As the clock ticked closer to 7 PM, Evelyn felt the weight of the impending evening settle heavily in her chest. Her mind raced, unable to settle on a single thought for more than a few seconds. She kept wondering what kind of trap she was about to walk into.

Her stomach churned with anxiety, the kind that crept up on her as soon as she allowed herself a quiet moment. She glanced at her reflection in her bedroom mirror. The fitted black jumpsuit she had chosen clung to her curves, making her feel confident on the outside, even as her insides were a whirlwind of nerves. Rayna was supposed to pick her up, and they would head to the club together. But the uncertainty of what lay ahead still gnawed at her. Despite Derek's assurance that she'd be safe, she had been overthinking everything. He'd even promised to wait outside the club in case things went south. The thought of him parked nearby, ready to intervene, did bring a small measure of comfort. But it didn't erase the knot of fear tightening in her gut.

What were Sandra and Michael up to? And why now?

At exactly 6:30 PM, the doorbell rang. The sharp sound startled her, and she instinctively reached for her purse, quickly gathering herself as she moved toward the door. Evelyn braced herself, expecting to see Rayna's cheerful face, but when she opened the door, she blinked in surprise. There, with his hands tucked in his pockets, was Derek. His familiar grin stretched across his face. "Hey, gorgeous," he greeted.

"You didn't say you were coming," she said, her tone shifting from anxious to pleasantly surprised as she opened the door wider to let him in.

"I didn't want to spoil the surprise," he replied with a teasing wink, stepping inside with easy confidence. He closed the door behind him, his eyes sweeping over her, lingering appreciatively. "You look absolutely stunning."

Evelyn's lips parted into a soft smile, and a blush warmed her cheeks under his gaze. "Thanks," she murmured, the comfort of his presence already easing some of her jitters. Derek stepped closer, placing his hands firmly on her shoulders. "Anxious?" he asked, his voice low and his touch calming.

She exhaled a shaky breath. "Very anxious," she admitted.

Without another word, he leaned in and kissed her deeply, his lips soft yet firm against hers. The kiss was slow, intentional, and filled with an emotion that seemed to melt away the anxiety clawing at her. Evelyn responded immediately; he felt her heart racing for an entirely different reason. "What was that for?" she asked, her voice breathy with a hint of amusement. When he finally pulled away, Evelyn felt almost relieved.

"That," Derek said, his lips still close to hers, "was to make your stomach flutter for something other than anxiety."

She chuckled, the sound light and relieved. "Mission accomplished," she teased back, feeling a little more at ease.

"Now I can tell you that I'm jealous. I can't believe you're dressed this way for Sandra when you've never dressed this way for me," he said, and Evelyn laughed softly. "It's not my fault. It's the circumstance behind our relationship," she pointed out.

"Screw those circumstances. I don't care about them. Let's go on a date sometime soon," he said, and Evelyn nodded. "Alright. Let's do that," Evelyn said with a nod.

Derek smiled warmly before asking, "Where's my baby?"

Evelyn jerked her head in the direction of her daughter's bedroom. "She's working on her assignments. She should be done soon."

Derek nodded and took her hand, guiding her toward the living room, where they both sat down on the couch. The soft cushions seemed to embrace her, but the meeting with Sandra still weighed heavily on her mind.

"I looked into Club Edge," Derek began, his tone becoming more serious. "It's part of the Diamond Edge Hotel and has a reputation. Not a bad one, but still, it's high-profile."

Evelyn nodded, already knowing this, but she appreciated that Derek had done his homework. "Yeah, I know. We used to hang out there a lot in the past," she said, her fingers absentmindedly tracing the edge of her purse.

Derek leaned forward, his elbows resting on his knees. "Michael booked one of the suites there a little while ago."

She frowned. "A suite? What for?"

He shrugged, though his expression was taut with thought. "I'm not sure yet. But I think whatever Sandra's planning involves that suite. If I had to guess, they're probably trying to set you up with Michael somehow, but I can't figure out why Michael would do that. It doesn't make any sense."

Evelyn's mind raced, trying to make sense of it. "Do you think maybe this is all Sandra's idea, and Michael doesn't know what she's up to?"

"It's possible," Derek admitted, leaning back slightly. "But why do you think so?"

"Because if Michael had a bad plan, he wouldn't reserve a suite in his name, would he?" she asked, and Derek sighed.

"But then again, why would Sandra go against Michael's interests? They've been working together all these years," Evelyn said thoughtfully.

"There's something more to this. Whatever it is, you need to be extra careful tonight. No drinking unless you've seen it poured yourself, and no accepting drinks from anyone, especially Sandra," Derek said. She sighed deeply, already exhausted by the thought of navigating the minefield she was about to walk into. "I want this whole thing to be over soon."

Before Derek could respond, a high-pitched squeal of delight cut through the room. "Daddy!" Samantha came bounding out of her room, her excitement bursting like sunlight into the tense atmosphere. Derek turned just in time to catch her mid-jump, sweeping her up into his arms. He immediately started peppering her face with playful kisses, making her squeal and squirm in his arms as she giggled uncontrollably.

Watching them, Evelyn felt her heart soften, the tension in her chest loosening just a little. For a brief moment, she allowed herself to enjoy the sight of Derek with Samantha, the easy love between them.

Then the doorbell rang again, and her pulse quickened, anxiety rushing back in a torrent. Rayna was here. Her stomach flipped. Sensing her anxiety, Derek's hand found hers. He squeezed it firmly, his gaze steady as he met her eyes.

"Hey, don't worry. I'll be right there if anything goes wrong. No harm will come to you," he said softly, his voice full of conviction.

Evelyn offered him a shaky smile, nodding. "I know." But even as she said it, her heart raced at the thought of walking into the unknown.

"I should get going," she said, rising to her feet.

Derek stood with her, his protective presence calming her nerves as he walked her to the door, where Rayna's cheerful voice could already be heard from the other side.

Evelyn took a deep breath before she reached for the handle. It was time. With Derek's promise echoing in her mind, she opened the door and stepped out, ready to face whatever Sandra had in store.