"Sorry, the number you''ve dialed is switched off."


    Hearing this automated message, Evelyn felt her emotions start to settle. It was too early, and SJ was probably asleep.


    [Call me when you wake up,] she typed out quickly, sending the text before slipping her phone back into her purse. Just as she was about to head into the subway, a car horn honked behind her. She turned to see the sleek ck Maybach parked nearby-Brooks'' car. He hadn''t left; he was waiting for her. Evelyn got back in.


    She was about to thank him but remembered his earlier words and stopped herself just in time.


    "Not bad," Brooks said, a gentle smile ying on his lips as heplimented her.


    Evelyn gave him a helpless look in return. Their eyes met, and they both couldn''t help but chuckle softly. In that moment, Evelyn felt the invisible gap between her and Brooks close just a little. "Brooks, Rosa set you up as my blind date. Why did Michael show up to pick me up instead?" Evelyn asked, not using Brooks but just trying to understand.


    "On my way to pick you up, Sena suddenly dashed out, and I identally bumped into her," Brooks exined. "At the time, I thought it was just an ident, so I took her to the hospital immediately." "So, Sena and Michael teamed up to drug me?" Evelyn asked, unsurprised to hear Sena''s name.


    "Yes, Sena approached Michael to drug you, to create a fait apli. I''m sorry, I pulled you into this mess," Brooks admitted, having nned to exin and let Evelyn decide how to handle it. Evelyn was puzzled for a moment when Brooks said he dragged her into it but quickly pieced it together. "Sena is into you?"


    She''d heard that Sena had been obsessed with a certain guy for years, but she never knew who it was since she rarely crossed paths with Sena during those five years she spent with Charles.


    "I don''t like her, and there''s nothing between us," Brooks insisted just as the light turned red, his eyes serious as they met Evelyn''s.


    "I know you have someone you like," Evelyn teased, amused by his earnestness. She didn''t really care about his ties with Sena or any other woman. Brooks caught on to her expression, his gaze flickering as he changed the subject. "What are you going to do about Sena? Need any help?" "No, I''ve got it," Evelyn replied confidently, shaking her head.


    "If you need anything, just let me know."


    "Okay."


    As they neared herpany, Brooks parked a few blocks away at a corner. Evelyn waved goodbye, heading quickly toward the office.


    Brooks watched until she disappeared from view before starting the car and driving away.


    ...


    Later that afternoon, the private


    detective finally called Evelyn back.


    It wasn''t the right time to talk


    the


    office, so they arranged to meet that evening.


    After work Evelyn took a cab to The Capital, a private club known for its discretion. She went into a private room, and just as she did, Charles appeared on the same floor, entering room 888.


    The detective was waiting for her. Evelyn sat down, getting straight to the point, "What did you find out?"