Chapter 10
Four months had passed since Evelyn started working for Black Estates. It had now become the most prolific company of America. It's productivity and value in the share market was unbeatable. All the other industries were gradually declining as it had emerged as the top-notch company of America where everyone was dying to work.
Dylan was now a high-flier. He was being called 'whiz kid' of the business industry. Everyone was impressed with his intellectual and canny business tactics. Clients from all over the world were clashing with each other to work with his company. Everyone desired to 'go for the gold' as Black Estates had become the Growth Company of America. The Blacks were now seen as one of the most affluent people of America.
Dylan was slowly becoming too ruthless and inhuman. He had started using dirty business tactics in order to make the manager of other companies lick his shoes if they wanted to work with him. He would ask them a prodigious amount for making any deal with Black Estates and if they didn't agree he would slowly make them bankrupt by accusing them of fraud as he had become obsessive about his wealth and success.
But the main person who was behind his achievement was slowly sinking away in darkness.
Dylan used to make Evelyn work day and night. She slept for wee hours because of which her health was gradually ebbing. Maria was too much worried about her but that hubris beast doesn’t even care about it as he was busy in raising his Empire.
Evelyn had become too skinny and pale. Leon and Lily were worried for her so they used to steal away her files quietly and complete them themselves. Then they merged them between her files when she was about to submit them to Rose. She was oblivious to all this. But the main reason which was really troubling everyone was her silence.
Evelyn haven't spoken a word since the last few months. She just used to nod her head at every order like a robot. Rose used to purposely make some comments in order to get her reply but she always failed. Everyone in the office wanted to talk to her but they feared Sophia as she was Dylan's personal secretary.
At Black Estates
10:30 a.m.
Evelyn was walking towards her cabin after submitting the bills of a company which had invested a huge amount in Black Estates to Rose. They were opening a deluxe mall in New York for which they needed the help of Black Estates. Dylan had agreed on this condition by asking them a humongous amount of 80 million dollars. The manager of that company was about to go in a coma but somehow got saved when Dylan told him that they can pay the money it in instalments. The manager sighed in relief but his happiness lasted for only a nanosecond when the very next moment the heartless billionaire said that if they fails to pay him within the due period, he would take over his entire company.
Evelyn was descending the stairs when suddenly she tripped over the steps. She closed her eyes ready to feel the impact but she fell in someone's arms. Evelyn opened her eyes slowly and saw a handsome guy with blonde hair, sharp jawline and fair tone was staring her. Her heart started beating faster as she was awestruck by this handsome prince who kept holding her in his arms tightly.
"Xander"
Suddenly a deep voice pulled them out of their trance. Evelyn quickly stood up and looked at Dylan. But he was glaring at her.
‘Why?’
Dylan's P.O.V.
I was heading towards the conference hall. Today I had meeting with Xander Knights, CEO of Knight Estates. He was my friend and business partner. We both along with another friend were planning of starting a joint venture.
Suddenly my eyes landed on Evelyn.
But...
She was in the arms of Xander.
My blood started boiling in anger as I saw how they both were staring at each other in admiration. I curled my fists in a ball tightly as I saw how he was holding her in his arms.
‘What the fuck is going on here’
I cleared my throat a little but they didn't even budge. My jaw clenched as I saw how Evelyn was lost in his eyes unaware of her surroundings. I then approached them and spoke in a deep voice so as to pull out these lovebirds from their fit.
“Xander”
They both looked in my direction. Evelyn quickly maintained her composure and looked at me. I glared her.
“Dylan, where were you?” He asked casually while putting his hands in the pockets.
“What do you mean where was I? Obviously, I will be in my office.” I spoke in an annoyed tone while walking towards him. Evelyn quickly bowed to me and started walking away.
“Hey wait!”
His voice made Eve halt in her steps. She turned around. I looked at Xander angrily. He then smirked and started walking towards her. Eve became anxious and started fidgeting her fingers. It's a habit of her whenever she becomes nervous.
“What's your name?” Xander asked her while smirking.
“Evelyn”
She looked at me. Xander nodded his head.
“What is your designation?”
Eve again opened her mouth to speak but I immediately cut her off.
“She is just an employee here and she has lots of work to do. So, you may leave.”
I spoke in a stern voice while glaring at Evelyn. She just nodded her head and was about to leave but Xander quickly held her wrist.
“Can't you speak?”, Xander mocked her. Evelyn looked at him but I immediately jerked his hands away pulling her towards myself.
“Xander, behave yourself. Don't bother her.”, I spoke in a raging tone as he was slowly getting on my nerves. He became confounded by my words.
“What am I doing? I was just-“
“Go Evelyn.”
I spoke in a hoarse voice still glaring at him. Evelyn then removed her hands from my grip. I turned my gaze towards her but she just walked away. I kept staring at her leaving figure.
"Beautiful"
My gaze immediately turned dark. I turned around and glared at Xander but he was looking at her direction.
“Xander!”
“Dylan, who is that girl?”
He asked me while he was still staring at her. I rolled my eyes in annoyance and started walking away.
“Hey! Don't ignore me.”
He chased me like a stupid kid.
Inside the conference room
I barged inside the conference room slamming the door open. Everyone stood up from their seats and bowed to me. But they kept staring at me as my face had turned red with anger. I looked up at them sharply and they immediately averted their gazes down.
Mr. Swift, the Assistant manager got up from his seat and bowed to me.
“Start.”
I spoke without even looking at him.
“Sir, but where is Mr. Knights?”
"Right here"
The door opened revealing Xander.
“You're late.”
Xander tilted his head and plopped down on the chair while sighing loudly.
“Ahh! Actually, a fairy caught my attention.” He snorted. I clenched my jaw and glared at him.
