Falling For My Handsome Uncle

Chapter 5

Chapter 5 — The Woman He Still Saw as a Child

Evelyn Rose's POV

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I had one mission when I walked into Cross International that morning. I was going to prove to Julian Cross that I was no longer the little girl he had rescued from a snowy roadside. Unfortunately, the first thing I discovered was that his employees already knew something about me that I hadn't been brave enough to admit to myself. I was his betrothed. Not his niece. Not his ward. Not the grieving little girl everyone needed to protect. His future wife. The thought made my stomach perform an embarrassing little somersault. I ignored it. I had bigger problems. Julian's black car stopped in front of the enormous glass building, and I stared through the window. “This is your office?” “Part of it.” “Part?” He looked at me. “Cross International has several divisions.” I pressed a hand against the glass. “Are you secretly a billionaire villain?” “No.” “You have the building of one.” “I'll take that as a compliment.” “It wasn't.” His mouth twitched. That tiny movement almost made me smile. Almost. We entered through the revolving doors. The lobby was polished marble, enormous screens, expensive furniture, and people who seemed to walk faster whenever Julian appeared. Then a woman approaching from the reception desk stopped. Her eyes moved from Julian to me. Then back to Julian. “Oh.” That single word contained an entire novel. Julian's expression remained unreadable. “Good morning, Claire.” “Good morning, sir.” She glanced at me again. “Is this...?” “My guest.” I nearly groaned. Guest? After everything? Before I could stop myself, I said, “I'm Evelyn.” Claire smiled. “Of course.” Something about her tone made me suspicious. Then another employee walked past, noticed us, and whispered to someone nearby. “That's our CEO's betrothed wife.” My feet stopped. Julian stopped too. The employee went pale. “I mean... future wife.” Another person coughed. Someone else suddenly became fascinated by the ceiling. I looked at Julian. He looked at the employees. The entire lobby became so quiet I could hear the faint hum of the air conditioner. “Do you want to explain?” I asked. Julian's eyebrow lifted. “They've been informed.” “Informed?” “That you're my betrothed.” My cheeks warmed. “You could have told me.” “You didn't ask.” “I shouldn't have to ask whether your entire company knows I'm apparently your future wife!” A few employees looked like they were desperately trying not to listen. Julian leaned closer. “Would you prefer I announce it formally?” “No!” “Then we're settled.” He walked toward the elevator. I hurried after him. “That was not settling anything.” The elevator doors closed. I crossed my arms. “You embarrassed me.” “You embarrassed yourself.” My mouth fell open. “Excuse me?” “You challenged an employee in the middle of the lobby.” “Because he called me your wife!” “He corrected himself.” “That doesn't make it less embarrassing.” Julian glanced at me. “You're going to have to become comfortable with people knowing about our engagement.” The word engagement landed differently this time. It wasn't something written in an old family document anymore. It was real. Visible. Waiting for me. I swallowed. “What exactly does being your betrothed mean?” His gaze sharpened. “That depends on what you want it to mean.” The elevator reached the top floor before I could answer. His executive assistant greeted us. “Mr. Cross, the board meeting begins in twenty minutes.” Julian nodded. Then he turned toward me. “Your study room is ready.” “My what?” “I had one prepared.” “You planned everything?” “Yes.” “Do you ever do anything spontaneously?” “No.” I stared at him. “That explains your personality.” His assistant covered a smile. Julian gave me a warning look. I smiled sweetly. He walked away. I followed. His office was enormous, with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the city. Beyond another door was a private study containing everything I needed: textbooks, a laptop, notebooks, stationery, even the particular tea I liked. I touched the edge of the desk. “You remembered.” “I remember everything concerning you.” My heart stumbled. He said it so casually. As though those words meant nothing. To me, they meant too much. I turned away before he could notice my expression. “You're still treating me like a child.” His footsteps stopped. “No.” “Yes.” “Evelyn.” “You send me to study. You arrange my schedule. You prepare a study room. You tell me what I can and cannot do.” “Because I care about you.” The words silenced me. Julian stepped closer, but maintained enough distance to make his meaning clear. “You've just lost your parents. You're entering adulthood under circumstances nobody should have to face. I'm not trying to control your life.” “Then what are you doing?” “Giving you room to build it.” I looked down. “I don't want you to see me as someone you have to protect forever.” His voice softened. “You'll always matter to me. That doesn't mean you'll always need protecting.” Something inside my chest loosened. He placed a folder on the desk. “Your examination schedule.” I opened it. “Your university applications are also included. I've arranged options here and abroad.” “Abroad?” “If you want to experience another country, you should.” I stared at him. “You'd let me leave?” “If that's what you choose.” For the first time, I understood what he was doing. He wasn't holding me. He was opening the door. And somehow, that frightened me more. Because if Julian was willing to let me go, perhaps the thing I secretly wanted most was something he had never wanted at all. Him. I closed the folder. “Julian?” “Yes?” “If I told you I wanted something you couldn't give me, what would you do?” His eyes settled on mine. “I'd tell you the truth.” My pulse quickened. “And if the truth hurt?” “I'd rather hurt you with honesty than keep you with a lie.” He walked toward the door. “Your first lecture is at ten.” I watched him leave. Then I whispered to the empty office, “What if I don't want a lecture?” My fingers tightened around the folder. “What if I want you?”