Chapter 8 - A New Horizon
The after-party had wound down by two in the morning. The ballroom was quiet, the chandeliers dimmed to a soft golden glow.
Evelyn stood on the private balcony of the penthouse suite on the forty-fifth floor, looking out over the glittering expanse of Lake Michigan. The cold night wind rushed past her, but she didn't feel cold. She was wearing a soft cream cashmere sweater—a gift from the hotel's concierge team—and holding a warm cup of herbal tea.
The heavy glass door slid open behind her.
John walked out onto the balcony, holding two glasses of sparkling water. He had removed his tuxedo jacket and loosened his tie, looking relaxed for the first time since she had met him.
He walked over, leaning his elbows on the stone railing next to her.
"Your brother Caleb called," John said gently. "I had my legal team execute the paperwork. His student debts are cleared, and his lease in Albany Park is fully paid through the end of next year."
Evelyn looked at him, her eyes shining with deep emotion. "You didn't have to do that, John."
"I take care of my partners," John said softly, turning his head to look at her. "And you haven't officially answered my question from earlier."
Evelyn smiled, taking a sip of her tea. "You gave me a contract for a hundred and twenty thousand dollars, a penthouse suite, half the equity in a European expansion, and you cleared my family’s debts... all because I fell asleep in your bathroom?"
"I gave you those things because you were the first person in five years who looked me in the eye and told me the truth," John corrected, his voice dropping into a deep, intimate register. "In my world, everyone tells me what I want to hear because they want my money or my influence. You called my eighty-five-dollar soup garbage while smelling like floor bleach."
Evelyn laughed—a genuine, light sound that echoed over the balcony.
"It was garbage," she reminded him.
"It was," John agreed, his lips curving into a genuine, breathtaking smile.
He reached out, his long fingers gently tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear. His hand lingered against her jawline, his skin warm against the cool night air.
"Stay with me, Evelyn," he whispered, his dark eyes locking onto hers with unmistakable intensity. "Not just for the business. For me."
May you like
Evelyn felt a shiver run down her spine that had nothing to do with the wind. She leaned into his touch, her heart beating with a sweet, wild rhythm.
"I'm not going anywhere, John," she murmured.
