Chapter 59
Michael had expected to be ignored. He stared in surprise as Evelyn walked away. What went wrong? She had clearly seen him but didn't even acknowledge him. “Mr. Cooper,” someone called beside him. Michael snapped out of it. “It’s nothing. I’ll report back to Mr. Grant.” Still, as he left, he glanced once more in Evelyn’s direction, frowning. What game was she playing?
At the top floor of Bluzen Tower, Lucas had just stepped out of a meeting. He skimmed through the report his secretary handed him as he walked. Michael dismissed the rest of the employees and followed Lucas into his office.
“Mr. Grant, Jackson Group agreed to give up a percentage point. They’re showing sincerity. Here’s the final proposal.” Lucas flipped through the pages, signed without hesitation, and nodded. “Good work.” Without looking up, he asked, “How’s the progress with Professor Hill?” Tiffany had been eager to meet him. Lucas had been pulling strings to make it happen.
“No conferences. We need to find another way in,” Michael began. “It’s tricky. Professor Hill is notoriously difficult. He refuses private engagements and rarely attends public events or conferences. We…”
Lucas capped his pen and finally looked up. His voice was calm but absolute. “Make it happen. I don’t care what it takes.” Michael understood that Lucas was willing to go to great lengths for Tiffany—even looking for someone as hard to reach as Graham just to pave the way for her. It was all so she could establish herself in the field and achieve something on her own.
Then, Michael spoke up. “I can contact Evelyn Reed at Flying Seal Group,” he said, recalling how she had completely dismissed him. He scoffed. “Acting all high and mighty now that she’s working under Mr. Hill. It won’t be long before she’s crawling back, looking for an excuse to get close to you again.”
Lucas barely reacted, only lifting his gaze slightly. “Is that so?” Michael continued, his voice laced with disdain. “She’s quite arrogant.”
Lucas finally lifted his head fully and glanced at Michael, his expression indifferent but carrying an unmistakable weight. His tone was calm but firm. “She works for Flying Seal Group now. Regarding her as a manager isn’t appropriate. Moving forward, she might even be a business partner. Adjust your attitude.”
Michael was stunned. He couldn’t read Lucas at all. He quickly lowered his head and said, “Understood, Mr. Grant.”
Lucas checked his watch and stood up. As he moved to leave, Michael’s gaze drifted toward a cabinet across the room. A thought crossed his mind as he asked, “Do you want me to clear out the documents Ms. Reed sent over?” The things Evelyn had asked Michael to deliver to Lucas before were still sitting in the cabinet, completely untouched. She was no longer at Bluzen. There was no point in keeping them. Without even looking back, Lucas replied curtly, “Just leave them as they are.”
Evelyn was surprised to see Lucas’s name on her phone screen that afternoon. Except since she moved out, he had barely contacted her. The one time he had, it had been a late-night call that woke her up. Most of the time, it was like he forgot she even existed. She answered, “What do you need?”
His deep voice came through the line. “Grandma is sick; you should visit her.” Evelyn paused. “Great.” Immediately, Lucas hung up. There was a silence before he added, “Don’t mention anything to her about me.” She understood what he meant—Tiffany, the affair, all of it.
Evelyn remained silent, a slight smile playing on her lips. Before she could respond, he hung up—just like always. He was completely indifferent to her reactions and feelings. Because to him, she would always comply. She had never refused him before, and he didn't think she would now. Her objections didn't matter; he had already decided for her. He was certain she wouldn’t dare go against him.