Ch. 11..20

Chapter 11

Back at the hotel, Evelyn was in a daze as she stumbled into her suite. She was relieved when she saw that Maya and Samantha weren't in, meaning they were probably at the playground already. How did this happen? She asked herself.

How did that stranger from six years ago end up to be Derek Stone? What in the name of coincidences was this? What was she supposed to do now about her official assignment? She couldn't stay here. She couldn't keep living in this hotel, especially considering the fact that he owned the place.

What if he ran into her and Samantha? What if he took one look at Samantha and realized she was his daughter? No way. She couldn't let that happen, Evelyn thought, beginning to panic as she picked up her phone and dialed Maya's line.

"Return to the suite with Samantha at once," she ordered, sounding harsher than she meant.

As she paced around her suite, she thought about giving her boss, Susan, a call to inform her that she would not be able to handle the assignment, and as such it should be given to someone else. She paused when she suddenly recalled her last conversation with Susan before she was sent to Ludus.

"The management decided on you and Wes, and to be honest, most of them are leaning towards Wes. But I think you deserve this opportunity. I've seen you put in the work. I've seen your passion for the job. I admire your resilience and drive. And that is why I want to give you a chance to prove yourself to the management," Susan had said.

"How?" Evelyn had asked, wondering what else she could do to prove herself if her work for the past four years wasn't proof enough.

"You will be sent to Ludus on probation. And you have one major task that will determine if you will be promoted to the position of editor-in-chief or not," Susan had stated in simple terms. "What is the task?" Evelyn had asked, her voice and enthusiasm dropping a notch as she leaned forward in her seat.

"We want to feature the elusive billionaire CEO and most eligible bachelor in Ludus, Derek Stone, in our next issue. If you can secure an interview with him and land the cover story, the position in Ludus is yours," Susan had said.

Evelyn sighed now, 'Susan would be so disappointed, she thought, not knowing how to go about telling Susan now that she wasn't up for it.

She wanted the promotion. She needed it. But at what cost? Could she really risk staying here when Derek Stone could so easily discover Samantha's existence?

Was there even a possibility of her convincing him to do the interview?

She looked up when the door opened, and Samantha ran in. "Mommy! You're back early," Samantha said as she embraced her, and she crouched down to look at her daughter.

Looking into her face, she could see the resemblance to Derek, no matter how little.

What was she going to do about this mess? Evelyn mused.

Away from there, after leaving Derek's office, Michael walked into his office and pulled out his phone to update Sandra on his latest accomplishment.

She picked up on the second ring, her voice tinged with curiosity. "What's up? Has she left? Did you find out what she was there for? Did you follow her?" Sandra asked the moment she received the call. She had been worried ever since Mike informed her of Evelyn's return. Although she had not planned for things to play out the way they did six years ago, she had been happy when Evelyn left and had hoped that Evelyn would never return. That way, all that belonged to Evelyn, especially the family magazine, which was Evelyn's birthright, would be here.

"Slow down with the questions. And yes to all your questions. I followed her and found out where she's staying and what she came to do at the company," Michael said before going on to recount his findings for the day, detailing Evelyn's stay at The Stone's Palace Hotel and her purpose at Stone Corp.

Hearing that Evelyn was working with another magazine did little to reassure Sandra. Now that Evelyn was back in the country, she couldn't shake off her insecurity. She feared she might lose her place there if Evelyn decided to return home and make peace with her father.

She had to find a way to make sure Evelyn never got her hand on it ever again. She decided.

"Alright. Let's talk later," she said distractedly, but Michael spoke up again before she could hang up.

"You should know I spoke to Derek about it. I mean inviting him to the anniversary party," he explained, and this time, a smile curled up on Sandra's face at the mention of that.

"You've done well. You are so reliable, Mike. How about we meet after work later so you can tell me all the details in person?" Sandra asked in a suggestive tone, and Michael smiled. "Of course. See you later then," he said before hanging up.

Michael leaned back in his chair, a sense of anticipation mingling with his satisfaction. Meeting Sandra later would allow him to elaborate on his conversation with Derek, and they would plan their next steps. He felt a growing excitement at the thought of their meeting, knowing that together, they could navigate not only the challenges Evelyn might pose but also a way forward in their plan for Derek. As Sandra dropped her phone, she contemplated her next move. First, she was going to try to get Derek to do an exclusive interview with them since it was obvious that Evelyn wanted that.

Next, she was going to find a way to paint Evelyn in a negative light and make her seem even more rebellious than she already was in front of their parents. Doing that should be easy, seeing as Evelyn had chosen to work for a rival magazine, Sandra mused.

If only her mother were like other stepmoms and was not a miss goody two shoes, then it would have been easier to have all that was Evelyn's, but no. Her mother just had to act like a goddamned fucking saint.

 

Chapter 12

During dinner at the Quinn's residence, Sandra decided to bring up Evelyn's return.

"Dad," she started, and both her parents looked at her when they detected the seriousness in her voice.

"Yes, dear?" Eric Quinn responded.

"Is there a problem?" Sandra's mom, Claire, asked, her concern evident in her voice as she stopped eating to look at her daughter. Eric also glanced at Sandra with concern in his eyes.

"Is everything okay?" he asked when Sandra looked at them hesitantly as if she was trying not to say something.

Seeing that she had both their attention, she sighed deeply, "I'm not sure how to bring this up," she said, looking distressed.

"You're not sure how to bring what up? Is there a problem?" Claire asked again, looking even more concerned now.

"Go on and tell us if there is a problem""" Eric urged her.

Sandra sighed deeply as she looked down at her plate, "Has either of you heard from Evelyn? Are you aware that she is back?" she asked, and both her mother and stepfather exchanged glances. "Evelyn is back? How do you know that?" Claire asked in concern while Eric looked at Sandra, waiting for her to answer the question.

"Yes. Michael called to inform me that he ran into her today at Stone Corp," Sandra said and then forced a smile.

"Are you sure about that? Is it possible that Evelyn would have returned but chose to stay away from home?" Claire asked while Eric frowned, not wanting to believe that his daughter was back, and she did not deem it fit to come see them.

None of them had heard a word from her since she left that morning six years ago, and all attempts to locate her had been futile.

Seeing the disapproval on her stepfather's face, Sandra decided to continue, "I was worried too, so I asked Michael to follow her and see where she stayed and what she was up to. She is staying at The Stone Palace.

suppose that means she is only here because her magazine..." she stopped and pressed her lips together as though she had made a slip.

"Her magazine? What magazine?" Her stepfather asked with narrowed eyes.

Sandra bit her lower lip as though she was scared of speaking and causing trouble.

"What magazine?" He insisted, and she wriggled her hands helplessly.

"I wasn't going to say anything until I confirmed, but it seems Evelyn now works for a rival magazine.

Empowered, to be precise. And she visited Stone Corps to ask Derek Stone for an exclusive interview," she said, looking sad and then forced a smile.

"But you don't have to worry, Dad. I'm sure she's only working there for the time being, and she..."

