CHAPTER 40: ALEXANDER’S CONFESSION

The night had settled into an elegant rhythm with laughter echoing under chandeliers, champagne glasses clinking softly and the orchestra’s music weaving through a haze of polished conversations.

Evelyn stood by one of the tall marble columns near the terrace doors by herself. A soft breeze drifted in from outside, catching the loose strands of her hair.

She was texting her best friend who had stood her up after convincing her to attend the charity.

Evelyn: I thought we were best friends but apparently we are not

Patricia: Don’t blame me, blame my big mouth who couldn’t stop munching on sushi in the middle of the night.

Evelyn: Excuses. You chose to leave me alone.

Patricia: Bro...I have explosive diarrhoea. I don’t think you want me there unless you want me to explode on your expensive dress.

Before she could reply, another message popped up.

Patricia: And you aren’t alone. Handsome hunk Alexander is there with you, isn’t he? I bet he looks as yummy as ever.

Evelyn couldn’t help but chuckle. She looked around until her eyes landed on Alexander who was talking to Lucas.

Evelyn: He looks like he came out straight from the oven.

Patricia: Damn girl, now you are talking.

Evenlyn was so engrossed in the conversation that she didn’t notice the man who approached her until he spoke.

"Miss Carter," said Ethan Voss. "I was hoping to find you."

She turned politely, offering a practiced smile. "Mr. Voss. Good evening."

Ethan was younger than most men in the room. He was confident, well-dressed and charming in the kind of way that made people instantly comfortable.

He held two glasses of champagne and offered her one. "I thought you might prefer a drink. It’s less dreadful than whatever they are serving for conversation tonight."

Evelyn laughed softly despite herself. "I think that depends on who you are speaking to."

"Well, in that case, I hope I qualify as the exception," he said, his eyes glinting with quiet amusement. "You look beautiful tonight, if I may say so. The photographs in the papers don’t do you justice."

Her smile faltered slightly. "I would rather not be in the papers at all."

"Understandable," Ethan said smoothly as he stepped closer. "But some people deserve to be noticed, scandal or not."

Evelyn blinked, uncertain how to respond. The compliment was harmless but it made her uncomfortable.

But she also couldn’t find a way out and was compelled to continue the conversation, secretly hoping someone would rescue her out of it.

Meanwhile, across the room, Alexander had gone utterly still.

He had been standing with Lucas, half listening to his teasing and half lost in his own thoughts until his gaze found her.

Evelyn, smiling at another man.

Lucas followed his friend’s line of sight and groaned softly. "Oh, no. Not this again."

Alexander’s jaw clenched. "Who is he?" he asked as he took a sip of his drink.

Lucas smirked, enjoying this far too much. "Ethan Voss. London investor. Good-looking, well-bred, harmless except for that face that makes women think he writes poetry."

Alexander’s eyes didn’t move. "He is flirting with her."

"Observant," Lucas said dryly and then continued with a grin, "You know, history really does repeat itself. Ten years ago, you let her go but this time, you don’t have to."

Alexander’s gaze hardened. "It’s not the same."

Lucas leaned closer. "No? Because from where I am standing, it looks exactly the same. The only difference is—" his smirk deepened, "You have got a second chance and if you don’t do something soon, he will sweep her away again while you stand there pretending not to care."

Alexander exhaled. "You talk too much," he said with his eyes never leaving Evelyn and the man who was definitely trying to flirt his way in.

"Then do something that will make me shut up," Lucas challenged.

And that was all it took.

Alexander set his glass down with a quiet thud and started across the room. He looked calm and controlled but he walked with an intensity that made people step aside instinctively.

Lucas watched him go and muttered under his breath, "Finally, my man is in action."

....

[The Terrace]

Evelyn had barely finished answering Ethan’s question when she felt a familiar presence draw near.

"Mr. Voss," Alexander said smoothly in an even voice but unmistakably sharp around the edges. "Alexander Reid."

Ethan turned, startled for a moment before extending a hand. "Ah, of course. It’s an honour, Mr. Reid."

Alexander shook his hand once, firmly, before letting go. "If you will excuse us, I need to speak with Miss Carter. Privately."

Ethan blinked. "Of course." He turned to Evelyn with an apologetic smile. "Perhaps later, Miss Carter."

"Perhaps," she said softly but she was still caught off guard.

Before she could say another word, Alexander had already taken her hand gently but with authority and led her through the open terrace doors.

As soon as they stepped out the hum of conversation faded behind them and was replaced by the faint rustle of leaves and the quiet rhythmic beating of her heart.

Alexander didn’t speak at first. He stopped near the fountain with his hand still on hers and his chest rising and falling faster than usual.

"Alexander—" she started but he cut her off quietly.

"What was that?"

Her brows furrowed. "What was what?"

"Him," he said flatly. "The man."

Evelyn blinked. "He was being polite."

He met her eyes which looked calm on the surface but there was something raw underneath.

"Men like him aren’t polite, Evelyn. They calculate, study the room, the odds and then they move in."

Her lips parted but managed to say nothing. She wanted to tell him that she didn’t appreciate his tone but all she could utter was, "What are you trying to do?"

He stepped closer. "Something I should have done years ago."

Suddenly the space between them grew smaller with every breath.

Evelyn instinctively took a step back but that didn’t stop Alexander from taking another step forward.

She swallowed hard. "You are overreacting."

"Am I?" he said. "Because every time I see someone look at you like that, I feel like they see what I have been trying to ignore for years and I can’t seem to breathe."

Her heart thudded painfully. "Alexander—"

He then reached out and brushed her cheek with aching restraint. "Do you have any idea what it’s like—" he said grabbing her hand, "to spend years trying to convince yourself you don’t care? That it was just bad timing, wrong circumstances and wrong everything?"

His thumb traced her jaw gently. "Do you have any idea how much I regret letting Jack take you away that night?"

She looked up at him, surprised. She wanted to ask what he was implying but the way he gently caressed her cheeks and his warm touch against her cool skin clouded her mind.

He leaned closer, his forehead nearly touching hers. His voice dropped, barely a whisper. "If you tell me to walk away, I will and you will never have to see this side of me again. But if you don’t—" He paused, "Then I won’t stop this time."

She could feel his breath against her skin, making her toes curl. She should have pulled away or asked him to stop but she didn’t want to.

The air between them crackled with unspoken tension.

Evelyn’s fingers trembled at her side, torn between reason and the pull that had always existed between them.

"You shouldn’t be saying this," she said with her voice barely above a whisper.

He smiled faintly. "I have been saying it in my head for years."

He sounded sad and unguarded.

She could see the sadness, desperation and obsession in his eyes but she could also see something soft, something that melted her heart.

For a long fragile moment neither of them moved.

"Take your time Evelyn but not too long." He gently brushed a strand of hair from her face. "I am not sure if I can wait too long this time."

For a long fragile moment neither of them moved.

Then Alexander stepped back and his control snapped back into place though his eyes still burned with the weight of everything he hadn’t said before.

He straightened his suit and looked away.

But Evelyn was still standing at the same spot, frozen as she tried to process what had happened and also calm herself down.

The cold air brushed through her skin making her shiver.

She wrapped her hands around herself in an attempt to keep warm but just then, Alexander took off his blazer and placed it on her shoulder.

She looked at him but he turned and walked away, leaving her alone breathless, shaken and more aware than ever that something between them had changed for good.

There were so many things she wanted to say but she managed to say only a little.

She also wanted to stop him but all she could do was watch him leave.

Evelyn still didn’t know what she wanted but one thing was for sure, her relationship with Alexander wasn’t going to be the same anymore.

....