Chapter 101
Golden morning light spilled through the curtains as Evelyn Sinclair stretched like a contented feline beneath her silk sheets. The Whitmore heiress arched her back gracefully, her toned arms reaching upward as she greeted the new day.
Dressed in a sleek ivory athleisure set, she headed to the estate’s private lake for her morning rowing session. Oliver Kensington, her ever-attentive assistant, stood waiting by the dock with a chilled water bottle in one hand and a plush towel draped over his arm.
“The footage of Victoria’s harassment incident has been scrubbed from all platforms,” Oliver reported, handing her the towel with practiced efficiency. “Even the hashtags have disappeared without a trace.”
Evelyn accepted the water bottle, her delicate throat moving as she drank. Oliver’s breath caught at the elegant curve of her neck – even this simple act carried an unconscious grace.
“Blackwood Enterprises’ crisis management team is the most ruthless in Faircrest,” Evelyn remarked, dabbing at her glistening forehead. “With Sebastian Blackwood personally overseeing damage control, this was inevitable.”
Oliver’s eyebrows shot up. “Sebastian removed the videos himself?”
A knowing smile played on Evelyn’s lips as she tossed her hair. “He’s simply cutting his losses. If I’d first encountered him in the boardroom rather than the bedroom, I would’ve seen through that calculating nature immediately.”
Their ill-fated romance had been a mistake from beginning to end – a momentary lapse in judgment that still made her cringe.
“What’s our next move?” Oliver asked.
Evelyn’s dark eyes sparkled with mischief. “The employee is still at Mercy General, correct? After my hotel inspection and board meeting, we’ll pay her a visit.”
Later that afternoon, Eleanor Whitmore nearly tumbled from her hospital bed when the CEO of Whitmore Holdings appeared in her doorway. The young clerk scrambled upright, wincing at the sudden movement.
“Ms. Sinclair! I-I didn’t expect—”
“Relax, Eleanor,” Evelyn soothed, gently pressing the girl back against the pillows. “Your health comes first. The hotel has already processed your workers’ compensation claim.”
Tears welled in Eleanor’s eyes. “But the medical bills—”
“Are fully covered,” Evelyn finished firmly. “Now, I need your opinion on how we should handle Victoria Blackwood’s actions.”
Eleanor’s face fell. “She’s a Blackwood. What can someone like me possibly do? They’ve already erased all evidence…”
Evelyn’s gaze turned steely. “What if I told you we could force a public apology?”
“A public—?” Eleanor gasped. “But that’s impossible!”
“Not if we reveal the full story,” Evelyn countered. “Though it may disrupt your life temporarily. This is your decision – I won’t proceed without your consent.”
Eleanor twisted the hospital sheets nervously. “A private apology would be more than enough…”
“Victoria would never honor a private apology,” Evelyn said bluntly. “Only public humiliation will compel her. But I understand if you’re afraid—”
“No!” Eleanor blurted, then flushed. “I mean…if you think we can do this…I want justice.”
Evelyn’s smile could have frozen the lake she’d rowed on that morning. “Leave everything to me. No one humiliates a Whitmore Holdings employee and gets away with it.”
As she swept from the room, Evelyn already had three contingency plans forming in her mind. Sebastian Blackwood had no idea what was coming.
