A muscle ticked in Alexander's jaw. He didn't care about the press dragging his name into scandal, he had dealt with worse but Evelyn. Her face on every screen, her pain dissected by strangers who didn't know her?
That thought filled him with a fury that burned hotter than before.
"Shut it down," he ordered. "Every photo, every headline, every piece of it. I don't care what it costs. No one touches her."
"Yes, sir. I will get the team on it right away but—"
"What?" Alexander cut him off.
"S-Sir it's already spreading fast," Carl stuttered
"I don't want excuses, Carl. Just results."
When the call ended, Alexander slammed the phone down. There was no doubt he was furious, not because of the scandal but because he hadn't been more careful while leaving the hotel with Evelyn. She had trusted him when she was in a vulnerable state and he had failed her.
He glanced toward the guest room door with a determination in his heart.
If the world wanted to come for her, they would have to go through him first.
...
[Next Day]
Sunlight spilled across the penthouse floor but Evelyn barely noticed it. She didn't wake up even once the entire night unlike what she had expected.
To her surprise, she had a very sound and relaxing sleep.
Suddenly her phone rang, making her jump. She glanced at the screen and sighed. It was her friend.
"Evelyn! Oh my God, have you seen the news? Photos of you and Alexander are everywhere," her friend blurted. She sounded both panicked and excited at the same time.
Evelyn's heart skipped a beat. "What? what do you mean?" She quickly sat up straight.
"They are all over social media and the newspaper," she exclaimed. "Everyone is talking about you both."
Her stomach dropped. She quickly checked her phone which was swamped with notifications and missed calls from her family and other friends.
"What is happening?" She mumbled while clicking on the link her friend had forwarded her.
Soon photos of her leaving the hotel with Alexander appeared on the screen with the headline 'Is Evelyn Carter trying her luck with both Reid brothers?'
Evelyn gasped as she scrolled down. There were several other photos of them together which were taken in an angle that made them look very intimate.
"Pat—this is disastrous." Evelyn couldn't understand how tit had happened and the thought of what would happen next scared her.
Almost everyone knew about her relationship with Jake including their families. Her scandalous rumor with Alexander, who was also Jake's brother, would definitely make everyone misunderstand her relationship with both of them.
"Okay, first relax," Patricia, Evelyn's best friend, tried to calm her down. "We will figure everything out."
"I don't know what to do—" Evelyn groaned in frustration. "I am so f*cked."
"Let me come over to your place and then we will talk about it, okay?" When Evelyn did not say anything, Patricia asked, "You are at home, right?"
Evelyn hesitated for a while before answering, "I am at Alexander's place."
"What?" Patricia yelled. "Are you serious?"
Before Evelyn could say anything, Patricia squealed, "Oh my God, is the rumour true?"
"No, it's not." Evelyn wanted to explain but there was no time. She had to talk to Alexander and discuss whatever that was going on. "I will explain everything to you later, okay? But now I have to go."
Before Patricia could say something, she hung up the call. She then rushed out of the room to find Alexander.
…..
[The Kitchen]
When she arrived at the kitchen looking for Alexander, he was making breakfast. He looked quite relaxed given the current situation they were stuck in.
Seeing Alexander's cool demeanour, she wondered how could he be this calm when her world was falling apart?
When he saw her, he casually greeted her with a smile. "Good morning."
Evelyn frowned as she approached him. "How can you be so calm?"
He gave her a faint and almost teasing smile. "Because panicking doesn't fix anything." He set a steaming cup of coffee in front of her. "Right now, the only thing that matters is that you are safe. Nothing else."
Evelyn's hands shook as she reached for the cup. She tried to steady her breathing but the panic wouldn't leave. Her mind raced—what would their families think? What about the media? The scandal? How would they manage to get out of the chaos?
She took a sip of coffee and sighed. "This is insane."
Alexander did not say anything. He moved around the kitchen and placed plates on the table. "Relax, I have everything under control. No one will bother you."
"You really think they will leave us alone?" she whispered, desperately waiting for some kind of reassurance from him.
Alexander's gaze met hers. "No. But I will make sure they don't hurt you. That's all that matters."
Evelyn's throat tightened. She wanted to argue, she wanted to say she could handle it but the truth was raw and painful—she couldn't and especially not when every nerve in her body was still screaming from last night.
Her phone buzzed again and this time it was her mother.
"Evelyn! You need to come home now." Her mother's voice was sharp with worry. "You father and I are very worried. This scandal—what happened?"
Evelyn's panic spiked. She looked at Alexander, eyes wide.
"I will take you home," he said quietly, placing a steady hand on her shoulder. "I need to go to my family later but I will get you there first."
She nodded and hung up the call after assuring her mother that she was safe and would be home soon.
….
After breakfast, Alexander guided her out of the apartment, towards the parking lot.
As she followed him, her mind replayed last night—the warmth of his coat, the brush of his fingers and the way he had looked at her like she was the only person in the world.
What would have happened if Alexander hadn't found her? The mere thought of being stranded outside the hotel with nothing scared her.
When they arrived at the parking lot, Alexander helped her into the car.
He then slid into the driver's seat and for a moment silence filled the space between them.
"You are not alone," he said softly, breaking the silence. "Not ever again if I can help it."
Evelyn's chest tightened at the intensity in his voice. She wanted to tell him she was very thankful of what he had done but she didn't have to take more trouble for her but the words stuck.
She somehow managed to give him a weak smile before gazing out of the window.
The drive was quiet as each of them lost in thoughts they didn't dare share.
Alexander's jaw was tight. His mind was already racing through the plans he would have to make once they reached the mansion.
And Evelyn's chest burned with anxiety but also with something else—a pull she didn't want to name but also couldn't ignore.
...