Mr. Swift frowned. “Sir, but where's Mr. Tate?”
“He just got stuck with some work. Don't worry, he'll arrive soon.”
“Yeah, important work with some chic.” I snickered silently.
“Whatever you're saying is absolutely right. But don't you dare say that in front of him.”
I instantly shot him a glare. Xander smiled at me cheekily.
“START!”
I yelled at Mr. Swift making him flinched. Xander also got startled.
“Whoa boy! We're discussing a simple business deal not planning a war.”
He said while putting his hands on his heart calming himself down. Everyone in the room started giggling at his remark. I glared at them making them shut their mouth.
Soon the meeting got started.
End of Dylan’s P.O.V.
~Time skips
1:30 p.m.
“Where's that girl?”
Xander murmured while wandering around in the hallway. His eyes searching for the girl whom he met in the morning. Suddenly Rose bumped into him.
“Oh! I am so sorry.” She quickly apologized.
“It's okay. Well, have you seen Evelyn?”
Rose was taken aback with his words.
“Y-yeah, b-but w-why-“
“REALLY! Tell me where is she? Hurry up.”
Xander shouted excitedly making her flinched.
“She's in the garden-“
But before she could complete her sentence Xander ran away leaving her dumbfounded.
Evelyn was sitting on the ground while staring at the beautiful flowers enjoying the tranquillity of nature. A small smile appeared on her lips as she saw a squirrel running on the verdant grass. She glanced over to her left as she heard some birds chirping. She then broke her bread into small crumbs and dispersed them on the grass. All the birds immediately started pecking it as she watched them silently.
But she didn't know someone was watching her from afar.
Xander was standing behind a tree staring her in amazement as she was busy feeding the birds. He saw the calmness on her face as she kept feeding them bread crumbs while taking a small bite of the sandwich. She was eating happily along with her sweet friends while he kept staring her in awe.
After finishing her lunch Evelyn finally got up. She dusted her skirt and was about to turn when...
"XANDER KNIGHTS!"
Xander got startled as he heard a deep raspy voice calling him from behind. Evelyn turned around. He quickly hid behind the tree. Xander started sweating badly as he was scared of getting caught.
"OYE! POOH!"
“Shut up you bastard.”
Xander murmured angrily as he saw a tall guy with black mullet running towards him. He shook his head stopping him not to come here when suddenly his eyes landed on Evelyn who was standing to his right looking at him confusingly.
“AHHH!!!”
Xander shrieked like a girl and fell down on the ground. Evelyn panicked and started helping him get up when suddenly that guy started laughing loudly pointing his finger at him. Xander glared him.
“BRANDON TATE!!”
He spat in anger but Brandon kept laughing hysterically. Xander then got up and looked at Evelyn who was controlling her smile. Brandon noticed that she was refraining herself from laughing so he started clapping his hands.
“'Humpty Dumpty had a great fall'”
He kept singing while moving his hips to and fro. Evelyn burst into laughter. Xander started chasing Brandon while he kept teasing him.
“COME BACK BEAR!!!”
They both started running around while fighting like children. Evelyn kept laughing as she watched them. They both stopped running and looked at her smiling. She continued laughing when suddenly tears started flowing from her eyes. Brandon and Xander got panicked and ran towards her.
“Hey, what happened?”
Evelyn slid down on the ground. She buried her face in her small hands and started sobbing loudly. Xander got worried and immediately held her shoulders. “What happened? Why are you crying?”
Evelyn slowly calmed down and looked at him with teary-eyes. “Nothing I am just happy.”
They understood that she is hiding something. Brandon wiped her tears with his thumb making her flinched.
“Don't cry. I hate tears.”
Brandon said dramatically making her giggle. Brandon and Xander then made her stand up but Evelyn slowly removed their hands making them frown.
“Sir, you shouldn't talk to me.”
They looked at her in shock.
“Why?”
Xander looked at her with narrowed eyes. Evelyn hesitated at first but then she eventually told them about her punishment. Brandon clenched his fists tightly.
“THAT'S NOT FAIR!” He raged.
“Yes absolutely. But don't worry we'll be your friends from now on.”
Xander spoke in a sweet voice as he extended his right hand forward. Evelyn looked at him nervously. He then took her hands and did a handshake.
“I am Xander Knights.”
Brandon jerked his hands away and shook hands with her.
“Myself Brandon Tate. But you call me Bear.” He spoke as he flashed her his beautiful box smile and made a cute face. Xander look at him with a disgusted face.
“Don't do that, you look terrible.”
Evelyn chuckled and introduced her.
“I am Evelyn.”
“What's your surname?”
Brandon asked her again. Evelyn became stiff by his words. She started fidgeting her fingers as she didn't know Maria's full name.
“Of course, it's Dawson. Don't you remember Aunt Maria's name.”
Evelyn looked at him in shock, “You know her?”
They both nodded.
“We're Dylan's childhood friends.”
Evelyn agape at his response and averted her gaze down. Xander understood that she got scared. He then held her shoulders and looked in her eyes.
“Don't be afraid of us. We would never hurt you just because you're the daughter of Aunt Maria. We respect her as our mother so don't get worried.”
Evelyn smiled at his reply. He smiled back. Brandon again jerked him away and hugged her making her froze. Xander glared him.
“Don't worry my Cutiepie, I don't know about him but your Bear will never leave you.”
“WHAT THE HELL!!”
Brandon smirked. Evelyn chortled and broke the hug.
“Please don't fight.”
Brandon hid behind her and whined. “See Cutiepie, Pooh is yelling at me.”
Xander glared at him, “YOU!”
He slapped his arms. Brandon groaned in pain as he rubbed his arms. Evelyn kept laughing.
"What's are you both doing?"