《Date The CEO.com》


 Chapter 1: Prologue: Meet Everlee Eve Hart

    Chapter 1: Prologue: Meet Everlee ''Eve'' Hart

    The sun began to set outside of a small window. Its rays lit up a simple room. It had cream walls and a wooden flooring. White polka dots covered the purple nket and pillows. A worn out faux fur carpetid on the bottom, peeking out from under the bed.

    On the other side, Everlee stood in front of her full length mirror. She clenched her towel, making sure it stayed up and around her body. A pair of uneasy brown eyes stared back at her. Cropped ck hair framed her heart-shaped face. Droplets of water trickled down her neck.

    She raised a hand and swept back her bangs, running her fingers through her hair.

    She could almost imagine her luscious scarlet hair as they fell onto the floor. Her round eyes drooped as she reminisced the memory. She could hear the snip of the scissors as they cut it. Gone were the long and wavy locks. At the base of her head, spiky stubs pricked her fingertips lightly.

    She took a deep breath.

    Faint words echoed inside her head.

    ''If you want this job, you need to be invisible.''

    The statement jolted her awake. She shook her head, tossing out the negative thoughts. It was just hair! It would grow back. She hadn''t lost it forever. The day woulde for her to see those lush waves again.

    Until then, she wouldn''t brood over it.

    Everlee pressed her lips together. She forced her expression to harden, ring at her reflection. Her grip tightened on the towel. Today was her first day at work. She passed the interviews. She overcame the tests. She surpassed all the other applicants.

    Yet, today could also be herst.

    Fire simmered in her blood. She wouldn''t let that happen. She would not fail.

    Before she went home, they had given her first taskan assignment consisting of five rules. She closed her eyes and repeated them in her mind like a mantra.

    The moment she said them aloud, they would be amitment to her heart.

    "One," she spoke firmly. Determined brown eyes shed on the mirror. "Don''t draw meaningless attention."

    Her feet walked with purpose. She opened the cab and spotted her office wear. She pulled it off the hanger, inspecting every inch. Not a crease nor a stain was in sight. She nodded andid it on her bed.

    As Everlee took off the towel, she recited her next rule, "Two, speak only when spoken to."

    "Three," she continued, grabbing the ck tunic. She slipped it on. "Avoid unnecessary affiliation with the boss."

    Next, she pulled up the pair of matching cks. She tucked in the hem of her top and buttoned the waistband. The cut was straight. It gave her zero shape, deeming it perfect for her position.

    She stretched her arms.

    "Four! Never interfere with his personal matters!"

    The words came out louder than the rest. Everlee knew her habit of being nosy. She meddled in previous affairs before. That habit would cease from today onwards. She wrapped the coat around her shoulders, cramming her hand through the sleeves.

    "And five" She brushed out the cor and straightened thepels. "Always follow his orders."

    Strolling back to the mirror, Everlee craned her neck. She took out a pair of sses from the breast pocket and slid it up her nose. Her vision became a little clearer. After long nights of studying, she relented and bought the square frames. She couldn''t afford her eyesight to deteriorate further.

    She needed to be in pristine condition.

    Just like the way she looked at the moment.

    Everlee smirked at her amazing work.

    "Why, hello, Ms. Secretary."

    She shifted her feet, checking her reflection at different angles. Her dark coat followed her shape. It was cinched at the waist. Thus, it showed the curve of her back and her sides. It looked really goodespecially for something that she bought from a thrift store. Her outfit almost seemed brand new.

    It always delighted her to find cheap buried treasure.

    "Eve!" A voice shouted from downstairs.

    "Yeah?" Everlee continued to admire her new look. She was unsure before but she started feeling it. It made her feel empowered for her new job. With this boost of confidence, she''d reach her goal in no time.

    "Aren''t you going to bete?"

    "What?!" Eve snapped her head towards the clock. rm bells rang in her ears. She bolted away from the mirror and grabbed her essentials. She swiped the watch off her dresser, binding it around her wrist.

    She turned around in circles. Rising panic seeped through her nerves. If she didn''t leave any second soon, she''d miss the bus. If she missed the bus, she''d bete. If she camete, she''d be dragged out the door.

    Buh-bye, high sry.

    Buh-bye, future pay raise.

    Buh-bye, funds for her siblings'' education.

    "st it! Where are my shoes?!" Everlee screamed.

    "They''re by the door!"

    "Oops."

    She grabbed her bag and sprinted out of the room. Her footsteps thudded down the staircase.

    "Woah!" Andie gasped as her best friend reached thest step. She leaned against the doorway of the kitchen, her dirty blonde hair swaying. She crossed her arms over her chest. "Are you really going to live your life this way?"

    Everlee slipped on the leather heels. She had opted for ts but after some mental debate, she realized that the pumps had some merittwo of them, at least.

    1) The extra height boost, and

    2) the chance to not be mistaken as male.

    She shook her head, one hand on the door knob. She showed Andie a smile to reassure her best friend''s worries. "It won''t be like this forever. Besides, it''s only for work. You''d still see me dress like I usually do."

    "Yeah, but" Andie protested, "Quit once your siblings graduate, okay? No matter how high the pay is, it''s not worth it if you can''t be yourself."

    Everlee merely shrugged, pulling the hem of her coat. "I don''t know. I think I''m digging this."

    Mischief sparked underneath her stormy blue eyes. "I wonder what Jarret would think if he saw me with you in this getup."

    "You... are an evil munchkin." Evemented, staring back with a deadpan expression. She opened the door and waved her hand. "See youter, Andie. Don''t listen to your inner devil and give your boyfriend a break from your schemes."

    Andie snorted. "See you, Eve. Take care."

    When the door closed, she heaved a sigh. She stood alone in their apartment. It was shabbier than most luxurious condominiums but it was home. It was more than enough for a pair of fresh college graduates.

    Her gaze flickered to the front door.

    If her best friend wanted money, why didn''t she join show business? Why did she choose to be an assistant? Andie had no doubts that Eve would stun the masses. She had a unique beauty that only the right camera would find.

    After a while, the savory scent of bakedsagne wafted through the air, flowing out of the oven. Andie''s mouth watered from the sensation. She pushed her thoughts aside and went back to the kitchen.

    Maybe after some time in the productionpany, her best friend would change her mind.

    "I wonder what her boss would be like?" Andie mumbled to herself, "I bet he would have fallen for Eve if it weren''t for her new look."

 Chapter 2: Five-Minute Break Up

    Chapter 2: Five-Minute Break Up

    "Have you informed the producers about the investment pull out?"

    "Yes, I sent them the notice through email."

    "What about my orders to have that casting director fired?"

    "He has beenid off permanently."

    "Has my 3 o''clock appointment been reminded of the meeting?"

    "I sent a message to confirm their attendance. They responded immediately, affirming to the statement. I had given them the instructions and emphasized the consequences if they camete."

    Ambryan Hathaway walked around his desk. His office''s ss wall disyed a view of the city. Most of it consisted of other tall buildings, their roofs more visible to the eye than the streets. The backrest of his chair towered over his tall sitting height. He leaned backfortably, elbows resting on the armrests.

    The wool of his navy blue suit and vest hugged his muscles. The color made his eyes more blue than violet. Under the sun, his beige skin glowed and the gel in his onyx hair shined. The hairstyle exposed his face shape, particrly his square jawline.

    Ambryan rxed his shoulder. The scowl he wore faded. He raised his chin, closing his eyes. To anyone who worked directly with him, they''d know that he just let down his guard. This was the only time he ced himself in a vulnerable state.

    Eve knew it more than anyone.

    She folded her hands over her stomach, still holding her work phone. She maintained a neutral expression. Whenever she spoke, her words came out clipped and concise.

    "Would you like some tea for your 15-min break?"

    "ck. No sugar. In a pot. Keep the tea bag in."

    "Yes, sir. Right away." She bowed down to the waist. Then, headed to a nearby table. Everything she needed had already been prepared. She brewed the tea ording to Ambyran''s liking. She added an extra bag for the tea pot since it meant that her boss wanted more than a cup.

    It would be a long day ahead for both of them.

    She made a mental note to inform Andie about it.

    Eve ced the pot and the cup on a tray. She carried it over to his desk, careful not to disturb the silence. Her heels clicked on the floor with light pressure. The door swung soundlessly since its hinges were frequently oiled.

    The only sound came from itstch.

    Once free, Eve let out a long breath of relief. She rolled her shoulders and squeezed her back. A soft moan rumbled in her throat. ''It felt good to stretch,'' she thought. She continued the rest of the way and sat behind her own desk. The monitor flooded her vision with endless emails.

    "Alright," she whispered,cing her fingers together and pushing her palms forward. She cracked her knuckles for a bit. "Let''s answer as many as possible for the next 14 minutes."

    Soft keys fluttered from the keyboard. The pace matched 4 per second. Brown eyes focused on the series of texts. Any concerns meant for another department were redirected to the point person. Any inquiries on status reports were backed up with her own reminder to the respective team.

    Any matters that needed the CEO''s attention were also forwarded.

    Except for selective positions, all emails went through Eve. She filtered and categorized them ording to the content and its importance. She avoided suggesting any decision. If she had one in mind, it would have to be rmended to the proper authority.

    She had kept this in mind ever since her first year on the job. Although she held a higher position than many, she did not gain the voice to openly speak on behalf of those above herunless granted by them previously.

    The inte rang. Not missing a beat, Eve pressed the answer button. She continued to address the emails on her inbox.

    "What is it?"

    "Good day, Ms. Hart," the security guard said, "There''s a Miss Charlee Edwards here, iming to be the boss'' lover."

    "Escort her please."

    "Got it, Ms. Hart. Have I told you that you look lovely today?"

    Eve rolled her eyes. A small smile tugged on the corner of her lips. She had one finger on the end button. "Say that to your wife more often."

    She heard a boisterousugh before she disconnected the call. She shook her head. Darryl always made everyone''s day with hispliments. Despite his old age, he did bring some positive energy to thepany.

    The elevator dinged from her left. The tapping ceased as Eve turned towards it. Darryl stepped aside and waited by the entrance. Then, a stunning woman walked out of the lift. Crushed white pearls adorned her pink summer dress. A slender tan leg peeked under a long slit. Voluminous mocha hair flowed down to the waist in beach waves.

    Eve steeled her nerves as she approached the visitor.

    "Ms. Edwards," she greeted the aspiring actress.

    Unfortunately, Charlee Edwards ignored her. The guest headed for the door. Eve intercepted and blocked her path. Whatever remorse she felt before had dissipated. Her smile became tight.

    This time, she wasn''t unnoticed.

    "Who are you?" Charlee questioned, eyeing Eve from head to toe.

    The gesture struck a nerve inside her. The actress didn''t even pretend to be subtle. Eve felt the judgement when Charlee scrunched her nose. "I''m Sir Hathaway''s secretary."

    "Then, you know who I am."

    ''Didn''t I just call out your name?'' Eve answered in her head. The pulse increased its speed beneath her temple. Even after all these years, she didn''t know how her boss picked his ''girlfriends'' for various events. It certainly had nothing to do with their personalities.

    How could he even tolerate their behavior for an extended period?

    Before she could produce a proper response, Charlee moved to a different topic.

    "Are you a woman?"

    "Yes," Eve replied, flinching.

    "No wonder he likes to y around." Charlee clicked her tongue. She crossed her arms over her chest, walking around the secretary in a circle. "You''re not exactly desirable to the eye. His sensual hunger must be so deprived."

    Eve. Wanted. To. Barf.

    Who talked this way? She wasn''t blind. Her heart fluttered the first time she saw her boss. No matter how short the distance was, their worlds remained far apart. She had buried that crush to the Depths of Hell. Instead, she considered it a blessing to even work for someone both attractive in physique and in work ethic.

    That was enough motivation for her to excel in her own job.

    "Now, move."

    Charlee''smand broke Eve out of her reverie. She dodged around the actress and pressed her back against the door. "Please, Miss Edwards. The boss had prepared a gift for you. I was instructed to hand it over as soon as you arrive."

    It was as if Eve had spoken the magic words. The hostility vanished before her eyes.

    "He''s such a sweet man, isn''t he?" Charlee giggled. Her entire demeanor changed as a wide smile stretched her lips. Giddiness flooded her insides. "Well then, where is it?"

    "Follow me." Eve sighed. She led the way to the door beside the elevator. Darryl directed a wink in her direction. She pressed her lips together, trying not tough. They both knew what wasing next.

    She took out a small box from the closet. It had a baby blue wrapping and satin white ribbon. A small note stuck out from the bow. Ambryan''s handwriting filled it with Charlee''s name and his signature.

    The actress snatched it away immediately.

    "Oh my goodness! Is this a ring?!" Charlee eximed.

    ''Are you delusional?'' Eve remarked in silence, biting her tongue. Those words almost flew out of her mouth. It astonished her how many times she heard this assumption. Why couldn''t her boss pick someone with more originality?

    The ribbonnded on the floor as Charlee opened the box. A 20k diamond anklet twinkled on top of a velvet cushion. Small stones covered the chain, leaving little space for the gold band to shine through. A few charms dangled with more diamonds. When worn, the aesthetic resembled a star shower.

    "Well" she huffed, holding the chain over her head. The lights beamed down on the diamonds. "If he was easy to get, I wouldn''t have been attracted to him."

    "He does have a message for you though," Eve began to say. She held her hands behind her back. When she smiled, it was out of pure delight. "Please tell Charlee Edwards that our affiliation ends here, whether she epts the gift or not."

    "Excuse me?" Charlee scoffed. She ced the anklet back in the box. "What did you just say?"

    Eve did as requested, keeping her voice monotone.

    The actress red. She bared her teeth and sneered. "You''re lying. Either I hear this from Ambryan himself or I won''t believe it."

    A phone appeared in Eve''s hand. She tapped on the screen before a voice recording flowed out of its speakers. The exact same words came out but this time, it came from her boss. Ambryan had a rare deep and throaty voice that couldn''t be easily duplicated.

    "There you go. Satisfied?"

    The authenticity couldn''t be deniedeven Charlee knew it. The blood drained off her face. Her body trembled from shock. Her plump lips paled as she stopped breathing.

    Eve made eye contact with the third person in the room. "Darryl, please escort Ms. Edwards back downstairs. She is no longer allowed to enter the building."

    "You can''t do this!" Charlee screamed as the security guard pulled her back to the elevator. She yanked her arm back but Darryl was much stronger than her. Soon, she found herself inside the lift.

    "I didn''t," Eve denied, shrugging her shoulders, "Think of it this way. You just didn''t satisfy the boss'' sensual hunger."

    Then, she turned to Darryl, "If Ms. Edwards doesn''t have a mode of transportation, kindly inform the chauffeur to drive her to her agency."

    "Will do, Ms. Hart."

    Eve waved her hand as the elevator doors closed. "Buh-bye now."

    She walked back to her desk. Her forehead mmed against the table. A groan escaped her lips. The sides of her head started to ache. That was more stressful than her full inbox. Her hand pulled her drawer and took out the packet of painkillers.

    "Honestly, I''ve done this enough times for me to have it as a skill on my resume," Eve mumbled, "Or maybe I could start a business with it. Need help with a break up? Look no further and call us! We''ll wrap it up for you like a holiday present in just five minutes!"

 Chapter 3: Mother Knows Best

    Chapter 3: Mother Knows Best

    Eve cheered internally once she cleaned out her inbox.

    Despite the disturbance, she had it done in record time. Pride surged in her chest. The vague memory of her first week reyed in her head. She chuckled. She created several mistakes back then and acted more clumsy. She sent emails to the wrong people. She forgot to attach the reports. She missed out on deadlines

    ...

    Dread washed over her spine.

    How did she keep this job again?

    Eve checked her watch.

    Her boss still had a few more minutes before break time ended. She contemted if she should have one of her own. Taking out her personal phone, she scrolled through her ebooks. ''Maybe I could read a chapter or two,'' she thought.

    She opened at the top of the list. All of a sudden, she was immersed in a world full of battle. The main character''s side was on the brink. They needed to revise their strategy. The enemy seemed to know all of their moves. They had been caught off guard way too many times.

    It could not go on any longer.

    ...

    After some time, the elevator dinged.

    Eve knitted her eyebrows, her muscles tensing. She snapped her head to the inte. She hadn''t misheard anything. There was no call from Darryl. All of her boss'' visitors came through him. After him, he''d ask her for permission.

    If the person bypassed that security then, who was in the lift?

    The elevator doors opened. They revealed a middle-aged woman with violet eyes. Her straight ck hair had blue undertones. Itplimented her tan skin well. Her diamond face had minimal wrinkles.

    Most people presume that she was in her mid-20s.

    She walked out and entered their floor.

    Upon sight, Eve stood up. She bumped into her chair and her table. The former almost fell to the floor. Thetter quivered from the sudden force. The keyboard ttered. Her pen holder toppled over.

    She ignored them all and bowed to the waist.

    The woman passed by Eve. She kept her focus on the door. Her gaze could cut through it like a knife. Smoke floated out of her ears. She spoke three words, using a mellow tone.

    "Good afternoon, Eve."

    "Good afternoon, Mrs. Hathaway," the secretary replied, straightening her posture. Her eyes widened when Avery Hathaway gripped the door knob. She lifted a hand towards the door. "Oh, please. Chief Executive is"

    Her warning reached deaf ears. Avery marched inside and left the door slightly open. Eve froze in ce. Visits from the madame wasn''t a new urrence. Yet, each one seemed unique. If she was in a good mood, she''d share a box of cream puffs.

    If she was in a bad mood, usually Darryl would give a heads up.

    Eve shivered while she wondered what happened to him.

    Rule #4 echoed in her head.

    ''Never interfere with his personal matters.''

    She sank in her chair. Her eyes remained on the door. She could tell it was open because the sun peeked through it. She bit her thumb, debating if she should close it.

    ''It wouldn''t draw much attention, right?'' Eve reasoned. ''I could exin that the door shut by itself. It was heavy enough to do so.''

    She rose to her feet and used light footsteps. If possible, she ced her weight on her toes. The carpet muffled any sound. She reached the door. She slowly touched the knob and attempted to pull it.

    Her insides trembled when she heard the conversation.

    She gulped.

    "What is this I heard about you being involved with an actress?!" Avery asked, her voice raised. She paced back and forth. The red pencil skirt she wore limited her strides. Thus, her footsteps doubled than normal.

    Her son kept his eyes closed. Half of the teapot had been emptied. "Is that why you''re here, mother?"

    "Charlee Edwards! I can''t believe it! Isn''t there a rumor going around that she slept with directors?"

    "Mother, I never knew you believed the surface of rumors immediately."

    Avery stomped her foot. She talked towards his desk, mming her hands on it. "This is serious, Yan. When I told you that you should date, I didn''t mean for the image only."

    "Aren''t you d to see me date?"

    "Wha" she choked. Sometimes Avery wanted to stapler her son''s lips. Other times she felt proud that he inherited her wits. This moment didn''t belong to either category. "Seeing you date and seeing you in love are two different things. I highly doubt you considered any of those flings as a potential marriage partner."

    "You''re right. I didn''t."

    "Ha!"

    "But that is because marriage is not in my priorities." Ambryan finally opened his eyes. A scowl surfaced on his face.

    He exhaled sharply through his nose.

    Avery sat down on a chair. She folded her arms on top of the desk, dropping her voice to a softer tone. "Son, you''re almost 30. If you don''t think about marriage now, I don''t think you ever will."

    Her son smiled in return. "Oh, mother. You know me so well."

    She clenched her hands into fists. The corners of her lips turned down. What would it take for Ambryan to consider marriage? He had yed the dating game by his own rules up to now. None of them touched deeper than his skin.

    There must be a way to break open his walls.

    "How about this?" Avery began to say, "You seriously date one girl and I''ll let you off the hook."

    One woman would be enough. One woman had the power to change everything. They didn''t need to marry. She only needed that person to show her son the good things only love could bring. The butterflies in the stomach, the flickering of the heart, the constant desire to make each other happy someone who could show him what unconditional love was

    and that it existed.

    Ambryan raised a skeptical eyebrow. "Wouldn''t that mean you''d lose reason to visit me?"

    "I visit you!" His mother defended, her nostrils ring.

    "That''s strange. I distinctly remember having this conversation during each one." He rubbed his chin and pretended to think about it. "So if it''s not that, what else would you be visiting me for?"

    Avery''s will dwindled. The surge of adrenaline slowly faded. Her son was hopeless. Hopeless! Her shoulders sagged. "I''m serious, Yan. Your father and I won''t always be here. So, please the next time that you date, actually be considerate of the person and her presence in your life."

    Ambryan pressed his lips together. A hard expression painted on his face. He reached for her hand and squeezed it. "I''m sorry, mother, but I really can''t bring myself to be close with anyone."

    Avery shut her eyes. She ced her hand over his, holding it with a tight grip. She would not go home defeated. She merely had to create a na solid proposal! Just like his son''s business partners. He would listen if she treated it like a pitch for a movie deal.

    The more details, the more likely Ambryan would be convinced.

    It would be like following a script.

    "How about this?" She asked, looking up at once. There was a new light in her eyes. They crinkled with inspiration. "I will set a website with a few girls. You would only need to date one for 9 months. One, the others would instantly be eliminated. You don''t have to fall for her. You just need to spend quality time with her, undistracted by your job. Can you do that?"

    "Why 9 months?" Ambryan frowned.

    "Because 6 seems too short and 12 seems a little too cliche." His mother shrugged. She yanked his hand until it reached the end of the desk. It forced him to stand from his seat. She hissed, "Do this and I''ll give you what you''ve always asked."

    "Which is?"

    "You know which is it," she whispered, not breaking eye contact. She projected conviction in her stare. They crystallized like gemstones. It resembled her resolvesolid and unwavering. "The one thing we refused to give despite how much we spoiled you."

    The silencested over a minute. Avery watched her son as he locked his jaw. She could almost see the internal conflict in his gaze. She knew how much he desired that request. The only reason he never asked again was because of her. She had put a stop to it.

    This time around, it was her who initiated it. She was willing to make that the price. One way or another, Avery knew this was worth it. This would determine her son''s future. It was in his best interest even if he couldn''t see it yet.

    She could only hope that he realized how serious she was.

    "Is it a deal, Ambryan Hathaway?" Avery persisted.

    Ambryan huffed. He pulled back his hand and leaned on his chair. He had his eyes on the floor when he gave his answer. He heard his mother''s breath hitched as she waited.

    "I''ll have awyer draft the contract."

 Chapter 4: Finding the Right Woman

    Chapter 4: Finding the Right Woman

    Eve fell on her bottom.

    Pain shot up her spine. Her legsid askewed on the floor. She blinked her eyes several times, gathering her thoughts. The door stayed open before her. The beam of light beamed down at her startled expression.

    It seemed to mock her.

    "... then, I''ll send you the website and instructions tomorrow"

    Those words broke Eve out of her reverie. She scrambled to get away. Light footsteps served as her countdown. She turned on her side, pushing herself up. She sprinted for her desk. For a moment, she wondered if she could duck and roll like in action movies.

    Then, she dropped the idea.

    Eve reached her chair just before Avery walked out. Her eyes widened at her desk''s mess. She sneaked a nce at the madam. While Mrs. Hathaway was turned away, she arranged her pen holder. She made sure to be discreet.

    Once the pens were all in, she peeled her hands away. She searched for a good arm position. The one that seemed the most natural. She settled for her hands sped together on the desk.

    Then, she tapped on her keyboard, pretending to check on something. Her eyes flickered back to the door as if she just noticed its movement.

    ''Smooth, Eve. Real smooth,'' her inner voice remarked.

    Avery closed the door gently. She shifted in ce, spinning on her heel. She faced Eve who raised her eyebrows. She replied with a neutral expression.

    "Is this door soundproof?"

    The blood drained from Eve''s face. Her mouth opened but nothing came out. Did she get caught? She didn''t mean to eavesdrop. She hadn''t expected to hear about a deal. That topic of conversation had urred several times before.

    She even heard it in passing whenever they met the madam outside of the office.

    "Ye-yes?" Eve stammered. A bead of sweat trickled down the side of her face. She clutched her hands tightly, almost breaking her fingers from the grip. Numerous excuses raced in her mind.

    Her heart hammered in her chest.

    "Good." Avery nodded. She walked a few paces, then stopped. She pulled her feet apart. Raising her chin up, she red at the ceiling.

    Eve jumped in her seat when the first syble reached her ears.

    "AAAAAHHH!!! That STUPID son of a BASTARD!" She screamed at the top of her lungs. The veins in her neck bulged. "How could such a persone out of my womb?! That-that-THAT COCKROACH has no romantic bone in his body! Why! When his father and I first met, it was love at first sight! How did gics fail to pass down that hopeless romantic trait?"

    She wiped her face with both hands. They pressed down on her facial muscles. A dull ache stung her cheeks. Her voice turned into a whimper. "I always wanted a daughter. The only person who could give me one is uncooperative. Is this the suffering for my past sins?"

    Avery dropped her hands on her sides. She shut her eyes and shook her head. This wasn''t a time to vent. She had 48 hours to establish the website. That part was the easiest. It was the list of girls she worried about.

    ''The right woman,'' she repeated in her mind, massaging her left temple. How does a person be the right partner? Avery knew her son would most likely not fall in love with any of the girlsbut, deep in her chest, she couldn''t help but hope.

    ''The right woman,'' she repeated again. ''The right woman could change the wheel of fate.''

    The only question left was how to find that woman.

    Avery heaved a sigh, opening her eyes. She stared off into space. She became trapped in her own world. Words swirled over her head as she created and scrapped ideas.

    "Hey, Eve," she called out without sparing a nce.

    "Yes, Mrs. Hathaway?" Eve responded. She rose to her feet and pressed her hands on her abdomen. Her previous tension had faded. The yells from the madam had eliminated her worries.

    She was off the hook from eavesdropping.

    "Do you happen to know what kind of woman my son likes?" Avery asked.

    Eve cleared her throat. "Uh"

    She recalled her boss'' patterns.

    Ambryan wasn''t the type to mingle unless necessary. Most of his dates left to boast about their affiliation while he talked with business partners. The only times they spent together was when they arrive and when they leave.

    Every time he picked a break-up present, it would be thetest jewelry piece in the market.

    The first round of gifts usually came up from research.

    Eve came to a conclusion. She gave Avery a sad smile despite how thetter couldn''t see it. "I''m afraid I don''t have an answer to that, Mrs. Hathaway. Not once did the boss give any woman more attention than others."

    "Really?" The madam muttered. She closed her eyes for a second. Sadness drooped down her expression. "I shouldn''t have much hope then."

    The sight tugged on Eve''s heartstrings. Avery Hathaway was a woman that oozed confidence. Most celebrities reserved their smiles for the cameras but not her. When she was the top A-list actress, genuine happiness glowed in her face. It seemed that nothing could bring her down.

    Thus, it broke Eve to see her this way.

    "I''m truly sorry, Mrs. Hathaway," she said, pressing her lips together. She willed herself not to approach Avery. "Your son not once gave a thought about those women. Every gift was calcted from information I dug up. He wanted to be fair and made sure they all received the same treatment. The only time he ever broke out of character was when one of them tried to force feed him with a forkful of spaghetti."

    "He hates tomatoes."

    "He hates tomatoes."

    Eve held back a snort. Who hated tomatoes? The fruit had contributed to a variety of savory dishes. A pizza wouldn''t be a pizza without its sauce. Thebination of cheese and tomato sauce was simply divine.

    Her boss was delusional if he couldn''t see that.

    Avery chuckled at their synchronization. That was enough to flutter Eve''s heart. The sense of aplishment crawled over her skin. It tickled the side of her neck.

    It was a good feeling.

    "It''s been five years since you''ve been working for him, right?" Avery thought out loud. Other than home visits from Ambryan, she always saw his secretary with him. Not everyone noticed Eve right away but she did.

    "Yes, that is correct." Eve nodded.

    Avery tilted her head to one side. She admired the secretary''s angelic face. Round brown eyes that reflected a pure heart. Those were her first thoughts when she met Eve. "Yan doesn''t like sugar with his tea."

    At this, Eve nodded again. "ck tea is the priority. If there is none, it would be green tea."

    "Right" The madam narrowed her eyes. She walked over to Eve''s desk, taking her time. "He also doesn''t like to wear red."

    Eveughed. A faint memory yed in her mind. She recalled the first time she sent his preference for gifts. Since then, she had a temte email ready. It was scheduled to be sent on a certain day before celebrations rolled in.

    "He only wears three colors: blue, white and ck." She giggled. That list still sounded ridiculous to her. It was long and intricate. The amount of details had her wondering about the incidents behind them.

    "Except for socks," Avery added. "They''re always ck."

    "They also have to reach above the ankles," Eve finished. She shook her head slightly. "Other than his hands, his neck and his head, the rest should be covered in clothing. He exined that it''s the aesthetic a professional should wear."

    After she heard it, she arrived the next day with the proper outfit. It was the first time she had surprised him. She followed his descriptions down to the T. She felt ufortable in certain spots but she could get used to it.

    Then, it was her who became more surprised.

    ```

    "You look ridiculous," he told her five years ago.

    Eve scowled. "What do you mean?"

    "Don''t follow someone''s sense of style blindly. That was merely my opinion. There aren''t written rules to be obeyed in fashion. Everyone has the freedom of expression. If there is a code, wear what you findfortable in it. Don''t force yourself."

    ```

    If Eve remembered correctly, that was the first time she truly admired him. He never mixed his own personal beliefs with work. She took upon herself to practice it as well. Most women wanted to date.

    For her, she wanted to be like him.

    Avery watched as the secretary retreated to her own world. She used the opportunity and assessed Eve''s stature. The suit didn''t do her justice. She had curves that couldn''t be seen unless through a keen eye.

    "Eve."

    "Yes, Mrs. Hathaway?" Eve replied, recovering from her daze. A pale tint of pink colored her ears. She had done her bad habit againwithdrawing from reality. Memoryne always knew how to bait her.

    She bit her bottom lip and bowed her head. She waited for the scolding.

    It didn''te.

    Instead, a small smile stretched on Avery''s lips.

    "How would you like to have the chance to date my son?"

 Chapter 5: Offer of a Lifetime

    Chapter 5: Offer of a Lifetime

    .

    .

    .

    .

    .

    .

    EverleeHart.exe stopped working.

    Her brain wires overheated. They exploded into nothingness. Her head became hollow, almostpletely nk. She neither registered Avery''s face nor the surroundings. All of her senses shut down.

    She became an empty shell.

    "Eve?"

    "I-I" Eve stammered. She fluttered her eyes and shook her head, an attempt to get her mind running. Where was she again? What date was it? She hadn''t transmigrated into another universe, had she?

    She took a deep breath, focusing on the current moment. Her sight slowly cleared up. She knitted her eyebrows. "What did you say again, Mrs. Hathaway?"

    Avery took a step back. She crossed her arms over her chest. She debated between a friendly expression or a firm one. In the end, she opted for the former and smiled wide. "How would you like to have the chance to date my son?"

    ''Is my hearing clogged?'' Eve wondered. Did she forget how to English? That question soundedplex. Temptation prodded her to clean out her ears.

    "Eve," Avery tried again. She set her fingertips on the desk. She leaned forward, capturing Eve''s entire vision. "I will create a dating website for my son. For it to be a dating site, I am in need of females for him to meet. My goal is for him to discover what romantic love is. I think you''re the right person to teach him that."

    The secretary halfughed and half-scoffed. Her? Teach her boss? About L-O-V-E?

    "With all due respect, madam," Eve began to reply. She stared at the desk. "I don''t think I have the qualifications to do that. I have zero dating experience."

    That sounded like a reasonable excuse, right?

    "Perfect!"

    "P-P-Perfect?" She gaped, snapping her head up. "What do you mean by that?"

    "Eve, are you a hopeless romantic?" Avery asked. She propped one butt cheek on the desk and folded her hands on her thigh. Her smile grew into a mischievous one. "When you were a kid, did you ever dream about your future wedding? Have you read, seen and listened to countless romance stories? Did they make your heart skip a beat? Did you ever wonder what it would be like to be the female lead?"

    ''That was oddly specific,'' Eve remarked in her mind, ''Still, they hit the right spots. The only thing missing was for her to ask if I had been single all my life because of fictional men.''

    "Don''t a lot of people?" She chose to reply. If that would be the only reason, plenty of women had those attributes. They also had better backgrounds than her.

    "Then, why not take this chance? Yan could be the ideal male lead," Avery said. She exined her points by counting her fingers. "He has the looks. He has the brains. He has the ambition. He has the power. He has money. He has charisma. Why not try to date him?"

    One reason after another flooded Eve''s mind. In the span of five years, one fact remained true. Ambryan Hathaway ced the business above all others. His tone would always be harsh. He would show no mercy, breaking any hope for pleads.

    She understood that it was for work but

    did he really have to publicly sue an actress for breach of contract because she got pregnant? Or maybe it was because she was Eve''s friend that she held some bias?

    She remembered the first time he started to date. The first breakup happened in his office. He had opened the door for the woman, asking her to leave. Eve hadn''t seen it but she heard a raucous. The woman caused a scene. From then on, Ambryan refused to break up with the women personally.

    He passed it on to Eve.

    Now, who would want to be with a man like that?

    It was his choice to date them.

    He should be the one to break it off.

    Eve clenched her hands into fists. She shut her eyes,posing herself. It wouldn''t be good to let her temper get the best of herespecially in front of her boss'' mother. Should she even reveal these incidents?

    Wait should she even consider this offer?

    "Mrs. Hathaway." Eve cleared her throat, opening her eyes. She stood her ground and hardened her gaze. "I have no such desires. It is part of my code not to date my boss."

    Rule #4 ''Never interfere with his personal matters.''

    She chanted it again and again. Then, she sat down, turning to herputer. She nced at the time. Her imaginary wig flew off. Break time ended 5 minutes ago. She stood up and shifted her gaze towards the door.

    She was in big trouble now.

    Avery raised her eyebrows.

    Eve walked around the table,pletely ignoring the madam. "I apologize for my rudeness, Mrs. Hathaway, but I must prepare your son''s office for his uing appointment."

    The madam bolted for the door. She blocked it away from the secretary. She changed her expression to a desperate one. The corners of her eyes drooped, her lips mimicking the same movement.

    "Please, Eve. There is no one else that I can think of that would be the right person for the job. Treat it as one. You came to thispany because you needed money, right? You needed to save up for your siblings'' education."

    To say Eve was startled would be an understatement.

    She almost went into a shock. She mentioned that information in passing. It happened years ago while thepany had its Christmas Party. Since they were outside of work, Avery and her had a casual conversation.

    "What year are they now? Did they graduate elementary already?" Avery continued. "I''ll make a deal with you. If you ept this job, I''ll give you enough money to fund their high school years. If you get chosen by my son, I''ll also fund their college years in any university. I asked him to date for nine months, finish that and I''ll double the second offer."

    "Mrs. Hathaway" Eve breathed out.

    Avery swallowed a whimper. No one knew her son better than Eve. She knew how to please him or, at least, how not to displease him. She would be able to tolerate him as well. She developed the patience for it. Background and wealth paled inparison.

    No one could master those easily.

    On top of it all, Eve had strong morals. Avery knew she was the only one who wouldn''t exploit her son. If not, Eve would have done it by now. She also wouldn''t have rejected the initial offer.

    The longer they talked, the more convinced Avery was of her choice.

    She reached out to cup the secretary''s hand in between hers. "Please think about it? You don''t have work tomorrow because Yan would be on a trip. Meet me at the Caf Loctart around 1400 hours. I''ll be waiting all day. I hope youe."

    Afraid that she''d overdo it, Avery left the scene. She refused to hear a reply until tomorrow. Her violet eyes focused on the elevator. She pressed her lips together, her body trembling from the rush. She had let down her pride.

    Twice.

    She prayed for satisfying results.

    It would be out of her hands now.

    Eve watched Avery walk away. Their gazes connected just before the elevator doors closed. Her chest squeezed. She groaned as she pinched the bridge of her nose. She put the conversation to the back of her mind. She would address itter.

    Right now, she had a job to do.

    Her knuckles knocked lightly.

    She turned the knob without waiting for an answer.

    Ambryan Hathaway behind his desk, fully awake. He typed on his keyboard while he stared at his monitor. He had his jaw locked and his brows knitted. The sun hovered behind buildings. It created a hue of warm colors through the office''s ss walls.

    Without saying a word, Eve gathered the tea set.

    She almost dropped the cup when she heard his voice.

    "Did mother give you a hard time?"

    Eve peeked from the corner of her eye. Her boss still had his attention on the monitor. His fingers leftments on different parts of a report. He preferred to do it himself, choosing to be in depth. He didn''t want any misunderstandings or questions.

    "Not at all, sir," Eve mumbled. She inhaled deeply and carried the tray.

    "Are you sure? I can have her banned from the building if she troubles you."

    At this, the secretary scowled. Question marks floated above her head. Then, it clicked. Her face shifted into a deadpan one. "Not to be rude, sir, but please don''t use me as an excuse to stop the madam from visiting."

    A tiny smirk tugged the corner of Ambryan''s lips. "I could still do it."

    "Maybe so but I don''t have that authority. For it to happen, it would need your approval and she''d still figure out that it was your doing," Eve pointed out. She hid her eye roll from him, spinning on her heel. She headed for the wash room to clean out the pot and the cup.

    The CEO flickered his gaze. He caught sight of her back before she disappeared down a hallway. He held his chin, muttering under his breath.

    "I guess things went okay if she still has her smart mouth."

 Chapter 6: Midnight Thoughts

    Chapter 6: Midnight Thoughts

    Eve unlocked the front door of her apartment.

    The light inside the living room greeted her. She checked around the area. Nothing seemed out of ce. She left her shoes at the rack and quickly climbed up the stairs. The hardwood felt cold under her feet.

    A yawn escaped her lips.

    She parted ways with her boss around 2200 hours. One perk she liked about her job was the car. To make it convenient for her, thepany provided her one. It was a silver BMW M3. She loved it from first sight. She loved the interior, the speed, the grp...

    Not everyone shared her sentiments.

    The model didn''tpare to a Mercedes or another luxurious convertible but she found it more reliable than most. Thepany also paid for its conditioning. With an offer like that, how could shein?

    It was reliable.

    It waspletely free.

    Those were good enough for Eve.

    She reached her room and turned on the lights. Walking inside, she shrugged off the coat and hanged it. Her arms stretched upwards and tightened her muscles. It felt good. She rolled her shoulders, rxing the stress and tension. She repeated it a few more times.

    Then, Eve headed for a quick shower and change of clothes.

    Stars nketed the night sky. The twinkled quietly without the pale moon. The bright city res fought for dominance. They illuminated the streets, even covering high grounds. Lamps, cars and windows contributed to the gleaming glow.

    Because of it, the ce seemed to stay awake.

    That included Eve.

    The clock on her wall said that midnight had passed. She lied on her bed, covered from chest to toes. Her brown eyes blinked at the ceiling. Her body craved for sleep. Her mind desired the opposite. It raced with endless thoughts.

    `If you ept this job, I''ll give you enough money to fund their high school years. If you get chosen by my son, I''ll also fund their college years in any university. I asked him to date for nine months, finish that and I''ll double the second offer.`

    The offer swirled in her head. It circted her consciousness. She did a calction. Depending on what her sisters wanted, it would take until they graduated university for her to quit this job. She had hoped that she''d be promoted before that. It would lessen the time needed to save up.

    She''d love to pool all her sry for the education fund. Except, she had other concerns. She paid for their various insurance, mostly medical. She also split the bills with Andie. Someday, her best friend would marry and move out. She needed to be ready for it.

    Eve groaned, turning to her side.

    She pulled the pillow case and covered her face.

    The temptation was too strong.

    Her need for a high pay was for that education fund. If she epted Avery''s offer, it would put her at ease. Merely joining the site already gave her guarantee. It would be up to her boss if she''d get the second or third offer.

    "Of all people, why did it have to be Sir Hathaway?" Eve mumbled against the pillow. "Why couldn''t it have been some other guy? Someone I didn''t have a working rtionship with?"

    She wouldn''t be this conflicted if it was someone else.

    Eve shifted her head until she faced the ceiling again.

    She puffed her cheeks and let the air out through closed lips.

    It was going to be a long night ahead.

    The sun rose up from the horizon. It painted the sky in streaks of orange, yellow and pink. Birds chirped from the nest. Bakers finished up their breads, putting them on shelves. Nighttime workers headed home and looked forward to their rest.

    Daytime ones got ready for the busy hours ahead.

    In a rundown apartment among the middle-ss dwellers, curtains opened and brought in the morning light. Water simmered inside a kettle. Butter sizzled on a waffle maker, its smell filling the air. A bluetooth speaker sted out chill and mellow tracks.

    Andie Summers pulled her dirty blonde hair up in a messy bun. She swayed her hips to the music. Her handthered the waffle maker with the batter. Then, she pressed it down and waited for it to cook.

    She was having a good time.

    Each waffle came out perfect, golden in color, crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. The music added to her mood.

    Two loud piercing screams came from the second floor.

    "AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHH!"

    She looked up to the ceiling and pressed her lips together. Stormy blue eyes crinkled at the corners. Her shoulders began to shake. She shifted her attention back to the waffles. She finished up the batter and moved on to cooking the sausages.

    Up the stairs and into a bedroom, two 10-year old girls hopped on the mattress. They positioned themselves on either side of their sister''s sleeping form. They bounced on their hands and knees. Their long cinnamon hair glistened under the light from the window. Wide toothy grins stretched their lips. They giggled together and nned another scream.

    1

    2

    3

    "AaAAaAaaAaAAAaAaaAAaaaAhhHhHhHhhHHhhH!"

    Eve bolted upright. She snatched both by the arms and yanked them to her. She trapped them in a hug. Her fingers found their sides. She tickled without mercy. The screams turned into fits ofughter.

    The twins tried to get away but they couldn''t.

    "So!" Eve used. She turned them over until her sisters lied on the bed. The purple nket and its white polka dot pattern was thrown to the side. She continued to attack with more tickles, smirking at her victory. "Good morning to you too, Eri and Ede*. Do you like my greeting?"

    (A/N: Ede is pronounced as ''ee-dee.'')

    "E-E-Eve! Stop!" Eri giggled, dimples showing. She pushed her sister''s left hand away. Her mole under her right eye stood out against her fair skin. "It was Andie''s idea!"

    The tickling session ceased. Eve narrowed her eyes at both girls. She stared with her chin raised. It made her look more intimidating. "Now, you''re ming Andie? Are you sure you want to? She could take your waffle privileges."

    "What? No!" Ede eximed. She sat upright and hugged her older sister''s arm. She blinked up her brown almond-shaped eyes. "We love you, Eve. We won''t ever do that again."

    Eri followed her twin''s example. She fluttered theshes of her round eyes. "Yes, Eve. We''re good girls. Let us eat waffles."

    Both pouted their lips at the same time.

    Eve lowered her head. Her gaze darted between the twins. She took a deep breath, exhaling it through her nose. "Not if I get downstairs first!"

    "No!"

    Eri and Ede scrambled off the bed and ran for the door. Their quick feet thudded on the stairs, informing everyone of their current location. Eve chuckled as they left. She stifled a yawn, ruffling her cropped ck hair. She fixed her bed and went to the bathroom.

    Soon, it was her turn to climb down the stairs.

    "Good morning, Eve."

    An older version of Andie walked out of the living room. Some of her hair strands had paled into white streaks. Age lines framed her eyes and covered her forehead. A simple blue summer dress hugged her plump frame.

    She smiled up at Eve as thetter approached the first floor.

    "Good morning, Everlee."

    "Aunt Georgie!" Eve beamed. She sprinted the rest of the way and tackled Andie''s mother with a hug. "You guys arrived really early today."

    Georgie chuckled, returning the embrace. She rose to her toes and tilted her head up. She could see the second floor from her angle. "What are you talking about? We got here yesterday."

    "Really?" Eve pulled back. She kept her hands on the woman''s shoulders.

    Andie''s mother pinched her nose. "Yes, you didn''t even notice I was on the couch."

    Eve swatted her hand away, releasing Andie''s mother. She took a step back. "Then, I should be thankful that the twins didn''t shout my hearing offst night."

    Georgie ced her hands on her hips. She huffed, ring in disapproval. "The twins fell asleep waiting for you. You came home reallyte."

    "Late? I actually left work at 10PM. That''s early."

    "Early?!" Andie''s mother yelled. "That is still more than 12 hours of work. Aiya, I know I can''t stop you but do look for a better job. Five years is more than enough. You''d get higher pay in otherpanies by now."

    Eve sighed. She wrapped her arm around Georgie and led her to the smell of buttery waffles and savory sausages. "Aunt Georgie, I like my job. I learned a lot more from it than my Business Management degree.

    Andie looked up when the two entered the kitchen. She smirked.

    "Did mom try to make you quit again, Eve?"

    Her best friend took the seat next to Eri, sending a wink in her direction. "You know your mother can''t visit me without it. It''s one of her best qualities."

    "ttery won''t make me change my mind, Eve." Georgie huffed. She sat by her daughter''s side.

    "Well, eat up," Andie instructed them both, "We''re going to the park. Your sisters want to fly kites."

 Chapter 7: A Best Friends Wisdom

    Chapter 7: A Best Friend''s Wisdom

    Bogum Park had the size of a standard football field, 100m by 65m.

    A pathway traced its rectangr shape. Branches and leaves from tall sugar maple trees shaded the trail from the summer sun. They lined up on either side of the path. In the middle, vibrant green grass covered the open space. Pic tables had been set up under a few trees.

    A yground upied one end. Children took over the monkey bars, slides, seesaws, swings and more. Their guardians watched nearby. A few old women chattered among themselves from a table. They shared stories about their families.

    Eri and Ede broke through the trees.

    Their short legs carried them to the nearest empty table.

    "Ha! I won!" Eri cheered. She kneeled on the bench. Two braids framed the sides of her face. The top part stuck to her scalp. The ends pressed against her back, reaching the middle. She wore a pink id dress that reached her knees.

    Beside her, Ede wore the same outfit but in a mint green color. Her hair only had one braid, fixed at the center. She stuck out her bottom lip.

    "It was a tie!" She defended, crossing her arms over her chest, "Don''t cheat. We both won."

    "So who won?" Andie asked them. She walked towards the other bench and ced the pic basket on the table. Eve and her mother followed soon after.

    "It was me!" Eri raised her hand, dering it proudly.

    Ede yanked it down. "It was a tie!"

    "No, it was not!"

    "Yes, it was!"

    "Woah!" Eve cut in. She raised her hands in surrender. Her brown eyes twinkled with mischief while her face feigned innocence. "That''s too bad. The loser was going to get a chocte bar."

    "Wh-What about the winner?" Eri asked.

    Her older sister shrugged. "Winner gets bragging rights."

    "But if we tied then, no one won or lost." Ede pointed out.

    Eri nodded at her words. "Yeah! So we both get chocte bars!"

    Eve cocked an eyebrow. "I thought you were the winner?"

    "We both did!"

    She tapped her chin, ncing up the sky. "So neither of you get a chocte?"

    "EVE!" The twins whined.

    Their older sister dropped her act and doubled over inughter. She pulled out two chocte bars from the basket, presenting their prizes. "You can eat these after we eat lunch, okay?"

    "Yay! Thank you, Eve!" Eri said. She pped her hands in delight.

    Ede smiled cheekily. "You''re the best older sister, Eve!"

    Frowning, Eve hit her head with a chocte bar. "You only say that whenever I give you sweets."

    "No, I don''t."

    She put the choctes back where she found them. "Come on, let''s go fly kites."

    Georgie stayed by the pic table, transferring to the other bench. Her right elbow rested on the pic basket next to her. They had moved it so she could keep watch. She brought out a book and a pair of reading sses. Her shoulders rxed as she sighed in satisfaction.

    She immersed herself in the world of chicken soup stories.

    At the open field, Eve and Eri paired up while Andie partnered with Ede. The older generation held the kites from a distance. The kids each held a spool of string. They trained their eyes on the kites, cing their feet apart. They waited for the go signal from their partners.

    After a few seconds, a wind came down and flew by. It rattled the leaves of the trees. The grass swayed under its weight. Skirts pped against legs. Hair fluttered in the air.

    It was the perfect moment.

    "Run!" Eve shouted. She threw the kite in the air and let it catch the wind.

    Andie did the same.

    The twins made a run for it.

    They had one hand on the spool. The other held onto the string. Red kites floated up in the air. Their tails slithered like a snake. They struggled to take control. Troubled expressions painted their faces.

    Andie cupped her hands around her mouth. "Follow the wind! Don''t fight it!"

    Ede stopped running. She stood still and let her kite tug her hand. She stepped whenever it changed direction, doing exactly what they were told. A red diamond hovered in the sky. It drifted t like the ground. Air puffed out its covering upwards.

    "I did it!" She eximed. Her twin immediately asked for help from her.

    She exined what she did in detail.

    "Way to go, Ede! You can do it, girls!" Andie pped. She kept her eyes at the twins and crossed her arms over her chest. Her voice dropped to a normal volume. "So what''s the problem?"

    Eve shifted her gaze towards her best friend''s direction. She had her hands sped behind her. She tilted her head to one side, confusion painted over her face. "What problem? Who said I have a problem?"

    Andie rolled her eyes.

    "Eve, those bags under your eyes didn''t just magically appear." She sneaked a peek to her right. "Tell me what''s troubling you."

    At that, Eve bit her inner cheek. She should have known Andie saw through her. They had been roommates throughout their university years. They also had been friends for longer than that. They went through several celebrations and breakdowns together.

    When her mother died, Andie and her family were the ones who reached out to her.

    She blew on her bangs and bowed her head.

    She knew that her best wouldn''t let it go easily.

    "Fine. You see"

    Eve proceeded to summarize what happened. She started by narrating the conversation between her boss and his mother. She still remembered the exchange clearly. Then, she moved on to her own conversation with Avery. She stuttered a few timesespecially when she reached the part about the offer.

    Her voice became small, fading as she finished the retelling.

    ...

    Andie hit her upper arm.

    "Ow!" Eve gasped, rubbing the sore spot. She red at her best friend. Her brown eyes called for an exnation.

    "Why haven''t you epted it?" Andie demanded. To her, the deal sounded like a gold mine. It covered two of her worries when it came to Eve. Not only did it involve a ton of money but also her best friend would finally experience dating.

    "Excuse me?" Eve scoffed. She blinked several times, wondering what world did Andie live in. "Why would I even ept it? It could be a scam!"

    "But you overheard their conversation," her best friend reminded, "So you know it''s true."

    Eve squeezed her eyes shut. She knew that was a long shot. Mrs. Hathaway wasn''t that type of person. It wasn''t the first time she heard about her boss'' dating life. She could feel how troubled his mother was over it.

    In other words, she was truly in hot water.

    "Maybe." She shrugged, opening her eyes. "Anyway, Ambryan is my boss. There has to be some ethical code that disallows us to date."

    "Unless it''s in the Employment Contract you signed, I''m pretty sure there isn''t or no pair of coworkers." Andie squinted her eyes. She leaned her head a bit, taking a closer look at her best friend''s face. "What''s wrong with epting it? He''s bound to reject you if you''d join as yourself."

    Then, she said. "Actually, he might do the opposite too."

    If that CEO would stick by one woman, he''d likely choose Eve out of the candidates. He knew her. They saw each other often. For him, it would be the easiest way to live out 9 months.

    Eve shook her head. "I don''t even know the details. Avery could ask me to take up a pseudonym for all I know."

    ''A new identity for Eve?'' Andie thought. She pursued her lips, straightening her posture. If Ambryan''s mother wanted him to date, she would most likely do something like that. Otherwise, he wouldn''t treat Eve any different.

    "Yeah, that sounds like a good idea."

    "A good idea?" Her best friend''s eyes popped out of their sockets. "Andie, I''d be lying to him! I''m sure that one is a wrong thing to do."

    Andie pinched the bridge of her nose.

    She loved her best friend. She really did. One of the good things about Eve was her honesty. Andie appreciated it a lot and so did many others. Yet sometimes she''d want to strangle her best friend over it.

    "Look, Eve." She began to say when she opened her eyes. She shifted her feet so she could face Eve fully. "We don''t know anything other than what you heard. If you ask me, you should go to that cafe. Ask questions. Know every detail before you make a choice. You might end up regretting it if you don''t go. The fact that you stayed up all night means you wouldn''t move on until you get to the bottom of it."

    "Also, 9 months vs 10 years more of work? That''s practically gold served on a tter for you."

    Andie paused. She watched as Eve scrunched her face. A somewhat defeated expression washed over it. That proved to her that her best friend was already aware of these things. Eve just didn''t want to acknowledge them.

    Now that she said them aloud, Eve could no longer ignore her points.

    She grabbed her best friend''s shoulders. Her hands massaged them infort.

    When Andie spoke again, her voice used a soft and understanding tone. "I know you don''t feelfortable with the idea that you might have to lie to your boss but you don''t have to."

    Eve raised her eyebrows. She didn''t agree with the statement.

    In response, her best friend merely shrugged.

    "You can work around it. Just be yourself when he chats you. Don''t talk about work at all. Besides, I think he''d also be unwilling to share personal information about himself. You''d both be in the same boat."

 Chapter 8: Decision of a Lifetime

    Chapter 8: Decision of a Lifetime

    Soft bells rang from the wind chime on Caf Loctart''s front door.

    A garden mural painted the walls. Small ck and white tiles zed the floor, creating a checkered pattern. Mahogany round tables littered the ce in various heights. The sofa chairs livened the ce with their colorful coatings.

    At the back, the long white counter featured pastries in their food disy. Their best seller upied three rows. Tarts of different vors filled themmainly: fruits, choctes and custards. Servers walked around to take orders and deliver them.

    Eve halted in her steps. Her oversized white shirt and jeans seemed out of ce. She swept her gaze around the ce. Customers crowded the tables. Among them, she searched for a familiar ck hair with blue undertones.

    Avery spotted her first.

    She waved her hand, helping the secretary locate her.

    No words could describe her joy. Energy surged in her veins. They flowed into her nerves. Her face could split apart from how wide her smile was. The situation didn''t seem as helpless anymore.

    The dating site could actually seed.

    Weaving her way between tables, Eve reached her destination.

    She bowed her head. "Good afternoon, Mrs. Hathaway."

    Avery stood up to greet her. She took a step forward and embraced the young woman. Her arms squeezed tight. Tears pooled behind her closed violet eyes. Oh, how much this moment mattered to her. She hoped her gratefulness came through.

    Eve froze in ce. She hadn''t expected this kind of wee. Her hands hovered in the air, unsure of what to do. A shback of Avery''s pleading face shed in her head. She cleared her throat and patted the older woman''s back gently. Sympathy swelled in her chest.

    An ominous feeling pricked her spine.

    After a while, she broke the silence, "Um, Mrs. Hathaway. I haven''t quite epted the offer yet. I''m here to know more about its details. I''ll make my decision after."

    Avery released Eve from her hold. She gestured to an empty seat. "Oh, dear. I''m sorry, Eve. We''re outside of your workce. Please call me, Avery."

    "I''m afraid not, Mrs. Hathaway." Eve smiled to soften the rejection. She sat down and folded her hands over the table.

    "What would you like to drink?" Avery asked, sitting back on her chair. "It''s my treat."

    "That''s not"

    She pushed the buzzer button before Eve could say more. A waiter walked up to their table. He smiled down gently. "What can I help you with, mademoiselles?"

    "We''d like to order the assorted tart tter. I''d also like another cup of ginger tea. Have you decided yet, Eve?"

    When the waiter turned to her, Eve hesitated. A lump formed in her throat. Both pairs of eyes on her waited with pleasant anticipation. If she refused, they''d either insist or be disappointed. She recalled the list of cafe drinks behind the counter.

    Then, she returned the waiter''s smile and said, "I''ll have an iced caramel mhiato."

    "Coming right away." He nodded in reply, leaving the scene.

    Another cloud of silence encircled the table. Faint conversations from nearby tables floated in their direction. They consisted of casual topics and small talks. None of them held the same seriousness as their uing business transaction.

    Eve fixed her posture, exhaling sharply. She came here for a purpose. She should proceed with it. Her brown eyes focused on the woman across from her. "Mrs. Hathaway, I''d like to inquire about the details of this n."

    "I understand." Avery pulled out a long folder from her side. She handed it to Eve. "Have a look. I had a contract prepared for this meeting. Read through it and if you have any questions, I will address them to the best of my ability."

    At the sight of the folder, Eve raised her eyebrows. She opened it and saw the legal documents. She began to read it through before she even realized. The waiter came back with their table''s order as she flipped to the second page. The scowl on her forehead deepened.

    It was just as she feared.

    Mrs. Hathaway wanted her to undergo a new identity.

    "I don''t think I can do this," Eve breathed out.

    Avery choked on her ginger tea. She set the cup back on its saucer. Then, she wiped the corners of her lips with a paper napkin. A frown appeared on her face.

    "Is something wrong with the terms? If you have another financial problem, I am more than willing to offer further assistance."

    Eve shook her head, closing the folder. "That''s not my concern, Mrs. Hathaway. You''re asking me to lie to your son."

    The gears clicked in Avery''s head. She immediately understood what Eve meant. She took a deep breath and prepared a suitable answer. "It''s not an entire lie, Eve. It''s actually quitemon for people to use pseudonyms on the inte."

    "But you listed out the things that would appear in my profile," Eve countered. Her finger trailed the paragraph''s lines, reading them aloud. "The career, the address, the history none of these are mine."

    It was like a role for a movie. She had the basic information of the character''s background. It left her speechless. Although, shemended Mrs. Hathaway for the thoroughyout of the n. The documents covered a wide range, including things she hadn''t thought about.

    The madam would even step in if she ever faced conflicts between her two identities.

    "Those can bepromised," Avery exined, "I hadn''t pried into your private life. I wanted your consent before I did that. I could also not do it if you''d be willing to share. If you happen to be chosen by my son, I don''t want to stray the fabricated documents too much from the truth. I only require two things to bepletely changed."

    She held up two fingers.

    Her other hand pointed on each fingertip as she enumerated them.

    "Your appearance and your career," she continued to borate on the reasons, "These two are the ones my son knows most about you. They are your most distinct attributes. Also, Yan demanded that the photos to be used were real pictures of the women."

    "Pictures?" Eve blinked.

    "You won''t need to worry about that." Avery waved her hand, brushing off Eve''s worry. She backed up her im with a list of notable features. "You have slender legs. You have a small waist. You have fair skin. You have a heart-shaped face. You have round eyes. I see this quite a lot in the industry. That is why I know you''d do well as a model for your career."

    Eve frowned. "You mean I could look like a model?"

    "I mean, you CAN be a model." Avery leaned above the table. She stared directly in Eve''s eyes. Her head shook lightly, admiring the woman''s beauty. "I am not just about to fake your documents, Eve. I will make them a reality. You think I''d just write that you''re a model at the website without you bing one? That''s not how I work."

    Surprise after surprise tumbled over Eve. From what she understood, Mrs. Hathaway''s solution for the lies was to not make them untruthful. She admitted that cushioned the idea a bit.

    Upon second thought, a million questions raced in her mind. Appearance? And a model? That meant she''d have to actually attend photoshoots or runaways. How much would be demanded of her?

    "What about work then?"

    "I have two close friends that could help us. They''ll enroll you as a rookie model. Since you''re new, your number of projects are low. You won''t need to worry about juggling between two jobs," Avery answered.

    She sipped a bit of her tea. "The future is uncertain. If my son picks a different woman, you''re free. Neither of us would worry about progressing your modelling career for this n. If he chooses you, we''ll arrange more small projects whenever you''re free."

    Eve stayed quiet. If she did a calction, the amount of money offered now made sense. She was asked to do a lot more than dating her boss. Entering show business shouldn''t be taken mildly. It wouldn''t take long before others noticed herfor better or for worse.

    Once that possibility sank in, Eve underwent more realizations.

    The contract also summarized her boss'' end of the bargain. It listed out conditions such as publicly dating. If she became part of it, she wouldn''t be in the shadows anymore. She''d have to face everything she avoided up to now. More criticisms would pave their way towards her.

    Panic thundered in her chest. Her breathing hyperventted.

    "Eve?"

    Yet, those were only possibilities.

    Realistically, she wouldn''t even pass the first stage.

    Rationally, she didn''t need to worry about it now.

    Her main priority consisted of the high school education fund.

    That offer relied on her decision

    right now...

    at this moment...

    ... in this caf.

    Snapping out of her daze, Eve gave her answer.

    "I''ll do it."

    Determination red in her brown eyes. She already made amitment even before she wrote her on the contract. There were no take backs now. She had established her choice.

    She would see it through until the end.

    "You''re not worried?" Avery questioned. The silence had her wonder if the terms were too much. She cleared out the clog in her throat. "I mean, modelling is not as simple as it sounds."

    Eve tapped the end of the folder on the table. Her expression hardened as she spoke. "I promise I''d give you my 110%, Mrs. Hathaway. I don''t have the experience to be a model but I am willing to mold myself into one. As long as I have guidance, I don''t see how that should be worrisome."

    Avery sat astonished.

    Confidence and conviction radiated off Eve''s aura. She marvelled at the sight of it. She thought if anyone could survive the modelling industry, it would be this young woman before her. She truly chose the right person.

    That left only one thing to address.

    Avery picked up a tart. She prayed that the next part of the discussion wouldn''t scare the young woman away. "There is just one important condition for you to receive the money."

    "What is that, Mrs. Hathaway?"

    "You can''t back out." She dered. "There are only two ways that you can get out of it. One, if Yan himself breaks it off and, two, if the 9 months are up. Whicheveres first."

 Chapter 9: Language of Red Wine

    Chapter 9: Language of Red Wine

    Ambryan sat with his legs crossed.

    The leather couch creased under his weight. He held a ss of red wine. He swirled it with his fingers, eyeing it with a hard expression. The surface gleamed against the white light. He watched the highlights and shadows shift as the wine sloshed inside the ss.

    Then, he took a sip.

    "Wait" a deep voice spoke from across the room. Wearing a silver coat, a broad back stood behind another couch. Curly bronze hair covered the head and tickled the nape of the neck. Arms moved as the person poured wine into another ss.

    "So your mother will set up a dating site where you will choose one woman to date for 9 months?" Turning around with his ss of wine, Richard Kingston sported an amused grin.

    "That is hrious. Aunt Avery must be so desperate."

    He propped himself on the couch across from Ambryan. His shoulder stretched and rested on top of the backrest. Mischief twinkled in his steel gray eyes. "Or she must be so done with you. How long do you have before you decide?"

    "One week, at most." Ambryan replied, not looking away from his wine. He let himself rx for a moment. He was with a friend, not a business partner. His eyebrows scrunched. "What is funny about it? I had done what she wanted all these years. It''s not my fault that she''s dissatisfied with the results."

    He raised the ss to his lips.

    Richard sat speechless. He blinked about three times before his lips remembered how to move.

    "Yan, you date women for only a week."

    ''What mother wouldn''t be unhappy?'' He asked himself. He didn''t even know how many women Ambryan had taken out. It came to the point that the public stopped the theories. Only the media feed on it for scoops.

    It surprised him that itsted this long before Aunt Avery caved. He almost wondered if his friend had done it intentionally. With Yan''s mind, anything could be possible. Hisck of interest in love had always been a hot topic. His mother once began to question if he preferred males.

    Ambryan tilted his head to the side. He finally met Richard''s gaze, wearing a confused scowl.

    "I had met them, gone out with them, bought them gifts,plimented them... am I missing something to what defines ''dating''?" He asked. He had done research on the process. The women seemed happy enough. Yet, unlike them, his close people disagree with his methods.

    Richard shook his head slowly. "I don''t know if you''re being dumb or merely acting like one. You''re missing the point of dating, Yan. The reason why your mother had pushed you to it."

    Ambryan remained unfazed. "And what is the point of it?"

    "To settle down." His friend gaped. How could a CEO of a productionpany not know about it? Eros Productions thrived in the romance genre for goodness'' sake!

    "Marriage?"

    "Well, yeah!" Richard eximed. He pinched the bridge of his nose. His patience wore thin. Why did it seem like he was talking to a child? He took a deep breath and continued to exin. "You spend time with her and do things. Then, you decide whether you want to spend the rest of your lives together."

    ''This level of ignorance had to be fake,'' Richard thought. He took a big gulp of wine, almost emptying the ss. He had never seen Ambryan curious about romantic love. His friend probably blocked marriage out of his mind. To him, it didn''t exist and wouldn''t exist in his life.

    Thus, his dates usually ended shortly.

    "How is that any different from being affiliated without a ring?" Ambryan rebutted. "Unless you''re joined by the hip, I think you''d still be spending time apart, living your own lives. You merely meet on the way just like two friends."

    Richard tightened his grip on the ss. He willed himself not to fill it back up. If he did so, he''d end up tipsy from this conversation. When he felt confident, he sighed, draining thest bit of wine.

    "I know you have no ns to settle down but, as human beings, we love by nature," he began to say. How did a person exin love to someone who rejected it? "We need each other. Those needs vary from person to person that we meet. There are shoes that only a significant partner could fill."

    Looking back, Richard knew his friend always kept a distance. He also preferred to keep his circle small. He only spoke to them when necessary. Richard could only hope those various interactions could shed some light on his point.

    Ambryan rubbed his chin. His violet eyes nced up the ceiling. He noticed a w in the logic, saying it out loud. "Many are sessful even without getting married."

    "Yes," Richard sighed again. He put the ss on the coffee table,cing his fingers. He leaned forward and rested his elbows on his knees. "It''s not for everyone but your mother just wants you to give your 110% on dating one woman. If it doesn''t work out or you don''t change your mind then, marriage isn''t for you."

    He offered a small tender smile. "She just wants you to give it a fair shot."

    ''Effort,'' Richard spoke in his mind. Aunt Avery merely wanted his friend to put more effort. Invisible walls had always caged Ambryan whether he was aware of it or not. It wasn''t always romantic love that opened one''s walls.

    It was usually the person inside who did.

    By taking a step out, maybe his friend would see something good.

    Something that he failed to see from where he stood before.

    Ambryan uncrossed his legs. He reached towards the coffee table, pushing a folder to the other side. "Richard, I came here about the investment, not consultation on my love life."

    "Right." His friend uttered, bowing his head. The previous topic drew to a close. He took the folder and opened it. "A TV series, you said. Are you sure about it? Yourpany has produced countless movies for decades. Is it ready to branch on other film projects?"

    "There''s a director that wants to adapt a novel. He strongly persists that a movie won''t be enough to produce its full quality potential." Ambryan answered. He sipped his wine, keeping his eyes on the folder and its documents. "I have heard of this many times in the past but I read the manuscript myself and its apanying notes. I have to say that I agree with him."

    He had never seen a more in-depthposition. Every part of the story contained a purpose. No matter how small or insignificant it seemed. A movie would cut out too much, losing the essence that fuelled the story''s me. The audience wouldn''t be entranced by what resided under the surface if it wasn''t there.

    He saw that same fire in the director.

    When joined together, two mes should ze brighter, not extinguish themselves.

    "I highlighted the points for you and summarized the reasons why a series should be produced instead of a movie." Ambryan continued. He watched Richard scowl at the material. He considered it as a good sign. That meant his friend also became engrossed.

    "I expect good news in the morning," he dered, rising to his feet. He finished the rest of the wine and ced the ss on the table. His hand snatched his coat from the armrest. He shrugged it on, buttoning the cuffs.

    Richard looked up. His steel eyes widened. "You''re not staying for dinner?"

    Ambryan nced out the see-through balcony doors. The sun dipped low in the horizon. It colored both the sky and the sea. Warm colors dominated the scenery. Quite a contrast to the ck and white study room.

    "This is myst stop for the day, Richard." His feet headed for the exit. "Unlike a cker like you, I still have work to do back home."

    Door half-opened, Ambryan nced over his shoulder and smirked. "Do inform me when Venus Investment Associates signs the contract attached to those documents. I''d suggest youply with the amount. That way you won''t need to share the rewards after."

    He didn''t wait for a reply and left. The only response he''d ept would be heard the next morning. He walked out of the beach house without a problem. Tall green trees filled his vision. He breathed the fresh air. The ck paint of his Mercedes-Maybach S650 glistened under the sunset.

    He drove it down the barren road, not looking back.

    Finally alone, Richard cussed. He mmed the folder close. "What cker? I also have things to do but, at least, I know when to give my close family and friends some time."

    He shook his head and stood up. His legs led him to his work desk. The orange sky illuminated behind him. He tossed the folder. "How did I even survive being friends with this guy?"

 Chapter 10: Meeting a Fairy Godmother

    Chapter 10: Meeting a Fairy Godmother

    A few hours earlier, Eve walked out of an optical shop. She carried a white paper bag in one hand. Her heart thundered in her chest. They had less than 24 hours before the site would be up. There were still things to be done.

    Her profile needed a few finishing touches.

    Avery matched her strides, staying beside her. She wore a pair of shades. The lens gleamed in gold under the sun. The back of the shop had little foot traffic. Bodyguards stood around and watched the area.

    They headed for their cars.

    "Just follow Miles and he''d lead you to the studio," Mrs. Hathaway instructed Eve, "I''ll meet you there. We can''t be too careful. My son has several eyes around the city. He can''t know that you and your second persona are connected."

    She exhaled sharply, shaking her head. "If he does, he''d pick you right away and use your job positions to make your business trips count as dates."

    Eve thought about it for a while. It did sound like something her boss would do.

    Avery opened her car door. She pulled down her sunsses and looked at Eve straight in the eye. Her lips teased a smile. "Enjoy yourst moments as Everlee Hart. Once you enter that studio, you''ll be reborn as your other self."

    "Drive safely, Mrs. Hathaway." Eve nodded.

    The madam returned the well wishes and hopped onto the driver''s seat.

    Eve moved to her BMW. She ced the paper bag in the passenger''s seat. Then, she turned on the engine. The alleywayid out before her, her hands gripped the steering wheel. A ck sedan soon appeared in her windshield.

    She stepped on the gas pedal and followed it.

    The drive went quietly.

    The opposite happened inside Eve''s mind.

    As troubling as it seemed, she''d rather pose as someone else on that dating site. She found its advantages convenient. For instance, how awkward would it have been if Ambryan saw her? Her presence alone broke several rules. She could almost imagine the flow of the conversation.

    .

    Yan: ''Eve, why are you here?''

    .

    Eve: ''Good morning, boss. Lovely day, isn''t it?''

    .

    Yan: ''Please answer the question.''

    .

    Eve: ''I was asked by your mother to join.''

    .

    Yan: ''Why did you ept?''

    .

    Eve''s Option 1: ''She made a tempting offer.''

    Eve''s Option 2: ''I thought it seemed interesting.''

    Eve''s Option 3: ''I actually had hidden feelings for you. Sike! I''m here as a joke.''

    .

    No matter how many replies she could think of, none of them appealed to her. They all ended in disasters. She wouldn''t be able to face him after thatif she didn''t lose her job yet. If she did, the job interviews would be just as awkward.

    .

    Question: ''Why did you lose your job?''

    Eve: ''Oh, I joined this dating site that was created for my boss. He did not take it well.''

    .

    A shiver went down her spine.

    Yes, she''d rather maintain their current rtionship.

    The sedan stopped in front of a small building. It rolled into a parking space near its front stairs. Eve positioned her car beside it. She grabbed the paper bag and stepped out. She admired the simple infrastructure. An employee entrance stood on top of the staircase.

    There was no sign of Avery.

    "This way, Ms. Hart," Miles said.

    He led the way into a building, presenting a pass to the security guard. Eve did her best to follow. The inside exploded in colorpared to its exterior. Photos of models filled up the hallway. Their outfits matched their abstract backdrops. No one executed the same pose twice.

    Yet, they all held the same bag.

    Miles opened a door and gestured towards it. "Please proceed here."

    Eve took slow steps. Her thundering heart drummed loudly in her ears. She didn''t know what to expect. She entered the threshold and her breathing hitched. Her brown eyes observed the new surroundings.

    Therge room had wooden floorboards and ck curtains over wide windows. Her side had a vanity mirror and several racks of clothing. It resembled the dressing rooms she''d seen on TV.

    At the opposite end, a studio upied a wide space. It had a white backdrop ready, a few furniture, some umbre lights and several tripods. Overhead spotlights dangled from its ceiling. A shelf disyed luxury bags next to it.

    "Oh-ho!" A high-pitched voice eximed, "Is this her? Is this my new model? She''s gorgeous!"

    A man with gelled tinum blonde hair approached the doorway. He wore a floral royal blue suit over his white dress shirt. His silver tie disyed the same pattern. His tan Oxford shoes shined under the bright lights.

    When he reached Eve, she noticed they had the same height.

    "Your name is Eve, right? I''m Cale." He took her hand and shook it. His aqua blue eyes crinkled in delight. "You are prettier than your photos. Ah! I can''t wait to see you transform! I bet you can stun any camera."

    Eve attempted a smile. The bubbling energy overwhelmed her for a bit.

    "Don''t scare her, Cale," a neer warned from the door.

    "Avery! My darling!" Cale eximed. He strolled over to his friend and hugged her tight. Then, he air-kissed her cheek. "How are you?"

    "Thank you so much for doing this. How was Mn?" Avery said, returning the hug.

    Cale took a step back. He pped his hands together. His gaze flickered between the two women. "Wonderful. My vacation was amazing. I rxed. I did yoga. I had my spa treatments. I am ready to get back to business! Are we ready to see a Sailor Soldier emerge or what?"

    Averyughed at his words. She patted his back and proceeded with the introductions, "Eve, this is Cale. He is a model manager. He is quite entric and loves to bring new models in. The agency is now used to him. It won''t be the first time he recruited a model on a whim."

    "That''s because no one can trick these eyes." Cale cackled, pointing at them with his finger. "I know a gem when I see one and Eve is definitely one."

    Eve felt her cheeks blush. She ignored it by smiling. "You''re very kind, Cale."

    Cale snapped his fingers towards her. "Humble. I love it. We need more of you around here."

    "You''ll do her makeup, right?" Avery asked, stirring the conversation. They only had a few hours of the day left. The earlier they get started, the earlier they''d finish.

    "Of course! I have everything nned. Luna is also on her way. Let''s give her a surprise when she gets here." Cale held Eve''s wrist and led her to the chair. Lightbulbs framed the vanity mirror. An open cosmetic bag covered the table.

    "Luna?" Eve couldn''t help but ask. She pulled off her sses and hid them in her bag.

    "Why Luna Athon!" Cale widened his eyes. He grabbed a cotton pad and dampened it with micer water. He gently wiped off the dirt from her face. "She''s the owner of Athon Corporation. It is one of the highest grossing fashion houses and luxury retailpanies. You''ll be modelling for one of their boutiques in the city."

    He threw away the used pad, grabbing a thin brush. "It''s a big brand but a small scale project. We figured that it''s perfect for what you need."

    "Are you wearing a brow tint?" His thumb caressed her eyebrows. They felt rough to the touch. He picked up another cotton pad and removed the residue.

    "I am," Eve admitted. "I have natural red hair but since it''s ck right now, I use the tint to hide any roots from my eyebrows."

    "A red head!" Cale gasped. He tossed the pad, dipping his brush in a gel cream pot. "That''s so cool because I picked out a red wig for you! This is fate telling us that this really needs to happen. I bet you miss your old hair."

    He noticed that she had uneven brows. They were well-groomed but it had an almost invisible arch and tail because of sparse strands. Only the head had full hair. He followed her natural shape with the eyebrow cream. The brush filled in the gaps and evened out the thickness.

    "I do." Eve sighed. She loved her hair. She had inherited it from her mother. "Wouldn''t my boss still recognize me? How different would I look with makeup on?"

    She rarely used cosmetics. For her job, she only wore a brow tint and a mascara. She only did so to hide her red hair. She added some lipstick whenever she attended a special asion. It made her seem more put together.

    At least, she thought it did.

    "We won''t do magic here and paint on a new face," Cale exined. He moved to the next brow and did the same tricks. "Since you have fair skin, youck a bit of shadowing. We''ll add those in to show off your bone structure. We''ll also do some cateye to elongate your eyes."

    He took a step back, assessing his work.

    "Yourshes are long but they''re not naturally curled. We''ll fix it and add some false ones. You also just bought new contact lenses. Those would change your eye color." He hummed for a bit and checked out her other features. His brush pointed to her lips.

    "Your lips are thin and quite pale but they are plump. We''ll add some lipstick and some gloss. They''d stand out more after that. You''d be surprised at how different you''d look from the simplest changes." He chuckled, shaking his head.

    Eve pressed her lips together. They slid across each other because of her lip balm. She did know about theirck of color. Andie often joked that she looked like a hospital patient.

    Cale grabbed a blending brush and tapped it on a brown eyeshadow. "Just sit back and rx. Let me be your fairy godmother for today."

 Chapter 11: Polished Beauty of a Gemstone

    Chapter 11: Polished Beauty of a Gemstone

    Eve clutched the wig in two fists. Long luscious waves of scarlet flowed down to her waist. Cale lived up to his im. The strands were real human hair. She felt it under her touch. She could almost pretend that it was her old hair.

    Except, the color was a bit more vibrant than her natural one.

    A knock came from the door. "Eve? Are you ready?"

    "Almost," she replied, letting go of the wig.

    She looked down.

    The toga hugged her figure. It emphasized her small waist and draped down to her feet. The fabric spread around her, covering most of the changing room''s floor. Two thin straps held the dress up and formed a square neckline. It had no belt. It had no embellishments.

    She almost mistook it for a pile of bedsheets.

    Eve bent down and gathered the hem. It wouldn''t be good to walk around with it scraping the floor. It would dirty the bone white color easily. She reached for the door knob and turned it. The wooden flooring felt cold under her bare feet.

    Cale and Avery stood outside, chatting with another. Their heads turned when Eve walked out of the changing room. Soft gasps escaped their lips. The dress rippled in several areas, giving the illusion that she wore a nket. It exposed her elegant shoulders and slim arms.

    Avery was stunned speechless! Pure awe warmed her heart. How could such a beautiful girl work as a secretary? One that hid her beauty no less. No wonder the staff told Eve to change her style of appearance.

    Her son''s dates would have given her an even harder time!

    "Oh my goodness!" Cale squealed, taking a step forward. "You look so good. Do you want to see yourself now? Be warned. You''re going to be in shock. Close your eyes for a bit."

    Eve did as she was told.

    Now, she truly felt nervous. Her lips became cold. Her breathing shallowed. Would it really work? Would she look different? Cale worked on her makeup with light touches. She wondered if he even put anything on.

    Cale skipped over to the full length mirror near the racks of clothes. He pulled it closer to Eve. Nothing could stop the wide grin on his lips. His tank of energy was overfilled. He felt like he was part of something truly incredible,

    The making of a new star.

    He checked on the mirror''s position onest time before he gave his approval. "Alright! You can look now."

    Eve opened her eyes slowly.

    Hazel contact lenses stared back at her. She breathed in a gasp. She almost didn''t recognize herself. She stepped forward, getting a closer look. Cale had used minimal makeup like he said.

    Falseshes and cateye liner framed her eyes. Soft-arched eyebrows hovered above them. High cheekbones appeared on either side of a cute button nose. Cherry red lips glistened with gloss and glitter. Full scarlet bangs covered her forehead, thin strands lining on either side of her face.

    ''Were my lips always this plump?'' Eve thought.

    What she marveled the most was the wig.

    Under the lights, golden highlights shined through. The waves almost matched the toga''s. It seemed more crimson than scarlet now that she had a better look. She still thought it was close to her real hair color.

    "This is amazing," Eve said, still admiring the handiwork. "You truly are a fairy godmother, Cale."

    Cale flipped his invisible long hair. "I can''t take all the credit. I only brought out what was already there. You have been gifted by the heavens with such an aesthetic beauty. Only people who know how to look can see it unless we show it to them."

    Eve shifted her gaze towards him. A genuine smile stretched her lips. "Then, I have to say that a person can only say another is beautiful because they can see themselves reflected in that person."

    "That I ept." Cale nodded, snapping his fingers. By this time, Eve noticed that he always wore a happy face. It never faltered.

    "I wonder when will Luna get here?" He wondered suddenly. Everything was ready for the shoot. They only needed some second advice and guidance. With the owner of an empire, Eve would learn and understand what was expected of her photos.

    It was a good start for other projects toe.

    Cale had full confidence that Eve could rise above it all.

    "Did someone call my name?"

    Three pairs of eyes flickered to the door.

    Skin-tone stilettos tapped on the floor. Long legs wore a pair of olive green cks. Tucked in its high waistband was an obsidian fitted blouse. An Athon sling bag hung on one shoulder. Its color matched the shoes. Dark brown hair swayed from a high ponytail.

    Luna smiled, her ebony eyes crinkling. "Is this my Ruby for the Rainbow Collection?"

    "Luna!" Cale skipped over to her side and greeted her with an air-kiss. "You look fabulous and younger! You look almost 18!"

    "Oh, stop it, Cale." She chuckled, turning towards the other people in the room.

    Avery reached out for a hug. "You don''t know how much this means to me."

    "It''s not a problem." Lunaughed in her ear. They pulled away from each other after a few seconds. "Since you''ll have her as a rookie model, there''s no need to have high expectations. The collection has several models. She won''t be the only Ruby. All of them would be disyed across the country."

    "Nonsense!" Cale protested, "I bet Eve can outshine all of them. I have a good feeling about this girl. My gut tells me so. And you know how right my gut is."

    Luna patted his shoulder. She chuckled lightly.

    "Alright, I believe you. Now" Her gaze shifted towards thest person she had yet to greet. "Where''s my Ruby?"

    Eve shuffled her feet, transferring her weight from foot to foot. She offered Luna a small smile. She felt slightly out of ce among the group. They knew each other well while she didn''t. She squashed that feeling like a bug under her foot.

    They were for her and, so far, they were nothing but nice.

    Not everyone received a chance like this. She should live in the moment and enjoy it while itsts. After all, it wasn''t everyday that a person cosyed as a Greek statue.

    "Are you ready for your first photoshoot?" Luna asked. She sped her hands together and admired Eve''s transformation. "There''s no need to be nervous. I will guide you through the campaign. Do you have any idea on what the concept is?"

    Eve receded to her mind. Her eyes flickered to the mirror. She noted the dress, the hair, the lip color She only had one thought when she connected everything. "Does it have to do with Ancient Greek or Rome?"

    "That''s right!" Luna eximed. Giddiness bubbled in her chest. The project never failed to excite her. "Have you seen any of their statues?"

    Eve nodded in reply.

    "Then, you''re on the right track." Luna winked. She grabbed Eve''s wrist and led the way to the main event. A photographer stood up from a corner. He went into position, waiting for further instructions.

    An ivory Cleopatra chaise stood in the middle. Its legs and frame matched the gray undertone of Eve''s toga. The backrest dipped on one side. Its curved shape added a sultry ambiance to the furniture. Arge canvas hung from the ceiling, harmonizing with the monotone palette.

    It had no color.

    Luna deemed it perfect.

    She instructed Eve to sit down while Cale brought the first item. It was a tall satchel bag with two handles. The leather exterior gleamed like a juicy red apple. Golden rhinestones served as the locks. The pull of the zipper resembled the letter, ''A.''

    "Here. Hold this." Luna handed the bag to Eve. "To give you some idea, I''ll walk you through a pose. I want you to pull your feet up, lie your legs t and bend your left knee."

    Eve ced the bag on her stomach and lifted her legs up the chaise. Using her arms for support, she bent one knee. Her elbows dug into the cushion. The hem of her skirt draped to the floor. It created a sloping curtain over the side.

    The excess fabric served as an extra essory to the overall photo.

    Luna moved to fixing her wig. She divided it into half. One went over Eve''s shoulder. The other dangled to the seat. The tips pooled together at the bottom.

    The bag tipped over. Eve seized it with her left hand. She used it to hold the item in ce. After testing a few positions, she settled on holding the bag from under the handles. Her fingers clutched the ps into a close.

    "Let''s have a test shot, shall we?" Luna perked up. She left the main scene and hid behind the camera. Avery and Cale stood on each side of her. The three of them anticipated in silence.

    The photographer sneaked a peek. "Look up please."

    A wide umbre light blinded Eve from above. It stung her eyes. They squinted reflexively. With only one elbow for support, her upper arm began to tremble. Her back and her abdomen followed. She remained still despite the difort.

    Then, a dull ache formed on her lower back.

    Eve gritted her teeth, enduring it all.

    The camera clicked and captured the first photo.

 Chapter 12: Terrible First Impressions

    Chapter 12: Terrible First Impressions

    A dark blue Lamborghini Aventador S rolled up beside a ck BMW. The windows were tinted in ck, almost matching the roof. Shiny steel wheels red under the zing sun. They slowed down to a stop.

    Shortly after, a car door opened.

    It rose upwards unlike most vehicles.

    Cut in a retro curtain style, a head of brown hair and blonde highlights stepped out of the vehicle. The side-swept bangs tickled a bushy eyebrow. Pink plump lips parted open on top of a chiseled jaw. The open dress shirt exposed a sculpted chest. A pair of radiant blue eyes gleamed as if hiding a secret.

    Wherever they looked, they made hearts flutter.

    "Mikael." Another figure emerged from the passenger side. "Man, you just got back. Why are you heading for the studio?"

    A bronze hand shut the door close. Shiny leather shoes strutted around the car. Matching red jacket and trousers glistened under the light. The ck silk undershirt did the same. Wide chocte eyes squinted from the bright sun rays.

    "I want to surprise Luna." Mikael smirked, taking out a cigarette. Hispanion pped it away immediately. He raised his hands in surrender, smirking at the annoyed face.

    "Old habits, Jordan. Sorry."

    "Yeah, yeah, old habits." Jordan snorted. He pointed to the employee entrance. "Walk ahead of me so I can keep an eye on you and your rebellious ass."

    Mikael merely shrugged and climbed up the stairs. He waved a hand at the security guard. The ce looked exactly like he remembered itnot that a lot changed over the past few weeks. Vibrant portraits wee him inside. His feet led him down a familiar path, taking a left turn. Opaque floor-to-ceiling ss windows appeared in his vision.

    He proceeded to knock at the door, tucking both hands in his pockets.

    "No answer?" Jordan asked as soon as he caught up. He clicked his tongue as he crossed his arms over his chest. "Maybe she''s not around. She is a businesswoman after all."

    Mikael wasn''t convinced.

    Luna had told him she''d stay in the building. He tricked it out of her so he could seed in the surprise. Even before his overseas project, he failed to visit her over a couple of weeks. He figured she''d be upset if he didn''t see her as soon as his nended.

    His eyebrows scrunched together.

    Then, his gaze flickered back to the hallway he took earlier.

    "Is there someone in the studio?" He thought out loud. His legs moved before he even processed his words. He sped down the corridor, craning his neck. The route led him to the other end of the floor.

    White light peeked from under a door.

    It opened and a hunched janitor stepped out, pushing a trolley of cleaning tools. He kept his eyes on the floor. Deep age lines carved his face.

    Mikael picked up his pace. He tapped the maintenance worker. "Hey, Luke. Mind telling me what''s going on inside?"

    "Oh, Sir Davis. It''s you." The old man beamed. He straightened his posture and cleared his throat. The male model never failed to boost his mood. "How may I help you today?"

    "Good to see you, Luke." Mikael chuckled. Sneaking a peek at the door, he jabbed a thumb towards the studio. "Is Luna in there?"

    "She is."

    "What? She already started her Ancient Rome campaign?" Heughed, skepticism dripping in his tone. "Who is it? Lena? Lotte? Lisha? She has a thing for female names that start with ''L''."

    Luke pressed his lips together. His mind recalled the faces inside the studio. After a short while, he shook his head. "I actually don''t know her."

    Mikael took a step back. His forehead creased in confusion. Athon Corporation engaged with several models. One of their business partners was Lotus Modelling Agency. The corporation favored a few of their models. He expected it to be one of them.

    Jordan watched his expressions. "I told you. You''ve been gone several weeks. They could have hired a new model. Someone you haven''t met yet."

    The words sparked an idea in Mikael''s head.

    His radiant blue eyes dimmed into a re. The wrinkles on his face deepened. His nostrils red as he locked his jaw. A dark aura clouded around him. He clenched his hands into fists, his blood simmering in his veins.

    "Don''t tell me it''s another brat that got a shortcut because of a huge sponsor!" he spat, shaking his head. His feet stepped around Luke and marched towards the door. He took long strides, not wasting any time. "She gave away a slot to some rookie? This I have to see."

    The surroundings blurred in his vision.

    "Damn it, Luna," Mikael hissed under his breath. "She never learns. She is too nice for her own good. I need to put an end to this."

    Hurried footsteps ran up the hallway.

    "Didn''t she do the same thing for you?" Jordan reminded him hot on his heels. "Gave you your first endorsement?"

    He remained skeptical despite his friend''s negative presumption.

    "I know she did but remember those models?" Mikael said. His legs kept walking. "They left Luna in the dust after they received a bigger offer. They broke their contract with Athon Corporation, forgetting about her kindness. They don''t even bother to talk to her whenever they cross paths."

    Jordan squinted an eye, shrugging. "I get your point but you gotta stop thinking that way each time she hires someone new. Luna ain''tining. She also didn''t let it get to her. She''s still giving out opportunities."

    Mikael grabbed the door knob. He directed a scowl over his shoulder. "Which bad people take advantage of. If I don''t look out for her, who would?"

    "Herself." Jordan snorted. Then, his eyes went wide. "Hey"

    His reply reached deaf ears. Mikael had already opened the door. He halted in his steps, observing from the doorway. White light illuminated the opposite side of the room. Gray shades filled up the shoot, highlighting the star color.

    Crimson red hair seized the center stage.

    Mikael leaned on the frame, crossing his arms over his chest. The model lifted her legs up the chaise. His lips frowned when the satchel bag almost fell. He instantly scorned the woman based on first impressions. He had seen these things in small auditionsthe ce where she rightfully belonged.

    Not only was she clumsy but she was also inexperienced.

    Her back was stiff and so was her arm. Her fingers clutched the bag in an awkward spot. The dress hid her legs but he could make out the positions of her foot. It reminded him of an Egyptian sarcophagus which had a carved space for the feet. It allowed the casket to stay upright if lifted up vertically.

    Overall, it did not look good.

    It didn''t even reach amateur level.

    Mikael exhaled sharply.

    This disy only proved his theory correct. They had another wannabe model in the midst. ''How could Luna stand by and let this happen?'' He asked himself. She already helped the woman out but thetter still executed poorly.

    The looks and makeup wouldn''t be enough to hide the horrible posture.

    Jordan peeked from outside.

    He folded his arm and raised it against the doorway, cing a hand on his hip.

    "Not that bad," he whispered.

    Mikael stared at him, not even hiding his disdain.

    Jordan did a double take before he noticed his friend''s sarcastic face. He rolled his eyes at the expression. "Aw,e on. Even you didn''t start out wlessly. I remembered how much you practiced in front of the mirror."

    He pped Mikael with the back of his hand. "Just because you''re Mr. Big Shot now doesn''t mean you were never like her. Don''t be criticizing her just yet."

    "She''s worse than a beginner." His friend pointed out. Irritationced every syble. "I don''t know what Luna is thinking. I think this is the worst one I''ve seen so far. Not even those bitches performed this bad."

    "Dude, give her a chance." Jordan exasperated. Mikael was on a roll. He could feel it. It would be a while before his friend came back to his senses. "I thought you were more worried if Luna got yed? She could still be a nice girl. Stop the prejudice, would you? If you wanna judge her, talk to her first. Sheesh."

    Mikael hung his head, groaning. He heard the camera shutter.

    It was one thing for Luna to give a new model a chance

    but it was another thing if someone sponsored that model.

    A lot of the people he met used money to stir the tides. They controlled the system, pulling the strings. If anyone wanted to do that, that person should have something to show for it. The number of disappointments became too many. People he trusted also sumbed to the maniption.

    Thus, it became one of his pet peeves.

    He absolutely hated an entitled person who didn''t take modelling seriously.

    Mikael shifted his attention back on the shoot. The same rigid pose met his gaze. It almost stung his sight. His hands itched to fix the mistakes. He let out the breath that he held without knowing. His eyes squeezed shut.

    ''This god-awful shoot needs to stop!''

 Chapter 13: Elegant Like a Swan

    Chapter 13: Elegant Like a Swan

    "Oh, my" Avery whispered. Worry shed in her violet eyes. "Eve seems to be in a pinch. She looks stiff and in pain. Is she going to be alright like that?"

    Even from their viewpoint, the hard expression was noticeable. The distress affected the whole pose. It took the attention away from the satchel bag. Several elements of the photo now seemed disjointed. The tense posture failed to connect them into one entity.

    It didn''t paint a clear picture for people to see.

    It didn''t project a story that enticed them to the product.

    Luna sighed, rubbing her temple. Her lips stretched into a grim line. "Maybe that pose isn''t the best start. I should have chosen a standing position first. This one significantly involved various muscles from head to toe. Each body part needed attention. Ignore one and it would create an imbnce."

    Cale brushed off their worries with a wave of his hand,pletely unfazed by Eve''s performance.

    "Give her some time. She still has a lot more to learn. Later, we can show her the photos and talk it out with her. It''s easier to understand once she sees them. Besides, a model should always pay attention to every body part in any pose. I say we''re on the right track in teaching that."

    The shoot barely began. It had only been five minutes more or less. It wouldn''t do well to be anxious right away. Eve needed their support and guidance. If they stressed out so would she.

    "You do have a point." Luna replied with a nod. She heard the photograph give the next instructions. Eve shifted her gaze towards the wall across from her. The rest of her body remained the same.

    Avery inhaled deeply. Her heart pounded in her chest. She willed it to calm down. Eve wouldn''t quit on her. It was still too early for the young woman to give up.

    "I know I''m right." Caleughed, sping his hands together. He had seen and met many models. For beginners, he learned to let them be and study their movements. They wouldn''t know how to notice their faults yet.

    He also wouldn''t be able to unless they demonstrated without advice.

    Cale felt an intense stare from the shadows and nced behind him. His jaw dropped at the sight his eyesid on. Before he knew it, his feet had turned around and his legs had jogged up to the doorway.

    He spread his arms open for a hug.

    "Oh my goodness! Mikael! You''re back from overseas too!" He cackled, embracing the hearthrob. He pulled back and turned to Jordan. They also exchanged a hug. He beamed at both of them. "It''s so good to see you. What brings you here?"

    "Cale" Mikael began to say. An ominous feeling tingled at the back of his mind. There could only be one reason why a model manager would be in the room.

    The scowl he wore deepened. "Don''t tell me that you also recruited her."

    "Who?" Cale blinked. He snapped his head back to the shoot. "Her? She''s gorgeous, isn''t she?"

    "Yeah," Jordan nodded, also watching. "She is a beauty."

    "I know right? I did her hair and makeup myself."

    The 26-year old model pinched the bridge of his nose. The problem turned out to be bigger than it seemed. The sponsor even managed to convince Cale Fisher. Money and connections really did wonders.

    ''This young woman just received a whole package, didn''t she? A big brand deal and a top model manager.'' Mikael thought. He exhaled sharply and looked back up. "Cale, there should be more to hiring a new model other than her looks."

    Cale hit his arm, reprimanding his behavior. "You judge too quickly. The shoot hasn''t even ended yet. This day is about teaching her the ropes."

    "That''s what I told him but he''s still pissed," Jordan cut in, sending an I-told-you-so expression at his friend. He hoped that Cale''s input would enlighten Mikael.

    "Teaching her? Then, she should attend training sessions, not endorse a high end brand." Mikael specified, almost growling. Was he the only one who saw what was wrong in this picture? Many models who had been in the industry for years desired for their first high brand deal.

    Yet, this woman had one served on a tter for her.

    "I can''t believe you let this happen."

    Cale''s bright smile faltered. Locking his jaw, he looked straight into the model''s eyes and said, "Mikael, there are things here that you aren''t aware of."

    "That she has a big sponsor? That''s easy to guess." Mikael snorted, avoiding the stare.

    "Well, I''m upset to see you act this way but we don''t need your approval. We know what we''re doing. We mademitments and we would see it through."

    He shifted his gaze back to Cale. Thetter rarely expressed displeasure. It was his life mission to always have fun despite grim situations. He searched for the positives and refused to let anger control him. This meant that Mikael had overstepped his boundaries.

    He didn''t have the authority in making the decisions.

    Realizing his mistake, Mikael opened his mouth

    "I''m sorry. Can we do that one more time?"

    The three people at the door focused their attention towards the ongoing shoot. Luna and Avery widened their eyes as the photographer peeled the camera off his face. Silence surrounded them. Only the sounds of the airconditioning filled the air.

    They watched, waiting for what would happen next.

    Eve sat up and straightened her spine. Her hazel eyes located Luna and the photographer. "I don''t think this is working out well. Would it be okay to adjust the pose?"

    "Sure!" Luna agreed quickly, pping her hands. A breathless chuckle escaped her lips. "Whatever makes youfortable."

    "Alright. I would like a minute."

    "Of course."

    Eve took a deep breath. Her arms quivered from her burst of energy. She hadn''t dared to speak up before. She believed that their silence meant that they approved of what they saw. She followed instructions dutifully but...

    Her mind begged to differ.

    It wouldn''t stay quiet.

    Pain from a pose was part of the job. She had seen models execute moreplicated ones in photos. She and Andie joked how they''d break in half if it had been them. Yet, none of those models showed their difort.

    She promised to give her 110% effort into this.

    Her gut told her this wasn''t the way to do that.

    Closing her eyes, Eve erased herself from reality. She travelled to her safe haven. It was her own mental creation. In here, she felt free and unburdened. It was a ce where her pure self resided, staying the same despite hindrances.

    Words from a hazy memory floated in her mind. It came from a time when her whole body ached for days. She''d wake up to an excruciating pain. The slightest movement pierced her muscles like a thousand needles. It made her want to go back to sleep where she felt relief.

    But then, she''d be on her feet, enduring the agony as the day passed by.

    A familiar voice echoed and repeated a lesson from that phase in her life.

    ```You must move with grace. What captivates an audience is the ease that you disy. They are immersed in how effortless yet thoughtful it seems. Feel every part of your body. Refine their motion.

    Project yourself like an elegant swan.```

    "Okay. I''m ready."

    Eve lied back down, flying into action. She twisted her hips so only one butt cheek touched the cushion. Her bent knee titled over her other leg. Both feet faced the camera and pointed to the edge of the chaise. She rxed her right shoulder, slightly bending her arm.

    Her left hand twisted its palm upwards and scooted under the bag. She lifted up the satchel like a tray of food served by a waitress. Her wristed rotated so her fingers could spread out and peek over the bag''s front side.

    Their fan-like positions made the item seem weightless.

    At first, Eve stared up the ceiling.

    Then, she thought better of it.

    Her eyes flickered to the bag. Crimson waves framed the left side of her face. The corner of lip smirked, revealing a small dimple. Eyelids hooded, lust swelled in her gaze. She convinced herself that she desired the satchel bag.

    Her mind memorized its details, the red exterior, the shiny golden rhinestones, the feel of it, the smell of brand new leather she let it consume her.

    So that the audience would be as well.

    Luna tapped the photographer. Urgency powered her manner of speech.

    "What are you waiting for? Take the photos!"

    He jumped in surprise but followed the orders. His hands raised up the camera in haste. He adjusted the lens, fixing its focus settings. The shutter went off at a non-stop speed.

    "Hold it!" He told Eve as he changed angles. He could already see this as a wall disy. The transition amazed him. He continued to capture photos as if this moment would suddenly fade away.

    He didn''t overlook a single detail.

    His camera immortalized the birth of a new model.

 Chapter 14: Birth of a New Model

    Chapter 14: Birth of a New Model

    The photoshoot progressed smoothly.

    Eve ced the bag in front of her stomach. Then, she angled her body towards the camera, turning on her side. The handles framed stood up beside her face. Her hands held the satchel on both bottom ends. She eyed the camera lens and arched an eyebrow.

    The shutter captured the change.

    After a few seconds, Eve directed her gaze to the right corners of her eyes. Her hand snatched the handles and lifted up, palm facing the ceiling. A teasing smile stretched her lips. The side of her waist ached from the twist but she endured.

    The photographer kept up with her pace.

    "Are there other bags?" She asked, noticing the shelf full of them. They came in various sizes and designs. Each one had the same red leather exterior and embellishments.

    A whole collection for any asion.

    Luna walked over to grab another bag. She hummed to herself as her hand reached for a clutch. It had a rectangr shape and one p. Goldenurel leaves served as the covering of the lock. Their tips pointed up. Collectively, they ovepped at the base and resembled a zing fire.

    At the sight, Eve ignored the shoot and sat up. rm bells rang in her ears. She had just nted her feet on the floor when Luna approached her.

    "Oh, Ms. Athon!" She eximed, blood rushing to her cheeks. She stood up and almost tripped over the skirt. "I could have done that myself. There''s no need for you to"

    A hand smacked her forehead. "I''ll stop you right there. You''re not an assistant right now. You''re a model. Focus on the product and the camera."

    Luna took away the satchel bag and reced it with the clutch. She offered Eve a kind smile. "You''re doing great so far. It''s not professional level but it''s a good start. Keep it up."

    Eve caressed the surface of the clutch. Theurel leaves felt thin, almost like paper. Her fingertips brushed over the embossed designs of the veins and the midrib. The amount of detail fascinated her.

    She looked up and returned the smile. "Thank you, Ms. Athon. That means a loting from you. I hope the rest of the shoot would also be good enough."

    Luna shook her head, wearing a face of disbelief. "I''m sure you''ll do just as great. Your heading in the right direction with your instincts. I''ll hand you the next bag once you take a few shots with this one."

    She gave the go signal to the photographer and left the scene.

    Eve lied on her stomach, lifting her crossed legs. Her left hand and the clutch danged over the side. The corner of the bag almost touched the floor. She held it as if it was a wide stem of grapes. Her other hand cradled her chin.

    A bored expression painted over her face.

    The camera took the shots.

    She twisted her left arm and rested the elbow on the cushion. Hooding her eyes, she puckered her lips in the clutch''s direction. The hand position made it seem like a flying kiss. She pulled her legs until the heels of her feet almost nearly her bottom.

    When she heard the shutter, she turned her wrist over. Then, she touched her forehead and her nose with her index finger. The bag hid half of her face. Her exposed eye and half of her lips teased the camera.

    Soon, Luna had the Cleopatra chaise removed.

    Eve stood on her feet with the skirt circling her feet. She held a bucket bag, bncing it on her right shoulder. Her left one leaned back and curved her torso. She mimicked the women that carried jars of water from a nearby stream.

    She also ced it above her waist, using another optional pose.

    With a backpack, she turned away from the camera and pulled the straps with her thumbs. She stared over her shoulder. Her hair flowed down one side of her neck, covering her chest. The polished appearance of the bag fitted her toga and maybe even the era.

    For a luggage one, a short rectangr block had been provided. It had the same height as the main body of the bag. She hid it behind her skirt. Her back faced the luggage while her left hand gripped the telescopic handle.

    Her hazel eyes looked up at the ceiling. Her mind wandered and dreamed of the ces she wanted to visit, the cultures she wanted to explore as well as the adventures she desired. They misted her gaze as she travelled through her imagination.

    ...

    ...

    Mikael had his jaw locked. His blue eyes focused on the shoot. He observed as the young woman worked out poses for the bags. Different types demanded different attention. The various sizes also yed a factor.

    A model shouldn''t overshadow a small item. Otherwise, it would be hard for consumers to notice the product.

    A big item shouldn''t overshadow the model either. Otherwise, there wouldn''t be a need for a model at all.

    It came down to wits and skills.

    Most photoshoots also had limited time. The faster the transitions, the better. It required tremendous experience and proficiency. Every move had to be calcted. There should be coordination between the model and the photographer.

    If that kind of setup was a flower, this one was a petal.

    Something not easily achieved just from a boost of confidence.

    Jordan shook his head. He couldn''t help but admire the progress. The young woman had the right mindset. Her execution needed more refinement but she modelled from head to toe. Beginners usually overlooked a body part or two. It was their first skill to master.

    The model before him clearly learned it in the past.

    He wondered what the circumstances were.

    "That''s a wrap!" Luna announced, pping multiple times. No words could describe her amazement. She had witnessed a spectacr scene. Forget about being a secretary, she''d hire Eve on the spot. A blossoming bud like her had unlimited potential.

    Avery left her spot. She ran up to Eve and embraced the young woman. She felt like a proud mom. The show of determination left her breathless. She tightened her grip, pulling Eve closer.

    "I knew you could do it!" She squealed in the young woman''s ear, "If you ever decide to quit your job and be a full-time model, you have my utmost support!"

    ''Is this what it feels like to have a daughter?'' The madam thought. It would have been such a joy to have one. They could share moments in the spa, in the mall and so much more!

    Hopefully, her only son would help her experience it.

    Eve choked out augh. She stepped back as Avery released her. Her hands hoisted up the skirt. "With all due respect, Mrs. Hathaway, I am not about to leave my job over one photoshoot. Thank you for the opportunity though. It was interesting."

    Hours ago, she doubted that she''d make it through this.

    Now that it finished, she almost believed that she could aplish anything.

    "Hey, hey, hey!" Cale walked back to the shoot. Out of everyone, he wore the biggest smile. His aqua blue eyes sparkled as he spread his arms wide. "What did I tell you,dies? You worried too much."

    He stepped up to Eve, covering her hand with both of his. He looked straight into her eyes and said, "I, for one, never doubted you. I don''t care if I''m biased, you''re my favorite model for this campaign."

    Touching warmth envelope Eve''s chest. "Thank you for your kind words, Cale. I can boast that, right? I''d consider it as my best aplishment in my modelling career."

    "You absolutely can!" He cackled and kissed the back of her hand. "You gave us quite a show. I don''t think we''ll ever forget it."

    Eveughed with him and gave him a look. "Neither will I."

    "That''s the spirit! This is your moment! Enjoy it and avoid Mr. Grouchy Pants over there." Cale nudged his head towards the door, rolling his eyes. "He''s so picky. You''d think he climbed to the top overnight."

    "I can hear you!"

    "Well, good!"

    Hiding an amused smile, Eve nced at the doorway. She spotted two male spectators. Their postures suggested that they had been there for a while. Her mind pushed away curious questions. It would be best that she avoided other people with this persona.

    Unfortunately, she had no control over their actions.

    Jordan pushed himself off the doorframe and decided to meet the new model. He strutted up to the tform, pping his hands. "I agree with Cale. Avoid Mr. Grouchy Pants. No matter what he says, I think you did great."

    He stretched out his hand towards her.

    Eve took it out of politeness. She mustered a small smile and said, "Thank you um?"

    "Jordan. Jordan Dawson." He answered, finishing the statement for her. "I am Mr. Grouchy Pants'' manager and close confidant."

    "Oh." Eve blinked. They looked almost the same age. She wouldn''t have guessed. "I see. I am truly grateful for thepliment. I do know Ick in many areas though."

    "I think you can pick up fast." Jordan shrugged, letting go of her hand. "I''ll look forward to the campaign and to your future projects. Maybe you and Mr. Grouchy Pants might even have a joint one."

    Mikael exhaled sharply.

    "Alright, alright, if you all keep calling me that, I guess I have no choice but to defend myself."

    He joined the small group, moving with poise. His intense gaze stayed on the female model. Even now, he continued to study her. Interactions gave clues on a person''s character and personality. He was determined to find out her motives.

    As soon as he reached her, he offered his hand for a shake.

    "Mikael Davis," he introduced himself. His eyebrows scowled as he tilted his head to one side. He scanned her face and tried to read her bodynguage. He clicked his tongue, purposely making her ufortable.

    It was a sure tell if someone had an attitude or not.

    To his surprise, she smiled pleasantly and shook his hand. "Please call me, Evangeline."

 Chapter 15: Burst of Bravado

    Chapter 15: Burst of Bravado

    Eve gripped Mikael''s hand firmly.

    Her hazel eyes bore into his radiant blue ones. She stared back, unwavered by his aloof attitude. When he narrowed his gaze by a millimeter, she merely blinked in return and widened her smile.

    She had yed this game many times.

    "I''m guessing you have some critique on my performance?" Eve asked, pulling her hand back. Her head tilted to the side, adding coyness to her expression. "Don''t worry. I''m prepared for the worst. There''s always room for improvement, correct?"

    "Hm," Mikael grunted under his breath. He tucked both of his hands inside his pockets. "There were some angles that weren''t ttering. The pose was good but angled wrongly, it doesn''t look as impressive."

    "I do agree." Eve nodded, aware of her faults. She nced up the ceiling and crossed her arms over her chest. Her mind relived the shoot. "There were also a few camera blocking."

    "For you," he rified. "But not for the product."

    She arched an eyebrow. "So it''s passable?"

    Mikael considered her question with depth. His gaze remained intense and vignt. "Not always but the star of the shoot is the product. If you block it, you can''t be a model."

    "Just like the main ingredient of a dish," Evepared, thinking out loud. "The spices and other ingredients shouldpliment it, not overpower it. If that happens, the name of the dish and its main ingredient loses their significance."

    "Precisely."

    She dropped her hand and shook her head. A sigh escaped her lips. She chuckled in order to lighten the tense atmosphere. "Well, hopefully, I do better next time."

    "That would depend on you."

    "True." She nodded, hoisting up her skirt. This was her chance to leave. She entertained both guests enough. "Anyway, it was nice meeting you, Sir Davis, and you as well, Sir Dawson. Will you excuse me? I would like to change."

    "By all means," Jordan answered for both of them. He grabbed his friend''s arms and took on step towards the door. "We also need to leave. We have to be up early tomorrow for a shoot. I look forward to meeting you again in this industry."

    Eve forced herself to stay pleasant. "We shall see. Do have a good day."

    Her feet escaped the scene before anything else could happen. She wasn''t sure what came over her. She acted on a whim and stated the mistakes she noticed. It was whenever she felt off bncewhether from the pose, theck of new ideas or the awkward position of one body part.

    That clutch bag had stumped her after three poses.

    .. .. .

    A hand hit Mikael''s arm.

    "Ow!" He eximed, turning his head towards the source. "Luna, really?"

    Ebony eyes red in disapproval. Luna Athon had her nostrils red. If possible, smoke would have risen out of her ears. "You thought she was that kind of model, didn''t you?"

    She shook her head and bared her teeth, jabbing a finger in his direction. "For your information, she had no idea about this shoot until she came here. She did not know it was for Athon Corporation. Don''t associate her with those scheming people."

    "I''m very disappointed in you," she huffed, walking away. She shifted her attention to the bags. They needed to be packed and transported. "I''ll celebrate your return another time."

    Mikael pressed his lips together, clenching his hands into fists. He didn''t dare to say anything back. His eyes hooded as he spun on his heel. He stormed out of the room without a second look.

    Any leftover good mood he felt had vanished.

    Jordan jogged after him, waving goodbye over his shoulder. He couldn''t do a proper farewell unless he wanted to lose sight of his model. Mikael had just made a turn when he stepped out of the doorway. He picked up the pace, almost running.

    "So?"

    "So what?" Mikael spat.

    "You''re not going to take back what you said about Evangeline?" His friend pointed out, slightly taken aback, "She acted like a professional just now. Face it. You were wrong about her."

    "Did she not get a high brand deal without proper training? Did she not get a shortcut?" Mikael asked sarcastically. His gaze focused on the exit. "Maybe her attitude turned out to be different but that doesn''t mean I approve of the methods she took."

    Jordan scoffed in disbelief. He slowed down and matched his friend''s strides. "You heard Luna. She never asked for this."

    "Oh, lucky her then."

    "Are you jealous?"

    Mikael stopped short. Lips parted open, he faced Jordan. Lightning shed in his eyes. "Just because I disapprove of such things, I am now jealous? Is it not wrong?"

    Jordan pinched the bridge of his nose. Then, he exasperated a sigh. "That''s not the point. The point is how you treat Evangeline. You had misjudged her. What do you have to say now that you know the truth?"

    Hard chocte eyes stared Mikael down. Pride or not, his friend needed to acknowledge his mistake. His actions upsetted various people, including his close friends. It wouldn''t be good if this happened again.

    "Maybe she didn''t ask for this endorsement," Mikael began to say, rxing his fists. Jordan''s heart swelled with hope until he added, "But what about the next one? Or the one after that? Can you guarantee that she wouldn''t?"

    Jordan fluttered his eyes, gaping at the turn of events. "So she''s like what? On probation?"

    "More or less." Mikael shrugged. He continued his walk to the exit. "It would depend on her growth from here."

    .. .. .

    Relief flooded Eve once she entered the changing room. Her back leaned on the door. She could finally go home. Maybe if she asked nicely, Andie would make some hot chocte. A yawn opened her mouth wide.

    The preparation for Evangeline''s profile was done.

    Evangeline.

    She had said the name before she processed it.

    Her eyes dropped to the floor. They clouded with nostalgia. Would it be too obvious if she kept the name? Would her boss make the connection? Her mother couldn''t be the only person with that name.

    Eve peeled herself off the door and unzipped the dress. She already introduced herself with it. There was no going back. She pushed it to the back of her mind, picking up her oversized white shirt.

    When she opened the door, she found Avery standing near it. Her gaze swept across the room. Most of the crew had left. The studio had also been cleared. Luna and Cale chatted at the other side of the room.

    "Eve," Avery called out to her, "Are you okay?"

    She wore a concerned face. Eve immediately understood what it was about. She actually found Mikael''s words as a source offort. The shower of praises had overwhelmed her. They almost seemed unrealistic.

    Before this shoot, she had no training and no experience. It was nice that someone could be blunt about her performancenot that she''d need the advice someday.

    "Mrs. Hathaway, it''s not the first time I got the stink eye." Eve chuckled, smiling gently. It would be peculiar if she hadn''t encountered something simr over the years. "Haven''t you seen the women your son dates?"

    "Ah, yes." Avery nodded, a faraway look in her eyes. She heaved a sigh and pouted at the young woman. "Why couldn''t he have dated you instead?"

    Eve gave her a skeptical expression. "Wouldn''t that defeat the purpose of why I was chosen for the job?"

    "Right." The madam''s shoulders slouched. She remembered the scandals of the past. "The previous women loved to seduce his secretaries so they switched the gender."

    "It also can''t be someone gorgeous."

    "But you are pretty though. Not wlessly beautiful but..." Avery scowled. Eve had washed off the makeup but her natural aesthetic still glowed. " how did you get the job?"

    Eve bit her inner cheek. She averted her gaze. "I may have known that they wanted someone in."

    "So you changed your style of appearance?" Avery blinked, astonished by the dedication. Most applicants arrived with their best looks and clothes. Stunning women lined up at the door. Each one hoped for good news.

    Safe to say, the hiring process went by smoothly and shortly.

    "I figured with a more masculine kind of look no one would think I''d be interested in your son," Eve revealed. The exnation wasn''t the best but it was almost foolproof. The starting sry was too good for her not to try.

    It had eased a lot of her burdens

    Avery raised an eyebrow. "Are you? Interested in my son, I mean."

    Eve shook her head. "Not in that way, no."

    The madam wasn''t convinced. She regarded the young woman with sharp eyes. "You were never attracted to him?"

    "I do acknowledge that he is an attractive man." Eve snorted. Anyone with eyes knew he was. People had different types but beauty was universal. Appeal had to be acknowledged when appeal had to be acknowledged.

    "Hmm." Avery decided to change the topic. She would know moreter when the pair progressed. "Well, tomorrow the website will go live. Yan has a week to choose. I won''t be meddling with your conversations so I can only wish you luck."

    Eve''s heart became restless. It drummed with irregr beats. The pulse under her temple followed the rhythm. The sound echoed in her ears. Her previous burst of courage now seemed like bravado.

    Tomorrow would be the real challenge.

    Would her boss really not recognize her in the photo?

    "And, hey," Avery suddenly spoke, interrupting her thoughts. "Business aside, if you ever need anything, don''t hesitate to ask me."

    Eve broke out of her daze. She shifted her attention in the madam''s direction. Her brown eyes met a face of tenderness. She couldn''t help but smile with appreciation. Despite Avery''s methods, she did them out of good intentions.

    Hopefully, the results would be the same.

    "I will keep it in mind, Mrs. Hathaway."

 Chapter 16: Breakfast Conversations

    Chapter 16: Breakfast Conversations

    The next morning, Eve sat on the living room couch.

    She wore her fuzzy blue pajama set. It had a pattern of cute white rabbits. Feet up on the tan cushion, she rested a bowl of cereal on one knee. The sun peeked behind the yellow curtains. Nothing yed on tv.

    It was a quiet Sunday.

    Andie entered the doorway. She tied her dirty blonde hair in her signature messy bun. Unlike Eve, she wore a gray tank top with a pair of yoga pants. Her hands carried a tray of breakfast food. It contained two steaming mugs of coffee, a basket of breadsticks and a saucer of butter.

    Instead of breakfast, it was more like an after breakfast snack.

    "Still worried?" She asked, setting the tray on the coffee table. She plopped herself on the couch and bit on a breadstick. "You know nothing good is going to happen if you keep worrying, right?"

    Eve stirred her chocte malt cereal. The milk had darkened from the cereal''s vor. She loved to drink it when she finished the grains. Now, she didn''t seem up for it. "I know I''m probably overreacting but I can suddenly lose my job from this."

    Andie shrugged, feeling the opposite. She had full confidence in the n. "Even if you do, you have enough money for your sisters'' to finish high school. Think of it as early savings. I mean, you''d still find another job. It''s not the end of the world."

    "I know," Evemented. She scooped out a spoon of cereal and ate it. "I can still feel bad about it."

    "Suit yourself," her best friend chuckled. Her eyes fluttered as she smirked. "I wouldn''t mind if you lost your job. I''d just look forward to you bing a full-time model."

    Eve kicked her thigh.

    Andie doubled overughing. She wrapped an arm around her stomach, still holding the breadstick. Her throat became hoarse. She had heard the storyst night but found it just as funny!

    Her stormy blue eyes flickered to her best friend. They crinkled at the corners and shined amusedly. "I can''t wait to see that campaign! I''d hunt down every Athon store even if you don''t tell me which one."

    "There''s only one Athon store in the city." Eve frowned.

    "They do have consignment in some malls." Andie pointed out, the pitch of her voice rising higher by the end, "But thank you for narrowing it down for me."

    She leaned on the backrest and finished her breadstick. "It''s funny how you ended up in the industry after you rejected a previous recruitment."

    Eve rolled her eyes. "That guy looked shady. Besides, I''m a business major. Modelling doesn''tst for a long time. I already got the degree. Might as well make use of it."

    She put the spoon between her lips, pressing them together. At the time, she couldn''t rely on unstable ie. She wanted something more safe and more concrete. She needed a constant flow of money.

    Modelling had risks she couldn''t afford if she failed.

    Andie took her mug of coffee. It had more creampared to Eve''s. One side, the peach porcin had full color drawings of cactuses. On the other, it had ck cursive letters that read,

    ''Don''t be a prick.''

    It was love at first sight.

    "When do you have to log in to the site?" She asked, sipping the warm beverage. The creamy and sweet caffeine delighted her taste buds. "Do you need to wear that wig when you chat?"

    Eve knitted her brows. She ate thest of her cereal and stirred the leftover chocte milk. "Why would I need to do that when he won''t see my face?"

    Andie shrugged. She took another taste of her coffee. "What if he suddenly wants to video call? Those photos were his idea, right? Wouldn''t he want to check by asking for a video call?"

    "..."

    Now that she mentioned it, Eve started to believe it could be true. She had to prepare for any possibility. Her boss would be suspicious if she took a long time. She had yet to master putting on her contact lenses. If she didn''t wear them right away, what was she to do to cut the time?

    Wear sunsses?

    "Anyway," Andie said. She spread some butter on a breadstick. "When is it?"

    "After lunch." Eve sighed, draining the leftover milk in one go. "Mrs. Hathaway wants to look overst minute details with her son. I''m guessing she''d update me if there are any sudden changes."

    "Well good luck?" It was a statement, not a question. Her best friend felt unsure on what to say in this situation. Sheughed under her breath as she thought of more. "Break a leg? Steal his heart? Don''t get fired?"

    Eve swung her legs, nting her feet on the floor. She rolled her eyes upwards and peeked at the ceiling. At least, one person found her situation amusing. There was still some time left before the appointed time.

    Maybe she''d find something to ease her mind.

    Meanwhile, a ck Jaguar XK climbed up a small hill found at the outskirts of the city. It had its roof rolled down and had one passenger. The leather seats and the hood gleamed under the morning sun. It sped through the empty road, purring for more power.

    Wild grass sprouted from either side of the path. Tiny yellow flowers littered among them. Lush green shrubs and trees stood in lines. Local volunteers had nted them. They added a bit more life to the quietndscape.

    The wind flew past Ambryan''s face. His onyx ck hair whipped behind him. Aviator ssic sunsses shielded his violet eyes. The cor of his ck dress shirt pped against his neck. Fresh nature air filled his lungs.

    It brought a small smile on his face.

    His mother must really want to get on his good side.

    Why else would she pick his favorite bristo?

    The trail led to a two-storey building made of bricks and timber. Stitz Bristo''s architectural design had been inspired by infrastructures from the 15th century. The groundyout had a U-shape, cing the main entrance in between two wings. Apricot bricks lined up its foundation while cream timbers framed the second floor.

    Toasty brown asphalt made up the gable roofs.

    Ambryan parked his convertible beside the east wing. Workers weed him to the Stitz Bristo when he stepped out. ck dress shirt tucked in a pair of white pants, he hooked the keys on a belt loop. His dark boat shoes crunched on the brick pavement. They headed for the nearest side entrance.

    He pushed the ss door open, sliding it to the side.

    A round mahogany table greeted his eyes. He took off his aviator sunsses and hooked them on his dress shirt. He headed for an empty chair, sitting across from his mother.

    Avery had a cup of tea in one hand while the other held up a newspaper. The page showed her the show business section. No matter how advanced technology became, she still preferred to read the paper every morning. She had her phone on silent, leaving it inside her purse.

    If she had anything urgent, a bodyguard would inform her instead.

    "Good morning, mother," Ambryan greeted her. Rolling up his sleeves, he scooped out a few tea leaves and began to brew his own cup.

    The waiter assigned to their table left the room.

    Avery looked up from her reading. She raised her eyebrows at the sight of her son. "You know I do remember that I lectured you over different styles of clothing. Despite that, I somehow think you''d stille here wearing your business suit."

    She folded the newspaper, revealing her yellow summer dress. The neckline wrapped around the base of her neck and extended down in a halter cut. Pear droplets dangled from her ears.

    "I could do that," her son joked, wearing a neutral expression, "Maybe if I finally met your expectation, you''d be less disappointed in me."

    The cup Avery held ttered on its saucer. usation red in her eyes. "I''m never disappointed in you."

    Ambryan scowled at the ceiling. "What was this website for again?"

    Her mother rolled her eyes. Folding her hands over the table, a sigh escaped her lips. "It''s because I''m concerned. I know life hasn''t been easy on you but I hope you''d settle down with your own loving family. I just want you to consider it. This would be thest time I meddle in your affairs... so please cooperate?"

    "What exactly did you call for me here today?" Her son asked, cutting to the chase. He took a test sip of his tea and grunted in approval.

    "I prepared a timetable," Avery began to say. "This is only for the first chat. I want you to talk to each girl for about 30 minutes. Don''t message more than one at a time. Focus on her only before the time is up. I already informed them of their schedules.

    Yan put down his cup and tilted his head to the side. "You don''t get to see what conversations are, right?"

    "Of course not." Her mother snorted. "That would be unrealistic and unnecessary. One day, you''d meet in real life and go on dates. Would that mean I''d be there? Highly unlikely."

    "Sounds very likely to me."

    She red in her son''s direction.

    He merely smirked, patting the napkin on his lips. "Wouldn''t you love to see how our dates go? It sounds like a real life romance movie for you to watch."

    Avery gripped her fork and knife. The waiter had returned and served their dishes. A te of pancakes and sausage appeared before her. The meat spices floated up her nose. It caused her stomach to rumble.

    "Hmph!" She grunted, cutting a piece of sausage. She took a bite and muttered to herself, "We''ll see who has thestugh when you meet Evangeline. Then, I''ll have a secondugh when you find out she''s your secretary after you fell for her."

    "What did you say, mother?"

    "Nothing. This sausage is delicious. We should eat here again when your fatheres home."

 Chapter 17: The First Out of Five

    Chapter 17: The First Out of Five

    Ambryan drove back to the city.

    As he descended down the hill, the green fields slowly disappeared from his sight. Gray buildings emerged in front of his windshield. They towered to the sky in various heights and sizes. Fourne roads slithered along the ground.

    They interconnected, creating a maze.

    He pushed a button on his dashboard. The trunk opened and the roof rolled up over his head. It shielded him from the scorching heat. He turned on the air-conditioning. With less greenery, the temperature was higher.

    Thus, the cool air was needed.

    It didn''t take long for Ambryan to reach his destination.

    His Jaguar XK rolled down a slope, leading him to an underground parking lot. He steered the wheels to the right and headed for the reserved space for residents. A divider separated it from the visitor''s area. He stepped on the brake when he reached his designated spot.

    Then, he took a private elevator.

    It led him to his penthouse which upied the entire top floor.

    Floor to ceiling windows covered an entire wall, overlooking the city. ck metal frames added a simple design and cut them into small sections. From the front door, the hallway revealed the sitting area. Arge ivory carpet nketed its floor while a modern sofa set surrounded an obsidian coffee table.

    Ambryan removed his shoes and stepped down the raised floor.

    Soon, he felt something soft brush his legs.

    He looked down.

    "Meow."

    An albino Siberian cat nestled between his feet. Pale purple eyes stared at his face, pink tint lining their round shape. Its bushy tail circled around its body while it sat on the floor. Round tip ears pped once in greeting.

    "Hello, Kiri," Ambryan said as he knelt to nuzzle her chin. He chuckled when he felt her purr under his touch. "Are you d to be in the penthouse? Work is piling up so we''ll have to stay here for the rest of the week."

    The catid on its side, rubbing her cheek against his foot.

    He lifted her up like a baby and walked to his office.

    "Come on, mother would throw a fit if I''mte for the chat." Ambryan held Kiri up at his eye level. He squinted his eyes, ying with an idea. "Maybe I should ask their opinions on cats. I''m sure they already prepared for today. The randomness would throw them off and make this easier."

    The cat merely swung her tail.

    "I''ll take that as a yes."

    Ambryan opened a door.

    Kiri jumped off his arms and leaped for the table, tucking her legs in. She already knew where they would stay for today. Her gaze flickered to theputer monitor. Her tail swayed behind her as if sweeping the surface.

    She snapped her head when Ambryan hadn''t joined her.

    He assessed the bookshelves near the door, taking his time. He found nothing covered in dust. Then, he turned to the couch at the opposite side. It was perfectly clean and free of crease.

    "Meow."

    "I''ming," Ambryan replied, finally reaching the work desk. He sat on the rotating chair and patted the cat''s head. "You''re going to help me, right? We need to eliminate as many as possible. Thest one standing would be well, the woman I''d take to social events."

    He sighed, switching on theputer. He bit a knuckle between his lips. "I can''t get rid of them all or I won''t get mother''s end of the bargain. This might be the only chance I''d get."

    The monitor lit up.

    A lone dandelion photo covered the screen.

    Ambryan clicked on the web browser icon. His fingers typed on the keyboard and hit ''enter''. The site loaded with an address bar that said,

    https//: w w w. datetheceo .c o m

    (A/N: I am telling you. It''s not a real website. Don''t waste your time trying XD)

    Scratching the back of his neck, he heaved another sigh and groaned. "Trust mother to think of a ridiculous name."

    The website became red in color. A gold vine bordered the outline. It reminded Ambryan of his school diplomas. They had the same design for the frametiny leaves at the corners.

    Two text boxes appeared, asking for a username and a password.

    Username: Yan

    Password: ****************

    He waited for it to load.

    A scraping sound caught Ambryan''s attention. He peeled his eyes off the screen, ncing at his cat. Kiri used two of her paws and scratched the front of a drawer. He pulled the handle.

    It contained only one thing, a rectangr leather case.

    Ambryan opened it and took out the anti-radiation sses inside. Eve had pushed him to buy a pair after his eyes kept hurting for severalte nights at the office. He only needed to wear them whenever he had longputer hourswhich happened a lot.

    Putting them on, the square ck framesplimented his strong jawline. It also softened his ''permanent'' scowl. Nothing in his eyesight changed. The lens merely had a tint to them. He actually doubted if they did anything when he first tried them.

    "Meow." Kiri purred, wagging her white bushy tail faster. Her pale purple eyes twinkled.

    Ambryan raised an eyebrow. He bumped her nose with a finger and said, "Kiri, really do you like guys who wear sses?"

    "Meow!"

    Ambryan wondered if he heard correctly.

    Did his cat just confirm his question?

    Shaking his head, he pushed the thought out of his mind. His gaze returned on the monitor. A warm hue shielded his vision. He felt his eyes rx as he studied theyout. It seemed that his mother had more fun with the website.

    The left side contained his profile, a tall rectangr block of dark red. Cursive gold letters showed his name at the top. A photograph hung underneath ittaken from a day he''d rather forget. A dark cloud surrounded his head as he stared at the photo.

    It had been at a neighbor''s birthday party for their kid. He had his arms crossed over his chest, leaning back on a monoblock chair. He wore a blue vest and a ck tie over a white dress shirt. His eyebrows knitted on top of his aviator sunsses.

    A headband squeezed the sides of his face with white bunny ears sticking up towards the sky.

    ''What was my mother thinking?'' Ambryan asked internally, pinching the bridge of his nose.

    Other than that, the rest seemed standard. It had his age, his education background, his upation and a short bio. None of them had been in his control. His mother seemed to think he wouldn''t know how to aplish them properly.

    Then, she reassured him that she did the same for the other girls.

    That thought led Ambryan to the right side of theyout. It contained five gray circles, three on top and two at the bottom. His mother exined that each would light up when it was time. She had made them nk so he''d focus on one girl at a time. Theyout would change once he finished talking to them all.

    ''30 minutes'' he mused. It was much more than he anticipated. How did one hold a conversation for that long? He never liked small talk. He''d just leave mandatory replies then until the woman stopped.

    The first circle lit up.

    Ambryan''s violet eyes slumped into a deadpan expression.

    The woman in the photo looked over her shoulder. Her dark brown hair flowed down her back. Sunlight peeked from behind, illuminating the garden around her. It also made her tan skin glow. The leaves from the nts emphasized her green eyes.

    As far as first impressions went, she almost reminded Ambryan of Charlee Edwards. Hence, the reaction he had. His mother probably based her choices with his previous dates. He clicked on her photo.

    It led him to her profile.

    ```

    Name: Zara Smith

    Age: 24

    Education: College graduate

    upation: Makeup Artist

    Bio: Hello! I''m Zara. I frence as a makeup artist for any social event. I also work in a salon if a customer wanted a makeup appointment. During my free time, I hang out with my friends and binge shows and movies at streaming sites.

    ```

    Ambryan raised his eyebrows.

    He clicked the ''chat'' button and sent his first message.

    .

    ``Yan: Hello, Ms. Smith. What deal did you have with my mother for you to join this site?``

    .

    He cringed when he saw his profile picture pop out. Then, his face became impassive and his mind detached. It was an expression he wore when hard at work. He waited for the other party to respond. The chat window had the same gray background. The ''typing'' dots also had the same color but in a darker shade.

    .

    ``Zara: Um what? Haha. What deal?``

    .

    Ambryan''s fingers flew across the keyboard.

    .

    ``Yan: You can''t possibly be here without talking to my mother. I''ve never seen you before either. If she made an offer, I can double it for you. Just tell me what you need and I will help you.``

    .

    The chat became silent.

    Ambryanced his fingers and rested his elbows on the table. He watched the idle window. He wouldn''t put it past his mother to make more deals. She wanted them all to y her game. The way to ensure its proper execution would be to establish agreements.

    What kind of women would she pick?

    .

    ``Zara: Your mother once came to our salon. Sheplimented my work and I asked her if it was possible to endorse me to a few celebrities. She agreed to do so as long as I joined this website.``

    .

    ''It seems like mother gave the deal out of impulse,'' Ambryan thought, shaking his head. He began typing a reply.

    .

    ``Yan: I appreciate your honesty. I can see why my mother had picked you.``

    ``Zara: I think it was because she said I could probably turn frogs into princesses. (frog emote)``

    .

    "Meow!" Kiri spoke up suddenly. She stood up and repeatedly poke the screen. A growl rumbled in her chest. Then, she shoved the monitor with two paws and screeched, "Mrrreeooow!"

    Ambryan grabbed her torso and pulled her back. He checked her face. She red back at him, her pupil turning into slits. He frowned. "You don''t like her, huh?

    "Mreow!"

    He put her on the table and scratched the back of her ear.

    "That didn''t evenst five minutes. What am I supposed to do now?"

 Chapter 18: The Second Out of Five

    Chapter 18: The Second Out of Five

    ```

    Name: Rachelle Ann

    Age: 23

    Education: College graduate

    upation: Novelist

    Bio: If you''ve been into any bookstorestely, then you may have already seen my name on books. If not, I''m Rachelle Ann, author of the ''Love Me, Bite Me'' series. I like rabbits, tarts and sweet fluffy things xD

    Aiming to get my books produced in a certain productionpany *wink wink*

    ```

    For her profile picture, Rachel sat behind a desk with a ck ponytail. She turned to her right and smiled at the camera. One hand cupped her cheek while the other rested on theptop keyboard. Her caramel eyes crinkled at the corners.

    Unlike Zara, Ambryan could already see her intentions. He could discern her true motive from there. It seemed that his struggle would again bewaiting for the 30 minutes to finish. He had rejected most questions from the first conversation.

    There was no point to answer personal questions when they''d never talk again.

    .

    ``Yan: Hello, Ms. Rachelle. What deal did you have with my mother for you to join this site?``

    ``Rachelle: Well, it is an opportunity to meet one of the most eligible bachelors in the country, she didn''t need to do much convincing honestly. ughs* plus this might make for an interesting story, don''t you think?``

    .

    Ambryan narrowed his eyes.

    She surely sounded youthful. Her messages were also informal. He typed slowly, forming a response. She hadn''t actually answered his question, trying to avoid it. He needed to get it out of her.

    .

    ``Yan: I see... How did you meet my mother then? I don''t imagine she handed out flyers in the street.``

    ``Rachelle: Ah, didn''t you know, your mother loves my books? I didn''t realized someone like her would ask for signed copies of my work, but she''s a true romantic :D ``

    .

    Ambryan frowned.

    .

    ``Yan: I do know she''s a romantic. She starred in many romance movies. Are you to tell me she offered nothing in exchange for this opportunity?``

    .

    The other party paused. She probably hadn''t expected to hear the question again. Whatever she''d reply would decide her character. After writing that kind of bio, he would have thought she''d answer it directly.

    .

    ``Rachelle: I think I may have jumped on the opportunity too quickly, but she did say, she''d talk with the producers in making a film from my top selling book, regardless of oues. *happy smile* I think she needed a certain number of girls so there you have it.``

    .

    ''Now, we''re getting somewhere,'' Ambryan pondered on his next move. This time, he''d make sure the conversation revolved on the other party. By letting her talk while he asked the questions, it would eliminate any chance to ask about his personal life.

    .

    ``Yan: If you can pitch your book in 35 words, what would it be?``

    .

    The chat window became inactive once again. It seemed that Ms. Rachelle had been stumped. For someone who wanted a film opportunity, she should have been better prepared. This waning confidence wouldn''t be seen as something good.

    His fingers tapped on the keyboard.

    .

    ``Yan: Ms. Rachelle?``

    ``Yan: By all means use the remaining 15 minutes we have.``

    .

    The ''typing'' dots emerged from the bottom. Ambryan leaned back on his chair and waited patiently. He crossed his legs under the table, sping his hands together. His eyes went to theputer''s clock.

    There were still three women left.

    He considered multitasking when a new message popped up.

    ``Rachelle: A romance that goes beyond time and order, and apologies love is hard to defineespecially trying to let a self-sufficient person as yourself grasp it *rubs chin* But it''s a story between two unimaginable people who shouldn''t be together but they do``

    .

    ``Yan: Sounds like Romeo and Juliet. Nothing more original than that?``

    ``Rachelle: Make it a bunny man, but the two of them do end up together at the end and not dying, it''s not tragedy but romance.``

    .

    Now, that was something Ambryan hadn''t heard before.

    .

    ``Yan: ... how do they even meet?``

    ``Rachelle: ... them falling from the skies and into the protagonist''s rooftop. If you''re familiar with the Man from the Moon. Paranormal romance. It''s actually all the rave for young romantics *shrugs*``

    .

    Ambryan rubbed his temple, his mind digesting the information. He''d never worked with anything like it before. He silently gave her props for the originality. Her casualty was also something tomend. She spoke her mind and didn''t pretend.

    Unfortunately, he''d rather not date someone in the same film industry. It could cause problems when the nine months were over.

    This conversation needed to stop soon.

    .

    ``Yan: ... so you''re saying I''m old?``

    .

    Ambryan repeated the question in his head. He wondered how an author would answer this type of question. If she left on her own, he could look over reports while he waited for the next chat schedule.

    Anything would do if that meant he won''t have ate work night.

    .

    ``Rachelle:  you''re quite mature and level headed for someone our age. Running the business and being the sess that you are, I don''t think you''ve been giving time for romance and that''s why your mother decided to intervene? Or she probably wants grandchildren too.``

    ``Yan: And so she thinks an author who writes paranormal romance is a good candidate for that?``

    .

    Ambryan flinched, thinking that he overstepped a bit.

    .

    ``Rachelle: Possibly, I do know a thing or two about romance, ughs* but whoever will be chosen by you will have quite arge role to fill. Hopefully someone who''d make you and her together a power couple. Someone who you can connect with, truly appreciate and respect as an equal.``

    ``Rachelle: Not sure if that''s me, but it is a pleasure meeting you.``

    .

    "I think I scared this one, Kiri." Ambryan said as he caressed the cat''s head. "Then again, it wouldn''t be good if she can''t handle pressure. There would be many eyes on us. She has to be able to stand on her own."

    Kiri scratched her pink nose and yawned.

    He chuckled, envying her rxed state. "There''s still 10 minutes before the next one. Let''s check my full inbox."

    Ambryan opened his desktop mail app.

    All the folders on the left lit up with notifications. Their numbers varied between 50 and hundreds. Using folder categories, he had arranged possible keywords and certain senders by order of priority. It allowed him to tackle the urgent ones first.

    Before that, he created a new email tab. He set the main recipient to be ''Richard Kingston'' and added a few names for the carbon copies, including his secretary and the director. Heposed the needed status update for the investment.

    .

    ```

    Subject: Venus Investment - ''What is Love?''

    Body: Good afternoon, Mr. Kingston.

    I trust you''d already gone through the files I personally delivered to you yesterday. Has Venus Investment Associatese to a decision yet about the project proposal? The agreed time for the deadline was this morning. As mentioned yesterday, this project is top priority. It would be our utmost appreciation if it''s also treated that way by Venus. If you encounter any questions, please do contact me at the earliest.

    Regards,

    A. Hathaway, CEO of Eros Productions.

    ```

    .

    Ambryan hit the ''send'' button and moved on.

    He clicked the first inbox folder, beginning his first set of reports for the day. A finance report blew up behind his screen. He skimmed through the estimated figures and assessed the uing movie releases. A total of ten films would premiere in the next two years.

    Global statistics and other research papers apanied the report. One of them contained the current trends in the romance genre. They were divided into different creative mediums.

    He raised his eyebrows.

    Part of the examples seemed familiar. Among the list of best-selling romance novels was the ''Love Me, Bite Me'' series. Now, where did he hear that before?

    The charts told him what the possible trends were for the next 12 months. His attention focused on the 7th month, the highlight of their peak season. It was the month of love, the month of spring, the month of blossoming romance...

    It was Februarythe time of the year when the market was high.

    If they wanted to dominate the box office, they had to n carefully.

    Ambryan exhaled sharply. "What kind of romance movie would you watch, Kiri?"

    The cat tilted her head to the side. Eyelids wide open, her pupils had dted and almost became fully round. She stared up at him, unblinking. "Meow."

    "Me neither," he replied quickly, "That''s why I have these charts and reports. It will tell me what the public wants. We''ll let them decide what they''d want to see. Hopefully, one of our films has enough twists to exceed their expectations."

    While Ambryan gathered the information and evaluated their potential results, Kiri stood up and moved closer to theputer. She watched his fingers work over the keyboard. Her legs continued to advance. One of her paws stepped on the number pad. Then, her second paw followed.

    Soon, she reached halfway across.

    Ambryan raised his hands as she lied down, covering the whole keyboard. Her face remained nonchnt. A small smile stretched his lips. He pushed his sses up his nose bridge and picked up the cat.

    "Are you hungry? Come on, let''s get you something to eat." Rising to his feet, Ambryan left his office and headed for the kitchen. Kiri snuggled against his chest while a purr hummed in her throat. Her hooman truly knew her best.

    In the empty office, the web browser icon lit up on the screen.

    A notification hade from a new chat window.

    ``Unknown: Hello? Anyone there?``

 Chapter 19: The Third Out of Five

    Chapter 19: The Third Out of Five

    M stared at herptop screen.

    She sat on her bed, her back leaning on the wall. A yellow pillow cushioned theptop from the underneath. It provided a barrier between its hot bottom case and herp. Ginger curls framed her oval face. She wore a blue camisole and a pair of white shorts

    Nothing popped up in the chat window

    She squinted her jade green eyes. Her message clearly had the ''read'' status. What kept the other party from replying? Curious, she checked out her own profile. She wondered if it left a bad impression of her.

    .

    ```

    Name: M rk

    Age: 27

    Education: Master''s Degree

    upation: Musical Composer

    Bio: I''m a songwriter who dabbles in ssical music, mixing the genre with modern song styles. I''ve travelled the world by ying the violin. After that adventure, I have opened a small music studio where I teach children several instruments.

    ```

    .

    For her photo, she chose one of her with the piano. Avery advised it would be good to showcase her interests. She even had aposition ready. She kept them all in an external drive plus a backup one.

    It delighted her when the madam remembered her. She had heard stories about the infamous CEO of Eros Productions. Avery''s ounts were more interesting than the tabloids. They chatted about him whenever they hung outeven for a brief moment.

    "Now, where is this Ambryan? His mother won''t like that he turned upte." She thought out loud, shaking her head at the screen. She rested her cheek against a fist. "Maybe it''s a work emergency. I can only wait I guess."

    M opened her lesson n. She split the screen into two windows so she''d see if a message came right away. The room''s air-conditioning hummed in the air. The low purr reminded her of a pleased cat. If she closed her eyes, she could almost imagine it.

    Soon, a soft melody yed in her head.

    Her eyes shed open and her hands went to work. A digital piano appeared on theptop screen. On top of the bars, a nk music sheet waited for herposition.

    M yed out the line. The notes came from the lower range just like her air-conditioner. When she moved to the next one, her theme remained the same. It wasn''t until the third did she incorporate a cat''s purr. She merely recorded the notes before they flew out of her mind.

    The real soundtrack would emergeter which included a violin.

    A notification came from her web browser.

    .

    ``Yan: Ms. rk, I apologize for thete response. I had matters that needed to be taken care of.``

    .

    M changed windows.

    .

    ``M: It is quite alright. Did everything turn out okay? If you don''t mind me asking, what were the matters that needed your immediate attention?``

    .

    After the quick reply, she returned to the digital piano. The next notes flowed out, following the changes of a cat''s purr. She included the rise and fall of the pitch. The air-condition stayed as the base.

    When she finished what sheposed so far, she let the music sheet y it back.

    Her muscles rxed as the melody filled the room. It almost seemed like her real air-conditioning was part of the music. The thought brought her joy.

    .

    ``Yan: That will remain confidential.``

    ``M: I thought the point of this site is for us to talk? You don''t have to tell me the specifics. A general idea of it would suffice.``

    ``Yan: I fail to see that we''re close enough for me to share it with you.``

    ``M: Is it a personal matter then?``

    ``Yan: Why don''t I ask the questions next? What deal did you have with my mother for you to join this site?``

    .

    Mughed out loud.

    It seemed like she got on someone''s nerves.

    ''Oh, how wonderful!'' She imagined what expression could be. Would it be the same as his profile picture? M chuckled at Avery''s sense of humor. Who would have thought that the intimidating CEO had a cute side.

    .

    ``M: What makes you think there was a deal? I''ve known your mother for a few years. She had asked about my dating life many times. I think she just saw a chance with this website.``

    .

    Ambryan frowned.

    Back on his chair, he waited for Kiri toe back from eating. He left the door open for her. If he hadn''t checked his watch, he would have forgotten about the next chat. It simply didn''t interest him enough to be considered as a main priorityunlike his work.

    Yet again, he faced a different personality.

    It also seemed to be a friend of his mother''s. Did she perhaps endorse him to her all these years? Did that mean his mother hoped for them to get together? What would be Ms. rk''s thoughts on the situation?

    .

    ``Yan: If there is no formal agreement between the two of you then, what made you agree?``

    ``M: I am simply curious. I haven''t had the chance to meet you during the time I''ve known her. She talks about you a lot. It made me wonder what you''d be like to talk to.``

    ``Yan: Strange curiosity you have, Ms. rk.``

    ``M: Please call me, M.``

    ``Yan: Ms. rk, did you help my mother setup the site?``

    ``M: I did not. Why do you ask?``

    ``Yan: I am simply curious about itsyout.``

    ``M: I have nothing to do with it. She actually asked me at thest minute when I messaged her this morning about my uing return.``

    .

    ''Gotcha,'' Ambryan mused. That eliminated one of his theories. If his mother had hoped for Ms. rk, she would have been the first chosen candidate. However, it also proved another theory correct. Ms. rk had heard about him through his mother. Those stories left an impression on her.

    But what would it be?

    Ambryan typed on his keyboard.

    .

    ``Yan: Return, you say?``

    ``M: I went overseas for a chance to be a professor at a music school. It was a lovely experience but I still preferred to teach children.``

    ``Yan: You''re quite chatty about your personal information.``

    ``M: Well, someone did say we''re not close enough for him to share about his matters. How else would I be able to fix that?``

    ``Yan: Your information is your choice to share or not. It doesn''t oblige me to share mine.``

    .

    He said that but he still hadn''t managed to know about her intentions here.

    What sort of curiosity did she harbor? Other than his reason for absence, she hadn''t asked anything else. Thetter questions she raised was to rify her confusion. She had let him take over and answered diligently.

    But why?

    After pondering about it, he decided to ask directly.

    .

    ``Yan: If I may, Ms. rk, what made you so curious about me?``

    ``M: How shameless of you to ask, Mr. Hathaway!``

    ``Yan: I am not the type of beat around the bush.

    ``M: Do I need a reason for my curiosity? I heard about a person. I wanted to meet him. This site obliges you to, at least, chat with me for 30 minutes. It satisfies the interest.``

    .

    Ambryan clenched his right hand into a fist while the left one held it. His elbows dug on the desk, keeping his forearms raised. His left index finger tapped on the back of his right hand. Something about Ms. rk stirred in his mind.

    Except, he couldn''t quiteprehend what it was.

    Luckily, he didn''t need to worry about it now. Theputer''s clock told him that there was a minute left before the chat closed. The timer started whenever the second party replied. Her waiting had no effect on the promised conversation.

    Heposed a short farwell, already refusing to reply after she did.

    .

    ``Yan: Unfortunately, the time is up. Have a good day, Ms. rk.``

    ``M: You too as well, Mr. Hathaway. It was a pleasure talking to you. I do hope we''d have more conversations in the future. See you around.``

    .

    M stretched her arms, squeezing her back muscles. She had finally met him! The conversation ted her energy. It did not disappoint her expectations. She ced theptop on the mattress and hopped off the bed. Her feet led her to her violin case.

    Now that the chat ended, she had the time toplete the soundtrack.

    "Ambryan should have figured out what a curious person I am," she said with a giggle, picking up the violin. She checked if it was in tune. "His aloofness just increased it. Such a cloud of mystery he wore. I can''t wait to see what I''d find out in this one week."

    M grabbed her bow after inspecting the strings. She tested the tightness of its hair. Her thumb and finger adjusted it through the screw ordingly. In her head, the melody yed over and over. It now held a new meaning.

    She might name the melody after her conversation with Ambryan.

    A small smile curled on her lips.

    "Maybe I''d even find out more about him even when the week is over."

 Chapter 20: The Fourth Out of Five

    Chapter 20: The Fourth Out of Five

    Kiri leaped on top of the table.

    She sat on her hinge legs. Her pale purple eyes stared at her hooman. Ambryan leaned on the backrest, his hand shielding his eyes. Another button on his dress shirt was unsped. He used the time interval for a quick rest.

    Talking to three women exhausted him.

    "Meow."

    Ambryan put his hand down, finally meeting his cat''s stare. Kiri wore a satisfied expression. Wet cat food stained her lips. He opened a different drawer and took out a tissue. He wiped off the leftover salmon kes. The cat sneezed when he threw the tissue away.

    "There you go," Ambryan told her as she yawned. He grabbed the anti-radiation sses from the table and put them on. Patting her head, he turned back to theputer. "Go sleep. It''s nap time"

    "Meow, meow!" Kiri yawned onest time before she tucked in her legs and lied down. Her head nestled on her front legs. Her bushy tail wrapped around her, keeping her warm. A light snore vibrated in her throat.

    Only two gray circles were left. The rest were moved to a tab that Ambryan couldn''t ess yet. Once he finished these, he could finally go back to more important matters.

    The 4th circle lit.

    It revealed a beautiful girl with pale skin, light blonde hair and amber eyes. Her plump pink lips glinted against the artificial light. It also emphasized the gold hue in her eyes.

    Ambryan exhaled sharply, clicking on the photo. He skimmed through her profile. He already knew this woman. She might be the only he''d recognized out of everyone. Her father and him had several business transactions over the years.

    .

    ```

    Name: Jane Wilson

    Age: 24

    Education: College graduate

    Interests: Interior design, fashion, cosmetics

    Bio: I''m Jane. I appreciate beautiful things. I invest in many couture items like bags. When taken care of, their value goes up and reaches double the original price. I personalized all my belongings. Just a little Jane kind of touch to them. I guess you can say, I always know what I want.

    ```

    .

    Ambryan felt a headacheing.

    He wondered why his mother picked younger women. They still had the energy of teenagersat least, the residue of it. They''d drain him more than his work ever did. Was it some kind of ploy? What would her reasoning be for this?

    Shaking his head, Ambryan typed out his first message.

    .

    ``Yan: Jane, why are you here?``

    ``Jane: Ambryan! Good to see you! And is that any way to greet a friend?``

    ``Yan: If you really are a friend then, you know that I go straight to the point.``

    ``Jane: Hmm...``

    ``Jane: Fair enough. I''m here because I wanted to help Aunt Avery. She gets really heartbroken every time she hears about your dating life. I told her that if there is any way for me to help, I''d be more than d to do it. So here I am!``

    .

    Ambryan pressed his index fingers together,cing the others. He ced them against his forehead and his nose. His violet shut closed as he scowled. This woman was the daughter of his business partner. It wouldn''t be good if this conversation ended on a bad note.

    How did a person pretend to be nice?

    A ping broke him out of his reverie. He shed his eyes open and read his new messages.

    .

    ``Jane: Hello? Ambryan? Lmao. Did I scare you off? Aw,e on. You know I don''t bite.``

    ``Jane: I won''t pounce on you. If I wanted to, wouldn''t have I done that by now?``

    .

    ''Maybe you haven''t but you did volunteer as my date before,'' Ambryan thought. There hadn''t been any witness but he''d been wary of her since then. When nothing else happened, he pushed it to the back of his mind.

    Still, he kept their conversations civilized and around others.

    This website belonged outside of his approved ces.

    .

    ``Yan: Even if you try, I guarantee it would be a failed attempt.``

    ``Jane: How cruel. Isn''t this site for you to be more open? You would need to be if you''d be dating for, at least, nine months. I''ll dly give you tips if you''re unsure of what to do.``

    ``Yan: There is no need for that. I am more than capable of handling things in my own way.``

    ``Jane: Hahaha! If that were true, why does this website exist?``

    .

    ''Because mother didn''t approve of my methods,'' Ambryan replied in his head. How long did he need to keep this up for? The only thing positive about it was that Jane loved to talk. She could fill up the rest of the time by herself.

    .

    ``Yan: Simply because there are people who disagree.``

    ``Jane: Then, by being here, aren''t you confirming their opinion?``

    ``Yan: I have my reasons.``

    ``Jane: Ohoo~ perhaps you have an eye on someone? Does Aunt Avery know? Are you using this as an excuse to be closer with her? Aw, I knew you weren''t that cold.``

    .

    Ambryan pinched the bride of his nose. ''Was this brat delusional? How did her brain work for it toe up with that conclusion?''

    .

    ``Yan: Ms. Wilson, think what you will but my reasons will remain private.``

    ``Jane: Booo. You are no fun. You should loosen up a bit more. Maybe a massage would help you?``

    ``Yan: I am perfectly fine without one.``

    ``Jane: I learned this trick overseas. It rxes both body and mind. It''s A-MA-ZING.``

    ``Yan: I politely decline, Ms. Wilson.``

    ``Jane: And what is this ''Ms. Wilson'' stuff? We''ve gone past that remember? You don''t need to treat me as a stranger.``

    .

    Kiri''s tail swept across the table, causing her hooman to look at her. Her face had a serene expression. Her eyes stayed close. Ambryan could see her back rise and fall. His hand reached out to brush her fur.

    Somehow, it helped him rx.

    Then before he knew it, he typed out a new message for Jane to read.

    .

    ``Yan: Excuse me, Jane. I received an urgent call from the office. This conversation may need to stop here if I don''t get back right away.``

    ``Jane: Lol! I don''t know if youre serious or not but I don''t mind. There''s still a week left, isn''t it? Aunt Avery may not see what the conversation is about but she can see how long theyst. You''ll still need to reply until it ends.``

    .

    Ambryan minimized the chat window. If Jane decided to send anything else, he would not see it.

    He took out his phone and dialed a familiar number. He may have lied that he received a call but he did have something urgent. Almost an hour had passed and his email remained unanswered. Someone seemed to be cking on the job.

    He considered that as an urgent matter.

    "Richard Kingston, it''s almost 3 in the afternoon. What is Venus'' decision?"

    "Yan!" His friend greeted him from the other line. "Wait aren''t you supposed to be in a chat right now?"

    Ambryan raised an eyebrow. His voice came out sharp. "So you think that''s a good excuse for you to dy the decision?"

    "Of course not, one of our staff got sick. We are looking into pulling the numbers with someone else but that person is new. The progress is going slow," Richard exined.

    Ambryan gave him the benefit of the doubt. He dyed the investment for another hour. If the response was still unavable, he''d personally visit thepany. His presence would add the pressure that he needed them to feel.

    Seizing the opportunity, his friend changed the topic. "Anyway, how are thedies? Did you fancy anyone?"

    Ambryan locked his jaw. He found the question difficult to answer.

    "..."

    "I''ll take your silence as a no then?" Richard chuckled. "Did Jane chat with you yet?"

    Ambryan narrowed his eyes. "You know about her?"

    "I, uh"

    Hearing the hesitation, Ambryan uncrossed his legs. "Richard, what did you do?"

    Richard gulped. His response came out broken. "I-I may have to-told your... mother that-that I think Jane has a crush on you? We were just chatting and having fun when it came up. I didn''t think that she''d take it seriously!"

    Ambryan closed his eyes and groaned. He hit his forehead with the base of his palm. "You of all people know that I can''t stand her."

    "Well, I couldn''t tell that to your mother now, could I?!" His friend defended, half-yelling. "What would I even say if she asks for the reason? You never really gave one. You just said you felt ufortable around her."

    "You coulde up with anything," Ambryan pointed out. He red out his window and reconsidered his words. "As long as you explicitly say that it''s your opinion and not mine."

    Richard sighed. He should have expected this. He recovered from his panic and borated more on the subject. "I didn''t think it would be a problem since there are four other women. She already knows you''re a workaholic so if you don''t reply right away, it''s not a problem."

    ...

    "Richard"

    "Y-Yes?"

    "Why are women tiring?"

    "Ugh, that bad, huh?" His friend breathed out, feeling relieved. "How many more are left?"

    Ambryan turned back to the monitor.

    The lone gray circle faded from the center, making its way out. A button nose peeked out. Followed by red lips stretched in a coy smile. One hazel eye shined at him underneath a soft-arched brow. The other had been blocked by a red clutch.

    Wavy crimson hair framed her face.

    When the photo finished its reveal, ivory cursive letters appeared under it.

    ''Evangeline.''

    "Just one."

 Chapter 21: The Last Out of Five

    Chapter 21: The Last Out of Five

    Eve sat on her old study table, her legs up on the chair.

    It had a simple design. What she loved about its simplicity was the space. The legs had shelves for her to store her school books back then. Also, the shelves on the left one extended to above the table. It became handy when she had her exams.

    Herptop covered the middle of the table. It was a few years old but it still worked well. She had invested in good specs. During college, she worked part time online as a tutor. The good hardware allowed her to perform efficiently.

    Using her fingers, shebed through the crimson wig.

    She blinked her eyes. The hazel contact lenses covered them. They took time to wear. It would also take another time to get used to. She finished her look with a fitted white shirt and a pair of ck shorts.

    If Andie''s joke came true, Eve didn''t want her boss to see her sleep wear.

    Somehow, Eve felt d that she took her best friend''s advice. Not only did the disguise make her look different but it also made her feel different. Maybe she could actually chat with her boss, forgetting about their work rtionship. Yeah that could totally happen.

    Or it could totally not.

    ...

    ...

    ...

    She quickly put those worries aside. Taking a deep breath, she closed her eyes. She recalled yesterday''s events. In front of that camera, she wasn''t Eve the Secretary. She was Evangeline the Rookie Model.

    She channeled Evangeline''s ''spirit'', the one that talked to Mikael Davis and the rest.

    That would be the woman Ambryan Hathaway would face.

    A ping notified her of the time. Her eyes opened as the icon lit up. A photo revealed itself to her. Arms crossed over a broad chest. Aviator sses hid away a deep scowl. White bunny ears stood on top of onyx ck hair.

    The name, Ambryan, appeared on the bottom.

    Eve had to cover her mouth.

    ''Is that Sir Hathaway?'' She thought. A series of chokedughter escaped her lips. She clicked the photo. It led her to another window. She snorted, pressing her lips together, as her shoulders shook.

    It seemed like she wasn''t the only one with a premade profile.

    .

    ```

    Name: Ambryan Hathaway

    Age: 28.5

    Education: College graduate

    upation: CEO of Eros Productions

    Bio: A man who values work. Don''t be fooled by his ''permanent'' scowl. Yan excels in time management! In fame! And in fortune! His rare smile canpare to the stars! He also works out regrly since he finds health as priority!

    P.S. I love you, son!

    ```

    .

    Eve shook her head.

    When she finished reading, it became harder to hold in herughter. She doubled over the table, hiding her face. Her boss had to be in a bad mood. She already expected the worst for the uing chat.

    Then again, he survived through four women. He must have calmed down

    unless they didn''t go well.

    A shiver trickled down her spine. It was hopeless. The situation stayed grim. She recovered and leaned on the backrest, heaving a sigh.

    ''Here goes nothing.''

    Her chat window showed a new message.

    .

    ``Yan: Hello, Ms. Reed. What deal did you have with my mother for you to join this site?``

    .

    The blood drained off Eve''s face.

    Her lips became cold. They quivered as she mouthed out the words. She blinked her wide eyes as she shook her head. No matter how many times she tried, the sentence neither disappeared nor did it change. They seemed to even zoom in instead.

    ''Did he find out?'' She panicked, her hand shaking on the mouse. ''How could he have known? That time in the office? Or did he see us yesterday?''

    Biting her lip, Eve thought of a quick reply.

    .

    ``Lin: Hello to you as well, Mr. Hathaway.``

    .

    Leaning on his chair, Ambryan watched the screen. His fingers drummed over the table. He couldn''t wait for thisst chat to end. The surprises must be over. This woman must be like the first two. His mother did know a few models. Her friends also interacted with them. Nothing in his memories recalled an ''Evangeline.''

    Then, her presence must be out of his mother''s impulse.

    Ambryan frowned when nothing followed the message.

    He went back to his keyboard, nudging the conversation forward.

    .

    ``Yan: Well?``

    ``Lin: Well, what?``

    ``Yan: What was the agreement you made with my mother?``

    .

    The seconds ticked by. Ambryan watched the ''typing'' dots reappear. The other party seemed to be indecisive. Every now and then, those dots vanishedonly to materialize again. The wait made him wonder what kind of response he''d receive.

    .

    ``Lin: I''m sorry, Mr. Hathaway. I refuse to answer it.``

    .

    Ambryan raised his eyebrows.

    "Now, that is interesting," he muttered under his breath. He straightened his posture and moved closer to the monitor. Simple words sparked a challenge in him. His fingers typed faster as his mind raced with buzzing energy.

    .

    ``Yan: And why is that?``

    .

    His hands stayed on the keyboard, ready to fire out his next response.

    Kiri stirred on the table. She blinked her pale purple eyes at him and yawned. Her neck twisted towards the monitor. Her face blossomed at Evangeline''s profile picture. She instantly became awake.

    When the new message came, Ambryan was taken aback.

    .

    ``Lin: I fail to see how that is any of your business.``

    .

    ''That''s it. I''m done. I just disrespected my boss.'' Eve wailed internally. She bowed her head and cradled it in her hands. But, she wasn''t wrong, was she? They had a contract and a contract had confidentiality.

    She had no rights to share its contentsespecially to her boss. If he had asked ''Eve'', however well, she didn''t want to think about that.

    .

    ``Yan: I am affected by it even if indirectly. Don''t I have a right to know about it?``

    ``Lin: Is that so?``

    ``Yan: Is this website not created for me?``

    ``Lin: Well then``

    .

    Ambryan scrutinized the messages. Something nagged at the back of his mind. He just couldn''t put his finger on it. He continued to study them as the other party typed.

    .

    ``Lin: Why not ask your mother about it? Since she made it for you, I am sure she''d be more than willing to provide the answers. If she doesn''t then, I am sure she''d be able to exin why``

    .

    Eve bit her inner cheek. She almost typed about his own agreement with his mother. They were in the same boat. They both had agreements with Avery Hathaway. She doubted that he''d reveal their bargain to herat least, the ones his mother hadn''t exined yet.

    If he wouldn''t tell then, she wouldn''t either!

    .

    ``Yan: You are making things difficult.``

    ``Lin: Mr. Hathaway, I don''t deny that there was an agreement but I do uphold its confidentiality.``

    .

    Ambryan tilted his head to the side. His scowl rxed into a surprised expression. His violet eyes blinked once as he finally realized what irked him about her messages.

    They sounded like what he would say.

    A small smile tugged on the corner of his lips.

    .

    ``Lin: I''m sure you can understand that since you are a businessman.``

    ``Yan: Well yed, Ms. Reed.``

    ``Lin: Yourpliment is much appreciated.``

    .

    Eve let out the breath she held. Her grip on the mouse loosened. The heavens parted open. Angels flew down and sang a chorus. Today, she had just witnessed a miracle.

    Who knew that talking badly at Ambryan Hathaway would work?

    .

    ``Yan: If you do tell me the deal, I can afford to double it.``

    .

    Eve''s good mood left as soon as it came. She gritted her teeth. It seemed like the topic wasn''t over. Was this how her boss talked to the other women? He hoped to eliminate them and free himself from the contract?

    She understood the logic. If they were the ones who left then, it wouldn''t be his fault. He could still hold his mother ountable to uphold her promise.

    Blood simmering, Eve mmed at the keyboard.

    .

    ``Lin: A deal with you? And for what? To have me quit the site? That doesn''t seem necessary, does it? You are free to choose. Unless you want to get rid of everyone.``

    ``Yan: Is that everything you have to say to me?``

    ``Lin: I''m just thinking if you really loved your mother, you''d see how important this is to her.``

    ``Lin: I understand if you are displeased with the situation but... would it be that hard to y along? Make her happy for 9 months?``

    .

    Ambryan''s small smile stretched into a full one. Evangeline''sst messages spoke what was on his mind. He did n to y along. He just needed to find the right woman for it. Who would have thought he''d meet one with the same mindset?

    The chat window froze, forcing the parties to exit.

    Kiri walked closer to the monitor. She gazed at the screen, looking for the photo. Her paw touched it lightly as her hind legs lifted her up.

    "Meow."

    "You like her, Kiri?" Ambryan picked her up. He kept her close to his chest as he scratched under her chin. His free hand grabbed the mouse and clicked on a new tab. It led him to the chat list. He clicked Evangeline''s, navigating himself to her profile.

    His violet eyes reread her information.

    .

    ```

    Name: Evangeline Reed

    Age: 25

    Education: College graduate

    upation: Rookie Model

    Bio: Hello, I am Evangeline. I recently entered the modelling world and received my first project under Athon Corporation. One trait I treasure is my perseverance. I thoroughly believe in the saying, ''If there is a will, there is a way.''

