The morning light peeked through the window, hinting that the day was already running out. Evelyn felt the weight on her shoulders when she opened her eyes, as if she had carried a ton of weight during the night. In fact, the cryptic message in the envelope had not left her head. The phrase echoed repeatedly: "Some secrets are not meant to be kept." Who would send something like that? And for what purpose?
She tried to push her thoughts away as she sipped her coffee. The cup trembled slightly in her hand; perhaps it was fatigue, perhaps it was nervousness. Not even the calm music playing in the background could calm her down. It was as if something was hovering in the air, a harbinger of more things to come.
When she arrived at the hospital, she realized that Clara was already there, as cheerful as ever. Clara was one of those people who seemed to find energy in a secret place, because Evelyn, on the other hand, felt like she was surviving on willpower and caffeine.
"Good morning, dreamy doctor! Did you sleep well?" Clara asked with a wide smile, clearly oblivious to Evelyn's inner turmoil.
"More or less. A bit of a restless night."
Clara shrugged as she shuffled through some papers.
"You need an outlet for these tensions. Maybe a bar tonight?"
Evelyn forced a smile. Clara had this habit of trying to cheer everyone up, but Evelyn knew that, behind that cheerful facade, Clara had her own problems. Maybe they were less intense, but they were there.
The hospital was busy. Patients were arriving all the time, and Evelyn dedicated herself to her work with zeal, hoping that it would take away the thoughts of Matthew, the envelope, and the strange man who delivered that message. But between one case and another, the words came back to her mind like a shadow she couldn't shake.
Around noon, while she was reviewing a patient's medical records, she felt her cell phone vibrate in the pocket of her lab coat. It was a message from Matthew. Evelyn paused, staring at the screen for a moment before opening it.
"How are you? Any news?"
It was so typical of him to be direct, to the point. But there was something comforting about it. Matthew didn't try to sugarcoat things. He got straight to the point, which made Evelyn feel like she could trust him, even if she didn't fully understand why.
"I'm fine. Nothing's happened since yesterday."
The reply came almost instantly.
"If you need anything, you know where to find me."
Evelyn let out a smirk. He had this way of being protective without being invasive, which was a refreshing change from everything she'd faced with Nycolas.
The day passed quickly, but with that constant feeling that time was playing tricks on her. Evelyn found herself immersed in routines, but her mind remained far away, divided between the mysteries that surrounded her and the memories of a past that she was still trying to overcome.
When she finally got home, her physical exhaustion was evident, but her mind was still restless. Evelyn threw herself on the couch, her bare feet on the coffee table and a glass of wine in her hand. The apartment was silent, but instead of relaxing, she felt a greater heaviness.
As she stared at the wall, lost in thought, an idea occurred to her. What if she simply asked Matthew directly what was going on? He seemed to know more than he let on. What was he hiding? And, more importantly, why did she feel like she was getting more and more involved in something she didn't even fully understand?
She picked up her phone and typed a message:
"Matthew, why do I feel like there's more to this story than you're telling me?"
This time, the answer took longer than she expected. When her phone finally vibrated, Evelyn almost dropped her wine glass, she was so distracted.
"Because you're right. But it's not safe to talk about it yet."
That answer made her even more intrigued. Matthew had an infallible way of giving information that only increased the questions.
Evelyn felt a mix of frustration and curiosity. She wanted to understand, but she also knew that pushing too hard could push him away.
In the following days, the routine at the hospital continued, but Evelyn couldn't shake the feeling that she was being watched. It was subtle, almost imperceptible, but it was there. A car parked for too long on the corner, a figure that seemed familiar in the crowd, even the glances of some colleagues at the hospital seemed to linger longer than usual.
During one of the shifts, Clara found her distracted in the hallway.
"You look like someone who saw a ghost."
Evelyn forced a smile, trying not to let her uneasiness show.
"Just tired."
Clara arched an eyebrow.
"I know... It's obvious that there's more to it, but I won't press. Just remember that, whatever it is, you don't have to carry it alone."
Clara's words stayed with Evelyn for the rest of the day. Maybe she really was trying to do everything on her own. Maybe it was time to trust the people around her more.
Later, as she was leaving the hospital, Evelyn noticed a figure leaning against a black car on the sidewalk. It was Matthew. He was as impeccably groomed as ever, but there was something in his gaze that seemed more intense, more somber.
"What are you doing here?" she asked, surprised.
Matthew shrugged, as if her presence was the most natural thing in the world.
"I thought you might need some company."
Evelyn laughed, a little nervously.
"Company from whom? A mysterious CEO or someone who prefers not to answer direct questions?"
Matthew gave her a small smile, but didn't answer. Instead, he opened the car door for her.
"Let's go for a drive."
Evelyn hesitated for a moment, but eventually got in. As the car glided through the streets of Lorencia, she felt a mix of anxiety and curiosity. Matthew seemed so at ease, but she knew that behind that facade, there was a whirlwind of things going on.
After a few minutes of silence, he finally spoke:
"I know you have a lot of questions. But some answers need to wait for the right time."
Evelyn turned to him, her eyes shining with determination.
"What if I don't want to wait?"
Matthew looked at her, serious, but with a touch of softness that she hadn't expected.
"Then I can only ask that you trust me."
The words hung in the air, loaded with meaning. Evelyn knew she was getting involved in something much bigger than she imagined, but for some reason, she felt she could trust him.
When he dropped her off at home, she realized that the feeling of being watched had disappeared, at least for now. Maybe it was the effect of his presence, or maybe it was just her mind playing tricks on her.
Before going inside, she turned to him.
"Thank you, Matthew."
He just nodded, with that half smile that seemed to hold all the secrets in the world.
