Walking into the lion’s den

Evelyn’s POV

“If our paths cross again... I'll make you regret it.” Lucien's words haunted me. A week had passed, yet they still echoed in my mind. Just like he promised, he returned the gold bangles. After that, there was nothing. No calls. No messages. No second chance.

Every day since then, I'd replayed everything in my head, picking apart every decision, every mistake. If only I had done things differently...

"Evie!" Linda's voice ripped through my thoughts. Before I could react, she shoved me backward. A splash of cold water hit the counter, followed by a loud hiss. I blinked.

The pot holder beside the Bunsen burner had caught fire. My eyes shifted to the frying pan. The sausages were black. Burnt.

"Oh my God..." My voice cracked. "I'm so sorry. I... I wasn't paying attention." My hands trembled so badly I could barely breathe. Then the tears came. "I ruin everything." My knees gave out, and I sank onto the floor. "I can't do anything right." Linda immediately crouched beside me and wrapped her arms around my shoulders.

"Shh... don't say that." But her words couldn't reach me. "So what if you didn't get the deal?" she said gently. "You took your shot, Evie. That's what matters. We'll figure something else out." I wanted to believe her. I really did. But all I could see were my failures piling up, one after another. The revenge I had clung to so desperately wasn't making me stronger. It was breaking me. Even so… I wasn't ready to let it go.

"It hurts, doesn't it?" Linda said softly. "You were so close to getting everything you wanted... and then, just like that, it was taken away." I lowered my gaze, unable to argue.

"You need to go back to work, Evie. Locking yourself inside this house and blaming yourself isn't going to fix anything."

A bitter laugh escaped my lips.

"Work?" I looked at her. "Ever since the media started calling me that devil's fiancée, most of my clients have terminated their contracts."

Linda frowned.

"But what does that have to do with Lucien?"

I let out a humorless laugh.

"I'm a financial advisor, Linda. What company would trust me now? They'll think I'll hand over their financial secrets to him." I shook my head. "To them, I'm just another way for Lucien to get what he wants. Why would anyone risk hiring me?"

The words left a bitter taste in my mouth.

What had I been thinking when I decided to go after Lucien? The man was a walking disaster.

"I'm sorry," Linda whispered, her voice heavy with guilt. "This was my idea." She hugged me a little tighter. I gently pulled away and forced a smile onto my face.

"You were only trying to help. You didn't force me into anything. I made my own choice." For a moment, neither of us spoke. I pushed myself to my feet.

"Let me make us something to eat." Linda grabbed my wrist before I could take another step.

"Oh, absolutely not." She shook her head dramatically. "I'm not giving you another chance to burn this house down." Despite everything, I laughed. A real laugh.

"I'll make breakfast," she declared, standing up. "Why don't you go watch something in the living room?" Linda suggested. "Maybe it'll take your mind off everything for a while."

I gave her a small, grateful smile before walking into the living room.

I grabbed the remote and switched on the television.

Almost immediately, a news anchor's voice filled the room.

"Breaking tonight. Investigators allege that Monarch Holdings may have played a role in the fraud scandal involving Obsidian Global. According to preliminary findings, authorities are reviewing financial records and communications between the two companies to determine whether Monarch Holdings knowingly supported the alleged fraudulent operation. The investigation is ongoing, and no formal charges have been filed." I hissed not another news report. I was about to change the channel when something made me freeze.

Monarch Holdings...

Lucien's company.

"Can we watch something fun for once?" Linda groaned as she walked in, giving me a tray of toasted bread, scrambled eggs, and a steaming cup of tea. I placed it on the coffee table as she settled beside me on the sofa. "I'm tired of watching the news." She added but ut my attention never left the television.

A slow smile spread across my face.

Then it grew wider.

Linda noticed.

"What?" she asked, narrowing her eyes.

I turned to her, barely able to contain my excitement.

"That news..." I said, my pulse quickening. "It's about to change my story." Linda gave me a puzzled look and her smile before explaining further. "Monarch Holdings is in trouble," I said, unable to stop smiling. "If this gets any worse, they could be staring bankruptcy in the face."

