Chapter 59

Nathan Blackwood stood silently, his piercing gaze filled with icy intensity.

Evelyn Sinclair let out a soft laugh as she casually looped her arm through Sebastian Hart's.

She arched one perfectly shaped eyebrow. "Why should you care how many men I date, Tristan? Or are you volunteering to be next?"

Tristan Whitmore bristled at her words, his face flushing with anger. Why did Evelyn always manage to get under his skin?

"You? Not my type," he scoffed. "Frankly, that glimpse I got of you wasn't impressive. Save yourself for men with lower standards. I'm particular about physical perfection."

Evelyn's eyes flashed dangerously. "How dare you comment on my body!"

Tristan's face alternated between red and pale as he trembled with rage, but he bit his tongue. Those compromising photos she possessed left him powerless.

He caught her veiled threat immediately. Was this woman blackmailing him now?

Sebastian chuckled beside her. "Evelyn's standards are legendary, Mr. Whitmore. If we continue this conversation, you'll ruin our appetites."

One glance at Nathan's stormy expression was enough to darken Evelyn's mood.

She gave Tristan one last dismissive look, ignored Nathan completely, and strode toward the restaurant interior.

Tristan nearly exploded behind them. "The audacity! My physique is impeccable!"

Nathan's expression turned glacial. "You think so?"

Lately, nothing was going his way. Failed business meetings with Evelyn, the unresolved emerald pipe situation, and now this humiliating encounter. The memory of Tristan's nude incident with Evelyn lingered unpleasantly in his mind.

Tristan found himself under fire again, unfairly blaming Evelyn for Nathan's bad mood.

Earlier at the office, he'd witnessed Harrison getting stonewalled by Evelyn's assistant Bennett.

Then they'd come to lunch only to find Evelyn dining intimately with Sebastian Hart. No wonder Nathan was in a foul mood.

"Speaking of which," Tristan ventured cautiously, "I heard your mother and sister auctioned off the family heirloom?" Nathan's expression darkened further. "Who bought it? Can't you just buy it back?"

Nathan's icy stare could freeze lava. "Evelyn has it."

Tristan swallowed hard. "Oh." That complicated things immensely.

The unpleasant encounter had killed Evelyn's appetite. The sweet wine Sebastian recommended burned treacherously in her throat - deceptively strong. She'd have suspected sabotage if Sebastian wasn't currently more intoxicated than she was.

Pressing a hand to her forehead, she called Bennett to arrange pickup. She needed to splash cold water on her face before leaving.

Though unsteady, Evelyn made it to the restroom. The cold water cleared her head, bringing instant regret about this disastrous lunch date.

She remembered the route back to their private room, but turning a corner, she collided with someone solid.

"My apologies—"

Her words died as she looked up into Nathan's stormy eyes. All traces of intoxication vanished as she immediately stepped back.

"Mr. Blackwood."

His eyes darkened at her retreat. "What a coincidence, Evelyn."

She arched an eyebrow. "Hardly. I was just leaving."

He blocked her path. "We need to talk."

"About what?" She feigned confusion.

"You know exactly what," he said, pinning her with his gaze.

Evelyn laughed, any remaining buzz disappearing. "There's nothing left to discuss between us. For business matters, contact Bennett."

Her phone rang - likely her driver. As she moved to leave, Nathan said tightly, "Name your price. The pipe isn't negotiable."

So the Ferguson heirloom had finally come up. Old Master Blackwood must have discovered its absence by now. Margaret and Sophia were probably suffering the consequences.

"Still don't understand, Mr. Blackwood?" Evelyn's smile glittered dangerously. "My silence yesterday was answer enough. The answer is no."