Chapter 24

Evelyn tapped her pen against her lips, lost in thought. The blank page before her mocked her creative block.

"Zoe."

Vivian stood at the doorway, her expression unreadable.

Evelyn set the pen down with a sigh. "No audience here. Drop the sweet act. It's making me sick."

Normally, Vivian would have fired back with a sharp retort. But today, she remained eerily composed. "I'm not here to argue. I know you're the business expert between us."

She placed a folder on the table. "You're aware of Viana Jewelry's current dilemma. There's a client willing to sponsor us. Join me tonight to negotiate the terms."

Evelyn flipped through the contract, her lips curling into a smirk. "Fine. I'll go."

"See you then." Vivian turned away, her eyes glinting with something cold.

Evelyn studied the contract more closely, her brow lifting. She was curious about the kind of client Vivian had chosen.

At Blackgold Group’s headquarters, Nathan stood before the floor-to-ceiling windows, his dark gaze fixed on the city below. He twisted the black ring on his finger absently.

Oliver stepped into the office. "Mr. Goldmann, the background check on Miss Evelyn Vanderbilt came up empty. It’s as if someone deliberately erased her records."

Nathan turned slightly. "A data lock?"

Oliver nodded. "Exactly. Only a handful at Luxe know that Zara, the famous designer, is actually Evelyn Vanderbilt. They confirmed it after seeing her photos."

He hesitated. "But... we still couldn’t verify if she gave birth in Stoslo. No hospital records matched."

Nathan said nothing.

The children bore the Vanderbilt name. And the only Vanderbilt he had ever been with was Vivian.

Oliver cleared his throat. "You seem... unusually interested in Miss Evelyn."

Nathan’s gaze sharpened. "Are you looking for a transfer to the Arctic?"

Oliver paled. "N-No, sir. I’ll get back to work."

He had no desire to join his brother, Harrison, counting polar bears in the tundra.

That night, at a high-end karaoke lounge—

Evelyn followed Vivian into a private suite. Victor Baldwin rose when he saw them, his eyes lighting up. "Ah, you’ve arrived!"

Vivian smiled sweetly. "Mr. Baldwin, this is my sister, Evelyn. Traffic was terrible—I hope we didn’t keep you waiting."

She settled beside him, while Victor’s gaze raked over Evelyn.

Six years had only made her more breathtaking.

That figure. That face. She was perfection.

Hunger coiled in his gut.

Vivian clenched her teeth as Victor ogled Evelyn like a starving man at a feast.

Evelyn was a walking temptation.

"Miss Vanderbilt," Victor extended his hand, grinning. "We’ve met before. I’m an old friend of your father’s."

Evelyn shook his hand briefly, her touch cool. "Pleasure."

Victor didn’t let go.

She yanked her hand free and took a seat across from him. "So. You’re interested in sponsoring Viana Jewelry?"