Chapter 88

Sophia Laurent sipped coconut water through a straw, mimicking Evelyn Langley's pose behind her sunglasses. A lazy smile played on her lips.

Evelyn stretched her long legs, crossing them at the ankles. "I thought you had a date today?"

"Don't remind me." Sophia wrinkled her nose in distaste. "That gym trainer looked ripped but couldn't even open a bottle cap. My puppy boy does better."

"Alex, was it?"

"Ancient history." Sophia's eyes sparkled. "The new one plays piano, has dimples when he smiles, and—" she lowered her voice conspiratorially, "his tiramisu beats Michelin restaurants."

Evelyn chuckled.

"What about you?" Sophia studied her through tinted lenses. "Still not dating?"

Evelyn gazed at the turquoise horizon. "Not interested."

"Fair." Sophia stretched like a cat. "Men would only slow down your Nobel Prize." She suddenly perked up. "Oh! A half-blood hottie at ten o'clock. Gotta shoot my shot!"

Evelyn raised her coconut in salute. "Play safe."

......

Nathan Evans stood before floor-to-ceiling windows, fingertips tapping glass. "Confirmed?"

His assistant dabbed his forehead. "Verified. Miss Langley's in the Maldives."

"Not another decoy by Ethan Winston?"

"We checked immigration records. Solid lead."

Nathan's expression darkened. Last time Ethan's misdirection sent him chasing ghosts in Iceland.

"Book the earliest flight."

The assistant scrambled. "Seven AM tomorrow."

"Do it."

"Yes, Mr. Evans." The assistant exhaled in relief. "Arrangements underway."

As the office door shut, whispers erupted outside.

"Mr. Lin, you look pale!"

Lin wiped his brow. "Nightmare. Need tickets for tomorrow's seven AM Maldives flight. Gotta pick up my kid after."

The new assistant beamed. "I'll handle it!"

"Don't screw up," Lin cautioned.

"Relax!" She waved him off. "Just ticketing..."

Alone, she noticed two default passengers in the booking system. Her call to Lin went unanswered.

She chewed her lip. Mr. Evans' sudden Maldives trip... must be a getaway with Miss Valentine.

With decisive clicks, she selected both names.

Executives always travel with secretaries. Or girlfriends. Standard procedure.