Chapter 60
Evelyn didn't ask where they were going. She pulled the car door open and slid into the passenger seat. The door closed, shutting out the cold fluorescent light of the underground garage.
Cedric tossed the unlit cigarette into the glove compartment and started the engine. They were already exiting the second basement level when Evelyn finally turned to him. "Where to?"
"West side."
"What did you find?"
Cedric kept his eyes on the road, voice steady. "Get you settled first. Then we'll talk evidence."
Evelyn's brow furrowed. "Settled?"
The word triggered something instinctive in her—resistance.
She'd already walked away from the Ashford family. She didn't want anyone else deciding where she lived, what she did, or whose protection she needed.
Cedric seemed to read her mind. He adjusted the steering wheel slightly, merging onto the main road. "I'm not asking you to move."
"Then what?"
"Showing you what a safe place actually looks like."
Evelyn stayed quiet.
Outside, streetlights slipped past one by one. Her hand rested on her bag, fingertips pressing the zipper pull.
Cedric continued. "You're at Sophie's now. They already got white chrysanthemums to your building entrance. Today it was flowers and a note. Tomorrow it could be a person."
Evelyn stared ahead. "I know."
"Knowing and taking risks anyway are two different things."
"Cedric." She said his name evenly. "I don't want to owe you more than I already do."
Silence filled the car for two seconds. Cedric didn't answer right away. The vehicle descended from the elevated highway into the west side's central business district.
The roads here were wider than the old city's. Glass buildings lined the streets, cold white LED strips glowing against the night.
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"This is the company protecting a core project manager," Cedric said. "You're handling Pine Hill, the Eastside, and North District. Three projects. If anything goes wrong with any of them, Parker Group takes a hit. You're being threatened. Company security stepping in makes sense."
Evelyn didn't argue.
Fifteen minutes later, they pulled into a gated apartment complex.
No obvious signage at the entrance—just a black gate and two security booths.
The gate rose after license plate recognition.
Cedric parked beside the elevator lobby in the underground garage. Evelyn got out and took in her surroundings.
Cameras every twenty yards. A small screen near the elevator showed live surveillance feeds.
Cedric led her to the elevator and swiped a card. The doors opened.
Evelyn eyed the access system but said nothing.
Cedric stood beside her.
"Two units per floor. Elevator won't reach unauthorized floors. Stairwells have secondary access controls. Garage, hallways, exterior entrances—full surveillance coverage."
The elevator climbed. It stopped at twenty-three.
The doors opened onto a hallway so clean it felt almost cold.
Cedric walked to the left door and handed her an access card. "You open it."
Evelyn took the card and swiped.
Lights came on automatically. A two-bedroom apartment. Minimalist—gray and white, nothing extra.
The living room was spotless. Half-open curtains revealed the west side's main road and the elevated highway beyond.
Cedric stayed near the entrance. "Parker Group security apartment. Used for temporary housing when project managers are at risk. Keys and access are filed with admin security. It's not under my name."
Evelyn changed her shoes and walked further in. She checked the living room, then the kitchen.
Running water. Basic ingredients. The fridge held simple prepared meals and bottled water.
At the study doorway, she stopped.
On the desk sat a neat stack of North District project materials.
On top—a printed copy of the preliminary research report she'd just finished today.
Next to it, a can of sugar-free coffee. Her usual brand.
Evelyn stared at the can for two seconds. "Is this also company policy for protecting project managers?"
Cedric stood outside the study. "I had my assistant print the materials. Admin bought the coffee."
Evelyn turned. "Admin knows what I drink?"
Cedric paused. "I do."
The apartment went quiet.
Evelyn's fingers pressed the door frame. She walked into the study and picked up the report, flipping through two pages. The paper was still warm—recently delivered.
"I'm not moving in tonight."
"That's fine."
"I need to talk to Sophie first."
"Fine."
"If I stay here, I pay market rate rent."
Cedric looked at her. "Company security costs aren't your responsibility."
Evelyn met his eyes.
He corrected quickly. "If you insist, finance can deduct it from your project bonuses."
Evelyn set the materials down. "Fine."
Cedric walked to the living room and turned on the projector. The device on the coffee table connected automatically. A map appeared on the wall—a route from Sophie's neighborhood to Haven Club.
Evelyn came over.
Cedric pressed the remote. "The black van that delivered the flowers had half its plate covered, but the right rear panel had repair damage. Tech tracked it through seventeen checkpoints. It ended up in Haven Club's underground garage."
The image switched. A zoomed shot of the garage entrance. The black van driving in. Time stamp: 1:36 AM.
Next image. Parking registration info.
Evelyn's gaze locked.
Registered entity: BW Business Consulting Limited.
Her fingers tightened slowly.
"BW."
"Yeah."
Cedric froze the image. "Van went into Haven Club. Parked in space twenty-seven, Section B, second level. Long-term lease registered to BW Business Consulting. Whoever delivered those flowers didn't run there to hide. They went home."
Evelyn stared at the registration line, eyes cooling.
Cedric closed that page and opened a corporate structure diagram. "BW Business Consulting is a shell. The legal rep on file leads nowhere. But there are fund transfers between it and the reorganized Ben Fund. Small amounts, broken up—looks like they're dodging oversight."
Evelyn looked at him. "You think Brian knows?"
"I don't make calls without proof."
Cedric's voice dropped. "But someone's using his old company, his old name, his old connections."
He turned off the projector. The living room went quiet again.
His phone rang.
Cedric glanced at the screen and answered. "Talk to me."
The voice on the other end was urgent. Speakerphone made it clear enough for Evelyn to hear. "Mr. Parker, there's a private event at Haven Club tonight. Just got the guest list."
Cedric looked up at Evelyn.
The tech team continued. "Arianna's going."
Evelyn's chest tightened.
Then the voice added, "Sebastian's on the list too."
The air in the room seemed to drop.
Evelyn stared at Cedric. "Sebastian's going?"
The voice answered immediately. "Yes. Invitation shows Sebastian Ashford, Ashford Group. Ten PM, third floor Grand Hall at Haven Club."
Cedric didn't hang up. "Who's hosting?"
"Officially? Blake."
Evelyn was quiet for two seconds. "I don't go in."
The tension in Cedric's expression eased slightly. "Correct."
"But I need to know what happens."
"I'll arrange external coverage."
Cedric spoke into the phone. "Surveillance on the perimeter, parking garage, back entrance, fire exits. Don't go inside. Don't spook them."
"Got it."