Evelyn and Jade sat on a cold wooden bench, officially charged with "assault and public disturbance." Across the room, Tanya Banks and Rosie Dan were being escorted out as the "victims," despite the red marks on Tanya's face.
"You're going to rot in a cell for this, Evelyn!" Tanya hissed, her voice echoing in the station. "I'll make sure you get the maximum sentence!"
"Officer," Evelyn said, putting on her most pitiful expression for the young sergeant on duty. "She just threatened me in a police station. Is that even legal?"
The officer sighed, looking at her with a mix of pity and exhaustion. "She's got friends in high places, kid. My hands are tied."
Evelyn slumped. She had a "someone" too, but the thought of calling Michael made her stomach do backflips. She'd rather spend a night in the cell than face the "Thorn Frostbite."
'Thorn International Headquarters'
Dominic Cassian walked into Michael's office and placed a tablet in front of him. In surprise, Michael turned his attention to the video on the screen and his brow furrowed tighter with every second of the video. The room's temperature seemed to drop ten degrees. Without a word, Michael grabbed his coat and headed for the door, his face a mask of anger.
"Evelyn Meyers? Jade Reed? You're free to go."
The cell door swung open and Evelyn blinked in surprise. Who bailed us out? As she stepped out of the station, she saw the answer: a sleek, black Car idling at the curb. Michael was leaning against the door, his silhouette sharp against the twilight.
"Jade, I'm coming home with you tonight," Evelyn whispered, grabbing her friend's sleeve. "Please, just let me hide in your guest room."
"Mrs. Thorn!" Dominic stepped forward, blocking their path with a respectful but firm bow. "Mr. Thorn is waiting. I've already arranged a taxi to take Miss Reed home safely."
"No, I'll send her! I have a scooter!" Evelyn tried to pivot, but the window of the car slid down.
"Get in the car, Evelyn." Michael's voice was like a glacier cracking.
Evelyn immediately released Jade's hand and shuffled toward the car. Jade watched them go, her eyes wide. Is that her husband? He looks like he could buy and sell the entire police force.
Inside the car, the air conditioning was so cold Evelyn started to shiver. She pressed herself against the door, as far from Michael as possible. He sat with his eyes closed, rubbing his temples, the universal sign of a massive headache.
Instead of going home, they pulled up to the Thorn International skyscraper.
"Do I need to carry you out, or can you manage?" Michael asked, opening her door.
Evelyn scrambled out, following him up to the 70th floor. The few secretaries still working stared in shock at the woman in a dusty mall uniform walking behind their untouchable CEO.
Inside his office, Michael sat at his computer and went straight back to work, ignoring her. After thirty minutes of agonizing silence, Evelyn couldn't take it.
"Michael... can I play with your phone?"
He didn't even look up as he slid his device across the desk.
"What's the passcode?"
"1025," he muttered.
1025? Whose birthday is October 25th? Evelyn wondered, but the phone unlocked before she could ask. The wallpaper was a photo of a woman with a dazzling, familiar smile, she was Erica Jone, the international superstar.
Evelyn felt a strange, sharp pang in her chest. He likes her? The 'Iceberg' has a celebrity crush?
She opened his social media and saw that he followed her. She also noticed a deleted chat history with a contact simply named "Erica" Half a month ago. Is that her? His 'hidden' woman?
She quickly switched to her own account to check the damage. The "Horizon Shopping complex Brawl" was the #1 trending topic. The comments were brutal, people had already figured out she was the "disgraced" heiress of the Meyers Group.
She glanced at Michael. He was still typing, his expression unreadable. Is he embarrassed of me? Is that why he's so quiet?
Then she saw a follow-up report: "Watson Group PR claims Tail Watson was 'framed' by a jealous ex-lover."
Evelyn's grip tightened on the phone. Framed? I'll show you framed.
Immediately, a message popped up on the screen.
The message was from the contact named "Erica."
Erica: Michael, are you busy?
Evelyn felt a sharp prick of jealousy. Mich? She looked at the man, who was buried in documents, then back at the phone.
"Michael, your 'Erica' is texting you," she said, her voice dripping with mock sweetness.
"Who?" he asked without looking up.
"Erica. She calls you 'Mich'... the air in here is getting a little acidic, don't you think?"
Michael's pen paused for a fraction of a second. "Ignore it."
Evelyn grinned wickedly. Oh, I'll ignore it alright. She began typing.
Evelyn (as Michael): No, what's up?
Erica: Mich, I miss you. When are you coming back to the city?
Evelyn (as Michael): I miss you too, baby. Coming back soon.
