The dawn dragged on like a tired old woman, and Evelyn was awake, even though the clock had already advanced well past midnight. The book she was holding had been abandoned next to the sofa. It was open on a random page, while she stared out the window. The rhythmic sound of the rain beating against the glass was almost hypnotic, but her thoughts were far from calm.
"Why does he mess with me so much?"
The day dawned timidly, with a cloudy sky that promised no improvement. Evelyn had slept little, but got up before the alarm went off, in an attempt to shake off the lethargy that seemed to be settling into her bones.
In the kitchen, the smell of fresh coffee filled the air as she absentmindedly fiddled with her cell phone. A few messages from Clara appeared on the screen, most of them with emojis and questions about "that mysterious man". Evelyn smiled slightly, but didn't respond right away. She didn't know what to say or even what she felt.
As she drank her coffee, her mind wandered to the next week of work at the hospital. Patients, shifts, studies... The routine that had once seemed so safe now seemed like just another distraction from something bigger, something she couldn't name.
When she arrived at the hospital, the place was already busy. Clara was at the reception, shuffling through papers with an expression of pure boredom, but her usual smile appeared as soon as she saw Evelyn.
"Finally! I thought you were going to leave me alone in hell today," Clara joked, pushing a medical record toward her.
"Don't complain. I've saved you from worse shifts," Evelyn replied, taking the paper and glancing at the list of patients.
The day seemed to be one of those without any major surprises, but deep down, Evelyn felt that something was different. It was as if a silent energy was running through the hallways.
During the afternoon, while she was reviewing exams in one of the offices, she heard a knock on the door.
"Come in!" she called, not taking her eyes off the chart.
When she looked up, she was surprised to see a familiar face: Matthew. He was standing in the doorway, his expression serious as ever, but there was something else in his eyes, as if the weight of the days was finally leaving visible marks.
"You're becoming a frequent visitor, you know?" Evelyn said, trying to sound light, but feeling her heart race.
Matthew gave her a small smile, but didn't answer right away. He walked into the room, closing the door behind him and sitting in the chair across from her.
"I need to talk to you."
"About what?" Evelyn put down the chart and crossed her arms, waiting.
"About us."
Those two words were enough to make the air in the room feel heavier. Evelyn blinked, surprised, not knowing what to say.
"We? What 'we', Matthew? I'm not sure I understand..."
He ran a hand through his hair, something she rarely saw, a gesture that indicated he was somehow nervous.
"I know it sounds confusing. Maybe it is. But I feel like..."
Matthew paused, as if searching for the right words. Evelyn waited, not interrupting, but her heart was beating so loudly she almost thought he could hear it.
"I feel like I need to protect you, Evelyn."
Those words fell like a stone on the calm surface of her mind, creating waves of confusion.
"Protect? From what?"
Matthew looked away for a moment, but then looked back at her.
--From the world. From people who could hurt you."
"And who exactly wants to hurt me, Matthew?"
--His silence was the only answer. Evelyn felt a shiver run down her spine.
Meanwhile, in a shadowy corner of the city, Dmitri Volkov was walking through an abandoned warehouse. His footsteps echoed in the empty space, but his presence was anything but insignificant. There were men around him, all silent, waiting for instructions.
"Matthew Oliver is distracted," Volkov said, his voice low and sharp. "And that's good for us."
One of the men approached, handing him an envelope. Volkov opened it, examining the photos inside. They were pictures of Evelyn.
Evening was slowly approaching in Lorencia. The rain, which had been falling unhurriedly since early afternoon, painted the streets with a glow of melancholy. Evelyn felt the weariness of the day weighing on her shoulders, but her mind was far from any possibility of rest.
After the brief but impactful conversation with Matthew, she couldn't help but feel that something was about to change. He seemed to carry a secret, something that transcended the mystery of his gaze and carefully chosen words.
Back home, Evelyn paced back and forth in the small living room. The light from the lamp reflected on the puddles of water outside, creating a play of shadows that seemed to echo the whirlwind in her mind.
