Chapter 35

Evelyn Sinclair's face drained of color, her fingers tightening around the edge of the desk.

Olivia Kensington smirked. "Evelyn, if I release this recording, Sterling Corp will audit every project you've ever handled. You won't just lose your job—you'll be blacklisted. Maybe even prosecuted. Is Kensington Group really worth destroying your career over?"

Olivia would never sacrifice herself for them.

Panic flickered in Olivia's eyes as she swallowed hard. "V-Vice President Sinclair, I spoke out of turn earlier. Kensington Group isn't even worth our time—their financials are a house of cards."

Evelyn gave a satisfied nod. "Good. Never mention them again. You're talented, Olivia. Use that talent for Sterling Corp, not some sinking ship."

"Yes, Vice President Sinclair." Olivia stiffened, her pride wounded but her survival instinct stronger.

With that handled, Evelyn turned her attention to Kingsley Tech's proposal. Securing this deal was critical—aside from Nathan Blackwood's empire, no other firm had the resources to outbid Sterling Corp.

A quick investigation confirmed Blackwood Enterprises had no interest in AI development. Victory was within reach.

As dusk painted the sky in deep purples, Bennett entered with a stack of files. "Ms. Sinclair, Kingsley Tech's dinner has evolved into a full gala. They're announcing their partnership at their anniversary celebration. We've received a VIP invitation. Should I arrange a preliminary meeting?"

Evelyn massaged her temples. "They're playing hard to get because they know everyone's desperate for a piece. No need to grovel. Our offer speaks for itself."

Bennett nodded. "Understood. Shall I call your driver?"

Evelyn checked the time—later than she'd realized. Just as she reached for her coat, a knock interrupted.

Sebastian Hart leaned against the doorframe, his smirk devilishly charming. "Ms. Sinclair, care to let me buy you dinner?"

Evelyn couldn't suppress a smile. "Only if you're paying, Mr. Hart."

Bennett discreetly excused himself.

Sebastian, ever the gentleman, helped her into her coat and scooped up her purse. "Finally, some alone time. I made sure Julian wouldn't interrupt us tonight."

Evelyn rolled her eyes—Sebastian's reputation as a playboy preceded him. "I'm starving. Where are we going?"

"There's this new place in SoHo—"

Evelyn shot him a warning look.

"—that I just invested in," he amended smoothly. "Thought we could test the menu."

She strode ahead in her stilettos, Sebastian trailing with that infuriatingly confident grin.

The restaurant occupied the penthouse, offering a breathtaking panorama of Manhattan's glittering skyline. Soft jazz played as couples swayed on the dance floor, bathed in the warm glow of crystal chandeliers.

For the first time all day, Evelyn relaxed. The melody was one of her favorites, stirring something deep inside. She closed her eyes, breathing in—

A delicate floral scent interrupted her reverie.

She opened her eyes to find Sebastian holding out an exquisite bouquet. "Swiss lilies. Flown in this morning."

Music and flowers—the classic lovers' restaurant playbook. But Evelyn felt no flutter in her chest. She accepted them with a polite smile and set them aside. "Charming ambiance. You've outdone yourself."

Sebastian's grin faltered. Did she really think this was standard service? That bouquet cost more than most people's rent.

But he exhaled, shaking his head. Patience.

When their food arrived, Evelyn focused entirely on the meal, savoring each bite.

Sebastian enthusiastically described each dish's origins, the atmosphere surprisingly pleasant despite his usual theatrics.

"Did you like the flowers I sent to your office?" he asked abruptly.

Evelyn dabbed her lips with a napkin. "Mmm. Thank you."

His jaw tightened. "That's it? Aren't you curious why I sent them?"

She blinked. "Should I be?"

"I'm courting you, Evelyn." Irritation crept into his voice.

A beat of silence. Then she set down her fork. "Sebastian, don't waste your time."

His glass hit the table with a sharp clink. "That's it? No consideration? No 'let's talk about this'?"

Evelyn met his gaze evenly. "We're friends. Let's keep it that way."

Sebastian leaned forward, suddenly serious. "Not anymore. Starting tonight, I'm your suitor."

She sighed. "Then maybe we shouldn't see each other."

Across the room, Tristan Whitmore snorted into his drink. "Look at Hart making a fool of himself over Sinclair. What does he even see in her?"

Nathan Blackwood said nothing, his expression unreadable as he stared at his untouched plate. The filet mignon suddenly tasted like ash.