Chapter 27
Nathan had never seen Evelyn look so peaceful in sleep before.
His gaze lingered on the crescent-shaped nail marks indenting her palms. Had she really clawed at her own skin to stay conscious after being drugged? How had someone as sharp as her fallen into such a trap?
If he hadn't found her tonight... if she hadn't managed to escape... His jaw tightened at the possibilities.
Evelyn's brows suddenly furrowed, her body tensing as tremors ran through her. A nightmare.
"No!" Her scream startled him. "Evelyn?" Nathan leaned closer.
In her dream, Evelyn relived that horrific night six years ago - but this time, the faceless man from her memories had Nathan's voice...
Her eyes flew open to find Nathan's face inches from hers. Instinct took over. "Ahhh!"
"Mr. Goldmann, is everything—" Oliver burst through the door only to freeze at the sight of the bright red handprint blooming across Nathan's cheek. He executed a perfect about-face. "I saw nothing!"
The door clicked shut with finality.
Evelyn blinked up at the storm clouds gathering in Nathan's expression. "Haha... you startled me! I thought you were some creep trying to—"
Nathan touched his throbbing cheek. "This is my thanks for rescuing you?"
"That was pure reflex!" Evelyn protested, then tilted her chin up defiantly. "Want to slap me back? Even steven?"
Nathan decided he preferred her unconscious.
"What were you doing at that karaoke bar?" he demanded.
Evelyn's smile turned saccharine. "Would you believe me if I said charity work?"
She flopped back onto the pillows with a dismissive wave. "I'm going back to sleep. You can see yourself out."
Nathan's fingers twitched with the urge to throttle her.
He'd carried her to safety, waited at her bedside, and this was the gratitude he received?
Storming out, he nearly collided with Oliver, who was studiously examining the ceiling. "Take her home when she wakes," Nathan bit out.
Oliver's mouth opened and closed like a fish.
Meanwhile, Vivian staggered from the karaoke bar's back entrance, her dress torn, her makeup smeared. "Evelyn, you bitch!" she hissed. If Evelyn hadn't escaped, Vivian wouldn't have ended up in Victor Baldwin's groping hands!
This wasn't over.
When Evelyn awoke again at 10 PM, she found Oliver perched stiffly on a hallway chair. "You're still here?"
Oliver rose with the enthusiasm of a condemned man. "Mr. Goldmann insisted I drive you home."
He braced for gushing gratitude—after all, Nathan Goldmann didn't arrange transportation for just anyone.
"Alright then. Let's go." Evelyn breezed past him as if he were a taxi hailed on the street.
Oliver sighed. Just another day in the life of Nathan Goldmann's long-suffering assistant.
The drive passed in silence until they reached an all-too-familiar gated community. Oliver's eyebrows climbed as Evelyn tossed two crumpled bills onto the seat. "For your trouble."
He picked up the mangled currency—barely enough for a coffee. "This is a Bentley!" he sputtered to the empty car. "And I'm not Uber!"
His eyes widened further at the security guard's greeting. "Miss Vanderbilt! Welcome back to Seaview Villas."
Wait—Evelyn Vanderbilt lived here too?