Chapter 13
Chapter Thirteen
Victor & Evelyn
Victor
The Rolls-Royce sat in that goddamn private driveway at Alexander's Mansion for twenty-two minutes straight.
I'd built my business empire and underground kingdom to its current scale—there were maybe a handful of people who'd dare make me wait in a car. And this reckless little con artist was making me wait twenty-two minutes.
"Boss." Luca finally spoke up, keeping his voice low. "Should I go knock?"
"No." I shoved the car door open.
I'd had enough waiting for one day. I was going in that broken-down house myself, dragging that slippery little fox out by force, and shoving her into my car.
But I'd barely taken three steps when the door swung open.
Evelyn poked her head out. When she saw me, she smiled.
I had to admit—my heart skipped a beat.
Tonight, she was stunning. A deep wine-red velvet gown wrapped around her body, leaving her shoulders and back completely exposed to the cold air. Her hair was swept up, revealing the pale column of her neck. An antique emerald necklace rested at her throat, glinting coldly under the entry lights.
Alexander followed her out, the old man's face ashen, hands clamped around Evelyn's wrist, cursing under his breath—clearly a futile attempt to hold her back.
"Good evening, Alexander."
I tried to sound friendly. Alexander heard my voice and froze instantly. His facial muscles twitched violently. He looked at me, finally released Evelyn's hand through gritted teeth, and slunk back inside.
Honestly, I had zero fondness for the old bastard, but he was Evelyn's only remaining family. Leaving a decent impression couldn't hurt.
Free from her grandfather, Evelyn descended the steps toward me. She wore a flawless social smile, her white silk-gloved hand waving lightly in the air.
"Sorry I kept you waiting." She spoke without a trace of actual apology. "Alexander wouldn't let me leave. He insisted we discuss when exactly our scandalous affair started, and planned in detail how to hack off your head and mount it above the living room door."
"He's welcome to try."
"That's exactly what I told him." She looked down, adjusting her gown's hem.
"God, I haven't worn this dress in three years.
Standing in front of the mirror earlier, I realized it's gotten much tighter at the chest. So if you think this outfit doesn't quite fit, it's not your eyesight—it's my measurements. "
I wasn't listening to a word she said. My attention was locked entirely on her. She looked hot as hell tonight. My mind was already calculating how to rip off that annoying velvet fabric later, pin her down in the back seat, and fuck her until she cried and begged.
"Victor?" She looked up at me. "Why aren't you saying anything?"
"I'm listening."
"You're clearly distracted." Evelyn frowned.
"I'm having regrets."
"Regrets about what?" Evelyn pressed, her tone suddenly serious. "You regret revealing my identity?"
The pleasant curve of her mouth collapsed instantly. She angrily shook off my hand hovering at her waist, stepped back, and glared at me coldly.
"If you think taking me out embarrasses you, it's not too late to back out. I can walk right back to my room."
I didn't answer that stupid question. Instead, I pressed against her exposed lower back and pushed her forcefully toward the car.
"I regret taking you out of that house." I climbed in and leaned down, my lips nearly touching her ear.
"All I can think about is dragging you back to the manor bed.
I want to hide you away completely, lock you in my room, keep you from parading around in this goddamn dress all night.
I don't want any of those bastards out there seeing you like this tonight. Not a single man."
Evelyn gasped sharply, couldn't help glancing at Luca sitting in the driver's seat playing dead. In the dim car light, I clearly saw her ears flush red all the way down her neck.
"What are you saying? Pervert." She finally squeezed out the words in a weak whisper.
Her insult had zero intimidation factor. Coming from her mouth, "pervert" was basically flirtation.
The banquet hall occupied the top floor of the Hilton Hotel's luxury ballroom.
Tonight's host was the second son of the Olden family.
I barely knew him, but his shrewd father had owed me a massive favor months ago, so this gold-embossed invitation naturally landed on my desk.
I'd had zero interest in this boring social affair, but Evelyn's public comeback desperately needed a sufficiently prestigious venue. This party barely met the standard.
My right arm held Evelyn tightly.
The moment we stepped into the hall, every eye in the room swiveled toward us. I clearly heard from the right corner a champagne glass slip from some woman in a cheap sequined dress and thud onto the carpet.
Evelyn showed no sign of shrinking back. I had to give her credit for that.
