Chapter 300

"Must I really go?" Evelyn groaned, burying her face deeper into the pillow.

Sleep deprivation was cruel, and all she craved was another hour—no, five—of blissful unconsciousness.

"Technically, no," Adrienne replied smoothly.

Evelyn perked up for half a second before Adrienne crushed her hope.

"But socially? Absolutely."

"Social norms can burn," Evelyn muttered, rolling onto her back and stretching like a starfish across the mattress. Heaven. Pure heaven.

Adrienne marched in, undeterred.

"Ms. Carter, biologically speaking, napping now would ruin your circadian rhythm. You won’t sleep tonight, which means tomorrow’s preliminary round will be a disaster."

She adjusted her glasses, the lenses flashing ominously.

"Studies show morning fatigue leads to poor performance all day. And if you embarrass DR Holdings in front of Celestia Group’s executives—"

Evelyn groaned louder.

Adrienne’s voice was a relentless drill. Evelyn had never considered death by nagging before, but here she was, contemplating it.

Still, the woman wasn’t wrong.

Grudgingly, Evelyn pushed herself up, legs crossed, hair a wild halo. "Fine. Shower. Clothes. Human interaction. Got it."

Adrienne nodded, satisfied. "Excellent decision, Ms. Carter."

Evelyn scowled. As if I had a choice.

"Meet me back here in an hour," Adrienne said, already halfway out the door.

This trip to Laurentia was off to a fantastic start.

The hot water helped. Slightly.

Wrapped in a towel, Evelyn eyed the four dresses Isabella had packed. Formal enough for corporate events, but not stiff. She’d vetoed half of them last-minute—who needed eight outfits for three days?

She settled on a navy maxi dress, draping a cream shawl over her shoulders. Good enough.

Adrienne answered her knock in a crisp pantsuit, her gaze sweeping over Evelyn’s ensemble. A barely-there nod. Approval.

"Where’s this dinner at?" Evelyn asked, forcing cheer.

"The organizers are sending a car. We should head down now—it’ll arrive any minute."

"Punctual as always, Adrienne."

Adrienne didn’t smile. "This is my job, Ms. Carter. Do yours well, and we’ll both leave Laurentia with our reputations intact."

Evelyn blinked.

Who hurt you?

But she kept that thought to herself as they stepped into the elevator.

Somehow, she already missed her bed.