Chapter 18
The muscles in Johnson's face twitched several times before he finally stepped aside. "...Let's talk inside."
The group filed into a temporary meeting room by the site.
Johnson and two of his guys took one side of the table, Evelyn and Kevin the other.
The dozens of people Johnson had brought didn't leave—they crowded around outside the door.
"Miss Arden," Johnson wiped the sweat from his forehead, "you've got some skills, I'll give you that. But let me give you some advice—quit while you're ahead."
"We've got Mr. Murphy backing us. In S City, not many people who cross him walk away unscathed."
Evelyn didn't respond.
She set her bag on the table and pulled out a neatly folded copy of the contract, slowly spreading it open.
Then she looked up at the lawyer their legal team had brought.
The lawyer understood immediately and began reviewing the contract clause by clause, his voice clear and carrying.
Every time he reached the key sections on liability and breach of contract, Johnson's side looked more uncomfortable.
But Johnson didn't rush to respond. He was waiting.
Waiting for word from Mr. Murphy's side, waiting for new instructions.
Time ticked by. The lawyer finished going through everything, but Johnson still hadn't gotten the reply he wanted.
Johnson's sweat kept coming. Unable to help himself, he made another call.
This time he retreated to a corner, his voice extremely low.
Evelyn just kept her eyes down, patiently sipping her hot tea.
After a while, Johnson came back.
His steps were unsteady, whatever bravado he'd had completely gone.
He glanced at Evelyn, his eyes a complicated mix—resentment, fear, and finally settling on resignation.
Mr. Murphy was in trouble too, barely keeping his own head above water. His exact words were: "Handle that Evelyn woman yourself."
"Mr. Johnson," Evelyn set down her cup, her tone still leisurely, "now can we talk about something concrete?"
Johnson slumped into his chair and waved dismissively. "I'll arrange to clear the site. Today. All those farmers will be gone."
"Miss Arden, does that work for you?" His voice was hoarse.
Evelyn nodded but didn't stop there. She picked up her phone and dialed. "Sam, bring the site layout. Now."
Soon a young man in glasses jogged in—Sam, the S City site manager.
He glanced nervously at Johnson but quickly spread out the site layout.
"Mr. Johnson," Evelyn's finger hovered over the blueprint, "have your people go with Sam right now to clear out."
"Before sunset today, I want to see the site completely empty and your signature confirming the data is clean."
She wasn't leaving any room for delays or tricks.
Johnson's chest heaved, but in the end he just took a heavy breath and barked at one of his men, "What, you deaf? Take some guys and go with him!"
The subordinate responded and left with several others following Sam.
The matter seemed settled. Johnson stood up, ready to leave this place that had been nothing but humiliating.
"Hold on." Evelyn's voice rang out again—not loud, but it nailed Johnson's feet to the floor.
He whipped around, his eyes bloodshot. "Miss Arden, I'm clearing the site! What more do you want?!"
Evelyn also stood. She was much shorter than Johnson, but her presence completely dominated him.
"You're a straightforward guy. So let's keep being straightforward."
She took a step forward, her gaze sharp. "I'm sure plenty of people inside the Perkins Group have been passing you information and doing you favors, right?"
"Give me a complete list of names before you leave."
Johnson's pupils contracted. "You...!"
"My patience is limited." Evelyn's tone stayed flat. "You can choose not to write it, but..."
"I'm guessing your Mr. Murphy can barely save himself right now. Think he'll protect you or cut you loose?"
Johnson's face went pale. He stared at Evelyn like she was some kind of monster.
This woman wasn't just forcing him to back down—she was digging information out of him to root out the insiders!
He was about to lose everything!
But he didn't dare gamble. Mr. Murphy's attitude just now had said it all.
He really couldn't afford to cross this seemingly gentle woman who struck harder than anyone.
Johnson's face turned ashen. He grabbed the paper and pen from the table, scrawled down several names, and slammed them down.
Then without another moment's hesitation, he left quickly with his two assistants, looking utterly defeated.
The mob outside scattered immediately.
---
The temporary office fell quiet, only a faint smell of dust lingering.
Kevin had watched the whole thing from the sidelines. He hadn't said a word, his attention mostly on Evelyn.
Watching how she used silence to apply pressure, how she precisely cut off any hope of reinforcements arriving.
Watching how, with victory already secured, she mercilessly expanded her advantage and went straight for the kill.
Evelyn's strategic mind—if she were in corporate, she'd easily be C-suite material.
Yet she'd been willing to be Matthew's kept woman. Was there some hidden reason, or...?
And she used to act so obedient around them before, but now she'd dropped the act. Was she planning to leave Matthew?
He couldn't help looking at Evelyn.
Sunlight slanted through the window onto her shoulder.
She was slightly frowning as she reviewed the list, clear-eyed and focused, with a sharpness that came from stripping away all pretense.
Definitely like a hawk, Kevin thought.
He just wondered if Matthew, who was used to controlling everything, was prepared to face the real Evelyn.
After seeing this version of her, Matthew probably couldn't settle for anyone else.
As if thinking of something amusing, Kevin's lips curved into a mischievous smile.
He pulled out his phone and quickly typed a message to Matthew:
[The cage got too small. Careful you don't lose your hawk. (smirk)]
Almost immediately, Matthew replied with a single "?"
Kevin chuckled at the question mark. Before he could respond, Matthew called.
"What the hell are you talking about? Is the project handled?" Matthew's low voice came through.
"Yeah, all settled. Evelyn... she's got serious skills. I barely had to lift a finger." Kevin's tone was as playful as ever.
Matthew fell silent.
"You're doing that Quinn family alliance thing, right? What are you gonna do about her?" Kevin asked with calculated mischief.
Matthew stayed silent.
"Evelyn doesn't strike me as the type to just roll over. You should probably... handle this carefully." Kevin couldn't help warning his friend.
"Kevin Graves, you're crossing a line." Matthew's tone turned cold and hard, cutting him off.
The chill traveled through the phone. Kevin felt his back go cold.
"If you're really that curious..." Matthew said after a pause, "I'll tell you—my relationship with Evelyn won't change after the marriage."