Chapter 312

Evelyn froze for a heartbeat. Rosalind's question had clearly caught her off guard.

"Okay, I genuinely don't get it."

Rosalind placed her hands on Evelyn's shoulders with an intoxicating smile. "Zoe, I've realized you're my only true friend. You never abandoned me - not when I was being insufferable, not when others set me up. I don't know where I'd be without your help back then."

Evelyn blinked in confusion. "Are you drunk?"

"Must you always be so irritating? Do I look intoxicated to you?" Rosalind wrapped her arms around Evelyn's neck. "Sometimes I envy you. Your father protected you so fiercely growing up that you became this beautifully unjaded woman. Nobody dares give you unnecessary trouble either. Must be nice being the carefree young socialite."

'At least she'll never face the demons I battle daily.'

"When have you ever seen me carefree? You just haven't witnessed my father's dramatic episodes!" Evelyn lowered her voice. "If anything, I'm the envious one. You got to sleep with Bassburgh's most coveted bachelor - a man who's not only devastatingly handsome but absurdly loyal too. Plus three adorable children."

Rosalind chuckled. "Then why don't you find yourself one?"

"Please, as if any woman could replicate your luck in landing someone like Nathan Goldmann."

The phone on the table suddenly vibrated.

Evelyn glimpsed the caller ID flashing "Nate" and gasped.

Rosalind answered, "Nate?"

The deafening club music made Nathan's voice turn icy. "Where are you?"

"At a bar," Rosalind purred. "Care to join me?"

A beat of silence. Then clipped: "Address."

Ten minutes later, Nathan materialized in the club with supernatural speed.

His stormy expression darkened further. "Are you trying to get punished? Coming to a place like-"

Before he could finish, Rosalind launched herself into his arms. Even Nathan seemed startled by the sudden embrace.

She nuzzled his neck with a tipsy smile. "Handsome stranger, I'm done drinking. Take me home?"

'Handsome stranger?'

Nathan's jaw tightened. He tilted her chin up. "Who am I?"

"Nathan Goldmann," she answered with exaggerated clarity.

"Ahem, Mr. Goldmann," Evelyn interjected, grabbing her purse, "I'll leave Zoe in your capable hands." She bolted like a startled rabbit.

Nathan studied the woman in his arms - simultaneously drunk and lucid. "Explain this bar visit."

Rosalind played with his tie. "Needed to drown my sorrows."

His grip tightened. "Clearly you require more thorough... drowning." He scooped her up. "I'll see to it personally at home."

At the Blue Bay villa, Nathan carried her straight to their bedroom. Pinning her against the wall, he claimed her lips in a searing kiss.

Rosalind melted into him as his arms encircled her waist. "Zoe," he growled between kisses, "you belong to me."

The next morning at Blackgold Group...

Evelyn wore a cashmere turtleneck dress accentuated with pearl accessories and sapphire silver ornaments, radiating understated elegance.

As she approached the elevator, a voice called, "Ms. Vanderbilt."

Turning, Evelyn saw Rosalind approaching. Her smile turned guarded. "What a coincidence, Ms. Summers."