Chapter 294
Alexander Kingsley forced himself to stay alert.
Old Lin's chatter during the car ride went in one ear and out the other.
A car accident?
He'd thought Evelyn Sinclair was the victim. Turned out it was just that dull-witted male colleague of hers.
Old Lin kept rambling about how Evelyn had rescued the man, how she'd identified him...
Alexander nearly kicked Old Lin out of the moving vehicle.
As for Evelyn calling him?
Probably a lie Old Lin made up after failing to reach him.
That woman had long erased him from her heart.
Her ruthlessness made him question whether her past gentleness had been an elaborate deception.
Every time he sought confirmation, this was never the answer he wanted.
He craved her sincerity.
Not proof of his suspicions...
She couldn't be at Kingsley Group.
Why would she come here?
Knowing he was sick at home waiting for her.
The elevator stopped at the executive floor. Before the doors opened, Alexander could almost hear his own bitter laugh.
At the end of the hallway, Nathan Carter was heading toward the stairwell carrying a bag.
Alexander walked straight past him toward his office.
Then froze just before opening the door.
His gaze locked onto the slightly ajar break room door near the assistant stations.
His pulse quickened.
Foolish hope surged in his chest.
Knowing it was delusional, yet unable to stop himself, he moved forward.
He grasped the doorknob gently.
Several seconds of silence, broken only by his pounding heartbeat.
He pushed the door open.
The room was empty.
But someone had been here.
Alexander strode to the bookshelf.
The magazines had been disturbed.
In all of Kingsley Group, no one but him dared touch these.
Now, a magazine that belonged in the back had been moved to the front.
He turned to the sofa.
The cushions bore a distinct indentation.
His fingers traced the creases, then stilled abruptly.
A single long hair lay coiled in his palm.
......
When Nathan returned to the work area, he found Alexander's office door wide open.
"Lord Alex?" He entered in surprise.
During the conference call, he'd heard how ill Alexander sounded.
Never expected him to come to the office in this state.
Unless... he knew Evelyn had visited?
"Today's progress report." Alexander's opening words made Nathan relax slightly.
Nathan gave a detailed update.
Alexander nodded slightly. "What were you doing during my meeting?"
Nathan's stomach tightened.
"Organizing project files." Not a lie.
Just omitted the part about receiving Evelyn.
"Hmm." Alexander seemed uninterested. "Compile the overtime list."
Nathan breathed an inward sigh of relief.
Apparently Alexander didn't know about Evelyn's visit.
Hadn't it always been this way?
Evelyn would come and go, and he'd never care.
When she clashed with Isabella Winslow, he'd look the other way.
Nathan felt he'd gambled correctly.
Lord Alex was still Lord Alex—he wouldn't stay hung up on one woman forever.
But before he finished the list, Alexander came looking for him.
Personally.
Cornered him in HR.
"Nathan." Alexander's expression was terrifying.
Nathan followed him back to the executive floor.
Silence the entire way.
Until they stopped by the trash area near the emergency exit.
Alexander pointed at several large bins.
"Which one did you use?"
Nathan's mind went blank.
Lord Alex knew...
Maybe from surveillance, or maybe...
With trembling hands, he lifted one bin's lid.
Empty!
The fresh garbage bag held nothing.
Nathan stood frozen.
"Where is it?" Alexander's voice could freeze hell.
"The—the cleaning staff took it!"
"To where?"
"The garbage truck... by now it's probably already..."
Nathan's throat constricted.
Had the truck already left?
If not... was Lord Alex really going to dig through trash?
If it had... would they have to search the landfill?
"Come with me to find it!" Alexander's order made Nathan's vision darken.