Chapter 555

Dominic Kingsley raised his glass with a practiced smile. "Mr. Blackwood, we've known each other for years. I'd like to formally apologize for my previous... unfortunate choice of words."

Nathan Blackwood remained silent for three heartbeats before picking up his own glass and draining it in one smooth motion.

Dominic chuckled nervously, glancing at Evelyn Sinclair for support.

Evelyn cleared her throat delicately. "Mr. Blackwood isn't one to hold grudges, Dominic. Consider the matter forgotten." This marked the first time she'd directly addressed Nathan all evening.

"Water under the bridge," Nathan replied tersely.

Evelyn tilted her head. "Actually, Dominic, this shows you're the type of man who owns up to mistakes. That takes courage and integrity."

"Is that so?" Nathan's voice could have frozen the wine in their glasses.

Dominic nearly choked on his drink at Evelyn's unexpected compliment, quickly returning to his seat.

Nathan said nothing, but his mind raced. When had Evelyn and Dominic grown so familiar? The way they exchanged glances, the ease between them - it set his teeth on edge.

Throughout dinner, Evelyn pointedly ignored Nathan, her attention fixed on Dominic.

Annoyance flared in Nathan's chest. He signaled the waiter for another drink.

At a nearby table, a newlywed couple exchanged sweet nothings, drawing envious sighs from single guests.

Nathan's gaze snapped to Evelyn, catching her hesitant stare at a plate of shelled prawns. Without thinking, he reached over, selected the largest one, and began meticulously peeling it.

The table assumed Nathan simply enjoyed seafood.

Until he placed the perfectly prepared prawn directly beside Evelyn's lips.

The entire group held their breath.

Nathan leaned close, his words laced with alcohol and something darker. "After last night, this is how you treat me?" Though spoken softly, the implication carried clearly.

Evelyn's fingers tightened around her fork at the reminder. That disastrous evening when Nathan had deliberately sabotaged her meeting. The man was utterly insufferable.

Her icy glare should have frozen him solid. Yet Nathan swore he saw fire in those hazel depths - enough to intoxicate him without a single drop of alcohol.

Evelyn's sudden laugh startled everyone. "One night means nothing, Nathan. Surely a man of your experience understands how these games work?"

Nathan's expression darkened instantly. Dominic visibly regretted ever broaching the subject - the unrequited tension between them was painfully obvious.

The table fell into uncomfortable silence.

Then Nathan surprised them all by laughing. He withdrew the prawn, his obsidian eyes locking onto Evelyn as he lounged back in his chair. "I'm working on changing that."

The humility in his admission shocked everyone.

"Best of luck, Mr. Blackwood!" someone ventured.

"We're rooting for you!" another added.

Nathan's lips quirked, though the alcohol couldn't dull the bitterness twisting in his gut. Evelyn remained infuriatingly composed.

In one fluid motion, he closed the distance between them. "It's the woman who decides," he murmured, offering the prawn again.

Evelyn went rigid. With deliberate calm, she leaned away from both Nathan and the unwanted offering.

Dominic's eyes widened as realization struck. That cryptic social media post Nathan made last week suddenly made sense.

"So... you two are living together?" Dominic blurted.

The table froze.

Nathan hesitated.

All eyes darted between them, waiting for confirmation more reliable than any tabloid.

Evelyn's smile held zero warmth.

Dominic swallowed his congratulatory words.

'I shouldn't have asked,' he mentally kicked himself. 'The tension between them could power Manhattan.'

Fortunately, the moment passed. Conversation gradually resumed.

Later, as the party dispersed, Dominic followed Nathan's associates to settle the bill, leaving Evelyn and Nathan momentarily alone in the private dining room.

Evelyn grabbed her clutch and turned to leave.

"Evelyn." Nathan's voice stopped her cold. The way he said her name, watching her slender frame with undisguised hunger, sent an unwelcome shiver down her spine.

"Do you know the difference between me and Adrian?" he asked suddenly.

Evelyn barely suppressed an eye roll.

Nathan stood, closing the distance between them in three strides. "His wife was his classmate for eight years. Now they're expecting their second child." His voice dropped to a rough whisper, eyes burning into hers. "I don't share."