The night wind cut through the streets of Lorencia, carrying with it the metallic smell of rain that promised to fall at any moment. Evelyn got out of the taxi in front of the address Matthew had sent her. An imposing building of glass and steel, with a facade as discreet as possible for someone as powerful as him. Even in the dark, the modern lines of the architecture seemed almost hostile, as if they were there to keep the world away rather than welcome it.
Evelyn tightened her scarf around her neck, trying to block the icy wind that insisted on piercing through her layers of clothing. "I shouldn't be here." That thought ran through her mind like a mantra, but her feet didn't hesitate as she climbed the steps to the main entrance.
In the entrance hall, a burly security guard was waiting for her. He didn't need to ask who she was; he just examined her with calculating eyes before gesturing for her to follow him.
"Mr. Oliver is waiting upstairs." His voice was almost as commanding as his presence.
Evelyn swallowed hard, nodding as she followed him to the elevator. Inside, the silence was so thick that she could hear the sound of her own heart beating. The mirrored walls reflected her, and Evelyn couldn't help but notice how out of place she looked there. Her blond hair was a little disheveled by the wind, the dark circles under her eyes marking her face tired from so many shifts. "I'm definitely not in my natural habitat."
When the elevator doors opened, Evelyn was greeted by a space that looked like it had been taken from an interior design magazine. A spacious loft decorated in neutral tones and minimalist furniture. The soft light from the lamps created a welcoming contrast with the cold, dark exterior.
Matthew stood near the window, his back to her, his hands tucked into his jacket pockets. His silhouette against the distant glow of the city lights had something solitary about it. He turned slowly when he heard Evelyn's footsteps, his eyes finding her with that usual intensity that seemed to penetrate any barrier.
"You came." His voice was low, almost a whisper, but it carried an undeniable weight.
You asked me to." Evelyn shrugged, trying to sound more confident than she actually felt. "So what's so important?"
Matthew gestured for her to come closer, indicating the nearby couch. Evelyn hesitated for a second before sitting down, crossing her legs and trying to ignore the fact that his every move seemed calculated, controlled. He sat in the opposite chair, watching her for a moment before speaking.
"There's something you need to know about what happened the other night... and about me."
Evelyn arched an eyebrow.
"Let me guess: more dark secrets?"
Matthew half-smiled, but his eyes remained serious.
"Something like that."
He took an envelope from a small safe built into the wall. The gesture was quick, almost imperceptible, but Evelyn noticed. Everything about Matthew was methodical, as if he was always two steps ahead. He handed the envelope to her, but she didn't say anything.
Evelyn opened it with hesitant fingers. Inside were pictures. Pictures of a man she recognized immediately. Nycolas Alystair.
Her heart skipped a beat as she scanned the images. Nycolas was in a place Evelyn couldn't quite place, talking to other men who looked equally important. The expression on his face was cold, calculating. It wasn't new to her, but there was something about those pictures that left a bitter taste in her mouth.
"What is this?" she asked finally.
"Your ex-husband is involved in something bigger than you realize." Matthew crossed his arms, leaning forward slightly. "And what happened to you, the divorce, the accusations… it wasn't a coincidence."
Evelyn stared at him, speechless. Her mind worked frantically, trying to connect the dots.
"What do you mean by that?"
Matthew hesitated for a moment, as if choosing his words carefully. "When you married him, you became more than just Nycolas's wife. You became a target."
"Target?" Evelyn repeated in disbelief. "That's crazy."
"Maybe." Matthew shrugged, but there was a seriousness in his eyes that made her want to believe him. "But the world he lives in, the world I live in... it leaves no room for coincidence."
Evelyn felt her head spin. It was too much information, and each word seemed to carry a weight she wasn't prepared to bear.
"Why are you telling me this?" she finally asked.
"Because, like it or not, we're connected now." Matthew stood up, walking to the window again. "And if you're going to stay around me, you need to understand what you're getting yourself into."
Evelyn stood up too, crossing her arms as she glared at him.
"And why should I stay around you?"
Matthew turned to her, and for a brief moment, Evelyn saw something in his eyes. A vulnerability he rarely let show.
"Because, somehow, you're already in the middle of all this."
The silence that followed was so heavy that it seemed to fill the entire room. Evelyn felt a lump form in her throat. She didn't know if she believed him, but she also couldn't ignore the pictures, the words, the tone of voice Matthew used.
Finally, she sighed, shaking her head.
"You're trouble, you know that?"
Matthew smirked, the closest thing she'd ever seen him show to humor.
"I hear that more than you know."
Evelyn gathered her things, still processing everything as she headed for the door. Before she left, she turned to him.
"If you're lying about all this..."
"I'm not." Matthew cut her off, his voice firm. "And you'll find that out for yourself."
Evelyn walked out of the apartment feeling like she was walking a tightrope, balancing between two completely different worlds. And deep down, she knew that, no matter how hard she tried to avoid it, she was being pulled deeper and deeper into Matthew Oliver's dangerous and intriguing universe.
