The rain had let up, but the sky was still full of clouds. Evelyn woke up later than usual. It was Sunday, her only day off this week, and she was determined to enjoy every second of the peace and quiet. Still in bed, her face half buried in the pillow, she stared at the ceiling, remembering the events of the previous night.
Dinner with Matthew was unexpected. Not because of the invitation, but because of the way he made her feel. There was something about him, something beyond that serious and mysterious manner. Something that made her want to understand more, to get closer, despite the red flags that her mind insisted on raising.
"Oh, Evelyn... you really are losing your mind, aren't you?" she muttered, laughing to herself as she stood up.
In the kitchen, she put water on to boil and went to get her cell phone. No messages from Matthew. She laughed at herself for even expecting anything. He didn't seem like the kind of guy who would text back and forth for no reason.
Deciding not to spend the whole day locked up in her apartment, Evelyn decided to take a walk around the city. She grabbed her umbrella, already expecting the rain to return, and went out.
The streets of Lorencia were busier than usual for a Sunday. Couples walked hand in hand, families enjoyed outdoor cafes, and the air carried that pleasant smell of wet earth.
She entered a bookstore that was on a discreet corner, the kind of place that always made her feel like she was in a refuge. As she leafed through a book with an interesting cover, she heard a familiar voice behind her.
"I always imagined you as more of an action person, not a book person."
She turned quickly and came face to face with Matthew. He was wearing a black overcoat that made him look even more imposing, and the slight smile on his face was something she was not used to seeing yet.
"And I always imagined you as someone who doesn't have time to go out on a Sunday," he replied, crossing his arms.
He shrugged.
"Even I need a little normalcy sometimes."
"And a bookstore is the place to find that?"
Matthew laughed, and Evelyn felt her heart race.
"Maybe. Or maybe I followed you."
"Very funny."
The two exchanged smiles, and Matthew picked up a book at random, leafing through it without much attention.
"Have you had lunch yet?" he asked casually.
"Not yet. Why?"
"Because I know a place nearby."
Evelyn hesitated for a second, but eventually gave in. She hadn't planned anything anyway, and Matthew's company, as intriguing as it was, had something addictive about it.
The restaurant was small and cozy, with exposed brick walls and a scent of home-cooked food that made Evelyn's stomach growl. Matthew chose a table in the corner, away from the other customers.
As they waited for their food, the conversation flowed in an unexpected way. Evelyn felt that he was more relaxed, less reserved.
"Have you always been this serious?" she asked, after telling a story from her childhood that made him laugh.
Matthew rested his elbows on the table, looking at her with an almost sad smile.
"I guess so. Circumstances, you know? Life doesn't always leave room for lightness."
"But you can choose, can't you? Choose to make things lighter."
He shook his head, as if the idea was too naive for him.
"Sometimes, it's not that simple."
Evelyn realized that there was something deeper behind that answer, but decided not to press.
"And you? Have you always been this curious?" he asked, changing the focus.
"Since always. My mother used to say I was a question machine."
Matthew laughed, and Evelyn felt inexplicably happy that she had provoked that reaction in him.
When they left the restaurant, the rain had returned. They ran to a nearby awning, giggling like children.
"It seems that Lorencia doesn't want to keep us dry today," Evelyn commented, trying to pull her coat tighter around her.
Matthew stared at her for a moment, and the intensity in his eyes made Evelyn catch her breath.
"Sometimes I think this city has a life of its own."
She laughed, trying to ease the tension she felt.
"Or maybe it's just the unpredictable weather."
While they waited for the rain to subside, Matthew received a call. He answered with a serious tone, his expression changing completely as he listened to the person on the other end of the line.
"I have to go," he said as soon as he hung up.
"Is there a problem?" Evelyn asked.
"Nothing you need to worry about." He hesitated, as if he wanted to say something more, but ended up just adding, "I'll see you soon, Evelyn."
Before she could answer, he was already walking down the street, disappearing into the rain.
Back at the apartment, Evelyn tried to concentrate on a book, but her thoughts kept returning to Matthew.
Meanwhile, Matthew was in an inconspicuous building in the city center, meeting with one of his most trusted contacts.
"Volkov is moving faster than we expected," the man said, handing Matthew a dossier.
"Does he know anything?"
"Not yet, but it won't be long."
Matthew closed the file, his eyes dark.
"We need to be ready."
The next morning, Evelyn woke up determined to focus on work and put distractions aside. But when she arrived at the hospital, she found something that left her speechless: a bouquet of flowers on her desk, with a simple note.
"Thank you for yesterday. — M."