    ```

    .

    "Evangeline," Ambryan tested on his lips. "Let''s see how persevering you are."

 Chapter 22: Can You Repeat That?

    Chapter 22: Can You Repeat That?

    Andie sat on the living room couch. She had her feet up on the cushion, a recipe book in her hands. She looked through "D&D''s Cookbook" on how to make her own pizza. It had an entire section about the dough, the cheese, the sauce and the toppings.

    She also heard it contained a few of Stitz Bristo''s dishes.

    Her head looked up when she heard footsteps from the second floor.

    From her view point, the back of the sofa faced the archway. She could see the corner of the staircase. The footsteps came closer as her best friend descended. She spotted the slender legs first. Then, the shorts and the top. Her heart sank when she didn''t see the red wig.

    With that, Andie became more determined to see the bag campaign.

    Eve''s feet thudded on the floor, making her way around the couch. She plopped down and hung her head on the backrest. Her brown eyes squeezed shut.

    "So, how did it go?" Andie asked. She closed the book slightly.

    Her best friend groaned. "I''m screwed. Big time. Everything ends here."

    "Why? What happened?"

    Eve opened her eyes and twisted her neck. Her soulless brown eyes stared at her best friend'' stormy blue ones. Her voice flowed out in a monotone. "I just told off my boss for the past 30 minutes."

    Andie coughed, hiding her snort. "Why?"

    Eve red. Then, she pushed herself up and slouched her back. Feet apart, her elbows rested on her thighs. Her gaze dropped to the floor. Frown lines creased above her nose. "He was asking about the agreement his mother and I had."

    Andie raised her eyebrows. "He knows?"

    "I don''t think so," Eve replied, licking her bottom lip. Although she messed up, the chat still pissed her off a bit. "He was suggesting that he''d double the money."

    Her best friend ced the recipe book on the table. She scooted closer and gave her full attention. "You think he did that with the other women? Get them to leave?"

    "Most likely."

    Crossing her arms over her chest, Andie bit her inner cheek. Her eyes perceived nothing. "Then..., if they epted and you didn''t, doesn''t that increase your chances instead?"

    Eve''s back went rigid while her head snapped up. The TV screen stared back at her. She saw the faint silhouette of her reflection. Her heartbeat thumped in her ears.

    "No, it doesn''t," she denied.

    Her best friend snorted, noticing the hesitation. "Well, it wouldn''t if he wanted someone that agreed. Maybe he''d draft his own dating contract between him and his girlfriend."

    ''A man trapped into a deal,'' Andie spected. He would want some control. The more she thought about, the more likely it seemed. That person would establish rules.

    If needed, he''d use money to get the approval.

    "That sounds like a tight spot. If that''s the case, I am d it won''t be me." Her best friend sighed in relief.

    Eve rxed her posture. She stretched her arms overhead,cing her fingers. The conversation had ended. Her obligation had been fulfilled. Her sisters'' high school fund had also been secured.

    She did good.

    The weight on her shoulders lessened. The week would finish soon. She doubted her boss was the type to initiate conversation. There wouldn''t be a need for worry

    or so she thought.

    The next day, Eve arrived at Eros'' Headquarters after a trip to a film set.

    The building stood near the center of the city while their studios stayed in a more remote area. Thetter had more than just buildings. Different sets also covered thend area. A few sores and shops opened branches in their property.

    Not only did they gain business but they sometimes also appeared in films, increasing their exposure for their other locations.

    Eve stepped out of her BMW. A sling bag hung on her shoulder. She held the strap with one hand. Her legs headed for the private elevator. She preferred to use the one in the parking lot than the building''s lobby. A security guard stationed beside it. He stood behind a counter, looking over a few files.

    His ck eyes looked up when she walked a few meters.

    A bushy brown mustache framed his upper lip. It extended to his chin and his jaw, shaping a long stubble beard. Long slick brte hair covered his head all the way to the back of his neck. He wore the standard uniform of his security agency of white and blue.

    "Good afternoon, Ms. Hart. You''re awfullyte today," He greeted Eve, putting down the papers.

    "I am not, Darryl." She snorted. "I had to check on a movie''s progress. The premier is around the corner but the editing is still ongoing. Boss wants it done by the end of the week. Since they''re way past deadline, he''d check on the finished cut himself."

    Darryl pursed his lips. "That sounds heavy."

    "It is." Eve exhaled sharply. The elevator doors opened and she stepped inside. Her heels cked on its flooring. She waved her hand before stainless steel blocked her view of the security guard.

    Soft jazz music yed out of the speakers. Her foot tapped as she waited to reach the top. This would be the first time she saw her boss after the chat. She didn''t know what to expect.

    Her free hand fidgeted on her ck zer. Would Ambryan recognize her? She took a photo before leaving the house andpared it to Evangeline''s. Her admiration for Cale rose up. He did wonders with his cosmetic bag.

    The elevator doors parted and Eve stepped into the top floor. She ced her bag under her desk. Then, she walked towards the CEO''s office door.

    Her hand touched the knob. She paused for a moment.

    This was the spot where Avery offered the money.

    Back at work, that event almost seemed like a dream.

    Eve took a deep breath. Anything about Evangeline moved out of her mind. She was Eve the Secretary. She also had work to do. Straightening her shoulders, she knocked at the door.

    "Come in."

    "Sir Hathaway, the producers promised to deliver the final cut by Thursday afternoon. I instructed them to deliver it here." Eve announced as soon as she stepped inside. She fished out her business phone and looked over today''s schedule.

    "The director for ''What is Love?'' wille by in half an hour. I''ve informed Sir Kingston about the meeting since Venus Investment Associates had green lit the project."

    She folded her hands over her stomach. "Would you like to have your break now orter like always?"

    Ambryan continued to type on his keyboard. He hardly blinked as he read his own words. His eyebrows glowered in concentration. "I will have itter. Keep in touch with the director. Advise me when he''s five minutes away from arriving."

    Eve pressed her lips together, narrowing her stare.

    She clicked her tongue and said, "Sir Hathaway?"

    Her boss chose not to reply. He merely waited for her next statement. If possible, his forehead lines deepened. His fingers increased both in speed and in vigor. Something on the monitor displeased him.

    Walking up to his desk, Eve knocked on the table. "Sir, Hathaway, where are your anti-radiation sses? Please use the eyedrops. Your eyes are dry again. There are still long hours ahead."

    The tapping ceased at once.

    Ambryan pulled a drawer and took out a leather case. He slipped the frames on, going back to work. On second thought, he also snatched the eye drops and ced it on his table.

    He would get to itter.

    Eve nodded in approval. That was as good as she''d get. She would check on the eyedrops before the meeting with the director. His mother may say that he considered health as a priority but she knew better.

    Her boss only chose which part he cared about.

    She shook her head and made her way towards the exit. She could almost hear the urgent matters that filled her inbox.

    "Eve." Ambryan called out, looking away from hisputer. The sunlight red at the lens of his sses. It brought a warm shine to his violet eyes.

    His secretary had one hand on the door. She spun on her heel upon hearing her name. Her heart began to drum in her chest but her expression remained impassive.

    "Yes, Sir Hathaway?"

    He pushed his sses up and grabbed the eye drops. Hanging his head back, he peeled one eye open as he delivered his instructions.

    "Contact Luna Athon for me."

    Eve felt the floor tilt. The walls came crashing down. Her lungs stopped functioning. ck spots clouded the sides of her vision. The world turned into a haze of reality. A cloud blocked out her consciousness.

    "I''m sorry, Sir Hathaway," she breathed out when she found her lips, "Who did you say it was again?"

    Ambryan blinked several times, spreading the eye solution. He gave her a look while his hands screwed the cap back. "Luna Athon, the owner of Athon Corporation."

 Chapter 23: Curiosity Killed the Cat

    Chapter 23: Curiosity Killed the Cat

    "Luna Athon, the owner of Athon Corporation."

    "Right." Eve nodded, feeling absentminded. She breathed through her mouth and recovered the oxygen she lost. The room became clearer. Her brain wires reconnected.

    It was slow but it was progress.

    Ambryan returned to hisputer. He flicked his sses back into ce. "I think Edward from the Marketing Division has her number. Tell her I need to talk to her as soon as possible."

    Hesitant, Eve opened her mouth.

    "No questions asked."

    Defeated, Eve closed her mouth.

    "Right away, sir." She left the office and leaned on the door. Five years of office hours flooded her mind. Not once did she remember Luna''s name. Not once did they meet for business. As forpany parties, she wasn''t sure if Luna had attended before.

    So, what did Ambryan need from her?

    He normally shared a brief reason. That would be part of her speech when she called.

    Shaking her head, Eve went to her own desk. She bit her bottom lip. She didn''t want to overthink it. Yet, she couldn''t help but wonder if it had anything to do with Evangeline. The timing seemed too much of a coincidence.

    What was she supposed to do now?

    She grabbed the handset of a telephone while her right hand hovered over the keypad. Her left eyebrow twitched. Something was off. She really couldn''t shake the ominous feeling. Nausea began to seep in her stomach.

    Time continued to move.

    It didn''t wait for her.

    Then, Eve put the phone down and took out her personal cell.

    The number she dialed rang two times.

    "Eve! Hello!" Avery giggled through the line. The secretary sighed at the sound of her voice. At least, one of them was having a good day. Maybe hers could still turn around for the better.

    "Good afternoon, Mrs. Hathaway," the secretary greeted. She collected her thoughts, contemting on how to share them.

    "So how did the conversation go? I heard from the others that he was being difficult. Their opinions are also mixed. Since you work with him, I wonder how it went for the two of you."

    Eve blinked, remembering about the chat.

    Chat. Evangeline. Ambryan.

    Luna. Evangeline. Chat.

    Screwed. Evangeline. Everlee.

    "Well" The secretary gulped. "I wouldn''t say it was terrible."

    ''It wasn''t a lie,'' Eve exined to herself. After all Avery had done, she would hate to say that the madam chose the wrong person. Thetter had her hopes set high. The least Eve could have done was be a decent conversationalist.

    Except, she failed at that.

    "Well, that''s not bad!" Avery assured her, "There''s still a week left. You never know until it''s over. It will be fine."

    Before she could ask more details, Eve switched the topic to the urgent matter. "Anyway, Sir Hathaway wants to contact Ms. Athon. He didn''t say why."

    "Ah." Avery gasped, understanding the trouble. "You''re worried if it''s about Evangeline."

    "Yes," the secretary admitted. It felt good to hear the same opinion from someone. The weight lessened on her shoulders. "Do you mind giving me her number? I''m supposed to do it on his behalf."

    "Sure, I''ll message it to you. I''ll also inform her about it."

    "Thank you."

    Eve ended the call and waited for the text message. Her chatbox on the workputer lit up. Ambryan asked for the status about the call.

    She sighed as her phone vibrated.

    ``Here is Luna''s number, xxx-xxx-xxx. My son is not allowed to investigate these women. I told him he needed to get to know someone by interacting with them and their close friends. If he asks Luna about Evangeline, you have nothing to worry about. We had thought of this. There isn''t anything he''ll discover that is outside of the photoshoot.``

    A small smile tugged Eve''s lips at a corner. She sent a quick reply and dialed Luna''s number through the telephone. Since it seemed to be business rted, it was best to use thepany phone.

    "Hello? You''ve reached Luna."

    Clutching her zer, Eve cleared her throat. "Good afternoon, Ms. Athon."

    "Is that you, Eve?"

    "Yes," the secretary mumbled.

    Luna hummed for a bit. "And Ambryan wants to talk?"

    "Yes" Eve affirmed once more. Then, added, "He wants to talk as soon as possible."

    She heard the businesswoman sigh.

    "Well, I have the time now. Put me through."

    Eve pushed a button. The small screen on the telephone asked for her next instructions. She picked the option for a separate call, cing Luna on hold. The speed dial led her to the phone inside the CEO''s office.

    When the line picked up, she spoke immediately. "Sir Hathaway, Ms. Athon on the line."

    "Put her through."

    "Will do."

    Ambryan responded to the current email he worked on. Then, he opened a new one, skimming through its incident reports. Some of the studios needed repairs. The managers in charge asked for his approval on the budgets and the next course of action.

    His fingers flew across the keyboard, stating the standard procedures. He remembered a news article from another studio overseas. It highlighted their efficiency when they hit a problem.

    He had taken notes in case they''d experience itwhich happened to be what the reports described.

    Soon, a voice filled in the silence of the room.

    "Ambryan! I think this is the first time you called me." Luna Athon chuckled. "I was actually quite surprised. What can I do for you? I heard you''re creating a new tv series. Can I have a slot for advertisement in that?"

    "We''ll see. It''s still in the nning process." The CEO replied promptly. His hands continued to work. "I wanted to ask you about Evangeline."

    "The new model? She is wonderful. I was inplete awe when I watched her work," Luna gushed. The admiration was evident in her tone. "Wait a minute, are you actually calling me for a woman? While in the middle of work? Is your mother''s n actually working?"

    Ambryan ignored the teasing. "Is there anything else you can tell me about her?"

    "I thought Avery said you can''t dig information about the candidates?"

    "This is not digging," he defended, unfazed by the reminder. "You''re a family friend who interacted with her. Wouldn''t your opinion of her matter when I make my decision?"

    Luna paused for a moment.

    "Fair enough," she remarked. "What do you want me to say? I think she''s lovely. Cale also likes her. He already wants her on the next project after the Rainbow Campaign is up."

    "So you have no suspicions of her?" Ambryan finished his email with the new n for recovery. It shortened the time for repairs and lessened the costs.

    "Listen to yourself." Luna snorted. "Would I hire someone suspicious? Would your mother pick someone with bad intentions? She already did the investigations for you. Just talk to them and decide who you find the least annoying."

    The line went dead.

    Ambryan stopped working. With his hands tied by the contract, he found it hard to satisfy his curiosity. His conversation with Evangelinecked in a few areas. There were still things he needed to know before they met.

    Realizing he didn''t have another option, a sigh escaped his lips.

    He took out his phone and opened the web browser app. His thumbs typed out the site address. Like before, it asked for his username and password. The website loaded quickly. Once he clicked on the tab for the chat list,

    He found notifications for two chat windows.

    Neither of them attracted his interest.

    He moved to thest one andposed a message.

    "Ms. Evangeline."

    His phone suddenly began to ring after he wrote those two words. A photo of a smiling woman filled his screen. Her violet eyes stared up at him. Ambryan red at the sight.

    "Mother?" He said, answering the call. Of course, his mother decided to call now. Luna must have informed her about his inquiries.

    "I saw you logged in but you haven''t responded to your messages."

    He grimaced at her words. "I will get to them. I''m at work."

    "Then, why did you log in?" Avery asked.

    "I was simply checking."

    "Right because you do that by messaging Evangeline." She smirked.

    Ambryan scowled at his monitor. A nagging thought tickled his brain. Was this going to be a permanent thing? "Aren''t you receiving way too much information about our activities?"

    His mother blew a raspberry. "Please. If I don''t monitor, you wouldn''t even use the site."

    He exhaled sharply. "Well, there is no way I can respond now, mother. I already used that time to talk to you."

    "I was surprised. I didn''t think you''d take the initiative," Avery admitted, "I am so proud of you! You''re making great progress! I can''t wait for when you start dating. It would be"

    Ambryan ended the call, switching his phone settings to silent from now on. Any important call would have to contact his secretary first during office hours. That included personal ones.

    No more shortcuts.

 Chapter 24: Stunned Speechless

    Chapter 24: Stunned Speechless

    Eve yawned when she entered the apartment.

    For once, she left work at an appropriate hour.

    Yet, she felt more tired than when she leftte.

    ''It must be because I visited the studios. City traffic is exhausting,'' she thought. Her eyes hooded as she shrugged off her zer. She hung it on the coat stand blind, guessing where it was located. She kicked off her pumps and ced it on the shoe rack.

    "Andie!" Eve wailed, taking a step forward. She still had her eyes half-closed. Her walk resembled a zombie. "Darling, I''m home!"

    "Wee home, Eve."

    "GAH!"

    Eve jumped, her hand hitting the wall. She yelped in pain and soothed the pain with her other hand. Her heart drummed in her chest from the shock. Any drowsiness left evaporated into thin air.

    She was wide awake again.

    A tall figure leaned on the archway. His medium blonde hair had been styled into a slicked side parting. A hint of subtle surfaced around his chin and above his lip. Hands tucked in his pants, he smiled amusedly at Eve.

    His sky blue eyes crinkled at the corners. "Hello, my love rival."

    "Jarrett!" Eve used, ring her nostrils. "Did you have to do that?"

    He merely tilted his head and fluttered hisshes. "All is fair in love and air."

    Eve''s face contoured into a deadpan expression. "You''re still not over that, are you?"

    This teasing had be a long running joke. Ever since Andie made her boyfriend jealous, Jarrett had seen Eve as his ''love rival''. Her best friend actually pushed through with the n of using her new appearance for a prank. She hadn''t even noticed until Jarrett came up to them.

    It was quite a dramatic scene at a cafe.

    Jarrett shrugged, unfazed by her look. "Not until you marry a certain CEO."

    "..." Eve closed her eyes as her lips parted open. She scrunched her eyebrows hard and bit her bottom lip. Her next words came out in exasperation. "Andie told you, didn''t she?"

    "I can''t really keep secrets from my boyfriend now, can I?" Someone else responded.

    Turning her head, Eve stared up to the second floor.

    Andie climbed down the stairs. She wore a ck cocktail dress that hugged her torso. Skin-tone heels covered her feet. Her dirty blonde hair curled on either side of her face. For makeup, she used a pink lipstick and a ck mascara.

    "Are you two going out?" Eve asked. The pain in her hand subsided. She moved away when her best friend joined them. Andie stood beside her boyfriend and locked arms with him.

    "Yes, you''ll have the apartment to yourself," Jarrett answered for both of them. He fished out his car keys from his pocket. "Do tell us if you invite some guests."

    Eve rolled her brown eyes. "Ha-ha. How about you be banned from here?"

    He wasn''t convinced by her threat. Instead, he nudged his head towards the archway. "There''s a box of French macarons on the coffee table."

    "You are forgiven. Have fun, kids!"

    Andie chuckled while her best friend headed for the living room. Then, she kissed her boyfriend''s cheek. "You just love teasing her, don''t you?"

    Jarrett smirked with his lips closed. "Well, if I bought her favorite dessert, I should get something out of it."

    "Come on," his girlfriend said, leading the way to the front door. "I already left a note that I am noting home tonight."

    "Oh, yeah?" Jarrett halted in his steps. He pulled her to his front and ced his hands on her waist. His voice dropped into a husky whisper. "Where would you be, Ms. Summers?"

    "Gee, I don''t know." Andie sighed. Her hands went to the back of his neck, ying with his hair. "Somewhere that smells like woods and a river. With a human-sized teddy bear."

    Rough lips leaned in closer, ready to capture her soft ones. Her eyes closed in anticipation. It had been a long week for the couple. They hardly talked because of their schedules. This night would be the time to make up for it.

    Their lips barely brushed together when a voice interrupted.

    "Guys, you haven''t left yet. I can still hear you."

    Jarrett snapped his head towards the living room. "Well, good!"

    His girlfriend pped his shoulder. "Let''s go before Eve pelts us with those macarons."

    "I love ya, guys, but I am not sacrificing these babies."

    Jarrett opened the door and yelled back. "Enjoy your EVEning, Eve."

    "Cut the puns, Jarrett. Don''t ruin them." Eve shouted, taking another macaron. She sat on the couch with her ankles up the coffee table. She held her phone in one hand and scrolled through an online novel.

    The macarons added extra sweetness to the story.

    A notification dropped down from the top of the screen. Eve ignored it, fully engrossed to her reading. It had been three days since shest opened the novel. She had chapters updates to catch up on.

    A few secondster, she straightened in her seat.

    Her thumb brushed the screen and disyed the notification bar. Her gaze skimmed through them until itnded on the messaging app. She hadn''t imagined it.

    The text message was from Avery.

    It read: ``Eve, I know you must be tired but don''t forget to log in the site. I will have your ount linked to your email or your number so you''ll receive push notifications. Have a good night~``

    Today''s earlier events floored Eve.

    Avery and Luna had told her Ambryan''s call was fine. They said she had nothing to worry about but what was this now? Did her boss message Evangeline?

    Why?

    She was more than ready to never open that site again. What happened? Did she get caught?

    Groaning, Eve typed a quick reply and opened the web browser. She followed the instructions until the site showed her profile. It still amazed her how she barely recognized her photo.

    Her best friend would have more insight. She had yet to ask Andie''s opinion.

    The chat tab had one notification. Eve flinched. Only one person could message her. Dread wash over her head as she opened.

    .

    ``Yan: Ms. Evangeline.``

    .

    That was it.

    Eve frowned. Her boss always liked to be efficient and concise. With that in mind, she expected a long messagecontent packed into the least number of sentences. Her eyes flicked to the chat header. She saw a tiny green circle beside his name.

    He was online.

    Her thumbs tapped out a generic response.

    .

    ``Lin: Mr. Hathaway. Good evening.``

    .

    Eve held up her phone at an arm''s length. The window hadn''t erased their previous chat. She scrutinized the flow of messages.

    Had she been working too much? That she''d respond to him as if they were in a workce?

    Lying down, she forced herself to rx. Both of her hands held the phone above her face. She silently convinced herself that she was chatting with an acquaintancesomeone who knew her friend.

    This was a casual conversation and nothing else.

    .

    ``Yan: You replied quitete.``

    ``Lin: I also work, Mr. Hathaway.``

    ``Yan: You have another job besides modelling?``

    .

    Eve bit her bottom lip. She assessed the situation. As a rookie model, she didn''t receive a lot of projects. If she said she went to training, she wouldn''t be able to answer him if he asked for details.

    She wouldn''t be able to talk about modeling at all.

    In the end, she chose one of her many previous job experiences.

    .

    ``Lin: I work as an online tutor for part time.``

    ``Yan: In what subject?``

    ``Lin: English. What about you? What does a CEO do? Sign off checks?``

    .

    Groaning again, Eve snatched a throw pillow and buried her face under it. Her message sounded so unlike her. She only wanted to shift the attention away from her.

    What kind of topic would make a CEO talk? There had to be some clue. A brief mention of something that wasn''t rted to work.

    They had worked together for five years.

    There had to be something.

    Anything.

    Until she figured it out, she needed to stall.

    .

    ``Yan: One of many things.``

    ``Lin: Is it confidential to tell?``

    ``Yan: It''s irrelevant for me to not tell.``

    ``Lin: Then, what''s relevant for you to tell?``

    .

    Eve tossed her phone.

    It twisted in the air andnded on the floor. Her brown eyes widened. rm shed in them. She looked at it as if it was a time bomb.

    What the hell did she just say?

    A notification ping rang out of the phone speakers.

    Hand shaking, she reached down at the floor and picked up the phone. A jolt electrified her spine. She bolted upright and stopped breathing. Horror drained the blood from her face as she read the new message. A nightmare just materialized before her eyes.

    How could she wake up from this?

    For it to poof like a dream cloud?

    Her thumbs trembled over the keyboard. She lost the ability to control them. They hovered, unmoving. Nothing processed inside her brainnot even the words she just read.

    .

    ``Yan: How would you like to continue this conversation in person?``

 Chapter 25: Game of Cat and Mouse

    Chapter 25: Game of Cat and Mouse

    Ambryan logged into the website when he came home.

    His mother knew he already left the office. She had bluntly scolded the board of directors about his office hours. She stated all the problems it would cause his health, threatening thepany could copse if he became sick.

    More than anyone, Ambryan knew those ims were exaggerated. Hepensated over the outburst by stating he''d continue the work at home.

    It didn''t matter anyway as long as he had the chat openhis mother''s real reason.

    He shrugged off his ck suit jacket. Then, he hung it on the backrest of his chair. Kiri slept soundly on the couch. She favored a pillow which had a pattern of shooting stars.

    Her light snores were the only sound in the room.

    Exhaling sharply, Ambryan clicked on the first chat notification. A dark cloud circled around his head. The exhaustion from before resurfaced. Why did he even need to reply? The conversation held no value.

    It wasn''t worth the time.

    .

    ``M: Hey! Hope you''re having a good day!``

    .

    His fingers posed over the keyboard and got ready to write a response. Despite hisints, he worded it with caution.

    .

    ``Yan: Ms. rk, apologies for thete response. Days are neither good nor bad. They are simply a measurement of time.``

    .

    Ambryan moved to the next chat notification. If possible, the cloud around his head darkened further. A pest hade to annoy him. He typed out his reply and moved on since he still had work.

    He focused his mind onposing emails instead.

    .

    ``Jane: Good afternoon, Ambryan! How is your day going?``

    ``Yan: Ms. Wilson, apologies for thete response. Days are neither good nor bad. They are simply a measurement of time.``

    .

    Then, a new notification came up.

    Ambryan switched windows.

    Red lips smiled at him. A hazel eye sparkled under the light. Luscious crimson hair flowed like a waterfall. The clutch she held hinted that the photo came from the shoot. The Athon logo of a ko was embossed in the middle.

    He scrutinized it more, trying to see what Luna meant. He suspected that it was the eyes. They were clear and genuine.

    Ambryan shook his head.

    What was he thinking? He focused on the chat and formed a response.

    .

    ``Lin: Mr. Hathaway. Good evening.``

    ``Yan: You replied quitete.``

    ``Lin: I also work, Mr. Hathaway.``

    ``Yan: You have another job besides modelling?``

    .

    Ambryan rubbed his chin. Her bio hadn''t mentioned anything else but it would make sense if she had another job. As a rookie, her projects weren''t stable yet. She would need another source of ie.

    .

    ``Lin: I work as an online tutor for part time.``

    ``Yan: In what subject?``

    ``Lin: English. What about you? What does a CEO do? Sign off checks?``

    .

    A small smile teased his lips. Herst message didn''t sound like her. Her previous ones had a diplomatic tone. It was obvious that she wanted to change the topic, diverting it towards him.

    Ambryanmended the attempt.

    .

    ``Yan: One of many things.``

    ``Lin: Is it confidential to tell?``

    ``Yan: It''s irrelevant for me to not tell.``

    ``Lin: Then, what''s relevant for you to tell?``

    .

    ''How sly,'' he thought, resting his chin on the base of his palm. She managed to reverse his words and throw it back. It was impressivealso, entertaining.

    Two notifications came from the other windows. Both girls sent their messages simultaneously as if they waited the entire day. Ambryan''s lip corners dropped. ying nice wasn''t within his abilities.

    In fact, he preferred not to y at all. What was he doing? Would he really tolerate a week of this?

    The frown lines above his nose deepened. He fished out his phone and created a new text message.

    ``To mother: One week is unnecessary. These women only tick me off. Not that they''re bad people, mother, but that I can''t find the energy to entertain them.

    If you approve, I will pick Evangeline.``

    Ambryan sent it without hesitation. He didn''t need more convincing.

    If he needed to spend 9 months with one woman, he chose to spend it in leisure. He put down his phone as his eyes looked back at the monitor.

    His fingers typed before he realized what was happening.

    .

    ``Yan: How would you like to continue this conversation in person?``

    .

    Silence followed.

    Ambryan scrunched his eyebrows. "How peculiar."

    He leaned back on the chair and waited. Kiri stirred in her sleep. She blinked her eyes, rubbing them with her paw. Her gazended on the work desk.

    "Meow." She shook her fur and leaped to the floor. After a few paces, her legs jumped towards her spot on the table.

    She peeked at the screen. "Meow!"

    Ambryan chuckled and nuzzled her ear. "You really like her. She hasn''t agreed to the meetup just yet. We''ll have to reel her in."

    It seemed like Evangeline knew how to y this game. If he couldn''t corner her, they would be walking around in circles. His mind raced of possible counterattacks. He knew that she wouldn''t make this easy.

    A ping caught his attention.

    He shifted his gaze towards the monitor, reading the new message.

    .

    ``Lin: I have a question first.``

    .

    Ambryan already expected it. He would be more disappointed if she didn''t have any. Leaning forward, he prepared himself for the game. He recalled business conversations he had, every win and every lost.

    He was ready to practice all he learned.

    .

    ``Yan: What is it?``

    .

    Evangeline typed. The three dots fluttered, indicating her activity. Ambryan locked his jaw. It seemed to be a longposition. Maybe she lied about it being one question or maybe she broke them down into different points.

    It felt like an eternity.

    ...

    Then, her message came.

    .

    ``Lin: Coffee or Tea?``

    .

    Ambryan froze. Any rebuttal he had dwindled. The question exceeded his expectations. It wasn''t even in the same timezone as him. Itpletely broke his momentum.

    He grimaced, wondering where this would lead.

    .

    ``Yan: Tea.``

    ``Lin: Well, I guess that''s it.``

    .

    He waited.

    Nothing came.

    .

    ``Yan: What is ''it''?``

    ``Lin: We can''t work together. We''ll just have a lot of arguments. Exhausting time. Draining energies. It''s best for you to pick someone else.``

    .

    Ambryan blinked. His brain wasn''t following. He didn''t know the relevance of beverages nor their significance. What he did know was what exhausted his time and drained his energy. Currently, two women topped that list and he wanted neither of them.

    He only had his eyes on her.

    .

    ``Yan: Would you mind borating how youe to this conclusion from my answer?``

    ``Lin: Oh, I pick coffee.``

    .

    ''A coffee lover,'' he mused to himself. His secretary was the same. They never incurred problems about it. It wasn''t like he hated coffee. He had the asional cup.

    His logic was simple.

    If there was tea, he picked tea.

    .

    ``Lin: Our different in taste would make things difficult.``

    ``Yan: I''m sure most establishments offer both beverages.``

    .

    Taste in beverages? Really? Was this a datingnguage he never knew about?

    Not thinking twice, Ambryan moved to the other chat windows.

    .

    ``Yan: Ms. rk, do you prefer tea or coffee?``

    ``M: Hm. I like both but I usually drink more tea.``

    .

    Three lines creased on his forehead. The answer didn''t stir any ideas. It merely seemed trivial, unconnected to Evangeline''s reasonings. It didn''t clear up his confusion.

    Not one to give up, he switched to the next chat notification.

    .

    ``Yan: Ms. Wilson``

    .

    Ambryan deleted the message. Somehow, he already knew what the answer would be. He always drank tea. Jane probably had noticed it by now. Her opinion would be a little biased.

    Still scowling, he exhaled sharply. None of his previous research talked about this. Was he overthinking this? Was the answer staring him at the face?

    Then, something clicked.

    Ambryan widened his eyes. The topic slowly began to make sense. It was a distraction tactic

    and he just fell for it.

    Adrenaline rushed into his veins. His fingers tapped on the keys with vigor. It may have worked for awhile but it wouldn''t anymore. He would stir the conversation in his favor.

    .

    ``Yan: What is this about, Ms. Evangeline? Do you not want to date me?``

    ``Lin:  well, I surely can''t imagine it.``

    ``Yan: Why is that?``

    ``Lin: It may shock you to hear that not everyone is head over heels for you before they even meet you.``

    ``Yan: Why did you join this site then?``

    .

    Ambryan''s phone buzzed on the table. He snatched it and opened the notification. His text message earlier had received a reply. He read it quietly.

    ``From Mother: Are you sure about this? You can''t change your mind. Tell me if you are absolutely sure about Evangeline. If you will do so then, I will agree to dismiss the others.``

    His confirmation contained one word: Yes.

    After sending it, he smirked and turned back to the chat window. Evangeline had also sent him a message. It only widened the smirk on his face.

    .

    ``Lin: Have you tried asking your mother? I know you consider it important to know my motivations.``

    .

    Smugness radiated off the CEO.

    Now that he had restored his bearings, he made his winning move. A trick she used on him.

    This time, he would be the one to throw it back.

    .

    ``Yan: You really like to make things difficult, don''t you? Very well. Like you said, if I really loved my mother, I would y along with her wishes. Will you not help me do as you suggested?``

 Chapter 26: The Farewells and Hellos

    Chapter 26: The Farewells and Hellos

    ``From Avery: Eve, wonderful news! Yan already made his choice. Guess who it is? It''s you! I knew you could do it! Next stop, prepare for the first meeting!``

    Eve lied on the floor carpet.

    She didn''t know how. She didn''t know why. She just found herself there. The text message popped up on her screen after she read Ambryan''sst message.

    .

    ``Yan: You really like to make things difficult, don''t you? Very well. Like you said, if I really loved my mother, I would y along with her wishes. Will you not help me do as you suggested?``

    .

    She felt a blow to her gut.

    Maybe that was how she ended up on the floor.

    The two messages confirmed the ominous feeling. She knew the ''Tea vs Coffee'' topic wouldn''tst. She merely hoped her nonsensical talk would irritate him.

    Yet

    "What the hell is going on?" Eve exasperated. She stared up the ceiling, ignoring both messages. The terms of her agreement haunted her. She had no room for rejection.

    The sensation merely felt worse because her own words were thrown back at her. Andie''s prediction came true.

    If she had known, she would have revealed something and epted the double offer!

    Eve covered her eyes with her arm.

    "Why why, why, why am I so stupid?" Shemented. No sound came to provide her answers. If she tried to back out, would Avery take the money back?

    Who was she kidding? Of course, that would happen. That use wouldn''t even exist if it was possible. Avery needed that assurance to get what she wanted.

    ''Maybe I should just give it up?'' Eve considered, pulling her arm away from her face. Both now touched the carpet over her head. Her fingers yed with her hair.

    The silence seeped into her mind. Her head became empty, cleansing itself. The nk te allowed her to be rational and pushed her feelings aside. She thought of logiconly looking at the current situation and not the past.

    Right now, she already signed the contract.

    Right now, she already promised hermitment.

    Misty faces of Avery, Cale and Luna stared at her. Despite herck of experience, they encouraged her. They believed in her. Their collective efforts made the photoshoot a sess.

    She wasn''t alone.

    "What am I even saying? This is for Eden and Erin. I shouldn''t be selfish. Not unless I want to ve until I''m 40", Eve finally spoke, sitting upright. She shook her head at her behavior. "I would also let Mrs. Hathaway down. I gave her my word."

    A sigh flowed out of her lips. "I''m just stalling again, aren''t I?"

    Eve reached for her phone. Her thumbs typed slowly as if something would change within the extra seconds. Now that she had a reality check, her mind focused on something else

    how to make the best of it.

    .

    ``Lin: As long as I get a say in this matter.``

    .

    She stared at her words and felt satisfied at how she overcame the situation. Fake dating or not, she wouldn''t let her boss decide on everything. This involved two people who each had their own minds.

    This ''rtionship'' contained both of them.

    As someone part of it, her voice mattered and she would use it.

    .

    ``Yan: Oh, Ms. Evangeline. I wouldn''t have it in any other way.``

    ``Lin: See you in a week then. Bye.``

    .

    Ambryan scowled as Evangeline went offline.

    It seemed like the conversation had ended. The other party left no room forpromise, practicing what she requested. He didn''t mind. He wasn''t in a hurry either. He''d rather savor hisst few peaceful days.

    With everything sorted out, he could finally concentrate on work.

    Just then, another notification came from the other chats.

    He took a deep breath and held it. This would be thest time he''d hear from these chats. A quickst conversation wouldn''t hurt.

    At least, not as much.

    .

    ``M: Wow, you already picked someone? Where do I meet this girl? I must ask her some tips on how to attract good men.``

    .

    Ambryan''s face became impassive. He neither found the message funny nor annoying. Instead, he typed out another neutral response. The less they knew, the better. If he didn''t proceed carefully, it might brew trouble.

    .

    ``Yan: You will meet her if you will meet her.``

    ``M: Aha, still! I can''t help but be curious. She must be extraordinary.``

    .

    ''Extraordinary?'' Ambryan wondered. He rubbed his chin and stared at the ceiling. He wouldn''t use the same word. Evangeline surely stood out among the women. He saw himself in her. Her aversion reflected his thoughts about the website.

    She was simply the mostly likely woman to part ways easilycausing no problems.

    He returned his attention to the chat and replied.

    .

    ``Yan: Quite an observation you made, Ms. rk.``

    ``M: Well, she snatched the most eligible bachelor of the country. Something about her had to be above us, mere mortals.``

    ``Yan: She is simply herself.``

    .

    Ambryan watched as more notifications popped up. It seemed like everyone decided to join. His hunch pointed towards his mother. She must have told them about his decision.

    Now, they all came to say goodbye.

    .

    ``M: Alright, alright. Hahaha. I won''t try to pry anymore. Hope everything will work out for you two! Do invite me to the wedding when it happens. I''d even y for free if you need music!``

    ``Yan: I see your sense of perception is the same as your imagination. Do take care, Ms. rk.``

    ``M: See you around, Ambryan!``

    .

    ''Ambryan,'' he read. It left a bad taste in his mouth.

    He exited the window and moved to the next one.

    .

    ``Jane: Ambryan, you chose someone? Already? Are you sure about this? It has only been a day. What if she turns to be someone with bad intentions?``

    .

    This time, he didn''t hesitate to respond. His right temple ticked as his pulse increased. He had little care on how his message would sound. This would be thest anyway.

    His typing came out as sharp as his tone.

    .

    ``Yan: I highly doubt that my mother would let that happen. After all, she picked everyone.``

    ``Jane: But``

    ``Yan: Your participation ends here. Focus on other matters.``

    .

    Ambryan hopped to the 3rd chat, his blood pressure calming down.

    .

    ``Rachelle: So who''s the lucky girl? What made her different from all the others, including me? Was it a love at first sight? Listing the pros and cons? What makes our CEO tick? *grins* She''s not as talkative as me, I bet.``

    ``Yan: It was a pleasure meeting you, Ms. Rachelle. I''m sure your novel will reach greater heights.``

    ``Rachelle: Wow, Mr. CEO! That was unexpected! Wish you happiness with your new girlfriend! Bye bye.``

    .

    The other party left before he could. It made him wonder for a bit.

    Would he have picked Rachelle if Evangeline wasn''t around? He yed with the idea. She was another honest woman. Her weakness to pressure could be improved. Writing also demanded a lot of time and attention.

    They wouldn''t have a problem with not seeing each other.

    Ambryan moved the mouse to the remaining chat window.

    .

    ``Zara: Mr. Hathaway! I heard the good news! I wish you both well.``

    .

    Kiri growled in her throat. She leaped for the monitor and pushed the screen. The tab also showed the previous chat. Her pale purple eyes red at a green emote.

    She bared her teeth and yelled, "Meow!"

    Bending her hind legs, she jumped with her ws out. "Meow! Meow!"

    rmed, Ambryan picked her up. He searched for answers in her gaze. Her bushy tailed flicked under her. She twisted her neck to theputer and attempted another jump. His hands tightened their grip.

    "Woah, Kiri," he said, caressing her head, "It''s okay. It will be over soon. Just let me type out something."

    The cat grumbled, her lips quivering in anger. She pointed her ears up and red at her prey.

    No frog would survive while she was around!

    Ambryan held her in one arm and used his free hand to type.

    .

    ``Yan: Ms. Smith, mother has spoken about your skills. We have an opening for the hair and makeup team. I''ll let her know so she could prepare a rmendation letter.``

    ``Zara: OMG! Thank you so much! This is more than I ever hoped for!``

    ``Yan: It is not a problem. I will continue my work now. Take care.``

    ``Zara: You too!``

    .

    The chat window disappeared.

    The cat rxed, her body turning into ''liquid''. Kiri melted in her hooman''s embrace. He set her down on hisp and pulled the chair closer to the desk. Reports now covered his screen. Silent tapping filled in the room''s silence.

    Furry paws yed with a shirt button. One w managed to tear the thread. The button fell on her nose as the dress shirt opened. Sculpted beige skin peeked out. Kiri''s eyes twinkled as she targeted another button.

    "Meow, meow!" She purred, wagging her tail.

 Chapter 27: Eve the Meeting Secretary

    Chapter 27: Eve the Meeting Secretary

    The next afternoon, another workdaymenced.

    People rushed to meet deadlines. Shouts of frustration bounced off the walls. Papers covered work desks. Fingers typed rapidly on keyboards. Phones rang with urgent concerns.

    It was mostly chaotic.

    Except for one ce.

    The conference room had gray carpet flooring. A long table stood in the middle. Its surface was made of wood. Each side had 6 chairs. Another two upied both ends.

    A t screen hung on the north wall. Wide windows upied the east side, daylight shining on glossy white walls. Frosted ss made up the west with the only door.

    4 people upied the chairs.

    Ambryan sat at the north end of the table. It allowed him to see the door during the meeting. He leaned on the backrest. His arms perched on either side of him.

    His expression disyed an impassive look.

    Eve upied his right, tapping on aptop keyboard. She had her back straight as her brown eyed fired withser focus. Her ears heightened their hearing. She wouldn''t allow herself to miss a single detail.

    At the moment, she used the time for lessening her other workload.

    Richard Kingston settled on the seat across from her, his back facing the windows. The morning heat seeped through his clothing. Beads of sweat formed under his dress shirt. He loosened his tie, hoping it would help.

    His own secretary sat on his left. The young man stared at Eve who wore a deep scowl behind her eyesses. Admiration glinted in his eyes. Every key seemed calcted and precise. Her work ethic wasn''t a baseless rumor after all.

    "Where is President Madison?" Richard asked, raising an eyebrow. His steel gray eyes illustrated rigor unlike his usual easygoing behavior. His curly bronze hair gleamed from the sun.

    "Madison is at the studios, taking care of a problem," Ambryan answered. He lifted his right arm and checked his rolex watch. It had ck oyster steel bracelet strapped to an ebony dial. White details featured the hands and numbers.

    The seconds ticked by.

    "Another time then," Richardmented, his voice lowering to a mumble. His back bumped against the chair. His index finger tapped on the armrest.

    Ambryan turned to his right, ignoring hisment. "Where are they, Eve?"

    "I received a message from the receptionist that they''re in the lobby," she reported as she replied to thepany''s chat application. She had sent an advanced notice about their whereabouts. "They will be here any minute."

    Richard rolled his eyes. "So punctual. It''s not even the meeting time yet. They still have five minutes. We could have stayed in your office while waiting."

    "I''d rather not have you anywhere near my things."

    Eve pressed her lips together, trying not tough. Her hands continued to type on theptop. Her boss never forgot about the time Sir Kingston broke a teapot. Since then, an unspoken rule came to being. A policy that limited thetter from entering the CEO''s office.

    A knock came from the door.

    It opened and revealed a staff employee. Her mousy brown hair ended around her chin. A ck pencil skirt hugged her slender hips, her mustard roll neck top tucked under the waistband. She gulped at the group.

    ck eyes fidgeted from fright.

    "Th-The people from Studio A are here," she managed to say.

    Eve stood up and offered her a kind smile. "Thank you, Ms. Hannah. I''ll take it from here."

    "As you wish, Ms. Hart."

    The young woman bowed her head before turning away. Eve held the door, pushing it all the way. Her pleasant expression shifted towards the neers. She gestured them towards the conference table.

    "Good day. Please make yourselffortable," she greeted them.

    Two sets of feet entered the room. The carpet muffled out their footsteps. As Eve closed the door, she poked her head out and talked to the assigned guard for the meeting.

    "If there is any concern, please contact me through the chat application." Her eyebrows scrunched after a moment. "No matter how many times I say it, it still sounds weird but silence is a must."

    She received a chuckle in reply. "Will do, Ms. Hart."

    "Thank you."

    "Director Sam, Director Rowen," Ambryan said, rising to his feet. He waited for the visitors to choose their seats. "We''re pleased that you could join us."

    Richard followed his lead and smiled. His secretary also stood up. "It''s a pleasure to see you both again. We understand that you have some new ideas about the series?"

    Sam picked the seat beside Eve. Aqua wax styled his brown hair into ayered sideb.His green and white id shirt cloaked over his beer belly, The sleeves cinched around plumped muscles. Dark cks covered his legs. Compared to the two CEOs, his height only reached their shoulders.

    He raised his tan hand and exchanged pleasantries. His gruff voice filled the room. "Good to be here, Mr. Hathaway and Mr. Kingston"

    His indigo eyes shifted to his right. "This is our casting director, Rowen Valentine."

    Rowen smiled, showing her pearly white teeth. Her burgundy dyed hair was braided to one side. It flowed over her shoulder. The color contrasted against her porcin skin. Her winoe blouse almost matched her hair.

    Her ck eyes darted between the two as she shook their hands. A heavy foreign entced her words. "Pleasure to finally meet the dynamic duo of this project. I can''t wait to start production."

    Ambryan gestured his hand towards Eve. "This is my secretary, Ms. Everlee Hart. If you have any important concerns that need urgent attention, please run it by her first."

    Eve reached her seat and waved at the casting director. "Please do address me as Eve."

    "Please take yours seats," Ambryan instructed and settled down on his chair.

    On the contrary, his secretary walked over to the spare table. She lifted a pitcher and filled 6 sses with chilled water. She ced them on a tray and served them to the rest.

    "Care to enlighten us what this is about, Sir Hathaway?" Sam asked. He drank half of his water before adding, "I thought the second meeting would be next week?"

    Ambryan tilted his head to the left. "Sir Kingston has some concerns brought by Venus Investment''s board."

    Richard cleared his throat. His arms rested on the table and sped his hands together. As he spoke, he maintained eye contact with both directors. "A few members raised that the decision over the funding was decided too hastily."

    Sam''s back went rigid. "Are they pulling out?"

    "Now, now," Richard assured him. "That''s not the case. However, they did express some suggestions. There''s no need to agree to them all. As long as the exnation is good, they would ept. The point is to convince them about it."

    The film director narrowed his indigo eyes. "And what is it they want to suggest?"

    "They want to change the title."

    Sam wed the armrests. He always disliked this part of the industry. Investors limited their creative freedom, focusing on the profits. He had to fight hard for the novel''s adaptation. He thought things would be smooth sailing with Ambryan''s approval.

    It seemed to be just the beginning.

    Rowen crossed her arms over her chest. "What is wrong with the title then?"

    "The title? ''What is Love?''" Richard began to say. "They think it''s generic, overly done. Nothing in it sparks re to entice viewers."

    Sam cocked an eyebrow. "What were the suggested names then?"

    "Nothing. They just want it changed."

    "And how are we supposed to know if they''re okay with it? By giving them a list and voting?" Rowen scoffed. A kindle of fire burned in her ck gaze. "Did these people even read the script? Do they even know what the story is about beyond what statistics said?"

    "Rowen, calm down." Sam whispered beside her. They finally made it this far. If things went sour, they would be back to square one. None of the otherpanies gave them a chance. Eros Productions also provided them a good leverage.

    Their reputation would boost a wider audience.

    "I can''t calm down!" She eximed, gawking at his nervous expression. She spat almost every syble. "I don''t see how I can trust faceless people when they''re not even interested in the series enough to make proper ideas."

    "We did think of a few possible titles," Ambryan cut in. All heads turned towards him. It was the first time he spoke since the meetingmenced. "From what I understand, Venus Investment is concerned about the marketing. They want a more intriguing title. It has to be decided now as the script is being written. This is to ensure that any possible changes won''t deviate away from the title''s implication."

    "And pray do tell, Sir Hathaway." Rowen scowled. "What would intrigue people to this series? The subject matter of the story is love. To use a romance title would mislead people to its core value. Love is not romance. They are different."

    Eve typed the minutes of the meeting. To do this, she preferred to create a detailed draft. The document became filled with almost exact dialogues. This assured any misunderstandings or overlooked specifics.

    It wasn''t the most efficient way to work but it satisfied her.

    Ambryan fixed his posture. He stared straight into the casting director''s eyes. "Unlike Venus Investment, I do know the essence of the story. We can simply paraphrase the title."

    "To what?" Rowen asserted. The frown lines between her brows deeped.

    It did little to faze the CEO. He more than weed the challenge. An active mind such as hers stirred up innovative ideas. It was part of the reason he became convinced about the series. That passion and drive was what fuelled the project.

    It would also be the one to ignite a ze across screens.

    "''Define Love''."

 Chapter 28: Why Define Love

    Chapter 28: Why Define Love

    Sam blinked. The tension melted off his stature.

    "Define Love," he tested with his lips. He pped his hands as the idea sank in. "I actually like it! It has the same ring as ''Defying Gravity''. Well, it would be much closer if it was ''Defining Love'' but I think it could work out well."

    Rowen gritted her teeth, ying with the title in her head. It did have the same implication. ''Love'' as a concept had many elements to explore. People wrote about it in different mediums. Yet, they were still so much to write about. No words could thoroughly exin every part of its concept.

    The reason why it became a series is because it opened doors to more elements and more possible scenarios. Any viewer could watch at any point and be able to hopefully rte. There could be one arc for many audience members.

    "I will have to run it by the board but more names would also be weed," Richard cut in, exhaling sharply. He wasn''t sure what they wanted but more titles meant more chances of one being approved.

    "It would be much smoother if they exined what they want," Rowen spat. "A short title would be easier to remember. If they demand a lot from the title, we might need to expand the word count."

    "But we can always just shorten it with a suitable word."

    "I think you forget not everyone has a wide vocabry," she continued. Her gaze bore into his steel gray eyes. "If they want a bigger range, the title must remain short and simple. The problem with it is it can''t convey everything. There are too many things to consider."

    Silence fell over the table.

    No one dared to share another rebuttal but Richard remained doubtful. He couldn''t ept the new title either. It was only two words and both were generic. However, he could see Rowen''s point. It wouldn''t be good to overdo it.

    It was a matter of bnce.

    "Unless you cane up with something better, I think it''s the perfect title," Ambryan said, breaking the ice. Since nothing else came up, he proceeded to exin the reason behind his suggestion.

    Richard scowled in his direction. "I know it connotes what the previous title conveyed but why is this is perfectpared to that one?"

    Ambryan flickered his eyes to his right.

    His gaze met a woman with cropped ck hair and brown eyes. Her eyebrows scrunched at theptop screen, oblivious to the stares on her. The typing continued even when they paused. She captured as much as possible before they faded away from her mind.

    "Eve."

    The secretary stopped. Her fingers stayed on the keyboard as her head looked up. Several pairs of eyes observed her. She blinked. This wasn''t part of her tasks. Ambryan caught her off guardapparently, the others were too.

    Why would he do that?

    Eve gulped, switching her focus towards her boss. "Yes, Sir Hathaway?"

    "What do you think of ''Define Love''?" Ambryan asked. He pressed a finger knuckle against his lips. A sly smile tugged the corner of his lips. "Give me your honest opinion."

    Cricket noises filled the secretary''s thoughts. They were nk so she could absorb the meeting''s discussion. If she thought too much, it would disrupt her typing. She bit her tongue and forced herself topose a perspective on the subject matter.

    Her eyesnded on the screen. For the meeting, she used an online program. The discussion usually went by quickly that she always forgot to save the document. This way, she wouldn''t need to worry about that.

    "I think" Eve began to say, staring at the header. "It sounds like something a person would type in a search engine."

    The word, ''define'', reminded her of Andie''s questions. Her best friend preferred to ask her than an app or a search engine. The habit stayed no matter how many times Eve pointed out their existence.

    Ambryan raised his eyebrows. He shifted his weight to one side, using the right armrest of support. A glint sparked in his violet eyes. "How many people do you think do that?"

    "A lot?" Eve flinched. It sounded more like a question than an answer.

    "So what happens then if we use that as a title?"

    She pondered on the idea and mentally created a simtion. The search engine shed in her mind. She saw the words ''define love'' appear at the top bar. It led to a websiteposed of different links, articles and images.

    Now, if the series had that title...

    "It wille up in the list of search results." Eve breathed out, admiring her boss'' brilliance. "People who aren''t even looking for the series would find it. If it contains what they are looking for, they''ll watch it."

    ''Who knew two words would have such an impact?'' she thought. The simplicity led to infinite possibilities. Advertisements would be versatile. The title also hit a person differently. A question would go straight to the mind.

    A more direct approach would kindle the heart for answers.

    "Precisely." Ambryan praised. He swiveled his chair towards the center, addressing the rest of the group. "As opposed to ''What is Love?'', the previous title is more likely to be said to another person rather than a search engine. People these days rely on the inte for many answersparticrly a word."

    The others stirred in their seats. His point slowly sank in. "Even when they asked someone, that person could use the engine in order to help provide a suitable response."

    Sam''s heart swelled. His outlook on the title changedas well as his insight on the CEO.

    ''No wonder he rose to the top. He saw a bird''s eye view on everything. He probably could defend the title at any angle,'' he apuded silently. That kind of caliber stemmed from not only brilliance but also time and effort.

    "Sir Kingston, isn''t that what the board wants?" Ambryan folded an arm on the table. His friend was the person that needed the most persuasion. "If you try ''Define Love'' in search engines, most results would be articles and books. Nothing about visuals. The series then would easily stand out, enticing them enough to be curious over it."

    Richard locked his jaw, maintaining eye contact. He did a quick statistical calction based on his friend''s exnation. Millions of people used those engines. Instead of them reaching out, it would be the users that would find them.

    It truly had a lot of potential.

    "More than the title''s ir, it''s about how to reach our audience," Ambryan finished. He could borate more but he wouldn''t unless necessary. They still had more to talk about. This was merely the first topic.

    "I will I will keep that in mind when I report it to them." Richard cleared his throat. Somehow, he didn''t want to shower his friend with praises. He had seen this happen way too many times. It wasn''t surprising anymore.

    ''Trust Ambryan to fix a problem in one sweep,'' he huffed to himself.

    "How about Director Rowen?"

    Rowen snapped her head up when she heard her name. She locked eyes with Ambryan and said, "As long as the title has the same essence, I am alright with it."

    Eros'' CEO merely nodded. His mind was already on the next agenda.

    "Then, let''s move on to other matters."

    The meetingsted for two hours.

    Sam and Rowen left first, rejecting the offer of a meal. They wanted to speed up their work so they had something better to offer Venus Investment. The first five episodes would be crucial, especially the pilot. They had to capture viewers'' interest right awaybut it would be the next ones that would either make them leave or stay.

    Richard and his secretary eventually stepped out. Ambryan had rejected the idea of a meal since the directors already left. Just like his previous disy of reasoning, any persuasion from Richard was ineffective.

    "Good job today, Eve."

    Eve stumbled a step.

    The two of them walked down the hallway, heading for the private elevator. Workers stopped to show respect whenever they spotted the CEO. Others stayed inside their office spaces until he left. Security positioned themselves at a distance, keeping an eye at the surroundings.

    "I didn''t put that much thought into it until you pointed it out." She exined, realizing he meant the opinion on the title. The summary for the Minutes of the Meeting would be done in an hour. Her heart raced, remembering the panic she almost felt.

    She considered it luck that she managed to hit a bullseye.

    Ambryan sneaked a nce from the corner of his eye. His secretary stared straight ahead, oblivious to the significance of the situation. "Still, if you keep it up, maybe someday you''d lead your own department."

    Eve lifted her head towards his face. Even with heels, she only reached the middle of his neck.

    "Me? As a head?" She gasped, unable to mask her shock. She''d thought about the possibility before but she couldn''t imagine what her work life would be like if she didn''t stand by his side.

    "Why not? I don''t meet many people that have the same wavelength as me." Ambryan stepped inside the elevator. Eve followed him inside. He pushed the button for the top floor. It only took her a few seconds to create an answer. It was also the one he looked for.

    Properly trained, she might even be more innovative than him.

    "If you take the initiative to voice out more ideas, you''d develop the leadership for a promotion."

 Chapter 29: An (Un)expected Visitor

    Chapter 29: An (Un)expected Visitor

    "If you take the initiative to voice out more ideas, you''d develop the leadership for a promotion."

    Eve was stunned. This was the highest praise she received.

    She had hoped for a promotion but not any time soon. It seemed like a faraway dream. All she developed was how to provide excellent service as a secretary. The five rules also helped her to achieve that.

    Did she have enough experience to lead?

    Ambryan exhaled sharply. He could read the uncertainty on her face. It irked him at how shecked the drive for growth and belief in herself. "Tell me when you''re up for it. I''ll train you."

    "Train?" Eve asked, widening her brown eyes. ''So he was serious?''

    "Of course," he replied as he straightened his cuffs. "You''ll be promoted by me. It would only be right for me to train you. I won''t let others have any chance to rebut."

    The secretary receded back into her thoughts. Were they short on human resources? Why else would thise up? Her opinion added nothing of value. Ambryan already thought ahead. She made zero real contribution.

    "Thank you for the kind offer, Sir Hathaway, but I think I am far from ready to lead a department."

    "That is what training is for." Ambryan scowled. He tucked his hands inside his pants pockets. "You won''t step up right away. It would depend on your progress. Please think about it carefully."

    Eve nodded meekly. She had nothing else to say. Even if she did, her boss would find a way to counter it. Where was Evangeline''s bravery and wits when she needed it?

    She winced at the thought of her alter ego. It had only been yesterday since they agreed to meet. That meant they had six days ahead. It had to be more than enough to mentally prepare herself. Speaking of the meetup

    Eve bowed her head and peeked through hershes.

    Ambryan still wore his ''permanent'' scowl. What was she to expect from this? What was his reason for choosing Evangeline? Nothing hinted her on his thoughts. He also didn''t notice her stare. The temptation gripped her, nudging her to ask.

    It managed to open her mouth and try.

    Then, the five rules echoed in her head.

    1 - Don''t draw meaningless attention.

    2 - Speak only when spoken to.

    3 - Avoid unnecessary affiliation with the boss.

    4 - Never interfere with his personal matters.

    5 - Always follow his orders.

    Eve closed her eyes. She found it easier to control herself when she didn''t see him. Her mind counted to ten as she focused on her breathing. The soft jazz music filled her ears. Her calmness returned by the time the elevator doors parted open.

    The calmness was also short-lived.

    Avery turned around when she heard the elevator. Her high ponytail whipped long with her. She wore minimal makeup and paired her ck jumpsuit with blood red stilettos. A crimson Athon satchel bag hung on the crook of her elbow.

    She beamed at the sight of the two, spreading her arms like an eagle.

    "Yan! Eve!"

    Eve experienced a mini heart attackat least, something she considered to be like it. The bag Avery used wasn''t just any bag. It was the same one from her shoot. shbacks yed like a movie in her head. Should she take it as a sign?

    Except, was it a good one or a bad one?

    "Mother." Ambryan greeted, exiting the lift.

    "Mrs. Hathaway." Eve bowed from behind him. She lightened her footsteps. This would be the first time Avery visited since Evangeline came to life.

    Her boss went straight to his office door. He used a card key to unlock it. "What is this unexpected visit about now?"

    "Can''t I be happy for my son?" Averyined and dropped her arms. She walked over to his side, grinning like a madwoman. "You''re finally going to have a girlfriend!"

    Ambryan choked.

    Eve flinched.

    Averyughed, hitting her son''s upper back. She practically bounced on her feet. No words would be enough to describe her absolute joy. Her violet eyes darted between the two. She saw pink haze and cherry blossoms.

    ''Such a blissful sight,'' she gushed silently. Then, her gaze focused them on the secretary who moved to the work desk.

    A mischievous smile stretched on the madam''s lips.

    "Have you heard the good news, Eve?"

    Ambryan walked into his office, not listening to the conversation. It didn''t matter though. His mother kept the door open. Two female voices floated inside the room. He sat on his chair and continued his work.

    This conversation might take a while. It would be better if he finished more tasks before it happened.

    "No, I haven''t," Eve replied, confused by the entire setup. Her brown eyes settled on the open doorway. The madam was up to something and she knew it.

    Avery giggled and pped her hands. She glowed much more than before. "That means you won''t need to do those breakups on behalf of my son anymore."

    The secretary winced, wondering if that was the joke. Oh, how the tables have turned indeed. She now filled in the shoes of those women.

    "Mother, if you won''te in, please close the door," Ambryan dered from the other side. His fingers tapped on the keyboard, increasing in speed as heposed several reports for thepany''s own Board of Directors.

    Before her mother could add anything else, he beat her to it.

    "Eve, send the minutes of the meeting as soon as possible."

    "Yes, sir Hathaway." Eve responded from behind her desk. Relief washed over her head. The madam wouldn''t be her concern anymore. She nodded at Avery once. "Apologies, Mrs. Hathaway. I will be returning to my work now. Do have a good day."

    "You too, Eve." Avery smiled, stepping inside the CEO''s office.

    The secretary cursed as she sat down. She should probably serve some tea for the madamexcept every fiber in her body didn''t want to enter the office. Afterst time, she rejected to hear more of their conversations. Who knew what trouble she''dnd in the next one?

    Eve quickly made up her mind.

    She would only enter if her boss asked her to do so.

    ....

    Avery frowned as her son continued to work. Possibility after possibility rained in her imagination. This scenario would someday change because of Evangeline. Maybe Ambryan would keep a photo of her on his desk.

    The thought fluttered her heart and her hopeless romantic soul. Someday, this whole situation might even be a movie. It would definitely be a hit! Or, or, or... maybe it could even be a novel! The story would spread across different creative mediums.

    The whole world would know about this love story

    and how she contributed to it.

    Avery walked over to a chair and sat down, cing the satchel bag on the work desk. Her hand cupped one cheek as she leaned forward. A goofy smile painted her face.

    "Well?" She started, ready to hear all the details.

    "Well, what, mother?" Ambryan retorted. His gaze stayed on the monitor. He checked the reports against the meetings he had during the month. It was to make sure he covered everything for the board meeting.

    His mother rolled her eyes and mmed a hand on the table.

    "How is Evangeline?" She exasperated. Her violet eyes widened at his indifference. "I''m really curious to know what attracted you to her. I thought M was another good potential girlfriend."

    It was ast minute idea but M always listened to her stories. If anyone would understand the purpose of the website, it would be her. She could rely on the young woman to aplish the goal of her agreement with her son.

    "Except, M has formed her idea of me from your stories." Ambryan shot down. His typing sounded louder than usual. "It wouldn''t do good if she acted like she knew me before even meeting me."

    His reasoning was true. It also made him ufortable how the woman seemed to know more about him than the other way around. He didn''t want someone who knew his private life from another source. The person would have some expectations.

    He absolutely loathed it.

    "Huh," Avery clicked her tongue. She pulled away and crossed her arms over her chest. Her back leaned on the chair. "I didn''t know you knew so much about human interaction."

    "Mother, please." Ambryan returned to a tranquil demeanor. Years of these events improved his skills on multitasking. "Haven''t I learned those all from you?"

    "Right." His mother cleared her throat. She did teach him about it before his debut to society. Not that he needed much since he was always aloof. He also had Richard, a sociable friend. They managed to bnce out each other.

    Shaking her head, Avery went back to the original topic. She red at her son as she realized how he stirred the conversation. He had meant to distract her. Too bad it wouldn''tst for long.

    She really wanted to know about his decision.

    "You still didn''t answer my question though. Why did you choose Evangeline?"

 Chapter 30: Meeting of Minds

    Chapter 30: Meeting of Minds

    "You still didn''t answer my question though. Why did you choose Evangeline?"

    "I would have thought you''d ask her instead." Ambryan answered, not missing a beat. His right hand moved to the mouse. The cursor opened another document for him to review.

    An irritated pout tugged the corners of Avery''s lips.

    He had to be ying with her. This was a low level of distraction tactics. Her son probably couldn''te up with any better since he was in the middle of work. Still, who made the choice? Was it not him?

    Why would she ask Evangeline about it?

    "Unless you told her, I doubt she''d know," she pointed out, scoffing softly. This would probably go in circles. She needed another approach."Tell me what was it or should I start to believe that my amateur psychology tricked work?"

    Ambryan stopped typing and paused his work. His head rotated towards his mother. The new information captured him. If there was a trick, his hunches before turned out to be false. He guessed it was M who his mother favored.

    Did this mean it was Evangeline all along?

    Avery wore a smirk. She finally got him. Nothing interested her son such as tricks, especially if it turned out that he missed them. Even more so, when it was right in front of his face. She only wanted to try it.

    Who knew it might have actually worked or not?

    "Psychology trick?" Her son scrutinized. The smug look on her face aggravated him.

    "Yeah," Avery nodded, feigning nonchnce. Her shoulders shrugged. "I added things on the website that would attract you to Evangeline."

    "Like what?" Ambryan demanded. The site was simple, in his opinion. If she did anything to it, he would have noticed since it would stand out. How subtle was this trick of hers?

    "Nothing suspicious!" His mother defended as he glowered for answers. She averted her eyes and twirled a strand of her ck hair. Her gaze went to the ceiling as if she daydreamed out loud.

    Ambryan felt his temple throb. She was relishing in the moment and he knew it.

    "I merely used the colors of her profile picture for the website''syout," his mother finally revealed. "The red background, the gold outline, the gray circles, the white name Since you saw them for some time while you chatted with other women, I thought it would work for you to be drawn to her."

    ''Red, gold, gray, white'' he pondered. The frown lines between his brows deepened. They were the colors of the website. The red seemed fitting since it was meant to be a dating one. Gray was a popr shade for indicating no activity. Gold seemed more like a finishing touch.

    ''Then, how did''

    The temperature of the room dropped. Ambryan became still, his muscles contracting. The pieces of the puzzle formed an image. The brush dipped into the colors and created a painting. It gave him an epiphany as he recognized the photo.

    Not just any photo for that matter

    It was Evangeline''s profile picture.

    Avery hung her head, pressing her lips together and shutting her eyes. The montage of different expressions on her son''s face was aical sight. With all those colors, wasn''t it obvious she favored one woman?

    She could hardly breathe from muffling herughter.

    This was just too good!

    "Tell me this then, mother," her son snapped. He ignored his work and gave his full attention to her. His arms rested on the table as he leaned forward. A dangerous look clouded over his face.

    "Why Evangeline? That little trick revealed your bias among the young women." The flecks in his eyes darkened. His voice dropped lower. His tone became menacing. "You probably only met her once yet you favored her. Why?"

    Avery met his gaze, using a neutral expression. "And why would I answer that if you won''t answer mine?"

    "I know you made a deal with her."

    Her eyebrows shot up. "I also made a deal with you. Is there something about our deal that makes you wary?"

    She hadn''t expected that. How much did her son know? Did Eve reveal her identity to him? Would that mean he chose her because they worked together? A groan rumbled in her throat as she closed her eyes.

    If that did happen then, her n failed.

    Just the thought of it sucked.

    Ambryan reeled back. His elbows settled on the armrests. "She never told me what it was."

    "She didn''t?" His mother gasped and blinked at him. Her gaze searched his face, wondering if he was telling the truth. It would be too easy to lie about it. They could keep it from her and continue with their own n.

    "She revealed nothing."

    Avery rxed in her seat, believing him. No lie in the world could mask her son''s irritation. It exhausted him to y nice. She would have loved to see how he chatted with the women. It must have been funnier than any si.

    She would have watched while eating popcorn.

    "I definitely made the right choice then." She shrugged, smiling. Eve truly did wonders. Not only did the young woman handle the pressure but also she managed to stand out among the rest.

    Ambryan exhaled sharply. "So did I."

    His answer seemed to be enough. He watched her mother''s eyes shine. Theymunicated in silence,ing to an agreement. Both of their reasons appeared to be the same. They didn''t need to ask anymore.

    Avery stood up and grabbed her satchel bag. With her heels, she matched his eye level. She liked the feeling it gave her. It wasn''t often that she reached his 188cm height (6''2" ft).

    "Fine, I won''t pry anymore." She sighed. That was probably as good as she''d get. She proceeded to list a few reminders. "Be sure to n for your first meetup. Do whatever you both want, I just want you to date for 9 months. I''ll be watching."

    "Of course you are." Her son snorted. He pulled himself closer to theputer and resumed his reports. He still had half a month of activities to work on.

    As Avery turned around, she paused mid-step. Her fingers snapped at her sudden thought. "Oh, before I forget, the website will be an app."

    Ambryan missed a beat. It didn''tst long. The app idea made sense. If he and Evangeline onlymunicated with the website, it would be hard to time their chats. Neither of them knew each other''s schedules. They could also be unstable.

    He also would rather not reveal his phone number.

    Still, Ambryan couldn''t help but say, "To make it easier to spy on us?"

    His mother grimaced. His provocation worked. She clenched her free hand to a fist. It itched to hit him but her self-control won over.

    Now, she just needed to suppress her hand that held the bag.

    "For you to call each other even if the person has it closed," Avery exined, rolling her eyes. Most people didn''t know it but her son had a childish side to him. "You won''t need to log in and out anymore.

    Ambryan spared her a nce. "Why didn''t you make it an app in the first ce?"

    "Time was short and a website was easier to set up." She borated. Besides, her son preferred aputer over a phone. She merely followed his tastes. He would need to get used to his phone from now. A PC couldn''t substitute the convenience of cellrmunication.

    When Avery didn''t receive a response, she winked and whispered.

    "Don''t worry. I kept the name." She winked.

    Her son merely ignored it but his keys tapped louder. "Please close the door when you leave. If you want a beverage, request it from Eve."

    "Aw, I love you too!"

    She blew him a flying kiss and headed for the exit, not looking back. The answer was far from her expectations but it was a start. At least, he chose Evangeline for her attitude and personality. They must get along well if that was the case.

    The thought made her giddy inside.

    When the door opened, Eve scrambled off her chair and rose to her feet. Her hands fixed her zer. The summary of the meeting shed on her screen. She finished half of it. It would take her another 15 minutes for the rest.

    After that, she liked to highlight the major points.

    It made it easier for readers to understand the discussion.

    "Ah, Eve." Avery greeted her, walking over. She sat on a spare chair beside the secretary''s desk and pulled out her phone. "My son told me I can have a beverage of my choice."

    "I will have it done right away, Mrs. Hathaway." Eve replied. Her hand reached for the telephone, ready to rely on the instructions. "What is it?"

    "I want 5 cappinos, 5ttes and 5 mochas. Oh, with onerge box of tarts." The madam ordered, beaming with delight. "All from Caf Loctart please."

 Chapter 31: Commence Eh-Vree-Yan

    Chapter 31: Commence Eh-Vree-Yan

    "A promotion?!" Andie eximed.

    She sat on a stool, eating from a te on the kitchen ind. A homemade pizza covered a circr tray. It filled up the center space. 4 types of cheese coated on top of sliced tomatoes and the sauce. Other than sprinkles of mozzare, parmesan and cheddar, the pizza also had bite cubes of feta cheese.

    A whole world of vor exploded in every bite.

    "Yes, a promotion." Eve confirmed, sitting across from her best friend. She picked up her can of root beer and sipped. They were having a mini party since Andie was gone for three days. Both girls wore their favorite sleepwear of fuzzy pajamas and yoga pants.

    "Holy shi!" Andie choked. She put down her pizza slice and drank from some water. "We have to celebrate! Let''s arrange another pic. I will make a feast."

    A promotion after 5 years of service! Her best friend deserved it. She''d knee anyone who would protest. Not everyone could keep up with a demanding CEO. Eve also dealt with his dates and his family memberssomething out of her job description.

    "I am not being promoted yet." Eve ced the can back on the table. She ripped off a piece of her pizza. Then, she dipped it in marinara sauce. She loved how the feta cheese would burst in her mouth.

    Her best friend scowled. "Why not?"

    "It''s just an option for the future. I need training first."

    ''Lots of training,'' she added to herself and chewed slowly. She had no idea what to expect. Her boss demanded excellence. If she slipped up once, it might trigger him. She wanted to avoid that at all costs.

    If she used Evangeline and asked him the details, would that be considered cheating? If Ambryan found out, she could just exin that she wanted to do an exceptional job. He''d forgive that, wouldn''t he?

    Wouldn''t he?

    "Well," Andie huffed. She ced her hands on her hips and tilted her head to the side. The light reflected in her stormy blue eyes. "How are you going to train?"

    "Sir Hathaway will." Eve answered. She tore another piece. This time, she used both marinara and cheese sauce. Thetter had a bit of jpeno. It brought the pizza to new levels. Maybe next time they''d have more toppings.

    "He will" Andie dragged, cocking an eyebrow. "Teach you?"

    Eve licked her bottom lip. She tasted a dash of cheese sauce. "Sort of?"

    Her best friend shook her head, scoffing. She shifted her gaze towards her te. Unlike Eve, Andie enjoyed her cheese pizza just the way it is. She did add a bit of hot sauce sometimes though.

    "I don''t know which I ship better," she started to say, taking a bite. "Everlee and Ambryan or Evangeline and Ambryan?"

    "Neither." Eve choked on a piece. The jpeno burned in her throat. She closed her eyes as rapid fire spread across her neck. Her hand tapped on the kitchen ind, searching for her root beer. She drained all of it in one gulp.

    The can ttered on the table when she mmed it down. She panted, catching her breath.

    ''Evangeline and Ambryan'' Eve understood since they would datebut ''Everlee and Ambryan''? As secretary and CEO? Highly unlikely. Because of the five rules, they maintained a pure business rtionship. More than that was impossible.

    Andie pouted her lips. "Aw,e on. Evryan has a ring to it."

    Eve was d that she hadn''t eaten anything yet. Her best friend''s statement almost caused another choking incident. It might be for the best that she wouldn''t take another bite until the topic changed.

    "It sounds like ''everyone''," she groaned. Eh-vree-yan? She flinched when she repeated it in her head. What horrible names they had. At least, horrible enough to not be joint together. It was a signa sign that they weren''t meant to be.

    Unfortunately for her, Andie had the opposite opinion.

    "Exactly!" Her best friend blurted out. "And both of your names have ''E'' and ''V''. It''s perfect. It can work for either Everlee or Evangeline. It solves my problem."

    "It is far from perfect," Eve retorted. It was only half the attempt. Her gut told her that Andie wouldn''t change her mind. She focused back on the food, taking smaller bites.

    "It is!" Andie insisted. She cackled at herself. "If he falls for either one, it''s still you."

    Ambryan wouldn''t be her first choice for her best friend. She had tried to convince Eve to date many times before. Each one shot down because of ck of time''. Since she spent so much time with her boss anyway, Andie would just settle for him.

    She would skewer himter instead.

    "Sir Hathaway is unlikely to fall." Eve snorted. She took another slice and put it on her te. It now had sshes of marinara and cheese sauce. She used the crust to wipe them off.

    "Suit yourself." Her best friend rolled her eyes. "Anything can happen in 9 months. I''ll be the oneughing when you wear a ring on your finger."

    ...

    ...

    ...

    Cale Fisher sat on a velvet sofa. He had his legs crossed and leaned on the backrest. His thumbs tapped on his phone screen, replying to messages. Golden chain dangled on his teal suit''s breast pocket. The essory coupled with the buttons of his matching vest underneath. A silk ck tie hung from his neck.

    He wore a serene expression, humming to himself. The world outside of the shop became dark. On the counter beside him, the receptionist had left to attend to a customer inside.

    A wind chime jingled from the entrance.

    The modelling manager looked up.

    He hid his phone and rose to his feet. His beaming smile showed off his pearly white teeth. It stretched his lips so wide that it became hard to see his aqua blue eyes.

    "Eve! So good to see you!" Cale squealed, hugging his new model. He pulled away after a second and gripped her upper arms. "I heard you have a date this Saturday?"

    "Cale," Eve chuckled. The energy was simply infectious. It even lifted her lips into a smile. "It''s good to see you too but it''s a meet up not a date."

    Before the end of her office hours, Avery sent her an ''urgent'' message. It stated that Cale could only help her this evening. The first meeting with Ambryan was only two days away and Cale would attend another event. The makeover had to be done now.

    They needed to use their time efficiently.

    "Oh, technicalities." Cale folded his hands hard, waving them downwards once. "You and Yan will still see each other. That''s what matters."

    "I see."

    Eve chose not to say anything else. Her brown eyes swept across the establishment. Whoever did the interior loved gold. Every surface gleamed like newly polished ss. The only colors that stood out were the red velvet coach and the leaves from potted nts.

    If she sniffed, would she know what wealth smelled like?

    "Where are you meeting each other?" Cale asked, leading her towards the back.

    Behind the receptionist''s desk, several hallways led to different private rooms. Customers merely browse a catalog for the clothes they want to try. It followed old traditions of tailoring and dressmaking. The use ofrge dressing rooms was to instantly measure the adjustments.

    Every item was altered to fit the customer, believing that clothes worked best when it entuated a person''s figure. The right trim could bring out confidence and make someone feel beautiful.

    ''All of this for the meetup?'' Eve felt intimidated. Compared to this luxurious ce, she seemed as small as a mouse. She had expected something that resembled boutiques and department stores. This was way out of her league.

    "I am actually not sure," she finally replied after the initial shock. "I just said to see him in a week."

    The appointment today came so sudden. She previously nned to message Ambryan tomorrow. Avery didn''t remind her to check out notifications. She assumed there hadn''t been any. Her boss was also busy because of the meeting with the board of directors.

    Nothing hinted her to reach outuntil now.

    Cale frowned on one lip corner. He crossed his arms over his chest. "But you have the app now, right? Why don''t you ask him? If we''ll pick out your outfit, I want it to be appropriate for the asion."

    "I..." Eve scowled.

    "Oh, for heaven''s sake!" He eximed, spinning on his heel. He led her to a reserved room and chatted away. "The both of you should learn thatmunication is key. You can''t date for 9 months and not talk. Since Evangeline can''t see him while Eve is working, you''ll have to get used to digital talking."

    "I do talk to him though," Eve defended, whining a little. "Except it''s only as Eve. I can''t really ask him about the date unless he does. He hasn''t asked anything at all, not even a reservation for somewhere."

    The room had a round tform with three mirrors. A curtain hung from a circr beam. She guessed it was meant for changing. A vanity mirror was pushed against the north wall. Studio like lights suspended from the ceiling.

    Other than those, the design of the small room catered to lounging for other guests.

    Cale sat down on another velvet couch. A coffee table filled with catalogs stood in front of it. His fingers walked across the covers, his eyes searching for the correct one. He yanked it and flipped to the first page.

    Then, he patted the spot next to him.

    Eve immediately understood and took a seat.

    "I know this is new to you, Eve," Cale exhaled sharply. His gaze never left the catalog. "Of course, we don''t expect you to chat while at work. It''s risky to do so. What you should do, even once every night, is to send him one message. If he replies and you''re awake, good. Talk. If not, well, there is the next day."

    Silence fell in the room. Only the sound of flipping pages pierced the air. Eve bit her inner cheek. She knew she had to contact Ambryan. Except, she relied on him to make the first move.

    Was that bad?

    After a few more seconds, Cale raised his chin and met uneasy brown eyes. His heart softened at the sight. His hands reached for Eve''s and patted them. "It will take time but you will get used to it. Why don''t you try out the app now?"

 Chapter 32: A Bit of Strawberry Innocence

    Chapter 32: A Bit of Strawberry Innocence

    Eve let out a deep breath.

    Cale''s aqua blue eyes calmed down her growing nerves. She noticed that her body was shaking. The realization hit her like a ton of bricks, sinking her heart. This was too much. She couldn''t always be nervous.

    For that to change, she needed to take the necessary steps.

    "Okay."

    "Good!" Cale remarked. He shifted his focus back on the catalog and waved his hand over his shoulder. "I''ll leave you to it while I try to see what outfit works for anything."

    Eve nodded, taking out her phone. She downloaded the app yesterday by using Avery''s email link. The design surprised her. It no longer had the same color palette. The red, gold and gray were gone. Instead, the icon''s background was violet. It illuminated as if its center had a shlight underneath.

    Of course, the web address became the app name.

    ''Date'' ''The'' ''CEO'' were divided into three rows and fit the square space. When she clicked on it, it would lead her to the home page. Five purple buttons filled her screen in a swivel. Each had a symbol and a name underneath.

    > Chat

    > Call

    > Memories

    > Calendar

    > Capture

    Eve picked the first one. The window already contained their previous conversations from the website. It had added features like voice recording, camera and attachments option. She found it standard for a messaging app. Unlike the vibrant colors of the icon and the home page, this one had a simple white mauve background. The header contained the violet color and Ambryan''s profile picture.

    She clicked on the new message bar at the bottom.

    .

    ``Lin: Good evening, Mr. Hathaway.``

    .

    Eve scrunched her brows. She almost used ''Sir Hathaway''. Luckily, she noticed right away and changed her mode of addressing him. A check mark showed up under her message. She sneaked a peek at Cale. The catalog had several post-it marks now. It came from a pad provided on the coffee table.

    She assumed it was to make it easier for the staff.

    Her phone vibrated in her hands.

    .

    ``Yan: Good evening, Ms. Evangeline.``

    .

    Eve pressed her lips together. He replied quicker than she thought. Work ended about an hour ago. Ambryan insisted the use of the office wasn''t essential since he had one at his penthouse. Since he prioritized the meeting with the board, he only needed aputer and a stable connection.

    This was a rare time when her work demanded little of her.

    ''What would Evangeline say?'' She thought as she typed on the keypad.

    .

    ``Lin: Not busy tonight? I had the impression that you never sleep.``

    ``Yan: How absurd. Wouldn''t that mean my mother lied when she wrote that I find health as a priority?``

    .

    ''He did seem fit.'' Eve remembered. She''d seen him help out when they needed to move fast. He lifted arge box easily on one shoulder, keeping his posture straight. Not a crease appeared on his clothes. His sophistication stayed untouched.

    She also heard several hearts flutter at the sight.

    .

    ``Lin: Alright, then. I''ll rephrase it.``

    .

    Eve''s corner lip smirked. Her next message was something she told Andie as a joke. She still thought it could be true. Sometimes, the timestamps in his emails disclosed early hourswhen the sun hadn''t risen yet.

    .

    ``Lin: You probably work even in your sleep.``

    ``Yan: What did you message me for, Ms. Evangeline? I doubt it involves your concern over my sleeping habits.``

    .

    Snorting, Eve revealed her intention.

    .

    ``Lin: I wanted to ask where the meetup would be? I have to make a good first impression, right?``

    .

    ''There. I did it,'' she thought, pushing on the lock button. She pressed the tip of her phone against her chin. Her brown eyes gazed up at the ceiling. That didn''t turn out as bad as she feared. Maybe next time she''d take the casual direct approach.

    Her mind bookmarked the thought for future reference.

    Her phone vibrated between her hands.

    .

    ``Yan: I have a reservation in a restaurant. If you check the ''Calendar'' option, you will find the details. Look it over and message me if you''re confused over something.``

    .

    Eve blinked. She hadn''t checked out the app but her boss had? A sighed flowed out of her lips. At least, one of them took this seriouslydespite how they both have leverages. Wait a minute If something new came up in the Calendar, shouldn''t she receive a notification?

    As soon as she thought of it, a pop up shed on top of her screen.

    ``New Calendar Event!`` It said.

    She clicked on it and the screen moved to the calendar feature. Theyout looked like any digital mobile calendar but with the app colors. A blue highlight covered the current date, July 16. Two boxes to the right, July 18 had a different highlight. It blossomed in light pink.

    Light. Pink.

    Eve shook her head and looked over its contents.

    ```

    What: First Meetup

    When: July 18, 20XX

    Where: Stitz Bristo

    ```

    "Stitz Bristo...," she read out loud.

    "Oh, I love it there!"

    Eve jumped.

    She snapped her head towards Cale who reacted suddenly. His aqua blue eyes flew wide and shined with excitement. It lit up his entire face. He pped his hands together, his mouth opening from anticipation.

    "It''s also one of Yan''s favorite ces to eat." Cale informed her. His hands flipped over the catalog, searching for a page he marked. "I saw this strawberry pink chiffon midi-dress that would look good on you. It''s simple but has a bit ir. I''m telling you someday it will go viral."

    Eve peeked over his shoulder. The catalog stopped at a page. Now that she got a good look, she noticed that it resembled a scrapbook. Each sheet had one photo and had intricate details about the clothing such as their fabrics.

    Focusing on the picture, Eve''s jaw dropped. The dress was beautiful. She knew it. The skirt ended around the knees. The short sleeves puffed out. Strings wrapped around the waist, mimicking a corset without the boning structure.

    It also had a plunging neckline.

    Cale touched her upper arm, his smile growing wide as he stared at the dress. "From now on, you shall be the pioneer of trends."

    (A/N: Good thing I am in the future then because this timeline is definitely not 2020.)

    A staff member came by to serve them beverages and fingerlings. Cale helped himself with the strawberry scones. He browsed the catalog more, preparing for any asion. It would be better if Evangeline had a wardrobe ready.

    Impulsive meetups happened often.

    Eve stepped on the tform when the dress arrived. She lifted it in one hand, noting its weight.

    It was light as air.

    Then, would she feel naked wearing it?

    She shook the thought out of her head and changed out of her office wear. The inside of the dress was soft and silky. Something she appreciated. Most chiffon clothing made her itch. This kind she could learn to love.

    Her hands tied the strings, creating a bow. The loops weren''t asymmetrical as she liked. So, she tried again several times. It really didn''t cooperate with her.

    In the mirror, her gazended on the neckline. The point stopped at the base of two dumplings. It actually seemed better than her initial thoughts. The cups covered most of her breasts.

    Yet, it still felt provocative.

    Eve poked her head out of the curtains. "Cale, is there another dress? I feel like I''m seducing my boss with this."

    "Seduce?!" The modelling manager scoffed. He stood up from the sofa and walked over. His face wore an incredulous look. "Darling, if you want to seduce, there are more appropriate dresses for that. Just tell me so we can switch."

    "No, no, no!" Eve protested, her brown eyes widening in horror. "Maybe I''m just notfortable with this deep V-neck."

    Cale parted the curtain open, examining the dress and his model. It turned out exactly how he imagined it. The sleeves emphasized her shoulders. The bodice shaped the curves of her upper body.

    Ruffles circled the hem, adding a bit of yful innocence. The strawberry glitter pattern gleamed under the studio-like lights.

    He loved it.

    It fitted her down to the T.

    "Eve, you''re fine. Your chest size is 34B. You can fill up this dress and it wouldn''t look revealing," Cale assured her. He turned her around to face him and reached out to fix the strings.

    Then, he hit her shoulder lightly.

    "unt your assets, girl."

    Eveughed awkwardly. Now, that was something she hadn''t thought about these past years.

    "How well do you know makeup?" He asked, switching the topic. He crossed his arms over his chest and scowled. "The look I did on you was very specific. You think you''d be able to recreate it this Saturday?"

    "I don''t really dabble into it" Eve admitted. Her voice became small by the end of her statement. It would be a long time before she even reached half of his skills.

    If she didn''t think fast, this whole n could fail in two days.

    Then, her eyes twinkled. Inspiration lit up on top of her head as she snapped her fingers. A wide smile spread across her lips.

    "But I know someone who might."

 Chapter 33: The First Glance

    Chapter 33: The First nce

    Stitz Bristo offered a cool getaway from the afternoon weather.

    The scorching sun loomed high in the sky. It smoldered the concrete surface. Heat waves radiated and almost floated up like a haze. Beads of sweat buckets trickled down people''s backs. Outdoor workers drenched themselves in cold water, hoping for any break from the high temperature.

    Unlike them, Eve had one foot out of the parking lot.

    Arge straw hat shielded her face as she gazed up at the establishment. She admired its exterior design of apricot bricks and cream timbers. If she ignored everything else, it would seem she fell back in time. Her heart thundered in her chest.

    Her hands started to be cold.

    ''This might not be such a good idea,'' she considered mentally. Sweat formed on top of her rouge colored lips. Did ite from nerves or the heat? She didn''t know. A vibrate came from her pocket. A sigh from her lips followed it.

    Eve knew what it contained before she even checked the screen.

    She took out her phone and spared the notification a nce.

    .

    ``Yan: Do inform me of your whereabouts.``

    .

    She muttered out a curse as anxiety flowed into her veins. A sinking feeling weighed in her chest. She sensed that someone was watching heras if two holes bore into her hat. They burned through the straws hotter than the zing sun.

    Her hazel eyes slowly raised up.

    One of the second story windows had its curtains open.

    A pair of violet eyes met her gaze.

    Time slowed down. The world around blurred into nothingness. Sounds muffled down until muted. There was no blistering heat. There was no other living creature. There was no earth and space.

    It was only the two of them,

    In this bubble that they created.

    Eve waved, attempting a shy smile.

    Ambryan turned away, leaving the window behind.

    "Well, that''s a good start," Eve chuckled to herself. A breeze flew by and ruffled her skirt. Her hands grabbed the wig, hoping it won''t tangle. She waited for the wind to pass before she resumed her agenda.

    With the first nce done, she took a deep breath and walked through the main entrance.

    Her ankle strap heels tapped against the pavement. A sling bag swayed beside her hips. The tips of her crimson wig fluttered on her lower back. She removed the hat once she reached inside. Her hands held it over her chest, hiding most of the neckline.

    It made her feel much better.

    An usher greeted her right away and led her upstairs. Her hazel eyes swept across the dining area. Most customers kept to themselves as she observed. One little girl waved her way and she smiled, returning the gesture. That small moment warmed her up.

    "Right this way, Ms. Reed." The usher opened an oak door.

    The room reminded Eve of a cabin. Mint green curtains hung over the window. Pine wood, in weathered oak stain, covered its walls and its floor. The wooden furniture matched the cream ceiling. The only one that deviated from the woond theme was a linen loveseat sofa, standing next to a bookcase.

    If it wasn''t for the air-conditioning, Eve guessed that this room would be warmer than it looks.

    Ambryan had his shoulder against the west wall. He had his hands tucked in his pant pockets. His all-ck suit stuck out against the light and bright interior design. His violet eyes crystallized underneath his ''permanent'' scowl. A grim line pulled the corners of his lips.

    The usher closed the door.

    "Good afternoon, Ms. Evangeline." Ambryan greeted and pushed himself off the wall. He stood with his feet apart, positing himself on the other side of the table. Nothing shifted in his aloof expression.

    Eve cleared her throat. She changed her manner of speech and used her head voice. It sounded lighter and airier than her chest one.

    "Pleased to meet you too, Mr. Hathaway." She shed him a kind smile.

    Mentally, Eve panicked. She almost bowed her head at the sight of him. Something Avery and Cale restricted her from doing. They considered it a dead giveaway for her real identity since it was a habit she developed from her job.

    She must see him as her equal, nothing less.

    "Do you love nature?" Ambryan suddenly asked. His head tilted to one side. "Is that why you stood outside while I waited on my feet?"

    Eve blinked her hazel eyes.

    Then, she flickered them to the sofa and to the chairs. The room had enough furnishings for him to sit anywhere. He could use the table for all she cared. The staff would probably permit him to do so.

    She frowned, wondering where this would lead. "Why didn''t you take a seat?"

    "It''smon courtesy for males to stand up whenever ady joins the table or leaves it."

    "But I hadn''t arrived yet."

    "I assumed you were close by from yourst message," he exined and walked around the table. He towered over her easily. His hands reached out for the chair, pulling it back. Not once did his eyes leave hers. "So, I stood up while waiting. Please take a seat."

    Eve snapped her head towards the chair. It angled in her direction, waiting for her to sit down. Never had a piece of furniture looked more intimidating than now.

    She shifted her attention back on Ambryan. She stared at him through hershes.

    "I do apologize, Mr. Hathaway. If I had known better, I would have ran up here." A tiny smirk stretched at her corner lip. "Yet, at the same time, I''d love to relish in the fact that Eros'' CEO waited for me while standing."

    Ambryan narrowed his gaze.

    "It seems like you love nature," he began to say. One of his hands remained on the chair''s backrest. "I can change the table to one that is outside."

    "I do love nature, Mr. Hathaway, but for summertime, I prefer the indoors." Eve chuckled. She pulled the straw hat closer to her chest, remembering about the dress. She wasn''t sure if Ambryan could see the neckline from his viewpoint.

    She wasn''t about to take chances.

    "Most people liked to explore during this season." Ambryan dered. He shifted his weight to one foot, letting the other rest. His temple pulsed underneath his skin.

    "Then, I''m not most people, aren''t I?" Eve joked, giggling for a bit. Her muscles rxed from the sensation. The tension in the room melted a little. "Isn''t everyone different? Like yourself?"

    Ambryan took a step forward. The hat she held touched near his chest. His gaze almost dropped to the floor as he stared at her. The close proximity gave him a better look at her face. Those pure hazel eyes peered into his, seeing past the surface.

    He watched as a gasp parted her juicy lip gloss coated lips.

    Eve gulped, maintaining eye contact. She angled the straw hat so it would hide the dress top from the ceiling. Her heart pumped in her ears. She was sure the same happened to her other pulses.

    Maic waves discharged between her and Ambryan.

    A grip sneaked from under the straw hat, attempting to peel it off her fingers. Her hands resisted and didn''t let go. It became a small tug-of-war. Neither of their gazes surrendered from the pressure.

    "I''d suggest you sit down and drink the coffee while it''s still hot." Ambryan advised. His free hand touched hers and pulled it gently away from the hat. "I''ll put this on the coat rack."

    Eve released the hat, turning on her heel. She sat down as he walked towards the door. She used this chance to spread the wig over her chest. It may not hide the necklinepletely but it lessened the exposure of her chest.

    Footsteps tapped against the wooden floor.

    Her heart matched each beat. Something happened in the previous moment. She had been with Ambryan''s side for five years. Not once did she experience something like it. Was it because their office rtionship didn''t exist here?

    Ambryan sat across from her, proceeding to brew himself a cup of tea.

    Eve observed his hands. They drifted across the table as if they crafted an art. Every movement seemed calctedlike they always create the perfect tea. Each step stemmed from well constructed thoughts and perception.

    This wasn''t the first time she saw it but she couldn''t help her admiration.

    She still waited for the day she''d master his cup of tea.

    "Does the coffee not suit your tastes?" Ambryan suddenly spoke. His eyes remained on his hands as he poured hot water into his cup. "The bristo offers a variety. I only picked a Caff mocha. You can have it switched with whatever you prefer."

    "You ordered me coffee?" Eve asked, shaking away her daze. She nced at her own spot on the table. A gray ceramic cup sat on a porcin saucer. The milk foam reached the rim, almost overflowing. Chocte syrup streaked over it. The barista created a flower design on the coffee''s surface.

    It looked too good to drink.

    "Yes, is there a problem?" She heard him say.

    Eve pondered on the question. Her eyes looked up, scowling in confusion. "Your voice tells me one thing. Your actions say another. It makes me wonder why the inconsistency exists."

    She''d never seen him this considerate to a stranger before. They only applied to long term business partners. Even for Avery''s visits, he let thetter make the order for any beverage. Other times, it was mostly her initiative that arranged finger food and water.

    Perhaps her boss was actually this way all this time?

    She just never saw him for casual gatherings?

    Ambryan sipped his ck tea. "I''ve been instructed to be hospitable and amodating."

    "Was it your mother?" Eve chuckled, lifting her own warm cup. She should have known it was Avery''s doing. "Did she tell you to do these things so you''d win over a girl''s heart? It''s pretty good advice. My heart would have fluttered."

 Chapter 34: The First Meeting

    Chapter 34: The First Meeting

    Ambryan lifted up his violet eyes, his lips still touching the teacup''s rim.

    Evangeline held her coffee with two hands. She slipped one finger through the handle and cradled the mug near her lips. Her eyes closed as she inhaled the aroma. A satisfied moan rumbled in her throat.

    "Now, this. This is good coffee," she whispered, opening her eyes. The coffee lit up her entire face. "I think I''de back here just to try the others."

    They just sat there for a while and enjoyed their beverages.

    Ambryan enjoyed the silence. It seemed that his hunch was right. Evangeline was a woman who felt the same. She neither tried to talk to him nor created noise. This might actually be a rare peaceful lunch.

    As much as he''d prefer it that way, they needed to discuss several things.

    "Ms. Evangeline, if you don''t mind, I''d like to open up a topic," he said, breaking the ice. The teacup ttered on the saucer. He patted his lips with the table napkin.

    "And what would that be, Mr. Hathaway?" Evangeline kept the mug near her face. She merely raised her eyebrows at him.

    "It''s regarding the next 9 months."

    No matter what his mother told him, a rtionship still had a few simrities with business transactionsespecially for one that wasn''t ordinary. He watched her expression carefully. He wanted to assess her reaction.

    Evangeline put her coffee down, licking her lips. She took the table napkin and cleaned off the residue on her face. "About our rtionship, you mean? Are we going to announce it or something? Because I would protest strongly."

    "Absolutely not," Ambryan snapped. The frown lines between his brows deepened. "I dislike the press. I just use them whenever I need their advantage."

    He had a reason as to why he never corrected them about his dating life. It served as a hint for future dates, letting them know that it wouldn''tst for long. He only intervened if it involved irrelevant details and false assumptions.

    "Do you have any demands?" He continued. It was better to make things clear from the beginning. He didn''t want unnecessary misunderstandings.

    Evangeline folded her hands over the table. Her forehead creased from confusion. "Demands?"

    "From the rtionship."

    He heard her tongue click. Her left cheekpressed as she bit it on the inside. He watched as her eyes retreated from reality. The expression intrigued him. He sped his hands together and waited, studying her.

    She wasn''t a conversationalist. That was true.

    However, she didn''t need to be. She wore her thoughts on her face.

    "I only ask for what I said. That I''d be able to ept, to refuse or to argue freely." Evangeline repeated, meeting his eyes. He did remember the message. He already agreed to it before.

    Ambryan cleared his throat. He was about to respond when she cut in before he could.

    "But now that I think about it" Evangeline suddenly said. A small twinkle gleamed in her eyes. The corners of her lips curled up as she gained an idea, "There might be some things I''d like."

    Ambryan leaned back and crossed his legs. Now, this sounded much better. His demeanor switched to his business mode. He narrowed his gaze, keeping his expression neutral.

    "State your terms."

    Evangeline shifted in her seat. She lifted her pinky finger and proceeded to share her conditions. Her hazel eyes turned serious.

    "One, don''t contact me during working hours. I think our schedule is almost the same. If you message me during work, don''t expect that I''d reply outside of the agreed time."

    Her next finger rose up, not missing a beat. The words flowed out of her mouth without hesitation. "Two, no impromptu visits. Everything must be told beforehand. If you ever want to visit me at work or at home, give me one hour notice, at least. I will also do the same in reverse."

    "Three, don''t bringpanions." She emphasized, raising her middle finger. Her tone became crisp and clean cut. "Whenever we meet, unless circumstantial, I''d like it to be just the two of us. I heard rumors about your previous women and your secretary. I''d like to avoid it at all costs."

    Ambryan grimaced. It was subtle. Only those who knew how to look would notice. None of the tabloids ever mentioned his secretary in his love life. He pondered on where she could have heard such a thing. From his mother perhaps?

    She probably heard about the breakups Eve did on his behalf.

    Evangeline continued to talk, unaware of his reaction. "Four, noining if I can''t make it to an event. I''m not at your beck and call. I have my own life which I may or may not share with you. I won''t turn without a proper reason even if I don''t tell you what it is."

    "That''s a lot of don''ts," he finally spoke up. Not that he had a problem with them. He found it as refreshing as her. The others clung to his contact number like parasites. They flooded his phone with attention-seeking messages.

    He never replied.

    "Well, here is one that''s different." Evangeline chuckled. Her thumb rose up,pleting her hand. "Five, do greet me the moment you wake up and the moment before you sleep."

    Ambryan cocked an eyebrow. "Why?"

    That seemed like an odd request.

    "I see it a lot." She shrugged, lifting up her coffee mug. She smiled at her own cleverness. "Besides, your mother likes to watch over. This way we contact each other twice per day. It will satisfy her for sometime."

    She took a sip of the warm mocha. "Oh, all of these also apply to me, of course, including thest one. If I wake up first then, I''ll be the first to message. If not, I''ll greet back. Simple."

    Ambryan gritted his teeth, rubbing his chin. The five rules seemed to be reasonable enough. He also didn''t want to be disturbed while at work. Since they would only date for 9 months, it wouldn''t be necessary for her to meet people in his life.

    Things were working out better than he expected.

    "I agree with these terms," he replied.

    Evangeline stopped drinking and beamed. A mustache made of milk foam coated below her nose. "Great! How about you? Do you have something I should take note of?"

    Ambryan held back a snort, closing his eyes. The sight reminded him of a child. It resurfaced a memory from the past. It was a time of warm milk before bed and cereal in the morning. The sun always shone brightly in those days.

    It had been a while since he remembered it.

    "What is it?" Evangeline frowned.

    He opened his eyes and tapped a finger above his lips. An amused smirk stretched his rough lips. His chest rumbled from the quietughter. "You have something over here."

    The woman before him widened her eyes. She put the mug down and covered her mouth, grabbing the table napkin. Her head ducked on one side as she cleaned off the milk foam. She cursed at how much it was.

    Ambryan used the time topose himself.

    The door opened and a trolley rolled inside. The waiter served their dishes while Evangeline opened apact mirror. She inspected her mouth area as well as her cheeks, leaving no spot unturned. The reflection astonished her.

    "Wow, this lipstick is amazing. It''s not even patchy yet," she could help but say. The lip gloss wore off but the rogue color remained. It was different from the ones she owned.

    The savory smell of freshly cooked food wafted in the air. The table now showcased several dishes. It had two tes of Caesar sd, two bowls of hot cream soup, two tes of salmon belly and two sses of water with lemon slices.

    "Do eat. This course meal is Stitz Bristo''s specialty. They''d appreciate any feedback," Ambryan called out from across the table. He arranged his set of meals in order. For this asion, he let the order of etiquette out the window.

    Evangeline slipped her mirror inside the sling bag. She zipped it up and scooted the chair closer to the table. The room smelled delicious. If she wasn''t careful, she might eat something not tagged as edible.

    She shook her head at the wonderful spread. "It''s like a food harem."

    "We still have somewhere to go after this," he informed her, starting with the salmon belly dish. The knife went through in one clean cut. He dipped the piece into its sauce.

    "Where are we going?" Evangeline questioned as she grabbed the sd te. The amount of parmesan cheese had caught her attention. The lettuce was also vividly green. It crunched under her fork. The sound was music to her ears.

    Ambryan bit the salmon slice and chewed. He savored the taste. The sauce oozed onto his tongue. The belly was soft and easy to eat while the skin was crispy, adding a salty tang.

    He swallowed it quickly and answered her curiosity.

    A smirk yed on his lips as he reached for a ss of water.

    "To our first date."

 Chapter 35: The First First Date

    Chapter 35: The First First Date

    Eve felt her stomach expand.

    The strings around her torso did not help. She devoured the food like her life depended on it. Not only did every bite go to her stomach but they also went to her heart. Stitz Bristo now owned her foodie soul.

    No wonder Andie bought their book.

    No wonder Ambryan loved this ce.

    She also fell into its spell, not regretting anything.

    "I take it the food is to your liking?" Ambryan asked. He brewed another cup of tea, already finished with his course meal. His posture rxed on his seat as he sipped his tea.

    Eve cut a piece of the chocte cupcake. She made sure to get a bit of its purple icing. She loved how it was the right amount of sweetness. From her guess, it had some white chocte and a bit of cream cheese.

    "Mr. Hathaway, do you not have any conditions of your own?" She suddenly asked, remembering how he never answered. She chewed faster and swallowed the cupcake. "I doubt that you opened the topic without having any in mind."

    Ambryan kept his gaze on the teacup. "Mine focuses on after the 9 months end."

    "Is that so?"

    It seemed reasonable. Now that he mentioned it, Eve realized its importance. Would they never talk again? She had to let Evangeline go at some point. Her double identity couldn''tst forever, especially around Ambryan.

    Others may think that Evangeline Reed was only a stage name. But, it could backfire someday.

    Eve put down the fork. She drank some water to wash down the chocte in her throat. "What do you have in mind?"

    She gave him her full attention, trying to focus. This was important. She felt d that he took the initiative. They wouldn''t need to worry about it when the timees. She just assumed it would be the same as his previous breakups.

    Hopefully, not with her breaking up with Evangeline.

    It wouldn''t even make sense after her demands.

    She thanked her wits for thinking of them. She would worry less now about shing with her other identity and job. It solved many future problems. She gave herself a mental pat on the back.

    Ambryan leaned on the table. His violet met hers. They shined just like her crimson hair. The sunlight from the window illuminated them, making them stand out from her fair skin. The cat-eye liner added a sultry effect to the round shape.

    "We''ll part ways, of course." He dered, not questioned.

    Eve nodded her head once. "Of course."

    Ambryan stirred the tea with only his wrist. His gaze scrutinized her face. She stared back with an unshakeable determination. He really found nothing. No hint of a hidden intention or motive.

    Instead of being frustrated, he felt contentwhich encouraged him to say his next words.

    "My offer of doubling my mother''s bargain still stands."

    "Wait, what?" Eve gasped, scowling. Her blood simmered in her veins as she glowered at him. Her voice came out through gritted teeth. "For what reason would you give me that money? To never contact you after?"

    ''Why is this brought up again?'' She asked herself. Wasn''t her opinion earlier clear? Or was it for another situation? It had been a week since that conversation. Her assumption for the deal was to quit the site.

    So it turned out to be this one instead?

    "It''s for cooperating with me in a fake rtionship," Ambryan exined. He raised a skeptical eyebrow. "You do understand that it''s fake and no one could know about it?"

    "That''s a given." Eve didn''t expect anything less. Even without a formal discussion, she knew he''d only y along. That was what they talked about briefly.

    "Anyway, I''d be asking you to lie to my mom. It would be the least that I could do."

    Eve froze in her seat. Now, she just stumbled in a web of lies, hadn''t she? Would this lie cancel out her previous one? Probably not. She could still suddenly lose her job since it collided with the rules.

    She had no means of escape.

    Avery should have predicted this, right?

    "You do know I have an agreement with your mother?" Eve reminded Ambryan. The main point was for them to date. What kind of situations would be thrown at them that they''d need another formal contract?

    "I am aware." He nodded.

    "Then, there''s no need for this. I am here to do my side of the bargain. I gave her my word so I''ll be doing my best," Eve repeated the same statement with Avery. Just how specific did things have to be?

    Ambryan hardened his gaze. "Are you sure?"

    "Yes, I''m sure."

    "Alright." He sighed, grabbing his cup of tea. "But negotiations are open in the future."

    "Of course, depending on unforeseen circumstances." Eve agreed. They didn''t know what these 9 months had in store. For now, they should focus on bingfortable with one another. Heavens knew that she was still trying to grasp the concept.

    "So, when will we leave?"

    ...

    ...

    ...

    ...

    ...

    Eve gaped at the infrastructure. "Parthenos Mall?"

    It had the size of roughly 140, 000 square meters, resembling buildings from Ancient Greek. From the outside, she estimated that it had three floors. Revolving doors covered the entrance. The white paint seemed new.

    It reminded her of a museum.

    "Have you never been to one?" Ambryan asked beside her. His eyes stared straight ahead. "I think this one opened around this year."

    "I must have missed the news" Eve mumbled. Her neighborhood was close to a local mall. She and Andie mostly did their shopping in it. If she wasn''t mistaken, Parthenos Mall was internationally known, branching out to several countries.

    Whoever owned the mall chain must be really rich.

    Ambryan walked ahead, entering the premises.

    Eve followed his lead. She wondered what they''d do in a mall. Of all ces for a date, why a mall? They already ate too. The doors led them to the center sect. It was a wide section of the mall. The stalls contained many famous brands.

    The two walked side by side.

    Ambryan stepped with purpose. His gaze trained on his goal. Everything else faded away from his attention. Heads turned in his direction. His imposing presence drew them in, curious about his identity. A few workers wondered if he was part of the top management.

    Eve twisted a lot as she tried to catch a glimpse of everything. The cleanliness and hygiene impressed her. Unaware of her own inviting aura, the people followed her with their eyes. They found her approachablepared to herpaniondespite how beautiful she was.

    Stepping through ss doors, Eve noted how the store looked bigger on the inside. It had a theme of cream and mustard colors, varying in shades. Bright lights peeked from carved rectangr holes on the ceiling. Smaller ones littered around their products'' shelf corners.

    In the middle, a cash register sat on a counter. The surface had a ss disy that showcased essory items such as wallets. Behind it, shelves of newly released bags towered to the ceiling.

    It had two hallways on either side, leading to more shelves and disy counters behind.

    Eve nced over her shoulder. She missed the front sign. Her lips muttered out a curse. She needed to stop looking at everything.

    "Good afternoon, how may I help you?" A shop worker approached them. She wore a matching ck zer and pencil skirt, brown hair cropped short. Her ck eyes peeked through rounded square frames.

    ''Louisse Tonvui'' was embroidered on her breast pocket.

    Eve''s blood drained off her face. She heard this name before.

    Ambryan stepped forward and said, "We''d like to browse your private collection."

    "Do you have a membership card?"

    He took out his wallet and showed her a sleek ck credit card with gold detailing around the edges. Nothing about it screamed wealth at first nce. Only a small symbol of an eagle indicated significance.

    It was more than enough to grant permission.

    The shop worker bowed her head, turning on her heel. "Please step this way."

    Eve trailed behind Ambryan and the sales representative. An ominous feeling clouded over her head. They passed by the shelves behind the main counter. A narrow doorway led them to a smaller room. It had carpeted flooring and lesser items. A round sofa chair stood at the center.

    Ambryan and the worker remained on their feet. Thetter gestured to the east wall which had bags in various designs and sizes. "This is ourtest collection. It will be out next month and is only open to VIP customers. If sold out, there won''t be any production for more stock."

    She grabbed a tote bag. The pattern contained the brand''s logo. Her hands unzipped it and showed the interior. It looked, felt and sounded sturdy. No one could deny the high quality leather and gold zipper.

    "What do you think?" Ambryan asked, shifting his attention towards Eve.

    "They''re lovely?" Eve choked. What was she supposed to say about a luxury bag? She had zero knowledge on how to assess its value. As long as it was durable and couldst for years, she''d consider it as high quality.

    Ambryan paused for a second, observing her expression. Silence surrounded the room as both women waited for hisment.

    When Eve opened her mouth to ask, he turned away. She swallowed back her words.

    "Please pack them up. We''ll take them all," Ambryan instructed the sales representative. He stepped back immediately to let her do the work.

    "Yes, sir. Right away."

    "Wait, wait, wait" Eve protested. She approached the two with her hands raised. Her body angled towards Ambryan. "What do you mean by that? I thought we were going on a date?"

    Ambryan frowned at her. "We are."

    "So, this is your idea of dating?"

    "What idea would that be?" He asked, crossing his arms over his chest.

    "Shopping."

    Ambryan narrowed his gaze. "Do couples not go shopping for dates?"

    Eve exchanged looks with the sales representative. Thetter merely shrugged. She was just here to do her job. Whatever the pair decided on or argued about, she would stay out of it.

    "They do but" Eve groped the corners of her mind, searching for a good way to exin. "Ugh, let me ask you. Are you enjoying yourself right now?"

    "I don''t see why that is relevant."

    She snorted under her breath. That answer shouldn''t have been a surprise. "Well, one of us has to be."

    Ambryan tilted his head to one side. Even now, he continued to study her. "You''re not satisfied?"

    "No!" Eve exasperated, closing her eyes. A groan rumbled in her throat. She huffed and stared straight into his eyes. "Look, people have different tastes, including the couples. The important thing to note is that it should be something for them to enjoy."

 Chapter 36: The First-Point-Five First Date

    Chapter 36: The First-Point-Five First Date

    "Where are they? Did theye out yet? Yan must have bought everything."

    Luna wore her hair down today. It framed her face, hiding the sides of it and ending at her waist. A ck fedora circled on her head. The long sleeves of her tan sweater were rolled up. She paired the top with dark jeans and boots. Sunsses hid her ebony eyes.

    The weather may be hot but she wanted to wear this outfit.

    She sat outside of an indoor cafe. In front of her, she had an ice chocte with vani ice cream on a round table. Her hand held up a slice of tiramisu cake while the other cut a piece and brought it to her lips. It was a taste of heaven.

    "Luna! Are you listening?" Avery used, sitting on the other side of the table. Arched eyebrows scowled at her. "You''re not upset that Yan entered apetitor''s store, are you?"

    "Of course not." Luna snorted. She put the cake down and sipped from a metal straw. Rich chocte flooded her mouth. "Stop staring at them every second. They''re adults. They know how to behave."

    Avery pulled the binocrs away from her violet eyes. Gold aviator sses sat on top of her head. She flicked them down to her nose. A sigh flowed out of her lips. "I just don''t want to miss anything."

    She grabbed her white chocte frappe from the table. "If I could, I''d be eating popcorn at a corner. This is far better than anything TV has on."

    The cafe was located on the second floor''s passageway. The bird''s eye view allowed the women to watch over the mall''s center section. They climbed on an esctor as soon as they entered the mall. Luna chose a cafe while Avery located the pair. Thetter almost tipped over the railing from leaning too far.

    Things worked out well in the end.

    Luna was able to enjoy her afternoon meal while Avery was given the perfect spot on spying.

    Rolling her eyes, Luna picked up a strawberry from a tray. "You can''t possibly follow them everywhere they go."

    "But I can try!"

    "..." She chose to let the topic go. They wouldn''t have made it here if Avery could change her mind. "Also, I am not upset. Louisse Tonvui is a mentor and a friend. I''m proud of her achievements."

    "You think Eve is doing okay?" Herpanion panicked, staring at the store. She bit the tip of her straw. "Do you think Yan realized it''s her yet? She is so timid. I''m worried that he''d use it to his advantage."

    Luna nced up at the ceiling. It was hopeless. Avery''s one track mind only cared about her son''s dating life. She only came today for her friend''s safety. There had been close calls to when Avery almost sabotaged the date. Ambryan must have noticed by now.

    She had to hold his mother around the waist, stopping thetter from pushing Eve into the bristo.

    Luna opened her mouth. She couldn''t help but send another warning. This was unhealthyeven if it was entertaining. Ambryan wasn''t a teenager. He didn''t need a babysitter.

    "Oh, they''reing!" Avery eximed. She rose to her feet and ran for the railing. The binocrs were back on her eyes. "Woah! They didn''t buy anything. I wonder what happened?"

    "Eve must have rejected them," Luna answered from her seat. She took the spoon from the cake and scooped out some ice cream. "I know you gave Ambryan some instructions but why the hell did he bring her to a mall? Didn''t you tell him where to take Eve on a first date?"

    She received a snort as a reply. "Of course not. There''s a limit on how much I can meddle."

    ''Yet, why are we here?'' Luna wondered mentally. Not telling her son ideas about a first day wasn''t good but following him around like an investigator waspletely fine? Her friend desperately needed a new hobby. Since retirement from the movie screens, she had done nothing but obsess over Ambryan.

    "They need to discover their dynamics as a couple," Avery continued, unaware of herpanion''s inner thoughts. She walked back to the cafe and slurped her frappe. "I think they''re leaving.

    Luna raised her eyebrows. She had one hand on her bag while the other was poised and ready to call a waiter over. "You''re not going to follow them?"

    "No."

    "Why not? I thought you were worried."

    Avery''s lips blossomed into a full smile. She leaned back and rxed. Her nerves had calmed down. She could now enjoy the afternoon in leisure. "I just saw Eve drag my son by the wrist. I don''t think I have anything to worry about."

    Eve hauled Ambryan out of the store and out of the mall.

    The sun beamed down at the two. They entered the VIP parking lot, heading for a ck Jaguar XK. The assigned valets bowed at the sight of them. They moved away from the convertible and let them pass.

    Ambryan walked over the driver''s side while Eve climbed onto the passenger seat. She buckled her seatbelt and waited for the air-conditioning. The strawberry may look beautiful but, under the hot weather, it was troublesome. The fabric clung to her sweat and made her itch.

    "So, where are we going?" Ambryan asked as he turned on the engine.

    Eve bumped her head on the seat. She gazed upwards, thinking of the same thing. "I don''t know. We already ate and I think that''s more than enough for a date."

    Oh, she was more than ready to go home. The longer this went on, the higher chance for idents to happenlike her wig flying off. Maybe she should have epted the bags after all. Then, the date would be over and they could go home.

    Except, she didn''t know what to do with them.

    Ambryan scowled. "You said it''s something we should both enjoy. Is there such a ce? Do couples always enjoy things together?"

    "Well, no." Eve sighed. Her neck twisted to her left. She stared out the windshield, ignoring the attendants around them. "Sometimes, a partner would give in if it would make the other person happy. They''d try to support each other''s happiness."

    "Then, what would make you happy?"

    Her head snapped towards him. "What?"

    "I asked what would make you happy," Ambryan repeated. He steered the wheel and drove to the nearest exit. "Mine is my work so unless you want to spend hours in the office, I suggest you think of another ce."

    "Work?" Eve scoffed, blinking her hazel eyes. She sat upright and red at him. "Yours can''t be work. You had done a lot of things other than work. I doubt you even did that as a kid. There must be something you enjoyed back then."

    Ambryan sneaked a peek at her. "What would yours be?"

    "Mine?" Eve bit her inner cheek. She was really active as a child. She loved to go out and y. She loved to move around, never staying in one ce. Her mother used to scold her for leaving the house while the former slept.

    "I hmmm," she pondered out loud. Her gaze narrowed on the ceiling. "I liked many things as a kid. I''d y hopscotch on the pavement with chalk. I''d chase around other kids with a water gun. When I reached my teens, I used to hang out a lot in a roller skating rink."

    The wave of nostalgia enraptured her sense. She could almost smell the wet grass, feel the warm cement under her feet and see colorful lights in a dim room.

    "Too bad they took it down," Eve concluded and cleared her throat. Her right elbow rested on the edge of the car window. Using her right hand, she supported the back of her head. "I''ve never seen one again after that."

    Ambryan stepped on the brakes when they hit a red light. He tilted his head to one side, remembering an old conversation. "But there is one."

    "Really?!" Eve demanded. Her hazel eyes widened in his direction. "Are you sure?"

    "Yes, in Park Avenue."

    "But I''ve been to Bogum Park," she whined, plopping down her seat and rolling her eyes. She crossed her arms over her chest. "I think I would have noticed a roller skating rink."

    "You''d need to pass through a narrow alley to find it," Ambryan pointed out with a chuckle. The traffic light became green and the convertible purred under them. He changed his initial direction and made a right turn. "All of the roads that lead to it are narrow since buildings already stood around the ce before it came."

    ...

    Eve clicked her tongue. She watched him from the corner of her eyes. "Is it retro?"

    "From what I heard, yes." Ambryan nodded.

    "You''ve never been?"

    "No, I only heard it from a business associate."

    "Good, because neither have I." Eve giggled. She pushed the button for the radio and swayed to the music. "Let''s head over and experience it for the first time together."

 Chapter 37: The Second First Date

    Chapter 37: The Second First Date

    The Alight Roller Skating Rink had a rectangr shape. Its main attraction had the size of an olympic pool. The waxed floorboards offered a smooth (and slippery) experience to skaters. The establishment also had two floors, keeping the upper one to its sides and allowing the customers to watch the rink from any spot.

    Silver foil coated the ceiling. Lights in purple, blue, yellow and pink glowed from it. Tiny rotating spotlights whirled on the walls and the floor. Chairs and tables matched the colorful theme. Booming disco music thumped around the enclosed space.

    People from different age groups upied both the seats and the rink.

    Eve squealed as soon as she entered. It differed from her childhood but it contained the identical spirit. The song crawled over her skin and flowed in her veins. It sang to her soul, reviving the little girl inside. She could spend hours here and not be tired.

    Ambryan dusted his shoes on the doormat. After he finished, he stood there for a while. No one came in and out. Nothing bumped into him. His gaze stared straight ahead. The decorations paled inparison to what he saw.

    Crimson wavy hair swayed before him. A pink red skirt did the same. Legs and feet staying in ce, raised forearms circled alternatively like they swam in a pool. Hands pushed the air away from the body.

    They moved without a care in the world.

    He sighed through his nose as a memory shed in his eyes. Melodicughter echoed in his ears. Pearly white teeth gleamed from the sunlight. Thebination was contagious. It drew him and pulled up the corners of his lips.

    As it faded away, it left a warm feeling in his chest.

    He weed it.

    "This is so cool!" Eve eximed above the music. She spun on her heel and met a pair of violet eyes. Her lips stretched into a full-blown smile. "Thank you so much for bringing me here. I''ll make sure that this trip won''t go waste."

    She didn''t wait for a reply and skipped over to a counter. Shelves of roller des stood behind its staff worker. A group of teenage girls headed for the rink, holding their rental shoes.

    "One pair of Size 7 with socks, please," Eve said and took out her wallet. The zipper ripped open under her grip. Her fingers counted the money inside. She searched the counter for the rate, hoping to give the exact amount.

    "And a pair of Size 10 for me. Hold the socks." Ambryan cut in and handed over a paper bill. The corresponding roller des dropped on the counter. Then, the worker took the money and punched on the cash register.

    Eve tucked her wallet back in her bag. She crossed her arms over her chest and exhaled sharply. "I could have paid for myself."

    She would have paid for him too. This was her idea after all. It was technically under her invitation. It was only natural that she''d be the person to treat herpanion. The ce wasn''t as hot as outside but it was warm.

    She figured he''d be ufortable in his suit and jacket.

    Instead, he merely shrugged and gave her a pair of roller des. He lifted them up as if they were the tea set from earlier. "I know but I wanted to pay for our date."

    She caught them in her arms. They weighed heavier than other shoeswhich was a given since they had wheels and metal pieces. "Did your mother tell you to do that?"

    Granted, she hadn''t witnessed him date that much. The shopping idea gave her some insight though. She decided to think that Ambryan had zero knowledge on dating. Anything that hinted that he did was probably from Avery''s speeches.

    "Whatever do you mean? My mother isn''t my boss," he replied coolly. The worker came back to give him his change and he hid them in his inner breast pocket. "That would be me."

    Eve gawked at her boss'' back. This was the first time he talked this way to someone outside his close family and friends. She only got to hear it when Richard or Avery visited. Did this mean she was doing a good job?

    Either way, it was both surprising and refreshing to hear.

    He walked ahead of her, scanning for an empty table. His presence dominated any sceneeven when he would usually be out of ce. A skating rink? With Ambryan? This she had to see. Her feet scrambled to catch up with him.

    They didn''t linger on a table for long, only to change out of their shoes. Eve unstrapped her heels and wore the socks. The worker had inserted them in one of the roller des. Ambryan already wore a pair. He uced his ck Oxford style shoes.

    Eve was the first to step on the rink. The roller des covered up to above her ankles. Four red wheels added an inch to her height. She kicked the floor with her right foot, sending her forward. She repeated it several times until she gained the momentum.

    Her legs leaned on one side as she curved on a turn. Her feet stayed close together. She zipped past the crown, wind blowing in her face. The music yed louder and she felt its beat. She moved along with the rhythm, spinning around and skating backwards.

    The exhration was like no other.

    Ambryan stood up from the chair. He raised one hand and snapped his fingers.

    One of his bodyguards materialized by his side. He shrugged off his jacket, handing it over for safekeeping. His phone and wallet stayed in his pant pockets. His toes pushed lightly, gliding him towards the rink. He swept his gaze around the area and searched for a head of red hair.

    The dimness of the room made it harder than it should.

    At the time, Eve pulled her feet apart and dropped low to the ground. Her back curved behind her. Her arms spread wide like an eagle. If she closed her eyesand not hit anyoneshe could almost imagine herself on an ice rink instead.

    Ambryan rolled into the rink, heading for where she''d be. He kept his posture straight and only shifted his weight as needed. His focus was on bnce. Compared to her, he was as sturdy as a rock.

    Eve rounded back up right. The execution was smooth. Most beginners would have stumbled from the tiniest mistakebut not her. She spent a week mastering it in the past. Now, it paid off.

    Because she still remembered it.

    "Woah! Mr. Hathaway!" Eve giggled when she noticed him. Her roller des continued to move, making her circle him like a predator to a prey. "Did you also spend time at skating rinks? Never thought you''d move with such ease."

    "It''s notplicated," he pointed out and stayed rooted on the spot. He only followed her with his violet eyes. The colorful lights danced on his beige skin. "It''s simple science."

    "You do have a point but how much can calction help you?" She asked, her lips teasing a smirk. Her feet came to a full-stop as her gaze darkened into a challenging stare. "You think you can keep up? Skate and dance at the same time?"

    "I don''t see dancing as necessary to enjoy skating." Ambryan retorted. His face remained impassive.

    Eveughed once. Mischief sprang in her hazel eyes. "Ha! I''m not saying it as a way to enjoy. I''m saying it in the name of science. There has to be a form, right? How figure skaters and alike are able to do it?"

    "What does that have to do with me?"

    She pushed herself towards him, giving him a clearer look. The lights highlighted her glossy lips. Her voice dropped to a soft whisper. "What do you say, Mr. Hathaway?

    Something stirred inside Ambryan.

    In this dark room, the world turned upside down. Things seemed differentpared to when they were under a bright light. The faint scent of cherry blossoms floated up his nose. He stopped breathing. Even then, he could still smell it.

    It had imprinted itself in his mind.

    Eve parted her lips. Intense heat radiated off Ambryan''s stare. Just like earlier, it scorched through the surface and pierced her inside. She felt it ignite a fire she never had before. It gave her an adrenaline rush and a newfound confidence.

    It had imprinted itself in her mind.

    Her hands tucked behind her, Eve rolled backwards. The people parted like the red sea and allowed her to pass. Her hair and her skirt fluttered in the wind. Despite the strands on her face, it did little to hinder her smile.

    Ambryan froze as she disappeared in the crowd. Time moved both slowly and swiftly for him. One moment, he smelled the cherry blossoms. The other, it vanished. He found nothing around himonly a pair of hazel eyes that became smaller until he lost sight of them.

    A voice rose above the crowd and the music.

    "Catch me if you can."

 Chapter 38: The End of First Date

    Chapter 38: The End of First Date

    Ambryan blinked out of his daze. His femalepanion was nowhere to be found. Other women surrounded him in the middle of the rink. He started to roll away, estimating where hest saw a pair of hazel eyes.

    He squinted and formed a n.

    Eve giggled as she zipped around a friend group. Her dress easily stood out among the rest. The best way to lure a certain CEO was to hide it, only teasing a glimpse before it disappears. Her skirt clung to her thighs and knees. She kicked the ruffles and gained speed. Her arms pumped, almost like whenever she went running.

    She created a route among the crowd, passing through narrow spaces. Her roller des never stayed straight. They zigzagged at every chance.

    Oh, how she loved it.

    Another skater saw her escapade. The teenage boy mimicked her movements, thinking it was choreography for the song. Eveughed as he added more arm motions. He pulled his right hand up and down, pointing his index finger. She followed him as they glided on their right side.

    A few of hispanions trailed behind them and did the same thing. They created a train, slithering across the rink like a snake.

    Eve used it as an opportunity to escape. She came to a full stop. Two columns of people whizzed on either side of her. She blended in among the sea of skaters.

    The train continued on with her. Others crowded around it as if they made a maze. Voices sang along with the music. Hands pped to the rhythm. Contagious energy thundered on the rink.

    Eve kicked herself away in search of some air. The amount of people suffocated her. She took a deep breath and watched the fiasco, skating backwards. A small smile disyed on her face. This was one of the things she missed about the rink.

    There were rarely any bad nuts who loved to ruin the fun.

    A figure loomed in the shadows. The young woman was too engrossed at the disy. She didn''t realize where her skates headed for. Her guard was down. It was the right time for an attack.

    Still distracted, a muscr arm snared her waist from behind. Eve jumped but the grip only tightened and locked her in ce. Her hazel eyes widened in surprise. She felt a warm presence on her back.

    "Gotcha," a whisper spoke in her ear.

    An electric current sparked from the sound. It sent shivers down her spine. Her body shook from the sensation as a chuckle mocked it. It was low and menacing. The voice relished in her ears.

    The predator now became the prey.

    Ambryan turned her around to face him. His left arm wrapped around her lower back while his right hand held her left one. Eve had her right hand on his chest, keeping their bodies apart.

    He lifted her up and raised her feet off the ground.

    "Now, what should I do with you, Ms. Evangeline?" Ambryan wondered out loud, tilting his head to one side. His eyes glimmered wickedly.

    "Re-Releasing me seems like the be-best option." Eve stammered and breathed out augh. It seemed that her lungs forgot how to function. She gasped for some air.

    "No," Ambryan smirked. His thumb brushed on her waist. He felt her tremble under his grip. "At, least, not without something in exchange."

    "An exchange?!" He heard her exim. The once confident hazel eyes now became uneasy. He watched as an awkward smile stretched her lips. "For my freedom? Am I in jail?"

    The joke made him grin. "Do you want to be?"

    "No!" Eve practically yelled. She could just imagine how she''d exin her absence at work. ''Oh, Sir Hathaway? I will be absent since I am in prison. How did it happen? Well, you put me in it!''

    Ambryan thought for a moment, maintaining eye contact. "What you have to do is simple."

    "Really? Then, there''s no need to"

    Eve''s heart leaped out of her chest. He dipped her body until it was almost parallel to the floor. His left arm supported her bnce and her weight. Their noses almost bumped together.

    He emphasized each syble as he spoke.

    "Call me by my first name."

    Eve blinked. She replied before her brain processed the request. "I''m sorry but it''s a mouthful."

    Ambryan scoffed with his corner lip tilted upwards. He couldn''t believe this woman. "Are you mocking me?"

    "Yes!" She beamed and fluttered hershes. It was true. During her first week, she was too nervous to ask how it was pronounced. Thankfully, Avery visited, angered by something, and called him out. She noted it down right away.

    ''Uhm-bree-yan.''

    "Then, you have to be punished."

    Instant regret drenched over Eve. Her feetpletely left the floor as Ambryan carried her. He hooked his right arm under her knees. Initially, he would have thrown her over his shoulder but he thought better of it.

    He reserved it as punishment for worse cases.

    Eve yelped as her arms wrapped around his neck. The new position turned her into a statue. They''d never been this close. The shock fried her fight-or-flight response. It made her idle and obedient.

    She could hear his steady heartbeat, unfazed by the whole thing. She sent him a mental curse for hisck of difort.

    It wasn''t fair!

    The bodyguard stood beside the table, watching over their belongingsmainly their shoes, the jacket and the sling bag. Ambryan took Eve back towards it and let her sit. They still needed to return the shoes. Both removed them quietly.

    Eve used her wig and hid her face. It fell like a curtain between them. Her cheeks must be inmed, almost blending in with the wig color. She hardly breathed from the embarrassment. Her throat even clogged up.

    How did things turn out this way?

    "Are you alright?" Ambryan asked next to her. He stood up and took both pairs of shoes. He instructed his bodyguard to return them. His hands tucked themselves in his pant pockets, one of his signature poses.

    It became only the two of them again.

    Brushing on her skirt, Eve stood up. She grabbed her sling bag and hung it on one shoulder. Her arms folded over her chest. It created a barrier between her and the outside world. Her gaze refused to meet his.

    Ambryan scowled. He''d seen this reaction several times from his mother. "Are you upset?"

    "How wouldn''t I be upset?!" Eve suddenly yelled, snapping her head towards him. An angered grimace painted over her face. "Not only did you scare the soul out of me but you also carried me out of the rink!"

    It was an unsettling experience. She didn''t dare look around. Many eyes must have seen it. What would they think of her now? Of him? Of both of them? It was a family-friendly establishment as well.

    ''How humiliating!'' She wailed in her thoughts and hung her head.

    "I thought women liked it when a man sweeps them off their feet."

    "Oh, don''t be a smartass," Eve snapped, rolling her eyes. She shook her head in a random direction. She continued to avoid him.

    Ambryan chuckled from the sight. "You''re quite the woman, Evangeline."

    This time, Eve turned to look at him. She hadn''t imagined it. He wore an amused smile on his lips. Her voice shook as she spoke. "And why do you say that?"

    "Not everyone I just met would befortable with scolding me."

    It was a simple statement but, to her, it meant a lot. If she wasn''t looking at his face, she would have thought he was scolding her. Actually, now that she realized it, was he actually scolding her?

    "Are you the one mad then?" Eve challenged, cocking an eyebrow.

    Ambryan put his hand on her upper back and led her towards the exit. Since she talked to his face now, it must be safe to interact with her. "No, I don''t mind it."

    "Really?" She blinked. This day kept bing weirder and weirder. Was it something they ate?

    "Do you want me to?"

    "No!" Eve screamed as she raised her hands in surrender. The tension finally left them. She did not want a second round of it. The bystanders probably thought the same.

    "Anyway, let me take you back to your home." Ambryan said, changing the topic. They reached the front doors and stepped outside. The sun already began to set. It loomed low over the horizon. The sky had been painted in warm colors.

    "What''s the address?"

    "It''s 221" Eve choked on her own spit.

    She almost gave the apartment''s address. The apartment that was rented by Andie and Eve. The Eve who wasn''t her at the moment. Not to mention thepany car parked outside of it and the address on her work documents. Everything pointed it out as a dead give away.

    What was she supposed to do now?

    Materialize a building out of nowhere?

    Where could she find a magic shovel and do that?

 Chapter 39: Homeless Evangeline

    Chapter 39: Homeless Evangeline

    "Evangeline?" Ambryan frowned. Her face began to pale. His mother would raise hell if she found out that his date became sick. She might even find a way to link it to himeven if as a joke.

    Eve stepped away from him. His hand dropped from her back. Despite the cool air from outside, sweat streamed down the sides of her face. She found it difficult to breathe. The oxygen slowed down her brain activity.

    She needed time.

    She needed space.

    Taking a deep breath, Eve vowed that she would figure this out. There had to be a solution buried in her mind. She just had to bypass the panic and get it. Her eyes shut close as she rubbed her temple, feigning dizziness. It would buy her some seconds to stall.

    Then, it hit her.

    A streak of light beamed through her dim mind. It showed her the way out. The flower buds blossomed under the spring season. If she wasn''t mistaken, she had an emergency hotline for this situation.

    Now, it was a matter of how she''d be able to use it.

    "IICan I use the bathroom before we leave?" Eve stuttered, looking up at Ambryan. She suppressed her excitement. Otherwise, he''d find her suspicious. "I don''t think I can hold it for long."

    She crossed her legs for emphasis. Her knees bent low and squeezed her thighs together. They trembled slightly from the position. A dull ache began to form in her muscles. The strain from roller skating was taking effect.

    A groan rumbled in her throat.

    This would be a hundred times worse in the morning.

    "Alright." Ambryan nodded. They had been out for hours. Night time was about to fall. It would be unusual if she didn''t need to go. She wasn''t a workaholic like him. His dder became used to long hours without reprieve.

    Not that others found it as a good thing.

    "Thank you!" Eve eximed in relief. Her legs sprinted back inside as she spoke over her shoulder. "I''ll be back soon."

    The front doors closed behind her and Ambryan turned back around. He assessed the surroundings. Since the Skating Rink had a secluded spot, most of the area was surrounded by old buildings. Most of them for residency. His eyes scanned the windows and checked if any of them were open.

    Once the coast was clear, he snapped his fingers.

    The same bodyguard emerged beside him.

    "Wen, how is it?" Ambryan asked without sparing a nce. His senses focused on any unusual activitylike the four reporters that hid behind a dumpster. It was barely visible from the front entrance but he noticed a camera lens peek on top of it.

    Wen, a woman with full blonde fringes, ced a hand over her heart and bowed her head. Her teal eyes were hidden behind a pair of sunsses. Her hair was tied in a low ponytail. She wore the standard uniform for any bodyguard, an all ck suit. Because of her angr features, most people mistook her as a male.

    Which she found as an advantage.

    "Three out of the four reporters followed us since Stitz Bristo," she reported diligently, still in a bowed position, "None of them were able to go inside. Thomas and Hudson were able to apprehend them despite their disguises. They''re under first warning until they vite the contract of 50-meter distance again."

    Ambryan squinted at the dumpster. The camera lens disappeared from sight. "How many photos have they taken?"

    "Many. We believe that your position with Ms. Evangeline just now would be the highlight of your date in the news tomorrow."

    "Hm," he grunted. He faced the skating rink once more and nced at his watch. It seemed that someone was taking her time. He used it as a chance to ry one more instruction. "Also, make sure any photo from the mall was deleted."

    "Pardon, Mr. Hathaway?" Wen snapped her head up. Her boss stared straight ahead of him. He tucked his hands back in his pant pockets and narrowed his gaze.

    "You heard me. All photos from when we left the mall must be erased."

    Wen raised her eyebrows butposed herself quickly. She realized what her boss meant. The young woman had dragged him out of the establishment. Although she personally enjoyed the disy, it was something that could tarnish his image.

    He didn''t want the incident to be leaked out.

    "Understood," Wen replied with a nod. Stepping back, she passed a message through her bluetooth earpiece.

    Ambryan let her be and peeked through the ss doors. No sign of red hair came from the other side.

    What could she possibly be doing?

    Inside the women''s bathroom, Eve stepped out of the cubicle. Mother Nature had called her as soon as she stepped inside. She took a quick break and headed for the sinks. Her mind raced as she washed her hands for 20 seconds, making sure to clean out any bacteria.

    (A/N: Break the germ cycle. Eve washes her hands. Eve stops the spread of germs. Be like Eve. Beat the virus! Stay safe and healthy, everyone.)

    Eve wiped her hands with tissue and finished drying them under a heater. She took out her phone and dialed a familiar number. Her fingers tapped against her thigh as paced around the room. Her heart sped faster by the second.

    ''What if they also don''t know what to do?'' she panicked in her mind.

    "Eve?!" Avery eximed, interrupting her train of thoughts. "Oh, my! I''m so d you called! How is the date going? Everything good? Is my son behaving? He''s not a party pooper, is he?"

    "Uh, Mrs. Hathaway" Eve cleared her throat. Instead of answering, she decided to go straight to the point. She checked under the cubicles for signs of life. All of them turned out to be empty. "I ran into a problem."

    "Oh, no. What is it?" Avery''s tone of voice changed into a serious one. Eve could almost imagine her face as if the woman stood in front of her.

    "Well, since I didn''t bring a car, your son will be driving me home."

    "That sounds like good progress."

    "I guess you can say that but" Eve trailed off, halting in her steps. She shook her head and exined, "Evangeline doesn''t have a resident address. I can''t lead him to my own apartment. Is there any ce I could use temporarily?"

    The line went as Avery took in the information. Meanwhile, Eve felt slightly relieved. She wasn''t alone in the situation anymore. Her back leaned on a wall. Her head tilted up. The ceiling lights blinded her temporarily.

    "Hold on a sec. Let me call Cale."

    Eve opened her mouth to reply when she heard a phone ring. Her eyebrows knitted together. She pulled the phone away from her ear to check the source of the sound. It became softerpared to a second ago. Her eyes widened as she stared at her phone.

    She pressed it back on her earjust in time to hear another voice.

    "Avery, darling!" Cale greeted through the receiver.

    "Cale!" Avery yelled. She spoke in a rush, sensing the urgency of the situation. "Lotus Modelling Agency offers apartments to their models, right?"

    "Yes, they do. It also depends on how high earning a model is. The higher, the better the perks," Cale replied. Just like his personality, his manner of speech oozed with bubbly energy. Faint music flowed out from his side of the line. Eve wondered which symphony it was.

    She remained quiet for the duration of the call.

    "Does Evangeline have one?"

    Cale clicked his tongue. "Technically, she does except she''s new. All rookies share residency and be roommates. Since she has a double identity, I told the agency that she already has her own ce to stay. Otherwise, she might get caught."

    "Aw, damn," Avery cursed. She sighed in frustration. "Is there no way for the agency to give her a solo apartment?"

    "No can do, darling. That would be unfair to the other models."

    Eve pressed her lips together. She saw the logic behind Cale''s words. The luxury treatment came from achievements, sparkingpetitive spirits. One high brand deal wouldn''t be enough for that. Others may even deem it as beginner''s luck. It would take a while to prove herself.

    Something she had no ns on doing.

    "What if she has a sponsor?" Avery suddenly suggested. Investments were important in any business. If she could support Evangeline''s career, the agency could easily exin the situation.

    "Why can''t you just give her an apartment?" Cale pointed out.

    "It would be suspicious how she got the money for it," Avery rified. Her pitch rose higher as she continued, "NOW, if it was a sponsorship given to her agency that would be more believable."

    "Wouldn''t Yan find it suspicious if it was you?"

    She snorted at the question. "Of course, it would be anonymous."

    "Well, it could work," Cale gave in. He became quiet, considering the idea. Eve heard him exhale sharply. "Why are we discussing this right now? I''m in the middle of a party."

    She was about to make her presence known when Avery beat her to it. She had tomend the madam''s resilience. Thetter was more alert than her. Hopefully, she would be the same somedabined with her boss'' quick thinking.

    "Simple. Evangeline needs an apartment right now because Yan is about to take her home."

    "Tell me you''re kidding," Cale scoffed in disbelief. He groaned at the mess, realizing how critical the time was. "How am I supposed to materiawait! I think there''s a vacancy in one of theplexes. I can call and check it out. Be back in a few."

 Chapter 40: Leaving the Rink

    Chapter 40: Leaving the Rink

    Eve heard the ''click'' sound of when a call ends.

    She sent a prayer that it would turn out okay. It would solve many future problems, not just this time. She didn''t have a car so this may happen again. She also mostly spent time at home. She''d love for Evangeline to have the same habit.

    It would make them two peas in a pod.

    "Don''t worry, Eve. We''ll figure this out," Avery assured her in a soothing voice, "Where are you right now?"

    "I''m in the bathroom. I made an excuse that I needed to use it." Eve looked at the phone''s time. Almost 10 minutes had gone by. Ambryan must be suspicious. If he decided to peek in, he''d find no line for the women''s bathroom.

    She''d have no choice but to say she took a Number 2.

    Unlike her, Avery remained optimistic. "So, we still have some time. Let''s think of a backup solution if the apartment is unavable."

    "Mrs. Hathaway, is this really okay?" Eve couldn''t help but ask. "It''s one thing to have me endorse a brand but it''s another thing for you to spend money on Evangeline."

    She merely wanted to borrow a ce, not rent one. It would be too costly since she''d stay in her own apartment. The other one would just be for a front. Based on Cale''s information, this wouldn''t be an ordinary apartment either.

    What kind ofplex would await her?

    "Nonsense. This is littlepared to what I am asking of you. Besides, I know you don''t want to lie about your identity. That''s why I gave you my full cooperation in creating a stage persona for you," Avery borated. The young woman loved to worry too much at times. "This apartment will still be partially paid by your agency. You''ll just need to participate in more projects."

    "Duly noted."

    ''More modelling?'' Eveprehended. She got luckyst time. Luna knew of her situation and lowered her expectations. The next time wouldn''t be the same. It couldn''t go on like this for the next 9 monthsnot when Evangeline had a sponsor.

    She had to be worthy of it.

    "Oh, Cale is calling," Avery said, "Let me get it so we''ll know what to do."

    Eve heard the following silence. She pulled her phone away from her and looked at the screen. It showed her home page. The madam must have ended the call instead of putting her on hold. There wasn''t anything else to do but wait.

    She resumed her pacing, tucking her hands behind her back.

    A notification ping bounced off the walls.

    ``From Avery: Eve, good news! The apartment is avable! I''ll leave the address below and will meet you therejust for anyplication like paperwork and the key. Have a safe trip!``

    Eve didn''t waste time.

    She bolted out of the door, memorizing the address. The location seemed familiar. She must have heard about it in the news before. It was at the upper side of the city, a bit far away from the apartment. It would take time to go back and forth if needed someday.

    "Ms. Reed," a voice interrupted halfway out of the skating rink.

    Eve stumbled back. She recognized the person as Wen, one of Ambryan''s bodyguards. They met after she became a secretary. The woman was second-in-charge of security. The team always went wherever her boss went. Now that they were alone, Eve wondered if they recognized her.

    They must have verified Evangeline''s identity.

    She pushed the thought out of her mind. It would be something to worry about when she got home. Avery might also know something that she didn''t.

    Eve nodded, acknowledging Wen''s presence. She fixed her wig. After the sudden run, it had tangled a bit. "Oh, hello. You''re Mr. Hathaway''s bodyguard, right?"

    "Yes," Wen answered curtly. She had her hands folded together. "He told me to check on you. Are you okay?"

    "Yeah, I''m fine." Eve breathed out augh. It sounded awkward even to her ears. "I just thought I''d suddenly need to go for a long time."

    "Understood. Please go ahead. He pulled up the car near the entrance."

    "Thank you."

    Eve walked the rest of the way. Her run must have looked out of ce. She hoped it wouldn''t raise suspicions from Wen. It was only the first date and they already overlooked a few details.

    It turned out that there were more factors that could leak her secret.

    "Everything alright?" Ambryan asked when she exited the establishment. He leaned on the side of his car with his arms crossed over his chest. The setting sun gleamed behind him.

    It illuminated his profile like he had a warm aura.

    "Yes, I am ready to go now," Eve answered, reaching his side. She gulped down her remaining nerves. Everything would be okay.

    At least, she hoped that would be the case.

    Ambryan opened her side of the Jaguar XK. She climbed on, looking at the open sky. The roof had been rolled down. She inhaled the air. The dust and smoke made her miss the refreshing smell of nature. It used to be a few blocks away back in her hometown.

    The convertible made a right, heading for the upper east side. The drive went on in silence after Eve revealed the address. Ambryan merely raised one eyebrow. She fluttered her eyes in return, feigning innocence. She knew what made him react that way.

    Just like Cale had said, those were reserved for those higher than her in the industry.

    It took about an hour to reach their destination.

    Eve did her best not to gawk.

    Theplex had a vintage color palette of dark rose and dim yellow. It stood at 13 floors high with a driveway splitting them in the middle. All the windows had blue tints that disallowed outsiders to peek inside. At the back, arge olympic pool covered the lot. Patches of nature surrounded it, offering a change of scenery to the city dwellers.

    Ambryan drove the car into the main entrance driveway. It curved between a fountain and the building. The front entrance stood on top of a short staircase. A security guard watched from behind ss walls, positioned near the door. A counter could be seen on the east wall inside.

    Lamp lights illuminated the pavement. Stars had appeared in the sky. The moon rose up slowly, taking its ce at the center. Crickets echoed from a distance.

    Eve checked her phone. It had a message from Avery that everything was okay. She could walk through the entrance without a problem. Her apartment would be on the 10th floor.

    She unbuckled her seat belt, saying, "Thank you for driving me back. I had a good time."

    Her hands reached for the car door.

    "I didn''t know Lotus Modelling Agency now offers luxury condos for all their models."

    Eve froze for a split second, pressing her lips together. Her torso twisted back as she gave him an awkward smile. She had no excuse for her residency. Averting her gaze, her voice lowered to a whisper. Her eyes perceived nothing.

    "I am just really blessed with wonderful supporters. Hopefully, I can make them proud."

    Ambryan titled his head to one side. The impassive expression remained on his face. Moonlight gleamed through the windshield, adding a soft light in a pair of hazel eyes. The vibrant red hair tamed under the night sky.

    Then, her gaze flickered towards him.

    A serene face smiled at him for thest time today.

    "Thank you again, Mr. Hathaway. Have a safe trip back."

    Eve unlocked the door and stepped out. Her strap-on heels clicked against the pavement. She walked straight ahead without a second look back. She climbed up the stairs and nodded at the security guard.

    He let her pass.

    A huge breath released out of her mouth. She really did have nothing to worry about. No one even asked for her identification or proof of her residency.

    Safe inside, she turned around. The ck Jaguar XK blended with the dark surroundings, barely visible to the naked eye. Ambryan''s skin became pale under the moon. It was the only thing that stood out.

    Eve waved her hand and waited for him to leave.

    The convertible honked once as it left the premises.

    That was when all the weight on her shoulders vanished. It finally finished. She could go home. A part of her acted surprised at the day''s events. It exceeded and flipped over her expectations. She''d have the time to reflect on themter.

    Right now, her body craved for a hot bath with essential oils.

    "Eve!" Avery called out, stepping out of a hallway. She brisk walked through the lobby and gave Eve a hug. "I am so happy to see you! You look gorgeous!"

    "Mrs. Hathaway!" Eve gasped, her arms wrapped around the madam reflexively.

    Avery pulled back and giggled. "Everything went well?"

    "Yes, there were noplications."

    "Wonderful!" She eximed, pping her hands together. Her eyebrows began to wiggle. A hint of mischief glinted in her violet eyes. Do you want to see your new apartment now?"

 Chapter 41: Running Into Trouble

    Chapter 41: Running Into Trouble

    "Um," Eve choked.

    Her eyes gazed up at the ceiling. Although elevators had been installed, theplex had a grand staircase that led to the second floor. Everything seemed to be made of polished marble. The yellow lights added a warm hue and uplifted the ambiance like it was a bar of gold.

    Gulping, Eve felt out of ce.

    "It''s alright, Mrs. Hathaway," she started to say. She took a step back, half-twisting towards the exit. "It''s been a tiring day. I''d love it if I would be able to go home now."

    A return to her normal life would be nice. More than nice, it would be wonderful. The adventure as Evangeline was enough for today. She''d rather be home where she was safe.

    "I understand. We can just talk about it next time," Avery replied, walking ahead of Eve. "Come on! Another reason why I''m here is to drive you back. Can''t have a beautiful girl outte alone! There are predators everywhere."

    Eve trailed behind. She didn''t need to be told twice. There was a spring in her steps as they headed out. She could almost feel the warm water. It would rx away the tension in her muscles.

    Hopefully, it would also ease the iing ache.

    A tall figure walked through the doorway. He held a brown paper bag by his side, returning from a convenience store. The hem of his fitted white shirt hung around his hips. Straight cut jeans covered his legs. His ck sneakers squeaked against the floor.

    His retro curtain hair was tousled from the evening winds.

    Eve spotted him first and stopped. The agitation from earlier came back. It seeped through her brain and down to her heart. Thetter increased in its beating. It felt like the room closed in, sucking out the air.

    Then, a pair of radiant blue eyes noticed her.

    "Evangeline?" Mikael scowled, a questioning look in his eyes. He halted in his steps. His gaze scrutinized her presence. Her hair had turned into a bird''s nest since tangled strands stuck out. The dress wrapped around her body with uneven creases. Her makeup also smudged under her eyes.

    She seemed to havee from outside. Why would she be here then?"

    Eve nodded in greeting. "Mr. Davis."

    He took a step closer. His arm and the paper bag swung at his side. "What brings you here?"

    Mikael watched her flinch, avoiding his stare. Her upper teeth bit on her bottom lip as she stared at the wall. She twisted her wrists and sped her hands together. Her feet bounced back and forth, shifting her weight every second.

    In his eyes, she became more suspicious by the second.

    His inquiry was simple. What could she be hiding?

    Eve opened her mouth, still unsure of what to say, "I was just"

    Hurried footsteps echoed behind Mikael. A hand tapped him on the shoulder and yanked him back. Violet eyes shined at his face. The madam wore a broad smile on her lips. "Mikael, right? Hi, I''m Avery. I''m one of Luna''s and Cale''s friends. I saw you during Evangeline''s shoot."

    Mikael rolled his sore shoulder. "Good evening to you, Ms. Avery."

    Those fingers could w out his skin. Not only that but it could also dislocate his joint. He lifted up his free hand to massage the spot. It soothed the pain even by a little.

    "Oh, my. What a charmer." Avery giggled, hitting his upper arm and making him flinch. The giddiness lit up her whole face. "I''m sorry to cut this short but Evangeline and I have a dinner reservation. Do you mind if we go on ahead?"

    "By all means," Mikael answered through gritted teeth. He struggled to form a smile. Her face may look innocent but those smacks weren''t joking. She wanted him gone. His legs moved aside, letting Avery pass and grab Eve.

    "Thank you!" The madam stated, false gratitude dripping in her words. She hooked her arm around Eve''s and led thetter towards the exit. "Have a good evening."

    "And to you as well, Ms. Avery" Mikael nodded at her. Then, his gaze flickered to the other woman in the room. "Ms. Evangeline."

    "Enjoy your evening, Mr. Davis," Eve managed to say before Avery dragged her outside. The cool night air brushed on her bare chest. The sensation brought blood up to her cheeks. She had almost forgotten about the neckline.

    "Phew, that was close," Avery sighed in relief. She pressed a button on her car keys and the headlights of a silver Porsche blinked. "Damn, Cale didn''t mention Mikael would be here. It wouldn''t be good if he pays too much attention to you. Otherwise, he''d notice that you are not using the apartment and will start to ask questions."

    The twodies separated in front of the car''s hood. Eve went to the passenger''s side and opened the door, hopping inside. She quickly buckled in her seatbelt. Her posture rxed against the seat.

    Unfortunately, her mind had a different desire.

    "I''m sorry. I panicked," she apologized, groaning at her slipup. No doubt that pause caused her to be suspicious. "I didn''t want to tell him Evangeline lived there for the same reason. He''d notice if she was gone most of the time."

    She also didn''t want him to know about the sponsorshipthe only exnation as to why she could afford such a luxurious ce to live. He seemed to be a critical person based onst time. He''d probably have ament or two about her residency.

    Avery pulled away from her parking spot and drove down the main pathway. She shook her head at the windshield. "Well, if you''d consider Yan as your boyfriend, you could just tell him that you stayed over at his ce."

    Eve choked at the idea.

    Her? And her boss? Under the same roof? Not working? She couldn''t even begin to imagine it, let alone lie about any details if people asked. To do such a thing would need Ambryan''s cooperation on the matter.

    The lie would only cause more trouble.

    "Well, I won''t say anything as long as he doesn'' ask," Evemented. She closed her eyes and massaged her right temple. Drowsiness clouded over her head. "Maybe I''ll think of a better excuse before that happens."

    Avery nodded, keeping her eyes on the road. "Yeah, let''s not initiate anything. Just try not to run into him, especially inside theplex."

    Eve looked out the window and silently agreed. She hoped Mikael would forget about the incidentbut it was still better not to collide with him. She was sure that he was a resident. They just didn''t know which part he lived. It could be the room at the end of the lower floors. It would be hard for them to intersect then.

    Maybe they had nothing to worry about after all.

    ...

    ...

    ...

    ...

    ...

    Back at the lobby, Mikael took his time and walked towards the entrance. He swept his radiant blue eyes around thendscape. He spotted no sign of either woman. His curiosity still wasn''t satisfied.

    Since neither of them hinted him an answer, he would have to search for another.

    He turned his head towards the security guard. He chose the safest theory that he came with. "Excuse me. Do you know what those two came here for? Did they visit anyone?"

    A nagging voice rebutted in his mind. It denied his questions and stamped them as wrong. What gnawed wasn''t theck of answersbut it was the need for confirmation. He had to hear whether his suspicions were correct or not.

    The security guard pondered for a moment. On one hand, some information should remain ssified. On the other hand, residents had a right to know about any changes. It wouldn''t be good if they mistook a neighbor as a robber.

    "I believe one of them is a new resident here," he decided to reveal, clearing his throat. His back stayed straight.

    Mikael cocked an eyebrow. "Which one?"

    "I think it''s the young woman, sir. Herpanion merely took care of the paperwork."

    "I see," he mumbled, bowing his head. The ce became quiet until he nodded at the security guard. He offered thetter a gentle smile. "Thank you."

    "You''re wee, sir."

    Spinning on his heel, Mikael continued his journey. He stopped in front of the elevators and pushed the ''up'' button. His eyes watched the numbers at the top bar. They slowly descended along with the lift.

    ssical music filled his ears when he stepped inside. The gears in his head turned and connected the dots. Avery had to be Evangeline''s benefactor. The reason why thetter received a campaign opportunity with Athon Corporation. If he wasn''t mistaken, the violet eyes seemed familiar.

    The hereditary trait was umon. Only a few of the upper ss had them. He already eliminated anyone lower of rank. Pulling strings such as this had to be done by someone on top of a pedestal. But who? He should have asked more.

    Maybe he could the next time he saw Evangeline.

    Then, the elevator dinged and stopped at the 10th floor.

 Chapter 42: 221Bakery Street

    Chapter 42: 221Bakery Street

    A cell phone sted out the current popr songs on the charts. It had gone through all 50 of them several times since the afternoon.

    It now went back to the first song at the top.

    Andie danced around the kitchen. ording to the timer, the cupcakes in the oven should be done soon. It was the second recipe she followed from ''D&D Cookbook.'' Since the pizza turned out to be a sess, she became motivated to try more.

    Maybe she could even take some tips and use it at the bakery.

    Her head snapped up when the front door opened. She stopped moving and peeked out of the doorway. A head of red hair walked inside the apartment. Pink ruffles fluttered around slender legs. The sling bag dropped to the floor, its metal essories ttering from the impact.

    Andie snorted.

    A teasing smile blossomed on her face. She lowered the music''s volume and called out to Eve. "So how did the date go? Did he faint from your beauty?"

    Her right hand grabbed an oven mitt from the counter. She slipped it on and checked the cupcakes. "He better have because I did an awesome job with your hair and makeup. Otherwise, I need to do better next time."

    Eve headed for the kitchen. She ced the bag on the kitchen ind and slumped on a stool. "I am so tired. My body aches so much. "

    Closing her eyes, her forehead banged on the surface. She folded her arms over the counter and lifted her head. Her temple rested against the back of her hand. A rxing breath exhaled out of her nose.

    She could probably fall asleep in a few seconds.

    "Already?" Andie questioned. The hot baking tray mmed against the kitchen ind. Her stormy blue eyes widened in usation. "Don''t tell me you did it?!"

    ''Did what?'' Eve thought groggily. She moaned and rubbed her nose against her arm. Her senses perceived little, processing things at a slow pace. Her brain buffered at the statement. It took a bit of time before the words sank in.

    Eve woke up instantly.

    Her eyes shed open.

    Her spine straightened up.

    "Hell, no!" She yelled at her best friend, her nostrils ring. Her face became red as a tomato. If smoke coulde out of her ears, it would. She could feel her skin grow hot. It could rival a steam boiler.

    ''Well, that''s one way to revive someone.'' Andie cackled as she sat down. Her arms wrapped around her stomach at theical sight. The reactions still made herugh, no matter how many times she''d seen it before.

    Her best friend was just too cute not to tease.

    Eve narrowed her gaze into a re. "Andie!"

    "Just joking. I know you wouldn''t let that happen." Andie snorted. She pulled off the mitten and transferred the cupcakes on a cooling rack. The purple paper cups stood out in the room. "Your horrified expression is so cute."

    Eve rolled her eyes and put her head back down. "Fine, fine. Tease me."

    Andie shook her head, cing her hands on her hips. She had been waiting all day for this. No way would she let her best friend ruin it. "But, seriously. How did it go? Did you find out anything about your boss that you didn''t know before?"

    Eve thought for a moment. The scene from the rink resurfaced in her mind. Blood rushed into her cheeks. They ignited like fire once again. Now that she was back in reality, the entire date seemed like a dream.

    She slipped her arms off the counteronly to hide her face with her hands.

    "Holy shischnitzel!" Andie eximed, pointing her finger. "Something happened!"

    That sort of embarrassment didn''t stem out of nowhere. No, no, it came from a memory. A moment that was embedded in her best friend''s mind. It had to be from the date. It just had to be! Whatever it was,

    She would get to the bottom of it.

    "Nothing happened!" Eve denied as she sat up. She needed her full defense for this argument. One slipup and Andie would bulldoze her way towards the truth. She''d never be able to live it down.

    "Uh-huh. Sure, sure. Why are you blushing then?" Andie shot back. She crossed her arms over her chest. A smug smile peeked from the corner of her lip. "Did you kiss?"

    "WE DIDN''T!"

    She bit her inner cheek, muffling herugh. It was too much! What a precious cinnamon roll! If there were pillows nearby, Eve would have buried her face under one. She was sure of it.

    "Hm, whatever," Andie sighed in nonchnce. She grabbed a bottle of purple food coloring and a bowl of cream cheese frosting. "I''ll probably find out tomorrow in the tabloids anyway. I can just guess what happened."

    "The tabloids?" Eve grimaced, watching her best friend mixed the icing. It slowly turned into a shade ofvender. "But Ambryan said he didn''t like the press and had no ns about making our rtionship public."

    "That wouldn''t stop reporters from telling the public about it, would it?" Andie cocked an eyebrow. Her hands paused from stirring. She looked at the wall and read out invisible words. "You''ll just see headlines like, ''Eros'' Most Eligible Bachelor out on a Date! Who is this Mystery Girl?'' or even ''Ambryan Hathaway ready to tie the knot? Mystery Girl ensnared the heart of the CEO!''"

    "Wow, I am good at this." She giggled, shifting her attention back on the bowl of frosting. "I shoulde up with more."

    "Please don''t."

    "Then, would you mind telling me? I shared stories with you about Jarrett." Her best friend scoffed. "Come on, spill the tea. Give me some details."

    Eve groaned. Andie would never let this go. She had to satisfy her best friend''s curiosity somehow. Her mind figured out which details to share. Andie already knew about the lunch since that was the n. Her best friend would want to know what happened after.

    In the end, she went with a simple answer.

    A sigh escaped her lips. "We went to a roller skating rink. There. That''s the reason why I''m exhausted."

    "What?!" Andie cried out. She set the bowl down on the counter. Her full attention was now on Eve. "Is that the one near Bogum Park? If I had known, I would have spied on you."

    She covered her mouth. Just the thought of it sounded funny.

    Eve hit the table. "Hey!"

    "I''m kidding!"

    "No, not that!" She grumbled, waving her hand, "Why didn''t you tell me about it?!"

    The rink was so close by. She could have spent free days in it. Not only was it fun but it was also another form of exercise. Maybe she could go back the following weekend. If they had membership, she''d sign up and spend less money.

    Andie gave her a pointed look. "When are you exactly free to go?"

    Eve''s excitement turned into dread. If her schedule was full before, it would be more so now. Evangeline would have a new campaign shoot. There would be more dates in the future, social gatherings to attend to and people to avoid. She also needed to visit Ede and Eri regrly.

    Her head bowed as her voice dropped into a small one.

    "... I would have made time."

    "Right, right," Andie replied, sarcasmced in her tone. She cupped her cheek and rested an elbow on the kitchen ind. "So did you have fun?"

    "I loved that rink!" Eve gushed. Her dull eyes lit up in a daze. The exhration flowed into her veins. It was almost like she was in it again. "The energy is just something else."

    Her best friend reached for a ss of water. "Okay, and then what? Did you trip on each other?"

    "No, he just carried me out."

    "Say what?!" Andie spit out the water. She twisted her neck so it wouldn''t ssh on the food. Her hand wiped off the rest from her mouth. "How?! Bridal, over shoulder or piggyback?!"

    Eve fell back to reality. Her jaw dropped as she realized what she just said. She had been daydreaming that she forgot about the conversation. Taking her bag, she rose to her feet and headed for the doorway.

    An awkwardugh stuttered out of her lips. "I''m gonna go take a bath."

    Before her best friend could reply, she turned around and bolted for the stairs. Her feet thudded as she escaped the scene. What she said should have been enough. It was already more than what she nned to reveal. Her best friend shouldn''t be picky anymore.

    Andie stood up and leaned over the kitchen ind. Her target vanished from sight. Screaming, her voice reverberated around the house. "Eve, you can''t do this to me! Don''t leave me hanging!"

    A door mmed from upstairs.

    She slumped back on the stool. Her shoulders slouched in defeat. So much for the girl talk she wanted. Her gaze flickered towards the cupcakes. They had cooled down during the conversation. She could now add the icing.

    Instead of doing that, she took a cupcake and ripped off a piece. She dipped it in the cream cheese frosting then, popped it into her mouth, mumbling, "Darn it."

    The vor exploded in her mouth. She chewed slowly and savored the feeling. It lifted off her bad mood, allowing her to see the positivity. "Well, that sounded a lot better than I expected. Either the CEO is falling or he is crafty with this agreement."

 Chapter 43: Black, White, Blue... and Red?

    Chapter 43: ck, White, Blue... and Red?

    Ambryan arrived at his penthouse building.

    He parked his convertible at the designated spot. His index finger pushed a button on the dashboard, prompting the roof to roll back up. He checked the progress through the rearview mirror. Something on the backseat caught his attention.

    A straw hatid upside down, tilting to one side. It had been blown by the wind during the drives. How it survived through it all, he didn''t know.They had left it when they entered the mall. It was unnecessary indoors so it stayed there.

    The corner of his lip frowned as he picked it up.

    Ambryan carried it at his side and headed for the elevator.

    ...

    ...

    ...

    ...

    At the top floor, an albino Siberian cat lounged at a leather couch. Her bushy tail brushed over the edge. She snored lightly and enjoyed her 15-hour cat nap. Her belly had been filled before she closed her eyes. It left her satisfied.

    She dreamed of a world free from all frogs.

    She considered it to be a good day.

    Kiri''s ears twitched. They picked up the sound of the door lock. She yawned and blinked her eyes open. Rising to her feet, she shook her fur and leaped off the couch.

    "Meow." Her legs skipped over to the front door. Something smelled different. Her nose found the scent pleasant. It brought a tiny smile to her face.

    Ambryan stepped inside and spotted his cat. She sat down in front of him. He dropped to one knee and scratched behind her ears. "Hello, Kiri. Did you have a good day?"

    "Meow, meow!" She replied, holding her head high. Her dreamself single-handedly stopped a frog invasion. Shooting stars rained down from the sky, celebrating her sess.

    Her hooman chuckled. "I''ll take that as a yes."

    He continued to pamper her but she had other ideas. Standing up, she strolled over to the straw hat. She nuzzled her nose against it and lied down on her side. Her paws tapped it repeatedly.

    "Meow!"

    "You like that, huh?" Ambryan asked. He put the hat on the floor and watched her y.

    "Meow!"

