The launch event wrapped up smoothly, and several members of the Tech Division gathered around Evangeline to offer their congratulations.
After exchanging a few polite words, she excused herself and made her way back to the lounge.
Glenn was already waiting for her there.
Neither of them brought up the questions the reporters had pressed during the
event.
Instead, Glenn handed her the updated schedule.
There were still a few private interviews lined up after the launch, but all the reporters and TV crews involved had worked with UME before. Glenn had called ahead to set expectations, so no one crossed any lines with their questions.
By the time the last interview was done, the afternoon had slipped away.
Evangeline headed backstage to check the orders that had come in–far more than she’d dared to hope.
Theo Shaw, delighted, clapped his hands together and immediately announced he’d throw a celebration dinner that evening, on his own dime.
Evangeline turned down Theo’s invitation.
He looked disappointed at first, but then seemed to remember how little she’d rested lately–and that she’d only recently recovered from being ill. He let it go, simply urging her to get some proper sleep.
Evangeline apologized again before leaving.
As she walked toward the parking garage, she spotted Glenn coming down the
stairs.
“Not joining the party?” she asked.
Glenn gave a small smile./”I am the boss, after all. If I show up, everyone’s going to be too polite to really enjoy themselves.”
She couldn’t argue with that.
Then again, she thought, there’d probably be a few people glad to see him.
Glenn didn’t seem to notice her train of thought. His eyes drifted to the diamond
21:08
ring on her finger, and he asked, felgning casualness, “That’s an unusual ring 1 don’t remember seeing you wear it before.”
Evangeline hesitated. “It’s a long story. I just got it today, actually.”
It was a gift from Finn Lockridge, and she’d been debating how she could possibly return the favor.
She knew exactly how valuable the ring was. Even if she put everything she owned together, she couldn’t match it.
But it was the last thing her mother had left her, and she couldn’t bring herself to refuse.
Since she didn’t say much more, Glenn didn’t pry.
“Tomorrow is Old Mrs. Fawkes’s seventieth birthday,” Glenn said. “You know her better than I do. Could you help me pick out a suitable gift?”
Evangeline agreed without hesitation.
She’d hoped to find something for Finn while they shopped, but nothing seemed right.
Anything cheap would be an embarrassment, but she couldn’t afford anything expensive.
N/
Besides, Finn was the Lockridge family’s golden boy–no gift would impress him, no matter the price.
She’d read his bio: racecars and beautiful women. Neither was something she could offer.
So she gave up.
Focusing on Mrs. Fawkes’s tastes, Evangeline helped Glenn pick out a present.
After they paid, Glenn got a call from the Carlisles. Whatever was said, it ..ped the smile from his face, and he left in a hurry.
Evangeline wandered through the mall for a while longer before deciding to head out herself.
As she was about to go downstairs, she spotted Soren and Poppy at a jewelry
counter.
They were standing sideways, so neither noticed her..
On some strange impulse, Evangeline lingered for a few minutes.
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She watched as Poppy tried on a ring, holding her hand out for Soren to see showing it off from every angle.
Soren said something–probably “It looks great” or “Nice choice.”
After Poppy took the ring off, the saleswoman wrapped it up and handed it to her with a beaming smile.
Poppy accepted it, then slipped her arm through Soren’s, looking perfectly at home.
They chatted and laughed, turning together as they walked away.
Evangeline looked away, stepping onto the escalator.
Maybe it was because she’d already made her peace with tomorrow’s divorce–or maybe today’s launch had given her some new perspective–but to her surprise, she felt completely calm.
She and Soren were both ready to move on with their lives.
This ill–fated marriage was finally over.
CIA
