CHAPTER 5: CLAIMING WHAT'S MINE

RICHARD

I watch the elevator doors close behind Evelyn. I gave myself ten seconds to remember Thursday night. Her skin under my hands. The sounds she made. The way she looked at me like I was the only thing that mattered.

Then I lock it down and turn back toward my office. Benjamin is waiting for me, leaning against the doorframe with his arms crossed and a knowing smirk on his face.

"Don't start," I tell him as I brush past.

"I didn't say anything."

"You were thinking it."

Benjamin follows me into my office and closes the door. "Want to tell me why you kept the entire executive team waiting for twenty minutes while you had a private conversation with the pretty marketing director?"

"No."

"Come on, Richard. I've known you for fifteen years. I can tell when something's going on."

I pour myself a scotch, even though it is barely noon. "It's complicated."

"It always is with you."

Benjamin watches me with concern.

"This is about more than business, isn't it?"

"I met her before today. At Oasis."

Benjamin's eyebrows shoot up. "You slept with her."

"Yes."

"And now she's your marketing director."

"Yes."

"Richard, that's a disaster waiting to happen."

I know he is right. I know all the reasons I should walk away from Evelyn Hart. She is too young, too complicated, too connected to Anthony. She represents everything I have been avoiding for the past seven years.

But I cannot walk away,I have tried. Spent the entire weekend trying to convince myself that Thursday night was just physical, just a way to scratch an itch.

Then she walked into my conference room this morning, brilliant, beautiful and fierce, and I knew I was lying to myself.

I want her. More than I have wanted anything in years.

"I'm going to see her again," I tell Benjamin.

"Bad idea."

"Probably."

"Richard, think about this. She's twenty years younger than you. She's working for you and she's your mentee's ex-fiancée. This is a mess."

"I know."

"Then why are you doing it?"

I think about Evelyn's face when I made her forget her name. The way she looked at me in the hotel suite, vulnerable and brave at the same time. The intelligence in her eyes during the presentation this morning.

"Because I'm forty-two years old, and I've spent the last seven years buried in work, convincing myself that's enough. And then I met her, and she reminded me what it feels like to actually want something for myself."

Benjamin sighs. "You're going to do this no matter what I say, aren't you?"

"Yes."

"Fine but be careful. That girl has the power to destroy you."

He is not wrong. But maybe that is what I need. Something that matters enough to destroy me.

My phone buzzes. Anthony's name flashes on the screen. I consider ignoring it, but I need to deal with this eventually.

"What is it, Anthony?"

"Mister Westwood, I wanted to follow up on our conversation last week about the Henderson deal."

"I told you I need more time to review the proposal."

"I understand, but the timeline is tight. If we don't move soon, we'll lose the opportunity."

I can hear the desperation in his voice. Anthony has always been too eager, too impatient. I have been trying to teach him patience for two years with limited success.

"Anthony, rushing into a bad deal because you're afraid of missing out is worse than missing the opportunity altogether."

"But..."

"No buts. Send me your revised proposal by Friday. If it's solid, we'll move forward. If not, we walk away."

"Yes, sir."

He sounds defeated. Maybe he will finally learn.

"One more thing," I say before he can hang up. "How well do you know Evelyn Hart?"

There's a long pause.

"Why are you asking about Evelyn?"

"She's heading up a project for me. I was curious about her background."

"Stay away from her." Anthony sounded angry. "She's mine."

"Yours? I thought you were engaged to someone named Sylvia."

Another pause. "How do you know about Sylvia?"

"I make it my business to know about the people I mentor. So let me ask again. What's your relationship with Evelyn Hart?"

"We were engaged. It didn't work out."

"Why not?"

"That's personal."

"Anthony, if you want my continued mentorship, you'll answer the question."

I hear him take a breath. "I made a mistake. I got involved with someone else while I was with Evelyn. She found out and broke things off."

"You cheated on her."

"It's not that simple."

"It never is, is it?" I keep my voice neutral, professional, even though I want to reach through the phone and make him hurt the way he hurt Evelyn. "Let me give you some advice. If you can't be faithful to someone you supposedly love, you're not ready for a serious relationship. Focus on your career. Fix yourself before you try to be with anyone else."

"Yes, sir," he says quietly.

I end the call and throw my phone onto the desk. Benjamin is watching me.

"That sounded tense."

"Anthony cheated on Evelyn. He's the reason I met her Thursday night."

"Oh, this just keeps getting better."

"She was at the bar trying to forget him. I helped her forget."

"And now you're invested."

I do not answer, but I do not need to. Benjamin knows me too well.

"What are you going to do?" he asks.

"I'm going to have dinner with her tonight. And then I'm going to convince her that what we started Thursday night is worth continuing, despite all the very logical reasons she's going to list for why it's a terrible idea."

"You really like her."

"I do."

"More than just physical?"

I consider the question. I could lie, tell him it is just attraction but that would be lying to myself too.