    Kiri rolled on her back, picking up the hat. She held it by her front paws and bit its brim. None of her teeth marks created a dent. She merely used this method as a sign of her affection. The

    Ambryan shook his head and patted her head. "Unfortunately, it''s not ours. We''ll have to return it."

    The cat stopped. She moved her head in slow motion until her pale purple eyes stared up at him. They seemed to dte by the second, making them appear bigger. Her ears drooped from the news.

    Ambyran''s hand paused.

    "Well, maybe we can keep it."

    "Meow!" Kiri cheered. The hat flipped over andnded on its crown. She hopped in, tucking her legs under her stomach. No one knew how she managed to fit inside.

    Ambryan straightened his legs. He only had one thought. ''Evangeline wouldn''t mind if she doesn''t even remember it, right?''

    His legs led him towards the master bedroom.

    The interior had a mix of wood and white walls. The king size bed stood in the middle of a raised tform. Its mahogany headboard doubled as a canopy for the bed, snaking up the wall and onto the ceiling. Sheer curtains covered the windows on the right. A frosted walk-in closet upied the left.

    He shrugged off his jacket and undid his tie.

    Then, the doorbell rang.

    Ambryan grimaced. Not many knew of his residence. Even fewer visited at this time of night. That left him with a short list. He kept his dark blue vest on and walked over to the front door. A small wall monitor hung on the right wall.

    It showed him what the security camera presented.

    He exhaled sharply and turned the door knob, allowing it to open by a few inches. Curly bronze hair slipped inside immediately along with steel gray eyes crinkling in amusement and a wide set of teeth beaming at him.

    "Knock, knock?" The visitor joked. He could hardly contain the giddiness on his face.

    "Richard." Ambryan greeted. He kept the door half-closed. The temptation to shove it close was strong. Oh, how wonderful it would be to jam that too happy face.

    "Yan!" His best friend giggled. Tucking in his chin, he wiggled his eyebrows. "It''s been a while!"

    The door moved an inch.

    Richard stopped it with his body weight. He scowled at theck of hospitality. "HEY!"

    "If that is your reason for being here," Ambryan reacted calmly, "May I remind you that we just saw each other yesterday."

    "That was for business! This is different!"

    The ims did little to faze him. Not only did his lips stay grim but his violet eyes also remained hard.

    It changed by 0.01% because of the following statement.

    "I have wine."

    Ambryan stopped his quest. He pulled back the door and fully opened it. His best friend stumbled into the penthouse. If he couldn''t get rid of Richard, he might as well find ways to enjoy his visit. He headed for the kitchen as he fixed his cufflinks.

    Richard dusted off his pants, keeping the bottle secure. He kicked the door closed and smiled at a feline. It had been a while since he''d seen her. His fingers brushed over her fur as she slept.

    "When did Kiri get a new hat?"

    "Today," his best friend responded from the other room.

    "You bought her one?" He frowned, inspecting the hat. It seemed out of ce, something worn outside under the summer heat. "That''s notwait, is this your date''s hat?"

    "Maybe."

    Richard bounded for the kitchen. Immense joy brimmed under his skin. He had found an opening for this awaited conversation. He thought Ambryan would have been back early. To his surprise, no one was at the penthouse.

    The curiously gnawed the sides of his head.

    "Ohoho, she''s good!" He dered as soon as he reached his destination.

    The kitchen matched the modern look of the living room. It had an L-shape counter for the stove, the sink and space for kitchen appliances and tools. The cabs were white while the marble surfaces were ck. A fridge stood beside the longer counter''s edge.

    Most of it had been pre-furnished.

    Richard sat on a stool while his best friend set up the wine sses. The kitchen ind matched the length of the L-shape counterminus the short end. It had a rectangr shape with a narrow width. It created a barrier for the kitchen, boxing it in.

    Ambryan knitted his eyebrows. "What do you mean?"

    Barely a few minutes had passed and his best friend was already spouting nonsense.

    Richard scoffed. The bottle he brought thudded on the kitchen ind. He cleared his throat and began to exin, "Yan, if a woman ''forgets'' something on the first date, most of the time she has ulterior motives."

    ''It was a clever trick,'' he praised in his mind. He hadn''t dated many women but he surely heard of this gimmick.

    Ambryan opened a drawer and took out a corkscrew. "Like what?"

    "So you''d meet again since you have to return it!" Richard exasperated. It still astonished how many times this trick became a sess. Now, his best friend became one of its receivers.

    What would Ambryan do then?

    Contrary to his thoughts, his best friend merely poked the screw into the cork. "We''ll be dating for 9 months. I don''t think that kind of trick would be necessary."

    Richard was stumped.

    A pop pierced through the air.

    "Point taken," he sighed, lifting up his ss for some wine. "Anyway, what kind of woman are we talking about here? Is she a redhead?"

    Ambryan stopped short. The bottle brushed against the ss'' rim. He only needed to tilt up the bottom more for the wine to pour out. He wondered how his best friendthen, he thought better of it. His mother must have told Richard already. Thetter was just feigning innocence.

    "How did you know?" He yed along, pouring the wine.

    "So she is! I should have known."

    That statement threw him off guard. He ced the bottle down and held onto the edge of the counter. His violet eyes narrowed in suspicions. "Again. borate, Richard."

    Richard sipped from his ss. He raised his eyebrows, noticing the change in tone. He set the wine ss down and swirled it absentmindedly.

    "The only time I ever saw you pay attention to the opposite sex," he began to exin and paused for a while. Ambryan''s re turned colder, making Richardugh at his impatience. "... is when she has red hair! Your eyes would follow her until she''s gone. Granted you never dated anyone but it was the closest that showed your interest."

    Richard shook his head at this fact. His best friend probably didn''t even know about it. When they were in college, he thought Ambryan finally felt something towards someone. His best friend would be distracted in ss and stare at the back of her head.

    It turned out to be a ruse because Ambryan never approached her.

    Later on, Richard had seen the same thing happen. He eventually put the pieces together.

    All of the women had one thing inmon.

    Red hair.

    Ambryan filled his own ss with wine, saying nothing. He picked it up and watched the red liquid. The surface glinted differently under his kitchen''s lighting. It also had a different shade from the one they had two weeks before.

    He took a whiff of its scent before taking a sip.

    "Well?" Richard pressed. He really wanted to know if his theory had been correct. Maybe he''d even find out the story behind it. There had to be a reason why his best friend was attracted to redheads.

    Ambryan looked up, keeping his head bowed. The wine left an aftertaste in his throat. He made his point clear when he spoke. Otherwise, Richard mighte up with more theories.

    "I did not choose her because of her hair."

 Chapter 44: Babe, Honey... or Sweetie Pie?

    Chapter 44: Babe, Honey... or Sweetie Pie?

    Richard tsked.

    He couldn''t tell if his best friend spoke the truth or not. It wouldn''t be unlike Ambryan to keep it a secret. He had always done thatespecially when it concerned his childhood. Stories that happened outside of the city were off-limits. Not even Avery had shared anything.

    It still had him curious after all these years.

    "Look, I''m just saying what I know." He snorted, gulping a mouthful of wine.

    Ambryan averted his eyes and drank some more. He only took a break only to respond briefly. He refused to let this theory be dragged longer. "She wasn''t the only person who had red hair."

    ''That woman M was it?'' He thought, recalling the third woman he met, ''She had tight ginger curls. It was also naturalpared to Evangeline''s which seemed dyed.''

    Richard choked on the wine. He coughed raspily as his throat burned from the sensation. He hadn''t expected such a twistnot that he minded. Things became more interesting than he initially expected.

    "Oh, really?" Richard smirked. He reached for a tissue. A box of them sat on the kitchen ind. He wiped the corners of his mouth. "Then, she must be more special than the other one."

    "She''s the least troublesome one."

    The immediate answer left him speechless. Any hope he had was crushed. Of course, that would be the reason. It surely sounded like his best friend. ''This was going nowhere, wasn''t it?'' hemented.

    "Coming from you, that''s apliment," Richard snorted, giving up on this interview. He decided to use a different approach. "When do I get to meet her?"

    Ambryan refilled his ss. "Why would you need to meet her?"

    "Shouldn''t I have some input about this girlfriend of yours?" Richard exasperated. His best friend didn''t n to hide her from him, right? What would he say if others asked him about it? They''d expect him to know insider information because of their rtionship.

    Most of those were just excuses. He really just wanted to meet her.

    She''d probably talk more than Ambryan ever would.

    "Girlfriend?"

    "Well, yeah. What else would you call her?" Richard questioned. A confused look painted over his face. "You did talk about that, right?"

    Ambryan titled his head to one side and scowled. "Talk about?"

    "Oy vey...," Richard moaned with a sigh. He bowed his head and ruffled his own hair. The curls became messier than usual. They stuck out in different directions. Looking up, he grumbled out his concern. "What was the lunch discussion about then?"

    Granted, he expected Ambryan to be this way. Although, he did expect the woman to lead this rtionship. It would be her who would put this subject to light. Arge portion of the female species found this a sensitive topic.

    They wanted a clear line, not half-baked promises.

    It seemed that this woman belonged to the small portion.

    "Terms and conditions."

    Richard closed his eyes and hung his head. He stayed that way for a moment. A growing headache throbbed at his temples. Now, he really wanted to meet this woman. Either she was meek and mild, letting Ambryan take the lead, or she was like his best friend, uncaring about the details.

    Sighing, he brought his chin down and said, "Did you remember to put abel on it?"

    Ambryan gave him the same bewildered expression.

    Richard pinched the bridge of his nose. How should he exin this?

    "Yan, you have to be clear," he started to say and used a firm voice, leaving no room forpromise, "The two of you are dating right now but how would you introduce her in gatherings? ''Hello, Mr. Baltimore. This is Unnamed-Girl. She is my contracted date for 9 months''?"

    "What a wonderful suggestion."

    "..."

    Richard grabbed the bottle and drank straight from it. It flowed down to his stomach like a tidal wave. Thinking about it, he realized that he should have bought two. Not only did his best friend have high tolerance but also he needed it to soothe this headache.

    "Anyway," he said, breaking the silence. He mmed the bottle on the counter. It only had a little left. "Fake or not, establish the rtionship. At least, refer to each other as boyfriend and girlfriend. It wouldn''t be good to have it ubelled with no clear understanding for outside parties. They wouldn''t know about your mother''s scheme after all."

    Ambryan red.

    His dirty look stared at the bottle''s rim. Now that Richard drank from it, it became filthy. His saliva tainted both the bottle and its contents. Ambryan could no longer drink from it.

    Unless, he wanted to exchange spit with his best friend.

    Richard quickly realized his mistake. He pulled the wine bottle off the kitchen ind and stood up. His feet backed away slowly, proceeding with caution.

    "I am just going to shut up and go to the other room while you talk with her about it," heughed awkwardly. Once the next room appeared in his peripheral vision, he made his escape. "The food delivery might arrive suddenly."

    Ambryan put his ss down. It was already empty. Two sses barely satisfied his fill. He went to his wine selection at the L-shape counter and opened one. He made a mental note to not let Richard drink any from them.

    Taking one sip, he fished out his phone and opened the DTC app.

    .

    ``Yan: Good evening, Ms. Evangeline.``

    ``Lin: Mr. Hathaway! Going to sleep already? I am shocked.``

    ``Yan: Sleep?``

    ``Lin: Didn''t we agree that you''d say ''good night'' before going to sleep? I thought that would be the reason why you messaged me. <()>``

    .

    Ambryan stared at the emoticon. He''d never seen her use one before. It seemed that someone was less guarded. That skating rink must have lifted up her spirits. Since he took her there, she became more rxed.

    Somehow, that delighted him for a bit.

    A small smile teased the corner of his lips.

    ...

    ...

    ...

    ...

    His gaze snapped towards a dividing wall. A blur of bronze vanished from his sight. Ambryan shook his head. He turned around and hid his front profile, keeping the ''spy'' away. That person would find nothing to gossip about.

    Ambryan leaned on the kitchen ind and typed out his concern.

    Well, his best friend''s concern.

    .

    ``Yan: No, I wanted to establish something. It hase to my attention that we needed a bel'' as I''ve been told.``

    ``Lin: Oh. You mean like ''boyfriend'' and ''girlfriend'', right? Not ''babe'', ''honey'' or ''sweetie pie''?``

    .

    ''Endearments?'' Ambryan wondered. He read something about them in the past. He had also heard it from others like his parents. It seemed to be what couples called each other. ''Would she be morefortable with that instead of his first name?''

    Rereading her message, he dropped the idea. It already gave him the answer.

    .

    ``Yan: The former.``

    ``Lin: That seems reasonable since we''ll be ''dating'' for a while.``

    .

    Ambryan blinked.

    That seemed easier than Richard implied. What was the fuss about? His best friend acted like it was a huge problem. This conversation just further proved how overdramatic Ricahrd could be.

    .

    ``Yan: Alright. That''s done then.``

    ``Lin: Anything else?``

    ``Yan: No. Sleep well.``

    .

    He closed the app and locked the screen. He reached for the wine ss and drank half of it. It rxed his muscle tension. This would be thest time he listened to his best friend''s worries. They never turned out to be significantly rational.

    His phone suddenly vibrated in his hand.

    .

    ``Lin: Don''t stay up toote!``

    .

    Ambryan snorted quietly.

    He chose not to reply. It would only break her expectations. Since he spent hours outside, his work piled up. Eve always had the weekend off. He only contacted her if it was an emergency. Despite his work position, he still preferred to do most work by himself.

    It caused him less trouble from the people Madison chose to hire. He had gone through several secretaries because of this.

    The only one he approved of was Eveexcept, her potential exceeds her position. If she chose to train, he''d ry more work on her and possibly hire an assistant secretary.

    "Evangeline, huh?" A voice asked near his ear.

    Whirling around, Ambryan found his best friend kneeling on the kitchen ind.

    "Richard," he spat out. He tucked his phone away and shot daggers at Richard. His violet eyes crystallized like dark amethyst. "I didn''t know snooping is your new hobby."

    "What do you call her? Eva? Angel? Lin? Her name has so many possibilities," Richard continued, ignoring his best friend''s displeased expression. He slipped back on the stool and cradled his head between two hands. He resembled a high school girl watching a romance film.

    "You can even call her, ''Van'', and it would work. It would be easy to pick a unique nickname that you only use," he gushed. Out of all of them, ''Lin'' caught his attention the most. It matched Ambryan''s nickname, Yan. Both were thest sybles of their names.

    Ambryan ced his ss on the sink and walked away from the scene. His response echoed around the penthouse, amplifying and gathering more power, "Thank you for your concern on my love life, Richard. If you had that much care with your own then, you might be married by now."

    Richard flinched at his words.

    ''Did you have to hit me where it hurts deep?''

 Chapter 45: Sunday Morning Visits

    Chapter 45: Sunday Morning Visits

    The next morning, warm sunlight streamed through a bedroom window.

    Eve lied on her side with her hands under the pillow. Her chest rose and fell at a steady pace. She wore a tranquil expression on her face. It had been a while since she had a good sleep. Although her consciousness surfaced, she kept her eyes closed, enjoying more of this peaceful moment.

    She turned to her other side and her peace shattered.

    It broke into a million pieces and pricked through her skin like a thousand needles. Burning pain spread across her muscles. They throbbed, pulsing from the soreness. She felt it more in her legs. They stung like fire.

    "Shi" Eve gasped, panting for breath. Her brown eyes blinked under the morning light. Carefully, she positioned herself on her back and gazed up at the ceiling. A groan flowed out of her lips. "Ugh, this is what I get for exerting my body on that rink. I need to get more exercise."

    She would also need to if this modelling career wouldst 9 months. As the CEO''s ''girlfriend'', eyes would be on here. They''d criticize and search for her faults. Although most of them wouldn''t be true,

    She still didn''t want to give them a chance.

    A n formed in her mind as she yed with her hair. There should be a social gathering soon. She would make allies there. Avery would probably help her with it. Cale and Luna too if they would be present.

    She would survive through this.

    Her phone vibrated from the night stand.

    .

    ``Yan: Good morning, Ms. Evangeline.``

    .

    Eve''s heart did a double flip.

    ''He actually did it!'' She thought andughed. The positive energy provided a temporary getaway from the pain. Her shoulders shook from the ridiculousness of the situation. She could almost imagine the poker face on Ambryan''s face.

    .

    ``Lin: Good morning, Mr. Hathaway. Have a good day! (^o^)/ ``

    .

    With that said, she pulled herself up in a sitting position. The throbbing intensified from each movement. Her legs walked groggily towards the bathroom. She mimicked a zombie, dragging her feet across the floor. Her arms barely moved on her sides.

    This called for another aromatherapy bath session.

    Andie busied herself with breakfast. They had guests for today. More than her mother and the twins, Jarrett had also decided to join them. They stayed in the living room while she made her way around the kitchen. Working at the bakery trained her body clock.

    She became a morning person, always ready to be of service.

    The ''D&D Cookbook''id open on a small bookstand. The page showed a recipe for fried rice. Various ingredients littered on top of the kitchen ind. Cold rice, eggs, oyster sauce, sesame oil, soy sauce, vegetables, garlic and butter. She had cooked the ricest night before going to bed.

    It would be an Asian-inspired breakfast today.

    Soon, the apartment filled with a savory aroma. Seasoned butter floated up their noses. It made several stomachs rumble in hunger. The sound of a sizzling pan further intensified their cravings. Their anticipation reached another level.

    "Waaah, I''m hungry!" Eri whined, a tablet in her hands. She sat on the couch and pouted towards the kitchen. She could see white smoke. "Is it not time for breakfast?"

    "Now, now." Georgie chuckled beside her. "Andie is still not done. Don''t disturb her yet."

    Eri turned back to the tablet. Her cinnamon hair swayed on either side of her face. She pushed a button on the screen and it led her to a page with fournes. ck rectangr blocks paused, ready to move at hermand.

    Her eyes began to focus.

    Then, she tapped on one.

    Piano notes flowed out of the living room. The melody started out slow, increasing speed over a span of time. Small fingers struggled to keep it moving. After it was over, the song repeated itself at a higher pace. The blocks turned into a blur before a pair of brown eyes.

    Nheless, Eri kept it up.

    On the floor, Ede sat across from her twin. She had her own tablet in her hands. Unlike her sister, she yed a quieter game in the form of a puzzle. It would give her brown blocks in different shapes. All she had to do was make them fit inside a square. If she managed to make a row or a column, they would disappear.

    The goal was to not run out of moves.

    Jarrett upied her right, watching as she solved the game. She would take her time and think unlink other children that would just drag the blocks blindly. It amused him. He could almost see her graduate with a PhD.

    Not that was the only way to prove her intelligence.

    "Wow, are we having a party?" Eve announced. She heard the music as she climbed down the stairs and made a right, entering the living room. Her eyebrows rose from the number of people. Georgie and the twins she was used to.

    It seemed like there was an extra head for today.

    "EVE!" The twins yelled. They put down the tablets, getting up from their seats. They ran and tackled their older sister in a hug. Their arms ovepped around her waist. They buried their faces on her sides.

    "Hello, girls." Eve giggled. She bent her legs to match their eye level, using one arm for each twin. Her head slipped between theirs as she closed her eyes. She embraced them tightly.

    Their vani scent smelled like home.

    When she opened them, she met a pair of sky blue eyes. They glowed with mischief at her. Thunder clouds emerged on top of her head. They resounded in a low frequency that only she could hear.

    ''This wasn''t going to end well,'' Eve dreaded quietly.

    Jarrett blinked once and broke a smile. "I heard you''re up for promotion."

    A deadpan expression misted over her face. She released the twins and stood. Letting out a sigh, she pinched the bridge of her nose. "That''s notIt''s not how it sounds like."

    "Yeah?" He challenged, his lips stretching into a wide grin. "You''re not gonna be ady boss?"

    Eve had no words. She''d rather not deal with his teasing for today. Her body and her mind didn''t have the energy for it. Instead of a retort, she shook her head and crossed her arms over her chest, saying,

    "I''m not gonna answer that."

    Georgie chuckled from the couch. She angled her body sideways and ced an arm over the backrest. Her gazended on one of the twins. "Eri, dear. Why don''t you tell Eve about your wish?"

    At that, Eve shifted her attention. Frown lines creased between her brows. "Wish?"

    "It''s nothing!" Eri protested with wide eyes. Blood rushed into her cheek, even tinting her ears pink. The red shade subdued the mole under her right eye. It became less noticeable. "It was just a joke! I have nothing to say."

    Eve knelt on one knee, narrowing her gaze. She studied her sister''s face. Small lips trembled before her. She exhaled sharply and used a gentle voice. "Now, what do you mean by that? Eri, you know you can tell me anything, right?"

    "I do!"

    "Then, tell me."

    Silence engulfed the room. Only the sound of cooking kept the house from beingpletely muted.

    "I just" Eri stammered. She bit her bottom lip and dropped her eyes to the floor. "I just want to learn the piano"

    "Oh," Eve reacted. Her eyes blinked once at this new information. Well, it was summer. There should be sses avable for this. It wouldn''t interrupt their schoolwork either. A scheduled hobby sounded like a good idea for their free time.

    "But it''s okay!" Eri interrupted her thoughts. She raised her hands and shook her head repeatedly. "I know we don''t have a lot of money! That''s why I''m ying a game instead!"

    Eve''s jaw dropped. She could hardly believe her ears. ''That was what my sister worried about?''

    "I think there''s a music school a few blocks away," Andie said, announcing her presence. She held a spat in one hand and leaned against the archway of the living room. "It just reopened too. There should be some slots left for sses."

    "Andie, no!" Eri shouted. She ran up to the cook and pushed her away, trying to shove her back in the kitchen. She didn''t want Eve to be pressured into agreeing. "You''re in charge of breakfast. Just tell us if breakfast is ready."

    "But I can''t move!" Andieined, half copsing towards the floor. She bent back almost touching the little girl''s head with her back. Her free hand clutched her chest. "It had been struck by the lightning of paralysis."

    Eri gritted her teeth. She changed direction with her hands and pushed upwards. "Stop being weird! People are getting hungry!"

    Eve breathed out augh. She walked over and grabbed her sister by the waist, pulling her away from her best friend. "Eri, if you want to study piano then, study piano."

    Eri snapped up her eyes. "But it costs money!"

    "You''re 10 years old," Eve pointed out, emphasizing the girl''s age. She even flicked her sister''s forehead. "Don''t worry about money at such a young age."

    "Does this mean we''ll see you even less?" Ede interrupted from behind. She joined the other two and hugged Eve from the side. "Like more overtime?"

    "No." Eve shook her head and chuckled. Since when did her sisters grow up? They shouldn''t be worrying like this. Another reason why she stayed at her job was for them to enjoy their youth. If they wanted to do something, she''d make sure to give her best at making theme true.

    Pulling them in front of her, she smiled with tenderness in her eyes. No words could describe how much she loved them. "Even if both of you want to go, I''ll make it happen."

    Eri was the first to react. "Really?"

    "Really."

    Ede squinted her eyes. "Really, really?"

    ''Such suspicious girls!'' Eveined to herself. ''I want my cute sisters back!''

    Nheless, she bumped each of their noses with a finger and said, "Really, really x 3000."

    The twins squealed, catching her off guard. "You''re the best, Eve!"

    They tackled her with another hug until the three of them fell to the floor. Merryughter floated up to the ceiling. Georgie and Jarrett stepped out of the living room. They watched the wholesome scene with Andie. They stayed quiet and let the siblings enjoy their time.

    Eve merely giggled and pinched her sisters'' cheeks.

    They cried out in pain.

    It made herugh even more.

    "I know I am."

 Chapter 46: The Magical Symphony

    Chapter 46: The Magical Symphony

    Eri and Ede sat at the backseat of a BMW M3, buckled in safely.

    Excitement ted their faces as the city became a blur outside the car windows. Both had agreed to attend a summer ss for music. After breakfast, the twins could hardly wait. They dragged their older sister outside and headed for the car.

    Eve wasn''t able to refuse. She chuckled at the memory and peeked at the rearview mirror. Her sisters swayed their heads to the radio music while they quietly sang lyrics.

    It didn''t take long for her to find the music school.

    The building seemed to be a refurbished shop. The walls had been painted white while the roof had orange asphalt. It only had two floors with arge window at the front. Music note stickers decorated the ss. It also had recreated a music sheet''s staff, making it flow like a wave.

    The middle had thick cursive letters that read,

    ``The Magical Symphony``

    "We''re here!" Eri eximed. She tried to get up but the seat belt yanked her back. Ede followed her line of sight. Their brown eyes widened in amazement. Things suddenly felt more real.

    They were actually going to learn an instrument.

    Eve parked the car at the nearest vacant spot. She killed the engine and climbed out first. Since the girls were in a hurry, she only had time to slip on a gray t-shirt dress. The hem almost reached her knees. She paired it with white sneakers. They feltfortable on her feet after wearing heels for the past few days.

    Eri and Ede climbed out at her side of the car. The two girls sprinted for the entrance. It was made of mahogany with square ss windows. A wind chime hung at the top. They waited for their older sister to join them.

    But then, the door opened.

    Their heads snapped towards it.

    "Oh!" The woman gasped.

    "Ah!" The twins yelled.

    The woman chuckled at their faces. She tilted her head to one and observed the two. A gentle smile blossomed on her face. "I don''t think I''ve seen you before. Are you new students?"

    Eri and Ede exchanged looks. Their mouths mped shut at the sight of a stranger. They had been trained not to talk to one without a guardian around. To outsiders, it seemed that they had a silent conversation, fuelling the theory that twins had telepathy.

    "It''s okay. I don''t bite." The woman coaxed. The sunlight from outside glistened in her jade green eyes. It also brought out the golden tones of tight ginger curls. She held out a hand for them to shake. "I''m a teacher here. My name is M. What''s yours?"

    The girls remained silent and hid their hands behind their backs.

    M found it peculiar but cute.

    "Geez, you guys are fast." Eve called out as she caught up to her sisters. Her head shook at them. "You couldn''t have waited for me beside the car? I had tooh!"

    Her brown eyes spotted M. Her mouth opened and closed like a goldfish. She blinked at the sudden presence. It seemed like they weren''t alone. Feeling embarrassed by her outburst, she scratched the back of her neck and pressed her lips together.

    M shifted her attention.

    "You must be their guardian. Hi, I''m M," she greeted Eve, directing the raised hand towards her. "These two are so adorable. I can''t get them to speak though. Such a shame."

    "Oh!" Eve eximed, breaking out of her daze. She shook the teacher''s hand and gave an apologetic smile. "I''m Everlee. I''m their older sister. Yeah, they were told not to talk to strangers alone."

    M nodded in approval. Her gaze flickered back on the twins. "That sounds like a reasonable thing to do. They''re good girls. I assume they''re enrolling for ss?"

    "Yes."

    "Well, then," she stepped aside and opened the door fully, "Why don''t we go inside?"

    Eve and her sisters were led to an empty music room. It had a wooden flooring and cream walls. Twinkle lights hung at the edge of the ceiling, adding a rustic ambiance whenever they dimmed the main lights. Strings instruments stood near the back wall. Arge ck piano took up one-fourth of the space.

    A podium had been set up underneath a ckboard.

    M turned to the twins and said, "Why don''t you go out and explore? You can check out the ongoing sses through the door windows. Some of them instructors might even let you in."

    When neither of them moved, Eve patted their shoulders. "Go on. Just stay in the building, okay? Don''t touch anything without supervision."

    "Okay!" Both sisters eximed. Then, they bolted out of the door. Their footsteps thudded on the floor as they raced around the building, searching for an active ss. Their previous excitement returned at tenfold.

    "They''re really energetic." M chuckled, staring at the door.

    Eve snorted at her statement. "Tell me about it."

    "So, which instrument will it be?"

    M pulled up two chairs and offered one to Eve. She also took out a clipboard from a drawer. It had printed spreadsheets about the current vacancy slots for various instrument sses. She sat down and read through them, looking for the ones designated for beginners.

    "Oh, Eri wants to learn the piano," Eve started to say, sitting down on a chair. She tucked her ankles together and squeezed her thighs. "Ede is still undecided but she might want to be in the same ss as her sister."

    Since Eri would be attending, she figured her other sister might feel lonely. It would be nice if they both took up sseseven with different instruments. They could bond over the lessons and grow together.

    "Well, there are about 2 schedules avable for beginners," M said, marking the nearest date for new sses, "Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday. Our idea is not to overwhelm them. We also hope that the intervals would make them anticipate the lessons more."

    Eve nodded as she talked. It seemed reasonable to her ears. Depending on how long the hours would be, it might cost less than she initially thought. She crossed her arms over her chest as she thought about it more.

    "Do they have a piano at home?" M suddenly asked and interrupted her thoughts, "We do have intervals for break but we also encourage students to use them for individual practice. They won''t advance if they don''t dedicate themselves to it."

    Eve shook her head, heaving a sigh. "Sadly, no."

    "It is arge instrument," M nodded in understanding. Her voice softened into a gentle tone. "For piano specifically, we also offer daily from Monday to Friday. It costs higher though. The extra days are for them to practice their lessons. You can think of it as renting a piano for them to do that."

    Biting her lip, Eve analyzed her sisters'' behavior. This would be the first time they take a lesson outside of the academic curriculum. It wouldn''t be good if they suddenly hated to go since it felt like tedious work. The fee wouldn''t be refundable usually in this.

    "Would a portable keyboard be good enough?" She asked while her mind calcted the estimated cost of one. If both would take piano, they might need individual keyboards to not interrupt the other''s practice.

    If Ede chose a different instrument, Eve might need to buy her a personal one to use during ss.

    M took a deep breath. She had heard this question before. The reactions differ each time since a few guardians didn''t understand the meaning behind her words. Most of them thought the school merely wanted to swindle more money.

    "It''s not entirely ideal because they are different. Once you master a piece on the keyboard, it''s hard to transfer it to a piano. There are also separate lessons for keyboard," she exined. Her hands clenched the clipboard as she forced herself to calm down. "If your sisters are set to learn piano specifically, it would be best that they use the exact instrument. Maybe even a digital piano."

    Eve bit her bottom lip and stared at the floor. She wanted the best for her sisters but she also didn''t want to spoil them. Now that she had more insight, she wouldn''t ept any sudden ''change of mind'' from the two. They had to attend and finish all beginner sses.

    Beforemitting though, maybe she should wait for them to get back.

    "I understand about affordability. I really do," M spoke up, breaking the silence, "If you ask me, a keyboard is better than nothing at all. It still lets them practice. Everything is totally up to you."

    At that, Eve rxed her body. That was her mindset when she asked about the keyboard. It wasn''t exactly a piano but she hoped it would be a good substitute.

    The same loud footsteps came back, slowly increasing volume as the two girls reached the music room. They giggled along the way and headed straight for their older sister. They stood on either side of her while shaking herp.

    "Eve, Eve, Eve! It''s amazing! The piano just sounds simply amazing!" Eri squealed, her eyes shining with enthusiasm. "I really do want to learn it! I wanna y beautiful pieces! And you know what? Ede and I could even duet!"

    "A piano duo?" M asked, smiling at the passionate twins. The energy in the room was simply contagious.

    "No, I will be ying the violin!" Ede giggled and gave her older sister a toothy grin.

    Eve''s eyes went wide. Her jaw ckened from the news. "The violin?"

    The younger twin nodded enthusiastically. "Mhmm! It''s interesting! I want to learn how they make notes with just four strings! They also sound so beautiful. One room had both a violin yer and piano yer. When we heard it, we knew we wanted to do it someday!"

    Eve rubbed her temple. This changed some things but maybe they could make it work. Her eyes flickered towards M. "Do violin sses and piano ones have a matching date and time?"

    "Oh, yeah. They do! They can attend sses at the same time," M confirmed. She shifted her attention towards the twins and winked. "I''ll talk to the others if it''s possible that you could do a simple duet for the recital at the end of summer."

 Chapter 47: A Little Funk and a Little Soul

    Chapter 47: A Little Funk and a Little Soul

    The rest of Sunday afternoon was spent in a music store. The three siblings shopped for a violin and a digital piano. It turned out that thetter looked simr to a keyboard. It came in various stands. One even had none, resembling a portable keyboard, but it had no buttons on its casing that could alter the sounds.

    Eve had a long debate with the sales representative about the pros and cons as well as the prices. She also consulted her sisters on what they truly wanted.

    It turned out to be more exhausting than she thought.

    Both girls tested and yed with them until they needed to leave.

    Soon, the next morning came.

    Eve hummed as she walked through the parking lot. Music had been in her head since she woke up. It yed over and over like a broken record. It had infected her to the point that she wanted to sing along. She didn''t mind it.

    In fact, she weed it. The beat boosted her mood which she desperately needed for today.

    After all, this would be the first time she''d see her boss since the date with Evangeline. She didn''t know what to expect.

    Will this agitation ever stop?

    Eve pushed the up button for the private elevator. Her eyes flickered towards Darryl for a moment. For some reason, the old man remained silent and rigid. She bit her inner cheek, debating if she should talk to him.

    Then, thought better of it. He might want to be alone.

    When the song reached a good part, she mumbled the lyrics. She quickly slipped into its rhythm. Her head bopped side to side and her shoulders swayed a bit. Despite the sudden energy, she kept her voice low and quiet.

    Who knew who could be liste

    "What are you singing?" Ambryan asked behind her, announcing his presence.

    "Ah!" Eve jumped. She whirled around with horror in her eyes. Her boss stood before her. Unlike her muddled state, his expression stayedposed. She cleared her throat up seeing it. Her behavior had been unprofessional.

    She recovered herself with a bow. "Mr. Hathaway! Good morning."

    "Good morning, "Ambryan greeted back. He stepped towards her side and also waited for the elevator. "Will you answer the question?"

    "Which?"

    He cocked an eyebrow. His secretary wasn''t usually this absentminded. It wouldn''t be work efficient if she was distracted. "About what song you were singing?"

    Eve was about to reply when she suddenly closed her mouth. She gulped down her words andughed awkwardly. Unlike earlier, she now purposely acted embarrassed. She used it to stall time. She needed to in order to think of a simr song.

    Otherwise, she''d reveal that it was a song from the skating rink.

    Something that could be seen as suspicious.

    At least, it was, ording to her.

    "Oh, um" Eve dragged, forcing her mind to think. She went through a mental ylist of songs and hit a match after several seconds. Her entire face changed as she lit up with inspiration. "It''suh, it''s-it''s a new hit from a Korean boy band. Has retro vibes. You want to hear it?"

    Ambryan narrowed his gaze and leaned closer. He gave no warning and startled her. Eve pressed her lips together. Her hands shook from the intimidating look. It felt like an x-ray saw right through her lie.

    ''Did he recognize it from the rink too?'' she wondered to herself. ''If that was the case, can the ground swallow me whole?''

    "I will pass," her boss finally replied and headed for the open elevator.

    Eve breathed out a sigh. Relief instantly washed over her tensed muscles. Her head throbbed at one side from the previousck of breath. She hadn''t even known about it until now. Her heels cked on the lift''s flooring.

    Soft jazz music yed out of the speakers.

    Ambryan stood with his hands tucked in his pant pockets. His steady gaze stared at the floor numbers, watching them go up at a consistent speed. "Any news from Madison?"

    Hearing the question, Eve slipped into her work mode. She fished out her cell phone and unlocked it. Only a few people contacted her outside of work. One of them included thepany''s President Madison.

    Her notifications were clean.

    "Nothing yet," she answered with a curt tone, "Things at the studios must not be as urgent as we thought."

    Ambryan nodded and moved on to his next question. "Is the meeting with Athon Corporation set?"

    "Yes, it''s scheduled at 10am." Eve typed on her phone, messaging Luna directly. A thought appeared in her mind as she sent it. She opened her contact list and searched for a familiar restaurant name. "Shall I prepare a reservation for lunch?"

    "Please do. Luna would want to eat out."

    "I''ll set it right away. Around 12? I believe the agenda will be covered by then," Eveposed a quick message to De La Lune. She would call again when they reached the top floor. This was merely an advance notice.

    "12 sounds good."

    Nodding her head, Eve sent the notice and opened a different conversation window. "Tarts had been delivered at the office. I will refrigerate them until the meeting begins."

    Ambryan peeled his eyes off the floor numbers and scowled in her direction. It seemed that his secretary was back on track. Yet, he still wanted to test her and asked, "Where are they from?"

    "From Caf Loctart."

    "Perfect," he remarked. Those were Luna''s favorites. He turned his head back and stared at the elevator doors. "Well done as always, Eve."

    The secretary breathed out augh. The corners of her lips remained tilted up. "Thank you for the praise, Sir Hathaway, but you and I both know this is the easiest part of my job."

    Up to now, she found the reports boring. They made her drowsier than warm milk at night. She drank more coffee than normal whenever she did them. The monthly ones were killer. She''d just sit on her desk all dayeven for lunch break while she munched on some crackers.

    That would be the case if everything else went smoothly.

    And no emergency happened.

    Ambryan peeked at her from the corner of his eye. She did have a point. There would be more difficult tasks to face once they reached the top floor. Eve continued to tap on her phone. The same hum flowed out of her closed lips.

    He figured that she didn''t even notice the habit.

    Seeing her rxed stature prompted him to tease her, "What do you want me to do? Make you pick up my dry cleaning? Find an unpublished manuscript?"

    Eve snapped her head up. His statements sounded familiar to her. She''d definitely heard of them before. Frown lines creased between her brows as she thought,

    ''Are you quoting ''The Devil Wear Prada''?''

    "Yes, mother watched it a lot when I still lived in the house," Ambryan answered. The elevator doors opened before their eyes. He stepped out first and headed for his own office door. His right hand reached inside his inner breast pocket, taking out the key.

    Behind him, Eve had turned into an ice sculpture. She could possibly die if she humiliated herself for the third time. She stepped out of the elevator and hit the side of her head, using the base of her palm.

    "Did I say that out loud?" She asked sheepishly, already dreading the response. Why did she even bother when she knew what he''d say? At this point, she was only digging herself a grave.

    "You did."

    Eve refused to look at him. A pink tint colored her ears but she ignored it. This simply wouldn''t do. The topic had to move on. She changed directions and aimed for her work desk.

    "I will set up my desk. Then, brew your tea," Eve dered. The first thing she did was open a drawer for any mail that came while she had her weekend off.

    "Alright." Ambryan entered the office.

    Then, his steps halted suddenly.

    His secretary hummed the same song again. She probably did so to calm herself down. It did seem to be uplifting and energetic. He could understand why she continued to hum it even after their lengthy conversation.

    Unguarded, the tune suddenly triggered a memory of his. It reminded him of a hot Saturday afternoon, of a woman with red wavy hair and of a crowded roller skating rink. The music reyed in his head. It sounded perfectly clear despite the noise from the other customers that day.

    A thought urred to him.

    "Oh, and one more thing." Ambryan leaned back so he could see behind the door.

    "Yes, Sir Hathaway?" Eve met his eyes instantly as she sat down on her chair. Her fingers tapped on the keyboard, logging her in. The monitor became blue and loaded her desktop. It showed her a photo of ake. Its water was so clean that she could see the bedrock under it.

    If hell could freeze over, Eve figured his next sentence would be able to do it.

    "Do you mind helping Wen and audit the recent news about me?"

 Chapter 48: The Woman Behind the Tabloids

    Chapter 48: The Woman Behind the Tabloids

    <em>> CEO, Ambryan Hathaway, Out with Mystery Girl! Charlee Edwards is Yesterday''s News!</em>

    <em>> Ambryan Hathaway Spotted at Parthenos Mall! And Apanied by a Mysterious Girl?!</em>

    <em>> Eros Productions to Start Project on a New Drama or a TV Series? Get the Scoop!</em>

    <em>> Hathaway Escorts Unnamed Woman Out of Alight Skating Rink! Witnesses Share Inside Story!</em>

    <em>> Who is Ambryan Hathaway''s New Woman? Keep a Lookout for Possibly This Century''s Cindere!</em>

    <em>.</em>

    <em></em>

    Article after article flooded aputer monitor. The name, Ambryan Hathaway, hit 100M results. The top links contained about 90% of his dating life. Only 10% about ''Define Love'' rumors. If one dug through enough, a newspany managed to linkboth together.

    They created a theory that Ambryan Hathaway would either star or take part in production, using his current rtionship as a marketing stunt.

    Eve banged her head on her work desk.

    Multiple times.

    ''If I see one more headline, I swear'' her thoughts stopped short. Sheid her head on the table, rubbing her temple. Ibuprofen sounded like a good idea right about now. She could almost imagine Andieughing off all these tabloids.

    Eyes closed, Eve pulled herself off the desk. She needed to get back to work. Monday had backlogs because of her weekend off.

    Still, she peeked at the articles once again. Something was peculiar about them. Each photo never revealed her face. Her bangs thoroughly hid it from several side angles. Others only showed the back of her head.

    Yet, in all of them, Ambryan''s face was seen.

    ''Should Evangeline ask him about this?'' She wondered as she leaned back on her chair. ''Wouldn''t it be more odd if she had no reaction? They did talk about publicity before.''

    Eve took out her phone. Thanks to Andie''s quick thinking and cleverness, they had used an app to disguise DTC. Its icon now resembled a different app. On top of a white box, a violet symbol had the shape of a game controller with two holes for eyes.

    She clicked on it and opened the chat window.

    .

    ``Lin: Mystery Girl? If we were going to be in the press, why wasn''t I informed beforehand?``

    .

    Eve stared at her message. It was reasonable, right? The article involved two people, not just her boss. Most of these seemed staged. The pictures contained the same elements about their angles.

    It had to be scripted.

    The double check mark below the chat remained gray. She exhaled sharply at the sight and put her phone down. Her boss must be on hisputer, ignoring his cell.

    Then, her cell phone vibrated.

    .

    ``Yan: I thought we''re not allowed to message each other during working hours?``

    .

    Eve cursed. ''How could she forget her own rule?''

    She sneaked a nce at the CEO''s office door and immediately hid her phone under the table. App Disguiser or not, when she opened it, the interface would still be DTC.

    One nce at her screen and it would be over.

    .

    ``Lin: I''d consider this as an exception.``

    ``Yan: Do you have aint? I had my team keep your face hidden.``

    .

    ''Ha! So it was staged!'' Eve cheered in her mind. Smugness radiated off her. Her hunch had been right all along.

    Then, she hit her forehead. ''Of course, it was staged. Do I know my boss or not?''

    Where did her brain cells go today? Sure, his security team usually ryed this information but she knew of his influence over the media. That was also the reason why he asked her to check.

    That aside, she proceeded with her concern.

    .

    ``Lin: I merely wish to have been informed about it.``

    ``Yan: Isn''t the press a given when being involved with me?``

    ``Lin: Except, you and your team are also involved in their publication. You have some control over them. Shouldn''t I have some input?``

    .

    Eve shook her head, rereading her own responses. ''Oh, how easy it was to be bold on screen.''

    This storm of headlines would just be the beginning. Thankfully, both her personas had distinguishing features. It wouldn''t be easy for reporters to notice her as Evangeline.

    Hell, they only saw her as Ambryan''s shadow. As long as she stayed there, she should be safe.

    .

    ``Yan: Alright, Ms. Evangeline. What is it that displeased you about the articles?``

    .

    Eve nced at her monitor and browsed through the articles. She actually didn''t have aint. Since they omitted her face, they hit two birds with one stone.

    a.) Protect Evangeline''s identity.

    b.) Stir interest and intrigue among the public

    This was only the appetizer for their curiosity. A few more teasers should be underway before they reveal Evangeline, building up anticipation. That simple move would debunk any assumption that Evangeline was like his previous lovers.

    Then, the main course would be served.

    Surely, Ambryan also had a n about that.

    "No public announcement alright." Eve snorted under her breath. She closed the browser and opened her inbox. "How crafty. Who knew he''d be this invested?"

    Shaking her head, she sent a reply.

    .

    ``Lin: Nothing as of yet. But, I would like to be involved once articles that contain my identity surfaced.``

    ``Yan: Fair point. Anything else?``

    ``Lin: None for now. Bye!``

    .

    The inte rang as Eve finally closed the app. She used one hand to answer it while the other pulled up her Monday to-do list on her desktop. The list of reports made her groan.

    This part of her job never grew on her.

    Fuming a bit more, she heard Darryl''s voice flowing out of the speaker. "Ms. Hart, Athon Corporation''s representatives are here."

    Eve snapped her gaze at herputer''s clock. Her eyes popped out of their sockets. There was still half an hour before the meeting. This should be the time for her to prepare, not to entertain.

    Would things ever go her way today?

    "Escort them please," Eve instructed through gritted teeth, implying her reluctance. If Ambryan couldn''t push the meeting early, she would have to make them wait at the sitting area.

    Which happened to be a ce near her desk.

    "Will do, Ms. Hart," the old man replied, "Also, may I say that your embarrassed face was absolutely adorable?"

    Eve scowled at the inte. A boisterousugh came from the other side. She narrowed her eyes in suspicion. That moment shouldn''t be this funny. At least, not to him who had been left behind after they entered the elevators.

    Then, it hit her.

    "You knew he was there!" Eve used. That would exin his odd behavior. Gah, she should have known the old man conspired against her.

    "Yep," Darryl teased further. He smirked through the microphone. "I saw him roll in while you walked. I would have thought you knew."

    st that convertible! st that song in her head! st that roller skating rink! st that date!

    st everything!

    Things had spiralled down ever since their first date. Her reputation as a reliable secretary dwindled. If this was just the start, things would worsen in theing months.

    She really needed to get it together.

    "No, I didn''t hear anything," Eve grumbled, trying to remember if she heard a noise. All her mind thought about was the song. It almost seemed impossible to get rid of.

    Darry chuckled. "Too busy singing, aye?"

    Eve stared at the inte. A deadpan expression painted her face. She merely said one thing before she cut the line. "Just shut up and do your job."

    Even after she disconnected, she could hear the old manugh. That alone was proof that he''d never let this go.

    Standing up, she headed for the door and knocked. Dread clouded over her. If she was irritated about the change of schedule, Ambryan would be the samepossibly more.

    The man valued his timetable.

    It had to be strictly followed.

    "Come in."

    Eve entered the CEO''s Office and closed the door softly. She walked a few paces before she bowed her head. Her hands folded over her abdomen.

    Ambryan sat with his back straight. He kept his eyes on the monitor while his fingers continued to type, not missing a beat. Even without looking, he was aware of her presence.

    "Sir Hathaway," he heard Eve say, "Athon Corporation''s representatives are on their way up. Should I amodate them at the sitting area for now until the scheduled meeting or is it possible to push it up early?"

    He felt the slightest twitch in his eyebrow. He flickered his gaze to the corner of his monitor.The time read as 9:35am. His eyes hardened at the sudden interruption.

    He quickly rearranged the task list in his head.

    "They didn''t send an advance notice about this?" Ambryan snapped. He checked the progress on several reports, deciding which ones could be dyed.

    "I''ve checked. There is none."

    "Luna." He sighed. Eve watched as his stern expression slowly rxed. "Are the articles alright? Nothing amiss?"

    She choked. She had forgotten about that assignment. She hadn''t been able topose a proper report. Her mind began to panic.

    What was she supposed to say now?

    Eve bit her inner cheek as she studied his calm face. It wasn''t fair that he was alwaysposed. He should have some weaknesses too.

    At that, a mischievous idea emerged in her brain. Instead of figuring out a response, she decided to throw the question at him.

    Her head tilted to one side. "Should I congratte you on your mystery woman?"

    Ambryan''s typing streak broke.

    His secretary hid herugh.

    It was subtle but he didn''t miss the reaction. This was revenge for her slipups earlier. Resuming his work, he said, "Push the meeting up by 15 minutes. We''ll just have it here instead of the conference room. Prepare the documents for the contract."

    "Right away, Sir. Hathaway."

    Eve headed for the exit, holding her breath. Her ears picked up on his typing. The keys sounded louder than usual. She didn''t think it would work but she was d that it did.

    She got back at him even just a little.

    Feeling much better, Eve opened the door and met Mikael''s radiant blue eyes.

 Chapter 49: The Woman Behind the Desk

    Chapter 49: The Woman Behind the Desk

    "Why am I here again?"

    "Because you''re the lucky person from the raffle draw!"

    Mikael grimaced inside the elevator. His eyes rolled to the side, ncing at hispanion. The doting face of Luna Athon smiled back at him. Her eyshes fluttered and gave her a youthful glow. The grumpy face did little to ruin her mood.

    And so, Mikael tried harder.

    Luna pouted and nudged his arm. Her elbow hit him several times. Her dark brown hair flowed over her chest and down to her waist. "Aw,e on, Mikael. Since when did youck a sense of humor?"

    "I have excellent humor."

    "Not when you don''tugh at my jokes." She snorted. Her hands transferred the shoulder bag to her other arm. "Anyway, Mr. Grumpy Pants, you''re here because you''re the key endorser for Athon Luxury. You''ll be the one to appear in the series."

    Mikael watched the floor numbers above the elevator doors. They slowly rolled up, passing the halfway mark. For the time being, he focused on calming himself down. They were here for a meeting and a pleasant attitude was a must. He wouldn''t let anything hinder that.

    Luna nced to the other side. The security guard stood in front of the elevator buttons. He kept his face neutral as he escorted the guests. His muscles had softened over the years but he still looked good. The brown hair dye made him seem younger.

    The mustache and beard did the opposite though.

    "Have you worked here long?" Luna asked, initiating a conversation. Mikael stayed quiet beside her and merely waited for the lift to reach the top. He had the sleeves of his white dress shirt rolled up. He paired it with matching dark green trousers and vest plus a gold tie.

    Darryl turned his head towards her and nodded. "Yes, ma''am. 20 years and counting."

    He had served different people during his stay. Some of the higher ups now weren''t there before, including the current CEO. Many things had happened over the years. When Ambryan started, he sought out to prove himself and spentte nights in the office.

    Darryl would be the one to stay and watch over.

    Luna smiled at his words. A dedicated employee was hard to find. It made her want to learn more. "What''s the boss like?"

    "Sir Hathaway?" Darryl cocked an eyebrow before he shook his head. Several news articles resurfaced in his mind. "Don''t believe all those gossips and rumors. He''s a really nice guy. Not manypanies would let me still work at this age, especially for someone at his position."

    The CEO? Strict? Merciless? For Darryl, he knew Ambryan had to be. If the boss easily forgave incidents, his subordinates would ck. Thepany was also like a machine. Everyone in it needed to work efficiently for it to prosper.

    Not only that, Ambryan wasn''t just someone who ordered them around. He also lived his words through example. He worked just as much as a staff workerif not more. He showcased value in growing as an employee.

    "He''s lucky to have you." Luna smiled tenderly. She could tell that he meant every word. This wasn''t just some script that employees were forced to say. He genuinely thought of Ambryan in that light.

    "Nah, ma''am. I am definitely the one luck in this," Darryl denied. Someone in his position could easily be reced but to find an employer that would keep him through the end was rare. Many of his friends had already beenid off.

    "Here is our stop," he suddenly dered.

    The elevator dinged and parted open.

    Darryl walked out first and escorted the guests, passing by the sitting area. His eyes flickered towards a work desk. He frowned at its emptiness. ''Now, where could Eve be?''

    "Is there no secretary?" Mikael spoked up since Luna left him alone. He silently admired the interior design of the office. The monotone shades added a professional vibe. He walked around to check if there were more disys.

    He stood in front of a door and spun on his heel. Mix with modern elements, the minimalist theme was something to be appreciated.

    Suddenly, the door opened behind him

    He whirled around and spotted a pair of round brown eyes, hiding behind square-shaped reading sses. Her shocked expression mimicked his own. The gesture had been abrupt that neither became prepared.

    They stood still for a few seconds.

    "Oh, my! You must be Ms. Hart!" Luna interrupted, rushing to Eve''s side. She gave the young woman an air kiss on the cheek. "I heard all about you from Avery. You''ve been working for Ambryan these past five years, correct?"

    Next to them, Mikael rolled his eyes. Luna personally knew the CEO. He didn''t see why there was a need for her to act like this.

    Eve closed the door behind her and smiled at the visitors. Beads of sweat formed behind her neck. She felt thankful that Luna acted quickly. Otherwise, she could have blown her other identity.

    She bowed her head at the two, saying, "Ms. Athon and Mr. Davis, wee to Eros Productions. Sir Hathaway will be with you shortly. Please wait while I get you some refreshments."

    Her eyes pointed towards Darryle.

    He took charge and directed the guests towards the sitting area. It had a gray carpet underneath an ivory coffee table. An L-shaped leather couch surrounded it at two joint sides while two armchairs upied the space across from it.

    Both Luna and Mikael sat on the couch. They took one side each while Eve came back with a tray. It had a pitcher filled with lemon water and two empty sses. A box of open tartsid beside them. She set it down on the coffee table.

    "Are these from Caf Loctart?" Luna asked, already taking one. Her eyes shined at the sight of them. She took one bite and she knew that answer to her question. "Oh, they are. I love these!"

    Eve chuckled at the satisfied look on her face. She folded her hands over her abdomen. "Sir Hathaway had them ordered in. I will be checking emails while we wait. It shouldn''t take more than 10 minutes."

    Luna waved her hand, brushing off the secretary''s urgent tone. "Oh, dear. Take your time! I know we arrived early. The shoot ended sooner than we thought and so we headed straight here. We had nothing else better to do."

    Mikael poured some lemon water into a ss. He lifted up to his lips, tilting his head up along with the ss. He peeked through the base and studied Eve. Something about the young woman seemed awfully familiar to him.

    The answer dangled at the tip of his tongue.

    It irked him at how he couldn''t figure it out yet.

    "Please make yourselffortable," Eve said and left the scene. The intense stare from Mikael made her agitated. From the first impression, she figured he had sharp eyes. They had been trained to look at a person keenly.

    She needed to check herself in the mirror. Anything might trigger his memory.

    The ice cubes inside Mikael''s ss bumped together as he put it down. He rested his forearms on his thighs and sped his hands together. A divider stood between him and the secretary. Thankfully, the t wooden beams created vertical holes, almost resembling a picket fence. He could see her back as she worked on theputer.

    His nagging suspicion grew stronger.

    Luna noticed his deep scowl.

    She gulped.

    ''Oh, this is not good. I didn''t think he''d notice,'' she thought to herself. To her, Eve and Evangeline looked almost far apart. The only thing they could have done was give the girl prosthetics like a fake nose and a fake chin.

    s, it wouldn''t be advisable to do so in the modelling world. There was also the risk of the glue melting off under extreme temperature. And how it needed to be done precisely so it would blend into natural features.

    She had to distract Mikael instead.

    "So Mikael," Luna called out. Using her free hand, she grabbed the box of tarts and offered it to him. "Come on, try this. I know Jordan has you on a strict diet but you can give in just once. I promise I wouldn''t even tell."

    The male model peeled his off the divider and nced in her direction. He leaned on the backrest, deciding to humor her. "If you eat more of that, you''ll be even more fat."

    Luna used the box and hit him on the thigh.

    His hands blocked it, defending out of reflex. A smile teased the corner of his lip. "Don''t worry though. You''d still be just as beautiful even if you grew fat."

    "...ing from you, I don''t know if I should take you seriously or not," she snorted in reply. The remaining piece of her tart popped into her mouth. "You better polish your skills if you want a girlfriend someday."

    Mikael shook his head and averted his eyes. "If she''s half as sweet as you, after you ate all that sugar from those tarts, I just might make the effort."

 Chapter 50: Nagging Suspicions

    Chapter 50: Nagging Suspicions

    "Now, that''s done. How many times will Mikael appear in the series?" Luna asked, leaning back.

    The meetingmenced at the CEO''s office just as decidedst minute. Ambryan sat on his chair while the two guests upied the chairs on the other side of his desk. Eve created a space for herself at the edge of the table, angled away from Mikael''s gaze since she sat behind him.

    Each person had a ss of lemon water while the tarts had been transferred to a small te. She arranged them in a circle. Together, they looked like a giant flower.

    Eve kept her head low and typed on aptop. Although Mikael couldn''t see her, she didn''t want to take the chance.

    "One per season," Ambryan negotiated. Truth be told, an endorser wasn''t necessary for the brand''s advertisement in the series. Just the simple screen time for the logo to appear would be more than enough.

    Luna frowned at the suggestion. "That is too little! People would forget it easily if he only appears for a few seconds."

    "Well, if you n to have him as a sales representative, safe to say, the characters can''t always visit the shop."

    "Who''s to say that he can only be a sales representative?" She countered, crossing her arms over her chest. "Let it be a running gag that he only appears to showcase Athon Luxury."

    Ambryan''s lips thinned into a grim line. If they did it too much, the show would lose its credibility and the viewers would question if they were watching a longmercial instead.

    "It doesn''t have to be borate," Luna exined further, unable to back down, "Let''s say the scene would be at an airport. Before the characters appear, have a shot where a tourist is talking on the phone with a luggage bag beside him. As if he was searching for hispanion."

    An image instantly yed in Eve''s mind. Mikael would easily stand out among extras. In her head, he wore a navy blue suit with his hand on a trolley bag. He would be standing still and talking on the phone. His colors would highlight him since they were coordinated.

    She could see what Luna was implying, amercial as part of the show. If a normal run was 15 minutes, Athon Corporation would want the same but cut into intervals.

    "Brilliant."

    Ambryan turned his head and so did the others. All of them looked at Eve who hid herself behind theptop. She hung her head low until her chin almost touched the keyboard.

    Unfortunately for her, her boss saw an opportunity from her outburst.

    "Ms. Hart, since you are up for a promotion, why don''t you share with us your insight on the matter?" Ambryan initiated. He swived his chair towards her and gave his full attention. He leaned backzily, cradling the side of his face with three fingerstwo on his temple and one under his chin.

    Eve shut her eyes. She bit her tongue. A curse almost flew out of her lips. It would be audible because of the silence, causing more trouble and humiliation.

    Unable to escape, she took a deep breath and straightened her spine. Her eyes opened along the way. She flinched from the stares which included Mikael.

    Oh, what a mistake she made. It truly was inappropriate before. It even vited Rules 01 and 02.

    .

    01 - Don''t draw meaningless attention.

    02 - Speak only when spoken to.

    .

    "I believe the both of you are already doing a wonderful job," Eve attempted, diverting the conversation back to them. This wasn''t part of her job description, especially in meetings. Her only task was to listen.

    "Please, Ms. Hart. Do share," Luna encouraged her. She met the designer''s eyes and beheld mischief in their reflection.

    The game became two against one.

    Not wanting a third to join, Eve heaved a sigh and arranged her thoughts. She''d prefer to speak only once so she needed to point it out clearly.

    "I merely thought that to keep the scenes at a minimum is to have a fixed time interval. I am not saying that it has to be 10 seconds in each episode. No," Eve started off.

    Then, she borated the idea by providing a concrete example, "I propose that Athon Luxury gets a total of 15 minutes in a season. This can be cut into different run segments such as 5 minutes, 1 minutes, 30 seconds depending on what an episode contains."

    A wide smile blossomed on Luna''s face. The young woman cleared out many minutes of arguing back and forth. This meeting might end earlier just like how early it started.

    "I like that," Luna nodded. She mmed her hand on the table, demanding the CEO''s attention. "I want 15 minutes of screen time."

    Ambryan considered the proposal carefully. Changing the quantity from per episode to per minute made things much easier. They''ll be able to manage the scenes better, devising more exposure in a few episodes while more subtle in others.

    He just had to figure out how to divide and fill up this given time.

    "What about 15 minutes that includes Mikael''s absence in some scenes such as the protagonist walks by an Athon shop while at the mall?" Ambryan negotiated. If seen too much, Mikael might be mistaken as a recurring character that is relevant in the story.

    He could suddenly be an actor for a side career choice, branching into the industry. That would call for more bargaining for a separate sry.

    "10 minutes with Mikael and 5 minutes without him." Luna offered as a second proposal. Two-thirds with her key endorsed should suffice. "Mikael''s shots should have him as the only key person for 5 minutes while the other 5 minutes for background or interaction with the characters like a sales rep."

    Ambryan pondered her statements. If background character would be included, it seemed reasonable enough. It would limit the spotlight on him but he would be there.

    Nodding, he let it be for the time being. There would be more discussions on details as the contract process continued. "I''ll run it by with the film crew about possible scenes. If Mikael is to not interact with the characters most of the time, we can film his parts beforehand."

    "Wonderful. Good talk." Luna dered. She stretched her arms over her head, dropping her business woman act.

    Her eyes flickered towards herpanion. "Oh, Mikael, do you have something to say?"

    Mikael gave her a look. He leaned on the backrest with his arms crossed over his chest. He had spent the entire meeting in silence.

    It wasn''t in his capacity to negotiate on behalf of Athon Corporationwhich was why he questioned his presence to Luna earlier.

    "Nothing of sorts, Ms. Athon. I domend Ms. Hart for her quick thinking though," he said, using this chance to nce at the secretary. The young woman hid behind herptop again. "This could have been a much longer discussion and I am famished."

    Luna rolled her eyes and gestured towards the te. "Well, if you ate a tart, you wouldn''t feel hungry so soon."

    Mikael shifted his gaze back towards her.

    "I appreciate the offer but I am on a strict diet. Staying in shape highly affects my job," he reminded the designer with a sarcastic smile.

    "Understandable," Ambryan cut in and took charge of the conversation. "We do have a reservation for lunch at De La Lune. Would you care to go over there now? If there''s any more topics to talk about, we can do it while we eat. In a private room, of course."

    "How generous, Mr. Hathaway," Luna cooed. She''d never seen him more hospitable than now. Her stomach began to grumble. "I would love it if we could head over now. People might think that I am a terrible boss by starving my employee."

    Mikael squinted and tilted his head to one side. "I am under Lotus Modelling Agency though."

    The designer''s smile dropped. She red at him through the corner of her eyes. "Yes, but I am ountable for you at the moment, Mr. Smart Mouth."

    Ambryan also nced his way. "Yes, please do make her take responsibility."

    "Ambryan!" Luna eximed, her jaw dropping. Her eyes darted between the two men. Now that the meeting ended, they sure acted bold. She huffed and blew on her fringes.

    "I''d refrain from using my first name, Ms. Athon," the CEO merely replied. Despite her fuming expression, his face remained neutral. "Not only is it unprofessional to do so but I also heard it is quite a mouthful."

    Eve snorted under her breath.

    "Seems like Ms. Hart agrees with you on that." Mikael remarked, angling his body towards the table. He was able to spot her from the corner of his eye.

    The secretary started on her next task andposed a summarized version of the meeting''s discussion. She had already sent a notice to the restaurant about the estimated time of arrival.

    "Shall we?" Ambryan asked, rising to his feet. He walked around the table and held out his hand to Luna. "Let me escort you before youin to my mother."

    "Knew you were always a gentleman," Luna giggled, taking his arm.

    "Then, do I escort Ms. Hart?" Mikael questioned. He looked at the secretary once more who also stood up. A small smile stretched her lips.

    This time, she was the one to answer. "I will not be joining you, Mr. Davis. If Sir Ambryan will be out, I shall stay here to look over the work in his absence."

    The male model stayed in his ce. He hadn''t been able to get rid of his nagging suspicion. With their positions, he wasn''t given the chance to scrutinize her closely. He had hoped the restaurant would provide him an opportunity.

    Ambryan also halted in his steps and watched the two. Their intense eye contact had caught his attention.

    ''Did they know each other?'' He wondered.

 Chapter 51: Its the Violet Eyes

    Chapter 51: It''s the Violet Eyes

    "I don''t really like seafood but salmon is so delicious," Luna moaned as she took a bite. The lemon sauce spread across her tongue, coating her mouth in exquisite vor. No amount of tarts could have suppressed her appetite for it.

    Ambryan sat across from her. He cut a slice into a seared venison, making sure it had enough pured butternut squash and a hint of truffle mash. The meat''s parmesan crust crisped as he chewed. It added anotheryer of texture to the dish.

    His violet eyes nced at their thirdpanion. "Is something the matter with the dish, Mikael?"

    De La Lune''s private room had a square floor. A deep sea blue carpetyered over it. Blinds covered the ss windows that reced the back wall. At night, the staff removed them and let in the natural light. For daytime goers, they offered a substitute.

    An artificial moon hung from the ceiling and illuminated the ce with a gentle glow. A round wooden table stood below it. It had a revolving table top for when guests ordered food in bulk.

    The entire interior resembled a cloudy night sky.

    Mikael ate slowly. He let the stuffed chicken slowly unravel its savory spices. The sausage filling coated his taste buds. The texture reminded him of lumpy mashed potatoes but packed with vor. It didn''t need any side dishes or dipping sauce.

    The chicken managed by itself to satisfy any hungry stomach.

    "Nothing, Mr. Hathaway. The food is excellent," Mikael answered. He patted the table napkin over his lips. Then, he reached for a ss of water. The aftertaste lingered in his throat.

    "I''m surprised you picked chicken," Lunamented beside him, not looking up. She almost finished half of her main course. "I would have thought you''d choose a sd."

    He chuckled at her remark. Chicken happened to be at the top of his diet menu, particrly a part of it. He resumed eating and said, "Chicken breast actually has the least amount of calories but the most amount of protein."

    "What about the stuffing then?"

    "Nothing to worry about," Mikael affirmed with a nod of his head, "I have a good estimate of the calories I consume. I don''t eat a lot at night either. If I do, I exercise more."

    From the moment he entered the industry, he had been given an app for a calorie tracker. It gave him a calorie count rmendation based on his physical activities. It not only recorded how much he ate but also how much he burned if he exercised. Thebined result would let him know if he stayed within the suggested range.

    It also had a few details about the vitamins and minerals he consumed.

    Luna dismissed the subject and changed to another one. As long as her close ones ate healthily, she let them be. Her gaze peered straight ahead. The CEO ate in silence. His utensils barely made a sound against the ceramic te.

    She bit her inner cheek, thinking of how to make him talk. Her mind wandered to Eve. The poor girl stayed behind. Mikael''s presence must have agitated her. There had to be something Luna could do.

    After all, she was the one who brought Mikael along for the meeting.

    "Yan," Luna called out, waiting for him to look at her. She ced the tips of her knife and fork at the edge of her ce. Her fingersced together as she rested her chin at the back of them. "Do you know what Ms. Hart likes?"

    Ambryan scowled in her direction. He drank from his wine ss before giving her a response. "For what? If I may ask?"

    Luna rxed her arms and stirred her iced mocha. Her ebony eyes never left his face. "I''d like to get her something for being a lovely host. It''s simple courtesy so does she love chocte? Flowers? Candy?"

    Thinking of her questions, she muffled augh. The examples weremon in dating. She hoped that the idea would nt in his head and give him some inspiration. Not only the concept of giving a gift but also adding thought into it.

    It wouldn''t be obvious now but someday it might help him out.

    Ambyran exhaled sharply. He wasn''t the type to pry into someone''s life. He also didn''t want the same to happen to him. "I''m afraid I cannot answer that, Luna."

    "Why not?" Mikael suddenly asked. There were still some chicken bits at the back of his teeth. "What do you get for her birthday?"

    "A day off."

    The male model rolled his tongue. The answer actually made the best sense, especially with how his secretary was absent for this lunch. She probably would appreciate an extra day of rest more than anything.

    ''A lot of people would actually,'' he added as an afterthought.

    Still, Mikael couldn''t be satisfied. "What about holidays then?"

    The CEO surely couldn''t keep giving off days, right? It wouldn''t always work for every asion. There had to be times when small gifts were exchanged. Just like simple tokens of appreciation from the stories he heard about fun activities arranged by Human Resources.

    "Nothing," Ambryan responded, unworried about the interrogation. He sliced another piece of his deer meat. "I''ve never given her a material thing as a present."

    "Even if you aren''t, don''t you know what she likes?" Luna clicked her tongue. It seemed to be worse than she expected. Even without a reason, Eve could have disyed her personal interests in different ways.

    It could be as simple as from the things she used daily.

    "We don''t have that kind of rtionship."

    Mikael shook his head, bbergasted by the information. He didn''t work with everyone in his agency but he did know a thing or two about them. "How long have you worked together?"

    "Five years."

    "You mean you''ve been working for five years but you don''t know your employee?" He eximed. Unlike him and his own big boss, they hardly saw one another. They had no reason to. Meanwhile, Ambryan and Ms. Hart saw each other on a regr basis.

    There had to be something that would trigger the model''s memorysomething that could tell where he had seen Ms. Hart before.

    Ambryan stopped eating. A hardened look painted over his face. For once, his fork and knife ttered on the te. The sound echoed around the room. "Mr. Davis, I''d refrain stating offhandments such as that. I may not know my secretary''s personal interests but I do acknowledge her work ethic and her existence. I still do treat her like a human being."

    "Yet, she''s at the office right now, handling part of your work," Mikael shot back, openly ring at the CEO. That woman deserved an award for whatever she had gone through. This probably wasn''t the first lunch she arranged but never attended.

    "It''s in her job description to do so. Something she agreed upon when she signed an employment contract," Ambyran supplied. His gaze didn''t stray away from the annoyed radiant blue eyes. "If you are referring to how she''s missing an expensive meal, it''s not much of a losspared to the home-cooked food she prepared herself. That one would be a waste if not eaten."

    From what the CEO remembered, she had refused a lunch invite once before. The reason was because of her packed lunches. She valued it above any restaurant. He''d never ask her again since then.

    He did it out of respect.

    "Okay! I think Ms. Hart would appreciate anything so I''ll just see what I can do." Luna intercepted with augh. It came out awkward even to her ears. The topic had to change once more before another round of arguments. Her hand turned the table top, aiming for the bottle of red wine.

    She filled up her ss and continued with her n. An excited giggle rippled the wine as she drank. She pulled it away from her lips for the time being. "Yan, I have an invitation for you."

    Ambryan at thest slice of his venison. His te was wiped clean. Not even the sauce had been spared. He had expected nothing but excellence. Such a thing should be savored down to thest possible bite.

    Luna leaned over and gave him her best pout. "Pleasee to myunch party for the Rainbow Collection. As business partners, I hope you would be able to support me in this."

    The CEO tilted his head to the side. The party held nothing that would boost his curiosity and his interest. Instead of thinking, he picked a safe reply. "I will think about it."

    "Think about what?" Luna snickered. She had hoped Ambryan would say an excuse that seemed almost the same. Then, a smirk teased her lips as she delivered the punchline. "Your girlfriend would be there. Shouldn''t you escort her?"

    Ambryan''s hand froze from twirling his wine ss. He pictured Evangeline in a crowd. The woman knew how to handle them well, based on what he''d seen at the skating rink.

    Would she still need him?

    Mikael grimaced towards Luna. "Charlee Edwards?"

    "Oh, Mikael," the designer whined, hitting his upper arm. Her pitch rose higher as the ted feelings lingered on her face. "Haven''t you seen the news this morning? Yan is dating someone else."

    "Someone you know I presume?" Mikael wondered why he even asked. He could immediately tell what the answer would be. At this point, he doubted Luna had someone she didn''t know.

    "Of course!" She dered just as predicted. Smugness dripped from every syble. "His mother and I are close friends."

    Mikael nced back at the CEO. If Luna and thetter''s mother were close, he probably met the woman at least once. His eyes searched for distinguishing features. Something the CEO could have inherited and had been passed down through the gene pool.

    The longer he looked, the bigger his nagging suspicion became.

    Who could possibly be Ambryan''s mother?

 Chapter 52: Chocolate? Flowers? Candy?

    Chapter 52: Chocte? Flowers? Candy?

    Eve sat on her desk, finishing off her lunch meal. She normally ate at the pantry since that was the policy. She decided to ignore it for today. Her hands wouldn''t leave herputer alone. The work just never ended.

    Andie truly had been struck by an Asian arrow. Her lunch for today even had fried rice. They were inside jackets of egg, reminding her of round dumplings.

    How did her best friend manage to do it?

    Eve didn''t know but they tasted divine and she found them easy to eat.

    The inte rang, catching her attention. She swallowed thest bit of food and used her tongue to scrape the side of teeth. She pushed the answer button.

    "What is it, Darryl?" As she was about to check on a new email, another came and pushed down the rest. It took the top spot where Eve almost clicked. The interruption affected her work streak.

    It was small but it was irritating.

    "Nothing, Ms. Hart," the security guard talked through the mic. Eve could almost see his goofy smile. "I just had a sudden thought that you felt lonely up there."

    She frowned at that. "And why would I be?"

    The top floor rarely had visitors. Most transactions and negotiations happened through mail. It became convenient for documenting the discussion. It looped the key people into it, lessening the need to repeat for others not present.

    "Because the boss is not around, of course!"

    Eve stopped typing. Her gaze scowled at the inte. It seemed that the old man was in a good mood. She shook her head and decided to humor him.

    A yful smile appeared on her face. "I don''t think there''s much of a change."

    Her fingers resumed to work. She searched thepany''s online shared folder for a document from ages ago. She sent a prayer that she''d find it. Otherwise, she''d need to find it using other means.

    "A savagedy. Harsh," Darryl remarked. He immediately understood the joke. The secretary referred to her desk and Ambryan''s were separated by a door. Their mainmunication relied on emails and on phone calls.

    Essentially, Eve stayed by herself.

    That factor wouldn''t change if the CEO went out.

    "I think you''re the one who feels lonely down there." Eve chuckled. If she knew the security guard well, he called for his own benefit and not hers. "Did you fight with your wife?"

    Darryl groaned. "I don''t even know what I said! You''d think after being married for so long, I''d know her like the back of my hand. But, no! Would the same old tricks still be effective? Like if I show up with a box of her favorite sweets?"

    The secretary pressed her lips together. She downloaded the document that she searched for and attached it to the email. While doing this, her mind absorbed the words from the inte.

    "Careful, Darryl," Eve warned. She saw his good intention but it might be misinterpreted. "Don''t you think it would be better if you did that after you made up? Otherwise, it sounds like bribery."

    "But it worked before," the old man pointed out. His breath huffed out of the speaker. "Then again, I probably should step up my game. What do you suggest, Ms. Hart?How should I woo a woman who is mad at me?"

    The secretary directed a bewildered expression at the inte. Her jaw dropped at his question. "Me? You''re asking me?"

    Darryl snorted out a scoff. What was wrong with asking? He could even ask this question to strangers. There was no reason for Eve to be surprised. "Aw,e on. Even if you''re single, guys should have pursued you on multiple asions."

    Eve pushed her chair back with her eyes closed. A boisterous cackle flowed out of her mouth. It reached the ceiling, bouncing off it and echoing inside the room. Her arm clutched her stomach, soothing the growing cramp. It had been a while since she heard such a statement.

    Opening her eyes, she wiped off invisible tears and said, "Keep dreaming, Darryl. That''s the only ce you''d find that to be true."

    "No way!" The security guard eximed. "Uh-uh. I don''t believe it. At least, one guy must have pursued you."

    "We''re not having this discussion," Eve denied him. She grabbed her desk and pulled herself back into position, continuing a report. "Aren''t you the one having trouble? What does your wife like anyway other than flowers? Although, I think you should just acknowledge your faults."

    "I did but nothing happened," Darryl sighed. Since when were apologies not enough?

    "I can imagine."

    "Why is that?" He asked, unable toprehend her statement.

    "Didn''t you just say you don''t even know what wrong thing you said?" Eve reminded him. She had only heard of it a few minutes ago but it stuck to her. "Then, how can you sincerely apologize for it?"

    "How am I supposed to figure that out?" Darryl groaned. If he had known what it was, he would have done a better job. Why couldn''t his wife just tell him what was wrong?

    "If you really can''t, just tell her and apologize that you don''t know what you did wrong," the secretary responded. If there wasn''t another way, she figured the truth was always better. Anything else could be seen as insincere. "Then, maybe ask her what it was while promising to listen carefully. As long as you understand and remember it next time, she''ll forgive you."

    "What am I? A kid? That doesn''t sound convincing."

    Eve hung her head. How should she exin this? Kids weren''t the only people that made mistakes. Everyone does. It wasn''t a constant growth to learn and to rise above them. That aside, this sounded like more of a pride issue.

    Something she won''t touch on.

    Her phone vibrated in her pocket. She took out and checked the notification from her lockscreen. She had one message from a female bodyguard.

    "Well, I have no better ideas so good luck," Eve said in a rush, rising to her feet and cing one finger on the end button. "Wen said Sir Hathaway is on his way back."

    If her boss wasing, he would want some tea.

    She brewed only one cup and set it on his desk. Pulling her sleeve, Eve checked her watch. She had estimated his arrival based on Wen''s message. He should be here at any moment, just in time for freshly made tea.

    The door opened behind her.

    Ambryan paused halfway inside.

    Eve turned around and bowed. "Wee back, Sir Hathaway. Your tea is ready."

    "Anything I need to know about?" He asked, resuming his walk towards his desk. His hands fiddled with his cufflinks out of habit. "Anything that should cause an rm?"

    "Nothing urgent," Eve answered with a shake of her head. She stepped aside and followed his movements. Her body had turned back around once he sat on his chair. "Everything has been sent to your email.

    Ambryan nodded and logged back into hisputer. The dandelion wallpaper greeted his sight. He opened his inbox first and reversed the filter, letting the oldest ones be put on top.

    "Alright, I''ll contact you if there''s anything else."

    "Understood."

    Heading for the exit, Eve barely touched the door when a voice called her back. She looked over her shoulder reflexively.

    "Eve." Ambryan scowled, leaning back on his chair. His violet eyes hardened in concentration as he studied his secretary. Nothing about her appearance hinted him on her character. She always wore the same style of clothes.

    Something that came from Madison''s instructions for the CEO''s secretary.

    "Yes, Sir Hathaway?" Eve replied as she let the door knob go. Her hands folded over her abdomen, standing in attention. She blinked once while her faceposed a solemn expression.

    It seemed to be a serious issue. Had Mikael figured her out? And asked him? If that were the case, why hadn''t Luna reached out to her?

    Ambryan tilted his head to one side. "What is your opinion on choctes, flowers and candies?"

    Eve raised an eyebrow. "Is this for a film?"

    Nothing about the CEO was random. It usually had a reasonmostly business rted. Since theirpany focused on romance, it seemed to the logical conclusion.

    "I guess you can say that," Ambryan cleared his throat. He averted his gaze for a few seconds before he ced them back on her."A questionnaire about a woman''s personal interests."

    The secretary stopped a frown. These words reminded her of Darryl''s question. Were they connected? Was her boss helping out the old man?

    "They''re all lovely" Eve dragged, testing the waters. She proceeded when Ambryan nodded. "If they are to be given to a woman, it would depend on her preference."

    "And if you''re in that position?"

    Her eyebrows shot up. "Me?"

    Crease lines emerged on Ambryan''s forehead. His voice maintained a business tone. "Yes. Like I said, it''s a questionnaire of personal interests."

    Eve rxed her expression, letting it sink in. She scratched the back of her ear. It was suddenly hard to meet her boss'' gaze. "For chocte, I prefer dark ones. A bit of sweetness and milk would be fine but I prefer tasting a lot of cocoa."

    Ambryan narrowed his eyes. "Flowers?"

    "Never really thought about it."

    "Candy?"

    "Chocte is not candy?"

    "Aside from chocte, of course." He

    "Um I like strawberry and lemon vors? It''s usually what I think about." Eve coughed. At this age, the only time she ever saw candy was when her sisters came for Halloween. "Preferably not something sticky. It hurts my teeth."

    "I see. That should be all," Ambryan dismissed. He shifted his attention towards his monitor. The sound of typing keys filled in the silence. Sometimes, an asional click of a mouse would cut in between.

    Eve bit her inner cheek. Something about the conversation left her unsatisfied. The feeling wouldn''t leave her alone and triggered a thought to drop inside her head.

    Next thing she knew, the following words flew out of her mouth,

    "What about you then, Sir Hathaway?"

 Chapter 53: Addicting Like a Drug

    Chapter 53: Addicting Like a Drug

    Eve.

    Wanted.

    To.

    p.

    Herself.

    She bit down on her tongue hard. That sudden question was unlike her behavior. Years of practice crumbled on this day. The pirs fell down one by one. If she was lucky, Ambryan would turn a blind eye and she could still keep her job.

    "Why do you ask?" Her boss spoke up, breaking her out of her thoughts.

    Eve cleared her throat. A debate sparked inside her mind. Should she pursue or should she retreat? Either way, she needed a response that would save her. Her brain worked double time in search of one.

    "Apologies, Sir Hathaway. There is no need to answer. Your question merely made me think of if the receiver was male. Then, I realized you explicitly said it was for women''s interests."

    A relieved sigh exhaled out of her nose. That sounded believable, even to her. She half-turned back to the door. It would be best if she left before she embarrassed herself further. Who knew what else woulde out of her mouth?

    "Chocte doesn''t go well with tea."

    Eve snapped her head towards the work desk. Ambryan had his gaze up at the ceiling. His posture was rxed against the chair''s backrest. She fluttered her eyes, wondering if this was real. Her fingers itched to clean out her ears. Maybe they were the ones defective.

    "Flowers are easily perishable."

    An invisible force squeezed her throat. Speaking became a tedious task. She could only manage a few chokes. "I-I see. Sir"

    "Candies. I only eat sour ones."

    "Hawait, what? You do?" Eve gasped. Air flowed back into her lungs. The hazy dream cleared out and reality hit her in the face. Ambryan''s violet eyes had flickered to her direction. She pressed her lips together, realizing they were parted open.

    Her boss cocked an eyebrow. An amused smile curled his lips by a millimeter. "Is that surprising? Were Wonka Nerds not popr anymore when you were young?"

    "Wonka Nerds? Those tiny candies that came in a box? Usually divided into two vors?" Eve eximed, recognizing the name. She hadn''t seen that candy in so long. They were extremely sour for her taste. Each piece had one sugar granule insidethe only one she looked forward to.

    To this day, she had no idea how she managed to eat an entire box.

    "Oh, so you do know it." Ambryan remarked. He had the opposite experience with Richard. Thetter only ate choctes bars as a child which made him obese. Luckily, he stopped by the time he hit puberty. The diet and exercise,bined with his baby fat shrinking, helped him reach normal weight.

    "Yes, IUm" Eve stuttered. She couldn''t tell if he was mocking her or not but her brain leaned towards the former. That only meant one thing. It was time for her to escape.

    She bowed briefly and said, "This has been insightful, Sir Hathaway. Thank you for satisfying my curiosity. I will go back to work. Call me when there''s a problem to address."

    Before the CEO could reply, Eve yanked the door open and stepped out. She allowed herself a few moments of peace. Her loud heartbeat finally reached her ears. She didn''t know what happened. Ambryan had always been closed off.

    She only knew the preferences he listed down for suggested holiday gifts from business partners. Even then, those were formal ones. They revolved around themon presents between high society.

    ''Wonka Nerds?'' Eve repeated in her head. She walked towards her desk and sat down. She wondered why her boss decided to answer her question. For fairness? Since he asked for hers? It wasn''t like his intention had been personal.

    Right?

    Ambryan closed his messaging app. He sent Luna the answer Eve had given him. Despite what the designer had said, she ended up asking him to do her this favor. Then, when Eve asked about this preference, Mikael''s words echoed in his mind.

    If this ever happens again, at least, he''d be able to give a proper response.

    His thumb led him to the DTC app. An invitation burned inside his inner breast pocket. Ay person might assume it contained a hotpress instead of an envelope. He had little choice in the matter.

    The opportunity also seemed to be the perfect chance for Evangeline''s reveal. There would be a wide media coverage for the event. He might as well speed up the process of their rtionship''s publicity.

    .

    ``Yan: Luna had invited me to the Rainbow Launch on Sunday. She expects us to go together. I will pick you up at 1700 hours.``

    .

    A buzz vibrated Eve''s work desk.

    She jumped at the sensation. After calming down, she returned to her work. Half of her reports had finished. The remaining ones involved the cooperation from other departments. She''d have to consolidate them for Ambryan''s review.

    Her temple throbbed when she saw a few of them missed the deadline.

    She opened her status check email fromst week and resent it, merely editing the given department names. She''d go home on time today if she had anything to say about it.

    To cool down, Eve reached for her phone. She had almost forgotten about the notification. When she read the message, her brown eyes flew wide. Her first social event was on its way. It would be packed with famous personalities.

    Was this how she''ll use the skills she developed from interacting with Ambryan''s previous lovers? The mere thought of it made her shiver. She''d probably meet some of them there.

    Eve nced back at the chat window. Her thumbs began to type her agreement to the time.

    But then, she quickly erased her first message and reced it with a witty one.

    .

    ``Lin: I thought we agreed not to talk during work hours?``

    ``Yan: I seem to recall that you broke that rule first.``

    ``Lin: Still doesn''t mean that you can now start doing it too. Nor does it mean I am allowed to repeat it.``

    ``Yan: I wasn''t expecting a response. I sent it in case I forget.``

    ``Lin: Like how you forgot to set up our first meeting?``

    .

    Eve let go of her phone, one hand at a time. She ced the device lightly on her desk as if it was a fragile item. This conversation would probablyst a while if she didn''t stop. She couldpare the yful banter to an addicting drug.

    Once it started, she found it hard to stop.

    The phone vibrated again.

    She ignored it and skipped the current report. She would just reply when she finished the next one. Hopefully, the materials she needed would beplete.

    .

    ``Yan: I seem to recall that you also had forgotten about it. You only messaged the day before the meetup.``

    .

    Eve flinched. That did happen. She merely waited for him to update her on it. Except, that didn''t happen. If it wasn''t for Cale, the first meeting might have been overlooked by both of them.

    .

    ``Lin: And if I haven''t, would you have remembered?``

    .

    She nced at the door. Ambryan should also be hard at work. He also looked over most of her reports on the same day. That was on top of other things he needed to do. All of his good night messages came after midnight.

    His good morning ones also reached her before she woke up.

    A deep scowl slowly creased her brows and her forehead. If this kept up, his eyes would not only be dry but they''d also sting for days. His anti-radiation sses might soon be reced with reading ones.

    .

    ``Yan: Of course, I would have.``

    ``Lin: I have something to say.``

    ``Yan: Do share. I did agree to your terms. What is it about this time?``

    ``Lin: You and your sleeping schedule. I understand you''re a busy man but this won''t do. At least, sleep in during your off days. You''re human not a machine.``

    .

    Eve reread her words. She had always known that he workedte even at home. She merely wasn''t in the position to scold him. After she forced him to get those sses, she drew the line for Rule #4:

    Never interfere with his personal matters.

    She hadn''t nagged about anything else ever since.

    But now, if it came from Evangeline, it should be alright.

    .

    ``Yan: I hadn''t known you cared so much about my sleeping habits.``

    ``Lin: I''m your girlfriend. Shouldn''t I care?``

    .

    Eve covered her mouth with a hand. Her eyebrows rose up at a snail pace.

    ''Girlfriend.''

    The word multiplied inside in her thoughts, sprouting like nts from the ground. They created a tornado and spiralled around. It destroyed everything in its path. Eve''s train of thought became fragments of broken debris.

    ''Girlfriend.''

    It was the first time she called herself that.

    .

    ``Yan: Alright, Ms. Girlfriend. I presume that I must consider your words?``

    ``Lin: Yes.``

    ``Yan: Then, I shall consider your words if you confirm about the pick up time.``

    ``Lin: Yes, I''ll be ready by 5pm sharp.``

    ``Yan: I will see you on Sunday.``

    ``Lin: You too.``

    .

    Eve closed the app. That should be it until the day of theunch. Only greetings would fill up the chat window for days toe. She felt her body had be hollow. She would have thought all of her insides had vanishedbut one thing debunked that theory.

    Her heart that hammered inside her chest.

    That had been the first time Ambryan called her that too.

 Chapter 54: Closeted Words to Live By

    Chapter 54: Closeted Words to Live By

    The week flew by as Eve predicted. Work slowed down by the end of it. Nothing unexpected happened again. Her reports finished before her clock out. She and Ambryan hadn''t chatted outside of their daily greetings. Darryl made up with this wife.

    It was a steady progress.

    She hoped this Sunday would be just as smooth.

    Eve stepped inside the elevator, wearing a bohemian style summer dress. The straps of her t sandals tied around her ankles in a criss-cross pattern. Her nape sweated from the summer heat. The red wig clung to her skin and made her itch.

    Would it be possible to have it tied up?

    Her eyes nced up, checking the floor numbers. They almost reached her destination. She gulped. This would be the first time she''d set foot where she was headed,

    Evangeline''s apartment.

    The 10th floor had nothing different from the others. The corridor could house two lines of people. Unlike the exterior of the building and the golden lobby, the color palette among the upper floors resembled a modern color palette in shades of blue, gray and white.

    Each varnished mahogany door led to a resident space of 600 square feet.

    Eve checked the numbers. Gold tes of them had been screwed onto the doors. They shined from the lights, highlighting the embossed writing.

    She looked for 10-E.

    It was located near the end of the hallway. Keys chimed under her hand. Avery had left it with the receptionistst time, making it easier for her to obtain.

    The door opened to a kitchen. It had the sink and the stove in one counter with a fridge, creating a long line. Into the corridor, a humble dining area stood between it and the living room. Across from a navy blue couch, a tscreen hung on the wall.

    Behind it was the masterbedroom. Noises led Eve towards the room. She heard the creaks from hinges and the mor of clothing hangers. Her eyebrows scrunched.

    A bright room peeked through an open door.

    "Cale?" Eve asked, pushing the door further. Another door stood parallel to her left. Her eyes widened at the spread of clothes in the room. They covered the entire bed. Racks of them also pressed against two walls.

    She''d say a tornado must have blown into the bedroom. Except, they were all organized.

    Eve stepped in further and walked over to the closet''s entrance. More clothes feasted her sight. The walk-in closet had a row of clothing on each side. They hung on top of drawers. A floor length mirror was perched on top of a circr tform.

    ''Was teleportation real?'' She asked herself. ''Am I back in that dressing room?''

    "Uh" Eve started to say. Her voice came out hoarse because of her dry throat. "Hello?"

    A head of tinum blonde hair popped up from a blind spot. The rows of clothes ended just before the tform and the mirror. Shelves took up the adjacent walls. Shoes and bags filled them up.

    Aqua blue eyes crinkled at Eve. Next came a blur of magenta suit with mingo patterns.

    "Oh, Eve! You''re finally here!" Cale squealed. He ran through the closet and tackled her into a hug. "How are you, dear? I heard the first date was a sess!"

    "It went better than I thought it would," Eve admitted, hugging him back.

    Cale released her and cackled in delight. His elbow nudged her side yfully. "SoOOOoo What is it like to be Ambryan''s girlfriend?"

    Eve flinched. "Still getting my head around it."

    "You''ll get to it," he assured her. His hand held her arm and his feet led her inside the closet. With a longer look, Eve noticed the smaller details. There were actually two more floor length mirrors.

    They leaned against each row of clothes.

    "Anyway, this will be the first time you two present yourselves as a couple," Cale said, changing the subject, "I was thinking instead of the usual matching clothes, I thought you should haveplimenting colors instead."

    In front of the two mirrors were pink round armchairs. Their pale shade plus the cream carpet created a dollhouse-like ambiance.

    "I figured you both are a more subtle pair than others," the modelling manager finished. He also hadn''t been able to decide a suitable color for them. "Plus It''s not quite possible for now. Can''t have Ambryan in red when it''s a Rainbow color. They''d mistake him as a model."

    Eve considered the idea of matching colors. As Cale predicted, she preferred something not as shy.

    At least, not at the moment.

    Hopefully, not ever.

    "Yes, please. I''d rather not be in the same color," she pleaded. It would only catch more unnecessary attention. They could use it as a strategy for another timeif they''d need one.

    "Thought so." Cale chuckled. His free hand gestured towards an armchair. "There are several boxes of gowns in there. All in the same shade as your hair. Just choose which style you''d wear while I fill up your closet."

    "My closet?" Eve asked as she checked out the white boxes. She hadn''t noticed how many there were wince they blended together. Now that she was up close, she counted three.

    Her hands snatched one before went to a vacant armchair. Her thumbs brushed over the lid''s rim and found no resistance.

    "Well, of course!" The modelling manager eximed. He stood across from and opened shoeboxes. He arranged them on the shelves ording to style. "Evangeline has a different sense of style than the Eve Yan knows. We have to be prepared for anything like nightgowns if he spends the night here."

    Eve choked at hisst statement. Blood rushed into her cheeks. If her look was supposed to resemble a ruby, she was a step closer in achieving it.

    She hadn''t wrapped her mind around their rtionship yet. Although they talked about it before, the experience was far different. It suddenly felt real though it was fake.

    And she didn''t know what to think of it.

    Cale misunderstood her reaction, finding it cute. "No need to act innocent, dear. We''re all adults. Ambryan may be a prude but he still has hormones."

    The blush intensified on Eve''s face. By now, it covered her whole face and her entire neck. The idea of her boss and his hormones was something she never entertainednot even with his string of flings. She had trained herself to focus only on their business rtionship.

    This whole shenanigan seemed to be the ultimate test.

    "How do you like the dresses?" Cale questioned, breaking her out of her thoughts.

    Eve opened the first box and pushed aside the decoration paper. Just as he said, the color matched her. Her fingers caressed the fabric. It felt soft and smooth under her touch. She pinched a spot, noting how thin it was.

    It already passed her first impression.

    She set the box down and held the dress by its shoulders. Her hands raised it, exposing its full beauty. The neckline had a wide V which would expose most of her corbone. The sleeves had been stitched to create ripples and small puffs.

    The bodice curved at the sides and flowed down a straight cut floor-length skirt.

    In that moment, Eve believed in love at first sight. Her hazel eyes shined with affection. It was the perfect dress for her style.

    "I''ve never seen a more sophisticated gown," she breathed out. The room lights cascaded against the satin cloth. "Is it possible to tie the wig up? I think it would look better that way."

    "A," Cale gushed. He hugged a pair of his to his chest. Tenderness softened his gaze as he stared at her. "I love this."

    "Love what?" Eve blinked at him, peeling her eyes off the dress. A nket of warmth wrapped around her heart.

    "You''re finally embracing Evangeline and suggesting on how to present her." Cale smiled. He took a few steps towards her, maintaining eye contact. "Remember, Evangeline is a stage name but that doesn''t mean you''re less than her or that she''s more than you."

    Eve stayed silent. Her hands dropped to herp. The red dress covered her legs. Her full attention went to the modelling manager. He seemed to be on the verge of tears.

    He stood by her side and bent his knees, lowering himself to her eye level. Cale wanted her to understand something as soon as now.

    "You are both still the same person. Just in different circumstances. Don''t let Evangeline do anything Eve wouldn''t approve of."

    "Dating Ambryan aside that is," Cale added with a chuckle.

    Eve processed his words. It would be the first time Evangeline met arge group of people. More than just a disguise, her model persona was also a real person.

    She had realized that in the skating rink. The one who loved that ce was Eve. Now, Evangeline did too. It didn''t cross her mind until it happened.

    Both sides only had one heart.

    "I understand, Cale." Eve answered him, nodding her head.

    "I hope you do because this is your time to shine." The modelling manager beamed and bumped her shoulder. "Show them what you are made of tonight."

 Chapter 55: Always Knock Before Entering

    Chapter 55: Always Knock Before Entering

    Cale had taken the wig and knotted it into two upper braids. He kept it loose. He also pulled at the tresses so they covered the cap''s rim. The hair tips had been rolled up into a bun, sitting at the nape of Eve''s neck. He spreaded it like the braid until it resembled a sleek messy style.

    As a finishing touch, he ced a wreath of goldenurel leaves on the inner rim. Itplimented the gold chain of the pearl ne. The eyeshadow shimmered in bronze and luminescent pearls. Cheeks shared the same warm tone.

    Together, they emphasized a pair of cherry red lips.

    "Ugh, you look like a ruby goddess," Cale shared with the shake of his head. He stood behind Eve and admired her reflecting. The lights from the vanity mirror made his model glow. "Ambryan better keep an eye on you before you''re snatched by another guy."

    Eve chuckled at his enthusiasm. Her sultry winged eyes smiled back at her. "That''s only because I have such an amazing make-up artist and stylist."

    "Dear, stop it," the modelling manager objected. He walked over to the table and arranged the products. "These will stay here for the time being. There''s a note here about Evangeline''s signature look. If you still don''t feel confident, you can always video call me."

    Eve smacked her lips together. Their fullness amazed her. Cale had used a variety of products. He had her convinced that this was an art piece by itself. The shades and the gloss created a painting of the red sea.

    Then if she perked them up, they resembled a rose.

    Simple yet an astonishing experience.

    Her gaze flickered towards the make-up. They were only a handfulpared to their first session. A yful smile blossomed on her lips as she watched him organize them inside the drawers. "You might have to teach me sometime."

    Cale pped his hands together. The mere thought of it heightened his energy.

    "Oh, honey, I''d love to. I could spend an entire day on it for fun." The idea reminded him of slumber parties and girls'' talk. Nostalgia hit him back to his youth. "We can even film it so you can use it as a future reference whenever you''re unsure."

    Eve shook her head. A confused look masked her face. How was this person real? He always put her first whenever possible. He never once demanded her to be a better model. Didn''t it affect managers when their modelscked projects? How could he be lenient on her?

    This amount of care just blew her away.

    "Thanks, Cale," she uttered under her breath. Words seemed to have evaporated from her mind. "I don''t think I say it often enough but all of your efforts wow. I hope I can make you proud even if I''m an amateur."

    This would be the night to catch the eye of other brands. She would find a way to repay him back.

    "Don''t worry. I can wait for you." Cale winked at her through the mirror. His index finger pointed at the bedroom door. "You can stay in the living room. I''ll clean this up and get myself ready too."

    "I figured you''d always be ready to party."

    "I am. I just want to be a little extra tonight." He winked for the second time. Mischief glistened in his eyes. A giggle flowed out his closed lips. He said nothing more on the subject.

    He didn''t need to.

    It was written all over his face.

    Eve grinned from ear to ear. She leaned forward, giving him the side-eye. Her eyebrows wiggled as smirk curled her corner lip. "Do you have someone to impress?"

    Cale turned his head and narrowed his aqua blue eyes. He pressed a finger to his lips, teasing her curiosity. "Honey, I don''t kiss and tell quite yet."

    Then, he tapped her shoulder before she could say more. "Come on, now. Go to the living room. If I were you, I''d practice my walk because it''s not as easy as it looks."

    "Okay."

    Eve rose to her feet and got out his way. She would just have to wait. Her mind wandered into imaginationnd. What kind of guy would attract Cale? Somehow, she pictured the man to be taller than her modelling managerprobably someone buff.

    Out of the bedroom, the path from the kitchen to the living room almost looked like a runaway. The curve around the coffee table added more direction. It seemed like a good start when swerving inside a crowd.

    Taking a deep breath, Eve positioned herself by the windows. She would start with the curve then, she''d walk down the pathway. There should have been a rehearsal for this but it collided with her work schedule. She didn''t make it.

    And so Cale provided her with the basics.

    She pulled her shoulders back and kept her chin raised. Her right stepped forward, touching the floor lightly. The heel barely made a sound. Her left foot went next but it crossed over to the other side. The movement made her hips sway.

    Eve repeated the same process until she passed by the coffee table.

    Part of her wished for a mirror. For now, it seemed she did fine. But without the visual, she doubted it to be true. The muscles behind her legs and down to her ankles tensed. She blew on her loose fringes as she reached the door.

    That was a bad sign.

    Eve spun on her heel and stared at the trail back. She lifted up one foot, shaking away the cramp. Cale was right. It was harder than it looks. If she executed in an improper fashion, she could end up injured.

    A knock came from behind, startling her.

    She turned the knob and popped her head out.

    A tall figure stood at the other side, scratching the back of his neck. Brown hair with blonde highlights had been gelled to the sides, parted unevenly. A few strands strayed away from the group and tickled his temple.

    Combined with a navy blue suit, the man could make hearts swoon.

    "Cale, are you" Mikael began to say as he shifted his attention to the apartment. His next words died in his throat. The person turned out to be far different than he thought. "You''re not Cale."

    "Mr. Davis, pleasure to see you again."

    The male model crossed his arms over his chest. His eyebrows knitted into a scowl. "Right. You moved here. I wondered why Cale would be here."

    "If you want to see Cale, he is in the master bedroom," Eve said, opening the door to let him in. She offered a polite smile while beads of sweat dripped down her scalp. Her palms also dampened. "I''m sure he''ll be ready shortly."

    Mikael took a step inside, craning his neck. He scrutinized the apartment. All of the units had been pre-furnished. Unless the residents reced them, they all shared the same interior design andyout. The ce seemed to be in order.

    It looked barely lived in.

    He walked further inside and inspected the counter. "You answered rather fast. What were you doing by the door?"

    Eve thanked him for not ncing at her. With his eyes away from her, she felt more rxed and trailed behind him. She bit her bottom lip as she thought of how to answer. "It''s my firstunch party. I missed the rehearsal. I just wanted to practice."

    Mikael halted in his steps and raised an eyebrow. He angled his body towards her. "Walking?"

    "Yeah" Eve admitted. Her gaze dropped to the floor. "I know Ick a lot but I just want to do well, at least."

    She managed to hold her ownst time but this was different. A model should glide across the floor as if she walked on clouds. Not only that but the execution had to be smooth and effortless. With the little time left, she doubted that she''d be decent enough.

    The heels didn''t exactly make it easy.

    "Show me."

    Eve snapped her head up. "Huh?"

    Mikael moved towards the t screen. He leaned his shoulder on a spot beside it. His blue eyes stayed on her, observing her body movements. "Show me your walk. I''ll give you some pointers."

    "You''re helping me?" Eve gasped. His stern face aside, she hadn''t expected him toment at all.

    "Am I the devil or something?" Mikael frowned.

    She took a step back and raised her hands in surrender, averting her eyes. "It''s you who said it and not me."

    Mikael felt his temple throbbed. It seemed that this woman possessed a smart mouth. Her real attitude now presented itself.

    He spoke through gritted teeth. "Just. Walk."

    Eve started from her current spot. Unlike the kitchen, she preferred the curve from the coffee table. Probably because she didn''t need to focus on maintaining a straight line. Any mistake would be less noticeable.

    Her legs followed the outline of the coffee table. She proceeded with caution, careful not to bump into the furniture. Thest she needed was a bruise and to embarrass herself. A slight tremor crawled up her arms.

    She could feel the intense stare on her.

    It wasn''t a pleasant feeling.

    A pair of hands sped her shoulders. They pulled the shoulders behind her, squeezing the muscles around the upper back. Eve hadn''t noticed they slouched. The tight massage fixed her posture.

    "You''re way too tense. Rx. I''m not going to roast you."

 Chapter 56: Always Keep Your Back Straight

    Chapter 56: Always Keep Your Back Straight

    "You''re way too tense. Rx. I''m not going to roast you." Mikael exhaled sharply, letting go of her shoulders. He stepped back and assessed her posture.

    "I never thought of that," Eve told him. She almost turned around until she realized their close proximity. With that distance, the perceptive model might see through her disguise.

    She shuffled her feet insteadas if she tested each step. A teasing smile curled her corner lip. "I merely had the impression you skewer people."

    Mikael''s eyebrows shot up. It seemed that a certain someone gained a smart mouth. "Isn''t that essentially the same thing?"

    "No, it means you stapoke at them."

    He grimaced. He had heard simrments before but rarely in this manner. Others preferred to spit at his face, telling him off so he''d fall from the pedestal he created for himself.

    Or so that was how Jordan described it.

    "Were you perhaps offended by my remarks?"

    Eve''s ears perked up at the question. She stepped back as she spun on her heel, widening their distance. Her expression betrayed zero emotion.

    "No, I wasn''t, Mr. Davis," she answered. "I know my faults. I know there are better models for Athon''s campaign. I know some of them are more suitable."

    Her head tilted to one side, not minding his calctive gaze. It held no malice unlike the ones she witnessed before from other people.

    "If you attack me with these, I won''t get offended at all," Eve said, her back straightening. Convictionced in her voice. Not once did her eyes wavered.

    "I know my ce," she spoke softly, "But that doesn''t mean I will be staying there. I refuse to give these people less than they deserve."

    "So, please," she encouraged him. A small smile appeared on her lips. "Feel free to criticize. I will keep them in mind as I strive to do better."

    Mikael kept his face neutral. Her steady gaze reflected an emotion he''d seen before. It matched the same amount of determination, zing and strong. Any constructive opinion would only fan its mes.

    She reminded him of his past.

    "Walk one more time." He nodded his head once before going back to his position by the wall. "You might want to try walking a little sideways. There would be a lot of cameras and you''d constantly have to move."

    Eve chose to ignore his attitude change. She squared her shoulders and walked back towards the kitchen. Her mind noted down his words about slightly angling to the side. Compared to before, she found this easier.

    Her glide went smoothly.

    Mikael let her pace around the room. Like the photoshoot, the rookie managed to do well enough. She just didn''t have the right mindset. Her forward walks faltered a bit. His radiant blue eyes went to her shoes.

    She was obviously not used to thembut, at least, her feet weren''t wounded.

    "There won''t be much to worry about the event," Mikael informed her as she came back from the kitchen. "Just keep your back straight, your chin high and your shoulders rxed. It''s not a runway. All you need is confidence."

    Eve stopped short. Her eyebrows scrunched in confusion. "But"

    "Luna will be presenting the models. Yes, that will happen." Mikael cut in. He pushed himself off the wall as the bedroom door opened. "Again, it''s not a runway. The rehearsal was only about direction. When the spotlight is on you, focus on presenting yourself and not the brand."

    At his words, Cale widened his aqua blue eyes. He shifted his attention between the two models. He had been listening to music while he dressed up for the asion. It muffled out their voices from inside the bedroom.

    "Such a friendly chat we''re having here," he said, making his presence known. A bright smile spread across his face. He hit Mikael''s shoulder. "Look at you! Acting like a senpai to your kohai."

    Eve hid her snort with a cough.

    "I knew you only had your period that day," Cale continued to tease. It always warmed his heart whenever he saw the male model look out for others.

    Mikael leaned away from him and red. "Cale, you''re a wonderful human but sometimes you''re annoying."

    "What a coincidence! So are you."

    "Let''s go or we''ll bete."

    "Yo, yo, yo!" A voice called out from the front door. It was apanied by a series of loud knocks. "What are you doing in there? Cale had you bent my model? Because I''d prefer if you kept it under wraps."

    Eve opened the door. She stood the closest so she went ahead of the others.

    Jordan stood outside in a bronze suit. The metallic sheen made his olive skin glow. His afro hair tamed for the evening, all pointing downwards instead of sticking out.

    His bushy brows rose up above a pair of sunsses. His lips revealed two rows of pearly white teeth.

    "Oh, Ms. Evangeline! Good to see you," he greeted Eve and shook her hand. "You''re the new resident here? I should have known. Cale must be spoiling you."

    Before she could reply, Cale came from the living room and joined them from the kitchen. His eyes peeked over his model''s shoulder. "Darling, I only treat people as royalty if they deserve it."

    "We have to go. Stop stalling," Mikael interrupted. He headed straight for the hallway and joined his own manager. He looked at both sides of the corridor, checking for bystanders.

    It wouldn''t do good if strangers heard Jordan''sment earlier.

    Cale merely shrugged and also exited the apartment. He gave Eve an air-kiss along the way. "See you there, Evangeline."

    Jordan nced at Cale and poked a thumb in her direction. "She''s noting?"

    "Oh, no," Cale confirmed. He brushed off the concern with a wave of his hand. "Her date will pick her up."

    "Date?!" Jordan eximed. He received pointed looks from hispanions. As a response, he lowered his volume and peeked at Eve from the corner of his eye.

    "Should have known she''s taken."

    Eve merely smiled. Her hand tucked a loose strand behind her ear. A pink tint flooded her ears and her cheeks. She should get used to this kind of attention.

    "That''s right!" Cale squealed. Then, he directed a finger at the two men. "I expect you both to help keep predators away from her. And I mean that for any gender."

    "Alright, alright," Jordan agreed. If he hadn''t he was sure another voice would have protested. He nodded towards the door. "See youter, Ms. Evangeline. Break a leg."

    "Thank you," Eve replied, speaking up for the first time since she saw him. "Drive safely."

    Cale sent her a wink while Mikael gave a silent nod. The three of them walked down the hallway, heading for the lift. Cale changed his mingo suit with a in rose gold. Miniscule glitters covered his coat. They sparkled under the lights.

    Eve closed the door.

    All she had to do was wait.

    A ck Jaguar XK rolled up on the driveway. The sleek obsidian paint reflected any light source. Like the convertible, its driver wore the same colorincluding the dress shirt. He got out of the car and walked around the hood.

    A red tie hung from his neck.

    Ambryan climbed up the front steps. His hands clutched thepels of his jacket and pped them, allowing in some air. The hot season wasn''t merciful.

    He nodded at the security guard and stopped at the lobby. The lights glinted against his gelled onyx hair. He fished out his phone, ready to send a message of his arrival.

    Something the other person hadn''t thought of doing when they first met face to face.

    His thumb hovered over the send button when a voice intercepted his thoughts.

    "Excuse me!" The receptionist called out. She rose to her heart, trying to get a better look at the guest. She had recognized the te number and figured he was the one that she had been waiting for.

    Violet eyes flickered towards her.

    "Yes?"

    Their cold expression made her flinch. She cleared off the lump in her throat. "A-Are you perhaps Yan H?"

    Ambryan scowled. The name seemed to be another one of his mother''s handiwork. She had masked his name, fearing that a third party would expose his rtionship.

    "I believe so."

    The receptionist nodded, epting the answer. It seemed to be good enough. She couldn''t peek inside the car but she thought that it was currently empty.

    Noticing an impatient face, she pointed towards the elevators. "If you''re here for Ms. Evangeline Reed, the owner of the apartment had green lit you to go up. You''re free to visit her apartment. She''s on the 10th floor."

    Ambryan nced over at them. He sent the receptionist a brief nod as he crossed the lobby. "Thank you."

    He pushed the up button.

    Just his luck, an elevator was on its way to the first floor. He tucked his hands into his pant pockets and waited patiently. His eyes watched as the numbers went down.

    Then, the doors parted open.

 Chapter 57: A Stunning Vision in Red

    Chapter 57: A Stunning Vision in Red

    Ambryan stepped inside an empty elevator.

    He had just pushed another button when the second lift opened. Three figures passed by as the doors closed for him. His violet eyes gazed up and missed the group, He pinched the knot of his tie. Avery had insisted on it.

    ''A sign of support,'' she said.

    The red color stood out against the stainless steel enclosure. The sight of it irked him. It went against his personal dress code made of blue, white and ck. He faltered the slightest when his mother nted the logic that it matched Evangeline''s hair.

    Then, she told him that it was natural for couples to do such a thing. If he truly wanted the public to know of his affection, this was a simple way of showcasing it.

    That was when Ambryan agreed.

    He exhaled sharply at the memory.

    If he had refused, he had no doubt Avery would have found another way to convince him. When it came to these things, he had to y by her rules unless he wanted to lose her side of the bargain. He only hoped the party would end soon.

    The elevator doors revealed the 10th floor.

    Ambryan paused after he exited the lift. He scowled at the surroundings. In his haste, he had forgotten to ask the receptionist for the room number. He proceeded with cautious steps. Most of the doors had the same nk look. Only a few decided to add decorations like a wind chime.

    He stopped again when he reached the middle.

    His neck twisted from left and right, ncing at both ends.

    Nothing would happen if he stayed like this.

    Ambryan took out his phone and opened the DTC app. The home page showed him the five avable options. They came in purple buttons that swivelled across the screen.

    > Chat

    > Call

    > Memories

    > Calendar

    > Capture

    His thumb clicked on the second option, using it for the first time. Only one contact showed up in the list. He pressed the phone against his ear and waited. The dial tone rang three times before the other line picked it up.

    A soft and sweet voice flowed out of the receiver.

    "Hello?"

    "Ms. Evangeline," Ambryan greeted in his curt tone. He shuffled his feet to the side and eyed the hallway again. His mind wondered which room she answered fromand what kind of expression she wore.

    "Mr. Hathaway."

    "I believe I''ll be your chauffeur for today."

    He heard her gasp. "Oh, you''re here already? I''m on my way."

    Then, the call ended.

    Ambryan put his phone away and made a calcted guess. The staff did an excellent job at managing the building''s sanitation and maintenance. None of the doors seemed worn out either. No sign of how long the resident had lived behind it.

    Instead, he kept his hearing alert.

    He faced the elevators with his hands tucked inside his pant pocket. He kept a close eye on it. In case anyone unexpected woulde out. The sound of footsteps would mislead him. This way, he could eliminate that possibility.

    A door creaked behind him.

    Turning around, Ambryan spotted her easily.

    The young woman had her head bowed as she locked the door''s deadbolt. Loose fringes draped on the sides of her face. A band of golden wreath shined above her crimson hair. The puff on the sleeves and wide neckline entuated her shoulders. As the satin fabric streamed down, it clung to her upper body and emphasized all her curves.

    Then, it widened into a straight skirt from the waist to an inch above the floor.

    A vision in red that could drown a person into its depths. Scarlet threads that could hook and reel in interest. A fair nape that could entice curiosity about its softness. Crimson hair that could tempt someone to undo its knots.

    A charm that could spark mes of passion.

    Or leave a CEO speechless.

    The young woman stepped away from the door and walked down the corridor. She hid her keys inside a clutch. The neckline of her dress ended in between the top of her breasts. It offered a teasepared to her previous dress. Only a person who had seen thetter would be provoked by its allure.

    At the sight of him, her flirty hazel eyes widened. Her cherry lips parted open, sultry and inviting.

    She spoke two words.

    "Mr. Hathaway."

    Ambryan scowled. His momentary daze broke because of her greeting. It irked him as much as his tie had. That same distaste from the rink coated his tongue. Two simple words and yet, they created a barriera wall that he hadn''t known.

    A roadblock he wanted gone.

    "Still not calling me by my first name?" Ambryan asked, closing the distance between them. His head leaned down as the gap shortened. Even with heels, he still towered over her. "I would have thought we''d gone past that, Ms. Girlfriend."

    Eve gulped.

    Something was wrong. The atmosphere had changed. The pulse in her ear thumped loudly. She could hear it as loud as a heartbeat. The palm of her hands began to sweat.

    "I-I had thought about it," she finally replied. Her feet side-stepped around him and headed for the elevators. If they didn''t leave now, they''d bete. She used this chance to form a proper response.

    "Really?" Ambryan trailed behind her. His violet eyes watched as her skirt swayed from the movements of her hips.

    Eve entered the lift first.

    "Yes." She nodded and pressed the button for the first floor. Both of her hands held the clutch over her abdomen. She waited for him to join her before revealing her suggestion. "I think I''d prefer it if you call me, Evan."

    Ambryan raised an eyebrow. "Evan?"

    He crossed his arms over his chest and leaned his shoulder against the right wall.

    Eve giggled, mimicking his position at the wall across his. The idea came at thest minute. Now that she said it out loud, it sounded even funnier to her ears. "Unexpected, isn''t it? Which makes it perfect."

    "Won''t people perceive it as a masculine name?" Ambryan questioned. Nothing about it sounded affectionate. In fact, he had a business partner with the same name. To him, it would be inappropriate to call her as such.

    "Don''t worry," Eve said. She brushed off his words with a wave of her hand. Her shoulders shrugged at the simple concern. "We can bnce that out."

    "How?"

    Her lips beamed. She had been waiting for this moment. Fully meeting his gaze, she wiggled her eyebrows and smirked. "You will call me as Evan and I will call you as Ambee."

    Ambryan shut his eyes. He had flipped and turned the suggestions but nothing clued him in on how her mind worked. Setting aside the ridiculous nickname for him,

    "How does that bnce things out?" He exhaled sharply.

    The elevator doors opened. Eve had a bounce to her steps which was harder in heels. She dropped the spring, prioritizing her physical condition. One badnding and she could sprain or fracture her ankle.

    If that happened, she wouldn''t be the only one burdened by it.

    Ambyran followed after her. He still wore the same confused expression on his face.

    The receptionist looked up and observed the pair. If the woman had rainbows around her head, the man had stormy clouds. She couldn''t tell what happened. But judging by the former''s face, it didn''t seem to be rming.

    She had expected them to be sweet though. The apartment owner gushed over them like they could rival famous celebrity couples and be the new ''couple goals'' standard.

    "Yours sounds more feminine. See?" Eveughed, hitting Ambryan on the stomach with her clutch. "They''re opposites and bnce each other out."

    They exited theplex. A breeze greeted them as soon as they stepped out. Eve stopped walking and pressed a hand on her wig. Cale had taken all precautions so it wouldn''t fall off. Still, it made her anxious.

    Ambryan positioned himself beside her. His figure blocked out most of the wind, protecting her from it. Not once had he taken his eyes off her. "Is this your idea of humor, Evangeline?"

    A teasing smile blossomed on Eve''s closed lips.

    "Yes. Yes, it is, Ambryan." She winked.

    Then, she left him in the dust.

    Her feet climbed down the front steps, aiming for the passenger side of the convertible. A lightheartedugh joined the wind. It flowed like a musical symphony. The tone sounded genuine and pleasant, captivating listeners.

    It had frozen Ambryan in ce.

    ncing over her shoulder, Eve found him at the top of the stairs. Sheughed. The use of his name must have shocked him. She had used it before but never around him or around officemates.

    It really was a mouthful. Andie had even made a few mockups from the intonations. It was where she got the idea of ''Ambee'' as a nickname. It had stuck with her ever since.

    When he still didn''t move, she held out a hand towards him.

    "Are you going to stand there all day? Because if you are, at least, give me the car keys."

 Chapter 58: The Red Carpet Fiasco

    Chapter 58: The Red Carpet Fiasco

    Aunch party from Athon Corporation was almost like a movie premier. Thepany set up a red carpet out front, where reporters and the media could catch a glimpse. Selected few were allowed to enter and cover the whole event. Valet attendants stood at the ready if a vehiclecked a chauffeur.

    The end of the carpet led to a three-story building. See-through ss made up its front walls. Artificial trees made of gold, silver and bronze stood at either side of the entrance. Twinkle lights lit up, glowing against the sunset.

    One after another, cars rolled up to the red carpet. Celebrities and famous personalities flowed out and strolled down its path. They posed in front of the cameras, epting the asional interviews and signing a few autographs.

    The driver side of a ck Jaguar XK opened. A valet supervisor tapped his subordinate, nudging thetter towards the convertible. He held his hand out for the keys and exchanged it with a card number.

    Ambryan Hathaway hid it in his inner breast pocket and walked around the hood, entering the scene.

    Alone.

    "Here it is, folks! CEO of Eros Productions himself has joined the array of celebrities!" A blonde female reporter spoke to a video camera. She held up a microphone and updated viewers live from the main event.

    She faked a gasp. "And what is this? Were the rumors wrong? Is Ambryan Hathaway still single?"

    At the other side of the red carpet, another small reporter filmed through a cellr phone. He had a mic connected to the device and filled the footage with his high-pitched voice.

    "Daddy Ambryan Hathaway is in the house! Ah! Does anyone believe those articles about his new woman? I am telling you, babes. This is one predator that is impossible to capture. Mm-mm."

    An aspiring singer-songwriter stepped out of the spotlight and pulled out her phone. She took a short break just to send a post to her followers.

    `` Ambryan came alone. Huhu. I was so looking forward to meeting his new lover. Her dress in those photos was *insert chef''s kiss* ``

    In the midst of it all, the man himself walked straight. His eyes never met a single reporter. The other guests whispered among themselves. The articles trended during the past week. Almost all of the famous socialites had heard about it.

    None of them dared toe up to him.

    He almost reached the building entrance when a young man stumbled upon his path. Thetter tripped over his own feet and almost mmed against the CEO. It caught the attention of bystanders.

    Ambryan halted in his steps, avoiding the collision.

    The young man gulped and slowly straightened his posture. His gray eyes fidgeted as he gazed up at the rumored film tycoon. The same uneasiness shook in his voice.

    "M-Mr. Hathaway!" He said. "I''m sorry about this. Good thing you have such fast reflexes. I heard about the new tv series by the way. Congrattions on the new project! How are auditionsing along? Are you"

    Trapped by the entrance, reporters raced to grab the chance. They flocked around the CEO and fired their questions. Each one fought for the hottest scoop. They wanted to be the first on thetest news.

    Their voices filled Ambryan''s ears.

    "Mr. Hathaway, are the articles true?"

    "Did you get married in secret?"

    "Is she the reason behind your breakup with Charlee Edwards?"

    "Mr. Hathaway, witnesses mentioned about your closeness at the skating rink. Do you have anyments?"

    "Are we to expect a newdy boss?"

    Ambryan raised a hand.

    The talking ceased immediately and a group of bodyguards intervened. They stood in between the CEO and the reporters, widening their distance. Wen stood behind. She checked all sides and made sure the boss was out of reach.

    "I will say this for the first and thest time." Ambryan addressed the group. He amplified his voice so it would reach a wide range. His violet eyes hardened into crystals.

    "I am here on behalf of Eros Productions. Any inquiries about my personal life will be rejected. If someone still insists, I''ll have to ask you to leave. If you refuse, I''ll have you removed."

    He flicked his gaze towards the young man. A dark cloud shadowed above his forehead. He had seen that trick multiple times. "The same goes with business rted concerns. I am off working hours and will not be entertaining any. Thank you."

    When Ambryan walked away, more questions popped up from behind him. A frenzy of curious noses spoke above the noise. Nothing in his speech indicated an answer.

    And they couldn''t ept it.

    Ambryan escaped to the safety of the lobby. A few reporters still upied the ce but Athon Corporation set them in an orderly manner. They each had a designated spot and celebrities would walk over to them, passing through as approved by their managers.

    Another figure bounded for the CEO. The bodyguards parted ways and let her in. The woman''s aura sent shivers down their spines. They''d rather not get in her way.

    Only Ambryan remained unconcerned as a pair of violet eyes red at him. He had seen theming from miles away.

    "Where''s Evangeline?" Avery demanded. She crossed her arms over her chest. She had been waiting for them to arrive. She had nned to introduce thetter to her social circles.

    "Backstage."

    Her nostrils red. "What?! Why?!"

    Ambryan exhaled sharply. His mind wandered back into his car where a conversation from earlier took ce.

    ...

    Eve peeled her eyes off the car window. A long line of cars headed for theunch party. She could see the beams from the spotlights of the event. A crowd stood in front of the entrance.

    She scrunched her eyebrows, contemting a thought. "Can we not go in together?"

    Ambryan nced in her direction. "And why is that?"

    The traffic light turned green and he stepped onto the gas, advancing towards the venue. They still had quite a long way to go. The event attracted a lot of socialites. Their numbers could be seen even from this distance.

    Eve hit her back on the chair, almost wing her hair out. She hadn''t stepped foot on a red carpet before she had witnessed it from the sidelines. The amount of shameless leeches and parasites lefther astonished.

    "I already know what''s going to happen." She groaned, shutting her eyes. She could almost picture everything.

    "You do?" Ambryan asked, making a turn.

    The longer Eve thought about it, the more convinced she was to skip over the scene.

    To answer him, she opened her eyes and straightened her posture. Her voice changed, mimicking the various tv reporters. She held up an imaginary mic in his direction. "Look at that woman! Is she the one in the photos? Ambryan Hathaway, is she your new lover? Mind introducing her to us? What''s your rtionship status?"

    Ambryan swallowed an amused snort. Instead, he silently praised her for the effort.

    "Are you feeling nervous? Pressured?"

    Eve dropped her hand and rxed. Now that she let it out, her anxiety slowly evaporated. "Surprisingly, no."

    "Then, what is it?"

    "It''s the questions," she emphasized. Her gaze went back to the window. She watched the red carpet and its crowd. Even from here, she could hear their voices. "Think about them. They''re all connected to you."

    Eve turned her head. The back of it stayed on the soft cushion. Her hazel eyes blinked with tenderness. "If I step out of this car and walk there beside you, they''ll only see me as the CEO''s woman."

    Those articles were the proof. Other than Avery, Luna and Cale, reporters anticipated her arrival. They expected her to appear by his side.

    "This will be my debut as a model to the public. When I present myself, I want them to see me as me. I want to make a name for myself before I''m linked with you."

    Silence filled the car. The weight of her statement hovered in the air. She realized the circumstances toote. This whole pickup situation now seemed pointless.

    She had thought about it long and hard. If she came as Ambryan''s girlfriend, that would overshadow her individuality. She wanted to establish herself and create an image. Thwart any rumors about her climbing up the socialdderor using him for her career advancement.

    It didn''t happen yet but she felt disgusted.

    "So we won''t interact with each other during the whole event?" Ambryan finally spoke. He had considered her words. He saw her point.

    Eve shook her head, feeling better. His silent agreement was good enough. "No, we''ll leave it together. Otherwise, I imagine your mother would have a field day."

    "Alright." Ambryan nodded. He steered the car towards a narrow street. It would lead them to the back entrance used by the staff. "Do think of impressing me when you step into the spotlight."

    Eve rolled her eyes.

    If she was going to do this, she was going to do it right.

 Chapter 59: Debut to the Public

    Chapter 59: Debut to the Public

    Eve left a message for Cale, informing him of her whereabouts. The staff had given her directions towards the main hall. Their eyes popped out of their sockets when they saw her. Thankfully, they quickly caught on that she was a guestbased on her appearance.

    From there, things passed by without a hitch.

    She found a hallway that led to the ballroom where she waited for Cale. From what she knew, Luna had a designated room for the rainbow models. She advised them to stay there before the presentation. Eve actually didn''t understand the need for this. They wouldn''t even carry any bag.

    It would just be them, walking into the scene.

    She stayed close to the wall and bent forward. Her head peeked out of the hall. She gaped at the grandeur. Did she travel back in time? Most of the interior resembled a castle''s with its white and gold paint. The chandeliers reflected on the wooden floor. Bronze velvet curtains hung over tall windows, blocking most of the sunset.

    Eve estimated the number of people. There were probably hundreds. It wouldn''t surprise her if it turned out to be a thousand. Among them, one person cut through the crowd. Swift footsteps broke away from the party.

    They headed for where she stood.

    "Eve!" Cale scolded as soon as he saw her. He put his hands on his hips and marched in her direction. "There you are! You almost gave us a heart attack when Ambryan came by himself. We thought he left you behind or you had a fight. Next time, inform us right away."

    "I''m sorry, Cale. It was actuallyst minute," Eve apologized. His tone was scarier than the time they shopped for a dress. At this, she rethought about her n. She really should have notified them/

    "Okay, fine," her modelling manager huffed. He grabbed her wrist, keeping a tight hold. Who knew when she''d do another stunt? "Come on, let''s do some touch ups."

    Cale took her back down the hall and up a hidden staircase. It led to the upper floor for the indoor balcony which had a grand staircase. Behind the archway, several rooms upied the corridor. Only one had its door open with bright lights inside.

    The rest of the models already came before Eve. They all sat in their designated chairs, talking and refilling their make-up looks. Each one sported the same style as hermatching dress, wig and lipsbut in different colors until theypleted a rainbow.

    The diversity impressed her. No one in this room had been picked at random. All of them rocked and yed the color they got. If it weren''t for this campaign, she wouldn''t have known how mermaid blue looked beautiful on a deep skin tone. Or how olive greenplimented medium tanplexion.

    Each model represented a shade range.

    "Alright, I heard about what you said from Avery," Cale spoke, gesturing Eve to a chair. She faced the vanity mirror and noticed the shine from her oily face. He grinned. "So let''s light you up like a fire for your debut."

    From outside, Athonmercials and logos yed on LED screens on either side of the balcony. It disyed their awards, milestones and iconic moments. Some behind the scenes footage peeked out for a tease.

    Avery stood in the middle of the floor. She had looped her arms around her son''s. They had been joined by the hip since they entered the ballroom. She figured he''d run off to talk about work with other businessmensomething she frowned upon during these events.

    Her presence also helped ward off most women. If not, her mouth would do the job.

    Ambryan simply apanied her. He spoke whenever he was addressed. With red wine in hand, he had little toin about. He''d be able to survive the night with it alone.

    "Yan! Aunt Avery!" Richard Kingston called out from behind them. He wore a white jacket over a gray dress shirt. His trousers had the same cream fabric while his shoes had ck leather. He chose this style since his curly bronze hair already matched the motif.

    "Richard!" Avery greeted him first. She let go of Ambryan to give him a brief hug. "It has been a while since I''ve seen you. I heard you had a hard time with the Board of Directors. Are you still okay?"

    "It was nothing I couldn''t handle," he replied with a snort. He drank a bit of champagne before turning to his best friend. A goofy grin stretched his lips. "So where''s the girlfriend? Did you sneak her in here so the media wouldn''t see her? Come on, tell me I get to meet her tonight."

    "No, you won''t."

    "Oh, you will!"

    Ambryan sipped his wine and ignored another re from his mother. With the ss on his lips, she couldn''t force him to look at herunless she wanted to identally spill the wine. It was a trick and she knew it.

    Unfortunately, it worked for the time being.

    "Really, Ambryan," Avery huffed as she faced him fully. Her hands clenched into fists, calming down her urge to strike. "How could you not introduce her to your best friend?"

    "It''s alright, Aunt Avery," Richard intervened. Heughed at the scenario and saved his best friend. He took Avery''s hand and kissed the back of it. "Have I told you how stunning you look?"

    Unlike most women, Avery opted for a white top and a ck maxi skirt. The long-sleeved blouse had an off-shoulder cut on her right. A wide golden belt cinched her waist, connecting the two clothing items. Her ck hair was tied up in a high ponytail and fell over her back like a waterfall.

    "Always a charmer," she smirked at Richard. Her hand went to her hip while her eyes stared from the corner of her eye. She narrowed her gaze. "Should I set you up too?"

    "Yes."

    "No."

    Richard coughed at the suggestion. It didn''t help that Ambryan agreed to it. He had heard of the website''s name. If he wasn''t careful, he would be Avery''s new target. The sidelines already gave him enough entertainment.

    Besides, if he had a girlfriend, he wouldn''t be able to pick on his best friend. That happened to be his favorite pastime and he''d rather keep it than meet a new chick.

    "With all due respect, Aunt Avery." Richard cleared his throat. He gulped a mouthful of champagne, needing its confidence boost. "I don''t think I''m ready yet to go back to the dating game."

    Avery opened her mouth to reply but someone else''s voice cut in.

    "Wee,dies and gentlemen!"

    Luna stood at the bottom of the grand staircase. A rectangr tform had been installed for the asion. She stood taller than most guests and grinned around the room. Folds of a silver skirt cascaded over her legs. Lace wrapped around her shoulders in the same color. Glittersyered over her bodice, adding more mor to her style.

    A brown hair bun sat on top of her head.

    Her ck eyes smiled at the audience. She spoke to a microphone and her voice sted out of the speakers. "On behalf of Athon Luxury, I''d like to thank everyone for joining us today. This is the mark of a new beginning for us. Billboards, tarpaulins, window disys and more will be up tomorrow for our brand new Rainbow Collection."

    Cheers and apuse reverberated around the ballroom. Luna paused, letting them take over the spotlight. She owed a lot of her sess to these people. Words were never enough to showcase her appreciation.

    "Of course, none of this could have happened if it weren''t for our models," Luna continued, stepping over to one side. She wouldn''t want to miss this part of the event. Her eyes already snapped towards the top of the stairs.

    "So, please. Join me and wee their presence for tonight starting with my Ruby."

    On the wall, the LED screens flickered into nothing. A lyre yed softly. Its volume rose up as a new video came into light. The darkness faded away to unveil the Athon logo. The symbol grew smaller until it vanishedpletely.

    A montage of the first set reced it. Each photosted half a second before the next one popped up. The different bags filled up the screen until it coated everything in red, ovepping one another in fifty percent opacity. The result resembled an abstract painting.

    Then, it became nk.

    nk as a canvas.

    The camera zoomed out, revealing the background as a fabric. It fluttered against a silent breeze and flowed over the edge of a chaise. The shot crawled upwards in a diagonal te. The fabric length soon ended on a pair of fair legs. Their ankles crossed as they rose up over the model''s back.

    The music kicked up its pace. The camera switched directions and followed the fabric once more. With the backrest of the white chaise, its color now looked more grayalmost like a statue.

    The long duration of the shot had cleansed out the red color from everyone''s minds.

    So when it came again, all attention focused on it.

    Crimson hair took over the screen. Its waves led to the side profile of a heart-shaped face. Cherry lips puckered up towards a red clutch held by a hand. The pose remained still as if frozen in time. Not even the camera moved.

    All became motionless, including the music.

    Then, the young woman snapped her head towards the audience.

    She blinked and gasped as if she got caught. Her gaze immediately dropped from embarrassment. She bit on her bottom, suppressing a blush. Her head tilted slightly when she peeked back at them. To y it off, she lifted the clutch and hid half of her face.

    The lights red on the bag''s Athon logo.

    Her corner lip curled up...

    And her eye winked at the camera.

 Chapter 60: The Ruby of the Rainbow

    Chapter 60: The Ruby of the Rainbow

    The video cut into another montage.

    Despite the nk background, the editors managed to insert photos that replicated Ancient Rome. The young woman strolled great halls, walked away from a river, and became a fountain decor. The lighting and shadowing changes emphasized her red color.

    It ignited under the darkness.

    It shined under the sun.

    Being out of ce, the bags still managed to steal most of the show. But, they couldn''t easily ignore the young woman either. She breathed life into the photoseven as a statue.

    Even as azy person on a chaise.

    Ambryan gripped the wine ss tighter. The bone white dress hung loosely on Evangeline''s shoulders. The excess fabric draped over her body, hugging every curve but also lumping together.

    Like a pile of bedsheets.

    Like <em>only</em> a pile of bedsheets.

    Around Evangeline.

    A dark look clouded over his eyes. Storms thundered above his head. The campaign may say it was Ancient Rome inspired but he saw the subtleties. There was an allure to the toga''s style.

    It was intriguing and amorous.

    Avery gave him the side-eye. Even without looking, she sensed the rumbling of a thunderstorm. Something her son projected whenever he faced a difficult problem or a frustrating situation.

    She found his gaze on the LED screens.

    While the rest saw the products, he beheld the model.

    Her lips curled into a smirk. It seemed that their n for Eve''s attractiveness worked somehowthough Ambryan might not be aware of it.

    The video faded on the photo of Eve with a luggage bag. Instead of using different photo locations, the editors chose the progression of civilization and took her into the 21st century with an airport background.

    White cursive letters wrote one line,

    ``Add a little red for a bit of spice in your life``

    On cue, Luna''s voice echoed around the room, "Ladies and gentlemen, please wee my ruby model, Ms. Evangeline Reed!"

    A round of apuse came to support her. Their eyes travelled up the grand staircase and onto the indoor balcony. The gold curtains of an archway parted open. Darkness filled up the space behind it, contrasting against the bright ballroom.

    Avery pped the loudest among the onlookers. Although she witnessed the shoot, the video had blown her away. <em>Eve</em> had blown her away for the second time.

    She couldn''t wait for a third.

    For a moment, nothing happened. The balcony remained vacant. No one stepped out of the shadows. The music shifted to a pop song. Its beat brought the audience to the modern times. The song started out soft until the refrain.

    Then, it increased in volume, bringing the suspense higher and higher. The singer paused just before the chorus.

    When the first note hit, it exploded in res of upbeat and sassy music. The hype transcended the peak. The burst of instruments and energy served as the perfect point for an entrance.

    And Eve knew it.

    She emerged from the archway with a fierce expression on her face. Unlike her promo photos, ming crimson red flowed from her shoulders and down to her feet. Her hair sat on top of her head. The style framed her face like a halo.

    Cale had wrapped a scarf around her neck. Its ends swayed behind her as she walked, matching the movement of her hips. Her body angled to the left as she reached the grand staircase.

    Eve hoisted up her skirt and strolled down the steps. She climbed down with her right shoulder pulled back, with her chin held high and with her feet not missing a beat of the music.

    Red hot heels glided across the staircase. They flew down as if each one had a pair of tiny wings. Except, everyone could see there weren''t any.

    But Eve almost made them believe it.

    When she reached the tform, she let go of the skirt. Her legs continued to walk and followed the point marks on the podium. They reached the center and Eve pulled off the scarf from her neck.

    She threw the long fabric flew towards her back.

    Rose petals rained and danced in the air. They softened the fiery disy into a sensual one. Delicate and lustrous, they covered her path and acted as a trail of her presence.

    Eve finished the half-moon direction of the markers. She spun on her heel at thest one. Her legs crossed at the ankles. Her body leaned back while her right hand held her waist from behind.The scarf had turned into a cape and created a train for her dress.

    Like in her video, she winked at the audience.

    Then, her lips broke into a wide smile.

    ''For real. Am I in a pageant?'' Eve couldn''t help but chuckle. Her heart raced inside her chest. She''d never done anything remotely close to what she did just now.

    The following apuse defeaned her more than the music. Their reaction made her feel ttered and maybe a tiny bit shy.

    Camera shutters shed in her direction. She closed her mouth but kept the smile. Her head twisted in different directions, offering her brief attention to each reporter.

    Her short but trailzing performance had enraptured the people''s interest. Stakes for the rest of the models had ascended another level.

    Luna joined her on the tform, greeting with an air-kiss. "Well done, dear. I knew you could do it."

    Eve rxed her posture and embraced the designer. They used it as a chance to talk. "I''m d to hear that you approved. I think I almost tripped."

    "No one noticed. Trust me," Luna assured her. But then, she added, "Well, maybe Mikael but he doesn''t count."

    The model''s shoulders shook. She could already see the displeased face. "Honestly, if he says something, my only response is ''I know'' because I do know."

    Luna pulled away and held her hand. She lifted their joint fingers and faced the audience. Her voice spoke into the mic. "Once again, Ms. Evangeline Reed, everyone!"

    "If you haven''t seen her before, that is understandable," she continued despite the loud noise, "The selected models for this day''s event are the rookies of the bunch. I like to call them the diamonds in the rough."

    Her ck eyes softened as she stared them down. "I saw the same will and determination in these girls as I saw in myself when I started out as a designer. Like the shot of Evangeline travelling through time, thisunch is about bridging the future and the past."

    By now, the cheers had died down as ears hung on her every word. Voice recorders and video cameras registered her statements.

    "That closed gap brings us to the present where this campaign only marks the beginning for them," Luna began to conclude. She released Eve''s hand, only to ce hers on thetter''s upper back.

    "It is the first raindrop for their own rainbow."

    When the guests pped their hands, Eve pped alongside them. Her hazel eyes stared wide at the designer. Rainbows held several meanings. They could be seen as hope, as blessings but in this case,

    Luna had used them as a symbol of forging their own pathzing the sky with their personal colors. They would paint the modelling world with their own brushes.

    Eve squeezed the designer''s shoulders when they hugged. The collection contained such a heartwarming message. Not only for them but also to others that set out to create their own path.

    "That was so beautiful, Luna. I am honored to be part of it," she whispered. Pride flowed into her veins. Maybe she hadn''t intended to be a model but this experience, this event she wouldn''t exchange it for the world.

    "It''s nothing, dear. I already have my rainbow. I only wish for others to find theirs. No matter how many stormse their way." The designer chuckled, rubbing her back.

    "So I expect you to find yours."

    Eve blinked, releasing the woman from her hold. She stepped back and looked into her ebony eyes. Something told her that Luna meant more than just her modelling career. She didn''t know how. She didn''t know why.

    Those words opened a locked part of her soul.

    Eve moved aside to make way for the other models. Her body was at the party but her mind was elsewhere. A small me kindled in her heart. The stagnant candle flickered again.

    Tears threatened to fall from her eyes as her first love warmed up her insides.

    It had been years since they parted ways. All of the pain, the joy and the struggles resonated back into her senses. They swirled in vivid images, igniting her passion.

    It had been so long.

    Her chest felt like it would burst!

    Eve wiped away the tears before anyone could notice. Thest thing she wanted was to ruin a happy asion. Her hands joined in the apuse as the orange model came down the stairs.

    She shut away the memories, putting the back where they belonged. Although they haven''t seen each other since then, Eve knew that she''d never forget the times they spent together.

    She snuffed out the me and locked the chest.

    At thest second, a curious thought wondered in her head. It pondered about the other party from this rtionship. The voice only had one question but it stabbed Eve in the heart.

    Did

    Maybe

    perhaps

    did her ballet shoes miss her?

 Chapter 61: To Divide and Conquer

    Chapter 61: To Divide and Conquer

    "Babes, I don''t know if you saw it but that walk was LIT. Evangeline Reed is FIRE! Does anyone know her socials? I''ll follow all of them."

    "You heard it here, folks! Luna Athon drops Rainbow Collection with the freshest models of the industry. Will they ze through the sky with their own marks?"

    "Evangeline Reed kicks off theunch with a bang! Wow! Never seen a more fiery disy! She embodied the color red. She is red. Red is she. The collection''s Ruby swept the crowd in a sea of mes!"

    "Such a beautiful array of women! Luna Athon set the standards yet again for diversity representation. What would she do next for her next productunch? We can''t wait!"

    "More than just the spotlight, Evangeline Reed captured hearts as well from the audience. From the strong entrance to the dazzling smile and to the heartwarming exchange with Luna Athon, this girl will not be forgotten anytime soon!"

    The reporters faced their cameras or talked into their recorders. The event continued before their eyes. DSLR cameras captured still images for the articles. In social tforms, #RainbowLaunch became top trending and attracted more public attention.

    Ambryan ignored them.

    "Evangeline did so amazing, don''t you think so?" His mother gushed beside him, tapping his chest with the back of her hand. She watched as the other models took the spotlight. The cool colors settled for a serene walk, depicting the tranquility of water.

    Ambryan ignored her as well.

    His attention focused on a redhead. She stood by the side, hidden away in the shadows. The rotating spotlights fixated on the tform and the grand staircase. Their brightness lured people into the current event disy.

    None of them witnessed Evangeline''s moment of vulnerability.

    She tilted her head up, her eyes blinking at the ceiling. It was amon gesture when suppressing tears. Her index finger patted the corners of her eyes. It made sure not to smudge her makeup. The moment ended as soon as it started.

    She directed her gaze back on the tform and pped along with the crowd. A soft smile stretched her lips. Her expression changed into a charming one. No one would have noticed that something was amiss.

    It made Ambryan frown.

    He had lifted one foot when he remembered their agreement. They were not to interact until the party ended. After this introduction, the bags would be unveiled from their hiding spots. Athon Luxury would take in orders. Part of their sales already came from admission fees.

    Uninvited guests needed to pay in order to buy the bags ahead of the masses. This helped them minimize the number of attendees, keeping the VIP ess''s prestige.

    During this time, Evangeline told him that she''d mingle with potential clients. She''d also conduct interviews to entuate the image she wanted to portray. Every second counted for her to establish her individuality. She would maximize the possibilities and make them worth it.

    This was the time he absolutely could not approach her.

    And he had almost failed.

    Ambryan finished off his red wine. He ced it on a waiter''s tray as thetter passed by. Luckily, it was a server that carried the same beverage. He grabbed a new one and drank half of it.

    His mother had left his side without him knowing.

    "Woah, Yan!" Richard protested. He grabbed his best friend''s wrist, pulling the ss away. "Are you okay? What is up with you? Why are you trying to make yourself drunk?"

    He looked around and wondered what had triggered Ambryan. This sort of agitation rarely urred. It had to be something important for his best friend to resort to alcohol.

    "I am never drunk, Richard," Ambryan corrected him. True to his word, his posture and his mannerisms stayedposed. He fixed his cufflinks and collected himself.

    He wasn''t entirely sure what had happened. Something kicked inside of him. His instincts told him that the wine would help and so he drank.

    Logic clearly flew out of the window.

    Richard snorted. He gave the wine back and said, "Yeah, sure. Okay. Point is... why are you drinking so much?"

    "Needed a distraction."

    "For what?" His eyebrows scowled, thinking of a reason. They only stood as spectators for the time being. Nothing much had happened. "Did I miss something? Did you and your gf fight? Or did you almost mentally cheat on her with that Ruby model?"

    Ambryan''s arm paused in the air. He had been ready to drain his second wine ss when he heard his best friend''s words. Setting it down, his head tilted to one side and regarded the head of curly bronze hair.

    "Richard."

    "Y-Yes?"

    "Sometimes I wonder if you''re a woman."

    "What?" Richard blinked. "Hey"

    But it was toote. Ambryan had vanished from his sight. He wed his hair out of frustration. Was this what he''d get for trying to help a friend out? He only acted concerned.

    Did Ambryan have to trample on his good intentions?

    "Mr. Wilson, it has been a while," Ambryan spoke above the crowd. His violet eyes centered on a burly middle-aged man. Brown hair stood on top of his head, tamed by hair products. He turned around at the sound of his name.

    "Mr. Hathaway!" He beamed, exposing his teeth under a mustache. His hand raised for a shake. "Good to see you here! I usually see Madison during these events. I''m surprised that you came instead."

    Ambryan gave the handshake a firm grip. A polite smile blossomed on his lips. "Unless I have urgent matters to attend to, I do participate in these events. Madison merely acts as my substitute."

    "Ah, yes. But don''t you have a new tv series under production?"

    "We do."

    "''Define Love''," Mr. Wilson tested on his lips. He narrowed his gaze and sipped a bit of sparkling water. "What brought this on? Come on, you can tell me. Does it have something to do with your mother''s new habit of matchmaking?"

    "Has my mother been gossiping?" Ambryan joked.

    In truth, a hint of worry quivered in his mind. He had expected this arrangement to be privateaway from prying ears, especially from those he had business rtions with. Avery wouldn''t be foolish and expose such a scheme.

    That only left one other possibility.

    "No such thing happened," Mr. Wilson denied. He raised his wine ss towards the CEO''s direction. "I merely heard it from my daughter. I have to admit. I had hoped you''d choose her."

    Ambryan nodded, dropping his gaze to the floor. The answer confirmed his suspicions. He could foresee where the conversation headed. It became harder to keep aposed face overtime.

    "May I know who this lucky woman is?" The middle-aged man prodded. For the woman to outshine his own daughter, she had to be quite special. He had wondered about her since the selection ended.

    "All in due time, Mr. Wilson." Ambryan smiled. He took a step back and raised his ss. "Just like how I told you that the stocks for that startingpany would rise around this time of year."

    The two men moved on to the topic of business and economy. They discussed the current market trends, forecasting which stocks would rise and which ones would fall. Most of the bystanders moved away from their spotexcept for businessmen such as themselves.

    Richard eventually joined in after he found his best friend''s back.

    At the other side of the room, the media was in a frenzy. Interviews for the models had opened up. They took turns and asked them a series of questions. Luna had organized this moment before the party, providing more exposure for the rookies.

    This moment became crucial to their career growth.

    Eve stood at her designated spot. Each tvwork, website, influence and more only had 5 minutes of interview time. She had removed the cap and held her clutch, securing her belongings. It also helped how the bag served as an essory and finished off her look.

    "Ms. Reed, is this your first modelling job? What made you join the industry?" The reporter asked. He pointed the voice recorder in her direction and waited for her answer.

    "Yes, it is," Eve admitted with a nod. Her lips hurt from smiling but she endured. "I had always been curious but never had the confidence. I consider myself blessed to have such an opportunity with Athon Luxury. They had opened a door for me that was previously closed."

    "What do you hope to aplish with this new path in your life?"

    "I have yet to explore more about this industry. So far, that is my goal. I want to learn it and grow as a model. This once in a lifetime opportunity shall not be wasted. Not on my watch, at least." Sheughed. "I hope to do my best and aplish as much as I can."

    "I have to say that was very well said, Ms. Reed." The reporter chuckled. It had been a while since he met a levelheaded rookie. Most of them thought highly of themselves and acted entitled.

    So, when he heard about the Rainbow Collection, he knew he had to do it. Luna always had a keen eye for hidden gems. And she did not disappoint.

    He scrolled through his phone, reading the script. He nced back at Eve and held up one finger. "Ah, is there time for one more question, Ms. Reed?"

    Eve checked out the other groups. It seemed everyone was still busy with their current interviews. Her feet shuffled as a cramp ached behind her legs. She had lost track of how many she talked to but, personally, she had enough.

    Her throat had be parched from all the talking.

    "Sure. Go ahead," Eve replied, offering a kind smile. She heaved a sigh on the inside. She crossed her fingers that this would really turn out to be thest. Her legs and feet screamed for relief.

    The reporter leaned the recorder closer to her mouth. His eyes scrutinized her face, watching closely. This question also involved facial expressions. For him, those held more significance than words. They revealed more than what''s on the surface.

    He wondered what kind of face she''d make.

    "Are you single?"

 Chapter 62: But First! Cocktail Break!

    Chapter 62: But First! Cocktail Break!

    Eve shared a coy smile. A mischievous glint gleamed in her hazel eyes. She had predicted that this mighte up sooner orter. The reporter put on a delighted face. He liked what he saw in her expression.

    He leaned in the recorder further towards her.

    "I don''t think I can kiss and tell," Eve teased with a giggle. The gesture stirred interest and curiosity. She silently thanked Cale for the inspiration.

    "Oh,e on now," the reporter insisted. Heughed at the obvious dodge, "Someone as gorgeous as you is bound to have some romance in her life."

    Eve pressed a finger to her lips and winked. "I say that because there is no kiss to tell."

    "Is he that slow?"

    "I''d say I am the one who is slow. I''m still somewhat new to romance and it makes me so nervous," she admitted, taking the me away from Ambryan. It also could lessen any rumors about her being a gold digger. Otherwise, they''d think she pounced him already and sealed the deal.

    Reluctance on her part showed authenticity about the rtionship.

    "Besides, I do like to take it slow," Eve added as she ced her hand back on the clutch. "I''d rather not rush into something. But! I am taking risks in order to move the rtionship forward. We''ve both expressed our interests, at least."

    ''Yeah, interest in pretending,'' she fumed to herself. She picked her words carefully, avoiding any straight out lie. These could backfire someday and she''d rather avoid the usations. Nothing she said had been entirely untrue.

    The ushers in charge came to the scene and asked the reporters to leave.

    Eve waved at the faces she recognized among them. She heaved a sigh through mped teeth, still smiling. It finally finished. Any longer and she would have lost control. The amount of personal questions overwhelmed her. The prodding made it worse.

    But, it did give her some perspective.

    This disguise wouldn''tst long without suspicionunless they do a few things.

    "I am so proud of you!" Cale squealed behind her. His arms went around her shoulders and his chin rested on one of them. "You are taller than me right now but I am making this work. I knew you had it in you. I wish you can be more confident starting today."

    Eve breathed out a chuckle. She did feel more secure than before. There would be more obstacles ahead but, as long as she yed smart, they would be either prevented or solved in a swift manner.

    Cale released his hold and looped arms with her instead. They walked back towards the crowd. "How did you feel when you strutted down those stairs? Or when you posed in front of the guests? I know you can do this but what I don''t know is if you want to."

    Eve raised her eyebrows. After all that they had done, she didn''t think of quitting. She figured the same applied to them. They had believed that this career suited her well and she had trusted it.

    "Listen," Cale said as he rubbed her arm. "You''re doing great and I''d love to see you soar in this industry but I also agree with Luna. Forge your own path where you''d shine with your unique color. If that turns out to be as a CEO''s secretary then, so be it."

    He halted in his steps and stood in front of her. Both of his hands squeezed her left one. "You can backout anytime you want. Evangeline can be anything she wants."

    Eve bit her bottom lip. She came this far. She didn''t want to quit. Hermitment was sealed when she signed that contract. She would see it through before making a decision. It had been fun so far.

    But who knew how long that wouldst?

    "Thank you, Cale. I''m starting to think if you''re a fortune cookie or something." Eve joked with a shake of her head. She attempted to lighten up the atmosphere. "Why do you always have a lesson for me?"

    "Because, girl, it''s better for you to know of them now thanter. This is just the beginning for you," her modelling manager reminded.

    "Then, I''ll be taking it slow as well," she repeated, using the same words from her interview. "Can we not take on big projects soon? Let me be on par with beginners."

    "Fine. I won''t." Cale rolled his eyes. Theynded towards the right. His lips stretched from ear to ear, lighting up his whole face. "Oh.. will you be alright by yourself? I need to talk to some people."

    "Mhm, your boyfriend?" Eve teased. She craned her head and tried to spot this mysterious man. A glimpse would be enough to satisfy her curiosity.

    "That came from your mouth and not mine. Just saying."

    Eve smiled as her modelling manager disappeared from sight. With the packed venue, it didn''t take long to happen. The crowd eventually blocked the rose gold jacket.

    Her legs led her to an oldfort cethe corner of any party. Fortunately, the one she headed for had a mini bar. She could use a good cocktail drink right about now.

    She sat on a stool and hoisted up her feet onto the foot ring, crossing them at the ankles. She ced her clutch on the counter. The bartender walked over after he served another guest. He folded his arms beside her and leaned over.

    His coffee eyes crinkled at the corners. "What can I get you, miss?"

    "I''d love a ssic gin martini please," Eve replied with her eyes on the bottles behind him. She read off thebels and wondered how this collection came about. Were they already here? Or were they brought in just for the asion?

    The bartender straightened his back to an upright position. "Coming right up."

    He left her for a while to concoct the drink.

    "Thank you."

    Eve swivelled the stool and scanned the ballroom. The ce had a secluded spot. It offered a bit of privacy and silence. Most of the chatter happened at the center. Rectangr blocks of white surrounded the staircase. Some of them stood on the steps, alternating between the two sides. The positioning allowed people to walk through the area like a museum disy.

    Athon representatives kept watched and guided any potential buyer on the order forms. The extravagance of the collection came from its limited stocks. If this event wiped out a bag, it wouldn''t be seen in stores anymore. All of them would be pulled out for shipping.

    "Here you go, miss." The bartender announced. He ced the ss on a coaster as she shifted her attention back on the bar. "One ssic gin martini."

    "Thank you."

    Eve reached for the thin stem. A lemon slice had been ced on the rim. Something about the conical top mesmerized her. The frosted clear-white cocktail always made her think that she drank liquid ice. This much should be safe for tonight.

    Before she could get a taste, another voice came to grab her attention.

    "Ms. Evangeline!" Jordan called out, holding his own drink of scotch on the rocks. Unlike her, he remained standing and ced his elbow on the counter. He wore a broad smile. "Quite a spectacle you had given us. Why would you sit here instead of meeting new people? A good round of mingling could make a difference for your career."

    "Thank you for the advice, Mr. Dawson, but I''m only taking a break. The spotlight can be exhausting when one is not used to it." Eve sighed. She picked up the lemon slice and squeezed it over her martini cocktail.

    "Really? What have you been doing before the modelling gig?" He asked and took a sip from his whiskey ss. Pure curiosity gleamed in his chocte eyes.

    "You mean what am I doing besides the modelling gig," Eve corrected with a snort, not sparing him a nce. Hopefully, she looked more preupied than she pretended to be. "I''m actually an online English tutor."

    "Wow," Jordan remarked. He immediately noticed the gap between the two upations. One question popped up in his mind. "Then, what made you decide on bing a model?"

    Eve smirked, lifting her martini by the stem. The cold rim brushed her lips. "You would have to check on my interviews when they''re published tomorrow."

    "Can''t you tell me?" Jordan pouted.

    Sheughed and set the ss down. "No, I just don''t want to repeat myself. I have done it plenty of times today."

    "Jordan."

    Jordan snapped his head towards the source. His eyes lit up when he spotted his model. He pushed himself off the counter and pointed a thumb over his shoulder. "Mikael! Perfect timing. I need to pay a visit to the toilets. Mind apanying Evangeline? You do remember that we promised to keep an eye on her, right?"

    Mikael stopped by the nearest stool, swirling a ss of champagne. He had half a mind to deny the request. He had heard this excuse multiple times. Most of them were a ruse so his best friend could escape. If it turned out to be true, it might be fun to watch Jordan squirm.

    Then again, he didn''t have the patience at the moment.

    "Just go."

    Eve ignored the two men and tasted her cocktail drink. Her eyes closed as the spirit churned in her throat, quenching both her thirst and her craving. She felt her muscles rx.

    Sometimes alcohol really made things better.

    Mikael watched her enjoy the dry martini. The ss barely left the counter. Her eyebrows scrunched after one sip and a tiny smile curled on her lips. He nced at his champagne, deciding to strike a conversation.

    "So, where''s your date?"

 Chapter 63: Call Me Maybe?

    Chapter 63: Call Me Maybe?

    Eve almost spat out her martini.

    She had forgotten about it since neither Cale nor Jordan asked her about Ambryan. The former, of course, already knew of the situation. Thetter must have not been thinking about it. Jordan had been more interested in her careerlike a professional in this industry.

    So what did Mikael want with this information?

    She grabbed a paper napkin and dabbing the corners of her mouth. "Wow, Mr. Davis. That totally caught me by surprise. I have to say that I became more used to your passive aggressiveness on my modelling skills."

    "I had nothing more to say when I was the one who taught you."

    ''How did one say ''arrogance'' but in a polite manner?'' Eve wondered. She wiped the tissue under her bottom lip, using an intense pressure. Her voice crisped when she spoke. "Then, I''d learn so much more if you wore a pair of heels and strutted down the stairs yourself. Not gonna lie, I think I''d pay good money for that."

    Mikael''s left eyebrow twitched. "I see Jordan has rubbed off on you."

    "Oh? One more person who wants to see you in heels? Twice the reason to do it? This night just keeps getting better, doesn''t it?" She giggled, taking another sip of her martini. The base barely left the counter since her ss was still almost full.

    "My, my, Ms. Evangeline Reed," Mikael sneered with sarcasm. He regarded her amused face. "Is this how alcohol affects you?"

    "Maybe," Eve chuckled. She ced her drink down and twisted the stool towards him. Her cheek rested on the back of her hand, her elbow supporting from the table. "While we''re on the subject, Jordan and you aren''t far in age. I''m guessing you also knew each other before you became a model. How did you two end up with this work rtionship?"

    Mikael frowned. Her words were true. He and Jordan did go way back. Other than Luna, his best friend was his top supporter when he started out. Strangers figured that Jordan hadn''t been a modelling manager for long. They always act surprised to hear they''d been together since the beginning of his career.

    But what did she want with this information?

    "Since when were we on this subject?" He scrutinized.

    Eve batted her eyshes. A sickly sweet smile stretched on her lips. "Since Jordan asked me why I entered modelling. It sparked the same curiosity in me."

    "You''re trying to change the subject."

    It was a statement not a fact. And Mikael knew it. It would have been easy to say that he only drove her here. Her hesitation hinted that it wasn''t the case.

    The man was inside the room.

    "What subject?" She blinked, pure innocence in her hazel eyes.

    He took a step closer. One stool stood between them. His gaze narrowed and tried to break her barrier with one look. If the couple wanted to be secretive, why else would they go to the party together?

    "About your missing date."

    Eve pressed her lights together. He got her there. She did try to deviate away from answering. Her head turned to the crowd. She actually hadn''t seen him since they parted ways. Her reply was based on previous experiences. Even in social gatherings, Ambyran took the opportunity to converse with potential investors.

    There wouldn''t be anything else that would hold his interest.

    Ambryan stretched his neck and scanned the crowd. The interviews for the models had ended. Their designated space had been reced by tables and sales representatives. Buyers sat in front of them,pleting the transactions about the pre-orders.

    "Oh, my. That''s quite a crowd. I wonder if that clutch from the red collection is still avable." Stuart Wilsonmented as he stared at the long lines. Athon Luxury prepared several tables but it still gained a queue of waiting.

    "A gift for someone, Mr. Wilson?" Ambryan asked. He kept the conversation on the subject while his mind wandered elsewhere. His violet eyes lost sight of a redhead. It gave him an unsettling feeling.

    Was she perhaps in the restrooms?

    If so, she wouldn''t happen to be crying again, right?

    "You could say that since the payment woulde from my money." Stuartughed heftily. He clutched his stomach, trying to soothe pain from the sudden cramps. His sense of humor could kill him someday, he believed.

    "Your daughter, I suppose?" Richard chuckled from the other side of the old man. He also watched the spectacle and looked for his secretary. He had asked thetter to order on his behalf.

    It would make a lovely present for his mother''s uing birthday.

    "Yes, red really struck her," Mr. Wilson sighed. His head shook from the memory. Once his daughter wanted something, she''d never forget about it until she held it in her hands. "It was a beautiful disy after all."

    "Yes, Ms. Evangeline did really good," Richard agreed. He drank a bit of champagne and shuffled his feet. He felt a slight pain from standing too long. "I wouldn''t have thought she was aplete rookie."

    Stuart nced at thed from the corner of his eye. "Is that heart of yours being swayed, Mr. Kingston?"

    Ambryan reced his empty ss of wine with a full one. He savored at a snail pace and used it as a chance to seal his lips. Otherwise, he would have said something inappropriate. The ''permanent'' scowl on his face deepened.

    He stopped halfway, remembering that he would be drivingter.

    His lips thinned to a grim line.

    "Oh, no. I just appreciate beauty, Mr. Wilson." Richard shook his head and chuckled. He felt the room''s temperature rise several degrees. His free hand tugged on his cor, letting in some air.

    Did the air-conditioning break down?

    He drank the rest of his champagne so he could grab a colder one.

    "Don''t be shy!" The old man hollered and pped Richard''s back. It caused thetter to choke on his drink. "I''m sure Luna would give you the model''s number."

    Richard coughed. The beverage burned in his throat. His heart panicked while his steel gray eyes searched for an escape. If he didn''t figure something out, he might also be a victim of matchmaking. Was this the new popr hobby for older people?

    A groan rumbled in his chest. There didn''t seem to be any hope.

    Then, his gazended on the mini bar.

    They lit up like stars.

    "If there''s anyone who''d be on par with Ms. Evangeline, it would be that gentleman with her." Richard said, trying to contain his excitement. He pointed his empty ss towards the far corner of the room.

    Both Ambryan and Stuart followed his line of sight.

    Evangeline sat on a stool. A cocktail drink sat on the counter beside her. She faced her left, her body also angled towards the same direction. An animated expression painted over her face as she conversed with another man. A slight flush colored her cheeks.

    Her smile widened and her eyshes fluttered.

    "Ah, Mikael Davis." Stuart nodded, recognizing the gentleman.

    Richard raised his eyebrows at the old man. "I didn''t know you''re well-versed about the modellingmunity, Mr. Wilson."

    "I am not. I had heard his name constantly in my daughter''s lips. That''s why."

    "Sounds like Jane is another person who appreciates beauty." He nodded, epting the answer. It did make sense. Beads of sweat trickled down his neck. The temperature had risen up again. It tempted him to take off his jacket.

    "That is very true."

    Ambryan became deaf.

    He didn''t hear the exchange between hispanions. Instead, all his senses focused on the mini bar. He studied Evangeline. Nothing hinted about her short moment of grief. It seemed that he worried for nothing.

    She was doing just fine on her own.

    "Oh, that," Eve snorted. She waved her hand, brushing off Mikael''s implication. What did he think? That she lied about having a date? "He''s talking with his social circle."

    Mikael remained suspicious. He was far from convinced. "And left you here? Alone?"

    Eve ced her hands on her hips. His tone made her temple throbbed. She scowled in his direction, saying, "What''s wrong with being alone?"

    ''What wasn''t wrong with leaving a taken woman alone?'' Mikael mused to himself. If she had a date, Cale wouldn''t have asked them to look after her. Her boyfriend should be the one to apany herif the man truly cared about his girlfriend.

    "Nothing," Mikael said, averting his gaze. He sipped a bit of his champagne. "It does open the idea that this boyfriend is just a figment of your imagination."

    "Oh, please! I am not that desperate!" Eve scoffed.

    This conversation turned out differently than she expected. A dull pain throbbed at the sides of her head. She snatched the martini ss and threw her head back, gulping down a mouthful of her cocktail drink.

    "Well, someone seems to be," Mikael blinked. His eyebrows rose up at the martini ss. A white piece of square stuck out at the bottom. He snatched it off and showed it to her. "This paper had been tapped to the bottom of your ss."

    "What? Let me see that."

    Eve curled her bottom lip inward. The paper contained a phone number. She stopped herself from looking at the bartender. It could have only been him who did such a thing. Her hazel eyes flickered towards the martini.

    Then, she shook her head, throwing away the spection.

    If he had resorted to drugs, he wouldn''t have left his number.

    Eve folded the paper back to its original shape. Her hands went towards the floor, stretching her arms as far as possible. The sound of a rip pierced through the air. She tore off the number into tiny pieces and let it fall to the floor.

    They rained like freshly fallen snow.

    Mikael scrunched his brows. "What are you doing?"

    Was there a need for such an action?

    Eve drank the rest of her martini and mmed the ss on its coaster. She only had one answer for both his questions.

    "I don''t know if someone is watching but I don''t want to create a misunderstanding."

 Chapter 64: Detecting and Avoiding Danger

    Chapter 64: Detecting and Avoiding Danger

    "You''re worried that your boyfriend would misunderstand?"

    "I''m worried that a lot of people would misunderstand." Eve snorted. A sigh escaped her lips. She checked the perimeter for any suspicious person. "Even your presence can cause a misunderstanding."

    Mikael gave her a skeptical look. "We''re colleagues."

    "And I am not your only colleague," she pointed out with a frown. Now that she thought about it, she realized that this conversation might lead to rumors. Her temple pulsed in pain. Did she need to stay alert like this? And this was just the beginning of this life.