"You're quite useful." She turned her head, lowering her voice to whisper. "I just scanned the room—several women who hate me look absolutely green."
"No one's ever called me useful before."
Evelyn laughed softly. She tilted her head slightly, a playful cunning in her eyes.
"Relax, Victor. There's a first time for everything."
I shrugged indifferently, accepting the assessment.
"Doesn't feel too bad."
We'd barely reached the center of the hall when that idiot Olden son rushed up.
"Mr. Moretti." He bent into an absurdly exaggerated bow, the angle so low I felt embarrassed for him. "My father has been waiting for you in the second-floor private lounge. He's most eager to consult with you privately."
I frowned in disgust. I'd gone to all this trouble bringing Evelyn here tonight to announce her identity to all of New York, to establish my claim. I had no time for phony social pleasantries with some old man in a private room.
"It's fine." Evelyn's silk-gloved fingers pressed lightly on my forearm. "Go handle your business. I just spotted some old classmates from Columbia Law. Perfect chance to catch up."
I looked at her expectant expression, weighing it internally. Fine, maybe I should give these ladies some breathing room. As long as I stood beside her, they'd never dare speak freely. They'd just feel completely uncomfortable.
I nodded reluctantly, reached out and squeezed her fingertips hard, then followed that Olden idiot toward the second-floor stairs.
Old Olden entertained me in that ostentatiously decorated private lounge. He held a whiskey with ice, tirelessly babbling about Southeast Asian port smuggling operations. The old bastard was full of hot air, no substantial deals to discuss.
This whole charade was purely to prove to his audience that we had a good relationship. I tolerated his bullshit with what patience I had, but my gaze kept drifting over the railing toward the dance floor below.
Then suddenly, Evelyn's shrill scream rose from downstairs.
I jerked forward, looking down.
A full half-glass of deep red wine had been ruthlessly thrown across Evelyn's chest and shoulders. Dark liquid streamed down her pale collarbone, staining that expensive velvet dress. She stood frozen in place, completely still.
Julian was gripping her slender arm tightly.
Evelyn
Julian's fingers dug in with brutal force, his nails nearly piercing through my leather gloves into my flesh. His eyes were bloodshot, chest heaving violently, his entire face twisted with rage.
I never expected Julian would show up tonight. Humiliation flooded me instantly. I lowered my voice, trying to preserve some last shred of dignity.
"Julian, you're hurting me. Let go first. We can find somewhere private to talk."
Julian completely ignored my request. Instead, he tightened his grip, staring at me viciously.
"Who the fuck did you come here with?"
I avoided his interrogating gaze, pulling hard to free my arm, desperate to escape this scene.
"I can explain. Please, not here."
But my strength was nothing against his. Julian gave me zero chance to evade. He opened his mouth and released a hysterical roar in the middle of the crowd.
"What's there to talk about? How you seduced me then crawled into my father's bed that same night?"
That blunt, vulgar accusation echoed through the vast hall. The surrounding orchestra had somehow stopped completely.
I looked around in panic. I knew going public with this relationship would invite criticism and judgment, but I truly hadn't anticipated it would be torn open so uglily, so humiliatingly, in front of everyone.
"You tell me honestly, Evelyn. Make it clear. When exactly did you start seducing my father? Was it before we announced our engagement? Were you already thinking about climbing into my father's bed?"
My breathing stopped. Countless eyes fixed on me. The contempt and disgust in those gazes cut through me like ice.
I thought I could handle it. I thought I was detached enough.
But the truth was I couldn't. I still couldn't completely ignore all that malicious attention.
I was practically begging as I grabbed back at Julian's hand restraining me.
"Julian! Calm down. Let's find an empty room and talk properly, okay? Please."
"You shameless woman!" Julian violently shook off my hand, but immediately grabbed my shoulder again, shoving me backward hard. "Wasn't I enough for you alone? Whore."
The entire vast banquet hall plunged into deathly silence.
Not a single person stepped forward to smooth things over.
Not one self-proclaimed gentleman tried to stop this humiliating spectacle.
They all held their crystal glasses, watching with keen interest as this fallen socialite got stripped of her last layer of dignity.
Since news of my father's mysterious disappearance spread through New York's upper circles, these people had been secretly anticipating my downfall. Now they were finally getting their wish.