The Billionaire’s Unexpected Proposal (Evelyn and Derek)

Evelyn leaned back against the bar stool, swaying her body to the pulsing bass of the club's music, which was thrumming through her as she watched Rayna, who was casually sipping her cocktail. "You know what I've been thinking since I saw you and Derek earlier?" Rayna asked as she set down her glass.

"Am I supposed to know?" Evelyn asked, amused by the mischievous glint she could see in Rayna's eyes.

"I'm thinking that if things don't work out between ET and me, I'm just going to drive out there recklessly and bang the first guy my car crashes into," she said with a grin, and Evelyn laughed out loud. "And if it's a married man?" Evelyn joked.

"Well, I'll bash the next car I see until I get lucky," she said, and Evelyn laughed

"Have you considered the fact that you could run into a serial rapist or killer?"Evelyn asked as she raised her drink to her lips.

"I'll take my chances like you took yours. Imagine how you snagged the best man in one moment of recklessness," Rayna said, and Evelyn laughed.

Before Evelyn could respond, her phone buzzed in her purse. When she took it out and glanced at the screen, she saw Derek's name flashing. She smiled as she showed Rayna the screen. "Hey, D," she answered and grinned when Rayna mimicked her.

"It seems like you were right," Derek's voice came through.

Evelyn raised a brow. "Right about what?"

"I just confirmed that Michael booked the suite for them both, and from what I can gather, Sandra's meeting him first. I'm not sure he knows that Sandra invited you over," Derek said, and Evelyn paused, letting the words sink in. "Sandra's playing him?" Evelyn asked, her brow furrowed in thought.

"I think it's something like that. Keep your guard up," Derek warned.

Evelyn nodded to herself. "Thanks for letting me know.

I'll handle things on my end."

After hanging up, Evelyn turned to Rayna, who was staring at her with curious eyes. "Sandra's running her own game," Evelyn said, and she told Rayna what Derek had just told her. Rayna raised an eyebrow, swirling the ice in her glass. "I wonder what she's up to this time."

Evelyn rolled her eyes and took a long sip of her drink.

"Honestly, I don't care. Let's just enjoy the night until she shows up. The less I think about her, the better."

Rayna chuckled, leaning back on her stool. Just as she was about to speak, her phone buzzed on the counter.

Glancing at the screen, a grin spread across her face. "It's ET," she said, giggling.

Evelyn raised an eyebrow, amused. "What's he saying now?"

Rayna read the message aloud, still smiling.

[Congratulations, you made it to the top 5.]

Evelyn laughed, shaking her head. "Either he has a really good sense of humor, or he's full of himself."

"Probably both"" Rayna said with a grin as she typed back a response.

[Yay! Let me know when I make it to the top 3.]

Before Rayna could set down her phone, her phone buzzed again, but with a phone call this time. She glanced at the screen and scowled. "It's the snake." Evelyn straightened in her seat, her eyes narrowing.

"Perfect timing."

Rayna answered the call, her voice smooth. "Hey, Sandy!

Where are you?"

Sandra's voice crackled through the phone, laced with impatience. "I'm at the entrance of the club. Where are you two?"

Rayna gave her their location, then hung up, slipping her phone back into her purse. "She'll be here soon," she said, sighing.

Evelyn raised her glass, taking another sip to calm her nerves. "Great. Let's put on the best show of our lives."

A few moments later, Sandra appeared, striding through the crowd with purpose as her eyes scanned the room until she spotted Rayna and Evelyn.

As she approached, Evelyn plastered on a surprised expression, setting her glass down a little too hard on the bar.

"What the hell is she doing here?" Evelyn snapped, her voice sharp, turning to Rayna with mock anger.

Rayna widened her eyes and reached out, placing a calming hand on Evelyn's arm. "Evie, calm down, please.

I just thought -"

"Sandra, really?" Evelyn's voice dripped with disbelief, glaring at Rayna. "Why would you set this up? Was she the reason you insisted we had to hang out here tonight?" Sandra immediately stepped forward, hands raised in a placating gesture. "Evelyn, please! I don't want to keep fighting. I want us to resolve this. I'm tired of the bad blood between us." Evelyn scoffed, folding her arms across her chest. "Really? Since when? Do you think I have amnesia and I've forgotten the show you put up just this morning? You must think I'm an idiot." "No. It's not that, Evie, I swear. I've realized the errors of my way..."

