The Billionaire's Unexpected Proposal by Samantha

Chapter 116

Chapter

116

After the call with Rayna, Sandra paced around her office.

Her mind raced as she paced back and forth, her heels clicking against the floor.

Her confrontation with Evelyn had gone disastrously wrong. She hadn't expected Evelyn to be so prepared, so ready to counter her move. Sandra clenched her fists, trying to calm the anger simmering just beneath the surface. The thought of Evelyn sitting confidently at the breakfast table, basking in their father's approval, made her blood boil.

She needed to talk to Michael, to vent her frustrations, and to figure out what to do next. She stopped pacing and glanced at her phone on the desk, her fingers itching to dial Michael's number.

But a part of her hesitated. Should she call him or go to his office? After all, he was just as much involved in this mess as she was, and he might be able to offer a solution if they talked face-to-face. Michael had said they should limit physical meetings to avoid raising suspicions, and she didn't want to risk anything that might jeopardize her chances with Derek.

Sandra resumed pacing, chewing on her lower lip as she weighed her options. The more she thought about it, the more she agreed that calling was the better choice. It was safer and more discreet. With a frustrated sigh, Sandra grabbed her phone and dialed Michael's number. She tapped her fingers impatiently on the desk as she waited for him to pick up.

Michael answered on the first ring, his voice calm and collected. "I was just about to call you," he said.

"You won't believe what Evelyn did to me this morning," she said, her voice trembling with barely contained anger.

"What did you do?" Michael asked, his tone sharpening with interest. He knew Evelyn enough to know she wasn't someone who stirred trouble unless she was attacked first.

"What do you mean what did I do?" Sandra snapped.

"Because I'm sure Evelyn wouldn't just do something if you didn't do anything first. So, what did you do?" Michael repeated.

side right now?" Sandra

stating a fact. Tell

breakfast," she recorded our conversation, Michael! And then she played it for our parents! I was blindsided, completely humiliated!" Sandra's voice rose as she relived the scene, the sting of her parents' disappointment still fresh in

of the line before Michael spoke. "Why were you

"How was I supposed to know she was recording me? It's not like she's ever done

place where anyone could be listening. You were careless to have that conversation with Evelyn in the dining room of

have overheard you," Michael said, his tone edged

at him this time but at

don't want Evelyn back at the family magazine. She'll

calm but firm. "You need to make a choice, Sandra. You can't have both Derek and the magazine. You need to

pause on the other end of the line, and Sandra could almost picture Michael rubbing his temples in exasperation. "Sandra, have you considered the fact that keeping Evelyn close might actually work in your favor? We will know where she

much as she hated the idea of Evelyn working at the magazine, Michael had a point.

finally admitted, a slow smile spreading across her face as the plan took

said, his voice

your cards right, you can ruin Evelyn's credibility at the

her father will see that you're

tension in her shoulders easing as she imagined Evelyn's downfall. "I'd

about Evelyn. I've

Michael's voice took on

still racing with the possibilities their conversation had opened up. "Not at my place," Michael countered smoothly. "We'll meet somewhere else. I miss you, baby. I want a

laugh, though her mind was already shifting gears. "I can't meet tonight. I'm supposed to see

you meeting with her?" Michael's voice

that, I need Rayna on my side." Michael sighed in exasperation. "Sandra, you're wasting time on petty revenge. Forget Evelyn. You should focus on what we're doing. We're closer to achieving our goal than ever. You