Chapter 153

Adrian Prescott paced anxiously near the arrivals terminal, his eyes scanning every vehicle that approached.

His face lit up when Evelyn Carter's sleek black sedan finally appeared thirty minutes later. He waved enthusiastically as the car glided to a perfect stop before him.

"Finally! I thought you'd forgotten about me," Adrian teased, brushing dust from his jacket.

Evelyn studied his travel-weary appearance with concern. "You look exhausted. Thank you for coming straight from the airport."

He slid into the passenger seat with a boyish grin. "For you? Always. It's an honor just to be in your presence."

The engine purred to life as Evelyn adjusted the mirrors. "Should I take you home to rest?"

Adrian's stomach growled audibly. "Actually...how about dinner first? Unless you're too busy?"

Evelyn arched an elegant eyebrow. "Any preferences?"

"Surprise me," he said, stretching his arms. "I'll eat anything as long as it's edible."

As Evelyn considered their options, Adrian suddenly reached into his carry-on. "Almost forgot!" He produced a velvet-wrapped box tied with golden ribbon. "For you."

Evelyn accepted it with curious fingers. "What's this?"

Adrian's eyes sparkled with mischief. "Open it later. It'll make more sense at home."

"You're being unusually cryptic," Evelyn observed, placing the mysterious gift in the center console.

"That's half the fun," Adrian countered with a proud smirk.

Evelyn eventually selected an upscale Italian bistro. The valet took the car as they stepped onto the cobblestone walkway.

Adrian chattered animatedly about his business trip to France, punctuating stories with dramatic hand gestures.

Evelyn chuckled at his enthusiasm. "I never realized you had such...colorful adventures abroad."

"Wait, no—" Adrian backpedaled, suddenly serious. "It's not like that at all! Just professional networking, I swear."

"I know," Evelyn said mildly, though her lips quirked upward.

Adrian fidgeted with his cufflinks. "Madam Carter, you must understand—"

"Relax," Evelyn interrupted, amusement coloring her tone. "I believe you."

The hostess seated them at a candlelit table near the window. Unbeknownst to them, Vanessa Sterling and her socialite friends were settling their bill at a nearby table.

Vanessa's gaze sharpened when she recognized Evelyn. "Who is that with her?" she muttered, studying Adrian's unfamiliar face.

She discreetly snapped a photo with her phone, but the man's identity escaped her. "Do any of you recognize him?" she asked her companions.

The other heiresses shook their heads. "Never seen him before. But isn't that—"

"The Kingsley heiress!" one gasped.

Another nearly dropped her clutch. "Oh my god, it really is her! The most powerful woman in the city!"

"I can't believe we're breathing the same air right now," a third whispered reverently.

Vanessa's mouth twisted in displeasure at their fawning. "Honestly, have some dignity."

"You don't understand," one friend breathed. "Evelyn Carter is everything we aspire to be."

Vanessa's perfectly manicured nails dug into her palm. "Excuse me?"

The group ignored her, too busy admiring Evelyn's effortless elegance. "A self-made billionaire by thirty," one sighed dreamily. "She's our generation's icon."

Vanessa's champagne flute trembled in her grip as she watched the oblivious pair across the restaurant. The way Adrian leaned forward with attentive interest made her blood boil.

She'd find out exactly who this mysterious man was—and why Evelyn Carter seemed so comfortable in his presence.