yn's

e than I was comfortable with. I narrowed my eyes, gripping the edge of my glass. I

ll talk," I said, forcin

gh I was the punchline of some private joke. "Suit yours

elt unsettlingly familiar, though I couldn't place it. Maybe it was his confidence-the

e called, his voice slicing t

ing, Mr.

ut before I could dwell on it, my phone buzzed on

rsistent calls were starting to fr

you really nee

nwood," I snapped, cutting him off. "I

ething you n

trated sigh. It wasn't his fault, but I couldn't han

said, and I felt his gaze again, studyi

e of your business?" I shot ba

ed, but the amusement in

y. The company, my father's legacy, the smug faces of Veronica and Alice

?" he said suddenly, breaking the silence. "

e him, ready to unleash my fury. But the look in his eyes stopped

sing anything?" I asked bi

expression unreadable

elf speechless. Who was this man? And why did it feel

l on the counter. "You'll see me again," he said

ring into the crowd. Something about him left me

t the bar. The night air was cool against my flushed s

vving caught my attention. I froze as a sleek bl

uted, my hea

ahead, and the driver stepped out. My

from t

I demanded, m

zed. "You should watc

ious? You ne

ed," he said with a smirk, lea

surface. "Who even are you? Do you just go

furiating look, "said Evelyn Hart, daughter of Char

nt chills down my spine. "

ing. "Because your father's co

e like a freigh

acquiring Hart Industries. In fact, I was just finalizing th

ant, smug stranger-was the reason Veronica and Alice we

company?" I asked, my voi

's a solid investment. Or, at least, it will

ou don't care about the workers, the lega

s," Miss. "Hart," he

ompany isn't just a business to me. It's my famil

," he said, his voi

sed to let them fall. "You're just

s expression unreadabl

ed to?"

into his pocket and pulled out a card. "If you want to save what'

de warring with my desperati

atic smile. "Let's just

car and drove off, leaving me standing there,

ed in bold letters: Alexander K

was now the one holding the fate