Chapter 54

"Ms. Carter, I tried to stop him—" The assistant shifted uncomfortably in her heels.

Evelyn waved a manicured hand. "It's fine. Close the door."

Trevor Maddox's injuries had healed considerably, the last of his facial bandages removed just yesterday.

"Ms. Carter, I reviewed the Sterling Enterprises proposal." His voice dripped with false concern. "My name appears to be missing. An oversight, surely?"

Evelyn spun a platinum Montblanc between her fingers, her expression unreadable. "No oversight. I deliberately excluded you."

"We had an agreement."

The pleasant mask slipped from Trevor's face, revealing something far uglier. "You're making a dangerous enemy."

Her gaze sharpened like honed steel. "You'd do well to remember who signs your paychecks, Mr. Maddox. My decisions aren't up for debate."

Trevor abandoned all pretense of civility. "You're playing with fire, Ms. Carter."

"Am I?" A cold smile played on her lips. "What exactly do you intend to do about it?"

With deliberate slowness, Evelyn withdrew a thick manila envelope from her desk drawer. The contents spilled across the polished mahogany—grainy photographs of compromising positions, time-stamped over several months.

"Having someone with your... extracurricular activities on this project would be problematic, don't you think?"

Trevor's face drained of color. His knees buckled slightly as he recognized his own penthouse in the damning images.

"I've got boxes of these. Would you like me to have more developed, Mr. Maddox?"

"N-no, that won't be necessary—"

His bravado evaporated like morning mist.

Evelyn's stiletto tapped a slow rhythm against the floor. "Just as I suspected. That hotel incident wasn't your first rodeo." She leaned forward, voice dropping to a lethal whisper. "I've already identified every woman in these photos. Imagine their reaction when they discover you've been recording your... encounters."

Trevor's pulse hammered in his throat. He'd been so careful—burning the original drives, paying off the cleaning staff. How had she—?

Still, the Sterling deal represented millions. He forced a sneer. "Those women got exactly what they wanted. If you think public scandal scares me—"

"Save your breath." Evelyn cut him off with a slash of her hand. "Your name stays off the project."

Something shifted in the air—an almost palpable shift in power dynamics. For the first time, Trevor truly saw the ice in Evelyn Carter's gaze.

"Tell me who your contact is at Sterling Enterprises," she purred, "and I might reconsider."

Trevor's jaw worked soundlessly.

It wasn't loyalty that kept him silent—but self-preservation. Naming his benefactor would be tantamount to admitting corporate espionage. One word to Nathan Sterling, and his career would be ash.

"You'll regret this," he spat, slamming the door hard enough to rattle the framed degrees on her wall.

Maxwell stepped forward. "Shall I have security escort him out?"

"Not yet." Evelyn examined her perfect manicure. "Let him scurry back to his master. I want to see which rat hole he disappears into."

She glanced at her watch. "The Sterling meeting?"

"Scheduled for 2:30. Conference room B."

"Excellent." A genuine smile touched her lips for the first time that day. "What's Adrian's status?"

"Private jet to Mardovia departed at 6 AM."

"Finally." Evelyn stretched like a satisfied cat. "Some peace and quiet."

At noon, Victor Langley called with apologies—an unavoidable shareholder meeting would prevent him from attending. Any questions could be directed to his VP.

Evelyn acknowledged the change without comment, collecting her materials. The white crocodile Birkin matched her dove-gray Valentino suit perfectly, the ensemble projecting effortless authority.

She entered the Sterling conference room precisely at 2:28, Maxwell trailing with the presentation materials.

Nathan Sterling already occupied the head of the table, long fingers steepled before him. When Evelyn walked in—every head turning at her entrance—something dark flickered behind his impassive gaze.

"Gentlemen." Evelyn's greeting held just enough warmth to be professional, just enough chill to remind them she wasn't here to make friends. Her eyes skimmed over Nathan as if he were part of the furniture. "Shall we begin?"

Nathan's jaw tightened almost imperceptibly. The air between them crackled with unsaid words, with the memory of last night's argument still raw.

"Hmm." His response was glacial, matching her tone perfectly.

Maxwell hid a smile. This would be an interesting afternoon.