[Reid Enterprise — Alexander’s Office]
Alexander had just loosened his tie when Lucas walked in like he owned the place with his jacket slung over one shoulder and an unmistakable grin on his face.
"You look like a man who just survived a corporate execution," Lucas announced cheerfully. "Congratulations."
Alexander glanced up. "You are in a disturbingly good mood."
"That’s because," Lucas said, dropping into the chair opposite him, "I have decided we are not ending today with spreadsheets and trauma."
Alexander raised a brow. "Oh?"
"We are going out," Lucas declared. "You, , Evelyn, Patricia are going drinking and it’s not just a glass or two, we are going for the kind that will erase all traumas from our mory."
Alexander leaned back, considering it. The day had been long, too long. A nice drinking session wouldn’t hurt.
"I don’t mind," he said finally. "But if Patricia convinces Evelyn to drink irresponsibly, that’s on you."
Lucas scoffed. "Please, Evelyn is the responsible one. Patricia is the natural disaster."
Alexander smirked faintly. "You seem to know her well."
Lucas shrugged, entirely too casual. "I am allowed to have friends outside of you, you know."
Alexander tilted his head. "Friends who text you at odd hours?"
Lucas pointed a finger at him. "Careful, I know things about you now."
Alexander chuckled despite himself. "Fine, I will call Evelyn."
"And I will inform the nace," Lucas said, already pulling out his phone.
....
[Carter Mansion — Evelyn’s Room]
Evelyn was halfway through changing when Patricia burst in with her phone in hand and eyes bright with mischief.
"Cancel whatever boring, mature plans you had," Patricia announced. "We are going out."
Evelyn blinked. "We are what?"
"Drinks," Patricia said. "With the n."
Evelyn hesitated for exactly half a second before her phone buzzed.
Alexander: Lucas says you are being kidnapped for drinks. Are you okay with that?
Her lips curved into a smile she didn’t even try to hide.
"I guess that answers it," Patricia said smugly. "Oh wow, that look in your face. You are smiling like a woman who trusts her man."
Evelyn rolled her eyes but her cheeks turned warm. "It’s just a drink."
"Sure," Patricia nodded gravely
....
[A Quiet Bar Downtown]
The bar Lucas chose wasn’t loud or flashy.
It was the kind of place with warm lighting, low music, leather booths and conversations that stayed where they were spoken.
It was like a place where people ca to exhale and it was exactly what they all needed.
Alexander arrived first with Lucas. Both of them had changed out of work clothes but were still carrying the residue of the day.
Lucas scanned the room approvingly. "See? I told you. No screaming on drunk finance bros and no existential regret by midnight."
Alexander smirked. "You planned this?"
"Please," Lucas scoffed. "I always plan my emotional decompression."
Alexander gave him a sideways look. "Since when?"
Lucas shrugged. "Since your life turned into a corporate thriller and I got dragged along."
Before Alexander could reply and his gaze shifted toward the entrance.
Evelyn walked in beside Patricia and for a mont, everything else blurred.
Evelyn wasn’t dressed to impress. She was wearing a soft dress, her hair was loose and she had minimal makeup on. But there was sothing about the way she looked lighter tonight and she looked less burdened. That made Alexander’s chest loosen.
Patricia, on the other hand, walked in like she owned the place.
"Well," she said, spotting them imdiately, "If this isn’t the two most stressed n in the city pretending to be relaxed."
Lucas sighed, clutching his chest. "Patricia, you wound ."
She looked him up and down and then rolled her eyes. "Please, you look like you survived on caffeine and bad decisions."
"And yet—" Lucas replied smoothly, "still standing."
Evelyn smiled as Alexander stepped toward her.
"You okay?" he asked quietly.
She nodded and sothing eased in his expression at that.
They settled into a booth and conversation flowed.
Lucas teased Evelyn about how calm she looked for soone about to marry into corporate chaos. And Patricia fired back that at least Evelyn’s fiancé didn’t dress like a midlife crisis in loafers.
Alexander took that hit with a dry and amused acceptance.
"And here I thought I was doing well," he said.
Patricia leaned in conspiratorially. "You are. Don’t let him lie to you."
Lucas raised a brow. "I wasn’t lying."
"You exist," Patricia said sweetly. "That’s enough."
Evelyn laughed, it was real, unguarded and Alexander found himself watching her instead of the table, the drinks, the room.
She looked happy. Not excited or overwheld, just happy.
They talked about nothing important. Just about food, bad travel stories and how Lucas once locked himself out of his apartnt wearing gym shorts and borrowed a stranger’s phone to call Alexander.
"You did not," Evelyn said.
Alexander nodded. "He did and then blad for answering."
Lucas lifted his glass. "In my defense, you laughed."
"I absolutely did."
Even Patricia laughed at that.
Ti passed unnoticed.
At so point, Evelyn leaned toward Alexander and whispered, "I need to use the washroom."
"I will co with you," he said without thinking then paused. "I an—"
She smiled. "I know what you ant."
They slipped out of the booth, leaving Lucas and Patricia mid-argunt about whether pineapple belonged on pizza.
The hallway outside the washrooms was quiet, dimly lit.
Evelyn stopped walking first and turned to him.
"You didn’t tell how the eting really went," she said gently.
Alexander didn’t pretend. "It was heavy but manageable."
She studied his face, then reached out and rested her fingers lightly against his wrist.
"I am glad you ca tonight."
"So am I," he admitted. "I didn’t realize how much I needed to feel normal again."
She smiled softly. "We can still be normal even with everything."
He held her gaze for a mont, then nodded.
"Yes," he said. "We can."
They stood there a second longer than necessary. They were not touching beyond that small point of contact, not saying anything else but being themselves.
When they returned to the booth, they stopped short.
Lucas and Patricia had shifted closer at so point. In fact they were too close.
Patricia was laughing softly with her hand resting on Lucas’s arm and Lucas leaned in, saying sothing low enough that only she heard.
Their heads were almost touching.
Evelyn blinked. "Oh."
Alexander coughed lightly and Lucas looked up first absolutely unbothered.
"What?" he asked. "We were talking."
Patricia smiled innocently. "Very serious discussion."
Evelyn glanced at Alexander with her lips twitching.
"Should we give them space?" she said in a teasing tone.
Alexander leaned in, murmuring back, "I think we already are."
They slid back into the booth and the dynamic shifted. It was lighter now and charged with sothing unspoken but comfortable.
.....
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