Chapter 4: I Am Seducing You
1069 Words
Evelyn was there the night I broke up with Ryan Lancaster.
It was a business dinner hosted by Sterling Group.
Ryan attended as the representative of the Lancaster family. My father was very satisfied and insisted I enter the hall holding Ryan’s arm.
I wore a black slip dress.
Ryan lowered his voice and asked, “Are you sure?”
“Yes.”
“Uncle Richard will go crazy.”
“Whether he goes crazy has nothing to do with you.”
Ryan sighed.
“That’s not what I meant.”
I looked at him.
He was gentle.
One of the few men I did not dislike.
We had pretended to date since university.
He helped me block my family’s pressure.
I helped him hide from the Lancaster family.
Later, we even became friends.
But this act had lasted long enough.
I said, “You should go find the person you actually like.”
Ryan fell silent for a moment.
Then he smiled.
“What about you?”
I did not answer.
Because at that time, I did not know what I was looking for either.
Halfway through the dinner, Evelyn walked in with my father.
She wore a dark green dress that night. Her hair was loose, and her lipstick was light.
Many men looked at her.
But she only stood beside my father, eyes lowered slightly, like a beautiful and obedient flower.
I watched my father lower his head and say something to her.
She smiled.
Soft.
Gentle.
The kind of smile that made my stomach twist.
I wondered whether my mother would feel sick if she saw this.
The next second, I let go of Ryan’s arm.
He froze.
I picked up a glass of wine from a waiter’s tray and walked straight toward Evelyn.
She saw me.
Her eyes moved.
“Miss Sterling.”
I ignored her and looked at my father.
“Dad, Ryan and I broke up.”
My father’s smile vanished.
“What did you say?”
The conversations around us quieted.
People turned to look.
My father lowered his voice.
“Don’t make a scene here.”
“I’m not.”
I turned to Ryan.
He walked over calmly and said, “Uncle Richard, Chloe and I discussed this. We aren’t suitable for each other.”
My father’s face turned iron gray.
The Lancaster family looked over too.
This was supposed to be a dignified dinner between two families.
I had ruined it.
My father swallowed his anger and glared at me.
“Come outside.”
I did not move.
Instead, I looked at Evelyn.
She stood there, clearly planning to stay out of the father-daughter war.
I refused to let her.
“Assistant Hart,” I asked, “do you think Ryan and I are suitable?”
She did not expect me to ask her.
My father frowned.
“Chloe!”
I only stared at her.
After a few seconds, Evelyn said, “Matters of love should be decided by Miss Sterling herself.”
Smart answer.
She did not offend me.
She did not offend my father.
I smiled.
“What if I like someone else?”
She looked at me.
For the first time, something shifted in her eyes.
I stepped closer to her.
Close enough to smell her perfume.
It was like gardenia after rain.
Too clean for a woman like her.
I asked softly, “Evelyn Hart, do you think it’s shameful for me to like women?”
Her pupils tightened.
My father’s expression changed.
The room became even quieter.
Evelyn looked at me for a long time.
Then she said, “No.”
I smiled.
“Really?”
I handed her my glass.
“Then drink this. Consider it a toast to my breakup.”
She did not take it.
My father’s voice was icy.
“Chloe Sterling, don’t go too far.”
So I went further.
I raised the glass, drank a mouthful, then leaned closer to Evelyn.
She instinctively stepped back.
I stopped in front of her and smiled.
“What are you afraid of?”
“I won’t kiss you.”
Her eyes darkened.
That was the first time I saw the other side beneath Evelyn’s gentle mask.
Cold.
Sharp.
Aggressive.
My heart suddenly beat faster.
Not because I liked her.
I told myself that.
It was only the excitement of a hunter watching prey reveal a weakness.
After that night, the news of my breakup with Ryan spread through our circle.
My father was so angry he ignored me for two days.
On the third day, he asked me to deliver a document to Evelyn at the company.
It was ridiculous.
He had secretaries.
Drivers.
Countless people to run errands.
But he insisted on sending me.
I knew what he wanted.
He wanted me to lower my head.
He wanted me to understand that Evelyn was now by his side, and if I disobeyed, my position as his daughter could slowly disappear.
So I went.
Evelyn was waiting outside a conference room.
When she saw me, she froze.
“Miss Sterling.”
I handed her the document.
She took it and said, “Thank you.”
I did not leave.
She asked, “Is there anything else?”
“Yes.”
She looked at me.
I asked, “Did you mean what you said?”
“What?”
“That liking women isn’t shameful.”
She was silent.
I looked into her eyes and said slowly, “Evelyn Hart, have you ever liked a woman?”
She smiled.
“Miss Sterling, don’t tease me.”
“I’m not.”
I stepped closer.
“I’m asking seriously.”
She looked at me for a long time.
Then she said, “For someone like me, liking someone is too luxurious.”
“Then you like money?”
“Yes.”
She admitted it quickly.
“Money is not luxurious. Money is real.”
I smiled.
“Then choose me.”
She froze.
I looked at her and lowered my voice.
“I’m younger than my father.”
“And I’m more generous.”
At that moment, the smile on Evelyn’s face disappeared completely.
She stared at me.
For the first time, anger appeared in her eyes.
“Chloe Sterling, do you know what you’re saying?”
“Yes.”
I copied her soft tone and smiled badly.
“Evelyn Hart, I’m seducing you.”
- Writer
