Evelyn’s POV
The hum of the diner’s fridge was the only sound between them. Evelyn sat at one of the empty booths, phone in hand, staring at the message for the hundredth time. The glowing screen burned her eyes, but she couldn’t stop looking.
Welcome, Miss Carter. Your first appointment has been scheduled. Please prepare to meet your intended parent.
Client: Damian Blackwood.
The name looked unreal, like something cut from a newspaper headline.
Carmen slid into the booth across from her, carrying two mugs of coffee. “You’ve been staring at that thing for an hour. What’s up?”
Wordlessly, Evelyn turned the phone toward her.
Carmen read it, then blinked. “Damian Blackwood? As in… Blackwood Enterprises? Billionaire playboy with a stick permanently lodged up his—”
“Carmen.” Evelyn’s wh
