Chapter 299

After Julian Mercer, the young man from the woodcarving shop, refused Evelyn Carter's order, he disappeared without a trace. His phone number was changed, and the shop owner refused to disclose his whereabouts. It was as if he had simply vanished into thin air.

Alexander Kensington promised to help track him down, but Evelyn didn’t hold her breath. She knew it wouldn’t be easy.

Right now, she had more pressing matters to attend to.

Before she could focus on finding Julian, she had a perfume convention to attend in Laurentia. This was her first major event representing Phoenix Labs, and she had no familiar faces by her side.

Victoria Sterling was swamped with work, and Isabella Thornton couldn’t accompany her either.

Instead, the company assigned her an assistant—Adrienne Laurent.

Adrienne was experienced and fluent in the local language, which made her the perfect choice.

The flight was uneventful, but the unfamiliarity between them created an unspoken distance.

Exhausted from the journey, Evelyn collapsed into bed the moment she reached her hotel room in Laurentia.

She had no idea that Vanessa Blake and Lucien Dubois would check into the same hotel just two hours later.

"Why didn’t you book a suite? These rooms are ridiculously small," Lucien grumbled, scanning the space with displeasure.

Vanessa smirked and pointed upward.

"Thought you wanted revenge? Evelyn’s room is right above us. This is your golden opportunity."

Lucien tilted his head back and burst into laughter.

"What, you want me to drill a hole in the ceiling so she’ll fall straight into my arms?"

Vanessa rolled her eyes.

Sometimes, she questioned his intelligence.

"Of course not. But if something happens, you could always claim she wandered into the wrong room."

Understanding dawned on Lucien’s face, and he pinched Vanessa’s chin with a grin.

"You’re brilliant."

"Is that why you insisted on separate rooms?"

He had been without female company for a while and had suggested sharing a room to save costs. But Vanessa had refused, insisting on two rooms—far apart.

It had annoyed him.

"If I’m there, how are you supposed to have your fun?"

Vanessa chuckled, patting his shoulder. She was confident her plan would succeed.

But her reasons for separate rooms went deeper.

First, she had no intention of sharing a space with the lecherous Lucien. That would be torture.

Her body was her greatest asset, and she wasn’t about to waste it on him.

Second—and most importantly—she wanted Evelyn utterly ruined by the time they left Laurentia.

A sharp knock jolted Evelyn awake.

She dragged herself out of bed, raking a hand through her tangled hair as she shuffled to the door.

"Who is it?"

"Ms. Carter, we need to go over today’s schedule," Adrienne’s crisp voice replied.

"I thought the event didn’t start until tomorrow afternoon?"

Evelyn was still groggy, irritation creeping into her tone.

Adrienne was efficient, but her rigid professionalism grated on Evelyn’s nerves.

"True, but the Laurentia organizers moved the exhibition to tomorrow morning. All participants are invited."

She glanced at her clipboard.

"Additionally, there’s a welcome dinner tonight. You’ll need to shower, change, and get ready immediately."