    That reporter might suspect that Mikael was her boyfriendwhich would lead his admirers towards her. If any of them had ill feelings

    It could spark a fire of unnecessary drama.

    A few meters away, the Rainbow Collection took over the spotlight. They had many to go through since there were seven colors. Each set both offered simr styles and different ones with the other six colors. All of them had trimmings within the range of gold, silver and bronze.

    Three young women stood by the disy. They''d walk and inspect each bag, debating which ones to purchase. Their focus went to the exclusive designs of each set since they held more value.

    On the outside, they seem to be doing just that.

    On the inside, their conversation sounded far different.

    "Well, well look at that." One of them remarked, her blonde hair falling like a curtain at the side of her face. Her deep brown eyes peeked through the strands."Never knew a rookie could be so shameless."

    "Which?" Herpanion snapped her head and searched from the left to the right. The podium allowed them to stand above the crowd and to see everyone''s faces. Despite this, it didn''t make the search any quicker.

    "Over there. By the mini bar, Harper," Nicole scoffed and rolled her eyes. "That Evangeline is talking to Mikael Davis."

    Harper found the pair. She scrunched her dark eyebrows. They seemed to be talking like normal people. Their distance proved that much.

    "They''re in the same agency, right?" She asked.

    Nicole gave her the side-eye. She grew impatient on the inside. "That may be true but Mikael doesn''t mingle with a lot of female models. He dislikes being associated since it leads to rumors."

    A magazine shared the exclusive scoop on this subject. It became a hot topic and increased the model''s poprity among thedies. His fans also became quite protective overnight,

    Including herself.

    "Isn''t that a little too" Harper trailed off. Her corner lip curled down, showing her left dimple. "I don''t know. I mean, he can''t avoid all of them."

    "True but the only ones he ever talks to are the ones in the same project." Nicole moved on to the next bag. She divided her attention between the item and the mini bar. The mini lights illuminated her navy blue evening gown.

    Harper nodded in understanding. "So that rookie is in the same project?"

    "Probably." Nicole clicked her tongue and watched the pair. The way Evangeline had her body angled towards Mikael left a bitter taste in her mouth. "Except, Mikael Davis is way out of her league. Why do you think they''d be in the same project then?"

    ''The rookie got too confident,'' she added quietly in her head. ''Couldn''t Evangeline even pretend to not be a social climber? This sudden jump is way too obvious''

    "Because the client liked her?" Harper guessed meekly. Projects worked that way from what she gathered. Her round sses slipped off her nose. She pushed them back up.

    "You are so naive," Nicole sneered. Her simmering blood turned into a boil. She educated herpanion."There are only 3 possibilities for someone like her. She bought her way in, got a rmendation or used connections."

    Red clouded the edges of her vision. Her tone turned into a taunt under her breath. "Whichever one, it''s obvious that she''s using Mikael to gain more fame."

    "Oh. I see."

    Harper pressed her lips together, choosing not to say more. Once Nicole was set on an idea, it was almost impossible to change her mind. She''d rather not waste her breath.

    "What do you think, Charlee?" Nicole frowned when she didn''t receive an answer. She peeled her eyes off the pair and nced to the next disy. "Charlee?"

    Charlee Edwards had bitten her inner cheek. Her hot pink gown reached the floor with an asymmetrical hemline. The ruched bodice hugged her curves while the one shoulder neckline wrapped around her arm like a sash.

    She hadn''t heard their conversation.

    Her senses had been captured by one man.

    Nicole closed her eyes, taming her impatience. It took a great amount of will. "Are you still thinking about Ambryan Hathaway?"

    Charlee''s ears perked up at the sound of his name. A new glint shined in her indigo eyes as she faced her two friends. "What do you think is the best way to approach him?"

    Harper tilted her head sideways. Her lips thinned out in disapproval. "I thought he didn''t like it when women disturb him while he talked to other businessmen?"

    "Well, it''s not like I can get another chance." Charlee sighed. She walked over to them and they trapped the bag disy from three sides. Her voice lowered to a whisper. "If I approach him when alone, he''ll just shun me away. Now, if I approach him with hispanions around"

    "He would have to y nice," Nicole finished for Charlee. The n sounded solid. Her own mind raced for a way to approach Mikael. Maybe if she congratted Evangeline along with apliment she could find an opening.

    "Exactly."

    Harper sped her hands together. Her eyebrows knitted at the bag, relying on her hearing. "But didn''t you break up?"

    "We did."

    "And doesn''t he have a new girlfriend?"

    "Silly, Harper," Charlee cooed. She patted her friend''s head. "Did you believe those articles? If he really had one, he would havee with her. That''s his style since his dates are not allowed by his side while he mingled about business."

    "Maybe she couldn''t make it."

    "Oh, please!" She ridiculed. Then, she took out apact mirror and a red lipstick. A little touch-up didn''t hurt anyone. Her lips smacked together. "Who is she then? The princess of a foreign country? What better thing does she have to do?"

    "So you''ll get him?" Nicole questioned, doing the same thing. Her fingers ran through her blonde hair. She twisted one side and let it fall over her shoulder. Then, she tucked her side-bangds behind her ear.

    "Of course." Charlee beamed. Herpact mirror snapped closed. She spun on her heel and narrowed her gaze towards Ambryan. If she wanted to do this, she needed the confidence. Only then would it work.

    "Then, I''ll go talk Mikael."

    Harper widened her eyes. Her lips shook from a rising panic. She didn''te with anyone else. She knew none of the attendees. "You both will leave me alone?"

    Nicole tapped the ss box and handed Harper a credit card. "I like this purse. Please line up for me."

    "I like this other one," Charlee pointed to the previous bag. The violet hue appealed to her. It reminded her of Ambryan''s eyes. She also took out a credit card and gave it to Harper. "Add me to the list of pre-order."

    "Okay."

    Harper watched as her friends parted ways. Nicole went to the left. Charlee went to the right. They braced the crowd and created their own path. Nothing could have stopped them from pursuing the men of their dreams.

    Muttering under her breath, Harper hoisted up her emerald skirt and stepped down the podium. "Finally. They''re gone. Now, I can go y on my phone while I wait in line."

    "Would you like a refill, miss?" The bartender asked Eve. He pulled the martini ss away and ced it behind the counter. His gaze casted downwards as he cleaned it up. He made sure not to miss an inch.

    Shaking her head, Eve declined the offer politely. "No, thank you. I think I had more than enough for tonight."

    "Are you sure?" He insisted. A smoldering smile stretched across his face. "The night is still young."

    Eve shivered, goosebumps crawling over her skin.

    "Watch it, pal." Mikael warned, ring at the bartender. His radiant blue eyes hardened into sapphires. "If thedy said no, don''t push her into agreeing. I could report it as harassment."

    The bartender raised his hands up in surrender. "I was only making sure. We also have water and other non-alcoholic drinks avable if the miss wishes for another beverage."

    Eve sighed in relief, swivelling her chair towards the crowd. "Thank you."

    Mikael cocked an eyebrow. "Still think it''s okay to be alone?"

    That had been a close call. If the bartender had really wanted Evangeline, he could have resorted to underhand measures. Her rejections would have fuelled his desire even more.

    It might seem exaggerated but anything was possible.

    It was better to be cautious.

    "Fine, fine. You win this round." Eve snorted. A blur of dark blue appeared behind Mikael. The woman fixed her hair and her dress as she walked towards their direction. She gulped, her instincts telling her to run.

    She pped her hands together as she hopped off the stool. Her voice rose in pitch and feigned innocence over what she witnessed. "I will be leaving you then."

    "Oh?" Mikael blinked.

    "Well, it was you who told me that I should be with my boyfriend." Eve smirked, throwing his words back at him. Her heels tapped against the floorboards.

    "Then, I shall go find him."

 Chapter 65: Crooked Ties Cause Trouble

    Chapter 65: Crooked Ties Cause Trouble

    Charlee took a deep breath.

    She stood about a meter away from her target. This would be the first time she faced Ambryan since the breakup. Those articles and photos about her new girlfriend had broken her heart. He had moved on fast. Not only that, he actually took the biatch out on a date.

    Something he''d never done before.

    Admiring his profile, she melted. His ck suit framed his body elegantly. The lone red tie stood out. He posed like he usually did with his free hand tucked in his pant pocket. Against the lights, he emanated a dark, foreboding and mysterious aura. She could almost pretend that he was a vampire prince.

    Well, a slightly tan vampire prince.

    Either way, it didn''t matter. He was just as gorgeous as thest time she saw him. Her heartbeat raced the moment she spotted him on that red carpet. He still held it captive in his hands. It still belonged in his possession.

    She had to talk to him.

    Charlee stepped one foot forward.

    "Ms. Edwards," Avery intercepted, wearing a tight smile. Her body blocked the actress'' line of sight. Her arms formed an L-shape with a ss of champagne in one hand. If she had ws for nails, they would have poked out.

    "Where do you think you''re going?" She asked despite knowing the answer.

    "Ms. Avery!" Charlee squealed. She raised her arms for a hug but Avery recoiled away. Her smile stayed in ce while her arms retracted to her sides. "I am such a huge fan of yours. I''ve admired you since I was young."

    Avery clicked her tongue and eyes the actress from head to toe. "Thank you for the ttery but I suggest that you stay away from my son."

    Charlee cackled. Hostility hid behind the fake amusementdetectable by experienced sociable ears. "Oh, Ms. Avery. You make it sound like I''ll cause him harm."

    She rolled her shoulders back and fixed her posture. The way she stood could bepared to pageant candidates when they lined up on stage. She held her chin high, brimming in confidence and sophistication.

    Avery almost gagged.

    If her son had taken dating seriously from the start, this wouldn''t be happening right now.

    "Ambryan has a better use of his time than to entertain bimbos like you," she spat, deciding not to hold back. People like Charlee Edwards needed a good smack on the face. Their delusions would only cause trouble for not only them but also for other people.

    "Do remember that he is no longer single. He ismitted to a wonderful woman. You''re as tiny as a bugpared to her." Avery tucked in her chin. Her violet eyes red through her thickshes. "And it''s Mrs. Hathaway to you."

    Charlee''s bubbly face faded into an expressionless one. She bit her tongue, blocking an outraged burst of profanities. The madam hadn''t even given her a chance and stabbed her instead.

    "Avery, darling!" A voice yelled over the crowd. It grew louder as the speaker came closer. "You haven''t aged a day since you turned 18!"

    Charlee fled from the scene. Her legs walked in long strides. She refused to have witnesses over the exchange. "Tch, that old hag. How old is Ambryan? 10? Why does she act like he''s a minor?"

    She stopped after a good distance away. Her skirt red as she spun around.

    Ambryan hadn''t moved from his spot. He hadn''t noticed her either and continued to converse with the two other men. She looked for Avery. The madam stood close and kept watch. They locked eyes for a moment.

    Then, Avery averted her gaze.

    Charlee huffed, feeling helpless.

    She turned away and headed back to the disy. They needed a new n. There wouldn''t be another chance like this in the future. Ambryan rarely attended events without escaping to a private room. It would be a waste if she didn''t try again.

    A red figure passed right in front of her eyes, taking her attention.

    Charlee stared as Evangeline Reed strolled through the crowd. Her feet glided over the floor like she walked on air. Her body twisted whenever she found herself in a narrow opening. If she bumped into anyone, she apologized with a blinding smile.

    There was no mistake as to where she was headed.

    "Oh, no, you don''t, missy." Charlee muttered, chasing after the model. She grabbed thetter''s wrist and yanked her back. "I wouldn''t do that if I were you."

    Eve stepped back and prevented a fall. The sudden force caught her by surprise. She nced over her shoulder, recognizing the actress. "Excuse me?"

    "I know what you are up to."

    She pulled her hand back and faced Charlee. The same cloud of dread hovered above her head. Of all of Ambryan''s exes, why did it have to be Charlee Edwards? Running into them was inevitable since they shared the same social ss but did it have to be crazy ones?

    "Do you now?" Eve raised an eyebrow. She crossed her arms over her chest. She didn''t think they''d meet this early.

    The public didn''t even recognize her as his girlfriend yet for heaven''s sake.

    Any ounce of politeness left her. Charlee already drained thest bit of her patience from theirst encounter. She would have left if this didn''t open an opportunity. She could put the first delusional woman back in her ce.

    No way would she let the actress step all over Evangeline.

    "Don''t y games with me. You''re heading for Ambryan Hathaway." Charlee stated, mimicking her stance. It seemed like she wasn''t the only one with ideas.

    Eve glimpsed at Ambryan.

    Like a pair of mas, he spotted her stare.

    She shifted her attention back to Charlee. Her eyes flickered to the ceiling and her lips smacked together, saying, "Do you mean the CEO of Eros Productions who is the Most Eligible Bachelor of the Country and the Coldest Man on Earth?"

    "Funny but don''t try your luck just because his mysterious girlfriend didn''t appear tonight."

    Eve swallowed a snort. Oh, this became more entertaining than she expected. Was she being used of seducing her own boyfriend? She had to hold her breath fromughing. It took a while to regain herposure back.

    "Were you about to do the same thing before you saw me?" Eve ridiculed. A sarcastic smile stretched across her face. It was obvious that the actress had that n. Otherwise, she wouldn''t be seen as doing the same thing.

    "Why would I need to do such a thing?"Charlee scoffed, rolling her eyes.

    "You don''t?"

    "Of course not," she snorted with a hair flip. Her mind searched for an excuse. Evangeline had to be eliminated from the picture. In order to do it, she needed a good reason. "That mysterious girlfriend was just a ruse to get me jealous so we can get back together."

    ''What was happening?'' Eve questioned herself. She''d never heard of a more ridiculous story in her life. It contained obvious holes. To debunk it would be way too easy. It was practically effortless.

    One, why would Ambryan resort to such a thing? Two, if he wanted for them to get back together, he would have done so by now. Three, why would he even want to get back together with a crazy person?

    And that was just the first three spections.

    "You must be Charlee Edwards then," Eve mentioned offhandedly.

    "Yes."

    "And you''re saying that the rumors about this woman are untrue?"

    Charlee shrugged, feeling relieved but staying guarded. Who knew what the model would pull up her sleeve? "I don''t know how the media thinks. They always have inurate information."

    "Uh-huh," Eve pretended to ept her answer. She scowled at the floor, thinking about her next move. "So the truth is that there is no other woman and you''re still in love with each other?"

    "Exactly."

    ''What a load of''

    "Alright then," Eve nodded. Then, she smiled."Why don''t we ask him?"

    Charlee paled at her words. "He doesn''t want to be interrupted."

    "I''m sure he can make time for the love of his life." Eve winked. She turned around and proceeded with her pursuit. Whether Charlee agreed or not, she would walk over towards his side. She felt the effects of the alcohol. It would be best that they leave soon.

    "Mr. Hathaway" she began to call out. Three heads snapped in her direction. She smiled at the gentleman, ready to apologize for her intrusion.

    "Don''t listen to her!" Charlee suddenly screamed from behind. She dashed for the group and spoke in a rush. Panic seeped into her chest, speeding up her heartbeat. Her thoughts jumbled into a blur.

    "Evangeline just wants to ruin me because I warned her not to approach Ambryan."

    With Avery''s intervention earlier, she hadn''t anticipated that the model would seed. It seemed that the madam disappeared during their conversation. She should have checked and stopped Evangeline in her tracks.

    If the biatch opened her mouth, she would be done for.

    "Whatever do you mean, Ms. Edwards?" Richard scowled, already annoyed by her presence.

    "I''m sorry for this, Mr. Kingston but I had to interfere." Charlee pleaded with her eyes. It was the same look she used for dramatic scenes. "This woman was about to use me of pining after a taken man. I didn''t want to be misunderstood."

    Eve tilted her head to one side. "I was? I don''t think so."

    "That''s a lie!" Charlee sneered, her nostrils ring. "Why else would you approach him?"

    Eve held up a hand and nced at the gentleman. "Allow me to share?"

    "By all means, Ms. Reed." Richard cut in. He exhaled sharply through his nose. This was what happened when his best friend involved himself with troublesome women.

    If this turned out to be a waste of time, he''d have bothdies removed from the party.

    Eve tucked her clutch under her arm. She rose up to her toes and reached up. Her hands touched the red tie around Ambryan''s neck. Her fingertips brushed over the silk and under the cor. She wiggled the tie, loosening and straightening its hold.

    Ambryan raised an eyebrow.

    "Sorry." She grinned at him. "I noticed your tie was crooked."

 Chapter 66: Paint the Roses Red

    Chapter 66: Paint the Roses Red

    Ambryan stared at the woman before him.

    Her hazel eyes twinkled with mischief. Her fingers lingered on his tie. Her lips closed with the corners still curled up as the two of them stayed in this position. A soft giggle flowed out of her nose. She seemed to be enjoying an inside joke.

    How many people had she shown this expression to?

    "What" Richard choked on air. The room seemed to close in on him. "Wait! Is she"

    "Thank you." Ambryan whispered. He grabbed his tie and checked her handiwork. Their hands brushed briefly. An electric current kindled under their touch. His violet eyes hooded, scrutinizing her condition. "Are you drunk by any chance?"

    "I just had one drink." Eve beamed. Did that martini contain a happy pill? Perky energy flowed in her veins. "How about you? Should I be the one to drive back?"

    "Are you attempting to make an excuse to drive the Jaguar?"

    "Maybe?"

    Ambryan pondered for a moment. A flush colored her cheeks. It wasn''t a good sign. He exhaled sharply and tucked a loose strand behind her ear. "I''ll think about it when you haven''t had any alcohol."

    Eve turned away from him, hiding her blush. Her confidence dwindled after the moment passed. She now felt the eyes around the room. They were watching her under a different lens. This moment yed a crucial part on how they''d perceive her.

    It was now or never.

    "Oh, Mr. Wilson, is it?" She gasped, noticing the old man.

    Stuart jumped. "W-Why, yes."

    "Evangeline Reed," she introduced herself and stretched her hand for a shake. "Sorry for the outburst. It''s not everyday I get to meet the man on the newspaper''s front page. Are you really running for senator this year? I''m sure many look up to you for advice, including Ambryan."

    Mr. Wilson drew out augh, epting her handshake. It felt smooth under his touch unlike the ones he became ustomed to. "You speak highly of me, Ms. Reed."

    Eve shook her head. The smile never left her lips, continuing to mesmerize the people within range. "I''m only stating facts."

    "She''s right, Mr. Wilson." Ambryan backed up. She felt his warm presence behind her. "I do go to you for advice and I highly value it."

    Stuart scratched the back of his neck. Even Ambryan Hathaway now smiled at him. Thebination from the pair had him bbergasted. He pointed a finger in their direction. "May I know how the two of you are acquainted?"

    Eve opened her mouth to reply but said nothing. Words evaporated from her brain. This scenario developed in another way than she initially predicted.

    How did one exactly say they are someone''s partner?

    "Of course, how rude of me," Ambryan apologized, cutting in. He stepped to the side and pressed his hand against her upper back. "Although, I do believe you have heard of my girlfriend, Mr. Wilson."

    "Sorry. It''s the first time we went out publicly like this." Eveughed. She hoped it would calm down her embarrassment. Hopefully, she hadn''t paused for too long. "I''m still new to the spotlight and Ambryan is under one of the biggest of them all."

    Whispers made its way to her ears. If they didn''t notice her before, they did now.

    <em>"Do you see that? That model with Ambryan Hathaway?"</em>

    <em>"I do! What? Howe I didn''t notice before? His tie matches her dress!"</em>

    <em>"And her hair! That''s the same hair as the woman in the photos, right?"</em>

    <em>"Then, it''s true that he has a girlfriend. Wow. I wouldn''t have guessed it to be her."</em>

    <em>"OMG! I don''t know why but I TOTALLY ship! She''s like the fire to his ice! I love it!"</em>

    <em>"Tell me someone took a photo with that tie! Now that was a public disy of affection!"</em>

    Eve kept herposure in check and pretended not to be aware of them. So far, they sounded positive but there should be, at least, one person who thought differentlysomeone she avoided looking at.

    It would be much colder if the person feltpletely ignored.

    "Then, I must retract myment earlier." Stuart blinked out of his daze. Now that he knew, his statements earlier seemed insensitive. He red to his left. "Mr. Kingston, why didn''t you inform me that Ms. Reed is your best friend''s girlfriend?"

    ''Because I also didn''t know?!'' Richard yelled inside his head. He had known thedy would attend but he hadn''t known that she''d be the star of the show. He even said that Mikael Davis

    A shiver went down his spine. He met his Ambryan''s glower and gulped. The incident earlier now made sense. The room didn''t increase in temperature. His best friend''s temper did! He hadn''t done anything wrong! He was in the dark the whole time!

    This wasn''t fair!

    "Oh, Mr. Kingston! I''ve heard a lot about you!" Eve perked up. Her smile turned blinding as she met Richard for the ''first'' time. "It''s a pleasure to finally meet you."

    "... Ambryan talks about me?" Richard breathed out. His disbelieving eyes fluttered at this news. It warmed his heart to know that his best friend

    Eve covered her mouth and muffled out augh. "I''d like to say so but that would be lying."

    "I agree. Lying wouldn''t be good."

    ''Great. Now, there were two Ambryans.'' Richard moaned inside. His heart broke into pieces. He had hoped to gain an ally. It turned out the woman was a carbon copy of his best friend. How were they simr yet different at the same time?

    "I''ve mostly heard of you from Avery," Eve exined. "Is it true that you managed to save Venus Investment from going bankrupt 3 years ago?"

    "Y-Yes. Yes, I did." Richard cleared his throat. It had been a while since someone brought that up. It felt good to be acknowledged again for such an achievement.

    "You mean I helped you save yourpany from going bankrupt."

    "Ambee!" Eve scolded, hitting his chest. His body winced in surprise rather than in pain. His reaction made it harder for her to hide an amusedugh. She patted the same spot as if soothing it. "Let someone else have the limelight, okay?"

    Ambryan scowled down at her. Her expression radiated smugness. She actually used the nickname she mentioned earlier. He thought it was only a joke about his mouthful name.

    "Mhm, sure, <em>Evan."</em> He replied with a narrowed gaze.

    Eve showed him a wide grin. "Hihi."

    Ambryan shifted his attention back on hispanions. His hand on her back moved to her shoulder, supporting her with his arm instead. "Excuse me, gentlemen. I think I need to take my girlfriend home."

    Stuart nodded, also noticing the red tint on the young woman''s face. He actually enjoyed the couple''s little exchange but it wouldn''t be good if things got out of hand. "As adorable as she is, I would have to agree with you on that."

    "It has been a pleasure, Mr. Wilson." Ambryan shook the old man''s hand once. Then, he nodded at his best friend, his gaze lingering for more than a second. "Mr. Kingston."

    Richard gulped. Even when he hadn''t said anything, he got into trouble! He only talked when addressed because it would be rude to ignore it and stay quietnot to mention how weird it would be since it directly involved him.

    "Do take care on your way." Stuart waved as the pair stirred away from the crowd.

    Richard raised his ss of champagne. "Hope we can converse another time."

    Ambryan kept his girlfriend close to his side. He shortened his strides, matching her pace. His eyes watched out for the path ahead while sneaking a peek towards her every now and then. She behaved well and maintained a goodposure.

    Then, Eve suddenly stopped walking. She turned her head and stared up at him. Her eyebrows scrunched into a confused expression. For a moment, she said nothing and only observed his face.

    Ambryan wondered what thoughts ran through her head.

    "You''re not about to carry me out in bridal style again, are you?"

    "Do you want me to?" He couldn''t help but smirk. Her face from their date surfaced in his memories. He found it just as amusing as back then. Revenge never tasted sweeter. Would she make the same reaction right now?

    It was tempting but the venue wasn''t the best ce for it.

    "No!" Eve protested a little too loudly. She pressed her fingers against her mouth and scanned the premise. As she predicted, hundreds of eyes watched them. A groan escaped her lips. She buried her face on the side of his chest, inhaling his cologne.

    "Are you sure?" Ambryan asked, genuinely concerned now. He held her chin and raised it. His violet eyes met her hazel ones. The blush on her cheeks had magnified in saturation. He couldn''t tell anymore if it came from embarrassment or the alcohol.

    Either way, it intrigued him on how much redder she could possibly be.

    He leaned down and whispered in her ear. "I''d be gentle this time."

 Chapter 67: Light Up that Bulb

    Chapter 67: Light Up that Bulb

    "You You" Eve began to say. The blood on her face rushed into her ears, making them pink. She probably looked like a tomato by now. His teasing jolted her awake. She needed to find a way out for the time being.

    "I-I need to say goodbye to Luna," she stammered, stepping away from his grip. Her head craned over the crowd in search of the designerher legs already on the move. She used the collection''s models as guides, thinking they would be around Luna.

    "Why not message her?" Ambryan asked as he followed her. His towering presence moved people away from their path.

    Eve red over her shoulder. She didn''t stop her pursuit. A waiter stepped back before they could collide. "You of all people should know that it''smon courtesy to bid the host farewell. You can just wait by the entrance if you''re not up for it."

    "You''re not going alone in this state."

    "Fine," she huffed, halting in her steps. Then, pointed a finger at him. "But social distancing."

    Ambryan raised his eyebrows. What was with this treatment? Had he done anything wrong? Again? Did the reason fromst time apply to this moment? "You wound me. What would people think of me if I don''t stay close to my own girlfriend?"

    "That you are the professional as you''re supposed to be."

    Eve spun on her heel and resumed her walk. She followed the dense parts of the crowd. Someone like Luna Athon had to be surrounded by arge group. Ambryan trailed behind, watching out for her safety. Anyone who attempted to approach received a dirty look from him.

    If they would strike up a conversation, the couple wouldn''t be able to leave soon.

    Yes, that was his reason behind this behavior.

    (A/N: *Cai snorts* In his head maybe. But his heart? Hmmm.)

    While in the middle of their mini adventure, Richard and Stuart also left the same spot. They moved on to join other businessmen, intending to find more opinion on the financial market. To their surprise, these businessmen had another topic in the minds. They asked the duo about Ambryan''s rtionship.

    Richard and Stuart exchanged a look. They signed a silent agreement with the use of their eyes. Then, they proceeded to narrate the short encounter. THey addedpliments and praises with everything they shared.

    Soon, more people wanted to meet Evangeline.

    Charlee choked out a gasp. She came back down to reality as it crumbled any fantasy she conjured. Her eyes blinked several times as her mind processed the sequence of events. Her vision clouded when it happened, making it seem like a dream.

    Avery the biatch Ambryan the biatch girlfriend

    The world around her spun. The endless chatter increased in volume and ovepped in her ears. Everyone talked about the hottest couple in the party. They taunted her and ridiculed her thoughts. Any resolution she came crashing.

    ''This this wasn''t what was supposed to happen!''

    "Haven''t I told you, Ms. Edwards?" Avery spoke from behind. She approached the aspiring actress like a predator to a prey. Her lips wore an unapologetic smile. "Please stay away from my son. He is alreadymitted to a rtionship."

    "Ms. Avery" Charlee breathed out. Color slowly seeped back into her lips. "IThis is"

    "Mark my words, Ms. Edwards. Things won''t end well for you if you try to meddle." The madam turned to herpanion, already walking away. She had wasted enough breath on someone who wouldn''t listen nor heed her warnings.

    "Did you get that?"

    "I did!" The reporter squealed. He scrolled through the photos on his digital camera. The scene had been glorious. If possible, he''d create an entire narrative out of it. "Don''t worry about anything, Avery. I''ll publish the most satisfying article you could possibly think of."

    "Good." Avery smiled. Her hearing heightened as she checked for the crowd''s feedback. Surprises andpliments filled her ears. With Evangeline''s show-stopping entrance, the people still had the memory fresh in their minds. They viewed her positively from the beginning.

    She could only wish that it would stay that way.

    Even if negative opinions rise up, she hoped they''d remember this first impression.

    Several meters behind them, Charlee stumbled over nothing. Her knees gave out for a moment but she stayed upright. Her mind looked back on the previous conversation. Instead of telling her straight out, that biatch had the audacity to humiliate her right in front of Ambryan and hispanions.

    Evangeline had tricked her, made a fool out of her and pped her in the face with an audience.

    Charlee stomped her foot and held up her skirt. She spun around, colliding with another guest. A growl rumbled in her chest. Today just kept getting worse. She red up at the culprit, cursing him silently.

    "Woah!" Jordan said, raising his hands and blinking his chocte eyes. The dirty look startled. The path had been wide before Ms. Panties-In-A-Twist decided to twirl like a ballerina. "Are you alright? Who got on your bad side?"

    "Ugh!" Charlee sneered, stomping away. She forced her way into the crowd and searched for her friends. The sooner she left the scene, the better.

    "Wow" Jordan shook his head and walked back to the mini bar. "Well, I''m d she left. Now, I don''t need to worry about manners."

    He made his way to the corner without a hitch. No one else suddenly materialized out of thin air. The people moved whenever he asked them to let him pass by. He grabbed a drink from a passing waiter.

    His mood had been replenished.

    "MikaelWoah is that another crazy?" Jordan stopped short. Now that he had a better look, he realized the woman with his model wasn''t Evangeline. His lips stretched to a hard frown, thinning out his lips like a smile did.

    "Miss, thank you for your interest andpliments on my work," Mikael said. Even from a distance, Jordan recognized the tight smile. His best friend''s patience was dwindling.

    "Do you have an uing project? I''d love to watch and learn from you." Nicole gushed. Twinkling stars shined in her eyes. She had cked out the moment they met. Her mouth spoke whatever that came to mind.

    She reached out for his bicep, squeezing. A soft gasp escaped her lips from the firmness. He was actually rend not the figment of her imagination that she practiced talking to.

    "Unfortunately, that is confidential information," Mikael declined through gritted teeth. He pushed off her hand, yanking it off his arm. Then, his blue eyesnded on Jordan. "You''d have to talk to my manager for further details."

    Jordan huped.

    He lost the chance to escape. Although handling fans became a part of his job, he didn''t always find it pleasant. There would always be a bad nut or two. This one belonged in that category.

    Now, what kind of story could he fabricate for this one?

    "Hello, miss. Jordan Dawson, Mikael''s manager," he introduced himself, wedging between Nicole and Mikael. He took the woman''s hand and shook it. "We might actually hold a social media event soon. If you win, you will get an all expenses date with Mikael."

    "Wait, what"

    "Really?!" Nicole eximed. An event in social media? She hung out there a lot. She''d surely win!

    Jordan pressed a finger to his lips. He pulled her close. "It''s still in the works. Top management is looking over the details and they can take a while. We don''t want to get everyone''s hopes up but you look like someone we could trust."

    He cupped his hand over her ear. His voice lowered into a whisper, "So please keep this a secret. We''d appreciate it if you don''t tell anyone yet."

    "Oh, I will, Mr. Dawson." Nicole nodded. Then, she shook her head vigorously, realizing what she just said. "I mean, I won''t. I won''t, Mr. Dawson. You have my word."

    "Good." Jordan nodded. He gestured for her to leave. "Now, run along. If you hang out here too long, they might suspect something."

    "Oh, okay!" Nicole squealed. She had to cover her mouth in order to contain the excitement. She waved her hands in farewell. "Bye, Mr. Dawson. Bye, Mikael."

    Neither of them returned it.

    Jordan fixed his cufflinks while clearing his throat. "Who is the greatest friend in the world?"

    "Mikael rolled his eyes. He leaned his back against the counter and sipped on his champagne. "Since you are the one who left me alone, it was only right that you took responsibility."

    "What?! I left you with Evangeline." His manager scowled, looking at the vacant stool. "Speaking of which, where is she?"

    "She went to find her boyfriend."

    "Right, the <em>daaatttee</em>," Jordan drawled. His good mood came back up again. He put down his ss and rubbed his hands together. "Have you seen him? He had to be a handsome dude."

    Mikael frowned. He focused on his drink, contemting if he should get another one. "Unlike you, I actually don''t gossip over other people''s affairs."

    "Hold up, hold up, hold up Ambryan Hathaway?" Jordan rubbed his eyes in astonishment. "No. Way. Her boyfriend is that CEO? Didn''t you meet him the other day?"

    Mikael snapped his head. He followed his manager''s line of sight. True to Jordan''s im, Evangeline stood before Luna with Ambryan Hathaway by her side. The three of them conversed. They positioned apart from the crowd, acting close.

    Luna didn''t seem to want them to leave. She turned to the CEO and Evangeline stepped back. Thetter stayed behind Ambryan, seeming to be his shadow.

    "Now, that''s something. I like how professional they act." Jordan swiped his champagne ss and drowned it in one gulp. "They''re not overly affectionate like other couples."

    Something nagged at the back of Mikael''s head. He wasn''t able to hear his best friend''s words. The scene looked familiar to him. He had seen these three together before. The mannerisms, the posture, the expressions

    Then, a light bulb shed on the top of his head.

    "Wait. Is that"

 Chapter 68: Put On the Thinking Cap

    Chapter 68: Put On the Thinking Cap

    ''Is that who I think it is?'' Mikael asked himself. He shut his eyes and shook his head. Pinching the bridge of his nose, he analyzed what he just witnessed. ''Am I hallucinating? I didn''t just see Ms. Hart, right?''

    He opened his eyes and studied Evangeline. His assumption became peculiar by the second. She and the secretary had the same build. They also approximately had the same height. Ms. Hart preferred to wear shapeless clothing but it was easy to estimate her measurements.

    What really convinced him more was her stance. With her clutch tucked under her arm, she folded her hands over her abdomen. Her chin was raised while her face had a neutral expression.

    He knew that look well.

    But how would it even be possible?

    A secretary? As a model? Dating her boss? Did Ambryan know? Was this a scheme of theirs? Did Luna know? She seemed to be in on the joke when she mentioned the CEO''s girlfriend.

    Question after question flooded his mind. The more they popped up, the more confused Mikael became. He began to doubt his own knowledge and perception. The words repeated in his head, sounding like a ridiculous plot of a web novel.

    He must be out of his mind.

    "Mikael. Mikael!" Jordan called out. His best friend had nked out on him. He grabbed Mikalel''s shoulder and shook it. "Are you okay, man?"

    "Yeah-yeah, I''m fine." Mikael exhaled. He hadn''t noticed that he stopped breathing. He thought of a sound excuse for his behavior. "I just can''t imagine that guy dating someone."

    Evangeline or Ms. Hart, that part would remain true. Their lunch discussion gave Mikael the impression that Ambryan wasn''t an affectionate man. Truth be told, he figured the CEO wouldn''t marry if possible. None of the tabloids hinted the opposite.

    "He did bring dates to parties you know," Jordan pointed out, watching the couple again. It seemed that Ambryan and Luna triggered a business discussion.

    "From what I heard he never interacted with them during parties." Mikael finished thest of his champagne. He''d rather not look again or he''d go back to square one. The thought already refused to leave his head.

    "Well, that is true. He usually stayed with his business associates. Then, his date mingled with others." Jordan ced an elbow on the counter and shifted his full attention on Mikael. "I''m actually just as shocked as you are. But this might actually be a serious one."

    For Ambryan to act this way, there had to be a special reason. A person of his status had a wide range of power. He''d unlikely resort to underhanded tricks.

    Besides, what benefit would he get for dating a rookie model?

    "Boys!" Cale yelled. He marched over to the mini bar with his hands on his hips. He gazed at both men under a razor eye. "Where is Evangeline? I thought I told you to look after her."

    Jordan raised his hands in surrender, still holding the champagne ss. "Rx, Cale. Weren''t you the one who also said that her date would pick her up? She''s right there with him."

    He nudged the ss towards the couple. Was this his third nce at them? Fourth? His shock still seemed fresh. "Did you know it was Ambryan Hathaway?"

    Cale whirled his head. His eyesnded on the two. This would be the first time he''d see them together. He wedged himself between Jordan and Mikael. His hands sped over his chest.

    "Aren''t they just adorable?" He stated, admirationcing in his tone. Jordan rolled his eyes at his hopeless romantic colleague.

    "Seems more like a CEO and a secretary to me." Mikael muttered to himself. Did he need a pair of sses now? Maybe if he bought rose-colored ones, he''d see what the other two see.

    Cale froze in ce. His sharp hearing detected the model''s voice. "What did you just say?"

    "I said" Mikael paused. He nced at the manager, judging the reaction. His radiant blue eyes narrowed. "Do you know something about this Cale?"

    "Whatever do you mean, Mikael? I simply didn''t hear what you said."

    "Oh, I think you heard exactly what I said," his voice dropped to a low taunt. An ominous feeling washed over his head. He bared his teeth. "I went to that office, Cale. I know what I saw. Is it what I am seeing now?"

    "What the hell is going on here?" Jordan demanded. He looked at Mikael. Then, he nced at Cale. Neither of them paid him any attention.

    Hispanions shared a silent staredown. Both refused to surrender and to take back their ims. The rest of the room faded away. They perceived nothing but one another, searching for an opening or a break in the other''s stance.

    "Ms. Hart is at this party, isn''t she?" Mikael tried again, whispering. If Cale heard him before, the manager would still hear him clearly now.

    Cale snapped his head towards his right. He nced at their thirdpanion over his shoulder. "Jordan, do you mind if I borrow Mikael for a while? A friend of mine wants to meet him."

    Jordan pursed his lips, feeling lost. His chocte eyes darted from left to right. No one seemed to mind them since Ambryan and Evangeline hogged their interest.

    "It''s not going to be a psychopath fan, is it?" He couldn''t help but ask. Their number appeared to be abundant in this event. He encountered two in a single route.

    "Of course not!" Cale reassured him. He grasped Jordan''s shoulder and squeezed. The smile he wore gravitated towards a sickly sweet one. "A potential client actually."

    "Then, I should"

    Cale grabbed Mikael''s arm, dragging him away. "Nope. Only Mikael. Those are the terms."

    Jordan watched as they vanished into the crowd. Something was off and he knew it. But how much did he care? How much did he trust Cale?

    He shrugged.

    His eyes searched for a waiter, craving more champagne. ''Whatever. I''ll find out about it sooner orter.''

    Cale led Mikael down a narrow hallway. They climbed the same stairs that led to the dressing room. Only this time, they entered a different door. It had a simple lounge and arge bathroom. It had multiple purposes, depending on the host''s desire.

    For this instance, it became a hideout/confrontation room.

    Cale marched inside and let Mikael go. He fished out his phone, sending a quick message. They had some damage to control and this early into the game too. Was this a sign?

    Thankfully, he had been on the scene. Who knew what would have happened if he wasn''t there? Jordan almost heard about it.

    "Alright. What do you know?" Cale asked, turning around and crossing his arms over his chest. He stood with his feet apart. His spot allowed him to match the model''s eye level better.

    "What do <em>I</em> know? What do <em>you</em> know, Cale?" Mikael exasperated. He shook his head and gestured to the door behind him. "Is Evangeline and Ms. Hart the same person? Is she Ambryan''s secretary?"

    The idea had almost left his mind. It hung by a thread, ready to snap and fall. He would have abandoned it if it weren''t for Cale. That sort of disbelief implied a different meaning from pure surprise.

    It had the tone of someone getting caught.

    "Mikael," Cale started to say. He used a firm tone of voice as if lecturing a student. "Let me remind you that no matter how much you know, it''s not your ce to be involved."

    "Who says<em> I want</em> to be involved?" Mikael retorted. He pressed his fingers against the side of his forehead. All of his analogies came back at once and flooded his senses. "This. Is. <em>Insane</em>. What were you thinking?!"

    "How is it insane? People have stage personas all the time."

    "But not everyone is deceiving other people!" He yelled, his chest rising and falling prominently. Frustration boiled in his veins.

    Celebrities with stage personas usually revealed their background. They only use a different name. The information would be avable for anyone who looked it up like Beyonce, Marilyn Monroe, Lana Del Ray, The Weekend, Lady Gaga and many more.

    In Ms.Hart/Evangeline''s case, nothing about thetter''s background hinted at her day job or her other identity. They had fabricated apletely new person.

    It wasn''t right.

    It simply wasn''t.

    The door opened and a head of long ck hair popped in. Violet eyes scanned the room, noticing the two upants in an instant. Avery stepped inside, taking cautious steps. "What''s going on?"

    "Avery!" Cale walked over to her side and proceeded with the introductions. He felt much better having her around. "Mikael, Avery. Avery, Mikael."

    "We''ve met." Avery admitted with a little hesitation. It hadn''t been the best first impressions. At the time, she behaved in a way that would drive him away. Oh, how did he see her now?

    "Really?"

    "Yes." She cleared her throat. Her eyes focused on the modelling manager, changing the topic. "Now, why are you both here?"

    Cale heaved a sigh. "Mikael figured it out."

    He should have seen thising. He had witnessed the model''s sense of perception several times since they met. It had been alright at first since Mikael had never met Eve and had little chance in doing so.

    Then, that meeting happened. The walls crumbled down by a pair of darts.

    Avery raised her eyebrows. "Figured out what?"

    "About Evangeline being your son''s secretary."

    She whirled her eyes towards the model. Astonishment twinkled in her eyes. "<em>Wow</em>. You''re the first one to make the connection."

    Mikael cursed himself on the inside, recognizing the resemnce between the madam and the CEO. They shared the same eyes and hair. The truth had been staring at his face the whole time!

    How could he have missed it?!

    "Does Luna know?" He questioned as he remembered that day of the shoot. There had been three key people with Evangeline. It had been nned from the beginning.

    Just how intricate was it? How long was it going tost? What''s the purpose of this?

    His brain started to hurt. The questions only piled up, not lessening in the slightest. It suddenly became difficult to breathe again. His vision clouded. His lips paled. He needed to stop thinking. It was affecting his health.

    He might just also lose it if he stayed longer.

    Mikael headed for the exit, craving for some fresh air and some peace. This ridiculousness had to stop. It was just a dreamnothing but a dream that he wanted to wake up from.

    "You know what? You''re right. I don''t want to know more. Continue to scheme. I''ll stay out of it."

 Chapter 69: The Fast Way to Get Food

    Chapter 69: The Fast Way to Get Food

    "Will he tell people?" Avery frowned, staring at the closed door. She heard the faint footsteps fade away as the model left the premises.

    "Mikael? No. He wouldn''t. He just needs time to digest everything." Cale exhaled sharply. One thing he could count on Mikael was his skeptical nature. Although he had strong opinions, he wouldn''t share them outside of his close circle.

    It could take a while but the model eventually saw the light.

    Frown lines creased between Avery''s brows. "Is it really that big of a deal?"

    "Well, how is it not?" Cale snorted. "Not only did a woman be a part time model but that same model is also dating her boss."

    It had been a fun ride so far. Although, it wouldn''t always stay that way. He"I''m surprised Mikael actually got that far into it."

    "Yeah" Avery sighed. She rubbed her chin, rethinking the whole idea and doubting it. "Makes me wonder how Ambryan would react when he finds out."

    She had hoped for the two to fall in love. In the process, she guessed that Ambryan would eventually figure it out. Both parties came to this agreement with their own motives. She thought that he''d be able to understand when the time came.

    But, what if he didn''t?

    What to do then?

    "Hey" Cale spoke softly. His posture rxed once he saw her worried face. He rubbed her upper back infort. "Stay positive. If what you said about your son and about Eve is true, I am willing to bet that they had an arranged proposition about their rtionship."

    A light chuckle escaped his lips. "They probably agreed to fake date without knowing that they''re on their way to falling in love."

    Eve stretched her arms upwards. Her back muscles clenched from the movement. Then, she rolled her shoulders, keeping the momentum. "You have to admit. I am a genius."

    Ambryan nced from the driver''s seat. Endless night sky filled the windshield. Street lights and other vehicles illuminated the road before them. Nothing yed out of the radio. They simply spent the ride with each other''s chatter and silence.

    The pressure was gone.

    No one could see them through the ck-tinted windows.

    "How so?" Ambryan asked as he turned back to the street. The route they took had lesser car traffic. It allowed them to enjoy a smooth and steady trip.

    "Acting drunk is the best way to get permission to leave a party," Eve boasted, still feeling smug about her performance. It had gone better than she thought. "Did you see how fast Mr. Wilson and Mr. Kingston let us go? Pure genius."

    "It didn''t work on Luna though."

    "Oh, and that''s my fault?" She scoffed and rolled her eyes. Leaning on the backrest, she crossed her arms over her chest. "Work is always running in your head. You went into business mode when she spoke about the advertisement. And it was a joke!"

    "But you didn''t interrupt it with your ''acting''," Ambryan exined. He made a right turn, entering the road that outlined a cove. The sea crashed against the rocks below.

    "Well, why would I? I know work is important to you." Eve shrugged. She turned her head towards the passenger window. The moon reflected on the waters. "Besides, it wasn''t just you. Luna was also into it. It would be rude to interrupt."

    Ambryan kept his eyes straight ahead. A soft hum flowed into his ears. It brought a small smile to his face. It seemed that someone had the party''s music stuck in her head.

    "I thought you''d want to stay longer though. What''s with the sudden urge to leave?" He asked, sneaking in a glimpse.

    Eve held up one finger in his direction. Her hazel eyes narrowed into slits. A yful smirk stretched her corner lip. "I have one word for you."

    She paused for effect. It became moreical by the second. She held her breath, containing herughter. A part of her hoped that he''d try to guesseven just once. It made her curious about what he''d say.

    Although, it wasn''t likely to happen.

    Instead, it was likely that he''d ask her about it.

    Ambryan scowled at the dark road. "And that is?"

    "Food!" Eve cackled. Her prediction came true, making it even funnier. "I''m hungry. Those finger foods wouldn''t cut it for me. Let''s get something to eat."

    Her stomach rumbled on cue. She wrapped her arms around it and groaned. It had been hours since lunch time passed. She saved her stomach for the party but it had less food than she anticipated. If she had asked beforehand, she would have eaten before they left.

    "Where would we go?"

    "WcDonald''s." Eve beamed. As the car drove back to civilization, she could almost see the familiar ''W'' logo against the nket of night sky and above the other small buildings. Her mouth salivated at the thought of fried chicken nuggets.

    Ambryan frowned. "Fast food?"

    He slid the car into city traffic. His violet eyes squinted when bright beams of light came from the oppositene. With the amount of vehicles avable, he couldn''t see their need to use the intense setting for headlights. The normal one should be more than enough.

    "Yeah" Eve drawled, unable to find his problem with it. "Because it''s the fast way to get food?"

    Fast or not, her craving wouldn''t go away at this point. She yearned for those chicken nuggetsand maybe some fries. A juicy burger also sounded like a good idea. She''d have them if all possible.

    "It''s unhealthy," Ambryan reminded her. Models had to maintain their figure. A big chunk of fast food wouldn''t be good. They contained a lot of calories and carbs that she''d need to burn.

    Eve had none of it.

    She waved her hand and brushed off his concern. "It''s delicious. That''s what matters."

    "There are other ces with delicious food."

    "Are they fast?"

    "A little waiting isn''t the end of the world."

    "Okay," she nodded, taking it into consideration. Except, it onlysted a second. She poked both of her cheeks and smiled. "But do they have Smiley Meals?"

    The traffic light became red and Ambryan hit the break. He faced her fully since they got inside the car. Her facial expression stayed the same. "And why would you want that?"

    Eve shrugged and drew a square in the air. Her mind filled in the vacant space for her, recreating the image. "The toys make up a doll house. You need to collect all four in order toplete it."

    The pieces connected like a puzzle. Each one had a doll and a fun quirk. They formed a stationary set where one doll turned out to be a pen, one wall held up a pair of scissors, one roof which contained washi tape under it and one door showed the logo.

    Ambryan shook his head. The light became green and the car elerated across the intersection. "Again. Why would you need it?"

    "Because why not?" Eve grilled, using a high-pitched tone. Did everything need an answer? Couldn''t she just want one for the sake of it? The idea of using the drive-thru appealed to her.

    Ambryan merely gave her the side-eye.

    She rolled her hazel ones and raised her hands up. "Fine, fine. It''s for my sisters. Happy? They''re missing one piece. I want to get it for them."

    It became a habit of hers to collect them the toys. Not only did she get a meal but also got them a gift. It was a win-win though others may not see it that way.

    Ambryan pulled up on another traffic light. He took the chance and studied her, checking if she was stating the truth.

    Eve never wavered from his gaze. Maybe it was the alcohol or maybe it was something else but she wasn''t going to back down.

    "Alright. Just this once." Ambryan exhaled sharply. The traffic continued on and he diverted the car towards the closest branch. On the inside, he remapped his schedule to have extra hours of exercise.

    He''d need it to burn those calories.

    Eve cheered when the drive-thru had no line. Her stomach now growledpared to its previous rumble. Looking at the menu, she might just order more than she nned.

    "Medium fries and drinks too and add a sundae please," she called out to the speaker. Ambryan frowned at her but she ignored it and said, "Your turn."

    "I don''t want anything," he replied. His hand moved to roll the window back up.

    "No, no, no," Eve protested. She leaned over and grabbed his hand, stopping it from moving. An using glint sparkled in her eyes. "You need to get a Smiley Meal too."

    "Why?"

    "To get thest piece."

    "But you''re already getting one." Ambryanined. After a quick calction, he decided that skipping the meal would save him the most effort.

    No matter how much he thought about it, a quick meal in his penthouse was still the appealing option.

    "To get thest piece for each sister," she scoffed and emphasized thest three wordslike her motive had always been obvious and clear.

    Then again, he didn''t know how many sisters she had.

    "..."

    Oops?

    Eve straightened her posture and shrugged. Her tone became light, brushing off her previous outburst. "So I need two pieces which means I need two Smiley Meals to get both."

    At least, she only had two sisters.

    If Eri and Edi were triplets, would he agree to share a 3rd Smiley Meal?

    Not that she wouldn''t beg him to

    Ambryan''s left eye twitched. His grip tightened on the steering wheel. "Are you certain that you''re not drunk?"

    "Positive." Eve nodded, dazzling him with a smile. She held up three fingers and demonstrated her points. "Drunk? No. Tipsy? Maybe. Hungry? Definitely!"

 Chapter 70: Classic Cliff-view Date

    Chapter 70: ssic Cliff-view Date

    "Wow, it''s chilly."

    Eve shut the car door and walked around the hood. The night air crawled over her skin, leaving goosebumps in their wake. Maize City loomed below the hill. It had been her home for the past few yearsa ce that gave her a new life.

    The low cliff let her appreciate its specks of glow that shined like stars. The bustling streets moved like a train of Christmas lights.

    A breeze flew by, making Eve shiver. She wrapped her arms around herself and rubbed her skin. Her breathing hitched as her insides squeezed from the sudden cold.

    Maybe she should rethink that cup of sundae.

    Heavy warmth draped over her shoulders. It provided herforting heat from the surroundingsmanaging to warm her up in more ways than one. The jacket hem stopped below her hips.

    She pulled thepels closer and caught a whiff of mandarin orange and coriander. Then, came in the hints of rosewood and mahogany.

    They entranced her.

    ''What cologne is this?'' Eve wondered to herself, sniffing a little. ''Is there vani too? Had he always worn this scent?''

    "Let me remind you that this was your idea," Ambryan scolded in a low voice. His ck dress shirt and vest hugged his figure, tailor made for a custom fit. It emphasized his broad chest and his slim waist.

    He ced the paper bags on the hood. The smell of fried food wafted in the air. It triggered Eve''s appetite. She grabbed her share and settled her bottom on a headlight, keeping herself upright with her legs.

    "You can sit on it."

    Eve nced on the ck aluminum covering. It probably had high endurance but she''d rather not risk it. What if her weight created a permanent dent? She did not have the money to pay for recements.

    "I''m good. Thank you," she muttered under breath. Her eyes flickered back to the cliff view. She held the paper bag in one hand and reached inside with her free one. "Where were we? Oh, my idea. Well I''ve just seen and read about it so much that I had to experience it?"

    A car.

    Parked near a cliff.

    It seemed like a ssic spot.

    The breathtaking view made the journey worth it. She remembered Ambryan''s face, questioning if she really had been hungry. A cliff view couldn''t be found in the middle of the city.

    They had to drive out of it to find one.

    Luckily, he did know one.

    "So is that how we''ll base our dating life? On fiction ideals?" Ambryan said, breaking the silence. He took his cup of orange juice and mimicked her position, leaning against the hood.

    He pulled off the lid and drank directly.

    "Who says we can''t make it happen?" Eve giggled. Salt brushed over her taste buds. Her eyes gazed upwards, searching for stars. "What''s wrong if we do that? Saves a lot of time thinking if you ask me."

    The moon came out tonight. It glowed in its crescent shape. Most stars glistened in specks against the dark horizon. One stood out among the rest, shiningrger and stronger.

    ''Was that Venus or Mars?''

    Ambryan took his orange juice and sipped. His mind considered her proposition. She had a valid point. If they often appeared in romance stories, they had to be favored by the public. It would gain them their support.

    But, it also came with consequences.

    "Don''t you think they would be suspicious instead?" He thought out loud. An ice cubended on his tongue. He let it sit there, biting it on asion.

    "Everyone loves a good story. I don''t think they''d mind that much." Eve took out the box of chicken nuggets. She picked up one and dipped it into a condiment cup, containing its sauce.

    "Besides, whatever we do, there will always be trolls or haters or killjoys I just want to find an advantage during all of this. Experience romance as written in novels? It sounded like a promising idea."

    She chuckled at it. Dating a CEO, the most eligible bachelor of the country? The cameras expected much more than the average love story. Unless they satisfy the media''s craving for a fascinating scoop, they wouldn''t be left alone.

    At least, they would be pestered much more than usual. After theunch, this actually seemed fun.

    "French fry?" Eve offered, tugging the top of the paper bag. Her mind pondered on the idea again. What kind of dates should they have?

    "No, thank you." Ambryan finished the orange juice. He put the empty cup inside the paper bag. He didn''t touch the rest.

    "Well, do you have a better idea?"

    He crossed his arms over his chest. Dating wasn''t in his expertise as pointed out by three people. Although, it seemed more like his personal preferences were unsatisfactory.

    If they didn''t approve, the public wouldn''t either.

    "It has to be something we both enjoy, isn''t it?" Ambryan recalled. Nothing else came to mind. They had yet to find those out.

    Eve blinked in surprise. "Wow, you remembered what I said."

    "There''s little that I don''t remember."

    "Oh, really? Like what?" Curiosity sparked in her head despite knowing this. Somehow she wanted to witness what he would saythe moments he would brag about.

    It would probably be about work but which ones? The time they went into the archives and he knew where the folder they needed was since he filed it himself when he was in intern?

    Or the time he recited a contract''s annex word per word when a businessman tried to swindle theirpany for more money? Even with retorts, he managed to bring in thew and ended the negotiation.

    She had asked him about it after. He merely said that if it held his interest and attention, he found it easy to recallwhich usually rted to work he added as an afterthought.

    Ambyran turned his head towards her. His gaze narrowed in suspicion. "Like you crying after your performance."

    Eve gulped, averting her eyes. She munched on a nugget absentmindedly. She had almost forgotten about it if he hadn''t brought it up. Her cheeks med in embarrassment.

    She thought that her spot had been secluded from the crowd. It seemed like she was wrong. What did he think of her then? Sentimental? To a stranger, it probably seemed like she cried over the event.

    She felt that his gaze was still on her. Suddenly, the cold didn''te from the weather nor the climate.

    "You-you saw that?" Eveughed, trying to lighten the tension. Unfortunately for her,

    It came out as awkward.

    "Yes." Ambryan confirmed. His firm tone came back. "Although, it seems you''re feeling much better."

    "It was just a spur of the moment. Nothing to worry about." Eve waved the half-bitten nugget. It slipped off her grip andnded on the ground. She shut her eyes, freezing in ce.

    That wasn''t helping her case.

    "Are you certain?"

    "Mhm, I only remembered my first love," she exined and opened her eyes. This topic probably wouldn''t end until she answered his questions.

    Ambryan deepened his scowl. "Your first love?"

    She had a previous lover? How long ago was it? What ended their rtionship? Had she been drunk around him? What had they done together? Surely, it had been more intimate than his sting of flings.

    (A/N: What else do you wanna know? His Social Security Number? Pft. Yes, Iughed at my own joke.)

    "Yeah it''s been years. The memories came like a tidal wave, washing me away from shore. I drowned in them." Eve reminisced. In her eyes, the current world vanished. It had been reced by old memories as they yed vividly.

    "I realized that I''d always feel that way. A part of me would always yearn for those times." She sighed. It seemed like the saying, ''first love never dies'', was true.

    Her hand reached for her soda cup. The carbonated drink washed over her throat.

    Silence engulfed the pair as crickets yed a song. It sounded like background music. The stars continued to watch over them. The moon hid behind a cloud, trying to sneak a peek.

    Things stayed that way for a few minutes. Both waited for the other to say something.

    Ambryan exhaled sharply. Something had been squeezing his chest. It was faintbarely noticeable if it hadn''t been for the quiet.

    "Maybe you could reunite after this is over." The words flew out of his mouth before he processed them.

    "What''s over?" Eve asked, looking up at him. Ketchup smudged the corner of her mouth and crumbs coated her lips.

    Ambryan cleared his throat, unsure of what exactly he wanted to say. He reached over to wipe off the ketchup stain. It felt cold and slimy under his thumb.

    Eve recoiled but his hand moved to her jaw, gripping it in ce. He fished out his handkerchief and used the tip for cleaning.

    The crickets'' song became a symphony.

    "When this 9-month long rtionship is over, you could go back and relive those memories again."

    Was this somehow his fault along with his mother?

 Chapter 71: Netflicks & Chi-Chicken Nuggets

    Chapter 71: Netflicks & Chi-Chicken Nuggets

    Eve cackled and the moment shattered.

    The more she thought about it, the more hrious it sounded. The absurdity was too much! If she didn''t know any better, she''d think that Ambryan thought she had an ex-boyfriend. The idea prompted another fit ofughter.

    "If it was that easy, I would have already gone back before," she said in between giggles.

    It was Ambryan''s turn to freeze.

    "Really?"

    "Yes, really." Eve confirmed with a nod, wiping tears from the corners of her eyes. "It''s not like it was impossible. I could have done it but well, life happened. And I am here now. Dating the most eligible bachelor in the country for that matter."

    Another round ofughs came out of her mouth. Her stomach began to cramp. What was in that martini? Laughing gas? Weed? Why did everything sound funny to her?

    She better hunt down that bartender if this didn''t end well.

    Ambryan watched her wordlessly. Her voice echoed around them. Her fair skin glowed like moonlight. In this peaceful silence, she took the spotlight. Gleeful happiness simply radiated out of her.

    It could take anyone''s breath away.

    "If you had the choice, would you go back or not?" Ambryan couldn''t help but ask. Curiosity emitted from the recesses of his mind. It took control of his thoughts, speaking for him.

    "After this is over?" Eve turned back to her food. She still had half of her nuggets left. "I''m not sure. How about letting me get through this alive first?"

    Herst statement made her chuckle. If Charlee Edwards was just the beginning, there would be more toe.

    ''Speaking of Charlee'' she wondered, ''What happened to her after that little show? Was she wailing inside a bathroom perhaps?''

    Eve continued to ponder on what counter attacks coulde from the aspiring actress. If that five-minute breakup proved anything, it was how Charlee abhorred defeat. She had almost expected an assault at thepany lobby after that dayexcept Ambryan held more power which would only result in instant loss.

    On the other hand the ying field would be more even with Evangeline. Charlee would probably form a n on how to bring her down.

    She''d have to be ready.

    Meanwhile, Ambryan brooded over her answer. It provided little gratification for his question. Actually, it provided nothing to his question. He decided to rece it. "What about right now? If you had that chance to drop everything and go, would you?"

    Eve stopped mid-bite. Go back? To ballet? Right now? She''d face hell. Her teacher would show no mercy. The training would be brutal, remorseless and every synonym thesaurus coulde up with.

    "I, honestly, can''t imagine my life any different from now," she said after a while and she meant it. As crazy as the situation seemed, she''d never thought of going back to her hometown. Maize City had given her so much more than she anticipated.

    It gave her joy and hope.

    It wouldn''t sit right with her if she just left.

    "Maybe I don''t have that much of an imagination," Eve added when the silence remained. She took out the sundae and removed the lid. The soft peak had melted. "Or maybe because it''s the influence of free food. Who is to say I''d still get this if I left? Next time, you get to pick on where we should eat."

    Ambryan offered zeroment.

    Her words churned inside his head. How would his life be if Evangeline hadn''t been part of the website? Who would rece her? Who would he have chosen instead? What kind of first date would they have? Would she be the PDA type?Would she talk back against his decisions?

    Would they end up here? In this hill top? In seclusion and silence?

    Would the moment be just as beautiful as right now?

    "Whoever invented the idea of french fries dipped in vani sundae and hot fudge" Eve moaned as she chewed. Her hazel eyes zed in delight. "... that person was/is a genius."

    Shaking his head, Ambryan let the topic drop. No matter how many What Ifs they''d talk about, what mattered was the present. This moment might not exist in an alternate universe. He''d rather not know about it. He''d rather not let its possibility ruin the current.

    He reached out a hand with his palm facing up. "May I?"

    "What happened to ''fast food is unhealthy''?" Eve asked, the corner of her lip curling up. She pointed the box of fries in his direction. The sundae sat on the car''s hood between them.

    "It''s not advisable to eat the only other food avable right now," Ambryan replied, dipping two french fries into the ice cream. He popped them both in his mouth and tucked his hands into his pant pockets.

    "That would be cannibalism."

    "Well, that went dark really fast." Eve breathed out, gulping at his words.

    "And here I thought romance fiction had been taken over by the supernatural." Ambryan chuckled. He leaned to the right, bowing his head in her direction. "Is it not the trend for the male lead to devour the female one?"

    Eve''s jaw dropped and her eyes flew wide. How didthe question left her head as soon as it came. This shouldn''t be surprising from the CEO of a productionpany that centered around romance. Statistics reports such as trends helped them choose which projects would generate the most profit.

    But Did that mean he actually knew of romance more than he let on?

    "That is another genre which is not applicable to ours." Eve patted his shoulder and stepped back. Her gaze flickered towards the city. She switched to the chicken nuggets. "We''re not in a fantasy world."

    "I''m well aware. Otherwise, that would mean that you''d date me in your dreams."

    Her head snapped back to him. She pointed a nugget to his face, squinting her eyes and scrutinizing the smug look he wore. "Okay. How much alcohol did you drink?"

    "None."

    Eve scoffed. "That is definitely a lie."

    Ambryan practically breathed red wine as much as ck tea. He''d always choose it above other avable beverages. She had wondered if his blood wasposed purely of red wine. Then, remembered ck tea must be mixed into it too.

    "No, it was sarcasm."

    Speechless.

    Stunned.

    Tongue-tied.

    Three words that could describe Eve at the moment. It wasn''t just her martini anymore. There had to be something in all drinks served at theunch party. She wasn''t the only one acting abnormal tonight.

    Ambryan pinched the top of his paper bag and pulled his share of food close. The base dragged across the car bo. He peeked inside as if the bag contained a monster.

    Eve swallowed thest bit of her nugget. The sound had caught her attention. She watched as Ambryan opened a carton. "I''m surprised you picked chicken nuggets. I thought you were more of a burger guy."

    On second thought, she couldn''t imagine him eating a burger. She would have loved to see it though. He probably had that rare skill of keeping his face clean despite the amount of sauce the burger had.

    It wasn''t fair.

    "These are made from chicken breasts. It has the most protein for the lowest calorie count." Unlink her, Ambryan skipped the dipping sauce. He bit into the nugget and chewed carefully, making sure to break it down into tiny pieces.

    Eve scrunched her eyebrows.

    Had she heard of that sentence before?

    It was midnight by the time the pair reached the apartmentplex.

    Maize City toned down into a slumber. Only a few establishments stayed open. Night workers were safe inside their workstations. Clubs brimmed with energy at the outskirts. Neon lights swirled around their area as party goers brought the night to life.

    Other residents enjoyed thest bit of peace before Monday morning came.

    Eve unbuckled the seatbelt and yawned. Her stomach bulged with fast food. She could hardly move. Until minutes ago, she could barely breathe. The dress''s bodice did little to help with her state. It had fitted her like a gloveno room for a full stomach.

    She hated the dress for the first time.

    Ambryan crouched beside his window. He eyed the building until his gaze reached the 10th floor. Frown lines appeared above the bridge of his nose. "Are you sure you can go up by yourself?"

    "I am more than capable of walking on my own two feet, Ambryan Hathaway." Eve chuckled. She grabbed her clutch, checking if she had all her belongingsespecially her phone and her wallet. Both had some form of identification.

    Thest thing she needed was for her ID to be left behind.

    Ambryan shifted his attention towards the passenger seat. He raised an eyebrow. "I see you mastered my mouthful of a name."

    "I still prefer Ambee though."

    "..."

    The car heater stopped working. Ice had frosted over its mechanism. Not even air-conditioning couldpare to how fast it cooled the air inside the car.

    Eve opened the door and escaped. She waved from the other side of the car window. A bright smile stretched across her face. The moonlight amplified its captivating gleam.

    "Good night, Ambee! Have a safe trip back!"

 Chapter 72: Just the Beginning

    Chapter 72: Just the Beginning

    "That little wench! How dare she humiliate me!"

    Harper stood outside of the women''s bathroom. Her back leaned against the door. She nced at her wrist watch. The time told her midnight was still about two hours away. She shuffled her weight from foot to foot. The back of her legs cramped.

    She heaved a sigh.

    This night turned out to be longer than she thought.

    At the other side of the door, the bathroom had been monopolized by two women, one in hot pink and one in navy blue. The former paced over the floor and fumed at her misfortune. Her indigo eyes zed and her heels cked against the tiles.

    "Are you sure about what you saw?" Nicole asked for the nth time. She had her arms crossed over her chest. A frown pulled her lips into a frown. The bathroom lights were hot. Sweat began to form underneath her evening gown.

    Charlee halted in her steps. She turned around. If smoke could float out of her ears, a fog would have surrounded them by now.She had never been more offended. Sure, she had her share of lies but never to someone close to her.

    They should know her better than that.

    "Don''t believe me? Why don''t you check the news?" Her voice sneered, mocking her friend''s doubts. She should have chosen Harper instead. "I''m sure a lot of people are now talking about Ambryan and his woman."

    The amount ofpliments and praises from the bystanders sickened her. What ''Cindere of the Century''? The girl was nothing more than a gold digger, trying to climb up the social ranks. Ambryan''s influence would open doors for her.

    She knew it.

    And she took advantage of it.

    Nicole took out her phone, exhaling sharply. She opened an app with a bird icon. It was her trusted source for thetest gossip. The app led her to home page and flooded her eyes with short chirp posts. It seemed that the birdmunity was buzzing.

    (A/N: Don''t you mean ''chirping''?)

    #ambeevan was trending.

    #AmbryanHathaway was trending.

    #EvangelineReed was trending.

    #AthonRainbowLaunch was trending.

    Clicking the top hashtag, the first post came from a gossip page.

    <em>```</em>

    <em>WARNING! Not for the bitter single people out there!</em>

    <em>#ambeevan alert! world look out! this couple is about to ze through your hearts! just look at these photos. aren''t they the cutest thing you''ve ever seen?!</em>

    <em>*insert images*</em>

    <em>```</em>

    The first photo showed a shot of the couple from the party. Evangeline held Ambryan''s tie in her hands, grinning up at him. The second one had Ambryan standing behind her as she conversed with hispanions. Both wore a smile while his hand settled on her upper back.

    Then, there was the third picture.

    Evangeline had buried her face on Ambryan''s chest. Thetter''s arm had snaked around her shoulders. A smirk stretched his lips as he stared down at her. They seemed to be having a private joke. His expression suggested teasing from his end.

    It was the first time Ambryan Hathaway showed such a face in public.

    "Wow," Nicole gaped, her deep brown eyes blinking repeatedly. Her thumb scrolled through the chirp replies. A lot of red hearts colored the page. "I can''t believe this."

    "I told you"

    "Is this biatch really shameless?" She scoffed. Disgust painted over her face. "Evangeline was talking with Mikael before this. And all this time she had a boyfriend? How vulgar of her!"

    Charlee stiffened. Her brain processed the information. "You''re right. She was with Mikael."

    She didn''t get a good look but she trusted Nicole''s judgement. She remembered how furious her friend had been about the rookie''s behavior. They probably acted intimate at that mini bar.

    "This must be how shended a project with Mikael. Then, she had the audacity to flirt with him," Nicole continued. Her mind devoured all of the avable messages, facts and opinions from the posts. "Are these people blind? We couldn''t be the only ones who saw them."

    "It''s probably a paid reporter," Charlee growled. Avery''spanion had a digital camera. He had to be the one behind this. "Not only that but also I think the whole Hathaway Family is behind this story."

    Nicole switched to another hashtag. Her screen now showed posts about Evangeline. A few users had filmed her walk and created gifs. One disyed the model as she threw her scarf backwards. The fabric fell in slow motion. The petals hovered in mid-air while the scarf looked like a cape.

    <em>``#EvangelineReed pping you in the face with rose petals.``</em>

    Another post used the one where she climbed down the stairs andnded on the tform, stating, <em>``#EvangelineReedis me when I walk into ss just before the bell rang.``</em>

    One user captioned the same gif as <em>``I was today years old when I found out this is how you''re supposed to walk down the stairs IN HEELS. Ya''ll I cannot. How did I not realize this?!``</em>

    "This. Is. Absurd." Nicole scorned, shaking her head. It had to be fake ounts. How could this woman gain favor in a matter of hours since her debut?

    "I agree." Charlee replied. "That rookie needs to be knocked down from her pedestal."

    Just because Evangeline became Ambryan''s girlfriend didn''t excuse her from humiliating others. It didn''t grant her immunity on wrong doings. Even so, it shouldn''t be something done in the first ce.

    It was obvious that power had inted the model''s head.

    "Any ideas?"

    "We could always y in her own game," Nicole suggested. She locked her phone screen and nced up. Crease lines appeared on her forehead. "I am positive that a lot of these chirpers are not real. We just need to do the same."

    "Then, what?" Charlee countered. She owned several of alternate ounts already, using them for her own benefit. They were easy to make. It wouldn''t even take more than a minute. The crucial part was how to use them.

    If they make one wrong move, the whole thing could copse.

    Their efforts would be thrown to the trash bin.

    "For a pair of scheming women, you both have loud mouths."

    Charlee and Nicole whirled their heads to thest cubicle.

    A woman their age stepped out. Her light blonde hair cascaded in ringlets. Smokey eyeshadow framed her amber eyes. The dark red lipstick she wore matched her wine-colored gown. Her pale legs peeked through the slits of her skirt.

    She seemed to have walked out of a gothic ball.

    Ignoring the others, she tucked her bag under her armpit and headed for a sink.

    "What theWhen did you get here?" Charlee panicked. She exchanged looks with Nicole. Did this woman hear everything they just said? They weren''t familiar with her. If they weren''t careful, this person might be someone who could ruin their life.

    Running water echoed around the room. "The next time you check if anyone upied the cubicles, don''t just peek under the door. It''s easy to hoist up legs."

    "Are you going to tell on us?" Nicole demanded, taking over the conversation. She stood behind the stranger and red through the mirror. "Because I doubt anyone would believe you."

    They had been tricked.

    Why would someone do such a thing? Only one answer came to her mind. This woman had wanted to overhear their conversation, keeping quiet all this time. They hadn''t heard a single noise from her.

    She stayed behind for a reason.

    But what?

    "Tell anyone? I don''t have such interest," the woman snorted, not sparing a nce. She reached for tissues from a dispenser and dried down her hands. "I have much better use of my time than fabricating a story about a two-timer."

    Nicole rolled her eyes, not believing a word. "Really now?"

    The woman raised her eyebrows. Her hands paused in mid-air. A mockingugh breathed out of her wine lips. "Well, excuse me. I''m not a crazy that would eat up any rumor and create a tidal wave out of it."

    "Do we have your word on that?" Charlee interrupted. She stood at the woman''s right and listened to the conversation, observing the person''s face. It could all be a lie.

    "Oh, please." It was the woman''s turn to roll her eyes. She threw away the damp tissues in the garbage bin. Her hands went to her hips. "I have nothing to prove to you. Whether you believe me or not is not my problem. I said what I said. Take it or leave it. It''s you who would be the one troubled by your decision."

    She took a step back and headed for the exit. A mischievous glint kindled in her gaze. Her skirt swayed behind her like leaves fluttering in the wind. Her heels filled in the silence and created daunting presencesomething that would linger even after she was gone.

    A smirk tugged her lips.

    If those two figured out her clues, she might just change her opinion of them.

    Harper felt the door open.

    Amber eyes met a pair of ck monolid ones. Harper stared at the woman as thetter passed her by. Air stopped from flowing in and out of her lungs. It seemed like she was in a movie where time moved in slow motion.

    ...

    ...

    It sped back up once the woman left the premises.

    Shaking her head, Harper blinked out of her daze. Her eyebrows scrunched towards where the stranger disappeared to. A nagging sensation berated the side of her head. She had seen that face before.

    ''Who was that woman again?''

 Chapter 73: Wake up! Its Monday!

    Chapter 73: Wake up! It''s Monday!

    The sun greeted the morning skies. Beacons of warm colors pierced through the clouds, lighting up the horizon like aforting nket. They brought hope and joy as a new day arrived. Sunlight beamed on the asphalt roads and concrete buildings.

    It shined through the windows, signalling the citizens of Maize City to wake up and to start the day.

    Monday hade once again.

    Eve groaned in her bed. Eyes still closed, she tapped on the pillows and searched for her phone. Her hand followed a trail until it located the mobile device. It felt warm under her touch.

    She cracked an eye open and peeked at the screen. One notif immediately captured her attention. Her thumb clicked on it, bringing her to the app. Her other eye opened up.

    .

    ``Yan: Good morning.``

    .

    Eve chuckled. Nothing had changed. Ambryan still messaged in the same manner. If the media got ahold of this conversation window, they''d doubt that he and Evangeline shared an intimate rtionship.

    A teasing grin blossomed on her lips.

    .

    ``Lin: Good morning to you too, Ambee~``

    .

    Then. her brown eyes zoomed in on the timestamp.

    "Crap!" She was going to bete!

    Eve bolted out of the bed. Her phone dropped on the pillows. The nkets tangled around her legs. She tugged them free,nding on the floor. Dull pain ached at the back of her head.

    She ran to her bedroom door.

    It wasn''t there.

    "What" Eve began to say but stopped short. The blood drained from her face. Of all days she woke upte, it just had to beshe shook her head and changed directions, muttering a curse.

    The bathroom stood across the bedroom.

    "Damn it! I really am gonna bete now!"

    Her mind raced as she took a shower. She formed a game n. Unfortunately, the odds weren''t in her favor. The time constraints were just too wide. If she managed to clock in on time, it would be a miracle.

    She really should have taken a taxi back to her real apartmentst night. Andie was unable so she decided to leave in the morning since it waste.

    Well, that surely did her a load of good.

    Eve zipped back to the bedroom like a cartoon roadrunner. Her feet went for the walk-in closet. She grabbed the first pair of underwear she found. Then, she searched for the easiest dress to wear. A slip on would be good at saving time.

    She found a long t-shirt dress in gray.

    It would have to do.

    Ambryan had messaged her on time. He surely wouldn''t bete. If only he was then, she could get away with her tardiness.

    "Damn him and his punctuality!" She cursed under her breath. "Next time, I''m going to ask if he''s ever beente in his entire life. There had to be, at least, one moment."

    Eve stepped out of the apartment.

    A pair of sunsses hid her brown eyes. A backpack hung on her shoulder. A baseball cap secured her crimson wig. She had been in a hurry that she couldn''t be sure if the wig looked natural. She hoped the cap could hide away any mistakes.

    The hallway was empty.

    Good.

    Eve sprinted for the elevator, her sneakers squeaking against the floor. She gazed at the digital screen above the doors. It stayed on ''12'', just two storeys above her. If it hadn''t moved that long, it might be unused at the moment.

    She pushed the down button and prayed that the lift would be empty.

    "Evangeline!"

    Freezing, Eve squeezed her eyes shut and pressed her lips together. ''Could this get any worse? Someone tell me that this is a nightmare. Let me wake up to reality where I am eating breakfast with Andie before leaving for work.''

    The tap on her shoulder shattered her wishes.

    A wide smile stretched across her face as she spun on her heel. Jordan''s concerned face and Mikael''s impassive one greeted her sight. The smile stered on her lips wavered for a second.

    Did it really have to be the two of them?

    "Mr. Dawson, Mr. Davis. Good morning." Eve nodded at each male. The elevator opened behind her. She entered it immediately and took the spot in front of the floor buttons. Her shoulder leaned against the wall while her eyes gazed at the digital screen.

    Then. she faced the wall across from her.

    She realized that they might see her brown eyes from the side.

    Maybe she should have taken the time to wear the contact lenses. Not only wouldn''t she worry like this but also Mikael and Jordan would have already left before her.

    Was this day going to be filled with bad decisions?

    "Good morning to you too," Jordan greeted back. He took the spot near her while Mikael stood on his other side. The doors closed before him. "Where are you headed? You looked like you were running away from a ghost."

    "No, no." Eve attempted augh. "I am just in a hurry."

    Could this elevator move any faster?

    Jordan raised his eyebrows. He twisted his neck in her direction. "Really? Do you have a ride? Mikael and I can drop you off if it''s really urgent."

    "Uh, um, hm." Eve cleared her throat, telling herself to focus. Her heart beat erratically inside her chest. She forced it to calm down. "Thank you, Mr. Dawson, but I already arranged a taxi. I''ll be alright."

    Mikael checked his watch. If he remembered right, headquarters for Eros Productions should be open soon. It was a short ride from the apartmentplex. His radiant blue eyes flickered towards Evangeline. She was on her way to her secretary job.

    But then, Ms. Hart couldn''t walk in while looking like this, could she?

    "Boyfriend can''t pick you up?" Jordan joked. It took all his will not pry more than that. Their story had to be a juicy one and it had him desiring to know.

    "He''s a busy man."

    "Can''t arrange his chauffeur to help?"

    "A taxi would be perfectly fine."

    Eve''s cheeks started to hurt. Who knew faking a smile took more effort than a genuine one? She wished for the interrogation to stop but s, when one dated a controversial boyfriend, it resulted in a controversial rtionship which led to thousands of nosy people.

    Jordan''s curiosity changed back to concern. "I don''t think so. Seeing as you ''tamed'' Ambryan Hathaway, you''re bound to be targeted by bad people."

    A brick fell on top of Eve''s head.

    She hadn''t thought about that. Had Ambryan? Did he nt a bodyguard on her? What about Avery? The questions made her head spin. "We''ve only been public for a day. I''ll talk it out with him. Thanks, Mr. Dawson."

    A sigh flowed out of her mouth. This checklist never seemed to end. Her recent addition had been about Evangeline''s social media ounts. She wouldn''t have created one but she could gain favor by interacting with the public.

    For someone like her whocked power, appealing to the masses would be her sword.

    The elevator doors parted open.

    Eve stepped out first, cing her hand on her knees. She panted and took a deep breath. The gulp of air relieved her muscle tension. Up until now, it felt like she had been suffocating. This incident shouldn''t happen again. It would endanger her health.

    "You really sure that you wouldn''t want a ride from us?" Jordan asked again. If anything happened to her, it would be on his conscience.

    Eve straightened her spine. She gave him a thankful smile. "Thank you, Mr. Dawson, but since both of my rtionship and my modelling career are still new, I''d rather avoid unnecessary rumors."

    She had yet to check today''s news. A part of her had a feeling that Andie had beaten her to it. Her best friend would have all thetest scoop by lunch time. Although, she could guess the basic gist of the main points:

    Theunch''s sess,

    Evangeline''s debut,

    Ambryan''s girlfriend, and

    Ambeevan''s rtionship.

    With those many eyes on her, it would be best toy low.

    "Is that really the priority over your own safety?" Mikael spoke up for this first time. A deep scowl sculpted on his brows. She had zero protection. That alone caught his attention. It didn''t seem right.

    If they had nned this, they should have nned it properly.

    Her safety should have been the first one on the list.

    "Both are on the same level. This disguise might be simple but I do think it works." Eveughed, backing away slowly. She could see the storm brewing in Mikael''s eyes. It was her cue to leave.

    She pointed a thumb over her shoulder. "Will you gentlemen excuse me while I use the bathroom?"

    Jordan exhaled sharply. He had already asked twice. At this point, it would be rude to ignore her decision. "We''ll be going ahead then. Take care, Evangeline."

    "The both of you as well."

    Mikael rooted on his spot. He watched as Eve escaped to the restrooms. His mind wondered if she''d change appearance now orter. The dress didn''t seem appropriate for office wear. What exactly did she n to do?

    "Mikael?"

    Jordan''s voice broke him out of his daze.

    He shook his head and turned towards the exit.

    It wasn''t any of his business anyway.

 Chapter 74: Fifteen-Minute Window

    Chapter 74: Fifteen-Minute Window

    "Eve?! Why aren''t you at work?"

    Andie strode out of the kitchen. Her stormy blue eyes fluttered as her best friend ran up the stairs. Loud footsteps stomped against the floorboards. The backpack bounced from the climb.

    "No time to talk. I''mte!"

    "Gee, you don''t say?" Andie mumbled. She rubbed the side of her temple and headed back to the kitchen. When Eve hadn''t shown up, she figured that her best friend went straight to the office.

    Papers reced the usual array of food and equipment. Despite having a study table, Andie always preferred to work in the kitchen. Aptop sat in front of a stool. Her fingers tapped on the keyboard and opened a document.

    The bakery was having an event soon.

    Children would be invited to bake and learn about it. The session would bepletely free. For today, she needed to conduct the budget. She used that as an excuse to stay at home. Her co-workers would have constantly disturbed her otherwise.

    The loud footsteps came back.

    "Bye, Andie! See youter!" Eve shouted as she bolted out of the door. Her legs pumped up, aiming for the BMW M3 parked at the curb. She hopped inside and sped down the street. The car ran as high as the speed limit allowed.

    Any higher and a policeman could show up.

    That would only cause more dy.

    "That was fast" Andie remarked, frowning at the archway. "Did Eve wear her heels?"

    What shoes did she have on?

    ...

    "Morning, Beautiful Ms. Hart."

    "Darryl, not now. I am sote!"

    Eve pushed the up button. She considered it as a milestone. From here, there was nothing else to do but wait. She panted for breath. Her lungs burned from theck of air and moisture.

    She hadn''t drank or eaten anything.

    Hell, she hadn''t even brought food.

    "Not like mypliments make the elevator run slower." Darryl chuckled. His sleek brte bob had been gelled from the sides. It gave him a windswept look.

    "If they can make it move faster, please feel free."

    Eve continued to pray for a miracle. Maybe Ambryan visited the studios. Maybe he stopped by an investor''s house. Maybe he was stuck in traffic. Maybe Avery surprised him with a house visit.

    There had to be something.

    Anything.

    Anything would do if it meant she''d be scat free.

    "I''d say it''s worth the shot." The security guard gazed upwards. The lift had crossed the halfway point. He hummed, thinking ofpliments to use.

    "Hey, beautiful."

    "Yes, you''re beautiful."

    "You''re also cute when embarrassed."

    Eve flushed red. He was telling it to the elevator but she was the one who heard them. What would people think if they saw this situation? No sane person would think Darryl addressed thepliments to the elevator.

    "D-Darryl, Darryl," she stammered, keeping her head bowed. She shook her hands in protest. Then, she pinched the bridge of her nose. "Ignore what I said. I was just joking!"

    Her ears felt hot. Why was she affected by this? Was it because of her current state? 1) She had the fastest shower in her life, 2) she threw on her clothes, creating wrinkles in them, and 3) shecked sleep plus had an iing headache.

    None of them fit apliment.

    Hopefully, she wouldn''t make obvious mistakes in the office. Mr. Perfectionist would have a field dayespecially since it was the first work day of the week. It called for a ton of things needed to be done.

    Would it be too much to ask or to hope that he was sleeping in the office right now? How is he functioning with all the red wine he had? Not to mention howte they stayed out.

    He had to be sleeping.

    He just had to be.

    "I can''t ignore you when you always catch my eye"

    "... Morepliments, huh?" Eve sighed. She dropped her hand and nced up at the floor number. Her heart leaped when she saw how close it was. She nced at her watch. There was still a bit of time before she became 15 minuteste.

    This was a window given by HR for employees to receive zero deduction from tardiness. But! If they missed by a minute, like being 16 minuteste, the whole 16 minutes would be charged.

    "Hm." Darryl turned to face Eve. He ced his elbow on the lecturn and his cheek on the back of his curled fingers. An amused smirk painted his lips. "How am I supposed topliment you more when you''re already perfect?"

    "Oh, look! Lift''s here! Thanks for the help. Bye!"

    The security guardughed as Eve ran for the elevator. It had been a while since she became flustered frompliments. The reaction brought him down memoryne. When Eve first started, she used to politely thank him for them while blushing.

    Their boss must have rubbed off on her because her responses became snarky.

    It was still just as fun though.

    Could a heart break through skin and bones?

    Because it just might for Eve.

    Her heart elerated as the elevator approached the top floor. She''d never beente before. She didn''t know what to expect from Ambryan. If appointments and meetings were any indicators, it would not be pretty.

    Would it call for a punishment? She hoped not.

    Setting the panic aside, Eve forced herself to think of a good excusenot to escape from sanction but to have a valid reason. It was the least she could do in order to maintain a good record underneath the vition.

    Also, to promise that it wouldn''t happen again.

    Eve heaved a sigh. This really shouldn''t happen again. Her secretary job still came first. If there would be a hindrance between Eve and Evangeline, Eve would prevail. She needed more help if this would be a regr urence.

    The lift opened at the top floor, revealing the CEO''s office door across the hall. Eve found the nk of mahogany wood intimidatingmuch like the person behind it. She walked over to her desk and set up her things.

    She booted the PC, using the time to stall.

    It didn''tst long. The lock screen wallpaper shed before her eyes. She logged into her ount and theputer prepared her desktop. Her auto-start programs started up at once, opening her emails and her office chat windows.

    Everlee Hart was officially online in the workce.

    If Ambryan had his eyes on his monitor, he''d know that she arrived. The inevitable hade. Her legs moved sluggishly. The distance between the desk and the door seemed too short. She reached it in a few seconds.

    Now, it was time to face the boss.

    Eve knocked with hesitation. Her hand trembled over the knob, turning it with caution. She took a deep breath and entered the office. "Sir Hathaway, I"

    It seemed that the CEO had a guest.

    The back of a long albino hair greeted her sight. Its luster was more prominent because of the morning sun. The tips reached up to a slim waist, twisting inwards. It added volume and ''bounce'' to the hair.

    Then, it flipped to the right and a pair of luminous green eyes met her gaze. Longshes framed theirrge almond shape. They seemed too big for a dainty and angelic face. Thin rosy lips hovered below a button nose.

    They stretched into a charming smile towards her.

    No matter how many times Eve had seen this face and this expression, it always managed to take her breath away. How could such a beautiful person exist? An allure that could stun any person in the same room.

    "Eve!" Madison called out to her. "

    Ambryan sat on his seat, looking bored. He took this moment as a chance to close his eyes. For once, he wasn''t irritated that someone came to disturb him at work.

    "Madison?" Eve blurted out, remembering herself, "I mean, Pre"

    "Dear, oh, dear. I don''t mind the slipup." Madison snorted, brushing off her mistake. "We were acquainted before you joined ourpany. It''s only natural that you''re used to the former way of greeting. Frankly, I also prefer that one."

    Eve pressed her lips together, afraid to speak out of turn. She folded her hands over her abdomen and stood at the ready. Inside, she scolded herself for her tardiness once more. This was why she should always be on time.

    Now, more than one person knew of her tainted punctuality record.

    The President of Eros Productions sat on a chair and regarded her with an amused look. The charming smile never wavered. "How''s my favorite secretary?"

    "Madison, please do not show favoritism among employees." Ambryan interrupted. He heard the chair scrap against the floor and opened his eyes. They frosted into gemstones. "You also have your own secretary."

    "Who would have been Eve but I know you deserve the best so I handed her to you."

    Unfortunately, Ambryan didn''t appreciate the humor

    Eve cleared her throat, cutting in. This wasn''t the first time this happened. Her superiors often bickered about nonsensical things. "Would the two of you like some refreshments?"

    "Nonsense. I came with a tray of them," Madison replied, gesturing towards the Ambryan''s work desk. Three paper cups sat on the surface, two with hot teas and one with cold coffee. Bread and pastries also upied the table.

    Still sitting, the President reached for the iced espresso and handed it to Eve.

    "Here. I know you love Caramel Mhiatos. I ordered you thergest one." Madison chuckled. "Seems like you need it too since you''rete for the first time in five years."

 Chapter 75: The Face of Eros

    Chapter 75: The Face of Eros

    Eve took the drink and felt the blood drain from her face. "President Madison, I can exin"

    "No need. I won''t put it on your record."

    Ambryan scowled. "Madison, that is unprofessional."

    "A killjoy as always." Madison sighed with an eye roll, grabbing the secretary''s shoulders and looking at her in the eye. "Eve, just say the word and I''ll take you as my subordinate."

    Instead of a concerned look, Eve stared at a pleading one. It would be wrong to say that she wasn''t ttered by the President''s favor towards her. They always had a good rtionship. There was never any pressure for her to do better than she could.

    It seemed like the work would be a breeze, a piece of cake or a walk in the park.

    Unfortunately, it opened little growth on her part as an employee.

    "And the unprofessionalism continues." Ambryan exhaled sharply. He rolled his chair closer to theputer monitor. His fingers typed on the keyboard,posing an email reminder for the department heads.

    Madison squinted in his direction, feeling irritated.

    Eve was a model employee. She was patient, kind, diligent and gorgeous. Anyone would be lucky to have her. She deserved a favorable treatment. It tugged the President''s heartstrings to see her struggle.

    She wasn''t even thatteeven HR knew her tardiness was within the eptable range. She also had a perfect record before this. It wouldn''t be right to overlook them like they didn''t exist.

    A warning should be enough but this was Eve they were talking about. She already knew her actions and reflected on them. It probably drove her crazy along the way.

    There wasn''t a need for a lengthy lecture anymore.

    "Thank you for the constant offer, President Madison, but I am content working with Sir Hathaway." Eve smiled. It felt tight on her lips. She always faced the same generosity from the President. The rejection became harder to say as time went by.

    She wished that the topic would end.

    Madison turned towards her, wearing a hurt expression. "Are you sure?"

    "I am sure." Eve nodded. She stayed firm and ignored the angelic face.

    The President let her go and marched over to the work desk. A hand mmed on the table. Luminous green eyes darkened at the CEO. "What kind of magic potion did you feed her? Why is she so loyal to you?"

    Ambryan stopped typing. He leaned back on his chair and looked up. Despite the current height difference, he didn''t find Madison intimidating. Silence surrounded the office. If one looked closely, the person might see a storm brewing overhead.

    Eve inched towards the exit.

    But then, Ambryan spoke, making her stiffen.

    "How insulting, <em>King</em>," he sneered and tilted his head to one side, "Why would I need a potion to make someone loyal to me?"

    Eve gulped and nced at the President. She rarely heard anyone address Madison by his first name. He always preferred his surname for unknown reasons. When she asked Darryl about it, the security guard had one answer.

    It seemed that the President enjoyed it whenever strangers mistook him for a woman.

    If Eve didn''t know any better, she would have thought the same.

    "Oh, my poor heart. Don''t call me that." Madison groaned. He flopped back onto the chair and hung his head. His albino hair fell behind the backrest. The sunlight glowed on his skin, highlighting his high cheekbones.

    "I feel less of a ''king'' whenever you''re around."

    "Maybe if you cut and dye your hair, people would see you as more respectable."

    "But I love my hair!" The President eximed with a pout. He pointed an using finger towards Ambryan. "And that is discrimination. We work in a creative industry. Freedom of expression should be practiced everywhere."

    Ambryan ignored his preachings and went back to work.

    Madison frowned. He twisted his neck towards the door. "Don''t you agree with me, Eve? Also, why don''t you sit down? You''re making me dizzy by just standing there."

    Eve grabbed the knob behind her. "Alright. I will go sit on my desk."

    "What? It''s still early. Come and enjoy this breakfast meal I bought. It would be rude to refuse."

    Thest statement made her halt. It glued her feet to the floor. Considering how Ambryan hadn''t given ament on her punctuality yet, she''d rather avoid him for now. She would make up for it with her workfinishing faster than usual if possible.

    She had to think of something fast.

    Her brown eyesnded on the croissant. Its crispy golden brown skin captivated her gaze. She could almost smell its buttery taste. Her mouth watered from the thought, rumbling her stomach.

    "If it makes you feel better, President Madison. I will take a piece back with me."

    "Alright, fine." Madison sighed after a while. He reached for his warm hibiscus tea. "I''ll be chatting with your boss anyway. You''d have to substitute him for a while."

    "Understood." Eve beamed as she grabbed the croissant. The skin cracked under her touch. It almost made her squeal. She couldn''t wait to bite into it. She''d savor every bite.

    This day might not turn out that bad after all.

    Madison watched her with a smile. He had picked out their favorites: croissants for Eve, scones for Ambryan and cinnamon rolls for yours truly. Her happy expression was exactly the reason why he bought them.

    It delighted him to know that she appreciated the foodunlike a certain someone.

    Eve spun on her heel and avoided peeking towards Ambryan''s direction.

    The door closed noiselessly behind her.

    ...

    ...

    ...

    Madison set his paper cup on the desk.

    The smile on his face vanished, recing it with an impassive expression. He crossed his arms over his chest and observed his colleague. They hadn''t seen each other in weeks. Yet, things seemed to have changed around here.

    His green eyes narrowed.

    "Late night, Ambryan?" He teased, noticing the under eye circles. They seemed faint especially on warm beige skin. Their color looked neither purple or bluemore like light shadowing.

    "What makes you say so, King?"

    "I told you to stop calling me that," Madison grumbled. The name brought up memories he''d rather not remember.

    "I never said I agreed, President King Madison."

    A deadpan expression washed over his face. Any trace of humor had drained away. His voice became low and jarring. "Sometimes I wish the media could see your arrogance behind that cold mask."

    "I don''t know what you mean."

    "..."

    Madison wiped his hand over his face. Well, one thing certainly didn''t change. Ambryan still had his passive-aggressive tone. Shouldn''t people be nicer after getting into a rtionship?

    If the news hadn''t told him, he wouldn''t believe that his colleague had a girlfriend.

    "Anyway." He exhaled sharply. Despite his behavior, he hade for a reason. "That leads me to why I''m here."

    "And here I thought you have the kindest heart in all of the country as the media puts it." Ambryan said, implying that the President came for a favor instead of a casual visit. The food he brought now became bargaining chips.

    "Very funny. Ha-ha." Madisonughed. Sarcasmced every syble. "I came here because I haven''t had breakfast. I had to help the PR Team because a mob of reporters decided to band together and camp out of our building."

    It had to be one of the biggest media gatherings they ever had. Because of thepany''s power and influence, reporters decided that more manpower meant a higher chance of getting their way. The quantity of them would even out the ying field.

    Something that he thought of as stupid.

    Their security team still managed to clear them out.

    "Have we faced a major scandal?" Ambryan frowned. He pulled up the web browser, typing in theirpany name. Wen mentioned nothing of the sort. "Is our stock price going down? Has a newpetitor emerged? Have we been swindled?"

    "It''s not business rted." Madison rified. Did he really not know? "This is about your rtionship, Mr. Coldest Person on Earth. The media wants yourment on this subject."

    Since theunch, the topic had stayed on top trending. Countless articles, posts and videos flooded the inte. The masses joined in on the bandwagon. Support, criticisms and various opinions sprouted as if weeds in a garden.

    Their PR Team kept a close eye on the tides, catching inappropriate activity. There was only so much they could do. If not careful, they''d dabble into viting freedom of speech.

    "I fail to see why it is necessary." Ambryan nced at the President. The results of his web search seemed manageable, nothing that needed immediate attention.

    None posed as a threat to theirpany.

    Public statements helped but they also didn''tst long. He had never spoken about his love life before and he wasn''t about to do so now. Acting out of character would raise more suspicion than calming them down.

    Madison rubbed his temple. "Ambryan Hathaway, you know very well that you are the face of thispany. Anything about you indirectly affects the business."

 Chapter 76: Did You Kiss Her Yet?

    Chapter 76: Did You Kiss Her Yet?

    Ambryan scowled.

    When his romantic life consisted of questionable personalities, the public had their opinions. Eros Productions kept this business as usual. The world eventually moved on when they received nothing from him. Yes, he had staged multiple waves to gain public opinions.

    But, never had he addressed them himself.

    Why would this matter differ from those?

    His violet eyes narrowed.

    sping his hands together, Ambryan leaned over the desk. He settled his elbows on the table and watched his colleague above the back of his joint fingers. The angelic face stared back innocently.

    That was where the problem lied.

    "Madison, be honest with me," Ambryan began to say and knitted his eyebrows. His gaze scrutinized the dainty expression. "Are you using the press as a way to ask me about my rtionship?"

    Luminous green eyes against murky violet ones, silence nketed the pair once more. No trace of outside noise trespassed through the soundproof walls. The sound of munching a crispy croissant stayed at the other side of the door.

    Only the rising and falling of chests hinted that there was life inside the room.

    ...

    "Pfft, no." Madison snorted. He threw back his head and cackled at the absurdity. "Pft, that is ridiculous. Where would you get such an idea?"

    Ambryan rxed his posture and tapped away on his keyboard. Except, his manner of speech remained stiff. "Good. Then. don''t ask about it."

    "But"

    The CEO ceased typing immediately and flickered his eyes to their corners. They met the sight of a shocked President. Madison had risen out of the chair, stretching his arm out towards him. Protest was written all over his face.

    He had been caught red-handed.

    Ambryan''s lips thinned into a grim line.

    "Fine. I am." Madison sighed, sitting back down. His fist banged on the table as Ambryan went back to work. "How could you not tell me? I thought we were friends!"

    Ambryan hadn''t given him a clue beforehand. Not a single one! He only heard of the rtionship because of someone else. He hadn''t been following the news as ofte and missed the first wave of articles. Even so, his friend should have mentioned something.

    It was an essential part of friendship!

    "Is Richard in on this?"

    "No."

    Ambryan gave him a look.

    "Yes," Madison admitted. He had been the one to tell him. And it was after the party! And they had been dating for like what? Two weeks? That news was two weeks overdue! "Point is we''re your friends. Shouldn''t you tell us about it?"

    The tapping sound of the keyboard resumed. "I''ve told Richard plenty of things."

    "None of which he shared to me, iming it had toe from you."

    "That sounds about right."

    Questions crammed inside Madison''s head, threatening to split his skull open. Was it love at first sight? When, how and where did they meet? He read news about the woman. Evangeline Reed, they called her. She had embedded her existence in their minds.

    Most feedback about her had been positive. She gained a fanbase overnight. Granted, it wasn''t as big as A-list celebrities but, for someone new, it was a big achievement.

    But what about Ambryan?

    What did he think of her?

    Sulking for being in the dark, Madison inched closer to the monitor until his cheek hit the side of it. His bottom lip stuck out. "Come on, Yan. Details! Have you kissed her yet?"

    Ambryan stopped typing for the nth time in one hour.

    His fingers hovered on the keyboard. His eyes blinked towards the President. The attention brought an instant smile on Madison''s face, acting like a kid in a toy store. Lots of people find him endearing. His boyish charm always brightened their day.

    Except for Ambryan.

    "Madison."

    "Yes?"

    "Have I told you how unprofessional you are?"

    "Am I on duty?" Madison scoffed. He folded his arms over the desk and ced his chin on top of them. He only came for the mob, helping out the PR Team since their head contacted him directly.

    Ambryan raised an eyebrow. "Are you not? How touching. The President went to work even outside his working hours. I should report this to your subordinates."

    Madison froze.

    If his secretary knew of his whereabouts, he''d be dragged to his own office and be drowned in paperwork. Today was supposed to be his free day but he cked so much that they''d want him to work extra hours.

    He raised his hands in surrender.

    "Alright, alright. I got the message." Madison caved. He didn''t like it but he had no other choice. "But let me say this. If you''re serious about this girl, your actions towards the media have to be different."

    "Didn''t I take her out on a public date?" Ambryan reminded him. That had been one of his media schemes. He made sure to imply the intimacy. The same happenedst night.

    "Lovely touch but, ording to theunch party, she was the one who approached you." Madison pointed out. "I''m just saying that you have to take the initiative too."

    If the first move always came from Evangeline, people would see her as the one who pursued the other. Not only that but they''d also <em>constantly</em> see her as the one chasing after Ambryan. Even if he returned the gestures affectionately, the mass might think that he responded because he had to.

    Which could lead to many theories and many scandals.

    That they''d have to clean up.

    Ambryan considered his words and tucked them in his mental notes. "We only started dating. There shouldn''t be that much to work out yet. There''s still time to prevent that."

    "Good. Remember this one too."

    Madison rose to his feet. He nted his hands on the table and matched Ambryan''s eye level. The luminosity of his green eyes vanished, darkening into moss. "If you make her cry, you''ll receive a lot of hate which would also include me."

    "Why would I make her cry?" Ambryan questioned. Of course, he wouldn''t let it happen. That seemed to be in the things that couples shouldn''t dowhich would cause problems to their arrangement.

    "Who doesn''t cry with you?"

    "If that is all, Madison, please leave."

    "No, wait. One question"

    "Fine."

    "What do you call each other?"

    Ambryan studied the President. He had a quick debate whether to answer the question or not. He chose the former to use it as a leverage to make Madison finally leave.

    "Ambee and Evan."

    Madison pressed his lips together, testing the names in his head. They both had their charm but there had to be something more romantic.

    "Ambee is cute. Evan is so-so." He remarked and hit Ambryan''s shoulder. "Come on, you can think better than that."

    Violet eyes hardened in his direction. They showed no mercy. "Leave or I call your secretary."

    Madison flinched. His hand patted the table, reaching for the basket of bread. His other one grabbed the hibiscus tea. "I''ll be taking these then."

    Ambryan opened his mouth but Madison beat him to it.

    "I''ll leave the scones, of course. I did buy them for you."

    Shaking his head, Ambryan finally concentrated on his work. He couldn''t wait for the peace and quiet. The medicine he took started to wear off. His headache wasing back.

    "Do take care on your way home."

    Madison turned towards the exit. Halfway there, he sneaked onest look at the CEO. "And you. Try not to give Eve a hard time. I bet she''s working a storm already, catching up on the work she could have done in 15 minutes."

    "Then, she should have the time to call your secretary."

    "I''m going already. Sheesh."

    Grumbling, Madison marched out of the office. He only got the terms of endearments in the end. How was it possible that Ambryan knew his tactic? Although, what he said was true. Evangeline had an interview about their rtionship. Ambryan should do the same for consistency.

    ''Whatever,'' he fumed in his head and walked over to the secretary''s desk. ''At least, I gave him the idea. Hopefully, they would be alright.''

    The basketnded on the table.

    "Hello, Eve." Madison greeted her with a smile.

    "President." She responded, bowing her head. She had risen to her feet when he came out of the door. The butter of the croissant still lingered on her tongue.

    "Mr. Hotshot CEO kicked me out." Madison snorted. He picked out a few pastry bags and ced them on her desk. "Here are the rest of the croissants. I know you love them."

    "Really? Thank you!" Eve contained her squeal. After a hectic morning, this was what she needefort food to replenish her soul. She counted the pastries and wondered if there would be enough for lunch.

    Madison chuckled at her delighted face. The girl lit up at the simplest things. "It really is a shame. I always rooted for you and Yan to get together."

    Eve snapped her head up, the smile leaving her lips.

    "Now, he''s in a rtionship with a model."

    "He seems quite content though?" She replied, hesitating at thest second. The sentence sounded more like a question than a statement. She bit her tongue in case she''d say something else.

    "I know. I''m just wishful thinking." Madison sighed and sipped from his paper cup. Warmth flowed down to his stomach. Then, his gaze flickered back at her, curiosity knitting his eyebrows.

    "Sometimes I wonder what if you had epted the modelling deal I offered you? Do you think you would have ended up together?"

 Chapter 77: Would You Have Ended Up Together?

    Chapter 77: Would You Have Ended Up Together?

    Eve blinked.

    It happened so long ago. She almost forgot about it. Her mind took a quick trip, recapping the events. She had needed a job and Madison had offered modelling as the first choice.

    Something she refused for the same reasons she gave Andie. Show Business wasn''t stable. His subsequent suggestions had also been rejected since they centered around it.

    Then, Ambryan needed a new secretary and the rest became history.

    Frown lines creased between her brows.

    Why bring this up now?

    "I think if people are meant to be, they''d eventually find each other at the right time?" Eve offered as an answer. She''d read, heard and watched romance. It seemed to be amon theme.

    Madison ced half of his thigh on the edge of her desk. His hand swirled the tea inside the paper cup. "Do you really believe that?"

    "I believe in many things, President Madison," Eve replied, shrugging her shoulders. "But they also change overtime."

    And they did. Every time she learned and experienced more, new insights presented themselves. Then, her beliefs would shift if she agreed to them.

    "Seriously though, how are you, Eve?" Madison sighed. A coy smile curled the corners of his lips. "You''ve never beente before."

    There had to be a special reason, right?

    "I''m good. I just woke upte since I slept past midnight," Eve exined. She crossed her fingers behind her back, hoping that this would be the end of it. "Not that I''ve never slept thatte before but I was slightly intoxicated."

    Her body cringed at her own words. Drinking before a work day? It sounded like a bad decision but her boss also drank that night. She thought that would make him more understanding.

    Not that he let it affect his work ethic.

    Something she should also be able to do.

    But, it was the truth which was still better than a lie.

    "Don''t sweat it. You''re allowed to have fun." Madison nced at the elevator doors. He shook his head. "I feel like your mother''s hazel eyes are ring at me for not taking care of you better."

    If he had everything his way, Eve wouldn''t be working so much. She''d spend her life in luxury and in leisure. s, both mother and daughter frowned upon that type of help. They valued hard work, earning their way up.

    Eve smiled gently. Her voice came out soft. "I''m sure there are better things a 43-year old man needs to do."

    ''Beautiful'' and ''young-looking'' were two words to describe thepany President. He looked like he was in histe twentieswhich a lot of people envied him for. His slim frame also added to that assumption.

    The telephone rang, breaking the moment.

    Eve pushed the speaker button on reflex.

    "If Madison is still there, please tell him to leave."

    "How did he" Madison whirled his head towards the CEO''s office. Crease lines dented his forehead. "These walls are soundproof, right?"

    "Yes." A giggle told him quietly.

    "Oh, well." He sighed, shifting his attention back. Tenderness projected out of his gaze. "If you need anything, just tell me. Like an assistant, more off days, sudden absence"

    "I will keep it in mind but I think most of those need Sir Hathaway''s approval." Eve shook her head, a small smile teasing the corner of her lip. "He is our superior."

    "Is he treating you okay?"

    "He''s treating me just fine, President. It has been that way for thest five years."

    Madison didn''t know if he wanted tough or cry. He''d given so many hints but nothing hit home. Any more obvious and he might scare her instead. He would have to watch from the sidelines for now.

    The telephone rang again.

    "If Madison doesn''t leave within a minute, please call his secretary about his whereabouts."

    "I''m going. I''m going."

    Eve scrunched her eyebrows at the speaker, wondering how Ambryan knew about Madison''s presence. If he suddenly could detect through walls, she needed to be extra careful.

    Madison stood up and stretched. Then, he grabbed the basket filled with cinnamon rolls. "He must be scared that I''d take you away. I''ll be leaving first. Remember to take it easy."

    "I will." Eve nodded as he left. She waved her hand in goodbye. "Have a safe trip, President."

    He raised his hand in return, not looking back.

    The rest of the morning passed by uneventful.

    Eve sat on her desk, rapidly attacking her keyboard. Categorized printed forms covered her work area. They were to serve as supporting documents for her reports. She had already transferred their data to her soft files. All that was left was to finalize the summarized sheet.

    Of course, she should double check it first and make sure there weren''t any errors.

    Then, she should recheck again because she waste and should be error free. It wasn''t exact science but it would make her look better.

    The printer sat on a square desk, connecting to the end of her worktable. One by one, her reports came out of it. Shebined each sheet with their respective document folders and stacked them for submission. Her hand pulled out a drawer, revealing preparedbels.

    She only needed to stick them onto the sides.

    Eve stared at her finished reports. Nothing else needed to be done. She''d checked them more than three times already. At that point, she admitted to stalling for time. She debated whether to submit early or to submit on time.

    She picked the former since it had the better outlook.

    Standing up, Eve gathered the folders and walked over to the door.

    Her knuckles knocked three times. She kept her head bowed as she opened the door. Her feet moved hastily, desiring to leave as soon as possible. She ced the reports on the edge of his desk and turned around. The sight of the exit brought her relief.

    "Eve."

    One syble and her momentary happiness left.

    Eve spun on her heel and folded her hands over her abdomen. She nodded her head in acknowledgement. "Sir Hathaway."

    Ambryan''s eyes stayed on the monitor. He had an online meeting with a few executives. Instead of using video and/or voice, they chose to write out their statements as documentation. This made it easier to track the flow and agendaready to be reviewedter on.

    And he was leading it.

    "Do you have anything to say about your tardiness?"

    Eve kept her chin up. Although he didn''t look at her, she did. She gazed straight at him and controlled her expression. She would be firm. She would be responsible. There wouldn''t be an excuse unless he asked.

    "I have no valid reason other than I woke upte."

    ''There. I did it.'' She gave herself a mental pat on the back. Her erratic heartbeat slowed down. The loud pulse in her ears faded away. All of her worries vanished into the past.

    "I guessed as much."

    She raised an eyebrow. "You did?"

    Ambryan sent his message and nced at the floor. He ascertained if his clue was still around. Although he had confidence in his vision, he made it a habit to confirm a second time. His head nodded in the same direction, waiting for her to notice.

    Eve followed his line of sight and stepped back. Nothing was there. Only her and her

    "Your shoes."

    "Oh, crap!" Eve eximed. "I''m wearing sneakers?!"

    How did she not notice? No wonder it feltfortable to walk. A groan rumbled in her throat. After all the precaution she took, she still made a mistake. Compared to an error in a report that could be corrected, this was improper business etiquette.

    It was also againstpany policy.

    Her brown eyes shut behind her sses. "Did President see?"

    "Probably. But like your tardiness, he overlooked it," Ambryan replied as he read the messages from the other executives.

    Eve sighed and bowed her head low. "I promise I''ll be presentable tomorrow."

    She used this pose to hide her red cheeks. Next time, she''d have a pair of spare heels left in her workstation. They could also be useful in times of heavy rain. She should also bring a set of clothes in Evangeline''s apartment.

    Because of the concern on safety, she had taken off the wig and walked out as Eve. Neither the receptionist nor the security guard raised an eyebrow. That became her clue that they knew of her dual identity.

    Or maybe they simply didn''t care since she was leaving the building instead of entering it.

    "It"

    The sudden pause made her look up. Ambryan used one hand to rub his temples. His other one continued to tap on the keyboard. She frowned at the sight. "Are you alright, Sir Hathaway?"

    "Yes, just a bit of a headache." He let go of his temples and sped up his typing.

    Eve shook her head, not epting his answer. Her feet prepared to march out of the office. "I have some ibuprofen in my drawer. Let me get some for you."

    "There''s no" Ambryan nced her way but it was toote. She already left through the door. A sigh escaped his lips. "And there she goes like a mother hen."

 Chapter 78: Spice of the Rainbow

    Chapter 78: Spice of the Rainbow

    Andie sat on the couch, her legs raised and bent upwards. She leaned on the armrest. Her paperwork had ended. The only thing left to do was wait on the approval. A te of chocte chip cookies sat on the coffee table. Her left hand held up a piece.

    She flipped the magazine on herp.

    Red flourished the pages. The coated the glossy sheet in arrays of cherry, scarlet, currant and ruby. At the center of it all, crimson snaked its way in between shades. Its tips led to the bottom middle where a heart-shaped face upied.

    Only half of her expression was shown. The teasing lips and smiling eyes became the signature look of the magazine. They captivated readers with every turn of a page. No matter how big or how small,

    Their attention always went to the hazel eyes first.

    "Damn!" Andie moaned, biting a cookie. "I knew it! Eve should have been in show business! She''s so photogenic and she''s only wearing a bonewhite toga. Hm, I wonder if she got any of these bags. I''d love an Athon bag especially if free."

    She reached the back pages. These became dedicated to the brand and to the model. She skipped over the ones for Athon Luxury, too excited to read about Evangeline Reed.

    ```

    <em>> Evangeline Reed, the Spice of the Rainbow</em>

    <em>Ms. Reed came from a remote town, far away from Maize City. Moving in, she felt reluctant to join the modelling industry. Her priorities were linked to providing for her family and thus, all of her decisions centered on this.</em>

    <em>It didn''t matter what it was, if it was for her loved ones, she''d do it.</em>

    <em>Legally, of course, as she loves to remind our team.</em>

    <em>''Athon Luxury''s Rainbow Collection gave me an experience that I''d unlikely forget. When I came to that shoot, for a brief moment, I wasn''t the girl working behind aputer. I was living in someone''s imagination. It gave me a taste of fantasy merging with reality.'' - Evangeline Reed, 20XX</em>

    <em>What''s next for this little fire? Ms. Reed expressed her enthusiasm on more projects toe. What they would turn out to be was yet to be set in stone. For now, she''d see ''where the wind blows'' as the saying goes.</em>

    <em>One thing we know for sure, she''d leave a zing trail and we''d be there to follow.</em>

    ```

    "I''ve been robbed" Andie blew a raspberry and shook her head. "None of these talk about her rtionship. There has to be something. I already know all of these."

    She ced the cookie between her lips and grabbed the magazine. The pages fluttered before her stormy blue eyes as she searched for the topic she coveted the most. ''Eve talked about her dating, right? She had to or it would be a missed opportunity.''

    The answer she sought for came in a pop up bubble near the bottom right corner. <em>``Ms. Reed and dating? She is awaiting a kiss from her beau!``</em>

    "What?! That''s it?!" Andie bolted upright. Her left foot touched the floor while her right one tucked under her left knee. She skimmed through the rest of the pages, refusing to believe that the subject matter had ended.

    There had to be photos, at least!

    She wanted a printed version of them!

    "Andiiieee!" Eve wailed as she walked through the front door. Her sneakers squeaked against the wooden flooring. "I had the most humiliating, most embarrassing and most worrisome day that I want to bury it under a ditch and never see again."

    One thing she thanked Monday for was how busy it was. She and Ambryan hardly interacted unless necessary. The day went by with her snug and safe in her workstation. Most of theirmunications came through thepany chat and the telephone.

    Andie waved her hand in the air as if shoo-ing her best friend away.

    "Shh, I''m reading," she fussed, dissecting the articles line per line.

    "What''s that?" Eve scowled after she put her coat on the rack. She walked into the living room and stood behind the couch.

    "It''s the limited edition Rainbow Series of Vanitea Faere." Andie answered. She used her finger as a bookmark and showed Eve the front cover. "Didn''t you know about this? The magazine stands are like colored in rainbow. You models each took up a front page. Of course, I only picked yours."

    The photo had been cropped to exclude the bag. Evangeline stood against the white background, smiling at the camera. Her red lips glinted against the studio lights. Her hair looked straight out of amercial with how glossy it was.

    "It''s out already? The interviews were justst night."

    ''Those interviews were for these magazines, right?'' Eve tried to recall. That was the reason why their area was exclusive. Or was she mixing up information?

    "They came out this afternoon."

    Andie opened the magazine and showed the next photo readers would see after the cover. "And can I just say that these opening two pages of yours are to die for."

    Eve gaped at the picture. It was the one she''d seen many times before.

    Her,

    The Chaise, and

    The Clutch.

    Only this time, they showed almost a full-length cut of it. The page ended between her waist and her hips. The curve of her back was there for everyone to see. A bit of her chest peeked behind her bent arm.

    She guessed that she should be grateful that her skin and the toga almost blended with the background. That way no one would really notice unless they observed closely.

    Andie tilted her head to one side, watching her best friend''s reaction. "If I put this up in my room, would it be creepy?"

    Eve met her stare with a re. "Andie!"

    "What?" Andie blinked several times. "I can''t be your number one fan? Have a fan social media ount? Be the head of your fan club?"

    She had waited for this far longer than the past few weeks. This had been in her mind since Eve permanently moved in with her. She thought it woulde true from that first modelling gig. Unlike her best friend, she saw how far the career could go like billboards and fashion week.

    If anyone could walk down that runway, it was Everlee Hart.

    Eve rolled her eyes. "You''re enjoying this, aren''t you?"

    She walked around the couch and flopped onto a seat cushion. Her feet kicked off the dreaded sneakers. In case of another emergency like that, she''d leave that apartmentplex in heels.

    It wasn''t like she had trouble using them.

    "Of course! It''s not my fault you turned down Madison''s original offer." Andie pouted, hitting her with the magazine. Then, a smirk appeared on her lips. "How ironic that you ended up here anyway. Always knew you were a performer."

    "Well, that''s how life works." Eve sighed. Her brown eyes dulled into daze. She saw nothing of the current reality. "Otherwise, I would be performing somewhere else."

    The grin left Andie''s lips, noticing the expression right away. She put the magazine on the coffee table and scooted closer. "Hey, you okay?"

    "Yeah, I just had a moment and remembered the past."

    "Road to Prima Ballerina?" She asked even when she knew the answer. It had been Eve''s dream since they were children. "You did mean performing on stage, right?"

    "I did. Although, I think Madam Isabelle would roast me alive if she ever sees me again."

    "I don''t think she''s that bad."

    "That''s because you never had her as a teacher."

    "Well, I was never interested in ballet." Andie giggled. "My heart belongs in baking."

    Eve stayed silent.

    Andie refused to let it happen. She nudged her best friend''s arm repeatedly, trying to get her back to her senses. "Come on, cheer up. You''re currently the future Mrs. Ambryan Hathaway! You''re supposed to be the happiest girl in the world right now."

    "Happiest Girl in the World? With Coldest Man on Earth?" Eve scoffed in her direction. Her left eye squinted at the idea. "Do you not see how that doesn''t make sense?"

    "It does make sense. What doesn''t make sense is that" Andie pointed towards the coffee table. "This magazine has <em>zero</em> information about the two of you."

    "Oh. That''s because I never told them that it was Ambryan."

    "Why not?"

    "Because we both agreed not to make a public announcement."

    "But he''d, at least, say that he''smitted, right?" Andie demanded. She crossed her arms over her chest. Fake dating or not, no way should Eve be treated less than the queen she was.

    There shouldn''t be room for bishes to attack her with Ambryan''sck of affection.

    "This won''t look good if you''re the only one talking about your rtionship. Sure, you didn''t make a public announcement of your status but people are bound to ask you both now."

    That was basic publicity 101. How much should they tell? Which ones? They couldn''t be 100% private. Both of their lives involved the media and the public. A part of them and their career relied on these people.

    "You need to set your stories straight."

 Chapter 79: When the Night Falls

    Chapter 79: When the Night Falls

    Eve sat cross-legged on her bed, wearing her favorite fuzzy pajamas.

    Water from her damp hair trickled at her nape. She rubbed the body towel against it. For less work, she draped the towel around her shoulders instead. Earphones popped into her ears and yed mellow music. Both of her hands held her cellphone.

    ''Here goes nothing,'' she told herself.

    Opening the DTC app, a drop of water fell onto the bottom part of her screen. She wiped it off against her pajama pants but the device still struggled to recognize her touch. Her thumbs tapped on the screen, trying to get a single response.

    Then, it did.

    <em>*Dialing Yan*</em>

    The music stopped ying. It had been reced by the ringing tone. Her brown eyes flew wide. Scared to make another mistake, she locked the screen and wiped it against several ces: her pants, her bedsheet and her pillowcase.

    "Good evening, Ms. Evangeline," a voice filled her head.

    "Ah!" Eve yelped in surprise. She dropped her phone and covered her mouth. She leaned forward, not breathing. He picked up faster than she thought. She cleaned off the screen vigorously, hoping to press the correct button to end the call.

    "I never thought that I''d have a nickname shorter than ''Yan''."

    Eve choked at the joke. She pulled the earphone mic closer to her lips. "If you''re trying to get out of being called, ''Ambee'', please save your breath. I won''t change my mind."

    "Never dreamed of it, Evan." Ambryan responded. "Is there a reason why you called?"

    "... it was an ident."

    ''Could this call end now?'' Eve whimpered in her head. No amount of online tutoring or work calls helped her be more confident in personal verbal mobile conversations.

    Snarky remarks were harder to conjure on the spot.

    The line stayed silent for a moment. Eve checked the screen, wondering if it had ended after all. Ambryan''s photo with bunny ears and aviator sses met her eyes. The rim around the picture lit up in green as he spoke.

    "Is this perhaps that example of when the heart acts on its own?"

    Eve gaped at his still face. "Where did you even get that?"

    "I am a CEO of a romance productionpany."

    Her brown eyes rolled. "And yet your idea of a first date is shopping."

    His robotic demeanor and stiff posture made a mark in her mind. He moved, spoke and acted without a care. The only thing that mattered was the value of the items. It seemed more of a business that he hardly paid attention to.

    That skating rink had been a blessing in disguise. Most of the tension dissipated from that moment on. At least, they acted more natural.

    "I looked into it after that day," Ambryan informed her, going into business mode, "Couples do have shopping dates. A few articles even advise it for a number of reasons."

    "Really? Like what?" Eve smiled too wide. He had really researched it? Who did that sort of thing? If it had been her, she would have asked Andie, not make a thesis.

    "What do you mean?"

    "What reasons did they give?" She chuckled. This had to be good.

    "Possible ideas for presents, patience while the other party tries on several clothes, if both approve each other''s sense of fashion, insights on future furniture shopping for a house, find out if both love to window shop or not"

    "Well, do you?"

    "Do I what?"

    "Love to window shop." Eve pressed her lips together. She unhinged her legs andid down on the bed. Her gaze went up to the ceiling. Window shopping she didn''t mind. She saw it more of a stroll in the mall.

    Ambryan pondered on her question, recalling his previous shopping experiences. He visited stores mainly for other people. As for his case "The ce I visit the most is a tailor shop."

    Most of his own shopping involved his appearance. He preferred custom-fit clothing. The most expensive suit would receive zero of his interestanything pre-made or mass produced for clothes were eliminated from his options.

    He visited more shops only for essories, trying them on and seeing which suit his taste.

    "Oh? I thought you''d have one sent to your house instead." Eve joked even when she knew the truth.

    "I would but work doesn''t always follow the schedule."

    She nodded, amused by the response. It brought up moments when she had cancelled his appointments. He''d ask to leave a message that he''d drop by the shop instead.

    Eve yed with her hair. Her knuckles brushed against the pillow, realizing it was damp. She sat back up and scooted towards the wall. She propped her head against the concrete, pulling a dry pillow to herp.

    "Are you working right now?"

    "I am."

    "Shiznit!" Eve cursed. A groan escaped her lips. Followed by a sigh. "Sorry to disturb you. I''ll leave what I have to say in a message."

    "It''spletely fine. I''m using bluetooth for the call. My hands are actively working." Ambryan assured her. "Although, I would appreciate it if you could enlighten me on why you called."

    "Oh."

    "Yes?"

    "It really was an ident."

    "But you do have something to say?"

    "I"

    "Meow."

    ...

    ...

    ...

    ''Kiri!'' Eve squealed quietly. She forgot about ending the call (again) and focused on the cat. It had been a while since she saw the feline. The moment had been short-lived but she cherished it.

    "Was that a cat?" This was her chance! She could find out more about Kiri! The furball made its way to her heart with one nce.

    "Yes."

    "Is it yours?"

    "Yes."

    "He or she?"

    "She."

    "Well, she sounds adorable!" Eve giggled. Kiri was with him while he worked? It seemed that she was actually extra adorable. "Have you always had her?"

    At first, she found it unusual that he had a pet. Then again, he spent a lot of time by himself. It made sense that he had a smallpanionsurely better than beingpletely alone.

    "She was in the parking lot of my penthouse." Ambryan said. His microphone picked up faint purring. "Only a kitten, filthy and thin. When I walked by, she followed behind me. I watched as she leaped for the elevator."

    "So you let her stalk you?"

    "Her business wasn''t any of mine."

    ''So he was ignoring the cat?'' Eve questioned to herself. ''Didn''t he say that he watched it though? So he had given his attention.''

    She bit her inner cheek, thinking of how to keep him talking. "Well, what did you do then when she entered your door?"

    "She didn''t."

    Her brows knitted together. "How did she be your pet then?"

    He didn''t let her in? Now that Eve thought about it, that actually didn''t seem surprising. It did make the story much more interesting though.

    "She found a way in. Then, I kept an eye on her and waited for her to show me how she did it so I could have it sealed."

    "So you kept her ever since?"

    "If she found one, she could find more."

    Eve shook her head, her lips stretched in an amused smile. "Yeah, that sounds very logical."

    Ambryan exhaled sharply and sounded a bit impatient. "Since I answered your questions, would you please answer mine?"

    At that, Eve sighed. She had denied him twice now but he still insisted. It must be getting to him and so he trapped her as if she now ''owed'' him the exnation.Taking a deep breath, Eve admitted defeat.

    "Alright. Fine." She hesitated and thought of the best way to open the topic. "It came to my attention that we don''t have a story to tell the public."

    The line went silent for a moment.

    "Exin."

    "Well, what are we supposed to say, huh? If they asked how we met? A dating website created by your mom?" Eve exasperated. Her heart raced inside her chest. Unlike the night before, today she felt shy as they talked about ''their rtionship''.

    "I see."

    "Not to mention all types of questions they could ask," she continued. People had the ability to find the least expected questions. Pause for too long and somementary video channel could set a theory behind it. Maybe it was just her. Maybe she was merely paranoid.

    Nevertheless,

    If they weren''t careful, they could be ratted out.

    Inconsistencies <em>had</em> to be eliminated.

    "What are you saying?" Ambryan expressed, his tone hinting on suspicion.

    Eve opened her mouth but closed it again. She gulped while her next words sank in. Her voice became small when she mentioned them out loud, "I''m saying we should get to know each other."

    There wasn''t another way. As a ''couple'', they were expected to know about their significant other well, have memories to share, inside jokes to chuckle about, secrets to tease the public

    They were actually off on a good start with Kiri''s backstory. Eve certainly felt enlightened on the subject. It was both surprising and unsurprising at the same time.

    Except, that was only Ambryan''s serving of life stories.

    And two peopleposed a pair which meant that

    "Oh? You''ll share your mysterious life?"

 Chapter 80: I Hear Your Name

    Chapter 80: I Hear Your Name

    Kiri purred.

    She slept on Ambryan''sp, leaving him be. The faint voice from the bluetooth earphone flowed into her ears. It sounded like sweet whispers of a luby. Aforting warmth nketed over her, lulling her into slumber.

    Ambryan couldn''t move.

    Any closer to the desk and the drawer would hit his cat. He stayed about an arm-length away and typed on the keyboard. With an empty and isted house, he heard the call clearly. The earpiece only upied one ear while the other stayed alert for any sudden disturbance.

    He could almost imagine that they were in the same room.

    His ck jacket draped on the backrest of his chair. Only his white dress shirt, matching ck vest and trouser were left. The tie hung on a coat''s rack in his bedroom. He believed that it avoided wrinkles.

    "Oh? You''ll share your mysterious life?"

    The other line became quiet at his question. He''d notice what she tried to do. Her inquiry came as a surprise. He had nned to do something simr but she beat him to it. Her avoidance only fuelled his determination.

    He figured the way to get what he wanted was to y alongso he did and Evangeline fell into her own trap. It caused a bit of smugness.

    "What''s so mysterious about my life? I''m quite ordinary," she finally replied,ughing off the awkwardness. Her voice sounded loud. It had to be an eternal microphone.

    Ambryan hid a smirk. Her half-baked attempt amused him. "You came from a remote town?"

    That part caught his interest the most for some reason. The rest seemed expected of herlike her remarks about the photoshoot. It would be rude to say something negative about a brand that gave her the jumpstart for her career.

    Athon Luxuryunched her above the sky, higher than most beginners.

    "How did you hear about that?" Evangeline breathed out.

    "I seem to recall that you''ve done an interview for a magazine. This is public knowledge nowwhich made me see that these people knew more about you than I do." Ambryan frowned. She should know about it since it had her on the cover. The magazine turned out to be more informative than he thought.

    Unlike him who had most of his life exposed, she led a life away from the spotlight.

    He''d find nothing if he looked her up.

    At least, not with the approved methods of his mother.

    "So you were thinking the same thing?"

    "I am thinking mother would be upset if I decline with every question that involved you." He brooded. If he knew Avery well, he predicted that she''d conduct those interviews herself. Each wrong answer orck of one would result in disapproval. It could also lead to another scheme nned solely by her.

    He''d rather avoid those altogether.

    A chuckle tickled his ear. "She would be, yes."

    "And the only way to amend that, without breaking the contract rules, is to talk."

    He heaved a sigh. Not even their mutual contacts helped him out. They had taken Avery''s side, zipping their lips. His own security team monitored his activities. His mother had included them into the contract and asked of them to keep tabs on his investigations.

    Ambryan didn''t know whether to praise or toment over this detailed extent.

    "Communication is key so they say." Evangeline said. He could almost imagine her nodding. Her lips would be stretched to smile, making her eyes crinkle.

    "Care to share some insight about that part of your interview?" He asked again. A bit of background check shouldn''t hurt anyone. It surely saved some time in contrast to asking. An investigation provided him satisfactory answers, letting him move forward.

    His mother merely overreacted about the ordeal.

    Unless Evangeline had something to hide, it should be clean.

    "It''s nothing extraordinary," she began to say. "I came to Maize City because of my studies. I was epted into a reputable university. They offered a schrship that could help a lot. I only needed to work 48 hours a week."

    "Work?" Ambryan scowled at his monitor. The report contained an error. He changed the font''s color to red, noting it down until he finished the document. He felt Kiri roll onto her side.

    His violet eye nces down, checking that she didn''t hit anything. The smile on her lips assured him that nothing of the sort happened.

    "Yes, I''d work at the library. It''s a way for the school to save money on staff. Instead of paying for full-time workers, they offer a schrship to us in exchange for work."

    His brain absorbed the information like a sponge. He did a calction on the cost-benefit. Workers enjoyed merit increases every year. Thepany also paid for obligatory benefits stated by thew. They depended on the employee''s sry, rising higher along with it.

    Compared to that, paying a full tuition costs less.

    It also had fewer paperwork.

    "I can''t imagine that you''d be able to understand though." Evangeline spoke after a while, breaking the silence. Kiri stirred at the sound of it. She yawned with her eyes closed and went back to sleep. Her bushy tail swept the chair cushion''s edge.

    Ambyran''s scowl deepened as he found another mistake. "Maybe not but during myst two years in university, I worked as an intern for Eros. I had to work the same hours."

    He''d go to thepany in the morning. Then, he''d go to school at night. His sses would start around dusk. By then, his school schedulested between 4-5 hours per day. The office would also be closed, leaving him undisturbed.

    "That''s probably harder than working for the school."

    "I asionally attended business meetings, observing the discussion."

    "Like a secretary?" Evangeline joked as she muffled out augh. It managed to escape for a second and flowed into his ear.

    A small smile curled the corner of his lip.

    "Yes, my father would tell me to take the Minutes of the Meetings."

    "No way!"

    Kiri flinched at the outburst. She blinked her purple eyes and nced upwards. She tilted her head to one side. Theughter caught her attention, waking her up. She wondered what was funny.

    Ambryan didn''t seem to notice her.

    He shook his head and opened a new document. "Is it that impossible to believe?"

    Those memories reyed in his mind. On his first day, he never reached the top floor. His father assigned him to the mail room where he learned about the different documents they received. They came from a variety of groups: the studios, the suppliers, the contractors, the clients and many more.

    They also went to several departments where he delivered them all.

    "I''m just trying to picture it," Evangelineughed, taking most of the space in his head. His other ear failed to drown it since it sensed nothing. Even if it did, Ambryan felt confident that he''d barely hear it.

    "Does the image seem funny to you?"

    "A bit, yes." She giggled.

    Ambryan heard the mockery. His gaze narrowed on the bright spreadsheet. He had done a splendid job on those. His original draft hardly missed a point in the discussion. It had to be since his father demanded an extensive report instead of a summary.

    They''d talk over them and clear out any misunderstandings orck of insights.

    Not a single detail had been overlookedunlike the current one he read. Luckily, Eve had the same work ethic. Each time he tested her memory, she gave him a straight answer. She would also be able to exin it and emphasize key points.

    It would be a shame if she denied the promotion. Although, he probably wouldn''t find another secretary that would meet the standards she raised over the years. It wasn''t only Madison who wanted to pouch her.

    Several executives had tried as well. She always managed to impress during and after meetings. Their subordinates also relied on her whenever they weren''t sure about something. She''d given them advice on more than one asion.

    He knew because they''d talk about her to him during social gatheringsif they mustered up the courage.

    It was the only time she didn''t stand close to him.

    "That''s two inquiries about me now. You should share another," Ambryan reminded, changing the topic. That should be enough about his personal life. It could continue on another day. Right now, he had emails to send about the errors he found.

    "About me? Um what do you want to know?"

    Ambryan thought about it carefully. His initial idea revolved around the article. The next part of that paragraph talked about her family. If he touched it, it would bounce towards him as well. He wasn''t entirelyfortable about the subject.

    She already knew his mother. That should suffice.

    He reviewed all of the information she''d given him since they met. One topic stuck out above the rest. Although he set it aside, curiosity still lingered at the corners of his mind.

    "What was yourst memory with your first love?"

 Chapter 81: Ambeevans Love Story

    Chapter 81: Ambeevan''s Love Story

    "What was yourst memory with your first love?"

    Eve bit her bottom lip. She expected that he''d ask about the rest of the intervieweven the part where she had been asked about her romantic life. Was it good? Was it too much? She hadn''t mentioned the status of their rtionship.

    She merely talked about a kiss for her to ''dodge'' the question. She had been ready to exin.

    Now, they were back on this again? What for?

    "Is there a reason why you''re asking this?" Eve questioned, twirling her earphone cable. "Can I choose not to answer?"

    If she opened that chest, it would flood like a broken dam. There wouldn''t be a way to answer without the need for the rest of the story. She''d rather save it for another time.

    "We''re here to talk about our story for the press. Since it''s your first love, it seems relevant."

    "I can assure you that it''s not." Eve closed her eyes and blew out a long breath. "You''ll just have to take my word for it."

    She hoped that her voice sounded convincing. If he would insist, she''d have to reject every single one. Her brain wasn''t prepared for this. Neither the tears nor the talk with Andie lessened the distress she experienced over it.

    "Alright." Ambryan relented.

    A silent pause fell over two roomsconnected through a call.

    For Eve, she heard music from outside of her bedroom. Andie''s room was across the hall. She loved to y music whenever she had an active mind. Although it was through a speaker, Eve found it tolerable.

    For Ambryan, only his keyboard and Kiri''s snores filled his home office. No outside noise passed through his walls. He pushed his sses up, analyzing the statistics report. A few numbers stood out to him.

    "Although, I can''t say the same about you," Eve remarked after a while, remembering Charlee. "You had a string of flings. Unlike you, I wouldn''t be undisturbed."

    A shiver went down her spine. It dawned to her that Charlee had a fan base. Ambryan also had one. There were bound to be more people who''d attack her whether in real life or online. If she wanted to keep up, she should gather one herself.

    Mikael''s concern echoed in her head. She was safe as Eve but she was also Evangeline. She''d need a person who''d know about both. Someone who could keep a lookout while she changed.

    Ambryan snapped his eyes away from the monitor. His hard gaze fell on the floor. He pressed the earpiece closer and said, "Did anyone try anything?"

    "Not yet but I feel a storming," Eve exined. It had been quiet so far. Too quiet for her taste. That usually meant something worse. It could be Charlee. It could be someone else. She didn''t have a way to know but the nagging feeling wouldn''t leave her.

    "Do you have a bodyguard?"

    "I don''t."

    "I''ll give you one."

    Eve''s eyebrows shot up. Her spine straightened. rm bells rang in her head. That wasn''t a good idea. It would only be a matter of time before that bodyguard found out. That person would also report to Ambryan.

    She wasn''t about to beg someone to break their loyalty.

    "No, it''s not necessary. I''ll bring it up with the agency."

    Ambryan frowned, standing up. Kiri fell to the floor andnded on her feet. She gazed up at him as he walked around the office. She walked over to join, her tail bouncing. Her legs leaped for the couch and avoided her hooman''s pacing.

    She hopped on a pillow that had the shooting star design.

    "It doesn''t guarantee that they''d be reliable," Ambryan reasoned.

    "I''m sure it would be fine. I am their employee. They''ll assign dependable people."

    "Not necessarily. I think they''d be more susceptible to bribes unlike those that work under me," he continued, exining his side of concerns. "Whoever they hire wouldn''t assure me that nothing bad would happen to you."

    It would be too risky. There were people near his level of status. Any of them could take advantage of the people around her. She wouldn''t have their loyalty right away. They could strike while the bodyguard was still new.

    Eve actually had no ns to ask the agency. She only used their name to hide her real intentionswhich consisted of asking Avery. She reconsidered the idea, wondering if it would be okay to let him know.

    They were mother and son. Ambryan should be able to trust in Avery.

    "How about this? I''ll talk it out with your mother," Eve chose to admit. "You already know we have a contract. I''ll just bring it up with her since it should be covered there."

    "She should have given you one from the beginning!" Ambryan raged. He halted in his steps and rubbed his temples. Calming his breaths, he refrained from speaking. It had been a while since his temper blew up.

    It added to his headache.

    "Aha, you forget, Mr. CEO. There were five of us at the time. Who knew you''d pick me?" Eveughed, trying to ease the tension. The sudden outburst made her wonder if she heard him do it before.

    "Fair point."Ambryan sighed. His head became cleared. He pinched the bridge of his nose and thought of apromise. "Once you and mother clear this out, do inform me about these bodyguards of yours. They also need my approval."

    "Alright. Sounds reasonable," Eve agreed. If she protested again, things might be even worse. "So how did we meet again?"

    Ambryan let his nose go. He strolled to the couch and sat down. His free hand stroked Kiri''s back. "Through mother. We need to keep a few facts if we want this story to be believable."

    "True. So we''ll say your mother set us up and we clicked? Love at first sight? How far will we fabricate this?" Eve calcted the time. It had been a total of two weeks since the website was released.

    For her, the timeline needed a bit of adjustment.

    "Use the skating rink. Say we had a good time and continued tomunicate."

    "The skating rink? Hm. If we follow that, how long have we known each other?"

    "Same time frame." Ambryan scowled, unable to see why she asked. "You didn''t specify our status, correct?"

    "Yes, but you called me ''your girlfriend'' in front of Mr. Wilson and Mr. Kingston." Eve pointed out while she stumbled over her words. The incident still embarrassed her slightly. "That would mean I''ve been your girlfriend for a week."

    "And so?"

    "And so what?"

    "What is the problem with it?" Ambryan urged. Did she imply for a longer duration? It would collide with several thingsespecially his connection with Charlee Edwards. It had only been days since that breakup. It hardly counted as a significant change.

    "That day was the first day we talked. Then, we talked for like a few hours the week before it." Eve ruffled her hair, trying to get her thoughts together. It wouldn''t make sense. It would be too fast. We''d have to exin why it happened so suddenly."

    "Is it impossible for that to happen?"

    A lump clogged her throat. "Well, no"

    "Then, it''s better to stick with it," Ambryan finalized. Heid back on the couch and red at the wall across from him. The only thing they needed to change was the website. The rest had face to face.

    There wouldn''t be use hiding those.

    Eve groaned. It irked her how absurd it all seemed when the goal had been to make it normal. "Butit''s rare! Many people would hardly believe it. They''d think it''s fiction."

    Ambryan stood up and tucked his hand into his pant pocket. He let out his frustration by walking around the room. Kiri watched him amusedly. Only a few lights were on. They reflected on the sses, changing as her hooman switched directions.

    It was a lovely sight, almost like aser pointer.

    "My answer remains the same," Ambryan affirmed and settled near the edge of his desk. A smirk teased his lips. "After all, it was you who wanted to base our dating life on novels. You''d get to live a part of it already."

    Eve coughed.

    She did say that. She did remember it. She did regret both. A love story out of a fairy tale? It was fiction for a reason. Although people loved a good story, there had to be a line. A whirlwind romance should be in the list of ''Never-Gonna-Happen''.

    Except, it would have to do. As fictional as it sounded, the time frame was also the truth. More questions would be raised if they extended it which meant lies would be spun.

    She''d rather avoid more of those.

    "Fine," Eve surrendered. She blew on her front hair. "But that means we need answers for when, how and why did we fall for each other. That is addressed individually though so we don''t need to discuss it."

    "Really?" Ambryan blinked, feeling smug about his win. "That''s unfortunate. I''d love to hear how you fell for me."

    "That''s easy. I can reuse any response your previous lovers gave." Eve smirked and fluttered her brown eyes. "It''s you who would be challenged."

 Chapter 82: A Protective Boyfriend?

    Chapter 82: A Protective Boyfriend?

    Ambryan gazed at the ceiling. Nothing came out of his bluetooth earpiecenot a sound; not even a breath. Kiri had fallen back to sleep and the air had gone still. Only his thoughts echoed through the silence.

    "It''s you who would be challenged."

    ''A reason to fall for Evangeline?'' He pondered. The question revolved around his head. It taunted him for answers. Crease lines materialized on his forehead. He noted it down for researchter.

    There should be sources that could help him out.

    Pushing himself off the table, Ambryan reached for his phone and dialed a familiar number. It rang once before the receiver picked it up.

    "Boss."

    "Wen," he greeted shortly. "Coordinate with my mother about Evangeline''s security immediately. I want most, if not all, risks eliminated. Go over the details and be sure to report them to me. I want the final say."

    "Will do, boss."

    "Good. Thank you." Ambryan ended the call and stared at the floor. His hands dropped to his sides, clenching into fists. How could he have overlooked that detail? She lived a simpler lifepared to himwhere a security team didn''t always follow her footsteps.

    He walked around his desk and sat on the chair. His fingers tapped on the keyboard, creating a new document. A list began to take form. One after another, Ambryan filled up the nk sheet. It soon had a brief overview of his life.

    Highlights colored key points such as security, transportation and influence. He picked out that could be applied to her without going overboard.

    The file finished in no time and Ambryan attached it to an email. Heposed a short message before sending. Even after it was over, he reopened the document. He leaned closer and read through the material.

    Subtle changes appeared here and there. It upied him for the rest of the night, erasing, adding and refining details as he saw fit.

    ...

    ...

    Avery sat in front of her vanity mirror. Her ck hair cascaded on side while she held a dryer, making sure everything was slightly dry before she grabbed a brush.

    The room behind her had been dressed in green and silver. If the curtains were green, the metal rods were silver. If the bed had silver pillows, the sheets had shades of gray. The couple dropped the idea of a carpet and kept the wooden flooring.

    Everything had been decided upon when they window-shopped during a date. Most of the colored items were receable. They could change the theme as they saw fit. The rest had a neutral standpoint like a wooden or ceramic surface.

    Staring at the bed''s reflection, Avery propped her elbow on the table and squinted her violet eyes.

    ''What warm colors should they use for when autumnes?'' Maybe she''d be able to find patterned decor online. It would surely liven up the ce.

    A hum sounded behind her lips and entertained Avery. It became the source of leisure.

    Her phone sounded from its small stand. She waved her hand up, not touching the screen. Her index finger pointed at the device and navigated through her notifications. One name captured her attention among her inbox updates.

    ```

    <em>Dear mother,</em>

    <em>I hope this reaches you in good health. It hade to my attention that Evangelinecked several safety measures. Not to be arrogant but, people would target her in order to get to me. I have attached a document that contains suggestions about her safety. Do remember them as you design the necessary precaution.</em>

    <em>Enjoy your evening.</em>

    <em>Regards,</em>

    <em>Ambryan Hathaway.</em>

    ```

    "Tsk, this son," Averyined under her breath. Her finger hovered over the soft copy of the document. "Emails me like I''m a businessman instead of his mother. Certainly not cute nor loving."

    She sighed as the file opened. ck and white colors covered her screen. "At least, he removed his work position. I would have grilled him otherwise."

    Avery had no idea what to expect from the document. She scrolled it up, searching for thest page and estimating its length. Her eyebrows scrunched after her third hand gesture.

    ''Just how long'' she reached the end and a note of bold letters read, ``<strong>Please read. Don''t just scroll.</strong>``

    "Why I" Avery began to say. The document vanished before her eyes. A nk photo silhouette and an unknown number reced it. The avatar pulsed as if vibrating against a t surface.

    The theme song of her favorite movie yed through the speaker. It filled up the silence of her room.

    She turned off the hair dryer and put it down, answering the call. "Hello?"

    Wen spoke through the receiver. "Mrs. Hathaway, sorry for thete disturbance. Sir Hathaway wishes to negotiate about Evangeline''s security. I am here to represent on his behalf."

    Avery fluttered her violet eyes. Then, she gritted her teeth, gripping the phone tighter. "Did he now?"

    "Yes. Do you have a document ready? If not, when will it be avable? Both he and I request to review its contents."

    She nced at her empty phone stand. Would it be cheating? Or would it be hrious if she sent the same file her son gave her? It would surely gain certified approval since it catered to all of his wishes.

    Avery shook the idea out of her head. Everything was happening at one. She rubbed her temple and said, "I will get back to you on that, Wen. It''s better if I talked it out with Evangeline first. How do you want to be informed? Text message or email?"

    "Email would do just fine. I will send the address."

    "Alright. I will update you before I retire for bed."

    "We deeply appreciate it, Mrs. Hathaway. Enjoy your evening."

    "You too."

    The call ended.

    Avery stood up and paced. Her long nightgown and robe swayed around her legs. She absorbed the events, pausing to assess each one. First, there was Ambryan''s email message. Then, his document file.

    Now, his bodyguard called her?

    Her gaze went to the time on her lockscreen.

    It was past 2100 hours.

    "What is this all about?" She asked out loud, frowning in confusion. "And why are these happening after 9PM?"

    Avery opened her contact list and searched for a 3rd party rted to this incident. She folded her arm over her stomach, waiting for the call to be picked up.

    "Hello, Eve," she greeted once the ringing ceased.

    "Mrs. Hathaway?" Eve eximed. She dropped her towel and scooted to the edge of her bed. "I mean, hello to you as well, Mrs. Hathaway."

    She nned to call the madam in the morning. It was alreadyte. People usually settle down in their homes around this time. Only a few stayed up for workwell, she knew one person like that, at least.

    "You wouldn''t happen to know why my son is contacting me thiste about your much needed security team, would you?" Avery asked without pausing for breath.

    "H-He did?"

    "Yes. Does that surprise you? Do you have no idea about this?" She grilled, not letting her escape.

    Eve gulped. Ambryan contacted his mother? Didn''t she tell him that she''d handle it? What was the hurry? It was already night time. It wasn''t like it was an emergency either.

    He didn''t even inform her beforehand.

    She shook the questions out of her head, thinking of how to reply instead. "Not entirely"

    "Care to enlighten me?"

    Eve took a deep breath and told the gist of the story. As she spoke, she realized this was the first time she shared details about Evangeline and Ambryan''s rtionship. Her ears heated up from embarrassment.

    Could she bury her face in a pillow now?

    "So you talked about this?" Avery assessed, sounding satisfied and calm.

    "I only hinted that some of his previous lovers might disturb my peace of mind. Then, he asked if I had a bodyguard." Eve continued. She remembered that moment distinctly. Ambryan had acted strange at that point.

    Although, she eventually saw reason. Having no security was a w. He found it irritating that something simple had been overlooked. It was seen as ipetence.

    "And you don''t have one" Avery trailed off. A loud groan flowed out of her lips. "Oh my goodness! How did we miss this?"

    "Well, it wasn''t necessary since I spend most days as Eve. It would be excessive whenever I''m at the office."

    "Yes, but there are more eyes on you now. If we''re not careful, someone might make the connection." Avery sighed.

    "I agree but I''m not Evangeline right now so I put the topic on hold for tomorrow. He actually wanted to do it himself. I just stopped him since it could reveal the secret."

    "Wait. He did what now?"

    "He wanted to provide my security team?" Eve repeated. Although, it sounded more like a question.

    Avery blinked, raising her eyebrows. That exined why she received a lengthy document. Suddenly, her perception of everything changed. Perhaps Ambryan had a different intention with his actions all along?

    Initially, his note at the end had annoyed heras if he knew she''d skip to thest page and ridiculed herck of interest. She found it mocking like he questioned herpetence.

    But, what if he was merely being cautious? Like he wantedplete reassurance? All of it tied together somehow. The note, the document and even Wen

    Protective.

    Ambryan was protective.

    <em>Of Evangeline.</em>

    Her heart soared at the revtion. She contained her squeal but her feet repeatedly thudded on the floor in high leaps.

    Oh, this was amazing progress!

 Chapter 83: Rumbling Storms and Silence

    Chapter 83: Rumbling Storms and Silence

    Avery.

    Was.

    Over.

    The.

    Moon!

    She couldn''t help it anymore. Her feelings had to be expressed. They had to be known! The world had to hear it! She resumed her pacing, encircling the room. "Oh, this is wonderful! Glorious! Majestic!"

    Oh, the feeling of euphoria. Would she ever get enough of this? Maybe she over thought it but who cared? Her son opened his outer walls to someone, a step into the right direction. Even if it didn''t blossom into a full romantic rtionship

    Who was she kidding? It could totally blossom into a romantic rtionship. She hoped for it so she might as well stay optimistic!

    "Mrs. Hathaway?" Eve asked after some time. The conversation rotated on a total of 360 and flowed out this sudden energy. Safe to say, she felt a bit lost on the situation.

    "Oh, Eve! Hello!" Avery said, remembering herself. She halted in her steps. "Where were we again? The security team! Right, right, right. I''ll see if I can figure out something soon and send it to you. It''s better to handle it early. I''m sorry I overlooked it."

    The taunting note Ambryan left pierced through her. Now, she understood why.

    "No, it''s alright!" Eve reassured her quickly. "It wasn''t in my mind either. A security team for Evangeline would be excessive if I spent most of my time in the office. She wasn''t in public a lot."

    Avery bit her inner cheek. They had nned for Evangeline to have more projects only to keep up the pretense of her modelling career. Things changed during theunch party because of her performance, attracting several brands. Then, it changed again when she and Yan left the party together.

    They had expected the public interest but her favorable impression escted it. She had intrigued them through her video promo. She had done it again when she approached the infamous CEO. Their interaction caused a storm.

    Instead of catching interests once, she had done it twicedoubling the amount of attention.

    Pressing her lips together, Avery heaved a sigh through her nose. It would be best if they stayed low for a while. Their moves had to be better calcted this moment forward. That missing security team proved theirck of preparedness for this.

    Eve simply exceeded their expectations. Now, they had to go back to the drawing board.

    "I initially wanted you to get a new project soon but I think you should be out of the public eye for, at least, 2 weeks," Avery spoke. "Don''t even go out with Yan. Just stay in touch through the app and build a bond."

    "Is that going to be okay? Wouldn''t it affect Cale''s job?" Eve frowned. Her manager''s smiling face appeared in her head. She had wanted to do her best at the party. Giving back their efforts, patience and encouragement by gaining new projects.

    It seemed like that wasn''t the soundest decision.

    Avery smiled, feeling Eve''s genuine concern. It was touching that this young woman cared about them when they were the ones who dragged her into modelling. The one to face the most consequences was her and not them.

    Yet, that wasn''t even on her list of concerns.

    "Cale is handling more than one model. None of them could even be jealous when he spends more time with them than with you. He already exined that this is not your full-time job so that the agency could back off a bit. It''s not umon at all for a beginner model to have another job."

    "Besides." She chuckled. "I''m sure they would also agree to it since you''re now public with Yan. The masses need to calm down for a bit and absorb that."

    Eve nodded meekly. "Alright. I''ll focus on work."

    She wasn''t that experienced in this field. Avery definitely knew better than she did.

    "Yeah, get your normal life back. I''m sure you''d love some peace of mind."

    ''A normal life? What was her normal life?'' Eve questioned. What did she do on weekends again? They had been eventful for the past three weeks. A rxing one should be a good break. Maybe she and Andie could spend some girl time together.

    Thinking about it more she found herself looking forward to this.

    Eve stood up, heading for the bathroom. "Thank you, Mrs. Hathaway. I hope you have a good night."

    "Oh, no worries, Eve. I''m just d you''re safe. I wouldn''t be able to forgive myself if something had happened to you because of this. "

    Avery''s eyes clouded as the call ended. There it was again, the same ominous feeling that this wouldn''t end wes if this was only the calm before the storm. They had been lucky all this time. They needed a better n, especially for when it all ended.

    Thunder rumbled in the distance.

    She frowned. That that had to be a coincidence. It wasn''t a sign or anythingnor was her thoughts a trigger for consecutive rotten events. She shook the thought out of her head and finished drying her hair.

    It was time to retire for the night.

    Stormy clouds roamed over Maize City. Its inhabitants had enjoyed their warm summer days. It had been more than a month since they saw any hint of rain. They began to miss it. Spending time in pools was fun but they''d love to enjoy its cooling experience in thefort of their homes.

    Mother Nature seemed to have answered their call.

    It was aplete downpour, reaching beyond the city''s borders.

    Raindrops pattered on the roofs and on the pavements. They created a low humming melody for residents. It promised soothing sleeping conditions. It enveloped them infort like a luby for deep slumber.

    Avery rustled in her sleep. She turned over to her side and took a deep breath. Her hands tugged the warm nket, wrapping it around her tighter. She nuzzled her head against the pillow and searched for a good spot.

    The rain tapped against herrge window. They dripped down the side, racing for the ledge. The clouds hid away the stars and the moon. They coated her room inplete darkness.

    Her dreams offered the opposite. They basked her in light and sweet sceneswhere Yan was still a child. Although they had different tastes for fun, she always apanied him. Theypleted puzzles and read the same books.

    She missed those times.

    Out in the hall, shoes thudded softly on the wooden floorboards. They squished with each step. The storm drenched them in rainwater. They proceeded carefully and tried not to leave a trace of wet footsteps. It wouldn''t be good if someone slipped and fell.

    A door creaked.

    Avery''s eyes snapped open. Darkness consumed her vision. She gripped the nket. Her heart raced inside her chest. She heightened her hearing, trying not to alert the intruder. Thetch of the door locked in ce.

    She held her breath.

    The storm resounded in the distance.

    Wet shoes continued on their journey. Each step barely touched the floor. Their destination wasn''t far. Gloved hands clenched into fists. The leather fabric crinkled against the silence.

    Lightning shed from the window.

    Avery jolted up. The light left as soon as it came. She gulped as cold fear shrouded over her head. Goosebumps crawled on her skin. She felt the person''s looming presence. Blood drained off her face, coloring her lips blue.

    Thunder reverberated outside.

    Her heartbeat followed its rhythm.

    ...

    ...

    ...

    ...

    ...

    The footsteps ceased.

    Only the sound of the storm could be heard.

    Avery whimpered under her breath. Her hands shook on the nket. How did this person find her? Scratch that, how did the person enter her house? Where were the servants? Were they alright? The still quiet opened her imagination to endless horrors and possibilities.

    Something heavy hit the floor.

    She gasped. Her head whirled from left to right, searching for the source. Should she move? The intruder probably saw her on the bed and probably headed for it. But, she knew this room like the back of her hand. She could escape.

    Yes, she could do this.

    Avery climbed out of bed. She put her feet on the floor, one foot at a time. She stood up and tested the floorboards. When she didn''t hear a creak, she stepped forward. Her chosen route avoided the intruder based on what where she estimated he''d be.

    Lightning shot out of the sky.

    ring eyes snapped towards her.

    Avery screamed, backing away. Chills shivered down her spine. She tripped over her feet andnded on the floor. She heard him advance. Not giving up, she scrambled over the floor and inched towards the balcony doors.

    Adrenaline pumped in her blood.

    She had to get away. The bushes would cushion her fall. Anything would work as long as her life wouldn''t end through the hands of this man.

    It was brief but she made out his silhouette. He wore a trench coat. A round object dangled from his handas if holding a head by its hair. It dripped on the floor and left a trail on its path. The rain picked up its pace, muffling other noises.

    Another lightning streamed behind her.

    The tip of a pointed object gleamed.

    An ear-splitting shriek drowned under the thunder.

    "AAAAAAHHH!"

 Chapter 84: Mister Hot and Cold

    Chapter 84: Mister Hot and Cold

    The flick of a switch sounded in the room.

    "Avery, do you want to wake everyone up?"

    Avery had shielded herself with her arms. She lowered them gradually and twisted her neck towards the bedroom door. The lights red from the ceiling, illuminating the whole room.

    The silhouette became a real man. The round object turned into the edge of a duffel bag and the pointed weapon transformed to the tip of an umbre. The dripping blood became water droplets.

    Raising an eyebrow, teal almond-shaped eyes stared down at her. Thin lips stiffened into a straight line. Drenched ck hair clung to a tan forehead, trickling beads of water towards a chiselled jaw.

    Avery saw red. She jumped to her feet, her fists clenching on either side of her hips. She raised her voice higher than her previous shriek. "JACKSON BENNETT HATHAWAY! HOW DARE YOU SCARE ME LIKE THAT?! I THOUGHT YOU WERE A BLOODY MURDERER!"

    Jackson chose not to reply. Instead, he took off his shoes. He put the bag and the umbre down. Then, he shrugged off his trench coat. He walked over to the firece and started a fire, opting to use it in order to dry himself off and his garments.

    Avery rolled her eyes and strode to his side.

    Her foot slipped against the wet floor.

    "Damnit," she cursed. Using the same foot, she reached for a rug and wiped the floor. "Stupid bastard who can''t even clean up after himself. Not even that damn fire can melt your iciness."

    Jackson uncuffed his sleeves. His coat and his socks draped over the metal screen. It stood up to his knees, framing over the firece. His shoes leaned against it. "Just like how a wife can''t even inform her spouse about their son''s blossoming romance."

    Avery froze.

    She had been meaning to tell him that. Except, she hadn''t worked out on how much to tell. If she told him everything, no doubt that Jackson would not just berate her for it but hed also tell Ambryan about the whole affairsomething that could not happen just yet.

    Taking a deep breath, Avery opened her mouth but closed it again. Her eyebrows knitted in his direction. "Are you telling me that stunt earlier was for revenge?"

    Jackson didn''t appear to hear her. He unbuttoned his vest and positioned it beside the coat. The fiber material of his dress shirt clung to his skin, emphasizing the muscles he still had despite reaching past 50 years old.

    Avery gulped at the sight of his back. It stretched tall and proud. Broad shoulders and slim waist shaped his torso. Sometimes she wondered whatpelled her to marry a sexy man.

    The decision made it much harder for her to win in the art of seduction.

    "No, it was impable timing that it became revenge," her husband finally answered, turning towards her. He tucked his hands into his pant pockets and tilted his head sideways. "Can''t say I regretted it since not even any of my subordinates told me about Ambryan''s rtionships despite knowing all this time. Why? Well, they all pointed to one person."

    Jackson approached carefully. Unlike his soaked shoes, his bare feet didn''t make a sound. He stopped just a few inches away from her face. "You, my lovely wife."

    "I was meaning to tell you" Avery began to say.

    "Were you now?"

    The rest died in her throat. She hadn''t made up her mind yet even now. Although she''d rather not tell him everything, the second option wasn''t appealing either.

    Mainly because, the risk of choosing thetter rested on how he won''t see through her lies. Not only would he find out the truth in the end but also he''d be even more furious at her attempt to keep quiet.

    Avery groaned internally. What boundary line did marriage couples have when it came to secrets? There had to be an eptable range of degrees.

    "Well?" Jackson prompted her. He stepped closer until his face hovered hers. His teal eyes bore into her violet ones. "Why such secrecy, my lovely wife?"

    "... and let you ruin my fun?" She said, fluttering her eyes. A sickly sweet smile blossomed on her lips. "You and I both know that you''re not exactly the happiest when ites to the idea of love. You''d find a way to rain on my parade."

    Avery gave herself a mental pat on the back. She finally found a way to answer himwhile keeping him in the dark. The longer she thought about it, the more she realized that it was the best choice. Like Ambryan, Jackson needed to meet Evangeline first without context. Let him judge her as he saw fit.

    Hopefully, fingers crossed, that it would be favorable.

    "Then, why did I marry you?"

    Avery blinked, raising her eyebrows. The shift of topic surprised her but it wasn''t unweed. She stepped back and tapped her chin. Her eyes gazed up at the ceiling. "I ask myself the same thing but only one answeres to mind."

    Jackson crossed his arms over his chest. "Really?"

    "Yes," she confirmed, showing him a smug look. "It''s because I''m a goddess."

    "..."

    A delighted giggle escaped her lips. His deadpan expression never failed to amuse her. If she observed carefully, she''d see his eyes hardened into icicles. It made teasing much more fun.

    "I''ll grill youter. I need a warm bath." Jackson retreated, spinning on his heels and heading towards the bathroom.

    "Wait!"

    Avery hugged him from behind, capturing him. She stood on her toes until her chin could reach his shoulder. Her voice became breathy as she said, "I''m sorry, okay? I was just so happy about everything that I wanted to relish every moment."

    Her husband stiffened under her touch. He kept his face straight ahead, staring at the bathroom door. He spoke without emotion. "So you decided not to tell me because I would ruin it for you?"

    "You do react harshly a lot of times."

    Avery flinched at her admission but it was the truth! They didn''t always see eye to eye and they also reacted differently. Something he enjoyed could be something she didn''t. The reverse also rang true. In her case, she would step away from the picture and leave him to his amusement.

    In Jackson''s case, he expressed opinions on everything and inserted himself even as a killjoy.

    "So I can''t be a part of our son''s personal affairs?"

    The question struck Avery''s heart. Her gaze nced up and watched the side of his face. He showed the same neutral expression, not hinting at his true feelings. He really did like to include himself in her businessbut that was only because he loved to be around her and be there through it all.

    A smirk curled on her lip corner.

    "... are you perhaps happy about this development?" Avery asked suspiciously. The smirk continued to climb until it became a wide grin.

    "That is subjective." Jackson turned down at once. He started to pry off her fingers on his stomach. She didn''t make it easy. "I haven''t met her yet. Will you let me meet her or will you lock me up?"

    "Can I do both?"

    Wickedness simmered in his wife''s blood. She took advantage of his startled state and tightened her hold around him. She pressed herself against his back, inhaling deeply. Her chest puffed out. Her right leg snaked up the side of his.

    His ears tinted pink.

    Avery bit his earlobe. "I missed you."

    "I missed you too." Her husband sighed. He turned around until they were face to face. His finger brushed the stray hair piece off her cheek. He kissed the same spot. "I''ll join you once I''m done in the bath."

    "Or I can join you instead." Avery wiggled her eyebrows, trying to rile him up. A second deadpan expression was more than wee. She remembered how he used to escape from her advancesthe bathroom bing his number one hiding spot.

    Too bad that wasn''t going to be the case this time.

    Jackson chuckled. He lowered his head until they had the same eye level. A few seconds passed. He ensnared her waist against him, making her yelp. A wicked grin smirked on his lips.

    "I''d rather continue this where we don''t have to move after anymore."

    Avery shivered. This man was too much! How could he be so cold and so hot at the same time? It wasn''t fair! Her insides betrayed her as her body responded to his gestures. She licked her lips, trying to regain herposure back.

    Her arms went around his neck and yed with his hair.

    "Not move, huh?" She joked lightly.

    Jackson''s teal eyes darkened. He took the question as a challenge. Using the bridge of his nose, he traced her jawline until he found her left ear. His tone of voice dropped into a warning as one of his hands curved over her hips.

    "Trust me, my lovely wife. I''ll show you exactly how much I missed you."

 Chapter 85: Mister Hot and Cold Jr.

    Chapter 85: Mister Hot and Cold Jr.

    The week flew by smoothly. Ambryan had agreed on the n toy low for the time being. He dedicated his time on his work, fully using his energy on it. He attended meetings, reviewed reports and checked on the running movies. They did well in theaters and broke through their revenue goals.

    Nothing was out of the ordinary.

    It was now Friday.

    Eve stood behind her desk.

    She faced the low cabs and flipped through a folder in her hands. It had the files for every business trip her boss had taken. She had organized it by month, making it easier to track down whichever document she needed.

    For now, she searched for a business trip over a year ago. It seemed that Ambryan would take it again in two months. She had to prepare the amodations by using the previous one as reference. She remembered the name of the hotel but she wanted to be sure.

    Her sses slid down her nose.

    She pushed them back up.

    The inte rang from her table. Her gaze stayed on the folder while she reached to answer it.

    "Yes, Darryl?" Eve said, using the speaker mode. She found the month for the file. All that was left was to go through its documents, using the hotel as her keyword.

    "Ms. Hart!" He eximed. "Chairman is on his way up!"

    The folder ttered on the floor. Eve stared at the inte with wide eyes. "What did you say?"

    "Chairman went inside the elevator and he is on his way to see boss."

