Chapter 73
Noticing Evelyn's scrutiny, Celeste smiled graciously.
"I had a meeting with Mr. Adams this morning about the bidding project, but my car broke down, so Mr. Adams gave me a ride here."
"Now he needs to get back to the office and can't take me, so I was hoping to trouble Mr. White for a ride back to the company."
A perfectly reasonable explanation.
Discussing the bidding was business, running into them while having lunch with Jeffrey Adams here was a coincidence, and the car breaking down was an accident.
Going back to the White Group with Benjamin was on the way anyway - hardly even a favor.
"Of course, if it's not convenient, never mind." Celeste smiled slightly. "After I see Mr. Adams off, I can just take a cab."
"No need."
Benjamin spoke coolly: "Evelyn isn't going back to the White Group with me."
After gesturing for Celeste to wait, he walked Evelyn to the car, naturally opening the door for her and helping her in.
"Have fun this afternoon. I'll come home to have dinner with you tonight."
Evelyn's fair face showed a gentle smile as she kissed his cheek and settled into the car.
"See you tonight."
A faint smile spread across his face. After closing the door, he watched the car drive away.
Sitting in the car, Evelyn looked through the rearview mirror at Celeste walking toward Benjamin.
They were both raised by prominent families, sharing the same air of refined elegance.
Not only that, but the way Celeste looked at Benjamin wasn't simple.
Even if it wasn't pure romantic attraction, it definitely wasn't how a subordinate looks at their boss.
Benjamin got into his car, started the engine, and merged into traffic.
"Did Ms. Thomas like today's arrangement?"
Celeste broke the silence, her face still wearing an appropriate smile.
"The effect was pretty good."
Benjamin's attitude was cold, but discussing anything related to Evelyn with others was already out of character for him.
Celeste didn't continue the topic, as if she were just an ordinary, dutiful subordinate.
Evelyn and Stella didn't really have anything to buy - going out was just an excuse.
So after eating and browsing for a bit, the two sat down in a café to chat.
"Seeing you so sweet in love now, I can barely remember how much you used to hate him."
Stella teased: "Back then, you'd get angry just hearing Benjamin's name, and now you're actually dating him."
A smile appeared on her face, with a hint of curiosity in her eyes.
"What on earth happened to cause such a big change?"
Someone who had died once would naturally have earth-shattering changes.
But she definitely couldn't tell Stella about that.
Otherwise, Stella might think she was crazy.
Evelyn took a sip of juice and shrugged.
"What's so strange about it? He's been so good to me that everyone knows it."
"Compared to Matthew, who was always cold to me - why should I make myself miserable?"
But feelings were never that simple.
If being good to someone could make them fall for you, why would there be so many lovesick people in the world?
But since Evelyn didn't want to talk about it, Stella didn't press further.
Everyone has their little secrets.
She just reminded her: "Benjamin is really good to you, and he doesn't care what it costs, so you should be good to him too."
"What counts as being good to him?"
Evelyn asked a soul-searching question: "Someone like him has everything. Even if I want to be good to him, I don't know how."
They say money is powerful.
But the problem is, when you meet someone who doesn't need money, it gets tricky.
"Isn't that simple? Buy him some clothes, cook him a meal... as long as you think of him, he'll be happy."
The one who is loved always feels secure.
The one who loves wholeheartedly feels like the world lights up with just a little response.
"Is it really that simple?" Evelyn was doubtful.
She felt that someone as lofty as Benjamin couldn't be that easy to please.
Stella laughed: "Keep pretending. I was setting the bar high just now. Given your relationship, just smiling at him could make him happy for half a day."
Evelyn thought back to how she and Benjamin got along, and it really did seem to be true.
Evelyn's eyes shifted slightly as she made a decision.
"I'm going back."
"What?" Stella didn't catch on. "Fine, you ditched me at lunch, but it's only what time now? Are you leaving me already? He's still at work!"
"I'm going back to cook for him."
Evelyn's gentle, tender expression almost made Stella bite her tongue.
Stella had just said it casually, and Evelyn actually took it to heart.
The problem was, Evelyn, who never went into the kitchen, was planning to cook - would she blow up the kitchen?
Unfortunately, Evelyn didn't give Stella another chance to speak, leaving with a smile on her face.
After returning to the villa, Evelyn changed into comfortable loungewear and went to the kitchen.
"Ms. Thomas, are you sure you want to cook for yourself?"
Pearl looked at Evelyn, a bit worried that this meal might result in no one being able to eat for several days.
Evelyn smiled excitedly: "Of course."
After a few seconds without Pearl's response, she realized.
"You're worried I can't do it well? Don't worry, even if I don't cook often, I can at least cook the food through. There definitely won't be any accidents."
Under Pearl's nervous watch, Evelyn started cooking.
Everything went normally.
Even if the finished dishes weren't as good as the specially hired chef's work, they were definitely edible.
"Who knew Ms. Thomas had this skill - Mr. White will definitely be very happy." Pearl went from initial worry to unstinting praise.
Evelyn checked the time.
Benjamin usually got home around six in the evening, and it was almost six now.
She went upstairs to change clothes, then excitedly began waiting for Benjamin.
But whether the waiting stretched time or time really slowed down, he still hadn't come home.
When she checked her watch, it was already six-thirty. Normally, he would have been home by now.
"Should we call Mr. White?" Pearl looked at Evelyn's slightly unhappy face and suggested tentatively, "Maybe Mr. White is already on his way - traffic jams are normal."
Evelyn agreed and took out her phone to call Benjamin.
The call was answered quickly, and Benjamin's steady voice came through.
"Evelyn, something urgent came up suddenly. I can't come home for dinner. You eat first."
She ran a company herself and understood that some things that come up suddenly can't be delayed.
Even though she was unhappy, Evelyn agreed and hung up.
But looking at the carefully prepared four dishes and soup, all her earlier anticipation and excitement turned to irritation.
She ate quietly, dumped the leftover food in the trash, and went upstairs.
After showering, she curled up in a bean bag chair with her tablet, thinking she really needed to keep busy.
Otherwise, with him filling her thoughts, she'd start resenting him over little things.
She quickly calmed herself down and started looking at new product launches from various brands, planning to go to the dance studio tomorrow.
But she didn't know that her and Benjamin's first real relationship crisis was about to arrive.