CHAPTER 1

"Miss Evelyn? Did you hear a word I just said?" Dr. Patel's voice cut through the haze of Evelyn's thoughts.

Evelyn's eyes snapped back into focus, her fingers unconsciously twisting the frayed edge of her jacket. "Yes, I... I heard. Could you run that by me one more time?"

Dr. Patel leaned forward, his hands clasped on the desk. "We need to discuss Jake's treatment for his Systemic Lupus Erythematosus. If we don't act soon, I'm afraid his condition could deteriorate rapidly. We need to raise more funds for the next phase of treatment."

Evelyn's stomach dropped, her mind racing. "More money? But I've already..." She trailed off, the weight of her brother's illness pressing down on her shoulders.

Ever since the accident that had stolen their parents, Evelyn had become Jake's whole world - sister, caretaker, and provider rolled into one. She'd juggled jobs, from cleaning houses to waitressing. Now, she spent her nights slinging drinks at a bar, all to keep Jake's medical bills at bay. It never seemed to be enough.

Dr. Patel's voice softened. "I know you're doing everything you can, Evelyn. But this is our best option. If we start aggressive treatment now, we might prevent complications that could cost even more down the line."

Evelyn slumped in her chair, running a hand through her tangled hair. "And if I can't come up with the money? What then, Doc? Do we just... give up?"

The silence stretched between them, broken only by the muted beeping of machines.

Dr. Patel cleared his throat. "We'll explore every option available. There are support programs, payment plans... But Evelyn, time is of the essence here."

Evelyn stood abruptly, her chair screeching against the floor. "Just... give me until the end of the month. I'll figure something out. I always do." Her voice hardened. "Can I see him now?"

Dr. Patel nodded with concern."Of course. He's in his usual room."

Evelyn stood and slipped into the busy hospital corridor, her mind racing with ideas.

As she walked, memories flooded back. She saw their old mansion, smelled her mom's perfume and dad's coffee. Little Jake laughed, chasing their dog.

Then, screeching tires. Metal crunching. The world spun, glass shattered. Evelyn touched her temple, remembering how close she'd come to dying that night.

She'd crawled out, terrified and alone. Their comfortable life was gone, leaving a scared teen with a sick kid brother.

Ten years had passed. Ten years of barely getting by, worrying about bills and Jake's health. The life insurance money vanished fast, eaten up by medical costs.

Now, heading to Jake's room, Evelyn faced their reality. Their crappy apartment. Her endless bar shifts, fake-smiling at rude customers.

She thought of her boss, wondering if she could convince him to bump up her pay. It was a long shot, but for Jake, she'd swallow her pride and beg if she had to.

He was all she had left in this world, and she'd be damned if she let anything happen to him.

A glance at her watch jolted her from her reverie. "Shit," she muttered, realizing she was already late for her shift at The Rusty Nail. She sprinted towards the elevator, praying Mr. Garrett would be in a forgiving mood.

Twenty minutes later, Evelyn bursted through the back door of the bar, her breath coming in ragged gasps. She quickly tied on her apron, hoping to slip behind the bar unnoticed.

No such luck.

"Well, well, look who finally decided to grace us with her presence." Mr. Garrett's voice froze her in her tracks.

Evelyn turned, plastering on an apologetic smile. "Mr. Garrett, I'm so sorry. My brother—"

"Save it," he cut her off. "You know the rules, Evelyn. Late is late."

She swallowed hard, steeling herself. It was now or never. "Actually, sir, I wanted to talk to you about that. About my pay."

Mr. Garrett's eyebrows shot up. "Your pay?"

"Yes, sir," Evelyn forged ahead. "I was hoping we could discuss a raise. I've been here for over a year now, and with my brother's medical bills—"

A harsh laugh cut her off. "A raise? You've got some nerve, girl. Coming in late and asking for more money in the same breath."

Evelyn felt her cheeks burn. "Please, Mr. Garrett. I'm a hard worker. You know that. I just need—"

"What you need," Mr. Garrett interrupted, jabbing a finger at her chest, "is to learn your place. Not only are you not getting a raise, but I'm docking your pay for today. Now get out there and do your job before I decide I don't need you at all."

Evelyn stood rooted to the spot with shock. Mr. Garrett's face twisted into a sneer. "What are you waiting for? An engraved invitation? Move!"

She jerked into motion, hurrying towards the bar. As she tied on her apron with shaking hands, Evelyn blinked back hot tears.

How was she going to pay for Jake's treatment now?

***********

Ethan sat at the head of the conference table, his piercing gaze sweeping the room. He took in the expressions of his team and the faces of their potential partners, his fingers drumming a slow rhythm on the wood.

"Gentlemen," Ethan's voice cut through the tension, "I believe we were about to finalize the details of our partnership. Mr. Zhao, do you have any further questions?"