    "Is it the board meeting already?" She muttered, her mind racing. She picked up the folder and ced it on her table. "Thank you, Darryl. I will take it from her."

    Eve dialled on the phone but thought better of it. Instead, she propped a knee on her chair and rolled towards herputer. She opened thepany chat window. Her fingers typed out one message,

    ``Sir Hathaway, Chairman ising.``

    Then, she headed for the CEO''s office.

    Ambryan looked up when she came in. It had only been two seconds since he saw her chat pop out. Anything he had ongoing would be set aside for the time being. He saved the files and closed them. He set his online status to ``In a Meeting`` which was more effective than ``Do Not Disturb`` or ``Busy`` since those were his usual ones.

    Eve aimed for the tea set and carried it to the pantry across her desk. Both men enjoyed their ck tea. Since they preferred it without sugar and milk, she only needed to boil the water at the right temperature. She cleaned out the cups and pot while she waited.

    She checked the overhead cabs for pantry supplies, looking for avable finger snacks. There wasn''t time to order in from a caf so biscuits and cookies would have to do. An unopened shortbread biscuits caught her eye.

    cing them neatly on a ceramic te, she dived for the refrigerator and took out the fruit jams.

    The elevator dinged.

    Eve doubled her speed.

    The water finished boiling. She poured it into the teapot. Using paper towels, she wiped off the cups and ced them back on the tray. All of the mini jars had been opened with the top of their spoons peeking out. She set them beside the biscuits and walked out of the pantry.

    "Good afternoon, Chairman," Eve greeted with a bow of her head.

    Jackson Hathaway stopped in his steps. His teal eyes flickered towards her and his face betrayed zero emotion. The buttons of his pinstriped suittched together. A muted violet tie stood out between thepels. Its matching handkerchief peeked out of the breast pocket.

    Between him and Ambryan, Eve always found the Chairman more intimidating. Maybe it was because he was older? She found simrities in their mannerisms though.

    "Good afternoon, Eve," he finally responded and pushed the door, opening it for her. "Is there ckberry jam?"

    "Of course." She beamed as she walked in. Her legs moved fast, unsure of how to feel by the Chairman''s gesture of holding the door open. She cursed in her head when she realized that she hadn''t thanked him.

    Except, she already reached Ambryan''s deska few meters away from the Chairman. She missed the chance. The tray upied most of the table''s free space. She moved aside once she finished her task.

    Relief washed over her nervous heart.

    She made it in time, at least.

    "Hm." Jackson hummed. He stalked towards the CEO''s desk. Nothing had changed since the time he upied the office. The furnishings stayed where they were. The color palette remained the same.

    "Chairman," Ambryan greeted, walking around his table. He held out his hand for a shake. "It''s been a while. Thank you for stopping by. Would you like to see the rest of the building?"

    Eve stopped her jaw from dropping. Were they going to leave? What about the tea she prepared? It wouldn''t be the same anymoreter, even when reheated.

    "That wouldn''t be necessary," Jackson replied, returning the handshake. He advanced towards the desk and bumped shoulders with his son. "My purpose resides in this office."

    Ambryan shuffled his feet. They faced one side while his head shifted in his father''s direction. Skepticism reflected in his violet eyes. "And what would that be?"

    Jackson spun on his heels and rested his bottom on the table''s edge. His arms crossed over his chest as he responded, "Evangeline Reed, newest model under Lotus Agency and newest girlfriend of Eros'' CEO. Care to share some light on the subject?"

    Eve gripped her hands. She bit her tongue, trying to resist a reaction. Avery hadn''t mentioned anything about this. So the Chairman wasn''t in on the secret? Why? One nce between him and his son gave her the answer.

    Despite their formal way of address, they had a closer rtionship. They understood each other. Between his wife and his son, Eve figured that Jackson would choose his son''s side and oppose the n if he wished it.

    He could expose the secret.

    Maybe he''d have her fired too.

    Eve gulped at the idea. Should she leave? She hadn''t been dismissed though. They might need something but then, they couldmunicate through the phone. She had to watch over it anyway since there would be people asking for Ambryan.

    She would reply on his behalfwhich would be rude to do while inside this office.

    "Enjoy your refreshments, Chairman. Sir Hathaway," she spoke up, bowing low at each gentleman. "If you need me, I''ll be at my desk continuing my work."

    With that said, Eve made her grand escape.

    "Never seen you interested in my romantic rtionships before," Ambryan said after she left. He headed back for his chair, dodging the question. "I think I had worse controversies in the past. Mother surely loved to remind me of them."

    Jackson turned around. His tongue clicked inint. "But this one stands out among the rest, doesn''t she? After all, you created a spectacle of yourselves at thatunch party."

    Something Stuart Wilson raved to him about. The old man still had the fantasy of marrying their children off to each other. Jackson spent a considerable time listening through the other party''sbination of congrattions and whines.

    The conversation only emphasized how much he didn''t know.

    "Is that the only reason why you''re here?" Ambryan challenged. He poured the tea in both cups and set one of them closer to the other side, waiting for his father to sit down.

    "I can''t seem to find information on her."

    His eyebrows raised at this. "That''s impossible."

    He may have seeded as the current CEO but, in terms of power, Jackson Hathaway still upied the higher position. Nothing less was to be expected when he had been in the industry longer. If anything, his vast influence only grew farther each passing day.

    Ambryan wouldn''t admit it but he had hoped his father would do the investigations on Evangeline. He was more cautious about the people their family interacted with. Evangeline''s mysterious background would be enough to push him to investigate.

    It seemed like that hope had been crushed.

    "Not when your mother is blocking it." Jackson sighed and settled on a chair. He lifted the teacup to his lips, inhaling its scent. "I don''t know how or why but she managed to infiltrate mywork."

    "So you''re also prohibited from finding more about her," Ambryan concluded. "She has this notion that I must get to know Evangeline without external help. She must have imposed the same thing on you."

    "Seems like it. She also wouldn''t answer any of my questions even when I asked to meet this girlfriend of yours." Thetter bugged Jackson the most. It would have been fine if he couldn''t investigate but Avery also zipped her lips on the subject. It rked himas if she really didn''t want him to know.

    The nagging feeling pestered him constantly.

    He needed answers.

    And he needed them now.

    "So you came here," Ambryan finished. He reached for a biscuit and coated it in strawberry jam. The vorful spread coated his tongue in sweetness. He washed it down with a sip of tea.

    Jackson put his cup down andced his fingers together, setting his elbows on the table. He stared straight into his son''s eyes. "Let me repeat. Care to share some light on the subject?"

 Chapter 86: Challenge Number One

    Chapter 86: Challenge Number One

    "Evangeline is" Ambryan paused, his violet eyes on his tea. The cup hovered right above the tray. He stroked the handle as if rubbing his thumb and index finger together. His eyebrows knitted as words repeated themselves in his head.

    <em>''It''s you who would be challenged.''</em>

    He nced towards his father.

    Jackson remained in position, ready to absorb any given information. Prior to today, he used any free time and connection to initiate the search. s, Avery knew of his tricks. She had been prepared for his onught of research.

    Instead of being upset, it only drove him more to investigate.

    Now, here he was.

    Ambryan set down the cup and leaned back on his chair. He saw the hunger for knowledge in his father''s eyes. Initially, he chose to speak of the truththat he and Evangeline forged an agreement about their rtionship. He knew it wouldn''t be leaked to his mother. Jackson would take his side and even help out.

    Except, doing that would rob his chance at taking on the challenge.

    If he had to convince anyone that he loved Evangeline, it would be his father.

    "First, tell me what do you think of her so far?" Ambryan asked, tilting his head sideways. His hands sped together with his elbows on the armrests. He waited for the answer.

    "I haven''t really met her to form an opinion," Jackson pointed out. He rxed from his position and straightened his spine. "Everything I know only came from published articles and public opinion."

    "I believe there should be a mix of both good and bad."

    "Of course, there is. There always is. Sometimes one side outweighs the other or sometimes both are equal," he continued. The masses were vast, thousands of individual minds. It would be next to impossible for everyone to choose the same side.

    Ambryan picked up another biscuit and coated in jam. "So?"

    "So what?" Jackson frowned.

    "Which side are you on?" Ambryan bit into the biscuit. It snapped into two.

    His father scowled, unsure of where this was going. Overall, Evangeline Reed had widespread favorable feedback. Theories had sprouted of her external motives towards Ambryan, of course, but his dating history proved that he never directly assisted his ''lovers''.

    It was the women who used his name insteadwhich he didn''t stop during the course of the rtionship. That extended influence simply would die after Ambryan breaks it off. Some of them liked to cling to that power by fabricating stories. It would be effective until Ambryan gained a new ''lover''.

    In Evangeline''s case, no evidence had sprouted that she used his name for the time being. However, they did show a bit of PDA during theunch party which raised eyebrows.

    Did it mean this one was different? If so, how different was it exactly?

    "I''ll chooseter," Jackson replied after a while. The media could tell him many thingsexcept for his son''s remark on the subject. That weighed more than half of their ims.

    He reached for his cup and sipped the tea.

    "What if I tell you that I loved her?" Ambryan tested.

    Jackson choked. The warm beverage trickled down his chin. He put the cup down and coughed out the rest from his airways. His teal eyes widened with usation.

    "You''re lying!"

    Ambryan merely smirked, drinking from his own cup of tea. "Tell me, father. Have you ever seen me in love?"

    "Of course not." Jackson snorted. He pulled out his violet handkerchief from his breast pocket and wiped his mouth. "If that was the case, this conversation would have happened before."

    "Then, how would you know if I''m lying?"

    His hand stopped at the corner of his lip as his son''s point hit home. He finished the cleaning and nodded along. "Okay, then. Let''s y this your way. Why do you love her?"

    "Why do you love mother?" Ambryan retorted. His gaze darted between the handkerchief and the necktie. Both had the same shade of violet which matched his mother''s eye color.

    That would exin why his mother insisted on the red tie for the partyeven when he hated wearing the color.

    "Rebuttal denied." Jackson smiled. He raised a biscuit towards his son. "No reversing the question. This was your idea."

    Ambryan took a deep breath. He reached to the recesses of his memories with Evangeline. He searched for amon factor. Something rted to him and not on her personal traits since the question touched on his feelings.

    So where would they stem from that is unique to Evangelinepared to other women he met?

    "I''m never bored when I''m around her," he shared. It was true. It had been that way since they met on the website. She managed to catch and hold his attention for every time they were in the same roomwhether virtual or not.

    She could be by his side or across the room or at apletely different location with just the two of them or with other people

    She had that maic andpelling aura around her. Something he found hard to exin.

    "You''re off on a good start but not enough to be convincing," Jackson remarked, biting his inner cheek. He had leaned on the backrest with his arms over his chest. He had seen Ambryan engage in conversation with several people and had witnessed his son being invested in certain topics.

    There had to be more than that.

    Ambryan worked his brain harder. Highlighted moments shed in his mind:

    > themitment she disyed over the contracted deal she had with his mother

    > the dance she did when they entered the rink

    > the way she walked down the stairs

    > the mischief in her eyes while she fixed his tie

    > the whines she made about being hungry

    > the unfiltered curiosity in her questions

    "She''s always expressive," Ambryan thought out loud. His mind became filled with her messages, her voice and her expressions. "She''s unafraid of me in the way that she knows only to talk about relevant things. By that, I mean we never bother each other while at work unless necessary."

    Jackson considered the words for a moment. What had he expected really? The couple only met a few weeks ago. It was the beginning stages but he could definitely spot his son''s interest towards Evangeline.

    That part was true, at least.

    Unless this turned out to be an borate lie and Ambryan gained top notch acting skills to drop the right emotions in his voice and manner of speaking.

    "What is your first impression of her?" Jackson asked next.

    "That she''s not afraid to speak her mind which I mentioned." Ambryan chuckled, recalling the first conversation. "If you have to know, mother introduced us to each other."

    "Of course, she did." His father sighed, squeezing his eyes shut. It now made sense why Avery went out of her way to not only refuse his request for information but also to block them.

    "Mother made me promise to respond and we chatted longer than we expected."

    Jackson opened his eyes and narrowed them, still feeling skeptical about the ordeal. "What did Evangeline first tell you?"

    "I think I tried to buy her cooperation so we could fake our conversations for mother," Ambryan half-lied through his teeth. "She rejected it more than once, adding in a lecture about how that wouldn''t make mother happy."

    "And you believed her refusal?"

    He blinked in recoil. "Do I have a reason not to?"

    "What is one lump of money when she could get more?" Jackson exasperated. This woman could be a master maniptor for all they knew. The use of Avery''s happiness in the conversation added to that theory.

    "By doing the opposite of gaining my favor?" Ambryan rified. He saw what his father meant but the truth consisted of more than one girl. He couldn''t reveal all the details which would lessen the doubts.

    "Fair point but you receive that a lot. It would be logical to do the opposite," his father borated. It was a clever move despite being slightly predictable. It must have been done well. "Now that you''re dating, you''ve spoiled her much more than the bargain you offered."

    At this, Ambryan smiled.

    The sight caught Jackson off guard.

    "Would you like to take a guess at the most expensive thing I bought her?" Ambryan teased. He could already imagine what the reaction would be.

    "Thousands?"

    "Two Smiley Meals."

    His father''s jaw dropped. "You''re kidding."

    "I''m not. Actually, it might be the roller skating rink," Ambryan second-guessed. Then, he shrugged. "But, that doesn''t have the same impact as saying ''Smiley Meals''.

    "That''s it? Are you sure?"

    "That''s it. I am sure."

    Jackson clicked his tongue. That did change things a bit. It supported the ims of how Evangeline hadn''t used their influence for her own personal gain. It hadn''t been that long but he had a good impression of her so far.

    Hopefully, it would stay that way.

    "So you trust her?"

    Ambryan thought for a moment. "I trust her more than most people."

    "Alright," Jackson relented. "I''ll ept that for now since you just started dating. Now onto my next agenda when will I meet her?"

 Chapter 87: Asks for Second Opinion

    Chapter 87: Asks for Second Opinion

    Eve resisted to nce at the door.

    Neither gentleman reached out to her. Any concerns had been put to hold after she inquired about its urgency. Others asked about the CEO''s online status which she responded diligently as a meeting with the Chairman.

    Her heart hammered in her chest. Was it because she knew they were talking about Evangeline? Did the Chairman dislike her? To have personally visited it had to be serious. Unlike the madam, the head of the Hathaway household mostly stopped by for business reasons.

    This was, safe to say, quite unusual.

    Eve caught herself staring at the door.

    She shook her head harshly and went back to work. Her fingers tapped on the keyboard, aplishing routinary work. It required little attention.

    The discussion had to be going well. She hadn''t done anything wrong in Ambryan''s perspective. It should be good. It should be okay.

    The phone suddenly rang.

    Eve''s elbow hit the table''s surface. She hissed. Her face scrunched from the pain, her mouth opening in a silent gasp. She moved it with caution and reached for the handset. The receiver pressed against her left ear.

    "Sir Hathaway''s Office. How may I help?" Eve winced. She switched hands so she could stretch her arm. The sharp ache dulled into a strain. A few minutes should do the trick. Then, the pain would be gone.

    "Eve!"

    "Riff?" She scowled, ncing at the door. There could only be one reason why this man called. It had something to do with another man currently talking to their CEO. They had a direct rtion much like her and Ambryan.

    "Ugh, not you too," Riffle groaned through the receiver. He never grew fond of that nickname. He found it unsuitable for his character. "Darryl must have rubbed off on you."

    Eve fluttered her brown eyes, feigning innocence. "What ever do you mean, Riff?"

    "Ha-ha. Very funny. Anyway, is Chairman there?"

    "Yes, didn''t he tell you?"

    "He did except a major investor is now free because his meeting was cancelled. He is flying out of the country tonight and if we don''t go now, we''d miss the chance to negotiate in person."

    "Oh!" Eve bolted off her seat. The two were probably engrossed into their discussion. The Chairman must have missed the messages and calls. "I''ll inform him about it now."

    "Thanks, Eve. You''re the best."

    "It''s nothing."

    She put the phone down and headed for the door. Her hand paused mid-air. It should be good now. They had been discussing for almost half an hour. How much of Evangeline could they even talk about?

    ''Ambryan hadn''t told the Chairman it was arranged, right?'' The thought shook her awake.

    Eve knocked quickly and opened the door. She bowed in greeting after she made eye contact with her superiors. Her hands folded her abdomen as she straightened up her spine.

    "Pardon the intrusion," she started to say. Her expression stayed neutral. "Chairman, Riffle Johnson called to say that an important investor is free at the moment. I believe he is to fly overseas tonight?"

    Jackson stood up immediately. He reached for his phone, scrolling through his notifications.

    Then, he kept it and sighed. "I guess this conversation ends here, Ambryan."

    Ambryan walked over to his side. He tucked his hands into his pant pockets. "Seems like it, Father Bet."

    His father gave him a deadpan expression. "Don''t even start. I''m neither a priest nor a pastor."

    "But we do have your blessing?" He teased. The reaction was as he expected. His father never really liked that name. It was also his fault why Ambryan ended up with his strange one.

    So there would be two of them who''d suffer.

    "Part of it," Jackson admitted. He headed for the door. "The rest would be decided when I meet this woman."

    ''Evangeline Reed'' He mused to himself. Not even his son agreed for them to meet soon. All of this shrouded mystery surrounding her made him wonder if it was a good thing or a bad one.

    "Safe travels then, father."

    Jackson nced over his shoulder and nodded. He grabbed the door handle, ready to close it when he left. "Work hard."

    "Always do." Ambryan chuckled, heading back to his desk. His first agenda was to browse the concerns for the past 30 minutes and to assess their urgency.

    The door shut close.

    Jackson gripped the handle as crease lines appeared on his forehead. Despite all he said, the conversation left him unsatisfied. There had to be more sources. That couldn''t be everything he could scour.

    Should he ask Luna about it? The idea vanished as soon as it came. The woman was his wife''s friend. He''d find the same blockage there.

    Then, who

    A light bulb lit up over his head.

    He turned around.

    "Eve."

    "Yes, Chairman?" She replied, standing a few meters away. It wouldn''t be right to go back until Jackson left so she waited for him to enter the elevator.

    It seemed like it wouldn''t happen so soon.

    He titled his head sideways, observing her face. "What do you know about Evangeline Reed?"

    Eve felt her ears grow cold. Why was the Chairman asking her this? He''d never done so before when Ambryan dated other women. "Apologies, Chairman. I do not associate myself with Sir Hathaway''s affair."

    "But you were the one who delivers Ambryan''s presents for his lovers, right? Even the one who tells them about the breakup?" Jackson insisted.

    "I was, yes," Eve smiled, realizing what the Chairman implied. "I hadn''t experience such a thing with Ms. Evangeline Reed."

    "Nothing? No presents?"

    "None."

    "Unbelievable" Jackson mumbled with a shake of his head. The more he knew, the more absurd the situation sounded. "Wouldn''t a woman be jealous if others were treated better than her?"

    "Apparently not always, Chairman," Eve dly answered. She personally knew how those women were treated by Ambryan. To her, the quality time they spent together outweighed those material gifts.

    That should be a positive thing, right?

    "It''s still odd."

    ''Apparently not,'' she thought. Her mind geared up for a better answer. The Chairman might not leave if he didn''t get anything out of her. Riff would also me her for the dyeven as a joke.

    ''Presents, presents'' Eve chanted. It was true that Ambryan always had a gift whenever the rtionship started. She''d be the one to order on his behalf.

    This time though...

    "I believe they went to a Louisse Tonvui store together for Sir Hathaway to buy the presents himself. It just happened that Ms. Evangeline Reed refused them."

    How could she forget about that? No wonder that was his idea for a first date. It was the first thing he did for all his lovers.

    Jackson blinked at this new piece of information. "Really now? I haven''t heard anything about it in the media."

    Eve''s eyes widened by a fraction. That was true. When Ambryan asked her to browse the news, she hadn''t seen anything about the visit to Parthenos Mall. It had to be deliberately excluded.

    Panic rose inside of her. How was she to exin her knowledge about it? How could she be so careless?

    "Ambryan must have ordered its exclusion," Jackson spoke as if he read her mind. Then, it was his turn to think out loud. "So he had acted like he normally did but it was Evangeline who rejected the gesture. Shopping together instead of asking you to deliver it. She really must be special then."

    Eve gulped. Was it was it really like that? Had she judged him too quickly? It wasn''t umon to buy gifts even when there wasn''t an asion. Not only did he n to buy one but also he had asked her input about the items.

    She just didn''t answer.

    So he went ahead and made the decision.

    Was she actually feeling guilty right now because she failed to see his intentions at the time?

    "Eve?" Jackson called, noticing that the secretary fell into a daze. Was it perhaps due to what he said? Nothing about it seemed out of the ordinary to him.

    "That''s only what I heard, Chairman. The rest could only be supplied by Sir Hathaway," Eve breathed out. This did not turn as well as she nned. She actually slipped because she acted without thinking.

    Hopefully, if the Chairman decided to ask his son, he would exclude her name.

    "Well, thank you for your input." Jackson receded. He should give up for the day if he wanted to meet the investor in time. At the thought, he looked at his watch and cursed.

    His head shook as he made his way to the elevator. "I really should leave. That man is hard to meet. Sometimes I wonder if he does it on purpose to see me squirm forst minute opportunities."

    Eve smiled and escorted him all the way. "Have a good day, Chairman."

    "You as well, Eve."

    She cracked her neck from side to side and sighed in relief. It was finally over. Things could go back to normal again. Tomorrow should be a rxing day with Andie. They could finally spend some quality time together.

    As soon as she reached her desk, the inte rang. "Eve, would youe inside?"

 Chapter 88: To Gift or Not to Gift

    Chapter 88: To Gift or Not to Gift

    Outside the CEO''s office, clouds had rolled by the afternoon sky. Sunrays cascaded through the window and illuminated the room with yellow light. They warmed Ambryan''s back. He pulled a drawer open and took out a remote.

    Blinds descended from the ceiling, blocking out the sun. He pushed another button and more indoor lights turned on at a more subtle warmth.

    While his right hand worked on this, his left hand continued to type. He heard the door open as he hid the remote. New emails flooded his inbox.

    The footsteps stopped near his desk.

    "What did my father say before he left?" Ambryan asked, breaking the silence between them. His hands continued to work.

    Eve stiffened. This wasn''t a test whether she''d say the truth or not, right? From what she knew, the walls were soundproof. No spy device had been imnted either.

    She shook her head, realizing that she overanalyzed the question. "He asked about Ms. Evangeline Reed."

    The tapping ceased.

    Ambryan side-eyed towards thefloor. His ''permanent'' scowl depened. "Was there a specific question?"

    "Only about how I instructed the deliveries for the previous girls. I believe he was hinting about your gift to her and possibly asking for her address? I am not quite sure because there wasn''t one so the conversation ended soon."

    "Ah, the gifts." He nodded once. His chair rolled backwards as he gazed at the ceiling.

    "Yes."

    Eve pressed her lips together. Was Ambryan nning to send Evangeline a gift? It might seem like a loophole to their rtionship. There wouldn''t be room to reject after she did for the bags.

    She shivered at the prices for those pieces of jewelry. Since it would be a gift, it wouldn''t feel right to sell or to pawn it.

    "Hm, she rejected the bags from Louisse Tonvui before" Ambryan said. Would Evangeline prefer an inexpensive gift? But that wouldn''t for someone of his status. Others might look down on her for it.

    What would a woman like her want then?

    "Eve, do you have any suggestions?" He asked on a whim. His headid on the backrest and his intertwined fingers rose up to his chest.

    "On what?" She blinked.

    "On what to give Evangeline. As you''ve said, you''re aware of all the gifts I sent. Do you think she would have preferred jewelry?"

    Eve bit her tongue. She almost yelled out her protest. Yes! She could use this chance for a different gift.

    "I think she would prefer what makes her happy?" She supplied, her tone bing awkward by the end.

    "And she wonders why a shopping date was a good idea" Ambryan muttered to himself. His chin rested on the back of his hands.

    It was loud enough for Eve to hear.

    ''Well, someone holds a grudge.'' She squeezed her hands together until they screamed in pain. It would have been a good idea now that it came to her attention. They could still go out on another day if he''d insist.

    Then again, a shopping date? It would make things too easy for him. No, that wouldn''t do. He should also learn how to choose gifts for his significant other.

    This would be the first step in that direction.

    Eve scrunched her eyebrows. "I''m sorry. Did you say something, Sir Hathaway?"

    "Nothing," Ambryan denied, clearing his throat. His violet eyes flickered back to the ceiling and his thoughts came out of his mouth, "The only time she seemed extremely happy was at the roller skating rink. Perhaps I should buy it for her."

    "Roller skates?" Eve perked up.

    Then, she calmed her expression. She couldn''t help it. Her heart soared at the idea of new skates. It was simply wonderful! She wouldn''t reject a good pair of skates. Those were hard toe by.

    Should she post about it after she got it? Or should she not? It would be a thoughtful gift unlike random jewelry.

    "No, the establishment," Ambryan corrected her thoughts.

    The daydream shattered right before her eyes. She blinked several times as she came back to earth.

    "Pardon my interruption but, if Ms. Evangeline Reed refused the bags, wouldn''t that mean she''s against extravagant spending?" Eve pointed out, her voice taking a sharp edge. It had been going so well. He just had to ruin it.

    Ambryan frowned at her. "But she''s not here. That was sort of the point of those gifts."

    Eve exhaled sharply through her nose. It was the reason why they were delivered unannounced. He also had them prepared right away before any of them could make a request.

    "I see but maybe something small would be much better?" She hinted. From bags to a whole skating rink business? Was he implying that those items cost as much as that building?

    It was more useful, she''d admit.

    But also too much.

    A faint hum of a ringtone flowed in from the open.

    Eve took a step backward. Her thumb pointed over her shoulder. "I think my phone is ringing. Please excuse me, Sir Hathaway."

    She escaped out of the office before she heard more. When Ambryan decides on a gift, he''d ry it to her for ordering. She could makements then if it turned out to be just as ridiculous as it was now.

    He had asked her for suggestions previously. She would use it as an excuse if he questioned her nosiness, adding that she merely wanted to do a good job.

    Ambryan continued on his search for a perfect gift. The same memories swirled in his head. There had to be a clue somewhere. She had been the happiest in that skating rink so far. The reason was because she hadn''t been to one for years.

    So, the establishment was what made her giddy.

    Wouldn''t it be nice if he bought it for her then?

    ''Maybe something small would be much better?'' Eve repeated in the midst of his thinking.

    He sighed. Something small a lifetime membership card? Did it even have one? He had read the receipt when he cleaned out his pockets. The payment referred to the entrance fee, the roller skates and the socks. The descriptions didn''t clue anything about there being more than one option for each.

    The representative behind the counter hadn''t advertised about membership cards either.

    What else could he refer to for gifts?

    Eve put the phone down. The silence after the conversation aggravated her. Ambryan was used to thinking big. He handled millions of funds on a daily basis. His mindset had been trained to look for better results and bigger returns. His price range covered a level higher than hers.

    Maybe two levels higher.

    Okay, maybe three.

    ''Scratch those. His was an entirely new worldpared to myid back one.'' Eve huffed, propping her arm on the desk and cupping her cheek.

    She probably should get used to it for the next 9 months. Or was it 8? This should mark their third weekend as a couple. The next one would be their 4th,pleting their first month.

    Would monthsaries be celebrated?

    Should they be?

    The inte rang.

    Distracted, Eve pushed the answer button and forgot to speak. Her finger stayed on it too. Her head had be preupied for the next time in the rtionship. More specifically, how important monthsaries for. Should it be like a baby''s first year? Every month celebrated until the baby reaches one years old?

    Then, she should also prepare a gift.

    Not just Ambryan.

    "Eve, are you there?" Spoken by the devil himself.

    "Uh, yes! Yes, Sir Hathaway. What is it?" Eve recovered. She debated whether she should exin her behavior or not. Before she could decide, his voice intercepted her thoughts.

    "Contact de Sprinter, Incorporated and ask where I could make an order. Pass it to me once everything is in ce," Ambryan instructed in one breath.

    "Yes, Sir Hathaway."

    The conversation disconnected and Eve searched about thepany. Herputer monitor became flooded with links. She scrolled through them, getting an idea on de Sprinter manufactured. Other than a photo of its logo, nothing else offered a visual.

    She clicked the first hit. It led her to the official website.

    One look at the homepage and she knew.

    de Sprinter, Incorporated manufactured and sold roller des. A squeal flowed through her gritted teeth. She thanked any higher power for Ambryan''s brain. It took awhile but he put the pieces together.

    This. Was.

    Great. Fantastic.

    Marvelous. Amazing.

    No words could describe how happy Eve was feeling and how proud she was of Ambryan. As a memento, she pped her hands. Right there. On her work station. She pretended that it was a round of apuse.

    It wouldn''t be right not to acknowledge such thinking.

    She didn''t take long to find a contact number. It took even less time to dial it. The music from the rink echoed in her ears. She hummed along with the tune while she waited for someone to pick up the call.

    "Hello, de Sprinter Incorporated. How may I help you?" A reception, Eve assumed, said through the receiver.

    When she put on her charming demeanor, she meant every sweet and pleasant intonation. If only Ambryan gave her the full task of ordering... she''d pick out her own skates.

    "Yes, hello. I''m Everlee Hart, Ambryan Hathaway''s secretary. He would like to make an order for a pair of roller des. I understand you have an online store for all your products but he specifically asked for a spokesperson."

 Chapter 89: Friday Night at Eves

    Chapter 89: Friday Night at Eve''s

    "He said that he''d buy you the whole skating rink?" Andie cackled on Eve''s bed. The story made her stomach. She copsed on her side, her shoulders shaking fromughter. The hem of her ck tank top rose slightly.

    How could her best friend not be more shameless? That was business! A popr one too! Even if it went down, she''d still have a building and earnings.

    Maybe they''d open their own bakery afterwards. The smell of food would bring in the customers for them.

    "Before you ask, I hinted that it was a bad idea." Eve rolled her eyes. She tugged on Andie''s foot and painted the next toenail in bubblegum pink. Cotton balls filled the gaps between the toes. It helped keep them separated from each other, especially the two smallest ones.

    Tonight, they''d hang out like they used to during college.

    Junk food scattered all over the floor. Opened chip bags, half-eaten cheese pizza, liters of soda, a box of trufflesplus two pints of ice cream in the freezer. With all of these in their stomachs, they would be up for hours! Maybe even sleep just before the sun rose.

    Although, they''d probably knock out after midnight.

    "I know you rejected the suggestion." Andie giggled as she sat up. Her toes wiggled at Eve. A cotton ball fell to the floor. "I still believe you have allergies to wealth."

    Eve tightened her hold and red at her best friend''s cheeky smile. She put the cotton ball back then, moved onto the next toe. "Oh, please. Arge sum of money without earning it doesn''t always lead to good things."

    "Yeah, yeah, I know. But it''s a business! I''m sure Ambryan would do all the paperwork and inspection. Maybe even drag you, Ms. Secretary, to apany him." Andie tried to sell. It was an opportunity far beyond their imaginations.

    Why would that be a bad thing? Sure, it could lead to losses but this was Eve, for goodness'' sake! She''d be able to use what she learned during her time at Eros. Her training could lead her to be the manager of her ownpany.

    And they could always convert it to a bakery! Or a restaurant! It would only be defeat if they let it be that way.

    Andie used her other foot to poke Eve''s stomach. Her best friend recoiled from the attack. "Damn, I can''t believe you exchanged that for roller skates. Why you so cheap, ah?"

    Eve pped the foot away but her best friend persisted. She put her own foot down to hold it in ce. Andie struggled to get out of it but Eve switched tactics. She used her whole leg by trapping her best friend''s ankle under her knee as she tucked her leg underneath.

    Andie stopped moving her foot.

    For now.

    "Roller skates I can wear like when we go to the park," Eve exined. She already had two jobs. Managing a business was out of her time budget.

    Unless she quit.

    Which wouldn''t happen any time soon.

    Andie stuck her tongue out. She may have lost the foot war but she could still win in other ways. "Or to work when you''re rushing so you won''t bete. Those wheels do add in speed."

    "Har-har. You''re hrious."

    "Thank you." She chuckled, tipping her invisible top hat. "Although, if Ambryan recognizes them, you''d be busted."

    "Sounds like an idea to end my worries," Eve muttered. It had been only a week since theunch party. It felt like she always sat on the edge of her seat every minute. Just when things seemed to calm down, new yers showed up to test her.

    How was she to keep this facade with everyone?

    "You mean his father?" Andie propped her elbow on her thigh and her hand cupped her cheek. She watched as Eve moved to her big toe. The bubblegum pink reminded her of a time when she yed all day with dolls.

    One more to go and her other foot would be free.

    "Yes." Eve sighed. She dipped the brush for a fresh coat of nail polish. "Not just him, even Mikael and Jordan."

    "That sounds like a harem."

    She pointed the brush at Andie. "Stop right there. If you want one, get it yourself."

    Her best friend merely grinned. "But I do have a harem."

    "Really?" Eve blinked. Then, narrowed her gaze in suspicion. There was a catch somewhere. She just couldn''t put her finger on it. "Does Jarrett know?"

    "Yeah, it''s you and Jarrett." Andie dered.

    Eve rolled her eyes and clicked her tongue. She went back to painting toenails. "Are you sure that it''s not with a co-worker who has been eyeing you since your first day?"

    "Totally irrelevant on this subject," Andie shot down. Just the thought of that man left a bitter taste in her mouth. The problem was how sweet the guy was. He was also quite cute.

    Every time his puppy eyes droop at her, she''d forget to scold him and let him go.

    "I don''t know" Eve trailed off. She wiped off the excess polish that touched the nail''s outer edge. "Does he still write your name in icing whenever you ask for dessert?"

    "Shut up."

    "Just curious."

    It was Andie''s turn to roll her eyes. She saw the guy more as a younger brother than anything. He never stood a chance. She and Jarrett were already a couple before they met. He had a face that doesn''t seem to age. He had wless skin too, even thicker eyebrows andshes than her.

    It reminded her of someone else with thicker brows andshes.

    "Hey, do you think we can visit town tomorrow?" Andie proposed. Her lids hooded over her stormy blue eyes. She could almost hear the uing rejection. "I''m sure someone would be happy to see us."

    Eve chuckled. She released the other foot and worked on its nails, not sparing Andie a nce. Her hands worked faster to finish. "Can''t we just pay for her travel fare? She already has free food and lodging in this apartment."

    "Then, you should be the one to convince her. You know how much she hates travelling." Her best friend snorted. Whenever they had this conversation with their other friend, it wouldst, at least, for an hour. It always did when two opposing people were stubborn.

    Andie eventually ran out of patience. She was the only one fine with travelling. She tried to please both but they always ignored her. Since then, she let them be the ones to argue while she enjoyed whatever food they had in the fridge.

    "At least, it would be free," Eve pointed out. She coated the third toenail with two left ahead. Her mind wandered to the game they created about nail polish. "What design do you want? Fair warning. I am still bad at this."

    Yup, they would attempt nail arts. It didn''t always end well which was why they used toenails for it. They could hide the disastrous ones through socks and/or shoes. Only people close to them would spot the nail artsif they were lucky as Eve and Andie liked to joke.

    "I want cupcakes in blue cups and purple icing," Andie stated. She had decided on that from the beginningmaybe because they were disyed on the bakery shop window earlier in the day. "Don''t forget the cherry on top. I want it to be a hot pink rhinestone."

    Eve paused from her work. Her brown eyes widened at her best friend. She couldn''t tell if Andie was teasing her or not. "Can''t you think of a simpler idea?"

    ''What part of ''I am still bad at this'' did Andie not understand?''

    "I want them facing me too and not upside down," her best friend continued, admiring her finished foot. She wiggled her toes, imagining the cupcakes on them. "Oh, when I want the cups to be sky blue. Use pastel colors too. There should be some in the kit."

    Shaking her head, Eve reached for her phone. No way was she going to eyeball this. A reference should be a big help. She found a photo that made the cupcakes look like 2D cartoon. It had ck outlines which she could use to hide her mistakes.

    "How am I even supposed to paint one on your little toe?" Eve suddenly thought. It was the smallest nail. With a tall design like this, it would be hard to squeeze all the details in. The rhinestone would take up half of the space.

    "That''s your problem. It is supposed to be a challenge." Andie grinned. This would now be her revenge for losing the foot war.

    "Try not to make them like ice cream," she teased further. "They might look like sundae cones if you''re not careful."

    "Damn," Eve cursed, screwing the cap for the bubblegum pink polish. She rummaged through the kit and looked for the nail art pens. Her best bet was to make an outline. Something close to the bubblegum shade too.

    Just a shade lighter or darker maybe.

    She drew her first outline.

    It came outthin and tall. The silhouette resembled an ice cream sundaejust like Andie warned.

    "I hate you," Eve taunted. A dark cloud hovered above her head. She traced the first outline, making the cupcake wider.

    Andie giggled at her grumpy face. The fun was just getting started. Oh, how she missed these nights if only there were three of them instead of two.

    "Love ya too, Eve."

 Chapter 90: Good Morning Call

    Chapter 90: Good Morning Call

    "Ugh, what time did we sleep?" Eve asked groggily. Her closed eyes felt warm from the sunrays. She scrunched her nose, feeling pain on either side of her head. It made her even more reluctant to wake up. Her bed also seemed harder than usual.

    Then, her memories fromst night surfaced.

    They had watched a movie after painting each other''s toenails.

    Herptop was on the bed while they sat on the floor. Somehow, in their perspectives, this setup enhanced the movie experiencedespite how small herptop screen was. They split an earphone so they''d hear the audio and each other well.

    "I have no idea." Andie yawned, sitting up. She rubbed the sleep out of her eyes. Theptop was still on the bed. The screen had gone ck from theck of power. They fell asleep in the direction of the window where the morning light streamed through the ss.

    "Well, the sun came too early," Eve grumbled, turning to her side. "It''s clearly not morning yet."

    Andie reached for theptop and closed its lid. With her arms over it, she curved her back and stretched it. Another yawn breathed out of her lips. Was this all from sleepingte? Or was she actually tired? Was she stressed?

    A phone vibrated continuously on the bed. Andie felt it under her arm as the tremors flowed through theptop. She tapped on the mattress until she found the mobile device.

    "Eve, your phone is ringing."

    "Who is it?" Eve scowled and rolled on her back. She pushed her arms up and stretched her whole body. It seemed like more sleep would have to waitter. She raised one leg up, using to pull herself up when she dropped it to the ground.

    Andie squinted at the phone. Unlike normal calls, this one didn''t take up the whole screen. It only appeared on the top. "The notification bar just says ''Yan''. Did you change your boss'' contact on your phone?"

    ''Yan was Ambryan''s nickname, right?'' She thought. Did their rtionship escte to that level already? She knew Eve joked about their nicknames with Evan and Ambeewhich they only used in public as her best friend stated before.

    "No, I didn''t. That''s just" Drowsiness evaporated from Eve''s system. That name only came up through one source. She lunged for Andie and attempted to snatch the phone. "OMG! Give it to me!"

    Andie put it out of Eve''s reach, letting it vibrate in her hand. "Why?"

    "Why are you keeping the phone away?" Eve demanded. She stood up for a better angle while Andie fell to the floor. She had to answer it soon. It was rare for Ambryan to call. It could only mean that it was something serious.

    He was also calling Evangeline.

    It had to be double serious. Maybe something in the news about their rtionship. Maybe to ask her opinion on the roller skates. Either one, she wouldn''t want to miss the chance.

    "So you can agree to let me listen!" Andie revealed, tucking the phone under her arms and close to her chest. She nced down and made sure she didn''t identally push the answer button.

    "Why would you even want to listen?" Eve scoffed. She grabbed her best friend''s wrists and yanked. The ringing ended but it picked up again after two seconds.

    "Why wouldn''t I want to listen?" Andie snorted, her hold loosening. It was ringing for the second time already. Any more and Eve might be angry at herbut she really wanted to listen! "Do you have endearments? Honey? Sweetie? Wifey and Hubby?"

    "I told you that we don''t. Now give it to me!" Eve seized the phone and epted the call. She lowered herself on the bed, identally sitting on herptop. She scooted a few inches away.

    "H-Hello?" She panted. Her heart raced inside her chest. That had been a workout that she wasn''t prepared for. She should exercise more. Maybe they could hit more hours in the gym tomorrow.

    Andie joined beside her and pressed her ear against the back of the phone. Eve leaned away but she persisted. They mouthed words to one another, talking about invasion of privacy.

    "Are you alright?" She heard Ambryan ask.

    "Yeah, I''m fine is that why you''re calling?" Eve frowned, pping Andie''s hands away. She turned around and reached for the window curtains. The champagne pink fabric wrapped around her as a shield.

    Andie rose to her knees and put her hands on her hips. Her lips pouted at her best friend''s back. She just wanted a little sneaky peeky.

    "I greeted you as usual this morning and it''s already noon," Ambryan exined. Part of their agreement included these greetings. Since the whole morning passed without a response, he wondered what could have happened.

    "It is?!" Eve eximed. She pulled the phone and checked the time. It really was past 12PM! They had slept for that long?

    "Did you just wake up?"

    "Sort of?" She squeaked. Her face buried itself in her free hand. This probably looked like unprofessional behavior from her. Ambryan always sleptte but he managed his time welleven after a night of drinking.

    "Howte did you sleep?" He demanded. The faint tapping of a keyboard echoed in the background. They seemed louder than before if she only heard them now.

    "I honestly have no idea. My friend and I stayed up watching movies and we fell asleep," Eve exined, hoping it was enough of a reason. If they were supposed to be a ''couple'', should she state everything that happened in the slumber party?

    Would it be bad if she withheld info until he asked?

    "That is all?"

    "Of course, we ate lots of junk food."

    Eve could almost see him frown. "You really like to eat unhealthy food."

    "Not always. Maybe once a week." She beamed.

    "Too much."

    "But it''s myfort food! Helps me loosen up and rx every once in a while."

    ''And they taste so good!'' Eve finished in her head. It was a sad reality. Why were food bad for the body so delicious? It had been so long since she ate that much. There was still enough for the whole weekend.

    The typing stopped from the other line. Ambryan''s voice seemed closer than before. His tone lowered into a serious onealmost as if he was in his business mode.

    "Evangeline."

    "Yes?" Eve replied. She pressed her lips together while she waited. The silence roared in her ears. Was this finally it? Was he going to ask about his gift to her? Get ideas from her? She was more than ready with an answer.

    "If you want to rx, drink chamomile tea."

    The hope cracked before her eyes.

    It wasn''t like she could bring it up by herself. It would seem suspicious since only Eve knew about the gift. She wouldn''t be able to lie through itoh, but she wanted those skates! No matter what Andie said about the matter. Skates were still valuable, especially from high end brands.

    Instead of whining, Eve said, "I think you know how much I love my caffeine."

    "Contrary to popr belief, some teas have caffeine," Ambryan pointed out. "Also, if you wanted to rx, how is caffeine supposed to help? It offers the opposite experience."

    "I needed it to stay upte and enjoy my time with my friend."

    "Then, green tea would suffice. And who is this friend?"

    "An" Eve choked. How to lie and not lie at the same time? Learning this skill was getting out of hand. She thought fast. What was Andie''s second name again? "Beatrice, my friend since childhood."

    Andie hit her on the back.

    Eve bit her lip, trying not to make a sound. She red through the curtain even if her best friend couldn''t see it. It wasn''t like she had a better choice. Andie''s first name wasn''t a nickname. It wasn''t short for ''Andrea'' or ''Andrei'' or anything simr that started with ''And-''. Otherwise, she would have picked that one instead.

    Unfortunately, Andie wasn''t fond of her second name. It had been taken from her great-grandmother, who she adored while thetter was still alive, but the name just never stuck.

    "Since childhood?"

    "Yes, are you and Mr. Kingston the same?" Eve asked back, diverting the focus. "I only know that you two are good friends."

    "We met around high school."

    "Oh, really? Then, do you ever see your childhood friends?" Question after question flooded her brain. She could keep this up. Maybe if they talked about Richard long enough, Ambryan would forget that Andie existed.

    Not that Ambryan ever met Andie before.

    But it was best to be cautious.

    "Never saw them after I switched schools."

    "What? Why?" Eve gasped.

    This was news to her ears. If she was to be honest, she couldn''t picture any friend for Ambryan other than Richard. To hear that he had other friends what could have happened? Did they have a fallout? Was it a dark past?

    Was that why he was so cold?

    "We went our separate ways."

    Eve debated on how much she should poke onuntil she came to the conclusion that she''d drop it only the moment he dodged or refused a question. This had to be the deepest topic about his life that she had with him so far.

    Was it wrong to want more?

    "Do you ever miss them?"

 Chapter 91: Ladies Only Saturdate

    Chapter 91: Ladies Only Saturdate

    "Do you ever miss them?"

    Silence.

    Eve''s question was followed by silence. She bit her bottom lip, rethinking her idea. The sunlight from the window warmed her face. She felt beads of sweat form on her scalp. The bed tipped under her as Andie shuffled from the other side of the curtain.

    Did she ask too much?

    "You know what I overthought the question." Eve chuckled as her brown eyes misted. Tight strings squeezed her chest. Secretary Eve may not have the right to ask her Boss Ambryan about his personal life but Model Evangeline didn''t have an All-ess ticket either.

    And she got carried away. She overstepped her boundaries. She should step back before she''d lose the ess ticket she did get. If Ambryan ever decided to share it, he would in due timewithout her even asking.

    If she had a ne on, she''d y with the pendant right about now.

    "Really now?" Ambryan questioned, unaware of her emotional conflict.

    "Yeah, I mean Do you miss Richard? I think you''d want to say no but won''t because you''re a nice friend," Eve teased. She put her thoughts behind. There wasn''t a need to be deeply close. What they had so far was enough.

    In fact, it wouldn''t be good since they would part ways in nine months.

    Eight months if she counted right.

    "Sometimes I wonder what your image of me looks like."

    A genuine smile spread across her face. She wondered if people would ever know how funny the Coldest Man on Earth could be. Borrowing Madison''s description, she said, "A hotshot CEO who works 99% of time."

    "What about the 1%?"

    "The time you spend with your cat."

    "I see."

    "Anyway, are we done? <em>Beatrice</em> and I have some ns." Eve suddenly threw into the conversation. She cleared her throat, keeping the mood light. "Of course, it can''t top skating through a retro roller skating rink. Maybe I should buy a pair of roller des and skate around the house."

    Of course, she added a bit of shameless hint on what present he should pick. It was something she''d buy! That meant it was something she wanted! Eve truly hoped he got into his head. If he pieced the idea together before, he should take this as a sign that it was the right decision.

    "And risk injury? Tell me, are you 10 years old?" Ambryan countered.

    Eve gritted her teeth and groaned. She got his point bute on! To ask if she was 10 years old? Obviously, an adult like her could totally get away with skating inside the house and avoiding injury at the same time. She had the awareness to keep that in mind.

    After all, reaching 25 years old was more than just physically changing.

    "Fine, fine, Mr. Killjoy. I won''t skate inside the house" Eve sighed, biting her inner cheek. She could almost feel his disapproving eyes on her. A cheeky grin blossomed on her lips. "I would just skate on an uneven pavement!"

    "Evangeline."

    "Just kidding. Have a good day!"

    Eve heard the dial tone as she pushed the end button. Her shoulders dropped. A fog shielded her vision. How could she slip like that? It was a good thing that she caught herself right away. This interest had to stop growing. It would only lead to more scars.

    At that moment, she also arrived at an epiphany. She came to the realization that this this arrangement, in whatever the future held, good or bad, would leave some damage.

    The deeper they dived in, the deeper the wounds would beand possibly even be incurable. The best thing she could do was minimize it.

    The curtain slid off her back as Andie moved to her side. "Hey, you okay?"

    "Yeah I guess I became toofortable with being ''the girlfriend''," Eve air-quoted. She was highly curious by nature. He had answered most of her questions since they met. Her bbermouth just kept going.

    Andie wrapped an arm around her best friend, hugging thetter''s shoulders.

    "Well, from what I can tell. The two of you talked naturally. It was bound to happen. I know you''d, at least, want to be his friend throughout this romantic adventure and it''s hard because you can''t be 100% honest," she offered as her insights. She tried her best to pick up Ambryan''s voice but only managed to do so for a few parts."So you have to be fair by not asking him questions you wouldn''t answer if he asked you."

    Eve closed her eyes and hung her head. "I know. I just forgot."

    Andie chuckled, enjoying the obvious misery. Then, she changed the topic. "By the way, real smooth on clueing him about the roller des."

    "Why thank you."

    "Although, you basically just gave him reasons not to give you skates." She clutched her stomach andughed. She had made a face when she heard that sentence. It was a good attempt but it wasn''t doing Eve any favor.

    She found it cute at how much her best friend wanted those skates. It had only been a day but Eve seized another chance to advertise them.

    Eve blinked her eyes open and scrunched her nose. "Damn. I did."

    "Come on, let''s get brunch." Andie stood up and pushed the curtain out of her path. She jumped off the bed, winking over her shoulder. "Nothing is a better mood booster than food."

    .

    .

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    .

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    .

    .

    "Should we get lemon or green apple?"

    An hourter, Andie and Eve found themselves inside a grocery store. White lights, white walls, white shelves and white tiles flooded their vision. Thankfully, not a lot of people filled the area. They managed to navigate the ce without running into other customers. Their route covered all aisles so they wouldn''t miss out on anything.

    Eve pushed the cart while Andie stocked up their food supplies. They both exposed their legs. Eve wore denim jumper shorts and white shirt, choosing white sneakers for footwear. Andie also chose a denim outfit but opted for a sleeveless onesie and tan sandals.

    Four wheels rattled as it rolled on the floor.

    Every now and then, the cart would change directions and Eve would pull it back into a straight line. When it happened for the 5th they arrived, she said, "I think our push cart is gay. Can push carts have gender?"

    A stock clerk nced at her.

    Eve grabbed a random sponge off a shelf,paring the prices of different brands. Her neck grew hot from embarrassment. She hadn''t noticed he was there when she turned around the corner. Since the push cart always swerved right, it took her some time to turn left.

    Andie saw the exchange and chuckled. She put the green bottle back, choosing the lemon scent for their dishwashing liquid. "I think it can be whatever it wants to be. Do you want that one?"

    Her index finger pointed towards the sponge.

    "Nah, I think we still have some left." Eve ced it back on the shelf and proceeded to roll out of the aisle. She didn''t dare look at the stock clerk while he sat on a sto box of new dishwashing paste open beside him.

    Andie shook her head, trailing behind.

    She watched as the cart went right and Eve pulled it back into ce. Her best friend''s hands let the handlebar go and moved them to the sides, using arm strength to keep the cart from bumping into the shelves. They barely covered half of the store.

    But, it didn''t take long to reach their favorite aisle, ''Chocte and Candies''.

    Andie raided the chocte shelf. They had empty jars to fill with candy coated chocte. They would separate them by color so they could line them up like a rainbow. It was her idea as a ''celebration'' for Eve''s debut as a model.

    It would also look cute on the living room''s coffee table.

    She checked the expiration dates just to be sure.

    Eve walked at a leisure pace. Those button-shaped choctes shouldst them monthsif Ede and Eri wouldn''t empty them in a matter of hours. They should find a way to keep the jars sealed so they won''t need to keep an eye on the twins all the time.

    Her brown eyesnded on the candies.

    Their shelves had more color than the chocte ones. It had packs and boxes of mints, lollipops, marshmallows, chewables and more. Eve pushed the cart along then, her sight beheld an array of sour candies. Boxes of them stacked over a shelf.

    One type caught her attention particrly.

    Before she knew it, her hand picked up a box.

    The design had two main colors, violet on the left and pink on the right. It split in the middle perfectly. Rocky shapes popped out of the background. Tiny cartoon blobs randomly posed all over the carton. They each had two feet and arge nose.

    Their silly expressions easily captured the interests of kids.

    Then, their delighted faces would scrunch up from the sournespletely fooled by the innocent-looking cartoons. Nothing about the candy brought them happiness.

    Eve chuckled as she read the bold white letters.

    ''NERDS''

 Chapter 92: Get Out of My Head!

    Chapter 92: Get Out of My Head!

    "Wow! They still sell those?" Andie eximed, dumping bags of chocte into the cart. She quickly walked over to Eve and grabbed a box of Nerds. An astonished scoff rumbled in her throat.

    She flipped it over, reading the back. "I don''t know when was thest time I saw one of these. This is so nostalgic. Everyone tried to be the ''cool kid'' by trying not to cringe as they ate a handful. Ha! Now, I wonder if Jarrett would seed."

    Eve didn''t hear most of her words. She scowled at the box, thinking of what to do.

    Andie flickered her gaze at her best friend when thetter didn''t respond. She dropped the box into the cart and folded her arms over the railings. Her stormy blue eyes narrowed. "Earth to Eve? Last time I checked you don''t like sour candy. What are you staring at it for?"

    "Huh?" Eve blinked out of her daze. She put the candy back on the shelf. "It''s like you said. It''s nostalgic. I just had some shbacks."

    Unconvinced, Andie stayed in ce when Eve pushed the cart. She cupped her cheek and analyzed her best friend''s face. "And you just so happen to look at the sour candies?"

    "Yes?" Eve raised an eyebrow. What was this sudden interrogation? She leaned forward, maintaining eye contact. "Not everything has a reason, Andie. They used to sell it near Madame Isabelle''s studio. The other kids would run during break to buy them while I opened my pack of NmNs."

    It only took one obnoxious kid to convince an entire ss that only tough guys could handle the candy''s sourness. A battlemenced on who could eat the most without their faces flinching. Two kids would chew at the same time while the others watched and judged.

    Needless to say, the results seemed predictable as she looked back on the memory now.

    "Wait Aunt Eva never packed chocte in your lunch," Andie pointed out. She straightened her back and put her hands on her hips. "Just where did you get that chocte?"

    Eve shrugged. The wheels rattled once again as they continued their shopping journey. "I may or may not have found it in the studio."

    "You hid it there, didn''t you?"

    "Maybe? Maybe not. Who knows really?"

    Andie rolled her eyes at the poor lie. She checked her watch and marched over. "We better get a move on if we want to surprise the girls. Their sses end in two hours."

    She and Eve left the grocery store in half an hour.

    All of the paper bags went into the trunk of a silver BMW M3. They hoped the weather wouldn''t be too hot for the choctes to melt. Even if they had shells, the coatings could slide off sometimes. They held more importance since the disy was about the colors.

    Eve drove the car and headed for The Magical Symphony.

    The traffic flowed moderately. Andie turned on the speakers and connected her phone. They cruised down the fourne main roads. A lot of vehicles used them but it was still the shortest route to the music school. The top songs of the charts yed in the car.

    Andie bopped along to the beats, staring out the passenger window. Her gaze beheld the sight of a tall building in the distance. She grinned. "Oh, look. It''s Eros Headquarters where your boyfriend works."

    Eve hit the brakes. It onlysted a second but a car honked behind her. The corner of her lips pulled down, exposing her teeth. She quickly maneuvered the car to anotherne when she spotted an opening. Hopefully, it would get the driver off her tracks.

    "Don''t call him that when I don''t have the red wig on." She scolded Andie, shaking her head. SheSheShe just removed him from her head! Now, her lovely best friend just had to put him back again.

    This was supposed to be an Ambryan-free weekend!

    Why was the world torturing her?

    Andie raised her hands in surrender.

    "Ugh, fine," she groaned, making an exaggerated face. Her eyes nced out the window again and saw the same building. "Oh, look. It''s Eros Headquarters where your future husband works."

    "Andie!"

    "What?" She whirled her head towards the driver''s seat. Then, she titled it sideways. "Should I say fianc first?"

    "You should say nothing other than he''s my boss!" Eve practically shrieked. Although they were in an enclosed space, they were still outside. She might not be the only who''d slip. It was best to keep this topic inside their apartment and nowhere else.

    "Do you still see him like that?" Andie thought out loud. It had been almost a month. Some lines should have blurred. Granted, they only saw each other twice in real life but that phone conversation showed how much closer they were.

    Compared to their work positions, at least.

    "Of course!" Eve defended and turned on the blinker. She steered the wheel to the right, entering a narrower street. "We have a professional business rtionship."

    "Uh-huh, sure." Andie thought of a counter argument and said, "Didn''t you force him to get sses?"

    "His health is important. He can''t be sick. Otherwise, I get more work," Eve exined. "I also have to make sure the other executives find time to aplish his tasks."

    It was true. If the CEO was suddenly sick, he would need rest to fully recover ASAP. In order for it to happen, he wasn''t allowed to touch any report, any concern or any inquiry. He also relied on his vision a lot since he always faced a digital monitor.

    Although he could still function with prescription sses, prevention was still key.

    "Boo-hoo."

    Eve red at her best friend briefly.

    "Look, we''re here!" Andie pointed towards a two-storey building ahead.

    The school looked the same as Eve remembered it. It had the white walls and an orange asphalt roof. Music notes decorated arge window at the front. It also still had the same limited parking spots like in her memories.

    Andie checked the time and nodded towards the store beside the school. "We still have an hour to spare. Want to check out that bookshop?"

    "Don''t you have enough cookbooks?"

    "I don''t know. Don''t you have enough web novels?"

    Eve mped her mouth and chose to park at the bookshop. Since they''d spend time in the store, it should be fine. Andie climbed out as soon as the engine stopped running. She shielded her eyes from the sun and peeked through the window.

    The shop seemed rustic inside.

    Old bricks lined up the walls. Books upied the mahogany bookshelves. If she wasn''t mistaken, it even had a stone firece that also had books. It looked more like a library than a shopnot that she wasining. It also had velvet furniture for customers to use while reading.

    Andie had high hopes for it already!

    Eve double checked the lock on the car before following inside. She walked around the center disys and didn''t find her best friend. That was when she spotted the stairs. ''Andie must have climbed up''

    Debating whether to go upstairs or not, Eve saw a section of children''s books. Her legs moved even before she could think. She crouched and browsed through the selections. Colorful covers greeted her eyes. A few of them seemed interesting. Which ones should she pick of the twins?

    Eve sat on the floor with her legs crossed.

    She read about ten pages of a book when she felt a tap on her shoulder. Her mind hadn''t left the story''s setting. She just found out that the farm chickens had telekic powers. A fight broke out inside the coop. It was an engaging plot.

    The next events moved in slow motion.

    Eve twisted her head to the side, aiming for behind her shoulder. Her brown eyes blinked still fresh from reading and imagining the scenes. She perceived nothing until her gazended behind her back.

    Large ck eyes greeted her sight. They stared right into her as if locking onto a target. Long brown antennas stuck out on either side of them. Thin pincers poked her in the nose. Spiky legs shook as if crawling towards her.

    "Hi, Eve," the cockroach spoked and she jumped.

    "AH! Get away from me!" Eve yelled. Her hand pped the cockroach away. She panted for breath. What scared her was how close it was. The moment she saw it, the pest covered her entire vision and left no room for reality.

    Who wouldn''t be startled when it was asrge as a cat?

    Andie dropped to her knees,ughing at the whole scene. Her grip on the picture book loosened and fell onto the floor. The cockroach turned out to be a pop-up image from it. They had magnified its size and elevated it off the page.

    Eve mmed the book closed. Goosebumps rose on her skin. She''d rather forget the entire incident. Even without the physical photo, the picture was vivid in her head.

    She hit Andie with the book. "YouYouYou! Wait till I tell Jarrett!"

    "Oh, please." Andie snorted as she wiped her tears. A few giggles still flowed out of her mouth. "He loves me too much to do anything. I bet he''d even join me in scaring you. Maybe even Amyour future husband would too."

    Rolling her eyes, Eve rose to her feet and dusted off her bottom. "When I meet telekic chickens in real life, I''ll ask them to hang you on the top of the Eiffel Tower."

 Chapter 93: Where is the Food?

    Chapter 93: Where is the Food?

    In a music room, its casement windows had been opened. The music poured out as the sun came in. Arge ck piano stood out against the cream walls and wooden flooring. Its glossy grandeur felt out of ce with the rustic interior.

    Eri knitted her eyebrows.

    She raised her right hand and spread her fingers. Each tip touched a white piano key. Her right thumb caressed the D note. Her other fingers followed until her left pinkynded on the A note. Then, her left thumb positioned on the middle C note beside her right one. She practiced pressing each key.

    Her scowl deepened.

    Her ring finger and pinky still needed more effort than the others.

    M walked over to the piano and sat beside the young girl. Her curly ginger hair had been brushed back to a ponytail. She wore a simple outfit of jeans and a ruffle blouse. Compared to her, Eri had gray shorts and a white shirt with her cinnamon hair braided behind her.

    A wind flew inside.

    M reached for the sample sheet on the stand, stopping it from flying. She grabbed the music sheet holder and clipped it in ce. The breeze left as soon as it came. Lessons had ended five minutes ago but it seemed that Eri wasn''t satisfied with her performance.

    The young girl wanted to try one more time.

    "Go on," M whispered in encouragement.

    And Eri did.

    She started on her ring finger, holding down the G key and mentally counting. Then, she moved on to the E note with the same time duration. When she went back to G, she tapped it twice as if cutting the long one before into halves.

    The corners of her lips turned down.

    As she predicted, she felt strain on her ring finger. Her other ones trembled over their keys. It became more prominent when she used her pinky.

    It frustrated her.

    "Try to let your other fingers go up whenever you push down on a key," M offered as a tip. "Since the notes are side by side, you won''t miss and press a different key."

    Eri remained silent.

    But, she heard the words.

    She hadn''t nced on the sheet once. Her mind had it memorized. She concentrated on her cement. Progress slowed whenever she switched her attention between her fingers and the sheet. There would be pauses and they added to her impatience.

    Starting over again, she lifted her hand off the keys. She touched them one finger at a time instead of all at once. Only her left thumb stayed the same. She yed the nursery rhyme five times as she got used to the new positioning.

    A small smile teased her lips.

    "Good?" M chuckled, noticing the change in expression.

    "Easier," Eri corrected. Then, she sighed. "Now, I feel stupid."

    It was a simple change. Something that should have been obvious. She bet Ede would have done the same without help. They both practiced at home but in separate rooms. Her chest squeezed. Sometimes she wished they were learning the same instrument so they could help each other out.

    "It''s okay. I did the same when I started. My fingers would look like spider legs." M shared, cing her hand on the piano and demonstrating. "See? And it is notfortable, I tell you."

    Eri giggled as the slender fingers crawled over the keys like a real spider. "Thank you for apanying me, Teacher M. I wonder why my aunt is taking so long."

    Then, her head whirled towards the door. "And Ede too. We always meet in this room."

    M stood up and patted the girl''s shoulder. "I''ll go check on your sister. You stay here."

    "Okay."

    Unbothered, Eri practiced the song again.

    And again.

    And again.

    "That sounds good, Eri!" Ede greeted as she ran inside and sat beside her twin. "Let me hear other songs too. Maybe we can y togetherter if I also know it."

    Happiness surged inside Eri. "Sure!"

    M stood by the door, carrying a violin case. It seemed like both twins wanted extra lessons. No one at home could help them out so they often stayed longer and consulted the teachers. Their dedication really impressed her.

    "Is that Eri ying?"

    Her jade green eyes flickered towards the hallway.

    Eve walked over, her thumbs tucked inside the pockets of her jumper shorts. Andie followed behind her and admired the ce. The hanged paintings reminded her of Madame Isabelle''s ballet studio. They added a vintage vibe to the ce.

    M opened her mouth to reply

    but another voice intercepted.

    "Wait! Did I just hear Eve?" Ede scrambled off the bench and ran for the door. Her brown almond-shaped eyes widened at the sight of her older sister. "Eve! You came!"

    "Yes, I did!" Eve giggled, dropping on one knee. "Come and give me a hug."

    Eri stopped ying. Practicepletely left her mind. Something more important reced it and it waited for her in the hallway. By the time she reached it, Ede was already hugging their older sister.

    "Eve!" She yelled and she joined the embrace.

    "Eri!"

    Eve squeezed the twins tight. It had been a while since she had a whiff of their scents. Both girls enraptured her senses and her thoughts. No matter where they were her sisters always felt and smelled like home.

    Oh, how she missed these girls.

    "Wo-wo-woah! Where''s my hug? I''m the one who cooks for you both whenever youe over." Andie pouted behind them. She crossed her arms over her chest, sticking out her bottom lip more. "This is unfair treatment. Should I stop making waffles?"

    Eveughed at her best friend''s pettiness.

    She let the twins go.

    Eri and Ede quickly tackled Andie with hugs. Their gazes looked up. Tenderness shined out of their eyes. "We love you too, Andie."

    Andie grinned and crouched, returning the gesture. "Are you ready for some fun? I think your sister is taking us somewhere. You feel up for some time in the amusement park?"

    Cheers erupted from the girls.

    "OMG! Really?! I wanna y those darts and win a prize!"

    "Can we go try the Drop Tower? I heard it''s really high and scary!"

    Eve straightened her legs and red. Her hands went to her hips. Now, the spotlight fell onto Andie who revealed their ns. "Hey! Stop spoiling the surprise!"

    M tapped her shoulder, wearing a gentle smile. She lifted her hand. "Sorry to interrupt. Here is Ede''s violin. Take care on your way. I will finish cleaning up the music room."

    "Oh, Ms. rk. Thank you for looking after them." Eve bowed as she took the violin case. "I''m sorry we''rete. We lost track of time and got held up."

    "It was nothing. They''re both diligent students. I feel like they wouldn''t mind even sleeping here if it meant they can have their questions answered," M joked, lightening the tension. She waved her hand and brushed off the concern. "It''s always a pleasure to be around passionate musicians."

    Eve instantly felt relieved. It seemed like both were serious about the lessons. The money wouldn''t go to waste after all. She turned her head towards herpanions. They had begun to leave the building. Their excitements reverberated around the narrow space.

    "Looks like we''ll be going now," she chuckled, bowing once more. "Thank you again, Ms. rk."

    M held up her hands and shook her head. "Oh, please. Call me, M."

    "I will try to remember next time."

    "Enjoy your day!"

    "You as well."

    Andie and the twins already reached the car by the time Eve stepped out of the building. The summer heat rose up as a direct light shined down the pavement, intensifying the shadows of humans and objects.

    Eri stood on her toes and pressed her face against a window. A gasp flowed out of her lips. Two boxes sat on the backseat. She would recognize the red and yellow colors anywhere, especially the ''W'' logo on the sides.

    "Is that a Smiley Meal?!"

    "What?" Ede asked, joining her sister. "Did you buy us, WcDonald''s?"

    "Yes and no. You won''t find food in those." Eve answered and unlocked the car.

    The girls immediately went inside. They opened the boxes and peeked inside. Both contained the same stic bag. Inside the bags, the items looked like the side of a pink house. Scissors stuck out from a pocket, covering the ''wall'', and a small doll smiled from the side.

    Eri spoke up first, "Is this thest piece for our doll house?!"

    Eve sat on the driver''s seat and buckled in. "Yes, it is. Do you like it?"

    "Like it?! I LOVE IT! We couldn''t find this wherever we tried!"

    "Yeah!" Edeined as they back out of the parking lot. "The cashiers always say it''s sold out. I think it''s because of the scissors. It stands out from the other pieces."

    Eri studied the box again. "Did you eat the food before you came here? You could have just saved it for us!"

    "Nah," Andie replied. Mischief shined in her stormy blue eyes. "Your sister got that from a date."

    "A DATE?!"

    Eve hit the brakes. Everyone jerked off their seats. She apologized and put the car back in motion. A dark aura clouded around her. Profanities fired under her breath. Her right temple throbbed at the turn of events.

    How was she going to exin the situation to her sisters now?

    She really needed to get back at Andie soon.

 Chapter 94: In Hathaway Manor

    Chapter 94: In Hathaway Manor

    <em>''Nonsense! You can''t work every minute of every day! Take a break!''</em>

    <em>''Your father is back and you won''t visit? Do you want us to visit you instead?''</em>

    <em>''I don''t care if you saw each other the other day! Let''s eat as a family!''</em>

    <em>''And in our home!''</em>

    Ambryan exhaled sharply as wind blew against his face. The morning sun rose from the east, peeking out from the other side of the hill. A few goats ate on the grass. The road ahead offered a fantastic view of nature.

    Unlike the route to the Stitz Bristo, this one led to a patch of trees. The air felt fresh and moist. The temperature also dropped. The shadows and lights danced as he passed through. He used to look up as a kid. Something about the overhead leaves and branches always put him at ease.

    The dirt road curved sharply to the right.

    Meters more of driving and Ambryan spotted tall ck gates. A part of their wealth came from old money. Since then, many generations ventured out to make it grow bigger. Only the main family stayed in the estate but its rooms could amodate, at least, 50 guests. The pathway between the gates and the front door could line up 20 cars alone.

    The mansion had its appeal but whenever Ambryan saw it, his preference for a simple modern one grew. It was a bit too big for his taste. The costs in maintaining the household alone gave him a headache.

    A security guard stood inside a gate post. His high position allowed him to perceive far and wide. He spotted the car right away and squinted. Closer and closer, the ck Jaguar XK clearly headed for the Hathaway Manor. A warm beige hand shot up from the driver''s seat and waved.

    It held up a special pass.

    Gulping, the guard opened up the gates and let the convertible speed through.

    "Was that the Young Master?" He muttered, running to the other window. This one showed the view of the front yard. He grabbed a pair of binocrs and peeked at the front stairs. A tall figure stepped out of the car. Servants immediately came to greet him.

    The security guard watched them exchange pleasantries. It had been months but he knew that back anywhere!

    A bright smile spread across his face. "It is Young Master! Seems like he finally came home."

    Tenderness surged into his heart. It made him happy just to see that Ambryan was well. Nothing bad had been reported, of course, but it was still nice to see him visit every once in a while.

    Distracted by the sudden events, the security guard forgot about his post.

    Another car intended to enter. The driver had his pass shoved out of the window, waving it at the gatekeeper''s post. "Hello! Hello!! Hello!!! Any guard up there?! Open the gate please!"

    He frowned and peeked through the windshield. It seemed that the security guard couldn''t see him. This called for a change in tactic unless he preferred to wait. Unfortunately, he had a scheduled appointment that he shouldn''t bete to.

    So, he honked.

    A loud car horn reached Ambryan''s ears. He nced over his shoulder though he was already inside. The servants around him did the same. A frown pulled the corner of his lips. Only one person came to his mind.

    ''Richard seemed to be making a fuss'' Ambryan thought with a shake of his head. He turned back to the hallway and headed for the living room. For today, he chose to wear shades of blue. Navy blue fabric made up his trousers while baby blue colored his cotton dress shirt. He left out his tie and belt, rolling up the sleeves.

    Avery spotted him first.

    "Yan!" She squealed and got up from the couch. The book she readnded on the cushion. Her yellow maxi dress swayed behind her as she ran up to him, hugging his shoulders. "Finally! I thought you''d make us wait all day! You act like we live in the middle of nowhere!"

    "Mother, you''re exaggerating." Ambryan patted her back. Onement about travel time and this was what he got in exchange.

    Avery pulled back and shook her head. She held up a finger to his face.

    "No," she protested, giving him a firm look. "I am hungry. Hungry! A little bit more and I would have been hangry instead."

    Ambryan raised an eyebrow.

    .

    .

    .

    .

    .

    He nced at his father for help. "Is that a new trend that I''m supposed to understand?"

    Jacksonughed heartily from a velvet armchair. He uncrossed his legs and put the newspaper down. "Apparently, it''s supposed to mean both hungry and angry. Quite creative if you ask me."

    "Not creative enough to make someone youngerow!"

    Avery huffed, her hands holding her hips. She red at her son. Then, at her husband. Jackson had shifted his attention back to his paper andpletely avoided eye contact. His lips mouthed out the words from his reading.

    Ambryan merely scratched the side of his nose, avoiding eye contact. He admired the decor. They changed every season as if they went against the weather. For summer, cool colors soothed his eyes. Sea green hung over the windows. Covers for the throw pillows had a mix of blues and greens.

    It definitely gave a cooling experiencepared to the hot sun outside. Something easily overlooked by others.

    As his gaze swept around the ce, he caught his mother''s hard eyes. They had directed back at him. It didn''t seem like they''d change anytime soon either.

    Counting down his pain-free moments, Ambryan gave her a cheeky smile and scrunched up his nose.

    "Oohh!" Avery cooed, melting from the expression. Her hands went to his cheeks and gripped them tight. "Why did you have to grow up so fast? You were much cuter when you were small!"

    "That''s the thing, mother. The body changes as time passes," Ambryan replied. Except, it came out through stiff lips. His pinched face proved that talking can be a tedious task sometimes.

    Jackson shook his paper to straighten the creases.

    "How about giving her a grandson to make up for it?" He suggested passively, clearing his throat. His reading conveniently reached the lower half of the page so he raised up the paper to see the fine print.

    <em>Conveniently</em>.

    Ambryan scowled at his father as Avery released his red cheeks. She patted them twice. The broad smile on her face grew wider. "That''s a wonderful idea! How about a granddaughter too?"

    "Another wonderful idea is lunch. I thought you were hungry, mother?" Ambryan reminded her. He heard a faint snort from the background.

    "Right!" Avery pped his cheeks lightly before pulling her hands back. "Do you want it on the porch? The garden? The dining room? We''ll have it prepared right away."

    "I''m sure we''ll have tea after the meal. Lunch on the porch sounds nice. Keep the doors open."

    "I''ll tell Pricsi now. Wait right here."

    Ambryan watched his mother''s back disappear down the hallway behind him. He peeked onest time before rubbing his sore cheeks. They had done a great sacrifice.

    He joined his father at the sitting area.

    "Nice save," Jackson remarked as Ambryan walked past him. His teal eyes remained on the newspaper.

    "Which one? The face or the lunchment?" Ambryan stretched his jaw as he sat down. His elbow propped on the armrest. His two fingers pressed against his temple.

    The pain had subsided by a fraction.

    "Both."

    "Thank you for the support, by the way. I thought you were on my side," he added, ring through the corner of his eyes.

    Jackson knitted his eyebrows at the newspaper. "Now, how would you learn to think fast if I don''t shake things up?"

    Ambryan shook his head. In this household, loyalty didn''t exist when it came to yful banters. Everyone had their wits. One should learn how to be independent.

    "Did you look over the investment file?" His father asked, bluntly changing the subject.

    "Yes, everything seems to be in order," Ambryan responded. He took out his phone and opened a business document. "Are you reading a new proposal behind that paper?"

    "Of course. And they say newspapers have no use anymore." Jackson snorted. He turned to the next page where two sheets of white paper greeted his sight.

    He checked his watch. "Isn''t Richard supposed to be with you?"

    "And he is here!" Richard announced at the archway. He spread his arms like an eagle and spun his way towards the two men. His curly bronze hair stood out against his silver suit.

    "So good to be back in the Hathaway Manor. I love what you''ve done with the ce. Aunt Avery''s doing, of course? She always have immac"

    "She''s not here," Ambryan interrupted, scrolling to the next page of the report.

    Richard halted in his steps. He ced his fists on his waist. "What are you trying to say? I onlypliment your mother when she''s around? Let me tell you. Avery is the finest woma"

    Jackson cleared his throat.

    "I know my wife is the finest woman out there, Richard. Please rethink your words and what they can imply." His gaze flickered once but it was enough. Its sharp edge hit the young man like a cutting knife.

    Richard felt the temperature drop.

    This was going to be a long day.

 Chapter 95: Good Afternoon Call

    Chapter 95: Good Afternoon Call

    "Richard! So d you could join us!"

    Avery chose a square patio for the meal. It had trees and bushes outlining the edges. Varnished wicker chairs surrounded a mahogany table. Thetter had an umbre stood perched in the middle, providing more shade.

    The scenery almost seemed like a tropical getaway.

    "Good to see you, Aunt Avery." Richard smiled as the madam walked towards him. As he raised his arms for a hug, a loud grunt sounded behind him. He brushed off the gesture by pushing his hair back.

    Avery patted his cheek. "I hope we''re not piling up your work for you."

    "Not at all," he said, shaking his head, "I always have time for friends."

    "How kind. Mother takes your work into consideration."

    "You, hush! You always use work as an excuse instead of making time for us," Avery scolded. The only time she would get to see her son was by barging in his office. Others were pure luck. "Richard is a CEO too! And he still has time for his personal affairs. I don''t see why you couldn''t do the same."

    "Now, now, Aunt Avery. I''m sure it''s all a misunderstanding," Richard reasoned with a chuckle. He nudged his best friend''s side and wiggled his eyebrows. "After all, Yan has Evangeline now. Most of his free time probably went to her. Their romance is still on the blossoming stage."

    "Really now?" Jackson spoke up as he chose a chair. "I should meet this girl soon to see why my son ispletely smitten with her."

    Ambryan offered no response. He simply sat by his father''s left. Richard followed along and took up the seat next to his best friend. Avery joined the men at her husband''s right. She called a servant over to serve refreshments.

    sses of iced water on a trolley rolled on the patio.

    "Richard, have you met this mysterious girlfriend?" Jackson opened up again, refusing to surrender easily. His head tilted sideways as a curious grin teased his lips.

    And again, Ambryan remained silent. He reached for a ss and drained half of its cold water.

    "I have. Lovely personality. Matches Ambryan nicely." Richard nodded. He pressed his lips together and observed the silence between mother and son.

    They both knew Evangeline better than him. Why would his opinion matterpared to theirs?

    Jacksonced his hands in front of his chest and squinted. "In what ways?"

    Richardughed awkwardly and scratched the back of his neck. His steel gray eyes fell on the table. He felt like he was missing something. What was this sudden interrogation?

    Did Jackson disapprove of Evangeline?

    Should he put in a good word for her?

    He organized his thoughts together, recalling the party. It was a brief encounter but memorable.

    "She has a good grasp of business topics. For one, she knows about the near bankruptcy incident for Venus Investment. At the time, she also spoke with Mr. Wilson. Complimented him about his section in the paper. She also smiles often. There is this air around her that draws people in. One wouldpare her to an angeow!"

    A kick had hit his shin.

    "I think it''s better to stay silent about Evangeline until father meets her," Ambryan cut in. He straightened his cor. "Don''t you agree, mother?"

    Avery grasped the implication right away. Her whole face lit up with inspiration. "Absolutely. A nk te would let you judge her without any bias or prejudice."

    Jackson gave her a pointed look.

    "I would but it seems like the world is against me." He huffed. His wife could only offer an apologetic smile. So, he turned to his son and gestured towards the empty seat. "For instance, we have room for one more. Why not call Evangeline over, hm?"

    Ambryan kept a firm grip on the thin armrests. "I am sure she had taken her lunch already."

    "I don''t see why you can''t ask," Jackson pressed. If it weren''t for the ad campaign, he would have thought that this girl was imaginary.

    Why wouldn''t a boyfriend extend the lunch invitation to his significant other? What was more surprising was his wife didn''t grab the chance either. Avery would have invited the girl first before their own son.

    He hadn''t heard either of them say that Evangeline stated that she couldn''t make it. So what was happening exactly?

    They purposely didn''t ask her that was what!

    "You can call her right here too. I don''t think anyone would mind," Jackson finished. Either he saw it with his own eyes or he wouldn''t believe it.

    "Darling, they''re lying low for the time being," Avery reasoned. Even if Eve knew she''d meet Jackson someday as Evangeline, an impulsive meetup was best to be avoided.

    "If you''re worried about paparazzi, I think you''re forgetting that our house has a secure location," her husband pointed out.

    "She doesn''t have a car. It wouldn''t be good to lead a taxi here."

    "Ambryan can pick her up. Actually, any of our drivers can pick her up. Just call her and ask. Nothing wrong with that, right? If she''s busy, I won''t push. Someone call her without leaving their chair."

    Avery fidgeted in her seat. It seemed that she underestimated Jackson''s impatience. Any more and it would further increase his suspicion. He''d only move on if they did something to appease him.

    Right now, there was only one way to do it.

    Her violet eyes flickered to her son''s.

    "Alright. I''ll do it." Ambryan exhaled sharply. He also had thought the same thing. There was no avoiding a phone call anymore. How this Sunday would proceed now depended on Evangeline''s response.

    Richard squealed on this inside. He had a feeling that this would be an interesting callthough they''d only hear his best friend''s side. It didn''t matter. Any chance to peep at this ''rtionship'' intrigued him.

    The call rang three times.

    Everyone leaned towards Ambryan. He faced the garden and refused to make eye contact. Three pairs of ears earnestly listened, blocking out unnecessary noise. All of them wanted to hear, at least, the faintest voice from the other line. They could rival eager reporters with their curiosity.

    "Hello?" Eve panted through the receiver.

    Ambryan immediately frowned. "Why are you out of breath?"

    Six eyebrows raised simultaneously.

    But, he didn''t notice. His focus belonged to someone elseparticrly a breathing pattern that stayed the same. No hint of it easing anytime soon. His temple throbbed. It was a time when heat stroke could strike any moment if not taken care of.

    Especially if dehydrated.

    "Oh, I''m on a treadmill."

    "At lunch time?" Ambryan investigated further. He checked his watch. There was 15 minutes left before the clock hit 1300 hours. Lunch normally ended at 1PM. So why was she jogging around this time?

    "I''ll have my lunchter," Eve assured him. She puffed out a breath and increased her speed. Her mind only had one thing in mind. She wouldn''t rest until she reached it. "I had ate breakfast anyway. I''m not hungry at all."

    "You" Ambryan groaned, pinching the bridge of his nose.

    "Chill, Ambee. I''m almost done." Sheughed. It made her seem less tired unlike before. "I''d even have tea if it makes you feel better. I''ll take a picture of it too. Do you have other food rmendations? Like what to eat after a workout?"

    The tension on his shoulders lightened. She was finally listening to him. It wasn''t a huge change but an interest in a proper diet was a step. At least, he could expect less fast food during their dates.

    Ambryan sighed, his mind flooding with information on food. "I''ll send you a list."

    "Much appreciated. Enjoy your day!"

    "You too."

    Ambryan nced at his phone once before hiding it inside his pocket. Any emotion on his face vanished. He twisted his neck towards the others. Then, his gazended on his father. "Are you satisfied?"

    "Fair enough. I''ll stop for now." Jackson shrugged. He wouldn''t admit it but the scene reyed in his head over and over. One word from Evangeline and his son spun 360 degrees. It was an astonishing sight!

    <em>''What if I told you I loved her?''</em> echoed in his head.

    Only this time, he might actually believe them...

    "Oh, shush!" Averyined and smacked his arm. "You act like you never left in the middle of meetings whenever I called."

    "Is that true?" Richard asked, blinking out of his daze. He wasn''t sure before but he was now. This fake rtionship might not be that fake after all and the realization had him speechless!

    "Yes, it''s true! His secretary told me. I almost didn''t believe it" Avery narrated. A mischievous grin spread across her face. "Until I called him during one and witnessed it with my own eyes, of course."

    Jackson snorted under his breath. "Eavesdropping."

    Avery batted hershes at him. She could see the pink tint in his ears. It encouraged her more. "I remember we had a <em>wonderful</em> timeter that day"

    "And you wonder why I refused to bemitted," Ambryan muttered. His mother had done this too many times. She acted as if she had a clever secret. It worked when he was a kid.

    Unfortunately, it didn''t anymore.

    His mother sent him a death re. "You''re merely overreacting."

    He gave her a cheeky smile in return. "I still don''t want to hear it."

    "Why not share yours then, Yan? Didn''t you take her to the roller skating rink?"

 Chapter 96: Sunday Lunch Break

    Chapter 96: Sunday Lunch Break

    "Oh, darling, no." Avery snorted. "That''s not exactly what happened."

    A servant stood behind her, introducing their first dish. Each person received 3 slices of bruschetta. The tomato mixture added color to the cheese slice. Its tanginessplimented the other vors well.

    Altogether, they created a light meal to start out their lunch.

    Jackson raised an eyebrow, choosing his first slice. "Are you saying I''m wrong?"

    "I''m saying that your son took his girlfriend shopping on the first date."

    He shifted his gaze back at her. Confusion knitted between his brows. "And what is wrong with that? I didn''t hear youining when we did the same thing."

    "That''s because you already knew I love shopping," Avery exined, rolling her eyes a little. "I was about to go shopping that day. Then, you suddenly decided toe along when I told you. We ate out after and so it became our first date."

    "Ah, first dates," Richardmented, a bitten bruschetta in his hand. "I usually go with the ssic movie and dinner. The former gives us something to talk about and eases us into a conversation. You can also learn about someone through their choice in movies."

    "So what does that say about you who loved Titanic?" Ambryan asked. He wiped the corners of his lips with a clean table napkin. Diced tomatoes piled on one side of his te. "Did they find you romantic?"

    "They found me romantic in other ways too."

    "Of course, they did!" Avery affirmed. "I still remember that bouquet you bought for your girl. It was so beautiful. I forgot that it was real. Each flower had vivid colors. The stems were sturdy as well as their leaves. It seemed like they couldst forever."

    "I appreciate the praise, Aunt Avery, but it was the florist''s hard work that deserves the credit," Richard corrected. He took a big bite of his meal. He chewed it slowly and used it as an excuse for his silence.

    He wasn''t sure but he almost felt a sudden chill shiver down his spine. He''d rather not provoke it further.

    Ambryan sliced his bruschetta in six, down the middle then in thirds. Each cube fitted in his mouth perfectly. He tried not to cringe while listening to the conversation. Although he made the pieces small, the tomato vor still lingered.

    The cheese wasn''t enough to tone it down.

    Why did he make a pact to always eat the tomatoes served at this house?

    "Back to my original question then," Jackson brought up swallowing thest bite of a bruschetta. "If you took her shopping at first, how did you end up in the roller skating rink?"

    "Evangeline and I talked about them. Then, I remembered there was an establishment open nearby," Ambryan replied curtly.

    "That''s all you have to say?"

    "I thought we agreed that it''s best for you not to know too much?" He shot back.

    "Yes, yes, until I meet her," Jackson grumbled. He already heard it the first time. There wasn''t a need for a second. Or a third. Or a fourth and so on. "But can''t I know your perspective on this date? Then, I can ask for herster on. It would give me a better idea than a one-sided story."

    "You might be onto something there, dear" Avery thought out loud. She sipped a bit of water from her ss. The bottom thudded against the wooden table. "Do you want to know my perspective on the date? It''s very interesting."

    "You mean how you spied on us?"

    She smirked at her son''s glowering expression. "Why wouldn''t I? I was worried! But I didn''t stay for long. After I saw Evangeline drag you out of that mall, I knew you were in good hands."

    Richard put his bruschetta down. "Wait, wait, wait dragged out of the mall? How?"

    Last time he checked, Ambryan towered over Evangeline. He couldn''t imagine how someone shorter than his best friend managed to do such a thing. Ambryan could easily reverse the situation with his strength too. There had to be more to the story!

    There just had to be!

    And he wanted to know all of it!

    "Yes!" Avery eximed, giggling as the moment reyed in her head. "She really did drag him out. Her hand was on his wrist as she pulled him towards the exit. It was amazing! I wish I had photos. I was going to steal whatever the media posted but none of that made it into the news."

    Mischief shed in her violet eyes. "I think someone was embarrassed."

    Ambryan finished his second bruschetta. He did his best not to gag, washing it down with water. Once again, he took the backseat and let the others talk. He washed down the cheese residue in his throat. "It wouldn''t be good for thepany image if its CEO was seen in such a way."

    "You mean it wouldn''t be good for your image if you were seen in such a way." Avery chuckled. A dreamy sigh escaped her lips. "Oh, my son. You have yet to discover how love makes us do unexpected things and not care for the consequences."

    "I highly doubt that, mother. I had always been taught to be level-headed."

    Richard shook his head. Why did it seem like for each progress, his best friend would also take a step back? "Don''t ever underestimate love, Yan. Or else it might bite you painfully."

    Ambryan stared at his te. On his thigh, he clenched his hand into a fist. Silence fell onto the table. The only sounds came from nearby birds and the ceramic tes. Aplicated feeling washed over Ambryan''s head. It gnawed his mind and irritated him.

    The fist gripped tighter.

    "Please excuse me."

    ...

    ...

    Ambryan stood in front of a wide door.

    It had white paint and six panels. It had two locks, one from a lever handle and another from a double lock. Somehow, his legs led him here during his walk inside the manor. He spotted a familiar hallway, intending to take a peek. Next thing he knew, he ventured deepertowards a room he hadn''t seen in years.

    His hand brushed the handle.

    The metal felt cold under his touch.

    Dropping the handle, Ambryan tucked both of his hands into his pockets. He took a step back as his gaze swept upwards. A sigh exhaled out of his nose. ''It probably looks the same as usual''

    "Yan! There you are!" Richard yelled suddenly from behind. He jogged up to his best friend''s side and noticed the door. His hand sped thetter''s shoulder. "Wow, and here I thought you left because you''re tired of answering your dad''s questions about Evangeline. I didn''t think you''d end up here."

    Ambryan opened his mouth to reply.

    Then, Richard reached out and opened the door.

    The words died in his throat as the room came to view. If one color dominated the room, it would be navy blue. A small sitting area stood on round gray carpet. It upied the space closest to them. Two shelves of toys took up the corner of his old y area. Only a block tower strayed away from the collectionwhich had been ced on the floor.

    White curtains covered the back wall windows.

    "I think time stopped here when you turned 13." Richard chuckled, stepping inside. He spun in ce and admired the rest of the interior. "Actually, this spot probably stopped when you were much younger than that. Your actual bedroom though"

    His feet strode towards a small opening. Blue paint covered every wall. One side had bookshelves from floor to ceiling. Their ck wood stood out against the blue. The wall''s only vacant part made way for a customized study table. It seemed to be a wall extension with its cement structure.

    It sported the same royal blue.

    But, the swivelling chair had navy blue cushions.

    Richard shook his head at the books. If he remembered right, Ambryan also had something simr in his home office. One in particr caught his attention. He pointed towards it while ncing over his shoulder.

    He didn''t know whether tough or to cry. "Are those our high school textbooks? Aunt Avery still kept them?"

    "Apparently so," Ambryan said. He stayed by the opening, his shoulder leaning to the side. He took one look at the ce and formed a conclusion. His theory had been proven before his eyes.

    His room really hadn''t changed.

    His memories remembered it urately.

    Richard walked backward and sat on a twin bed. Delight surprise painted his face. He hadn''t expected a trip down the past for some time but he didn''t mind it either. He read the titles one by one, hoping another would trigger a memory.

    "Seriously" he breathed out as he looked down at the floor. His younger self used to sit there a lot. Eventually, Ambryan would join injust two boys answering their homework. "I remembered you had thetest PC back then too. It lookedpletely nothing like the current technology."

    Ambryan scrunched his eyebrows. "I did? Most of what I remember was you crying about being rejected by the girls you like."

    ''... did you really have to bring that up?'' Richard cursed internally. Was it a crime to like someone? Whenever his heart beat erratically, he followed it. It failed him many times, yes.

    But he also wanted zero regrets on that.

    "So, mind telling me what happened back at the table? You don''t normally act like that."

 Chapter 97: Make Your Move

    Chapter 97: Make Your Move

    "What about earlier?"

    Ambryan walked into the room. He sat on the swivelling chair and crossed his legs. His choice of clothes matched the color palette around him. He could be a statue amidst the furniture.

    "Don''t y innocent." Richard scoffed. He leaned back, propping his hands on the mattress to support himself. "You walked out in the middle of lunch. Quite like a teenager I say."

    He patiently waited for a response. The answer he seeked might take a while or it might nevere at all. It had been Ambryan''s habit ever since Richard knew him.

    His best friend acted as if he was aloneeven when people who cared about him were around.

    Ambryan stared at the floor. Heced his hands and raised them to the level of his chin. His scattered thoughts began to form. They filled the darkness in his mind, coloring it with events from earlier.

    Words created paragraphs about his reason but he would never admit it.

    Instead, he said, "I thought teenagrs throw tantrums instead."

    Richard closed his eyes and hung his head. There should be moments when dodging was prohibited. His question was out of concern and not of malice.

    This form of rejection wounded him.

    He shook out hisints and fixed his posture. His forearms rested on his thighs as he stared Ambryan down. "Look, be honest with me. Why did you leave?"

    Ambryan took a deep breath. He nced at the window. The sun''s radiance outshined the view. All he could see was light. "I simply did not wish to hear the conversation."

    "But why?" Richard pressed, trying to guess the reason, "Is it because of Evangeline?"

    That had been the main topic of their conversations. Even when dismissed, her name came up again and again. Was it that? Knowing Ambryan''s value for privacy, the topic must have irked his best friend.

    Although Ambryan didn''t say anything, that was what Richard had to go on. He would have to trust his gut with this one.

    A sigh flowed out of his lips.

    "You know you can''t keep this up every time she''s the topic. There are more people like your parents who would pry into your rtionship. You can''t avoid them every time," Richard stated, his gaze hardening.

    Ambryan looked at him. He wore zero emotions on his face. "But I have always been private about my personal matters. It won''t simply change because of this."

    Richard shook his head. How did Ambryan not understand the problem? His sharp mind should have picked it up by now. Why couldn''t he approach it like a joint venture? It wasn''t the best way to do it but, at least, it was something.

    "Well, a part of it has too. Otherwise, Evangeline will be humiliated."

    Ambryan scowled. mes danced in his violet eyes. "How so?"

    ''Oh. Now, I have your attention.'' Richard snorted. If this happened before, he would think Ambryan only worried about the image of their rtionship. After the phone call earlier, things changed before his eyes.

    His best friend was falling and it made him giddy inside.

    Clearing his throat, he proceeded to exin. This was a rare moment. He would not waste it.

    "If the media only hears her side of the story while you refuse to speak of any, they''ll make the assumption that your rtionship is one-sided."

    Headlines disyed in his head. Numerous doubts would be nted among the masses. If Ambryan only spoke as a reaction to it, opportunists would stir more doubtsstate that it seemed forced.

    For a couple to be strong, both parties should be firm on their standing on each other.

    Evangeline had made her move.

    It was Ambryan''s turn to do the same.

    "Keep it up and would they even believe her anymore?" Richard concluded. There. He had shared his thoughts. The rest was up to the person receiving them.

    Ambryan bowed his head. The scrunch of his brows deepened. He had heard something simr from Madison. Something about him making ament on the rtionship to the public. How did they expect him to do it exactly? Just release a statement out of the blue?

    Or did they want him to shoot fireworks in the sky about Evangeline?

    Theck of direction frustrated him.

    "I''ll think about it." Ambryan sighed.

    Richard rose to his feet. He patted his best friend''s shoulder, approving the positive attitude. "Well, that''s all I can ask for. You can even use your parents as target practice."

    Then, he walked out of the room and left Ambryan to his thoughts.

    Thetter ced his neck over the chair''s backrest. The position gave him a direct view of the ceiling. A pattern of glow-in-the-dark stickers watched over him. They recreated a sky he hadn''t seen in years. Strings wrapped around his heart and pulled it down.

    His fingers curled over the armrests, wing into the cushion. His heart thundered from the pressure. He lowered his gaze until itnded towards the room''s corner. Slightly away from the light, shadows shrouded most of the space.

    Dust floated in front of the window''s light.

    Behind it, an old rocking chair leaned against two walls.

    His lungs stopped breathing.

    Time reversed before his eyes. The day turned into night then, into day again. As the cycle repeated, the chair straightened up and moved forward. Varnish coated the worn out wood. Its polish was shinier. Its structure was sturdier.

    It creaked as it started rocking back and forth.

    Closed ck shoes pushed against the floor, keeping a steady pace.

    Ambryan watched as the past reyed itself in a hazy painting. Although colored, he could see through the two people talking. The boy sat on the woman''sp. They watched as the world continued turning outside the window.

    .

    .

    .

    .

    .

    .

    <em>''Nana, why do I have to talk to other kids?''</em>

    <em>Haven''t you always talked to them?''</em>

    <em>''But these are different! Actually, even the adults are annoying. Why can''t I just ignore them?''</em>

    <em>''Because that would be rude.''</em>

    <em>''But they keep asking questions I don''t like to answer! Can''t they just leave me alone? I don''t feelfortable but mother says I need to get along with them.''</em>

    <em>''Aw, pumpkin. Just ask them a question back. People love to talk about themselves.''</em>

    <em>''I tried! But they won''t stop. What should I do?''</em>

    <em>''Well, that is another skill altogether. You have to tell them the truth. And! Do it in an entertaining way. It takes effort but once you figure it out, you won''t need to say a lot.''</em>

    .

    .

    .

    .

    .

    .

    Ambryan blinked out of his daze.

    Had it been more than 15 years since that conversation happened? He could hardly believe it. The rocking chair went back and leaned against the walls. Its luster dulled down to a muted coating.

    The magic had faded away.

    ''To tell the truth'' the idea sounded as absurd as before. His younger self protested many times. It had been the one thing he wanted to avoid. But to make the questioning stop, he had to give it up?

    It was unfair.

    A small smile teased the corner of his lips.

    But it was helpful.

    Ambryan walked out the manor. His leather shoes stepped onto the patio. At the table, his mother spoke in hushed whispers. He hardly heard it from his distance. Richard spotted him first and informed the others of his presence.

    Avery snapped her head in his direction. Standing up, she said, "Ambryan! Are you alright?"

    Ambryan showed her a gentle smile. Worry shed in her eyes. Only now did he understand the consequences of his actions. He sat on his spot and gestured for her to do the same. "I am fine, mother. Is there anything left for lunch?"

    "Were you really embarrassed about Evangeline dragging you out of the mall?"

    "Jackson!" Avery hit her husband''s arm, her eyes widening in fear. They had agreed not to bring it up again. Ambryan had told them more than enough times not to speak of her. They should leave it alone until Evangeline was around.

    "It was quite amusing," Ambryan replied, shocking everyone around the table. "She hardly said a word when we entered that store. Then, she started talking non-stop. I let her lead us out so I could hear more of it."

    "Really now?" Jackson blinked. "What was she talking about all of a sudden?"

    "That shopping is not a good idea for a date."

    "But most of my dates with your mother involve shopping."

    Ambryan merely shrugged. "I know but I do have to say that we had a better time in the skating rink. I thought about buying the establishment for her."

    "Why haven''t you?"

    "Don''t even think about it."

    Avery red at her husband. "It''s a bad idea! They just met weeks ago! Evangeline would faint from such an expensive present. It might even scare her away."

    Jackson angled his body towards her. His arm bent over the table. "Darling, one way for a man to show his affection is in the value of his gifts. If she is practical, she will know this is a good offer."

    "It''s still too risky at the start of a rtionship."

    "I didn''t hear youin when I bought everything inside a store."

    Ambryan leaned back and took a sip of water. He let his parents continue the debate. His job was over. The topic should move away from him soon. Even if it repeated, he knew better now.

    Richard shook his head, smirking at the disy. It seemed that things were finally looking up.

 Chapter 98: Scheming Mother and Son

    Chapter 98: Scheming Mother and Son

    Soft smoke oozed out of a transparent teapot. Fog clouded the ss, shielding the ck tea from piercing eyes. The pot sat on top of a ceramic warmer where a small fire burned at its base. The warmer had gold detailing that outlined the ck exteriorwhich matched the lid of the teapot.

    On either side of them, pastries filled up 3-tier cake stands. Cupcakes, cookies, biscuits, scones, macaroons and many more colored the table. Jam jars had been ced beside two tes of cinnamon rolls. A basket of fresh fruits had been provided for a refreshing food option.

    "So you settled for that as gift, huh?" Jacksonmented. He picked up a gold spoon and added sugar to his tea. The ck cup had a golden rim toplete the ceramic tea set.

    "Yes. What do you think of it, mother?"

    Avery shook her head as she plucked out a grape from its stem. Then, she raised her cup to her lips, chewing on the fruit. "I think it''s wonderful. I''m impressed that you came up with such a gift."

    "I did have some help. I had talked it out with Eve."

    Choking, Avery almost spit out her tea. "Eve? Have you always spoken to her about these matters? I always thought you picked them out on your own."

    ''That would actually exin a lot,'' she thought. She didn''t know whether tough or cry at the news. Of course, Eve knew exactly what kind of gift Evangeline would favor. The young woman must have done a good job at hinting.

    A side-smile curled Avery''s lips, enjoying her own inside joke.

    It was moments like this that assured her that she made the right choice with Eve.

    Ambryan waved his hand and brushed off thement. He reached for a scone and a spoonful of raspberry jam. "She happened to be in the room when it happened. Her remarks offered a different view from my own.

    "Oh, I bet." Avery chuckled. "Asking a female''s opinion does good on choosing presents for other females. I think you should ask her more often, especially if Evangeline loves your gift."

    "Hm, maybe."

    She hid a smirk behind her teacup.

    Jackson grunted, pulling out his mobile phone from his inner breast pocket. He nced at the screen and crease lines wrinkled on his forehead. "I think I will head back to the study. There''s an update for a bidding on a building near our studios. If we get it, we can expand."

    Avery''s cup ttered on a white saucer. "On a Sunday?"

    "Sorry, dear. I don''t control the schedule," her husband replied. He finished his tea and stood up.

    Ambryan half-rose from his chair. "I''lle with you."

    "There''s no need," Jackson protested, walking behind his wife''s chair. "Stay here with your mother. Otherwise, we won''t hear the end of it if we both leave."

    "At least, take your Richard with you," Avery suggested. She craned her neck to meet her husband''s teal eyes. "The faster you finish what you have to do, the sooner you can get back."

    Richard began shaking his head. "I don''t think that will be good. I''m not part of thepa"

    "Please?" Avery cooed, wrapping her arms around Jackson''s torso. "I just want you toe back as soon as possible. Richard is more than capable to help you out with his experience."

    Ambryan stared at his tea as if studying how the light reflected on the brown liquid. Piano music yed inside his head, blocking out external noise. He transported to another world other people couldn''t see.

    In this paradise, he was alone and, more importantly, was free from PDA.

    "Alright," Jackson sighed. He kissed the top of his wife''s head. "We''ll be back once we seal the deal. Richard, you heard the woman. Come with me and don''t dilly dally."

    His legs strode towards the sliding doors.

    Richard scrambled out of his seat. He yelped when his knee hit the table. The pain throbbed around the area, each step triggering it more. He did his best to ignore it and catch up to Jackson.

    Ambryan put his cup down. He leaned his back to the left and titled his head in the same direction. His face contracted to a serious expression. He watched his mother through keen eyes. She chose a purple cupcake and flicked at the icing.

    The creamy texture exploded in her mouth.

    It was just the right amount of sweetness.

    "So, why did you get rid of Richard?" Ambryan asked, getting straight to the point.

    Avery looked up and grinned. Of course, her son picked up on her act. She put the cupcake down and rested her chin on inteced hands. "I just thought this would be the perfect chance."

    "For what?"

    A full-blown smile blossomed on her lips. "To discuss Evangeline''s bodyguard, of course."

    Ambryan raised his eyebrows. Wen hadn''t informed him of recent progress. This must have happened earlier in the day. He shifted on his seat and leaned towards the table. "You have found one?"

    "Well, there will be a team but there is one main bodyguard who will be by her side." Avery took out her phone. She scrolled through her files and searched for the one rted to Evangeline''s security n.

    "Let me see."

    Then, she shared it, saying, "I already sent it to your email."

    Avery watched as her son turned on his own phone. She waited for him to finish reading. With Wen''s help, they thoroughly created a detailed draft. She did keep a few things to herself such as the parts rted to Evangelines''s dual identity.

    "30 years old?" Ambryan questioned, reaching the profiles for each bodyguard.

    "What about it?"

    "Isn''t there anyone younger?" He asked further and checked out the rest of the security team. He would have preferred someone close to Evangeline''s age. Although the gap between 25 and 30 wasn''t wide, he still felt unsure about the choice for the main bodyguard position.

    "First, 30 is not that old. She''s still perfectly fit and capable to act in case of emergency," Avery pointed out. Her face contoured into a deadpan expression. "Second, I want someone who will not only look out for Evangeline but also look after her."

    Ambryan cocked an eyebrow. "Like a nanny?"

    "Not necessarily a nanny but you do know about her eating habits. If you have any suggestions, feel free to share it. We''ll make sure she''s well cared for even in your absence," his mother assured him, remembering his phone call earlier.

    They were just the right words to say.

    "I''ll look over the documentster. When can she start?" Ambryan sighed and tucked his phone away. He only managed to skim through the file. He''d rather have more time, inspecting every line.

    He took a sip of his tea.

    "Depending on how quick we get things prepared, probably Friday." Avery shrugged. She picked up her cupcake again and took a bite. "Now, let''s move to the next order of business."

    "Which is?" Her son wondered, looking at her above the cup on his lips.

    "Why When will your father meet Evangeline?" She reminded him. It had been a week and she saw Jackson''s patience dwindling. This afternoon lunch just proved it. "I was thinking of arranging a dinner next Sunday unless you have a better idea. I was actually hoping for an activity."

    This moment was crucial. She wanted everything to be perfect, no room for error that could ruin the atmosphere. The menu would include everyone''s favorite dishes. But, after today''s lunch, she rethought the idea. There had to be something better.

    Something all of them could enjoy.

    "An activity? Something father likes to do, I suppose," Ambryan stated. It had to be if they wanted him in a good mood. He had seen Evangeline interact with other businessmen but he''d rather not take chances.

    He was onboard with his mother''s idea.

    "Hopefully, something Evangeline is good at too."

    "To impress him?"

    "It does add an advantage, don''t you think?" Avery winked. She chewed thest bite of her cupcake. "There''s only a handful of things he likes to do. I''d say let''s go golfing but I don''t want to."

    Ambryan chuckled. He remembered thest time they went golfing as a family. His father wanted them to stick together, not letting his mother escape to the country club. She had made several swings but only scored one.

    It frustrated her.

    On the other hand, Jackson had a wonderful time.

    Ambryan figured it was because, when it came to golfing, his fatherpletely outshined his mother. Hispetitive nature made him feel so smug about this fact.

    "There should be something else. Besides, you mentioned dinner. This is taking ce in the evening? Not a good time for golfing."

    "Yeah, Cale mentioned that Evangeline had a photoshoot. It should be done by 1700 hours." Bubbly energy sparked inside Avery''s heart. She had heard the details about the ad campaign. She couldn''t wait to see the results.

    "A photoshoot?" Ambryan scowled. Something didn''t sound right about this n. "Shouldn''t she rest after the shoot instead of attending another event?"

    "Well, I can''t think of a better time. Also, I had asked her already."

    "And she agreed?"

    "Of course."

    Ambryan closed his eyes.

    Avery held back a snort. The reaction was simple but it spoke volumes. "Don''t worry. Cale told me it''s a simple shoot and we won''t stay outte. You''ll be with her anyway. You can decide to leave early if you want."

 Chapter 99: Friday Office Mayhem

    Chapter 99: Friday Office Mayhem

    ``Has Director Sam sent a report about Define Love?``

    Eve paused from typing out an email. She pulled up thepany chat,posing a response, ``Not yet. I will be sending an email in a minute and call him about it.``

    The chat window closed again after she sent it. Her fingers flew across her keyboard and finished the email to the studio heads for the new series. The past week had been packed with work. She barely conversed with anyone unless necessary.

    There had been a leak about the script.

    Still in the drafting process, nothing had been finalized as of yet but they received a set back.

    The book''s fans did not take the changes lightly. Countlessments about their direction popped up. They had openly stated their decision to make a series instead of a movieexining how it would do the narrative better justice this way.

    But the draft didn''t give them that impression.

    To see the current progress without approval gave them a blow.

    As an avid reader herself, Eve understood where they wereing from. The only thing that irked her was the person behind the leak. They hadn''t found a trace of it. The studio stopped operating in line with the incident.

    They focused on damage control first.

    Ambryan H: ``The PR Team has arranged a press conference forter. Inform Director Sam and Director Rowan about the event. They will be attending alongside Madison and I. This is our biggest project to date. We will not take chances.``

    Eve took a deep breath and nodded, agreeing silently. She could feel his frustration through the screen. He often sent numerous messages just to make sure everything was in order. And she executed them diligently.

    Everlee H: ``I shall retrieve the details and contact them right away.``

    Pushing her chair back, Eve reached for the handset. She speed-dialed the Public Rtions Department and asked about the press conference. She wrote them down on a pad. She repeated the words back to the PR Team, confirming her notes.

    Then, the elevator dinged.

    Madison entered the floor, his long albino ponytail swinging behind him. He raised his hand when Eve stood up. He nodded at her once before entering the CEO''s office. His carefree personality was absent. The usual small talk was skipped over.

    Today, he came as thepany president and not as a guest.

    Eve flinched as the door closed.

    They hadn''t had a scandal for months. Everyone was on edgebut what aggravated them was the culprit. Theck of evidence made them suspect that an outside party was involved. Either someone sneaked in or they had a spy.

    Whichever it was, the security team would handle it while they addressed the public.

    Eve prepared refreshments in the pantry. They still had a few hours before the press conference. The directors would also turn up soon. She debated whether to order in some pastries. There should be a shop nearby. It won''t take long before the delivery to arrive.

    Meanwhile, she should serve some iced tea.

    Luminous green eyes snapped in her direction when she entered the CEO''s office.

    Madison rose to his feet and walked over to her, taking the tray from her hands.

    "President!" Eve protested and tightened her grip.

    "Nonsense! I wasn''t able to greet you properly. This is the least I could do!" Madison scoffed. He seeded when the pitcher almost tipped over. Eve had straightened the tray and let it go, knowing he wouldn''t give up.

    Ambryan frowned from his seat. "Do you want to be my secretary now, King?"

    "I don''t have a death wish."

    "Does that mean I have one?" Eve covered her mouth, realizing her mistake. She bowed her head for speaking out of turn. "Apologies, Sir Hathaway and Sir Madison. I will keep my words in check."

    Madisonughed heartily. It reverberated around the room, bouncing off the walls and echoing. He set the tray on the desk before he could drop it. He had felt his muscles weaken from theughter.

    If he had any tension left, it had evaporated at this moment.

    Even Ambryan cracked a smile.

    "Oh, Eve. I could just tie you up and kidnap you." Madison sighed dreamily, sitting down. His eyes nced up at the ceiling as if imaging the whole scenario. A yful smile stretched on his lips.

    A pen hit him on the shoulder. "Don''t say things that can be taken out of context."

    Madison flinched and rubbed the sore spot. It was tiny but it bumped his skin at the right angle. He red at Ambryan, pouting a little. "Who is being unprofessional now?"

    The CEO returned the pout with a sarcastic smile. "I only returned the behavior that you emit."

    Eve coughed to hide her amusement. When Ambryan looked at her, she fixed her sses and said, "Should I order some food? The directors will arrive within the hour."

    Madison was the first to react. He rubbed his stomach and grumbled. "Yes, please. I''m famished. I need to replenish my energy for the reporterster."

    "Then, shall I call in from Lil'' Qxi-Qxi* a few blocks away?" Eve suggested, knowing it was the President''s favorite restaurant. They had eaten a few times before.

    "That would be lovely! They make the best chicken sandwiches. Actually, they make the best chicken anything. Their roasted chicken is a staple of mine," Madison gushed. His mouth watered just thinking of the food. "They have several finger foods we can enjoy as an afternoon snack. What do you think, Yan?"

    "Fried food?"

    The President opened his mouth.

    Then, he closed it again.

    Why was the CEO such a picky eater?!

    "I believe they are air-fried," Eve shared, trying to help. "If you are still ufortable, I believe they have soft chicken tacos on the menu. The meat is boiled instead of fried."

    "Hmm," Ambryan contemted. He started at nothing as he assessed the food option. Based on the meal amount, they would have to move to a better location. "Alright, order for five. Prepare the conference room next door. We will eat there."

    "Five?"

    He scowled in her direction. "Yes. You will be joining us, of course. You''ll also be at the conference."

    "Understood." Eve nodded and spun on her heel. She took out the business mobile as she left the room. Her mind arranged an order, noting to ask for the food easiest to eat. This way, there would be less of a mess to clean up.

    "Can''t you look a bit friendlier?" Madisonmented after Eve left. He gave the CEO a side-eye look of disapproval. "It makes me wonder how you even managed to get a girlfriend. Any girl would be scared shitless from your permanent scowl."

    "What did you say, person-who-haven''t-caught-the-traitor-yet?"

    "Really now who is older? Me or you?"

    Where was the show of respect? As soon as he entered, Ambryan had treated him like a criminal. It wasn''t him who caused the leak! Why was he the one punished? He had taken action as soon as he heard about it. Where was the acknowledgement for his efforts?

    "You mean mentally?" Ambryan rified. He poured two sses of iced tea and imed one for himself. Although a bit sweet, Eve managed to brew the right ratio of tea leaves vs water. It refreshed his throat nicely.

    Madison chose not to answer the question. It was hopeless. His mere presence always triggered the other party''s obnoxious nature. Sometimes he found it ttering. Sometimes he found it tiring.

    This moment belonged to thetter.

    Well, more likein between?

    He shook out of his daze and exined the situation. "We are tracing all the ces the script could have gone. Whether as a hard copy or a soft one. Everyone who had seen even one page of it had been piled into a room. We''re looking into each one as we speak."

    Ambryan swirled the liquid inside the ss. He detected a hint of lemon in the taste. The dark look on his face had faded away. He cleared out the frustrations from his thoughts. They were useless towards the situation. They would only hinder him from finding a proper solution.

    "What about you? What do you n to appease the fans?" Madison asked, trying to resume the conversation. He reached for his ss and sipped the iced tea.

    "I have one in mind."

    The President choked on his ss. They had discussed the implications and effects of the incident just a few minutes ago. Now, there was a solution? How sure was Ambryan that this was the best move to make?

    "Well?" Madison goaded for more information.

    Ambryan finished the rest of his iced tea and ced the empty ss back on the tray. "I am not sharing it with you until the conference happens."

    "So stingy." Madison tsked, shaking his head. He raised the ss to his lips and mumbled, "What does E see in you?"

    "Did you say something?"

    "Nothing." He swallowed his drink in one gulp and nced at the door. A sigh exhaled out of his nose. His eyes pierced through the door as if he could see the other side. "I just wondered when the directors will arrive."

 Chapter 100: The Press Conference

    Chapter 100: The Press Conference

    A room had been prepared for the press conference.

    The PR Team chose one from the ground of Eros'' Headquarter. They prepared a table panel, chairs and video cameras for the event. Only invited media representatives would attend. They made sure to pick a variety of themand not just the biggest and/or most popr.

    A light blue fabric draped across the room as a backdrop for the main speakers. Behind the audience''s chairs, a food table had been set up. It provided snacks and drinks for the reports while 4 bottles of water had been reserved for the panelists.

    Eve sneaked a peek from behind a curtain.

    She walked around the perimeter and checked the venue. Security team gave her the green light. The videographers were on standby. Public Rtions mingled outside with the guests. Some roamed the room, ready to usher or amodate anyone who''d want more information.

    Then, it started.

    Reporters flooded the area and looked for their respective seats. A few decided to grab a bite early and snatched some muffins from the food table. Their chatter covered every inch of the ce. The peace and quiet had vanished.

    It was now time to do the talking.

    Director Rowen was the first one to upy the panel. As the casting director, she ced importance in character portrayal. Her burgundy hair easily stood out against the white room.She swept her gaze around the room, her dark eyes intimidating them.

    Some of the reporters gulped.

    It didn''t help that she had a face that resembled a hawk.

    Beside her, Director Sam took the seat. His back and armpits sweated from nerves. He thanked the organizers for the arrangement. He loved how his beer belly was off-camera because of the table and cloth. The aqua wax on his brown hair reflected the lights.

    He gave the audience a nod and a shy smile.

    Eve took a deep breath. ''So far, so good''

    The media behaved well. Their previous chatter had died down. They merely took notes and mumbled among themselves. They prepared their questions, reevaluating them. They removed what now seemed unnecessary and reced them with new ones.

    Then, Ambryan Hathaway stepped into the limelight.

    Various reporters stood up and fired their questions. They hadn''t expected to meet the CEO himself for this session. If anything, they figured they''d meet the studio heads. This went to show that Eros Productions took this matter far more seriously than anyone presumed.

    One by one, they tried to outshout each other, hoping to be heard.

    One by one, they closed their mouths as a pair of violet eyes stared them down.

    Ambryan paused behind his chair and looked at each reporter. His face wore zero emotions. He neither gazed with malice nor with kindness. Other than his secretary and the security team, the whole room seemed to be on edge all of a sudden.

    The air had turned to ice.

    Madison stepped onto the podium and waved. His approachable demeanorplimented Ambryan''s cold one. He waved to the crowd and said, "Wee, wee. Sorry about that. It has been a hard day at the office as you can imagine."

    A few people attempted awkward chuckles, trying to lighten up the mood.

    Ambryan nced at Madison for a second. Thetter merely smiled. Ambryan shook his head and sat down next to Director Sam. He propped his elbows on the table and folded his hands together. Then, Madison upied thest seat with arms resting on the table''s edge.

    The panel wasplete.

    The President cleared his throat and addressed the audience once again. "I like to wee you all once again to this conference. We''d like to start this session with an opening statement from the directors of the series. Directors, please take the floor."

    Sam stayed still. His chest felt tight from theck of breath. Cold sweat dripped down the sides of his head. He wed his knees, trying to wake up from his nerves. His muscles felt numb despite the intense pressure and force.

    Rowen noticed this right away. She pulled the table top mic, moving its head closer to her face. Her foreign ent reverberated around the room. "We stand by our previous ims that the book''s adaptation to a series instead of a movie is to bring its message justice. I find it rather unfortunate that the public read an unfinished script and judged it in its beginning process."

    She squared her shoulders and continued, "Has anyone ever heard a song demo? Seen how it is written, produced and edited? There is no definite form to how this works. Many finished works of art did not stay the same as when it was in its beginning stages."

    A reporter raised his hand.

    "Yes?" Rowen asked him.

    "That may be true, director, but your case is slightly different. You already have a script in its pinnacle form in the book. One constraint of a movie is its limited run time so changes are inevitable. A series has less of a problem with this. So why is there a need to cut book scenes and change some of them? Is the project not well-funded and is forced to make measures?"

    Rowen opened her mouth to reply but Sam beat her to it.

    "I''d like to be very clear that only Eros Productions and Venus Investment had shown interest in this project. The budget is beyond my expectations. In return, we want to be wise with the money to bring satisfaction to all stakeholders."

    "So you''re saying that it''s the studio who made these changes?"

    "We are saying that we''re on an experimental stage for a final script," Sam rified, his blood boiling. These twists of words had reached deep into his skin. "For any narrative, whether written or filmed, one factor that is important is the story''s flow. We had outlined the first season with an ending in mind. It''s only a matter of utilizing the run duration while keeping the audience, readers or not, interested in the story."

    He took a deep breath and reached for the bottled water. He hoped that the cool liquid would calm down the simmering fire inside of him.

    "Then, why not increase the runtime?" Another reporter raised up.

    Rowen chose to answer it. "As mentioned, there is a budget to be kept in mind. This goes into several expenses and not just the runtime. If you wonder why we chose 45 minutes per episode, this is based on statistics. We cannot trante the novel to film word for word. We do want to keep the tone and aim to uphold it."

    "There are many forms of narrative in the film industry as there are many forms in writing," Sam added. His voice had softened into a neutral tone. "As stated, we are in an experimental stage at figuring out which one would fit the series."

    Murmurs echoed from the crowd.

    A reporter from the back stood up and raised her hand. "Now, that you have exined the circumstances. What is the next step? Do we simply let this pass and wait for when the TV series is out?"

    Madison took the floor and exined the other side of the "Internally, we are investigating who is behind the leak. It had been done without authority and caused a misunderstanding. We will make a formal statement again once it''s over."

    She frowned at his words. "But fans have spoken about their opinions on the current script. Many of them are upset with the direction the studio is making. Do you have more to say other than stating that the series is at an experiment stage?"

    "Moving forward" Ambryan spoke up, his voice booming. Recorders and eyes pointed in his direction. "We want to avoid more misunderstandings with our intentions. The feedback reached our ears and they will not be in vain. This incident became quite an eye-opener. Certain measures will be implemented."

    "What do you mean, Mr. Hathaway?" The same reporter questioned. Confusion clouded over the media present. What could thepany have in store?

    Eve leaned against the back wall. She silently watched all the events that transpired. A smirk curled at the corner of her lips. It was so like Ambryan to have something up his sleeve. This was the only moment she waited for.

    Whatever he''d say would turn the tide.

    Whoever tried to sabotage them would need to try harder.

    "I am happy to announce that" he paused. The silence stretched as listeners anticipated for his next words. A polite smile spread across his face. "With the approval of the author and the directors, we will be cooperating with a few fans and a few non-fans over the project."

    As Madison hid his face, an uproar exploded from the reporters. His shoulders shook slightly. Everyone rose to their feet and yelled in reaction to the news. Sam''s indigo eyes widened at the disy. The outburst of energy had taken him aback.

    Rowen bowed her head and snorted.

    Eve chuckled to herself. Her boss did not disappoint. Would she ever stop admiring the way his mind worked? Again and again, he always surprised others.

    "Details are still being negotiated but there is one thing I saw during this incident," Ambryan''s voice floated above the rest. He looked straight into the camera and said, "We are all on the same side so let''s work together. Do cooperate with us."

 Chapter 101: Supportive Girlfriend?

    Chapter 101: Supportive Girlfriend?

    <em>> Ambryan Hathaway, CEO of Eros Productions, Announces Coboration with Novel Fans!</em>

    <em>> ''Define Love'' Scandal: the Good, the Bad and Everything in Between</em>

    <em>> Asking Fans for Help? Is Eros Making the Right Decision?</em>

    <em>> Why this Coboration from Eros is Important</em>

    <em>> Eros Seeks Aid from Novel Fans! Are They Admitting to their Ipetence?</em>

    .

    The above headlines would appear in tonight''s and tomorrow''s news. Ambryan proved himself to be a trailzer with the announcement. The press conference continued for another hour. Raised questions were answered as best as they could.

    Eve''s phone vibrated in her pocket. She took it out and unlocked the device. The new message contained a picture of a TV. The screen showed the current stream from the video cameraAmbryan talking over his mic while the others looked straight ahead.

    ``Your boyfriend sure is something`` Andie wrote after she sent the photo.

    Chuckling, Eve typed a reply. ``Oh, <em>my boss</em> is definitely something.``

    ``Sure, sure. Be that way.``

    She pressed her lips together and looked back at the conference. Out of all the decisions Ambryan made, this one made a deep impression on her. She was sure the fans also felt the same. She hadn''t heard of something like this in the past.

    That was when an idea popped in her head.

    Before she could think twice, she opened Evangeline''s social media ount and added a new ''story'' that would disappear after 24 hours.

    Using the photo Andie sent, she added a caption over it, ``As an avid reader myself, this took me by surprise. Hope future adaptations would take something from this initiative from Eros. It''s not a lot. It''s not perfect. But it is a step in the right direction.``

    Eve watched as the story uploaded.

    She had gained a few followers but had never used the ount before. It would probably be overlooked but, at least, she did something now that she had a bigger voice.

    "Thank you, everyone, for joining us here today," Madison said as the others stood up. "We will make formal statements once this new development is cleared on its details. Please look forward to it."

    Ambryan followed behind him. The directors decided to use the other side, exiting behind the curtain. Security guards stood by to make sure unauthorized personnel wouldn''t cross over.Anyone who had thought of it became discouraged.

    It seemed that this really was the end of the conference.

    "Onest question, Mr. Hathaway!" A male reporter shouted. His booming voice caught everyone''s attention. Their eyes snapped towards the CEO, waiting for his response.

    Ambryan halted in his steps. He tucked his hands inside his pant pockets. "Alright. What is it?"

    The reporter grinned. Relief and triumph erupted in his chest. He spoke quickly, afraid to suddenly lose this chance, "Ms. Evangeline Reed just posted about her positive support on this decision. Can we know what is your rtionship with her and if she''s involved in this matter?"

    Eve choked on her own spit.

    She coughed it out, pressing her hand against the wall. Her upper body bent over from the sensation. It hadn''t been five minutes and someone found her story? Just how fast were these people?

    Madison turned his head and coughed into his fist. On the inside, he anticipated Ambryan''s answer as much as the next person. He may have looked away but his ears were on alert.

    "Thank you for bringing this to my attention but no," Ambryan responded in one breath, "My girlfriend is not involved in decisions I make for thepany. Have a good day."

    He headed for the curtain and did not look back.

    Another uproar rose from the audience. A new round of questions pierced through the air. With Ambryan dropping another bomb, no one knew what to focus on anymore. The CEO was known for his string of flings and this was the only time he called <em>any</em> woman as his girlfriend.

    This conference was and mine! And they were more than happy to have been invited!

    Among them, one person felt her ears grow hot. The heat travelled down to her neck and up to her forehead. It wasn''t the first time Eve heard Ambryan say those two words. So, why was she affected more than usual?

    Was it because he said them to thousands of people?

    Her phone vibrated again. She received another message from her best friend.

    .

    Andie S: ``How oddly specific of him Are you sure he doesn''t know it''s you?``

    Everlee H: ``Shut up.``

    .

    Taking a deep breath, Eve straightened her back. Her throat had gone dry from the intense coughing. She grabbed some water from the food table and quenched her thirst.

    "Ms. Hart," a security said behind her, "Sir Hathaway and Sir Madison are looking for you."

    "I''ll be right there."

    Eve pped her cheeks. She told herself to get it together. Her position was a secretary and not a girlfriend. She shouldn''t be the one flushed from the brief disy of affection.

    Her legs hurriedly made their way towards the private area.

    Members of the PR Team lingered, conversing with the panel. They raised a few points and gave a few reminders.

    Madison spotted the secretary first.

    He spread his arms wide and walked up to her. "Eve! What happened to you? I thought you''d be here before us."

    Eve bowed her head. "Apologies, President. I was watching the conference from the back. Congrattions on its sess."

    "Were you shocked? I know I was!" Madisonughed. He had been holding it back all this time. His hands sped her shoulders. "You didn''t think your boss could be a romantic, did you? I''m sure this is far different from any rtionship he had you break"

    "King, don''t be too loud. You never know who is listening," Ambryan scolded after the President. Eve broke free and stood behind the former. Although it was their standard position, she couldn''t look at his face.

    His statement still echoed in her head like a broken record.

    "Excuse me but I would like to th-thank you both again, S-Sir Hathaway and Sir Madison," Sam stammered. "It''s our studio that caused this trouble but you two handled the matter on our behalf. We greatly appreciate the help."

    "Aw, Sam old boy." Madison moved and wrapped his arm around the pudgy man''s shoulders. "You heard what Mr. Hotshot said. We''re all on the same side. Count on us whenever there is a problem."

    "Then, is it possible to expand the search for the cast?" Rowen opened up, her arms crossed over her chest. "We still cannot decide on the two main leads. We have doubts on the current auditions and it has been a month."

    "Send me a proposal about it," Ambryan replied curtly. He fixed his cufflinks. They hade undone during the conference.

    "Why don''t we all eat out? Dinner is on me." The President grinned.

    "We ate before the conference, remember?" Ambryan countered with a scowl.

    "But that was an afternoon snack. This is for dinner and for celebrating."

    "Unfortunately, I still have work to do. I can''t join you," he pointed out. They had spent the afternoon preparing for the conference. Overtime already waited for him once office hours were done.

    "Come on! It''s Friday! Have some fun." Madison gripped Sam closer. He didn''t want to let anyone go. A mountain of paperwork was on his desk. He''d rather not see them until the next week.

    "Mother wants to spend time over the weekend. I want to finish as much work as I can."

    At the mention of Avery, the President surrendered. He tilted his head to the side and nced behind Ambryan. "And you''re going to drag poor Eve along with you."

    The secretary smiled in return. "Actually, I''m allowed to leave when my shift ends."

    Madison''s face lit up. "So you''lle with us?"

    "Sorry, President. I already have nster."

    Tomorrow would be Evangeline''s second modelling shoot. Not only would she head for theplex but also she would be meeting her bodyguard today. Thetter would be staying with her in the condominium.

    Since this would be their first meeting, she didn''t want to bete.

    "Hmm" Madison narrowed his green eyes. His gaze darted between the two, decoding a secret message. A mischievous grin stretched his lips. "I see. That''s okay then. Just promise me that we''d eat out another day."

    "Then, we''ll be leaving first." Ambryan nodded. Then, he spun on his heels and headed for the exit. Eve mimicked his example and followed behind him, staying in his shadow.

    The President heaved a sigh. "I guess it will just be three of us."

    Sam gulped. Sweat coated the back of his neck. He couldn''t think of a better way to say the following, "Um, sorry, Sir Madison. We''ll also be going. The studio needs our attention."

    Madison no longer protested. His spirit had already disappeared. He pulled his arm back and released the director. "Take care on your way."

    "Thank you."

    Another sigh escaped his lips.

    He felt his phone vibrate in his pocket and answered the call without looking at the screen.

    "Hello?"

    "Sir Madison!" Riffle eximed from the other line. "It''s time to go back to work."

    Chills shivered down the President''s spine. Why, oh why, did he pick up? Panicking, he said the first thing that came to his mind, "I can''t! We''re going out to eat!"

    "But yourpanions already left."

    "How did you" Madison began to ask.

    But, his secretary cut him off. "Office. Now. No excuses."

 Chapter 102: Patience is a Virtue

    Chapter 102: Patience is a Virtue

    ''<em>Since when was the air inside the elevator suffocating?''</em>

    Eve took a deep breath. She focused on her breathing. If not, she might just faint from

    ustrophobia. Her stomach became queasy, churning the chicken fingers she ate earlier. Maybe fried food really wasn''t all that great.

    She stood a meter away from Ambryan, purposely out of his peripheral vision. Her mind began to wander. It questioned how he felt when he said those words in front of the world. Was this too fast? She did raise that point but he protested.

    Maybe she just wasn''t used to being called that way.

    At least, when not dressed as Evangeline.

    Leaning on the wall behind her, she closed her eyes and felt her phone vibrate again.

    The notification said, ``Private Message.``

    Eve''s flew wide open at the sight of it. Her back became rigid and her senses were on high alert. Only one of her apps had its message encrypted which meantshe nced towards Ambryan, spotting him on his phone.

    He had contacted Evangeline!

    She quickly turned off the vibrate mode and hid her phone away. Despite everything, they still had their original agreement. There wouldn''t be any chatting while working. It was all good. Nothing to worry about at all.

    The only thing left to do was y it cool.

    Taking a deep breath, Eve fixed her sses and what little bangs she had. She straightened her legs. She rolled her shoulders until her posture was fixed. Her teeth trapped her tongue,

    Then, Ambryan shuffled his feet to the side until he saw her face.

    She blinked. "Is there a problem, Sir Hathaway?"

    "Nothing really," he mumbled, flickering his gaze towards the elevator doors. His chest rose as he inhaled deeply.

    Eve''s eyesnded on his feet. Neither shoe tapped on the floor but she could see his toes breaking through one of them. They dug upwards, stretching the leather, and rxed like he only tapped inside the shoe.

    She pressed her lips together.

    It was a habit he did whenever something bothered him as Avery once told her.

    Her fingers beat the back of her other hand. Her mind counted down the seconds. She watched as the floor numbers went up. It was only a matter of time before

    "But, mother says you give sound advice," Ambryan spoke again.

    This time, he didn''t look at her.

    "Do you need advice, Sir Hathaway?" Eve asked, trying hard not to tease.

    "It''s not urgent or critical, only a passing thought."

    "Well, I will do my best if you ever decide on sharing."

    Silence stretched for a few floors. Eve spent the time peacefully. She checked on her fingernails, wondering if they needed to be trimmed. A frown tugged the corners of her lips. Should she let them grow for modelling? It sounded better than acrylics.

    "What does it mean if a woman hasn''t responded to your message?"

    The question interrupted her thoughts. Her head moved up slowly. Ambryan still looked away from her. His violet eyes focused on the nk stainless steel doors. He didn''t borate further, leaving Eve to her thoughts.

    Was he referring to Evangeline''sck of reply?

    Confusion knitted in her brows. "I''d think she''s either busy or preupied."

    "Hm."

    Eve bit her inner cheek. He did remember their agreement, right? They hardly messaged while at the office for the past two weeks. What was the difference now? Her post? Suddenly, her phone weighed a thousand pounds.

    This tempted her to read the message.

    Was it something important?

    "It is still working hours in most ces," Eve continued to reason. "She might be busy with her job. It''s a normal urrence. No need to worry."

    "Work from theforts of her living room?" The words flew out of Ambryan''s mouth before he could process them.

    Eve nodded eagerly. "Yes"

    Then, stopped short, choking on her words. Right! She had used Andie''s picture of their living room. If she was passing it as her own then, she was at home with enough free time to watch the whole conference.

    Well, Evangeline did say that she was an online tutor but Eve couldn''t possibly know that. Thinking of something to say, she peeked at Ambryan.

    He hadn''t moved an inch.

    "If she''s at home then, maybe she is taking a shower," Eve suggested in the end. "There is no need to think about it too much. It''s possible to ask her when she replies."

    What went in his head exactly? A while ago, he had extraordinaryposure and eloquence. Now, he had trouble waiting for a response from one person? Why did it bother him so much?

    Was he falling for Evangeline?

    Eve quickly shut the idea down.

    It sounded like a mess of trouble.

    "Hm," Ambryan hummed. The ''hidden'' foot tapping had ceased. Whatever disturbed him before did not disturb him as much now. Maybe he finally saw a bit of perspective.

    The elevator almost reached the top floor. At this point, Eve chose not say more. She had nothing else to say anyway. There also still had work to be done and both of them needed to focus.

    Speaking of focus, she should check that message as soon as she has the chance. The curiosity would kill her!

    .

    .

    .

    .

    .

    .

    .

    .

    .

    .

    "Hello, Ms. Ambryan Hathaway''s Girlfriend. Did you enter the wrong apartment? I believe this is not your boyfriend''s house unless he bought it. In that case, I am short of a million bucks."

    Eve rolled her eyes, putting away her heels.

    Andie hopped over the couch''s backrest. Her feet thudded against the floor when shended. She barely felt the pain from the giddiness that snared her nerves. She had waited for some action and she finally got it!

    "You are so slow. Can''t believe Mr. CEO actually beat you in terms of vocal PDA." She snorted, following Eve into the kitchen. Her stormy blue eyes had a bit of sunshine today. "I mean, it''s just two words I know but, at least, they are explicit!"

    Eve grabbed a bottle of orange juice from the fridge. She uncapped the lid while ring at her best friend. "In case you forgot, it was Evangeline''s first public appearance. There was a reason why was cryptic"

    "Yeah, yeah," Andie brushed off, having heard the story before. "But, man how did you feel when you heard it? I did see it on TV but I''m sure it''s different being in the same room."

    Eve took her time at drinking the bottle.

    Andie raised an eyebrow, aware of what she was doing. This manner of stalling won''t work on her. The galloon used to be full but it was now halfway finished. That meant that it still had 2 liters of juice.

    There was no way her best friend would finish it all just to avoid a topic. There was also no way she''d let Eve get away with it! This hesitation proved that something did happen. Her best friend couldn''t deny it.

    And she was dying to find out what it was!

    Sitting on a stool, Andieid her arms over the kitchen ind. "Come on, Eve! Talk to me! You finally get the love life I always wanted for you but you won''t share it with me?"

    Eve sighed, joining her at the kitchen ind. The bottle had one-fourth of juice left. "What is there to say? I was shocked that the reporter even knew my ount. I didn''t think anyone would see it that fast. Ambryan''s words ced a strict wall between his personal life and thepany."

    "It was well-calcted," she finished before taking another sip of juice. That should do it, right? None of her statements were lies. She had mentioned her shock. She had mentioned her analysis.

    It should be good enough.

    "Did you blush?"

    Eve spat out her drink.

    "Aha! You did!" Andie cheered and cackled loudly It could be heard all the way to the second floor. "Ohohoho, he is getting under your skin and into your heart. I love it! You two are progressing so well. What do you n for your first monthsary?"

    "I n to"

    Andie leaned in closer, not wanting to miss a single word

    "... survive this weekend first." Eve rose to her feet and put away the juice bottle. She gave Andie onest cheeky smile before escaping to her room. "Who says we have to celebrate it anyway? Worry about your own uing anniversary."

    Then, she disappeared from sight.

    Andie grumbled under her breath. "Can''t she fall for him faster?"

    Eve closed the door behind her. That had been a close call. She took out her phone and tossed it onto her bed. She didn''t want to see it for a while.

    It seemed like withdrawals didn''t always lead to being cured.

    .

    ``Yan: You were watching?``

    ``Lin: Am I not allowed?``

    ``Yan: That is not what I''m implying. Are you a reader of the book? What did you think of the script?``

    ``Lin: I do believe changes are inevitable but I think the scriptwriters don''t know what tone to use for the adaptation.``

    ``Yan: And what tone should it be?``

    ``Lin: My, my, Mr. Hathaway. I thought your girlfriend isn''t involved with your work?``

    ``Yan: I''m asking you as a reader not as my girlfriend. Also, don''t go anywhere without your bodyguard. There are more eyes on you now than before. Be careful.``

    ``Lin: No one spotted this redhead out of her house these past two weeks. Don''t worry.``

    ``Yan: Then, why did you take time to reply?``

 Chapter 103: Eves Bodyguard

    Chapter 103: Eve''s Bodyguard

    ``Yan: Then, why did you take time to reply?``

    ``Lin: Impatient, are we? Didn''t I say not to expect a response when it''s working hours?``

    ``Yan: Well, you surely looked like you had a lot of free time.``

    ``Lin: It was a coincidence. Heard you were on TV so I watched.``

    ``Yan: You have a photoshoot tomorrow?``

    ``Lin: Yup! Although, it''s more of a test shot. I won''t hear if I got it or not until after the pictures had been taken.``

    ``Yan: Don''t go anywhere without your bodyguard.``

    ``Lin: Yes, sir! ()>``

    .

    After a quick shower, Eve pulled out a duffel bag from under her bed. It had the wig and a few clothes for office wear. She packed a few more things like a bit of food. She didn''t know if the ce was stocked. If her memory served her right, she spotted a coffee maker in the kitchen.

    All it needed were some beans and she could brew a fresh cup in the morning.

    ording to Avery, they would change cars along the way. She would need to change clothes and wear the wig around that time. To make it easier, she chose to wear a tan pleated skirt over a pair of blue denim shorts and a ck shirt on top of a white camisole. This way she only needed to peel off oneyer.

    Then, she''d throw on the gray cardigan inside the duffel bag.

    For shoes, she picked out slip ons and ankle bootscourtesy of Andie''s closet.

    Eve ditched her sses. She looked around her room. She had done every precautionary measure she could think of. Her first outfit would have involved a hat if it wasn''t near night time.

    Instead, she added lipstick to her luggage.

    Everything was set.

    The doorbell rang and Eve headed down the stairs. She carried the duffel bag over her shoulder while her free hand searched for the skirt pocket. Her footsteps were heavier than usual and thumped down the stairs. It slowed her pace, leaving Andie to answer the door first.

    A woman stood at their porch.

    Against the sunset, her coffee skin glowed in warm light. Green flecks slithered across her cyan eyes like garden vines. Wavy raven hair pooled at the base of her head, the ponytail flowing over her chest. The tip reached the level of her waist.

    Her suit was two shades lighter than her hair.

    It fit her like a glove, allowing free movement.

    Her thick lips showed a smile."Hello, you must be Ms. Andie."

    "And you must be Eve''s new bodyguard." Andie perked up immediately. She didn''t know why but this woman had almost earned herplete trust. There was something about her that put Andie at ease.

    Maybe it was the sun halo behind her or maybe it was her

    Either way, Andie was d that her best friend had someone capable.

    The bodyguard offered her hand for a shake. "I''m Nanzie. Nice to meet you."

    Andie took it and giggled. "Pleasure is all mine if you''d gossip about Evangeline''s activity with me. You can think of me as her legal guardian."

    "I''m 25, not 15. I don''t need a legal guardian." Eve interrupted as shended on the first floor. Her facial expression matched the attitude she portrayed. Theck of sses and makeup exposed her dark undereye circles.

    Instead of an intimidating demeanor, it resembled a zombie''s.

    Looking Eve up and down, Andie crossed her arms over her chest. Her eyebrows scrunched in confusion. "And what are you supposed to be? A tomboy heiress who left home and wore a skirt because it''s faster to wear and run in?"

    "No, I''m supposed to be an illegitimate child of a wealthy family that rebels a lot," Eve responded, her voice dripping sarcasm. She dropped the act and smiled at their visitor. "This situation must sound crazy. I look forward to working with you though."

    "The feeling is mutual, Ms. Hart." Nanzie nodded, offering another handshake.

    Eve gripped the sturdy hand. "Call me, Eve. No need for formalities."

    "As you wish," Nanzie replied as she pulled her hand back. Her eyes flickered between the twodies. "I''d love to stay here and chat but we should be going or we''ll be behind schedule."

    "Oh, yeah. Right." Eve stepped onto the patio and waved without looking back. "Bye, Andie. Don''t wreck the apartment."

    "Hey! I''m well-behaved!" Her best friend huffed. She hadn''t done anything major since she dug a hole on the floor instead of a wall. The drill had whirred to life and caught her off-guard. Who knew it had that much power?

    "Fine. I''ll change it" Eve sighed, staring at the floor. Then, she snapped her fingers and looked at Andie. "... don''t put it on fire."

    "Eve!"

    "No need to worry, Ms. Eve. Someone will be watching from the outside. Ms. Andie will be fine." Nanzie interrupted before either could say more. Eve had doubled over inughter. It wasn''t much of a payback but it was better than nothing.

    "What?" Andie gasped. Her eyes fluttered at the new piece of information. She stood on her toes and checked out the street. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary. "Do I need to close my curtains now?"

    "It''s only standard protocol. There''s no need to go far."

    The soles of her feet settled on the floor. After some thought, she realized that it was for the best. As long as the surveince stayed outside, she didn''t mind the added security.

    Her gaze shifted back towards the porch. "Take care you two. See you on Monday."

    "See you." Eve chuckled. "Don''t talk to strangers."

    The door mmed on her face.

    Laughing until her stomach hurts, Eve walked down the stairs. She didn''t miss a step nor did she stumble over. How did she manage it? Eve surely didn''t know. She categorized it as a miracle.

    The street was mostly emptyexcept for a few cars owned by the residents. Each house had the same floor size and the same two-storey height. They filled out the whole street from both sides, distinguished by the small garden out front and the house numbers.

    Eve checked out the cars. None of them seemed unfamiliar to her. They all belonged to her neighbors. Before she could ask, Nanzie answered her thoughts.

    "It''s down the block, Ms. Eve. Please turn to your right."

    Not thinking twice, Eve did as she was told. No one else was out in the streets. She wondered for a second if the new security team had anything to do withthen, she dropped the idea. It seemed a bit too extreme.

    She couldn''t imagine how they''d persuade people to stay inside without raising rm or suspicion. side without raising rm or suspicion.

    A prickling sensation crawled at the back of Eve''s neck. It was a feeling she had whenever she was watched. Her head snapped to the side, spotting her bodyguard through the corner of her eye.

    A frown appeared on her lips.

    She nced over her shoulder, still walking towards the nearest alleway. "Nanzie, do you mind walking beside me? It''s Evangeline that has a bodyguard, not Eve."

    Nanzie shook her head. "They may have different names and different appearances, Ms. Eve, but I am protecting one body, one mind and one soul and that is you."

    "Still I''ll be morefortable if you act more casually around me," Eve persisted despite recognizing her point. She was used to bodyguards whenever Ambryan was around. But even then, she also stood in his shadow like they did. She felt more part of the security team than his equal.

    Eve pressed her lips together and pleaded with her eyes. "Please? I''d really appreciate it."

    Nanzie sighed through her nose. She picked up her pace until she matched Eve''s strides. "If that is what you prefer then, I will oblige."

    "Oh, but you don''t have to if you''re bothered by it."

    Nanzie gave her the side-eye. Her expression read, ''Are you serious right now?'', while her lips said, "It really is no trouble Eve."

    At the sound of her name, Eve lit up. "Okay, good!"

    Side by side, they continued their walk and spent the rest of the way in silence. It was pleasantpared to the one they had a few minutes earlier. There was an understanding between them that they couldn''t exin.

    The alleway was a tight space. It could fit about one and a half people. The exposed wall had vine nts and potted flowers. No one would think there was an alley unless they peeked as they passed by.

    Eve entered it, thinking the car was at the other side. It made the most sense since the street behind them was narrower. Many people didn''t pay attention to it except for its residents. Wild grass grew on its vacant lots.

    Three identical sedans parked in front of them.

    Nanzie walked ahead of Eve and escorted thetter to the middle one. "I won''t be driving you to the rendezvous point, only after it. I''ll be watching close by. There is also a tracker on the car. If anything goes wrong, I will know."

    Eve nodded in understanding. She waved at the driver, memorizing his face. Her head whirled between the other two cars. She learned their te numbers so she''d recognize them among other cars.

    The door to the back opened before her.

    She smiled at the gesture, finding it both odd and heart-warming. "Thank you, Nanzie."

    Her bodyguard chuckled. "See youter, Eve."

 Chapter 104: Evangelines Bodyguard

    Chapter 104: Evangeline''s Bodyguard

    A tan sandal and a fair slender leg stepped out of a ck sedan. A gray cardigan draped over denim shorts and a white camisole. Oversized brown sunsses perched on top of a button nose. They shielded over amber eyes.

    Long wavy crimson hair fluttered against a soft breeze.

    Evangeline Reed hade to her apartment after two weeks off work.

    Nanzie trailed behind as the model climbed up the stairs. The former opted out of her suit and wore tight yoga pants with a ck shirt. Her raven ck hair was braided at the back of her head. The shorter strands had been brushed back, exposing her sharp facial features.

    She carried a duffel bag in one hand.

    She had reced her boots with sneakers.

    Eve released a breath when the elevator doors closed after they got inside. She took off her sses and scratched her neck. It seemed that the wig needed some cleaning. "That was lucky. I almost expected paparazzis at the front. Then again, this ce has more famous models than me. I should have seen them by now."

    "Theplex keeps a tight security, reasoning that it disturbs the resident''s peace," Nanzie exined. "They''re only allowed near the driveway''s entrance. Since no one knows your car yet, we slipped past unnoticed."

    "So... they know the car is mine now?" Eve asked.

    "Yes, but the security team is taking care of it. You are absolutely not to be disturbed within 100 meters. They''ll be taken to court if it happens."

    "That''s" she trailed off, wrapping her mind at the development. "... a bit too much?"

    Nanzie smiled. Her cyan eyes fell to the floor. "Ms. Avery and Mr. Ambryan wanted the best. You''ll be able to read the whole documentter. It also covers your insurance."

    "My insurance?" Eve asked. She already had some for health, disability and life. As for the apartment, Andie and her applied for home insurance.She''d have an auto one if thepany hadn''t provided a car.

    The only other option she knew of was wedding insurancewhich she never availed.

    "As a model, your work relies on your outward appearance. They had insured several body parts for different amounts. They haven''t disclosed the amount but they are open to tell you if you talked to them about it."

    "Body parts?"

    "Yes."

    "Whose?"

    "Yours, of course."

    "What? Why?" Eve demanded. Body parts could be insured? What was the difference between that and health? And disability? "For my work? I''m still an amateur model. I don''t have that much to lose if I suddenly gained a scar."

    The elevator opened at the 10th floor. Nanzie stood by the doors, letting her out first. "You must understand that it involves more than your career. I doubt Ms. Avery would forgive herself if this situation leaves a permanent mark on your body. The circumstances areplicated but she wants to minimize casualties."

    Eve halted in her steps. The empty hallway faded before her eyes. For a brief moment, she stepped in Avery''s shoes. The madam was the reason why she was in this role. It was a favor that came with mary benefits. Her intentions had been pure but it had consequences.

    What was an idealistic dream now was one wrong way towards a train wreck.

    Everything could fall apart, leaving damages instead of happy endings.

    Then, why continue it? Why continue a gamble where the odds were tipping over?

    Eve searched for the answer. The Avery in her imagination only smiled sadly. She knew more than anyone what the chessboard looked like. The deal had been spontaneous and impulsive. The terms had needed polishingand it most likely still would in the future.

    Yet, something kept her on the same path,

    A glimmer of hope

    Attainable if they kept moving forward...

    Because love took risks.

    "Ms. Eve?"

    Shaking her head, Eve''s sunsses slid down her nose. She pushed them back up and nced to her left. "I''m alright, Nanzie. Please call me, Evangeline."

    "I may have to find a universal nickname."

    "Good luck." Eve chuckled. She led the way to the apartment, taking out the keys. It looked just as she left itin a mess. The living room and kitchen were spared but the bathroom and bedroom weren''t. She had been in a hurry that the red dress from theunch party was still in aundry basket.

    The clothes from the closet littered across the floor and the bed. She hadn''t decided on what to wear right away and the clothing items only got in the way. Nothing in the closet screamed, ''inconspicuous.''

    She had dug deep just to find the closest ones for a ''normal'' outfit.

    "Uh make yourself at home?" Eve attempted to say, locking the door.

    Nanzie merely set the duffel bag beside the coffee table. She ced her hands on her hips and looked around the ce. She noted how the living roomcked a bit of color. The interior designer favored different shades of white. The only things that deviated from the theme was the tscreen, the TV cab and legs of the coffee table.

    And they were in shades of ck.

    Over her shoulder, she said, "Go take a bath while I set up here. I''ll take a quick sweep and add a few more eyes outside. It won''t take long."

    "Oh, okay"

    It really didn''t take long.

    By the time Eve washed up, Nanzie had finished the work. The crimson wig stayed on Eve''s head. It would have to be that way except for when she slept and she took a shower. She grabbed her duffel bag, checking the contents. Her attention focused on the food she brought.

    It didn''t seem to be enough.

    A rolled up towel around her shoulders, she checked the pantry supplies. As she suspected, it didn''t have any food supply. Why would it? All the fresh ingredients would only go to waste. Too many canned ones wouldn''t be good either.

    They would have to drop by a supermarket.

    "Do you mind if we get some groceries?" Eve asked when she heard a door open.

    Nanzie stepped out of the bathroom in a pair of boxer shorts and a long t-shirt. She scrunched the towel against her hair, squeezing every drop of water. A scowl formed on her brows as she considered the idea. "I don''t think that will be good. The less chances for people to see you, the better. There are services that offer grocery deliveries. You can use my name for the transaction."

    "Seriously?" Eve whined. "Am I only getting out of this apartment for work-rted reasons? Can''t Evangeline act like a normal human? Isn''t that more believable than having her on house arrest?"

    She shut the cab close and walked towards the living room.

    Her bodyguard sat on the couch with her knees apart. Her arm rested on her thigh as she continued drying her hair. A sigh flowed out of her lips. "You are allowed to go out. But, if there is an alternative, you are to stay indoors.

    "Is this also part of the security n?"

    "Yes, it is."

    "That is bullshlet me read it," Eve thought at thest second. Nanzie brought out a folder and handed it over. Eve sat beside her on the couch, skimming through the basics. She flipped to the next two pages.

    The details were immacteboth in a good and in a bad way.

    "Fast food is banned? What? This is insane! Who would follow these rules? I can''t even cross a street! The other bodyguards will bring whatever I need? What am I? An animal in a cage?" Question after question fired out of her mouth. "Is this Avery''s or Ambryan''s doing? You know what, don''t answer that. It''s already obvious."

    There were still a few more sheets left but she worried that she''d explode after reading them. Rising to her feet, she grabbed her phone and marched to the bedroom. Someone was about to get a piece of her mind!

    "Good evening, Ms. Evangeline." Ambryan spoke.

    Eve kicked the door closed and paced around the room. Her amber eyes red at the floor. "Why can''t I get my own groceries with my own two hands? I am not a child. Why are mundane activities suddenly considered as high risks?"

    "I have mentioned it before. There are more people watching you now."

    "So I should adjust my lifestyle and let them get away with it? Where is the justice in that?"

    "You didn''t seem to have a problem with it the past two weeks."

    "That was by choice!" Eve practically yelled. The document flew to her bed. She pinched the bridge of her nose, trying to calm down. "I did it by choice and not because I was restricted. You can''t take away my freedom like that!"

    "What is the use of bodyguards if I can''t go anywhere?" She continued. Maybe she wasn''t the most sociable person but she did like doing the little things. She liked getting her own food, her own stationery supplies and more.

    Spending time alone, both in and out of the house, was one of her favorite pastimes.

    "For the times you do have to go somewhere like work," Ambryan exined in one breath. The tapping of a keyboard could be heard in the background again. "Is it really just grocery shopping? How far away is it?"

    Eve''s brown eyes fluttered as she read between the lines. "Are you trying to say that I need your permission first before I go anywhere?"

 Chapter 105: Fake-Lovers Quarrel

    Chapter 105: Fake-Lovers'' Quarrel

    "I"

    "Do you know how ridiculous that sounds? Do you even hear yourself? You''re a very busy man. How would you always respond on time?" Eve thought out loud. "It''s not only unnecessary but also inefficient. In fact, its inefficiency is exactly why it''s unnecessary. I''m well-protected in and out of this room."

    The call went silent. Only the keys of aptop filled it in. At the sound of rapid typing, Eve bit her tongue. He was workingte tonight. She knew that but she still impulsively called him like this? Her head shook at her rash behavior.

    Even if she had been mad, she should have cooled off for a while.

    Then again, she also wanted him to know how angry she feltsomething mere words couldn''t always deliver across by eliminating the emotion from them. The room began to spin. She didn''t know what to do anymore.

    Eve massaged her temple, trying to think rationally.

    Ambryan''s voice broke through her reverie. "Is that everything you have to say? Can I speak now?"

    "Wait, hold up!" She protested. A groan rumbled at the back of her throat. Guilt streamed in her veins. "I just bbered that out. I''m sure you have an exnation. Please enlighten me a little so I can give you a betterment."

    Another cloud of silence hovered above them.

    Eve bit her bottom lip. Had she really been rash? Ambryan wasn''t one to make a decision irrationally. There had to be a reasonable exnation and she''d be stupid ignore itpletely. There had to be a way around this arrangement that could satisfy them both.

    "It''s a necessary precaution. You said it yourself. You felt a storm brewing," Ambryan told her. The words hit home. They dide out of her mouth first. "I''d rather have you indoors and safe when the storm rains down. We still don''t know which direction it woulde."

    ''The storm'' Eve repeated in her head. She had said that but, to her, it was a small one. She still had the files on Ambryan''s exes. None of them posed a serious threat to her life. None of them were psychos eitherthankfully, Ambryan had kept out of that group.

    Besides, the storm wouldn''t go away wherever she went. It would always be there looming until it found a chance. It didn''t have to mean physically too.

    It could appear in a virtual world. That one was harder to control. Behind screens, firewalls and dummy IPs, it was a web ofworks. It couldn''t be stopped unless someone blocked out the use of the inte.

    Otherwise, they would appear again and again in any ce at any time.

    "But that is only a hunch. What evidence is there for it to be a real threat? I hadid low for two weeks and nothing had happened. Doesn''t that mean anything?" Eve reasoned for a second time, using a gentler tone. There was no way she could live like this for 9 months.

    There had to be another way or they would be stuck in a ce where an enemy could find themit would be easy to locate an unmoving target.

    "Predators don''t pounce while their prey is hidden," Ambryan fired back.

    Eve choked on her own spit. ''Well, that was true''

    They would look for an opening first like she thought of earlier. Soying low had blocked them from creating an attack. But really How big was this threat Ambryan refers to? He made it sound like someone could shoot her the moment she stepped out of a door.

    But if it''s only people like Charlee Edwards..., this arrangement was excessive.

    That part of her opinion won''t change.

    "Fine. I get your point. But! I do not agree with these conditions," Eve voiced out. Now that she had a clearer head, she could analyze things a bit better. "They are too much and too confining. There should be a wider range for where I can go without the need for permission. How about letting the security team notify you about our movements?"

    Couldn''t he be notified instead? Like there wouldnt be a need to ask if she could go but only to tell him about it so he''d know. She didn''t see it as any different as telling her mother about the ces she''d go whenever she left the house.

    At least, they''d know where she was in case she forgot to keep in contact.

    "Alright. You can cross the street and do your groceries. Anything else?"

    Ambryan''s agreement startled Eve. It happened a bit too fast. Once she got over her shock, she realized how specific his words were. Was this how he was going to y? Let her list ces? How precise did he want her to be?

    This was as inefficient as asking for his permission!

    "That''s not" She began to say but Ambryan cut her off.

    "You don''t want to do your groceries anymore?"

    "No!" Eve yelled a little too loud. She smacked her lips, her eyes snapping towards the bedroom door. Her ears heightened up and listened for other sounds. She feared that her reaction caused a misunderstanding with Nanzie.

    "Then, I should take it back?"

    Her current worries vanished when she heard his words. Crease lines materialized on her forehead as she red at the wall, imagining it was his poker face. "Ambryan Hathaway! You know bloody well what I meant!"

    "I did?"

    "Yes, youhey! Don''t think I am the only one who should be doing this! You should also tell me if you''d be anywhere besides your house and your office. Communication is a two-way street!"

    "I should?"

    "Yes, even if you say you have the better security team and can handle yourself better, shouldn''t couples know about their partner''s whereabouts? What if you suddenly had a meeting in another city and I didn''t know about it?" Eve swallowed back a chuckle at thest part. She highly doubted that would happen but it could raise suspicion. "Others might see it as a weakness in our rtionshiplike we don''t care much for each other."

    "Hm," Ambryan contemted. "About your earlier suggestion it''s actually been arranged for your security team to notify me of your whereabouts even if you wouldn''t tell me. "

    "..." So she had suggested it for nothing? Eve tossed the question out of her head and focused on the current matter. "Then, I should get the same treatment! This can''t be one-sided. That wouldn''t be fair. I''d look really badpared to you. There are somements already about how you spoke about us in a direct manner unlike I did."

    She should find a chance soon. Maybe greet him on social media about their first monthsary? People did that, right? The more Eve yed with the idea, the more it grew on her. She thought of today''s date.

    It was the 15th and they had their first date on the 25thst month

    then, they still had 10 days before then? What day would it fall under?

    "And what about you?" Ambryan asked.

    Eve blinked out of her daze. "What about me?"

    "What is yourment about it?"

    "Is that really necessary?" She questioned back. Her tongue suddenly felt weird in her mouth. It was almost like she couldn''t control it. She wondered if the phrase ''cat got your tongue?'' actually came from this feeling.

    Ambryan smirked. "You always seem so opinionated. There should be some reserved for that incident, no? It would be out of character for you not to have something to say."

    '' what was he implying exactly?'' Eve''s face contoured into a deadpan expression. She repeated the same answer she gave to Andie. "It was a well thought out response. You drew a line between your work life and your personal one."

    "I see," was all he had to say.

    She frowned at that. For all the talking they had done, why was Ambryan harder to read than before? His mind used to be something she understood. Or maybe she never really did? His approach to this rtionship had been with a business mindsetsomething she knew well.

    What had changed?

    Her stomach growled.

    Eve coughed, breaking the silence. "Let''s continue this on Sunday when we meet. I''m hungry right now and need to buy some food."

    What should they have for tonight? Maybe she should ask Nanzie for rmendations.

    "Less your intake on carbs and sweets when it''s night time. You don''t need that energy and sugar rush when you''ll be sleeping soon," Ambryan replied as if her question reached him instead of her bodyguard.

    She snorted. "Okay, Mr. Healthy Living."

    "I mean it, Evangeline."

    "I know," Eve chuckled. "You''re just cute when you react like that."

    The tapping in the background ceased. Without it, Ambryan''s voice became louder in her ears. Nothing came in between it and her hearing. "Cute?"

    Was it possible to flutter your eyes and to gape your mouth like a fish at the same time? Eve''s brain short-circuited at the revtion. Somehow her mind thought that if she did this motion, she''d wake up from a dream ande back to a realitywhere she never said thest thing that came out of her lips.

    Unfortunately, this didn''t work.

    There was only one thing left to do:

    Escape.

    "I gotta go. The store might close soon. Bye!"

 Chapter 106: Neon is Back in Fashion!

    Chapter 106: Neon is Back in Fashion!

    ``Good morning.``

    Those two words haunted Eve the next day.

    And she didn''t know why.

    But, her spection said that it was becausest night''s events reyed in her memory when she read them. It wasn''t actually those two words that nagged her thoughts. Rather, it was ``You''re just cute when you react like that.``

    "What are you groaning for?" Nanzie asked. She held an eyeshadow brush in one hand, patting it on Eve''s eyelids. Dark brown powder painted the fair skin and deepened the sockets. Cale had given her the instructions about Evangeline''s casual makeup.

    "Nothing," Eve denied with a sigh. They had two hours before the shoot started. Instead of talking about the incident, she would have chosen to erase it from her mind. Then, she''d have a clear head on her shoulders.

    There was only one problem with that solution.

    It was easier said than done.

    "Are you sure? Talking could help, you know."

    "I do know that," Eve stated. She opened her eyes when the brush left her skin. Her reflection stared back, looking as agitated as she felt. "I''m just overreacting. I just need to hold myself together. I think there will be a lot of smiling for this shoot."

    Nanzie tilted her head sideways. She held an eyeliner pen in her hand. "Smiling?"

    "Yeah, I received the details about the campaign a few days ago. The theme focuses on being youthful. And, well, what''s more youthful than being energetic and happy?" Eve exined, chuckling at her ideas. "I didn''t notice it right away but modelling takes some form of acting too."

    She didn''t want to go unprepared. That would only highlight her amateur skills. She had asked about the campaign, wondering if she could do something about it. The details weren''tplete but it had the client''s name.

    ''World of Adventure,'' a leisure establishment like the skating rink. Only this time, it had more activities to offer. They built both indoor and outdoor ones. For today, Evangeline was part of the outdoor campaign and if they liked her performance, she''d model for the indoor activities.

    There was also a new attraction to open up.

    Eve hoped it was a roller skating rink. It would make things much easier for her.

    She closed her eyes and let Nanzie line her eyes. The flick of the wings elongated and sharpened her eye shape. Her lips seemed fuller from abination of lip liner and clear gloss. The former added some color to their paleness while thetter coated ayer that reflected the light.

    "All done."

    A pair of cyan eyes greeted Eve''s sight. She had opened them too fast, catching Nanzie as thetter pulled back up. The woman in the mirror seemed foreign to Eve. Had it only been two weeks? The timepse felt much longer.

    Nheless, the same fire simmered beneath her skin. The crimson wig lit up like mes while her amber eyes glistened like a cat''s. Something about this appearance fuelled Eve with confidence and strength.

    And it excited her.

    .

    .

    .

    .

    .

    .

    .

    .

    .

    .

    World of Adventure''s outdoor attractions consisted of numerous activities. It had rock climbing, zip lines and giant swings. It also had several obstacle courses. They came in different lengths and difficulties. Their colorful exterior appealed to the younger generations. They promised an interactive experience that elevated scavenger hunts.

    They also had an area for games dedicated to families.

    The grass glistened in vibrant green under the blue sky. Clouds floated by sparingly, leaving the sun out for the world to see. A tent had been set up for the photoshoot. Cameras and lights stood in front of an obstacle course. The concrete pathways waved like the oceans in pastel colors. The yers would need to bike over them.

    It gave them the perfect background for attraction.

    "Mikael, are you ready?" Jordan asked, stepping under the tent. His eyes searched for a head of brown hair and blonde highlights. The hair stylist kept the side-swept look for the retro cut. Minimal makeup had been done on sun-kissed skin.

    At the sound of his name, Mikael stood up from the chair. The shoot had him dressed head to toe in neon colorsparticrly green, yellow and pink. A green shirt tucked in his yellow track pants, a pink oversized jacket hung on his shoulders.

    Although aimed at young people, the establishment also wanted to attract older ones. So, for this campaign, the styles they used were based on 1980s neon fashion.

    "You know" Jordan said, crossing his arms over his chest. "I wish they went for red, orange and green. Then, you''d look like a proper traffic light."

    Mikael adjusted the sleeves. Only his radiant blue eyes moved as he red at his manager. "Maybe if you wore a purple suit then, you''d look like a proper chocte dairy milk product."

    Jordan snorted. He wore casual clothespared to his usual smart styles. Since the shoot would be outdoors, he opted for a simple shirt and jeans outfit. "Ah, yes. Thatment a kid made during a party."

    "Such an imaginative mind."

    Chocte eyes rolled at thement. "Anyway, are you done? The photographers are waiting."

    The two of them thanked the crew and walked out of the tent. A few females paused from their work. They stared at the duo as they headed for the shoot. They observed Mikael''s walk. Nothing in his stance exhibited unease. Each stride had purpose in them.

    "How can someone look good in that much neon?" A female worker asked softly.

    "That''s because Mikael Davis looks good in anything." Herpanionughed,lifting up a box.

    The female worker watched as Mikael talked to the photographers. The corners of his lips curled. She sighed. "Why is a guy like him single?"

    A guy behind them scoffed. "Isn''t it because of girls like you who constantly flock around him? Maybe he''s actually traumatized by some crazy women. You all can be scary as hell when ites to your idols."

    "... should I listen to a guy who hasn''t had a girlfriend in his life?"