Eric set down his cutlery with a clatter. "First, she embarrassed me by calling off her wedding on the very day of her wedding. And then she left home. Now she is back, and instead of coming home to ask for forgiveness, she is working with my rivals?" Eric asked, his disappointment evident in his voice, and Sandra hid a smirk. This was exactly what she wanted.

"Sandra, what exactly did Michael say? Did he speak with her? Did she say anything to him?" Claire asked, her voice tight with concern.

"She didn't talk to him. He said she completely ignored him." Sandra added, her tone laced with disappointment.

"Poor Michael. I can't believe I raised such a child,"

Eric said with displeasure.

"Honey, you shouldn't be too hasty..." one look from her husband and Claire clamped her lips together.

She believed that Evelyn had reasons for doing what she did six years ago, and she had kept blaming herself for not doing anything to stop her from leaving.

Over the years, she had asked herself if she would have stayed back and watched Sandra leave if it were Sandra and not Evelyn. Now, she believed this was her chance to right her wrong.

She knew that Evelyn was just as stubborn as her father, and when they both set their minds on a path, it was difficult to convince them otherwise. But she was determined to put things right. "Why don't we go see her at the hotel tomorrow? I've missed her so much," Sandra said with a pout.

"Yes. We should go see her, Claire said, turning to her husband, but without saying a word, he pushed away from the table and walked away.

Immediately, Claire followed her husband, and the moment they walked into their bedroom, she looked at him, "I think you hurt her deep if she won't even tell us she's back after six years," Claire said, and Eric glared at her.

"I hurt her? How do you think I felt after she disgraced me in that manner? How could she disappear on the eve of her wedding, return the next morning reeking of male cologne, and decide she's no longer carrying on with the wedding?" Eric asked angrily.

"I understand you, but don't you think you handled it the wrong way? She's still your daughter, and you should have tried to find out why she did that in the first place and not threatened her in that manner. I'm sure her emotions were hurt, and that's why she left the way she did," Claire said. Even though Eric knew that and had been beating himself over it since then, his pride held him back from admitting it. "If she had any tangible reason for calling off the wedding, she should have said so instead of just announcing it to my face like that. If she would rather stay at a hotel than come home to us, then let her be. I have other important things to worry about, Eric said before getting on the bed and turning his back to Claire.

Claire sighed as she watched her husband. No matter what he said, she was determined to see Evelyn and find out what actually happened six years ago.

 

Chapter 13

The next morning, Claire set out for The Stone's Palace Hotel to visit Evelyn, determined to fix things.

The moment she arrived at the reception, she informed them she was there to see her daughter, and the receptionist put a call across to Evelyn to get her permissions As Claire took the elevator up to Evelyn's suite, she thought about Evelyn and how much she had missed her.

Once she reached Evelyn's door, she knocked, and after a moment, the door opened to reveal Evelyn standing there, looking a bit surprised but quite happy to see her. "Evelyn? It's really you," Claire said in surprise, pulling Evelyn into an embrace.

"I couldn't believe it when the receptionist said my Mom was here to see me," Evelyn said, feeling relaxed in Claire's embrace.

Although Sandra had betrayed her and she harbored resentment towards Sandra, Claire had always been a good stepmother, and Evelyn loved her.

After they pulled apart, Claire looked Evelyn over.

"You've changed a lot, Evie," she said, stepping inside when Evelyn held out the door for her to go in.

Evelyn grinned. "It's been six years, after all," Evelyn replied as they settled into the living area of the suite.

"How did you know I was back and staying here?" Evelyn asked curiously, even though a part of her could already tell it was Michael.

"Good news, fly fast," Claire said, and then looked at Evelyn with interest, "Don't tell me you didn't want us to know you were in the country and you weren't planning on coming home," Claire asked, but Evelyn quickly shook her head.

"It's not that. It's just..." her words trailed off when Samantha and Maya walked out of Maya's room.

Samantha, who had wanted to plead with her mother to let her go play at the playground since Evelyn had given strict orders to Maya not to let her step out of their suite, paused when she saw that they had a visitor.

Claire smiled warmly when her eyes and Samantha's connected. And although she wanted to ask who the child was, but since she had stepped out with Maya, Claire naturally assumed the child was Maya's. "Hello, cutie pie! Has anyone told you you look really beautiful?" Claire asked, smiling warmly at Samantha, who returned the smile with a blush.

"Yes, thank you, ma'am. My mommy tells me that every day. You look pretty too, doesn't she, mommy?" Samantha asked, looking up at Evelyn, and then it became clear to Claire who the child belonged to. Evelyn smiled fondly. Although she would have preferred to keep Samantha hidden from her family a bit longer, it was no longer possible. "Yes, she does, pumpkin, and guess what? This beautiful lady here is your grandmother," Evelyn said, confirming Claire's suspicions.

Claire's eyes widened in surprise as she turned to Evelyn. "Evie? Is she your daughter?" she asked, and Evelyn nodded.

"Yes, she is. Her name is Samantha. Sam, say hello to your grandmother," Evelyn said and Claire tried to conceal her surprise and curiosity as she held out her hand to Samantha.

"Hello, Sam. It's so wonderful to meet you," she said, and Samantha beamed happily as she went to her.

"Hi, Grandma!" she said as she began to endlessly ask Claire questions about herself, such as if she had a grandfather too and when she would see him.

As Claire answered Samantha's questions, she, in turn, asked questions of her own. She wanted to know Samantha's age, favorite colors, and favorite food.

Evelyn felt nervous as she watched the interaction.

Now that Claire had seen Samantha, she knew the next conversation would be difficult, but she was grateful for the warm start.

Knowing Claire had probably come to talk to her, Evelyn then dismissed Maya and Samantha.

Immediately after Maya left with Samantha, Claire turned to Evelyn.

"She is five? Evelyn, why didn't you tell us?" Claire asked, her disappointment evident.

"What exactly happened six years ago? Why didn't you tell us about Sam? Did you call off the wedding because of the pregnancy? Or did you find out about it after you left? Is she Michael's?" Claire asked gently, wanting to understand what was going on, but Evelyn shook her head.

"No, she is not Michael's. And I only found out about the pregnancy after I left the country," she said, and Claire nodded.

"Then why did you call off the wedding? And who is her father?" Claire pressed, and Evelyn's expression grew somber.

"Mom, some things are better left in the past. I don't want to dredge up old memories. Let's just say I had my reasons," Evelyn said, and Claire sighed deeply.

"Can't you share your reasons with me?" Claire pleaded, but Evelyn shook her head.

There was no way she was going to tell Claire what Sandra or Michael had done. It would break Claire to know what Sandra had done.

"I'm sorry. I can't," she said simply.

"Then, can you at least tell me who Sam's father is? Are you both married now?" Claire asked, glancing at Evelyn's fingers.

"No. We are not. And I'm sorry I can't tell you who he is either. Is Dad aware that you're here?" Evelyn asked, changing the subject.

"Yes, he is. I'm so sorry your father reacted that way, and I couldn't stop him. He was too disappointed to think straight at the time. We miss you, Eve, we all do, especially Sandra. She felt really bad knowing you were back but didn't reach out to her. Why don't you come back home?" Claire asked, but Evelyn shook her head.

