enny caught a glimpse of Jason entering through the corner of her eye. To cover her nerves, she acted as if she hadn’t seen him, smoothly changing the subject.

“Eve, you’ve been here a while. Don’t spend all your energy on work; maybe think about your personal life too. My nephew is a law school grad student at Capital University—tall, good-looking, and with a great personality. He’s got places in both Capital City and Riverton. He’s watched your show and seems pretty interested in you. How about meeting him for a dinner sometime?”

Evelyn was about to politely decline, but seeing Jason in the mirror, she changed her mind out of sheer defiance. “Once things settle down, sure, let’s meet for dinner and see how it goes.”

“Great! No time like the present—how about Saturday night? I’d love to make you family!” Penny beamed, her excitement so intense she accidentally dabbed some concealer on Evelyn’s lips and quickly wiped it off with a tissue.

By now, Jason’s face had darkened. Their eyes met in the mirror, his gaze narrowed and unreadable, full of something Evelyn couldn’t quite place. She didn’t bother greeting him, choosing to maintain her silence.

“Oh, VP Stark,” Penny finally turned, acknowledging him.

“I need a moment with Miss Joy.” Jason’s tone was curt, effectively dismissing her. “Take a little break.”

Understanding the cue, Penny set down her brush and eyeshadow palette, then left the room.

Evelyn fixed her cold gaze on Jason’s reflection in the makeup mirror. “Here to defend Miss Brooks again?”

“No,” he replied, moving behind her, his hands landing on her shoulders. “I’m here to see Miss Joy… going on a date.”

Evelyn, in a red off-the-shoulder dress, felt the weight of his hands, his presence intense. The dress hugged her curves just right, and her porcelain skin seemed to glow against the deep red fabric, the delicate curve of her waist and hips exuding an undeniable allure.

"Already thinking about finding someone new before the divorce is even finalized?" Jason's grip suddenly tightened as he spoke, causing a sharp pain in her shoulders, making her flinch.

She let out a muffled groan. "So, it's fine for you to see someone new, but not me?”

Jason's voice was sharp as he replied, "No." His hand remained on her shoulder, applying a gentle squeeze that contrasted with the intensity of his words. “How could you insult me in front of everyone at the parking lot?”

“Given Miss Brooks' nature, I'm sure whatever I did or didn’t say has been relayed to Mr. Stark,” Evelyn replied coolly, her expression unwavering.

Jason tangled a strand of her hair around his fingers, the coldness in his gaze deepening. “Now you don’t even want to say a word to me?”

Over the past two years, she had kept her hair at shoulder length for the sake of appearances, and today it was still unstyled, cascading loosely down her back. To ease the awkwardness, she slowly spoke up, “This morning, I had a biopsy done at People's Hospital. The results will be out in a day or two.”

She spoke the untruth with the poise of someone sharing a mundane detail. Jason pulled her into his embrace, the scent of smoke swirling around them. She wrinkled her nose in distaste and tried to pull away, but he only tightened his grip.

“Let’s not dwell on unpleasant things. Let’s talk about something happy,” Jason said, the warmth in his eyes suddenly more pronounced. “What brand of jewelry do you like?”

Evelyn dismissed it as a fleeting impression. Just minutes ago, he had been defending Cecilia. Yet he asked again, “What brand do you prefer?”

“I don’t care much for brands; I’m not really knowledgeable about them,” she said, confused as she pulled away one of his hands.

His hand quickly settled on her waist again. “Not into brands, but there must be materials you like—gold, jade, diamonds?”

“Pearls,” she replied instinctively.

Jason’s expression shifted abruptly, storm clouds brewing in his eyes. Before she could comprehend the change, he turned and strode away. The door to the makeup room slammed shut with a loud bang.

What had she said that had triggered him again? Perhaps it was the nature of attraction—what was said by someone you found appealing always seemed to resonate, while anything from someone you didn’t care for was merely grating.

Unfortunately, she fell into the latter category.

Penny finished her makeup and began styling her hair. As Evelyn rehearsed her lines, Penny cautiously probed, “Eve, be honest—does Jason have feelings for you?”

“Absolutely not,” Evelyn replied firmly, exhaling deeply. “Penny, my earlier agreement to the blind date was just a joke. I’ll be focusing on work for the next two years, and I’m not looking to date.”

“Don’t try to dodge the issue. I’ve already called my nephew; he’s over the moon about it and has set the blind date for Saturday evening at Fortune Manor. We’re meeting, no ifs or buts,” Penny said, grinning from ear to ear.

Evelyn felt utterly lost. What had begun as a light-hearted jest had turned into a firm plan.

In a bid to escape, she fabricated a story, “Actually, I have a boyfriend whom I’ve been dating for years.”

“Three years of working together and you’ve never mentioned a boyfriend, Eve. You must be lying to get out of this,” Penny retorted skeptically.

“It’s true,” Evelyn insisted, bracing herself.

Penny shook her head. “I don’t believe you. Unless you bring him to the studio for me to see.”

“He lives far away. We rarely get to meet because he’s always busy with work.”

Penny sighed in exasperation. “Dating should be something you’re proud of. After three years of being colleagues, you haven’t mentioned a word.”

The farcical blind date had arrived swiftly and would likely leave just as quickly.

At four-thirty that afternoon, Evelyn and the male host took the stage for their final rehearsal. By five, the annual meeting officially began.

The elder Mr. Stark sat in the center of the front row for half an hour before being helped away by his secretary. Jason took the seat to his right, leaving the left side empty.

Cecilia sat directly behind Jason, making it easy for them to whisper to each other with the staggered seating arrangement.

As the Stark Group’s operations department initiated the live broadcast, Evelyn stood on stage with utmost caution. Each word and smile was carefully crafted to be flawless.

On stage, she spoke with confidence, exuding a captivating charm. This annual meeting was personally organized by Jason, showcasing one theme—wealth.

Cash prizes, smartphones, computers, and even electric cars were on the line, creating an atmosphere of excitement that built upon itself throughout the event.

When it was Jason's turn to present awards, he aimed to encourage the employees who hadn’t won anything. Evelyn eagerly handed him the microphone, but to her surprise, Jason reached over her, extending his hand toward the male host standing farther away.

Not wanting to reveal her irritation, Evelyn took a couple of steps back, smiling as she said, “Please welcome VP Stark—”

The male host, quick to catch on, respectfully handed the microphone to Jason.

After Jason spoke, he engaged in a few exchanges with the male host, leaving Evelyn entirely sidelined. To avoid drawing attention, she feigned interest in the cue card in her hand, keeping her eyes downcast.