    "What makes you think a guy like me can''t be traumatized by the same crazy women just by watching them? This can also be the reason why you''re single. Tone it down a bit."

    "Why you"

    .

    .

    .

    .

    .

    "So the campaign aims to bridge both the past and the present. Hence, why you''re dressed like it''s the 80s. We''ll have a few shots here then, we''ll move around the attractions. You''ll also do some of the activities. For now, just do what you feel like doing."

    "Alright. Is this partposed of scenic shots?" Mikael asked, staring at the obstacle course. The wave pattern had different high points. They huddle together like a long and wide staircase. Each one had enough space for two bikes to passbut the course usually only asked for one.

    Which path yers took depended on what their predecessors chose.

    "Yeah, not much going on for now." The head photographer nodded.

    "Hm," Mikael grunted. "Is it possible to have a soda can with me? Maybe even a hotdog sandwich? This setup reminds me of the stairs at school front where students eat and hang out sometimes."

    "Sure, I''ll have someone get it. Anything else?"

    "No, that''s good enough." The model grinned. A series of images yed in his head. He arranged them in a pattern where it would let him move easily. His mind figured out how he could make use of the entire background.

    Before the photographer could make further remarks, Mikael walked towards the obstacle course. He stood on the grass and stared ahead. His head tilted up as if the concrete rose higher than his height. He raised his foot until only the toes touched the ground. The camera had a clear view of his bent leg.

    Then, he tucked his hands inside the jacket pockets.

    Jordan signalled the photographer to start.

    The camera captured several shots. Mikael changed poses. He removed the jacket off his shoulders, letting it drape behind his back. One foot in front of him, he bent forward as if ready to climb up the wavy stairs.

    "Where are the fans? Give me a breeze!" The head photographer instructed.

    Mikael shrugged off the jacket fully and tossed it over his shoulder. He stood with his feet apart and with his other hand on his hip. When the fans turned on, the jacket swayed behind him. His hair also flowed in the same direction.

    He heard the camera shutter.

    His feet shifted towards the fans. They brushed his bangs off his face. He rxed his posture and slouched a little. His eyes dropped to his wristwatch. Then, he squinted at the distance as if waiting for someone to arrive.

    Amber eyes blinked at him.

    He shifted his gaze away from them.

    Climbing up the first step, he lied down on the cement. His back curved over the wave. He had one foot on the ground and had used the jacket as a pillow cushion. His hand hovered above his face, blocking out the bright sun.

    When Eve entered the venue, she heard a camera shutter. She followed it instinctively and spotted Mikael in the middle of a shoot. She abandoned her sense of time, deeming this a perfect chance to learn from a professional.

    Then, their eyes met.

    It was a brief but she saw it.

    She saw the surprise in his face but heposed his expression right away. If she had stood anywhere else, she probably wouldn''t have seen it at all.

 Chapter 107: The Wall to Climb

    Chapter 107: The Wall to Climb

    "Evangeline, darling. They need you in hair and makeup," Cale called out. He thought she had followed him towards the tent. But then, he didn''t find her when he nced over his shoulder. He retraced his steps and spotted her near the shoot.

    His eyes followed her line of sight.

    Mikael repeatedly lied down in different spots. Cale scowled. He wondered how exactly did those poses give off energy. They seemed prettyzy to him. Then, he realized that Mikael saw it as a ce to rest.

    A crew member handed the model a bottle of water and a sandwich.

    Eve jogged up to Cale. The hem of her button-up dress swayed around her legs.

    "Seen Mikael in action, did you? How was it?" Cale asked. His dress shirt had a rose pattern. Their red petals stood out from the cream fabric. Green leaves encircled each flower. Hepleted the look with a ck tie and denim jeans.

    "He has great concentration. I realized many things can be distracting out here but nothing fazes him," Eve said. She hoped to have the same self-control. It wouldn''t be good to be in a daze. Her mind needed to be empty before the shoot.

    "Ah, well. You''ll learn that soon enough. Come on, let''s get you ready."

    Right. She could prepare for that while in hair and makeup.

    When Eve opened her eyes, it was as if time reversed backwards. She froze in ce. An old photo shed in the mirror. The only thing missing was a big smile.

    Her hair was up in curls. The tight coils shortened the length of the strands. A neon yellow headband made of stretchable cloth was tied into a bow above her hairline. Her bangs had been blow dried and curled inwards for a bit of volume and bounce.

    For a moment, she saw a younger version of her mother.

    "There you go," the makeup artist said, assessing the makeup. "I chose a simple look. Although the 80s are known for vibrant colors on makeup, I think your clothes already do that for you. I kept your eye look, added blush and changed your gloss into fuchsia pink lipstick."

    Eve nodded as she followed along. Since she hoped to do her own makeup soon, she noted down the different points. Her lips seemed even fuller than earlier. She smacked them together. A bit of cherry taste touched her tongue.

    "You''ll have two outfit changester, including makeup. One for the afternoon and another one at night. I think they''ll be doing a party scene for the night one. We''ll elevate the eyeshadows for that. Right now, they want you to move around. Good luck."

    "Thank you," Eve couldn''t help but say. She already knew some of these. But, it wasforting to know that the makeup artist would fill her in if she hadn''t asked Cale about them.

    She stretched her legs. The striped socks reached just below her knee. Her thighs were exposed from there up to her pink mini shorts. It had a white outline that encircled just above her hips. For the top, she wore a simple blue shirt and long gloves that disyed her fingers.

    "Did they really wear these for exercise?"

    The makeup artistughed. "Well, they did for dancing and aerobics. It''s only better than spandex and tracksuits. We thought this would work better since it''s the closest to modern day styles."

    "Is she done?" Cale asked, peeking from the tent entrance.

    Eve hopped off the chair at the sound of his voice. She thanked the makeup artist and jogged her way to his side. "Ready. What are we doing first?"

    "Rock-climbing."

    ''... that wasn''t an easy task, was it?'' Eve thought. Her hands opened and closed on instinct. She would need upper body strength for this. Raising one arm over her chest, she stretched the muscle by pulling it back with her other arm.

    Her feet wiggled inside her sneakers. The soles seemed to bend, allowing better movement.

    "Nervous?"

    Eve shook her head. "Not entirely. I just need to warm up."

    Cale smiled, watching her stretch. A crew member waved a hand towards them. He raised his own and signalled them to wait. This was Eve''s first shoot without them leading it. If she needed time to prepare, he''d help her in any way.

    Soon, a 50-foot gray wall (15.24m) loomed over Eve. Colorful rocks popped out in different shapes and sizes. She spotted a small roof at the top. A few workers stood by, waiting for her to climb. A harness had been tied around her hips while a helmet had been strapped to her head.

    She gritted her teeth, shutting down her anxiety.

    "Shouldn''t I wear a ponytail?"

    "Well, the goal is for you to make it seem effortless," the photographer advised, knowing full well that she was a rookie. "Don''t worry too much about climbing. They''ll pull you up to where you need to hang on but we''ll start from the bottom. Just focus on posing and enduring it."

    "Okay."

    Eve walked up to the wall. She positioned her hands, getting ready to climb. Her eyes gazed up and looked to the sky. She took a deep breath and rxed. Her mind assessed options for a facial expression. For her, that would be the one to carry the pose.

    ''Effortless? Then'' she ced one foot on a rock and reached for another rock. ''... I will aim for the sky like I could touch it and enter an unseen paradise.''

    The corners of her lips curled like she had a secret. But, her eyes gleamed from the bright sun. The camera shuttered from behind and from one side. She continued to climb, pausing for five seconds with each new position.

    Cale watched her from the ground. He had his arms crossed over his chest. Pride shined in his cerulean eyes as the shoot proceeded smoothly. None of the photographers had madements. It wasn''t exactly a sign of being amazed but it was good enough.

    "Ah!"

    He gasped as Eve''s foot slipped. Everyone became tense and alert. All eyes on her, they waited to see if she''d fall or not. The workers bent their knees and lifted her rope.

    Eve tightened her grip on the rocks and pulled herself up. She looked for a different rock for her right foot. The previous one had been big but it was also rounder. It didn''t have an even surface for her to rely on.

    A relieved sigh escaped her lips.

    Then, she nced over her shoulder.

    Her eyebrows shot up from the amount of wide eyes. She hadn''t noticed how many they were earlier. Another camera was set up among them. She waved and chuckled at it. "I''m fine."

    The photographer caught the moment just before she turned back around.

    "Be careful, Evangeline!" Cale shouted. A scowl scrunched his blonde eyebrows together. "If you''re ufortable, just tell us. We''ll lower you down for a break."

    Eve closed her eyes and pressed her lips together. Her hands trembled while her legs loosened. She could hardly feel thetter as if they turned into jelly. She stayed like that for a moment. Her loud heart raced inside her chest.

    ''How did Mikael keep hisposure?'' She wondered, forcing her muscles to rx. It only took one look but it was more than enough. Her fear of heights had been triggered. She peeled her eyes open and stared at the sky.

    Clouds had blocked out the sun, resulting in a calming blue. She stared at it long and hard. It slowly erased the previous image from her mind. She was here to reach the summit

    and reach it she shall.

    Eve gritted her teeth and continued to climb. After a few steps, she remembered her facial expression. Her lips stretched into a big smile that showed her teeth. Her face lit up like she won the lottery. She advanced higher and higher, taking her time.

    When she reached the top, the workers helped her out. Her pleasant smile stayed in ce. There was no need to force it. The view of thendscape had taken her breath away. She saw the top of green treessomething she''d only see from high up.

    pping, the head photographer yelled, "Alright! That''s it for climbing shots. Let''s do some shots while you hover in the air with the harness and rope."

    Eve followed instructions and faced the other way. Her feet walked backwards until she reached the edge. She gripped the rope in one hand and took a deep breath. There wasn''t anything to worry about. She had a harness and a rope. There were people on standby too.

    She would be alright.

    Lowering her bottom, her legs began to shake. Her other hand reached for the rope. She tightened her hold. The rope tugged in her grasp, letting her know about their steadiness.

    But, her legs still wouldn''t move.

    "Miss, you have to step off," one of the workers reminded her.

    Eve jumped.

    The metal rings from the harness and the rope nged. Instead of a fall, she stayed at the same level. The only difference was her legs in mid-air. She twisted in ce until nothing blocked her view.

    They started to lower her.

    The pace was slow unlike Eve initially thought it would be. What was she supposed to do exactly? She kept her back straight but it was the standard form for anyone in this position.

    Was that all she should do?

 Chapter 108: The Wings to Fly

    Chapter 108: The Wings to Fly

    Eve started swinging her legs. There wasn''t anything else to do. Once, she tried to straighten her knees. Gravity pulled down her legs hard, making it difficult. She pointed her toes and lifted one foot higher.

    Her muscles quivered as she held the pose.

    She held her breath. Then, she slowly let the rope go. Her arms sloped upwards and her hands extended to the air. She looked up and dropped the smile from her face. A soft gasp escaped her lips. The sun beams passed through her fingers.

    Her body felt weightless as if one with the air. Her muscles gradually hardened and executed an elegant flutter kick. It ignited a spark in her spirit. At this moment, she wasn''t falling.

    She was flying.

    "Hm."

    Cale flickered his eye towards the head photographer. "What is it?"

    "Is Evangeline a dancer?"

    The modelling manager snapped his head back to his model. Pride shined in his gaze. A small smile curled the corner of his lip. "She does make it look effortless, doesn''t she?"

    "Good shot!" The head photographer yelled out. "Keep it up."

    Eve straightened her back. She stretched it by extending her arms and legs in parallel lines. Then, sheced her fingers and cradled the back of her neck. Her knees bent upwards. Her position mimicked the starting one for sit-ups.

    The cameras made sure not to miss.

    She rxed one leg and elongated it. After a few shutters, she let the bent one drop below her. Her torso twisted to the side as her arms spread like wings. The horizon came to her view. The same weightless feeling remained.

    She sensed that the ground was near.

    For a final pose, Eve pulled up her upper body and did a split. Her arms followed her legs, pointing in the same directions. It was a beautiful shot as if they weren''t beside a rock-climbing wall.

    She thought it was over.

    But then, her arms went up and touched wrist to wrist. Her front leg lifted up. They tightened their muscles and gained momentum, swinging down until they arched behind her back. The cameras snapped faster catching each frame of the pose.

    Eve became a true bird in the air.

    The harness swung forward.

    She yelped, grabbing the rope and tucking her knees in. She panted for breath and noticed the shiver in her limbs. She couldn''t tell anymore if it was from fear or from shock. The poses required tremendous effort and she endured it all.

    Hopefully, it was worth it.

    Cale was the first to react. He ran towards her, saying, "Evangeline! Are you okay?"

    Eve dropped to her knees as soon as she touched the ground. Her legs had caved in, numbing from the number of executions. They weighed her down like lead. Her hands pushed against the ground, just in time to keep her face clean.

    "Yeah," she assured Cale, struggling to stand up. "My muscles just cramped a little."

    "Come on, you need to rest." He kneeled beside her and hugged her waist. The workers unbuckled her harness and let her go. The both of them walked over to the nearest chair. Cale immediately asked for a bottle of water and a fan.

    "Thank you," Eve said. She bent forward and rested her arms on her thighs. Her eyes closed and blocked out the spinning world. She focused on her breathing.

    .

    .

    .

    .

    .

    "Compared to her, you look like you''re cking," Jordan joked from the other side of thendscape. He and Mikael stood on top of a hill, giving them a good angle for Evangeline''s shoot. He uncapped his own water bottle and drank. "That was exquisitely done. It didn''t seem nned either. She really knows how to think on the spot. All the poses flowed well together."

    Mikael crossed his arms over his chest. A grunt rumbled in the back of his throat. "Beautiful but"

    Jordan rolled his eyes. "Of course, you have a negativement."

    "What''s negative about it when it''s the truth? It''s elegant but" Mikael retorted with a re. "It doesn''t fit the theme for the shoot."

    He wouldn''t deny the caliber for the execution but they seemed out of ce from the big hair and vibrant clothing. It was about outdoor activities where people used a lot of stamina. The poses needed more energy to read the intended goal.

    This shoot and the one with Luna''s were entirely different.

    Jordan shook his head. There really was no pleasing his model. "Maybe that''s the case but you forget. It''s also a start. It can be a source of inspiration."

    Mikael spun on his heel and headed for the next location. Unlike before, he was also working today. He couldn''t afford to ck off.

    .

    .

    .

    .

    .

    "How do I say this" the head photographer breathed out. He rubbed his chin, thinking deeply. "About the poses while you descended"

    "They''re not appropriate," Eve finished. She wiped the corner of her mouth, removing the excess water from the bottle. She had seen iting. She, herself, realized it after it was over but didn''t dwell on it too long.

    They could be counted as stretches for the real deal.

    His eyebrows shot up at her words. Nheless, he couldn''t find a better way to say them. He nodded his head along, exining, "I do like it though. I think we can use them but we need a better way. Do you have any ideas?"

    Eve gazed at the wall. Because it had to be part of the photos, she couldn''t do a lot of free movement. She was wedged between the wall and the main camera. They limited her to do poses that required her to face sideways.

    Her amber eyes followed the rope. It rose high until its peak and fell down as the cord ended in the workers'' hands. A light bulb lit up above her head. "What about"

    Once again, Eve found herself in the harness attached to the rope. She did some squats as well as arm stretches. The workers who held her rope waited for a signal. She gripped the rope in one hand and turned to the head photographer.

    The rope danged in front of her.

    He gave his thumbs up.

    It was showtime.

    Eve held tight and bent her knees. She jumped as the rope yanked her up in the air. Her feet stayed under her but she spread them apart along with one arm. She opened her mouth andughed, keeping it up for a few seconds.

    The abrupt sensation added to the authenticity of her expressions.

    As long as she didn''t look at the cameras, it would be okay.

    "Good! Next!"

    The workers lowered Eve back to the ground. They had agreed to pull her up fast but let her down slowly. It was to keep her from getting anxious. She felt grateful that it was working so far.

    For the next pose, she leaned sideways and waved her hand as if to greet the audience. If she could, she''d raise a wee sign. It would have been a good chance for a poster at the front. Since she didn''t, she made sure to stretch her limbs as far as she could and to smile as wide was possible.

    The shoot continued with a few more jumps in the air. Eve could almost imagine herself on a trampoline. Each time she was mid-air, she executed something. They were spontaneous, impulsive and less coordinated. It was a lot less work than her previous ideas.

    And she was having fun.

    Cale watched silently. He feared if he spoke a word, the whole scene would break. Despite Eve''smitment from before, he had thought she might back out at thest minute and he wouldn''t have med her for it. This was far more than she signed up for. It wasn''t a simple studio shoot likest time.

    He would have picked the safest choice but

    Eve jumped to the air onest time. She had stepped back until the rope resisted. It was just an idea but she wanted to try it. Her feet dug on the ground and her legs crouched for better momentum.

    She ran for her previous position.

    The rope pulled her up for the nth time today.

    Only this time, she swung back and forth in the air. She held the rope and posed as if she swung from a vine. When it swayed backwards, she arched her back and straightened her legs. It was the pose she did whenever she sat on the swings.

    Then, she jerked her legs up until they snared the rope. Her upper body changed positions, pointed her head towards the ground. Her two hands tightened around the rope.

    She regretted it right away.

    Her stomach became queasy from the constant swing. Her lips curled inwards as her tongue did the same. She closed her eyes and tried to break her legs free. The gagging sensation increased, making her impatient.

    Her legs hit the rope many times before

    They lowered her down gently until someone could support her. Hands peeled her legs off the rope. Arms supported her back as they set her upright. They carried a chair over and settled her into a sitting position.

    They also directed an electric fan in her direction.

    "Darling, are you feeling better?" Eve heard Cale ask.

    She opened one eye, still looking a little green. "Apparently, not every idea is a good one."

    Cale patted her head and chuckled. ''It would have been a waste if he yed it safe, wouldn''t it?''

 Chapter 109: The Flowers and the Bee

    Chapter 109: The Flowers and the Bee

    "That''s a wrap for this segment. Please be back in an hour for the next one."

    Eve sighed in relief. She could finally catch a break after rappelling on the other side of the wallwhere she controlled her descent. It was a lot of fun when she got the hang of it but tiring all the same.

    Would her muscles still keep up until tomorrow?

    "Come on, let''s go to the tent." Cale handed her another bottle of water and her mobile phone. He led the way back to the tent. "You did so amazing! I strongly believe you exceeded everyone''s expectations."

    "Thank you for the praise, Cale," Eve told him after draining half the bottle. "I just hope they turned out well. I couldn''t really see myself and my stolen pictures always looked weird."

    He patted her back as they drew closer to the tent. "Just believe that they will. There''s no need to worry. Besides, if they let you off, that means less work, doesn''t it?"

    Hushed whispers came from the tent.

    Eve scrunched her eyebrows. An ominous feeling clouded over her head. Her ears picked up a few squeals into the mix. It did little to reassure her. Several scenarios yed in her head. Was it something in the news? Was someone famous with them? What could trigger such reactions?

    Those squeals seemed suppressed.

    "I think the other models are already there," Cale chuckled, reading her mind. "It''smon for famous ones. Someday you''d get the same type of admiration."

    "I don''t know about that" Eve mumbled. She cleared her throat and spoke clearer. "I''m not exactly sure I''d want that kind of influence."

    The modelling frowned. He got her point. This gig was only a temporary arrangement for Eve. Soon, she''d get back to her normal as if none of these happened. Evangeline Reed would slowly fade away from the spotlight if not instantly.

    Still, he hoped she''d make a mark in the industryno matter how short lived or how small.

    "Oh, darling, you never know!" Heughed. He brushed herment away with a hand. His lips showed a mischievous smile. "You already have a fan in me! And in Luna! And in Avery! Our tastes are not to be belittled."

    Eve giggled, stepping inside the tent. Her face was turned towards him. "And I think that''s more than enough. I''m already more than happy with all the moments we shared so far. Although, I would appreciate it if future ones required less workouts."

    She may have acted on her own but those poses took a lot of willpower and endurance. Not to mention, the constant jumping. Her stomach had done a somersault from the repeating up and down motion. She almost thought that she wouldn''t make it through the rapel.

    "More than enough?" Cale teased. He hid a smirk. "Aren''t you forgetting one more fan?"

    "Ms. Reed!" A crew member yelled, scaring Eve. "Um... um um"

    "What is it? Is everything alright?" She responded. The crew member''s body shook as she gazed up at Eve. Thetter didn''t take it as a good sign. Had there been an emergency? Did something to her sisters?

    No, Andie would have contacted Cale if that was the case....

    so what was the fuss about?

    "Uh, yes! It''s just"

    "Just what?"

    The crew member pointed to Evangeline''s designated dressing table. Her voice dropped to a whisper. "There''s a delivery for you."

    "A delivery?" Eve eximed, even more confused. "Who would even deliver something to me here? If it''s anyone I know, it would have been to my home address."

    Cale shrugged. He was the only one calm about the situation. "Maybe it''s from a crazy fan."

    Eve gave him a look. "Yeah no, I don''t think that''s it."

    "Just saying," he said, raising his hands in surrender.

    Sighing, Eve scowled and followed the finger''s direction. People passed by her line of sight like street traffic. None of them allowed her to catch a glimpse. Her neck craned for a better view. She stepped forward and slipped past them, taking every opening.

    The sooner she got to the bottom of this, the less confused she''d be.

    Eve halted in her steps.

    Pink.

    That was the first thing she noticed.

    On top of the table, they stood tall and proud. Their collective size almost blocked half of the mirror. Sshes of red mixed themselves in between the pinks. Peach-colored paper encircled them into one bundle.

    Lastly, a small envelope had Evangeline''s name on it.

    Rich red roses peeked among the light pink hydrangeas.

    Eve could almost imagine her face had the same color pattern.

    "What did I say?" Cale squealed behind her. He grabbed her shoulder and shook it. "Check the envelope and see who it''s from. I bet it''s the person I am thinking of."

    Shaking, Eve walked the rest of the way. The tremors reached her fingertips. Elegant handwriting had scrawled over the fancy papera style she found familiar. It had been so long since she saw this scribble design.

    The opportunity to do so only came a few times every year.

    .

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    .

    <em>Sometime five years ago:</em>

    <em>"Oh, the card has no name yet," Eve muttered.</em>

    <em>Not thinking twice, she knocked on the door and stepped inside. Ambryan continued his work on theputer. His form was perfectly straight. They keyboard yed a melody from his nonstop typing.</em>

    <em>"Yes?" He asked without looking.</em>

    <em>"I just realized this birthday card still hasn''t anything on it."</em>

    <em>His permanent scowl deepened. "And?"</em>

    <em>"It''s almost time to leave and you''re scheduled to be at Mrs. Hathaway''s birthday party," Eve exined. She would have used ''your mother'' but thought better of it. He might have taken it the wrong way.</em>

    <em>She ced the card on his table. "Please sign it so I can tie it to the gift before you leave."</em>

    <em>Ambryan''s typing increased in speed and force. "I don''t want to break my momentum right now. The deleted files are taking much longer than I thought to recover. There''s still so much to replicate before the deadlinees. Just print out a greeting and use my nickname. Next time, you can buy a ready-made one from the store."</em>

    <em>Eve flinched, taking the card. She stared at the nk space. Print out a greeting? This was his mother''s birthday. Surely, the madam deserved something better. "Are you sure, Sir Hathaway? Wouldn''t Mrs. Hathaway love it if you wrote it yourself?"</em>

    <em>Ambryan only gave her one-fourth of his attention. He shook his head. "It''s a trivial matter. I got her thetest jewelry set from Fattiny''s. She''ll appreciate it just the same."</em>

    <em>"I may be old-fashioned but I don''t think that''s a good idea," Eve protested, quivering. She pressed her lips together as she realized that she spoke out of turn. But what good would this awareness do now?</em>

    <em>She had already run her mouth.</em>

    <em>Ambryan stopped typing. His sharp gaze snapped towards her. Annoyance written across his face. "How so? The card would still say the same message whether I hand wrote it or not. The thought behind the gift would also remain the same. It''s only a matter of efficiency."</em>

    <em>Eve''s temple throbbed from his words. She stepped up and put the piece of paper down. Her skin smacked against the wooden surface. "I acknowledge your point, Sir Hathaway, but I still disagree with this idea."</em>

    <em>"Why?"</em>

    <em>"Presents for your femalepanions are usually jewelry from Fattiny''s. The cards are also printed out as instructed for them to be" she stated, unblinking. "I only have one question before I follow your orders."</em>

    <em>Ambryan leaned back on his chair. His violet eyes squinted at her dead stare. He interlocked his fingers and said, "What is it?"</em>

    <em>Eve tilted her head to one side. "Do you care about your mother in the same way that you care about your ex-lovers? Because you seem to treat them the simrly in this manner."</em>

    .

    .

    .

    .

    .

    Back in the present, Eve had opened the envelope.

    ``This is an example of what should be defined as ''cute'' - Ambee``

    Heads turned as a loud boisterousugh resounded across the tent. Eve clutched her stomach, sensing pain. Her cackle had quieted down until it produced no sound. But, her chest and throat remained constricted. She struggled for air as another wave ofughter took her over.

    "Is she going to be okay?" The crew member from earlier whispered to Cale.

    The modelling manager patted her shoulder. "She''ll be just fine. I think she needs some privacy though. Come on, her makeup artist is still not here. Let''s look for her."

    "Oh, okay."

    Eve grabbed the chair and supported her weight. Her mouth panted for breath. She didn''t know what was funnier: the idea behind the gift or the image of Ambryan writing on the card. She could almost see his serious face.

    Was that how he took herment?

    That she used the word inappropriately?

    "Oh, Ambee" she breathed out. A few chuckles escaped her lips. She pushed herself up and looked at the card. "How is your confusion not cuter than these flowers?"

    Her stomach clinched from her fit of giggles. She took a photo of the card in front of the flowers and sent it through the DTC app. A mischievous smile bloomed on her lips. ``Seems like this message is pointing at your name though.``

 Chapter 110: No Place for Someone Like You

    Chapter 110: No ce for Someone Like You

    ``Lin: Seems like this message is pointing at your name though.``

    ``Yan: And it seems like you need to review your lesson. Context clues would dictate that is not what the card pertains to.``

    ``Lin: You really have no romantic bone in your body, do you?``

    ``Yan: Why do you say that?``

    ``Lin: If you did, you would have sent a mirror along with this card.``

    ``Yan: How is a mirror supposed to be cute?``

    ``Lin: Haha! Never mind. Thank you for the flowers.``

    ``Yan: Don''t forget. I''m picking you up at 1700 hours tomorrow.``

    ``Lin: Aye, aye, Mr. Hathaway! See you at 5PM sharp!``

    ``Yan: Good.``

    .

    "Wah, do you see that? You can totally tell who those are from!"

    "Who knew Ambryan Hathaway could be so romantic? This is too much!"

    "Who needs a thousand admirers when you have a guy like that?"

    "She is so lucky! Her smile is also so beautiful! Totally different from what I''ve seen from her so far. This must be reserved only for her beau. It''s so adorable!"

    "It''s just flowers. There''s no need to be so hung up. She''s way too happy over nothing. I''ve heard him give better presents to his exes. It''s such a downgrade."

    Eve hardly heard the noise. Her mental state was on the current chat. She took advantage of it in order to move on from her slip-up and to make it into somethingughable in the future. She also asked about the details for tomorrow.

    She would be meeting Jackson Hathaway as Evangeline for the first time.

    Hopefully, it would be a sess.

    She sat on the chair in her new outfit, the hairdresser giving her a new set of curls. This time the crimson wig flowed in alluring waves before being tied up in a high side-ponytail. She looked forward to it.

    Pink tulle scratched her bare legs. Gone were the shirt and mini shorts. They were reced by a cheetah-print skirt and vest over an off-shoulder blouse that matched the tulle. ckbat boots reced the sneakers.

    Barbie pink lipstick painted her lips while gold and ck eyeshadow covered her eyelids. The winged liner had been thickened and elongated more. Her fake eyshes were also doubled for a fuller and more dramatic look.

    "These flowers are just so gorgeous!" The hairdresser remarked, admiring the bouquet. She gathered up the red hair and tested which position suited them the best.

    Cale looked up from his phone and nced in the same direction. "They are, aren''t they?"

    The hairdresser sighed dreamily. She took a hair tie from the table. "He must really love you."

    Eve looked up. Her shed in unexinable rm at the vanity mirror. "Love me?"

    "Why yes! Pink hydrangea means heartfelt emotion! And, of course, red roses mean love and romance. It''s like he''s saying that he loves you from the bottom of his heart. I''ve never seen a more touching bouquet!"

    "Uh-huh" she breathed out, shaking her head. This was probably not the only fabricated story around the premise. There should be more from the other spectators but if the flowers had those definitions then, it should gather a lot of good publicity.

    Ambryan had made a well-thought out move again.

    "What''s in the box though?" The hairdresser asked. She had been eyeing it since she came up to do Evangeline''s hair. She inserted bobby pins on the ponytail for a better grip. Then, she grabbed a smallb and teased the curls for a messy party look.

    "The box?" Eve scrunched her eyebrows and checked the flowers again. A peach-colored box peeked out from behind the vase. The wrapping matched the bouquet''s dressing paper that it blended in the background.

    Instinctively, she reached for it.

    It was just the right size for a shoe box!

    "Is this" Eve gasped, her heart racing in excitement. It had to be the skates! It just had to be! She undid the bow and started guessing which pair it was. Was it a bestseller? Or the most expensive ones avable? Maybe they were still unreleased.

    Thest idea seemed to be his style.

    "Everyone, head to the club. We''ll start shooting in five minutes."

    "Just in time," the hairdresser remarked. "All done!"

    The models inside the tent rushed out. They half-ran for the club. It was near the back of the establishment. It was a long way from the tent and no one wanted to bete. Eve followed right behind them, leaving the gift box on her chair. Cale stayed behind to look after her stuff.

    "Evangeline! It''s been a while!" Jordan greeted her as soon as she entered the club. Mikael stopped talking beside him.

    "Mr. Dawson!" Eve blinked, slowing down her pace and nodding her head. "It''s been a while indeed. How have you been?"

    "Good, good. I hardly saw you at theplex and you never answer when I knock. You kind of got me worried for some time. I even called Cale just to make sure everything is okay."

    "Oh!" She gasped. A nervous chuckle passed through her gritted teeth. "I''m sorry about that. I stayed over at a friend''s for the past two weeks. It''s kind of lonely living alone so we hang out as much as we can if possible. Kind of needed it too, you know? Because I''m still not used to the limelight."

    ''... you mean you needed it because you had a day job as a secretary,'' Mikael thought to himself. He continued to stay out of the conversation and nced around the room. The workers set up the lights, recing the bright ones for color.

    "That''s good!" Jordan assured Eve. He bumped her shoulder lightly. "Close friends are always good to have especially in this industry. d to know your rtionship hasn''t changed even with these new things in your life."

    "It surely has been an experience," Eve said, keeping her smile up. "I''m surprised to see you both here. I don''t mean that in a bad way though."

    Jordan moved closer to her. He ced his hand near her ear and said, "You might not actually believe it but I made a bet with Mikael that he couldn''t pull off neon clothing. It was only a bait but it worked because of his huge ego."

    Eve snorted and covered her mouth. It did sound like something they''d do.

    Mikael''s radiant blue eyes shed towards her. Then, he raised an eyebrow at his best friend. "I see you two are getting quite cozy. Don''t let people misinterpret it. We don''t want bad rumors with Mr. Hot CEO''s girlfriend. It might bite us in the back."

    "That''s stepping over the line, Mikael. Even for you."

    The male model merely scowled. "How long have you been in this industry? Do you still not know how it works?"

    "Come on, man, chill!" Jordan exasperated. He shook his head and stepped away from Eve. "It''s her second shoot. Cale is not with her and she''s in a ce withplete strangers. I''m just tryna help her out. Lessen the tension and all that."

    "Then, don''t do it by talking about me."

    "Oh, wow. Is that your big ego talking?" He challenged. A whistle flowed out of his lips. "I see how it is. I''m sorry. We won''t be speaking one word about you, Mr. All High and Mighty."

    Eve raised her hands, directing them on each of their chests. Genuine worry projected out of her eyes. "Please don''t fight. It''s just a misunderstanding."

    Mikael bared his teeth at her. "Don''t act innocent. This is your fault."

    "My fault?"

    "You shouldn''t even be here!" He snarled. His chest rose up and down as fury crawled on his skin. "This life has no space for someone like you."

    Jordan grasped his arm. "Mikael, that''s enough!"

    Eve stepped back. Her shaking hands clenched into fists on either side of her. "I''m sorry to say this, Mr. Davis, but you don''t have the right to say that."

    Mikael yanked out of his manager''s grip. He stood toe to toe with Eve and looked down to meet her eyes. Dark flecks enhanced in his gaze. "Why do you try so hard?"

    "Why wouldn''t I try hard?" She hissed with her own re.

    "His mother sponsors you, doesn''t she? That''s how you got into this. But you can avoid all of this and live the easy life. Does your boyfriend not support you?"

    He didn''t understand it. Why was there a need to make an alter ego for her boss? Why couldn''t they simply date as themselves? Was this a publicity stunt? If Ambryan wanted a girlfriend for the media to get off his back, he should be doing everything to make her livefortably then!

    Who would drag someone in a lie that could potentially ruin that person''s life?

    This had far worse consequences than dating her real identity!

    "He does support me." Eve answered, bringing him out of his assumption. "He supports me in what I do, not in money. I am here by my own choice. Don''t associate all of my actions around him."

    Mikael scoffed, not buying it.

    ''Really now?!'' He yelled in his head. He saw them together at that party. Ambryan had acted out of character much to the public''s surprise. He also announced to everyone that they were in a rtionship the other day.

    On top of that, Ms. Hart was pretending to be someone else! And that someone else was the said girlfriend! How could this entire thing not be revolving around Ambryan at all?!

 Chapter 111: Maybe Shed Fall in Love

    Chapter 111: Maybe She''d Fall in Love

    Eve closed her eyes and told herself to calm down.

    She ced herself in Mikael''s shoes, trying to see what made him say these things. He had always been critical of her work. He also nailed Avery''s involvement in her modelling career. Adding her rtionship with Ambryan it probably looked bad for someone of his work ethic.

    Instead of proving herself, she got by because of their influence.

    If that was it, she''d rather clear it up now.

    "Mr. Davis," Eve sighed, opening her eyes. He still looked displeased. "I am not sure what you''re trying to get at but if this is about Mrs. Hathaway''s help on my career, then I will repeat my answer. Why wouldn''t I try hard for all the things she''s done for me?"

    Mikael crossed his arms over his chest. "Why do you want to be a model then?"

    Eve''s throat constricted. Was she supposed to say that she''s passionate about this job? It seemed like the kind of reply he wanted. "Would it be bad to say that it''s for my family? It''s extra money that I can earn. I''m not a person that relies on someone else''s wealth. Maybe I''m not as dedicated as you are but I''m not belittling this job. I''m giving it my best. Is that not enough?"

    She gulped. Ultimately, the truth was better. So what if Mikael thought badly of her? She would have preferred to have him as an ally in this showbiz life but, not when he had this image of her. Maybe someone did deserve her spot better in Athon''s Rainbow Campaign.

    But, did that mean her hard work should be overlooked?

    The head photographer called for the female models. He started arranging them on the dance floor. His instructions bounced off the walls and echoed in the air. Shoes squeaked against the floor as the models quickly followed them.

    "Please excuse me. I''ll be leaving first," Eve muttered, not bothering to wait for a response. She held her head high and walked into position. Another crew member came up to her and assisted her in her assigned position.

    "Struck a chord, didn''t she? Serves you right." Jordan snorted.

    "Shut up."

    Mikael uncrossed his arms. He took a deep breath, letting it out through his nose. He left his manager behind without looking back. The photographers had scattered them on the dance floor. The models took up the spots where the cameras would be.

    When the neon lights revolved around the premise, music sted out of the speakers. Everyone danced to the beat. They took turns in front of the camera and moved away after they were done. The point was to make it as natural as possible.

    Eve bopped her shoulders and swayed her hips most of the time. Her feet would step side to side just to add more movement. She''d asionally change direction until she found herself deep in the crowd.

    She quickly headed for one side. She felt better when she had a quick exit. The moment this finished, she''d go straight home. All her energy for mingling had been used up.

    Dancing backwards, she bumped into someone.

    "I''m sorry!"

    "I''m sorry!"

    Eve spun around and choked at the sight of Mikael. They both stopped dancing. Time and ce didn''t matter when something else lingered in their minds. It seemed like that the male model did get distracted every now and then.

    She bit her inner cheek, crossing her arms over her chest. "I know that''s not meant for our conversation earlier but I''d take it."

    Mikael snorted. The tense atmosphere slowly dissipated. "How pretentious."

    Eve shrugged. "You must be rubbing off on me."

    "Why you"

    The head photographer pointed in their direction. "Hey, you two! Did we say you could stop dancing? Also, keep smiling!"

    "Yes, sir!"

    People crowded around Eve and Mikael, leaving no room for escape. No one else wanted to be yelled at. They took the pair''s scolding as a sign to do better. As a result, they moved a lot more. The DJ switched songs and brought up the energy higher.

    Hoots and yells pierced through the air.

    Eve stayed in ce. She did the same move over and over again. Only this time, she wasn''t alone. "So youe here often?"

    "Seriously?" Mikael gave her a deadpan expression. He didn''t have a choice but to face her and her small talk. Some of thedies around them had given him weird nces. He''d rather not risk giving them the wrong message.

    "What? That''s not the standard line when going to a club?" She asked, feigning innocence.

    "No."

    "Really? Learn something new everyday, I guess."

    Mikael rolled his eyes. His dance steps mirrored her own. They had the same idea except his feet slid across the floor. It gave a swag feel to his hip movements. Eve noticed the stares he received, finding it hrious.

    She debated whether to make him more ufortable or not.

    "I don''t want to butt in your business but"

    "But you will anyway?" Eve cut in.

    Mikael ignored it and continued, "But if you need any help with modelling, you can ask me."

    Eve''s eyebrows shot up. They had made up only minutes ago. His offer was the farthest thing on her mind. She stared into his eyes, wondering how sincere it was. He went back to his smiling facethe one that could melt many hearts. It felt weird to see and harder to decipher his intentions.

    There could be a catch to this.

    But, he did help her out before

    Eve exhaled sharply. "Who knew you own a pair of kind pants?"

    "I''m serious."

    "So am I!" She giggled. The smile didn''t match his tone of voice. "And thank you. I don''t think I''d make it that far away but it''s still reassuring."

    Mikael turned his back on the camera. His body continued to sway but his face had dropped the happy act. He looked at her through his fringes, hiding his eyes. "You can."

    "Can what?" Eve leaned in closer. He had softened his voice and so the music overpowered it.

    "Make it that far," he met her gaze, staring straight into her eyes and making her freeze. "It''s possible once you''remitted to the job."

    She had a natural talent. Who would think of posing the way she did in that rock-climbing wall? Only her. It infuriated him to know she only did it for appearances. Never mind that she used a sponsorship before, it was a sponsorship wasted if she didn''t go all the way.

    That bothered him more than a stuck up model opting for a shortcut.

    At least, that person had some interest in the job.

    The lights shined above them. A neon blue beam passed in between them, highlighting the color of Mikael''s eyes. They were still hard like his expression but, at the same time, they had softenedpared to before.

    His brows no longer scowled.

    "I-I guess" Eve stuttered, her breath hitching. She didn''t look away and continued to search for answerseven more so with the help of the lights.

    What made him say these things all of a sudden?

    The screech of a megaphone woke them up. "Okay, that''s enough. If you get a text tonight, be back here tomorrow. There''s still more areas to cover. Take care, everyone."

    Mikael broke away first. With his height, he located Jordan among the crowd and gestured for Eve to follow. The scenario reyed in his head. The offer to help left his lips before he could process them. From there, he couldn''t take them back anymore

    because they were true.

    Today''s shoot became Eve''s first trial.

    There was no one to baby her or to tolerate her mistakes. She had risen above them despite her limitations. He heard the crew talk about her performance in that rock-climbing wall. No one had told her to do those poses. She had done them with her own initiative.

    They were inappropriate, yes.

    But, in the end, she had polished them to fit the theme. That sort of thinking was rare, especially for a rookie. Ambryan or not, she said that she was here by her own choice. He could only trust in them and watch out for her in this job.

    Who knows? Maybe she''d fall in love with modelling.

    They rode separate cars back to theplex.

    Nanzie drove while Eve stayed in the back. The flowers and gift box next to her. She gazed out the window and rolled one shoulder, feeling sore. Drowsiness weighed her eyelids down.

    "Ms. Reed, we''re here," Nanzie announced from the front.

    Eve pped herself awake. She lifted up the flowers and reached for the door across from her. They had told her to use the one nearest the front stairs to avoid possible reports that snuck in the frontwn for a picture.

    Upon opening it, the gift box fell on the asphalt road.

    A sun-kissed hand picked it up.

    "And here I thought someone who could pose like an acrobat in mid-air had excellent hand-eye coordination," Mikael remarked, offering his other hand to help her out. It was the polite thing to do when he stood by her door.

    Eve refused it by stepping out the vehicle on her own. She adjusted the bouquet in her arms while Mikael closed the door behind her. The car drove away and she held out a hand for the gift.

    "Thank you for picking it up."

 Chapter 112: For the Boyfriend Role

    Chapter 112: For the Boyfriend Role

    "This will be ourst location for the advertisement. You have ten minutes to prepare before we begin shooting. Please make use of it well."

    Thest location in World of Adventure was a diner. It had a railcar-style of a train, making it popr for photos among customers. The hair, makeup and costume team had chosen the 80s theme as the middle ground between this 50s attraction spot and the current year.

    Its interior design consisted of a checkered floor, blue counters and red booths. A jukebox stood on one end, ying an old song. The models filled up every table. They chattered among themselves and ate.

    Like the club, each spot had a designated photographer.

    Eve sat in a booth. She mixed her chocte milkshake with the swirly straw. Chocte syrup dripped under the whipped cream. She took a sip. "Wow, this tastes so good. This is real ice cream, right?"

    Mikael twirled his fork on his te of spaghetti. He answered her without looking up. "Of course, it is. It wouldn''t live up to this diner''s ambiance if it wasn''t."

    She rolled her eyes. Did he do this on purpose? Or did he just have a nature of making someone feel stupid? "Man, if every modelling job is like this, I''d book more jobs."

    "Don''t be delusional. It''s the client that picks you, not the other way around." Mikael straightened his back and squinted at her face. He chewed his pasta slowly. "And what were you doingst night? You have eyebags that no amount of concealer could hide."

    "Isn''t it bad to talk while your mouth is full?"

    He merely shrugged. "It''s part of the character. Teenagers aren''t that well-mannered. The point is to make this look natural, remember? Now, why do you look like the walking undead?"

    Eve blew a raspberry. "I don''t want to say. You might insult me again."

    Mikael scowled. "When have I insulted you?"

    "Uh, yesterday?"

    "Really?"

    "Yes!" Eve eximed. Was this guy for real? He had told her that she didn''t belong with them. How was that not an insult? He even added salt to injury by saying Ambryan could pay for everything. There wasn''t a need to work.

    "I thought we just had a difference of opinion."

    "..." She clicked her tongue. If she was unsure before, she definitely knew it now. Mikael Davis was born with a sharp tongue. He always seemed mad whenever he talkedunlike someone who always sounded cold.

    Eve shook Ambryan''s image out of her head.

    Otherwise, she''d get cold feet again about the meetupter.

    "Now, what was it?" Mikael asked again, lifting another forkful of spaghetti. "Were you up watching ''The Rightful Queen''?"

    Eve''s eyes went wide. "Yes! How did you know?!"

    "It''s the only one I know worth staying up for. The series is back with its new season, right?" He snorted before taking a bite.

    For a few seconds, only the sounds of chatter and steel on ceramic tes filled the room. Eve leaned forward slowly. She hoped to catch Mikael''s attention with this approach. It also gave her time to process his words.

    Was he saying what she thought he was saying?

    "Did you watch it?"

    Mikael paused from chewing. He swallowed the remaining pasta in his mouth. None of his other muscles moved an inch. He watched as she grew in anticipation to his answer. It was almostical. He felt like he was in a movie.

    Then, he flicked her forehead. "No, I didn''t. I''``m not stupid enough to watch it when I have an early photoshoot the following day."

    Eve sat back down and rubbed the red spot. She red through hershes. "Why did you do that? It was totally unnecessary!"

    "You were in my personal space."

    What personal space? She hardly reached his spaghetti! Not one strand of her wig would have fallen on it. Nevertheless, she met another TRQ fan! Oh, the theories they could discuss! "So who do you think is the princess? I''m betting that it''s Maia! She''s too cryptic in that one episode."

    Mikael pointed a forkful spaghetti at her. His eyes lit up slightly. "I did too. But, now I am not sure. There''s just too many clues and too many decoys. Put them together and it''s hard to be convinced anymore."

    "I know right?!" Eve gaped, excitement brimming inside of her. She folded her arms over the table. "Ugh, it''s so great to talk about it with someone. None of the people I know watch it. When I told them too, they said it was too serious or Tylen was too frustrating."

    "That''s because he is."

    "Then, why are you still watching?"

    "I want to know if Ariene is alive or not."

    "She''s <em>definitely</em> alive." Eve scoffed. She took another sip of her milkshake. "You can''t just have everyone chase after her and make her a ghost. That would totally ruin everything. Not to mention, Tylen''s engagement is on the line. If she''s dead, he''ll tie the know to someone he doesn''t like."

    "Oh, she could <em>definitely</em> not be alive," Mikael countered. He ced the fork down and adjusted his position. Things were about to go down. "Face it! Everything is a wild goose chase! Wouldn''t it be the biggest gag to everyone''s face, including the audience, that she''s dead? It''s a solid possibility. Don''t underestimate it."

    "No, no, no, the writer won''t do that."

    "It''s been cliffhanger after cliffhanger. The writer can do that."

    "Are you two ready?" The photographer interrupted.

    The umbre lights pointed in the direction. It bnced the overall lighting of the photos. Eve picked up her milkshake and ced the straw in between her lips. She smiled with her eyes closed, channeling infectious energy. Their topic had ted her mood and made it easier.

    Mikael slurped the pasta and acted as if he had been caught in the act. These pictures would be published with a vintage filter. They would also be framed like proids on a corkboard. But, only one would be erged as the main photo.

    This was a goal he and Eve agreed upon.

    They had prepared several poses already.

    And they delivered again and again.

    "Would you look at that?" Jordan smirked, watching from a distance. He hadn''t seen anything more surprising at their coboration. Despite Mikael''s crazy fans, he knew Evangeline could handle them. "You''d think they actually got along all this time."

    Cale tightened his lips as he smiled. Before, he might have shared the sentiment. Now? He wasn''t so sure. Mikael was strongly opposed to Eve''s alter ego so his change in attitude wasn''t entirely reassuring. He couldn''t ask Eve about it either since she still didn''t know that Mikael knew.

    He might have to confront Mikael himselfter.

    The photoshoot went on for another hour. The camera crew thought of new scenes to take as time went on. Eve had been chosen to dress as a waitress. She worked behind the counter, she bussed tables and she carried trays of foodwhich was much harder than her improvised poses yesterday.

    Mikael also joined the diner personnel. He often interacted with the customers, especially thedies. He mopped the floors, he lifted food supplies into the diner and he filled cups with sodas. Thest took a while to master since the soda fountain had no automated measurements like fast food chains.

    He had to estimate when to stop.

    By the end, their clientele had treated everyone to free food. They could alsoe back and enjoy their free passes at any date. Eve asked for extra and held them up, already nning a trip with Andie and her sisters.

    .

    .

    .

    .

    .

    ``Yan: I''m here. I''ll be waiting for you outside.``

    Ambryan hid his phone inside his breast pocket.

    He leaned against the ck hood of a Mercedes-Maybach S650 and checked his watch. There was still 10 minutes before the agreed time. He wore his standard ck and white suit, using a blue tie for color.

    Compared to his Jaguar XK, the paparazzi knew this one better. He tucked his hands in his pant pockets and swept his gaze around the ce. He spotted reporters behind bushes and pirs across the street.

    His violet eyes averted away immediately.

    He pretended to be unbothered as if they sessfully slipped past his security. It was a move as if to say ''Yes, he was here to pick up his girlfriend'' and, hopefully, it would be more than enough initiative for some people to get off his back.

    A smirk curled at the corner of his lips.

    Who said he couldn''t y the boyfriend role?

    A crowd of people appeared on the other side of the gate. Laughter resonated in the air. The crew members and models had loosened after two days of hard work. Some extended invites for a get togetherter in the day.

    Eve declined politely. Her eyes flickered to the gate.

    She spotted him first.

    She spotted the reports next.

    A flip switched inside of her. Next thing everyone knew, her legs ran for it. She picked up her speed and her hair fluttered against the wind. Her lips stretched the biggest smile possible. It had been two weeks since they were in the public eye.

    A dramatic reunion was a must.

    She rushed out of the gate until she reached his side. Then, she stood on her toes and kissed his cheek. Ambryan froze under her. She took the chance and wrapped her arms around his shoulders.

    Giggling, her sweet voice caressed his ear.

    "Happy First Monthsary."

 Chapter 113: The Ambeevan Reunion

    Chapter 113: The Ambeevan Reunion

    "Is that Ambryan Hathaway?"

    "Oh, so lucky! First, the flowers. Now, this."

    "They look so adorable."

    "He''s not smiling."

    "Imagine how busy he is but he came here."

    Mikael sighed through his nose. His eyebrows scrunched under the sun. A breeze flew by, messing up his hair. He watched the couple from a distance. More whispers andpliments filled his ears. Countless praises had been given to the pair for their harmless disy of affection.

    Did they deserve it though?

    He could see the paparazzis hiding in the bushes. Ambryan had a good security team. There was a reason why the CEO didn''t have a lot of public photos. He didn''t notice it before but, since he made the connection between Evangeline and Ms. Hart, he became more perceptive about these details.

    His lips thinned into a grim line.

    ''Whatever. It''s none of my business. I only lookout for Evangeline as a colleague. Nothing more,'' Mikael thought. He spun on his heel and headed for their party''s designated parking lot.

    .

    .

    .

    .

    .

    Eve fluttered her eyes. Her cheerful smile inched towards a sickly sweet one. Oh, she hadn''t felt this mischievous in a while. It empowered her confidence. "What? Don''t tell me you forgot."

    "How could I? That app sent a notification about it to prevent that." Ambryan said and kissed her forehead. It was her turn to be paralyzed. Eve was sure that she wasn''t even breathing. When did he be affectionate?

    Was it because of the cameras?

    Taking the chance, Ambryan peeled her arms off him and held her hand. Then, he escorted her to the passenger side, opening the door. Eve slid inside while wrapping her head around his new attitude.

    Then, it clicked.

    ''Right!'' She eximed to herself. ''He had called Evangeline his girlfriend to the public. These gestures were to be expected from him. What a nice strategy.''

    Relieved, Eve pulled out a gift box from her bag. It had blue wrapping paper and a white ribbon. The DTC app never failed to surprise her. Not even Avery informed them about that notification feature. It was actually quite clever and convenient.

    Now, they could never miss a single monthsary.

    "Mr. Hathaway," Nanzie called out after Ambryan closed the door.

    He shifted in her direction. His gaze regarded her closely. She matched it with her own unwavering eyes.

    "Ms. Nanzie Inda," Ambryan finally spoke. He held out a hand for her to shake. "We''ll also be in your care, I suppose."

    Nanzie took his hand and grasped it tight. "I know you have an extensive security team already, Mr. Hathaway, but I will not be leaving her in your hands alone."

    Ambryan gritted his teeth. Her grip was as firm as her gaze. He let her hand go before someone could spin a story out of it. "I admire your dedication. Please coordinate with Wen."

    Eve watched the exchange through her window. It proved to be futile since Ambryan blocked most of her view. She pursed her lips, wondering what was taking so long. The conversation seemed quite serious.

    A fight wouldn''t suddenly break out, would it? Not that Ambryan would participate. Wen would probably swoop in and handle the matter. Eve paused in her worries. Another thought floated over her head.

    ''What if Nanzie and Wen had a fight? Who would win?'' The more she entertained the idea, the more it appealed to her. She''d pay good money to see that.

    Amidst the daydreaming, Ambryan sat on the driver''s seat and turned on the engine. He did a double take and noticed the box. "What''s that?"

    "You didn''t give Nanzie a hard time, did you?" Eve jumped out of her daze and attacked him with a scowl. "She''s very nice and I like her a lot. I also love her cooking. My current favorites are samosas."

    "What makes you think I gave her a hard time?" Ambryan demanded, locking his seatbelt.

    "I''ve been told she almost didn''t get the job because of you."

    ''Mother'' Hemented. There was no other person who would have revealed that. "Well, she''s here right now so back to my question, what is that?"

    His violet eyes assessed the blue box. It was small and slimpared to the one he gave her. A number of guesses passed through his mind like a gameshow roulette wheel. The arrow would point at his final answer.

    "It''s my gift for you, of course." Eve ced the box on the dashboard so he wouldn''t forget it. She zipped up her bag and buckled in his seatbelt. "You can open it at home."

    She pressed her lips together and looked out of the window. The car backed out of the driveway. It rolled down the street. The establishment was in a secluded spot. It didn''t have a lot of traffic until they reached the end of the road.

    "At home?" Eve heard him say.

    She nodded her head without looking. "Yeah."

    "Why not now?" Ambryan asked, eyeing her every now and then. Her behavior seemed suspicious. He nced up at the ceiling then, at the street ahead. His foot stepped on the break as the convertible neared city traffic.

    "Well" Eve gulped. Suddenly, the gray buildings became more interesting than normal. The sunlight reflected on their windows in beautiful colors. The people looked very fashionable. It was a scene of being immortalized as a picture.

    Except, Ambyran didn''t feel the same way.

    "Yes?" He persisted.

    "I may have forgotten to"

    "Yes?"

    "I may have forgotten to open the present you gave me?" She finished, flinching at her words. She only remembered about the gift when she came to work. The hairdresser had asked about it again. It had been embarrassing to admit that she still didn''t know.

    Ambryan shook his head and stopped at a traffic light. "I already knew that."

    Eve snapped her head towards him. "How?"

    His eyebrow rose up as well as the corner of his mouth. He nced in her direction. "You neither posted about it nor messaged me. I figured you''d have a reaction more than silence."

    At that, Eve pressed her lips together. He did have a pointwhich didn''t make her feel any better. She had looked forward to it for weeks! And, now she failed? No one was more frustrated over it more than her.

    "How confident are you that I''d like this gift? It''s not a limited edition bag, is it?" She joked, trying to take her mind off her failure. Too bad that it didn''t go as well as she had hoped.

    "You would know if you had opened it."

    "I''m sorry, okay?" She whined, hitting her head on the chair. The statement pushed her back into the sulking corner. Guilt seeped back into her veins. "I was distracted by a tv series I waited so long for."

    "What series?"

    "The Rightful Queen! Do you watch it?"

    The traffic light turned green and Ambryan pulled the gear shift to drive. He concentrated on the road but he had heard that name before. His lips frowned. "Why are you watching a project of anotherpany?"

    Eve scoffed, rolling her eyes. "You don''t have a series yet."

    "I''m joking."

    "I think you need to work on your sense of humor because that was ame attempt." She snorted. They had less than a kilometer left before they reached their destination. Her amber eyesnded on the blue gift box.

    Her chest constricted. The present wasn''t as amazing as the best roller skates the world had to offer. She would have gotten those NERDS except he had told that to his secretary and not his girlfriend. So, she went for a generic ideasomething that wasn''t suspicious.

    What was the point of knowing the things he liked if she couldn''t always use them?

    Eve leaned sideways. Her ear hovered near his shoulder. She stared at the same road that he watched. The convertible always stayed one car away from the one in front. What did you get me?"

    Ambryan smirked. "Why would I tell you? I''m not asking for what you got me."

    "You''re not even the slightest bit curious?"

    "It''s a necktie."

    "..." Eve was speechless. She looked at the box, then realized she used its standard container that it came with. His eyes could see right through it. "Fine. It is! You probably received neckties every holiday."

    "I do."

    "..." Couldn''t he cushion the blow? She pouted and straightened her posture. "Well, mine is special! You better wear it!"

    Ambryan shrugged. "I''ll think about it."

    "Why you" She began to say.

    The car had rolled into a stop. The bowling alley loomed ahead of them. People walked in and out of the establishment. Families, teenagers and more moved with bubbling energy. A few youngsters practiced their posses for when they threw the ball.

    Their friends smacked them at the back of their heads.

    Pulling the brake, Ambryan turned his head towards her. A smug stretched his lips. It ted his gaze. Anything Eve had to say died instantly. The sun behind him made his beige skin glow. Thebination almost blinded her.

    Who was this guy right now? It was clearly not her boss.

    "My, my, my. How the tables have turned," he mocked, leaning in her direction. His voice lowered to a whisper. "Who''sme now?"

 Chapter 114: Impress the Father-in-Law

    Chapter 114: Impress the Father-in-Law

    "Where are they? What''s taking them so long?"

    Avery put her phone down and nced to her left. Her lovely husband had his ankle over his knee. He leaned back with his arms crossed over his chest. Every now and then, he sneaked a peek at the entrancehoping that the two would show up already.

    His foot tapped on the floor.

    Rolling her eyes, Avery smacked his shoulder and made him look at her. "Stop whining. You sound like a 5-year old kid who is waiting for Santa us to drop from the chimney."

    "What makes you think I''m not one?"

    This time, she used the edge of her phone. Thepact metal dug into his skin. She twisted it for emphasis and bared her teeth. "Like hell you are. I''m not a sugar mommy."

    Jackson recoiled from the hit. His face contorted in pain as he massaged the sore spot. He had just opened his mouth when a new voice interrupted the scene.

    "Interesting conversation we have here."

    Eve stood at Ambryan''s right. They held each other''s hands between them. For this afternoon, she chose to keep the vintage theme from the photoshoot. She wore a white blouse and a red midi-skirt in autumn. The look was brought together by a dark green belt.

    Together with Ambryan''s suit and tie, they looked straight out of a 50s moviewearing identical bowling shoes. Their presence easily attracted the crowd. Anyone who passed by them would look their way.

    "I would disagree," Ambryan retorted. He could predict the rest of the afternoon already. From the way his father stood up, he came to one conclusion.

    Jackson Hathaway was tipsy.

    His violet eyes red at the culprit still on the chair.

    Avery merely shrugged and bolted for the redhead. She bumped shoulder to shoulder with her husband. The day finally came! And she was more than excited to spend it with her potential daughter-inw.

    "Evangeline!"

    "Aunt Avery." Eve smiled, weing the hug and returning it.

    The two women huddle together. They lowered their heads and spoke in hushed voices. Neither of theirpanions could overhear the conversation. Avery nced over her shoulder once just to double check if it was true.

    When the ghost was clear, she beamed. "How are you, dear? Did the photoshoot go well?"

    "Oh, yes." Eve nodded. "I survived."

    She considered the real challenge to be tomorrow. It would be a hellish battle to get up. The after-effects started this morning. Since she had done another outdoor activity, the pain would only go up instead of down.

    Avery didn''t notice her tone of voice. Overwhelming excitement buzzed in her nerves. After all, today was a special day! "How was Ambryan''s gift, hm? Did you like it?"

    Eve became tongue-tied. Her next words stuttered out of her lips and her eyes averted away from the madam. A subtle blush colored her cheeks. "I I haven''t opened it."

    "What?!" Avery eximed. She tugged the young woman closer, hissing, "Why not?"

    This had been one of the things she looked forward to! And now, she couldn''t get it yet because a certain someone forgot to open the gift? If she had it her way, she would have visited only to witness the actual moment.

    Except, Luna protested against the idea.

    The silence onlysted a few seconds.

    A light bulb appeared on top of Eve''s head. Its gleam shined out of her amber eyes. She wiggled her eyebrows and giggled softly. Maybe she could get an answer after all. "Would you mind telling me what it is?"

    Avery frowned in response. "You would know if you had opened it."

    Now, where did Eve hear that before? She groaned. Mother and son were on the same side for once. Experiencing the same rejection for the second time wasn''t any less painful than the first. The hard blow merely increased in force and punched her to the ground.

    "I really didn''t mean to forget it," she tried to exin but it sounded more like a whine.

    Avery assessed her for a moment and chuckled. Of course, she knew the young woman didn''t mean to overlook the gift. She patted Eve''s shoulder and said, "Well, remember to post it on social mediater."

    Eve stiffened. Ambryan had mentioned something simr. Should she really share it? Wouldn''t it be taken the wrong way? She bit her inner cheek, forming a game n. Her caption needed to be carefully constructed. "Can I do that tomorrow? Because I don''t think I want people to know when the monthsary is."

    "Sure. It''s a neat feature, isn''t it?"

    It was her turn to chuckle. The madam really was clever. The app''s design was intricate like it always had something up its sleeve. Then, her conversation with Andie came to her mind.

    "Definitely. I think a lot of couples would like the app. Maybe it can be a business," Eve stated, really meaning it. Andie had pointed this out to her and they talked about the possibilities.One of them being if the rtionship turned sour

    the couple only needed to uninstall one app and the memories they shared in it would be gone. No need to browse through pictures in order to delete the right ones. No need to erase multiple conversation windows from different apps.

    Everything would be in a neat package.

    It could even store all the dates they had.

    "We''ll see." Avery shrugged. She wrapped her arm around Eve''s and led her to their designated sitting area. Her mind conditioned itself for the uing game. "For now, let''s bowl!"

    While the females conversed, the boys stood near the bench with a chat of their own. Drinks had been served on the coffee table. The cold tea condensed the air, coating the ss in water droplets.

    Ambryan nodded in greeting. "Father."

    "Son." Jackson scowled. He straightened out hispels and nced towards the two women. He cleared out his throat, hiding his hands behind his back. "Well, aren''t you going to introduce me to your girlfriend?"

    "Calm down. Mother is still talking to her. You know how she is."

    Both of them watched their partners for today''s game. They talked in their own bubble as if the boys didn''t exist. Their voices lowered in volume until they couldn''t hear anything. There was no escape from the invisible wall that thedies created.

    "You''re right." Jackson sighed. "If we interrupt now, she''d skin me alive."

    "There''s still plenty of time." Ambryan picked up a ss of iced tea. He drank half of it and took a deep breath. "Ahh This is actually quite good. Although, it''s not as good as a bottle of beer."

    "Try three of them." His father snorted.

    "Seems like you enjoyed it though."

    Jackson waved his hand, predicting his son''s thoughts. "Did I know that your mother wanted me to be intoxicated? Yes. Did that mean I couldn''t enjoy a bottle or two of beer? No. It''s rare for her to let me drink that much so, of course, I grabbed the chance."

    Ambryan merely shook his head. He did agree that his father was easier to talk to after a bit of alcohol. He could also be hard to deal with when provoked the wrong way.

    It would be something they need to look out for.

    The women turned around and headed in their direction. Before Avery and Ambryan could say anything, Eve took the first step. She held out her hand towards Jackson and beamed. "Mr. Hathaway, it''s nice to finally meet you."

    "Please, call me, Jackson."

    "Alrighty. Huh"She pulled him closer and squinted at his face. Confusion projected out of her gaze. Avery froze. Her heart began to race. She couldn''t tell where this was going. Ambryan, on the hand, frowned at the exchange.

    Jackson raised an eyebrow. "What is it?''

    "You''re much more handsome than your son."

    .

    .

    .

    Jackson turned to the side, giving him a clear view of his son''s glower. It didn''t matter if he was overreacting. Raw delight shocked him like a taser gun. He pointed towards Eve, saying, "Why didn''t you tell me that she had excellent taste?"

    "Jackson!" Avery scolded, crossing her arms over her chest. Internally, she thanked the alcohol in his system. She''d rather deal with this than his grumpy attitude.

    In return, he scowled at her. "What? Isn''t that supposed to be apliment? I mean, you had excellent tastes too when you married me."

    She shook her head slowly. "A couple of beers and you''re already so shameless."

    "Apliment back! Why thank you. That was unexpected." Jackson shifted his attention back to the main"Now, Evangeline. Do you know how to bowl?"

    Eve gave him a sheepish smile. "Unfortunately, this is my first time."

    "No need to fret. I''m sure Yan will teach you." Jacksonughed. He rubbed his hands together, conditioning himself. They may be younger than him but he wouldn''t go down that easily. He had the edge of experience.

    Stepping closer, Eve lifted her hand and whispered loudly in his ear. "Do you have any advice so he won''t yell at me if I make a mistake?"

    Ambryan scrunched his eyebrows. "I won''t yell at you."

    Eve wasn''t convinced. Her eyes crinkled at the corners while her lips drew out in weird angles, clearly disying her doubts. She shrugged and kept it up for a few seconds.

    "Maybe not with your mouth but definitely with your eyes."

 Chapter 115: The Basics of Flir—Bowling

    Chapter 115: The Basics of Flir��Bowling

    "Maybe not with your mouth but definitely with your eyes."

    Jackson blurted out augh. He had never heard a truer statementtely. It was a trait his son inherited from him, making it more hrious. "I like this girl. Where have you been hiding from our lives?"

    Eve smiled. She was half-d and half-relieved that her jokes worked. Her nose caught a whiff of alcohol and linked it to his current behavior. It surely showed her a new side of him.

    "Have you ever checked under a desk?" She joked, keeping the mood up.

    Jacksonughed louder than he did seconds ago. His finger shook at her as if she was a kid that had done something bad. But, his eyes and smile were warm. "Definitely one in a million."

    "Why thank you."

    Ambryan approached Eve from behind. He ced his hands on her shoulders and stirred her towards the bowlingnes. "Let''s go practice. Loser buys dinner around here despite how parents are responsible for feeding their children."

    "Oh, please." Avery scoffed, rolling her eyes. "When ites to food, you stopped listening to us ages ago. The only thing we still bind you by is how you should eat whatever food is on the table at our house."

    Eve halted in her steps. Her head snapped to the side and her eyebrows rose up. She blinked, feigning confusion. The hands on her shoulders nudged her forward but she stayed in ce.

    "Why? Does he do that a lot?"

    The madam resisted the urge to smirk. She saw right through the act. Her violet eyes flickered towards her son. Lifting a hand, she covered her mouth partially. "Yes. He hates tomatoes for one."

    "What? How can you hate tomatoes?!" Eve demanded, breaking free from his hold. Utter disbelief cloaked her face. "What does that mean? No pizza, no spaghetti, no ratatouille?"

    Ambryan''s left eyebrow twitched. The corner of his mouth also did the same. He heaved a sigh and answered her question, "Ratatouille has sliced tomatoes. I can easily set them aside."

    Eve snorted. A giggle rustled in her throat. "That exins why you asked for no ketchup when we ordered at WcDonald''s. Does this mean I can ckmail you now?"

    He grabbed her shoulders again and led her to the approach area of thene. Deep thunder crackled over his head. "You know if you want me to yell at you, you don''t need to go to this extreme. Just ask."

    "What?!" Eve yelled. Her loud voice caught the attention of the people nearby. She felt fingers dig into her skin slightly. She gulped and pushed her feet on the floor, trying to counter his strength. "No! Ambee! Please! Have mercy! What have tomatoes done to you?"

    Avery let the couple go. She sensed a presenceing closer. To many, they''d describe it as domineering or even intimidating. To her, it was simply a familiar hat wrapped her in warmth during cold nights and that gifted her with headaches during other times.

    "Such a simpleton, are you?" She muttered beside her husband.

    Jackson pulled his head back and snorted. He peeked at her through the corner of his eye. Even from this angle, there was no denying her beauty. "Don''t act like you didn''t make me drink before this, lovely wife."

    Fluttering hershes, Avery met his gaze. Her lips pouted at the usation. "Whatever do you mean?"

    "I get it, I get it," Jackson replied in a rush. He shifted his focus back on the pair. They stood in front of a bowlingne, talking among themselves. He assessed Evangeline more than his own son. "I do like her so far. She has a favorable first impression. I won''t treat her harshly unless she does something. Is that good enough?"

    "More than I could ever ask for," Avery''s shoulders rxed. She hadn''t know how much tension she was in until that moment. Things were going well so far. From what she knew, Eve hardly interacted with her husband. He probably wouldn''t connect the pieces for a few more meetups.

    Still, it was still best to distract him. She stuck her thumb out towards the other bowlingne. "Want to have a game before wepete against the kids?"

    He immediately cracked his knuckles. "Then, get ready to lose."

    Avery tilted her head sideways and hooded her eyes. Despite their height difference, it allowed her to ''look down'' on him. "Talking to yourself? That beer must have been stronger than I thought."

    They continued to bicker and, soon, began their quest for glory. Jackson let his wife go first. Avery didn''t waste a second. She ran up to the foul line and released her pink bowling ball. It rolled down the center. It hit the pins and plummeted them down to the wooden floorboard.

    Jackson bolted upright.

    She had gotten a strike. That meant she had extra 10 points for her next two frames, gaining the lead. They hadn''t yed in so long. How could she score that easily.

    Avery flipped her hair and turned around. Her lip gloss glinted under the lights. The sight fuelled her husband''spetitive spirit. She didn''t mind it one bit.

    Victory tasted much better when the opponents also gave it their all.

    The sound of bowlings pins being knocked down resounded around the establishments. Cheers andughter came from various sitting areas. yers each took their turn. They had two chances for every frame. That meant two opportunities to knock everyst pin.

    To beginners, it looked easier said than done.

    Ambryan stood behind Eve. He lowered his head until his chin almost touched her shoulder. With one hand on her upper arm, he used the other to point out the different parts of thene.

    His voice came out in a low volume. No one could hear him but her. "Alright, before you start to bowl, you should learn about the basics."

    "O-Okay," Eve stammered. She had sped her hands together. Then, she concentrated on her legs. The beginnings of a tremor travelled up to her knees. She and Ambryan had stood this close only a couple of times.

    In fact, she could count them in one hand.

    Safe to say, they weren''t enough yet for her to befortable with this close proximity.

    (A/N: So are you asking for more moments? Hmmm.)

    "This is the foul line. You shouldn''t cross it before releasing the ball. If you do, the score wouldn''t count." Ambryan began. He tapped her shoulder so she''d look towards the other line. This one was behind them. "That''s where you''ll start. From there, you have the length of 15 feet (4.6 m) to gain momentum."

    "That''s oddly specific," Eve couldn''t help butment. They turned back towards thene. 10 bowling pins awaited them from the other side. "I''m guessing you also know how long the actualne is?"

    "60 feet (18.3 m) from the foul line to the first pin."

    "Uh-huh," she clicked her tongue and pointed at the two deep canals on either side. "Are these the pathways to losing? The ones to be avoided at all costs?"

    Ambryan chuckled at her description. "That''s one way of putting it. Those are the gutters. Once the ball falls into one, it is out of y. Even if it manages to get out, the score won''t count."

    "Not even for effort?"

    "Nope."

    "Bummer," Eve grunted. "That would really suck. I should get used to it."

    "And why is that?" Ambryan challenged. He stepped sideways and crossed his arms over his chest. "I didn''t take you as someone who gave up easily. This is unlike you."

    "It''s called being realistic," she defended. "I''ve never yed. I bet all the balls wouldnd in them for each turn. There''s just no way I could ever score."

    "It''s about technique. Themon mistake most people do is looking at the pins when they bowl." Ambryan gestured towards thene. Ahead of them, seven pointed shapes had been painted on the floor. "They should be looking at these markers instead. These arrowheads help you aim better. If you want to be safe, just aim for the center."

    Eve bit her bottom lip. She had to admit. It was a good tip. They were a lot closer than the bowling pins. It wouldn''t be hard to target one of them. But, that couldn''t be the only thing she should pay attention to.

    "I still don''t think"

    "Hold that thought." Ambryan left to grab a bowl from the rack. Its pattern on the surface reminded him of risingva from a volcano. That along with the weight and size, he figured it was the best fit for Evangeline. "Here. This should work just fine. If you don''t know which bowling ball to use, just take the one that''s 10% of your weight."

    "Really? What if you''re too underweight or the opposite?" Eve took the ball of his hands. She fitted her thumb and two fingers on the holes. She ced her other hand under the ball, supporting it near her chest.

    "Don''t think of things that are irrelevant to the situation.

    "Oops."

    "Of course, the way you release the balles into y." Ambryan led her to the first line. He stood behind her again. If possible, the space between them seemed narrower than before. His palms touched the back of her hands while his arms wrapped around.

    His thumb and two fingers matched the ones that held the ball.

    "Don''t worry. I''ll guide you through it."

 Chapter 116: Holding Your Hand

    Chapter 116: Holding Your Hand

    "Don''t worry. I''ll guide you through it."

    Eve''s breath hitched. She could hear her heart thumping in her ears. Blood rushed up her neck and to her cheeks. More than detecting his voice, she had felt it. His breath kissed the side of her neck when he spoke.

    He seemed both close and not close enough.

    ''What am I thinking?!'' She scolded herself. ''We just held hands earlier! This shouldn''t affect me in any way! It''s all an act! I can''t take it the wrong way or it would be serious trouble.''

    Ambryan leaned over her shoulder, trying to get a look at her face. "Evan, are you okay?"

    Eve jumped. Her head snapped in his direction. She recoiled away from the closeness. She could have sworn that she would have hit his nose if she hadn''t! This was a bit too much to her liking. She could hardly breathe for goodness sake!

    If this is their new normal, she better have a drink beforehand.

    "Y-Yeah, yeah! Totally fine" she managed to say. Her eyes flickered back to thene. "I have to look at the markers, right? Aim for them instead of the pins?"

    "Yes, but this is about releasing the ball." Ambryan inserted his fingers in between hers. His knuckles bent over until he had a good grip of her hand without touching her palm. His left foot nudged hers. "You''re right-handed so your left foot is your slide foot. It''s the one that will support you from falling."

    Eve stepped forward, using her left as he mentioned. She ignored his hand and brought the ball to her side. She tested on how to swing it without letting the ball go. At the first attempt, she noticed that the ball would hit the right markers and not the center.

    She tried again. If she aimed for the center, the ball would definitelynd in the gutter. It would go in a diagonal direction instead of a straight one. Would it be possible for her to move to the left?

    "What are you thinking?" Ambryan thought out loud. Crease lines formed on her forehead all of a sudden. Her lips also thinned into a tight line. Had she always been this easy to read?

    "I''m thinking about how to go for a straight line at the center. So far, I think I''d hit the gutters. Do I need to stand at the center? Can''t I move slightly more left so my right hand is the one the center?"

    Hearing her words, Ambryan was impressed. Her imagination had calcted the moves and their results. He hadn''t met many who thought that way. His gaze assessed thene as well. Broken lines appeared before him, giving him different angles to work with.

    He stepped to her left, giving her some space.

    "You can but" he gripped her bowling hand and pulled it backwards. His upper body and other hand guided her to bend forward. "Make sure to bend too. Otherwise, the ball will bounce onto thene instead of rolling."

    "Oh." Eve blinked. "Yeah, that makes sense."

    "You will run up to the foul line, slide, bend and let the ball go."

    "That''s a lot of things to do in a second."

    "Well, there''s still time to practice."

    "You mean right now?!" Eve practically yelled. Her breathing turned into puffs for air. She inhaled and exhaled out of her nose, the nostrils ring slightly.

    Ambryan''s eyebrows shot up. He couldn''t tell what the problem was. "Why? What''s wrong?"

    ''What''s wrong?!'' Eve repeated to herself. ''What''s wrong was he wasn''t moving! How could she do that when he was clinging onto her?''

    Trying to calm down, she shifted her attention back on bowling. There was no other way but to move forward. He would let her go eventually if it proved to be a hindrance. She pulled the ball back to her chest and moved to the left.

    The rest of the room faded into ck. She only saw thene in front of her. Her legs ran up to the foul lhen, she skidded to a stop and lost her bnce. She had overestimated the distance, her left foot almost slipped over the foul line.

    It broke her momentum.

    Ambryan guided her hand and the ball. He changed the angle, pulling it back higher. He increased the speed as well as the force as they both swung the ball forward. He dipped it low to the ground, causing Eve to stumble.

    He grabbed her waist while saying, "Release."

    And she did.

    The ball rolled over the center marker and headed straight for the first pin. It forced its way into the pins, shoving them out of its path. They knocked into each other and fell on the floorboard. It was instantaneous.

    Before everyone knew, the ball had fallen over the edge.

    "Wait, what?" Eve gasped, regaining her bnce. She nced at the scoreboard. A red ''X'' had appeared in the first frame. The sight confirmed her thoughts. "That was a strike!"

    "It was." Ambryan nodded. He let her hand go and adjusted his tie. While he was it, he removed his coat. That left him with a blue vest and a matching ck dress shirt & trousers. His necktie was a darker shade of blue.

    "HowWow, you''re really good."

    Wen took the coat off his hands. He smirked at thepliment. It felt "I yed with my father since I could lift a bowling ball."

    Another crash of a bowling ball and the pins caught their attention. Eve followed the source with her eyes. Jackson had done another strike. He tugged his fist and hissed out a cheer. She checked out their scoreboard. Her eyes widened at the amount of strikes.

    It came from both spouses!

    She came into a revtion. "Except, both of your parents are just as good. You all have genes that are skilled in this game. I suddenly feel sorry for you for having me as a teammate."

    "I don''t mind."

    Eve turned her head towards Ambryan. "Really?"

    ''If you were already good enough, could I have held you the way I did just now?'' Ambryan froze, rmed by his thoughts. Since when did he like holding a woman? Actually, since when did he like holding anyone? Even as a kid, he''d fume over the idea.

    Instead of that, he said, "I wouldn''t mind losing either. I have to be better at you at something."

    "So that''s what this is?" Eve scoffed with humor. "Is this revenge for dragging you to skate?"

    "You had picked out something you enjoy. This is one that I enjoy. We''ll call it even."

    She chuckled at the logic. "Hopefully, we both enjoy the next one."

    Ambryan chose not to answer. His thoughts had wandered off again. They spoke to him words, creating statements that meant somewhere along the lines of ''It didn''t matter what they''d do. As long as they were together, it would be fun.''

    He forced them out of his head.

    It wouldn''t do good to dwell on them.

    "Are you here to bowl or are you here to flirt?" Avery called out to the couple. An ear-splitting grin stretched across her face. "I don''t mind either one but do tell us if you still want to y please let us know."

    "We''ll y," Eve replied for the both of them. The red ball had rolled back into the rack. "It''s what we''re here for. We haven''t forgotten."

    "Sure, sure."

    Jackson walked over to screen on a stand. He set up the scoreboards and linked bothnes into one game. They agreed to rotate the turns around the four of them instead of two at a time. The boys would go first.

    Each pair sat on their own bench.

    Eve began to sweat. She hadn''t really practiced anything. It was Ambryan who managed a strike. She also didn''t try another run to the foul line. What if she messed up? What if she overdid it again?

    She was the only one bad at bowling around here!

    That alone added a lot of pressure on her shoulders.

    Ambryan flicked her forehead. He could almost sense her thoughts. "Don''t be anxious. Just have fun. You''ll get the hang of it in no time. Besides, my father loves winning. He''d still be happy if you yed badly."

    "But don''t you like winning too?" Eve whimpered. Sure, she was here to impress Jackson but she was his partner. Thest thing she wanted was to let him down. He had even taught her himself.

    "I can win in other ways," Ambryan reassured her. Mischief glinted in his violet eyes. He kissed her forehead. "I''ll be having a personal bet with my father that is between us alone so don''t worry about me."

    Can skin burn from a kiss?

    It sure felt like it.

    Eve gulped. The center of her forehead sizzled. It wasn''t visible but it was there. All of her senses focused on that one spot. It weighed a ton as if boring a hole into her skull. Ambryan had already left her side but his presence lingered on her skin.

    Compared to her, Avery rxed on her seat. She sipped the iced tea and hid the gleeful smile on her lips. She leaned back and crossed her legs. Everything was going better than she thought.

    Maybe she should n more days like this.

 Chapter 117: Like Father, Like Son

    Chapter 117: Like Father, Like Son

    Ambryan rolled up his sleeves, revealing his well-toned arms. He unlocked and pocketed his watch. His fingers tapped on top of the bowling balls. He silently assessed them for which one would work for him the best.

    In the end, he settled for a marble design with shades of ck, white and blue.

    Jackson stood near the starting line. He already held a bowling ball to his chest. His eyes perceived thene ahead of him. He treated the ball like an extension of his arm. His confidence allowed him to really feel the ce.

    His mind, body and soul were ready to get this game going.

    "Father," Ambryan said, walking to his own starting line. He held the ball by his side.

    "What is it?" Jackson hissed. He was in the zone and, at this stage, he must not be interrupted. Even the slightest disruption could irritate him.

    "My, my, what a sour face."

    "If you have something to say, say it already."

    Ambryan hid a smirk. His father''s impatience was still the same. "I heard that a producer from our recent coboration asked to personally work with you."

    Jackson paled as if he''d seen a ghost. Nightmares shed before his eyes, haunting him. The feeling crept up to him like spiders legs on his arm. They pricked him and gave him goosebumps. The hairs at the back of his head would always rise up.

    "Please don''t remind me of that woman," he abhorred, keeping his voice between the two of them. "Especially when we''re outside of work. I''d rather she not ruin my day."

    Chuckling, Ambryan leaned back and nced over at the sitting area. The two women chatted while they waited for the men to begin. "Does mother know about this?"

    "No. Why would I let her know?" Jackson exasperated. "Even I don''t want to know about it!"

    Ambryan turned his head back. Mischief gleamed in his violet eyes once again. He had told Evangeline that he''d ce a bet with his fatherand he knew exactly what should it be. "Tell you what. The game is best of 2 out of 3. If you score more strikes than me then, I will take over that project on your behalf."

    "Really?!" Jackson cried, taking his gaze off thene. Did hell suddenly freeze over? Or did the heavens blessed Jackson with a wonderful son? This had to be the best news he received recently.

    "I promise," Ambryan affirmed with a nod. He wore a gentle smile. It had charmed various people of different genders. Some would exaggerate and say that it was a rare treasuresomething as valuable as jewelry.

    Unfortunately, his father had the opposite reaction.

    Jackson narrowed his gaze. Ambryan may look kind but he also smelled fishy. Red gs appeared around this innocent act. "What''s the catch?"

    His son merely shrugged, lifting up his bowling ball. He looked towards the pins. His words came out as casual as talking about the weather. "If I win, you take over my business venture with the Wilsons."

    "Mr. Wilson? What do you have against" Jackson stopped short. "Oh. I see."

    He heaved a sigh. Truth be told, he should have expected it. His eyes followed his son''s line of sight. Both men looked over at thenes as if it was the horizon of a sunset. "I do feel sorry for you, son, but I am not about to lose."

    "So is it a deal?" Ambryan asked, holding up his hand.

    Jackson took it and grinned. "Deal."

    "What is going on over there?" Eve wondered out loud. Inside, she guessed that Ambryan had made his bet. Curiosity tickled the sides of her head. What kind of wager would grab Jackson Hathaway''s interest?

    Avery rolled her eyes. "They probably made their ownpetition. They often did that whenever ying with a group. It makes the game much more interesting to them."

    "Sounds like they have a good bond." Eve chuckled.

    The madam shifted her attention towards the young woman. Thement had sparked the shback of a memory. Although she promised Eve that she hadn''t dugged up information on thetter''s private life she had a glimpse of it when she had Jackson blocked from finding them out and connecting the dots.

    It was a brief nce, barely scratching the surface. But, it was enough for her to be curious. Hopefully, they get to talk about it someday.

    She turned her gaze back into the bowlingnes. It seemed that the game was finally starting.

    Jackson took the first shot.

    The ball rolled.

    He scored!

    "HA! Beat that, boy!" He bellowed. His pregame meditation had worked. That was a ster start to his road to victory. Both bets were within his grasp. Triumph lingered under his nose, fuelling hispetitive spirits.

    Then, pins fell and the ball slid over the edge.

    The sound knocked Jackson out of his daze. He checked the scoreboard. Another ''X'' mark appeared. This one belonged to the otherne. He gritted his teeth and red at his son. Ambryan simply saluted in return.

    Jackson felt a hand on his shoulder.

    "Oh, please. Why do you always act surprised?" Avery snorted. She had already taken her pink ball but her husband hadn''t left the approach area. "It''s not your first game against your son. You know he''s not an easy opponent."

    "I do!" Jackson defended. "I taught him everything he knows."

    "You taught him?" His wife scoffed. "You?! Don''t take all the credit. He learned a fair share of tricks from me too. If you had been watching his first frame, you would have seen that it was my technique that he used."

    "Well, I also taught you. You teaching him is me indirectly teaching him."

    Avery ced a hand on her hip. Her eyebrow arched at the implication. "Excuse me but I already knew how to bowl even before we dated."

    Jackson waved his hand, unbothered by her sudden attitude. "I remember clearly how you couldn''t hit the pins near the sides. It was me who gave you the tips on how to score from a split."

    "That doesn''t mean that I didn''t know how to y the game."

    "But it took you to the next level."

    Eve shuffled on her feet. She was thest person who wanted to get in between the argument. She faced her bowlingne with Ambryan. ording to their agreed rotation, Avery should bowl before her turn.

    Except, the madam was a bit preupied.

    What was she supposed to do now?

    She peeked over her shoulder and looked at her partner''s way. Ambryan nudged his head towards the pins, answering her silent question. His parents might take a while. The best way to break it off was to keep the game going.

    His mother would eventually need to take her turn.

    Eve nodded. She kept the ball close to her chest and stepped back. Jogging up to the foul line, she let her arm drop to her side before releasing the ball. The red sphere flew up in the air andnded on thene''s middle.

    It thudded against the wooden floor and swerved toward a gutter.

    "Oh, no! Did I break the floorboard?!" She panicked. It was her first attempt and she already made a mistake! And it was one of the things Ambryan had warned her about. Dark clouds gathered around her.

    "It''s okay, dear." Avery assured the young woman. She moved away from her husband and rubbed Eve''s back. The gesture soothed a bit of her anxiety. "No one is good before they even tried. It may have taken them shorter but everyone has their own pace."

    To demonstrate, she assumed her spot on the starting line. Her legs run up to the foul one like they had hundreds of times. She had a good grip of her speed and her angle. The pink ball rolled up to the center, knocking all but two pins.

    Thest two stood farthest apart.

    Avery grabbed the same ball when it came back to the rack. Her form and her run was the same. Only this time, she aimed for the right pin. The bowling ball nearly slid over the edge as it approached the pin.

    When they collided, the right pin fell towards the left and hit the other one left standing.

    The scoreboard dered her turn as a sessful spare!

    "Woah" Eve gaped. That almost seemed impossible. The ball could have easily missed both pins. The gap between them could almost fit two bowling balls. At most, she thought Avery could only hit one.

    To knock down both seemed like a magic trick.

    "You still have one more shot. Go for it." Avery encouraged the young woman. She took a step back and waited. The men stayed by the sitting area and did the same. They burned with desire for their turn on the approach area.

    Eve couldn''t help but be amused. Feeling better, she tried once again. The ball rolled on the floor like it was meant to. It thrilled her to see the sess. She had finally done it!

    Only this time, her force was weak and the ball eventually slowed down.

    Itnded back on the gutter.

    Eve pinched the bridge of her nose and walked back to the sitting area with her head bowed. She found her seat, sinking into the cushions. The humiliation was much worse than she expected.

    Ambryan pressed his lips together, noticing the blush on her ears.

    It reminded him of red roses and pink hydrangeas.

 Chapter 118: Be Happy For Me

    Chapter 118: Be Happy For Me

    The bowling game continued in almost the same pattern.

    The Hathaway Family took most of the spotlight. Avery hit an open frame in her second attempt at hitting a split. Jackson missed on a few of his turns and aimed for a spare. There wasn''t a pin that he wasn''t able to knock down quite yet.

    Ambryan only missed one strike much to his father''s dismay.

    Despite this, Jackson and Avery had the lead in the score since Eve still hit the gutters. None of her turn ys earned any points. She had yed off her nerves as nonchntments but it did affect her to a certain degree.

    She sat back on the bench after her nth gutter frame. Her hand shook as she took a drink of her iced tea. She was way out of league here. Her amber eyes swept across the room, wondering how everyone else was doing. It didfort her a bit to see other yers like her.

    "Having fun, dear?" Avery teased from the other bench.

    Eve yfully pouted at her. Her wrist twirled the ss, letting the ice mix her drink. "I think I should have trained in bowling more than train for the shoot."

    The madamughed, grabbing a nacho chip. The cheese sauce coated it in a beautiful golden color. Bits of meat had been sprinkled on top. They were sweetpared to the salty taste in the cheese. She bit into it and broke it in half.

    "If you want to, why not? The next time we have apetition like this, we can y beforehand. It wouldn''t be much trouble at all," Avery suggested. Her heart soared at the idea. It was like having a daughter. They could also shop for future social events.

    She better check their schedule and arrange the shopping date with Cale.

    "You''d really do that?" Eve blinked. It seemed a lot for a friendly game. Thement was more aimed at her feeling better over her performance. How could she not improve after trying many times?

    Avery ate thest bit of her chip and beamed. "Of course! Us, women, should stick together."

    Both males scored strikes. Other yers might have been ecstatic at the turnout but these two felt anything but that. Jackson locked his jaw. His son still had the lead in their personal bet. He soon realized that the bet weighed more than who would pay for dinner.

    Why did Ambryan have to be this way?

    Why couldn''t his son make more than one miss?

    Ambyran caught his father''s sour face from the corner of his eyes. He crossed his arms over his chest. "Giving up, father? There''s still three frames left for both of us. If I miss them all while you get all strikes, you can still win."

    Jackson squeezed his eyes shut. "Now, you''re just ying with me."

    "Isn''t that what bowling is about?"

    "Oi, oi, oi!" Avery yelled. She and Eve stood side by side, ready to take their turns. "Stop hogging the game to yourselves. Let the women through. If you keep this up, the two of us will y separately from you."

    The boys moved aside as they approached. Eve kept her gaze on the floor. She pressed her lips together when she passed by Ambryan. He hadn''t spoken to her since the game started. Her thoughts muddled about what he could be running in his mind.

    ''It must be a serious bet,'' she reasoned to herself. ''His concentration was solely on winning that one. It was much better than having him scold her for constant failures and embarrassing her in public.''

    Or was it really?

    At least, that implied that he cared.

    The previous lesson just proved to be for show. Eve shook her head and took a deep breath. This sort of worry was a distraction. Right now, there was her and the bowlingneno one else. She still had three frames/six tries to get the ball through the pins.

    Avery took her turn and scored another strike for her team. She smiled at her sess briefly before gazing at Eve. Then, her eyesnded on something behind the young womanor maybe it was better to say ''someone'' instead.

    "Don''t think too much."

    Eve yelped at the voice near her ear. She whirled her head and found Ambryan standing close to her. He had his hands tucked in his pant pockets. His face had an impassive expression,pletely unbothered by his gesture.

    "What are you doing here? Shouldn''t you focus on your bet with your father?"

    "I''m not going to lose," he replied, taking a step forward. "I would have thought you picked up on our techniques by now. You must have seen how we y and how that helps in scoring."

    "Well, I''m sorry." Eve scoffed. She humphed and turned back to thene. Her cheeks puffed out in frustration. "Some of us are not gifted. Neither are we always in the best condition. Besides, I am getting closer to the first pin. I just need a little more push."

    Ambryan regarded the back of her head. What did he say wrong? She was smart enough to do what he had stated on her own initiative. It wasn''t a baseless assumption.

    Still slightly confused, he exhaled sharply through his nose.

    "Your power of strength is fine," Ambryan whispered near her ear. "But you always release the ball when your hand reaches the foul line. It doesn''t have to be that way. Release it when you''ve swung your arm forward enough for more power."

    Eve turned around. She stared at him with wide eyes. "Why didn''t you say that before?"

    "I only said that your foot shouldn''t overstep the foul line. There was no rule about your arm doing the same thing," he pointed out. "Didn''t you feel it when we practiced? Or noticed it when we yed?"

    "But" Eve sighed. She had been doing that. Her hand never went over the foul line whenever she released the ball. Determined to score, she chose not to answer and turned back to the game.

    There was no hesitation.

    She ran up to the foul line. Her arm swung the ball as far back as possible and did the same as it swung forward. Her fingers released the ball just before her hand lifted off the ground. It rolled over thene in a nted direction.

    It knocked down the farthest pin to the left.

    "OMG!" A burst of energy exploded inside Eve. She ran back to the starting line and tackled Ambryan. Her arms went around his neck while her knees bent under her. She continued to squeal. "I ACTUALLY DID IT! I ALMOST CAN''T BELIEVE MY EYES!"

    Ambryan grabbed her waist before she could fall. She would have dragged his neck down with her if that happened. His fingertips nearly touched with how tiny her waist was. Crease lines emerged on his forehead.

    "How are you so skinny with the amount of fast food you eat?"

    The wide smile on Eve''s face vanished. She straightened her legs and pulled back. Her eyshes fluttered at his questioning face. "I think I have told you that I don''t always eat fast food. The real answer though is that I don''t easily gain weight. That''s why I told you that you had nothing to worry about."

    "That still doesn''t"

    "Yes, yes, I know. Fast food is bad." Eve stepped away from him and grabbed her ball from the rack. She gave him a deadpan expression as she walked back to the starting line. "Couldn''t you at least be happy for me?"

    She stuck her tongue out for good measure. "Don''t think of things that are irrelevant to the situation."

    Ambryan''s eyebrows shot up.

    Eve took this chance and finished her turn. The ball went into the same direction and hit a pin. It tumbled backwards and hit the pin behind it, giving her a total score of 3 pins. It wasn''t the best but it was better than goose eggs.

    The game ended with Jackson and Avery''s victory.

    "How could you look so gloomy when we won?" Avery asked. She zipped up their duffel bag after they changed out of their bowling shoes. "It''s the bet with our son, isn''t it? What did you bet on, hm?"

    At this, Jackson stiffened. He shot up from his seat and scratched the back of his neck. "It''s nothing. You know how we have work divided between us. The loser just gets more work, that''s all."

    "Really?"

    "Yes," he insisted. Then, he pointed his thumb and theirpanions. "Anyway, should we be worried about those two? That argument seemed intense. The room felt like a furnace all of a sudden. Phew."

    Avery didn''t look. Instead, she squinted her gaze at him and crossed her arms over her chest. "Are you trying to distract me by talking about our son''s rtionship?"

    "What? No." Jackson snorted, averting his eyes. "I know you care about them a lot. I figured that you might be worried about this so I opened it up. Because I care about you so, naturally, I care about what you care about."

    Rolling her eyes, Avery sighed. A few possibilities lingered in her mind but she decided to let it go for now. They''d still see each otherter. She shifted her attention on the younger pair. They did seem quieterpared to before.

    Still, she wasn''t as concerned as her husband thought.

    "They''re not that petty. They''ll sort it out soon."

 Chapter 119: An Email of Affection

    Chapter 119: An Email of Affection

    De La Lune specialized in French cuisine.

    Their dining areas were divided intorge halls. All the round tables and chairs had been covered with white cloth. Chandeliers hung from the ceiling, providing most of the lighting. Lamps hung on the walls for additional luminosity.

    People upied half of one hallway. They spoke in hushed tones so other tables wouldn''t be able to hear them. Staff workers stood near the walls and hallways, always ready to be of service to their assigned area.

    The atmosphere simply screamed elegant and refined.

    "Why don''t we start out with sds, hm?" Avery suggested, looking through a menu. It had a red velvet casing. "I am suddenly craving for some Caesar sd. I could taste the dressing."

    "Oh? No escargots for today?" Jackson teased from her left. He held a ss of scotch in one hand as he read his own copy of the menu. "That''s your favorite appetizer from this restaurant."

    "It still is but I feel like eating some greens for today."

    "Escargots are snails, right?" Eve asked without thinking. She tried not to read the prices. The more pages she flipped, the higher they seemed to rise. Although she couldn''t pronounce most of the names, each dish had a short description in English and French.

    Ambryan looked up at the sound of her voice. He found her staring at the menu intensely. "Yes, the dish is made of snails. It''s a delicacy."

    "Do you want to try it, Evangeline? We can order as many as you like. Don''t hesitate for a second."

    Eve tensed. She peeled her eyes off the menu and nced around the table. Herpanions waited for her response. "I-I uh, I have heard about it but I also prefer a sd right now."

    She wasn''t mentally prepared to try the dish. Maybe she''d give it a shot next timeespecially if the snails were out of their shells and no one told her what it was. That was the only scenario she could think of how it would happen.

    Avery''s violet eyes lit up, d to have her input. "Sd it is then! The vegetables are always fresh around here. It almost seems like they were just picked from the farm seconds ago."

    "I''ll be looking forward to it then."

    "Then, instead of Caesar sd, can we have a sd with lean protein?" Ambryan cut in. He caught Eve''s gaze before he could turn away. "Do you want chicken or fish?"

    "Uh" Eve blinked in surprise. "Chicken, I guess?"

    "Chicken sounds good," Avery affirmed and moved on to the next course. She said her choices out loud. Jackson grunted in between sips of his scotch. Nothing in particr held his interest.

    Ambryan browsed through the avable dishes. He madements here and there about theponents. His mother only spoke about the vors and the tastes. It was his job to make sure they weren''t heavy meals.

    Eve remained silent. Her eyes flickered asionally to the right. She and Ambryan hadn''t really talked during the car ride. His remark had really dampened her mood. It was getting a little old.

    ''Had I gone too far?'' She wondered, remembering the incident again. Was she really wrong though? She had been so ecstatic at her sess and wanted to share it with him since he was the one who taught her. But instead of that, he spoke about a topic they had several times before.

    The concern was there. Except, the actual topic was bing annoying.

    Or maybe that was a sign that her period wasing.

    "How about desserts then?" Avery''s enthusiasm broke Eve out of her daze. "Souffls? Crme brle? Riz auit? Anyone craving for anything? Oh, how about a piece monte?"

    "Piece monte?" Eve questioned, checking her memory if she had seen it before.

    "It''s usually at French weddings and banquets. Others have it as a decorative centerpiece, not meant to be consumed. It could be made of anything but this restaurant uses croquembouche."

    "Croqusounds interesting," she decided to say. She already forgot what the word was within a second.

    "That settles it then! Oh, waiter!"

    While Avery recited their order, Jackson put his menu down. He leaned back and crossed his legs. His right wrist twisted, the ice inside the ss moring against each other. His teal eyes regarded the main guest of the evening.

    "So, Evangeline, is modelling your full-time job?" He began. Now that things settled down, he could finally talk to her. Hundreds of questions circled around his head.

    ''And so it begins'' Eve gulped down her drink of water. She sped her hands together and ced them on herp. She gripped them tight as her lips smiled politely. "I also do online tutoring during weekdays."

    Jackson knitted his eyebrows. "I can''t imagine that pays a lot. Are you living by yourself?"

    "I currently live with my bodyguard, Nanzie. I''m only starting out so I thought online tutoring is the most flexible job in case I suddenly need to go for a shoot. I can also do it at theforts of my home and find it convenient."

    It was sort of trueif she took modelling seriously.

    Jackson pressed his lips together, assessing her situation. He took one sip of scotch before continuing the interrogation. "How did you meet my son then?"

    "Haven''t I already answered that question?" Ambryan frowned.

    His father gave him a pointed look. "You did but I''d also like to hear it from her."

    "We met through Aunt Avery," Eve said. A chuckle flew out of her lips as memories yed in head. "She insisted that we talk. Then, she insisted we go on a date. Ambryan really wanted to make her happy so we agreed to have one date. It turned out much more fun than either of us expected. The rest became history."

    "Oh, it did make me very very happy." Avery raised a ss and grinned at her son. It was the second time she heard it but the impact was the same. The story was well-crafted as expected from the couple.

    Ambryan merely stared back. His left temple throbbed. His mother was clearly having fun. She probably told her inner circle about it, taking all the credit for her matchmaking. He shifted his attention towards Eve.

    She picked up the bread in front of her te and buttered it. Then, she took a bite, filling her mouth and puffing out her cheeks. He couldn''t help but smile.

    Jackson folded his arms on the table, fully invested in the story. The ount was almost the same as Ambryan''sjust delivered differently.He appreciated how open Evangeline waspared to his son. A smirk blossomed on his lips.

    "Who confessed first?"

    Eve started coughing.

    Ambryan reached for her water and handed it to her.

    When she felt better, she sent a silent look his way. They had overlooked this topic. If she didn''t say anything soon, they''d seem suspicious. What was more believable? That it was her? Or that it was him?

    ''Come on, think, Eve. Think! What was the timeline again?''

    After that skating rink, she and Ambryan talked about thebel for their rtionshipsomething he had initiated. So they should say it was him, right? But would he agree to it?

    "It was me," Ambryan answered for the both of them. He rested his arm on the backrest of her chair. His gaze stared straight into his father''s eyes. "I had asked her to be my girlfriend."

    Eve was d that her airway was free. Or, she would have choked a second time.

    For the first time that evening, Jackson became surprised. His mouth hung slightly open. "Pray do tell how this happened. Was it after the date? Was it at the party? Do share the details."

    "I messaged her about it."

    Jackson raised an eyebrow. "Messaged her?"

    "That is correct."

    Avery smacked her husband''s arm. "Why are you shocked? It''s our son we''re talking about. He has no romantic bone in his body. That would have been my first guess, to be honest. Hell, I wouldn''t be surprised if he sent it through email."

    Eve threw her head back andughed. Then, she covered her mouth at how loud it was. She apologized to anyone who nced at their table. The imagery was so vivid in her head.She could actually see it happeningincluding the sentences and tone Ambryan would have used.

    It would seem more like a business email than a romantic one.

    Just the thought of it had her cackling again. With her hand over her mouth, the vibrations went to her shoulders. She bent forward and bowed her head. Why did she find it so funny?

    "Well, you seem to be in a better mood," Ambryan remarked.

    Eve showed him an ear-splitting smile. Her eyes had turned into slits. "I can''t help it! It sounds so like you. Now, I feel bummed that I didn''t get that email. It would have been a great memento."

    Andie would also have a st reading that email.

    While Evangeline recovered, Jackson thought about what to ask next. There were so many. He arranged them ording to priority. If this truly was a real rtionship certain measures should be taken.

    For instance...

    "Have you met her parents yet, Yan?"

 Chapter 120: Evangelines Parents

    Chapter 120: Evangeline''s Parents

    "Have you met her parents yet, Yan?"

    Ambryan considered the question. He gathered that it was another test. Once he revealed that it hadn''t happened yet, his father would have another thing to ask. "No, I haven''t. Not every parent asks to meet who their children are dating right away."

    "But you''re a well-known figure. Aren''t they curious about you based on what they have seen on the news?" Jackson defended. He shifted his gaze towards Eve. "Haven''t they asked about him?"

    "No, they haven''t." Eve mumbled, bing tight-lipped. Just when she thought they had everything figured out, scenarios like this would pop up. Her chest squeezed at the thought of her parents. Her hands began to shake.

    "Noments about him at all? Do they know you''re dating?"

    Avery cut him off. "Why are you asking so much when you just met her?"

    Her husband turned to face her. "How else am I supposed to get to know her?"

    "Can''t you see that she''s ufortable? She''ll tell you about it at her own time."

    "Um" Eve gulped. Sweat trickled down the back of her head. Her eyes couldn''t meet anyone''s. It was bound to happen sooner orter, she guessed. She held onto her knees and looked up.

    Her gaze found Avery''s first. She cracked a small smile. "It''s okay, Aunt Avery. I don''t mind."

    "Are you sure?" The madam asked.

    Then, it clicked.

    Eve realized that Avery already knew about it. It really was inevitable. She shifted her attention towards Jackson. Her head nodded at him, apologizing for her behavior. "I''m sorry for the dy, Mr. Hathaway, but I can''t give you a straight answer. My mother left the world of the living 6 years ago and I haven''t seen my father for that long either. I can''t vouch if he knows or not."

    Eerie silence fell on the table.

    "I''m so sorry, dear," Avery breathed out. Her eyes drooped at the corners. The young woman would have been 19 when it happened. As a mother, she couldn''t imagine how difficult that must have beenthe idea of leaving their child because of something they couldn''t control.

    As a daughter, her heart burned when her own mother died but she already had Jackson and Ambryan at the time. Had she been any younger, the pain would have been unbearable.

    "It''s alright," Eve assured her. It was all in the past. Truthfully, there wasn''t a day that passed by when she didn''t miss her mother. She could see her in almost anything if she looked hard enough.

    The pain would always be there.

    But, she had two bundles of joy to live for.

    "My condolences," Ambryan whispered.

    Eve patted his hand near her shoulder. "Thank you."

    "Your father" Jackson intervened, bothered by something else. His gaze hardened as his grip on his drink tightened. "He''s not dead, is he?"

    "Last time I checked, yes, he is alive," Eve replied. It was the best answer that she could give. She hadn''t received any notice about him.

    "And you don''t know where he is?"

    She shook her head. "No. He left home."

    Something changed inside of Eve.

    Her hollow shell crackled with fire, burning her on the inside. The heat spread rapidly in her veins. She held her breath and dug her fingers on her knees. She remembered thest time that she saw him.

    The mere thought of it left a bitter taste in her mouth.

    "Why did he leave?" Jackson continued, still feeling tense. His lips stretched into a grim line.

    How could a man abandon his family?

    Eve shrugged. "I actually don''t know."

    "You''re what? 25? 26? And he left when you were in college?"

    "Yes, I was. I got a part-time job in order to sustain expenses."

    "Okay, that''s enough." Ambryan spoke. The conversation ceased immediately. Everyone nced at him and he gestured towards a waiter headed their way. "I think dinner is about to start."

    Four tes of sds were served. The leafy vegetables had a mix of green and deep plum colors. Other vegetables included cherry tomatoes, onion, bell pepper and more. The chicken had been sliced thinly. They lined up on one side, following a curve.

    White-colored dressing drizzled across the te.

    Eve took the first bite, more than happy to move on from the topic.

    .

    .

    .

    .

    .

    Dinner went by smoothly. Avery took over the conversations once again. Now that her husband had his moment, there was no need for her to hold back. She shared various stories about her social circles and about Ambryan''s childhood.

    The atmosphere instantly became light.

    On the way to the apartmentplex, city traffic was moderate. Bright lights littered the streets. Establishments showcased their neon signs, hoping to attract customers. No corner was left in the dark.

    "All this time, I thought you were the quiet kid," Eve began to say, breaking the silence. Her reflection on the window showed her smile. "Who knew that you''d be such a troublemaker? I can''t believe that you almost set an entire garden on fire."

    "It was idental."

    "But why were you carrying around a torch?"

    "It was a dare."

    Ambryan''s frown deepened. No matter how many times he asked, his mother continued to talk about his youth. Even his father joined in whenever he could remember something. Avery defended that it was important for his girlfriend to know about those things.

    Why Evangeline needed to know how he cut tomato vines with a toy sword was beyond hisprehension.

    Eveughed and shook her head. Hearing those stories reminded her of her own. Nostalgia hit her hard. A sigh flowed out of her lips. "I remember being in a video store once. I was looking through CDs on a table. One caught my eye because it looked like a movie I saw on TV."

    The car stopped at a red light. Ambryan sneaked a peek. Eve gazed out the windshield, her mind transporting to another world. He didn''t dare to interrupt her.

    It was far better than talking about his childhood.

    "I immediately grabbed my mom''s arm, asking her to buy it. My eyes stayed on the CD. I was so happy and ecstatic. I never knew the name of the movie so I felt like I found buried treasure. I kept tugging my mom and begging for her to get it," Eve narrated. She closed her eyes and shielded them under her hand.

    "But then, I turn around and see that it was a randomdy all this time." She buried herself lower on her seat, her knees hanging over the edge. "I could almost see her face. She didn''t even react while I paled on the spot. Her expression also showed nothing!"

    Ambryan changed gears and turned to the left. He sped up once the car was straight again. "Did your mother end up buying the CD?"

    "She did." Eve chuckled. She pushed herself up and yed with her hair. "I still have it back home. I ced my most precious memories with her in a box. I think it helped me cope."

    Her body felt lighter. It really was a good memoryalmost as good as them singing karaoke in the living room. Or when they yed on the seesaw together. Or maybe how they always ate at WcDonald''s during her mother''s payday.

    "By the way," Eve suddenly said. "Thank you for what you did back there."

    "What I did?"

    "Yeah, changing the subject though it led to your embarrassing childhood stories." She giggled. "I''m sorry if I didn''t tell you sooner. At least, that''s one problem that we don''t need to put an act on."

    Ambryan squeezed the steering wheel. The leather covering squeaked under his grip. His jaw locked, gnashing his teeth together. Something about her statement irked him. It was confusing because what she said was true.

    Why would it bother him then?

    The rest of the ride continued in silence.

    Eve unbuckled her seatbelt as the car rolled up to the entrance of her apartment building.

    "Oh, man. I can''t wait for a hot bath." She stretched her arms up and arched her back. A loud yawn flowed out of her mouth. She couldn''t wait to get some proper rest.

    "Just don''t fall asleep in the bathtub."

    "Why would I even choose to sleep there?" She retorted, giving him a weird look. in "I''m sorry but it''s nothingpared to a bed."

    Ambryan pulled on the brake and chuckled. "You sound really tired. You might just copse on the bed."

    "Actually, that could happen," Eve admitted but quickly took it back. She needed to go to the bathroom and change, at least. Her contact lenses were asking to be removed too.

    Both parties became quiet. Clouds floated away, revealing the moon behind them. Its gentle light shined down the surroundings.

    Eve had one hand on the door handle. Since when was it hard to say goodbye? Like how did people word it again?

    Then, she felt fingertips brush her ear, tucking away a loose strand of hair.

    She froze.

    "Gee, look at the time. You still have work to do tomorrow. Haha. Send my regards to your parents. I had a lovely time despite the small things." Eve checked if she had all her belongings with her. Then, she pointed to the blue gift box. "Don''t forget to open it and Happy Monthsary!"

    "Hey"

    She was out the door before Ambryan could say anything else. She ran up the stairs and entered the lobby, giving him no time to catch up.

 Chapter 121: Your Lingering Presence

    Chapter 121: Your Lingering Presence

    Eve bolted straight for the elevators.

    Her hand furiously tapped on the up button as if it could speed up the lift''s descent. Adrenaline course through her blood. Her senses were on hyper alert. When the elevator still had halfway to go, she let the button go.

    Instead, her legs paced around while her eyebrows scrunched together.

    ''What What was that?'' She asked in her head. They were in the car. Both of their security teams had their eye on them. The windows were also heavily tinted. There was little to no chance for someone to spot them inside.

    So what was that act all about?

    Eve shivered. Ambryan''s touch lingered on her ear. She felt it grow hot so she used her cold hand to cool it off. Goosebumps rose at the back of her neck. Were her ears actually this sensitive?

    "Ms. Reed, why are you running like you''ve seen a ghost?"

    "Ah!" Eve yelped, jumping up in surprise. She shuffled her feet towards the source and ced her hand on her heart. Her mouth panted for breath. The tension receded a bit once she saw who it was. "Oh, Nanzie. It''s you. You scared me for a second there."

    Feet apart and hands at her side, Nanzie tilted her head sideways. She observed Eve and wondered what was wrong. Thetter''s lips had paled and her face had be ashen. Rather than seeing a ghost, it looked like Eve became one.

    Then, Nanzie gripped Eve''s arms and shook her awake. Her cyan eyes widened in rm. "Are you alright, Ms. Reed? Did you see something? Did someone threaten you?"

    "What? No! No, no, no! I''m fine." Eve pushed her arms away and turned back to the elevator. "I just desperately need to pee and I don''t want to use a public bathroom, especially when we''re this close to entering the apartment."

    ''Smooth, Eve. Smooth,'' her inner voice mocked. ''Always the bathroom excuse with you.''

    Eve ignored it. With Nanzie''s presence, she felt calmer. Her amber eyes watched as the elevator reached the ground floor. She stepped inside first. The doors closed before them and a huge sigh of relief flowed out of her lungs.

    Her head hit the back wall while her eyes closed. The toll from the past two days weighed her down. If she asked for a leave of absence suddenly, would Ambryan approve of it? Monday was their busiest day of the week. She might not make it through.

    "Are you sure you''re alright, Ms. Reed?" Nanzie spoke again. She stayed firm and monitored her client''s movements. Copsing from exhaustion didn''t seem too far off from happening.

    "I''m fine." Eve opened her eyes halfway. She spotted a ck figure and stepped away in surprise. Her back hit the wall, followed by her head. She groaned and touched the sore spot. Her vision began to clear.

    It was Nanzie''s suit.

    Not Not someone else''s.

    "I think it would be best if you sleep after you take a shower. Get plenty of rest. I''ll prepare breakfast tomorrow. I''ll include some herbal medicine to replenish your energy."

    "What? You already made breakfast today," Eve pointed out. She regained her bnce, choosing to stand upright. "We agreed to do it on alternative days. Tomorrow should be my turn."

    Nanzie''s gaze hardened. She stared Eve down. "This is non-negotiable. You haven''t had a day of rest. I''ll inform Cale and Avery to lessen your projects to one day. Nothing that includes extensive activity either."

    Eve surrendered. There wouldn''t be time to rest for the next five days. She''d love to spend the next weekend in her bedlike she often did in the past. Who knew having another career would be this exhausting?

    "Thank you, Nanzie," she finally replied. A small smile curled at the corner of her lips. "I can''t imagine how I''d survive without you. We''ll be up early tomorrow. Is it okay if I ask for breakfast to be portable? Something that I could eat in the car?"

    The bodyguard nodded in understanding. "Not a problem.

    .

    .

    .

    Eve sat on the vanity mirror. Using her towel, she scrunched her damp hair. The makeup had been stripped off her face. Her reflection showed her raw self. Cale had mentioned that he only enhanced her beauty but, she still found both faces to be different. This one looked worn out with prominent eye bags and folds near her nose.

    While Evangeline was youthful. The same could be said about her personality.

    They seemed worlds apart.

    Her fingers brushed the mirror. "How am I these two people at once?"

    Then, Eve chuckled and cleaned out her ears. "If I told Andie that, she''d say it was normal."

    Wasn''t it though? People react and act differently in several situations. If it wasn''t possible, there wouldn''t be a thing called emotionsfeelings that sway a person''s mood and their ability to perceive their surroundings.

    Eve narrowed her eyes. "So what does that mean? Why is Evangeline the way she is around Ambryan? How does he make her bubbly and energetic?"

    "Why am I even talking to myself about this?" She moaned a secondter and closed her eyes. Her temple hit the vanity table. Did it really matter? At least, they weren''t ufortable with one another. She was looking way into it.

    Just like when she felt Ambryan touch her ear.

    Her eyes peeled open,nding on the bouquet of flowers. She had ced them here since they looked pretty against the white wood. She reached for a pink hydrangea and traced its petals. The edges had begun to brown.

    A pink box peeked out from behind.

    "The gift!" Eve eximed, pulling herself up. She seized the box and undid the bow. The lid separated from the box when she lifted it. Pink decoration papers covered the inside. She pushed them aside and

    "Oh. My. GoGirdle. Holy shischnitzel," she stammered in between breaths. Taking one out, the pink roller skate glinted under the light. Her hand caressed the material and guessed that it was waterproof. Thece had a darker shade of pink.

    Eve pressed a hand over her mouth. Tears welled up at the corner of her eyes. She should have known Ambryan would kick it up a notch. Putting the roller de on the vanity table, she reached for her phone and sent one message.

    .

    ``Lin: These are gorgeous. How can I even wear these?``

    ``Yan: I take it that you found them to your liking?``

    ``Lin: They look so beautiful. How could I even be mad?``

    ``Yan: I''m sure it wille to youter.``

    .

    Eve had to chuckle at that. He had a valid point. Her gaze flickered at the skate. She twirled it around with one hand,pletely admiring the design. Then, she looked at the bouquet. Another chuckle came out of her lips.

    It became harder and harder to tame her smile.

    She decided to tease him.

    .

    ``Lin: Who knew you could be so sly? The bouquet was a hint at the gift, wasn''t it?``

    ``Yan: Interesting theory.``

    ``Lin: Oh,e on! Don''t be like that!``

    ``Yan: I simply like things to be color-coordinated. Something I might find having difficulty with this silver tie that you gave me.``

    ``Lin: Doesn''t it look great? There were patterns on others but I chose a in one. It''s basically a shade between ck and white. I figured that it would go well with your wardrobe.``

    ``Yan: Maybe. But it''s shiny.``

    ``Lin: Not like you wear any gray as far as I''ve seen in your photos. Between the two, I thought this was more elegant.``

    ``Lin: Sophisticated.``

    ``Lin: Pretentious.``

    ``Yan: What are you exactly trying to say?``

    ``Lin: Haha! I think it really suits you even if you don''t think so.``

    .

    No response came after that.

    It hardly diminished Eve''s good. She found herself staring at the skate again. This time, she took out the other one and ced them side by side. Tiny rubies clustered together across the pink leather, forming a strawberry pattern. Each one had two oval-shaped emeralds for the leaves.

    They had been wedged into the fabric to create an even surface.

    How much did it cost? Eve did her best not to think about it.

    She nced at her phone. Ambryan still hadn''t replied to her. She had always wondered why he never wore a shade lighter than ck. He did it with the color blue but his ck clothing was always pure ck. No hint of white.

    Since she needed a present, she finally put it to use.

    And it was something that would catch attention.

    .

    ``Lin: Don''t be too picky. I think it''s good for our image. It stands out from your previous ties so people would notice. Some would ask you about it and you tell them that you got it from me. Clever, huh?``

    .

    Eve shrugged when Ambryan still didn''t reply. She had used logic that he wouldn''t be able to contradict. If he could wear a red tie at theunch party, a silver one was a mild change. Besides, it really would look good on him. Especially in an all-ck suit

    Her phone vibrated.

    .

    ``Yan: Maybe I can wear it once.``

    ``Lin: Make sure to wear an all-ck suit when you do!``

    ``Yan: Why?``

    ``Lin: So the silver stands out even more.``

    ``Yan: I''ll think about it. Don''t stay up toote. Get some rest.``

    .

    "Ah, sweet, sweet progress," Eve giggled while typing her reply. "At least, he knows how to care about another now. Even just a little.``

 Chapter 122: The Morning-After (S)Pill

    Chapter 122: The Morning-After (S)Pill

    Ambryan set the silver tie aside.

    He sat in his home office, checking for any urgent emails, when a message ping caught his attention. The document on the monitor had been untouched for half an hour now. He leaned back and stared at the ceiling.

    A coy smile peeped at the corner of his lips. His present was a sess. The designer from the manufacturingpany had done a good job. They started off the conversation by talking about the possibility of a custom design.

    It wasn''t the easiest decision. The product had to check off several points in a criteria:

    > small

    > highly valuable

    > eye-catching

    Of course, it had to be one Evangeline would love.

    "Meow," Kiri purred, hopping onto the work desk. She walked over the keyboard as if it was air. Nothing on the monitor changed from her light footwork. She hummed to herself while her white bushy tail swayed behind her.

    Her pale purple eyes zeroed in on the silver tie. She circled around the box, assessing her target.

    Ambryan shifted his attention towards her. His hand caressed the top of her head. Then, she''d continue her pacing and he''d brush her back while her tail hit his cheek. He chuckled. "What do you think, Kiri? Is silver my color? Someone seems convinced of it."

    The Siberian cat sat upright. Her back faced the same direction as his. She tilted her head to one side. "Meow."

    "You think I should try it on?" He joked. "Will you be able to answer then?"

    Her head snapped and met his gaze, her tail sweeping back and forth. A low rumble churred at the back of her mouth. It was soft but loud enough for Ambryan to hear. Unblinking purple eyes stayed on his face like they were waiting for something.

    It was a silent demand.

    "YouFine," Ambryan relented. He undid the tie he wore and switched it with the silver one. He rotated his swiveling chair until he faced the floor-to-ceiling windows. His fingers did a quick knot. He wore abination of blue and ck clothing. The silver easily stood out.

    Just like Evangeline mentioned it would.

    He sighed, turning the chair back. "So? What''s the verdict?"

    Kiri rose to her feet. Her nose touched the tie, testing its smell. The tip bumped it several times. Her eyes lit up and she nudged her head against him. The repeating motion was gentle just like the moments she craved for attention.

    "Meow, meow!"

    "You like it too, huh?" Ambryan shook his head. He picked her up and cradled her in his arms. "Well, get a good look because I don''t know when I''d wear it agai"

    His eyebrows slowly knitted together. An idea seeped through his head. Evangeline had mentioned that the tie would be noticeable since it was outside his usual style. Anyone who knew him would spot the sudden change.

    Now How urate was that statement?

    Heels cked on a concrete floor. The sound reverberated around the underground parking lot. Eve let out her loudest yawn yet. Hot coffee in one hand, she hung her head and stretched her back. She did the same with her free hand and arm.

    The private elevator drew closer.

    With each step, she debated whether to call in sick or not. There was still some time. Darryl would surely take her side. He had lectured her more than once about taking too much overtimesomething she''d most likely do at this point if she''d stay this sluggish.

    "Morning, Ms. Hart," the security guard greeted with a nod, his brown mustache and beard bushier than normal. "Well, aren''t you tired. You still look lovely as ever though."

    Eve yawned for the nth time. Her energy was too depleted for her to counter hisst statement. If it hadn''t been for Nanzie and Andie, she would have looked like a literal zombie.

    Groaning in frustration, she spoke about her struggles.

    "More than tired, I''m exhausted. I haven''t had a proper sleep over the weekend. My body also feels so sore and stiff. If I was that shameless, I would have asked for a week''s leave. s, I can''t. I remembered the surprise audit was this week."

    Darryl clicked his tongue. Propping his elbow on his standup podium, he rested his chin on the palm of his hand. "Had a rough weekend, huh?"

    "I wouldn''t exactly say that but it was fairly active," Eve rified. She craned her neck from side to side. "Especially yesterday. The entire day was full of activity. Itsted until night time. It didn''t help that I wasn''t able to sleep prior to that. I don''t know how I lived through it."

    The security guard shook his head. The story astonished him more than he''d ever care to admit. A light sigh flowed out of his lips. "Youngsters really do have a lot of energy."

    "Huh?"

    He patted her shoulder, offering a sympathetic smile. His other hand gave her a thumbs up. "You''ll be alright. What''s important is that you enjoyed it, right? That is what makes the pain worth it."

    Eve scowled. Confusion casted out of her brown eyes. "Uh, I guess I wouldn''t say that I''d do it again any time soon. I''d rather bezy in bed for a few weeks."

    Darryl considered her words. He straightened his spine and opened his report book. Grabbing a pen, he jotted down a few notes. "Will he be alright with that?"

    "Who now?" Eve blinked, bing more confused. Was she missing something? When did she mention a person? Her mind did a quick cross-examination, finding no implication of someone else in her storylet alone a male.

    The security guard met her eyes. He waved his hand as if lecturing a ss. "Him. Who else? You know. Him. Your new boyfriend."

    "My what?" Did he know? Eve rooted on the spot. Only her heart remained in motion. It pumped out more blood at a rapid rate. The beat drummed in her ears.

    How did he know that it was her without meeting Evangeline?

    One look and Darryl realized that still didn''t get it. He added more input to help. "I mean, once the rtionship reaches that level, it''s harder for a man to keep it in his pants if you know what I mean."

    "You oh. Oh. OH. OH! Darryl! That is NOT what I meant!" Eve half-hissed and half-squealed. With her heart already beating fast, it didn''t take long for the blood to flush her whole face and neck.

    She took a sip of her hot coffee and hoped it hid her obvious blush.

    "There''s no need to hide it, dear. It''s totally normal at your age," Darryl tried to reassure her but she kept shaking her head. He decided to change tactics and nudged her shoulder slightly. "Maybe someday you could bring him here. I''d totally want to meet this guy."

    "Meet who?"

    Eve spat out the coffee.

    It happened so fast that even she was surprisedin fact, no one felt that emotion stronger than she did. She fished out her handkerchief and dabbed her chest. It was a good thing that she picked out a dark top.

    Otherwise, the stain would be more prominent.

    Ambryan frowned. "Eve, are you alright?"

    Eve finished cleaning up and turned around to greet him. She stretched her lips as high as the corners could go. Her hand positioned the coffee cup in front of the stain. "Mr. Hathaway! Yes, I''m quite alr"

    "What is it?"

    She gulped before she could choke on air. The words faded to the recesses of her mind. She had forgotten about the coffee stain as well. Staring at his chest, her head nodded slowly while her voice came out breathily.

    "N-Nice tie."

    Ambryan raised his eyebrows, amazed by the immediate reaction. He adjusted the knot. Since he wore blue and ck yesterday, he had no choice but to wear an all-ck suitminus the striking silver tie.

    "It really is. I might just buy one for myself." Darryl backed up. Then, he shed a cheery smile, lighting up his facial expression. "Good morning, boss. Where did you get the tie by the way?"

    "My girlfriend gave it as a gift."

    He whistled, sensing defeat. Even if he found the tie one day, he probably wouldn''t get it anymore. It held a different meaning to him now. "She has marvelous tastes. Then again, she already did when she fell in love with you."

    Eve mped her mouth shut. For a second, she wished that she was Evangeline right not to rebut that im. Then, she realized that she wouldn''t be able to seed.

    They had an image to uphold.

    This was a reaction they looked for.

    Darryl''s gaze switched back and forth between his twopanions. Tears swelled up in his eyes. He brushed them away in a dramatic fashion. "I always knew this day woulde. Now that it''s here, I could hardly believe it! Congrats you two! You found such loving partners."

    Ambryan shifted his focus towards Eve. His raised eyebrows were back. "Eve as well? You have a boyfriend? Do I know him from somewhere?"

    .

    .

    .

    Eve didn''t know which was more shocking,

    a) the irony that he was the one asking, or

    b) that he actually showed interest in her personal life

 Chapter 123: Superior-Subordinate Relationship

    Chapter 123: Superior-Subordinate Rtionship

    "Oooh," Darryl cooed. "Do you know something, boss?"

    Ambryan thought for a moment. He tucked his hands inside his pant pockets and nced at the ceiling. "I think Richard had spoken something about it. He''s specting that his secretary has an interest in Eve."

    "Oh, that guy. What was his name again?"

    "I actually don''t know."

    "..." Eve knew his name but she figured that it wasn''t a good idea to share her knowledge. She let out a tired sigh and sipped her coffee. This train needed to end before they came up with more theories. "Apologies, gentlemen, but I don''t have a boyfriend. Most of my free time is spent with my close family and friends."

    "Doesn''t a boyfriend count as a close friend?" Darryl pointed out.

    "Still doesn''t change the fact that I don''t have one."

    He still wasn''t convinced. "So what made you so tired over the weekend?"

    Eve thought of another tiring weekend. She had shared plenty in the past. A familiar one would be more convincing since it was a recurring event and she knew the perfect one to tell.

    "What else, Darryl?" She scoffed with humor. Then, her face flinched as the memories came flooding in. "I was with my sisters. They''re ten years old and have a lot of energy. We went to different ces that offer different outdoor activities. Then, they wanted to visit an amusement park and didn''t want to leave."

    Andie had to bribe them with promised food. Thankfully, it worked and they all went home. Both adults and children were of equal number that day. But, thetter still managed to be a handful. Darryl was right on that one.

    ``Youngsters really do have a lot of energy.``

    "Ah, the twins," he remarked, nodding his head. "They just might be the only people I''d love to meet more than your bofuture boyfriend."

    Eve rolled her eyes at his obvious ''mistake''. At least, the bomb had been diffused. She better end it before someone lit it up again. She took out her phone and checked the time. Her entire demeanor changed.

    She was in business mode. Her tone became firm as she said, "Anyway, we should go up soon, Sir Hathaway. Your first appointment will arrive in half an hour."

    Ambryan looked at his watch. "You''re right."

    While Eve pushed the button on the elevator, he shifted his gaze towards the security guard. A rare smile spread across his face. Something his parents hardly witnessed. "Nice to speak to you again, Darryl. Hope you have been well."

    Darryl returned it with a salute. "You too, boss."

    "Please step this way, Sir Hathaway." He entered the elevator without another word. Eve nodded her head at Darryl before she followed after him. She chose to stay in front of the buttons.

    The lift started its ascent. The same soft jazz music flowed out of the speakers, filling in the silence. Eve went through her mental list of tasks. She hoped to finish them fast while she still had some energy. If she felt depleted now, it would be more profoundter on.

    "You have twin sisters?" Ambryan suddenly asked. He leaned his back on the wall, wearing a scowl on his eyebrows. He watched as his secretary''s shoulders stiffened.

    "Ah, yes. I do." Eve replied. She looked towards the side, peeking at him through her peripheral vision. She couldn''t see his face but she did notice his posture was rxed.

    Her head turned back to the front and observed as the floor number went up.

    "I see."

    She pressed her lips together and bowed her head. Was she supposed to say more? These were unchartered waters between them. Not to mention how she just told him and his family about her parentsst night.

    She wasn''t ready to reveal another piece of her life.

    "Any particr reason why you asked?" Eve questioned, deciding to be upfront.

    Ambryan analyzed his actions. The thought had lingered in his mind when Darryl mentioned the twins. The security guard knew that detail even when his secretary hadn''t said anything. "I realized that I don''t know much about you. Well, I was aware of that but even Darryl knows you better than I do and you spend more time with me."

    ''And you care why?'' Eve rebutted mentally. They had been like this for the past five years. What happened for him to suddenly change? She just saw him yesterday and nothing seemed out of ce.

    So what was the trigger?

    "It''s simply part of Darryl''s personality," she exined. "I understand that you value your privacy and your work. I figured that things are the way they are because it might weaken our Superior-Subordinate rtionship. It''s to make sure that due respect is always upheld."

    Ambryan chose to stay silent.

    She had valid points. He kept a distance for most people and his employees were included in that mix. It had always been that way. He only spoke to them for business-rted reasons. Darryl was one of the exceptions because, like Eve pointed out, it was part of the old man''s personality.

    Some of his business partners were also the same.

    So why did he suddenly notice that his secretary was different?

    Because he was indebted to her?

    "Thank you, by the way," He said after a while.

    Eve finally nced in his direction. Her eyebrow was raised. "For what?"

    "Your insights and suggestions when I was choosing a gift. Evangeline loved the skates. I wouldn''t have thought about it if you haven''t mentioned that she might prefer something small."

    Her jaw dropped at his statements. She opened and closed her mouth like a goldfish. "O-Oh. Not a problem. You cane to me for advice anytime."

    '' okay, what am I doing?'' Eve scolded herself. ''You cane to me for advice anytime?'' That was cheating! It was also a breach against The Five Rules! This had been a test. He was only saying these things to see if she still remembered them.

    It was his way of lecturing her! She was sure about it!

    Ambryan pushed himself off the wall and chuckled. "I will."

    Eve stayed inside the elevator while Ambryan walked out of the lift. She examined his retreating figure. Not once did he look back. Her mind had gone into overdrive. It scrutinized the recent events and did a quick evaluation.

    He walked the same. He talked the same. His clothes were also in pristine condition. There was no sign for this sudden change. She never felt so lost.

    When the doors were about to close, Eve pressed her thumb on the open button.

    "What just happened?" She thought out loud, blinking out of her daze. "Am I supposed to believe that one conversation impressed him more than my other contributions? And somehow he wasn''t mad that I offered to talk about his personal life?"

    Was the world spinning in reverse? Should she ask Avery? Maybe his mother knew somethinglike what happened after he dropped her off.

    Eve pped herself and finally exited the lift. She took a deep breath, cleansing her mind. There were far more important things to do. She shouldn''t get distracted.

    Her mutters came out of her lips as her legs led her to her work desk. "I am thinking way too much. It''s probably just a one time thing. There''s no need to worry. I just have to do better."

    For the next 15 minutes, Eve gave her 110% effort on her job. She went through her inbox and handled prioritized matters. At the same time, she checked in on the documents and food needed for the Ambryan''s first meeting for the day. The day had been packed in line with their surprise audit at the studios.

    The CEO nned to make a personal visit without informing the staff.

    They didn''t know how long they''d be gone so work had been squeezed.

    The food consisted of a simple breakfast meal. She cut up the toasts into bite-size pieces. Using different jams and butter, she spread them over the grilled bread. Deviled eggs upied half of the te in case they wanted a softer bite.

    Brewed coffee and tea were also done, ready to be served ording to their liking.

    Eve stood in the pantry and did onest sweep over everything. Then, the inte sounded from her desk. "They''re on their way, Ms. Hart."

    "Right. These will have to do." She picked up the tray and headed for the CEO''s office. There was a sitting area near the bookshelves. The couch and armchairs were made of leather while the ss coffee table had an oval shape.

    The food was set at the center. Eve skipped over the drinks and prepared to greet the guests. She paused just before she left the office. Ambryan sat on his desk, his eyes never left the monitor. His hands neither typed nor moved.

    A deep scowl framed his expression.

    Eve frowned at the sight. "Sir Hathaway, your first appointment is in 10 minutes. I already printed out the documents you required. Is there anything else you might need?"

    "No, you''ve done enough already," he responded. "Let the guests in after 10 minutes."

    "Understood."

    Opening the door, Eve met another surprise.

    The visitors had already reached the top floor.

    "Ms. Hart!" Luna called out from the other side. She giggled as Eve shut the door. "Long time, no see! Is the CEO in a good mood today? Give me some hints so I know which jokes to tell."

 Chapter 124: To Meet Again

    Chapter 124: To Meet Again

    The multimillionaire owner of Athon Luxury leaped for the secretary. Her ebony eyes shined like the night sky with thousands of stars. Dark brown hair swayed behind her back. She left it untied, giving her a youthful look.

    Luna held up her arms for a hug.

    Eve blocked them halfway. Her hands swerved over Luna''s elbows and captured thetter''s forearms. A polite smile emerged on her face. "Ms. Athon, greetings. Please take a seat. Sir Hathaway will be right with you."

    She gestured towards the waiting area. It had the same gray carpet from theirst visit. An L-shaped leather couch covered one side while armchairs upied the other.

    Luna pouted. "Not even a tiny clue?"

    "I honestly can''t tell either," Eve admitted with a shrug. Her pleasant expression remained, making Luna glower harder. It did little to change the circumstances. Eve also knew that it wasn''t anything serious.

    She highly doubted that would be enough to dampen Luna''s mood.

    "Pity."

    Luna strolled towards the waiting area and chose an armchair. Her red ck skirt draped over the edge. The indoor lights highlighted the miniscule jewels on her yellow V-neck blouse. She crossed her legs, showing off her stilettos. A rhinestone hair clip pushed her hair back on one side.

    It seemed like Eve wasn''t the only person who found vintage looks trendy these days.

    She followed behind Luna, saying, "Would you like a drink? Do you have any specific requests? We have coffee and tea, both iced and hot."

    "I''d like some iced tea. Thank you. Summer weather is absolutely dreadful. It''s still morning but the heat feels like noon," Lunained. She rubbed her right temple. "It also gives me this excruciating headache."

    "I can get you something for that. Would that be okay?" Eve offered, mildly concerned.

    "Get her plenty of water while you''re at it," Mikael said. He had used the bathroom as soon as they reached the top floor. He walked over to the couch and rested his arms on his thighs. "She''s been neglecting it in favor of other beverages. With the weather, she''s dehydrating faster than usual."

    "Oh. That can be arranged."

    Luna snapped her head towards the secretary. "But I want iced tea."

    "I can give you one after you drink three sses of water," Evepromised.

    "But-but-"

    "Don''t worry," sheforted her, cing a hand on her shoulder. "They''re iced water."

    Then, Eve left the scene.

    Mikael''s radiant blue eyes flickered in her direction. She quickly disappeared from his sight when she reached the pantry. He supported his cheek with his thumb while the rest of his fingers covered his mouth.

    It had only been a day since hest saw her as Evangeline Reed. The contrast between their outward appearance was still as astonishing. Unless someone examined carefully, it would be difficult to connect the two women.

    He had tomend how well-established the disguises were.

    Even he hadn''t noticed Ambryan''s secretary over the years.

    Eve came back carrying a tray filled with a pitcher of water and two empty sses. She set it down on the coffee table, standing up quickly. "I''ll check on Sir Hathaway. Please help yourselves."

    Ambryan just stood up from his chair when she knocked on his door. Her head popped out from the other side and spotted his figure. He adjusted the silver tie out of habit. Unlike his other garments like it, he was conscious of this one. He could feel it weigh heavily under his neck.

    He stepped down the elevated floor and headed for the door.

    Pushing it further open, Eve stepped aside and bowed her head.

    Mikael stood up first. Luna mimicked his example a secondter. She had finished one ss of water. She ced the second one back on the tray and met Ambryan halfway. "Good to see you, Yan! So d we could meet again so soon. How''s the coboration with the fans going?"

    Ambryan held up his hand for a shake. "We received a bulk of reviews, insights and criticisms. We''re in the middle of checking if our initial processing is still suitable."

    "But you wrote it, right?" Luna asked rhetorically. "I''m sure you already say thising."

    "Nothing is certain until it happens."

    "Good point." She angled her body towards Mikael and motioned the male model toe forward. "I''m sure you remember Mikael. I heard that you have the proposal ready. Is it worth my while?"

    "Of course, pleasee in."

    Ambryan led the way back into his office. Eve was thest one to enter. She left a message at the inte for Darryl, asking him to contact the receptionist who could call her for any urgent matters. Anything else was left to be on old until the meeting ended.

    "No worries, darling. You can count on me."

    "Thank you."

    She carried the tray to the sitting area, grabbing a cup of ck tea on the way. Luna and Mikael sat together while Ambryan positioned himself on an armchair. She took the spot to his right and brought out a notepad. She only had herp to work it. Writing seemed to be the most efficient option.

    Anything else faded away from her senses. There was only a nk page before her eyes and three voices around her ears. Luna read the proposal, skimming through it and mentally marking important details.

    Thepensation passed her satisfaction.

    All that was left were the scenes.

    "I know you ced emphasis that this series is not purely romance but!" Luna began to say. "I''d like a scene where Mikael is buying a gift for his significant other. Maybe he''d even ask the female lead for an opinion like asking a random stranger."

    Eve wrote down the suggestion. She used one page for Luna and another for Ambryan. It helped her keep a better track of the conversation.

    "And how would exactly that happen?" Ambryan inquired. "Are you suggesting that the female lead enter an Athon Luxury store?"

    "Why not?" She defended. Then, a giggle flowed out her lips. She winked. "You can even use the one where Evangeline''s poster is disyed. It covers an entire wall."

    The pencil scratched downwards on the paper. It was the first time Eve heard about that poster. An entire wall? How big was her face? Did Andie know? How could it have slipped her mind? It must be an embarrassing sight.

    She cleared her throat, hoping her face wasn''t red. Her hand continued to take notes.

    Mikael arched an eyebrow. That reaction didn''t go unnoticed by him. He leaned back and watched her work. Her quiet demeanor was almost as surprising as their distinct clothing styles. One wore makeup while the other didn''t.

    It was somewhat entertaining.

    "Isn''t that a little bias towards the other colors of the rainbow?" Ambryan retorted. There were seven colors. He figured a whole disy of them together would be a better design and representation of the campaign.

    "They all have several designated stores. Dedicated fans have travelled across cities just to find them all. It''s a clever tactic if you ask me." Luna shrugged. "Each store also has a few exclusive items. They can buy a souvenir for their journey."

    "As fascinating as that is, I decline. We''ve gone over this. There shouldn''t be an explicit scene where it''s purely an advert. It might sh with the show''s message.

    "Well, how about a scene where Mikael walks past a mannequin and it turns out to be a real human. Like Evangeline?" Luna attempted again. The scenes listed out were decent but she wanted an impactful scene. A moment where they could engage with the audience.

    Ambryan frowned, seeing through her. "You just want Evangeline as part of the project."

    "Did I mention how handsome you look today?"

    He exhaled sharply. "And my answer is no."

    "Aw,e on! Think about it," Luna persisted. She had developed a ton of suggestions when she yed with the idea. "Maybe you can also make your own cameo. The two of you step out of an Athon Luxury store while the main cast walks by. It''s a story on love so it should fit right in."

    Mikael nced in her direction. What happened to promoting the Athon Luxury? This topic was out of bounds. It sounded more like she''s asking the couple to represent her brand. The coboration would definitely pique interests.

    "I think Evangeline would agree with me at refusing this idea," Ambryan stated firmly. He leaned forward and stared straight into Luna''s eyes. "She made it explicitly coherent that she''d rather not be associated with me outside of our rtionship. She values her independence especially in her career. Doing your suggestion will disrespect that."

    Luna closed her eyes and groaned. It was her third rejection. Hope seemed to be lost. "The two of you are such killjoys. Back me up here, Mikael."

    The male model snorted, taking a piece of toast. "I''d rather not."

    "Eve?"

    The secretary pressed her lips together. She appreciated the support Luna showed for their rtionship but this wasn''t up her alley. Evangeline shouldn''t be associated with Eros in any way. It was a step closer to being discovered.

    "Sorry, Ms. Athon. I believe all parties should give their consent willingly on the matter. It would receive a wide range of reactions and therefore, would require them to be alright with that consequence."

 Chapter 125: I Will Support You

    Chapter 125: I Will Support You

    Luna''s shoulders sagged.

    She had no one on her side. She would have to think of another way. There should be more chances in the future. She just needed the right products and campaign. Something that would draw out Ambryan.

    At that thought, her mood turned around.

    She bit into a deviled egg while her ebony eyesnded on the CEO''s chest.

    "What a nice tie you have there, Yan," Luna said in between bites. The morning sun glinted against the silver fabric. It looked soft and velvet to the touch. It showcased elegancewhich made itmonly used for special asions such as weddings.

    Against his all-ck suit, it reminded her of refined gothic and steampunk styles that suited a noble from Victorian times.

    Maybe she should use it as a theme for her next collection.

    Ambryan grimaced. "If you''re still trying topliment me to get your way, it won''t work."

    "I''m not!" Luna protested. She waved her hand, brushing off his ims further. "It''s the first time I saw you wear silver. It just took me by surprise."

    The CEO reached for the folder and handed it over for Mikael to read. "Please focus on the discussion."

    "How could I when you normally don''t wear anything outside of white, blue and ck? What changed?" She continued, not letting the topic go. The only other time she had seen him do such a thing was at theunch party.

    Clouds parted. The sun shone down. nts came to life and birds sang their morning song. Flowers bloomed, revealing their hidden beauty. It was a scenery that depicted an epiphany perfectly.

    Luna realized what was going on. She exerted her best effort not to look at Eve and focused only on Ambryan. A smirk yed on her lips. "Is this Evangeline''s doing?"

    "She gave it as a present," Ambryan answered with nonchnce. Now that she mentioned Evangeline, there was no point to beating around the bush. He hoped that they could get back on track with this.

    While Luna delighted at this revtion, Mikael sneaked a nce from his folder. He looked up just in time to see Eve''s side-smile before she turned her head away. It seemed that someone was having fun.

    And no one saw it but him.

    "Aw, young love. So sweet. I think it suits you quite well. " Luna cooed. Then, her gaze flickered to her left. "Don''t you think so, Ms. Hart?"

    Eve snapped her head back. She blinked at the sudden question. From the corner of her eye, she saw that Ambryan also looked her way. She cleared her throat before giving a response.

    "I think Sir Hathaway looks good in whatever he decides to wear."

    Mikael hid a snort.

    He raised a fist to his lips and coughed. That was the safest answer he ever heard. "I think these scenes are fine. More ideas can be established after we receive the audience''s feedback. We can incorporate them when the series is renewed for a second season."

    "Don''t you agree, Ms. Hart?" He added towards the end. Both Luna and Ambryan shifted their attention back to her. She was under their perception once again.

    Eve stopped writing. Her gaze jerked towards the table. She looked at the toasts then, the devilled eggs, the pitcher of water and the cup of ck tea. They all seemed normal to her.

    But why...

    Did she put something in the food by ident? Why were the people in the meeting addressing her? She shouldn''t be a part of the conversation. It wasn''t a part of her role. Why couldn''t they let her take the minutes of the meeting in peace?

    "Eve?"

    Her focus drifted to her left.

    Ambryan stared in return. His expression remained impassive. "Well? I believe Mr. Davis asked you a question. Do you have an answer?"

    "Oh," Eve breathed out. The intensity in his violet eyes shook her awake. His words from before echoed in her head, repeating themselves like a broken record. It seemed like he''s persistent to have her promoted to management.

    Should she grab it?

    As she thought about it, her mindposed an idea. "Mr. Davis has a valid point. Until we receive the audience''s response on the matter, we won''t know how far we can push the limits. It''s true that a focus on the brand might cause bacsh but branding can be done in a variety of ways."

    The words left her mouth as soon as they appeared in her head. "Instead of pushing for a more eye-catching scene, why not have a character or two actually use Athon Luxury products? It won''t be scenes that iste the brand logo but the more they are used by these characters, the more it could catch interest. It''s not as explicit but I think having plenty of subtle impacts will have a long-term effect."

    Mikael caught Ambryan''s smirk.

    It was barely perceptible but admiration shone in thetter''s eyes. It was a curious sight. The CEO respected his secretary as well as her opinion. It made him further question how they came into an arrangement about her dual identity.

    Was the romantic rtionship actually genuine?

    "If it''s a character that Athon customers can rte to, they''d eventually want it. It''s almost as impactful as having a famous celebrity for an endorser," Eve concluded. "Especially if it''s made solely for the series."

    "A limited edition Athon product in a tv series?" Luna repeated, already thinking of several ideas. Her choice would depend on the character. It had to be something the person used often like a habit.

    "It''s not entirely necessary," Eve quickly retracted. Something of that value would mean raising thepensation price. "Not when it''s still new. Maybe we can contemte it more after the first season and negotiate further."

    "Sounds like a n." Luna nodded in understanding. Her proposal for a subtle promotion wouldn''t cost a significant amount while giving them more screen time without disrupting the story. "I''ll need to contact the costume designer then if we''ll proceed with this idea."

    Ambryan picked up the folder from the coffee table. He took a pen from his breast pocket and marked the areas that needed edits. "I''ll endorse you to the team right away."

    "Alright. That settles it. Anything to add, Mikael?" Luna asked.

    The male model shook his head. "Nothing at the moment. We can improvise on set if needed."

    Rising to his feet, Ambryan lifted up the folder. "I''ll send the revised document within the day."

    Both Luna and Mikael followed his lead. They ended the meeting withst minute details and casual small talk. Eve continued to take notes, reminding herself to clean up the table after the meeting concluded. There should be another er in the afternoon.

    Maybe she can switch the food for something that couldst for days.

    That way she wouldn''t take time to prepare for each one.

    "See you around, Ms. Hart," Luna said. She stood inside the elevator, waving her hand at the secretary. "I''m looking forward to the next meeting. Maybe I can even recruit you for my next campaign. Your ideas would fit right in."

    Mikael rolled his eyes. He ced a hand on her shoulder and pulled her back. "Let her be. I''m sure her hands are already full. Don''t add more weight to them or she''d crumble."

    "Please take care on your way." Eve smiled, wishing for the lift to descend.

    She disappeared from their sight when the doors closed.

    Luna picked up the hand on her shoulder and dropped it. Her ebony eyes hooded as they sneaked a peek to the side. "You know that Eve is Evangeline, right? I heard you had such a strong reaction when you found out. What made you change your mind about her?"

    Mikael merely shrugged, not meeting her gaze. "She does both jobs with due diligence. Regardless of what the real situation is, that is a fact that rings true for both her personas."

    "So you''re taking back your words from when you first met her?"

    "... I''m only acknowledging her efforts, not praising her."

    "Whatever you say." Luna chuckled.

    .

    .

    .

    Back in the CEO''s office, Eve picked up the tray of food and wiped the table. The meeting reyed in her head. She promised herself to do better at not breaking the five rules. An hourter, not only did she break both but she had spoken more than necessary.

    It was a simple yes or no question too.

    Ambryan watched her from the middle of the room. The crease lines on her forehead were evident. "You''re not worried about what you said, are you?"

    Eve''s back stiffened as she stood up. "Um"

    "I already told you before," Ambryan said. He stood with his back facing the sun. It shadowed his front profile while the light radiated around his figure. "If you take the initiative to voice out more ideas, you''d develop the leadership for a promotion. Please stop hesitating. I will back you up if anyone shots you down before you could speak."

    Eve pressed her lips together, feeling slightly better. He really was serious about training her. She let out a sigh and nodded her head. "Thank you for the support, Sir Hathaway."

    "In exchange"

    Her eyebrows shot up. "Exchange?"

    Ambryan took several steps forward. His gaze never left her face. "Answer me one question."

    "Yes?" She asked, unsure of where this was going.

    "Is Mikael Davis the boyfriend Darryl spoke about?"

 Chapter 126: Its a Love Affair

    Chapter 126: It''s a Love Affair

    Eve was tempted to clean out her ears.There was no way that question came out of Ambryan''s lips. This topic wasn''t happening for the third time today. How did Mikael even be part of the mix? This was the only time he talked to her as Eve.

    "Didn''t I say that I don''t have one?" She reminded her boss.

    Ambryan tilted his head sideways, unfazed by her actions. "But he kept on looking at you throughout the meeting. It made me think of that possibility."

    He had heard all the rumors. Mikael Davis wasn''t one to associate himself with random females. It had caused him several unnecessary media attention. If he wasn''t mistaken, the male model was smiling when he looked at Eve.

    Then, he asked her a direct question.

    It seemed to be a reasonable assumption.

    "I think you''re reading too much into it, Sir Hathaway," Eve debunked. Was he that curious about her love life? "If that''s the basis to determine if two people are a couple then, I''d be in several rtionships by now."

    "I see."

    Suddenly, the door burst open.

    Both CEO and secretary snapped their heads towards it. A sweat-drenched Luna Athon stood on the doorway. She marched inside, fire burning in her ebony eyes. Each step she took stomped on the carpeted floor.

    It muffled most footsteps but not this one.

    "Ambryan Hathaway! Did you know about this?" Luna demanded, aiming her phone screen at his face. Ambryan recoiled away from how close she was.

    Mikael came running. He stopped at the doorway to catch his breath and let her do the talking.

    Eve put the tray down and didn''t know which one to address first. She stood between them with her hands raised towards each one. "Ms. Athon! Mr. Davis! Why are you"

    Luna cut her off, practically screaming. Logic hadpletely vanished from her head. Her words and actions had been fuelled by raw rage. "Before you read the articles, I''m telling you that Evangeline does not have an affair!"

    "What?" Eve breathed out. Her ears popped and her lips turned cold. She forgot about Mikael and faced Luna. "What did you say?"

    Ambryan pushed away the mobile device. He was the only person unwinded by the sudden outburst. He stepped back and finally gave his reply, "I know about it."

    "You do?" Luna blinked, surprised by his calm behavior. She shook her head and found it strange. "So you''re still okay with Mikael being part of the series despite being linked as your girlfriend''s other boyfriend?"

    The CEO''s shoulders stiffened. His violet eyes narrowed. The dark flecks in them magnified, darkening his gaze. They were like ck lightning bolts that projected out of his gaze. "What did you say?"

    "Wait, I thought you said that you knew?"

    He turned his head to the right and exhaled sharply. His eyes darted across the room while his mind recalled the information on his monitor. "I read that they''re specting her with someone but I didn''t reach the part where they mentioned it to be Mikael."

    "But it''s all over the headlines!" Luna insisted. She knew it. He wasn''t aware of the full story. If he had been, she doubted that the negotiation earlier went by smoothly. They would have addressed this issue first.

    Ambryan strode towards his work desk. The ones he saw was the start of Wen''s report on the matter. If he were to read it before the meeting, he realized that the meeting would be cancelled in favor of fixing the chaos.

    Instead of that, he let his and Evangeline''s security team handle it.

    He regretted it now.

    Typing on the web browser, articles about the ''affair'' filled up his screen. He scrolled down the page and lost track of how many they were. Some of them were only minutes old. They kepting.

    He sat on his chair and clicked the top article.

    .

    <em>```Ambryan Hathaway''s Girlfriend, Evangeline Reed, a yer? Model Caught Flirting on Set!```</em>

    <em>```Ms. Reed spent her weekend over at World of Adventure for an advert shoot. While the rookie model delivered a stunning performance on rock-climbing, a few spectators had noticed something else going on behind the scenes. Ms. Reed was spotted along with her colleague, Mikael Davis, having a ''cozy'' time at the area''s designated night club.</em>

    <em>The two danced together for more than half of the shoot. Witnesses im that they even talked during the entire time,ughing and smiling together. This conversation also continued the next day at their next location before the shoot started. They shared a table at a diner and, as shown in the photo below, had a few bites to share.```</em>

    .

    The picture it referred to was exactly as the article described.

    Both models sat across from each other. The surroundings were bright and lively, giving a pleasant atmosphere. An array of food had beenid out on the table. Mikael had a forkful of spaghetti in hand and aimed it towards Evangeline who had her mouth hanging open.

    It was a moment captured at the perfect time.

    The scowl on Ambryan''s forehead deepened.

    He kept reading.

    .

    <em>```My, oh, my! Wasn''t that juicy? Well, the gossip is far from over, dear readers! Right after this segment of the photoshoot, can you guess who showed up on set? No, it''s not Jack the Ripper. It was none other than Ms. Reed''s boyfriend himself, Ambryan Hathaway, CEO of Eros Productions!</em>

    <em>Mr. Hathaway had graced the public with his rare appearance. The one time we see him waiting by his car and it''s him picking his girlfriend up for a date! Isn''t that sweet? Someone present at the time stated that Mikael Davis immediately left the scene as soon as the couple reunited.</em>

    <em>I wonder how Evangeline Reed must have felt. On one hand, she''s swapping spit with her male colleague and on the other, she''s kissing her boyfriend''s cheek?</em>

    <em>Save some for us, gurl! Don''t hog all the good-looking men!```</em>

    .

    The page attached another photo into the article. It was his carefully staged public disy of affection. The ones he hoped to circte the mediabut without a third party involved. It was the next step in his n to solidify his rtionship with Evangeline.

    Who would have thought that it could be used against her?

    .

    <em>```What? You thought it was over? Well, lucky for us who love to spill the tea and drink it, there''s another narrative involved in this story. Mikael and Evangeline are not only colleagues but they live in the same apartmentplex.</em>

    <em>Saturday night, after the club shoot, the two went home in separate vehicles but met at the entrance! Ms. Reed held a bouquet of flowers while Mr. Davis carried a pink gift box. People on set saw the flowers delivered to Ms. Reed''s designated hair and makeup table. It seemed that the gift box was new to their eyes when they saw the picture below.</em>

    <em>Which leads us to believe that it came from Mikael!</em>

    <em>And was giving it to Evangeline at this exact moment!</em>

    <em>I mean, matching gift wrapper and packaging for the flowers? Both had to be from the same person! That much is clear! Fans on Twittah flooded the tform with chirp posts, mming down this link between them. They are beyond furious by this turn of events. Don''t believe me? You can read it for yourself!```</em>

    .

    <em>``Evangeline Reed is not even relevant enough for Mikael to spend time on. Can''t you all see that these are fake? Once again, mainstream media is blowing things out of proportion! #StahpTheLies #NOtoMikeEva``</em>

    <em>``OMG! How shameless! Who is she even?? Without Ambryan and Luna Athon beside her, no one would even know her name. I strongly believe that she set up Mikael for this! Maybe she did the same to Ambryan! Who knows anymore? Actually, who cares? #EvangelineReedIsCancelled``</em>

    <em>``Can everyone just stop and remember that this was a photoshoot? Honey, perfection doesn''t happen without any preparation. Mikael always blends into the scene before the cameras start taking the pictures.``</em>

    <em>``To the chirp above, awe on. Yes, we know Mikael is that way but what are the chances that he and Evangeline are in the same segments together? There were A TON of models but she clung to him like bubblegum under a shoe and purposely made these happen for someone to take them #AttentionSeeker``</em>

    <em>``She already has the most eligible bachelor of the country picking her up after work and she still wants to toy around? If you wanted an affair, do it behind doors #IllicitAffairs in #August``</em>

    .

    Ambryan reached the end of the article in no time. Heced his fingers together and propped his elbows on the table. He could see why this page was the top hit. It had summarized the incident and the bacsh.

    The rest stood in front of his work desk. Luna positioned herself to the left while Mikael found himself in the middle. Neither dared to say a word and patiently waited for Ambryan''s assessment.

    Eve stayed a few feet away from the two, reading the same article from her phone. Her heart raced inside her chest while thetter reduced the space and constricted her airways. The words had struck deep. This was how the public saw her.

    True or not, it didn''t feel good.

    Ambryan dropped his hands and leaned back on his chair. His violet eyes shed towards a pair of radiant blue ones. He gritted his teeth.

    "Mr. Davis. Do you have anything to say for yourself?"

 Chapter 127: Nothing to Hide

    Chapter 127: Nothing to Hide

    Eve nced up, turning her head towards Mikael.

    The male model had his jaw locked. He neither red nor scowled. The aura that Ambryan radiated applied pressure on his shoulders, trying to break him down. His firm eyes stood their ground.

    He had nothing to hide.

    "What they im isn''t true," he started to say. "The pictures were taken during the photoshoot, yes, but I never fed her spaghetti. We were discussing theories on a tv series that we both watch. The club was packed, allowing little movement. Of course, you already know the flowers and the gift came from you."

    He paused to catch his breath. "The box fell off the car when she opened the door. I merely picked it up. That''s everything I believe."

    If he needed to go into further detail, he wouldn''t hesitate. The conversations were still fresh in his mind. Evangeline could also give her ount and solidify the story.

    "I see." Ambryan sighed through his nose. His posture rxed against his seat. They were all on the same side, at least. The only thing left to figure out was the next step. He took out his phone and opened the DTC app.

    Should he call?

    "You believe me?" Mikael exasperated, blinking several times. He couldn''t tell if it was real or if it was an act. It seemed a little to easy.

    Ambryan shifted his gaze back on the male model. "Yes. Is there a problem?"

    Mikael shook his head in disbelief. "I just expected you to be more skeptical, I guess."

    "I will be if this happens again," the CEO rified. He rose to his feet and walked around his work desk. "I trust Evangeline wouldn''t do anything of this sort. I can''t say the same thing about the people around her though."

    It was a warning.

    And Mikael heard it. The implication bleeded between the lines. A few eyes would be watching him closely from now on. If he stepped even a centimeter out of line, they''d be there to deliver the consequences.

    "You trust her that much?" He said, his voice soft.

    Ambryan took a step forward. His height exceeded Mikael''s by an inch. His next three words dripped with absolute certainty. "Yes, I do."

    Eve bowed her head.

    While the two chatted, she wrapped her head around the situation. Her emotions had gone rampant and her phone vibrated frequently. She figured that they were messages from Andie. No doubt her best friend had already gone into the inte to counter the tide.

    "What do you n to do now then?" Luna intervened. She crossed her arms over her chest and stepped closer towards the two gentlemen. "This also affects our coboration. We need to minimize the bacsh as much as we can."

    Ambryan scratched the side of his neck. "I am thinking about it but I need to ask Evangeline before anything else. The article is targeting her more than anyone. It should be her response."

    Mikael nodded, silently agreeing with the current course of action. "If it''s okay, I''ll still release a statement. Both parties speaking up should be more believable than one side."

    "Yes, but let it be for now. Let the people speak. Once they''re satisfied spouting out their beliefs, that''s when you''ll speak up. Right now, I doubt they''ll listen while the drama is still fresh."

    "That''s true" Luna muttered. She could almost picture the events like a movie yed out before her eyes. "They''d be looking for more sources. When they can''t find any new information, it would be Mikael and Evangeline who would heed to their desires."

    The three of them receded into their own thoughts.

    Luna wondered how she could support both her models. The media would alsoe after her since Mikael and Eve represent her brand. She was also a close friend of Avery''s. It would be better to organize her possible responses.

    Ambryan created a mental list. His first agenda was to contact Evangeline. As someone knew to the limelight, this might be a troubling time for her. He hoped she didn''t hear about it yet and concentrated on her job.

    He would have taken care of it but they made a deal.

    Anything that involved her should have her input first.

    Mikael shuffled his feet and unintentionally faced Eve. The secretary had been quiet during the conversation. He observed her expressions, searching for hints on her thought process. There was no visible trace of tears. That was a good sign.

    This wasn''t even that bad.

    She wouldn''t survive at all if this could crumble her.

    Eve flickered her gaze and saw Mikael looking. His brows had deepened into a scowl. When they locked eyes, he averted his eyes immediately. It became her turn to knit her eyebrows.

    "Is there anything else?" Ambryan inquired. "Mr. Davis, this may sound a little too much but send over your statement to me before you release it. If there''s anything else I need to know, I''d like to be aware of it before them."

    "I understand."

    "Just another case of people believing non-credible sources. As long as it stirs up drama, they eat it up. They just see what they want to see regardless of what''s true." Luna sighed, rubbing her temple. She let her hand drop and spun on her heel. The exit was straight ahead. "I won''t say a word until theye to me. I might not be involved or mentioned in the article but I will not be silent."

    Ambryan nodded and escorted them to the door. "Until we see where this tide leads us, the details of our negotiation won''t change. Security around the building has been heightened. They''ll ward off any paparazzi so you could leave without being traced."

    Mikael and Luna thanked him for the help.

    Then, they headed for the elevators and disappeared from his sight.

    Eve crossed the room and picked up the food tray. There wasn''t anything else to do. Work wouldn''t lessen if she became idle. Who knows? Maybe it could clear her head. The desire to take action bothered her like a bad itch.

    But, what was the right thing to do?

    Ambryan stopped walking back to his desk. He tucked his hands into his pant pockets and said, "Eve. Are you alright?"

    "Hm?" The secretary blinked, angling her body in his direction. "Yeah. I was just surprised."

    "At which part?"

    "Everything?" It came out more like a question than answer. "It just amazed me how it could happen all at once. They connected three events into one narrative, filling between the linesalmost like events of a novel woven together to make sense."

    Ambryan continued on his way and sat on his chair. He resumed typing on his keyboard, closing the web browser. "Well, it could happen if it was nned."

    Eve approached his work desk. Her brown eyes had widened at the revtion. "Are you saying someone did this on purpose?"

    "It''s merely spection but you''re right. There''s just too many at once," Ambryan agreed. He opened the report from Wen and skimmed through it. "I don''t want to point fingers just yet but Evangeline had expressed that something like this might happen."

    "She did?"

    ''I did?'' Eve repeated in her head. Slowly, the light at the end of the tunnel grew bigger and brighter. It illuminated the edges of her mind and unveiled forgotten memories. "Do you mean that this could be the working of your exes?"

    "A possibility, yes."

    "Huh." Eve clicked her tongue, adjusting the tray in her hands.

    How could she have forgotten Charlee Edwards? As far as she knew, there was no one else that was more susceptible than the aspiring actress. The woman must have been waiting for her to make a mistake.

    "I''m just not sure who could it be," Ambryan thought out loud.

    "What would you do if you did?" Eve couldn''t help but wonder.

    "Interrogate them, of course."

    "I thought you were supposed to wait for Ms. Reed''s input on the matter?" She demanded. This was a move behind her back. This wasn''t part of the agreement they had.

    Ambryan shook his head while keeping his eyes on the monitor. "Evangeline would want to handle things on her own, rejecting any help from me."

    Eve pressed her lips together. It was to stop a smile from blooming. She couldn''t have said it any better. ''How could he know me so well already?''

    "I would have to agree with her."

    Ambryan stopped typing. He pushed back his chair and met her eyes. "And why do you say that?"

    Eve took a deep breath. A different person might have jumped at the chance and epted help from one of the most powerful men in the country. It was a tempting offer, easier as well.

    But, it still didn''t sit right.

    Not when there could be another way.

    "Like you mentioned, Sir Hathaway, the response shoulde from her. This is her own battle. She may not have the resources that you do but it wouldn''t be good to interfere early. Let her handle it first. No movements in the shadows."

 Chapter 128: Superiors and Subordinates

    Chapter 128: Superiors and Subordinates

    Eve stepped towards the door, getting ready to leave. "I''ll be at my work desk. Please do remember your time and ce, Sir Hathaway. This incident is not directly rted to thepany. Don''t act on it hastily."

    She turned her back on him and made a straight exit. The tray went inside the fridge. It still had leftover finger food as well as water in the pitcher. She walked to her office space and chanted the same words in her head.

    Taking her own advice might be the best idea.

    The next few hours had been full of emails and reports.

    Eve ced her phone on DND mode, refusing to be distracted. Evangeline wasn''t her real life. Her life would remain the same even if things went downhill. Her fingers tapped harder on the keyboard keys. She believed that if she heard it loud enough, it could push away other thoughts.

    Her previous fatigue had been overruled by the rush of the adrenaline. Desk work went on better and smoother. Even the tasks she usually left forst had been aplished. Anything that needed filing found themselves in their respective folders and drawers.

    The best part was

    there was still more to keep her day ''too busy for anything else.''

    "Hello, Ms. Hart," Darryl greeted through the inte. "Reception called. Someone is on their way through the hidden entrance from the main lobby. Can you take a guess on who it is?"