Linda blinked at me. "And... why exactly is that good news?" she asked, taking a sip of her tea. "How does any of this concern you?" I grinned.

"Because this is when a financial advisor becomes valuable." I picked up my tray and finally took a bite of my toast. Linda burst into laughter. She laughed so hard she started coughing. When she finally caught her breath, she looked at me like I'd lost my mind.

"You seriously think a company as powerful as Monarch Holdings doesn't already have a financial advisor?"

"Oh, they definitely do." I shrugged. "But judging by what I just heard, whoever's advising them clearly isn't doing a great job. Otherwise, they wouldn't be in this mess." Linda raised an eyebrow.

"And what makes you think Lucien will hire you?" Instead of answering, I simply smiled. A plan was already taking shape in my head. I set my tray on the coffee table and hurried to my room. Everything after that became a blur.

I jumped into the shower, threw on the first professional outfit I could find, and got dressed in record time. Twenty minutes. The fastest I'd ever gotten ready in my life. As I slipped into my heels, I pulled out my phone and booked a ride. If opportunity was knocking…I wasn't about to let someone else answer the door.

"Where are you going?" Linda called after me.

"To get myself a job," I replied, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.

Before she could stop me, I walked out of the house and slipped into the waiting car.

The closer we got to Monarch Holdings, the faster my confidence slipped away.

What was I thinking?

This was Lucien's company.

Showing up uninvited had to be the worst idea I'd ever had. The car slowed to a stop at the security checkpoint. My stomach dropped.

Damn.

I had completely forgotten about security.

There was no way they'd let me in without an appointment.

The security guard approached the car, and I rolled down the window, ready to explain myself. Before I could say a word, he smiled.

"Good afternoon, ma'am. It's good to finally meet you."

Meet me?

I blinked.

"Uh... good afternoon."

He stepped aside and motioned to the guards at the gate.

"Open it."

The gates swung open without another question.

I stared after him, completely bewildered, as the car drove onto the company grounds.

Did he just mistake me for someone else?

The driver stopped in front of the main entrance. I paid the fare, stepped out.

The glass tower loomed over me, its silver Monarch Holdings logo catching the morning sun. This wasn't just another office building. It was Lucien's empire. Every floor, every employee, every decision flowed through him. A knot tightened in my stomach.I still have time to leave. But instead of turning around, I forced my feet forward and walked toward the building.

The moment I entered the lobby, conversations faded.

Heads turned.

People stared.

Some leaned toward each other and whispered behind their hands.

A knot tightened in my stomach.

Instinctively, I glanced down at my outfit.

My blouse was neatly tucked in.

My skirt wasn't wrinkled.

There wasn't a stain or a tear anywhere.

So why was everyone looking at me like that?

Pretending not to notice, I lifted my chin and walked straight toward the receptionist.

"Good morning, ma'am," the receptionist said warmly. "I'll let Mr. Lucien know that his fiancée is here to see him."

She reached for the phone.

My breath caught.

Fiancée.

Of course.

That was why security had let me in. That was why everyone had been staring.

They all thought I was Lucien's fiancée.

A tiny smile tugged at my lips.

For the first time, that ridiculous rumor was actually working in my favor.

Then panic hit me.

If she called him, he'd refuse to see me before I even had the chance to speak.

"Wait!"

The word flew out before I could stop it.

The receptionist paused and looked at me, puzzled.

"I... I want to surprise him," I said, forcing a smile.

Her expression softened instantly.

"How sweet," she said with a knowing grin. "Please, follow me."

I swallowed hard and trailed after her.

The elevator doors slid open on the executive floor.

Every step toward Lucien's office made my heartbeat louder.

This is a terrible idea.

Turn around.

Leave while you still can.

My instincts screamed at me to run.

But my feet refused to listen.

The receptionist stopped outside a pair of towering black doors and knocked twice.

"Come in."

Lucien's deep voice drifted through the door.

The receptionist pushed it open.

"Sir," she said cheerfully, stepping aside, "your fiancée is here to see you."

I stepped into the office.

Lucien slowly lifted his head from the documents on his desk.

The moment our eyes met...

The warmth vanished from his face.