Chapter 2

The next morning, I walked into Shaw Group carrying a folder of documents.

The documents were just an excuse. I wanted to see for myself what a man "full of life" looked like.

Ashley Grant, Evelyn's secretary, stopped me outside the CEO's office. She handed me shoe covers, a face mask, and disposable gloves.

"You know the rules, Mr. Brooks," she said apologetically.

Those were Evelyn's rules for me. I wasn't allowed anywhere near her until I'd gone through the entire routine.

I put on the protective gear and walked through three disinfectant stations. A blast of cold mist hit my face, carrying the sharp smell of disinfectant.

I paused outside Evelyn's office. The blinds were open just enough for me to see inside.

Evelyn was sitting comfortably on a young man's lap. He wore a tight black T-shirt, and his bleached blond hair was impossible to miss.

He had a greasy fried chicken drumstick in his hand. Laughing, he lifted the drumstick to Evelyn's lips.

A drop of grease landed on her expensive, custom-made blouse. The stain spread instantly. She loved that blouse. I'd seen her lose her temper over just a wrinkle before.

But this time, she didn't even seem to notice.

She took a bite, then wrapped her lips around his greasy fingers, looking up at him affectionately.

I'd never seen her look at anyone like that before.

"Good?" he teased, his voice dripping with sweetness.

She smiled. "Everything tastes better when you feed me."

My stomach turned. I thought I might be sick.

Once, I spilled some fruit juice on the floor by accident. She made me kneel and scrub every inch for three hours until the marble shone. She said even a tiny spill was unsanitary.

Now she didn't seem to mind another man's saliva or the grease still clinging to her lips. So this was what she meant by "full of life".

I saw red.

I threw the office door open. It slammed into the wall with a loud bang.

Adrian Holt, Evelyn's lover, flinched. The drumstick slipped from his hand and landed on Evelyn's suit pants.

"Oh!"

He rushed to wipe it off, only to smear greasy fingerprints across her pants.

"That scared me," he whined.

Evelyn looked up. Her smile disappeared as soon as she saw me. She made no move to get off Adrian's lap.

"Who let you in?" she snapped. "Do you know how many germs you're carrying? How dare you come in here without disinfecting yourself?"

I pointed at the man behind her, my hands trembling.

"What about him?" I countered. "He's covered in grease. Isn't he filthy too?"

Adrian cocked an eyebrow at me. "Mr. Brooks, please don't blame Ms. Shaw. I insisted on feeding her. She says she loves how full of life I am."

Evelyn leaned closer to him and glared at me. "Ryan Brooks, just look at yourself. Mask. Shoe covers. Gloves. You look like a walking biohazard! Adrian didn't mean anything by it. You, on the other hand, knew exactly what you were doing."

She pointed to the door. "Get out. Don't come back until you've disinfected yourself. You're disgusting!"

A crowd of employees had gathered outside the room. Whispers broke out all around me.

Apparently, I was the filthy one here—not the man with greasy hands whose lap she was sitting on.

I tore off my mask and threw it on the floor.

"You'll regret this, Evelyn."

She let out a cold laugh. "Me? Regret this? For marrying a lifeless bore like you?"

I turned and walked out, their mocking laughter followed me down the hall.