The previous night had been a mad dash. After investigating everyone around Miss Grant with the surname Summers, they finally confirmed that the only one close to her was a girl named Yara Summers.
Inside the executive office, a vast sunset stretched across the sky outside the floor-to-ceiling windows. It was a swirl of pink and orange, like an oil painting.
Preston Keaton stood before the expansive windows, his figure seemingly shrouded in the somber gloom of twilight. Authoritative and composed, he was in the middle of a casual phone call.
He spoke in low, slow Cantonese, his tone nonchalant.
"I'm busy. I don't have time."
"I'm flying to Venn tonight for a two-week business trip."
"We'll talk when I get back."
'It was probably another call from the Chairman's wife, urging Mr. Keaton to meet with some young lady or another.'
Wyatt Walsh waited quietly, approaching only when he heard footsteps.
"Sir, it's time for us to leave for the airport."
The trip to Venn, which should have started earlier, had been pushed back by three days.
But since Mr. Keaton wasn't there yet, the team in Venn could only wait. They wouldn't dare complain.
Preston Keaton scooped up his suit jacket, the sheer presence of his tall, imposing frame filling the office with a heavy pressure. He responded coolly with a "hm." "Let's go."
Wyatt Walsh could tell his boss was in a bad mood.
He lowered his head, feeling a little anxious.
'Who would have thought that Miss Grant would actually send me a message to say she'd landed safely in Kryllos?'
'Maybe it was because during her time in Hong Kong, she had always come to me with her questions, and I had answered them all.'
He quickened his pace to walk beside Preston Keaton, bracing himself.
"The young lady will be returning to Hong Kong early next month."
The elevator dinged. Preston Keaton stepped inside, his voice completely unruffled and devoid of emotion.
"The Midlands. Keep a close watch."
—
Evelyn Grant only stayed in Kryllos for a few days before returning to Solara.
Leo Lawrence grumbled a bit about why she hadn't gone to Bexley to see him.
Evelyn Grant immediately scrambled out of bed, found several social media posts from paparazzi who had been tailing him for a solid week, and sent them over. "You think I'd dare go?"
Too many paparazzi had been following him lately.
Even he couldn't help but mutter, "Did I offend the gods or something?"
But it did put an end to the discussion about her going to Bexley.
In any case, he had some time off next month, so they could meet eventually.
That evening, she had dinner plans with Liam Aldrin. Too lazy for makeup, she threw on some clothes and headed out. Mr. Aldrin came to pick her up in his newest Porsche, his window rolled down and his arm draped over the side, looking pleased as punch.
"What do you think? Cool, right?"
Evelyn Grant studied it for a moment and nodded. "It's pretty cool."
She opened the passenger door, got in, and buckled her seatbelt. "You have so many cars. Why do you keep buying more?"
Liam Aldrin snorted. "You have so many lipsticks. Why do you keep buying more?"
"..."
'Could the price of lipstick and a car even be compared?'
To celebrate his new car, the young heir took her to a private restaurant in Solara that was notoriously difficult to book.
He entered a few steps behind Evelyn Grant, rushing in and slamming the door to their private room shut. "Guess who I just ran into?"
Before she could answer, Liam Aldrin exclaimed in a low voice, "Your brother!"
"He had a girl with him. Probably the one he's keeping at The Laurels."
...What a coincidence.
Evelyn Grant pressed her lips together. "He didn't see you, did he?"
"No, I just recognized him from behind and hurried over here."
So, the two of them deliberately ate very slowly, lingering in their private room, afraid they'd run into him on their way out.
But as fate would have it, the very person they were trying to avoid appeared.
Dylan Grant watched the two of them as they stealthily peeked around the corner. He leaned casually against the wall, toying with a lighter in his hand as if he were watching a play.
"Looking for me?"
They both jumped. When they turned around, there he was, right behind them.
'He probably knew they were here all along and was waiting for them on purpose. He was alone; the girl wasn't with him.'
Evelyn Grant exclaimed with feigned delight, "Brother! What are you doing here? What a coincidence!"
Dylan Grant lifted an eyelid. "Cut the act."
"..." Evelyn's expression faltered, her face changing in an instant. "Since you knew we were here, the least you could have done was pay our bill."
Liam Aldrin nodded vigorously in agreement. "Yeah, exactly!"
This made Dylan Grant laugh in exasperation.
"The two of you, sneaking around like that... didn't exactly look like you wanted me to pay your bill. You were about to run the second you saw me. What, do I owe you two something?"
'Judging by his tone, he didn't seem to care at all that Liam had seen him with that girl.'
Evelyn Grant raised an eyebrow but didn't bring it up. Changing the subject, she glanced at the time. It was almost nine.
"Fine, don't pay the bill. It's getting late, and we have another place to be." She waved and was about to make a run for it with Liam Aldrin when Dylan Grant suddenly grabbed her by the collar and yanked her back.
"Another place to be?" Dylan Grant's smile was menacing. "And you're not going home yet?"
He waved his phone. "Want me to call Mom and Dad?"
'This guy!'
'He's impossible!'
"I'm twenty-three years old!"
Dylan Grant released her collar and straightened it, none too gently. "That doesn't matter. You're still going home."
"When you get home, I want a video call from you, and I'd better see you in the living room."
Speechless, Evelyn Grant puffed out her cheeks in anger before turning and storming off with Liam Aldrin.
As she was leaving, she faintly heard a soft, gentle female voice from behind them. The woman asked when he was coming home, adding that she was getting sleepy.
Dylan Grant murmured, "I'm on my way back now."
His voice was full of patience.
—
The weather grew colder, and by the end of the month, thick sweaters were a necessity.
Evelyn Grant returned to Kryllos for a job. June Jacobs was also back at work, having returned from her hometown after her vacation.
It was an important promotional conference for the platform, and all the stars from its productions were required to attend. An artist's studio had contacted her well in advance. They were very sincere, and since she'd worked with them before, she took the job.
Leo Lawrence would be there too.
Dressing rooms had been set up backstage for the artists. When Evelyn Grant arrived, she overheard some of the staff whispering that a major VIP would be in attendance.
Although she didn't know who it might be, she could tell that security was extremely tight.
Yara Summers was there too.
Before things got too busy, the two of them stood together and chatted for a bit.
Yara lifted her chin slightly, gesturing toward the main event floor. She lowered her voice. "They're not allowing any photos at this conference. I have no idea which VIP is showing up."
They had indeed received a notice from the platform: no photography was allowed, and no information about the conference could be leaked without express permission.
All personal items were thoroughly searched inside and out upon entry.
Anyone who dared to violate the rules would be permanently blacklisted by the platform, with all future collaborations canceled.
"I heard the platform's chairman is coming in person, too."
The entire backstage area was quiet on the surface, but in reality, it was buzzing with excitement, with everyone asking just who was supposed to be coming.
Evelyn Grant's interest was piqued as well. "Even you don't know?"
'With Yara Summers's connections, she was usually the first to find out about this kind of thing.'
But this time, "I can't find out anything."
Back in the dressing room, that was, of course, what everyone was talking about.