Missing phone

Evelyn’s POV

“What do you mean?” I typed quickly on my iPad, the words glaring up at me as I held it out toward him.

Samuel grinned, his eyes sparkling with mischief as he turned to Louis. “I’m serious. I got the position—I’m officially his manager now. Which means,” he said with a wink, “I work under you, sir. And guess what? You can’t fire me.”

My stomach twisted.

Louis stepped forward, his expression unreadable, yet the tension around his jawline betrayed the storm brewing beneath the surface. His hand reached toward Samuel’s suit, and I froze. Was he really about to punch him?

But no. In a move that completely threw me off, he simply adjusted Samuel’s lapel with a calm, composed hand.

“Welcome to the company,” Louis said coolly. “Let’s keep this professional. No dating among employees.”

Samuel smirked. “I know exactly what you’re trying to do. But I read every clause before I signed, and nowhere did it say dating was prohibited. So—are you changing the rules now just because of me?”

Their eyes locked. A silent war. Sparks of rivalry and unspoken history flaring between them like a hidden fire, barely contained.

Sensing the tension spiraling out of control, I jumped in, shoving my iPad in front of Louis’s face.

“Sir, you have a meeting now.”

He blinked, then sighed. “Right. Let’s go.”

But just as I turned to follow him, Samuel gently took hold of my hand. His grip wasn’t forceful—it was desperate.

“You don’t have to go with him,” he said softly, eyes pleading. “I need help. Please… help me.”

Before I could respond, Louis’s voice thundered, “Come along now!”

He yanked me away from Samuel, and we stepped into the elevator. The doors closed behind us with a metallic clink that sounded too much like a trap.

“You’re happy now, aren’t you?” Louis growled, suddenly slamming his fist against the elevator wall, the sound echoing in the confined space.

I flinched instinctively.

“You planned this! You’re smiling inside, seeing your little lover working here, right? What the hell, Evelyn? Why do you keep doing this to me?”

His eyes were wild with rage, his breaths ragged. He pulled out his phone and barked into it, “There’s a new hire. Find out everything about him. I want him gone. I don’t care how. He doesn’t last here more than a day.”

He ended the call and turned back to me, his eyes like burning coals.

“Let’s see who wins—me or you. I swear to God, I’ll make sure your boyfriend doesn’t survive a week in this company.”

My hands trembled as I furiously typed on my iPad, then shoved it at him.

“You won’t. Even if you try, I’ll protect him. I’ll make sure he stays here… for a very, very long time.”

He read it. Then scoffed.

“That’s who he is to you?” His voice cracked, full of wounded pride. “You’d choose him over me?”

Yes. One million times.

I typed the words boldly, holding the screen up to his face. His eyes darkened as he read it, jaw tightening to the point it looked painful.

He stepped closer, and my heart betrayed me—racing stupidly, confused. Was he an enemy or… something else? I hated how close he was, how warm his breath felt on my cheek.

“We’ll see about that,” he whispered in my ear, his voice low and threatening.

The elevator doors opened.

Several employees stood outside but didn’t step in, intimidated by Louis’s presence. They bowed stiffly, murmuring greetings as he walked out. I followed behind him, only to hear a cruel whisper that stopped me in my tracks.

“She’s trying to seduce him. Big slut. Mute but cunning.”

I froze. The words stung, burrowing into my heart like poisoned thorns.

None of them knew the truth—we were married. We shared a house. Yet here they were, judging me like I was trash.

“What did you just say?” Louis’s voice sliced through the hallway like a blade.

The women’s faces drained of color. “W-We didn’t say anything, sir…”

“If you can’t say it in front of her, then don’t say it behind her back,” he said coldly. “And you’re both fired. Pack your things and leave—now.”

They dropped to the floor, grabbing at his legs, sobbing and begging, “Please, sir, we’re sorry!”

But Louis didn’t flinch. He walked away without a second glance. I followed, heart pounding with confusion and… something else.

Why did he defend me? Why was he always sending mixed signals?

“Evelyn.” His voice snapped me out of my thoughts. I looked up. He wasn’t glaring anymore. In fact, this was the first time he called me by my name.

“I didn’t do that for you,” he said quickly. “I just… couldn’t watch them talk like that…”

The door creaked open behind him.

Samuel strolled in. “Sir, your meeting,” he said cheerfully. Then he spotted me, and his face lit up.

“Hey, babe.” He walked over and kissed me on the lips.

Louis’s jaw clenched so tight it looked like it might break.

“Cut it out! Have some respect—I’m your boss!” he snapped.

Samuel tilted his head, amused. “I’ve been watching you. You’re jealous, aren’t you? But why? Who is she to you? I did some digging, and you’re married, right? So why are you so bothered about my girlfriend?”

Louis’s brows lifted. “Married? And who told you I’m married?”

Samuel gestured vaguely. “It’s known. You’re married to the daughter of the chairman of Bricks Inc. No one’s seen her though. Honestly, I’m confused. You told me that day she was your wife. So which is it?”

I held my breath.

He didn’t know. No one did. Louis made sure no one ever found out it was me. To the world, I wasn’t his wife. I was a disgrace. A puppet in a deal my father struck to cover his own losses.

Louis scoffed. “Do you really think you know your lover that well?”

“I do,” Samuel insisted.

Louis’s smirk deepened. “You’re sure?”

Samuel nodded firmly. “Yes.”

“Well,” Louis said as he adjusted his suit, “just don’t believe everything you see.”

He clapped Samuel on the shoulder and left the room without looking back.

As soon as the door shut, I pulled Samuel aside, dragging him to a quiet corner.

“You’re doing too much.” I typed angrily and pushed the screen in his face.

Before he could respond, my phone vibrated in my pocket.

A familiar chill crawled up my spine.

The blackmailer.

My fingers trembled as I answered.

A cold, distorted voice echoed through the receiver.

“Come to your place. Now. We need to talk.”

And just like that, my heart dropped.