She stifled a giggle, but the woman on the other end was quick.
Erica: Can we video call? I want to see your face.
Evelyn (as Michael): Sure!
Evelyn immediately hit the video icon and aimed the camera straight at Michael's focused, unsuspecting face. Suddenly, the phone was snatched from her hand. Michael disconnected the call before the image could stabilize.
He scrolled through the chat, his expression darkening into a terrifying storm. "Who gave you permission to reply to her?"
"I was bored! Besides, if you don't want people texting you 'baby,' maybe don't keep them in your contacts."
"Evelyn, can you be serious for one second? Do you do anything besides cause trouble and make a mess of things?" Michael's voice was icy. He began typing a quick correction: It wasn't me just now.
Evelyn felt a lump form in her throat. The "stray dog" comment from Tanya was still ringing in her ears, and now Michael was looking at her like she was a nuisance. "It was just a message. You don't have to act like I burned the building down!"
"Dominic! Send her home!" Michael barked into the office intercom.
"I don't need a ride! I'm leaving on my own!" Evelyn stood up, slammed the door close, and stormed out.
By the time she reached the street, the night air had cooled her temper but not her hunger. Her stomach growled loudly. She had no money, no phone (she'd left it at the Complex), and no plan.
A familiar black car pulled up beside her and Dominic rolled down the window. "Mrs Thorn, please, get into the car."
Evelyn ignored him and kept walking. But after a block, she stopped and turned to Dominic with a sudden, brilliant smile. "I'm actually starving. Can you get me something?"
Dominic blinked, caught off guard by the "warmth" of her smile. "Of course, Madam. There's a KFC right there. What would you like?"
"Anything. I'm not picky."
As soon as Dominic disappeared into the restaurant, Evelyn sprinted to the driver's side. The keys were still in the ignition. She threw the car into gear and roared away, leaving a stunned Dominic standing on the sidewalk clutching a bucket of fried chicken.
Evelyn pushed the Maybach to 120 km/h, then 150 km/h. The luxury car was handled like a dream, but the flashing lights in her rearview mirror were less dreamy.
"Attention vehicle L25: Pull over immediately!" the police megaphone blared.
Evelyn's eyes flashed. She shifted gears and floored it, hitting 180 km/h. She treated the city streets like a racetrack, weaving through traffic and pulling a "fake-out" at a major intersection, signaling left but drifting a hard right at the last second. Two police cars collided trying to follow her maneuver.
Finally, she lost them in the dark alleys of the outskirts and pulled up to Jade's apartment at 11:00 PM.
When Evelyn finally got home, She dragged herself to her room, the exhaustion of the day finally outweighing her anger. She showered, dried her hair, and noticed a bag on her vanity. My purse? Dominic must have retrieved it from the mall.
She plugged in her phone and saw a message from Michael.
Michael: I'll be tied up with business for a while. Starting tomorrow, if you want to work, go. If not, stay home. Don't cause any more trouble.
Evelyn bit her lip. He was still angry. She put the phone down without replying and fell into a dreamless sleep.
The Watson Residence
The atmosphere was thick with tension. Joseph Watson had been waiting for Tail and Tanya to return from the police station all night.
"Dad..." Tail muttered, his mouth red and swollen from the "party" Evelyn had arranged for him.
"You fool! How did I raise such a pathetic son like you?" Joseph Watson roared. The company was in shambles, and his wife's blood pressure had spiked so high she was bedridden.
"Uncle Watson, it wasn't Tail's fault," Tanya sobbed, gesturing to the gauze on her face. "It was Evelyn Meyers. She's turned into a psychopath! She drugged Tail and slashed my face with glass!"
Joseph
Joseph Watson froze. "Evelyn? The little girl did this?"
"Yes! And she's married, Dad!" Tail added, his eyes burning with hatred.
"To who?" Joseph Watson frowned. Evelyn wasn't stupid, but she had no family left. If she was this arrogant, her husband had to be someone powerful.
"I couldn't get a name," Tail admitted. "He's not from the local circles."
Joseph Watson sat heavily on the sofa, his eyes narrowing. "Tail, take Tanya to rest. If Evelyn Meyers wants a war, we'll give her one. Tanya, have your father contact the best lawyers tomorrow. We'll sue her for every cent she doesn't have."
As they left, Joseph Watson pulled out a file. Evelyn's father was still "Locked up" and his men were handling the investigators. But Evelyn herself was becoming a variable he hadn't accounted for.
I need to find out who she married, he thought. Know your enemy, win a hundred battles.