    "Madison." Eve sighed. The President was the only person who used that option. It led to the elevator for the top floor. "Thanks for the heads up, Darryl. Do you want some devilled eggs and toasts? There''s leftovers."

    "Sure! They''re easy to eat. I can munch on them while on duty."

    "But, first. I need to wee our unexpected guest."

    "No problem."

    Eve stood up and checked the elevator. Sure enough, the floor numbers were moving. Her left hand reached for the telephone while her right one dialed. The call rang two times before it was picked up. "Hello, Sir Hathaway. President Madison is on his way for a visit."

    "Yes, I was expecting him."

    "Really?"

    "I haven''t been responding to his messages and calls."

    "..."

    The elevator dinged, announcing its arrival. Two voices emerged as it opened its doors. Their volume climbed higher as the sources came closer. Eve strolled around her desk and waited for them to reach her.

    "This is an important matter. Yan is the face of thepany. We have to resolve this as quickly as possible. I don''t care if he''s been rejecting my calls! He needs to realize how crucial this is!"

    "Sir Madison, Sir Hathaway has experienced several scandals for the past five years. This is no bigger than any of them. The people know he goes through lovers like clothes in a closet. You are merely overreacting."

    "This one is different, Riffle! He said so himself! You heard him. Evangeline is his girlfriend! He never imed the others as such."

    "But, he also stated that his personal life and work are separate things. Anyone would be a fool to dere that his girlfriend''s actions will affect thepany. If the past ones had barely created a dentand I am saying this because some of them are psychosThis. Is. Nothing."

    "Good morning, Sir Madison and Mr. Johnson."

    The two men stopped bickering.

    Eve had grown impatient. They had stopped halfway to continue their argument. They both stood with their feet apart while facing each other. Their stances remained tense but their eyes stared at the secretary.

    Madison had his long albino hair up in a ponytail. The style highlighted the sharp definitions of his face, making him more like his age. His army green suit brought out the depth of his luminous green eyes.

    On the other hand, Riffle had cropped ck hair and a pair of sses. He was younger in age but his voice was deeper than the President''s, sounding more mature. His jawline was also more defined than Madison''s.

    They both had the same height.

    "I''ve already informed Sir Hathaway about your arrival. You may proceed to his office." Eve gestured towards the door, stepping aside to let them pass.

    Madison was the first to react. "Finally!"

    First, he mmed the door open.

    Next, his jaw dropped.

    "Did hell freeze over? What in the world are you wearing?" The President demanded as he stepped inside. The door closed behind him, leaving the two secretaries by themselves.

    Eve rxed instantly and went back to her desk. She stayed on her feet and grabbed another stack of papers. She had organized them already. What was left to do was to punch holes into them and fasten them to a new folder.

    "Hey, Eve." Riffle joined her, choosing the other side of the table.

    "Hey. Riff."

    He groaned. "Stahp it."

    Giggling, she pushed down on the lever. "But it''s cute!"

    "No. No, it''s not." Riffle protested strongly. He huffed and took the folder. Then, he reached for the newly punched papers and inserted the fastener through the holes. "How have you been?"

    Their superiors would be talking for who knew how long. He figured he could also rx while waiting. There hadn''t been many opportunities to do so. He practically babysat a pre-teen for 12 hours a day, five days a week.

    "The question is how have you been, Riff? Weren''t you working for the Chairman sometime ago? How was it? Was he tough?"

    "Hathaway Sr.? It was as I expected, I guess. Definitely different from Sir Madison."

    Eve pushed on the lever once again. This time, it didn''t puncture all the way through. After several attempts, she deduced that the stack of papers were too thick for her strength. But, if she pulled them out now and tried again, she''d fail to match the holes to the des.

    It just wouldn''t look good.

    She nced in Riffle''s direction, pleading for his help. He rolled his eyes but took the puncher. The bags under his eyes were darker than usual. Eve grabbed the folder in return and checked their progress.

    A sigh flew out of her lips. "Well, what if you worked for Hathaway Jr. instead?"

    "Hahahaha!" Riffle began tough, making her look up. His amusement soon died when their eyes locked. "Oh. I thought you were joking."

    Then, he lifted up the puncher towards her. His maple syrup eyes narrowed in suspicion. "You told me that you''d never give up this job."

    "I mean" Eve feigned innocence, shrugging her shoulders. It had been a while since she had otherpany while at work. It was a nice change of pace. "You never know. Future is never certain."

    "What?" Riffle ced the puncher down and propped his thigh on the desk. He leaned closer, prepping his ear for the story. "Okay, what''s going on, Miss I-Am-All-That?"

    .

    .

    .

    .

    .

    A few paces awayand a door in betweentwo gentlemen sat across each other. The younger one typed on his keyboard, unbothered by hispanion''s presence. The other person didn''t share the sentiment.

    Madison glowered. "I didn''te all the way here just for you to keep ignoring me."

    "King, we''re at work. What did you expect?" Ambryan pointed out. "Even Evangeline knows not to expect quick responses while on the job."

    "That''s because she knows you''re a workaholic."

    "You also know that too."

    "..." the President fished out his phone and checked the news. He entered the keywords for thetest drama. The results had increased since thest time he looked it up. It didn''t seem to stop anytime soon.

    His head shook as the headlines became more ridiculous than thest. "Who would do such a thing? Evangeline is such a sweetheart. She and Mikael are probably just friends but noooo. The public can''t see that."

    Ambryan reached for the mouse and moved on to another window. "That''s a given. Why are you so surprised? This type of thing has happened many times and you''ve experienced some yourself."

    Madison put his phone down. "You''re really not going to say anything?"

    Was it wrong to help? Should they just let this die down? Unlike the two of them, Evangeline had barely anyone to defend her. Her followers on her socials were small in number. And, she lost half of them because of this ''scandal.''

    "No." Ambryan repeated, adding emphasis on his intonation. "If you have nothing else to say, please leave. Don''t use this as a chance to escape work."

    "You caught me." The President exasperated with his hands raised in surrender. "I wanted to procrastinate and used this as an excuse so Riffle would let me off even for a few minutes. Can you me me though? It has been a hectic week!"

    "Yes, I can me you. You and I both know it''s only that way because of the time you assigned him under father''s administration. You had cked off in his absence. He''s just making up for it."

    Madison waved his hand and brushed off the statement. "Details, details. I did have another purpose here you know! I wasn''t sure you knew how to act in this situation so I came to your rescue!"

    "Oh?" Ambryan spared him a nce and raised an eyebrow, challenging the President''s deration. "Pray do tell how did you hope to aplish that?"

 Chapter 129: N-D-d-g-a-f?

    Chapter 129: N-D-d-g-a-f?

    "Aaannnd I''m done!" Charlee Edwards dered, stretching her arms upwards. She sat cross-legged on her old study chair. Silk pajamas wrapped around her body from her chest down to her ankles. Her mocha hair was up in a messy bun. The look exposed her tan neck.

    Her indigo eyes glinted with mischief. She couldn''t help but cackle at her aplishment. "Oh, this is just too good! I am a certified genius!"

    She pulled herptop closer and reread her masterpiece. The grin on her lips grew wider as she skimmed through the paragraphs. She had used every trick on the book. No doubt her work would receive hundreds of views within an hour.

    Maybe even thousands!

    It had all the sugar, spice and everything nice that fans looked for.

    "What did you do actually?" A voice asked behind her.

    ncing over her shoulder, Charlee found Harper on the leather pink couch. Thetter lied on her back. She gripped her phone with both hands and held it up. Her thumbs tapped furiously as her avatar faced several enemies at once in the simtion game.

    "Weren''t you listening?" Charlee scoffed. She went back to her work and hovered the mouse over the ''publish'' button. "It''s fanfiction."

    Harper scowled. Her dark brows creased, seeming bushier than normal. "Since when did you write fanfiction?"

    "Ah, geez, Harper. Are you deaf? Didn''t we go over this?" The aspiring actress rolled her eyes. A silent squeal squeezed out of her chest as the page loaded and published her work. "It''s to fuel the mes, of course. The brief outline we did for the post is nothingpared to this. This adds the unseen images in the people''s minds."

    The stolen shots had been gold! Together, they were a treasure trove! It only took the photos and a few storytelling powers for the spark to light up. Evangeline had them waiting until thest moment.

    Oh, but did she deliver well.

    "With this out on the inte, the people will read about the miserable rookie who made a mistake in her photoshoot. Mikael hears this while they dance in the club and cheers her up. Then, like a knight in shining armor, he swoops in with the flowers and the gift. It was a story out of a fairy tale."

    Charlee waved her hands and arms as dramatic as her voice. A fake sob rumbled in her throat. "The next day he takes her out on a date but she runs to the arms of another. Mikael watched while it happened, breaking his own heart and torturing himself. No one would ever know about them"

    Her cries turned into smirks. "... until now."

    Harper pulled the corner of her lips. Her monolid eyes blinked when a bright sh appeared on her phone screen. "Are you sure you want to be an actress? Why not write for a Netflicks drama original?"

    Charlee red at the little munchkin. "At least, I am doing something. We have nned this for weeks and all you''ve done is lounge around."

    "My work is already over," Harper reminded her. She finished the battle round and advanced to another level. "I''ve told my father about your sob story of Evangelineing between you and Ambryan. He''s already told everyone to reject her as their model."

    "Good! We need to corner her until Miss Goody-goody makes her next mistake. When she uses Ambryan''s influence and connections to counterattack, we''ll be there to expose her."

    "Sure, sure."

    Harper drowned out the noise. All her senses focus on the game. She was a boss fight away from unlocking a new armor. Once she gets it, she could ascend to the next realm. She looked forward to it since it should have the best yers on the server.

    All the ones she fought so far were nothing but wusses.

    "How are we doing on Twittah, Nicole?"

    Charlee stood up from her chair and flopped on the mattress. Hot pink curtains draped at the top of the four-poster bed. The keys of aptop drummed from the center. A small screen disyed posts and the icon of a bird.

    The main feed scrolled down as fast as a treadmill.

    Nicole had deep crease lines on her forehead. Her deep brown eyes illuminated like burnt butter. Then, she hissed and tapped on the keyboard harder. "It''s going just fine. #EvangelineReedIsCancelled is trending and so is #NOtoMikeEva. The fans are giving it their everything."

    But, Charlee didn''t buy it.

    "Then why are you so worked up?" She questioned, crossing her arms over her chest. "You''re saying one thing but your face is saying another."

    "Everything is fine" Nicole repeated with a click of her tongue. She flipped back her long blonde hair that hung over her shoulder. "There''s just this one bug. She''s been replying to all my chirps. It''s so annoying."

    "It''s just one person," Charlee said. "Just ignore her. It''s not even your real ount anyway."

    Nicole sighed in exasperation. She had just sent hertest reply when a notification came from another thread. "If it was, I would ignore her. But, since it''s not, I thought I could have a little fun."

    Charlee peeked over her shoulder, staring at the web browser. "Seems like you bit off more than you can chew. Which one is it? N-D-d-g-a-f?"

    "Yeah, her," Nicole sneered. "I mean, read it. ``Aren''t you a little too immature for someone in their twenties? Nice try twelve-year-old but even if you fake your age on this site, it doesn''t add up in the brain.`` How rude of her!"

    "Tell her that free speech is a thing regardless of age and if her statement is true, that would just look bad for her. She''d be seen as bullying a kid."

    "Can''t. If I do that, people would lose trust in me." Nicole blew out a long breath through her closed lips. "I''ll just think of something else. I bet she''s just some nutto sitting on a couch while eating donuts. She just feels safe behind a screen."

    .

    .

    .

    .

    .

    Andie sat on the floor, a donut hanging over her mouth. She wore her favorite yoga pants and tank top. Her stormy blue eyes read through chirp after chirp. Her fingers weren''t far behind to send a reply. She had never been so d to defy Eve''s wishes.

    Her Evangeline Reed fan ount was booming.

    It was also firing out bullets at the mindless chirpers.

    "That radiantblueeyes chick replied to your twelve-year-oldment," Jarrett called out from her left. He also sat on the floor but leaned on an armchair instead of the couch. "She says, ``Resorting to insulting me, are you? Someone must have taken it personal. Maybe you''re really Evangeline pretending to be her own fan.If so, boohoo for you, sweetie. You just became more pathetic.`` What should I reply?"

    "Nah, don''t," Andie instructed him, holding up the donut with one hand. Her other one continued to type on the keyboard. "I''ll be the one to deal with it. Just log out and help the rest by spamming the hashtags. Flood it with information unrted to the topic."

    "Like what?" Jarrett frowned. "K-Pop fan cams?"

    "Anything."

    The couple set to work. They originally had a date nned but once Andie saw the storm, she couldn''t turn her back on it. Jarrett found her on herptop when he arrived to pick her up. She had joined the mess and led a group of soldiers.

    It sort of amazed him.

    So he stuck around and enlisted under her rule.

    "Does Evangeline really have this many fans?" He spoke after 15 minutes of spamming. He had opened several tabs, each with a nk post to write on. He published each one as soon as he pasted the generic chirp he copied.

    Andie finished thest bite of her donut. She refreshed the page and scrolled through the hashtags. "Well, it''s not as big as other celebrities around her level but it is a start. Many of them purchased the red Athon bags because of Evangeline. She had left an impression on them. One that would not be fooled by this childish drama."

    She should know.

    She interviewed them one by one. Anyone under the Evangeline Reed banner should gain her approvalespecially this early into the game. They would be the veterans in the fandom and guide new ones in the future.

    "Are you two still at it?"

    Cale shook his head and walked over to the couch. He sat on the cushions, making himselffortable. His neon blue suit and tinum blonde hair stood out against the earthy color palette of the living room.

    "Heya, Cale. Any luck?"

    "None!" He groaned, looking through his contact list. "I don''t know who did it but brands had rejected me as soon as they heard Evangeline''s name. A scandal like this shouldn''t affect her work to this scale. It''s a clear sabotage."

    "Keep trying," Andie insisted. She spotted a chirp with a link and followed it. "If we can''t find any, we might as well try to convince Eve to do an interview. She can''t be too picky when there''s nothing else left."

    The front door shut with a thud.

    Two pairs of feet approached the living room. It was quite a sight. Everyone was on their gadgets, whether aptop or a cell phone. They were silent but they gave the impression of a well-oiled machine.

    "What the hell is going on here?" Eve demanded, eyeing the box of donuts beside her best friend. "And who pissed off Andie?"

 Chapter 130: The Art of Storms and Silence

    Chapter 130: The Art of Storms and Silence

    "Have you been living under a rock? What else could be pissing me off? It''s your sudden surge of haters, of course!" Andie growled. Lightning shed in her stormy blue eyes. The continuous pings from her notifications backed up her statement. "Believe me when I say that I''ll show no mercy when I find out who is behind this."

    Eve took a step back, raising her hands in surrender. "I see you''re on full st mode."

    The knives behind her best friend''s tone could cut stones. Whenever this happened, Andie could be 100% calm but she would still talk in this manner. It was hard to rub off once she got used to it.

    "I can''t let these bitches think they can get away with this."

    "How are you sure they are women?"

    "No one else could be this petty," Andie exined as if it was the most obvious thing in the world. She looked at her screen and scrolled down the open page. Her vision clouded in red. "And what the hell is this? Which fudger dare to create this story?"

    "You mean the fanfiction, right?" Jarrett asked. He shook his head as he reached the middle of the story. "There''s grammar errors here and there. The flow is also off but I can see why others would eat this up."

    Andie stuck out her tongue, saying, "It''s clickbait."

    Eve crouched next to her and skimmed it. She had never read a more forced story before this. With how many books she read, she could tell that the writer didn''t know what he/she/they wanted to convey. It was a blend of different ideas being mashed together.

    They were ingredients thrown in a bowl that won''t mixlike oil and water.

    "Even I can see the appeal," Eve whispered.

    Andie red at the both of them. "Why are you two siding with the enemies?"

    Jarrett shrugged. "Knowing your enemies'' strengths and weaknesses is a good thing. It helps us figure out how to counterattack. We need to break down whatever they are aiming for."

    "Which is? Tear Eve apart."

    He blew a raspberry. "What? No, that''s just part of it. Based on everything I saw, it''s always about Mikael and Evangeline. They''re iming that Evangeline is a social climber that is having an affair. And who is affected by this exactly?"

    "Eve, of course," Andie insisted.

    Her boyfriend gave her a knowing look. "It''s Ambeevan. Evangeline as a social climber could have been done when she got that slot for Athon Luxury. They could have pointed out more reasons why they think of her this way but they just keep talking about her and Mikael and the affair."

    "It''s to break them up," Jarrett concluded. His eyes swept around the room. "They want to put a wedge in between the couple. They can''t target Ambryan for obvious reasons. So, they target the other person of the rtionship."

    Andie scowled. She looked back at the trending hashtags. There wasn''t a trace of Ambryan''s name. He was only mentioned in passing throughout the articles. Of course, the media wouldn''t dare to drag his name too far.

    They must have feared what he''d do if they highlighted him too much.

    "But this doesn''t mean that you were wrong," Jarrett continued. "The first phase of the n is to put the pressure on Evangeline. If she doesn''t y into their hands, their n fails. Either way, she''s the one to make the move."

    His gazended on Eve.

    Eve bit her inner cheek, understanding what he meant. She stopped reading halfway through the fanfiction. Somehow, she had expected to find it appalling but the affair had been romanticized.

    If they changed the names, it could be a good story.

    Andie exhaled a long sigh through her nose. This wasn''t a predicament that would go away overnight. It might evenst for weeks. In that span of time, anything could happen.

    She crossed her arms over her chest and made her decision. Pointing her finger up, she shared her thoughts. "I say ignore them. They are not worth your breath."

    Eve snapped her head in Andie''s directions. She didn''t buy the advice. "Says the one who has been spamming relentlessly all day."

    Her best friend rolled her eyes. Then, she stared straight into Eve''s brown ones. "But I''m not Evangeline Reed. I''m not the person they are, in Cale''s words, ''sabotaging''. They''re provoking you. The best way to respond is get on with your life looking happy and unbothered."

    Jarrett raised his hand. "I second that."

    Switching her focus between the two, she could tell that they had made up their mind. Eve pressed her lips together and thought about it. It was still too early into the storm. Taking action right now would show that Evangeline was provoked.

    If Evangeline was provoked, that meant the enemies won.

    The more Eve yed with the idea, the more she agreed with the other two. "By ''looking happy and unbothered'', you mean in public, right?"

    "Well, yeah." Andie shrugged. "If you stay indoors, they think you''re hiding from shame. And the truth is the opposite. You have nothing to be ashamed about."

    Since when did you be an expert at handling celebrity scandals?" Eve chuckled. "

    "You learn a lot by reading them."

    "I''m good. Thanks." She rose to her feet and plopped down on the couch. Her body leaned sideways and her head cradled on a narrow shoulder. Her voice turned into a whisper. "Hey, Cale."

    "Hello to you too, beautiful," he greeted back.

    Eve''s chest constricted. Like Ambryan and Luna, he was also affected by this scandal. Her previous deliberation to do nothing suddenly became uncertain. "I''m sorry this happened."

    Cale put his phone down and nced in her direction, unable to see her face. "Why are you sorry? This is not your fault. People are just grasping at straws because they can''t find dirt on you. Whoever they are, they''re clearly jealous of your life."

    "Maybe," Eve replied. She pulled herself back up and rubbed her temples. "But I should have been more careful. I should avoid other males from now on to prevent this."

    "Sweetie, it''s not wrong to be friends with Mikael. It''s not wrong to be friends with the opposite sex. You''re in the same agency. You''re in the same apartment building. If anything, this is natural given your situation," the modelling manager reasoned.

    His eyes drooped at the corners. "And I''m the one who should apologize. None of my connections would even take you in."

    "Oh. Cale. It''s fine. I don''t need"

    "No! No, it''s not okay!" He yelled. He hopped off the couch and wed at his scalp. When he released his head, his tinum blonde hair pointed in different directions. He walked over to the window and pulled the curtain.

    The world outside molded with his imagination. "I wanted to paint the whole city with Evangeline Reed. So, wherever your haters go, they''d always see your face."

    He didn''t have the same level of power as his other friends. He initially sought them out for help but Andie pointed out that Eve might not like it. If he wanted to support Eve, it should be by his own abilities.

    And he was in charge of her modelling career.

    Yet, he couldn''t do anything.

    It pained him to be the person that couldn''t contribute to their cause.

    "Ooohh, I like that!" Andie cooed. Her mood elevated and her hot-tempered blood cooled down. It definitely sounded like a good idea. It would be a missed opportunity if they don''t do it. "You can still do that once they retreat. Rub the victory in their faces."

    "But win by silence?" Eve doubted for the nth time. She itched to do something more active. Doing nothing seemed unaplished. Powerless. Handcuffed. It wasn''t the message she wanted to send across.

    Jarrett pursed his lips. They had to do it publicly but Evangeline shouldn''t leave the house without a valid reason. "I still say we need to get Evangeline a gig. That''s one way to look unaffected by the whole ordeal. If you have an endorsement even when they try to cut you off, that''s a win."

    "Where could I even go?" Eve asked. She went through a mental list of establishments that she knew. "Andie''s workce?"

    Cale''s ears perked up at the words, spinning on his heel. "Andie''s workce?"

    Jarrett hung his head. His position gave him an upside-down view of the modelling manager. "Oh, right. You don''t know. Andie works in a bakery. It''s not exactly a ce for someone to be a model of. They prefer to disy pictures of the food."

    "But having a model with the right expressions could entice customers to try the items."

    Andie showed a tight smile. "I know but the owner really doesn''t like it. If she did, I would have asked Eve that favor from the beginning."

    Silence enveloped the room.

    Eve''s gazended on the archway. "What is it, Nanzie? Is there trouble outside?"

    The bodyguard had stayed quiet throughout the discussion. She just got off the phone when Eve addressed her. "Not here, Ms. Eve. At the apartmentplex. Reporters have tried to break in, wanting a photo of you since you haven''t responded to the articles."

    "Reporters?"

    "Yes."

    Eve stared at the floor. Her mind worked on overdrive as inspiration struck. The light came through her eyes and brightened up her face. It could rival a star in the sky.

    Andie narrowed her gaze, feeling suspicious. "What are you thinking?"

 Chapter 131: If Sh(i)e can Bake, So can You!

    Chapter 131: If Sh(i)e can Bake, So can You!

    Shie Bakes Shop had evolved from a bakery into both a bakery and a confectionary store. The ce expanded to include more tables and chairs for their customers. They also offered select beverages for anyone who wanted to dine in.

    Despite this, the shop kept its simple interior of brick walls and wooden flooring. The furniture also followed the rustic ambianceminus the vinyl couches pressed against the walls.

    The main counter took up one-fourth of the space. From the wall to the middle, it connected with the kitchen where the magic happened. Breads, cakes, cookies, brownies and more filled up the ss disys. The inner lights gleamed on the golden crusts.

    On sunny days, the kitchen opened its windows and let the smell of cooking bread into the street air. Thus, locals near the establishment always felt hungry.

    .

    .

    .

    They would be spared for a day though.

    Today marked the baking ss held by Shie Bakes Shop every year. Kids and their guardians wore aprons over their clothing. The tables and chairs had been set up into several long lines, allowing the staff to monitor them easier. They crowded the store and forced regr customers to use the counter window for their purchases.

    Nheless, it had a lively atmosphere.

    "Alright!" Andie said, waving her hand in the air. Her voice boomed over the chatter. A tiny microphone had been pinned on her apron. She stood on a tform which had her own table, ingredients and tools. "Good morning, everyone. Thank you for taking part in our summer baking ss where we prove year after year that"

    "If Shie can bake, so can you!" The crowd finished in sync. At least, the majority of them did.

    Andieughed at the enthusiasm. Then, her eyes spotted the confused first timers. "Because you know ''she'' rhymes with ''Shie'' Shie is the owner and yeah, moving along."

    "Today, we have a special guest," Andie continued. The grin on her face reached ear to ear. She could bet that no one was more excited than her at this moment. "She''ll be my partner throughout this ss. Please wee..., Ms. Evangeline Reed!"

    White polka dots on a violet skirt emerged from the kitchen. The fabric snaked upwards, forming a bodice and a sweetheart neckline. The dress had two straps that connected at the back by knotting them into a bow. Thin silver silk hugged the waist, emphasizing the curve.

    A bit of an underskirt peeked at the hem.

    Crimson red hair flowed down from a high ponytail. They waved all the way through and brushed the exposed upper back. ck cat-eye liner framed round amber eyes. Cherry lips bloomed into a stunning smile.

    "Woo," Ede gasped. Her cinnamon hair had been braided on either side of her face. It exposed her face clearly. "She is gorgeous."

    Eri tilted her head sideways. "She looks like mom."

    "Which makes her extra beautiful," Georgie chuckled behind them.

    Crossing her arms over her chest, Eri bit her inner cheek. "Hm. "Eve is still better looking."

    "Agreed." Ede nodded vigorously.

    Georgie shook her head. If she hadn''t known beforehand, she might have been fooled like them. She would have imed that she would recognize Eve through the disguise except she had failed when Andie showed her the magazine.

    Now that she had a closer look, it almost felt like Evangeline Hart had returned.

    Eve waved at the crowd, "Hello, everyone. Who can''t wait to eat these cookies after we bake them? Literally what I looked forward to all day."

    The adults appreciated her sense of humor and pped as theyughed. She leaped for thest foot between her and the podium, taking the spot beside Andie. Thetter gave her an apron.

    While Eve ced it on, Andie talked to the crowd. "Like Evangeline said, we''ll be making cookies this summer. Next week is our big sale where everyone is encouraged to sell their homemade baked goods. All of the proceeds will go to the chosen charity."

    "And!" Eve cut in. She wrapped a hai around her ponytail. "The best-selling item will be featured at Shie Bakes Shop for the entire fall season. The earnings will be split between the home baker and the store so good luck!"

    The ssmenced smoothly.

    Eve held the whisk while Andie narrated each ingredient before adding them to the bowl. The rest watched as they exined each step, emphasizing key points and warning about mistakes. Andie provided solutions formon ones in order not to scrap the batter altogether.

    Sometimes, it could be saved.

    Other times, it could produce something different.

    If both fail, as long as it was edible, the batter wasn''t a waste.

    Eve put down the silicone spat and stepped back.

    "That''s about it," Andie dered. The audience pped as she "Be very careful not to overmix the batter. Evangeline and I will be going around to help if you have any questions. You can now start your batter. A printed recipe had beenid out for you in case you forgot a step."

    Ede immediately dragged her chair closer to the table. She knelt over the cushion and stared at the ingredients on the table. None of them had been pre-measured. She grabbed a measuring cup, ready to try it out.

    "Uh-uh," Georgie protested, tucking in a white-streaked hair strand. The other customers showed her tremendous respect. She became ustomed to it over time. It came with the jobbeing the teacher''s mother that is. "We don''t need that yet. We should cream the butter and sugar first."

    The younger twin pouted. "But, don''t you need it to measure the sugar?"

    Georgie paused for a moment.

    Then, herughter pierced through the air. "Why, that''s right! Let me just soften the butter a little bit before we try it out. Can you wait till I''m done?"

    "Okay!"

    Eri had pulled her chair on her sister''s right, trapping Ede in the middle. She propped both of her elbows on the table and cradled her head in her hands. The other group had taken the spot next to Georgie.

    All she could do was watch.

    When Ede sprinkled the sugar onto the butter, she frowned. Her brown eyes went to the empty spot to her right. There was an extra bowl nearby. She also wanted to make her own cookies but Aunt Georgie was busy with Ede.

    She couldn''t wait that long. cing both hands on the table, Eri looked around the room. She noticed Andie from the corner of her eye. Thetter had just finished a conversation with a single mother.

    Her head turned in Eri''s direction.

    This was her chance!

    "Andie"

    But her request died in her throat when someone else caught Andie''s attention first. Her shoulders hunched at the failed attempt. She nced to her left.

    Ede gripped the mesh strainer and tried to sift the dry ingredients. Dusts of flour flew over the bowl,nding on the table. Eri leaned back to avoid getting them on her denim jumper. She reached for the empty bowl and the te of butter.

    Aunt Georgie and her twin were almost done.

    Soon, it would be her turn to try.

    "Are you trying to make a batter by yourself?" A voice asked behind her.

    Eri dropped the bowl and twisted her torso towards the source. She raised her hands up in surrender. "I wasn''t! I was just pulling them closer so they''ll be ready once Aunt Georgie and Ede are done."

    A pair of amber eyes blinked at her.

    Resisting to pinch the child, Eve chuckled. She approached the table and took "Don''t have a partner, huh? If you''re okay with me, I''ll help you out."

    Eri''s demeanor changed. Her whole face lit up like a nket of stars. "Really?!"

    "Yes, really."

    "Okay!" She grabbed the recipe and read the first instruction. "We need butter and sugar. There''s dark brown sugar and white sugar. We need both to get the right consistency for when the cookies are baking."

    Eve slipped the rest of the butter into the bowl. She handed over the measuring cup and let Eri figure out which one they needed. "Sounds like someone has been listening well."

    "Mhm!" Her younger sister replied, picking two cups. She used the bigger one for the dark brown sugar. Her other hand scooped it out of the bag and filled up the cup. "Eve always said to pay attention. It could mean life or death when it counts the most."

    ''... what have I been teaching a kid?'' Eve suddenly asked herself. She squinted at the ceiling, trying to remember what it had been about. The thought vanished as soon as it came. She decided to switch topics.

    "Eve?"

    "Yeah, she''s my sister. She''s supposed to be here but something came up," Eri exined in one breath. She changed cups and searched for the white sugar.

    Eve bit on her bottom lip. She did say that. If it wasn''t for this scandal, her sister wouldn''t have been waiting for a partner. The mere sight of it saddened her. "Are you mad that she ditched you.?"

    "No. I think she spends too much time on work. It''s only right for her to go on a date."

    "A date?" Eve eximed, fluttering her eyes. It was low enough for only the two of them to hear.

    "That''s what Andie said," Eri leaked. She read thebels of the other bags and organized them ording to which they needed first. "Eve wouldn''t tell me where she was going so I asked her instead."

 Chapter 132: Intruder Alert! Intruder Alert!

    Chapter 132: Intruder Alert! Intruder Alert!

    "That''s what Andie said," Eri leaked. She read thebels of the other bags and organized them ording to which they needed first. "Eve wouldn''t tell me where she was going so I asked her instead."

    Eve''s expression turned into a deadpan one.

    Blinking, her eyes flickered towards her best friend. It had been weeks since that was first brought up. She didn''t think Andie would speak about it again. How would the twins believe that it was a joke if Andie kept bringing it up?

    It''s not like she could introduce her sisters to a random guy,

    "And you believed her?" Eve began to stir the butter and the two sugars.

    Eri thought about it for a moment. If her sister really did have a boyfriend, she wouldn''t deny the im but Andie didn''t seem to be lying either. "I rarely see my sister during the weekends now. I''d like it better if she was having fun somewhere rather than working."

    "Really?"

    "Yeah," the older twin nodded. She watched as the batter changed into a golden brown color. "I didn''t know it before but I heard some of the parents at my school talk about it. They feel sorry for Eve since she had to take care of us at a young age."

    The whisk stopped mixing.

    Eri didn''t take notice of it. She checked the recipe for the next step.

    "Eh, it needs an egg and an egg yolk?" Her head whirled around to look at Eve''s face. She held up the egg. "Is that even possible?"

    "I''ll show you." Eve reached for it at a snail pace. Most of her mind had migrated to another ce. She never felt burdened by her sisters. She had always wanted the best for them. She helped out with their school work whenever possible.

    She had even attended school activities.

    It had be part of her life even when their mother was still around.

    Did Eri start to think that after she heard it from the parents?

    .

    .

    .

    While Eve and Andie mingled with the crowd, Cale stood by the entrance. He had his phone out and began filming. He had shared a few snippets earlier, posting them as soon as possible. Loud yells from outside managed to reach his ears.

    It brought a smile to his face.

    "Hello, my lovelies," he narrated. Messages emerged at the bottom of the screen. Hearts floated up, showering the live broadcast with love. "OMG! Who else has a sweet tooth? The cookies haven''t even started baking but I can already smell and taste them! Ah, it''s such a good day."

    His camera panned at the long tables. Most of the attendees were families. With the presence of kids, the bakery had a lively atmosphere. His microphone picked up the endless chatter andughter.

    The screentime may have lingered at a certain redhead more than others though.

    .

    ``insert username: Wait, wait, wait, is that Evangeline Reed???? That''s her right??? Someone tell me I''m not hallucinating. There''s no way I can miss that crimson hair!``

    ``insert another username: I can''t be sure. There''s so many people. Maybe Cale can zoom in? Ugh, I am so intrigued! Is Ambryan going to appear? Will they y with the kids?``

    ``insert something something: It has to be her! The outfit also stands out! Everyone else is wearing their usual daily clothes. Is this a sponsorship? Is she an ambassador? Btw, what bakery is this?``

    .

    Cale grinned behind at his phone screen.

    The n was going perfectly.

    Outside, camera shutters sounded on the streets. All of the windows had been covered. Each reporter searched for the best angle. The people inside blocked most of them. They had only captured a few from when Evangeline stood at the podium.

    Even then, a dirty blonde chick got in their way.

    It didn''t help that the staff refused to be interviewed.

    That proved that there had to be a scoop. Evangeline''s name had sted through the inte. The subject in question had to be aware of it. They fought for any information, trying to be the first one to bring in the news.

    But, her side remained quiet.

    It frustrated them.

    "One more step, sir, and you''ll be removed," Nanzie warned a reporter. She and her team had lowered the security but no one else could enter the bakery besides the attendees.

    "Aw,e on!" He wailed. "What is going on here,dy? Is this some stunt Evangeline is pulling? Is she trying to look good for the camera? Spill the beans. We can pay you a handsome reward for any inside info."

    The bodyguard bowed her head. Her cyan eyes peeked above the sunsses she wore. "Ask me again and you''ll lose your job."

    "This is abuse of power. What? Is she overconfident now that she had Ambryan Hathaway? But she still wasn''t satisfied, was she? Try as you might but nothing will keep us from exposing the truth!"

    Nanzie gritted her teeth. She struggled to restrain herself. Her work experience included protecting people from their enemies but that hardly brought it reporters. Out of everyone she ever met, she could confidently say that reporters had to be one of the most despicable ones.

    Her coworkers noticed her sudden change and took over the talking. They warned the reporter once more and extended it to the others. The reportersined. The sight churned Nanzie''s stomach.

    They had been lenient, even allowing them to tail the car.

    But, they still wanted more.

    .

    .

    .

    "All done!" Eve announced. Every inch of the dough had rich chocte chips. She and Eri spooned them one by one and shaped them into balls. They managed to fill in three trays with cookies.

    Then, they licked off the excess and ate it.

    The others had also finished.

    Andie pped her hands to get their attention, "Everyone done? The ovens are ready to go. Remember thebels on your trays. While we wait, you can watch the cookies while they bake but only for a limited amount of time.

    Ede climbed down the chair and flexed her fingers. Sticky dough coated the palms of her hands. The batter had softened too much from overmixing. She turned to her right. "Eri, do you need to wash your hands? Cause I do."

    Seeing her twin''s hands, Eri checked hers. Butter had made them slippery. "Yeah, it''s greasy."

    "Let''s go to the bathroom."

    "Okay."

    "Be careful!" Georgie reminded them before they left. She borrowed a rag and helped clean the tables while the staff took the trays. Any bags of ingredients left had been gathered together for future use.

    "So, how do you think we''re doing?" Andie asked, appearing on her best friend''s side. She made sure to choose the spot that was closer to the window. Her face stayed hidden from the cameras. "And I don''t mean the baking ss, of course."

    Eve spared the window a nce. The reporters remained active. "Seems to be going well. Now that you are here though"

    She crossed her arms over her chest while her gaze narrowed, attempting to ce Andie under pressure. They had to draw the line now before the situation escted. And, she wouldn''t take no for an answer.

    "What?" Her best friend blinked.

    Eve''s voice dropped to a hiss. "You told Eri that I went on a date?"

    "It was a joke!" Andie defended, feigning innocence.

    "Does she know that?"

    "Yes. I did tell her that. But, did she believe me? I don''t know." She shrugged, unbothered by the whole ordeal. "Did she recognize you though?"

    "I don''t think either of them did but I can''t be sure." Eve sighed. Her eyes shifted towards the restrooms. "I wouldn''t be surprised if Eri faked it all this time. She was very open with me."

    "Maybe it''s her subconscious who recognizes you."

    "I think she just has a good eye for people," her mother joined in.

    Georgie wiped her hands with a damp towel as she approached the two. "Try not to give the twins a heart attack if you ever tell them about this. They won''t ever let it go if they failed to recognize their own sister."

    "I''m actually waiting for the revtion," Eve shared.

    She had faith that they would figure it out.

    .

    .

    .

    In the restroom, both girls rubbed their palms together. A sign for proper hand washing hung near the dryer. They followed it thoroughly without looking. Aunt Georgie often reminded them about proper sanitationespecially when working with food.

    "Evangeline seems nice," Ede remarked after a while. The dryer whirled to life when she ced her hands under the machine. "Should we get her autograph? Maybe we can sell it online."

    Eri knitted her eyebrows. "Hm. I don''t know."

    "Don''t know what? She helped you, right?"

    "Yeah, except something doesn''t feel right," she continued. Ede stepped back and let her take her turn. "At the same time, I feel safe around her. Maybe she just reminds me of Eve since I miss her? What do you think?"

    "Maybe."

    The twins exited the restroom as soon as they were done. The smell of cookies greeted their noses as soon as they stepped out. Their noses sniffed the air, craving for more. The scent enticed their taste buds and made their mouths water.

    "Evangeline really is pretty though," Ede said. She caught a glimpse of the redhead and tried to follow it. Unfortunately, her choice led her towards a solid wall.

    Or so she thought.

    Gazing up, her brown eyes met a pair of violet ones.

 Chapter 133: Seeing is Believing

    Chapter 133: Seeing is Believing

    "Oh! Sorry, mister!" Ede apologized, bowing her head once. She moved out of his way and stood by her sister''s side. Goosebumps sprouted on her skin. The intimidating gaze was still fresh on her mind.

    He was a man that she needed to avoid.

    Or else, she''d get into a whole lot of trouble.

    Eri tilted her head sideways while staring at the man. Unlike her twin sister, she didn''t feel afraid. He hadn''t moved since Ede unblocked his path. That simple pause had piqued her curiosity. She mimicked his stance.

    They stood a foot away from each other.

    Her brown eyes squinted at his face.

    "You look familiar," she stated. Her height reached just below his chest.

    "Eri!" Ede hissed. "Don''t. He''s a stranger. We''re not supposed to talk to strangers."

    "But he''s familiar!" Eri defended, sparing his sister a nce. She turned her head back towards Ambryan. "I know I''ve seen you somewhere. I am just not sure when."

    Her forehead creased as she concentrated. Memories flooded her mind like a movie montage. They never met in real life. That much she knew. But, she had seen his face more than once. Either he was someone famous or he was someone that a mutual friend knew.

    If it was the former, they could ask for his autograph and sell it.

    Ambryan stared back indifferently. He came from the backdoor, where the bakery brought in its deliveries. The number of trucks obstructed the view from the reporters. Thetter also saw no merit there since security blocked their chances to enter the establishment.

    He only came to peek.

    He didn''t expect to run into anyone.

    "AH!" Eri gasped. Her index finger shot up to point at his chest. "You''re Eve''s boss!"

    "Eve?" Ambryan asked. Upon the mention of her name, he studied the little girl more. The mole under her right eye stood out against her fair skin. The strands of her cinnamon braid glinted against the indoor lights.

    "Eve. Everlee Hart."

    His eyebrow rose up. "You know her?"

    "She''s my sister. Duh. We have the same eye color?" Eri exined, pointing at her almond-shaped eyes. She almost omitted the word, ''color'', until she remembered that Eve had round eyes.

    "I see," Ambryan dismissed. He knew Eve had brown eyes but so did a lot of people. Still, the person before him was barely 10 years old. It wouldn''t be good to argue about the topic.

    Eri stepped from one to side to the next, searching behind him and wondering if he was alone or not. If he was here, someone else should be present as well. "Is my sister with you?"

    Ambryan frowned. "No, it''s her day off."

    Why would the little girl think that? Didn''t Eve tell her where she was going?

    Crossing her arms over her chest, Eri turned her face away from him. She began to mumble to herself. "Maybe Andie was right. Maybe Eve really is on a date."

    "A date?" Ambryan bent his knees, matching the girl''s eye level. "Your sister has a boyfriend?"

    "I don''t know. I''ve never seen him. It''s just spection." Eri shrugged. Then, she blinked and stared at him with wide eyes. "Why are you asking? Do you like my sister by any chance?"

    "I already have a girlfriend unfortunately," he humored her, smiling slightly. He hadn''t spoken to children in a long time. Hisst memory of it was with a baby who cried as soon as he held her in his arms.

    Others had too much energy for him to keep up.

    He hadn''t been this entertained.

    "Who?" Eri asked. The question flew out of her mouth before she could think twice.

    Ambryan nodded above her head, directing her with his nose. "That woman over there."

    Right on cue, the redhead beauty whirled her head. Her bright smile could rival the ceiling lights. She spoke to a few customers andughed along with them. One was a mother who carried a baby on her hip. A crash sounded nearby but away from spectators'' view.

    The mother shrieked at the source.

    Hurriedly, Eve took the baby while the mother marched over to her other children.

    Ambryan stopped breathing.

    "Evangeline?" She demanded after following his line of sight. Only one other question came to her mind at the same time. "Why are you here and not with her then?"

    The CEO straightened his legs and dusted off his jacket. He chose another all-ck suit since it allowed him to blend in the dark. The tie he wore also fit the color scheme. "Because we can''t be seen together."

    "Are you sure you''re not just a stalker?" Ede cut in. She wasn''t blind. She saw how many reporters were outside. This could all be a ruse. "We know the people outside are here for her. It''s not for a good reason either."

    Ambryan showed her a smile.

    "Yes, I''m sure. I only came to see if she''s okay. " He pressed a finger to his lips, half-stepping towards the back entrance. "Don''t tell anyone you saw me, okay? I''ll be leaving now."

    "If you''re worried about her, why don''t you stay?" Eri scowled. She couldn''tprehend why the couple needed to be discreet. The need to look after one another should matter more than anything.

    Why care about what others think?

    Ambryan nced over his shoulder, taking onest look at the twins. His back loomed over them like a tall building. "Haven''t your sister told you? I''m a busy man."

    With nothing else left to say, he headed for the exit.

    "We''ll look after her for you if you want," Ede called out as he retreated to the shadows. She figured he came by because no one else could do it. Since they would be here for the entire day, they could do it on his behalf.

    The CEO halted in his steps.

    He shuffled his feet until his body faced the wall while his neck twisted the rest of the way. Both twins looked at him with the same determination in their eyes. Out of all the things he expected to happen on this visit, this never urred in his mind.

    He had been so cryptic.

    At most, he guessed they''d be confused.

    Who knew that they''d want to help him out? It was sort of adorable.

    "Really?" He chuckled, rubbing his chin. He should do something in return but what? The answer came to him not a secondter. "Do you like dark chocte? I can bring you some the next time we meet."

    "Mm!" Ede nodded. "How did you know?"

    "It was a feeling."

    It wasn''t an entire lie. Although Eve had said the same thing, it was still possible that her sisters had a different taste. He continued on his way without a second look back. The watch on his wrist reminded him of his limited time. He couldn''t afford to bete.

    ''What an interesting family.''

    Ede nudged her sister''s arm. "Hey, Eri. What do you think of him?"

    "He''s weird," Eri answered without hesitation. Her head remained stuck on his words. He was a famous figure but so was Evangeline. Were they hiding their rtionship? Is that why he said they couldn''t be seen?

    What was the problem?

    "Eh, why do you say that?"

    "He came all this way but doesn''t want to talk to his girlfriend," Eri exined. She ruffled her hair, messing up her braid. "They could hide in the back if they didn''t want to be seen. There''s always a way! I can''t tell how his brain works at all!"

    It sounded so simple in her mind. Maybe they got into a fight? Theck of information gnawed the sides of her head. Oh, how she disliked cryptic messages!

    She shouldn''t have approached him in the first ce!

    "Eri? Ede? What''s taking you so long?" Georgie said, appearing at the other end of the hallway. She found the twins standing by themselves in the middle of an empty corridor.

    "Nothing, Aunt Georgie." Ede responded for the both of them. "We got caught up talking about the uing recital. We lost track of time and we''re very sorry."

    "Is that true, Eri?"

    "Yes," the older twin backed up.

    Then, people started toe out of the kitchen. They carried trays and trays of delicious sweets. The sight erased the previous incident from her mind. "Are they taking out the cookies?!"

    .

    .

    .

    Wen stood beside a delivery truck. The back opened to an adjacent alley which limited the amount of people and vehicles. Since Evangeline had security around the premises, they managed to blend in without alerting the media.

    "Sir Hathaway. Back so soon?" She pushed herself off the truck and escorted the CEO towards the back of it. The other members of their team unlocked the doors.

    Ambryan walked ahead of her, one hand tucked in his pant pocket. "I was spotted."

    His head bodyguard stopped walking.

    She raised her hand, ready to give the others her signal. "Should we take care of it for you?"

    "There''s no need. They''re only children."

    Ambryan climbed into the truck. A small bench had been provided for him. He sat on it as the truck vibrated to life. His thumb clicked on the new app. It had only been a few hours since he downloaded it.

    A voice flowed out of the phone speaker.

    "And they''re here! Cookies for everyone!" Cale announced in his live stream. "I''ll be turning this off for now. I just have to try Evangeline''s cookies. See youter, lovelies!"

 Chapter 134: A Lotus Can Have Thorns

    Chapter 134: A Lotus Can Have Thorns

    Lotus Agency was a building located at the west side of the city. Inspired by Greek and Roman architecture, it gave the impression of a museum. It housed many rooms dedicated to its trainees. It even held annual contests where all trainees, whether new or not, couldpete for a one-year contract with a famous brand.

    The lobby bustled with neers, auditioning for the contest. The interior maintained a modern stylepared to its outer infrastructure. The tiles were a shade of dark grey and the furniture wasposed of white leather and wooden features.

    "It''s that time of year again, huh?" Jordan asked out loud. He stepped through the revolving doors and spotted the crowd easily. "I can''t say I don''t like it. Such disys of beauty are always wee in my book."

    The sun gleamed through the windows, glowing on his bronze skin. He wore cream cks and a tan jacket over a blue dress shirt. The hem of his bottoms reached just above his ankle, exposing his ck socks. His buff oxfords looked fresh off the shelves with their subtle sheen.

    Mikael appeared right behind him. He leaned forward until his lips were right behind his friend''s ear. "You act like you don''t see models everyday."

    Jordan gave him a re.

    He merely smiled.

    Gasps and whispers reverberated against the walls. Most of the neers and theirpanions took out their phones to take photos of Mikael Davis. His sunsses hung on the neckline of his Hawaiian shirt. He partnered the look with a pair of beige cargo pants and blue boat shoes.

    Unlike hispanion, he didn''t give anyone a second of attention.

    "Models like who? You?" Jordan retorted as they walked further into the building. They headed for the front desk. "Sorry, but I don''t swing that way."

    "There are female models around too sometimes."

    "Yeah, but those rarely ask for help. These, however, are newducklings that are waiting for their swan wings," he exined further. Pulling on hispels, he nudged his model''s side. "And who could give them some tips?"

    "Other models?" Mikael replied. He greeted the receptionist and logged into the monitoring sheet. His clean penmanship put the other visitor ones to shame.

    "And managers! We do know a thing or two. Especially when ites to attracting sponsors and clients." Jordan fixed his tie. At that moment, his eyes met a few onlookers. He waved at them, earning a few squeals. "See? I told you. I have game."

    "Whatever you say." Mikael dismissed. He went in the opposite direction of the neers. "Come on or I''ll leave you behind. I''m sure the higher ups will appreciate you beingte for the meeting."

    Jordan bid his farewells and jogged until he reached Mikael. They made a right. Other models loitered in the area, both male and female. They hustled about to attend their own meetings and client appointments. Mikael nodded at a few of them, recognizing them from his first year as a rookie.

    A number of people stood in front of the elevators.

    The pair stayed a foot behind them and waited for their turn patiently.

    "OMG!" A female model gasped, scrolling through her phone. She tapped herpanion and showed her screen. "Look who is out of hiding. Evangeline Reed has finally woken up from her coffin and rose from the dead."

    The post had several pictures. Each had the same view, the outside of a bakery. Evangeline had been captured entering it. The first ones had her wearing sunsses. The others had her without it. It was still early.

    None of the ss attendees had arrived yet.

    "Where''s that?" The second model asked.

    "I''m not sure onement says it''s Shie Bakes Shop."

    She eventually found the name on one of the windows. They had used gold paint to write in calligraphy with a few doodles of baked goods. Nodding her head, she said, "It looks like a cute ce."

    "Who cares about what the ce looks? Her outfit practically screams attention. They must be so right about her," the first model remarked. She checked for more posts and stumbled upon a clip of Cale''s live stream. "Everyone is like really casual while she''s wearing a 50s inspired dress. This is no ordinary visit to a bakery. It''s a publicity stunt."

    Herpanion bit her inner cheek, observing the lip. Evangeline did stand out easily but the camera wasn''t focused on her but at the people. "Maybe she''s doing it for the bakery to get more exposure."

    "Oh, please. Just right when she had a scandal? It''s too much of a coincidence."

    Mikael gritted his teeth. It took all of his willpower not to say anything. It didn''t matter who it was, he didn''t want anyone to experience this treatment. He took a deep breath and urged his temper to calm down. The truth would eventuallye to light.

    The two elevators parted open.

    After a split-second deciding, Mikael followed the two women. He heard them gasp under their breaths when he entered the lift. He pushed the button meant for the floor they needed. Then, he nced over his shoulder.

    "Which floors are you going to?"

    "Oh, uh" the first model stuttered, her angelic face still wearing a startled expression. "10th and 11th please."

    "Alright."

    Jordan gave his model the side-eye. People who knew Mikael knew that he didn''t talk to strangers. Others may see this as him being polite but anyone taking the lift should push the floor as soon as they got in.

    ''It wasn''t any of their business'' as Mikael once put it.

    The two female models leaned against the back wall as if desiring to be one. They had heard of him but never seen him in the agency. He became sort of a legend, a mytha figure they could never see unless they had the luck or the skills.

    Their voices came in hushed tones.

    "Talk to him," the second model encouraged her friend. "You just spoke. This is your chance."

    The first model bit her bottom lip. She admired Mikael Davis since she was in school. He had captured her heart with just one billboard poster that she passed by everyday. She could never forget his radiant blue eyes.

    They seemed to stare right into her soul.

    ''What would they even talk about?'' She wondered.

    Mikael scowled as he stared straight ahead. "What do you think Evangeline is doing?"

    Jordan narrowed his gaze in suspicion. "How should I know?"

    "Aren''t you checking on the news? I figured you would since you know how I despise being linked with someone for no reason," Mikael reminded him. "I''m looking forward to it dying down soon. I might do something I regret if it doesn''t."

    ''... what kind of topsy-turvy world did I fall into?'' Jordan questioned, giving hispanion a weird look.

    The first model''s breath hitched. A light bulb appeared on top of her head. She just had the best idea for this once in a lifetime opportunity. Nudging her friend, she handed over her phone with its camera ready to record a live stream.

    They only had a few floors left to go.

    It was now or never.

    She took a deep breath and tapped Mikael''s shoulder. "Ah, hey."

    Jordan raised his hand, ready to intervene. Thedy must have thought she could casually talk to Mikael just because he asked what floor they headed for. Such wishful thinking was dangerous.

    But then, Mikael turned around to face her. "Yes?"

    "Um...," the model gulped. "Are you talking about Evangeline Reed?"

    "Yes, why?"

    Jordan''s jaw dropped. He wasn''t just in an upside down world he was in another dimension! Mikael was actually entertaining the model''s attempts.

    "I just can''t believe what she''s done," the first modelmented, shaking her head. "I heard she never went through training here. She''s already really luckypared to most of us. But why can''t she be satisfied?"

    Mikael kept his response discreet. "I see."

    "Really?" She blinked, taken aback at how amodating he was. "You should have seen her today. She''s ying innocent in front of the press. But it''s so obvious that it''s to gain attention. You deserve so much better."

    "Ah, yes. I disliked her."

    "Did she threaten you or something?" The female model spoke softly but loud enough for her phone mic to pick up. "Maybe even bribe you to give those flowers and gifts? Is it a ruse to make Ambryan jealous? How dare she use you like that!"

    Mikael pulled the corners of his lips and nced at the floor.

    When he looked back up, there was a new re in his eyes. "No, she didn''t threaten me. Neither did she bribe me. Those flowers and gifts came from an admirer of hers. For something as extravagant as those, I wouldn''t let anyone else take the credit if it really had been from me."

    Jordan took a step back.

    The situation started to make sense. His chocte eyes flickered towards the corner. The other model still held the phone up. He assumed it was recording. This was all too perfect. How did Mikael know this would happen?

    "Oh, my mistake" the first modelughed under her breath. "Is there another reason why you dislike her then?"

    Mikael mmed his foot against the floor.

    The first model backed away on instinct. Cold sweat dripped at the sides of her face.

    "Have you forgotten your grammar lessons? I said that I disliked her. As in the past. Not that I dislike her now."

 Chapter 135: Knights in Flowers

    Chapter 135: Knights in Flowers

    The temperature inside the elevator dropped a few degrees for the first model. The blood in her head drained, leaving shallow skin and bones. Her instincts told her that it had been a trap. Mikael never cared about her opinions.

    He simply wanted to humiliate her.

    "Ho-How-How dare you a bully someone weaker than you!" She cried, her voice rougher than before. Tears threatened to pool in her eyes. She held breath in order to suppress them. "You deliberately misled me to say such things!"

    Mikael raised one eyebrow slowly. Its sharp tip could slice her skin. "Oh? Would you take back what you said then? Are you to admit that the only reason you said them was to impress me?"

    Jordan pressed a fist against his lips. That was such a good blow! Either one ced the young woman in a bad light. It was a matter between which one made her less bad but even then, the damage had been done.

    He tried not to look at the second model.

    She might catch his stare and end the recording.

    "Besides, if I did truly bully you... at least, I gave you a chance to defend yourself," Mikael continued. The sharp edge skewered into his tone of voice. "I''m not doing it behind your back. Nor did I do it based it on what others said about you, putting words in your mouth and iming your actions for you. I based it entirely on what you have shown and said to me."

    The elevator dinged and opened its doors.

    He half-turned towards it. "Also, if I catch you doing this again to my peers again, I won''t be as forgiving. Consider this as a warning to you and anyone who dares."

    Then, he walked away.

    Jordan scrambled to follow him. He didn''t want to be around to see the aftermath and deal with it. Mikael used long strides, wanting to get as much distance as possible. The pulse in his neck drummed rapidly. If he had stayed a second longer, he might have done something more extreme.

    The n to release a statement calmly burned in mes.

    "Mikael! Mikael!" Jordan panted after catching up. "What the hell was that? Can you warn a dude? How did you even know they''d record? Were you that confident?"

    He couldn''t have pictured a better scene. The one who took the initiative had been the model. Her words had provoked Mikael to take action. Not to mention how his friend exined why he said the things he saiddeliberately trying to guess the other party''s motives.

    Majority of the me fell on the model.

    Mikael halted in his steps. He gave his friend an incredulous look. "What?"

    Jordan also stopped. As he tried to normalize his breathing, he wagged a finger at Mikael. A tight knit creased in his eyebrows. His head shook gradually. "Wait a minute you didn''t know they were recording you?"

    "They were?"

    "Oh, for heaven''s sake" Jordan fished out his phone and checked social media. He had seen those girls before but didn''t mind them much. It didn''t take long before someone else reposted the video. It seemed to have been a live stream.

    "Here," he said, handing Mikael the phone. "Check it out for yourself."

    Mikael watched as his recorded selfsh out. The video was blurry because of the weak signal in the lift but it still worked. He could still set that it was him in the video as well as his voice talking through the speaker.

    "Nice. I thought the other person might stop streaming if I made a move. d it worked out in our favor," Jordan remarked. If he wasn''t mistaken, the ount belonged to the first model. It would be better if she also shared those statements online. Based on her personality, he was almost 100% positive that she did.

    "I never thought I''d see this day," he whistled, taking his phone back. Heced his hands together and stretched his arms overhead. "You actually defended Evangeline Reed and consider her as part of your circle of friends. Is the world going to end tomorrow?"

    Mikael rolled his eyes and resumed walking. "I''ve also defended others in the past."

    "Yeah, but not someone you initially disliked," his manager ced bluntly. Jordan raised his hands in surrender when he flickered a re his way. "Which you openly admitted so I am just quoting you."

    "It''s not exactly what I had in mind but it did its job," Mikael said, exhaling sharply through his nose. The conference room was right ahead. "The tide should be turning now."

    True to his word, another storm whirled on the inte. The clip from the stream had been shared thousands of times and reached far more people than the initial articles. The hungry wolves had been waiting.

    Since Evangeline hardly satisfied them, they pounced in the other direction and followed the scent of sweet juicy meatdevoured it with what it has to offer.

    Reactions andments rained social media.

    .

    <em>``Meiha Natsu: See? Everyone blew things out of proportion. The words came from Mikael himself. The media had reported fake news yet again and people joined the parade without a second thought. If you''re a true Mika fan, you''d he is a gentleman and was just helping out his colleague!``</em>

    <em>``Juli Aoto: I swear. People just eat up whatever without thinking. They could literally eat poison and me it on another person instead of recognizing that it was their own fault for not checking first.``</em>

    <em>``Random user: Someone exin the flowers and gifts then!``</em>

    <em>``Meiha Natsu: Uh, Evangeline is also a celebrity. It''s totally possible that it came from a fan or from her boyfriend. Decide which one is much more believable.``</em>

    <em>``Random name generator: They were getting cozy! You don''t just do that with a colleague!``</em>

    <em>``Nice Username: They were having a photoshoot. Wth. Mikael has been in morepromising positions with other models before. Get a brain transnt.``</em>

    .

    "Are you sure its okay to be here?" Richard asked for the nth time. "Doesn''t Evangeline need yourpany? Shouldn''t you be supporting her? Are you worried about her at all?"

    Ambryan scowled at the grass. His hands tightened their grip. A gentle breeze brushed the back of his neck. Peace and quiet surrounded him for miles. None of the fiasco reached his ears. It was a normal day in his yearly routine.

    Then, he swung his club and hit the golf ball.

    He rested the gold club on his shoulder while his free hand slid into his pant pocket. He and Richard watched as the ballnded on a hill. It rolled for a few more inches until it reached the spot beside the hole.

    "Well, you''re in top shape." Richard sighed, adjusting his hat and taking his turn. "I guess that answers my questions."

    Ambryan kept his expression impassive. "She didn''t want me to interfere."

    Richard paused mid-swing. He ced a hand on his hip, letting the club touch the ground. The other businessmen present continued towards the next course and left them behind. They would all gather for evening meals anyway.

    "Why not? Aren''t they attacking your rtionship?" He frowned. This was a test on their bond as a couple. How could he be here golfing instead of being with his girlfriend? This should be the time they increased their disys of affection.

    "Not ording to her." Ambryan''s gazended on the golf ball still on the tee. "Most of the bacsh was directed towards her."

    Richard went back into position, getting the message. "Isn''t that just because she so happened to have photos with Mikael Davis?"

    Ambryan swung the club until both of his hands held it from both ends. His skin creaked against the stick as he dug his nails into his palms. "She insisted on doing it by herself. She was their main target as she pointed out over and over again. If it had been me, it would have interrupted Eros'' operations instead."

    The gold ball flew into the air and headed for the hill.

    He breathed out a sigh. "Regardless, I''m just respecting her wishes. She wants us to stay low-key like before."

    Both men walked towards the hill. It was a short distance away. Most of the legwork involved climbing it. It wasn''t steep but it was quite long. The workers from the country club followed behind them, carrying their golf bags.

    Ambryan positioned the club next to the golf ball. The hole was only a foot away. It was close but it was still possible to miss it if he aimed in the wrong direction.

    "When are you going to see each other again?" Richard couldn''t help but ask. "I mean, it must be frustrating to not do anything. It''s totally unlike you to sit back and stay still. This whole thing could escte even more with your absenc"

    The ball soared over the hill andnded on even soil.

    Richard gulped at the sight.

    Holding his breath, Ambryan closed his eyes. He skipped over this invitation many times in the past. The only reason he came was because it pulled him away from reality. The bags under his violet eyes showcased his current state of mind.

    It was far from the expression he wore.

    His phone began to ring.

    Ambryan took it out of his pocket and answered it, not bothering to check the caller ID. His voice came out in a curt and brisk manner. "What is it?"

    "Sir Hathaway. There''s new development."

 Chapter 136: The Stories We Fabricate

    Chapter 136: The Stories We Fabricate

    Ambryan stepped down the hill.

    Golfing had been erased from his mind. Richard debated whether to follow to stay put. On one hand, he wanted to know what was going on as well. On the other, he didn''t want to overdo it in case his friend was still in a bad mood.

    That golf ball might fly towards him instead of the ground.

    "borate," Ambryanmanded, stopping after a few meters.

    Wen gave a brief summary of the ongoing events. The inte had been divided into two. Speakers from their side like Luna and Avery also added their statements. With Mikael taking the initiative, they saw it as a sign to back up his words.

    But, most of the other parties still refused to surrender. The video led to new theories and stories. A few suspected the blossoming romance between Evangeline and Mikael to be true. It was one thing for Mikael to say they had no rtion.

    It was another to defend her publicly.

    This side of the frenzy was also further dividedof those who were in favor of it and of those who were not. The situation encouraged more fanfiction. After the first one''s sess, others became encouraged to try and this development gave them the inspiration they needed.

    "They''re still moreing up. Generally, Mr. Davis'' actions had given a push to suppress the other parties," Wen began to conclude. "But they are still going strong. Do you have any further instructions? We''re all ready to investigate if needed."

    "No, we stick to my original n." Ambryan declined. It was tempting but the situation hadn''t escted to require it just yet. "Continue to monitor what''s happening and report to me as soon as possible."

    "Noted, Sir Hathaway."

    Although he said that, Ambryan still felt uneasy. His hit on that golf ball wasn''t coincidence. Richard had read him well. It frustrated him to be cast aside. Was he to stay here and do nothing? What kind of boyfriend would that make him?

    The phone weighed heavily in his hand.

    Then, he navigated through his apps, choosing a camera colored in rainbow.

    "Since when did you have Slowgram?" Richard asked behind him. The phone call had already ended so he approached his best friend. The icon was hard to missespecially with how little apps the phone had.

    "Since today."

    It took some time but Ambryan was able to figure out how the app worked. He had created a random name for his user and only followed a few ounts. The colorful frame circled around the profile picture in lines and dots.

    Then, Cale appeared on his screen, eating a cookie. Crumbs coated the corners of his lips. The sun shined behind him. It made his aqua blue eyes darker. "I can''t describe to you how good this is. I also can''t say how much weight I just gained for the past few minutes. I had been trying cookies from left to right. Everyone is so nice! You''re all missing out."

    He stuffed the rest into his mouth and moaned. "OMG. I definitely saved the best forst. Evangeline and that little girl did really well. Ugh, so good. I want to eat more but I need to watch it. I wonder what the bakery has in store next?"

    The focus switched from the front camera to the back one. The crowd ate cookies together. Children exchanged each other''s creations. Adults chatted casually while the kids were distracted. It gave a warm feeling even through digital screens.

    "Hope you didn''t finish your cookies yet because we have cold milk right here!" Andie announced. She walked around the bakery, carrying a tray and handing out paper cups filled with milk. "Evangeline also has something for us. Listen carefully if you want more cookies."

    Eve almost spat out her drink.

    They hadn''t talked about anything like this. She sneaked a peek outside. There were less reporters and a few had stopped taking photos. Nothing had happened since they got here. They merely waited for her to leave so they could corner her for an interview.

    The air pressure suddenly shifted intensity.

    "Is it a story?" Ede gasped, skipping over. "My sister always does that. We always eat cookies and drink milk too while she reads to us. I sort of miss it. I''d be very happy if you can do it."

    Eve opened and closed her mouth like a goldfish. They hadn''t done that in years. She didn''t expect her younger sister to miss it. Before her, it was their mother who told the stories. The twin would sit on their beds with the milk and cookies. Eve would do the sound effects whenever needed.

    It was a fun time.

    Of course, the twins loved it because they get to stay upte.

    "Is it a love story? We love romance," Eri added. Her torso twisted from side to side, ruffling her skirt. Her brown eyes stared up innocently.

    "How can you be thinking about romance at your age?" Eve demanded, cing her hands on her hips and squinting her amber eyes at the two. Crushes she understood but it couldn''t be taken seriously just yet.

    Their priorities should be in their studies.

    "Well, it''s much better than watching princesses fall in love with the first male they see."

    ''They do have a point,'' Evemented to herself. She created a mental note to bring these bedtime stories back. There were more things the twins could learn. The stories should match their age as well as their next phase in lifelike middle school and high school.

    "I think a story would be nice," Georgie supported from a few paces away. "It''s been a while since I heard a good one. I''d be fine with anything to be honest. What do the other folks think?"

    Eve started to wonder if the mother and daughter pair set her up for this.

    Parents and guardians uttered their agreement. Anything that could keep the children''s attention worked for them. Andie arranged the setup. The kids stayed out front while the adults imed seats at the back. It took awhile but eventually, she managed to discipline the children enough for them to stay still.

    Then, they started speaking.

    "What is it about? Pirates?"

    "Aliens?"

    "Mutations?"

    "Is it anime? Games?"

    "Is it a doll house?"

    Eve gestured for them to stop. Her mind raced for a story idea. She couldn''t recycle any of the old ones unless she wanted to get caught. Even if she managed topose an exnation, her sisters would definitely stay suspicious.

    Sitting on a chair, she smiled at them gently. "What about a family that has 10 children?"

    "10?!" Ede scrunched up her nose. "That''s way too many."

    "Maybe but not for long," Eve teased.

    A random boy sucked in his breath. "Is this murder mystery? I really like those."

    Eve nced at the ceiling and rubbed her chin. When she flickered her gaze back on them, there was a new glint in her eyes. "Hmm. I guess we''ll just have to wait and see. There are 10 children in this household, all of them close in age. One night, they vanished into thin air."

    Collective gasps came from her audience.

    She suppressed augh. It was too cute.

    "They woke up in different ces," Eve continued, using a dramatic voice. She bent forward and waved her arms to match the tone of the story. "A blue digital screen popped up in front of them. It said that they needed to find their home in 3 days or it would be destroyed."

    She pped her hands, making them jump. "There won''t be a fridge anymore. There won''t be a kitchen. No food, no cookies, no chocte no toys, no dolls, nothing. They would all be taken it away if the children failed."

    "One of them woke up on a ship with phantom pirates. Another in outer space, prisoned by a group of aliens. The third child was down in the sewers surrounded by failedb experiments. The fourth and fifth were twins. The older one found himself in an anime while the younger twin ran for his life in a video game."

    "The sixth child lived avish world in a dreamhouse. The other toys hade to life and weed her into their lives." Eve spotted the girl who asked about a dollhouse. Thetter''s face lit up from her words. She hid a chuckle. Then, her voice dropped to a hiss. "The seventh one lied on a cold and wet street. When he got up, he found smears of blood in his hands."

    Her fingers curled like tentacles. The children focused on it more than her face. Silence had shrouded the room as everyone became invested in the story. Eve told the story of each child and how they ovee their obstacles. It was ast minute idea but

    Boy did she put herself into a lot of work.

    Rather than 1 story, she needed toe up with 10.

    Cale watched from his phone screen, making sure to capture the best parts from the best ces. Comments flooded his live stream. The number of participants also rose.

    "How''s it going?" Andie whispered beside him. She too watched from the same screen. Her stormy blue eyes read thements. A smile bloomed on her face.

    It was progressing well.

    Then, one remark appeared.

    ``thatretrohair: Oh, ho. What a stunt. Is she making this on the spot? Goes to show how skilled she is at fabricating things.``

 Chapter 137: Knights in Pullovers

    Chapter 137: Knights in Pullovers

    "What the hell" Andie muttered.

    It was a wholesome scene. How could someone still find fault in it? It didn''t take long for others to catch on. Thements soon became a mix of both positives and negatives. The tides shed in real time right before her eyes.

    .

    <em>``insert username: Idk about you guys but this sounds like a good story. Is it avable online?``</em>

    <em>``Meiha Natsu: Omfg. Can you all get over it? Mikael already said what really happened.``</em>

    <em>``thatretrohair: But Miss Evangeline is silent. She is ignoring the problem! That''s a sign of guilt!``</em>

    <em>``insert username: And why would she owe you any attention? You''re the one bothering her.``</em>

    <em>``demkissablelips: She can''t defend herself because she knows it''s true! She probably bribed Mikael into it!``</em>

    <em>``Meiha Natsu: Who dares say Mikael can be bribed just like that?!``</em>

    .

    Cale did his best not to groan. If he had, he knew that the mic would pick it up. He pulled the phone as far away as his arm could possibly do. Then, he leaned his head closer to Andie''s ear. His voice lowered to a bare whisper.

    "I know we''re somewhat using this for Evangeline''s sake but this is getting ridiculous."

    Andie couldn''t agree more. This campaign was actually free. Evangeline''s knowledge and praise about the baked goods impressed the owner, believing this was out of genuine interest. It wasn''t entirely wrong though. Eve did want to use this current attention to bring publicity to the bakery.

    This ss was just the right time to do it.

    Her phone vibrated in her pocket.

    Andie observed as more waves crashed into the live stream. Eve continued her story, fully focusing on entertaining the children. Laughter filled the air as she moved on to the next adventure.

    "Hello?" Andie greeted.

    "Babe. Check Twittah." Jarrett spoke through the phone.

    She had a feeling what this could be about. Clicking her tongue, she said, "Would this happen to be about how good Evangeline is at making up stories?"

    "How did you"

    "Hold on. I''m checking it right now."

    Boiling rage rushed into her veins. These people really loved to test her patience. She logged into the app, already knowing where the eye of the storm would be. Her recent rampage on the site proved it as much. There was one ount who was on top of everything. With each new development, she was the first one to react.

    Andie wondered if the person even had a life.

    .

    <em>``radiantblueeyes: So, Evangeline is making up stories right now. Why are ya''ll so surprised? This is clearly her hobby. First, she made us all believe that she had an affair with Mikael. Now, it was all fake? Nice try, Ms. Reed! But we''re not fooled!``</em>

    .

    Andie saw red.

    Her hands shook as she typed out a response. Her breathing becamebored. These people were grasping at straws. The worst part was others actually believed them. It sickened her how a person of influence overpowered her own.

    But, that wasn''t enough reason to stop fighting.

    .

    <em>``NDdgaf: The only person here fabricating stories is you. Evangeline hasn''t uttered a single word since this scandal happened. How is her storytelling rted to her alleged ''affair''? Those fanfictions weren''t written by her. Those articles weren''t either. You might want to look in a mirror, sweetie.``</em>

    .

    She gripped the phone tightly. Her fingers squeezed until their tips dug into her palms. She feared that if she didn''t hold on to it enough, it would fly off to the floor. Her hands itched to break somethingideally, a bitch''s face.

    A notification ping reached her ears.

    .

    <em>``radiantblueeyes: Well, well. If it isn''t Evangeline''s minion. Came here to rant some more? Boohoo! By all means, rant away. We both know it''s not healthy to keep it balled up inside.``</em>

    <em>``NDdgaf: Is that why I hear you whining? Oh, alright. Don''t cry, sweetie. I''ll be more patient with you. If you have another theory that Evangeline actually managed to manipte this whole thing, by all means, provide me the evidence. Quit barking if you can''t.``</em>

    <em>``radiantblueeyes: Are you physically disabled that you can''t search it up yourself? Look around, sweet-tea. Evidence is everywhere.``</em>

    <em>``NDdgaf: You mean news sources that are merely specting the whole situation? None of them have the evidence so no one bluntly imed what you said because they want to keep their jobs.``</em>

    <em>``radiantblueeyes: Anyone with a brain can see through these lies. Evangeline isn''t exactly qualified to be an actress.``</em>

    .

    Andie marched straight for the kitchen. The staff all turned their heads towards her. She ignored them and pressed her face against her apron. Her yells came out muffledbut she had used everyst drop of breath in her lungs.

    "For."

    "Fuck''s."

    "Sake!"

    "When. Will. It. End!"

    Straightening her spine, her foot kicked the air.

    "Woah, Andie! Calm down!" Shie, the owner, instructed as she approached her assistant baker. She took a quick nce of the crowd before shifting her attention back to Andie. "What''s the matter? Do you need any help?"

    Andie raised her phone behind her ear. She had her eyes closed while her eyebrows scrunched together. The back of the mobile device faced the floor. Maybe if she got rid of it, her frustrations and annoyance would go away. She couldn''t take any more of it.

    How did Eve deal with this tomfoolery?

    "I''m fine, Ms. Shie," Andie breathed out, trying to slow down her heartbeat. "I might need to be off social media for the rest of the day though. Its existence is currently disrupting my peace of mind."

    Her hand clenched into a fist and mmed against the nearby counter. She craned her neck, rumbling some more. "Ugh, why can''t I just forget it like Evangeline did? Why am I even doing this when the person I am defending doesn''t care as much?"

    Shie thought about her reply for a moment. "I can''t say that she doesn''t care but I agree that you need to be off your phone for the day. "Give it to me, now."

    "Wait, wait!" Andie protested with her hands raised in surrender. "Can I have onest look please? I sort of left someone hanging. I promise that this is thest. You can even snatch away from me after a few minutes."

    Shie regarded her carefully. Once her assistant baker started, it was almost impossible to make her stop. It didn''t matter if it was a Twittah or one hundred overnight cupcakes, Andie gave it her all especially if they posed as a challenge.

    She sighed, holding up her index finger. "Fine, but only ten minutes. Don''tin when I suddenly take away your phone while in the middle of something. Understand?"

    "Fingers crossed!"

    Andie unlocked the screen, a wide smile disyed on her face. Different possible responses echoed in her head. The one she''d chose would determine the course of their conversation. This would also be herst words until hourster.

    She wanted the most savage response possible.

    But when she found the thread, someone else had already taken her ce.

    .

    `<em>`sourcandy: Beware of @radiantblueeyes``</em>

    <em>``radiantblueeyes: And who are you supposed to be?``</em>

    <em>``sourcandy: If you want credible sources, @radiantblueeyes''s profile is thest ce you''ll find one. She hadn''t said one nice thing about Evangeline Reed since the start of her ount whic makes her opinions heavily biased. The user is only disguised as a Mikael Davis fan ount but its existence only has this sole purpose. *attached are multiple screenshots of chirps*``</em>

    <em>``radiantblueeyes: Excuse me??? Are you saying that I''m a fake Mikael Davis fan?``</em>

    <em>``sourcandy: Are you not? If you are a true fan, would you believe that your idol is lying? Wouldn''t you support him instead? Your words contradict his. What does that make you then?``</em>

    .

    "How''s that?"

    Richard took the phone and held it up to his eye level, rereading the chirp. "Much better than the first one. You''re getting there. There''s still some formality but, in this case, that might be a good thing. You clearly sound more mature and calm than the other party."

    Ambryan nodded in understanding. His firstposition had been rejected. He had used jargons and wordsmonly found in his emails. Richard immediately rephrased the entire chirp, deeming it too serious.

    It was such an Ambryan Hathaway thing to say.

    This whole idea would get thrown in the dumpster if they kept it.

    After all, the key was to be discreet.

    "So" Richard drawled, pressing his lips together. He swung his golf club in one hand as if it was a baton. The air seemed fresher than earlier. What had changed in the scenery? Or maybe it was him that changed?

    Or maybe it was both?

    Ambryan quirked an eyebrow. "So?"

    "Aren''t you going to praise me?" Richard beamed. Giddiness fluttered in his chest. He had done his best friend a favor and he knew it.

    "For what exactly?"

    "Aw,e on!" He wailed, hitting Ambryan''s torso with the back of his free hand. "I totally helped you out! You were sulking that you couldn''t help but here you are! If I hadn''t told you to make an ount, you''d still be down in the dumps."

    Ambryan stayed silent. He still felt odd about the whole ordeal. He hadn''t sent anything on social media before. It was a first-hand experience on how a username provided a veil over his true identity.

    He found it somewhat liberating, understanding the appeal.

    Then, his phone vibrated with a notification.

    .

    <em>``NDdgaf: @sourcandy, you''re so right! d someone else noticed!``</em>

 Chapter 138: The Irreplaceable Comrades

    Chapter 138: The Irreceable Comrades

    <em>``NDdgaf: @sourcandy, you are so right! d someone else noticed!``</em>

    .

    Richard also heard the ping. He craned his neck and took a peek. "Who''s that?"

    "She''s one of Evangeline''s fans," Ambryan replied smoothly. "I believe they are close friends considering the chirps she sent. She talks as if she understood Evangeline. Her tone can be quite persuasive. I think many would believe her."

    "A lot of fans act like that though." Richard crossed his arms over his chest, regarding the chirp with skepticism. "Usually, nothing would get through to their head. They have an image of their idol and it wouldn''t change no matter what others say."

    Ambryan considered his words. He had heard of something like that. There might have been an article in the papers about it. Still, he couldn''t link it with the Twittah user. There was something different about her ims.

    Like a conviction that she''d prove if she had to.

    .

    <em>``sourcandy: Is it hard to spot something obvious?``</em>

    <em>``NDdgaf: When you''ve been brainwashed to believe it? Unfortunately, yes.``</em>

    <em>``radiantblueeyes: Can''t a person be entitled to her own opinion? It must suck when people share the same views as mine instead of yours.``</em>

    <em>``NDdgaf: What views? That it''s okay to ruin a person''s life on baseless rumors?``</em>

    <em>``radiantblueeyes: It''s Evangeline''s fault for keeping quiet. We are merely filling the silence.``</em>

    .

    "With what?! Crap?!" Andie eximed. The kitchen staff red in her direction. She bowed her head in apology. Shie wore the most intense one. One more word out of her, the owner would take her phone in less than a heartbeat.

    She shoulde up with an excuse and leave.

    "I-I just need to go to the bathroom. Real quick." She gave the crew two thumbs up just before she headed for the restrooms. It was exclusively used by employees and had an exhaust pipe. Only the exhaust fan in the ceiling could bridge the gap between the bathroom and the outside world.

    It should also be a good hiding ce from her boss.

    Now, what was she supposed to be doing again?

    .

    <em>``sourcandy: @radiantblueyes, Do you aspire to be crickets perhaps? The sound people could hear if it''s quiet at night? The only time they receive an ounce of attention?``</em>

    <em>.</em>

    "Oh, that was such a burn!" Andie said, dragging out the first syble. Both users kept going back and forth for a few minutes. It was quite a sight to see where the other person wasn''t her. "Who is this anyway? I could always use a new person on the team."

    Sourcandy''s profile had little to no information. The person seemed new. Or maybe the user liked this anonymity. It could also be both. Scrolling through the chirps, Andie reached the end quickly.

    "Huh" she uttered under her breath. "Definitely a new person then."

    It would have been nice to meet another avid user. They could execute ns with little need for instruction.

    But that was okay.

    She could just take him under her wing and be his guide!

    .

    <em>``NDdgaf: Crickets can be very loud when in group. It''s definitely a probable theory.``</em>

    <em>``radiantblueeyes: Back to insulting me, are you? That''s the only thing you''re good at, isn''t it?``</em>

    <em>``NDdgaf: Avoiding the real topic I see. I''ll use the same words against you. You are ignoring the problem. That''s a sign of guilt!``</em>

    <em>``radiantblueeyes: What problem did I ignore exactly???``</em>

    <em>``NDdgaf: That you''re not a real Mikael Davis fannot when you don''t believe in him and continue to nder his friend.``</em>

    .

    "Wow, she''s good," Richard remarked.

    The Evangeline fan managed to bring the conversation back around even when the hater tried to dodge Ambryan''s question. She did it with ir too, already insinuating that the person was guilty.

    "The two of you could totally be a team," he couldn''t help but say. "DM her about your n. If she is close with Evangeline like you said, you might get to know your girlfriend better. It would be such a missed opportunity."

    "I don''t need to do anything like that. I just need radiant-blue-eyes to stop talking first," Ambryan rified. The person was the core of the problem. If she stopped chirping, the tides would calm down little by little.

    He figured the best way to silence her was to trap her.

    .

    <em>``sourcandy: A dodge worthy to be acknowledged. Well done.``</em>

    <em>``radiantblueeyes: I didn''t dodge anything! You''re both hallucinating!``</em>

    <em>``sourcandy: Oh? The thread is quite clear. Maybe you''re the one with the problem.``</em>

    .

    More users joined the thread. Majority of them pointed out how they keenly followed the conversation. No one saw a chirp from radiant-blue-eyes about her disagreement with Mikael''s story. They surrounded her, giving zero room to escape.

    The more they talked, the louder they became.

    Soon, they had a widespread audience.

    .

    <em>``NDdgaf: Oho! Nice try, sweetie. Are you also going to im that all of these people had been hallucinating? Don''t even bring up that they are Evangeline fans so they''re biased. They far exceed her follower count.``</em>

    <em>``radiantblueeyes: Oh, please. Alternate ounts are easy to make. How do I know sourcandy is not you? The others could also be your and your aplices. Do what you like but I won''t back down.``</em>

    .

    Andie thought of giving up. At this point, it was clear how futile everything had been.

    Maybe the best way to stay silent after all.

    So what if one random person believed that Evangeline Reed was a social climber? So what if that person had a widespread influence? There were still people like sourcandy who believed in her friend. Who cared about the rest?

    What mattered was attracting the right people.

    .

    <em>``sourcandy: @radiantblueeyes, anyments on Mikael''stest posts? I''m sure you already read them since you are a big fan of his.``</em>

    .

    Posts? Andie opened her mobile browser, logging into Twittah so she could navigate between pages easier. The numbers for rechirps, replies and likes rose up at a rapid pace. And it had only been 2 minutes since the chirps appeared.

    .

    <em>``MikaelDavis: I''m aware that a video has circted recently. I am here to say that I said what I meant and I meant what I said. The stories are nothing more than mere fantasies. I did not give her flowers nor a present. I also did not feed her spaghetti. You can check that one out for yourself in the video below.``</em>

    <em>``MikaelDavis: I had always been vocal about my dislike for baseless rumors. If you don''t believe me then let''s hope we never run into each other.``</em>

    .

    Andie''s jaw dropped. "Oh, this is good."

    She rushed back to the thread. The other users had flocked around the hater once again. One after another, they fired the same question. She had tried to distract them but, s, Mikael had blocked her path.

    All exits had been locked.

    Escapes had been disabled.

    .

    <em>``NDdgaf: Well, well, well, seems like your idol doesn''t want to meet you, @radiantblueeyes.``</em>

    <em>``radiantblueeyes: How are you sure he is referring to me?``</em>

    <em>``NDdgaf: Gurl, you really are delusional. Whether it happens or not, the reality is you are fighting against your trying to ruin your own idol''s friend. You''re exactly the person not worth his time. You. Are. A. Fake.``</em>

    <em>``Meiha Natsu: @radiantblueeyes, the fandom doesn''t need someone like you to drag both us and Mikael down. Stop ruining his image along with yours.``</em>

    <em>``insert username: HahAhaHAhA this was hrious. You thought you could outsmart us? Please. Not everyone can be brainwashed. Besides, between you and Mikael, who are people going to believe? Lmao. Know your ce.``</em>

    <em>``NDdgaf: It was good while itsted, sweetie. If you still want to try, I''ll be here to support you by looking through all the holes in your story.``</em>

    .

    While Andie waited for a response, she checked the hashtags. Thetest chirps had drastically changed from the original ones a few days ago. Things were finally looking up. Her frustrations and impatience dwindled as she read through them. Video clips of Cale''s live stream resurfaced.

    This time, there was less judgement.

    The children''s expressions told just as much. They crowded around Evangeline like a group of cats who found a hooman they approved of.

    .

    <em>``JordanDawg: @MikaelDavis, to think there was once a time when you wouldn''t even talk to her unless necessary. You havee a long way, bro. I am proud of you.``</em>

    <em>``CaleFisher: @JordanDawg, I remember that! HA-HA! So d to finally see Mikael take the first steps at being a mentor. More people will find him approachable now.``</em>

    <em>``MikaelDavis: Please stay 6 feet away from me. Thank you.``</em>

    .

    With more people aware of the truth, the crowd exchanged insights and moved on to the next question. It was the only mystery left to be solved.

    Who gave the flowers and gifts?

    As if the heavens heard their prayers, the items in question appeared with an added bonus. The lights from the vanity mirror blurred in the background of the photo. The same could be said about the flowers and the gift but they were still recognizable.

    The camera focus had fixated a hand that held an open letter.

    <em>``This is an example of what should be defined as ''cute'' - Ambee``</em>

 Chapter 139: The Truth Sets You Free

    Chapter 139: The Truth Sets You Free

    Nicole gripped the mouse.

    Twittah continued on without her. Her followers decreased as NDdgaf and sourcandy spoke against her. It wasn''t like no one believed her anymore but sourcandy had the perfect rebuttal for each one. With every support she would get, they would receive five.

    It was goddamn annoying.

    "Who the hell is this piece of shit anyway?" Sheined loudly. The two other girls in her room turned their heads toward her. They found her deep brown eyes ring at the screen. Strands of blonde hair strayed away from her bun.

    Harper merely went back to her PC game. For today, she had dibs on the study table. The browser stayed open behind her desktop app. She had turned on push notifications to remain updated on the situation.

    "Are you talking about sourcandy?" She asked, far calmer than Nicole wanted. Her monolid ck eyes remained unbothered. "Seems like a person who had been watching this whole time. The user is really good at bringing up your past chirps."

    "Definitely seems like someone who has been collecting receipts," Charleemented. She sat on the floor and typed swiftly on her phone. "It''s not like you can''t have a different opinion from your idol. So if a parent disapproves of his/her child''s spousedoes that make them a bad parent?"

    Nicole''s scowl slowly disappeared. She had been stuck on what to say for some time. Her friend''s words had brought some inspiration. Her fingers flew across theptop keyboard. "You are so totally right! My intentions had never been bad. I just wanted to expose someone for their actions."

    "But you had been iming that Evangeline Reed had done something bad to Mikael," Harper reminded her. Theputer mouse spiralled under her touch. "He had debunked it himself. Then, you changed tactics, making yourself uncredible. The people who turned against you probably thought you had all the answers instead of sharing the same opinion."

    A few users had sent Nicole the same message implication. It was as if the prediction came to life as soon as her friend narrated them. A dark cloud hovered above her head. She had already heard it once. Why would she need to hear it from more people?

    Hissing, she grabbed a pillow and threw it.

    "Why are you on their side?!"

    "Ow! I''m not!" Harper sneered. She fixed her headphones and tapped furiously. "I''m just trying to give you the whole picture. It''s not my fault that you had sent the chirp before I could finish."

    "It''s a good thing I have a strong following then," Nicole huffed. She crossed her arms over her chest. "Ugh, people are now wondering who gave the flowers and the gift. What is even in that box anyway? It''s probably something cheap since she didn''t post it on her slowgram."

    Were the heavens mad at her?

    What was this sorcery?

    Evangeline had made her first official post in weeks. The previous ones only had generic photosmostly the food she ate and/drank at the moment. Her face was nowhere to be seen in any of them.

    The same could be said with hertest post but it did have something different.

    Aside from uploading two photos in one that is.

    .

    <em>``insert username: HaHaHAhA HAHAHAHA THIS IS FING HILARIOUS! TO ANYONE SAYING AMBRYAN AND EVANGELINE AREN''T A REAL COUPLE THEN, GET A LOAD OF THIS! IN YOUR FACES, BISHES!``</em>

    <em>``Meiha Natsu: Omo... Is that real gemstones I see?! Why is the world unfair! :crysayori:``</em>

    .

    Charleeughed at that moment. "It probably is. Hydrangeas aren''t even that expensive either. Whoever it was, they tried to look impressive but failed."

    Nicole paled upon hearing her voice. She half-closed herptop on instinct. The post would upset Charlee and she was sure of it. The aspiring actress only received an anklet from her ex. It didn''t evene with a note.

    Let alone a handwritten one.

    Should she be discreet and say the note had been edited? Ambryan didn''t have a social media ount, right? He couldn''t possibly verify it to be true. It didn''t matter if they wouldn''t believe her right away.

    What was essential was to nt doubts.

    Nicole pulled up the lid. The page reloaded andments emerged at the side. One of them had reached more than a thousand likes. Bloodpletely stopped circting in her head. Her n had failed before she could even start.

    .

    <em>``AveryH: It''s so like my son to be color-coordinated! Thank you for sharing this! Never in my lifetime would I predict that Ambryan would say something so cheesyand in his own handwriting!``</em>

    .

    Nicole clenched her hand into a fist. Even Ambryan''s mother joined in. How could someone get this much support in this short amount of time? They may be small in number but they were powerhouses.

    .

    <em>``LunaAthon: @AveryH, I am so jealous! I have yet to receive a handwritten note from Ambryan! Is it a requirement to date him before getting one? I AM JUST JOKING. DON''T ATTACK ME.``</em>

    <em>```Ex No. Unknown: Definitely not! I surely don''t remember getting one! Altho, it was a one time date sort of thing so we probably didn''t date long enough for me to have such an honor.``</em>

    .

    "Tsk" Nicole scorned. "What a two-faced biatch."

    The young woman had seen a chance to promote herself. Not only did she enhance Evangeline''s connection with Ambryan but she also ced herself in a pitiful lightwhile acting innocent and bubbly.

    It didn''t matter anyway. The masses ate it up. Soon, the post flooded Twittah because of numerous shares. Evangeline''s ount also skyrocketed. Her number of followers increased by the second. The masses finally acknowledged her.

    The one time she directly made a move and the tidespletely changed.

    Days of endless chirping had gone to waste.

    .

    <em>``NDdgaf: @radiantblueeyes, well, you have been quiet. I missed you. Are you going to tell me that both Evangeline Reed and Avery Hathaway lied now? Everyone else is lying but you, huh? Lmao. Write a better story before you attempt this again.``</em>

    <em>``sourcandy: For future references, you can be taken to court for spreading false information. Do think twice or someone won''t be merciful a second time.``</em>

    <em>``insert username: Oh, before I forget. Ya''ll who imed Evangeline had an affair with Mikael owe her an apology. BIG TIME. The gifts was from Ambryan aka her boyfriend aka the person who should have been your first guess. Way to ruin their monthsary. You should all be ashamed of yourselves.``</em>

    .

    "Hell yes!" Andie eximed, rising to her feet and fist pumping the air. The cover for the toilet seat made a cracking noise as it bumped back up. It bounced off the walls and echoed inside the restrooms.

    Andie could care less. She bolted out of the cubicle and searched for her best friend. Eve could deny all she wanted but Andie knew better. That timing was too perfect. They had almostpletely killed the scandal.

    Whatever people had to say, the truth had been revealed.

    in a glorious silent attack at that!

    Eve sat on a table with Georgie and the twins. A bookshelf had board games instead of reading materials. They had chosen one with snakes anddders on the board. Each took their turn and rolled the dice.

    Andie tackled her best friend from behind, engulfing her in a hug. "You did so good! I didn''t see thating at all! I bet no one did! You had shoved back their words with two photos!"

    Then, she pulled back and hit the back of Eve''s head. "If you had those pictures all along, why didn''t you post it in the first ce?"

    Eve rubbed the back of her head. Standing up, she led Andie to the far side of the bakery. The reporters had roused again after she sent out the post. This time, they had keener eyes. They had received an inside look on her rtionship with Ambryan.

    Now, they wanted more.

    "I never nned to post the first one," she admitted with a sigh. "But I didn''t want to give them another excuse to im I was a liar. The best way for me to do that was show them evidence that it clearly came from Ambryan."

    No doubt she''d hear a remark from him soon. After insisting to do things on her own, she had resorted to sharing a private moment between them. That photo with the note was only meant for them to see.

    Andie shook her head, still digesting what had happened. "Your timing was impable too."

    Eve chuckled. "I just opened it at the right time. I actually owe you and sourcandy. If you haven''t discredited that person''s chirps, it most likely wouldn''t work the way it did. Is that Jarrett''s ount by the way?"

    "What? No." Andie snorted. "That ount only existed as of today. I have no idea who owns it. Which reminds me I should ask the user to officially join the fan club. We could use someone like her. Or him. Or they."

    She took out her phone and slid into sourcandy''s DMs.

    Eve stepped forward, peeking from over her best friend''s shoulder. "You should probably ask what the person thinks of Evangeline. Don''t force it if it''s a neutral party."

    "I know, I know."

    Andie grinned at her own message.

    .

    <em>``NDdgaf: Hey! I know we only met today but what do you think of Evangeline Reed? I saw that your ount is new and I became curious if you joined Twittah to defend her?``</em>

 Chapter 140: Welcome to the Club!

    Chapter 140: Wee to the Club!

    "You You wrote her a note?" Richard breathed out.

    When a chirp about Evangeline''s post came up, he whipped out his own phone and checked it for himself. His eyebrows shot up as soon as he saw it. He recognized the handwriting right away. There was no doubt about it.

    It was his best friend''s.

    Holy shhe really was taking this seriously. Nothing would convince Avery more than this rtionship was real more than this note. It was such a clever tactic and it worked.

    "Out of everything that you could possibly say," he continued when Ambryan remained quiet. "This is one of the things I wouldn''t have predicted. Couldn''t you have said something more romantic like you know missing her?"

    "It was a joke between us," Ambryan replied.

    He exhaled sharply, having seen the post as well and seeing through Evangeline''s intentions. She uploaded it when the masses searched for the answer. It was the time when they''d listen to hermuch more than they would have at the beginning.

    "You You joke?"

    Ambryan directed a side-eye towards Richard. "Are you shocked because I don''t do it around you? Why would I need to when you''re right there?"

    Richard''s face morphed into a deadpan one. Did his best friend really just say he was a joke?

    The ill feelings onlysted for a moment. He reread the note. So it was an inside joke between them he''d be lying if he said that he wasn''t curious about it. The words, ''cute'' and ''Ambryan'', didn''t seem to belong in the same sentence.

    Ambryan felt his phone vibrate in his mind.

    An envelope appeared in his notification bar.

    .

    ``NDdgaf: Hey! I know we only met today but what do you think of Evangeline Reed? I saw that your ount is new and I became curious if you joined Twittah to defend her?``

    .

    "What is it?" Richard asked, noticing his best friend had stiffened.

    He hid his phone and peeked at the screen. His eyebrows shot up once again upon seeing the message. "Wow, look at you making new friends."

    Ambryan rechecked this user''s profile. Out of all the fan ounts dedicated to Evangeline, this one had the oldest creation date. If his theory was truethat the owner was a close friend'' of Evangeline''sdid Evangeline know about this message?

    "Well what are you going to tell her?" Richard pressed. Maybe he should also make an ount and join the fray. It seemed a lot more interesting than real life.

    "Am I obliged to reply?"

    "What? You weren''t going to?" He blinked. Then, he pped Ambryan''s back. "Come on, you can''t think this will be thest time Evangeline gets attacked. You need to make connections in the interwebs too. Besides, isn''t it liberating to speak your mind?"

    "I''ve always spoken my mind."

    "Right. Sure."

    If I asked about how you felt Evangeline, would you be true to yourself?

    .

    <em>``sourcandy: I had been following her for a while.``</em>

    <em>``NDdgaf: Really? When did you be interested in her?``</em>

    .

    "Yeah, Ambryan, when did you be interested in her?" Richard repeated.

    Ambryan ignored him. He pulled out the notification bar and decreased the brightness of the screen. If a person''s eyes were the tiniest bit too far, they wouldn''t be able to read anything.

    Richard fumed at this.

    It was just as childish as making a fake ount to defend his/her girlfriend.

    .

    <em>``sourcandy: I had seen her performance for the Athon Rainbow Collection.``</em>

    <em>``NDdgaf: Wasn''t it amazing??``</em>

    <em>``sourcandy: It does leave asting impression.``</em>

    <em>``NDdgaf: Hehe. I know you''re new here but I''d like to thank you foring to our aid. Your efforts to defend Evangeline is very much appreciated! For that, I officially want to wee you to her fan club!``</em>

    .

    Ambryan arched one eyebrow. A fan club? Did that require invitations? As far as he knew, the person would be a part of the club as soon as they established themselves as a fan.

    Did that mean he was a fan?

    He hadn''t considered this possibility when he made the ount on a whim.

    .

    <em>``NDdgaf: There''s not a lot of perks right now but there will be soon!``</em>

    <em>``sourcandy: Perks?``</em>

    <em>``NDdgaf: Yep, yep! Like exclusive Q&A sessions!``</em>

    .

    "Andie, don''t blow this out of proportion," Eve scolded. She hadn''t agreed to any Q&A sessions. She didn''t even hear about it until now. "This job onlysts 9 months. Well, 7.5 months now."

    "Hush!" Andie hissed, waving off her concerns. "Don''t worry about the future. Live in the moment!"

    She reread the conversation window. Sourcandy seemed a lot more serious than the first impression she had. The person also seemed reluctant. It wasn''t a blunt rejection quite yet but her hopes weren''t high.

    Could the user possibly be a male?

    Andie tapped the side of her phone, ying with the possibility.

    .

    <em>``NDdgaf: By the way, my name''s Andie. What''s yours?``</em>

    <em>``sourcandy: Noah.``</em>

    .

    "Oho! It''s a guy!" Andie squealed. She tapped her feet repeatedly on the floor. Bubbling energy flowed from her legs up to her chest. He was the first male fan she met. Eve could no longer say that she wasn''t attractive enough to the male species.

    "He must be cute," she remarked, typing out a message to confirm his orientation. She might have gotten a little too ahead of herself.

    "Why do you say that?" Eve asked. A yell came from the table. She turned her head in its direction. Eri had her hands raised to the ceiling. She swayed her hips from side to side while staring at the game board.

    It seemed like the winner had been established.

    "Noah is that guy from The Notebook movie," Andie exined. She continued to chat with Noah. He still didn''t reject her invitation. She took it as a good sign. "Jarrett looks like him."

    Eve rolled her eyes. "So you''re just saying that your boyfriend is cute?"

    "Yes."

    She huffed and left her best friend alone. Walking to a nearby couch, she plopped herself over it. Her neck rested on top of the backrest. The timbers on the ceiling came to view. She could finally rx and go back to her normal life.

    Should she contact Ambryan?

    He must have heard about the post by now.

    "Noah" Eve whispered unconsciously.

    Andie spun on her heel, pointing an using finger. "See, see! You''re thinking it too!"

    Eve lifted her head just enough to see her best friend''s face. Nothing in her expression was amused. "No, I''m not. I just haven''t heard that name in a while."

    It wasn''t a rare name but she couldn''t remember thest time she met a Noah. There was probably one or two from school. All of them had nothing on one particr Noah. It had almost almost two decades but that brat really left asting impression.

    He was the first Noah she ever met.

    Andie tilted her head sideways. "Who? Noah?"

    "Yeah, don''t you remember?" Eve snorted, letting Andie figure it out.

    It was quite a memory. Noah was a few grades older. Andie would always mock him whenever they ran into him in the halls. Then, he''d insult her right back. Their screams always alerted the teachers and got them into trouble.

    Not that it really stopped them from doing it again.

    "That kid who" Andie gasped. Her stormy blue eyes snapped towards her phone screen. "You think this Noah is the same as that Noah?"

    Eve merely shrugged. "Who knows?"

    Andie blew on her bangs and ced a hand on her hip. "I don''t recall his face much but I do remember he likes sour candies. He gagged out the first batch of cookies I ever made and almost crushed my destiny as a famous baker. This can''t possibly be a coincidence."

    "Or it can be someone giving a fake name."

    "... Fair enough."

    .

    .

    .

    .

    .

    Ambryan frowned when the messages stopped. Was he a part of the fan club now? He exited the conversation window and found himself on his home page. Based on his activity, Twittah had suggested several chirps. A few of them contained clips from Cale''s live stream.

    He found one ount that cut the whole video into sections. Each chirp had a caption describing the clip. It didn''t take long to find thest scene he saw.

    "Thest child found herself in a ck room," Evangeline narrated. Ambryan increased the brightness of his phone until her face became clear. The children looked up to her,pletely entranced by her presence.

    "It was as endless as a starless night sky. She ran and ran but she found nothing. Her legs eventually gave in. She lied down on the floor and hugged her knees. Tears trickled down her face. The darkness partnered with silence was the scariest thing she ever experienced."

    Eri shot her hand up. "Why is it so dark? Everyone else had clues. Isn''t that a little unfair? Is the lesson about how the world is unjust?"

    "That''s impossible," Ede protested. "All the characters have plot armor, including her. The clue is probably something we can''t see yet."

    Evangelineughed at their conversation. "The both of you are half-correct. The world can be unfair at times but there is a clue. We cannot see it. And neither could she."

    "Huh?" The twins uttered together.

    "The little girl may be afraid but she''s not going to give up. Her brother once said that if she ever felt that way again, she should sing a song," Evangeline stated, clearing her throat.

    When she sang the first line, Ambryan stopped breathing.

 Chapter 141: The Distance Between Us

    Chapter 141: The Distance Between Us

    <em>``Hear this song as you sleep,</em>

    <em>A tale of a maiden whoys in her feet,</em>

    <em>Under the willow at night she danced,</em>

    <em>With only the whispers of winds she has.``</em>

    Evangeline''s face changed as she sang the luby. With the children quiet, even online viewers could hear her well. Her technique was nowhere near a professional''s but each syble was clear. The tone matched her pristine expression,

    It was simple and pleasant.

    <em>``Tip toe, there she twirls,</em>

    <em>Around the tree where she met thed</em>

    <em>Tip toe, she stretched her hand,</em>

    <em>But no one was there in where she stands.``</em>

    The clipsted for 15 seconds.

    "What''s gotten into you?" Richard''s question broke his best friend out of his reverie.

    "Nothing." Ambryan locked the phone screen immediately. He wore a hard look on his face. His eyes closed as beads of sweat emerged on his forehead.

    Richard didn''t buy it. He''d never seen his best friend this rattled. He only saw a quick glimpse of the clip. What was it? Evangeline''s singing? She sounded normal. Although, he didn''t recognize the song so he couldn''tment on her uracy.

    Color slowly seeped back into Ambryan''s face.

    His breathing also stabilized.

    sping his shoulder, Richard said, "Come on, they''re looking for us. I told them you had an emergency at yourpany so we couldn''t finish the course."

    .

    .

    .

    .

    .

    "That damn bitch!" Charlee wailed, throwing her hot pink phone. The mobile device''s edge hit the carpet and jumped off. Itnded on its back with barely any damage. The screen disyed her news feed on Twittah.

    She stood up and stomped her foot. Her mocha hair tangled together under her scratching fingers. "She just had to rub it in everyone''s faces that Ambryan sent her bejewelled roller skates!"

    Her foot kicked the air.

    Harper pulled off her headphones and spun the chair. Her lips kept quiet and her face remained impassive but her mind raced with activity. She remembered how Charlee had done the same thing when Ambryan gave her an anklet.

    The only thing missing was the letter.

    ''Goes to show which one mattered to her more,'' Harper remarked quietly. Game music echoed out of her headphones. It was tempting but she knew Charlee would throw a tantrum if she ignored her.

    "NDdgaf, insert username and Meiha Natsu are so annoying," Nicole groaned. The first one had be inactive but the other two continued to mock her defeat, spamming her notifications. "Guess birds of the same feather really do flock together."

    She mmed herptop closed.

    Scrambling off the bed, she pulled her blonde hair out of its bun.

    "This can''t be the end of it." Charlee sneered as she looked out the window. "There has to be something else we could do. Ms. Goody-goody can''t get away for long. She merely got lucky this time because of the photo."

    "Yeah, but what?" Nicole snorted. She crossed her arms over her chest and swayed her hips to one side. "It took us weeks to even get here. She''s rarely seen in public. It''s not like we have the skills to hack into her phone."

    "We don''t?" Charlee''s indigo eyes flickered towards Harper.

    "I''m only a gamer, not a hacker. Besides, father wouldn''t allow such a thing," Harper replied, hiding her irritation. It didn''t even matter if he did. She wouldn''t approve of it herself. "We are dealing with Ambryan Hathaway''s girlfriend. There''s protective armor around her even if she didn''t lift a finger."

    Nicole scoffed at her words. "How convenient."

    Harper scratched her temple.

    She pressed her lips together. It wasn''t like they couldn''t find another way. Hacking? There should be tons of offers on the inte. They just came with risks if one was willing to take them. As a test, she opened the browser and searched the dark web.

    It only took less than five minutes.

    Not that she''d tell her friends about it.

    The hottest single yed in the air. Its energetic beats contrasted against the heavy atmosphere. The lyrics provided encouraging statements as if ridiculing their defeat. The hot pink cell phone lit up as an unknown caller ID appeared on the screen.

    Charlee marched to pick up her phone.

    "Hello?" She almost yelled into the mic. Then, she remembered hertest auditions. It could be a callback for the 2nd female lead. She wouldn''t want to make the wrong impression. Evangeline couldn''t take her career away too.

    A sultry voice chuckled from the other end of line. It was sickly sweet, almost nauseating to the ears. "So, you failed at destroying Evangeline Reed."

    ...

    "I think you have the wrong number." Charlee breathed out. Her thumb hovered over the end call button. No one outside of this room knew about their schemes. She would have to be close to death before she''d admit them.

    "Isn''t this Charlee Edwards?" The voice asked innocently.

    "Yes, and who are you?" Charlee bit her tongue when she realized her mistake.

    She had given away her identity.

    "Don''t you remember me? We''re allies!" The womanughed. It sounded like bells on a sleigh, promising a beautiful Christmas morning. "So don''t be so sour. You and I are on the same team. I''m not someone you should be wary of."

    Charlee scrunched her eyebrows. She made eye contact with Nicole. Her friend understood it immediately and came closer, listening in on the conversation. "What do you want?"

    "The same thing as you." The woman chuckled.

    "Which is?"

    Harper frowned from her seat. Shivers trickled down her spine. The temperature in the room seemed to have dropped a few degrees despite the summer weather. An ominous feeling shrouded her senses.

    A storm wasing.

    "Why Bring Evangeline Reed down, of course."

    .

    .

    .

    .

    .

    Another week passed and Eve had her third photoshoot session.

    She stood inside a store at the Parthenos Mall where it was still too early for customers to visit the establishment. Most of the staff stayed outside while a professional camera crew upied the inside and provided the appropriate lights.

    For this campaign, Eve wore the brand''stest Fall collection. Her crimson hair and amber eyes fit along with the warm ochre clothing. She posed at different spots inside the store. The other items in the collection hung on racks and sat on shelves. Her photos would be stered on the walls like a 2D mannequin.

    She had tucked her lefthand inside a pant pocket and threw the tangerine jacket over one shoulder. Her right hand rested on a ss countertop. Brown cks covered her legs while skin-tone stilettos boosted her height. Thetter matched the color of her top.

    Dark caramel gloss coated her lips.

    "That''s a wrap!" The director called out.

    Eve blew out a breath and rxed her posture.

    The waistband of the pants had a tight fit. She had to suck in her stomach just to keep it from ripping open. Thest thing she needed was to pay for the clothes. There should be another shoot for when winter rolled in.

    She preferred to work with familiar people as much as possible.

    "You did so good!" Cale gushed. He patted the back of her neck. The heat from studio lights shouldn''t be underestimated. "Let''s get you changed so we can leave. Don''t forget you have a minor shoot tomorrow. Make sure nothing happens to your bottom half."

    Eve snorted at his reminder.

    Then again maybe she should wax again for good measure. It wouldn''t be good to recognize her own legs just from the patches of hair on them. Andie would have a field day if that happened.

    .

    ``Yan: Are you done? I can pick you up.``

    ``Lin: It''s okay. It''s not far from the apartment.``

    ``Yan: Alright. If that is what you wish.``

    .

    "If that is what you wish" Eve muttered. Was there something wrong? Ambryan didn''t sound like himself for the past few days. Her apology for posting the photos without his permission went to deaf ears. He barely acknowledged it before going offline.

    She walked out of the dressing room, wearing a buttoned denim dress.

    "What''s troubling you?" Cale asked as they left the premises.

    "Either I am overthinking it or Ambryan is acting a little weird," she admitted under her breath. Their chat window still had their usual greetings but every time she attempted a conversation, he''d disappeared within two minutes.

    There wouldn''t be an exnation either.

    The replies would just stop.

    Cale tugged the corner of his lip. "Even at work?"

    He and Eve headed for a ck vehicle. Nanzie sat on the driver''s seat while the two of them upied the backseat. The wheels rolled over the barren parking lot and drove through the bustling streets.

    "Well," Eve thought out loud, biting her lip. Her mind recalled the memories of the past week. With the scandal over, her tasks carried on like clockworkas if she had gone back in time when her double identity didn''t exist. "He seems the same but I guess since I think something is wrong, I''m taking it the wrong way?"

    "Did you do anythingtely?"

    "Other than the post, nothing." She sighed. That particr conversation circled around her head. "When I said I was sorry, he said it was okay. I don''t want to look into it much but it''s bothering me. I might have offended him without knowing."

    She could probably ask him but his closed-off nature nted doubts in her head. The fear of rejection lingered in her veins. Since when did she worry about such things?

 Chapter 142: Pulled by Invisible Strings

    Chapter 142: Pulled by Invisible Strings

    Eve changed clothes once more.

    She shredded off the crimson and took out the amber contact lenses. Her stylish clothing was reced by a morefortable one. Having borrowed Andie''s wrap dress, the ck fabric hugged her body and the A-line cut skirt ended around her knees.

    When she pulled up her sses, she felt her body rx.

    She finished off the outfit with a pair of white sandals.

    "Well, don''t you look fancy," Calemented. They had stopped by the rendezvous point. Two different vehicles were parked outside the abandoned shed. Nanzie had hidden herself while another member of the security team stood by.

    "It''s a special asion and Andie insists I dress up." Eve sighed. The good thing was how soft the dress felt on her skin. It almost seemed like a t-shirt. She reached for a hug. "I''ll see you next week."

    "I wish we could meet more when you''re not wearing a disguise," her modelling managermented. He squeezed her shoulders once before pulling back. "I''d love to spend more time with you without raising suspicion. Are you sure you still want to be a secretary?"

    Eve chuckled at his attempt of swindling her. "I''m sure. There''s still a lot that I need to learn. It''s not everyday that an average person gets to work with one of the country''s top CEOs."

    "Oh, yeah," Cale nodded in agreement. "I also heard dating him is even rarer."

    She nudged his side yfully. When this was all over, one thing she''d never forget was his kindness. Maybe she could do something for him. It was a good thing that he was aware of her double identity. They could keep in touch.

    He was a friend to both sides of her.

    "Take care now, darling!" Cale waved as he slid inside a car. It left first to mislead anyone on Evangeline''s trail. The rest waited for a certain amount of time. The perimeters had been double checked. They found no one for miles, green-lighting their exit.

    Then, it was Eve''s turn to go back to the civilization.

    She switched to a standard taxi halfway back to her apartment.

    "Hey! How was the shoot?" Andie asked, opening the door ahead of her. Her mint dress puffed at the sleeves which wrapped below her shoulders. It cinched at the waist and draped straight down her legs. White chunky heels covered her feet.

    "It was good. Are you ready to go?"

    Eve checked the time on her phone. Her gaze glossed over the notification icons. None of them resembled what her subconscious hoped for. Her thumb unlocked the screen and pulled it down.

    It still wasn''t there.

    Then again did she even reply?

    "Picking up my girlfriend?" A new voice flowed into her ears. Jarrett wore a gray suit over an open white dress shirt. He leaned against the doorframe, mischief dancing in his sky blue eyes. "Why? Is your boyfriend unavable, love rival?"

    She rolled her brown ones. "Put a sock in it."

    "How about I just never bring French macaroons again?"

    Hershes fluttered at the threat. "Did you bring any today?"

    "No."

    "Then, I don''t care." Eve fumed and gave him a sarcastic smile. "I am a strong independent woman. I can afford my own French macaroons. Or even better! My roommate can bake them for us to eat together while watching Netflicks on the couch."

    Jarrett''s lips stretched into a tight smile. His eyes squinted in the process. A loose strand of his medium blonde side bangs fell over his forehead, tickling the bridge of his nose. His silence spoke more volumes than his words.

    Andie pushed him out and locked the door.

    "Oh, would you two stop," she scolded them. Her keys rattled as she jabbed one into the keyhole. "This time, not just for my sake but also for the girls. They love you both and would love to have a peaceful time with you together."

    Eve tilted her head sideways. "Since when did we not get along?"

    Jarrett stood beside her and mimicked the movement. "I think you''re seeing things, love."

    "..." Andie gave up. She still couldn''t understand it after all these years. Somehow they found their ''rivalry'' enjoyable. In the same way, she still found herself slightly nervous when it dragged for too long.

    The fear that she''d lose one or both would tickle the back of her mind.

    She shook her head, tossing the idea out of her thoughts.

    .

    .

    .

    .

    .

    The Magical Symphony rented out an auditorium for thest summer weekend. Families flocked in front of the entrance. The building had a dome roof and floor-length ss doors. Staff workers handed out pamphlets. It showcased the lineup for the recital.

    The pages were divided into two. Each one had a photo of a student and a short description about their musical passion. The sepia filters added a vintage touch, seeming to have been taken from the peak of ssical music.

    Eve walked ahead of the couple and scanned the crowd.

    "Aunt Georgie!" She yelled, waving her hand in the air. The old woman turned at the sound of her voice. She and herpanion headed over. Eve greeted them with a wide smile. "How are the twins? Are they nervous?"

    "Not at all!" Georgie beamed. Fuschia pink pigment coated her thin lips. Pearl droplets hung on her earlobes. She picked out a floral-patterned periwinkle dress for the event. "I can''t wait for you to hear the results of their hard work!"

    "While I can''t wait to have my peace and quiet back," the teenage boy grunted behind her. His rusty brown hair stuck up in different directions. The color matched the freckles around his fair nose. "If you didn''t suddenly need me every other minute, I could have blocked them out with headphones."

    Georgie hit the back of his shoulder. "Gin!"

    His face scrunched in pain. Rubbing the sore spot, he proceeded to defend himself. "What? I''m just telling the truth. You told me I should always be honest."

    "But I also taught you to not be rude."

    "Well, the truth hurts sometimes."

    "Gin!"

    Gin averted his stormy blue eyes. Theynded on the only other male party of the group. He let go of his sore shoulder and lifted his arm up for a pound hug. "Hey, Jarrett. How''s it going?"

    Jarrett kept his left arm around his girlfriend''s waist and returned the handshakeminus the one-arm hug. "Good. I''m surprised that you''re not wearing your pajamas out today."

    The teenager went red in the ears. "I have outgrown that habit!"

    Georgieughed heartily. She remembered those days. The boy disliked pants, iming that the denim fabric was ufortable. Anywhere he went, he''d use his pajama pants. If possible, he''d wear them underneath jeans.

    She cherished those memories.

    "Did you now?"

    Gin groaned. Head snapping towards his right, he pointed an using finger at Jarrett. "Sis, what do you see in this guy?"

    "I dont know." Andie snorted. Then, her gaze narrowed into a pointed look. "What do you see in him? You always ask about him whenever I"

    "I do not!"

    "Yes, you do."

    "Do not!"

    "You do."

    "Children," Eve interrupted. She positioned herself in between the two siblings, raising a hand towards each of their faces. "Don''t argue in front of your mother. Other people might see her as a bad parent when she is the sweetest one around here."

    The old woman chuckled beside her. "Thank you, Eve."

    "Don''t mention it, Aunt Georgie."

    "Kiss-up," both Andie and Gin muttered.

    Eve widened her eyes at them. She pinched her fingers together and pretended to zip her lips. Andie recovered quickly,pletely aware that it was only an act. Gin, on the other hand, crossed his arms over his chest and huffed.

    His scrawny frame made him seem younger than he looked.

    The screech of a megaphone caught everyone''s attention.

    M stood on top of a podium. Like the rest, she opted to wear her Sunday''s best. Her curly ginger hair parted above the head of her eyebrow and framed on either side of her face. She chose a ssic blue V-neck that reached below her knees. Gold hoops dangled on her ears.

    "Good afternoon, everyone!" She spoke through the megaphone. It distorted her voice so she emphasized her enunciation. "I hope you had a good lunch. We''ll be starting soon. The pamphlets contain your seat number. Please do not lose them. We follow a ''firste, first serve'' approach so those who arrived first will be seated near the front row."

    "VIPs, please use the side entrance. The rest please follow the ushers at the front. Hope you enjoy your time!" M concluded, hopping off the podium. She let the rest of her team implement their protocols.

    Eve checked her pamphlet. They were part of thest ones to arrive. She guessed that they''d either have seats near the back or up on the second floor. Since Georgie and Gin arrived before them, they would have to split.

    As the crowd fell into two lines, a ck Mercedes-Maybach S650 rolled into a secluded parking lot, followed by a few sedans. Valets on standby approached the vehicle and opened the passenger door.

    Silver heels stepped out of the car.

    Unlike most of thedies present, this woman chose a wide-leg jumpsuit in mars.

    "Seems like we arrived just in time," Avery remarked, staring at the building.

    Ambryan handed the keys over to the valet. "We would have been here sooner if you had started getting ready when I told you to."

 Chapter 143: Music Speaks in Images

    Chapter 143: Music Speaks in Images

    Eve''s prediction came true.

    But, at least, it was the front row on the second level. It gave a better view than the back one below in her opinion. She sat on Andie''s left while Jarrett upied the other side.

    The auditorium buzzed with soft chatter.

    It had a rectangr shape where the stage and the doors signified both long ends. Red chairs lined up in rows, divided into columns by four stairwells. The floorboards had a golden sheen to them. The ceilings also had the same aesthetic.

    Long and wide curtains covered the stage.

    "Can you see mom and Gin?" Andie whispered to herpanions. The pair had entered the venue five minutes before them. She''d feel more assured in knowing where they were.

    Jarrett pointed towards the right side of the auditorium. "Is it just me or is the guy who just stood up Gin?"

    A head full of rusty brown hair surfaced above the seated audience. He squeezed himself towards the stairway aisle. Hispanion ced a bag on his empty chair, preventing anyone from mistaking that it was a free seat.

    Andie clutched the armrests and half rose off her chair. "What thehow could he leave mom?!"

    "Rx," Jarrett coaxed, pulling her back. He understood her concern but there was no need to overreact. "He must be going to the restroom. Give him 5 minutes."

    Eve observed the surroundings quietly. She could hardly believe almost 2 months passed since the twins started their lessons. She hadn''t heard them y once since the day they enrolled. What kind of piece did they pick?

    Her gaze lingered on the stage curtains.

    Excitement brimmed beneath her skin.

    She could almost see them. They probably picked matching outfits too. Her phone was on full battery. There was no way for her to miss recording the performance. She glimpsed the battery icon just to check.

    Nothing new had appeared.

    Not that she expected any to.

    .

    .

    .

    .

    .

    At the front, the first five rows had been reserved for the teachers and VIP guests. A few chairs remained empty while the rest waited for their arrival. Most of the faculty spent the time discussing their pupils and their progress.

    Whichever disy received the loudest cheers had bragging right until the next recital.

    There was still about a quarter of an hour left before the show started.

    Ambryan pulled down the seat cushion for his mother. He let her have the one beside the aisle. Between the two of them, his mother was most likely to get up and leave. "I don''t understand why you didn''t bring father with you instead."

    For today, he wore a ck bowtie along with a ck and white suit. His hair had been gelled in a refined pushed-back look. He had stolen nces when he walked. This happened without his awareness.

    Only Avery saw the series of reactions.

    She didn''t lose though. Her hair was up in a high ponytail of ringlets. It easily caught anyone''s attention. Her choice of clothing elongated her frame, resembling a model on a runway. She may not have the same youthful beauty as women half her ageor Madisonbut she did projected it as best as she could.

    "Your father has tastes but he dislikes ssical music," Avery exined, taking her seat. "He insists oning but he always falls asleep. I''d rather have someone who appreciates the arts like you."

    "Guess we know where I got that from."

    She chuckled and patted his arm. "It''s also been a while since we bonded by ourselves. Would you mind telling me about Evangeline? You haven''t seen each other since we all went out, right? Is something the matter?"

    "There''s nothing to tell," Ambryan denied. A brief shback flickered in his head. A forgotten song filled his ears, ying over and over again. He suppressed both the memory and the song.

    This wasn''t the time to be thinking about them.

    "Something is clearly up," his mother insisted. A scowl folded between her brows. "I had seen the time of your online activities. Your replies are irregrpared tost month. I don''t want this to be the reason why you''d break up. After all, you should learn to divide your time."

    "We''re busy people." Ambryan leaned back. His tone edged a little, a sign of irritation. "We had agreed that messages may be dyed during business hours. I''d appreciate it if you don''t snoop too much."

    Avery opened her mouth.

    Then, she closed it.

    It wasn''t like she could force it out of him. He was a grown man, fully capable of making his own decisions. Eve was also a level-headed person. There shouldn''t be anything to worry about. One of them woulde to her if it was serious.

    Other than that, they should be able to resolve whatever they had going on.

    "Fine, don''t tell me," Avery huffed, surrendering to his wishes. She retracted her hand and propped her shoulder des on the backrest. But your 2nd monthsary ising up so do remember to celebrate it in person."

    Ambryan chose not to reply.

    He and Evangeline had yet to talk about it. Was this going tost for 9 months? Should they really spend that much time in public? Maybe they should review their terms. Schedule their public appearances ahead of time.

    And for his mother''s sake, appoint a time they''d talk in the app.

    "Ladies and gentlemen, we will begin momentarily," an announcer said through the speakers. "Filming will be allowed but please turn off any device lights. There is a designated area near the stage to not disturb other viewers. You will be called by an usher once it''s near your turn. Please stay silent while the performance is ongoing. Only p once the student has finished their turn. Thank you."

    Avery scanned the crowd, looking for the person that invited her. They hadn''t seen each other in years. She couldn''t possibly turn down the invitation. She had also brought her son with her and hoped that M would forgive her for noting to visit sooner.

    And to maybe test if Ambryan''s approach towards women had changed.

    The lights slowly dimmed as the first performance drew closer. Audience members lowered the volume of their voices. Guardians for the next 10 performers on the designated chairs. They were lower than the others so the disruption would only be minimal.

    M stood offstage, a lectern in front of her. The list of performers sat on top of it.

    She could see the viewers through a small window.

    "Ladies and gentlemen, good afternoon," she greeted. The mic picked up her voice and wrapped around the auditorium. "We are pleased to wee you to the Magical Symphony''s Summer Recital of 20XX. Let''s give a warm of apuse to our first actMr. Oz Bourne."

    The curtain parted in the middle, revealing a ck grand piano. A young boy stepped out from the right side of the stage. He bowed at the audience before walking over to the piano. He wore a small tailcoat like orchestral musicians do.

    Eve scooted closer to the edge of her seat. It wasn''t her sisters yet but she looked forward to all of the performance. The stage gleamed in her eyes differently than the other spectators. It glowed like a lighthouse that led her home.

    It was a familiar ce that warmed her insides.

    Any negativity vanished as the music notes cleansed her soul.

    Her body swayed as the boy yed a slowed down piece by Mozart. Her eyes closed and concentrated on the music. An image emerged in her head. The grass of a green meadow danced under the wind. Butterflies fluttered above wildflowers. The sun dominated the cloudless blue sky.

    In the midst of it all was a young girlcovered head to toe in ck top and skin tone tights. A white red skirt flowed down to her knees. Her scarlet red hair up in a clean bun. Dirt tainted her worn out pointe shoes.

    But, she didn''t care.

    She lifted her feet off the ground until only one set of toes touched the soil, executing a pirouette. The music echoed around her as if the wind carried the melody along with it.

    The ballerina continued on her quest and explored the surroundings. Each step matched the beat and tempo of the music. Her feet stayed pointed throughout the process. She skipped over rocks, tiptoed around tree roots and twirled on t ground.

    She was alone but it didn''t feel like it.

    Her face shifted towards the blinding sun.

    Eyes now closed, a broad smile stretched across her lips. The bright sunshine warmed her skin.

    .

    .

    .

    Loud pping hands broke Eve''s line of thoughts.

    The boy had risen off the chair and bowed for thest time. She pped along with the audience, wiping tears away from the corners of her eyes. It had been pure imagination but it felt almost real. She silently thanked the boy. His talent would take him ces.

    His music had suspended her in time and space.

    She was positive the same would happen once he started writing his own scores.

    "Eve, are you okay?" Andie asked. It was subtle but she caught her best friend wiping her tears. She continued pping so no one else would think something was amiss.

    "Yeah, I''m fine." Eve chuckled, unashamed by her current state. "It''s just one of those moments. He did it so beautifully. I could clearly see what he was trying tomunicate with us. Music conveys unspoken messages."

    ''And I had responded.''

 Chapter 144: Small Window of You

    Chapter 144: Small Window of You

    The program flowed smoothly.

    Performers knew their cues and yed their pieces beautifully. Pride surged in the hearts of their close family and friends. The professionalism they disyed exceeded their expectations. Gone were their rowdy behaviorand was reced by sophisticated demeanor.

    Guardians could hardly believe it.

    They almost wished the children stayed that way even when the recital was over.

    "This far better than I was expecting," Averymented as she pped. A little girl who wore avender dress walked off the stage. "If you''ll be thinking about it, please do know that I approve of this school if my future grandchildren want to explore their musical interests."

    Ambryan frowned. His own pping ceased as they waited for the next performer. "I believe you''d rather learn it yourself. Why don''t you sign up for sses?"

    His mother wasn''t amused. "M prefers to teach children and I can understand where she ising from with that. Most children still have a lot of room to learn before they could think for themselves if the rules apply to them. "

    Music had aplicated journey. First, learners discover and choose their choice of mediums. Then, they perfect their skills with the notes, the timing, the pitch, the tempo Once that was over, a musician could create their own music sheets. |

    They be free to paint whatever on the canvas.

    "What about those who think like young people then?" Ambryan countered. Another little girl appeared on stage. A staff worker aided her in bringing in a cello. "Since you know her, I''m sure she''ll make an exception for you."

    The pointed tip of a heeled-shoe hit the side of his leg.

    "I sometimes wonder if you still see me as your mother," Averyined. She flipped her hair back and focused on the stage. The little girl insisted on holding the cello by herself. "Or if you just see me as a mad woman."

    "Now, what makes you say that, mother?"

    "Why you!"

    "Ssh, loud voices are not allowed, mother. Or did you forget?"

    Avery bit down on her bottom lip hard. Her violet eyes zed with simmering mes. He had deliberately provoked her to make his point. Being fooled was one thing but knowing you had been fooled was another.

    Thetter made her sick in the stomach.

    Ambryan showed her a closed-lip smile.

    ''Why does my son have to be so handsome and adorable?'' Avery asked herself,menting on how Ambryan inherited her genes. The little girl on stage yed her first note. Avery sighed and dropped the subject.

    Still, she couldn''t help but"You are very lucky that I love you."

    Ambryan chuckled at her statement. His gaze stayed on the performance. The music score focused on lower notespared to the others. The strokes were long and powerful. He appreciated the change of pace.

    If his mother had said anything else, he didn''t hear it.

    The little girl''s forehead creased in concentration. The staff worker stayed by her sidejust in case, the cello fell. Her fingers on the board shook as she executed a vibrato. The volume of her music rose up as she prolonged the process.

    In that moment, she captured Ambryan''s full attention.

    .

    .

    .

    .

    .

    "Okay, who are you staring at?"

    M averted her jade green eyes. She took a step back and hit something. The mic fell off her hand and hit the lectern. Her co-worker snatched it just before it could roll over to the floor. She hit her head when she bent down to catch the mic.

    It wasn''t one of her ideal moments.

    Amy tossed the mic with one hand, catching and repeating the motion. Blush-colored bangs framed her oval face. Her ocean eyes sparkled like the surface of fresh spring. "Now, that definitely got me curious."

    "It''s no one," M tried to dismiss. Since she had the task as the emcee, she couldn''t leave her post. That meant Amy had her trapped right where she wanted her. The former ced the microphone on the lectern and leaned forward.

    "Oh, really?"

    She narrowed her gaze.

    "You had been looking out that window during every performance," Amy pointed out. Straightening her spine, she crossed her arms over her chest. A smirk tugged the corner of her lips. "And I conclude that someone in the crowd interests you."

    M coughed, staying quiet. She had been on the spot several times in her lifetime. There was no way to win if the other party insisted on their beliefswhich happened often. Because of it, she became selective on when to say something.

    Amyced her hands over M''s elbow crease. She tugged theposer closer. Her pink ringlets bounced on her shoulders. "Now, tell me all the details! I am dying for you to meet someone who''d sweep you off your feet."

    M attempted to pull her arm back.

    "There''s no one."

    "Lies."

    "Even if there was" She sighed, pausing for a moment. Her hand wrapped around her co-worker''s. She used this opportunity to peek out the small window. Like Amy said, she had done it many times.

    She found Ambryan instantly.

    "Uh-huh," Amy urged. The hairs on her skin tingled with excitement.

    "Even if there was" M repeated. She shoved Amy''s hands away and widened the distance between them. Their eyes met briefly. "He''s already taken."

    And she should have moved on 2 months ago.

    At least, she thought she had. This recital proved it to be the opposite. She hadn''t forgotten her feelings, only ced them at bay. They emerged once more when she caught sight of him. The butterflies in her stomach had soared up and circled around her heart.

    Oh, how dangerous infatuation could be.

    Amy clicked her tongue, biting her inner cheek.

    "Married?"

    M shook her head. "Girlfriend."

    At that, Amy lit up and snapped her fingers. "Not married means you still have a chance."

    M chuckled at her statement. She had that same hope before. Now, she couldn''t believe it as much as she used to. Her voice came out almost as quiet as a whisper. "I thought I did, but I didn''t."

    She dropped her eyes to the floor. It was the first time she spoke about her feelings over not being chosen. Ambryan didn''t even give her a chance. He had picked someone the day after they met.

    After seeing their rtionship progress, she could almost believe that Ambryan did fall for another girl that day.

    "Oh, no." Amy breathed out. She shook her head repeatedly. Utter horror projected out of her gaze. "No, not this."

    "Not what?" M scowled.

    "You finally like someone but it''s unrequited?" Amy looked up at the ceiling and pressed the back of her hand against her forehead. Her face scrunched into an anguished look. It was as if she felt pain that couldn''t be seen by others.

    Then, she said, "Do you want to torture me?"

    M waved her hand, brushing off the dramatic act. Her attention shifted back on stage. The little girl pressed on despite sweating from the warm stage lights. M prepared a handkerchief to help the girl out once the performance ended.

    A warm smile bloomed on her lips. "The only requited love I need is music."

    Amy lifted her hand off her forehead. She clenched it into a fist and stabbed an invisible dagger straight to her chest. "Right in the feels."

    M yfully rolled her eyes.

    Music had been with her since she was young. And it would continue to do so in her future. As much as she''d want to experience a romantic rtionship with a fellow human, she doubted that she could give up parts of music to keep the person by her side.

    She had just said that but, maybe...

    Slowly, her neck twisted to the left.

    The stage lights reached the first few rows. Faces in the crowd illuminated before her eyes. She could see their pleased expressions. Avery''s hairstyle easily stood out even at this angle. And right beside her was

    Ambryan had ced his elbow on the armrest and pressed his index finger against his lips. It hid the bottom half of his face but his handsomeness shone through. His gaze conveyed intense concentration.

    The cello finished on a strong note.

    His violet eyes crinkled at the corners.

    And only M had seen it.

    Amy opened her mouth but closed it again. She clearly had overstayed her wee. Taking a step towards backstage, her foot hovered in mid-air. She twisted her upper body towards M''s spot.

    ''Only VIPs and staff can be clearly seen through that window,'' she remembered. Her right foot settled on the floorboard while her mind continued to analyze the situation, ''He''s definitely not staff. M had never reacted differently to anyone. Then, he must be a VIP''

    A round of apuse echoed around the room.

    That was Amy''s cue to make her escape.

    Once she was safe, she held onto her knees and panted. Beads of sweat trickled down the sides of her face. She wiped her damp forehead with the back of her arm.

    "If he''s here then, I have to do something," she muttered under her breath, thinking of a n. "I can''t just stand here and do nothing. There''s still the after-party. No matter what I can''t let M just stand by. That woman needs to grow a pair."

 Chapter 145: A Ladies Bathroom Adventure

    Chapter 145: A Ladies Bathroom Adventure

    "Ladies and gentlemen, we will be taking a break. Use this time to attend to personal matters such as using the restroom. Please do not visit the performers yet. Everyone will have an equal chance when the program is over. Thank you."

    Andie was among the first people who stood up. She interlocked her fingers and stretched her hands overhead. Her back muscles tightened from the movement. She arched it for more taut.

    A yawn escaped her lips.

    Eve propped her chin on the edge of her palm. "Gee, can you be any more obviously bored?"

    Jarrett dusted his shoulder, checking for stains. "I think she almost drooled on me."

    "Hey!" Andie eximed. She turned around and ced her hands on her hips. Her stormy blue eyes red at herpanions while they exchanged amused looks. She scoffed. "Typical. The only time you get along is when you team up against me."

    Her posture rxed. Then, she held a hand out to Eve. "Come on, I want to use the bathroom. A bit of walking might do me some good. I wouldn''t want to miss the twins'' turn."

    Jarrett waved goodbye as the two girls climbed down the stairs. Thedies'' room should be just right around the corner but Andie insisted on looking for a different one. She was confident that the line would be long and she didn''t want to wait that much.

    True enough, her prediction came true.

    Eve stared at the line. The women had already lined up towards the end of the wall. Their break time might not be long enough for them to finally get their turn. Her head darted around the room, looking for another hallway.

    "Where would we even begin to look?" She asked after spotting several of them. They had to choose carefully or they might get lost.

    "I don''t know," Andie whispered. Her eyebrows knitted together as she scanned their surroundings. Then, she found a possible lead at one of the corners. "Maybe the security guard knows one."

    Eve followed her line of sight.

    The security guard stood near the main entrance. He had a bit of paperworkid out before him. He looked up asionally to watch the courtyard outside. The noise from the guests didn''t bother him in the slightest.

    Minutester, Andie and Eve found themselves in an empty corridor.

    The wallmps provided subtle lighting. Most of the ceiling and floor remained in the shadows. Compared to the lobby, silence dominated this part of the building. There didn''t seem to be an end to this tunnel-like path either.

    "Are you sure we''re in the right one?" Eve couldn''t help but question. They hadn''t walked for long but it was already getting to her. She reached out to grip her best friend''s arm. Goosebumps crawled over her skin.

    Just how much further should they keep going?

    Wasn''t this enough yet?

    "I''m sure." Andie nodded. The security guard told them that the other nearest restroom was at the end of this hallway. There was no reason for him to lie to them. They weren''t wearing anything high in value.

    "O-Okay."

    Eve gulped.

    Her legs began to shake. So, her grip on Andie''s arm tightened. Several scenarios yed in her head. For one, the carpet barely made a sound. If they start running, no one would even hear them approach. If someone was stalking them, they couldn''t hear that person either.

    She nced over her shoulder, her breath hitching.

    No one was there.

    Maybe they should have asked Jarrett to join them

    Andie patted her hand. "Look."

    "Ah!" Eve jumped in fright. Her knees had almost given in. Their state forced the two women topletely stop walking. She became too heavy for Andie to pull up. Her lungs hyperventted. She should have stayed behind.

    Then again, she''d feel beyond guilty if something happened to her best friend and she wasn''t there.

    "Stop overthinking," Andie scolded her. She pointed towards the empty hallway ahead. "Just look over there. The restroom signs are visible."

    Eve immediately searched for them. True enough, they glowed like lightsticks in the dark. The sight of them relieved most of her anxiety. She moved her hand to Andie''s wrist. "Then, let''s walk faster so we can go back faster."

    She picked up the pace, forcing Andie to do the same. Although they were near their destination, being away from the crowd made her ufortable. Anything could happen at any moment. The dimness of the corridor added to that fear.

    Then, the door opened.

    .

    .

    .

    .

    .

    "Hm?" The woman hummed, wiping her hands together. Her eyebrows shot up when her eyes spotted the two other women. She blinked. "Eve?"

    "Mrs. Hathaway!" Eve responded. She had lost a few years in her life when that door opened. The same amount of years were added back upon recognizing the madam. Thetter''s familiar face brought herfort.

    "What brings you here?" Avery uttered. Just the person she wanted to see! Who knew they''d be in the same ce? Was there someone writing their book of fates? Her eyes flickered towards the fire exit. "Do you know any of the performers?"

    "Yes...," Eve gulped. "My sisters are a part of the recital"

    She hadn''t told the madam about her invisible friction with Ambryan. She didn''t want to cause any rm when it could just be her overthinking. But, trying to stay calm proved to be more difficult than she thought.

    Avery''s face lit up. "Really? I''ll be looking forward to their performances then."

    Her attention shifted towards the other female in the room.

    Eve quickly realized her mistake. She coughed out augh and proceeded with the overdue introduction. "Oh! This is my best friend, Andie Summers. Andie, this is my boss''s mother, Avery Hathaway."

    Andie smiled and held out her hand for a shake. "Pleasure to meet you, Mrs. Hathaway."

    "Likewise," Avery replied, epting the gesture.

    "Do you also know any of the performers?"

    "No, I don''t. I do know M though. She''s an old friend."

    "Well, we won''t keep you any longer," Eve interrupted, her pent up anxiety catching up to her. She pulled Andie aside to let Avery pass by. If they don''t part ways soon, she might say something she''d regret.

    Avery nodded her head at each of them. "Take care,dies."

    Eve had one hand on the door.

    "Eve."

    Both her and Andie turned towards the madam. "Y-Yes?"

    Avery wore a hard expression. The subtle light intensified the look with shadowing. Her violet eyes resembled gemstonesthat lustrous rigid exterior. She tilted her head sideways. "How are things with my son?"

    Eve''s throat constricted. Talking became a tedious task to do. "G-Good. He''s been limiting his overtime hours the past few weeks. There hadn''t been as many meetings as before so work is a bit more rxed. He''s having his usual afternoon breaks along with ck tea"

    "That''s notnever mind," Avery said. She sighed and looked at Andie. Then, her gazended back on Eve. Her lips had stretched into a grim line. "Will you be at the receptionter?"

    "I believe the girls want to attend so yes."

    "I''ll talk to you then."

    "Okay."

    This time, Eve waited until the madam was out of sight. She might not take a third jumpscare. The restroom turned out to be empty which exhrated Andie. Even inside a cubicle, she continued to chatter about her brilliance to look for a second restroom.

    Then, she emphasized how this one was much cleaner.

    Eve also relieved her dder. It somehow melted the rest of her anxiety away. Looking back, she realized how stupid she must have looked. It made her groan. Avery must have noticed it too. That thought caused her to grumble.

    She practically kicked the cubicle door open.

    "So that''s Ambryan''s mother" Andie brought up, washing her hands under a faucet. She met her best friend''s eyes in the mirror. "I can see where he got his aloofness."

    Eve joined her at the sink. A snort gushed out of her closed lips. "Mrs. Hathaway? Aloof? Impossible. I think she acted that way because she wasn''t sure if you knew about Evangeline."

    She couldn''t remember telling the madam about it. Since that was the case, she chose to answer Avery''s question differently. Why did that matter when she could have told Avery right there and then?

    She didn''t know.

    The words she spoke just came out of her mouth.

    Andie frowned. "I thought Cale would have told her."

    "Then, it must have slipped his mind."

    "Should I have thanked her for asking you to join the dating site?" She teased, nudging her best friend''s side. "Maybe I could even send her a few suggestions. I don''t think arranging a date for you and your beau would be against the rules."

    Eve turned off the faucet.

    The image of aughing Avery and Andie surfaced in her mind. The sound mimicked the ones made by witches she''d seen in films. Then, they''d have a glowing green cauldron in front of them where they could spy on her and Ambryan.

    It gave her the chills.

    "I have a feeling you two will get along really well..." she said, taking a paper towel from the dispenser. "Maybe even too well."

    "What took you guys so long?" Jarret said as soon as they came back.

    "What did you expect?" Andie shrugged. "The line was really long."

    Before the curtains parted open, the sound of a piano filled the room.

    Delicate notes danced in the air and pulled the audience towards the stage.

 Chapter 146: The Melodies that Bind Us

    Chapter 146: The Melodies that Bind Us

    Like rocks skipping on water, fingers touched the piano keys. Their sound gathered in a string of light taps. They dripped like rain running down a pipe and onto cobblestone. The arrangement repeated three times:

    First, to capture the audience,

    Second, tomit it to their memory, and

    Third, to continue on the story by speeding up its tempo

    Strings joined as if enchanted by the melody. Each stroke matched the same note. It followed the same number of repeats. Then, it took its own course by the third one. Their harmonies tangled and blended together.

    The curtains parted open.

    Two girls took the stage. One held up a violin and wore a white dress. Lace traced the hem and the neckline. She stood by the piano, carefully proiming her and the pianist as one unit. Her partner went for a vest and a dress shirt. A jabot peeked out of her chest.

    Both tied up their hair in a braid that encircled their head like a halo. A waterfall of cinnamon strands flowed down their backs.

    Both of them had the same face too.

    "They sound so good!" Andie gushed. Her back was straight for the first time since the recital started. Her stormy blue eyes were clear of drowsiness. She gripped Jarrett''s hand while watching the twins perform.

    Eve pped her arm, pressing a finger to her lips. She filmed from the second floor instead of the front. Georgie and Gin had covered that area for them. Since she was at the corner, there shouldn''t be anyone disturbed by her actions.

    Andie stuck her tongue but changed the volume of her voice. "Okay, okay, I''ll be quiet."

    "Sssh..!" Eve pressed.

    "SSH!" Someone echoed behind them.

    Neither of them uttered another sound.

    ''Ah, the song of spring'' Eve thought. The grass meadow from before had led the small ballerina up to a hill where a grand piano stood. The violinist danced around it, gesturing for the neer to join them.

    The three girls relished in the music.

    .

    .

    .

    .

    .

    "Oh, my. How adorable." Avery gasped, sping her hands over her chest. The twins looked at each other and shared a smilelike they weren''t in a recital at all. The violinist moved around the piano and swayed to the melody.

    She''d never seen a cuter pair of sisters.

    Beside her, Ambryan had frozen in his seat.

    Who would have thought he''d see them again so soon? Once he got over the shock, he fixed his posture and listened more than usual, even more than the cello yer''s turn. His ears picked up the innocence of youth behind the music score.

    It fitted them quite well.

    He took out his phone and typed a brief message.

    The performancested three minutesamon theme for all beginners. The twins stood side by side, holding hands. They raised their intertwined hands and bowed in unison. The audience pped and cheered in response.

    The loudest came from the second level.

    "Ladies and gentlemen, please give a round of apuse for our only duo todayMs. Erin and Eden Hart!" M announced a littlete. But, the cheers only grew louder at the sound of her voice. She pped along with the rest of them.

    It was definitely one of the recital''s best acts.

    "Hart?" Avery blinked. Her hands paused in mid-air. Realization dawned on her and hit her like a ton of bricks. She smiled from ear to ear. "Oh, they must be Eve''s sisters!"

    Ambryan also stopped pping. He turned his head towards her. "What?"

    "Right, I haven''t told you!" His mother admitted. She leaned in and talked above the loud crowd. "I ran into Eve in the restroom. She said her sisters were performing. I didn''t know they were going to be doing it at the same time."

    He already knew their rtions. He was more shocked at the fact that his mother knew about it. It didn''t seem like she knew before he did. That fact assured him somehow. At least, he knew something about his secretary that others didn''t at the time.

    ''Eve''s sisters, huh?'' Ambryan repeated in his head. His gaze flickered back on stage. The girls waved at the audience as they exited the stage. ''What a small world.''

    .

    .

    .

    .

    .

    The recital continued with their regr students. They performed longer pieces by famousposers. The bar had been set higher for them and they did not disappoint. Each one came to showcase their growth. The recital promoted a friendlypetition among them.

    "Once again, please wee our performers!" M spoke on the mic. This time, the curtain rolled upwards instead of sideways. A moon-shaped wooden tformposed of five levels. They waved together, using the same hand.

    The audience rose to their feet and apuded their loudest. The school''s official cameraman took the children''s photo. He captured a second one that had the teachers and staff in it.

    That marked the end of the recital.

    Everyone had gathered at the lobby.

    "Aunt Georgie!" Eri yelled as soon as she stepped out of the auditorium entrance. Her legs leaped for the old woman, forcing Ede to follow before they could be separated.

    Georgie wrapped them both in her embrace. "You both were so wonderful!"

    She hugged the girls tight. Their practices had clearly paid off. She already looked forward to next summer. She had no doubt that the twins would surpass their current selves. The future held so many possibilities!

    Next to them, a teenage boy rolled his eyes. He couldn''t see what all the fuss was about. "I mean, anything better than a saw and a hammer will be considered as wonderful."

    "Gin!" His mother red at him. She rose back to her feet and put her hands on her hips. Georgie knew it was a joke but there was a time and ce for everything.

    "I''m kidding, I''m kidding!" Gin defended, raising his hands up in surrender. Then, he patted both heads of the twins. "You did good, squirts."

    Eri was the first to step back. Her hands balled into fists on either side of her. Feet apart, she squared her shoulders and stared at him straight in the eye. "Hmph! Just you wait! Someday, I''ll be taller than you!"

    "Oh, I am so scared."

    "Gin!"

    "Ma, I am starting to think you want something to drink."

    "Gin!"

    "See? There you go again."

    Before Georgie coulde up with a full lecture, another voice had cut through the conversation. "There are my girls!"

    Eri and Ede followed its source. Their expressions shone like the morning sun. Then, they bolted right over. "EVE!"

    Eve grinned and bent her knees. She met their tackle with a bear hug. Although she had seen them during the bakery ss, it felt like ages had passed before this moment. Their marshmallow cologne hit her nose.

    "I am so proud of you both!" She said, her head stuck in between theirs. Not enough words couldn''t describe how she truly felt. Their blinding smiles had been engraved in her mind. No matter what happened, she''d cherish this memory forever.

    Eri pulled back. "Really?"

    "Of course!" Eve chuckled.

    "Does that mean you''d dance for us someday?" Ede asked, wearing a serious face.

    Eve''s eyes fluttered. "Dance?"

    The twins stepped closer together. They covered their sister''s entire vision, trapping Eve from looking somewhere else. Their brown eyes loomed over her.

    "Yeah, doesn''t ballet involve an orchestra? I think a piano and a violin could work," Ede exined. Her facial muscles quivered as she tried to stay calm.

    Eri nodded in agreement. "Mhm, we really want to see you dance again."

    Eve was speechless. It had been years since she saw a pair of ballet shoes. She would have thought the memory of them had been erased from her sister''s memories. They were barely five years old when she quit.

    Her chest squeezed at their pleading faces.

    A deep sigh escaped her lips. "Listen, girls"

    Eri averted her gaze, spotting a tall figure headed their way. Her index finger pointed in his direction. "It''s the runaway boyfriend!"

    "Who?" Eve scowled. She nced over her shoulder, hoping for some answers. Her back went rigid instantly. She shot up from the floor and greeted her boss. "Sir Hathaway!"

    "Eve," Ambryan nodded at her. Then, his eyes flickered towards the twins. The smile on his lips never wavered. He found himself morefortable around here than in the auditorium. "Erin. Eden."

    "Just call me, Eri."

    "And call me, Ede."

    Ambryan looked at his secretary, arching one eyebrow. "All E''s, huh?"

    Eve shrugged. Her face morphed into a weird expression. It wasn''t like it was her who chose their names. "It''s a running gag, I guess."

    She felt relieved that her voice was steady. There she was waiting for a reply and it turned out that he was in the same venue all this time. Was that why the madam suddenly asked her about Ambryan?

    Because they might run into each other?

    Did she know that Evan and Ambee barely spoke?

    "You''re one to talk. Your name and mine both start with ''A''." Avery snorted, taking the spot beside her son. Her fingers itched to pinch four chubby cheeks. She ced them behind her back just in case.

    "A running gag, I believe."

    She rolled her eyes. "Oh, hush!"

    "Ew, get your own joke," Eri remarked.

    A boisterousugh reverberated around the lobby. People shifted their attention towards the small group. They whispered to each other, wondering what the fuss was about.

    Avery wiped the tears in her eyes. "Oh, I like you already."

 Chapter 147: Table for Seven Please!

    Chapter 147: Table for Seven Please!

    "So, what do you do?"

    "I look over the external affairs of ourpany."

    "What is external affairs?"

    Eve sat across the round table. A spot on her arm had reddened underneath her thumb and her index finger. She had pinched herself numerous times, wondering if this conversation was a dream.

    But the image never vanished.

    In a venue beside the auditorium, white fabrics covered sets of tables and chairs. ssical music yed through the speakers overhead. Small chandeliers hung from several ces on the ceiling. Almost everyone had attended the reception and while waiting for the staff to start the celebration,

    Eri looked up as Ambryan met her gaze.

    Their chairs were ced two feet apart from each other.

    "How do they even know him?" Eve thought out loud, shifting her attention between Eri and Ede who was looking at Avery''s phone screen. "I can''t remember a single moment when they could cross paths."

    "Beats me," Andie replied on her right. She picked up a piece of garlic bread from the basket and bit it. Her head leaned towards the other side. "What did Eri call him again?"

    Jarrett mimicked the position but tilting in her direction instead. The three of them watched Eri''s interview with Ambryan. "The Runaway Boyfriend, I think. Any idea what that could be?"

    "Not a clue." Eve scrunched her eyebrows. The nickname hovered around her head. Could it be rted to Evangeline? Or maybe about Ambryan''s love life in general? Eri didn''t bring it up again after calling out to him.

    Eri bit her inner cheek. The cold man in front of her had a tough shell to breakpared to when they first met. "Then, what does Eve do?"

    "She assists me."

    "So she looks after the external affairs of thepany too?"

    "Not necessarily."

    "So how does she assist you?" Eri asked.

    Ambryan rubbed his chin and thought for a moment. He couldn''t think of an answer that a child couldprehend. Instead of handling external affairs, Eve was more like his bridge between himself and internal affairs as well as a few external ones.

    But saying those sounded like a mouthful.

    So, he went with,

    "She prepares tea during my break time."

    Eve held back a cough. Of all the things she does at work, he chose that one? Andie pressed her lips together as her shoulders shook withughter. Now that was something she didn''t expect to hear from Ambryan Hathaway.

    "Now, now, Eve," Jarrett spoke softly from his seat. He propped his arm on the table and bent his back forward. He directed his nose towards her. "Why didn''t you tell us that your boss has a sense of humor?"

    "Yeah, it''s such a shame," Andie backed up, her voice quivering. "We had been made out to think that he''s a robot. You have to speak about these things or he would be misunderstood."

    Eve stared at them both and clicked her tongue. "Well, look at you two having fun."

    "Jealous?" Jarrett pushed.

    Her temple throbbed at his smug face.

    Eri squinted her left eye. "So she''s a maid? Why isn''t she wearing a maid uniform then?"

    A giggle escaped Andie''s lips. She clutched her stomach with both arms. Her posture hadpletely curved over until her face was parallel to herp. If formalities weren''t needed around here, she wouldn''t have needed to hold back.

    The twin really had a colorful imagination!

    Andie couldn''t shake the picture off her head. The more she focused on it, the more ridiculous and awesome it looked. Jarrett seemed to share the same sentiment. Their muffledughter came out in puffs and snorts.

    "Okay!" Eve interjected. Her ears had gone pink at this point. She reached a hand and ced it on her sister''s shoulder. Eri nced in her direction. "I think that''s enough questions. I''m sure Sir Hathaway has some business to attend to."

    "No, I don''t," Ambryan denied, still wearing his infamous poker faceas if his secretary wasn''t trying to get rid of him just now. "I came to apany my mother."

    "And I''m more than happy to stay here for the entire reception," Averymented, her eyes never leaving the phone screen. The mother-son pair had reserved seats at the VIP area but dyed their presence there for as long as possible.

    She gestured at a couple of bags and said, "What color do you think I should pick?"

    Ede studied each item, tapping her jaw in the process. All the bags had the same size but their details differ in zippers, pockets and material. She pointed to the one with a small wallet essory.

    "The red one!"

    Avery raised her hand for a high-five. "You have excellent taste."

    "Sooooo? Why isn''t my sister wearing a maid uniform?" Eri asked again.

    Ambryan chuckled, admiring her persistence. "That''s because she''s not a maid."

    Eve blocked out the rest of the conversation. She figured it was the best thing to do for her mental health. Sighing, she slouched in her seat. A part of her was d that Georgie decided to go home. Who knew what that old woman could stir? She had enough of those at the table already.

    "Aw,e on, don''t look so worried." Andie nudged her side. Her previous amusement had died down as Ambryan took Eri seriously this time. "There''s nothing wrong with sharing the table with the Hathaways."

    "Sure, sure."

    "But I mean it."

    Eve gave Andie a look. Thetter smiled, fluttering her stormy blue eyes. Mischief clearly shone through the fake innocence. Eve grabbed a ss of water from the table. "It feels slightly weird though."

    "That what? Your boss is now involved in your private life?" Andie snorted. She snatched thest garlic bread and waved it around before taking a bite. "It''s been five years since you met. It was bound to happen at some point. It''s a small world, after all."

    Scowling, Eve considered her words. It did have a valid point. Ambryan had every right to be here just like them. Hell, he probably came here every year. If there was anyone who barged in someone''s world, it was them.

    "Eve, I want to go to the toilet," Eri called out. She began to bounce on her chair as she held it in. Her sister immediately craned her neck, searching for the restroom sign.

    "I''ll take her," Avery volunteered. She put the phone away and stood up. "Do you want toe too, Ede?"

    "Yes, please."

    The three females walked away and entered the maze of tables.

    Silence wrapped around theirpanions.

    "So, Mr. Hathaway," Andie began to say. She wore her best smile and folded her hands on the table. "How did you find the performances today? Which was the highlight for you?"

    "Are you sure you want to start a topic that you can''t answer?" Eve muttered. A kick from a pointed heel hit her leg. "Ow!"

    "I think a number of them had delivered beyond anyone''s general expectations," Ambryan responded without hesitation. He angled his body towards the table now that Eri wasn''t present. He straightened hispels and crossed his legs.

    Andie nodded in understanding. "You''re a fan of ssical music, huh?"

    "Yes, I''d say I am."

    "Does Evangeline Reed feel the same?"

    This time, the kick came from a strappy sandal.

    And it hit a tan leg.

    "Eep!" Andie yelped, crouching from the impact. She yed it off as a scratch on her leg and let out an awkwardugh. "I''m sorry if that came out as rude. I find couple interests as interesting."

    ''Couple interests as interesting?'' Eve repeated in her head. That surely sounded convincing.

    "It''s quite alright." Ambryan assured her. He travelled through his memories, searching for an answer. "I have yet to find out though."

    "I see" Andie drew out. Her mind raced for another conversation starter. Of course, it had to lead towards Evangeline. If the person wouldn''t tell her anything, maybe the person in front of her could. "What things interest you both then? Something you enjoy as a couple."

    Ambryan locked his jaw. They had yet to find that outst time he checked. But, at the back of his mind, he knew that statement was partially false. There were moments when he had enjoyed himself.

    Did that count as an interest?

    What words should he coin together?

    Eve took another sip of water. Evan and Ambee had a total of two dates in thest 6 weeks. The first one catered towards her interest while the second one was his. Their third one should appease this question.

    Maybe her best friend was actually onto something.

    She took mental notes, saving it forter.

    "Come on, love," Jarrett cut in, breaking the silence. "The answer is already obvious."

    Andie raised an eyebrow at him. "Is it?"

    "It''s kissing, of course."

    Water sttered over Eve''sp. Cough after cough spluttered out of her mouth. Andie rubbed her back while Jarrett cleaned up the table. A few heads turned their way but they quickly minded their own business upon seeing things were okay.

    "Sorry about that," Eve apologized. "I identally breathed while drinking."

    "Are you sure you''re okay, Eve?" Ambryan frowned.

    She pounded on her chest, breathing better. "Yes, Sir Hathaway."

    "Oh, I haven''t introduced myself!" Andie eximed, changing the subject. She extended a hand towards Ambryan and said, "I''m Andie, by the way."

    When he returned the gesture, his hand squeezed hers.

    Curiosity painted over his face.

    "Excuse me but how do you spell that?"

 Chapter 148: Eight is a Crowd

    Chapter 148: Eight is a Crowd

    "They used to spell it as A-N-D-Y when she was a kid. One day, she decided that it was too boyish and forced everyone to change it," Jarrett replied on behalf of his girlfriend, knowing full well that she wouldn''t reveal this part of the story. "She couldn''t get away with a new nickname so they changed the spelling instead."

    "It''s also short for ''Andrea''." Eve added.

    Andie rolled her eyes, sarcasm dripping in every syble. "Gee, thanks, guys."

    They nodded in her direction. "You''re wee."

    Ambryan watched and listened throughout the exchange. The air had aforting atmosphere that could only be found among close family and friends. He found it refreshing for a group he never met before.

    They acted casually around him.

    "So how is it spelled now?" He asked again, deciding to take a sip of water.

    "A-N-D-I-E," Jarrett answered for the second time. His shoulders shrugged as he continued, "It doesn''t sound any different though. I don''t know why she loved it as soon as they suggested it."

    "Because it seemed unique," Andie defended. She threw her hands in the air. "I found it really cool. Don''t you think it''s cool, Mr. Hathaway?"

    "Very cool."

    She pped the back of her boyfriend''s hand repeatedly. "See? See?"

    Jarrett smirked, still not convinced. He had to hand it to Ambryan. The CEO knew how to engage in trivial conversations. Or maybe it was him who judged thetter too quickly. Ambryan Hathaway was as human as the rest of them.

    Ambryan scanned the room, looking out for his mother and the twins. He circled it once before looking back at hispanions. "Are you and Evangeline close, by any chance, Andie?"

    Andie and Eve exchanged a nce. Unease weighed on their shoulders.

    "W-Why do you think that?" Andie shot back.

    Ambryan ced both his elbows on the table. He interlocked his fingers and pressed his upper lip against them. His violet eyes scrutinized the woman across from him. "Weren''t you the one teaching the bakery ss she attended?"

    "OH!"Andie practically yelled. The puzzle pieces started to make sense. Of course, she had been spotted that day. It was stupid of her to think otherwise."That! Yes. Yes, I was. I''m honored to have been recognized by such a famous individual."

    Ambryan pulled his elbows apart until his hands touched the table. He showed her azy smile. "I''d rather know who my girlfriend hangs out with just in case something were to happen to her."

    "How thoughtful."

    If Andie didn''t know any better, she would have taken that as a treat.

    Considering who it came from, it could be true.

    A shiver went down her spine.

    "Well, I''d love to meet her when given the chance," Jarrett said. Three heads shifted in his direction. He smiled as soon as he met their eyes. "She sounds quite lovely. I have a feeling we''d have a grand time as a group."

    Eve moved her foot but pulled it back immediately. With Andie in between her and Jarrett, thetter was too far for her to kick. She would have hit Andie insteadwho would kick her right back because of the mistake.

    Ambryan flickered his gaze on the table, flexing his fingers.

    "I''ll keep that in mind," he responded as he lifted his head. His focus directed towards Andie once again. "May I ask how did you meet Evangeline?"

    "Oh. Um. Hm," Andie stuttered. "I knew herbeforebefore she entered the modelling industry. She was a regr customer at the bakery so I was grateful that she decided to join the ss even when she was so busy."

    "So you two aren''t that close?"

    "We talk whenever we have the chance and I do love her a lot."

    "I see."

    Ambryan became quiet, having receded into his thoughts. It didn''t seem like he''d get anywhere far with Andie about Evangeline''s private life. Wasn''t there a person Evangeline had mentioned? Beatrice was it? Maybe that person would be able to answer?

    There was a limit to how much a human mind could recall. Even the fondest of memories could turn into dusts when the time came. But, none of them were ever truly gone. It only took the right triggers to ess them again.

    "Was there something you wanted to ask? Her favorite fruit maybe? It''s strawberry," Andie joked. Lines had creased on his forehead, revealing his troubled thoughts.

    Eve had noticed them too. Despite being grateful for Andie''s initiative, she wasn''t sure where the conversation headed. It did confirm one thing thoughAmbryan''s mind had Evangeline in it and none of them sounded negative.

    He wasn''t ignoring her for something she had done wrong but then, what was it?

    Ambryan leaned back. His posture rxed along the way. "No, I was merely curious."

    "Anything else you''re curious about? I''d answer if I know it," Andie tried again. She knew Evangeline more than anyone. What could possibly rattle a CEO? Was he finally falling for her? Is this a conflict with his own feelings?

    Oh, she couldn''t wait to hear it!

    "When she was at the bakery" Ambryan began to say.

    Andie leaned over the table. Giddiness trembled beneath her skin. "Yes?"

    Were they going to hear a confession? He thought they were close, right? Maybe he wanted to know if Evangeline felt something for him? Possibilities after possibilities flooded her mind. She couldn''t wait to see which one came true.

    "She sang a song"

    "Mhm, part of the story she was telling the kids," Andie narrated. She still remembered most of it. It was a wicked plot though Eve only made it on the spot. Others present at the time probably remembered it as well.

    "Where didnever mind. I must be overthinking it," Ambryan concluded with a shake of his head. He needed to get over this and ask Evangelien directly. What was there to be a coward about?

    Andie''s jaw dropped. "But"

    "Ambryan!" A voice called out from the crowd. The group spotted a familiar head of ginger hair. It bounded for their table, avoiding any blockage in the way. Andie and Eve raised their eyebrows.

    They had been the CEO for hours but not once did they address him by his first name.

    M stopped near Ambryan''s seat, holding out a hand towards him. "Nice to finally meet the man behind the screen and in several magazines."

    Up close, she noticed how thick his eyshes were. They framed his violet eyes with allure. His beige skin looked silky smooth. This theory was proven once he epted her handshake. His voice also sounded deeper than she imagined.

    Overall, he had exceeded her expectations.

    "Ms. rk," Ambryan acknowledged politely, twisting his torso. He let go of her hand within a second. "Thank you for the invitation. My mother was ecstatic when she received it."

    "I''m d to hear that. Did you enjoy the show?"

    "Yes, quite." He adjusted his posture until his chest faced the others. "I apologize if mother hasn''t greeted you yet. We sort of ran into old friends."

    "Oh, I''m so sorry. How rude of me." M faced the rest, waving her hand to greet them. "Good to see you, Eve. Andie. And who this might be?"

    "Jarrett," the said person supplied. He offered her his own handshake. "I''m Andie''s boyfriend."

    "d you could make it." M thanked him, pulling her hand back.

    The temperature dropped a few degrees as silence fell on the table. She sensed the underlying awkwardness and attempted to fix it. "What about Eve''s boyfriend? Will I be blessed to meet the lucky guy today?"

    Eve averted her eyes. Here she thought only rtives and old schoolmates liked to ask that question. She thought of how to replywithout ruining the mood furtherbut failed.

    "I don''t have one, Ms. M."

    Ambryan narrowed his gaze, remembering what the twins had said about her absence. His corner lip curled into a smirk. "Are you sure about that, Eve?"

    Eve widened her eyes at him. "Positive."

    No way were they talking about this again! Thest thing she needed was for Andie to catch the innuendo behind it. Sure enough, her best friend had her eyes squinted in her direction. She could almost see Andie''s thoughts floating above her head.

    "I''m sure you''d find a good man," M coaxed. A lump formed in her throat. It seemed that she had chosen a bad time. Before she could bid them goodbye, she caught Amy''s stare at her. Their conversation reyed in her mind.

    The table did have empty chairs.

    But, it wasn''t like she could just barge in.

    She shifted her attention back on Ambryan. He busied himself as they spent the time in another cloud of silence. She needed to think something fast.

    It was as if a light bulb popped over her head. M pulled back a chair and sat on it. "Oh, um, Ambryan, I heard you can y quite a number of instruments."

    "Yes?" He questioned.

    "Have you ever heard about the kalimba?"

    .

    .

    .

    .

    .

    "Oh, it''s Ms. M," Eri observed.

    "Where?" Avery asked, searching for the ginger head. She mentally pped herself for forgetting to greet the hostess. Cute girls were really quite distracting!

    Ede pointed towards their teacher with her lips. "Over there. By our table."

    "Huh" Avery breathed out. M and her son were in the middle of a conversation. She wasn''t sure if it was intentional but the two seem to lean dangerously close. Tugging both of the hands she held, she said, "Listen, girls. There''s something I need you to do."

