WHERE THE HEART LIES

ALBERT'S POV

The meeting had wrapped up, leaving sponsors and organizers mingling in small groups, their voices blending into a hum of questions and laughter against the backdrop of soft music. I stood near the far end of the room, exchanging polite conversation with people while keeping half my attention on Evelyn.

From the corner of my eye, I caught sight of Evelyn. She stood in the midst of a crowd yet managed to seem utterly alone. Her phone was clutched tightly in her hand, her expression distant, as though the screen held all the answers she sought. 

My mind drifted to Nora. She'd shown up uninvited, her questions relentless and her presence suffocating. I'd had to think fast to shake her off, by escaping. It wasn't the first time I'd needed to maneuver my way out of her persistence, but it still left me on edge.

I looked at Evelyn again. Something about her demeanor pulled at me, tugging my focus away from Ashley's words.

"Isn't that right, Albert?" my companion's voice sliced through my thoughts, grounding me momentarily. 

I turned to her, catching the faint look of curiosity on her face as if she'd noticed my distraction. A polite smile curved my lips as I nodded. "Everything you said is absolutely right," I replied smoothly, keeping my tone light. 

She seemed satisfied, her confidence returning as she resumed addressing the group. 

Meanwhile, Evelyn began heading toward the exit, her steps brisk and purposeful. 

I straightened, glancing briefly at the gentlemen gathered around us. "Excuse me for a moment, gentlemen," I said with a quick, apologetic smile. "I'll be right back." 

Without waiting for a response, I slipped away, my steps deliberate as I moved toward the next exit. 

EVELYN'S POV

The room buzzed with activity as decorators shuffled back and forth, seeking direction for the final arrangements. I answered their questions mechanically, my mind elsewhere, and glanced at my phone again. Lucas still hadn't returned, and his line was busy. My unease grew.

"Excuse me, Evelyn," Clara interrupted my thoughts, holding a clipboard. "We're unsure about the centerpiece placements. Can you confirm this setup?"

"Yes, of course," I replied, forcing a calm smile. "Let's keep the arrangements symmetrical. Clara, can you show me some of those photos you showed me earlier?"

Clara quickly retrieved her phone, flipping through her gallery before handing it to me. The image she showed stopped me cold; it was a snapshot from Lucas's condo. The elegant decor was unmistakable. Why was Lucas using Clara's design for his space? And why hadn't he mentioned it?

Clara noticed my hesitation. "Something wrong?" she asked, her tone cautious.

"No, it's beautiful," I said quickly, masking my thoughts. "Could you email this to me for inspiration?"

"Of course," she replied, still watching me carefully. Then, as if reading between the lines, she added, "If you're wondering, no... I haven't been involved with Lucas outside of work. The project was strictly professional. He selected every detail himself."

"That's not what this is about," I said, handing her phone back with a forced laugh. "It's just… things are getting complicated."

Clara raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued. "Complicated, huh? Well, if you ever need a sounding board, I'm here."

"Thanks, Clara," I said, nodding. I dismissed the group with instructions to reconvene in an hour, my thoughts now spinning faster.

As the room emptied, my gaze drifted again—to Albert, still engrossed in conversation with some people and the same woman by his side. Her laugh carried across the room, and my chest tightened. I needed clarity, not just about Lucas but about Albert too.

I slipped out of the room, phone in hand, dialing Lucas's number again. This time, it rang, but he didn't answer. Frustration boiled over as I made my way toward the parking area, determined to find him.

Just as I reached the exit, a hand gently grasped my arm, pulling me aside. I turned, feigning surprise, to find Albert standing there, a familiar, confident smile on his face.

"Albert! What are you doing here?" I asked, my voice a mix of curiosity and irritation as I stopped in my tracks. 

"Business," he replied smoothly, his tone casual and unbothered. "I represent one of the donors for the event." 

"No," I said, narrowing my eyes. "I mean, I just saw you in the room. How did you get here so fast?" 

"Oh," he said with a sly smile, a hint of amusement dancing in his eyes. "I have my ways." 

"Really?" I said, crossing my arms. "And who's the mysterious donor?"

"You know I can't tell you that," he replied, leaning closer conspiratorially. "He values his anonymity."

I raised an eyebrow. "Convenient. And the woman you've been chatting with? Is she part of this 'business' too?"

Albert chuckled, unphased. "That's Ashley, my assistant. She's helping coordinate our involvement." He glanced behind him and lowered his voice. "Speaking of which, you promised to give me your number the next time we met."

I couldn't help but laugh. "What makes you think I'll give it to you now?"

"Because this isn't just a chance encounter anymore," he said, feigning a dramatic sigh. "And if you don't, I'll be heartbroken."

Smiling despite myself, I handed him my phone. "Fine. Here."

He entered his number and dialed himself, grinning as his phone buzzed. "Finally! Now I can annoy you anytime I want."

"Just don't overdo it," I said, rolling my eyes.

"Who, me?" he said, all mock innocence. "I'm the picture of self-control."