"Thanks, Mom, but I don't think that's a good idea-"

"Why not? We are your family, Evie. We also need to spend time with Sam and get to know her. I know she would want that too, so come home, please?"

Although she knew she wouldn't go home since she wouldn't be able to stand Sandra, Evelyn sighed. "I will think about it," she said, and Claire nodded. "And what is this I hear about you working at Empowered? Are you doing it to spite your father?" Claire asked, and Evelyn smiled.

"I guess Michael found out about that and told you.

No, I'm not doing it to spite him. This is me trying to make a living for myself and my daughter after my father cut me off, Evelyn said, and Claire sighed. "I really hope you both settle your differences, Evie," Claire said, and Evelyn smiled.

"I'm sure we will when the time is right. So, try not to worry too much about us," Evelyn said, and after catching up for some time, Claire decided to leave.

As Evelyn escorted Claire to her car, Claire remembered something. "Lest I forget, we are having a party for our twenty-third wedding anniversary in two weeks. It would mean a lot to me if you could attend whether or not you have decided to move into the house," Claire said, and Evelyn nodded.

"I will keep it in mind," she said, embracing Claire.

As she watched Claire drive off, her mind raced with thoughts.

She had managed to keep Samantha a secret for so long, but with Claire's visit and the potential family gathering, everything seemed on the verge of coming out.

She thought about her work and the fact that Derek, her daughter's father, was also Michael's cousin, and she couldn't help feeling like everything was falling apart for her.

She had thought almost marrying Michael was a mistake, but having sex with a random stranger had been an even bigger mistake, and the thought of it made her feel guilty that she was regretting having Samantha.

Maybe she shouldn't have returned in the first place.

Coming back here was a huge mistake.

 

Chapter 14

After Claire had left, Evelyn sat by her bedroom window, a cup of coffee in hand, still contemplating the best possible course of action for her situation. Samantha played quietly with her toys on the bed, her laughter a comforting background melody to Evelyn's scattered thoughts.

As she sipped from her coffee, lost in thoughts, her phone buzzed, jolting her from her reverie.

She checked the caller ID and her heart skipped a beat when she saw it was Susan. Evelyn took a deep breath before receiving the call.

"Good morning, Ma'am," she greeted trying to sound composed even though she was far from it.

Evelyn's brows drew together in a frown when she heard Susan's happy laugh on the other end of the phone.

"Good morning, Evelyn! How are you? I knew you were indeed the best person for this task," Susan said, her voice resonating with joy.

Confused, Evelyn frowned and asked, "Is everything okay? Did something happen?"

"Of course, something happened and it's thanks to you," Susan said again and Evelyn's frown deepened.

"Me?"

"Yes. In just a day you got Derek Stone to agree to the interview. Isn't that worth celebrating? A feat that so many others couldn't accomplish, yet you did it! I'm so proud of you, Evelyn," Susan said triumphantly and Evelyn's heart skipped a beat.

"What? He agreed? How?" Evelyn asked even though a part of her already knew it was because of their history.

"I should be asking you that. What did you do? What did you say to him?" Susan asked, still sounding very excited.

"What did he say?" Evelyn asked, trying to figure out what was going on and what Derek was thinking.

"Well, he said he would do it, but he gave a condition.

Something pretty simple if you ask me," Susan said, and Evelyn frowned.

"A condition? What kind of condition?"

"He requested that you work with him for a month before the interview. He wants you to understudy him sort of. That wouldn't be a problem for you, right?" Susan asked and Evelyn's grip tightened on her phone.

"Work with him? For a month? Why? Isn't that too much? Maybe Wes should handle this project since I already got him to agree..."

"That's not possible," Susan cut in, her tone turning serious. "Mr Stone specifically requested that it's you who should do it. He said there would be no interview if you don't do it," Susan said and a heavy silence settled between them.

Evelyn felt a mix of dread and frustration building within her. Was it possible for her to work so closely with him for a month without having him learn about her child? His child?

Sensing her reluctance, Susan's voice softened but remained firm. "Evelyn, you know what is at stake, here. I personally recommended you and I won't be happy if you don't go through with this. And you should know that even the management wouldn't be happy with you if we lost this opportunity because you refused to follow through. Remember, if you succeed, the promotion is yours, as promised," Susan reminded her and Evelyn closed her eyes, her mind racing.

She had worked too hard to let this opportunity slip away because of her fear. It was just for a month and as long as they kept things professional, he wouldn't find out about Samantha being his child. No one would know about it as long as she kept it to herself.

"Alright. I will do it," she said and after ending the call,

Evelyn decided to go see Derek in his office.

Even though she had agreed to it, she wanted to know why he would attach such a condition to the interview.

Having decided that she got dressed, her mind a whirlwind of thoughts as she made her way to Stone Corp.

A few minutes later, she was standing in front of Derek's secretary who ushered her in immediately she saw her, saying Derek had been expecting her.

The moment Evelyn stepped inside the office, Derek looked up from his desk, a smug expression on his face.

"Welcome back. I've been expecting you," he said, leaning back in his chair.

Evelyn forced a calm exterior, though inside she was seething. "Why did you attach that condition if you were going to agree to do the interview?" she asked and Derek chuckled as he looked at her, clearly amused by her reaction.

"Isn't it obvious?"

"No, it's not. Please tell me," she said and he grinned.

"For two reasons. First to punish you for forgetting all about me and not even recognizing me," he said and she scoffed.

"Things like that happen. It's been over six years..."

"Yet I took one look at you and I remembered you," he pointed out.

"In case you have forgotten, I wasn't in a clear state of mind when we met..."

"But you were when I made love to you," he said, and her heart skipped a beat.

"You're only being petty, Mr Stone, admit it," she replied, trying to keep her voice steady.

"I don't care," he said, his tone indifferent. "Besides, being petty is not so bad if it gets you here."

"And what's your second reason?" she asked, since he had said he had two reasons.

"I want us to get to know each other since I plan to be your man," he said and she rolled her eyes. "That's not going to happen."

"It is going to happen," he said with confidence that made her doubt herself.

"And now that I think about it, I think there is a third reason. I want to also reward you..."

"Oh, please. You can't say you're doing something to punish me and reward me at the same time," she said, cutting him off.

"If I don't attach this condition anyone else from your company would be asked to take your place. But now, you will be the only one with access to me. Everyone will wonder what you said and what you did to convince me. So, what is it going to be? Are you going to accept my condition or reject it and risk not getting promoted or even losing your job?" he asked and Evelyn's eyes narrowed suspiciously. "And how do you know my promotion is tied to this assignment?" she asked and Derek's smile widened.

"I have my sources, Eve," he said and Evelyn eyed him with displeasure.

"Don't call me that."

"Alright, baby," he said and Evelyn scowled at him while he grinned back at her.

Neither of them said a word as Evelyn considered her options. She hated the idea of being at his mercy this way but she couldn't afford to jeopardize her career.

She had given her consent to Susan and was only here to get her answers so she would know how to better handle him.

"So, what's your choice, Evelyn? Are you doing it or not?" Derek asked curiously, his gaze unwavering.

