Chapter 5 — The Woman He Ordered Out

The Hartwell Group reception occupied the top two floors of the Langford Hotel.

Financial reporters crowded behind velvet ropes. Investors, politicians, and executives filled the ballroom beneath chandeliers shaped like falling ice.

For Crosswell, the reception was more than a social event. A delayed financing round had left the company with less than four months of operating cash, and Hartwell Group had recently announced a billion-dollar technology fund. Julian had told his board that one private conversation with Arthur Hart could solve everything.

He had called senators, donors, former clients, and three people who falsely claimed to be Arthur's friends. None had secured him a formal invitation. In the end, Serena had persuaded a junior sponsor to place their names on a secondary guest list.

"Once Mr. Hart sees you in person, he'll understand what Crosswell could become," Serena had said on the drive over. "People like him respect men who refuse to stay poor."

Julian had believed her. Believing Serena was always easiest when she told him he deserved more.

Julian had spent months trying to secure an invitation.

Now he stood beside Serena near the entrance, waiting for the man who could change Crosswell's future with one conversation.

Then a black sedan stopped at the red carpet.

Evelyn stepped out.

Julian's champagne glass struck the floor and shattered.

She wore no engagement ring. Her dark hair fell in a smooth line over one shoulder, and the black gown made the bruise at her throat impossible to ignore.

He pushed through the crowd.

"What are you doing here?"

"Attending a reception."

"You left the hospital against my instructions."

"Your instructions stopped mattering yesterday."

Serena joined them and hooked her arm through Julian's. "This isn't the place for another scene, Evelyn. Arthur Hart is announcing his successor tonight. If you embarrass Julian, you could destroy Crosswell's only chance to meet him."

Evelyn glanced at Serena's hand on Julian's arm.

"Then you should both be on your best behavior."

Whispers spread among the guests. Several recognized Evelyn from the ten failed wedding announcements that had become a private joke in Chicago society.

Julian lowered his voice. "You're angry about the baby. I understand. But you cannot punish hundreds of employees because you're emotional. Go back to the hotel. We'll talk after I meet Hart."

"The baby you traded for three scratches?"

Nearby conversations stopped.

Serena's face changed. "That's not what happened."

"Then perhaps we should discuss it in front of the reporters."

Julian grabbed Evelyn's upper arm.

"Enough."

Pain flashed through her, but she did not pull away.

"Take your hand off me."

"Not until you agree to leave."

"You may want to reconsider being photographed restraining the woman with bruises on her throat."

Camera shutters began clicking.

Julian released her.

"Security," he called. "Escort this woman out before she disrupts the event."

Two hotel security officers approached. One spoke quietly into his radio, then stopped several feet from Evelyn.

"Ms. Hart, is anyone preventing you from entering?"

Julian blinked. "I just told you to remove her."

"You are a guest, Mr. Cross. Ms. Hart is on the principal list."

Serena laughed too loudly. "There must be another Evelyn Hart. This one didn't even know who designed her own wedding dress."

"I knew," Evelyn said. "I simply stopped caring about labels when I left New York."

Julian studied her. "What does New York have to do with this?"

Adrian emerged from the ballroom with four members of Hartwell's executive security team.

His gaze dropped to Julian's hand, still hovering near Evelyn's arm.

"It means you should move away from her."

Julian squared his shoulders. "This is between Evelyn and me."

"There is no you and Evelyn."

"You think because your family gave you money, you can take my fiancée?"

"No one can take a woman who has already left."

Evelyn stepped between them.

"Adrian, I don't need you to answer for me."

He inclined his head and moved to her side rather than in front of her.

Julian pointed toward the doors. "Tell him the truth. Tell him you called because you wanted to make me jealous."

"I called Adrian because I was ready to go home."

"This is your home."

"A house where your guards confiscated my keys? A company where you prepared documents to steal my voting rights? A relationship where I was expected to accept your mistress and thank you for another wedding?"

His face went rigid. "You have no one in Chicago without me."

"You still believe that?"

Serena's eyes moved from Evelyn to the security detail. "What are you trying to imply? That this reception is for you?"

"It is."

Serena stared, then burst into laughter.

"You lose a pregnancy and suddenly decide you're Arthur Hart's mystery heiress? Do you hear yourself?"

Some guests smiled uncertainly. Others recognized Adrian Shaw and became very quiet.

Julian caught Evelyn's wrist. "You're grieving and confused. I'm taking you home before you humiliate yourself."

"Let go."

He pulled her toward the lobby.

Adrian started forward, but Evelyn raised her free hand.

"No."

She twisted her wrist the way a self-defense instructor had taught her as a teenager, broke Julian's grip, and stepped back.

"Touch me again, and security will detain you until the police arrive."

Julian looked stunned.

"Who are you?"

"The same woman who stood beside you when you had nothing. You just never bothered to learn who she was."

The ballroom doors opened behind them.

The crowd separated as an elderly man entered with a silver-topped cane. Arthur Hart did not hurry. He never had to.

Board members and cameras followed him, but his attention went directly to Evelyn.

Relief softened his severe face for one fleeting second.

Serena whispered, "That can't be Arthur Hart."

A senior senator standing nearby looked at her in disbelief. "I assure you, it is."

Julian went pale.

Arthur stopped before Evelyn and studied the bruises at her throat.

His hand tightened around his cane.

"Who did that to you?"

Evelyn met Julian's eyes.

"I'll tell you everything after the announcement."

Arthur turned toward the cameras, then offered Evelyn his arm.

"Ladies and gentlemen," he said, his voice carrying across the silent ballroom, "allow me to introduce my granddaughter."