Chapter 448

Dominic carefully fastened the emerald necklace around Evelyn's slender neck. "This has a tracking device," he murmured, his fingers lingering on her skin. "Wherever you go, I'll always be able to find you."

Evelyn's fingers brushed against the delicate jewelry, her eyes widening in surprise. She never expected such advanced technology in what appeared to be an ordinary necklace.

Most people would assume only million-dollar jewels came equipped with tracking capabilities. But Evelyn trusted Dominic implicitly - if he said it had a tracker, then it did.

"How does it look?" she asked, twisting to admire the piece in the mirror.

Though newly pregnant, Evelyn still maintained her petite frame. At this moment, she glowed with the giddy excitement of a schoolgirl receiving her first love token.

"Perfect," Dominic replied, his gaze warm with admiration. Evelyn was his entire world.

They strolled through the garden for thirty blissful minutes until Evelyn's energy waned. Without hesitation, Dominic swept her into his arms, carrying her all the way back to their luxurious hotel suite.

The five-star accommodations exuded opulence. A massive circular waterbed dominated the room, surrounded by cascading layers of fresh roses. Sheer white curtains added an air of mystery to the romantic setting.

As an architect, Evelyn immediately noticed the impeccable design details. She marveled at how the roses maintained their vibrant freshness indoors, making mental notes for future projects. Every new space offered inspiration to improve her craft.

While Evelyn studied the room's architecture, Dominic met with a mysterious figure in the penthouse suite. "Welcome home," Dominic said, raising his wine glass in greeting.

The clink of crystal echoed through the room as Dominic continued in his signature cool tone, "How does it feel to return to your homeland after all this time?"

A tall, shadowy figure stood silhouetted against the floor-to-ceiling windows. When he turned, the light revealed a startling contrast - one side of his face angelically handsome, the other horrifically scarred from burns.

"Home feels... familiar," Gideon Blackwood rasped in his surprisingly melodic voice, though his expression remained icy. "But the real performance hasn't begun yet."

Dominic lounged casually on the sofa, swirling his wine as he studied Gideon's dour expression. "I didn't go through all that trouble breaking you out just to see that sour face," he remarked with amusement.

Gideon barely glanced at Dominic as he lit a cigarette. "Get to the point. What do you want?"

"You should cut back on those," Dominic said mildly. "Lung cancer isn't pleasant."

Gordan exhaled a plume of smoke with practiced nonchalance. "Haven't you heard? The wicked prosper while the righteous suffer. Your warnings don't apply to someone like me."

Dominic simply smiled. Gideon remained as arrogant and unpredictable as ever.

Despite his youthful appearance, Gideon was anything but ordinary. His greatest asset wasn't wealth, but his extraordinary intellect. As the youngest criminal ever featured on the FBI's Most Wanted list, he'd become legend in law enforcement circles.

A master of disguise and evasion, Gideon could slip through police dragnets with ease. In his most infamous escape, surrounded by armed officers, he'd impersonated an FBI agent so convincingly that he walked right past them.

After abandoning financial fraud, Gideon's reckless lifestyle caught up with him when he impregnated a crime lord's mistress. The enraged mobster disfigured half his face and nearly executed him before Dominic intervened during a business trip abroad.

True to form, Gideon showed no gratitude. Instead, he offered Dominic three favors to repay the debt - after which they'd be even. Dominic, ever the strategist, recognized Gideon's potential value and agreed.

"I have a simple proposition," Dominic said. "Since you're at loose ends, why not join my company? We're expanding into South America - you'd oversee operations there as General Manager."

Gideon took a long drag from his cigarette, irritation flashing across his scarred features. "You know I don't play by corporate rules. If you're looking for a desk jockey, you've got the wrong man. Surely you have another favor in mind, Mr. Blackwood?"

Dominic chuckled. The rumors were true - Gideon chafed at any constraints. But Dominic didn't care about Gideon's eccentricities, only his results.

As Dominic laughed, Gideon studied the enigmatic man before him. Who would guess this composed gentleman was the ruthless "Ice King" of the business world? The title came not from Dominic's demeanor, but from his cutthroat tactics.

Dominic's smile faded as he met Gideon's gaze. "You won't be chained to a desk. No nine-to-five, no corporate bureaucracy. Complete autonomy - work remotely, set your own hours. Just get results. And the compensation will be... substantial."

It was an offer Gideon couldn't refuse - especially when he needed the money.