As if she had a choice. She mused as she took a deep breath. "I have my own condition," she said and he raised a brow.

"Let's hear it."

"I will work with you for a month as long as you keep things professional and you don't cross the line," she stated and Derek's eyes gleamed with amusement.

"I can't promise you that I won't cross any lines, Evelyn. As a matter of fact, I intend to cross every single line you draw. You crossed mine six years, remember?" His eyes gleamed with amusement as he watched her blush.

"Can't we forget the past?" She asked quietly.

"No. I can't. The past is what led us here, and I've spent all this time thinking about that past. You can't expect me not to cross lines," he said and she drew a deep breath.

"But you don't have to worry. I won't force myself on you. As long as you are able to resist my advances in this one month, I won't force myself on you," he promised. That was good enough for her, Evelyn thought with a nod. "Fine. Deal," she said extending her hand for a handshake.

Derek rose, and instead of taking her hand, he went around the table to meet her.

He took her hand and then he raised it to his lips and kissed her palm, "Deal." He said with a roguish smile that caused her heart skip a beat and she swallowed hard. Evelyn knew the next month would be a test of her resolve, a balancing act between professional duty and personal history but she would have to stand her ground. As she left his office, Evelyn was determined to see their arrangement through, for her career and for the chance to make a name for herself.

 

Chapter 15

Evelyn leaned back against the cool leather seat of the cab, her mind buzzing with the events of the morning.

First, was the visit with her stepmom, followed by Susan's call, and then her visit to Derek's office. She couldn't shake the feeling that everything was moving too fast.

The cityscape blurred past her window as she lost herself in thought, her fingers absentmindedly tracing the edges of her phone.

Now that she had agreed to work with Derek and she knew she had secured the interview with him, she needed to find an apartment, a safe place where she and Samantha could stay, away from Derek's reach.

The thought of Derek, Michael's cousin finding out he was Samantha's father, and everyone else getting to know about it too sent a shiver down her spine.

She couldn't let him know about Samantha. She couldn't let anyone know that she had been with Michael's cousin and had a child for him. Not even her family could know about it.

It was then that a sudden realization struck her. She needed to call Claire and make sure Samantha remained a secret for a bit longer.

If Claire mentioned Samantha to her dad and Sandra and the news of it got to Michael and from Michael to Derek, he would know Samantha was his judging by her age since she wasn't Michael's.

This made her pause for a moment as she wondered if Derek knew who she was. They had spoken over the phone a couple of times in the past during her relationship with Michael.

Was he aware that she was that Evelyn- Michael's fiancee? Had Michael told him about her? If so, why was he still doing this? She mused.

Shaking off the thought, she took a deep breath and dialed Claire's number, which she had gotten from her earlier during her visit, hoping that she wasn't too late and Claire had not told them about Sam yet.

She counted the rings, each one increasing her anxiety until, on the fourth ring, Claire's familiar voice answered, sounding pleasantly surprised.

"Evelyn! I didn't expect to hear from you so soon.

Please tell me you're calling because you have decided to move back into the house?" Claire's voice held a note of hope.

Evelyn laughed softly, though her thoughts were far from lighthearted. "No, Mom. That's not why I called, but I do have a favor to ask."

"Anything, sweetheart," Claire replied without hesitation.

Evelyn hesitated for a moment, then plunged ahead.

"You haven't told either Dad or Sandra about Sam yet, have you?" She asked hopefully.

"No. I was hoping to tell them during dinner. Why?" Claire said and Evelyn let out a sigh of relief, glad that she had called now.

"It's just that I need you to keep Samantha a secret for now. I don't want Dad or Sandra to know about her just yet."

There was a brief pause on the other end before Claire spoke again, her voice gentle but firm. "If that's what you want, Evelyn. But you know you will have to tell your father about his grandchild eventually, especially if you're going to bring Sam to the anniversary party."

Evelyn sighed as she glanced out the window at the passing buildings, trying to collect her thoughts. "I can't bring Sam to the party, Mom. But I promise I'll tell Dad about her after a month, but right now, I need to keep her out of this."

"Why a month?" Claire asked curiously.

"I just need to settle down first. When I'm settled I will tell him. But until then I want this to remain between us. Please."

Claire sighed, but there was understanding in her voice. "Alright, if that's what you need. But remember, secrets have a way of coming out, Evie. Be careful."

"I will, Mom. Thank you." Evelyn hung up, feeling a mix of relief and worry. She had bought herself some time, but she knew it wasn't much. She needed to act quickly.

The cab pulled up to The Stone's Palace Hotel, and Evelyn stepped out, her determination renewed. She made her way through the grand lobby, nodding absently at the doorman who greeted her. Her thoughts were too tangled to focus on pleasantries.

As she rode the elevator up to her suite, Evelyn pulled out her phone again and began searching for real estate listings. She needed to find a place quickly, somewhere safe and discreet. The elevator doors opened, and she stepped out, still scrolling through listings.

Inside the suite, Samantha was playing quietly with her toys, and Maya was tidying up. The sight of her daughter brought a wave of love and a pang of guilt.

Samantha deserved to know her father. She knew that, but she couldn't give her that.

Perhaps if Derek were someone else. If he wasn't Michael's cousin it would have been different. But right now it was complicated and she couldn't bring Samantha into the mess.

"Mommy, you're back!" Samantha exclaimed, running over to hug Evelyn.

Evelyn scooped her up, holding her tightly. "Yes, sweetheart. Did you have fun with Aunt Maya?"

Samantha nodded enthusiastically. "We played with my new dolls. Aunt Maya says they're very pretty."

Evelyn smiled, setting Samantha down. "That's wonderful. Can you play a bit longer? Mommy needs to make some phone calls."

Samantha nodded and returned to her toys, and Evelyn went to the bedroom, closing the door softly behind her. She needed to focus, to find a place where they could be safe. The urgency of the situation pressed down on her as she dialed the number of a real estate agent she had found online.

"Hello, this is Evelyn Quinn. I'm looking for an apartment, something available immediately."

The conversation moved quickly, and Evelyn arranged to see several apartments over the weekend.

As she hung up and returned to the room, she felt a glimmer of hope. They could move out of the hotel soon, and start fresh somewhere new.

But beneath that hope, there was still a gnawing fear.

She was keeping too many secrets, and she knew it was only a matter of time before they caught up with her.

Evelyn sat down on the edge of the bed, her thoughts heavy. She had to be strong, for Samantha's sake. She had to protect her daughter and give her stability, no matter what.

 

Chapter 16

As evening approached, Evelyn busied herself with preparations to move them out of the Stone Palace Hotel to some other Hotel away from Derek.

She doubted that by going to check out apartments over the weekend she would be able to move immediately into one, so it was better they moved to a different hotel for the time being. Samantha watched her curiously as she packed their bags, sensing the change but not understanding it.

Evelyn tried to keep things light, but the tension was palpable.

"Mommy, are we traveling again?" Samantha asked after watching for some time.

"No, darling. We are not traveling. Tomorrow Mommy is going to move you to a more comfortable place," Evelyn said, flashing her a smile.

"But I like it here. Aunt Maya likes it too," Samantha protested, and Evelyn paused to look at her.

