Chapter Nineteen: Nothing But A Distraction

Evelyn's POV 

The hallway outside was empty and for reasons I couldn’t quite explain, the applause felt hollow without him there to witness it. 

I nodded politely to the board, took my seat, and tried to push the thought of him out of my mind. But his absence lingered like an unfinished sentence, leaving me with more questions than answers. 

Why did he leave? Why was he watching in the first place?

I had to find him and ask these questions myself. “Can I leave, Dad?” I excused myself. “I need to take a tour of the company but I’ll be back shortly,” I added, hoping to avoid further questions.

He nodded, a proud smile lingering on his face. “Take your time. You earned it.”

With that, I made my way out of the conference room and into the long, well-lit hallways of the building. The offices were bustling with activity, the sound of keyboards clacking and low murmurs creating a rhythm that filled the air. I wandered aimlessly for a while, my eyes scanning each corner for any sign of him.

As I approached the front desk, the receptionist greeted me with a polite smile.

“Excuse me,” I said, leaning slightly over the counter. “Have you seen Mr. Leonard recently? He left the meeting a while ago.”

The man straightened, his professional demeanor unwavering. “Yes, ma’am. Mr. Leonard stepped outside a few minutes ago. He mentioned needing some fresh air.”

“Thank you.” I offered a quick nod before heading toward the main entrance.

The moment I stepped outside, the warm breeze hit my face, carrying with it the faint scent of freshly mowed grass. The company’s compound was expansive, with meticulously landscaped gardens and rows of sleek cars parked in the driveway.

I walked slowly, scanning the area for any sign of Leonard. Just as I was nearing the end of the driveway, a sharp whistle caught my attention.

Turning toward the sound, I spotted him leaning casually against the backside of his car, his arms crossed over his chest. He was the picture of ease, his suit jacket off and his tie slightly loosened.

“Looking for someone?” he asked, a teasing grin tugging at the corners of his lips.

I approached him, stopping a few feet away. “As a matter of fact, I was. Why are you here?” I asked, almost demanding. 

“Just getting some air. Inside had a lot of light,”

“Very funny,” I chirped in with sarcasm. 

He smiled, knowing he couldn't fool me with that. 

“For real though, why’d you leave during the presentation?”

Leonard shrugged, the grin still firmly in place. “Well, two reasons. One, because my job was done.”

I raised an eyebrow, crossing my arms. “Your job? And two?”

“Two, you were looking too irresistible. I could have rushed in and kidnapped you for real this time.” 

I laughed, a little loud but composed enough to keep my distance. 

He pushed off the car, standing tall as he met my gaze. “You needed a little push to get through that presentation, and I gave it to you. Once you found your rhythm, there was no need for me to hang around. Besides,” he added with a smirk, “I’m not a fan of standing still for too long.”

“You're standing now though.” I threw in to see his reaction. 

“I sat for a bit first.” he carried it along and we stopped talking, staring at each other for a while. 

I couldn’t help but smile, his nonchalance oddly endearing. “Well, thank you. Whatever you did—it helped. I don’t think I would’ve made it without your...thumbs-up.”

He chuckled, a deep, rich sound that made my chest feel lighter. “It was nothing. You were brilliant up there. The board couldn’t take their eyes off you.”

I felt a faint blush creep up my neck and looked away, pretending to focus on the distant skyline. “Still, I appreciate it.”

Leonard tilted his head, studying me for a moment before he spoke again. “How about we celebrate? There’s a great pizza place not too far from here.”

“Pizza?” I laughed softly, surprised by the suggestion.

“Best in the city,” he said with a wink. “Unless you have other plans?”

I shook my head. “No plans. Pizza sounds perfect.”

He smiled and gestured toward the passenger side of his car. “Hop in.”

Just as I reached for the door handle, my phone buzzed in my pocket. I pulled it out, glancing at the screen. Caleb’s name flashed across the display, and my stomach sank.

“Who’s that?” Leonard asked, his tone casual but his eyes sharp.

I hesitated, my thumb hovering over the ‘decline’ button. “It’s...Caleb.”

Leonard’s expression didn’t change, but there was an almost imperceptible shift in his posture.

“You should pick up, Eve,” 

“Yeah, I already planned to.” I lied. 

I sighed and answered the call, keeping my voice low. “Caleb, this really isn’t a good time—”

“Evelyn, wait!” he interrupted, his voice rushed. “I just wanted to say I’m sorry I couldn’t make it to your presentation. I had some things come up, but I’m in the city now. I’m actually on my way to the company to see you.”

“In the city? You traveled all the way here?” I asked, surprised at his efforts. Totally uncalled for, though. 

“Yes, I was serious when I said I'll do anything to earn back your trust and fix ourselves.”

My grip on the phone tightened, and I glanced at Leonard, who was watching me with quiet curiosity. “Caleb, I—”

“I’ll be there soon,” Caleb continued, his tone almost pleading. “I really want to talk to you.”

Before I could respond, the line went dead. I stared at the phone for a moment. What was I going to do now? 

Caleb's coming here was never a part of my thoughts and I didn't see where I could fix him. Maybe there was no need to worry at all. 

Leonard’s voice broke through my thoughts. “Everything okay?”

I slipped the phone back into my pocket and forced a smile. “Yeah. He says he's coming to meet us here. I don't see the necessity though.”

His gaze lingered on me for a moment longer, as if he could see through my façade. But he didn’t press further. 

Instead, he opened the car door for me. “Well, let’s get that pizza before the day gets any more complicated.”