She sat down on the couch with a deep sigh, holding a cup of hot tea. Her hands were cold, but it wasn't just the weather that made her shiver.
"Protect from whom?" she thought again, trying to understand the meaning behind Matthew's words. He wasn't a man who spoke things lightly. If he had said that, it was because he believed what he said.
Her phone vibrated on the table next to her, interrupting her thoughts. It was a message from Clara.
Clara: "Girlfriend, just a reminder: be careful with the mysterious handsome guy. These stories about rich and powerful people always have something behind them!"
Evelyn rolled her eyes, but smiled slightly. Despite Clara's lightheartedness, he knew there was some truth to her advice.
Meanwhile, in another corner of the city, Matthew was in his office at Oliver Corp. The room, spacious and decorated with a mix of sophistication and functionality, seemed small in comparison to the intensity that emanated from him.
He was looking at a set of documents spread out on the table. A ring on the intercom interrupted his thoughts.
"Mr. Oliver, it's Mr. Harris. He said it's urgent."
Matthew pressed the button to answer.
"Let him in."
The door opened, revealing a middle-aged man with a tense expression. Harris was one of his trusted men in the underworld, someone who dealt with the darker details of the operations that Matthew could not leave in the public eye.
"News from Volkov?" Matthew asked bluntly.
Harris nodded.
"He's been watching Evelyn. We have photos that confirm that she's already on his radar."
Matthew stood up so fast his chair banged against the wall.
"Damn it! I told you to keep her out of this."
"He knows she's important to you, even if you try to hide it."
Matthew ran a hand through his hair, his anger and frustration clearly visible.
"Be extra vigilant. I don't want anything to get near her."
Harris hesitated before leaving.
"What if she asks?"
Matthew paused for a moment, staring out the large glass window at the city.
"She can't know. Not now."
The next day, Evelyn was calmer. She had decided that the best way to deal with everything was to move on. The hospital was as busy as ever, and it helped to keep her mind occupied.
During lunchtime, as she walked through the cafeteria with a tray of food, she heard someone call her name.
"Evelyn!"
She turned and saw Clara waving from a table in the corner. Beside her, to her surprise, was Matthew. He looked out of place in the room, but he kept his usual firm expression.
"What are you doing here?" Evelyn asked as she approached.
Matthew stood up, gesturing for her to sit down.
"We need to talk."
"Talk? Don't you think you picked a rather... unusual place?"
Clara, sensing the mood, giggled and stood up.
"I think I'll go get some dessert. Excuse me."
When they were alone, Evelyn crossed her arms, staring at Matthew.
"So, what was it this time?"
He took a deep breath, as if trying to find the right words.
"I just want to make sure you're safe."
Evelyn arched an eyebrow.
"Matthew, what are you hiding? Because this is starting to get weird."
He hesitated, but before he could answer, an alarm went off in the hospital. They both stood up, and Evelyn glanced toward the main hallway, where the staff began to move quickly.
"I'm going to see what's going on."
Without waiting for a response, she hurried out, leaving Matthew behind.
In the chaos that followed, Evelyn barely had time to think. A critically ill patient had arrived at the emergency room, and the entire staff was focused on stabilizing him.
Meanwhile, Matthew remained in the hospital, watching from afar. There was something in his posture that indicated he was alert, like a predator on the prowl.
At the hospital exit, Harris was waiting for him in a black car. When Matthew got in, Harris handed him a tablet with the most recent images of Volkov and his men.
"He's close, sir."
Matthew stared at the images, his jaw clenched.
"If he touches a hair on her head, he'll pay with his life."
Later, at home, Evelyn felt the weight of the day settle on her shoulders. She was exhausted, but the encounter with Matthew and the alarm at the hospital kept echoing in her mind.
She slumped on the couch, staring at the ceiling. "What am I doing?" she thought. "Why do I care so much about someone I barely know?"
Across town, Matthew was also restless. He looked at his phone, considering calling Evelyn, but decided against it. He couldn't drag her further into his world, even though he desperately wanted her by his side.