"I'm sure you do, pumpkin, but doesn't mommy's feelings count too?" Evelyn asked with a playful pout and Samantha sighed.

"Will the new place have a playground?" She asked hopefully.

"I'm sorry, darling, I don't think so, Evelyn admitted since she had a policy of not lying to her daughter.

Samantha's face fell, breaking Evelyn's heart. Evelyn reached out a hand to her and when Samantha took it, she drew her to sit on her lap, "We won't be there for long, I promise. And once we move to our own place, I will make sure you can visit the nearest parks often and we can even go to the amusement park together," Evelyn promised.

Samantha looked up into her face, "Before then, can I go play at the playground?"

"No..."

"Please, Mommy," Samantha pleaded, looking at her with puppy eyes.

Unable to resist, Evelyn sighed. What harm could come from letting her play at the playground?

It wasn't like Derek would take one look at her and know who she was. And she doubted a busy man like Derek would pay any attention to the kids at the playground.

Maybe she was overthinking everything, Evelyn decided. As long as he doesn't see her and Samantha together, everything should be fine.

"Alright. But you must promise me that you won't talk to strangers," Evelyn warned.

"What if I see Rek?" Samantha asked since she was hoping to see him again.

"You met Rek already, so he is not a stranger"" Evelyn said, still assuming Rek was a little boy.

"Yaay!" Samantha screamed happily as she got down from Evelyn's lap and ran over to Maya's room to inform her that they could go to the playground.

Evelyn smiled as she watched her go, "Make sure you are well covered before you leave," she called out to Samantha.

As Samantha and Maya headed for the playground, Samantha sighted Derek and let go of Maya's hand as she ran up to him.

"Rek!" She called out excitedly.

Derek turned upon hearing the little girl's voice and he smiled when he recognized her.

Derek crouched down as she got close to him, "Hey, Sam! How are you doing?" He asked, and Maya who had been coming to get hold of her, let her be but stood a few feet away. "I'm fine. I'm going to the playground now," she said

excitedly.

"That's nice. I trust you're going to have lots of fun at the playground," Derek said and she bobbed her head.

"Mommy said we are leaving tomorrow so I might not see you again, she said with a pout.

"Oh, dear. I'm going to miss seeing you around," Derek said, since this was the third time he had seen her already even if it was only the second time he was talking to her. "Will you play with me?" She asked hopefully.

"Play with you?" Derek asked, amused, "What about your dad?"

Samantha shook her head, "Mommy says I'm special and I don't have a daddy," she said, and Derek smiled as he glanced at Maya.

That was a funny way to make a child feel special, he mused.

"Tell you what, I will go in and handle my little business, and then I will meet you at the playground.

Is that cool?" He asked and she held out her little finger.

"Pinky swear?" She asked, and he chuckled as he locked his finger with hers.

"Pinky promise," he assured her as he ruffled her hair and straightened up.

"Mr Stone, I didn't realize you had a little girl," one of the hotel patrons said as she stopped beside him.

Derek smiled, "She's not mine. She's a guest here. My little friend who cares about my sight. Right, Sam?" He asked, and she bobbed her head. "She's not yours? Could have fooled me. She looks a lot like you," the patron said, and Maya decided it was time to leave Derek to his business. "Let's go, Sam. Mr Derek is busy," Maya called and Samantha waved at Derek as she left with Maya.

"I see you're checking out," Derek said, noting that the lady was with her luggage.

"Yes. Alas, my stay here is over. Your service here is top-notch as always," she said and Derek bowed politely and bid her farewell.

Alone now, Derek continued on the mission he was going on before Samantha interrupted him. He had a silly grin on his face as he rode the elevator to Evelyn's floor.

He had subtly made inquiries from her boss to find out where she was staying, under the pretense that he would like to accommodate her at his hotel for the duration of their arrangement if she didn't have a place of her own yet, and he had been pleasantly surprised to know that she was right there where he wanted her. Just within his reach.

Standing by the door, he rang the doorbell and waited patiently for her to answer the door.

Evelyn, who was enjoying a warm bath, quickly grabbed her bathrobe and stepped out of the tub to go get the door thinking it was Maya and Samantha.

The moment Evelyn opened the door, her heart skipped a beat and she froze when she saw Derek standing there with a grin on his face.

 

Chapter 17

Evelyn stared at Derek, her heart pounding in her chest. Recovering quickly from the initial shock, her hands moved involuntarily to the front of her bathrobe and she held it tightly together. "What are you doing here? What do you want?"

Derek's grin widened. "May I come in?"

"Certainly not," she snapped.

His eyes glinted mischievously. "You can either let me in, or we can stand here with you dressed in your bathrobe for everyone to see and speculate about our relationship."

Her eyes darted to the corridor. The last thing she needed was gossip. Reluctantly, she stepped aside.

"Fine, come in."

Derek stepped into the room, his presence filling the space. Evelyn closed the door behind him, her mind racing. Derek couldn't be here. What if Samantha returned now? She needed to think fast. "Excuse me for a moment," she said, walking into the bedroom. She quickly grabbed her phone and sent a text to Maya, asking her to keep Samantha out for a while longer.

Hearing movement behind her, she turned to see Derek approaching and she stiffened. "What are you doing?"

"By here you mean, here in your room, here in your suite, or here in this Hotel?" He asked with an innocent smile, his gaze sweeping over her.

She clenched her jaw, "I didn't invite you into my room. It is rude to barge into my room..." she trailed off when he chuckled.

"What's funny?" She asked, glaring at him.

"You. And the fact that you think I'm being rude when you did the very same thing six years ago. You even did worse. At least I'm not stripping like you did," he said, and her cheeks flamed. "Seeing you in a hotel room, dressed in a bathrobe, brings back memories," he drawled.

"I apologize for what happened then. I wasn't in my right senses," she said without meeting his gaze.

"Like I'm not in mine right now," he said, taking a step forward and she instinctively took a step back.

"Things are different. It's not the same," she said, trying to reason with him.

"How so? Because you're a lady and I'm a man? You can get away with seducing me that way, but I can't?" He asked, holding her gaze.

"I was immature. I didn't know what I was doing. I acted out of my pain and foolishness and I swear to God, I regret it," she said, telling herself inwardly that she didn't regret having Samantha but she only regretted all that led up to it.

"You regret it? Does that mean you didn't enjoy it?

Cause I remember differently," he asked, his voice low.

She looked away, refusing to answer. "I suggest we stick to business and not talk about the past."

He chuckled softly. "But I'm here to talk about the past." He said, taking another step forward.

Annoyed and tired of rehashing the past, she met his gaze, her resolve hardening. "What do you want, Mr Stone? Are you here to play around or discuss business? If you plan on making a habit of these visits, I will have to move to a different hotel." She threatened.

Derek raised his hands in mock surrender. "Alright.

Alright. No need to get all nasty. I came to discuss our arrangement."

"Then let's do so," she said, leading him back to the living area.

"So. What did you want to discuss about it? Didn't we conclude on it earlier at your office?" She asked with a raised brow as they both sat down.

"We didn't talk about when you'd be resuming and your working hours," he pointed out.