Our lighthearted exchange was cut short when I spotted Lucas walking by with Clara. Their low but heated conversation caught my attention immediately. Albert noticed too and shifted slightly behind me.

"Why are you hiding?" I asked, puzzled.

"Just avoiding unnecessary drama," he muttered. "That's the guy from the mall, right?"

I nodded, though my focus remained on Lucas and Clara as they disappeared around a corner. What could they possibly be arguing about? And why did Albert seem so intent on staying out of sight?

"Evelyn," Albert said softly, pulling my attention back to him. He gave my hand a reassuring squeeze. "Take care of yourself, alright?"

Before I could respond, he slipped away into the crowd, leaving me standing there with more questions than ever. Lucas, Albert, Clara—they were all connected somehow, and I was stuck in the middle of it all.

As the cool evening air hit my face, I made a silent vow. Whatever secrets they were keeping, I would uncover them. One way or another.

The meeting room buzzed with activity as decorators shuffled back and forth, seeking direction for the final arrangements. I answered their questions mechanically, my mind elsewhere, and glanced at my phone again. Lucas still hadn't returned, and his line was busy. My unease grew. 

"Excuse me, Evelyn," Clara interrupted my thoughts, holding a clipboard. "We're unsure about the centerpiece placements. Can you confirm this setup?"

"Yes, of course," I replied, forcing a calm smile. "Let's keep the arrangements symmetrical. Clara, can you show me that photo we discussed earlier?"

Clara quickly retrieved her phone, flipping through her gallery before handing it to me. The image she showed stopped me cold—it was a snapshot from Lucas's condo. The elegant decor was unmistakable. Why was Lucas using Clara's design for his space? And why hadn't he mentioned it?

Clara noticed my hesitation. "Something wrong?" she asked, her tone cautious.

"No, it's beautiful," I said quickly, masking my thoughts. "Could you email this to me for inspiration?"

"Of course," she replied, still watching me carefully. Then, as if reading between the lines, she added, "If you're wondering, no—I haven't been involved with Lucas outside of work. The project was strictly professional. He selected every detail himself."

"That's not what this is about," I said, handing her phone back with a forced laugh. "It's just… things are getting complicated."

Clara raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued. "Complicated, huh? Well, if you ever need a sounding board, I'm here."

"Thanks, Clara," I said, nodding. I dismissed the group with instructions to reconvene in an hour, my thoughts now spinning faster.

As the room emptied, my gaze drifted again—to Albert, still engrossed in conversation with the same woman. Her laugh carried across the room, and my chest tightened. I needed clarity, not just about Lucas but about Albert too.

I slipped out of the room, phone in hand, dialing Lucas's number again. This time, it rang, but he didn't answer. Frustration boiled over as I made my way toward the parking area, determined to find him.

Just as I reached the exit, a hand gently grasped my arm, pulling me aside. I turned, feigning surprise, to find Albert standing there, a familiar, confident smile on his face.

"Albert! What are you doing here?" I asked, my voice laced with a mix of curiosity and irritation.

"Business," he said smoothly, his tone casual. "I represent one of the anonymous donors for the event."

"Really?" I said, crossing my arms. "And who's your mysterious donor?"

"You know I can't tell you that," he replied, leaning closer conspiratorially. "He values his anonymity."

I raised an eyebrow. "Convenient. And the woman you've been chatting with? Is she part of this 'business' too?"

Albert chuckled, unphased. "That's Ashley, my assistant. She's helping coordinate our involvement." He glanced behind him and lowered his voice. "Speaking of which, you promised to give me your number the next time we met."

I couldn't help but laugh. "What makes you think I'll give it to you now?"

"Because this isn't just a chance encounter anymore," he said, feigning a dramatic sigh. "And if you don't, I'll be heartbroken."

Smiling despite myself, I handed him my phone. "Fine. Here."

He entered his number and dialed himself, grinning as his phone buzzed. "Finally! Now I can annoy you anytime I want."

"Just don't overdo it," I said, rolling my eyes.

"Who, me?" he said, all mock innocence. "I'm the picture of self-control."

Our lighthearted exchange was cut short when I spotted Lucas walking by with Clara. Their low but heated conversation caught my attention immediately. Albert noticed too and shifted slightly behind me.

"Why are you hiding?" I asked, puzzled.

"Just avoiding unnecessary drama," he muttered. "That's the guy from the mall, right?"

I nodded, though my focus remained on Lucas and Clara as they disappeared around a corner.

What could they possibly be arguing about? And why did Albert seem so intent on staying out of sight?

"Evelyn," Albert said softly, pulling my attention back to him. He gave my hand a reassuring squeeze. "Take care of yourself, alright?"

Before I could respond, he slipped away, leaving me standing there with more questions than ever. Lucas, Albert, Clara; were all connected somehow, and I was stuck in the middle of it all.

As the cool evening air hit my face, I made a silent vow. Whatever secrets they were keeping, I would uncover them. One way or another.