Chapter 572

The elevator ascended swiftly to the penthouse. Evelyn Sinclair strode back into her office with purposeful steps.

Bennett entered moments later with a progress report. His eyes narrowed with concern when he noticed Evelyn's flushed cheeks. "Ms. Sinclair, are you feeling unwell? Should I call Dr. Whitmore?"

Evelyn's expression hardened imperceptibly. "That won't be necessary." Her voice carried its usual cool authority.

She quickly reviewed the documents before signing with a flourish. "Push legal to finalize the acquisition terms with Kingsley Tech immediately. No concessions on our terms."

Bennett blinked in surprise. This was the first time she'd issued such an uncompromising directive. "Understood."

He didn't question further, heading straight to legal to relay Evelyn's orders. Given Kingsley Tech's contractual breaches, they had little bargaining power left.

Her phone vibrated with an incoming call from Dominic Kingsley. "We found Xavier Delmont," he announced without preamble. "Horizon Media cut him off completely after that scandal. The man's practically destitute now. Took quite the beating too, from what I hear."

Evelyn inhaled sharply. "Any leads on who arranged it?"

Dominic chuckled darkly. "Didn't dig too deep. If it traces back to our side, things could get messy. Xavier's keeping his head down now - won't even file a police report. Should we keep him on ice for now?"

"Do what you think best." Evelyn's tone suggested she'd already lost interest.

She ended the call, one thought lingering. Part of her suspected Nathan Blackwood's involvement, but even Xavier wouldn't confirm it.

Perhaps it didn't matter. The arrogant model had gotten exactly what he deserved.

Her phone chimed again - a message from Preston Sinclair. [Dinner tonight? To celebrate the Pacific Heights Project's success.]

Evelyn hesitated only briefly before replying. Preston always presented impeccable reasons she couldn't refuse. [Perfect.]

She arrived at the exclusive restaurant precisely at eight. The establishment boasted complete privacy with its cleverly designed semi-open booths - patrons could neither see nor be seen unless deliberately peering around partitions.

Evelyn noted the intimate ambiance immediately. More suited for romantic trysts than business dinners, with its dim lighting and secluded corners.

Preston had secured a window table where city lights twinkled like scattered diamonds. The soft glow accentuated his aristocratic profile, making him appear almost ethereal.

He rose instantly when she approached, pulling out her chair with practiced grace. "The pastry chef here comes highly recommended. Their chocolate soufflé is particularly exquisite."

The unspoken intimacy of his gesture wasn't lost on Evelyn. She acknowledged it with polite detachment. "Thank you."

Preston's smile remained serene as ever, his demeanor that of a man completely at ease. "Dominic Kingsley came crawling to my hotel yesterday. Full of apologies and empty promises. He practically begged me to intercede with you." His eyes gleamed with quiet amusement. "I suppose I have you to thank for that."

Evelyn's lips curved slightly. "Merely protecting our interests. Sterling Enterprises recommended Kingsley Tech for this collaboration. If they jeopardize the timeline, we'll replace them without hesitation."

Preston's eyebrows lifted fractionally at her ruthlessness before comprehension dawned. He'd done his due diligence on Kingsley Tech's shareholders.

Her severity, he realized, was directed at one particular investor.