Chapter 57

Theodore Ashcroft straightened his tie as he stood before the KL Design Group headquarters. He pulled out his phone to double-check the floor number Evelyn Roland had sent him.

The elevator doors slid open, revealing Evelyn in a beige pantsuit, her hair pulled into a sleek bun.

"Ms. Roland." Theodore stepped forward.

Evelyn paused mid-step, her gaze dropping to the gilded envelope in his hand.

"From Mr. Valdemar." Theodore presented the invitation with deference. "For the Shattered Stars Collection gala."

Her fingers traced the embossed lettering as she accepted it. The motion brought back the memory of Sebastian Valdemar's fathomless eyes in the elevator that day.

"Please thank Mr. Valdemar for me." She tucked the envelope into her briefcase. "But I won't be attending."

Theodore blinked. In his years delivering Sebastian's invitations, he'd never seen a woman decline one.

Evelyn was already turning toward the elevator. Her posture remained ramrod straight as her heels clicked against the marble floor.

Back at her design department workstation, Evelyn had barely sat down when her colleague Penelope leaned in.

"Was that Theodore Ashcroft from Valdemar Group downstairs?" Penelope whispered. "I saw him hand you something."

Evelyn slid the invitation into her desk drawer. "Just work correspondence."

"Let me see!" Penelope snatched the envelope before Evelyn could stop her. "Oh my God! The Shattered Stars gala!"

The office erupted into chatter. Several female coworkers clustered around, voices overlapping.

"They only invite top clients and partners!"

"You're so lucky, Evelyn!"

"Can you get us in too?"

Evelyn massaged her temples. Sebastian's scrutinizing gaze flashed through her mind, stirring an inexplicable irritation.

"Sorry, I have prior commitments." She shut the drawer with a decisive click.

Meanwhile, in the Valdemar Group executive suite...

Theodore stood before Sebastian's desk, a sheen of sweat on his brow as he relayed Evelyn's refusal.

Sebastian's fountain pen stilled mid-signature, leaving an ink blot on the document.

"Her exact words?"

"Ms. Roland said...she appreciated the gesture but had other plans." Theodore chose his words carefully.

Sebastian chuckled darkly. He set down the pen and picked up the intercom.

"Connect me to Department Three at KL Design."

When the line clicked open, his voice brooked no argument: "Adrienne, I require your entire design team's presence at tomorrow's Shattered Stars launch."

Hanging up, Sebastian turned to the floor-to-ceiling windows. The setting sun gilded the cityscape, reflecting his faint smirk in the glass.