Chapter 23

Evelyn Sinclair

Evelyn scrolled through her phone, her lips curling into a smirk as she skimmed the trending headlines. Without a second thought, she tossed it aside.

She knew the Whitmore family inside out. There was no doubt Tristan’s parents had forced his hand.

That man would rather swallow glass than admit he was wrong.

Right now, he was probably seething with rage at the mere thought of her.

A sharp knock interrupted her thoughts. Olivia Kensington pushed the door open without waiting for an answer, her smile polished but insincere.

"Ms. Evelyn, do you have a moment?"

Evelyn gestured lazily. "Come in."

Olivia stepped inside, her gaze flickering toward Isabella Montgomery with clear annoyance. But Isabella, blissfully oblivious, didn’t budge.

"What is it?" Evelyn asked.

"I noticed Mr. Bennett is compiling data for the Kingsley Tech project." Olivia leaned in, lowering her voice conspiratorially. "You might not be aware, but we don’t have strong ties with them. The chances of collaboration are… slim."

She slid a folder across the desk, her manicured nails tapping against the surface.

"If you want to make an impression, why not consider Kensington Group? They have a project that’s perfect for us."

Evelyn studied her for a beat before flipping open the file. "I’ll think about it."

Olivia’s smile tightened. "You should act fast, Ms. Evelyn. Kensington is a long-standing partner. Securing this deal would solidify your position here."

Interesting.

Olivia had been gunning for her at the meeting, and now she was handing her a golden opportunity?

Too good to be true.

Evelyn leaned back, her voice cool. "It’s Vice President Sinclair to you."

Olivia’s face twisted. "Don’t get ahead of yourself just because the CEO favors you!" Her voice rose shrilly. "Whether you last here depends on more than luck. I’ve given you the chance—take it or leave it!"

She stormed out, slamming the door behind her.

Isabella blinked. "Who’s the boss here again?"

Evelyn chuckled, flipping through the documents. "She thought this position was hers before I showed up."

"Delusional," Isabella snorted.

Evelyn handed her the file. "Isn’t the VP of Kensington Group one of your admirers?"

Isabella grinned. "Say no more. I’ll dig up whatever’s fishy about this."

Her phone buzzed. The caller ID flashed—Natalie Beaumont, her old friend and the powerhouse behind the luxury fashion brand Lumière.

Natalie’s private shows were near-impossible to get into.

Evelyn answered, and Natalie’s excited voice spilled out. "You’re coming out tonight! We’re throwing a little welcome-back party at Velvet Lounge. No excuses!"

Evelyn laughed. She had missed them. "I’ll be there."

As soon as she hung up, Isabella added her to a group chat—Sebastian Hart, Julian Hart, and Natalie.

[Natalie Beaumont]: Evelyn’s back in the group! Cheers, darling!

[Sebastian Hart]: I already drank myself stupid celebrating your divorce. Took you long enough!

[Julian Hart]: Congrats on ditching that loser, Nikki!

Evelyn rolled her eyes. "Are they seriously throwing a party over my failed marriage?"

Isabella sighed. "No, you idiot. We’re celebrating because you’re free. When we heard how miserable you were, everyone in this group cursed Nathan Blackwood’s name. We just didn’t want to upset you by adding you sooner."

Evelyn’s chest tightened. "I really don’t deserve you guys."

Meanwhile, Tristan Whitmore was drowning his sorrows, dragging Nathan Blackwood to Velvet Lounge.

As they stepped out of the car, Tristan froze.

"You’ve got to be kidding me," he muttered. "Why is she everywhere I go?"