"I'm resuming tomorrow. The sooner we start the better. And as for the working hours, it shouldn't exceed your usual office hours, should it?" She asked, and he paused, studying her.

"I'm glad I came to have this conversation with you. I can see you're mistaken," he said, and she frowned.

"What do you mean?"

"You're going to be spending the next month closely by my side. It is not restricted to only my office hours.

You will go wherever I go with me. If I'm going on any trips, you're coming with me. You will spend your weekdays and weekends with me..."

"Absolutely not! That's not going to be possible," she cut in before he could finish, "There is no way I can do that. I have other responsibilities."

"What responsibility could you possibly have aside from your job? You're not married, you do not have kids, and your boss has assured me that in the next month, you're mine. So, what else could there be?" He asked, and she shook her head.

"I can do weekdays, but I can't work with you on weekends. And I can't travel with you either. I'm sorry."

"Does that mean you're backing out of our agreement?" He asked and she frowned.

"Why are you really doing this? What's the big deal about an interview with you that you have to bring up all of these ridiculous rules?" She asked, clearly exasperated.

"Why don't you find out?" He said with a shrug.

Evelyn took a deep breath, "My weekends are important to me."

"It's just four weekends. I'm not asking for all the weekends of your life. It's up to you to decide whether you will do it or not. How can you say you've understudied me if you only get to know about me during work hours when I'm playing my official role?

You have to spend the weekend with me getting to know other parts of my life. My family, my hobbies, my interests."

"It's an interview, not a relationship. I don't need to know everything about you," she said stubbornly.

"That's for me to decide not you. It's that or nothing.

I've drafted out the details of the arrangement. If you're interested, you can come over to the office tomorrow to resume and sign the agreement form...

"There is an agreement form?" She asked in disbelief.

Derek rose, "Of course, there is. You have to assure me you will only write about all you see and learn about me sincerely and not what you think. Whatever you put out about me has to be objective." Evelyn sighed as she rose, "Is there anything else I need to know before tomorrow?"

"I think that will be it. As much as I enjoy your company, I'm sorry I have to leave now. I have an appointment with a friend," he said, thinking of Samantha who he believed was expecting him at the playground. "That's fine, Mr Stone..."

"Please call me, Derek. Even though the introduction came late, I believe we've long past this stage. Don't you agree, Eve?" He asked and she forced a smile.

"I don't. But whatever you say," she said as she escorted him to the door.

"And you should know that one of the benefits of our arrangement includes taking care of your accommodation and transportation. I could upgrade your suite if you'd..."

"I'm fine where I am""" she replied tersely.

"If you say so. I'm looking forward to working with you," he said with a satisfied smile on his face.

She opened the door, gesturing for him to leave. The moment he stepped outside, she held his gaze. "Next time, communicate through the phone. No more unannounced visits." Before he could respond, she shut the door in his face and leaned against it with a heavy sigh. Glad that he was gone.

Derek grinned as he looked at the door. That had gone quite well. Better than he imagined, he thought as he turned around and headed for his suite on the top floor.

He mentally patted himself on the back for coming up with those new conditions on the spur of the moment.

He was just going to ask the secretary to print an agreement form before she arrives.

Spending the weekends and going on trips together would definitely be a nice way to seduce her and sweep her off her feet, he thought with a chuckle.

Chapter 18

Derek strode through the hotel grounds, as he made his way to the playground. The sun was setting, casting a golden glow over the playground where the beautiful sounds of children's laughter filled the air. He smiled as he approached, glad for the initiative that had made him think of building a playground and making the Hotel child-friendly.

Looking around, he spotted Samantha on the swings, her legs pumping to gain height, her face a picture of pure joy. Maya stood nearby, her watchful eyes tracking the little girl's movements. When Samantha turned and saw Derek, her face lit up even more, and she called out to him, waving energetically.

"Rek!" she shouted, her voice carrying across the playground. Derek waved back and quickened his pace, feeling a strange warmth spread through his chest.

When he reached them, Samantha had already slowed her swing, her excitement contagious.

"Hey, Sam! I see you're having a lot of fun," Derek said, crouching down to her level.

"Yes! But it's more fun when someone pushes me, she said, her eyes twinkling with hope.

Maya started to step forward. "I offered to push you."

"I don't want you. I want Rek," Samantha said, and Derek flashed Maya a reassuring smile as he straightened.

"It's okay. I've got this. You can take a break if you don't mind," he said, and Maya hesitated but then nodded, grateful for the reprieve. She moved to a nearby bench, keeping a close eye on them. Derek took his place behind the swing, giving it a gentle push. Samantha's giggles filled the air as she soared higher.

"Do you like swinging, that much?" he asked and Samantha bobbed her head.

"I love it! It feels like flying," she said, her voice filled with awe.

Derek continued to push, his movements steady and controlled. "How often have you been here?"

"Only once. Mommy won't let me come," she said, her small hands gripping the swing tightly.

"Why? Did you get into a fight when you came here?" Derek asked curiously and Samantha shook her head.

"No. I didn't. She says she doesn't like it here and we have to leave," Samantha said sadly and Derek stopped pushing her. "She doesn't?" Derek asked, glancing at Maya in surprise.

"Yes."

"If you're that sad about leaving, I could talk to your mommy for you so you don't have to leave," Derek offered, glancing at Maya.

Samantha glanced at Derek, her brows furrowing in confusion and curiosity. "Do you know my mommy?" she asked and Derek chuckled, reminding himself that she was truly a kid otherwise she would have realized that he had seen her with her mom several times.

"Of course, I know your mommy, Sam. I'm sure she would agree to stay here if I talked to her. Should I talk to her?" Derek told her but she shook her head.

"Mommy already promised to take me to the nearest parks and let me go to amusement parks too," Samantha said and Derek nodded.

"That's fair then. I will miss you, Sam," Derek said and Samantha smiled.

"I will miss you too, Rek. Maybe since you know my mom, why don't you ask for her number so that we can talk over the phone," she suggested and Derek raised a brow.

"Will she give me her number?" he asked and Samantha nodded.

"If you tell her you're my friend, Rek, she will give you her number," Samantha said and Derek nodded, even though it was starting to sound like Samantha's mom was someone else.

"Well, your mommy sounds wonderful," he said, as he resumed pushing the swing gently, deciding to ask Maya for the number and see if she was truly Samantha's mom or someone else.

Derek continued to push Samantha on the swing, their laughter mingling with the evening breeze as they talked about themselves.

In that moment, he felt a connection he hadn't anticipated, a bond that was forming with this little girl who had unknowingly brought a bit of light into his life.

Maya watched them from her bench, a soft smile playing on her lips. She could see the genuine affection in Derek's actions and the joy in Samantha's face. If one didn't know better they would think Derek was Samantha's daddy.

Derek glanced at Maya and when he saw how fondly she was looking at them, he decided to go ask for the number so he could leave.

Just before he could make the move, Maya's phone buzzed in her pocket and she took the call when she saw that it was Evelyn, who had called to ask her to bring Samantha back.

After the call, Maya approached Samantha and Derek and he smiled at her, wanting to ask for the number but before he could, Maya spoke.

