Chapter 472

"Did that passenger mention why he wanted to switch seats?" Evelyn Carter asked softly.

The middle-aged passenger chuckled. "The young man just asked straight out if we could swap. I saw his boarding pass was for first class—if he didn't mind, why should I question it?"

Alexander Hamilton certainly knew how to pick his targets.

Evelyn remained silent until the plane landed. When the cabin doors opened, she deliberately lingered until the end, desperate to avoid any chance encounter.

"Have all the first-class passengers left?" She stopped a flight attendant.

"They've already taken the shuttle bus."

Evelyn exhaled in relief, grateful for once for the inferior treatment of economy class—at least it helped her avoid unwanted company.

She stalled another twenty minutes at baggage claim.

Yet when she finally wheeled her suitcase out of the terminal, that tall, familiar figure still crashed into her vision without warning.

Alexander leaned against a luxury sedan, brow slightly furrowed. Lydia Laurent spotted her first. "Evelyn! What a coincidence!"

"I was in economy," Evelyn forced out as she approached.

Lydia's eyes widened. "Why didn't you say so earlier? Alexander, you didn't even ask if Evelyn wanted to book tickets together!"

Alexander gave her a cool glance. "I'll remember next time."

"But this is perfect timing!" Lydia linked arms with Evelyn excitedly. "My father insisted I attend this summit, but I can't understand any of the finance jargon. Now that you're here, you can keep me company!"

Evelyn managed a strained smile.

"Your voice sounds hoarse," Lydia suddenly observed, leaning closer. "And you're wearing a mask..."

"Flu," Evelyn took half a step back. "Contagious."

Alexander's mouth twitched almost imperceptibly.

Lydia only tightened her grip. "Then you should definitely rest at our hotel! The summit schedule is packed, and the organizer's hotel is so far away..."

"I already called a car." Evelyn waved her phone.

Without warning, Alexander grabbed her luggage and shoved it into the trunk. "Get in," he ordered coldly.

Car horns blared behind them.

Lydia tugged Evelyn toward the vehicle. "Come on, let's go!"

As the sedan merged into the city's glittering skyline, Lydia chattered like a songbird while Alexander sat silent as stone.

The hotel lobby glittered under crystal chandeliers.

"Mr. Hamilton, we're terribly sorry," the receptionist said apologetically, handing over two keycards. "Aside from the two rooms you reserved, we're completely booked."

Evelyn immediately pulled out her phone to search for nearby hotels.

"I can share with Alexander," Lydia suddenly suggested, cheeks pinkening. "Evelyn needs her own room to recover."

Alexander's gaze lingered on Evelyn's face.

"I can find another—"

"This is fine." He cut her off, taking the keycards and striding toward the elevators.

Evelyn narrowed her eyes at his retreating back.

The scheme might as well have been written across his forehead.