Mac (Riders of Apollo #8)

Chapter Fifteen: Evangeline White

I'm only given the evening to calm down as I wake up to dozens of texts from the women at the clubhouse, begging for my return. I got in late last night after hanging out with the guys for hours playing casual games of cards and smoking cigars with weed in them so I'm still a little bit woozy from all the excitement.

I yawn heavily, stretching out my injured arms, before climbing into the shower with a sigh. My cuts sting as the steaming water flows over them, I allow the pain to sharpen my mind and finish with the rest of my bathroom routine.

I slick on enough makeup to cover the withdrawn look on my face and tidy my curls to fall perfectly around my face. I choose some wide leg trousers in a peach tone with a white silk blouse that shows a fair amount of cleavage. I put on my most expensive silver jewellery and a Rolex watch before sliding on my Louboutin pumps.

I don't normally display my wealth so much but since Sonya is in town, I want to show to her that I am more than what I came from. I order a town car and pack my purse with everything I could need for the following day, sending out a few texts after as I wait for the car to arrive. I've got that dinner in two days at Simon's house which I can't forget so I write that down on my desk calendar just as my car pulls up.

"Good morning, Alaric." I greet him as he opens the door for me.

"Good morning, Miss White." I see him glance at my arms but he chooses not to comment on the excessive bruising, smiling at me instead. He's been at my company for four years now and he's my favourite driver, he understands the need for nondisclosure and takes his job seriously.

I ask Alaric to drive passed Clive's house so I can check on the rebuild for his porch and the repainting of the house. Clive didn't like the dirt on the outside so I offered to have the colour changed to something that wouldn't get so filthy so quickly and he agreed. "Is there anything else I can do for you today, Miss White?" He asks as we pull up at the clubhouse, people watching my interactions from the window.

I pass him his tip and he smiles at me, he used to argue when I tip him so much but he's learned that I will never stop doing it. "It's alright, Alaric. Thank you for the ride, take it easy for the day, spend some time with Lily." Lily is his wife of twenty years and he smiles at her mention, getting out to open my door. I slide my sunglasses onto my head and wink at him, moving towards the door with purpose.

"Hey! I'm so happy you're back... what happened to your hands?" Riley immediately asks and I just kiss her head with a smile, deciding not to answer her question. Peyton spots me next and I recognise her need to speak to me, her eyes dancing with questions. She also notices the bruises and her eyes widen in concern.

"So, what are we talking about Lex?" I breeze passed Sonya, who I see is sat on Harrison in Mac's chair, which I imagine he is not happy about.

"We were hoping you could help us with this." Lexie spins the iPad around and shows me an expensive looking... I don't even know what it is to be honest so I just look at it in confusion. "Your friend Luiz owns so many of these and we were hoping you could get one." She pouts up at me and I spin around to Bear with a look.

"You've been keeping a close eye on me, I suppose."

"Not really, Riley asked where you were, Romeo pulled you up on the computer and told us you were out to dinner with some very rich friends of yours." I nod, deciding not to take my agitation any further. 

The reason I left MI6 and Mossad is because I hated being watched 24/7, it's also why I have so many names and why no tabloid can ever find me to ask me a thousand trivial questions. My privacy is the only thing that's kept me alive, my reputation is based entirely on the fact that somehow everyone knows of me but knows nothing about me in reality.