The rain finally began to fall in Lorencia, dripping against the windows and spreading across the floor with a soft melody. Evelyn walked quickly through the streets, the sound of her footsteps echoing against the tall buildings. The cold air made her lungs burn, but she didn't care. All she wanted was to get home, lock herself in her room and digest Matthew's words.
She held her scarf tightly, trying to block the cold that seemed to infiltrate every crevice of her clothes. Her thoughts were in absolute chaos, a mix of doubts and suspicions. "Why does he care? Why me? And, most importantly, why now?"
Every time she remembered Matthew's serious expression, a chill ran down her spine. He was the kind of man who knew much more than he let on. Evelyn wasn't naive; she knew that getting involved with someone like him meant accepting secrets, games and risks. But still, she felt like she was being sucked into a whirlpool of problems.
Arriving at the simple building where she lived, Evelyn quickly climbed the stairs. She didn't trust the elevator, which always made a strange noise before reaching the right floor. When she entered the apartment, the familiar smell of stale coffee and books greeted her, offering modest comfort.
She took off her coat and boots, throwing herself onto the couch with a heavy sigh. The envelope Matthew had given her was still in her purse, untouched since she left his apartment. Evelyn pulled it out and set it on the coffee table, staring at it as if it might explode at any moment.
"What do I do with this?" she muttered to herself, running a hand through her hair.
Before she could make any decision, the phone rang. Evelyn glanced at the display, recognizing her mother's number. A part of her wanted to ignore the call, but another knew that if she didn't answer, her mother would worry.
"Hello?"
"Evelyn, honey!" Her mother's cheerful voice filled the silence of the apartment. "How are you? You look tired..."
Evelyn smiled slightly. 'My mother always knows.'
"I'm fine, Mom. It's just been a long day."
"A long day or one that tests your patience?" The soft laughter on the other end of the line brought a warmth Evelyn hadn't known she needed.
"Maybe a little of both."
The conversation continued, revolving around trivialities that, for a moment, made her forget the weight she was carrying. Talking about the flowers in the family garden and her mother's new recipes was like a balm for her frayed nerves.
When she finally hung up, Evelyn felt a little lighter, but the envelope was still there, waiting patiently. With a resigned sigh, she opened it again. Nycolas's photos stared back at her, triggering memories she'd rather forget.
"Bastard..." she murmured, running her fingers along the edge of one of the photos.
The anger Evelyn felt was like unexpected fuel. She knew Matthew was right in one respect: Nycolas wasn't the man she thought she knew. But how much of that mattered now? She was free of him, at least in theory. The reality was that the shadows of the past still haunted her, and it seemed they would continue to do so until she faced them all head on.
For the first time, Evelyn considered the idea that Matthew wasn't just a cold, calculating CEO. Maybe, just maybe, he actually had reasons to protect her.
Determined, Evelyn stood up and put the photos back in the envelope. If Matthew wanted her to know something, he would have to be more clear. And if Nycolas was involved in something bigger and darker, she didn't want to be caught off guard.
The next morning, Evelyn woke to the annoying sound of her alarm clock. The sun had barely risen, but the hospital was waiting for no one. She quickly put on her scrubs, tied her hair in a ponytail, and headed out to face another day.
At the hospital, things were as hectic as usual. Between the complaining patients and the rushing doctors, Evelyn barely had time to think. Still, Matthew's presence seemed to loom in her mind like a persistent shadow.
As she made her rounds, one of the nurses approached her, holding a file. "Evelyn, there's someone asking for you at the front desk."
She frowned.
"Who?"
"A man. He didn't say his name, but... it's pretty hard to ignore." The nurse chuckled, and Evelyn rolled her eyes.
When she reached the front desk, Evelyn saw Matthew standing there, impeccable as always. His black suit seemed to swallow the light around him, and his cold eyes swept the room until they landed on her.
"What are you doing here?" Evelyn whispered, pulling him aside.
"We need to talk," he said bluntly.
"Now? At my work?" Evelyn crossed her arms, looking at him with a mixture of irritation and surprise.
Matthew tilted his head slightly, a gesture that seemed as much a request as a warning.
"I won't take up too much of your time."
Evelyn sighed, finally giving in. She led him into an empty break room, closing the door behind them.
"Okay, go ahead and talk."
Matthew shoved his hands in his pockets, watching her with that characteristic intensity.
"I've learned something new about Nycolas. Something that could put you in danger."
Evelyn felt her stomach churn.
"Danger? What do you mean?"
"He's trying to get back something he lost..."
Evelyn felt her legs go weak, but she kept her composure.
"And what exactly did he lose?"
Matthew hesitated, but his eyes never left hers.
"Power."
The silence that followed was deafening. Evelyn wanted to believe that Matthew was exaggerating, that this was just paranoia. But something in his voice, in the expression he wore, made her believe he was telling the truth.
"What do I do now?" she asked, finally.
Matthew stepped forward, his presence dominating the small space between them.
"Do you trust me?"
Evelyn felt her heart race. The answer didn't come easily, but deep down, she knew she was in too deep to back out.
"I... I think so."
Matthew nodded, and for the first time, she saw something like relief on his face.
"Then let me handle this."
Evelyn didn't answer. She just watched him walk out of the room, leaving her alone with her thoughts.