Chapter 184

"I'm at the Dream Club," Evelyn replied, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. "What's going on?"

"Stay there. I'm coming to get you. Dad told me to pick you up." Nathan ended the call before she could protest.

Evelyn stared at her phone, baffled.

Alexander Prescott sauntered over, amusement dancing in his eyes. "Trouble in paradise?"

She exhaled sharply. "Nathan just called out of nowhere. Said Leonard asked him to pick me up."

Alexander smirked, checking his watch with deliberate nonchalance. "Funny. Forty minutes ago, I texted him saying you were with me. Guess he didn’t take that well."

Evelyn blinked. First, she hadn’t expected Alexander to provoke Nathan behind her back. Second—was Nathan really here because of Leonard, or was it because she was alone with Alexander?

"Hold that thought," Alexander said, pulling out his phone and dialing Nathan’s number. He put it on speaker before Nathan could even greet him.

"Nathan! Seriously? I asked you to cover for me with Leonard, and now you’re swooping in to steal Evelyn?"

A pause. Then Nathan’s voice, clipped and controlled. "I only saw your message after Dad called."

Alexander shot Evelyn a knowing look, his grin widening. "Sure, sure. Listen, why don’t you save yourself the trip? I’ll drop her off at the Grant residence. We can all meet there."

"I’m already on my way," Nathan said, his tone leaving no room for argument. "I have work to finish after this. No time for detours."

Alexander sighed dramatically. "Fine. Your loss."

The line went dead.

Pocketing his phone, Alexander turned to Evelyn with a triumphant glint in his eyes. "You really think he only saw my text after Leonard called?"

Evelyn pressed her lips together, refusing to rise to the bait.

"Ask Leonard when you get home," Alexander suggested, leaning in. "Find out if Nathan’s using him as an excuse—or if he just couldn’t stand the thought of you with me."

Evelyn’s expression remained neutral, but the seed of doubt had been planted.

Less than thirty minutes later, she stepped out of the club and into the parking lot, where Nathan’s sleek black car idled impatiently. She slid into the passenger seat, barely clicking her seatbelt before Nathan accelerated sharply.

"So," Nathan said, his grip tightening on the steering wheel. "How was your little date with Alexander?"

Evelyn’s lips curved into a teasing smile. "Wonderful. He’s charming, comes from an excellent family, and has an incredible physique—"

Nathan’s jaw clenched. "Physique?"