Chapter 41: You Got It, I’m Outta Here
"Evan Fairchild, open the door! I need to get in and change!"
The door opened again. Evan Fairchild, holding a leather wallet and a phone, tossed them at Jasper Rockwell. "Your clothes are still wet from the wash. Figure it out yourself. Get the hell out of my sight, right now! If you dare knock again, I’ll break your legs!"
Jasper Rockwell: ...
"You’re waiting for Miss Monroe, aren’t you? You took her phone from the waiter just so she’d have to come to you, right? Evan Fairchild, oh, Evan Fairchild, you’re so shameless! You’re nothing but Preston the Beast! I’m not leaving! I’m going to transform into a little angel of justice and protect Miss Monroe!"
"One million."
"Alrighty! I’m outta here! I won’t be back at all tonight!"
The man who, a second ago, had been a "little angel of justice" was now in flip-flops, beach shorts, and a tank top, hopping on his beloved motorcycle.
As soon as he drove out of the underground garage, Jasper Rockwell shivered from the cold.
DING! A text message alert chimed.
One million, deposited! Jasper Rockwell sniffled. ’Damn! Cold as hell, but otherwise, no complaints.’
...
Forty-some minutes later, Melody Monroe hailed a cab and arrived at Summit Pointe Apartments.
It was a complex of several high-end, smart-managed apartment buildings.
There was a security entrance at the base of Building Six. Melody Monroe stood before it, hesitating.
’Could she ask Evan Fairchild to bring the phone down?’
She immediately dismissed the thought. ’Probably not.’ Taking a deep breath, she buzzed Evan Fairchild’s apartment, but there was no sound from the intercom. She opened her mouth, but the words were stuck in her throat, unable to come out.
The glass door immediately swung open!
Melody Monroe quickly went inside.
She was carrying two bags, both filled with Evan Fairchild’s clothes. She could take this opportunity to return them to him.
The elevator stopped on the 26th floor. There was only one unit, so it was easy to find.
Melody Monroe walked up to the door and knocked lightly.
The door opened.
Evan Fairchild stood in the doorway, dressed in a white casual outfit. The light hitting him made him look as if he were being seen through a filter.
Melody Monroe’s gaze lingered on him for three seconds. ’He’s ridiculously handsome!’
She immediately pushed the thought from her mind and held out the bags she was carrying.
"President Fairchild, I’m here for my phone. These are your clothes. I brought them with me—they’ve been washed."
"Come in."
"N-no, that’s okay. I’ll just take my phone and go."
Evan Fairchild reached out and took hold of the bags. Before Melody Monroe could let go, his strength was enough to pull her right into the apartment.
SLAM! The door shut.
Melody Monroe felt her back tense and her body tremble slightly. She stood rooted by the door, not daring to move.
Evan Fairchild walked into the living room and sat on the sofa, crossing his long legs. His calm and composed demeanor made him seem even more like an inviolable emperor.
"President Fairchild, please give me my phone. I have other things to do and need to get back," Melody Monroe said, so nervous she was afraid to breathe.
"Come here."
"President Fairchild, I..."
"I’m just going to take a moment of your time. I want to clarify something."
Melody Monroe took a deep breath, walked over, and stopped a few feet away from Evan Fairchild.
"Have we met before?"
"Haven’t we met two or three times already?" Melody Monroe managed to force a smile.
"I mean in the past. Three years ago. Did we meet then?"
"N-no! We haven’t!" Melody Monroe shook her head repeatedly.
Evan Fairchild suddenly stood up and walked right up to Melody Monroe. Panicked, she took two steps back.
’Could Evan Fairchild have discovered something?’
’This isn’t how it was written in the original novel! Evan Fairchild isn’t supposed to find out this quickly!’
"I need to do something that Miss Monroe will likely consider... quite excessive, in order to confirm something."
"Huh?"
"Are you going to take it off yourself, or should I do it for you?"