Mr. Zhao, the CEO of a prominent Chinese pharmaceutical company, cleared his throat as he adjusted his tie. "Mr. Maverick, while we are impressed with Maverick Foundation's proposal, we feel we need more time to conduct a thorough risk assessment."

Ethan's jaw clenched. This deal was crucial for the Maverick Foundation's expansion of their medical equipment into the Asian market. Any delay could be costly.

Leaning forward, Ethan spread his hands on the table. "I assure you, Mr. Zhao, our proposal has been meticulously prepared. Every potential risk has been accounted for and mitigated. Perhaps if you could specify your concerns, we could address them immediately."

As Mr. Zhao opened his mouth to respond, buzzes and chimes filled the room. Executives on both sides of the table began reaching for their phones, their eyes widening as they read their screens.

Ethan raised his voice, fighting to maintain control of the room. "Gentlemen, please. We're in the middle of a meeting-"

The conference room door burst open, cutting him off mid-sentence. David, Ethan's secretary, rushed in, his usually organized appearance disheveled.

"Mr. Maverick," David panted. "I'm so sorry to interrupt, but there's something you need to see immediately."

Ethan stood, his chair scraping against the floor. "Mr. Zhao, gentlemen, please excuse me for a moment." He strode out of the room, David hot on his heels.

Once in the hallway, Ethan rounded on his secretary. "This had better be important, David. You just interrupted a multi-million dollar negotiation."

David thrust a tablet into Ethan's hands, his fingers trembling slightly. "It's all over the news, sir. Every major outlet is running the story."

Ethan's eyes darted across the screen, his brow furrowing deeper with each word. His jaw clenched, The tablet trembled in his grip as the bold headline glared back at him:

"ETHAN MAVERICK'S SECRET LIFE: IS THE MAVERICK HEIR GAY?"

The article was a piece of garbage, filled with photos and quotes from "anonymous sources" speculating about Ethan's sexuality. It detailed his lack of public relationships with women, his close working relationship with David, and even included a blurry photo of Ethan standing close to a male colleague at a recent charity event.

"This is ridiculous," Ethan snarled, his grip on the tablet tightening. "How dare they publish this baseless gossip?"

As if on cue, Ethan's phone buzzed violently in his pocket. His father's name flashed on the screen, causing a rare flicker of apprehension to cross his face.

"Father," Ethan answered, his voice carefully controlled.

"I assume you've seen the news." Harrison Maverick's voice was cold. "Do you understand the implications, Ethan? This could affect everything we've worked for."

Ethan's free hand curled into a fist. "It's baseless gossip, nothing more. I'll have our PR team issue a statement—"

"A statement won't be enough," Harrison interrupted. "The foundation's reputation is at stake. Our partners, our investors – they're all watching how we handle this."

"I'm aware of our position, Father," Ethan said, pacing the hallway like a caged lion.

"Are you?" Harrison's tone sharpened. "Then you should also be aware of what's at stake. Look at your brother Lucas. He's engaged to a respectable woman, settling down. Why can't you follow his example?"

Ethan's jaw clenched at the mention of his step-brother.

Harrison continued, "You have three months, Ethan. Find a wife, show us you can be a reliable leader. Or I might have to consider other options for the chairman position. Perhaps someone more... stable."

The line went dead, leaving Ethan standing in stunned silence. His father's words echoed in his mind: "Find a wife." A wave of nausea washed over him as unwelcome memories surfaced.

Flashes of Sophia's betrayal flickered through - her laughter in Central Park, the weight of the engagement ring in his pocket, and finally, the damning documents on his desk. The pain he'd buried for years threatened to resurface. Ethan shook his head, forcing the memories back.

He turned to David, who had been hovering uncertainly nearby.

"Sir, what should we do about the meeting? Mr. Zhao and his team are waiting," David said, clearing his throat.

Ethan's eyes blazed with determination. "We finish the deal. I won't let this tabloid trash derail our plans."

Ethan strode back into the conference room and took his place at the head of the table, ignoring the hushed whispers and glances from the assembled executives.

Mr. Zhao shifted uncomfortably in his chair, his fingersdrumming on the wood. "Mr. Maverick, given the... recent news, we feel it necessary to postpone our decision. You understand, I'm sure. We must consider how any... personal matters might impact our partnership."

Ethan's jaw clenched, his knuckles turning white as he gripped the armrests of his chair. "What exactly are you implying, Mr. Zhao?"

The executives exchanged uneasy glances, their discomfort obvious. One by one, they rose from their seats, muttering excuses and apologies as they filed out of the room. Ethan remained seated, his tie suddenly feeling like a noose around his neck.

As the last person exited, Ethan yanked at his tie, loosening it with a frustrated growl. He turned to David, who hovered uncertainly near the door. "Clear my schedule for the rest of the day."

Without waiting for a response, Ethan stormed out of the room as he needed a drink, desperately.

He snatched his car keys from his pocket as he headed for the parking lot, with no particular destination in mind.