Chapter 4 The Morning After

The morning as Evie stepped out of Alex's penthouse, the crisp morning air biting at her skin. She pulled her coat tighter around herself, her mind a whirlwind of emotions. Last night had been... incredible. Passionate. Unforgettable. But it had also been a mistake.

She couldn't let herself get attached to someone like Alexander Knight. He was a billionaire CEO, a man who lived in a world she could never belong to. And yet, as she walked down the quiet streets, her heart ached with a longing she couldn't quite shake.

Her phone buzzed In her pocket, and she pulled it out, seeing a text from Mia.

Mia: Hey girlfriend, How was last night??? I couldn't get hold of you last night. Where have you been?

Evie sighed, her fingers hovering over the screen. How could she even begin to explain what had happened? Finally, she typed back.

Evie: It's a long story. I'll tell you later.

She shoved her phone back into her pocket, trying to push the memories of last night out of her mind. But they kept creeping back the way Alex had looked at her, the way his touch had set her on fire, the way he'd made her feel like she was the only person in the world.

It was dangerous, she knew. Getting involved with someone like him could only end in heartbreak. And she couldn't afford to get hurt again.

Meanwhile, Alex woke up to an empty bed, the sheets still warm where Evie had been. For a moment, he was disoriented, the events of the night before feeling like a dream. But then he saw the note she'd left on the nightstand a simple "Thank you" scribbled on a piece of paper.

He stared at it, a strange ache settling in his chest. He wasn't used to feeling this way, and it unsettled him. But one thing was clear: he couldn't let her go that easily.

He reached for his phone, scrolling through his contacts until he found the number for his assistant. "I need you to find someone for me," he said when she answered. "Her name is Evelyn Carter. She's a freelance graphic designer. I want everything you can find on her."

Evie spent the rest of the day trying to distract herself, throwing herself into her work with a focus she hadn't felt in weeks. But no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't stop thinking about Alex.

Her phone buzzed again, and she glanced at it, expecting another text from Mia. But it was an email notification. She opened it, her heart skipping a beat as she read the subject line: *Freelance Project Opportunity – Knight Enterprises.*

Her stomach churned as she scanned the email. It was from someone in the HR department at Knight Enterprises, offering her a freelance project to redesign their company website. The pay was more than she'd ever earned for a single project, and the timeline was tight.

She stared at the screen, her mind racing. This couldn't be a coincidence. Alex had to be behind this. But why? Was this his way of keeping her close, or was it just business?

Before she could overthink it, she hit reply and accepted the offer.

The next few days were a blur of meetings, emails, and late nights as Evie threw herself into the project. She told herself it was just work, that she could keep things professional. But then, on the third day, Alex walked into the conference room where she was presenting her ideas to the design team.

Her breath caught as their eyes met, the air between them crackling with tension. He looked as handsome as ever, his tailored suit accentuating his broad shoulders and his piercing gray eyes locking onto hers.

"Miss Carter," he said, his voice smooth and controlled. "I didn't realize you were working with us."

"Mr. Knight," she replied, forcing a polite smile. "I didn't realize you'd be joining us."

The design team exchanged glances, clearly sensing the tension between them. But Alex didn't seem to notice or care. He took a seat at the head of the table, his gaze never leaving hers.

"Please, continue," he said, gesturing for her to go on.

Evie took a deep breath, trying to steady her nerves. She could feel his eyes on her as she presented her ideas, his presence like a physical weight in the room. But she refused to let him rattle her. She was here to do a job, and she was damn good at it.

When she finished, there was a moment of silence before Alex spoke.

"Impressive," he said, his tone unreadable. "But I have a few notes."

He stood, walking over to the screen where her designs were displayed. He pointed to a section of the homepage, his voice low and commanding as he suggested changes. Evie listened, her heart pounding as he leaned in closer, his shoulder brushing against hers.

"Do you have any questions?" he asked, turning to look at her.

She shook her head, her throat dry. "No. I'll make the changes."

He nodded, his gaze lingering on her face for a moment longer before he stepped back. "Good. I look forward to seeing the revisions."

And with that, he left the room, leaving Evie to wonder what the hell she'd gotten herself into.