CHAPTER 139: ARE YOU INSANE?

"I missed you, too... but what the hell is this, Oscar? You can’t just appear out of nowhere and give me a heart attack."

Oscar’s smile widened. He rubbed his neck while responding, "That’s what we call a surprise. The good one supposedly triggered a slight heart attack."

"Well, congratulations," she said flatly. "You’ve succeeded. My blood pressure skyrocketed, nearly reaching dangerous levels. Geez, you’ll be dead meat if I end up in the emergency room."

Instead of feeling sorry, Oscar continued teasing her, "Eve, you should’ve seen your face when those reporters cornered you. You looked ready to commit homicide."

"Stop teasing me!" She punched his arm again. "I nearly fainted seeing you, a man who is rarely seen outside right here in the middle of the city, and all you can do is laugh?"

While Evelyn and Oscar exchange playful teasing, Liam pretends to focus on the road, silently dying inside.

Every word he hears and every smile and laugh he steals a glance at from the rearview mirror feels like a scene straight out of a rom-com he never signed up to witness.

Liam tightened his grip on the steering wheel, trying to act calm and hold back the urge to chime in on their conversation.

"Where’s my little buddy Oliver?" Oscar finally stopped teasing her, flashing that familiar warm smile.

"At this hour? At home, of course," Evelyn replied, exhaling as if that should’ve been obvious.

"I can’t exactly bring him to the Walters Group. I don’t want to stress my son out. Moreover, the media would explode again if they saw a kid with some security details entering the office. They’d probably start another round of speculation about his mysterious father—"

Her words trailed off, tension slipping back into her voice. She was reminded of the swarm of reporters earlier; the flashing lights, the shouting questions.

Without realizing it, she gripped Oscar’s arm, her tone rising, "Oh, right! The reporters. Please, do something about them."

Oscar’s eyes flash a smile. He looked way too pleased for someone being asked to handle a crisis.

"What?" Evelyn narrowed her eyes. "Why do you look like that? Did you already do something?"

Instead of answering, Oscar glanced toward Liam in the driver’s seat, then leaned closer to her, voice lowering to a whisper. "Come closer."

Evelyn blinked, suspicious but curious, and leaned in slightly. "What?"

He smiled faintly. "Those reporters... are my people."

For a second, Evelyn just stared at him. Her brain feels slow to understand his words.

Then,

"ARE YOU INSANE?!" she practically shouted. "How could you..."

Before she could finish, Oscar clamped a hand over her mouth, eyes wide.

"Ssh! Do you want the whole city to hear?"

She glared at him as if she wanted him to tell her more, or she would bite his hand.

"Okay, okay," he hissed, still whispering. "Let me explain before you murder me."

Evelyn reluctantly nodded, her eyes narrowing into slits.

He released her slowly, keeping his voice low. "This early morning, I got a... special job request."

Her suspicion deepened. "From who?"

Oscar’s grin turned sly. "From none other than Lana Scott herself. She offered me a huge sum to erase all traces of her scandal with William Walters from every major network, website, and database."

Evelyn’s jaw dropped. "You’re kidding."

"I swear on my laptop’s wellbeing," he said solemnly, though amusement flickered in his eyes. "She’s paying more than some governments would ever pay me. With that kind of money, I could buy my own island in Sweden and live off eating a smörgåsbord buffet for life."

"Unbelievable," Evelyn muttered, shaking her head. "That woman must be utterly desperate. How on earth did she even find you?"

Oscar smiled proudly, "I’m not exactly invisible, you know. I’m... selectively visible. I let only a few potential clients."

Evelyn gave him a flat look. "Stop speaking in difficult code. My brain can’t think that far," she said.

He chuckled softly. "You need to upgrade the processor in your brain, my friend."

"Oscar, this isn’t funny. Lana is dangerous... and manipulative. If she found you, that means she’s digging deep. You need to cut all contact with her."

Oscar’s playful smile softened, replaced by a hint of sincerity. "Relax, Eve. I only accepted to get access to her data trail. I’m not really working for her."

Evelyn blinked, startled. "You’re... spying on her?"

"Think of it as free of charge damage control. Only for you."

For a moment, Evelyn didn’t know whether to scold him or thank him. She settled for glaring again, though the corner of her lips twitched.

"Well, bro, you’re doing a funtastic job! Continue what you do!"

A big smile spread across his face after hearing that compliment.

Then, Evelyn, catching sight of Liam in the mirror, lowered her voice. "We’ll talk about this later. Not here."

Oscar followed her gaze and nodded. "Got it. I’ll brief you when we’re in a private place. I wouldn’t want your bodyguard here sending a full report to your husband."

Evelyn sighs silently. He wasn’t wrong. Liam had a habit of relaying everything to Axel, and right now, the last thing she needed was another interrogation about her "reckless hacker friend."

"Hmm... We’ll discuss it later. But for now, no more surprises."

Oscar grinned. "Speaking of surprises..."

"Oh no," She narrowed her eyes on him. "What now?"

He stretched lazily in his seat, completely at ease. "Lunch. I’m starving. Or better yet, let’s go to your house. I need to see my little buddy Oliver."

"What? You can’t just come to my house..." She stopped mid-sentence, realizing how little control she ever had over Oscar once he made up his mind.

"Oscar, listen... You were meant to be halfway around the world, and I already have a plan for when you visit my house."

"Well, my friend, I’m here now... Let’s go to your place," he said, flashing that trademark grin.

She was utterly speechless.

"Thank you, my friend..." he said playfully. "So, lunch at your place?"

"No," she said firmly. "Let’s find somewhere quiet... and safe! Preferably, where there are no cameras, microphones, or people who recognize us. I mean, me!"

Oscar pouted theatrically.

"Oh come on... you’re no fun, Eve. I wanted to give Oliver his birthday present early."

That made her pause. "You remembered?"

"Of course I remembered! The kid’s turning four. I promised him last year I’d show up in person next time."

Evelyn’s expression softened instantly. The thought of Oscar and Oliver together tugged at her heart.

Oscar wasn’t just her best friend; he was Oliver’s favorite uncle figure, the one who always sent ridiculous gifts and even more ridiculous video messages.

He is the person who never misses an opportunity to cheer Oliver up whenever he calls.

Even before Axel entered their lives, Oliver always believed that Oscar was his father.

"Oscar," she said, smiling despite herself, "so you actually came to keep your promise?"

He nodded proudly.

"Of course. I couldn’t let my favorite little man think I flaked out. Last year, he forced me to do a virtual pinky swear."

Evelyn chuckled, shaking her head.

"You do realize he still talks about that pinky swear?"

"Hahaha, good..." Oscar said with a grin. "It means my influence is strong."

"You’re such a bad example," she teased.

He only laughed and then asked again, "So, where to, boss?"

"Fine. Lunch. Somewhere private."