Chapter 213

The janitor hesitated before speaking again. "You know, Miss Carter, flowers are expensive these days. Maybe you should—"

"I'd rather set them on fire," Evelyn interrupted, straightening her blazer. "But HR has a strict no-arson policy."

The older woman sighed, arranging the salvaged blooms in a water pitcher. "Seems like you two have quite the story."

Evelyn's phone buzzed with another notification - undoubtedly another floral delivery confirmation. "Oh, you have no idea."

She strode toward the elevator, the scent of roses clinging to her like an unwanted memory.

Evelyn pushed open the stairwell door and slipped back into the office just as the janitor descended the steps, clutching a bouquet of fresh flowers in one hand and a broom in the other.

One floor below, the janitor nearly collided with Ethan Caldwell, who stood shrouded in a haze of cigarette smoke.

He leaned heavily against the concrete wall, the floor around him littered with crushed cigarette butts. The smoke curled around his sharp features, softening the usual harshness in his expression.

The janitor hesitated, her gaze lingering on him a beat too long.

She couldn’t help but notice she’d been running into this man far too often lately.

But if memory served, this floor only housed the executive conference rooms—hardly a place for lingering.

Naturally warm and chatty, she couldn’t resist speaking up.

“Young man, whatever’s weighing on you, it’s not worth ruining your health over. You shouldn’t smoke like this.”

Ethan exhaled slowly, his voice quiet. “I know.”

His eyes flickered upward, scanning the empty stairwell where Evelyn had vanished. The light in his gaze dimmed.

The janitor followed his line of sight, then suddenly—

"You're into the girl upstairs, aren't you?"

Ethan Caldwell froze mid-breath, his fingers tightening around his cigarette. "Excuse me?"

The janitor chuckled knowingly. "Oh, don’t play dumb. I’ve seen that look before. You’ve got it bad for her."

"I just came out here to smoke," Ethan snapped, crushing the cigarette against the railing with more force than necessary.

The older woman smirked. "A handsome man like you shouldn’t be lurking in stairwells, staring at her window like some lovesick teenager. If you like her, go tell her!"

"I don’t—" His voice turned sharp, echoing through the empty corridor.

His jaw clenched, and without another word, he shoved the fire door open and stormed off, leaving it swinging violently behind him.

The janitor sighed, shaking her head as she watched him disappear.

"Such a temper," she muttered under her breath. "What’s the big deal? She’s a lovely girl. If you don’t act soon, someone else will."

She glanced up at the window where Evelyn Carter often sat by the sill, lost in thought.

"Better hurry, young man."

"You'll regret this!"

Evelyn remained oblivious to the commotion downstairs.

She had no clue that Ethan's frequent appearances near the stairwell were fueled by his suspicion that someone was stalking her.

Through office gossip, Ethan had learned about the mysterious bouquet delivered to Evelyn, and he was determined to uncover the sender's identity.

Overhearing Evelyn's phone conversation in the stairwell, he finally pieced it together—Richard was behind the flowers.

A wave of relief washed over him.

No wonder Alexander had allowed those rumors to circulate without interference.

Back in his office, Ethan massaged his temples, exhaling sharply.

The janitor's parting words echoed in his mind.

He liked Evelyn?

Ethan wasn’t sure.

But lately, sleep had become elusive.

Every night, bizarre dreams plagued him.

Ever since returning from Hawthorne Estate, he’d been waking in the dead of night, consumed by an inexplicable emptiness.

It felt like something vital had been ripped away—something he couldn’t name.

The frustration gnawed at him, worsening his insomnia.

The afternoon sunlight streamed through the floor-to-ceiling windows when Nathan Reeves knocked and entered. "Mr. Ethan Caldwell, the annual Titan Capital Group retreat is scheduled for Cresthaven in two days. Mrs. Vanessa Hart mentioned she's never been and would love to join."

The company's lavish year-end celebration was always held in a luxury coastal resort, with the entire five-star hotel booked exclusively for employees.

With the weekend extending the trip to three days, many staff brought their families, turning it into a mini-vacation.

Ethan barely glanced up from his documents. "If she wants to go, arrange her flight."

Nathan nodded and turned to leave.

Then Ethan paused, his pen hovering over the contract. "How many rooms were reserved for the executive team?"

Nathan froze, clearly unprepared for the question. He rubbed his temple. "I... should probably check."

Ten minutes later, he returned.

"The executive floor has eight suites. You'll be in the penthouse, while the others have standard king rooms."

A flicker of something unreadable passed through Ethan's eyes before he dismissed Nathan with a wave.

The retreat was always a spectacle—one he usually tolerated. But this year, with Vanessa unexpectedly inserting herself, the dynamics would shift.

And he wasn't entirely sure how he felt about that.