Chapter 75

The morning sun streamed through the dining room windows as Evelyn sat across from Dominic at breakfast. The silence between them was thick enough to cut with a butter knife. She picked at her scrambled eggs while he methodically ate his cereal.

"Thanks for retrieving my phone last night," Evelyn finally broke the silence, her voice barely above a whisper.

Dominic's jaw tightened before he spoke. "I should apologize for my mother's behavior." His deep voice carried an unfamiliar note of remorse.

Evelyn's cheeks flushed pink. "You didn't slap me. Why are you apologizing?"

"No one should ever lay hands on you," Dominic said stiffly, his fingers tightening around his milk glass. "If anyone dared touch your face—"

Before he could finish, Evelyn reached across the table. Her fingertips brushed against his clean-shaven cheek, the contact sending an electric current up her arm. His skin was unexpectedly soft beneath her touch.

Dominic froze, his dark eyes burning with intensity. She watched his Adam's apple bob as he swallowed hard, the glass trembling slightly in his grasp.

"There. Now we're even," Evelyn murmured, withdrawing her hand quickly. She focused on her teacup, willing her racing heartbeat to slow. The fingers that had touched him still tingled strangely.

Finishing her breakfast in record time, she retreated to her bedroom.

The bruise on her cheek had faded to a faint yellow, easily concealed with light makeup. After a week cooped up in the mansion, Evelyn couldn't postpone work any longer. Thornfield Industries had been calling daily, and Veritas Capital kept sending urgent inquiries.

When she emerged dressed for the office, Dominic had already left.

"Shall I call the car for you, Mrs. Blackwood?" Mrs. Wilkins asked, already reaching for the house phone.

Evelyn was waiting by the grand entrance when her phone buzzed.

"Miss Thorne, do you have time today?" Lucas Grant's cheerful voice came through the speaker. "I need a favor."

"What kind of favor?" Evelyn frowned at the unexpected request. "I'm not sure how I can help."

"Trust me, you're perfect for this," Lucas insisted. "Are you home? I'll swing by and explain in person."

Thirty minutes later, Evelyn slid into the passenger seat of a white luxury sedan - identical to Dominic's except for the color.

"No office for you today, Mr. Grant?" she asked, buckling her seatbelt.

Lucas flashed a roguish grin. "Perks of being CFO. We need your expertise for a special project."

"'We'?" Evelyn arched an eyebrow.

"The executive team. Dominic's birthday is coming up," Lucas explained as he merged onto the highway. "We're hopeless at gift ideas. That's where you come in."

Evelyn's stomach dropped. "When exactly is his birthday?"

Lucas burst out laughing. "You really don't know? Poor Dominic. Bianca would kill to have this information."

Heat flooded Evelyn's face. "I've been... preoccupied."

"Between Thornfield's troubles and your thesis, I'm sure you're busier than Dominic himself," Lucas teased good-naturedly. "But seriously, you must know what he likes."

Evelyn bit her lip. "I'm afraid I'll be useless here."

"Nonsense," Lucas said as they pulled into the city's most exclusive shopping district. "Since he's never accepted gifts from us before, we figured you could accept on his behalf."

The department store's jewelry section glittered under spotlights. Evelyn hesitated. "Jewelry? I've never seen him wear any..."

Lucas shrugged. "First time for everything."