"I'm sorry, Mr. Derek, but we need to head back inside now," Maya said and Derek nodded.

Still wanting to ask, he opened his mouth but turned to look at Samantha when she tugged at his sleeve.

"Rek, I like you," she said and Derek smiled warmly.

"I like you too," he said, ruffling her hair.

"I want you to be my daddy," she said and Maya's eyes widened in dismay.

"Maya!" She scolded then glanced at Derek, "I'm sorry about that."

"It's alright," Derek assured her.

"Will I see you again?" Samantha asked hopefully.

"We will see, Sam, If your mommy will let us," he said glancing at Maya and she shrugged.

"We will see about that. Let's go in, Sam," Maya said and took Sam away with her while Derek watched them leave, thinking that Maya probably didn't want him to see Samantha again because of Samantha's awkward request.

"Sam, you can't go about telling strangers to be your daddy," Maya scolded her as they got into the elevator.

"But Rek is my friend," Samantha pointed out.

"Your mommy won't be happy to know you said that to him," Maya said and Samantha frowned.

"You won't tell her, will you?" She asked, and Maya shook her head.

"If you promise me you won't do that again, then it will be our little secret," she said holding out her pinky finger.

"Pinky promise," Samantha said, locking her finger with Maya's.

When they reached their suite, Samantha burst through the door with a loud, "Mommy, we're back!"

Evelyn, who had been pacing the room anxiously, turned to them with a relieved smile. "Welcome back, sweetie. Did you have fun?" she asked and Samantha nodded enthusiastically.

"Yes, Mommy! I played on the swings, and Rek pushed me really high!" Samantha said and Evelyn smiled.

"I guess you both had lots of fun?" Evelyn asked and Samantha nodded.

"Yes, we did. He said I can see him again if you let us.

Will you let us remain friends?" she asked and Evelyn nodded.

"Of course, I will," she said, happy that Samantha had a friend already here.

Perhaps she would try to meet with Rek's parents and find out where he schooled so that she could have Samantha registered there as well. It would help her adjust to school easily if she had a friend there already, Evelyn reasoned.

 

Chapter 19

Evelyn arrived at Stone Corp early the next morning, her resolve firm but her nerves frayed because she was still very much anxious about working so closely with Derek.

She had spent the night tossing, turning, and dreading the month ahead, knowing that everything could go wrong with just one wrong move.

She was not only scared about him finding out about Samantha, but she was also scared about falling for him. She wasn't too arrogant to believe it was impossible. He was after all, the man who had given her the best sex of her life, and all these years whenever she pleasured herself, she fantasized about his touch even though she couldn't remember his face clearly.

Today marked the beginning of her project with him, and she was determined to maintain her professionalism, despite their complicated past.

As she approached his office, she took a deep breath and knocked on the door since Derek had given his secretary strict orders to always let her in whenever she arrived as long as he didn't have company. After she knocked, Derek's voice, smooth and confident, called out impatiently, "Come in."

Stepping inside, she found Derek seated behind his desk, his head buried over some documents with a slight frown on his face.

He raised his head to see who it was and when he saw her, his lips curved in a wide smile. "Good morning, Eve. I see you're ready for your first day," he said, his tone holding a hint of amusement. Evelyn scowled at his use of her name. "Obviously, Mr.

Stone, she replied, tersely and Derek chuckled.

"Seeing this side of you amuses me. You know, I would never have imagined this side to you if we didn't cross paths again this way. Back then you were so innocent yet bold and you made me believe you were..."

"Can we get started already? I'm not here to talk about the past," Evelyn cut in and Derek grinned as looked at her, clearly enjoying himself.

"Let's get started, then," Derek said as he gestured for her to take a seat.

"Please, have a seat. We will be spending a lot of time together, so let's make this as comfortable as possible," he said, deciding to start with an air of professionalism as she wanted even though he didn't have the intention of keeping things professional.

Evelyn sighed as she sat down, glad that they were taking things seriously. "Thanks."

She watched as he picked up a folder from his desk and handed it to her. "Here. I've outlined the terms of our arrangement as we discussed," he said and Evelyn took the folder and began to read through the document.

The conditions were as he had stated: she would accompany him everywhere, including during the weekends and on any trips he had planned. And she was only allowed to be objective in her review of him. She frowned slightly as she reached the end which stated that she was to be at his beck and call even though she had left the office for the day or was at her home.

"I can't be at your beck and call that way. The moment I get home, we can't do any business until the next day," she said and he shook his head.

"I already told you, Eve. It's my way or nothing.

Besides, how can you complain about being at my beck and call when we have already established the fact that this arrangement is not restricted to only my working hours? What if something comes up when you're away?" he asked and she sighed.

Although his argument didn't make sense to her, she knew she didn't have much of a choice. "Fine. But you should know there are a few things I would like to add to this, she said, looking up at him.

Although Derek wanted to tell her outright that he wouldn't allow any conditions she had, he decided to hear her out first.

"Such as?" he asked with a raised brow.

"I can't travel out of the city without prior notice so you'd need to notify me beforehand. And, you're not to visit me unannounced like you did yesterday," she stated firmly and Derek nodded thoughtfully. Those were reasonable demands.

"I understand your concerns, Eve. I'm not unreasonable, so if those are your only conditions then we can put them down," he said reasonably.

Seeing how he agreed, she decided to push her luck,

"That's not all. You're not allowed to flirt with me..."

"We both know I'm not going to agree to that," he said with a shake of his head.

"But Mr. Stone..."

"No buts, Eve," he interrupted, his tone gentle but firm. "I agreed to do this interview because I want to spend time with you. I want to get to know you. I'm not changing my mind. I have every intention of flirting with you and seducing you if I can," he said holding her gaze.

Evelyn felt a rush of frustration and helplessness. She knew she had no leverage since he knew she needed to do this.

Reluctantly, she nodded. "Alright. Let's have it your way. But I must warn you that you'd only be wasting your time. I'm not interested in you. And nothing you do will change that," she said and Derek grinned, his eyes lingering on her for a moment.

"If you say so," he said, handing her a pen.

As she leaned over the desk to sign the agreement, Derek rose and went around around the desk to stand behind her.

Evelyn tried to ignore his movement until she felt his presence close behind her, his breath warm against her neck.

"Thank you, Eve. By signing this, you've just given me your consent to seduce you into being mine," he whispered, his voice sending a thrill through her.

Evelyn set down the pen and pushed back from the desk. As she rose and turned to face him, she felt a shiver run down her spine when she met his gaze.

There was something in his gaze that made her heart race, a mix of challenge and desire and she knew she shouldn't be letting herself get bothered by it but it bothered her.

She looked away from the mischievous grin on his face, her heart racing. "The only agreement I signed was to observe you on and off work hours and nothing else," she said, her voice firm.

For a moment, the air between them was charged with tension and then Derek smiled, a slow, confident smile that made her pulse quicken.

"I guess we will have to wait and see then," he replied, leaning down a bit as he picked up the pen that she had used, deliberately letting his fingers brush against her skin in the process.

