Chapter 207

Evelyn Sullivan remained silent for a long moment, her fingers absently tracing the rim of her coffee cup.

"Mr. Reynolds, I appreciate your feelings," she finally said. "But I'm not ready for a relationship right now."

Sean Reynolds' gaze lingered on her slightly trembling lashes. His voice was gentle. "I can wait."

"Don't." Evelyn lifted her eyes. "I don't even know if I'll ever fall in love again. You deserve better."

Sean suddenly smiled. "So you thought the fashion business was just an excuse?"

"I did wonder."

"It was all true." His eyes burned with sincerity. "Wanting to pursue you was too."

Evelyn took a deep breath. "If you need help with work, just ask. But when it comes to feelings... I can't give you what you want."

Sean's smile froze, then twisted into a bitter grin. "I should've known this would happen."

Her tense shoulders finally relaxed. There was another unspoken reason for rejecting him—he was Sophia Reynolds' cousin. If they dated and broke up, even her friendship with Sophia would become awkward.

"You're a great person. You'll find someone more suitable."

"The 'nice guy' speech?" He raised an eyebrow.

"I mean it!" she insisted.

Sean leaned forward suddenly. "Can you call me Sean one more time?"

"Sean."

"Thank you."

......

In the MY CEO's office, Evelyn cornered Sophia by the door.

"Care to explain?"

Sophia's eyes widened. "He confessed?!"

"Yes."

"Oh my god!" Sophia clapped excitedly. "I can't believe my cousin actually had the guts!"

Evelyn's voice turned icy. "I turned him down."

"Figured." Sophia shrugged. "I always said he wasn't your type."

"If you ever play matchmaker again," Evelyn narrowed her eyes, "say goodbye to your year-end bonus."

Sophia immediately clung to her arm. "No! I need that money for holiday shopping!"

"Nice use of idioms." Evelyn couldn't help but laugh.

"But you can't dock my pay!"

"Behave, and I won't."

Sophia stuck out her tongue. "Fine!"

After shooing Sophia away, Evelyn summoned Quincy Howard and Bianca Rose.

"You're both coming with me on a business trip tomorrow. It'll last a week."

Once they left, Bianca slipped into the restroom and made a call. "The CEO is taking me on a trip tomorrow."

A low voice issued instructions on the other end.

"Understood," she whispered.

The next morning, the three of them set off.

In Ethan Sullivan's office at Sullivan Group, Colin Keller hung up his phone anxiously. "Ms. Sullivan's phone is off."

Ethan looked up sharply from the documents he was reviewing. "Find out where she is."

A blot of ink spread across the paper where his pen had paused.