She smiled, not knowing exactly how she felt.
Later that day, the sound of rain beating against the window was almost mesmerizing. Evelyn sat on the couch, a cup of tea in her hands, watching the drops run down the glass. The bouquet of flowers sat on the coffee table, with Matthew's note still resting next to it. This was the kind of gesture she hadn't expected from him. A man so serious, almost cold, sending flowers?
She sighed, resting her head on her hand.
"Matthew Oliver, what do you want from me?" she murmured to herself, a slight smile escaping her.
But the answer to that question seemed increasingly distant.
The day started early at the hospital. Evelyn put on her white coat and tied her hair in a simple ponytail, ready to face her shift. The hallway was busy as always, patients coming and going, voices mingling in a constant murmur.
Clara was next to her at the reception, reading something on her tablet while chewing gum.
"So, Evelyn, have you found out who sent those flowers yet or do I need to play detective?"
Evelyn laughed, straightening the papers on the table.
"No mystery. It was a... friend."
Clara arched an eyebrow.
"Friend? I know. And does this "friend" have a name?"
"Matthew."
Clara's smile grew even wider.
"The mysterious CEO? Evelyn, this is starting to get good!"
"Clara, for the love of God. Don't start."
"Okay, okay. But seriously, you deserve someone who treats you right."
Evelyn smiled, but didn't respond. Deep down, she knew Clara was right, but the situation with Matthew was complicated. He wasn't an ordinary man, and she sensed there was much more to him than he let on.
Across town, Matthew sat in his office at Oliver Corp. The day promised to be long, with back-to-back meetings and endless reports. But his mind was elsewhere. He stared at his computer monitor, where a report on Dmitri Volkov was open.
"He's moving faster than we expected," said one of Matthew's trusted men, sitting across the room.
Matthew ran a hand over his face, feeling the weight of responsibility.
"Keep monitoring. Any movement, I want to know right away."
The man nodded and left, leaving Matthew alone. He stood up and walked to the window, looking out over the city. The memory of Evelyn came to him, like a relief in the midst of the chaos.
"She's different," he thought, almost without meaning to. But he knew that the world he lived in was too dangerous for someone like her.
At lunchtime, Evelyn decided to leave the hospital to get some air. She walked to a small café nearby, a quiet place where she liked to retreat. When she entered, the last person she expected to see was there.
"Matthew?"
He looked up, clearly surprised, but soon smiled.
"Evelyn. I didn't know you were coming here."
"And I didn't know you had time to have coffee outside the office."
Matthew shrugged, indicating the chair in front of her.
"Sit down."
She hesitated, but eventually accepted the invitation. The waiter brought the menu, and they spent a few minutes in comfortable silence, as if that moment didn't need words.
"How was your day?" he asked, finally breaking the silence.
"Bouty, but nothing out of the ordinary. And yours?"
Matthew smiled, but it was a distant smile.
"Let's just say my life is rarely normal."
Evelyn laughed.
"I've noticed that."
The two talked for a few more minutes, but Evelyn noticed that there was something different about him. He seemed... lighter, but at the same time, there was something in his eyes, as if he was struggling with an invisible weight.
When they left the café, the rain had already stopped, but the air was still humid. Matthew offered a ride, and Evelyn reluctantly accepted. In the car, the silence between them was comfortable, but full of tension.
"Matthew, can I ask you something?"
"Sure."
"Why did you invite me to dinner yesterday?"
He stared at her for a moment, as if deciding what to say.
"Because I wanted to get to know you better."
"Is that all?"
He chuckled softly, shaking his head.
"You ask too many questions, Evelyn."
"And you answer too few."
Matthew parked the car in front of her apartment, but he didn't turn off the engine. He turned to her, his eyes fixed on hers.
"My life is complicated, Evelyn. More than you know."
"Everyone has complications, Matthew."
"Not like mine."
Evelyn wanted to ask more, wanted to understand what he was trying to say, but something in his tone made her back away.
"Thanks for the ride," she said, opening the door.
"Evelyn."
She stopped, looking at him.
"Yeah?"
"Just... be careful."
She frowned, but he didn't explain. He just watched her get out of the car and walk into the building.
Later, back home, Evelyn couldn't stop thinking about her conversation with Matthew. He was an enigma, and she knew that approaching him was like entering a maze with no way out.
Meanwhile, Matthew was in his home office, reviewing the reports on Volkov. He knew that time was running out and that he would have to make some tough decisions soon. But somehow Evelyn had become a part of his thoughts, a distraction he couldn't afford.
"But maybe it's too late to turn back," he thought as he turned off the lights in his office.