched on her desk, looming closer. "What? Don't believe me? It's a five-star restaurant with a minimum spend of five grand per person. Someone like you wouldn't normally—"
A phone rang.
Evelyn reached for it, but Xavier snatched it first.
"Who's this?" He deliberately raised his voice. "I'm Evelyn's boyfriend. Yeah, we're about to go on a date..."
No.4
Evelyn shot to her feet. Xavier dodged, continuing into the phone, "Ever heard of Ocean Palace? Want to come watch?"
"Xavier Stapleton!" she snapped.
He finally hung up, grinning as he handed back the phone. "Let's go. Don't let that ruin the mood."
"Get lost." She grabbed her bag and strode out.
Xavier chased her to the elevator. "Playing hard to get? I'm treating you and you act like this?"
The doors opened. Evelyn stepped in. Xavier grabbed for her arm—only to get whipped across the knuckles by her bag chain.
"Ah!" He yelped, then yelped again when the closing doors caught his head.
No.5
By the time he wrestled free, the hallway was empty.
Evelyn stared at the missed call from Ethan Miller, her temple throbbing.
The moment she answered, Ethan's sarcastic voice dripped through. "Having fun, Mrs. Kingsley?"
"State your business." Her tone was ice.
Ethan's voice suddenly sharpened. "Lord Alex has had a fever for three days! Shouldn't his wife care?"
Her fingers twitched.
"How is he—"
No.6
"Ask him yourself!" Ethan sneered. "Weren't you busy with seafood and some random guy?"
The line went dead.
After a hesitation, Evelyn dialed Alexander Kingsley's number.
The call rang endlessly before disconnecting.
8 PM. Water rushed in the sink.
Her phone lit up—Alexander's name flashing.
"Where are you?" His voice was rough.
No.7
"Home." She turned off the tap. "Ethan said you're sick?"
"Who was that man?" Alexander ignored her question.
"A coworker." She dried her hands. "He took my phone without—"
"Why didn't you call again?" he interrupted.
Evelyn froze.
A memory surfaced—three years ago at a Kingsley gala, him publicly reprimanding her for calling twice.