He chuckled when he noticed the way she inhaled sharply before she snatched her hand away but he said nothing as he returned to his seat, while she tried to ignore the tingling sensation she was feeling where his hand had touched.

"So, I was thinking. Maybe to save us time and all, you could move in with me..."

"Don't be ridiculous," she snapped at him and he chuckled as he raised his hands in mock surrender.

"I was kidding," he assured her.

"You had better be. What am I supposed to do now?

Hang around your office all day doing nothing? Stare at you as you work? What is the plan?" She asked irritably.

"For the next one month, you will be my assistant. A mediator between me and my secretary. I've told her to tell you everything on my schedule for the next month," he said and she sighed.

"I'm a senior editor, not a secretary," she said with exaggerated patience.

"Don't worry. She will put you through all that needs to be done. I know you will catch up fast. You can start by preparing my coffee. Ask her to tell you how I like it," he said and she eyed him balefully before walking away, her mind whirling with different thoughts.

This assignment was going to be more challenging than she had anticipated, and not just because of the demands on her time.

Derek Stone was a man who could easily get under her skin, and she needed to stay focused and professional.

 

 

Chapter 20

After the close of work, Evelyn returned to the hotel that evening, her mind swirling with the thoughts of the day's events. Despite her initial fear, the day hadn't been so bad.

Derek had been surprisingly professional and had barely paid her any attention, being too engrossed in his work.

She was grateful for that small mercy and hoped it would continue that way since she'd been able to observe him quietly, taking notes for her article without feeling the intense scrutiny she had expected. She was also glad that she had not run into Michael and she hoped that she wouldn't have to run into him until the arrangement was over especially since he worked on a different floor.

As she entered their suite, Samantha who had been playing quietly with her toys, went to welcome her happily.

"Welcome, Mommy," she greeted excitedly, throwing herself into her mother's embrace, however, Evelyn didn't give her the whole smile she usually did since she knew she was about to break her daughter's heart.

"How are you, baby?" Evelyn asked and she grinned.

"I'm fine," she said and went in to chatter about all she had done and all that had happened since Evelyn stepped out of the room in the morning.

Evelyn nodded as she listened to her and she waited until she had run out of her stories before taking a deep breath, readying herself for the conversation she was about to bring up. "Sweetheart, remember what we talked about yesterday? We have to move to another place now," she said gently, watching her daughter's face for a reaction.

Although she had told Samantha about the move, she knew Samantha well enough to know she would throw a bit of a tantrum when the time came to actually make the move.

Samantha's face fell. "Why? Can't we stay here a little longer? I really like it here, and I like the playground and Rek too," Samantha complained with a pout, her little shoulders slumping.

"I know you like it here, baby, but we have to move.

We need to go somewhere closer to the place where Mommy works. Don't you want to be able to see where mommy works from your room?" she asked and Samantha nodded, her eyes gleaming with tears. "Okay, Mommy," she said and Evelyn smiled at her.

Although she had wanted them to stay there until after she had secured an apartment, she couldn't any longer, not after Derek's unannounced visit and conditions.

She couldn't trust him not to show up unannounced claiming he needed her for work and end up seeing Samantha. She didn't want that. She thought as she waited for Maya to pack her stuff and join them. An hour later, they checked into another Hotel. It wasn't as luxurious as The Stone's Palace, but Evelyn felt a bit more at ease. At least here, she knew they wouldn't be bothered.

After they had settled in, Evelyn glanced over at Samantha, who was sitting on the edge of the bed with her arms crossed, a pout on her face, clearly sulking.

"Darling, I know you liked the other hotel, but we had to move," Evelyn said gently and Samantha looked up at her with tears in her eyes.

"I didn't get to tell Rek goodbye," she said and Evelyn nodded.

"I'm sorry about that, pumpkin. Who knows? You might meet him again someday," she said with forced cheer and Samanatha looked down at her hands. "How about we go to an amusement park this weekend? Will that cheer you?" Evelyn asked, brushing a stray lock of hair from Samantha's forehead.

"Really? Can we really do that?" Samantha asked and Evelyn smiled.

"Of course, we can'"" she said, hoping that Derek wouldn't mess with her plans, "and if I'm too busy to make it, I will make sure Maya takes you," she added just to be on the safe side. "Okay, Mommy," Samantha said, brightening up a little.

"So, does mummy get a hug?" Evelyn asked holding out her arms and Samantha embraced her.

"Thank you, darling," Evelyn said, kissing Samantha's forehead.

Just as they settled down for the night, getting ready to go to bed, Evelyn's phone rang. She glanced at the screen, worried that it might be Derek, and heaved a relieved sigh when she saw that it was her stepmother.

Evelyn received the call immediately "Hello, Mom."

"Hello, Evie. How are you and Sam?" her stepmother's voice came through warmly.

"We're okay. Just settling into a new hotel, Evelyn replied, glancing over at Samantha, who was lying on the bed, playing with her stuffed animal.

Claire raised a brow when she heard that. "You moved?

Why? Shouldn't you be thinking of coming home?" Claire asked with a worried frown and Evelyn smiled.

"While I'm still considering it, I thought it best I move Sam to somewhere else since Michael knows where I am. I don't want him or anyone else springing a surprise visit on me and finding out about Sam until I'm ready to tell Dad myself,' Evelyn explained since that was the truth.

"Yeah. That makes sense. I'm glad I called. I was thinking of bringing some homemade food to you and Sam. Do you mind telling me where you are so I bring it over tomorrow?" Claire asked and Evelyn hesitated since she didn't want Sandra to find out about her new lodge.

"You don't have to bother yourself..."

"It's been so long since you ate something prepared by me, Evie. If you don't want it, at least allow my granddaughter to have a taste of my cooking," Claire said and Evelyn sighed.

"Fine. You can come. But can you please promise not to tell Dad or Sandra about where I'm staying?" Evelyn asked and although Claire wanted to ask why she wouldn't let even Sandra know, she didn't bother.

"If that's what you want, I won't. I will be waiting for the address," Claire said and Evelyn smiled, glad that she didn't ask any questions.

"Thanks, mom. And I'm sorry I'm putting you in a difficult position with my requests," Evelyn said before Claire hung up the call.

Claire, who had just dropped the call, turned abruptly when she heard Sandra's voice behind her.

"Who was that on the phone, Mom?" Sandra asked curiously since she had just walked in to hear her mom say she was waiting for an address.

"A friend. Are you going somewhere?" Claire asked when she noticed that Sandra was dressed as though she was stepping out.

"I was hoping we could go see Evelyn today," Sandra said since she wasn't aware that her mother had visited

Evelyn already.

"I'm sorry I can't come with you. I need to go see a friend. You can go alone. I will visit her some other time," Claire said, and Sandra nodded. "Alright. See you later," Sandra said before leaving for the Stone's Palace Hotel.

Thirty minutes later, Sandra stood in front of the hotel with a frown etched on her face after she had been told that Evelyn had checked out of the Hotel.

As Sandra walked back to her car, she wondered why Evelyn had moved so quickly and where she could have gone. She also wondered if she knew Michael had followed her that day. Something didn't add up, and she was determined to find out what it was.