Evelyn stood at the head of the long, polished boardroom table, her heart pounding as she glanced at the stern faces of the board members. This was her moment. She couldn't let them see her doubt—not now.
"My plan is simple yet effective," she began, her voice steady despite the adrenaline coursing through her veins. She tapped the presentation remote, and a graph appeared on the screen behind her, displaying a clear upward trajectory. "We'll focus on diversifying our investments, securing new partnerships, and restructuring operations to maximize profitability."
The room was silent as Evelyn laid out the details of her strategy, addressing every potential concern and counterargument before they could be raised. When she finished, she met the gaze of each board member, daring them to question her resolve.
One by one, nods of approval spread around the table. The board's icy demeanor began to thaw, replaced by something Evelyn hadn't seen in a long time—confidence.
"Miss Chase," one of the senior members said, breaking the silence. "This plan... It's bold, but it's exactly what we need."
Another member chimed in, "You've proven yourself once again, Evelyn. We're with you."
Relief washed over her, but she kept her expression composed. The battle for her company was far from over, but this victory was a crucial step forward.
Adrian sat in the dimly lit safe house, his body aching from the injuries he'd sustained during the ambush. His shoulder was bandaged, but the pain was a constant reminder of how close he had come to death. Nicholas had arranged for a doctor to patch him up, but Adrian knew he needed more than physical healing.
He leaned back in the worn leather chair, his mind drifting to Evelyn. He missed her strength, her fire, her unwavering determination. But he also knew that he couldn't drag her deeper into this war.
The sound of a window shattering jolted him from his thoughts. Adrian instinctively reached for his gun, but his movements were sluggish. The door burst open, and masked men stormed in, their weapons trained on him.
"Castellano sends his regards," one of them sneered.
Adrian fired a shot, taking down one of the intruders, but a sharp kick to his injured shoulder sent him sprawling to the ground. His vision blurred as he fought to stay conscious.
Just as the masked men closed in, a loud crash echoed through the room. Evelyn appeared, wielding a steel pipe with a ferocity that stunned everyone. She struck one of the attackers with precision, and the man crumpled to the ground.
"Get away from him!" she shouted, her voice filled with raw determination.
The remaining men hesitated, clearly not expecting resistance. Evelyn used the moment to her advantage, grabbing Adrian's gun and firing a warning shot that sent them scrambling out of the house.
Adrian tried to sit up, but his body wouldn't cooperate. Evelyn was at his side in an instant, her hands trembling as she checked his injuries.
"Adrian, stay with me," she pleaded, her voice cracking.
"I... I didn't expect to see you here," he murmured weakly, a faint smile tugging at his lips.
Evelyn blinked back tears. "You think I'd let you face this alone? You're an idiot if you do."
With great effort, she helped him to his feet, practically carrying him to her car. The drive was tense and silent, the weight of what had just happened hanging heavily between them. Evelyn knew she couldn't take him to a hospital—it was too risky. Instead, she headed to one of her father's secret safe houses, a place even Castellano didn't know existed.
The house was nestled deep in the countryside, surrounded by dense woods. Evelyn guided Adrian inside, her heart breaking at how pale and fragile he looked.
"You're going to be okay," she said firmly, more to convince herself than him.
She laid him on a bed and began tending to his wounds with the supplies she found in the house. Adrian winced but didn't complain, his eyes never leaving her face.
"You didn't have to do this," he said softly.
Evelyn paused, meeting his gaze. "Yes, I did. You might be the biggest liar I've ever met, Adrian, but... I still care about you."
His expression softened, and for a moment, the tension between them seemed to dissolve.
"Evelyn, I..." he started, but she held up a hand.
"Don't," she said, her voice firm. "You need to rest. We can talk later."
Adrian nodded, his exhaustion overtaking him. As he drifted off to sleep, Evelyn sat by his side, her mind racing.
Meanwhile, Castellano received word of the attack and the supposed death of Adrian Black. He smirked, satisfied that one of his greatest threats was finally eliminated.
"Adrian Black is gone," he mused aloud, swirling a glass of whiskey in his hand. "Now, it's only a matter of time before Evelyn Chase falls as well."
But his satisfaction was short-lived. Despite his orders to find Adrian's body, his men returned empty-handed. Castellano's smirk faded, replaced by a scowl.
"Keep searching," he barked. "I want proof that he's dead."
In the back of his mind, a seed of doubt began to grow. If Adrian was still alive, Castellano knew he would stop at nothing to bring him down. And if Evelyn was with him... they would be unstoppable.
Evelyn sat in the quiet of the safe house, her eyes fixed on Adrian's sleeping form. She had saved him tonight, but she knew their fight was far from over. Castellano might believe Adrian was dead, but that only bought them a little time.
For now, though, she allowed herself a moment of peace. They were alive, and they were together. That was enough.