Evelyn entered the apartment feeling that, although there were still many unanswered questions, she was not alone.
The night was warm, and the wind that came through the window seemed to carry with it the murmur of the city. Evelyn sat on the sofa with a half-full glass of wine, her head resting on the back. She closed her eyes for a few moments, trying to slow down her thoughts. But it was no use. The last few days had been an emotional rollercoaster. And, to make matters worse, there was that constant presence of Matthew, always shrouded in mystery.
After a few minutes, Evelyn opened her eyes and stared at the ceiling. "Why is he like this?", she thought. Matthew had a way of getting closer and further away in equal measure, as if he knew exactly how far he could go before anyone got tired of trying to understand him. But the worst of all was that it worked. Evelyn couldn't get him out of her head.
Her cell phone vibrated on the coffee table, pulling her out of her reverie. She reached out, picked up the device, and unlocked the screen. A message from Clara:
"Girl, I'm at the bar on the corner. Come here! I've already ordered a round of margaritas just for us."
Evelyn smiled, but then sighed. Clara was tireless in her attempt to get Evelyn out of the house, to cheer her up. And maybe she was right. Staying at home brooding over her thoughts wasn't helping at all.
She quickly changed her clothes, opting for a simple dress that showed off her curves. She grabbed her purse, quickly checked herself in the mirror, and left. The walk to the bar was short, but the warm air and the sound of the busy streets were already starting to change her mood.
When she arrived, she found Clara at a table near the window, with two margaritas and a smile plastered on her face.
"I knew you were coming!" Clara said, raising her glass as if toasting the simple fact that Evelyn was there.
Evelyn laughed, sitting in the chair opposite.
"You're persistent, I'll give you that."
"Persistent, not at all. I'm intuitive. I know when my friend needs a little push."
The two toasted and, for a few minutes, the light atmosphere made Evelyn forget the dramas that surrounded her life. They laughed, gossiped about their colleagues at the hospital and even discussed the best movies to watch on a rainy weekend.
But, like everything in life, the calm was fleeting. Evelyn noticed a man in a dark suit entering the bar. He seemed out of place in the relaxed atmosphere, but it was impossible to ignore him. Her eyes quickly scanned the room until they fixed on Evelyn.
Clara followed her friend's gaze and raised her eyebrows.
"Who is that?"
"I have no idea," Evelyn replied, but felt her heart race.
The man walked toward them, unhurriedly, but with a posture that exuded confidence. When he reached her, he spoke directly to Evelyn:
"Excuse me, Miss LaMont. Mr. Oliver asked me to deliver this."
He held out a white envelope with the Oliver Corp. seal. Evelyn frowned, but took the envelope. Before she could ask anything, the man was already walking away, as quickly as he had arrived.
Clara looked at the envelope and then at Evelyn, curiosity evident on her face.
"What's going on, huh?"
Evelyn sighed, opened the envelope, and pulled out a short note, written in Matthew's impeccable handwriting.
"We need to talk. I'll be waiting."
Clara leaned over to read over Evelyn's shoulder and let out a whistle.
"Wow, friend. That seems pretty straightforward, huh? Who is he?"
Evelyn hesitated for a moment. Telling the truth about Matthew seemed too complicated, but lying didn't seem right either. Then she gave a vague answer:
"A business acquaintance...."
Clara raised an eyebrow, clearly skeptical, but didn't press.
"Well, whatever it is, it sounds like you have a date."
Evelyn tucked the note into her purse, but she couldn't enjoy the rest of the evening. Her mind was already racing, trying to figure out what Matthew wanted now.
Hours later, Evelyn stood in front of the imposing Oliver Corp. building. The city seemed quieter at night, as if holding its breath in anticipation. She walked into the lobby, where she was greeted by a receptionist who seemed to be already waiting for her.
"Miss LaMont, Mr. Oliver asked me to show you to his office."
Evelyn nodded, not saying a word. The elevator ascended quickly, and when the doors opened, she was greeted by a silent, spotless hallway. The receptionist gestured to the door at the end and walked away, leaving her alone.
Evelyn took a deep breath before stepping inside. Matthew's office was exactly as she had imagined: sleek, minimalist, with large windows that offered a panoramic view of the city. He was standing, looking out, his hands in his pockets.
"You really like to build suspense, don't you?" Evelyn said, trying to break the ice.
Matthew turned slowly, his face serious, but his eyes shining with something she couldn't quite decipher.
"I didn't mean to."
"So why all this? The note, the meeting here… what's going on, Matthew?"
He walked toward her, stopping a few feet away.
"Because things are getting dangerous. And I need to make sure you're prepared."
"Dangerous how?" Evelyn asked, feeling a shiver run down her spine.
Matthew hesitated, as if choosing his words carefully.
"There are people who don't want me to get close to you. People who would do anything to make sure that doesn't happen."
Evelyn felt the weight of those words, but she didn't back down.
"And why? What does that have to do with me?"
He looked into her eyes, and for the first time, Evelyn saw something beyond his cool, controlled facade. He seemed vulnerable, almost human.
"Because you're more important than you think, Evelyn."
The silence that followed was almost palpable. Evelyn wanted to ask more, wanted to understand, but something in Matthew's tone made her hesitate. Maybe he wasn't ready to tell her everything. Or maybe she wasn't ready to hear it.
After a few seconds, she took a deep breath and said,
"Okay. But you need to start trusting me, Matthew. Because right now, I'm trusting you."
Matthew nodded, a small smile playing on his lips.
"You're stronger than you look, Evelyn."
As she walked out of the office, she felt something had changed. She still didn't know exactly what, but she was certain that her life would never be the same again.