Chapter 25: Chapter 25: The aftermath
The familiar deep voice sent a jolt through me, and I finally realised exactly what I was doing, but it was already too late to stop now. I froze in the doorway, my hand still wrapped around the cold metal handle as my eyes darted across the room.
Rhys was standing behind his desk, his sharp features unreadable as he stared at me. Gone was the warmth I’d seen last night. His expression was all business now—cold, controlled, and impossible to read. I couldn’t tell what was running through his mind.
Standing across from him were two men in tailored black suits, the grave expressions on their faces were now replaced with shock as they stared at me.
"Evelyn, what are you doing here?" Rhys’ low voice reached my ears again.
A thousand responses flooded my mind, but none made it past my lips as the words remained stuck in my throat for what seemed like the longest time.
"I—"
"Mdm Hart," one of the men cut in smoothly, his tone clipped but respectful. He pinned me with a glare when he finally realised who I was. "Is there something you would like to say?"
The air thickened with tension, and I swallowed the lump in my throat, my heart pounding ridiculously fast.
"This is all my fault," I said quickly, my voice steadier than I felt. "The article exaggerated what happened. We weren’t on a date at all. The clients just couldn’t make it. Mr Carson had nothing to do with this. If anyone should be held responsible, it’s me."
Both men were now looking at me, shock evident in their wide eyes, and Rhys was no exception.
Except that he looked furious. "Evelyn," he said sharply.
"No." I lifted my chin, my tone filled with finality. "You don’t need to cover for me. I can take full responsibility for what happened. I can talk to the press and clarify."
I turned fully to both men, forcing myself to meet their intense gaze.
"I came here on my own. I applied for this job on my own. And whatever happened last night had nothing to do with Mr Carson," I reiterated, flinching slightly at the look that was cast over his face.
The same man was still looking at me with a raised brow. "Is that so?"
I nodded firmly. "It’s the truth. I can bear the consequences."
A satisfied smirk carved into the man’s face, his blue eyes shining with content. "You are smart, Mdm Hart. I think you know what to do, don’t you?" He asked, a knowing look etched onto his face, and I knew exactly what he was thinking.
My heart sank in that moment, although I knew it was inevitable.
"I’ll leave," I said, my voice barely above a whisper. But just as I turned to leave, a rough voice sliced through the air.
"Who says you are leaving?" I whipped my head back around. Rhys’ eyes caught mine from across the room, anger radiating off every inch of his skin. He stepped around the table, striding towards me with his imposing frame. When he finally stopped in front of me, he was looking down at me, and my breath got caught in my throat. "Did I say you are allowed to leave?"
"I said I am."
"I don’t allow it."
"You cannot control what I do," I shot back, my pulse thundering in my ears.
He let out a huff, but the other man interrupted before he could say anything. "Rhys, what do you think you are doing?"
Rhy’s expression didn’t change as he looked at the man. "What does it look like to you, Thomas?"
The blond man looked between Rhys and me, an incredulous look plastered across his face this time. "You cannot be serious. You are going to let her continue working here?" He asked, as if I was not just standing right here in front of them.
"Do you have a problem with that?"
"This woman is the reason the company’s stock is plummeting right now. Everyone is saying they cannot trust TechHub’s new CEO, and rumours are spreading faster than wildfire. Your reputation, as well as this company’s reputation, is all on the line."
I watched as Rhys’ face darkened, and he took one step towards Thomas. "She has a name, use her name," he demanded through gritted teeth.
"Fine," the man sneered. "Mdm Hart is the reason for the mess the company is in right now."
A low, humourless chuckle left Rhys’ lips. "It’s my fault as much as it is hers. If the board has a problem with this, fire me."
My eyes widened in shock. "Rhys," his name slipped from my lips before I could stop myself. "What are you doing?"
A muscle tic in his jaw. "I know what I am doing."
"Is that what this is?" Thomas drawled, his gaze flickering between Rhys and me. "You’re protecting her? You are risking your job for this woman?"
"I’m protecting one of my employees from baseless accusations. And if that’s going to cost me my job, so be it."
Thomas’s lips curled into a humourless smile, the other man next to him mirroring his expression.
"You cannot be serious. You are ruining your future because of some employee?" The other man spoke up this time.
No, no, no. I’m not letting this happen.
"No one is firing Mr Carson," I finally said, and all eyes were now on me. "If anyone has to leave, it’s going to be me. I will leave."
I turned to Rhys, who seemed furious by my response, but I lowered my voice so that it was soft enough that he was the only one who could hear me. "I’m not letting you lose your job because of me."
I didn’t let him say another word before I spun on my heels and walked out through those heavy wooden doors to be greeted by a dozen pairs of eyes staring back at me. But I ignored them all.
"Evelyn."
I could hear him call for me, yet I didn’t turn back. Instead, I headed straight for my desk, grabbed my bag off my desk, and headed straight for the elevator. But of course, as luck had it, Rhys came bursting in through the closing silver doors.
The doors shut behind him, and now it was just the two of us in this space.
He stalked towards me with narrowed eyes, forcing me back to the cold railing at the back of the elevator. I felt the metal digging into my back as he stood inches away from me, staring down at me.
"What do you think you are doing, Evelyn Hart?"
