Chapter 10
Mr. Larry used the table to pull himself to his feet, blood all over his face, his expression twisted with rage.
"You're not getting away!" He grabbed another wine bottle from the table and stumbled toward Evelyn.
Evelyn backed into the corner. Her hand found the fire alarm on the wall. Without hesitation, she grabbed a nearby chair and smashed the glass cover, then slammed the red button.
A piercing alarm blared through the entire club.
Immediately, chaotic footsteps and security guards' shouts came from outside the door.
Mr. Larry froze, clearly not expecting that move.
"Open the door!" Someone pounded on it from outside.
Mr. Larry lunged to cover Evelyn's mouth, but the lock clicked—someone outside had used a backup key.
Several security guards burst in.
Evelyn took advantage of the chaos and slipped past them, running without looking back.
She sprinted down the hallway, her heels unsteady on the soft carpet.
As she rounded a corner, she couldn't stop in time and crashed straight into someone's solid chest.
That familiar cologne.
Evelyn looked up and met Cedric's gaze.
He was wearing a tailored charcoal suit today, two assistants behind him.
Cedric took in her ragged breathing, his eyes falling on her disheveled hair. His brow furrowed slightly.
"Ms. Kendall?"
Evelyn's mind was a mess. She didn't want to drag Cedric into this disaster, and she definitely didn't want him seeing her like this.
"Cedric, sorry for running into you. I'm in a hurry. I have to go."
Still catching her breath, she tossed out those words and moved to go around him toward the elevators.
Cedric didn't stop her. He turned and watched her disappear behind the elevator doors, his expression darkening.
Just then, commotion erupted from the other end of the hallway.
Mr. Larry came out clutching his bleeding head, surrounded by security guards. He was cursing loudly as he walked. "Check the cameras! Find that bitch and bring her back! I'm gonna kill her today!"
His voice echoed through the corridor.
Cedric stood where he was, one hand in his pocket, watching Mr. Larry approach quietly.
Mr. Larry looked up and suddenly spotted who was standing in front of him. His steps screeched to a halt.
He blinked hard, making sure he wasn't seeing things.
"Mr. Parker?" All the fury drained from Mr. Larry's voice. He even forgot about the pain in his head.
Parker Group was the biggest potential investor for Farcry's renewable energy project. Mr. Larry had come to the club today hoping to network his way into a connection with Cedric through mutual contacts.
He never expected to run into him directly.
Mr. Larry immediately plastered on a smile, ignoring the blood on his face as he shuffled forward. "Mr. Parker, what brings you here? I'm so embarrassed you had to see this. Some crazy saleswoman just attacked me with a wine bottle..."
Cedric didn't respond. He adjusted his cuffs methodically, his gaze sweeping over Mr. Larry's greasy face.
"Mr. Larry. That's quite a creative head injury you've got there."
Mr. Larry forced a laugh, cold sweat running down his neck. "Yeah, yeah, that woman was completely wild. I was just about to have my people detain her..."
"She's my friend."
Cedric's voice wasn't loud, but it made Mr. Larry's whole body go rigid.
Mr. Larry's smile froze on his face. His lips started trembling. "What did you say? That—that Ms. Kendall is..."
"I watched her run out of here." Cedric took a step forward. Mr. Larry felt like he couldn't breathe. "Pretty bold of you. Who exactly did you say you wanted to kill?"
Mr. Larry's knees gave out. He dropped to the carpet with a thud.
"Mr. Parker! This is a misunderstanding! A huge misunderstanding!" Tears and snot ran down his face as he frantically waved his hands. "I didn't know she was your friend! If I'd known, I never would've touched her!"
Cedric looked down at him, his eyes ice-cold.
"Mason."
His assistant immediately stepped forward. "Mr. Parker."
"Notify risk management. Terminate all contact with Farcry Group." Cedric's tone was flat. "Also, put the word out. Anyone who deals with Mr. Larry is going against me."
Mr. Larry's vision went black. He collapsed completely on the floor.
It was over. He'd been in this industry for twenty years, and Cedric had just cut off every avenue with a single sentence.
"Mr. Parker! Please have mercy! Mr. Parker!"
Cedric didn't spare him another glance. He turned and walked away.
Evelyn took a cab back to Ashford Group.
She spent ten minutes in the downstairs restroom. Cold water splashed on her face slowly calmed her racing heart and the nausea churning in her stomach.
She looked at herself in the mirror. Her eyes were a little red, but her gaze was unusually clear.
After straightening her clothes, Evelyn pushed open the door and walked into the marketing department.
The moment she sat down at her desk, her assistant Lisa rushed over looking panicked.
"Evelyn, you're finally back! Are you okay?"
Evelyn picked up her water glass and took a sip. "I'm fine. What's wrong?"
Lisa glanced around and lowered her voice. "The VP, Mr. Lewis, came by twice looking for you. He kept asking if you'd called for help. Evelyn, that Mr. Larry from Farcry... everyone in the industry knows he's a creep. He's got wandering hands. No one in the company wants to take his account."
Evelyn's movements paused.
She hadn't dealt with Mr. Larry before—she'd only reviewed Farcry's materials.
"If no one wants to take it, why was I assigned to meet with him?"
Lisa bit her lip, her eyes reddening. "I was in the break room at lunch and overheard secretaries from the executive office talking. They said... Mr. Ashford specifically arranged it."
Evelyn's fingers tightened until her knuckles turned white.
Lisa continued. "Mr. Ashford told Mr. Lewis that you've been too stubborn lately, that you don't know your place. He wanted you to hit a wall with Mr. Larry, to suffer a little, so you'd realize you're nothing without Ashford Group. And he told them that no matter what messages you sent asking for help, they shouldn't respond..."
Evelyn listened quietly.
She thought she was already as disappointed in Sebastian as she could be. But apparently, this man could still find new ways to sink lower.
To force her to submit. To make her come crawling back as his obedient Mrs. Ashford.
He'd personally pushed her into a pit, thrown her to a predator.
If she hadn't smashed that bottle today. If she hadn't hit that alarm.
What would have happened?
Would Sebastian have come to save her?
No. He would've just stood there watching her get violated, then condescendingly told her: See? This is what happens when you don't listen.
Evelyn suddenly laughed.
The sound was laced with mockery, but her tense shoulders finally relaxed.
She opened her drawer and pulled out the resignation letter she'd printed days ago.
Then she picked up the core Farcry project materials she'd just organized, stood up, and walked straight to the elevator.