Babel Novel
Chapter 30
The next day. Evelyns found herself with an unexpected lunch break without Derek. Derek had left for a conference meeting without needing her assistance, which meant she had a rare moment of freedom during office hours.
Deciding to take advantage of it, she stepped out of Derek's office, her mind already drifting towards thoughts of a quiet cafe where she could decompress
As she closed the door behind her, she heard a familiar voice. Her steps slowed, and her heart clenched painfully. Sandra was standing there, talking to Derek's secretary. Evelyn's stomach tightened with a mix of surprise and dread,
Although she had been expecting Sandra's visit from the moment she ran into Michael the first time and she had been bracing herself since she knew it was inevitable to see Sandra, seeing her now, she couldn't control how she felt,
Sandra's voice carried a lilting warmth. "I was hoping to catch up with Evelyn. Is she in""
Evelyn's eyes met the secretary's, who glanced her way, and before she could respond, Sandra followed the secretary's gaze and turned, her face lit up with delight,
"Ah, there she is! Eviel" she exclaimed, her smile broadening as she hurried over.
As Evelyn watched her approach her with that pretentious smile, she wanted nothing but to push her down, but she couldn't. She had to control her emotions.
way and leave, ignore Sandra like she had done Michael but she couldn't do that either.
She wanted to turn away
She couldn't do anything just yet. She needed to see how far this sly bitch could pretend And she wanted to gather evidence if she was going to eventually expose them.
As Sandra approached and enveloped her in a bug. Evelyn stood rigid, her arms hanging uselessly at her sides. The embrace felt like an unwanted Intrusion, a forced act that reopened wounds she lud worked hard to close.
Evelyn's body stiffened, her hands clenching into fists at her sides. Memories and emotions she had buried deep began to surge.
Thoughts from six years ago, Sandra's mocking voice and that of Michael laughing at her, how she had been totally fooled without realizing who Sandra was stirred a lot of negative emotions within her, and even though she wanted nothing than to slap Sandra hard in the face, and telling her she knew everything, she stood still.
Sandra pulled hack, her smile faltering slightly as she noticed Evelyn's cold response. "I was just asking about you. I've missed you so much, EvieTM Evelyn forced a tight smile, the effort straining her facial muscles. "Sandra, she acknowledged, her voice clipped.
Tve been expecting to see you," Evelyn said, not bothering to say anything to Sandra's earlier comment.
"Really?" Sandra asked even though she was doubting that in her mind. "If so, why didn't you bother reaching out to me at least! It's been six years, Evie. Why did you cut me off! If not for Michael. I wouldn't have known you were back and working her. Sandra said, pretending to feel hurt.
She knew that even though Evelyn was naive, she was no fool and would naturally know Michael had told her about her working at Stone Corp. "I was trying to settle in first. You look good," she said as she put some distance between them.
Sandra's eyes searched Evelyn's face, looking for a sign, any sign, that she was welcome. "Yer you visited Rayna and not me." Sandra said and when Evelyn looked at her in surprise that she knew, she shrugged.
"Don't look so surprised. I called Rayna to catch up with her and she told me you just left then. Sandra said but Evelyn said nothing as she wondered if Sandra and Michael were tailing her. "Can we talk? I was hoping we could catch up over lunch," she said softly, her tone tinged with hope.
Evelyn's heart pounded, a storm of conflicting emotions brewing within her. The anger and resentment she had bottled up for so long threatened to spill over. She swallowed hard, her throat tight. "I don't see why not, seeing as you've come all the way here to see me, Evelyn said and Sandra nodded.
Sandra linked her arm through Evelyn's, guiding her toward the elevator. "Thank you. I can't wait to catch up with you." Sandra said excitedly while Evelyn remained lent
As they rode the elevator down, Evelyn's mind raced as Sandra chattered endlessly about work. Evelyn stared at the numbers descending, feeling Trapped. She couldn't wait for the doors to open and release her from this suffocating proximity.
Coer ooturle, they found a small cafe nearby. Sandra chose a quiet table by the window, and they sat down. Evelyn could feel the tension in her own lealy, every minele tint with uprave. She wanted to be anywhere but here.
11.28 AM
Although Evelyn had been hungry earlier, she didn't have any appetite to eat in Sandra's presence, and instead, she ordered iced coffee while Sandra ordered a burger and a can of Coke.
*So, where are you staying? And why are you not coming home yet?" Sandra asked after they had gotten their orders.
"Because I have no plans of coming home. I guess you're still close to Michael." Evelyn said watching Sandra closely. She had purposely
y mentioned Michael, wanding to see how well Sandra could hide her claws in front of her.
tre really
"Yeah. Michael was really heartbroken when you called off things. We just couldn't cut him off, you know? What happened, Evie! You were excited about marrying him. What changed?" Sandra asked and Evelyn snorted, unable to hold it.
Seeing this Sandra frowned. "What Did he do something?"
"I don't want to talk about it. Let's talk about something else," Evelyn said and Sandra nodded.
"Okay. Let's talk about something else. So, what's this I hear about you working at Empowered and an interview with Derek Stone?" Sandra asked, and Evelyn smiled.
"It's exactly as you heard," she said, suspecting that this was the reason Sandra had visited her.Property of Nô)(velDr(a)ma.Org.
"I'm curious about something. How did you convince Derek to do the interview!" Sandra asked and Evelyn smirked.
"I don't think that's something I should be telling my rival, don't you think?" Evelyn said and Sandra's heart skipped a beat.