"She's different, Benjamin. She doesn't care about my money or my power. She challenged me in that presentation this morning, pushed back on my questions, made me work for it. Do you know how rare that is?"

"So you're attracted to her brain."

"I'm attracted to all of her. The way she thinks. The way she carries herself. The fire in her eyes when she's passionate about something. The way she..."

"Okay, okay, I get it. You've got it bad."

I smile, surprising myself. I have not felt this way about anyone since my marriage fell apart. Maybe not even then. What I had with Melinda was never this intense nor consuming.

"I need you to do me a favor," I tell Benjamin.

"What kind of favor?"

"I want you to look into Sylvia Monroe. Evelyn's cousin. The one Anthony cheated with."

"Why?"

"Because Evelyn deserves to know what kind of person she is. And because if Sylvia caused her pain, I want to know about it."

Benjamin pulls out his phone and makes a note. "I'll give you my findings tomorrow."

"Thank you."

"Richard, just... be careful, okay? I haven't seen you this invested in someone in years. I don't want to see you get hurt."

"I'll be fine."

"Will you? Because from where I'm standing, you're already in over your head."

Maybe I am. But for the first time in seven years, I do not mind drowning.

The rest of the day drags. I try to focus on work, but my mind keeps drifting to tonight. To Evelyn. To what I am going to say to convince her that this is worth the risk.

At six, I leave the office early and head home. My penthouse in Beverly Hills is too big for one person, but I bought it for the view and privacy.

I shower and change into jeans and a black sweater. I want Evelyn to feel comfortable, not like this is a business meeting.

My phone buzzes at seven thirty. The building concierge letting me know my guest has arrived.

I take a breath. For the first time in longer than I can remember, I am nervous.

The elevator opens directly into my penthouse. Evelyn steps out, and my heart actually stops.

She is wearing a simple green dress that brings out the gold in her eyes. Her hair is down in waves around her shoulders. No heavy makeup, just natural beauty.

"Hi," she says, and I can hear the nerves in her voice too.

"Hi. Come in."

She walks into the living room, taking in the space. "Wow. This is beautiful."

"Thank you. Can I get you something to drink? Wine? Water?"

"Wine would be great."

I pour two glasses of red and hand her one. Our fingers brush and that familiar electricity sparks between us.

"So," Evelyn says, taking a sip. "You wanted to talk."

"I did. I do..but first, I need to know something."

"What?"

"Why did you say yes to coming here tonight? Despite all the logical reasons to stay away, why did you say yes?"

She is quiet for a long moment, looking at the wine in her glass. Then she meets my eyes.

"Because I can't stop thinking about you either."

Something in my chest loosens. I set down my glass and step closer to her.

"Evelyn, I know this is complicated. I know there are a dozen reasons why we should keep this professional. But I'm forty-two years old, and I've learned that life is too short to ignore something real when you find it."

"You think this is real?"

"Don't you?"

She sets down her own glass. "I don't know. We barely know each other."

"Then let's change that. Ask me anything. I'll tell you the truth."

"Okay. Why did you get divorced?"

Direct. I like that about her.

"Because I was married to my work more than I was married to my wife. Melinda wanted someone who would be home for dinner, who would take vacations, who would prioritize family over business. I couldn't be that person. Still can't."

"Do you regret it?"

"I regret hurting her. I don't regret the divorce. We were never right for each other."

"Do you have kids?"

"A daughter. Grace. She's eight. She lives in New York with her mother most of the year, but I see her whenever I can."

Evelyn's expression softens. "You miss her."

"Every day."

"My turn?" she asks.

"Your turn."

"Why me? You could have anyone. Why pursue this when it's so complicated?"

I take her face in my hands, looking into those incredible eyes.

"Because when I'm with you, I feel something I haven't felt in years. You make me want to be better. To try harder. To actually live instead of just exist."

"Richard..."

"I know you're scared. I'm scared too. But I think we could be something amazing if you'll give us a chance."

She closes her eyes, and I can see the war happening inside her. Logic versus desire. Safety versus risk.

When she opens her eyes again, the decision is made.

"Okay."

"Okay?"

"Let's try this. Whatever this is. But we have rules."

"Name them."

"No one can know at work. Complete professionalism when we're in the office."

"Agreed."

"And if this starts affecting my job or your relationship with Anthony, we stop."

I do not like that rule, but I understand it. "Agreed."

"And Richard? I won't be your dirty secret. If this becomes something real, something serious, eventually we go public. I won't hide forever."

"Deal."

She smiles, and it transforms her entire face. "Then we have an agreement, Mister Westwood."

I pull her against me, feeling her body melt into mine. "We do, Miss Hart."

Then I kiss her, and it is even better than I remembered. She tastes like wine and possibility. Her hands slide up into my hair, and I lift her onto the kitchen counter, stepping between her legs.

"What about dinner?" she murmurs against my mouth.

"Later. Right now, I have other plans."

I carry her to my bedroom, and we spend the rest of the night breaking in every rule we just made.

It was worth it.