Chapter 50

Theo Montgomery summoned Evelyn Carter into his office the moment he spotted her. It was as if he had been anticipating her arrival.

He moved to the side of his desk and gestured toward the window blinds. "Close them."

Evelyn turned, obeying his command. As she did, she caught the curious, whispering gazes from outside. What’s happening? She tugged the blinds shut and stepped further into the room.

"Take a look at this." Theo retrieved an envelope and tossed it onto the desk in front of her.

Evelyn opened it with growing suspicion, her fingers brushing against the crisp paper inside—a lawyer’s letter. Just as she had expected, Dominic Reeves had filed a lawsuit against her. She skimmed the contents with a dismissive glance before slipping it back into the envelope, her lips curling into a cold smirk.

Theo had been watching her reaction closely. When he saw how unnervingly composed she remained, he couldn’t help but press, "What are your thoughts on this? They’ve served you with legal action."

Evelyn tucked the letter away. "I apologize for the trouble I’ve caused Phoenix Labs. But don’t worry—I’ll handle this. It won’t interfere with my work."

Theo exhaled sharply, frustration flickering in his eyes. From an HR standpoint, someone like Evelyn shouldn’t have been hired in the first place. Victoria Sterling had been harsh the other day, but she wasn’t entirely wrong.

Evelyn lacked both qualifications and reputation—and now, she was dragging legal trouble into the company. Yet, Gregory Whitmore had made his stance clear. Not only was Evelyn to be hired, but she was also to be protected. As an employee, Theo had no choice but to comply.

"For now, they’ve only sent you a letter. We don’t know if they’ll target Phoenix Labs next. Not that we’re afraid—we have our own legal team. But these things are best resolved quickly. Reputation matters. Do you understand?"

"Yes. I know I’ve caused complications. I truly apologize." Evelyn nodded, her voice steady.

Theo studied her for a long moment before sighing. "Go report to Ms. Sterling. She has something to discuss with you."

"Understood."

Just as Evelyn stood to leave, Theo called out again. "Ms. Sterling has a sharp tongue, but she’s competent. Don’t take anything she says personally."

"Noted."

The moment Evelyn opened the door, she felt the weight of dozens of eyes snapping away. Ignoring them, she strode toward the project department, her grip tightening around the envelope in her hand.

Meanwhile, in the CEO’s office at DR Holdings, Vanessa Blake hurled a pen across the room. "No! I refuse to keep doing this! Are you insane? I graduated years ago—why am I copying homework? And Evelyn’s homework, no less!"

Her furious glare burned into the notebook on the desk as if she could incinerate it with sheer will. A single book lay before her, but stacks upon stacks surrounded her—on the table, the floor, everywhere. The sight made her stomach churn. It was endless torture with no escape in sight.

Dominic, in contrast, remained infuriatingly calm. He plucked another pen from his desk and slid it toward her. "I know you’re exhausted. But this is for our future." His voice was low, deliberate. "You need to keep going."

Vanessa clenched her jaw, but Dominic’s unwavering gaze left no room for argument.