Chapter 432

Evelyn clutched her tote bag tightly and turned to face Nathaniel. "I'm perfectly fine, really. Just exhausted and my blood sugar dropped too low."

His stormy gray eyes darkened as he rose from his seat. "I'm driving you home."

"No, thank you. I'll call a cab." She forced a polite smile. "We're going opposite directions anyway. You've already done enough by bringing me to the hospital. I can't possibly inconvenience you further."

The deliberate distance she created made his jaw tighten. "Is this about appearances? Worried someone might see you in my car and get the wrong idea?"

Evelyn blinked in genuine confusion. "That's not what I meant at all. I simply don't want to waste Mr. Whitmore's valuable time."

Without waiting for a response, she strode out of the room. Within seconds, she heard the steady rhythm of his leather shoes following her.

The elevator doors slid open and Nathaniel stepped in right behind her. The confined space forced them uncomfortably close - close enough that she caught the faint scent of his cologne mingling with laundry detergent.

Her stomach flipped. That scent. She'd chosen that particular detergent herself during their three years together.

At the next floor, a flood of people crammed into the elevator, including an elderly woman pushing a wheelchair-bound man. A hyperactive boy darted around them, bouncing a rubber ball.

Evelyn instinctively pressed a protective hand to her abdomen and tried to step back. "Excuse me, could you please—"

The grandmother cut her off sharply. "This elevator is small enough as it is! Should I let my grandson get crushed instead?" She jabbed a bony finger near Evelyn's face. "Young people these days have no respect for their elders!"

Before Evelyn could respond, strong arms pulled her against a solid chest. Nathaniel maneuvered them so his broad shoulders shielded her completely.

Safe in his unexpected embrace, Evelyn found herself with breathing room in the corner. She stared up at his chiseled profile, her pulse erratic.

The boy suddenly wailed when his ball got stuck between passengers. "Grandma! I can't play!"

The elderly woman whirled on Evelyn again. "See what you've done! Selfish girl, taking up all this space—"

Nathaniel's glacial glare silenced her mid-sentence. Then he looked down at the sniveling boy. "You know what happens to children who play in elevators? The Elevator Monster snatches them away forever."

The boy's cries turned to terrified screams.

Evelyn gaped at Nathaniel. Since when did he tell children's horror stories?

The grandmother recovered first. "How dare you frighten my grandson! Who do you think you are?" Her shrill voice echoed off the metal walls.