By the time they reached the elevator, Stella finally broke the silence.
"Sis, you know... that was the most entertaining meeting I’ve ever attended."
Alicia shot her a look. "This isn’t a show, Stella."
"Sure felt like one," Stella said with a grin. "Did you see Dad’s face? He looked like he swallowed a cactus."
Evelyn couldn’t help it... a tiny laugh escaped her. "Stella..."
"What? It’s true," Stella said, smirking.
The elevator doors opened, and the three women stepped inside. The silence returned as the doors closed, but this time it was peaceful.
When they reached the basement parking lot, Evelyn exhaled deeply, the tension slowly melting away.
Finally, it was over.
Or so she thought.
She walked toward her car, her heels echoing faintly against the concrete floor.
Stella was a few steps behind her, scrolling through her phone, while Alicia called their driver.
Just as Evelyn walked toward her car, a sharp voice rang out from behind.
"Miss Evelyn Walters! Is it true you’re the new owner of Moressy Holding and J Corp?"
Evelyn was stunned.
A camera flash went off, then another.
Reporters? Paparazzi?
How did they even find her down here?
Dozens of flashes blinded her as voices started overlapping, microphones shoved toward her face.
"Miss Walters, is it true you’ve returned to take over the Walters Group?"
"Miss Walters, do you plan to retaliate against your father?"
Evelyn straightened, her calm mask snapping back into place. She glanced at Stella, who was shocked in her place.
She could hear Alicia shout, "Stella, hurry, call security."
Evelyn’s voice came out smooth, poised, and cold. "No comment."
"But miss, please answer us..."
"Miss Evelyn, could you clarify why you suddenly left the Walters Group four years ago?"
Evelyn tried to hide her face behind her mini Birkin bag as she made her way toward the car, walking as fast as her heels would allow.
But the reporters were like wolves; they’d caught her scent, and now they were circling.
Flashes burst like mini lightning strikes. Voices clamored around her.
"Miss Walters! Are you really going back to lead the Walters Group?"
"Are you meeting with your father?"
"Have you made up with Walter’s family?"
Her jaw tightened. Cursed them in her mind.
Evelyn wanted to deliver her flying kick to all of them, but this wasn’t the right time or place.
She had promised herself she wouldn’t solve things with violence... not today, anyway.
Just as she was about to speak to respond to them, a familiar voice called out from behind.
"MOVE!" Liam’s cold tone shocked those reporters.
The crowd parted as Liam stormed through, his face furious.
He pushed a few persistent reporters aside, grabbed Evelyn by the wrist, and quickly shielded her from the flashing cameras with his broad back.
With a sharp, fast move, he walked her to the car and opened the door, ushered her in, and slammed it shut. He then went back to the driver’s seat.
Outside, the reporters kept hammering questions against the tinted windows.
"Sorry, ma’am," Liam muttered as he turned on the car engine. "I was in the toilet. Didn’t know those rats were waiting for you."
"It’s fine," Evelyn said calmly, though her voice carried the sharp edge of irritation. "Just get us out of here, please."
As the car rolled forward, flashes still peppered the glass.
Evelyn exhaled and fished her phone out of her mini Birkin. She pressed the speed dial.
One ring.
"Pick up, Oscar," she muttered.
The line clicked.
She didn’t waste time on greetings. "I need your help. I’m in an urgent situation. Walters Building, basement parking lot. A bunch of journalists just photographed me. Please take care of them."
A low chuckle came through the line.
Evelyn frowned. "What’s so funny?"
"Nothing," came the deep, smooth voice. "You sound adorable when you’re panicked."
She blinked, confused. "Who is this? Where’s Oscar?"
"It’s me, Eve. Relax."
"What do you mean, relax? Did you not hear me? I said there are journalists and paparazzi here—"
"I heard you." His tone was still calm. "That’s why I said relax."
"Unbelievable. Fine, if you’re not helping, I’ll—"
"Eve," he interrupted, amusement sounding in his words, "look behind you. See that black car?"
"What black car?" she muttered, twisting slightly in her seat.
When she looked out the rear window, she froze. A sleek black SUV was following behind them. She saw a man sitting in the passenger seat, smirking and waving.
She gasped.
It couldn’t be.
She blinked, trying to make sure she didn’t see it wrongly. The man was still there. Same smirk, same lazy wave.
"Oscar?"
Her voice came out half disbelief, half shock. She turned back forward, "You’ve got to be kidding me. You’re here? In that car? No way! You’re seriously here?"
"Yep. Yep, and guilty," his voice pitched high, with an apparent joy that vibrated through the phone.
"Are you the one who sent those paparazzi to photograph me?"
Instead of answering, he laughed.
"You laugh? Good heaven, Oscar! You’re lucky I’m not throwing my high heel at you right now."
"Throwing me that expensive high heel? I won’t mind. I’ll take that as an invitation to join you in the car."
Evelyn rolled her eyes, though a small, unwilling smile tugged at her lips.
"Fine. No high heel throwing. But if you make one more joke, I’m coming at you at the next red light and kicking your butt myself."
She ended the call and tapped Liam’s shoulder. "Liam, please stop the car."
"Ma’am?" Liam asked, somewhat surprised. But eventually, he stopped the car near the bus stop.
Then he saw the man approaching and went on alert immediately.
"Who is that man if I may... wait, should I...?"
"Relax," Evelyn said dryly. "That man is my friend."
The moment Oscar was right beside the car, she opened the door for him. "Get it!"
Without hesitation, Oscar leaned in and threw himself at her with his arm wide open so he could embrace her firmly.
"Eve! Boy, how I missed you, Eve..." he murmured against her ear.
Liam’s eyes nearly popped out of his head. Every fiber in his muscle tensed. His protective instincts flared so high that he almost jumped out to separate them.
But Evelyn didn’t push the man away; instead, she let him hug her for a brief moment, her expression softening.
When she finally pushed him back a little, her lips curved into a wry smile.
"I missed you, too... but what the hell is this, Oscar? You can’t just appear out of nowhere and give me a heart attack."