Chapter 115

Julian Montgomery was a master at charming women.

"Ha! Mr. Montgomery, do you really want me to break your bones this time?" Evelyn Carter hissed through clenched teeth. Her sharp gaze burned with fury.

Julian wisely kept his distance, taking two steps back with an exaggerated look of innocence.

"Ms. Carter, I was only teasing. No need to be so vicious. After all, I'm the one who got hurt here—you hit me, scolded me, and ruined my suit. I have a lunch meeting with my mother later, and I can't possibly show up like this. The least you could do is provide me with a change of clothes, don't you think?"

Evelyn exhaled sharply, realizing she might have gone too far.

Compared to the insufferable Nathan Blackwood, Julian was at least reasonable. She hadn't forgotten how he had stood up for her when Victoria Sterling and Cassandra Blackwood had tried to humiliate her. Small kindnesses like that stuck with her.

"I'll have my assistant arrange a new suit for you. You can freshen up in one of the hotel suites," she offered, softening slightly.

Julian waved a dismissive hand. "Too much hassle. There's a boutique just around the corner. Come with me—I’d rather pick something myself. Who knows what your assistant might choose?"

His lips curled into a playful smirk. "And if you could be the one to pick my outfit, that would be even better."

Evelyn rolled her eyes but agreed. It wasn't like he could try anything in broad daylight.

She drove him to the mall in her sleek Bugatti La Voiture Noire.

Her driving was nothing short of breathtaking—sharp turns, effortless control, and a seamless slide into the parking spot. What should have been a twenty-minute drive took barely ten.

Julian stared at her, slack-jawed, the entire ride.

"Out. Now."

Evelyn unbuckled her seatbelt and stepped out without sparing him a glance. "Unlike you, I don’t have endless free time. Some of us actually work for a living."

"Ms. Carter, you drive like a professional!"

She shrugged. "Before I met Nathan, I was a cab driver."

Julian’s eyes gleamed with intrigue. As someone deeply involved in underground racing, he recognized skill when he saw it.

She was far from ordinary.

And that made her all the more fascinating.

The mall was quiet on a Monday afternoon.

Still, Evelyn and Julian turned heads wherever they went—her in her perfectly tailored pantsuit, him with his effortless charm.

"You know," Julian said casually, "I came to the hotel today because I was worried about you. After that viral incident, I thought some reporters might give you trouble."

Evelyn barely glanced at him. "I recall you prefer YSL."

His eyebrows shot up. "How did you know?"

"The first time we met, you were wearing YSL haute couture. And at the charity gala—same brand."

A slow grin spread across his face. "You’ve been paying attention to me."

She shrugged. "YSL suits you. It’s… sexy."

Julian choked on air.

"Anyway, they don’t carry custom pieces here, so you’ll have to make do with ready-to-wear."

"I’ll love anything you pick," he teased.

Evelyn ignored him and strode into the boutique.

The attendants immediately flocked to them, sensing high-profile clients.

"Money isn’t an issue. Just pick what you like, Mr. Montgomery."

She settled onto the plush sofa, crossing her legs. The sharp lines of her suit accentuated every curve, and Julian couldn’t tear his eyes away.

The store staff exchanged impressed glances. This woman was ice and fire—cool, commanding, and utterly captivating.

Julian bit back a grin. This was new.

He was used to spoiling women, not the other way around.

And he liked it.

Just then, two impeccably dressed women passed by—Victoria Sterling and her mother, Margaret.

"Mother, look! It’s that witch, Evelyn!"

Victoria’s face twisted in fury as she pointed at Evelyn, who was laughing with Julian inside the boutique.

How dare she cozy up to another man so soon?