"You must really think I'm a fool, and one apology is going to fix everything, don't you? How dare you show up in front of me after everything you've done?" Evelyn asked, and Rayna, playing along, looked between the two women, her face filled with fake concern.Còntens bel0ngs to Nô(v)elDr/a/ma.Org

"Evie, I just thought... you're both sisters. Can't you forget whatever happened between you two and get along? I miss us three."

Evelyn's eyes narrowed. "You're saying that because you don't know the kind of person Sandra is. She's a backstabbing manipulative bitch."

"What did she do to you?" Rayna asked, but before Evelyn could respond, Sandra cut in.

"It's all a misunderstanding, Evie," Sandra's voice cracked her expression one of desperation. "Just give me a chance to explain. Please. I need you to understand where I'm coming from." "I'm never going to understand where you're coming from. You don't mean anything to me anymore, Sandra," Evelyn said spitefully.

"Please, Evie. For my sake, can you hear her out? Please,"

Rayna pleaded, and Evelyn let out an exaggerated sigh.

"Fine. I'm only doing this for your sake, Ray. But don't expect me to forgive her," Evelyn said, and Rayna nodded.

"Sure. Thanks. Let's all sit..."

Sandra looked at Rayna apologetically, "I'm sorry, Ray, but do you mind excusing us? I want to speak with Evelyn alone. You know, sister to sister."

Rayna frowned as she glanced at Evelyn, and Evelyn shrugged, "You brought me here to hear her out, didn't you? I don't see why you should stick around for this. This is between us."

Sandra bit her lip, nodding slowly. "Yes. Please, Rayna, could you give us a moment?"

Rayna hesitated, glancing at Evelyn. Evelyn gave her a subtle nod, signaling that everything was under control.

With a small smile, Rayna picked up her glass and stood.

"Alright. I'll hit the dancefloor, But I would have loved to be part of this," she said before walking a short distance away from Sandra's view, where she could still keep an eye on things.

Once Rayna was gone, Sandra stepped closer to Evelyn, her voice trembling as she spoke. "Evie, I'm so sorry for everything. I don't want to fight anymore."

Evelyn raised an eyebrow, her expression skeptical. "Cut the pretense, Sandra. We are alone now. Just tell me exactly what this is about."

Tears welled up in Sandra's eyes as she began to cry. "I'm serious, Evelyn! I've been envious of you for so long. I didn't know how to handle it and let it ruin everything between us. I just... I miss you. I'm sorry for everything I've done. I'm so sorry. I've moved out of the house. I'm too ashamed to face Mom and Dad," Sandra said, and Evelyn eyed her with a neutral expression.

She would have fallen for Sandra's crocodile tears if she hadn't known better, but now she could see Sandra's game. She could tell that Sandra had told her about moving out of the house so she could invite her to her suite, where Michael was waiting.

Evelyn softened her expression and nodded slowly, though she remained on high alert inside. "Fine, Sandra.

I'm tired of all the fighting, too. Let's just put it behind us and bury the hatchet."

Sandra sniffed and smiled through her tears. "Really?" She asked, and when Evelyn nodded, her face lit up with hope, "If you mean that, hug me. Please. Let's just... be sisters again."

Evelyn hesitated but then slowly leaned forward, embracing Sandra. As they hugged, Evelyn could feel Sandra clinging to her longer than necessary, and although she didn't know why, she could feel Sandra's hands moving.

Observing from the gallery, Rayna narrowed her eyes as she watched Sandra embrace Evelyn. Seeing Sandra looking around to make sure no one was looking, Rayna took out her phone to record Sandra.

She recorded Sandra as she opened her purse and took out a vial. Sandra used her purse to cover the vial from view as she slipped something into Evelyn's drink.

Immediately, Rayna stopped recording and hurried down to join them so that Evelyn wouldn't have to drink from the glass.