Chapter 7 Help Me!
1291 Words
Evelyn scribbled Chris' name furiously on a piece of paper.
Recently, she had been hitting walls everywhere, her business plans stagnating—all because of that wicked man!
Yet, it seemed he had barred her from his events, and she couldn't get in.
A knock at her office door broke her focus. Her assistant came in and handed her an invitation to a charity auction.
"Miss Dexys, Mr. Kensington will be attending this event, but entry to the inner circle requires personal account verification, and the threshold is quite high."
"I understand," she nodded. It seemed she needed someone to get her in there.
When she suggested the auction to Freddie, he immediately shook his head. "No. I can't help you."
After much cajoling, Evelyn finally persuaded Freddie to agree, but they made it clear that once inside, they would not interact with each other.
On the day of the auction, Evelyn donned a long gold fishtail dress adorned with fringes around the bust, the fabric intricately hollowed out at the back.
Her hair was slightly curled and cascaded down her back, secured on one side with a diamond clip.
Even among celebrities, she was a radiant presence.
As she entered the venue on Freddie's arm, many eyes turned their way.
Freddie whispered to her, "I heard you sent Chris condoms and kidney supplements?"
"And pain relief patches," Evelyn added, looking at him. "How did you know?"
Freddie didn't want to mention that the news had spread all over their circle, though he didn't know how exactly it had gotten out.
All he knew was that Chris' mother was furious about her son's reputed excesses.
"What matters isn't how I know," Freddie glanced at her, clicking his tongue, "but why you'd mock him like that and still expect his help."
"Mock him? Are you kidding? I was trying to please him," Evelyn was incredulous, genuinely having intended to ingratiate herself with Chris, not just for help, but also to thank him for shielding her from that swinging door.
"And you think sending kidney supplements and condoms is pleasing him?" Freddie raised an eyebrow.
Evelyn stared at him. "Don't be so crude! He hurt his back that day, and it looked really painful. When I was buying medicine, the pharmacist recommended the pain patches and kidney supplements."
"And the condoms?"
"They were a free promotional item from the pharmacy!" she replied.
Freddie burst into laughter, unable to hold it in.
Evelyn looked at him, not able to understand what he was laughing at.
When Chris and Aliyah arrived, the crowd stirred.
The Kensington family was at its zenith, and even among the wealthy, there were those eager to climb higher.
Evelyn looked over; Chris was dressed in a sharp black suit and white shirt, his sculpted features making him look every inch the gentleman.
Aliyah clung to his arm in a delicate princess gown, looking charming and playful.
The couple was surrounded like the moon in the sky.
Evelyn felt a pang of desolation, recalling how she had once been by his side.
Frustrated, she moved to a corner to hide in the shadows.
As the staff ushered Chris and Aliyah to the VIP area, he inadvertently glanced towards Evelyn's hiding spot.
His gaze lingered on her bare back, outlined enticingly by her golden dress.
He had to admit that Evelyn was incredibly stunning in every way.
Evelyn, trying to distract herself, flipped through the auction catalog.
"Which item does Jennifer want?" she asked Freddie.
He pointed out three pieces in the catalog. "She loves these. Before I left, she said I must get them for her."
They were a ruby camellia brooch, a pair of diamond earrings, and an emerald bracelet.
Evelyn nodded, feeling a bit envious. Nobody cared about what she liked anymore.
"For the emerald bracelet, only go up two rounds max. If it goes higher, let it go. Don't bid further."
"Why?" Freddie asked.
"It's worth that much, no more. It doesn't have much room for appreciation," Evelyn advised as she browsed the catalog. "If you can't get it, switch to this one. You can go up three to five rounds."
Freddie tilted his head. "Did you study gemology?"
"Yeah." Evelyn closed the catalog.
Soon, the auction heated up.
Chris raised his paddle repeatedly. Whenever he bid, it almost made it pointless for others to continue.
However, his taste was quite impressive, and everything he bought was exquisite.
Aliyah turned back several times to look at Evelyn, seeming both to flaunt and to challenge.
"It seems the Kensington family really likes Aliyah, right?" Evelyn asked Freddie.
"Chris' grandmother wants great-grandchildren, and she thinks a simple girl would be a better choice," Freddie replied, looking at her.
Evelyn met his gaze. "Why are you looking at me like that? You think I'm too complex?"
"You said it, not me," Freddie retorted.
Evelyn was speechless.
At the end of the auction, some additional items not listed in the catalog were added to the auction.
A pair of jade earrings with a hint of ruby went up for auction at a high starting price and seemed likely to go unsold.
Evelyn's eyes lit up, and she hastily grabbed Freddie's hand to raise his paddle.
"You want this?" Freddie was confused.
After all, the quality of the jade wasn't particularly impressive.
Chris turned around and noticed them holding hands, exchanging looks.
Then, he slowly raised his paddle.
Evelyn's face turned pale as she realized she wouldn't get the only thing she wanted.
Freddie's mood soured, too. He quickly withdrew his hand, only to notice Evelyn's disappointed face.
"Why the long face? They're not worth it."
"The jade was nothing, but those rubies on the earrings are the same grade as the 0.895-carat red diamond auctioned last year for a record price," Evelyn sighed, her disappointment palpable.
The auction was followed by a cocktail party.
Evelyn picked up a glass of red wine from a tray and noticed Chris stepping into a corner to take a call.
She followed him without hesitation.
Her fishtail dress swayed energetically as she rounded a column. She was certain that Chris had come this way.
But why did he disappear?
She stepped forward, only to be suddenly pushed from behind.
A hand covered her mouth as she screamed, and she was pulled behind the heavy drapery.
Immediately, both of them were enveloped by darkness.
Evelyn struggled, but it was futile against the strength of the man behind her.
He was strapping, and as he covered her mouth, he circled her waist and lifted her up.
'Someone help me! A pervert attacked me!' she screamed inwardly, feeling utterly desperate.
Evelyn's legs kicked frantically, but the fish-tail hem of her dress trapped her long legs.
Pressed against the windowsill, her heart pounded in terror.
With a fierce bite, Evelyn clamped down on the fingers of the man.
A hissing sound came from behind, laced with a hint of amusement. "What sharp teeth! Are you a dog in your last life?"
'That voice...'
Evelyn's body suddenly relaxed, nearly bringing her to tears.
It was him again!
"You're a pervert!" she exclaimed, her voice tight with the aftermath of fright.
Chris let out a low chuckle as he maliciously tugged at her earlobe.
Evelyn felt her earring might have fallen off, the pin stinging her skin.
"Don't move."
Chris gently cupped Evelyn's neck with one hand, while his other hand slowly traced up her spine.
A shiver ran through Evelyn's body, her skin tingling at his touch.
He leaned in close, his lips nearly brushing her ear. A mischievous smirk played across his face as he whispered, "I checked - there are no cameras here. How about we have some fun?"
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