3.Chapter 3 That Person Saved Her Life Evelyn walked up to the front desk of Horizon Group, holding the offer letter she'd received earlier. "Hi, I'm the new photographer. Could you tell me how to get to Mr. Ford's office?" The receptionist looked her up and down, asking, "Do you have an appointment?" Evelyn shook her head. "No, I don't." The receptionist started typing on her keyboard while speaking, "I'm sorry, but without an appointment, I can't let you through. I can help you schedule one now, though. Mr. Ford's calendar is currently booked out for the next six months." Hearing that, Evelyn let out a silent sigh in her mind, 'Figures. It's the top company in Riverhold. Even seeing the CEO takes half a year.' But she couldn't afford to wait that long, not when Adrian had the means to trap her in a marriage for life. She wasn't going to live like a bird in a cage. Just then, someone came briskly walking toward her. A man in wire-rimmed glasses stopped in front of her and asked with a polite smile, "Excuse me, are you Ms. Evelyn Stevenson?" Evelyn looked at him in surprise. "Yes, and you are..." "Allow me to introduce myself. I'm Mr. Ford's assistant, Clayton Black. Hearing that you accepted the offer, he asked me to wait here for you." After the brief intro, Clayton gestured toward the elevators. "This way, please." Evelyn nodded and followed him. The CEO's office was on the 88th floor, top of the Horizon Group tower. As they passed a large conference room, Evelyn couldn't help but glance inside. The door was slightly open, and the man at the head of the table sat there, casually flipping through a file. The way he carried himself-relaxed, almost lazy-didn't match the intense atmosphere in the room. That face looked like it'd been carved by God himself-sharp, almost unapproachable in its perfection. Deep-set eyes, tall nose, and thin lips-all those cutting lines came together to form an aggressively striking face. He leaned back without a care in the world, while the executives across from him looked like they were presenting a war report, not a project update. One word popped into Evelyn's head out of nowhere: dictator. Nathan Ford wasn't just the CEO. He ruled this empire. He was just a dictator here. While she was still lost in thought, Clayton stopped in front of a door and said, "Ms. Stevenson, please wait here. Mr. Ford will be with you shortly." "Thanks," Evelyn replied with a nod. She was left alone in a huge office, and she started looking around. The decor was sleek and minimal, built around shades of black, white, and gray. Sunlight poured in through the floor-to-ceiling windows, wrapping the room in a quiet kind of warmth. Then came footsteps behind her. Evelyn turned around instinctively, only to meet a pair of cold eyes. Those eyes were covered with a faint haze, like mist over a frozen lake, but underneath was the abyss. They locked eyes with each other and froze for a moment. Nathan spoke up with a faint smile, "Hi, Ms. Evelyn Stevenson." His voice was deep and a little rough, like the sound of a cello in the middle of the night. Evelyn snapped out of her thoughts and responded politely, "Nice to see you, Mr. Ford." His smile grew a touch, though it barely showed on his face. "No need to be so formal. Make yourself comfortable." Evelyn forced herself to sit down on the sofa. Being in the same room with someone like Nathan made her whole body tense without even meaning to. Evelyn let out a breath before speaking calmly, "Mr. Ford, I'm really happy with the offer your company made me. But I've run into a bit of a situation. It would be appreciated if you could help." Afraid he might say no, she immediately added, "Of course, I don't expect your help for free. I heard you're currently working on a wildlife conservation project. As it happens, I've just returned from the wild with some pretty rare footage." Seated behind his desk, Nathan raised his brows slightly. "You went alone? Filming wild animals up close?" Evelyn smiled and tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear. "That's the only way to capture their real life." She reached into her bag, pulled out the memory card she'd prepared in advance, and handed it to Nathan. Horizon Group had always been big on conservation. They were even producing a wildlife documentary right now, actively looking for high-quality footage from across the country. This was Evelyn's best shot, and the card in her hand was her key. She got it through two weeks of grueling effort, and every second of the footage was hard-earned deep in the wild. Originally, she'd planned to release it in her own studio to build her name in the industry. But now, if this helped her get out of her marriage, it was worth it. Nathan leaned in and watched the footage closely. His eyes flickered with real surprise. Getting that close to wild animals was no joke. Even with the best gear, there were still risks. Judging by the angles, Evelyn was just a few feet away. That was why she made the shots so alive. Nathan looked up and sincerely praised, "You've got guts. This footage is impressive. I always respect people who have both courage and drive." Evelyn blushed at the praise and smiled, "Thank you." Nathan leaned back in his chair, drumming his fingers lightly on the desk. He then asked, "I have to ask though, why did you choose something so dangerous?" Evelyn's eyes softened, something complicated passing through her gaze. "I've loved wildlife documentaries ever since I was a kid. But I kept doing it because of a promise I made to someone." Nathan's fingers paused. His eyes studied her for a few seconds, and he finally said, "Must've been someone important to you." Evelyn didn't reply, but her chest ached a little. That person meant a lot to her. That person saved her life, yet she wasn't even given a chance to pay the favor. Nathan didn't push the subject. Instead, he pressed a button on his desk and asked his assistant to bring in a first aid kit. Once it arrived, Nathan slid the kit across to Evelyn. Evelyn looked at him, puzzled. "Mr. Ford?" 'Why did he give it to me?' she wondered. Seeing she didn't quite get it, Nathan stood up and walked over to her. His tall frame, nearly 6'33, immediately filled her field of vision, the air around him thick with quiet pressure. Evelyn caught the faint scent coming off him, something light and clean, like pine and cold mountain air. It reminded her of dense forests far away from the city. It was oddly comforting in this sea of glass and steel. Her whole body tensed as she stammered, "M-Mr. Ford." Nathan leaned down slowly, closing the space between them. His scent grew stronger, hugging every pore on her. Evelyn widened her eyes. Her first instinct was to dodge. But then, his hand reached through the soft fabric of her shirt sleeve and gently pressed against her wrist. The warmth of his touch seeped into her skin. Nathan spoke up, "Haven't you noticed your wrist is injured? For a photographer, your hands are everything." Title: Contracted CEO Husband Regrets On Divorce Eve In "Contracted CEO Husband Regrets On Divorce Eve" by CrushReel, a unique romance unfolds between two individuals bound by a marriage contract yet estranged for years. Just as divorce seems imminent, unexpected connections spark between them, leading to a twist of fate. Within this modern romance novel, the protagonists navigate the complexities of their contracted relationship and the uncharted territory of rediscovering each other. 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