I Want Him Nowhere Near Evelyn Again

Evelyn had never been this physically close to a man before. Her instincts screamed at her to pull away, to put some distance between herself and Alexander.

But his arm snaked around her waist, holding her firmly in place.

A shiver shot down her spine. Her skin prickled with awareness. Her eyelashes fluttered against her cheeks as her eyes squeezed shut.

Heat flooded her ears, then her cheeks, spreading like wildfire across her face.

Why was Alexander so close?

Was he going to kiss her?

The space between them vanished. The air in the car grew heavy, charged with an unspoken tension.

Evelyn's heart hammered against her ribs, threatening to escape. Then, she felt a whisper-soft touch near her ear.

His fingers gently brushed her hair back, tucking it behind her ear.

Her eyes flew open. She found herself trapped in Alexander's intense gaze.

A flicker of amusement danced in the depths of his dark eyes.

"Your hair was a mess," he murmured, his voice a low, velvety rumble. His grip on her waist loosened slightly.

Evelyn straightened up as he did, a confusing whirl of emotions making her head spin. "You pulled me in just to fix my hair?" she blurted out, her voice higher than usual.

Alexander arched one perfect eyebrow. A playful smirk touched his lips. "What else would I be doing?"

His eyes lingered on her flushed skin, gleaming with undisguised mischief. Something fluttered in his own chest, but he kept his tone light. "Were you expecting something different, Evelyn?"

Her face burned crimson. She quickly averted her gaze, stammering, "Of course not!"

She nervously bit her dry lower lip. "Thank you," she muttered.

Evelyn took a shaky breath. She reached up and awkwardly smoothed her hair, even though Alexander had already perfected it.

The gesture was a poor attempt to hide her inner turmoil.

Alexander watched her every fidget. A faint, knowing smile curved his lips before he decided to drop the subject.

The driver was still present. He wouldn't embarrass her further.

After a moment of tense silence, Evelyn glanced out the window. They had already traveled quite far.

"You can let me out up ahead. I need to get back to work. If I'm gone too long, my pay gets docked," she explained, her voice still unsteady.

"Where is your office? I'll have Julian take you directly," Alexander offered.

Numerous corporate offices populated this district, including Aethelgard Industries, his own company.

Evelyn felt claustrophobic. She desperately needed a moment alone to collect herself.

"That's not necessary. You must be busy. I'll walk," she insisted, her tone firm.

Recognizing her resolve, Alexander acquiesced. He instructed Julian to find a safe spot to pull over.

"Thank you for the ride," Evelyn said quickly. She opened the car door and glanced back. "See you tonight."

The words left her mouth before she could stop them. They sounded intimate, like a secret arrangement between them.

The implication made her discomfort spike. She practically launched herself from the vehicle, not waiting for a reply.

In her haste, she nearly tripped. She caught her balance instantly, pretending nothing was wrong. She shut the car door and hurried away at a brisk pace.

From inside the car, Alexander watched her retreating figure. He cracked the window open slightly. A subtle, satisfied smile played on his lips as he observed her flustered escape.

Only when Evelyn was completely out of sight did his expression harden. He rolled the window back up. His face became a mask of cold severity.

If Evelyn hadn't contacted him today, he would have remained ignorant of Julian Blackwood's continued harassment.

The audacity of that man, trying to lay a hand on her.

The thought sent a wave of cold fury through him.

"Continue," he directed Julian. He pulled out his phone and dialed his head of security.

"Deal with Julian Blackwood. Immediately. If he lacks self-control, make him understand the consequences. Perfectly clear. I want him nowhere near Evelyn again," he commanded, his voice icy.

"Understood, Mr. Blackwood," the reply came instantly.