 Chapter 149: Youre Hallucinating

    Chapter 149: You''re Hallucinating

    "It''s an instrument that has been around for hundreds of years," M stated, describing the kalimba to Ambryan. "People call it the ''Thumb Piano'' because it has the concept but with the use of thumbs, of course. Have you ever tried it? I have one in the school."

    Ambryan deepened his scowl. It seemed that Ms. rk was the same as she was on screen. His nerves had the instinct to flee. This conversation emitted a different vibepared to Eve and herpanions.

    He fixed his tie, suppressing the urge to swallow.

    "Ms. rk, your passion for music is admirable," he started to say. He half-lifted himself up the chair. "Please excuse me. I haven''t heard from Evangeline thesest few hours. I''d like to call her. I do apologize for the interruption."

    Eve hitched her breath, her heart ting from his words. The worries she had vanished in a second. They all became irrelevant. If he was willing to talk to her, they could clear whatever misunderstanding they had.

    "Can''t you be more obvious?" Andie muttered near her ear. "Why not just tell h"

    "Ow!" She hissed. Somehow, Eve hit the same spot from earlier. She reached under the table to touch it. Dull ache spread around the spot. "That is so gonna bruise"

    "Right now?" M breathed out, blinking. She had to give it to him. He knew how to reject someone. Thepliment hid his disinterest on the topic. If one wasn''t perceptive, they might not catch on it.

    But, she did.

    And it squeezed her chest.

    Ambryan rose to his feet and gave her an apologetic smile. "I don''t think it can wait."

    She also stood up. A sigh flowed out of her lips. She hoped Amy heard that. The only reason M tried was because of her. There was nothing elsenot even false hope. She only yed along for Amy to finally drop her ideas.

    It was clear that what Ambryan felt for Evangeline was real.

    "Then, I"

    "Ms. M, Ms. M!"

    At the sound of her name, M paused from talking. Eri ran through the center. Another person with the same height as her stayed close behind. The two caused heads to turn in their direction.

    Eri jumped when she was a few feet away. Her feetnded right in front of her instructor. A toothy grin spread across her face. "Ms. M, you look lovely today."

    Shuffling her feet to stop her momentum, Ede panted beside her twin. "Are there avable sses on weekends when school starts?"

    "We''d like to learn more duet pieces of the piano and the violin."

    "I''ll ask the school if I can have The Magical Symphony as my club activity."

    Ambryan felt his phone vibrate in his pocket. The unpleasant look on his face becamepletely sour. Despite this, he answered the call, saying, "Hello? Madison? Yes? Hold on."

    He left the scene before M could say anything else. Eri seized the moment to grab her right hand. She tugged it, sticking out her bottom lip. "I want to learn moreplex pieces."

    "Can wee whenever we''re free?" Ede asked. She took M''s free hand and pulled.

    "Don''t get me wrong!" Eri defended at once. Her voice rose in volume. "I liked our piece for the performance but I think we can do better. What about ''Swan Lake''?"

    "If that''s not possible, maybe we can have your number?"

    "Wo-woah! Slow down, girls!" M finally cut in. Her jade green eyes fluttered, trying to get her bearings steady. Sheughed breathily and crouched down. "I appreciate the enthusiasm but if you keep talking on top of one another, I don''t think I can answer any of them."

    "They are quite energetic, right?" Avery mused, making her approach. She positioned herself behind the twins and reached for a hug.

    "Avery!" M eximed. The girls still held her hands and so the hug became one-sided.

    "Good to see you, M," Avery greeted her. She looped their arms together, forcing Ede to let go. They moved away from the table and over to the VIP area. "I''m so d your school is doing incredibly well. If you don''t mind, I''d like to talk about schrships. Say let me sponsor some?"

    "Really?!"

    Back at the table, Andie cupped her cheek and twisted her neck towards her left. Jarrett followed her lead. Both of them stared at Evewho still wore a dazed look on her face.

    Andie cleared her throat. "Ehem."

    Eve snapped her head in her best friend''s direction. "What?"

    ''She really had it bad. Her rational thinking had flown out of the window.'' Andie sighed at her thoughts. Then, said, "I hate to break it to you but I don''t want to see you get hurt."

    "Okay?" Eve uttered, her eyebrows knitting together. She nced at the table and thought, ''Well, that was cryptic.''

    Another sigh flowed out of Andie''s lips. There was no other way to say it so she chose the direct approach. "You do know Ambryan only said that as an excuse?"

    "Huh?"

    Jarrett ced his chin on his girlfriend''s shoulder. He returned Eve''s confused look with a pointed one. "He only said it to get away from M."

    "And you both know this because?"

    "It''s a move," Jarrett exined. "Come up with something you need to do urgently in order to get away from a conversation. His use of Evangeline was to shut down any hidden intentions M had."

    "You heard her, right?" Andie asked, recalling M''s first words to Ambryan.

    Eve knew what she meant immediately. "You mean how she''s one of the girls from the site?"

    "Yes."

    That had been part of the reason why they became silent. There had been five girls on that dating site. Who knew they''d run into another candidate? The possibility sounded tantly obvious but it somehow slipped their minds.

    "I did. It really surprised me," Eve admitted. Her phone shook in her hand. She took one look at the screen and showed it to herpanions. "Speaking of the devil, see who''s calling now?"

    The phone icon along with the DTC app showed up at her notification bar. Eve stood up, taking one step towards the nearest exit. "Be right back."

    Andie grabbed her wrist. rm streaked across her face. "You''re not answering it, are you?"

    "Why not?"

    "Because it''s not safe!" She hissed, yanking Eve back. Oh, how unreasonable her best friend became! Love really did make people into fools. It delighted and frustrated her at the same time.

    Eve bit her bottom lip. Her grip on the phone tightened. "Well, if what you said was true, I don''t want to waste this chance. We haven''t had a proper talk in a week. If you''re worried, you can cover for me."

    Andie and her had a stared down. The former saw intense determination in thetter''s eyes.She had seen that gaze before. Nothing will change Eve''s mind at this point. She had been waiting for this opportunity long enough.

    "Ugh, fine." Andie grumbled, rising to her feet. She grabbed her purse on the chair and told Jarrett, "And she says she doesn''t feel anything."

    "Enjoy." He smiled.

    She groaned a second time and followed Eve to a secluded area.

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    Andie watched over the entrance of the hallway. It was the same one they entered in when searching for the restroom. It seemed to be the best ce to avoid people. Luckily, Ambryan wasn''t anywhere near it either.

    Eve cleansed her throat before picking up the call. "Hello?"

    "Evangeline," Ambryan said, his voice as cold as ever.

    The sound of it put a wide smile on her face. "Mr. Hathaway."

    "I''d like to start this conversation by apologizing for any misunderstanding I may have caused."

    "You mean how you decided not to talk to me without telling me first?" Eve snorted. She tapped her chin and gazed at the ceiling. "If you apologize now, I might consider forgiving you. Anyter and I might not."

    "What if I make it up to you with a date?"

    "Hate to break it to you but dates are part of our deal. It''s not really worthwhile."

    "Even if you get to choose?" Ambryan teased. He leaned against the side of his car. The valet watched him from a distance, confused by his actions. If he had wanted it back, he would have called for them. "I could almost make anything happen."

    Eve narrowed her eyes in suspicion. Two could y at this game. She hummed for a while and pretended to consider it. "Sounds like bribery if you ask me."

    "Maybe." He shrugged. This time, a genuine smile curled the corners of his lips. "But I still hope you say yes."

    "And why is that?"

    "Do I need another reason besides missing you?"

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    Eve choked on her own spit. Blood rushed into her cheeks, into her ears, all the way up to her forehead and all the way down to her neck. Airpletely left her lungs. She didn''t know how her body still functionedhow her heart could still beat at a fast rate.

    "In case you''re wondering if you''re hallucinating," Ambryan said, breaking through her thoughts. He stared at the sky and looked back at his cowardice. "Yes, I did say it. So please say yes. Give me the chance to do something for you after what you went through with the scandal."

 Chapter 150: Its a Fake Date

    Chapter 150: It''s a ''Fake'' Date

    Ambryan checked his watch. The sun gleamed on the ss covering. Behind him, his newly polished Mercedes-Maybach S650 reflected the tall building in the vicinity.

    The weather was changing around him. The heat warmed his back while a cool breeze kissed his cheek. The pavement no longer scorched through the soles of his shoes. His navy blue coat buttoned over his waist. Gray trousers covered his legs.

    A red tie hung from his neck.

    His ears picked up the pattering of heels against tiles. He flickered his gaze towards the building''s entrance. On top of the front steps stood a pair of ck thigh boots underneath a violet jumper dress. Fair skin peeked between the skirt hem and the boot lining. White long-sleeved sweater protected the upper body against the chilly air.

    Wavy crimson hair swayed with the wind.

    "What do you think?" Eve asked Ambryan as soon as she reached him. She pped a ck beret and ced it on her head. Her arms positioned into a shrug. "You think I should wear it? Or is it a little too much?"

    Ambryan assessed the look. "I don''t think it''s necessary."

    "Right? I think so too. Cale is being a drama queen." Eve snatched off the hat and tucked it under her arm. She ttened any stray hair on the top of her head.

    Beige fingers pushed away her disheveled bangs. "No, it''s because I like your red hair."

    "Huh?"

    Eve blinked her amber eyes. Ambryan towered over her and shielded her from the bright sky. Shadows darkened hisplexion, boosting the tension within his presence. But his eyeshis eyes were soft.

    They focused on her hair while his hands lightlybed the top.

    Blocking his wrist, Eve took a step back. She narrowed her gaze in suspicion. "Okay, who are you and what have you done with Ambryan Hathaway?"

    "Very funny." Ambryan snorted, opening the passenger side.

    Eve chuckled, familiar with his yfulness. She had one foot inside the car and paused just to wink at him. "I know I am."

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    The Mercedes made its way downtown. ck sedans followed it. Wen took one side while Nanzie took the other. Both their teams covered the rest. Their expert skills blocked any media vehicle. After the fiascost time, they wouldn''t let anything pass by.

    Eve stared out the window. They entered one of the busiest parts of the city. From vendors to passersby, people crowded the sidewalks. There was always an attraction in every blockwhether it was a street performer or a florist arranging flowers on a stand.

    She peeled her eyes off it, turning her head towards the driver''s seat. "So where are we going?"

    Ambryan changednes. "Anywhere you want."

    "Are you sure about that?" She teased.

    "Why wouldn''t I be?"

    "What if I said we should go to WcDonald''s?"

    Radio music hummed from the speakers.

    "Sure." Ambryan answered after a while. He continued to drive around the city, not a care in the world. He left his business phone with Wen who''d filter out urgent matters from minor ones. "But we won''t eat there. I am just not sure if they let adults in the ball pit though."

    Eveughed. Of course, he''d find apromise. "I''m kidding. I won''t do that to you."

    He sent a pointed look her way.

    "What? I''m innocent!" She defended, raising her hands in surrender. The gleeful smile on her face stayed up. "At least, I won''t do it a second time."

    Ambryan rolled his eyes. He swerved on a corner. The street led to arge park. It had less traffic but more cars parked on either side of the road. He navigated through them with Wen leading in front.

    "What about a stroll?" He proposed.

    "Oh, I''d love a good stroll," Eve gushed. She checked out the park and found the path that outlined it. "Now that summer is ending, we should definitely take advantage of it."

    Ambryan craned his head for a good parking spot. "Okay. Then, we can decide where to eat while we walk."

    Eve shook her head. "Why not eat before we walk? We can burn the calories that way."

    "Fair point."

    "Isn''t there like a popr romance movie these days?" She continued to say, now thinking out loud. Her eyes lit with mischief as she wiggled her brows at him. "Wanna go check out yourpetitor?"

    "I''m good."

    "I see."

    Ambryan sensed the drop in her voice. He sneaked a peek from the corner of his eye. The back of her head faced his direction while her shoulders drooped by a centimeter. If it was possible, he could almost see sad puppy ears on either side of her head.

    He didn''t know whether tough or not.

    "But if you insist"

    Eve exaggerated a gasp. Face stricken in rm, she ced a hand over her chest.

    "I could never!"

    "Sure, you won''t."

    "Won''t drag you into torture for 2 hours?" She scoffed, averting her eyes and dropping her hand. Her head nodded once."You''re right. I would."

    Ambryan picked up the bluetooth earpiece and pressed it against his ear. He spoke muted instructions to his security team.

    Eve tried a different approach. She slumped in her seat and stuck out her bottom lip. "Come on, it can''t be that bad. You can even do work while I watch. No one would even know it''s not a real date."

    Tires halted beneath her. The rubber sreeched against the asphalt. Her seatbelt pulled her backjust before she could hit the dashboard. Her hands grabbed thetter reflexively, pushing herself upright.

    "What happened?" Eve shrieked. She looked outside and searched for anything they almost hit. "Is everything okay? Did the car escape? Why can''t I see it? The road is wide open! Why would they even do that?"

    "Let me get one thing straight."

    Ambryan unbuckled his seatbelt and inclined his body in her direction. His arms were propped on the headrest and on the steering wheel. His ''permanent'' scowl was sharper than usual. It reflected in his eyes. The flecks in them darkened like pointed weapons.

    "What is it?" Eve managed to squeak. Had she blown the fuse? Did she prick the wrong spot?

    "I meant it when I said I''d make it up to you with a date," he exined. His voice filled the whole car,pletely drawing out the radio music. He leaned down until their eyes were on the same level,

    "So, this is very much a real date."

    For days, he tried to rationalize his inner turmoil. Was it because of the past? Was that why he feltpelled towards her? Did she remind him of what he once lost? Was this just a desperate cling to anything that he could hold onto from that time?

    Endless questions came like flooding rain.

    Questions he didn''t know whether he wanted them to be answered. He hadn''t forgotten how they got into this situation. If this was some trick his mother pulled to make him let go of the past then

    Ambryan stopped short, shaking the thoughts away.

    How could he believe those to be 100% true when this felt right?

    Eve took her first breath in thest few minutes. "Holy smokes."

    Ambryan pulled back. He removed the brake and drove down the street. "As long as you''re aware of it, I''m okay with anything. I already told the others about the movie. We should be arriving in no time."

    Struggling to let the situation sink in, Eve pieced herself together. She sped her hands on herp and reyed his words in her head. Did he have to be so serious? She could have forgave him with just a genuine apology. There was no need to go to the extreme.

    ''Do I need another reason besides missing you?'' echoed in her thoughts.

    He hadn''t spoken about that part since then. It had haunted her for days. She felt grateful that their work died down over the week. They hardly met face-to-face, always a door and a wall in between.

    Her limbs trembled every time she walked into his office.

    But, when she saw him on that drivewaythe same melting sensation fell on her shoulders.

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    Wen and Nanzie waited in front of the movie theater. They held one bucket popcorn and two soda cups. Movie-goers nced in their direction as they walked by, whispering among themselves. Paparazzis clumped in a group meters away from the scene.

    Then, Ambryan and Evangeline joined the fray.

    Ambryan ced his hand behind her back, guiding her. Eve reached for the drinks while Ambryan took the popcorn. Wen held up two movie tickets and waved them at the usher, letting thetter know who they were for.

    "What are you guys going to do while we watch?" Eve scowled.

    "Watch other things, of course," Nanzie smirked.

    Eve stomped her foot. It was a rare pleasant day. She couldn''t be the only one having fun. "Aw,e on. If anyone needs a break around here are the two of you. Why not join us?"

    It was Wen who decided to answer her. "Thank you for the offer, Ms. Evangeline, but we treasure our jobs. It wouldn''t feel right to neglect it."

    "Alright, fine," Eve huffed. She stepped towards the entrance. "But this won''t be thest of it, you hear me?"

    "I do, Ms. Evangeline."

    Ambryan bowed his head when they entered the building."If you really want them to have a break, there''s only one ce we can go that has the same level as security."

 Chapter 151: Two Hours of Torture

    Chapter 151: Two Hours of Torture

    <em>Inside a dark room, a rectangr ray of light illuminated against a wall. Moving pictures yed over it in full-HD color. A young woman had her arms crossed over her chest. She wore a red silk robe over her nightgown. Her back leaned against the windowsill as she watched the night sky.</em>

    <em>The only light source in her bedroom was amp.</em>

    <em>A door creaked open off screen.</em>

    <em>Then, came the view of a rugged man. He ditched his coat jacket and left his vest over his dress shirt. Walking towards the window, he chose the spot across from the main character. The light from themp emphasized his chiseled features.</em>

    <em>"Things won''t be the same anymore starting tomorrow, huh?" The female lead muttered, her face turned away from the camera.</em>

    <em>"That''s one way to put it."</em>

    <em>She showed him a wry smile. "I guess I should be grateful that you didn''t sugarcoat it."</em>

    <em>He took a step forward and ced his hands on her shoulders. "It''s going to be alright."</em>

    <em>Her eyes zed underneath his cold stare. She began to tremble, the shakiness reflecting in her voice. "Are you sure about that?"</em>

    <em>"I wouldn''t be true to myself if I were to say," the male lead paused. "That I am only here because I owed your father a debt I could never repay."</em>

    <em>He tucked her hair behind her ear and lifted her chin. His eyes searched into hers. "I love you, Josephine. And I''ll always be here whenever you need me."</em>

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    "Pfft," Eve snorted, pressing a hand over her mouth. Her innerughter shook her entire body. It came to the point it was hard to control. She let her mouth go and cackled without a sound. Her back slid down the seat.

    "What''s so funny?" Ambryan whispered near her ear.

    "I''m sorry. Did I disturb you?" She replied as she recovered her breathing. "That was just the most bogus thing I have ever heard. I couldn''t help it. It was so fake. He is definitely not the male lead despite how they advertised it."

    Eve fixed her posture and stuffed her mouth with a handful of popcorn. "What a timeless masterpiece. No wonder it still sells well on its anniversary run. Does your father regret rejecting to produce this film?"

    Ambryan folded his arms over his chest. The exterior of his soda cup had moistened on the armrest holder. He shook his head at the screen. "I can''t tell whether you''re being sarcastic or not."

    Chuckling, it was Eve''s turn to lean in his direction. She tossed one popcorn into her mouth. "Why are you whispering when you rented the whole venue?"

    He threw a pointed look from the corner of his eyes. "Why did you hide yourugh?"

    "And let the staff think I''m crazy? No, thank you." Eve scoffed. She pulled back and crossed her legs. The scene moved onto the next day. The female lead marched into the office building, wearing red from head to toe. "I''m surprised you''re even watching."

    Ambryan kept his gaze on the screen. The camera followed the young woman''s back. Once she reached the top floor, she nced over her shoulder. Her violet eyes gleamed against the studio lights.

    "What made you think I won''t?" He asked. If it was possible for his expression to be harder, it did at this point. "That it''s a romance film or that it''s my mother acting as the female lead?"

    "Both?" Eve cackled once again. She reached for her soda and sipped, cleansing her dry throat. "You have to admit. It does fall under two hours of torture."

    Avery Mattie(-Hathaway) introduced herself to her new staff. Some of them were older than her. She chanced upon their conversation before she entered the room. Their eyes had sneered the moment they saw her.

    In return, she presented a flirty smile and lured the others to her side.

    Eve smirked at the sight. The transition had been smooth and natural as if Avery had done it multiple times. Eve chose not toment it out loud, munching on more popcorn. "After this, we''re going to eat, right? In exchange for forcing you to watch this, you get to pick where we eat and what we eat."

    "Are you sure about that?"

    "Well, I know you have good taste in food." Eve lifted another piece of popcorn to her lips.

    Ambryan swiped it with his fingers and popped it into his mouth. "Hm."

    He chewed slowly as he watched the rest of the film. The male lead entered his mother''s office. Their eyes glued to one another like mas. The tension inside the film crawled up to his skin and tickled behind his ear.

    Maybe he''d take up that offer to do work after all.

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    Eve found herself in an almost empty restaurant.

    "Please don''t tell you also rented this ce." The theater had been more than enough. If the tickets hadn''t been refunded by the time they got there, she would have asked for the people to join them.

    Since that couldn''t happen, she thought of it in a positive light insteadhaving privacy and ensuring their security.

    "Of course not. Just a private room."

    Ambryan took her hand and led her to the back. She eventually found a few customers. The restaurant had a coffee-kind of theme where the interior had dark wooden furniture and muted color walls. The ambiance also had that cool and silent feel of a library.

    Eve pulled the hem of skirt, feeling underdressed.

    Her legs felt hot inside the pair of thigh-high boots.

    The private room had a setup for a show.

    A half-moon stainless counter and table joined like two Pringles'' crisps. Chairs lined up the table side while another counter provided tools for the chef to freely use. An induction stove sat in the middle where guests could clearly see the dish being prepared.

    Eve pursed her lips, nodding her head. "Fancy."

    Ambryan led her further inside. "Did you expect anything less?"

    "No."

    "Have a seat." He pulled the chair in front of the stove.

    Eve grinned and sat down. "Why thank you."

    A waiter entered the room. He pushed a cart of refreshments and offered them to Eve. Each pitcher had a different color, depending on the beverage they carried. The presentation piqued her interest in what the unfamiliar ones could be.

    But, in the end, she picked a blue lemonade.

    The waiter ced two sses on the table and fulfilled her request.

    Taking a sip, Eve looked over her shoulders. The seat beside her had remained empty even when the waiter left. Her eyebrows scrunched when Ambryan was nowhere in sight.

    "Does Asian-inspired cuisine interest you?" His voice floated in the air, reaching her ears. She snapped her head in its direction.

    Eve immediately ced the ss of lemonade on the coaster. Her back had gone rigid and her eyes had flown wide.

    "No..." she gasped.

    Ambryan rolled up his sleeves, tucking in the cuffs for a better grip. "What?"

    "You can''t cook."

    "And who are you to say what I can and cannot do?" Ambryan arched a brow. A tiny smirk teased her from the corner of his lips. He proceeded with his preparation and searched for ingredients.

    Eve blinked.

    Then, she pinched herself.

    Her body jumped from the pain. In the five years they worked together, she had never seen nor heard him cook. Her eyes assessed the now full counter. Ambryan had chosen a simple recipe. She could tell from the number of ingredients.

    The main ones included sausages and eggs.

    Ambryan took out a pot and filled it with water.

    "Are you making Scotch Eggs?" The question flew out of Eve''s mouth before she could process it. Her stomach growled at the thought. She hadn''t had one of those in a while. She liked them a certain way too.

    "How did you know?" Ambryan asked back, heating up the pan of water. He remained calm despite how others wouldn''t have guessed until he wrapped the boiled eggs in sausage meat.

    "It was just a hunch," Eve breathed out. It had been instinct. "I remember having them made with Italian sausage so that''s what came to my mind when I saw the sausages."

    She folded her arms over the table and propped her chin on top of them. "I could never get it right. Not even ABeatrice could and she''s a really good cook."

    Ambryan closed the pot with its lid. He pushed his hands against the counter and tilted his head sideways. Eve gazed at the ingredients, already tasting the food in her mouth. Even if it wasn''t the same, she appreciated a good Scotch Egg.

    "Well, maybe I can help you out," he offered.

    Eve returned it with a skeptical look. "I don''t know. I''ve never eaten anything like it anywhere. I''m convinced it was made of magic."

    Ambryan chuckled, starting to prepare the meat. He cut the sausage in half and peeled the skins off. Then, he sprinkled bottles of spices into the bowl. "I can always try."

    Eve watched him workunaware of the smile she wore. Who cared if it wasn''t like her favorite recipe? This was Ambryan Hathaway who was cooking. There was something more important to do thanment in the pastand that was to memorize the taste as best as she could.

    When he moved to a side counter, she fished out her phone and opened the camera app.

    A shutter sound pierced through the silence.

 Chapter 152: Winter is Coming

    Chapter 152: Winter is Coming

    "Here."

    Yellow sauce coated a te, creating a faded half-circle around two Scotch Eggs. Ambryan sprinkled a bit of parsley on top which added a pop of color against the golden brown crisp coating of the dish''s main star.

    He handed it over to Eve. "Bon apptit."

    Eve scraped the eggs with her fork. There was no mistaking the scratchy noise of the crusty breading. It was music to her ears. Using a knife, she pierced right on top of one. The coating broke like freshly fried chicken skin. She cut right through the egg until two halves fell on their backs.

    Soft yolk oozed out of the hard-boiled egg inside. The smell from herbs and spices floated out of the sausage meat. It coated the egg evenly, allowing equal distribution of the protein.

    Saliva watered in her mouth.

    She moaned.

    Ambryan wiped his hands with a towel. He prepared a second te and ced it in front of him. Unike Eve, he only grabbed a fork. His stomach growled quietly but he waited for her to take the first bite. He folded his hand over the counter and smiled.

    Eve didn''t want a second longer. She sliced a piece, making sure it had everything. Her lips pursed together to blow the heat away. Taste buds danced inside her mouth as the vors mixed. They enraptured every inch of her tongue.

    She dropped the knife and hovered her hand over her mouth.

    "Oh, that is so good," she said, chewing slowly. "That is really, really good. Really, reallygood. Oh, my goodness. Please nobody pinch me. This could be a dream and I do not want to wake up."

    Pain shot up her arm like an ant bite. "Hey!"

    "Pinched you because it''s not a dream. It''s real." Ambryan chuckled. He took a bite of his cooking. The result was as he expected it to be. He added more ck pepper than his original recipe since he preferred a sharp taste.

    Eve was on her third slice. It wasn''t like the vor changed with every bite she took buteach one felt like it was her first. She lifted her fourth slice, admiring the contrast of colors. "I mean, if you cook this good, I can totally give up fast food."

    Ambryan chose not to answer. Instead, he went with a question. "Any requests for dessert?"

    "You''re making dessert too?!"

    He put his fork down and patted a napkin to his face. His violet eyes flickered towards the floor. "Well, I was hoping I''d get a bag of cookies from baking ss. But that didn''t happen."

    "You want to settle scores?" Eve dropped her jaw, the corner of her mouth curled up. "I still remember that recipe. If you have the ingredients, I''d be willing to make them. They can bake in the oven while we eat."

    Without a moment to lose, Ambryan pressed a button.

    A waiter immediately knocked on their door. He bowed at them as soon as he came in. Eve found it a little odd since she often did it at work. This role gave her the opportunity to be on the receiving end.

    She didnt know quite what to feel.

    "How may I help you?"

    "Give him the list and they''ll prepare it."

    "Okay."

    Before Eve searched for a paper and pen, the waiter handed her his notepad. A little pen stuck out from its spiral spine. She opened it on a nk page and listed the ingredients but kept the measurements to herself. This way no one could attempt to steal Andie''s original chocte chip cookies.

    She gave the notepad back, her scribbles in ck ink. "If you have a weighing scale and measuring cups, I''d thoroughly appreciate both."

    "Understood, madam."

    "Thank you."

    The waiter read the list as he quickly left the room. He muttered the ingredients.

    Eve and Ambryan spent the next few minutes in silence. Both savored the Scotch Eggs. Eve moved the second ss of lemonade closer to him.

    "Do you eat spicy food?" Ambryan asked, taking a sip.

    "Sometimes."

    A piece of Scotch Egg appeared before her eyes. White sauce had a mix of red chilli kes. Eve opened her mouth on instinct. The fierce spice exploded like fireworks in her mouth. Then, a sea of cream soothed the mes.

    The door opened.

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    The door mmed shut.

    "Excuse me!"

    "I think we scared him." Eve coughed, letting go of the fork. She chewed and studied the new vors on her tongue. It gave apletely different experience from the original sauce. "Oh, wow. That definitely gives it a kick."

    Just to be safe, she plucked out an ice cube from her lemonade. The cold water solid lulled any swelling on her tongue. It was tolerable but she hadn''t been prepared for the intensity.

    Ambryan coated another slice with the original sauce, ditching the chilli kes. He offered it to Eve in the same manner as before. It contained nothing different from the ones she ate first. Or maybe she was missing something?

    Eve scowled. "I have my own te of eggs."

    "But you haven''t tasted mine," Ambryan pointed out.

    "What''s the difference?"

    "You tell me."

    This time, Eve hesitated. Her lips parted slowly as if her jaw ached from the movement. Her senses were on high alert. They became conscious of every muscle she used. Ambryan remained oblivious to her actions.

    Then, he ate the next slice.

    It was as if time moved slowly. Eve watched as his lips pressed against the stainless steel, cleaning it off. The tip of his tongue licked away any trace of sauce left on his bottom lip.

    She gulped.

    And drank half of her beverage.

    ''Snap out of it!'' Her mind screamed.

    "Can we have those ingredients? I''d like to get started." Sheughed nervously. A distraction would be good right about now. Her gaze fidgeted on the table.What was that just now? Why was she even looking at his lips? It wasn''t like he chose to wear lipstick today.

    The image of Ambryan in red lipstick shed in her head.

    A snort choked out of her throat.

    "As you requested, madam," the waiter greeted as soon as he came back. He avoided looking at either of them. A steel push cart upied an empty spot beside the counter. All of the ingredients were unopenedseeming to havee from their storage instead of the kitchen.

    Eve hopped her chair while Ambryan cleared out the counter. He pulled out the utensils, pans and bowls she needed from the cabs.

    "Oh, no."

    Ambryan stood up from his squat. He had been checking the oven to figure out how it operated. Jogging in her direction, he said, "What is it?"

    "Nothing." Eve quickly denied, already thinking of a solution. She spun on her heel and headed for the stove. She found a saucepan from under the counter. "We used softened butter that day but I remember Beatrice used melted butter once. Although, it had a caramel color. I thought it was burnt until I tasted the cookies."

    The butter began to melt inside the pan. She moved it around with a silicone spat.

    Ambryan crossed his arms over his chest. "Aren''t you going to wash your hands first?"

    "Right!"

    Eve scrambled towards the sink. He shook his head and moved the ingredients. Half of the workstation became dedicated to baking. While Eve washed her hands, he checked on the butter.

    It bubbled from the high heat.

    He lowered it.

    "Is it burnt?"

    "No," Ambryan assured her, stepping aside. Their hands brushed as Eve took the spat from him. He stood right behind her and oversaw the process. He knew what method she referred to. It gave the butter a nutty vor, enhancing the taste of the cookies.

    Eve bowed her head. She hoped it seemed subtle. In reality, she wanted to hide her pink ears by letting a few hair strands fall. She could feel his warm presence coat her back.

    "Don''t stop stirring or it will really be burnt."

    "Right." Eve jumped. Her elbow jerked upwards and hit the bag of flour. It toppled over the counter, opening from the impact. White powder flew into the air as one big puff of cloud.

    Then, it rained like snow on December morning.

    It spared nothing in its path.

    "Oh! Oh! OH!" Eve shrieked. Her hands instantly dusted off the flour from Ambryan''s vest. No matter how much she brushed, the powder left a white cast. A lump formed in her throat. It was inevitable but she clung to the nonexistent hope that it would disappear.

    In her haste, she made her way downwards.

    Ambryan grabbed a hold of her wrists.

    rm bells rang in her head when his grip tightened. How much of a trouble was she in? He sent his clothes for cleaning, right? Maybe he''d forgive her if she covered the bill? Each question thundered in her chest, making her heart race.

    "You can look at them as battle scars?" Eve tried to joke, hoping humor could help. Maybe he''d take it less seriously if she made himugh. "Baking is like a battlefield. The dry ingredients explode like grenades, liquid ones drip as if mimicking a small flood it''s totally normal to look like this. There''s no need to be ashamed."

    "You" Ambryan said, using a low tone and volume. He tugged her closer until the space between them vanished. His violet eyes red down at her. "You really need to be aware of where you are touching."

 Chapter 153: Mind if We Take this Elsewhere?

    Chapter 153: Mind if We Take this Elsewhere?

    "You really need to be aware of where you are touching."

    Eve''s face paled.

    He was right. She wasn''t thinking about where she was dustingjust that she needed to remove the flour. They were evident on his vest and on his pants. Her instincts told her to start there. Where could she have

    Her face had gonepletely white.

    "It was an ident!" Eve defended, widening her eyes. Did she really? She had no memory of it. She would have noticed something if she had. It was a conspicuous spot after all. Heat rose up her neck and into her cheeks.

    Had she really!

    Ambryan sighed. He let her hands go and turned around. He figured Evangeline needed some privacy at what just happened. Hopefully, it could lessen the awkward atmosphere. He attempted to remove the flour but they clung to his clothes like glue.

    "We can''t go for a stroll like this," he said after a while. He angled his body back in her direction. His gaze flickered towards her clothes. "And you don''t look any better either. Do you want to change here or do you want to change somewhere else?"

    Eve knitted her eyebrows. "Somewhere else?"

    "My penthouse is not far from here."

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    Full blonde fringes covered a woman''s forehead. She pulled down her sunsses to reveal a pair of teal eyes. Leather soles of oxford shoes tapped against the floorboards. Her low ponytail swung behind her neck.

    The store representative assessed her clothing.

    Each piece of her all-ck suit had been tailored to her measurements. They had been ironed to withstand any possible creases from physical activities. Her dark presence contrasted against the bright and pastel colors of the dress shop.

    ''Get her something purple,'' the words repeated in Wen''s head. She blew a raspberry and continued to search for a good one. She could ask the help of the store representative but it would be better if she looked by herself first.

    Another woman walked to her side. Coffee skin and raven hair wore a simr ck suit. Green flecks slithered across her cyan eyes like garden vines. She followed behind Wen and looked through the clothes.

    "What do you think?" Nanzie asked out of the blue.

    Wen nced in her direction, thinking she held a dress. "About what?"

    Nanzie shrugged. She took a step forward and went through an entire rack of blouses. "About the rtionship of our employers, of course."

    Wen stiffened. Her nostrils red as she resumed her search. Her voice came out crisp and blunt. "I don''t think it''s our ce toment on it."

    "We won''t be interfering. I was just curious since you have been there from the beginning," Nanzie exined. She valued her job but there were times when she felt like she had lost herself. Talking about nonsensical topics helped ease that feeling.

    Was it bad to have her own thoughts on the situation?

    "It''s still none of our business," Wen reminded her. If they developed strong opinions, it could hinder their work. They must never interfere unless it threatened the lives of their employers.

    Speaking of opinions out loud was the first step in that direction.

    She pulled out a wine dress. The skirt ballooned a bit and ended just around the knee. "What do you think of this one?"

    Nanzie shook her head. "Too red."

    Then, Wen showed her a different dress.

    She scrunched her nose. "That would make her look like a table."

    Wen nearly groaned. She hadn''t shopped for a dress in years. Imaginary dark clouds surrounded her. Why did her boss just have to say he was counting on her for this assignment?

    Nanzie rubbed her back, grabbing thest dress on the rack. It had short bell sleeves and a wrapped skirt. The flowery fabric flowed like water. "How about this one? I think it looks good on ady boss."

    Wen lifted her head up. The dress was simple but it showcased elegance. She nearly cried from the sess of their search. Nanzie had been such a blessing to her. "I''m very d that you''re here with me."

    Nanzie chuckled and tossed the dress over her shoulder. "No problem."

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    Once they reached the car, Nanzie chose the passenger seat. She had been the driver on their way to the shop. It was Wen''s turn to drive. "Forget about your current opinion. I want to know what you wish for them."

    Wen paused from buckling her seatbelt. It seemed that herpanion wouldn''t let this topic go. She heaved a sigh and turned on the engine. "I sincerely wish they find happiness."

    Nanzie scanned the parking lot, finding nothing to be out of ce. "Have you ever dug into her private life even without orders?"

    "Why would I do something against my employer''s instructions?" Wen shot back. It wouldn''t be right to do anything if it wasn''t part of the agreement. To honor it was part of the job. How else could Ambryan maintain his trust?

    "Answering my question with another one, I see." Nanzie chuckled again. Before Wen could say anything else, she nodded her head towards the nearest exit. "Come on, we can''t leave them for long."

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    "Remind me again why we''re here?"

    Eve stood at the end of a short hallway. Blue skies greeted her sight from the other side of the window. Her jumper dress and boots had suffered the most from the ''incident''. She even thought about covering the other spots in flour, considering that could mask her disheveled look.

    Unfortunately, Ambryan would still want to change. The tiniest stain could put him off. It came to the point where the office had a spare suit inside a closet.

    Ambryan walked ahead. He took off his watch. It was the easiest to clean but a bit of powder could have slipped inside. "My secretary is on her day off. I don''t call her as much as possible and ask Wen instead to fulfill tasks I''d normally give to her. Since she and Nanzie would be out for a while, the penthouse is the best ce for security."

    "But we have two entire teams of security." Eve stepped further inside, one foot at a time.

    "It still poses a risk. Enemies could strike if they saw Wen and Nanzie without us."

    "I see."

    Ambryan gave her onest look before disappearing to his bedroom. "Make yourselffortable."

    Eve bit her tongue. She couldn''t remember thest time she set foot in this penthouse. It had the same floor to ceiling windows of the CEO Office. An ivory carpetid beneath a modern sofa set that surrounded an obsidian table.

    Her visit only happened because the document needed an original signature.

    She recalled how fast her heartbeat sped at the time.

    Her current one could rival it.

    Soft fur brushed her ck boots. Eve didn''t pay it much attention. Her footwear had thickyers of cloth. She could hardly feel the sensation. Instead, she headed for the sofa and chose the one that had its back towards the master bedroom.

    The feline hopped to herp as soon as she sat down.

    "Kiri!" Eve yelled in a whisper.

    The albino cat sat on her hind legs. Her long bushy tail swung over Eve''s knees. A tiny smile stretched on her lips while she stared at the visitor. It''s been a while since she saw a face other than her hooman''s.

    "Meow!"

    "Aw, I missed you too."

    Eve picked the cat up and cradled her like a baby. Her heart melted at the warm wee. Just like before, all her nerves had evaporated. She even stayed a few minutes longer just to pet the feline.

    "Meow!" Kiri rubbed her head against Eve''s chest. She sniffed thetter''s scent. Something masked it but there was no denying that this was the same person from that time. Eve had brought the best tasting can of tuna she ever had in all her cat lives.

    "Evangeline" Ambryan interrupted. Two heads turned towards him. His eyebrows shot up from the disy. Tucking his hands in his pant pockets, he said, "I see you met Kiri."

    "Meow~" his cat affirmed. She stayed in Eve''s embrace andid her body sideways. Her tail continued to sway, indicating howfortable she felt in this position.

    A tinge of jealousy pricked Ambryan in the chest.

    "We''re getting acquainted." Eve defended. She pulled Kiri closer to her face and rubbed their cheeks together for a second. Her lips stretched into a bright smile. "I hope you don''t mind. You did just disturb our discussion."

    "And what sort of discussion are you having?"

    "If you really go to sleep after sending a good night message," she lied. The topic did appear in her mind whenever she saw how much work he had done over the weekend. The only living thing that could answer that was the ball of fur in her arms.

    She suddenly hoped her lie could be the truth.

    "Well, I have a better topic." Ambryan held the backrest of the sofa. "I decided not to change yet since we''ll continue making the cookies. Why not start it now? I''m sure Kiri would helpby watching and not getting in our way that is."

 Chapter 154: The Time When Pieces Fell into Place

    Chapter 154: The Time When Pieces Fell into ce

    Eve left the butter to Ambryan.

    He seemed to know it better than her so she let him do it. She concentrated her focus on the dry ingredients. Just in case, she had messaged Andie about the recipeexcusing how she nned to make them with the twins for the bakery drive and needed to buy ingredients.

    Fortunately, her best friend didn''t find anything amiss.

    Kiri sat on top of the microwave and watched the two work. She rolled to her back, observing them upside down. Eve rummaged through the cabs in search for a sifter.

    "What are you doing?" Ambryan took his eyes off the butter for a second when he heard pans crashing into one another. His hand continued to stir, making sure not to burn the butter.

    Eve quickly set them back inside the cab. "I''m looking for the strainer."

    "It''s at the leftmost top cab."

    "Leftmost" she mumbled. Her feet had already begun to move. Sure enough, the strainer was in it. "Oh, I found it."

    "Good."

    Ambryan removed the saucepan from the heat. He kept stirring and set it on the counter. The bottom part had brown bits, his sign that the butter had been heated enough. "Can you pass me the measuring ss?"

    "Huh oh. Right. Sure."

    He poured the nutty brown butter into the ss while Eve held onto it. The tiny solids were left inside the pan. He wiped his hands with a towel, shifting his full attention towards her, "So what''s next?"

    "Um, well, we need to let the butter cool before adding the other wet ingredients" Eve recalled. She set the ss aside to avoid knocking it over. "Is the oven turned on? We need it preheated."

    "At what temperature?"

    "375F (190C)."

    "Alright."

    Eve quickened her pace. She measured and poured the dry ingredients over the sifter. Anyrge lump had been left on the strainer. She checked on the butter. It still felt warm to the touch. She decided to wait a few more minutes while she prepared the baking trays.

    Parchment paper in hand, she realized it wouldn''t stay t on the tray and looked for cooking oil.

    That was when a hunched figure caught her eye.

    "Is everything okay?"

    Ambryan had one knee on the floor. His ''permanent'' scowl hade backa look Eve considered as his deep concentration face. He often wore it because of the high volume of work he dealt with every day.

    "Everything''s fine," he responded, not sparing her a nce. The built-in oven had several knobs. One of them he recognized as the temperature controller. The rest seemed just as important but their symbols made little sense.

    Eve wasn''t convinced. She arched one eyebrow and bent forward, cing her hands on her knees. Her eyes followed his line of sight. "You do know how to work an oven, right?"

    "I do."

    "Are you sure?"

    "I know the concept. I''m merely trying to apply it and figure out what functions these knobs have," Ambryan defended. He could decipher forms on a working paper without any guidance. He could do the same with this problem before him.

    "Here."

    Eve turned a few knobs and a fire simmered at the bottom of the oven. "There we go."

    "Did they also teach this at baking ss?"

    "Maybe you should attend and find out for yourself."

    The baking adventure resumed. Eve proposed to leave the scoops of dough in the freezer while they waited for the oven to finish heating up. A knock came from the door and Ambryan left to open it.

    When he came back, he found Eve by the sink, washing everything they''ve used. Her head bobbed from side to side. Her voice floated into the air in a gentle tone,

    .

    ``Hear this song as you sleep,

    A tale of a maiden whoys in her feet,

    Under the willow at night she danced,

    With only the whispers of winds she has``

    ``Tip toe, there she twirls,

    Around the tree where she met thed

    Tip toe, she reached out her hand,

    But no one was there in where she stand``

    .

    Her feet shuffled as each line flowed out of her mouth. By the second verse, she paused from washing the tes and moved her arms like a conductora silicone spat in one hand. She repeated the song, changing pitches as she went.

    She jumped on her toes and let her ankles cross when her feetnded t.

    Letting go of the spat, she spun on thest line.

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    And crashed into Ambryan.

    He reached for her hand, guiding her for a second spin. The position had her back bump against his chest. She had right foot on the floor while her left knee remained bent, keeping her legs crossed as well.

    Her entire weight rested on him.

    Ambryan had wrapped his arm around her waist to prevent her from falling over. Their intertwined hands hovered in the air. His lips nearly caressed her the tip of her ear. "You should tell me if you want to spin around. I would be there to catch you."

    "How generous," Eve said, surprised that she still knew how to breathe. Her eyes looked at anywhere but him. Beads of sweat dripped down the back of her neck. She could hear her heart thumping inside her chest.

    Could he hear it too?

    Kiri pouted as she missed out on the fun.

    Not one to give up, she hopped off the microwave, skipped on Eve''s stomach andnded on the counter. That one bump caused Eve''s foot to slip. Her lost bnce shocked both her and Ambryan. He lost his grip around her waist while her back slipped off his chest.

    He let her hand go and caught her with his other arm.

    But it was toote.

    They crashed onto the floor.

    "Ugh," Ambryan grunted, his eyes closed. The cold tiles pressed against his back. His arms held onto a slim waist while another pair of legs entwined with his.

    Eve had frozen into a statue. Her hands settled on either side of his head. Her arms stretched fully, they kept her upper body weight off Ambryan. She ceased to breathe, afraid that he''d wake up.

    Maybe she should get up.

    Yeah, maybe that was the best idea.

    Her body wiggled under Ambryan''s grip.

    He opened his eyes.

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    "Oh, mydid you hit your head? I''ll get you some ice." Eve didn''t hold back and yanked away from his embrace. Her brain began to race, absorbing what just happened. 1) They fell over, 2) Ambryan had his eyes closed, and 3) He may or may not have a concussion.

    How could she be so stupidif she hadn''t moved and if he hadn''t opened his eyes, who knew what could have happened. How could she stay still when herpanion could be having a medical emergency?

    She grabbed a hand towel and filled it with a handful of ice.

    Ambryan sat up, his legs bent over the floor. He touched the back of his head and found a tender spot. The pain was tolerable. He couldn''t even feel it unless he deliberately added pressure.

    Eve glided on her knees once she gained momentum from her run. She sat on his right and ced the ice pack on his head. "Does that feel better?"

    Gazing at her, Ambryan stayed silent. He could almost feel her breath against his cheek. It was a rare chance to have her up close. He seized his opportunity and studied her face. Other than the red hair What other features did that kid have?

    How could he have not recognized her right away?

    "Oh, my gdid you lose your sense of speech?" Eve wailed, fully panicking. Her skin trembled from the serious look in his eyes. "Are you in shock? Do I need to call the hospital? Or maybe I can call WenWEN!"

    Ambryan pulled her back as she tried to get up. "I''m fine."

    "Oh, good. You''re responding." Eve breathed a sigh of relief. She wouldn''t even know how to exin what happened if Avery asked. No doubt that the madam would find it a good thing despite her son''s concussion.

    "And you''re really loud." Ambryan frowned.

    "Well, there goes my concern for you." Eve snorted. Still, she lowered her voice and leaned back. "It''s clear that you''re safe from any mental condition."

    "Am I?" Ambryan scowled at the sight. She seemed to be avoiding himsomething he didn''t want to happen. She carried what little memory he had from that town. They had been separated for nearly two decades. He wouldn''t want to lose her again.

    Not even 7 months from now.

    "Yes, yes." Eve nodded. She took his hand and set it on the ice pack. Her fingers had turned numb from long exposure to the cold. "It''s a basic diagnosis by yours truly."

    The switch further convinced Ambryan of her evasion.

    He tugged her wrist, pulling her into him.

    "Ah!"

    The hand towel fell on the floor. Its ice cubes sprawled over the tiles. Kiri paused from licking her paw. Her purple eyes snapped towards the two hoomans. Unable to see, she tilted her head sideways.

    "Meow?"

    Eve felt rough lips on hers. In those few seconds, time passed in slow motion, in normal time and in rapid speed. She wouldn''t have thought that this phenomenon could be possible before. Her heart struggled to keep up as it moved erratically inside her chest.

    Ambryan pulled away, red lipstick coating his lips.

    His violet eyes had darkened.

    "What about now?"

 Chapter 155: And So It Goes

    Chapter 155: And So It Goes

    "I have to go."

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    Eve pushed the front door using her back. Thankfully, the hallway outside the penthouse was empty. It allowed her a bit of privacy. She panted for breath, bowing her head. Her thoughts and emotions swirled together. She could hardly see a thing.

    She closed her eyes and focused on her heart.

    It threatened to pop right out of her chest.

    "Wha-wha-" she struggled to whisper. The ck void in her mind slowly created coherent images. Her lips felt warmand so did her entire face.

    The memory burned on her skin like fire.

    ''What did just happen?'' Eve asked herself. Blinking, she snapped her head from left to right as if the answers were written on the walls. She steeled herself against the door, afraid that Ambryan might think of checking on it.

    There was only one thing left to do.

    Run.

    Nanzie emerged from the nearby restroom. She strapped her watch back on her wrist when a blurry figure ran past her. It took a few seconds for her brain to process the scene. When it did, she stepped into the middle of the hallway.

    "Ms. Evangeline?"

    Not a moment to lose, her feet went into action and followed the red head. She pumped up the speed, determined to catch up. "Ms. Evangeline!"

    Eve stopped in front of the elevator. Her bodyguard''s voice finally registered in her ears.

    "Oh, Nanzie," she said. Her dry throat affected her speech. She pushed the down button and fidgeted in ce. Her gaze darted across the corridor. "Um, hi. Yeah, I want to go back home f-for now."

    Nanzie grabbed her by the shoulders. She scowled at Eve''s face, noting all the signs of shock and fear. "Is something wrong? Did Mr. Ambryan harm you in any way? Please be honest with me."

    "No, no, no!" Eve was quick to deny. She shook her hands in front of her chest. "It''s totally fine."

    She had to admit. She could have said that better.

    Her bodyguard detected the same. Letting her go, Nanzie crossed her arms over her chest. Hard disapproval stricken across her face. "Not to be blunt, Ms. Evangeline, but you look like you''ve seen a ghost."

    "I do?" Eve feigned innocence. She looked down on her outfit and dusted on instinct. "I am covered in flour."

    "That''s not the point."

    The elevator doors parted open. Eve hopped right in as soon as she could fit through. Every fiber of her being screamed to get away. She couldn''t be happier to be safe inside a box. Once the doors closed, she was partially safe.

    Somehow that eased off the blockage in her thoughts.

    "It''s nothing to be rmed about. I''m. Just. Startled," Eve tried to exin. Although her thoughts became clearer, her words still hadn''te back. Her eyes stayed on the floor as her face made several expressions. "And confused. I need air and familiar things and myfort zone. It''s hard to exin. I just need to go home."

    Nanzie studied her once more. The sense of rm had faded away. If it was a severe situation, she believed Eve would still be panicking. She took it as a good sign.

    "Understood."

    The trip followed their usual protocol. Eve and her security team hardly spoke a word. She had gone into an empty space where her thoughts could freely float up in the air. She let herself go, feeling the different emotions inside of her.

    She just needed a moment alone. That was it.

    Then, she could go back to reality.

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    Her bedroom light suddenly turned on.

    "Hey! Nanzie called," Andie greeted Eve. She sat on the bed, staring at the pillow on her best friend''s face. She reached to pry it off. This definitely wasn''t a good sign. "Have you been lying in bed all day? How did the date go?"

    "Weird. A whole lot of weird." Eve resisted her actions. If Andie hadn''t asked, she might have revealed her face. But now? She was sure that her skin had turned red as a tomato. The same burning sensation lingered on her lips.

    She groaned, pressing them together.

    "Really?" Andie ced her hands on her hips. Then, she took out her phone and looked up Twittah hashtag trends. "The tabloids seem to be having fun because your outfits match each other''s eyes."

    Eve snorted. "Of course, they are."

    Andie hid the mobile device away and re-assessed the situation. She had to make Eve more responsive. If her methods didn''t work then, maybejust maybe her best friend needed more alone time.

    If Eve turned out to be as confused and as agitated Nanzie exined to her, two heads were better than one in that situation. It wouldn''t be good to leave her in the silence where irrational thoughts attacked the most.

    "Come on, talk to me." Andie lied on her side, forgetting about the pillow. She thought of a statement that could trigger her best friend. "Is it because you kissed?"

    Eve jerked the pillow away. Her round brown eyes were never wider before this.

    "HOW DID YOU"

    "SO IT IS A KISS!" Andie yelled. She sat up and pointed a finger at Eve, her jaw falling open. "OH. MY. GAWD. YOU KISSED AMBRYAN HATHAWAY!"

    "I did not!"

    Andie wasn''t disheartened. Her smug smile turned into a smirk.

    "He was the one who kissed you then?" Her hands captured the pillow and smacked her best friend''s side. Her bubbling energy craved to be released. She couldn''t think of anything else.

    "Oh, you sly sly fox!" She smacked her hands on both of Eve''s cheeks. "I am so proud of you."

    "Knock it off," Eveined, massaging her sore cheeks. She pulled herself up and sighed. There was no use hiding it now. Even hearing it out loud sounded like a faraway dream.

    Wasn''t there a chance that this was all an illusion?

    Andie scooted closer. Stars sparkled in her stormy blue eyes. "Then, tell me the details! Did he confess? How was it? Awkward? Hrious? Too monotone? I am dying with hunger."

    "Then, eat something."

    "Gossip works."

    Eve gave her the side-eye. Then, jabbed Andie with her elbow. It was awkward enough as it is. She didn''t need Andie''s excitement. "No, he did not confess."

    "Kissed you even before you became official?" Her best friend whistled. She rested her hands on behind her back, supporting her weight. Her gaze nced up the ceiling. "Wow. He must be really smitten."

    "That can''t be it. We have talked in almost a week! That doesn''t just happen." Eve pulled her nket over her head, lying back down. If she couldn''t see reality then, it could make it easier to cope with.

    "Maybe he missed you so much that he couldn''t resist."

    "He"

    Eve stopped short and swallowed her words.

    Andie was quick to catch on. She wriggled over the bed. Things just kept getting better and better! "Ohohoho, that tells me what I said is possibly true. Ooohh~! My best friend is in love."

    Eve scoffe from under the sheet. "No, I am not."

    "Seriously? You still can''t see it?" Andie wailed. A groan escaped her lips. The light in her eyes dimmed slightly. "I bet you wouldn''t even believe that Ambryan has feelings for you."

    "Of course, he doesn''t."

    "Is Ambryan my boss or yours? You know damn well he wouldn''t kiss without a reason!"

    "Exactly!" Eve agreed. She rolled to her other side and met her best friend''s gaze. "That''s obviously not part of the possible reasons."

    Andie frowned, wondering if she was getting ahead of herself. "Were you in public? Did he do it for publicity?"

    "No there was no else around," Eve mumbled. She averted her eyes andbed her fingers through her ck hair. "Except his cat if you count her."

    Raising a hand, Andie clicked her tongue. "Wait, hold up. His cat? Were you in his house?"

    She shook her head. Things really were getting better. "Wow, Ambryan does have hormones."

    "What? What are you even" Eve eximed, pushing herself half-way up. Her voice boomed around the room. "That''s not why we were there!"

    Andie didn''t even flinch. "Then, why were you there?"

    Eve heaved another sigh, realizing there was no way around it. "We were at a restaurant in a private room that had a kitchen counter. We sort of made a mess and needed to clean up."

    "Did you see anything interesting then?" Andie wiggled her eyebrows.

    "Gross." Eve fake-gagged.

    "Yeah, right. Like you actually think that." Andie countered with a snort. She swung her legs onto the floor and stretched her back. When she turned around, she patted Eve''s head. Her best friend was blossoming to a full-blown flower.

    She couldn''t be happier!

    But precautions needed to be addressed.

    "Imma leave you alone for a bit while you think about everything I just said. If you can''t figure them out then, I''d suggest focusing on how you feel about the kiss because it will affect the way you act around him from now on."

    .

    .

    .

    .

    .

    "Kiri? Yan? Hello~? Anyone alive?" Richard called out, stepping inside the apartment. Wen had opened the door for him. That was his first sign that something wasn''t right. Well, that was actually the second sign

    the first one was Ambryan actually inviting him over.

    Should he look for the cat? It might be the prime lead to finding his best friend. Shedded fur coated the floors near the kitchen. He elongated his strides and turned the corner.

    "Yan, are you in hGAH!"

 Chapter 156: Age is Just a Number

    Chapter 156: Age is Just a Number

    "Yan, are you in hGAH!"

    .

    .

    .

    .

    .

    On a stool, Ambryan Hathaway sat with his knees spread apart. His elbows rested on his thighs as he stared at the floor. The usual scowl on his face was gone. Instead, his eyes broadened by a fraction. He perceived nothing from reality.

    His hands balled into fists.

    The sleeves of his dress shirt creased over his muscles.

    "Holy sh" Richard eximed, spinning on his heel. Not a strand out of ce in his curly bronze hair. He used a finger at his best friend. "Why didn''t you answer me? If I didn''t know any better, I would have figured you were a real statue just then."

    Officially stepping into the kitchen area, he rounded the ind counter and patted Kiri who got up and left. He threw his hands in the air with a puff of breath. "Man, tough crowd. So are you gonna tell me why I''m here or not?"

    Richard opened a top cab for empty sses. He had brought wine like he usually did during these visits. He picked a white one this time. If Ambryan was having trouble, a red wine might only make it worse.

    But, his best friend would still demand for some alcohol.

    With Ambryan''s back to him, he poured the wine in a ss and tasted it.

    "I kissed Evangeline today."

    Richard spit out the white wine. "What?"

    Ambryan turned the stool, folding his arms over the ind. His expression remained the same. Yet, his eyes had hardened as the scene reyed in his head. "I said that I kissed Evangeline today."

    "Why?" Richard wiped his mouth with a handkerchief. He almost didn''t believe his earseven when Ambryan mentioned it a second time.

    "Because I wanted to."

    He mmed both of his hands on the counter, the words finally sinking in. "Wait, hold up. You like her? Since when? I didn''t think you even flirt in your messages. You acted weirdst time too after you saw a video of her in that bakery."

    "You can''t just tell me you wanted to kiss her! Where is this desireing from?" Richard finished. He faced his own struggles. As far as he knew, Ambryan never kissed any of his flings. It was something he found inessential for the ''rtionship.''

    Ambryan lifted a hand as if creating a gesture to exin.

    Then, the motion stopped halfway.

    "It just did."

    "It justokay." Richard snorted. He pulled out a stool from under the ind and sat down. He pushed the wine forward, actually regretting that it wasn''t red. "What changed? Since when were you someone who acted on impulse?"

    Ambryan poured himself a ss. "I''ve been trying to figure that out for the past week."

    "And?"

    He raised it up to his lips and met Richard''s steel gray eyes for the first time since thetter came. "I never came to a conclusion so I decided to act on them, hoping the answeres to me."

    It took awhile for him to ept the possibility that certain things might not have logicespecially when it erupted his chest. Any sort of research gave little information. Everything seemed to conclude that was simply the way things were

    when it came to a heart''s reaction.

    "Oh, boy." Richard dragged a hand over one side of his face. This was going to be a long night. "But, woah. You actually feel something for this girl."

    A moment of silence enveloped the two gentlemen. Ambryan finished his first ss of wine and went for another. He had expected Evangeline to be surprised by the kiss. Instead of keeping her close, he had actually pushed her further away.

    Had he been too forward? Should he have said something? Given a sign? How did these things work anyway? It seemed simpler in movies. He didn''t remember anyone running from a kiss though.

    cing a hand on his forehead, Ambryan closed his eyes.

    A thought urred to him.

    "Should I mention that she reminds me of someone in my past?"

    Richard was d he wasn''t drinking for this one. He might have showered Ambryan in wine if that were the case. The surprises just kepting. Now, Ambryan had a previous lover? Just how much did his best friend hide?

    When did he even have the time?

    "You have a girl in your past? Since when?" He demanded. Ambryan changed before his eyes. He was no longer the cold, cryptic and calcting person that he knew. For once, he seemed more human than ever.

    Ambryan drank from his ss. "It''s been about twenty years since Ist saw her, I guess"

    "Twenty years?!" Richard blinked, counting backwards. "How old were you?"

    "Almost 9."

    "So you were 8?" His jaw ckened. That sounded quite earlyvery early for someone as serious as Ambryan. He would have never guessed it! He didn''t know Ambryan back then either. It was part of the mysterious past he never knew about. More numbers whirled in his head.

    He could have sworn that Evangeline was 26 which meant

    "How old was she then?"

    "4?"

    "You mean to tell me that you linked Evangeline to this 4-year-old you knew in the past?" Richard exasperated. A kid! They were kids! Her more than Ambryan! That was a time when children didn''t think too much of their actions. Romance didn''t exist in their reality yet.

    How could this be possible?

    He shook his head, his brain working on overdrive. "Is that why you suddenly like her? She''s your first crush or something?"

    "Why are you taking this negatively?" Ambryan frowned. To him, Evangeline turning out to be this person that he knew seemed reasoned. It exined how Evangeline managed to entice his emotions.

    Because she had already done it all this time.

    "A 4-year-old and a 26-year-old are practically two different people. Even if they turned out to be one person, that doesn''t mean she''s still the same." The words flowed out like a river from Richard''s mouth."Telling me that this is a part of the reason why you kissed Evangeline means that it and your feelings are meant for your first crush whoas I saidexists in the past."

    Ambryan chose to stay silent. If there was from that past who became different, it was him. He had tried to recover most of his memories from back then. It proved to be difficult after blocking out a specific time in his life.

    He could only remember them vaguely.

    "If it is Evangeline, it''s good that you met her again. But! Please see her as she is now." Richard concluded. He tried to exin as best as he could. It turned out to be harder than he thought. Hopefully, it made sense somehow.

    "Am I not?" Ambryan defended. "I don''t think I''d kiss a 4-year-old."

    "That''s not the point."

    "Then, what is?"

    Richard groaned, rubbing his temples. What sort of mimunication were they having?

    How else could he phrase his thoughts.

    "Forget about the 4-year-old! Just think of Evangeline as Evangeline. Find out if you really wanted to kiss her or some old crush you had and lost."

    .

    .

    .

    .

    .

    "Hello? What''s the status inside this room?" Andie asked, knocking on the open bedroom door. She found Eve on the bed with her legs crossed. Thetter had herptop open. If she hadn''t been here earlier, she might think nothing was wrong.

    She crossed her arms over her chest. "I''d say it''s cute that you freaked out on your first kiss but running away is still rude."

    Eve rolled her eyes. "It wasn''t my first kiss."

    .... Andie marched right over. She ced one hand on her hip and pointed a finger at her best friend. These surprise attacks had got to stop. "Okay, which boy did you kiss that I didn''t know about? I don''t remember you mention that you kissed anyone from the blind dates you went to years ago."

    "Why would I kiss those?" Eve questioned, scrunching her nose as if she smelt something rotten.

    "How should I know?" Andie sighed. She plopped down on the bed with her legs crossed over the edge. Theptop monitor was turned away from her. "So who was it?"

    Eve bit her bottom lip. It had been long ago. She didn''t even remember until today when she wondered if she overreacted. Her mind went back to all her experiences in the romance department. The trip down memory didn''t take long.

    As someone who focused on her work, she didn''t have many to begin with.

    Except for the ones Andie forced her to meet.

    "It was that boy" she started to say as she cleared her throat. Unlike those blind dates, this person had a relevant presence in their lives for a time. "You know the arrogant one from school. You always fought with him until he transferred."

    Andie scowled. It became her turn to take the trip. They had been together for almost all their lives. That was more than two decades of memories. Thankfully, there were only a few boys that held significance.

    One of them being a snarky one who always stood on a pedestal.

    "You mean Noah?"

 Chapter 157: Communication is Key

    Chapter 157: Communication is Key

    "You mean Noah?"

    A dark cloud hovered above Andie''s head. Looking back now, she''dbel their arguments as petty and immature. That realization didn''t ease her feeling of annoyance though. Just like how that kid''s arrogance didn''t change in her memories.

    "Yeah, him." Eve nodded. She paused from typing and nced up the ceiling. "I think it didn''t evenst a second."

    Andie sneered in a mocking manner. The invisible cloud thundered. "You kissed that arrogant devil?"

    "We were understudies for a y. This other kid said if the leads couldn''t act, we''d have to get on stage as understudies do. Then, he said the y would be ruined because we didn''t know how to kiss."

    Eve closed her eyes from embarrassment and rubbed her temple. How naive could she be?

    "So you practiced kissing?"

    "We just tried it once."

    "And that was... wow, 22 years ago?" Andie counted. If she set aside the person Eve kissed, she found the discovery amusingand so she shifted her focus away from Noah. "Well, you started early. Did you freak out then like you did today?"

    Eve flinched.

    "No, because I knew the kiss wasing. You could say I freaked out over what the kid said and insisted on trying it for the sake of the y."

    Now that she felt calmer, she regretted her actions today. Ambryan''s impression of her surely had changed. He must have realized how childish she was. Maybe he''d suspect that she lied about her age too.

    At least, it already happened.

    She''d be able to handle the next one better.

    Wait next one?

    "Very sly" Andie remarked. She rubbed her chin, recalling an old conversation. "Didn''t you have a crush on him?"

    Eve rolled her eyes. "No, I didn''t."

    "Come on, there''s nothing wrong with liking someone." Andie scoffed in return. She decided to change the topic back to their original one. "Speaking of which, don''t you think that the reason you ran was because you, little missy, have feelings for Ambryan?"

    "How did youe up with that idea?" Eve demanded, resisting another eye roll.

    "Think about it. If you didn''t have any feelings while Ambryan did, you would just turn him down like the rest of the guys I tried to set you up with."

    Creased lines wrinkled on her forehead. "You do remember we have an agreement to pretend we''re dating for 9 months?"

    Eve felt a headacheing in. Either party suddenly having feelings was aplication. The agreement had been to part ways after the time duration was over.

    Sure, a fake couple could eventually lead to a real rtionship and maybe this sort of development was seen as normal by others.

    But their situation specifically had another element to it that did not make it normal.

    Evangeline Reed''s identity had to disappear.

    "Which increases the chances that he kissed you because he likes you. Otherwise, why would he even do that?" Andie pointed out, nudging Eve''s shoulder. "You''re scared because your feelings could be mutual but that would mean he likes Evangeline and not Eve. He is falling for a fictional person."

    "I wouldn''t really call Evangeline fictional. The things she went through were very real to me." Eve admitted, contradicting her initial thoughtsexcept that would only be relevant if Ambryan saw it the same way if he found out.

    It wouldn''t be of any use if the other person had a different perspective. She couldn''t even me him if that happened. It was still a lie right to his face, especially when they saw each other everyday.

    "You get the point."

    "Yeah, I know." Eve sighed. She assessed the event based on what she knew and not theories. The heavens knew how suspecting like this could lead to terrible results. Unless Ambryan outright said that he kissed Evangeline because he liked her

    Andie peeked out the window. The sky had fewer stars than usual. "Then, did you think about what you''d do now?"

    "Talk to him? Figure out how to even discuss this? We haven''t talked about intimacy. Ambryan is such a private person, he''s not one for PDA so it didn''t seem necessary when this started." Eve blew on her fringes. This wasn''t a development she prepared for. That was her first mistake she guessed.

    "I thought we were on the same page but maybe he actually wants to kiss every now and then in front of people. I remember how some are only convinced by something like that." A frown scrunched between her brows. She really should have seen thising sooner orter.

    "So... you''re thinking that he was testing it out?" Andie questioned, not entirely convinced. If that had been true, wouldn''t he have told her? Just like how small Eve asked small Noah if they should practice kissing?

    "It seems to be the more believable option since he''s a logical person. Good thing it was closed doors. If the public saw it, no doubt that would have put a dent in our front."

    Andie shook her head. The denial was strong in this one. Eve may have entertained the idea but she inclined towards another reason more. It was a bit hard to watch because of her impatience. She got up and decided to stop meddling for the time being.

    If the pair would be talking anyway, the truth woulde out.

    Just to be sure, Andie sent a silent prayer to the string of fates.

    Eve prepared herself for sleep. She spent an hour in the bathroom, soaking in the warm water until it became cold. The aromas from the bath bomb and scented candles had given her the rxation she needed. She dried her hair and changed intofortable pajamas.

    She went the extra mile: using a blow dryer, applying a sheet mask, shaving her legs and even clipping her nails.

    Until there was only one thing left.

    Sheid on her side and stared at her phone screen. The inevitable hade. Should she start with a good night message like they had promised? But then, it was only meant for use when the sender was going to sleep.

    This wasn''t one of those times.

    A couple of messages sprouted in her head.

    .

    Option 1: ``Hey was it just me or did you kiss me earlier?``

    Option 2: ``Sorry for running away. I could have sworn you kissed me. Crazy, right? HAHA!``

    Option 3: ``Mr. Hathaway, why did you kiss me? I apologize for my insensitive actions. The kiss hadpletely startled me to the point where my brain forgot how to function.``

    .

    Eve tapped the phone on her forehead. None of them sounded good.

    In the end, she decided to wing it. She was going to send whatever message sheposed in the next second. Take backs and/or second guessing were strictly not allowed.

    .

    ``Lin: Hey, was I hallucinating or did something touch my lips before I ran out the door?``

    .

    ''There,'' Evemented in her head, letting out a long breath. She sat up and propped her chin on the base of her palm. ''That sounded good, right? Definitely not awkward at all.''

    Three dots emerged from the bottom. Ambryan''s nickname shed on the chat window. Her heart pounded in her chest. Would he tell the truth or deny what happened? Did she even know what really happened?

    Maybe it really was just her imagination.

    .

    ``Yan: It was mine.``

    ``Lin: But... why?``

    .

    Eve groaned. After that first one, she couldn''tpose a better reply?

    All the way uptown, Ambryan sat in front of his work desk. He paused from reviewing documents when the app appeared on his phone notifications. He leaned on the backrest and thought about his response.

    His gaze flickered to her profile picture. The coy smile fit her personality well but his attention concentrated on her hazel eye. He pretended that they were face to face.

    Should he tell her what he had told Richard?

    .

    ``Lin: I just don''t see a reason for it when we''re out of the public eye.``

    .

    The new message had stumped his train of thoughts. It seemed that Evangeline had the same track of mind as Richard. Ambryan figured that must have been his fault for not being clear. It had surprised her to the extent of running away.

    Before, he might have told the truth in a straightforward manner.

    Now, he might lose more than he gained if he did.

    Ambryan put his phone down and looked at his cat. Kiri lied on his desk, licking her paws. She seemed unworried. He reached out to caress the top of her head. "What do you think I should do? I doubt I can pretend perfectly that this turmoil in me doesn''t exist."

    Kiri stopped cleaning her fur. She tilted her head up and purred.

    A smirk teased on the corner of his lips. "She always had that magical ability to pull down my guard. And the weirdest thing about that was I never minded it."

    He checked on the chat window again. There weren''t any new messages.

    Then, his smirk stretched into a mischievous grin.

    .

    ``Yan: So you''re saying it''s okay if we''re in public?``

 Chapter 158: Captured by Your Lips

    Chapter 158: Captured by Your Lips

    ``Yan: So you''re saying it''s okay if we''re in public?``

    .

    "How-HuhWhat?" Eve gasped. She reread the message over and over again. Mathematical forms materialized around her head. They had been talking about the kissthe kiss that came out of nowhere and why it happened

    Then, how did the conversation end up this way?

    She wiped the front of her face, trying to keep up with the flow.

    .

    ``Lin: Do you find it necessary in the rtionship we''re trying to portray?``

    .

    ''That had to be what he meant, right?'' She asked herself. The question was seeking for consent on this new part of their agreement. The kiss earlier was a test on her part. It was to see how she''d react if it came suddenly like certain situations required.

    A test she clearly failed Eve groaned and fell on her back.

    Meanwhile, Ambryan almost chuckled.

    She yed right into his hands. The answer was quite obvious.

    .

    ``Yan: Of course.``

    .

    .

    .

    .

    .

    .

    When Monday rolled in, Eve arrived at the office earlier than usual. She sat on her desk and buried herself in work. Anything she could get a headstart on was ced on the top of her to-do list. Staff groups would soon log in into their ounts and find several emails from her.

    It dampened their morning mood.

    The elevator dinged.

    Tapping noises from typing ceased. Eve stood up and straightened her work clothes. Her hair had grown a bit. She made a mental note to have it cut soon. For now, she tucked stray strands behind her ears. Footsteps echoed loudly in her earseven when they were muted by the carpet.

    Behind the wall that blocked her vision

    emerged a pair of thin lips.

    Eve averted her eyes, cursing at her short hair. She had nothing to hide the blush that threatened to color her face. Her hands clenched on her cks. Of all the things her gaze couldnd on, it had to be his l

    "Is there something the matter?" Ambryan asked. He noticed the difference right away. Usually, his secretary greeted him as we walked to the office. He had caught her head turn from the corner of his eye.

    Jumping slightly, Eve bowed her head and remembered her mannerisms. "G-Good morning, Sir Hathaway. I already went through your emails and sent them ording to priority."

    Ambryan deepened his scowl. "What time did you arrive?"

    Eve looked up, blinking. "Oh..., I''ve been here for an hour?"

    "Why didn''t you tell me you wanted to change your shift?"

    "It''s nothing like that, Sir Hathaway," she defended and raised her hands in protest. "I merely woke up earlier than I intended. I had nothing else to do so I thought of starting work early. Since we''ll be visiting the studios, I think it was the best choice for my free time."

    Ambryan stared at her for a few seconds. He noted the bags under her eyes. There was something troubling her but he wouldn''t push on the subject. It would be a lie to say he hadn''t done the same thing whenever he faced problems outside of work.

    "Then, you don''t mind if you brew me a cup of tea?" He said, thinking it could be a good distraction. Since she did a lot of the work, he decided to take initiative on other ones.

    "Not at all." Eve smiled. Then, her eyes lit up like stars. "Would you like scones with that?"

    Ambryan raised an eyebrow. "Are there any?"

    "I stopped by the bakery and saw them. They were freshly baked so I ended up buying a few," she exined, leaving out a few details. She had skipped breakfast when she left the house. And the smell from the bakery caused her stomach to grumble.

    Everything looked so good, she wanted to try them all.

    "I''ll have a few then," Ambryan decided.

    "I''ll prepare both right away."

    He checked his watch and proceeded to his office.

    Eve heaved a sigh of relief when the door closed. Things had flown back to normal. What was she expecting exactly? Ambryan treated her like he always did. It wasn''t like he magically found out that she was Evangeline. She just needed to act normal as well.

    The scones had been in the pantry for the past hour. Although their texture seemed the same from when she bought them, Eve popped them in the microwave for a warmer bite. She ced them on a te and left them on Ambryan''s work desk.

    Then, she proceeded to make his usual ck tea.

    .

    .

    .

    When she came back, Ambryan had taken a bite of a scone.

    He brushed off the crumbs from his lips.

    Eve almost stumbled over her own feet. The teapot and cup ttered on the tray she carried. If they had spilled over her skin, she doubted that she''d feel the burn. Her temperature had to be at the same degree by how much blood rushed in her veins.

    She avoided Ambryan''s direction and left the tray on his desk. She did a quick clean up of the spill, trying not to be obvious. Her gaze flickered towards the scones as she moved them onto the tray.

    The bite mark was evident on the half-eaten one.

    "Eve."

    "Yes?" She choked, lifting up her head. Her eyesnded on the ss windows. Was she looking at her face or at a tomato? She was as red as Evangeline''s wig!

    Ambryan kept his gaze on his monitor, oblivious to her internal panic. "Can you check with Riffle if Madison is in the building? I don''t want to visit the studios if he''s around. He''ll interfere with our observation even if he doesn''t mean to."

    "Understood."

    Eve chose this time to escape. She took out the business phone in her pocket and dialed a familiar number. Several notifications came from her email desktop app. Replies hade in from the ones she sent out earlier.

    "Eve!" Riffle greeted as soon as he picked up.

    "Riff."

    He hummed for a few seconds, considering the nickname. "Fine, I''ll let you off. What is it?"

    Eve pressed the phone between her ear and her shoulder. Urgent emails had joined the crowding on her inbox. Her fingers and mind worked fast to amodate them. "What''s Madison''s schedule today?"

    "He has a meeting with the department heads and their concerns. I predicted that it wouldst the entire day. If he finishes early, there''s a mountain of paperwork waiting for him on his desk. He''s not allowed to step outside until most of them are done. Why do you ask?"

    "Nothing. We''ll be at the studios."

    "Ah, got it." Riffle nodded even if she couldn''t see him. He drew a cross over his chest and said, "President shall not interfere. No worries."

    "Thanks."

    "Also, if you''re really up for a promotion, please save me and hire me as your secretary."

    "Very funny."

    "Just think about it."

    "Goodbye, Riff." Eve chuckled with an eye roll.

    "Hope you have a good one!"

    Not a secondter, her personal mobile vibrated in her other pocket. She took it out with her left hand while her right one continued to work on theputer. Her eyes spared a second to read the notification from the top bar.

    .

    ``Andie: Oi, missy! Are you at work? How could you leave without telling me? You could have been kidnapped for all I know! How was I supposed to exin your absence to both your boss and your boyfriend?``

    ``Eve: Don''t be dramatic. I hold no value to be kidnapped but, yes, I am at work.``

    .

    She shook her head and put the phone on her desk, leaving it unlocked. It vibrated several times as Andie flooded her direct messages. Eve left it alone. She''d get to it once her best friend stopped. Her eyes weighed heavily on her face.

    Should she take a nap during lunch?

    .

    ``Andie: Hey``

    ``Andie: Hey!``

    ``Andie: HEY!``

    ``Andie: DON''T IGNORE ME! This is actually concerning you know! Check the news! Some bastard is iming to be Evangeline''s ex-boyfriend!``

    ``Andie: Are you canoodling with someone? What is keeping you too preupied to send one measly reply? You really need to check this out! You can''t wait likest time!``

    .

    The telephone rang.

    Eve pressed the answer button and ced it on speaker.

    "This is Everlee Hart. How may I help you?" She responded, focusing on a missing document from her files. It must have been saved in another folder. She checked them one by one while thinking of a keyword to look it up with.

    "Eve, would you contact the PR Team and my mother? I''m currently working on the email sent by the Chairman. I''d like to speak to them as soon as I''m finished. Wen is also busy at the moment," Ambryan instructed. His voice had an edge to it that could cut through wood. His fingers could be heard mming on his keyboard.

    The sense of urgency echoed in the background.

    Eve was about to open her mouth and reply when he said,

    "If you can, please contact Evangeline as well."

 Chapter 159: I Wont Let Her Go

    Chapter 159: I Won''t Let Her Go

    "If you can, please contact Evangeline as well."

    Eve swallowed back her previous words. Her hands hovered about the keyboard. Even the screen paused from activity. No notifications or new emails popped up. Seconds ticked by as the instruction sank in her mind.

    Her feet kicked the floor, rolling her closer to the telephone. She picked up the handset and said, "I''m sorry, Sir Hathaway did you mean Ms. Evangeline Reed?"

    "Yes."

    Something snapped behind her ear.

    "I-I" she stammered. Questions flooded her head. Did he want her to visit the office? Why did he need her along with his mother and the PR Team? Couldn''t it wait untilter? Could she ask him about it right now?

    More importantly, would he insist despite their agreement about working hours?

    "Is there a problem?" He asked after a while, noticing the call was still on.

    "I-I don''t have her contact number," Eve managed to say. "Do you? By any chance, I mean."

    She already knew the answer.

    "It''s a littleplicated." Ambryan thought of a quick solution. "Tell my mother to contact her."

    "Understood."

    Eve ended the call. She sat with her eyes dazed for a moment.

    Then, she sprang into action.

    She opened a web browser window and typed out ''Evangeline Reed'' in the search bar. Sure enough, new articles had been published minutes ago. She clicked the first five in new tabs when her phone vibrated relentlessly.

    Andie''s name and photo shed on the screen.

    "Hello?"

    "About time you answered!" Andie yelled from the other line. "Did you read my messages? Some guy has the audacity to im himself as your ex-boyfriend! This is insane! Who is this delusional guy? Have you ever met him?"

    Eve changed tabs, reading the first article.

    A photo of a billboard came up.

    ```

    <em>Standing high up along the main road of Maize City is a billboard full of affection! As shown in the photo, one side of it has been dominated by Ms. Evangeline Reed''s picture from the inte. Her dazzling smile blesses any passersby a wonderful day!</em>

    <em>Beside it has to be one of the cheesiest things we''ve ever read!</em>

    <em>''To Evangeline Reed,</em>

    <em>Like the weeds among the grass</em>

    <em>And the endless turns of an hourss,</em>

    <em>My love for you burns strong and vast</em>

    <em>I yearn for you even when we are apart,</em>

    <em>Even when you have torn my heart</em>

    <em>You will always be my favorite work of art</em>

    <em>Yours truly,</em>

    <em>Your ex-boyfriend.''</em>

    <em>People have put on their detective caps and dissected this poem! Any theories you want to share? Comment them down below!</em>

    ```

    Eve rubbed her eyes. She had to reread the caption again just to be sure. The article got one thing right. It was one of the cheesiest things she''d ever read. It was a shy confession. No wonder Ambryan suddenly wanted help from the PR Team and his mother.

    She exhaled sharply through her nose. "Do you have a photo of him or something?"

    Andie was quick to reply. Cars honked behind her as she brisk walked to the bakery. Her head turned in the direction of the billboard on instinct. "No, but I think the press is trying to hunt him down."

    ''Ambryan must be thinking of the same thing,'' Evemented in her head. That had to be why Ambryan wanted to contact Evangeline right away. Did that mean he didn''t need her presence? Just an answer about the ex-boyfriend?

    "Could he be a psychotic fan?" Andie theorized.

    Eve shook her head, trying to think of her own game n. "I don''t know. I don''t really have the time. Ambryan might make a move though."

    "Are you going to stop him?"

    "Not this time."

    "Good," Andie agreed. She suppressed her rising panic. This was another levelpared to the spection done by haters online. "I''ll try to keep an eye out on social media while at work. Take care of yourself!"

    "You too."

    Eve contacted the PR Team first, expressing Ambryan''s wish to talk to them.

    "Is Ambryan free?" Avery asked as soon as she exited the elevator. Her voice boomed around the room. She marched right over towards Eve. For today, she wore a pantsuit in pink linen. Her hair was up in her favorite ponytail.

    It reminded Eve of the movie she saw with Ambryan.

    Avery mmed her hands on the desk and gave the secretary a pointed look. "Did you already hear about the news? Tell me, do you know who could be behind this? We need it for damage control."

    "I say it with utmost honesty that I don''t know, Mrs. Hathaway," Eve said, staring directly to a pair of violet eyes. "Ambryan also wants to speak with Evangeline right now. It''s probably from our deal that she should be present in any situation that involved her."

    She paused for breath. "Do you mind if you''ll be her proxy? She doesn''t have a recorded past like an ex-boyfriend and we both know it."

    Avery straightened her spine. She dragged her hands off the desk and ced a hand on her hip. Her neck twisted towards the CEO''s office door. "I''ll try my best but he might still try to contact her. Do you want to stay out here or join us inside?"

    Eve bit her bottom lip. Her gaze also went to the door."I think it would be up to Ambryan''s decision. I''m usually not directly involved in these scandals. Just follow instructions."

    "Thought so." The madam sighed.

    A phone started ringing.

    Eve picked it up, ncing on the screen. "It seems like Sir Hathaway is now free."

    Purple colored the top of her screen. It showed the DTC app''s initials and handset icon. On the left side, bunny ears stood out in Ambryan''s profile picture along with his aviator sunsses.

    For a second, Eve wondered if they could ever change their photos.

    "Take it in the bathroom," Avery said. "I''ll go inside and distract him while you do. If he asks anything, just say you''re out of town for training with Cale. Make sure to contact Cale too after you finish the call."

    The madam headed for the CEO office right away while Eve half-ran for the restroom. She double checked if the door was locked and even peeked out the small window near the ceiling.

    Clearing her throat, she changed the pitch of her voice. "Hello?"

    Avery''s voice came through the speaker instead of Ambryan''s. She talked loudly about thetest scandal, repeating points and bringing up new ones. Eve could almost see the madam pacing back and forth.

    "..."

    "Ambee?" Eve coaxed. "Is this about the billboard by any chance? I swear to you that I don''t know who is behind this. I also won''t break our agreement just because of it. I heard your mom is on her way. I''ll help you guys out once I''m done training out of town."

    She hung up before Ambryan could say anything.

    He tossed the phone on his desk. It ttered against the hardwood, sliding across the surface. The bottom hung over the edge. A little more force and it would have fallen to the ground.

    He wouldn''t have seen it though.

    His gaze had locked on a naked spot on the wall.

    "Woah, okay" Avery remarked, taking a seat. That was the first reaction she witnessed since she came. Was he pissed that Evangeline couldn''t show up? Should she message Eve to change? She could cover for the secretary quite easily since she was in the building.

    "Mind telling me what''s bothering you?"

    "How did you convince Evangeline to join the website again?" Ambryan asked. His voice came out sharp and blunt at the same time. His facial muscles stiffenedand the same could be said about his body. His legs were crossed and his head leaned sideways, touching the fingertips from his raised hand.

    It wasn''t the impassive expression Avery was used to.

    She took a deep breath and clutched the armrests. "That''s not up for disclosure."

    "I had talked to her once," he began to say. The frown lines above the bridge of his nose seemed sculpted from concrete. His cheeks managed to firm as his lips moved. "She mentioned a first love that she missed and couldn''t go back to."

    "She did?" Avery blinked. Eve hadn''t mentioned anything to her about it she put the thought out of her head. It still didn''t change the fact that they have. "As far as I know, she doesn''t have an ex-boyfriend though."

    "That doesn''t mean she doesn''t hold anyone precious to her heart."

    Avery slowly raised her eyebrows. The person behind the billboard could be anyone. The person who had rented the space didn''t leave a name. There was no reason to be this rmed early on. The tables could still be turned efficiently.

    For all everyone knew, it could be the same people from the uproarst time.

    Did Ambryan actually consider the ex-boyfriend as a threat?

    Was her son "Are you nning to let her go then?"

    "No." Ambryan replied without hesitation. His violet eyes crystallized like gemstones. They stared off into space as his blood sung with desire. "I still remember our deal, mother. I won''t let her go unless it''s her that leaves."

 Chapter 160: Distractions, Distractions

    Chapter 160: Distractions, Distractions

    The car ride to the studios was a quiet experience.

    Eve sat by the right side of the backseat. She focused on her business phone, keeping up with the emails and concerns. Her right pant pocket burned. It weighed heavily with messages from Avery and Andie. She was curious as to what the madam and Ambryan talked about.

    But it was too risky.

    Especially when the CEO was one meter away from her.

    Ambryan spoke on the phone. He used a low volume that hardly disturbed the atmosphere inside the car. His words came out in a rush. She pitied whoever was at the other line. That had to be a lot of instructions in a short amount of time.

    Then again, her boss didn''t seem to be repeating himself.

    The other person must be keeping up without a problem.

    Wen sat on the driver''s seat. Several ck sedans stayed close as they headed for a secluded area. Eve nced out the window. The studio gates were almost within sight. A small smile curled at the corner of her lips.

    The ce never failed to make people feel like they stepped inside a movie.

    "What''s funny?" Ambryan suddenly asked. He typed on his phone,

    "Nothing" Eve cleared her throat. "It''s been a while since we visited this site."

    "Is there something about it that you like?"

    "Well, it''s a lot livier than the others, I guess." She shrugged. The more she thought about it, the more she figured that was probably due to itsrge poption.

    "Hm," Ambryan responded. He finished sending hisst replies and hid his phone inside his breast pocket. Then, he looked at their surroundings, saying, "If you''d like, you can be the head of the studios here someday. Your office will be in the main building."

    Eve snapped her head towards him. "Wha-What about the current head? Is he leaving?"

    "No."

    "Retiring?"

    "No."

    "Sick?"

    "No."

    "Then..., why would I rece him?" She asked, knitting her eyebrows.

    "I''ll just put it at the top of your preferences for your promotion," Ambryan replied. They almost reached their destination. He assessed the buildings and squinted his eyes. "I''d be rest-assured that this ce is in good hands, at least."

    Eve felt her heart flutter. All this time, she thought her opportunities were limited to their headquarters. Their car drove through the gates and rolled down the street. The scenery that greeted them were filled with a number of film locations.

    The front had been refurbished like a small town. It had its diners, cafes, museums, parks and more. Groups often travelled around with golf carts. The workers inside the establishments were professionals and used to film crews renting out spaces for their shoot.

    Eve basked in everything like it was her first visit againjust before the car turned at a corner that led to a more discreet road. ''If work was in this ce everyday, it probably wouldn''t feel like one,'' she thought.

    Wen parked their car near Studio A. Ambryan climbed out of the car, followed by Eve. The lot happened to be almost barren which was an advantage. Today was a surprise visit so they didn''t head for the main building. The security guard had been told to keep quiet.

    The CEO hade to personally inspect progress and proper protocol.

    .

    .

    .

    "Run it one more time!" Sam said through a megaphone. He sat on the Director''s Chair. His previous aqua hair wax had been reced with pink. It enhanced the red tone of his brown hair. He matched it with a blue and white id shirt and brown trousers.

    His beer belly had pushed the waistband down to his hips.

    The current scene was shot from inside a house.

    They had built the living room inside the studio. Because of the previous leak, they had to move most filming locations indoors. It would have to stay like that until season 1 was released. Then, they could think about moving once they received enough positive feedback.

    The camera crew reset their equipment to re-shoot the scene. The house disyed a living room and a staircase. The door to the right was designed to be the front one while the other door to the left led to the kitchen.

    ===

    Keys rattled as the front door was unlocked.

    A tall figure stepped inside. He wore office apparel and carried suitcases into the house. Behind him, a teenage girl blew on her bubblegum. She had her hands inside her hoodie pockets. The tips of her dark blonde hair had been dyed in multiple colors.

    A backpack hung on her shoulder.

    "Make yourself at home, Sarah." The man said, turning on the lights. He shrugged off his jacket and hung it on the coat stand.

    Sarah walked ahead and scanned the ce, sounding raspy, "Where''s my room?"

    "It''s upstairs" Herpanion replied. He stood behind her and gestured towards the staircase. "Why don''t you freshen up a bit then we can have some lunch? How does that sound?"

    "I already ate at the airport."

    "I see." He cleared his throat.

    Sarah nced over her shoulder and saw his troubled face. She shook her head, stomping on her way up to the second level. "I''ll eatter for dinner."

    "Dinner! Right! I''ll order some pizza with extra pepperoni and cheese!"

    "Sure. Whatever."

    ===

    "Cut!" Sam yelled. He wiped a hand down the side of his face. In his opinion, these simpler scenes were the hardest. If not filmed or/and edited right, the audience could lose interest. This sort existed a lot in the pilot episodewhich was a crucial time to lure viewers for more.

    "Having trouble, Director Sam?" Someone asked directly behind him.

    "Not really," he replied with a grunt. His eyes shut while he massaged his temples with one hand. "Maybe I''m just being nitpicky. We''ve done the scene six times by now. It doesn''t evenst five minutes of screentime."

    The shot reyed on the monitor. Angles from different cameras had been put together for the initial cut. The scene started out with a panoramic view before it zoomed in on the door knob. Then, the same camera pulled back to focus on the characters.

    "Don''t forget to zoom in on Sarah''s bag when she walks up the stairs," the same voice remarked.

    "Bah, product cement!" Same eximed, throwing his hands in the air. The make-up team touched up on the actors'' faces. The lights exhibited a lot of heat, causing them to sweat often. The director watched the shot.

    "Maybe that''s what is odd about the shot," he mumbled.

    "What''s odd about it?"

    "Because of product cement, some scenes can''t flow naturally on screen. It can disrupt the storyline," Sam exined. He craned his head and shouted, "Someone get me the shot of the brother when Sarah walks up the stairs."

    The monitor turned ck before the shot had been reced, following his request.

    "There! You see!" Sam pointed at the screen. "That is a lot more essential. This part was supposed to be about the brother''s emotional turmoil since the previous shots focused on Sarah. It gives a wider view on the entire scene."

    "Hm," he heard behind him. "Are you saying you have a problem with the Athon contract?"

    "That guy Davis is not even around," the director continued. He couldn''t even remember why he agreed to this change in the script. He''d prefer product cements to be outside of the pilot episode.

    "Why should I worry about the brand''s logo at a serious scene such as this?" He flipped through the script in his hands. Maybe they could improvise on a different scene. "Sarah''s high school is the main locationter in the episode. I remember they already nned a product cement for this setting. Ugh, this is a nightmare."

    This time, his ears met with silence.

    He didn''t even bother and dissected through the first half of the script. They could zoom in when Sarah puts the bag down when she reached her room? Sam frowned at his idea. The luxury item should be well-taken care of but Sarah would most likely dump it on the floor.

    Eve exchanged a look with Ambryan.

    She pressed her lips together, hiding her amusement. The director was serious in his work. He didn''t even notice someone had intruded the studio while the crew who spotted them had been willing to seal their lips.

    But, that was merely her opinion. Ambryan might not think the same way.

    These talks behind his back happened to be one of his triggers.

    She cleared her throat, preparing a speech. "Director Sam, if you have a problem, the CEO is always willing to listen to you. Unfortunately, Athon Luxury is vital to the funds used by the TV series. I''d suggesting in with new ideas for the product cement to not disrupt the shot."

    Sam whirled his head in its direction. "Just who"

    Then, he hopped off his chair at once. "Ms. Hart!"

    Eve smiled at him before her eyes flickered to her left.

    Sam paled under a pair of scrutinizing violet eyes. How much did they hear? He reached out to shake Ambryan''s hand, trying not to stutter. "Mr. Hathaway! Good day to you, sir! Are you parched? Someone get Mr. Hathaway a ss of water!"

    "My throat is alright, Director," Ambryan responded. He pulled his hand back and said, "As well as my ears if you''re wondering."

 Chapter 161: Here for Business or for Pleasure?

    Chapter 161: Here for Business or for Pleasure?

    "I-I-That''s wonderful! Your health is always important!"

    "Don''t beat around the bush," Ambryan frowned. "I already heard what you said. What else about the product cement are you having trouble with?"

    Eve hid herugh with a cough. She took a step back and let Ambryan handle the rest. Although it was interesting to see the director''s change of attitude, she had business to attend to.

    The group had taken a break since Sam became preupied. She walked around, inspecting the area. Equipment had been regrly cleaned. The snack table was free of molds and insects. No dangerous wiresy on the ground for anyone to trip over.

    The environment seemed to pass.

    A red ball hit the side of her shoe.

    "Ah! I''m sorry, miss!" A member of the crew wailed. She held a box of props in her arms. Eve noticed the young woman. She looked to be younger than most of the people around. Her clothes were all in shades of ck, easily blending to the background.

    Eve bent her legs and picked up the ball. "Let me help you with that."

    "Oh! Thank you!" The young woman sighed. She moved the ball in a much better position so it wouldn''t fall again. Her head whirled towards the director. "You''re with the CEO, huh?"

    "Ah," Eve replied, following her line of sight. "I''m his secretary, yes."

    The young woman bit her bottom lip. She lifted the box higher to hide her face and leaned closer to Eve. She spoke in a whisper. "Is it really hard working for him?"

    Eve couldn''t help but chuckle. "Anything can be hard when a person has no experience. I''d consider myself lucky to be given this job even when I had just graduated."

    "Getting a job after graduation is hard, yes!"

    She peeled her eyes off the two men and focused on the young woman. She let her go first, apanying her to a different table. "Have you worked here long?"

    "A couple of months. I joined when they needed a new crew team for the series."

    "Everyone is treating you well?"

    "There are good days and there are bad days," the young woman exined. She set the box down and checked the items once more. "When things aren''t going well, it''s normal for someone to be upset or angry. We just gotta learn not to take it personally."

    Eve nodded at her words. The crew member had a good head on her shoulders. She hoped that the young woman would have a blossoming career. They talked more about their work, Eve learning more about the studio this way.

    It alerted her of any problems faced by the crew.

    Then, her phone vibrated in her pocket.

    Still distracted by the conversation, Eve took it out casually. Her fingertip touched the sensor and unlocked the phone. Sheughed at a joke made by the young woman but when she saw the screen, her eyes widened.

    The top bar had turned into purple.

    "Who is it?" The young woman asked, slightly concerned.

    "Uh, no one." Eve hid the phone behind her back. She almost turned her head in Ambryan''s direction. Last time she checked, he was talking to the director. Perhaps he made a mistake and identally dialed the call feature in the DTC app.

    The young woman wasn''t fooled.

    She nudged the secretary''s side. "Is it your boyfriend?"

    "What? No."

    "But you''re all red!" She giggled. Her hand rummaged through the box and raised a round object up to Eve''s face. "You''re as red as this ball you picked up."

    "I am not." The secretary scoffed, feeling the phone vibrate again. She picked it up a second time. The same screen greeted her sight. How was Ambryan calling Evangeline at a time like this? Was it to update her on their talk?

    But why now?

    "Aw,e on. There''s a private bathroom right over there. You can take it while your boss is distracted." The young woman pointed her thumb over her shoulder. "I''m sure your boyfriend misses you if he''s still calling."

    "It could be an emergency," Eve pointed out despite knowing it wasn''t true.

    "Only one way to find out...."

    Eve opened her mouth, ready to reject the offer.

    But her phone vibrated for the third time.

    Blood rushed into her cheeks. Maybe she was overthinking it but the young woman really had a way with words. There was no hiding it now. She bowed her head and tucked a stray strand behind her ear. "Um, please don''t tell anyone."

    "Scout''s honor!" The young woman saluted, winking at the same time. She stepped aside and let Eve pass by. "He''s not looking this way so you''re good."

    Without a second''s hesitation, Eve beelined for the restroom. If Ambryan had the chance to call Evangeline, he wouldn''t be looking for his secretary any time soon. She gave herself five minutes just to be sure. The restroom only had one toilet.

    Eve took a deep breath. Her heart pounded against her sternum. She lost count how many moments it had done that for the past weeks. Her hand checked the door knob one more time.

    ''Here goes nothing.'' She pressed the phone against her ear. "You''re calling way more than usual worried about something?"

    Outside, Sam snapped his fingers. He found a scene where they could put the product cement in the pilot episode. He nced over his shoulder only to find Ambryan a few paces away. He hit his forehead.

    If this was a serious call, who knew how long he''d have to wait.

    Ambryan found a secluded spot among the crowded set. He had one hand in his pant pocket as he faced a wall. "There''s going to be a party at a month''s time."

    Eve blinked, her eyebrows shooting up. She had an inkling on what this party was going to be. The invitations hadn''t been out yet though. The event was still at the beginning stages of preparation.

    "You called just for that? Aren''t you busy?"

    "Not at the moment."

    Liar!'' Eve wanted to scream. They couldn''t stay in the studios for long. Work waited for them back in the office. These were things Evangeline shouldn''t know about though. It would be weird to call him out.

    What would be her response then?

    Eve blew at her bangs, deciding to wing it. "Should I be ttered that you chose to spend your free time with me?"

    Ambryan shuffled his feet. "Are you?"

    She shook her head. He was doing it again. This was the same as their conversation about kissing in public. She wasn''t having any of it. At least, not at the moment while at work.

    "I have to go."

    "Why? Worried about something?"

    "Why should I be?" Eve shot back, her jaw dropping in disbelief. What was the right reaction in this scenario? "Aren''t you around to protect me?"

    She regretted the words as soon as they left her mouth. Evangeline had always portrayed an image of independence. The model had never relied on Ambryan for something specific. This rtionship was for his benefit after all.

    Eve bit her tongue and swallowed a groan. What was Ambryan thinking of her now?

    Director Sam rubbed his eyes.

    Did he just see the CEO smile?

    Ambryan turned his face towards the wall, his body remaining in the same direction. "I did tell you that I''d be there to catch you, didn''t I? It wouldn''t be good to turn back on my promise."

    Eve stared at the door and tried to imagine his figure outside. This was the same man here on a business trip. He was also the same man who ced work first. His words were always straight to the point and concise. He disliked being disturbed by other parties during office hours.

    Now, he was more than okay to flirt over the phone!

    "Are you sure you don''t have a twin?" Eve asked.

    "Positive."

    "This is actuallying from you?"

    "Yes."

    "Wow" Eve breathed out. This was was great progress! Yeah, that had to be it. Who knew this whole thing was actually working? "I bet your mother would be happy to hear you''re slowly being open to a rtionship."

    "Hm," Ambryan scowled.

    Director Sam flinched. The talk didn''t seem to be going well. That meant the CEO woulde back in a bad mood. Depending on how serious it was, their conversation could either go well or go terribly.

    He prayed that the call would end on a good note.

    Eve stayed inside the bathroom. Had she said something wrong? She just stated the reason why they were even talking in the first ce. Avery''s scheme was serving its purpose. Eve was just as surprised to see it had worked.

    But why did her words taste like poison in her mouth?

    She clenched her free hand.

    "About the party, just tell me the date and time. I will be there," Eve said, breaking the silence. "Should I wear violet like the other day? Or do you have another color in mind?"

    Ambryan smoothed out the frown lines between his brows. "I''ll send you the details of a dressmaker. She''ll take your measurements and customize coordinated outfits for the both of us."

    "Oh, um"

    "Don''t worry about the cost," he cut in as if he could read her mind. "It''s thepany''s anniversary. We have to look our best in my own party."

 Chapter 162: Keep the Secret! Sssh!

    Chapter 162: Keep the Secret! Sssh!

    "Whoever sent that billboard signage must have been out of their minds!" Cale paced back and forth. For the uing season, he chose a bright orange button-up shirt underneath a charcoal jacket. He tucked his top in his jacket''s matching trousers. The shine on his leather shoes could rival a newly painted car.

    Eve stood on a round podium. Her crimson wig was up in a ponytailCale had added more to the collection in the closet. A number of them already pre-styled for any asion. She wore a pair of 2-inch heels and a shirt dress.

    Thetter opened at the front with brass buttons. A belt had been provided to emphasize her waist. It looked quite sophisticated if Eve had anything to say about it. What she felt ufortable with was its puffy sleeves.

    It took the outfit a little higher than she''d like.

    The seamstress walked around the podium, holding a measuring tape. She instructed Eve on how to pose for each dimension of the dress. Her right hand raised her phone up to her face. Left hand on her waist and hip swayed to one side, she snapped a photo from the mirror in front of her.

    Her caption read: <em>``I haven''t posted a selfie in a while but my outfit is rocking and it needs more attention than my face. @CaleFisher always keeps it ssy. P.S. I am still very cute just in case you''re wondering.``</em>

    "Evangeline, are you listening?" Cale frowned, marching over. He crossed his arms over his chest. The light from the windows gleamed on his gelled tinum hair. "For someone targeted for the second time, you''re quite calm."

    "That''s because you have magic powers." Eve chuckled. "This entire look is banging. I feel so good in it. I could care less about a person hiding behind a screen and/or a billboard."

    Cale nced at his phone and saw the post. He peeked at her through his eyshes. Eve scrunched her nose before turning back to the mirror. The seamstress told her to stretch out her arms.

    She focused on her posture and left her modelling manager alone.

    Working on an angle, Cale turned his head sideways and captured a selfie with Evangeline in the background. He wrote: <em>``If you need proof, here. @EvangelineReed''s undeniable cuteness to grace your screen!"</em>

    Eve felt her phone vibrate. She returned Cale''s expression earlier back at him.

    "All''s fair in love and war, darling," he exined, fluttering his aqua blue eyes. Then, he went back to business. "Any news on that billboard person by any chance?"

    "The person was really good. Hardly left a trace that could lead to a solid source." Eve sighed. She had expected for the drama to be over once Ambryan got involved. It turned out not everything was a walk in the park for the CEO.

    "So it can be someone as influential as the Hathaways?"

    The seamstress wrapped the tape around her bust. Eve was amazed that she didn''t need an assistant or to write anything down. "It could just be someone really good atputers. It was an online transaction."

    Cale spun on his heel and sat on the pink sofa. Heid his head on the backrest, tilting his chin. "They should know these mediocre tricks won''t work on you and Ambryan. It''s so childish that I want to barf. You are grown adults. These petty things can''te between that easily."

    He exhaled sharply through his nose. The whole incident gave him a headache. To distract himself, he scrolled through Slowgram and went through reactions for Evangeline''s post. One topment caught his eye.

    The profile picture was the back of a

    <em>``EliasWalker: Just as gorgeous as the day I met you. It''s a shame that I couldn''t hold onto you.``</em>

    "Who is this?" Cale muttered. He clicked on the user''s photo and looked up the profile. The ount had little followers. His thumb scrolled down the page. An ominous feeling tickled the back of his neck.

    After thendscape pictures, the user didn''t have a theme. They were random photos uploaded without a second thought. They portrayed moments in his life that he wished to share.

    <em>``Happy birthday, gorgeous! It''s not much but one day, I''ll give you the best of everything. I promise,``</em> the post read. Behind the candlelight cupcake, a woman smiled with her head bowed. Her red hair was tied in a big white bow at the back of her head.

    A pendant in the shape of an ''E'' hung around her neck.

    "Oh, this bastard," Cale breathed out. He checked the other pictures. Elias hardly posted his own photos among them. He made a clear disy that he was a photographer. The same red-haired female would appear frequentlyher face never fully exposed.

    The earlier the dates, the clumsier the poses and shots became.

    But Cale understood its purpose just fine.

    "Cale? What is it?" Eve asked, stepping down the podium. She thanked the seamstress and checked on her manager. Thetter''s scowl deepened every second from the time she saw it.

    "Do you know who this could be?" He showed her the Slowgram profile.

    Eve raised an eyebrow. "No."

    Cale hopped to his feet. He also gave his appreciation to the dress shop as he tugged Eve towards the exit. Nanzi was waiting outside with the car. Eveposed her facial expression, spotting arge group outside. Her security team guarded the doorway and the pah towards the car.

    Maybe she shouldn''t have posted that photo...

    "We need to talk. In private." Cale hissed in his model''s ear. Once they stepped out, he shed his bright smile and waved at the onlookers. Screams pierced his ears but he didn''t let it show. "My, my, my! Lovely people out here! You all look wonderful! My day has been blessed by your presence!''

    Eve followed his example, choosing a more timid approach. She kept her lips closed and waved her hand close to her ear. Cale had his armpletely stretched out to reach the ones at the back.

    Nanzie rushed them to the car. Since the two paid attention to the crowd, they became a bit difficult to control. "We have to go. Let''s not linger for too long."

    Cale blew a kiss before he slid into the backseat after Eve. He waited for them to gain a good distance then dropped the smile on his lips. "I don''t know if Avery had seen it yet but I sent her the person''s profile that I showed you."

    "Why?" Eve asked. "Can I see it?"

    "Sure."

    It didn''t take long for her to notice the problem.

    "No one would think this is me, would they?" She wanted to believe her words. She really did... but people had different minds. Because of the photo aesthetics, they could defend that the woman''s face was meant to be hidden.

    "How" Eve mouthed a pause. "How did this even happen? Evangeline doesn''t have that kind of past. "

    "Evangeline doesn''t have a past at all. That''s the problem," Cale replied, closing his eyes. When he opened them again, their green flecks had darkened. "It''s possible that someone is on to us. They are trying to scare us by making up a story about Evangeline. If that''s the case, we can''t refute it so easily. They might y an even bigger card."

    Eve returned his phone. She stared out the window. Maize City passed by in a blur. Had she beencent? Secrets weren''t invincible. Someone was bound to find out. Because of this, she had been wary of the people she knew.

    But it blinded her from strangers.

    "This is something that we can''t tell Ambryan, isn''t it?" Her lips whispered.

    Cale flickered his gaze in her direction. They softened at the sight of her sagged shoulders. He reached out to hug them with one arm. "I''m afraid not, dear."

    Eve clenched her fists. What was power? How did one wield it? These people could lie right through their teeth. They perceived their surroundings as they saw fit. It didn''t matter what the damage was.

    If it got the job done, it was good enough.

    The rate of her pulse increased. Who were they to mess with her? Who were they to butt in her business? If they were displeased by her behavior, they shoulde forward with the truth and spit it on her face.

    This cowardly act had to stop. If they would go to this length then, it was only right to y along and not let their efforts be wasted. It was about time they sniffed out the culprit. What better way to do that than to counter their moves?

    Eve snatched her phone, opened Slowgram and swiped for the story feature. She opted for neither a photo nor a video. The timed post would only be a simple white text over a white background.

    <em>``EvangelineReed: Life isn''t always what it makes out to be. After a lonely road of 26 years, you may findfort and warmth from an iceberg.``</em>

    <em>.</em>

    <em>.</em>

    <em>.</em>

    <em>.</em>

    <em>.</em>

    <em>``EvangelineReed: I''m just kidding. He''s more like a sculpture. :P``</em>

    <em>.</em>

    <em>.</em>

    <em>.</em>

    <em>.</em>

    <em>.</em>

    <em>``EvangelineReed: By the way, don''t tell him I said that. Keep the secret! Sssh!``</em>

 Chapter 163: To Surprise is An Art

    Chapter 163: To Surprise is An Art

    When Eve first stepped foot inside Lotus Agency, she felt like a fish out of water.

    She had been imed to be one of its models without walking through the process. Everything had been handled by Cale. As a result, she barely knew anyone. But that didn''t mean her reputation hadn''t grown among her supposed peers.

    Not everyone seemed to take her absence lightly.

    Their stares bore into her back as she and Cale headed for the elevator. Her heels cked against the dark gray tiles. She held the red clutch bag she modelled with Athon Luxury. Nanzie and two other bodyguards stayed close behind them.

    Their entourage solidified her model status.

    She was among the agency''s valued talents.

    Inside the elevator, Eve rxed her shoulders. She had kept her chin high despite the attention they had attracted. "I don''t think I''ll ever get used to visiting this ce."

    "Well, it''s the main venue for all client meetings," Cale began to say. He portrayed his usual airy self. The traces of irritation and annoyance were almost gone. "You''re doing really well even without more big brands like Athon Luxury. Although, I think you''re not far off from receiving another deal like that."

    Eve let him talk. Among the judging eyes, it wasforting to know that an experienced manager like Cale believed in her. If it had been another person, Eve doubted that she could have pulled her alter ego off.

    They arrived at their desired floor. The ce was sparse of bystanders. No one lingered in the hallways unless needed. Cale led the party, knowing the maze of corridors like the back of his hand.

    His legs led to one of the secluded rooms near a dead end.

    With the bodyguards stationed outside, the door opened to a spacious room. White curtains hung over the windows, subduing the heat from the sun. Eve expected one long table like their conference ones back in Eros headquarters. This seemed more like a ssroom with its setup of elevated flooring.

    The room had only one upant.

    She had chosen a table near the bottom level. Her blush-colored hair stood out. It made her easy to spot. She rose to her feet once she heard the door, straightening her business attire. Her lips wore a toothless smile.

    "Hi! I''m sorry that I''m a little informal," she greeted, meeting them halfway. Eve noticed her ocean eyes underneath the full bangs. The woman stretched out a hand. "It''s actually my first time to look for a model for our school. I''m Amy, by the way. Amy Mistyx. I work for The Magical Symphony."

    Eve epted the gesture, puzzled by this development. "I never thought schools hired models for their marketing."

    Amy pulled her hand back and reached out to Cale briefly. Then, she addressed the two of them. "Well, think of it as a marketing stunt itself. We saw your photos from the Rainbow Collection and found them quite elegant. It fits the school''s image. You''re great with kids from that special appearance at the bakery."

    "Shall we take our seats?" She suggested. They walked down the rest of the way. Eve and Cale picked the chairs across from her. "The world is evolving everyday. We want to keep up as best as we can."

    "I''ve heard of the school before. I thought it was doing well on its own," Eve shared. That recital wasn''t a simple one. The budget had to be big for them to pull it off. They even fed the visitorster in the reception hall.

    "We are but we also need more sponsorships," Amy admitted, an awkwardugh flowing out of her lips. She pulled the documents towards and checked them once more. "And investments. We want to expand the school and possibly hold more sses, making them avable for the whole year instead of just the summer."

    Her hand paused from browsing. She looked up to meet the two pairs of eyes staring at her. Her skin trembled underneath her clothes. "But investors think otherwise. They see it as a waste of money when the school is not that famous."

    It had been their n for a long time. It was postponed because of M''s work overseas. Now that their head was back, the discussion was brought up again and M made up her mind to put the school first.

    Unfortunately, her long absence and halt in their operations had impacted the school image a bit. Amy was amazed that they even managed to gather the same instructors for the summer. Since then, they thought of ways to bring it back up again in the most timely manner.

    "Magical Symphony" Cale mumbled. Frown lines creased between his brows. "I''ve heard of that M rk owns that school, doesn''t she? She''s already a famous figure. Why would they think that?"

    "She is famous in the world of ssical music. Unlike before, M is nning to make this her main priority. It''s the perfect time to expand," Amy exined. The papers ruffled underneath her touch as she looked through thest pages. "She had discussed this with Mrs. Hathaway and the madam introduced the idea of an ambassador for the school''s schrship program"

    "And that''s supposed to be Evangeline?" Cale finished, already seeing where this was going.

    Amy shifted her full attention in his direction. "Yes, she thinks her influence would also contribute to the school other than the money she donated."

    Then, she turned her head towards Eve. "We won''t be asking much of you. Mrs. Hathaway will still be in charge of the paperwork. We will be conducting somewhat of a donation drive/charity event/fundraiser. You name it. We''d really appreciate it if you join us. Avable students would also hold a concert."

    "This will be the setup for all the street banners, billboards and more. We''d pay you, of course. All the details are in this folder." She pushed the documents across the table, clenching her hand to hide its shakiness when she released them. "Would you like some time to discuss this by yourselves? I''m open to leave you alone."

    Eve opened the folder. Her hazel eyes skimmed through the terms. From what she understood, the management''s legal team had already looked into its validity. The contract had been approved by them before this meeting was conducted.

    It did state that her role revolved around the charity event.

    Amy pressed her lips together. Neither Eve nor Cale answered her question. She debated whether to take their silence as affirmation. But, it would be embarrassing if they called out to her even before she could leave the room.

    Should she speed up her pace?

    "I''ll do it."

    Her head snapped back to reality. She blinked just in time to see Cale hand his model a pen. Amy widened her eyes. Things went that fast? Evangeline Reed wasn''t at the top of her industry but she expected for them to negotiatelike higherpensation.

    They had purposely lowered it for this reason.

    "Ms. Mistyx?"

    "I-Wow." Amy gasped, touching the folder. It hovered in the air since Eve still held onto it. Her new client didn''t really take it quite yet. "This is This was a lot more than I came for. Thank you for supporting our cause."

    "It''s not a problem," Eve tried to brush off, letting the documents go. She knew her sisters would be the first ones to be thrilled by the school''s expansion. It wouldn''t sit well with her if she didn''t help out when she could.

    "Do you still need to stay here for something? We can go out for coffee and continue the discussion if you''d like," she offered as she stood up.

    Cale hid his smile. Before being a model, Eve was a businesswoman. She probably could handle being her own manager in this line of work.

    "That would be lovely. Thank you!"

    Amy gulped once she saw the bodyguards outside. She knew Evangeline was Ambryan''s girlfriend but she didn''t think that the model had this level of security. Her head whipped from side to side, noticing the bystanders.

    They whispered among themselves.

    Their eyesprised of nothing good.

    "Rx, Amy," Cale cheered, hooking his arm around hers. Eve walked ahead of them with Nanzie by her side. "You don''t mind if you call you that, right? I know this great coffee ce. It also has some of the best tea I''ve ever tasted. They also sell food in case you''re hungry. Evangeline immediately fell in love with it when I first took her there"

    "I hope you forgive me for interrupting those ns. It''s a rare free day and I''d like to spend it with my girlfriend as much as possible."

    Cale and Amy nearly crashed into Eve.

    Thetter had halted in her steps, shock stricken over her face. Ambryan stood in the middle of the lobby. His face wore his infamous poker face. A crowd had formed behind him. Not once did he spare them any attention.

    More people gathered around the scene, hoping for a glimpse of the couple. They took out their cameras and shared the moment. The ones in front didn''t let the opportunity go. They followed the CEO''s every move and captured it in video.

    His footsteps echoed as he closed the distance between him and Eve.

    He snaked his arm around her waist and yanked her closer, their chests almost touching.

    His lips stretched into a boyish grin.

    "Surprised? You''re not the only one who can keep secrets."

 Chapter 164: Shall We Continue in Private?

    Chapter 164: Shall We Continue in Private?

    ''So sly''

    Eve clicked her tongue. Her lips posed in a smirk. It seemed like she wasn''t the only one ready for battle. She blinked her eyes downwards, popping her mouth. Her head stayed bowed and she peeked at Ambryan through hershes.

    "Mr. Hathaway" she spoke softly. Her eyebrow arched up and her nose directed towards the right. "Are you stalking me?"

    "Stalking is a strong word," Ambryan replied. He fixed her bangs, making sure they were straight. "I think saying that I just want to hold onto you as long as possible is a better fit."

    Cale mped a hand against his mouth. His hold on Amy tightened. They hooked arms like two handcuffs. Nothing could break through itnot even a man running at full speed nor a truck about to transport a soul to another world.

    Eve tilted her head sideways. "And why is that?"

    "So you''d have zero chances of escaping."

    Holding his breath, Cale felt a squeal burst inside his chest. It stretched his muscles despite theck of sound. He read the scene like a web novel owned by an Asianpany. It seemed that the pair had simr ideas about EliasWalker''s movements.

    "If we''re going to eat, remind me that we shouldn''t order any cheese," Eve chuckled. She pulled away from Ambryan''s arm and gripped his hand instead. "I think you and I had had enough of it for weeks."

    Both her and Ambryan continued to ignore the crowd. Their voices were just as loud as when they were alone. Their act projected naturally that zero to little people questioned the credibility of their words. The security teams kept the bystanders at a good distance.

    Cale watched them with a scrutinizing gaze.

    Although he knew the truth, he could feel something different in the air.

    Ambryan stepped closer and kissed Eve''s temple. His tone stayed nonchnt, saying, "We can always have the unbaked cookie dough inside the fridge."

    Eve popped her eyes out of their sockets. "You haven''t cooked it?"

    "I checked online. It''s still edible."

    She gave him a skeptical look. If he hadn''t baked the dough, what did he n to do with it? They hadn''t nned to meet soon. Theirst conversation had been about the party.

    "What are we waiting for then?" Eve shrugged and went with the flow. She shifted her attention towards Cale and Amy, not letting go of Ambryan''s hand. Her lips disyed an apologetic smile. "I''m sorry, Ms. Amy. I won''t be able to join you. I look forward to our future partnership. Hope your day will be good. You too, Cale. Contact me if there''s anything urgent."

    Cale waved his hand, shooing them away. "Don''t worry and go have fun, lovebirds."

    Amy also encouraged them to leave. The crowd dispersed around her. Some followed the couple outside while others went back to their business. She''d never been in the midst of fame before.

    It was a little suffocating.

    Yet, the two didn''t crack under the pressure.

    "I never pictured Ambryan Hathaway to be full of affection," the words left her mouth before she could process them. He used to be expressionless in public as if aware of the onlookers.

    Did Evangeline really change that in him?

    "Sometimes you can''t help it when you meet the right person," Cale told her. His eyes followed the two as they stepped out of the building. "Ites as natural as breathing. The rest of the world fades away and all that matters is that special someone in front of you."

    She nudged his side. "Is that so?"

    "Yeah" Cale sighed dreamily. His eyes followed Ambryan and Eve until they were safe inside the car. "Much more powerful too when apart for a long time."

    "I see."

    Amy silently admitted defeat.

    M had the right judgement all this time. She saw the bond between the couple. They had a string that tied them together like they knew one another much longer than they seem. Maybe the romance stories she''d read were true.

    Maybe everyone had a soulmate.

    On the roads of Maize City, Ambryan and Eve found themselves in a familiar setup. Eve spotted the ck sedans in the side mirror. Media vans followed closed behindprobably to snap photos of her entering Ambryan''s condominium building.

    Her cheeks reddened involuntarily.

    She scrambled to think of a conversation, hoping it could redirect her thoughts and stop the blood rush. "Are we really going to bake the cookies?"

    Ambryan spared her a nce. "Unless you want to waste the dough."

    He turned at a corner. It led to a longer route to his residence. The decision helped the bodyguards shake off the media. He suspected some of them already went ahead to the penthouse as well. They would have to keep driving until Wen gave the green light.

    Eve smirked, knowing better than that. She crossed her arms over her chest and bumped her back against the seat. "Didn''t find anything online on how to turn on your oven, did you?"

    "No."

    She chuckled at his honesty. Her head turned towards the window. There was something about how the people outside experienced an average day. If they had any troubles, they were most likely used to them and knew how to handle them well.

    None of it probably came close to a fake ex-boyfriend appearing out of nowhere.

    "I take it you saw EliasWalker," Eve said, breaking the silence. She suspected that it was the main reason for his sudden visit. Not only to crush any rising rumors but to also talk about the situation privately.

    "Yes."

    Her throat constricted from his curt response. "I don''t know him."

    "I believe you." Ambryan sighed. He felt a lot calmer than when he first found out about the slowgram profile. His vision perceived red in those photosand it didn''te from Evangeline''s double.

    "I''m right here if you need to shake him off," he added.

    Eve smiled, still staring out the window. "I know."

    Ambryan had considered driving to his permanent residence. He could always ask Wen to bring the cookie dough there. It had better security and none of the media had seen it before. Privacy was guaranteed. It was also less work for all of them.

    Just as he was about to propose the idea to Evangeline, Wen called to say the building and its perimeter had been cleared. He dropped the thought immediately.

    A soft fur ball brushed Eve''s legs as soon as she entered the penthouse. She bent down to pick up the feline. "Hi, Kiri! How have you been? I see your owner takes care of you well. You think he can be a good partner to your future mother?"

    "Meow~" Kiri purred. She nudged her head against Eve''s jaw.

    "It still surprises me how she''s nice to you," Ambryan cut in. He hung his jacket on the coat rack near the front door. The sleeves of his dress shirt hugged his biceps. "She''s usually wary of strangers. Not even Richard has gained her favor yet."

    "Really?" Eve blinked. She raised the cat at an arm''s length away. "Is that true, Kiri? What did Richard ever do to you, huh? You can tell me. Don''t be afraid."

    Kiri merely stared back. Her eyes darted between the pair. They sparkled as if they witnessed two stars that crossed right before her sight. She swayed her tail underneath her.

    Eve shook her head and cradled the feline in her arms. Walking further into the room, she spoke over her shoulder. "Do you still have work? I can take care of the cookies while you finish up."

    "Are you sure you''d be okay?" Ambryan asked and loosened his cuffs. Now that she mentioned it, he remembered the reports left for review. The documents he needed should beplete by now.

    "I''ll be fine. I have Kiri," she assured him, pressing her cheek against the cat''s.

    Ambryan surrendered and headed for his home office. He paused in his steps and gazed in their direction one more time. "I wont take long."

    "Please. Take as much time as you need."

    Eve let out a deep breath. It slowly flowed out of her lips. Her legs had begun the journey to the kitchen. Her stomach rumbled at the thought of the cookies. Although she didn''t have the ce memorized, it should be simple enough to find anything she''d suddenly need.

    Kiri stayed out of any area that touched food directly.

    Her favorite spot was a cat tree beside the fridge.

    With the pan and the cookies in the oven, Eve prepared tea and coffee. She found it ironic that a tea lover had a coffee maker inside the kitchen. Then again, the penthouse probably came pre-furnished so it was already there before Ambryan bought it.

    What could be the reason for the coffee beans and grinder though?

    "Who do you know that likes coffee?" She teased, hearing footsteps on the way. The butter-y and sugar-y smell of the cookies must have lured Ambryan out. "I still remember that you prefer tea. So these beans have to be for someone else."

    He patted Kiri on the head before taking out two ceramic mugs from a cupboard. "I have both so I can amodate any visitor''s taste. Eve for one likes coffee."

    "Eve?" Said Eve who almost dropped the bag of coffee beans.

    "My secretary." Ambryan ced the mugs on the counter. Then, he knitted his eyebrows. "That''s right. You two haven''t met. I''m used to having hermunicate with almost everyone I know."

 Chapter 165: A Snack Break for Two?

    Chapter 165: A Snack Break for Two?

    Eve avoided looking in his direction. Her facial expression might give her away. She ced her focus on the coffee maker. Opening it, she found the scooper for the ground coffee beans and added enough for two cups.

    Just in case she wanted a second round.

    "You both work so closely. I didn''t want any rumors to circte," she decided to say. It had been her initial reason to him when she made her terms during their first meeting. "Besides, ourmunication is limited to the app. Is there really a need for me to meet her?"

    She poured water into the coffee maker and let it do its job. Internally, her heart went rampant. It had been going well so far. He hadn''t forced them tomunicate until the other day. She was confident that it would hold up for 9 months.

    What was with the sudden change?

    He didn''t even tell Eve that this rtionship was fake for goodness'' sake! They had stayed out of each other''s personal lives for years. He wasn''t about to change that, was he?

    Ambryan rested his wrists on the counter. Her change in attitude didn''t go unnoticed. The memory of their first meeting came to his mind. She had mentioned his secretary at the time. The rumors about Eve had been about the womening after her like she was a threat. It highlighted their insecurities and toxic behavior.

    But Evangeline wasn''t like that.

    Why should she worry about such a thing?

    "Do you have a problem with Eve?" He asked, trying to think of possible reasons. Wouldn''t it be better for their image if she got along with the people around him? They would eventually meet at some point as well.

    "I don''t have a problem with her," Eve defended quickly. She yed it off with augh, spinning on her heel to grab the mugs. Her gaze zeroed in on them. "But I don''t want people to think I''m kissing up to your employees especially to her."

    It wasn''t a good excuse and she knew it. In theory, the best people she''d use to get close to him would be his family and his friends. A secretary wouldn''t entertain selfish requests like that. It was outside of the job description.

    If the person was her, at least.

    "Hm."

    Ambryan let her take them. He leaned his back against the counter and crossed his arms over his chest. He watched her back as she waited for the coffee to finish brewing. Her point was reasonable.

    Did it still matter at this point though?

    They had already established their rtionship to the public. It was natural for her to know his inner circle. She even met his business partners in the past. Was she actually threatened by Eve like the others?

    Had he read her wrong?

    The kitchen timer beeped. It broke him out of reverie. Shaking his head, he let it go. Thepany party was near anyway. They''d meet at that point even just for a moment. He would have the answers by then.

    "Mind getting the cookies in the oven?" Eve requested over her shoulder while she started on the tea. Her mind had centered around avoiding her secretary self that she forgot about it. She sent a silent apology his way.

    ''Sorry, Ambryan! Please don''t be suspicious!'' Her thoughts chanted.

    She brewed the tea in its pot beside the coffee maker. Everything needed for a cup of it was on the countertopreadily avable whenever Ambryan wanted one. The setup was exactly the same as the one in his office.

    She found it amusing.

    Ambryan pulled out the tray of cookies. The smell of butter floated in the air. The dough made a total of two dozen cookies. He ced them on the ind to cool. Kiri pushed herself up, sitting on her pedestal.

    If they were going to eat, they should feed her too!

    The pair worked around the kitchen as if they were a well-oiled machine. Eve finished their beverages. Ambryan moved the cookies onto a te. She washed the dishes. He pulled out a bag of cat treats. Kiri leaped off the cat tree and headed for her bowl.

    Ambryan reached for his phone. The screen lit up with Richard''s name on it. He let the call ring and tucked it back into his pocket. He was on his afternoon break. Business matters could wait. Others weren''t as important either.

    He took a sip of the tea.

    Then, pulled it away with his eyes wide.

    "What is it?"

    Eve licked her lips, setting her mug down. She bit into a cookie and held back a moan. The contrast between the bitter coffee and the sweet pastry satisfied her pte. The vors danced in her mouth like a holiday party.

    "The way you brew tea suits my exact taste," he dered. He tested it for a second time. The taste of tea was delicate. The slightest misstep could change its vor. All of the measurements had to be right, including the water temperature.

    For someone who preferred coffee, her technique came as a surprise.

    "I-I memorized it from when we first met. I thought it was fascinating," Eve exined. She wanted to pinch the bridge of her nose and hide her face. Brewing that tea was second nature to her by now. She didn''t even think much of it.

    Ambryan arched an eyebrow."The first time we met, huh."

    She shrugged and seized another cookie. Taking a bite, she sought a different topic. With her mind on Stitz Bristo, she ended up saying, "You were really intimidating at the time. You didn''t even speak when I came in. Then, you took my hat."

    "You may have it back if you want."

    "Huh?"

    "You left it in the car."

    Eve sharpened her memory. It took awhile for her to recall that day. She had worn a hat because of the heat. It had been in her hands when they stepped into his car. And then

    "Wait, I did!"

    Ambryan gave her a look. "I just said that."

    "And you still have it?"

    "Should I have thrown it away?" He scowled. It had slipped off his mind until now. The hat was inside one of the drawers. He kept it there so Kiri wouldn''t y with it. It was still in the same condition as when he found it.

    "No, no, no! It just surprised me, that''s all." Eve scratched the back of her neck. This wasn''t going well. She didn''t know how to continue the subject further. Her mind scrambled for another one. Why were they here again?

    "Has Wen looked into EliasWalker?"

    "He''s a frence photographer." Ambryan gripped his mug. The hot tea nearly scorched the palm of his hand. "Quite a discreet fellow. A lot of people know him but, at the same time, they don''t remember him having a girlfriend. It seems that they didn''t know about his slowgram ount either."

    "He''s a real person?"

    "Yes."

    Eve cupped her cheek and stared at the cookies. Fame really wasn''t as fun as it was made out to be. She had expected girls chasing after her for snatching the most eligible bachelor of the country. There were many of them born from a better statusbut Ambryan picked an amateur model? A woman who owned nothing to her name?

    So far, no one hade forward.

    Maybe she had overestimated their personalities.

    "Why would he do something like this?" She thought out loud. A fabricated story the person was ying the same game. Other than her words, she had nothing to disprove his ims. Andie might be a good back up but they don''t know how much detail the person created.

    She wouldn''t be able to lie.

    Anything she''d say would be investigated. If the media found out that she was dishonest, she would be done for. The pieces would fall like dominos until they uncovered the truth.

    The analysis gave her a headache.

    "We''re trying to find out his motivations. He can''t be acting alone." Ambryan bit a cookie in half. It had a creamy taste, melting in his mouth. A lump of chocte exploded on his tongue. He appreciated how neither one was too sweet.

    Eve flickered her gaze towards him as he drank from his mug. It urred to her that he was probably handling the incident at this moment. "If it''s money, would you make him a better offer to make him stop?"

    "It''s certainly better than hitting him in the face."

    "Why would you even consider doing that?" She countered. It was unlike him to consider something like that.

    "I don''t think you understand the situation clearly, Ms. Evangeline," Ambryan spoke slowly. He dropped his half-eaten cookie on the te and leaned forward. The closer the distance, the more intense his eyes became.

    Eve gulped, trying her best not to look away.

    "That man is publicly trying to take my girlfriend away from me."

 Chapter 166: The Real Winner

    Chapter 166: The Real Winner

    ''What was air?'' Eve struggled to answer. It sounded like something she should know but her knowledge had failed her. Her thoughts wrapped around Ambryan''s stare. It reminded her of a predator that silently waited to pounce.

    She could almost hear the low rumble in his throat.

    Or it could just be her imagination.

    "I''m aware of how you view our rtionship," Ambryan continued. He moved back and straightened his posture. "But I''m not about to let him off. A fake ex or not, he''s making a move on amitted woman."

    Eve gulped. Never did she think Ambryan would say those wordsespecially directed at her. A heavy weight troubled her chest. She clenched her hands. How was an unromantic person like Ambryan able to sway another person''s heart?

    If he acted like this openly, he''d gain even more admirers.

    "Well, let''s just hope that he''s after money. Then, we can catch him faster," Eve replied. She dipped a cookie into her coffee and took a bite. Ambryan gave her a skeptical look. "It''s tastier than it seems.

    "So you say," he huffed, sticking with his tea.

    Silence stretched for a minute. Kiri ate her fill happily. Then, she stalked out of the kitchen in search of her favorite pillow. A yawn escaped her lips. Not even cats were spared of drowsiness from a full stomach.

    "How long am I going to stay here?" Eve asked. Her eyes flickered towards his home office, following the feline''s tail. "Do you need help with work or something? I have a system when ites to organizing papers."

    Ambryan wiped off the crumbs at the corners of his mouth and checked his watch. It was almost time for him to go back to work. But it would be a lie to say that he didn''t want her to stick around despite his busy schedule.

    "The designer sent samples for our outfits," he said, thinking quickly. He rose to his feet and grabbed both the te of cookies and his cup of tea. "Would you like to browse them?"

    "Sure."

    The pair changed locations.

    Kiri slept on the sofa inside the office. Careful not to disturb her, Eve opted for a chair by Ambryan''s desk. It was positioned at the back of hisputer monitor. He handed her a tablet for the design drafts.

    Eve was amazed.

    Each design contained themes that weren''t limited to colors. The plum one had a sultry projection. The evening gown had a sweetheart neckline and thin straps. Its bodice hugged the upper body while the skirt fell in a straight line. Thetter elongated the wearer''s figure.

    Then, there werebinations of pink.

    Rose shade for the female, coral one for the male; Chiffon pink off-shoulder with a slit, teal jacket and trousers; blush tone top and skirt, navy blue suit with a bowtie. The designer seemed to favor this theme. It portrayed an air of innocent admiration like pink roses did.

    Eve held up thest photo for the pink theme. She kept it at arm''s length, darting her gaze between the screen and Ambryan''s half-exposed presence. "What do you think about wearing a pastel pink bowtie?"

    "The only time I''d even consider that would be at my wedding."

    Her ears perked up and she shifted her full attention in his direction. "You want to get married?"

    Ambryan stopped typing. He reyed his statement inside his head. Now that she mentioned it, he asked himself the same question. Did he want to get married? He swept his gaze around the room until itnded on a pair of curious hazel eyes. Everything was part of his usual weekend at home.

    Except for those eyes.

    He went back to his keyboard and said, "What makes you think I didn''t say that to emphasize how unlikely it is to happen?"

    "Good point."

    Eve shook her head and resumed her inspection. The theme had changed to red this time. Just like its color. The designsmunicated a bold statement. She looked back to her red dress from theunch party and scrapped the color idea altogether.

    It should be something new. Something the public hadn''t seen.

    Her decision led to the elimination of the plum one as well.

    "I feel like I''m looking at prom dresses," Eve said out of the blue. A ballgown dominated the screen. Endless ruffles made up the balloon skirt, mimicking sea waves. It certainly had the drama they needed. "Is there a color you want? It might make this easier."

    "I''m fine with anything."

    Eve grimaced. She made a bet that if she had gone shopping with Ambryan, he''d say the two shoes she was choosing from looked the same.

    The search continued until her phone vibrated.

    .

    <em>``Andie: Where are you? The videos of you and Ambryan are spreading everywhere. Are you really at his penthouse? Be honest with me!``</em>

    <em>``Eve: Yes, I''m here. We talked about EliasWalker.``</em>

    <em>``Andie: Him too! He''s making the news. What is this guy''s problem? Why is he iming to be your ex?``</em>

    <em>``Eve: If I knew the answer to that, I don''t think I''d still be inside this penthouse.``</em>

    <em>``Andie: Why are you replying so quickly? What kind of boyfriend ignores his girlfriend''s presence in his home? He should be waiting on your hand and foot!``</em>

    .

    "What''s so funny?"

    Ambryan tilted his head sideways. He had executed a double take when he saw the smile on her face. The tabletid on herp, untouched. His eyes narrowed on her phone. Who was messaging her right now?

    Who had captured her attention?

    "Hm?" Eve reacted, sparing him a nce. Then, she went back to messaging her best friend. "Beatrice is just making jokes. It seems like EliasWalker achieved his goal though. The media is talking about it."

    "So he did," Ambryan agreed, reading the same article on hisputer screen. Heced his hands together and leaned back. "He might try to approach you next. Sending you gifts wouldn''t also be surprising. He''s building up his reveal to you."

    To gain public favor, he would need to establish himself as the better man. Wealth was out of the picture. That would mean he''d amplify other aspectsparticrly romantic gestures. Those were things that could sway another person, including third parties to the rtionship.

    Ambryan felt his temple throb. If he had known, he would have pushed through buying that skating rink.

    Eve bit her inner cheek.

    Majority of the people believed it really was her in Elias'' photos. He yed the victim card well. Rumors had begun to circte again. Analyzations and theories spected her morals, using her like a gold digger.

    Andie was on top of things. How did she manage to do that while at work? Eve had no clue. Her fan ount questioned the credibility of the theorists and emphasized the counter statement she made on her first timed post during the day.

    .

    <em>``NDdgaf: Are ya''ll blind? Howe no oneliterally none of youpointed out how Evangeline said, '' After a lonely road of 26 years,'' on her ount? She is literally telling you that she has been single for that long before dating Ambryan Hathaway. This bias #BringBackEnE bull**** is sickening.``</em>

    <em>.</em>

    Eve scowled. If the articles had been bad, the trending hashtag had worse content. The same crowd had been reawakened once again. With new evidence about her character, they pounced on the opportunity to dere that they had been right all along.

    <em>#CancelEvangelineReed</em>

    <em>#EvanReedIsAGoldDigger</em>

    <em>#EvangelineIsAFake</em>

    Then, a new post came up with the same hashtags.

    .

    <em>``sourcandy: When people are quick to believe a stranger, are they human at all? Where had their brains vanished to? None of the photos disy Evangeline''s face. They are not decisive evidence.``</em>

    <em>``sourcandy: Even if they were real, it''s clear who is the better man. If the rtionship is truly valued, what the rest of the world thinks doesn''t matter. There is no need to hide.``</em>

    .

    The name clicked in Eve''s memory. It was the same person Andie had befriended from the previous scandal. She checked the profile activity. The user hadn''t posted anything since that time until now. His timing was a bit unusual.

    Did he only appear when there was a scandal?

    Although, it seemed like Andie was excited to see him.

    .

    <em>``NDdgaf: @sourcandy Well said, Noah! Say it louder for the people in the back!``</em>

    .

    Eve looked up. Her eyes strained from staring at the screen for too long. She found the two mugs beside the te of cookies. Ambryan wore his sses as he worked. It surprised her that he did it on his own. She normally had to scold him for it.

    Stifling a giggle, she took a quick photo snap and uploaded it.

    <em>``EvangelineReed: It''s so quiet. Do you think I should disturb him? XP``</em>

    Not a secondter, Ambryan nced her way. "What are you trying to do?"

    "It''s just as sourcandy said,'''' Eve shrugged. With the heat of things, the photo was quick to grab attention. The corner of her lip curled upwards. Her eyes shined despite the chaotic inte. "What the rest of the world thinks doesn''t matter. They can yap all they want but I am right here. At peace. With you."

    She flipped her phone to show him the reactions made by the public. A smirk spread across her face. "It''s like asking them on who''s the real winner around here."

 Chapter 167: Out of the Shadows

    Chapter 167: Out of the Shadows

    Ambryan could see the same reactions on hisputer screen. NDdgaf had shared the post to another tform. The media and the public ate it up. Praises came for his sses look. Others noticed the food on his desk.

    Its positive reception slowly outweighed the negative press.

    But it proved that they have to be proactive instead of reactive to this situation.

    "The real winner?" He mused, saving a copy of the post to hisputer. "Me, of course."

    "Huh?"

    "I''m enjoying a te of cookies and a mug of tea made personally by my girlfriend...," he exined as he sent a message to the PR. "... who had cleared her schedule to spend time with me even when I have to work."

    Eve blushed. She pretended to fingerb her hair, removing any tangles. In reality, she used it as a curtain between her face and his line of sight. "You''re getting better at this."

    Ambryan went back to work. "At what?"

    "Never mind."

    The tablet slipped off herp. She caught it just before it could descend to the floor. Her fingers brushed the screen, scrolling through the images. The device disyed a different picturepared to where she left off.

    "Hm," Eve mumbled, turning the tablet upside down.

    "It might just work"

    .

    .

    .

    .

    .

    .

    .

    .

    .

    .

    Elias Walker sat on his rotating chair. Twoputer monitors sat on his desk. The one to the left disyed photos from the shoot he did earlier. The other showed his newsfeed on Twittah. Music yed out of his cellr phone.

    He hummed along with the melody and edited the pictures for a client.

    "I still can''t believe you had a secret girlfriend," his roommate spoke from the other side of the room. "When did you even see her? While I was out? Every time Ie back, you''re always here."

    Elias chuckled. The blue screen illuminated against his chocte eyes. "Now that she''s famous, you can see why I had been secretive about her. Her beauty could even capture the interest of someone like Ambryan Hathaway."

    "Why did you break up though?"

    "Sorry but I still want to keep my share of secrets."

    He picked up a biscuit and held it between his lips. Eventually, he heard the door open and close. His roommate had left him in the dark. His mouse slithered across its pad while his other hand managed the keyboard controls.

    The photo of a baby smiled up at him.

    He fixed the lightning so it could match the bright expression.

    After half an hour of relentless work, a message notification popped up from the side of his screen. He peeked over his shoulder and narrowed his eyes at the dark room.

    It was empty except for him.

    .

    ``Unknown: Are you just going to let her win?``

    .

    Elias exhaled sharply. He never thought he''d one day meet someone more impatient than hismost pretentious client. His fingers mmed on the keyboard as he typed out a quick response. He had to get rid of the chat window as soon as possible.

    .

    ``EW: I have to or my motivations would be questioned. The key is to be discreet. Sooner orter, someone would notice their timing. Their PDA suddenly showed up when their image received bacsh. If we do the same, we would also be suspected. If they keep this up, we can win.``

    .

    He stood up and drank the rest of his soda. The aluminum can wrinkled under his grip. He tossed it to the trash can. Posters decorated a wall in his bedroom. They varied in sizes and shapes. It contained some of his best work, ranging from artistic themes to memorable ones.

    But his prized possession were printed photos that hung on a clothesline.

    Their white borders framed a pair of hazel eyes that looked away from the camera. In each capture, they gleamed with life. If pictures could speak a thousand words, those eyes spoke a million. Crimson red hair fluttered against the wind.

    Anyone who had the sense of sight would immediately turn their heads.

    The bold color refused to be overshadowed. Wherever it was, it easily stood out from its surroundings.

    "So beautiful," Elias whispered, touching the one where Evangeline wore a violet jumper dress. It was blurrypared to the others. He had taken it in haste since bodyguards stood by the apartmentplex.

    He thought the beret was the perfect touch.

    Then, his chocte eyes dulled to ck. "But such a waste."

    A week passed by.

    Elias carried a camera bag over one shoulder. He strode across the grassfield. A vintage diner with a train''s railcar-style exterior. Inside, the establishment has kept its 80s decoration. Songs from the King of Pop yed from a jukebox.

    He set his stuff down on the long white counter, hopping on a stool. "Morning."

    The waitress turned around at the sound of his voice. The DSLR camera caught her attention. She pointed a wooden spoon at him and stalked closer. Her nostrils red as if sniffing out a bag of marijuana.

    "Are you the press?"

    Elias raised his hands in surrender. "You''re mistaken. I''m just a frence photographer."

    She jabbed the spoon in his direction. Although it didn''t touch him, he jumped from the sudden attack. "You better be telling the truth. We had enough of reportersing here for gossip."

    "Sounds annoying," Elias scoffed. He picked up a menu and read out the avable meals.

    "Tell me about it." The waitress snorted. She put the spoon down and cleaned off another spot on the counter. "Just because some idiot decided to create a scandal between Evangeline Reed and Mikael Davis."

    "Really?"

    Her guard rose up once again. "Are you really not a reporter?"

    Elias raised his eyebrows. "You want proof?"

    "If you''re carrying a Certificate of Employment, be my guest." She shrugged. She wouldn''t admit it but the man had looks. His pretty boy face plus matching chocte eyes and hair could easily gain another''s trust. He had that natural charm which could spellbound unsuspecting minds.

    But those are the ones people have to be extra careful with.

    "Cautious. I like that." Elias chuckled. He took out his wallet and handed her his business card. Although he was self-employed, he had started his own brand. His works carried the trademark: Enigma Photography.

    It would also be the name of his studio when he finally opened one.

    The waitress clicked her tongue, reading the credentials on the card. "Aren''t you famous?"

    "Me? No." Elias shook his head. "I wish, though. That way I''d have more work."

    But she wasn''t convinced. Craning her neck, she searched for her co-waitress. Thetter bustled tables near the back. She shouted to get her attention. "Hey, Greta! Who is Elias Walker again?"

    Greta looked up and nced at the ceiling. The gears in her head turned. She shook the rag towards the counter as she recalled the name from her memories. "He-He''s that dude."

    "Which dude?"

    "The dude on slowgram. Hemented on Evangeline''s ount," Greta shared, finally remembering the full incident. It had been all over the news not too long ago. "I think he was her ex."

    The waitress snapped her back on Elias. "That true?"

    He showed a tight smile. "Guilty as charged."

    "Not to be rude but I don''t trust you either," she said, handing back his business card.

    "That''s cool. I''m not really here to ask about her," Elias defended. He put the card away and grabbed the menu. The smell of savory food floated from the kitchen. His stomach rumbled in response. "I have a client who would like to do their wedding photos here. I just came to check out the ce."

    "Sure, sure."

    "Look, I''m serious," he defended. His face changed into a stricken one. He pressed a hand on his chest. "Besides, I only want the best for Evangeline."

    "Really? Not bitter about your ex?"

    "Of course not," Elias persisted, raising his voice''s pitch and volume. "I knew those rumors weren''t true from the moment I heard about that. "

    "How?" The waitress held the counter with her arms stretched apart. Her shoulders jutted upwards from the position. For someone who imed to be a good guy, he sure babbled a lot.

    She looked directly into his eyes.

    "Because she''s still decent enough to break up with her current rtionship before dating another guy," Elias joked with augh.

    The waitress rolled her eyes, taking a step away from him. "Funny but I ain''t changing my mind."

    Elias toned it down and admitted defeat. He ced the menu back in its container. A solemn expression painted over his face. He twiddled his thumbs together. "Then, can I just have a bowl of ice cream and a ss of root beer?"

    She considered it for a moment. "Fine."

    "Thank you." He reached for his camera, scrolling through possible locations. The good thing was World of Adventure had a lot of colors. He found it ideal for wedding photos since the bridal gown was usually white.

    Not too far from him, a customer typed on his phone. Sunsses framed his face despite being indoors. His te of macaroni sd remained untouched. He furiously tapped on his mobile screen.

    His wallet nearly stuck out his back pocket. In the photo slot, he had slipped his business card.

    His name and profession were written over the watermark of a TV station''s logo.

 Chapter 168: Voices Have Power

    Chapter 168: Voices Have Power

    Ambryan prepared for a conference call.

    Several members of the Board were overseas. To keep up with the schedule, they had decided to aplish the meeting virtually. He tested the camera and the microphone. The reports had already been forwarded. That way the presentation would proceed faster.

    The ringing of a telephone interrupted the silence.

    "Sir Hathaway."

    "Yes, Eve?" Ambryan replied. He reread the presentation, checking if the data was urate. It contained projections for their uing movie releases. It should boost their profit just before the year ended.

    "Chairman is here to see you."

    Ambryan paused. He nced over at the telephone. What would his father be doing here at a time like this? An unsettling feeling washed over him. He frowned, saying, "Send him in."

    The door opened almost immediately. Teal almond-shaped eyesnded on the deskas if Jackson Hathaway had been waiting right in front of the door. He stepped inside the office with his arms firmly on his sides.

    His jaw was locked, giving off a stern expression.

    "Yan." He stopped halfway. The rays of daylight glowed on his tan skin.

    "Why are you here when we''re about to have a meeting in half an hour?" Ambryan stood up, walking around his desk. He narrowed his eyes at his father. The chairman was an important presence during board meetings.

    If he was here then, it couldn''t be for a good reason.

    "I''m travelling again." Jackson sighed. There was an opportunity to coborate with an overseaspany. He would be bidding and pitching like their otherpetitors. If they wanted a higher chance at getting it, he needed a head start.

    Ambryan turned his head and stared at the floor. His mind raced on the list of things that he would need to do with his father''s absence. "Does mother know?"

    "Of course."

    "Did you take her out?"

    "She wouldn''t forgive me if I don''t." Jackson snorted. Avery hadn''t taken the news lightly. Although he had always travelled a lot and she had be used to it, that wasn''t enough reason for her to be okay with it.

    So they spent time together before he would board his flight.

    Ambryan spun on his heel and sat back on his chair. "Is that all?"

    Jackson pressed his lips together. There was one thing he liked about this chance. The taste of freedom was within his reach. It wouldn''t be long but he looked forward to every minute of it. He forced his face to remain impassive, unable to be read.

    "About that bet we had when we bowled..."

    "Right." Ambryan crossed his legs. It had been a while since he met those two business partners. It would be a lie to say he hoped to never see them alone again. He should condition himself.

    "You''ll be handling both while I''m gone."

    Jackson headed for the door. His footwork was unstable. He looked around the room, spotting the small counter for tea. The container for the leaves was filled up to the rim. He wondered if it ever goes down or did Eve refill it each time tea was brewed?

    "I got it. Anything else?" Ambryan followed his father''s every move. There was something the man was evading. It was apparent in his behavior. Stalling wasn''t a technique Jackson had mastered.

    Ambryan prepared for the worst.

    "I promised Mr. Wilson that we''d have lunch at his house on Wednesday." Jackson waved and pulled the door openhastily making his escape, until his head was the only one left in his son''s line of sight. A cheeky smile spread across his face."That''s everything. Take care of yourself, son!"

    Closing his eyes, Ambryan pinched the bridge of his nose. He reached for the telephone while remaining in this position. His fingers easily dialled thest number that went through the calls. It rang once before the receiver picked up.

    "Eve," he said as he released his nose.

    "Yes, Sir Hathaway?"

    "What''s my schedule on Wednesday?"

    He could feel a headacheing in. Wilson''s house? That was his least favorite meeting ce. How could his father agree to such a thing? Since it was a private residence, Stuart had free reign on what could happen.

    Ambryan hoped it would be bearable.

    "You have morning meetings with the producers for the next movie release," Eve narrated. "Afternoon is left empty so you can catch up on mid-week work since today and tomorrow are packed."

    He took a deep breath. "Contact my father about the details of his appointment with Stuart Wilson. Work my schedule around it since I will be taking his ce."

    "U-Understood."

    Eve put the handset down. She pinched her lips between two knuckles. Ambryan didn''t seem to be in a good mood. Not that he was ever happy while they were at work but his tone was sharper than usual.

    She scratched her cheek.

    Grabbing her phone, she opened the DTC app. Their chat window popped on her screen. Theirst messages were their morning greetings. She even added a smiley face so it would sound energetic and happy.

    Was the Chairman''s absence stressing him that much?

    It was at this point where Eve noticed the send button. It had a different iconpared to her usual messaging app. Her thumb hovered above it, contemting if she should use it. What would she even say?

    Her gaze flickered towards the door.

    At the other side, Ambryan skimmed through the rest of his presentation. There was no need to stress about another day. His focus should be on what lies ahead for the next few hours. Otherwise, he would underperform during this meeting.

    His phone vibrated in his pocket.

    He fished it out, following his new habits.

    The DTC logo appeared on his lock screen. He swiped it to the side so it would lead straight to the app. It took a few moments to load. Then, a melodic voice flowed out of the speaker.

    ```

    The itsy bitsy spider went up the water spout~

    Down came the rain and washed the spider out~

    Out came the sun and dried up all the rain~

    Now, the itsy bitsy spider went up the spout again~

    ```

    Eve leaned back on her chair. Her bottom hung over the edge of the cushion, her legs and feet supporting half of her weight. She hid her face under her phone. Impulsive actions were dangerous! She had meant to cancel that voice memo but she failed to execute it correctly.

    In the end, the app recognized her gesture as an approval to send it.

    The screen lit up behind her closed eyelids. She popped an eye open and unlocked it. Then, her other one also opened up. She blinked. Her first nce turned out to be right. Ambryan had sent the same type of message back.

    Would his tone still be the same?

    His voice echoed around the floor. "Just what do you think you''re doing?"

    The phone fell off her grip andnded on the floor.

    Eve reached for it. It took a bit of stretch before she could seed. Then, she hid it under the table. Her gaze scanned the room from left to right. No one had heard it, right? Her head stayed low as she peeked at the mobile screen again. She lowered the volume just in case another simr incident would happen.

    Her thumbs fumbled to type out a reply.

    .

    ``Lin: The skies looked gray today. Doesn''t the song have such a beautiful message? It reminds us that there is light at the end of the tunnel. ``

    .

    Ambryan spun his chair.

    The sun shined outside his floor-length windows. He arched an eyebrow and pressed the same button again. "Are you in another country without my prior knowledge? Or have you gone color blind?"

    .

    ``Lin: It was a joke! I was being humorous! It seems like you have dark clouds around you though. You sound as gloomy as stormy weathers.``

    .

    Turning back around, he leaned forward and folded his arm over his desk. "Back to typing out messages? Why? Cat got your tongue?"

    He watched the chat window. Three dots appeared at the bottom. A smirk stretched his lips. Beside the symbols were the words: ``Evangline is recording a voice message``

    "Ah, Ambee," her voice yed through. "If you wanted to hear my voice again, you could have just said so. Do you want another nursery rhyme? I think there''s about a tomato crying because this tall and handsome guy doesn''t like her."

    "You think I''m handsome?"

    Another moment of silence came from Evangeline. The checkmarks had simply turned blue, implying that she heard it. Ambryan kept his smug smile. That was she got for disturbing his work with a nursery rhyme.

    "D-Doesn''t everybody?" She coughed after a minute.

    "But I think it''s the first time I heard you say it."

    "I''m sure I''ve said it before."

    "Then, there''s no trouble with you saying it again, right?"

    Eve gaped at the door. Had her boss always been this shameless? He never disyed a reaction whenever the media spoke about it. People had also said it to his face.

    "Sure. Why not?" She scoffed. There was no way she''d let him win this game.

    "Ambee you are" Eve paused, cutting the voice memo there. She needed to think of something fast. But what? A grin slowly emerged on her face. "So cute! Gotta go. Bye!"

    Ambryan grimaced. Now, she was just mocking him.

    Shaking his head, he returned to his work.

    .

    .

    .

    .

    .

    A small smile teased at the corner of his lips.

 Chapter 169: Mine to Look At and Mine Alone

    Chapter 169: Mine to Look At and Mine Alone

    Wen drove up an estate. Treespletely surrounded it, making it seem like a forest all around. But in reality, a gate stood in the middle of it and beyond that infrastructure was a well-hidden modern home.

    Elevated on a grass clearing was a round pool with a small waterfall in front. Fountains had been ced along its outline for aesthetics. Behind it was a three-story Versailles-style mansion. Instead of one grand staircase in the middle, the designers split it into two.

    If Eve didn''t know any better, the house looked simr to the ones she''d seen from a life simtion video game. What was it again? Smis? The Smis? The Smis Freey?

    "I''ll be on standby if needed," Wen as she pushed on the brakes. The car stopped near the main entrance and the two staircases beside it. She looked at the rearview mirror. "Mr. Wilson has also granted permission for the security team. We''ll keep a lookout around the perimeter."

    "Thank you, Wen," Ambryan said, opening the door beside him.

    Eve followed his example and stepped out on the other side. She held up a tablet close to her chest, walking around the trunk. Her legs positioned her a step behind Ambryan. Together, they made their way towards the mansion. Servants bowed their heads as they passed by.

    Then, the door opened.

    "Ambryan! Good to see you! Come in,e in!" Stuart Wilson held a bottle of wine in one hand. His cheeks were flushed red. A lively chatter could be heard behind him. It seemed that this appointment was much more than it appeared.

    Eve knitted her eyebrows.

    "Mr. Wilson!" Ambryan smiled, shaking the host''s hand. "I apologize for my father''s absence. I hope you don''t mind having me around instead."

    "Nonsense! You''re like a son to me already!" Stuart stood on his toes and nced above the CEO''s shoulder. "And I see you brought your secretary with you. Always on the job, aye?"

    Ambryan noted the aggrieved tone underneath his words. The alcohol had made it more obvious than normal. He tightened his grip on the handshake. "Is that a problem?"

    "Of course not!" Mr. Wilson denied quickly, nodding his head in Eve''s direction. He forced a friendly expression. "Wee, dear."

    She returned it with a polite smile. "Pleasure to see you in good health, Sir Wilson."

    Eve never understood the problem. They had met several times by this point. Why did he always see her as a threat of some sorts? The old geezer could belong in the same category as some of Ambryan''s past lovers if he kept acting this way.

    "Please step inside," Stuart insisted, moving to the side. He let go of Ambryan and gestured into the doorway. "Make yourselffortable. I figured a handful of us could use some leisure so I had prepared a mini party."

    Just like he said, the inside was filled with guests. The interior was decked out in marble floors, floor-to-ceiling ss windows, and double-height ceilings. Crystal chandeliers essorized many of themon living spacesincluding this one. The Wilson Family had designated it as their hosting area for get togethers.

    Businessmen and their femalepanions littered around the room. Eve stayed close behind. She scanned their faces, remembered their names. It was quite a gathering. Even political figures hade for this ''party''.

    "Eve," Ambryan spoke over his shoulder. His eyes stayed on the guests. He felt a number of them on him already. "Try to be inconspicuous."

    "Understood."

    Picking a spot near the walls, Eve maneuvered through the crowd. She grabbed a ss of sparkling water from a server and stood near the firece. Its decor consisted of dark stones. Her profile blended right beside it.

    She fixed her square frames and watched everyone.

    A tiny lens whirred at the corner of her eyesses.

    Whatever she saw, Wen did as well. If anything were to happen, they''d have aplete list of the people present. They were fortunate that Mr. Wilson approved their request to use their own security measures. They didn''t need to narrate the specifics before he expressed his agreement.

    Eve wasn''t sure if he was a fool or he knew them all along.

    Nheless, her focus should be on Ambryan.

    Her popr boss had been bombarded as soon as she left his side. A sigh flowed out of her nose. She took a sip of her beverage. This was going to take a while

    At the other side, Ambryan joined a small group. They took over the main sitting area and yed cards. The game was money-free upon Wilson''s instructionsthough a few of them itched to make an interesting gamble.

    A woman giggled. Her lover upied the seat while she sat on one amrest. The position allowed her to showcase her long legs. The dress she wore also cinched around her upper body. Its neckline shaped her breasts well, making them perky.

    She looked at the cards of her lover and humored him on the strategy he whispered to her.

    When heughed and crouched over his thighs, her eyes flickered towards Ambryan. She resisted not to bite her bottom lip. His side profile was perfect. There wasn''t part of the man that didn''t look sculpted. One look and she knew she''d melt.

    Nothing on his face betrayed his next move.

    Next thing everyone knew, he had won another round of cards.

    "Gah!" A politician eximed. He wagged a finger at the infamous CEO. "You are good. Very good, young man. Those skills could lead to something good, you know."

    "Like what? The casino?" A businessman joked.

    His seatmate nudged his side. "More like the government."

    Hoots ofughter sprung around the center table. Ambryan only half-smiled. "As interesting as that is, I''m positive you do a much better job than I ever could, governor."

    The governor chuckled and dabbed his cigar over an ashtray. "Alright, young man. What is it that you want? Just remember that ttery doesn''t get you that far."

    Their audience expressed their affirmation. A few light jokes were thrown here and there. Even the governorughed at their antics. Some of the females yed along like they could understand what was going on. The others that did weren''t smiling as much.

    "I am simply stating the truth. It''s been an honor to meet you," Ambryan denied with a smile. On the inside, his temple throbbed. The statement had been passed off as a joke but he knew the governor meant it. The use of ttery was just an excuse.

    He really wanted a ticket for Ambryan to owe him.

    "Come on, I insist," the governor tried again. "Your father and I go back, you know. It''s such a shame our paths don''t cross much since we graduated. Although, I had been meaning to give back to him. He was one of the reasons I was able to go through school."

    ''Send him a fine bottle of wine and he''ll be delighted,'' Ambryan wanted to say. There were several ways for a person to showcase their gratitude. Unfortunately, stating such words weren''t advisable in the invisible book of mannerisms.

    And so, he merely nodded in understanding. "It is unlucky that my father couldn''t attend today. It would have been a perfect opportunity to catch up."

    "Yeah, it would have been" the governor drawled, smoking his cigar. "I have to admit though. I also wouldn''t have minded meeting the future Mrs. Ambryan Hathaway. Does anyone else feel the same?"

    He directed the question to the rest and forced them into the conversation. If a wide variety agreed to his statement then, maybe he could gain a small victory. This was meant to be a party after all. They could bring anyone with them.

    The woman earlier gasped. Ambryan snapped his head in her direction. As she predicted, goosebumps rose on her skin. Her lips forced a pleasant smile as she stared into his violet eyes. "It''s Evangeline Reed, right? She''s very lovely. Her beauty is unique and makes her easily stand out. You can''t just help... but look..."

    By the end of her speech, her voice had toned down and faded. Could he hear what she was trying to say? It felt like his piercing gaze could see right through her and saw the true meaning behind her words.

    They were meant to describe him and not his girlfriend.

    The governor pointed his cigar at her.

    "That''s true. She''s quite the looker," he snarled like an animal. Then, he shoved Ambryan''s shoulder lightly. A boisterousugh rumbled in his chest. "You''re one lucky man, Ambryan. A bit of advice though. Enjoy it while you can. That kind of youthful glow fades over time. It''s something you''d miss when old."

    Ambryan scowled. He blinked at the coffee table twice before turning his head to the right. The governor stared off into space, still smoking his cigar indoors. His facial expression indicated how he didn''t mind what he just said.

    His hands clenched into fists.

    "Pardon my rudeness but do refrain from speaking about my girlfriend in such a way," Ambryan replied. The noise around them dwindled into silence. People stood at a standstill. Everyone nearby heard his every word.

    Eve stepped forward, anticipating a fight.

    Then, her body stiffened at his deration.

    "She''s not a mannequin meant to be looked at. Even if she was, she''s not meant for anyone''s eyes but my own so please get rid of your erotic thoughts."

 Chapter 170: Be on the Lookout

    Chapter 170: Be on the Lookout

    The governor raised his hands in surrender. He saw the audience through his peripheral vision and snorted, passing the conversation as light humor. "Ambryan, you take things too seriously. I said that as a joke. You need to loosen up a bit more."

    Whispers emerged around the room. The two seeded in capturing their full attention. Stuart Wilson moved closer to the sitting area. He was about to interfere when someone pulled his arm.

    A meter away, Eve stood still with her feet apart. It was subtle but she noticed Ambryan''s jaw move. He was grinding his teeth while his eyes darkened under a deep re. He struggled to keep his temper in check.

    She hadn''t seen that expression from him in a long time.

    "It must be our difference in humor then," Ambryan replied crispily. "I don''t see what''s so funny about my girlfriend''s sexual appeal."

    "Aha" the governor drawled. It was an old kind of humor. Something the youngster couldn''t appreciate. Didn''t men talk about the opposite sex this way? Even a few trending songs talked about sexual pleasure.

    Ambryan rose to his feet and made his way off the couch. "Please excuse me."

    The governor panicked, trying to stop him. "Ambryan"

    Eve blocked his hand with her arm. She didn''t hear the whole conversation but she did understand the gist of it. Her brown eyes simmered in mes. The heat crawled into her veins and pumped into her system.

    "Sir Hathaway seeks to be left alone," she stated. Stepping closer, she stared down the old man until he sat back on his seat. "Please do not disturb him and respect his wishes."

    Then, without a second look back, she turned around and followed after her boss.

    Ambryan walked to the other side of the room. Themotion had been small. It wasn''t enough to make him leave just yet. Eros Productions had a few business partners present. If he left now, it would deem him as immature in their eyes.

    But if he hadn''t stepped away, he might have punched the old geezer. It irritated him that would be seen as not only immature but also disrespectful to his elders. He loosened the tie around his neck.

    "Sir Hathaway, would you like the car ready?" Eve asked behind him. She kept her right fingertips on the side of her eyesses. Wen was sure to bring the vehicle right away if he gave word.

    "No." Ambryan sighed, spinning on his heel. He fixed the tie that he had pulled. "I still need to stay for a bit longer. Tricked into a party or not, Mr. Wilson managed to gather his best connections. It''s a good opportunity to mingle and create negotiations."

    The chatter came to life once again. Stuart Wilson had changed the topic. Thankfully, his close associates helped him out and threw in someughs. The crowd dispersed into small groups. A music yer had been turned on to further lighten the mood.

    Eve moved to her boss'' side. She tried to follow his line of sight as he scanned the room. "Were you nning to do business with the governor then?"

    "Of course not. It''s someone else."

    "Who?"

    Ambryan nodded his chin towards the sofa. "Calvin Knoc."

    The name rang a bell. It was stered in several news articles over the past few years. The man had a reputation almost as big as Ambryan''s. But instead of production, Calvin Knoc focused on the distribution channels. He had made his mark on that side of the industry.

    Until he became the CEO of one of the biggest streaming sites globally.

    "You''re nning to stream the series," Eve breathed out. Her mind proceeded to calcte the possible impact. A proper distribution strategy was essential in their sales. Often, broadcastingpanies would im exclusive rights and limit their market to their audience.

    For the other side, a famous productionpany could lure more viewers to their distribution medium. It was a decision that involved statistics. Something she wouldn''t be able to make on the spot.

    Ambryan hid a smirk. "Good insight."

    Eve held her chin. "Didn''t we already have a deal with a TVpany?"

    It had been part of the proposal when ''Define Love'' had been nned. Although it wasn''t management who negotiated, it was included in the highlights from the production team''s presentation pitch. The fact that they already had a possible distributor solidified the potential of their project.

    "Not quite." He shook his head, tucking his hands into his pant pockets. "The industry is evolving fast. Although sales in cinema and in television haven''t dwindled drastically, it may not be the best market moving forward. We''re not sure how long this series willst. We need every option avable if possible."

    Taking a deep breath, Eve exhaled through her nose. He had a point. It wouldn''t be like Ambryan to not try the option. He''d make his decision once all the possible doors had opened.

    "If you wish to speak privately, I will keep an eye around."

    Ambryan spared her a nce. She wore her stern face. It was always present during business gatherings. It never failed to amuse him. "I''ve never seen you scold anyone like that."

    "I could almost say the same to you." Eve swallowed a scoff. She mentally facepalmed for almost slipping. "Yourposure is always in check around these people. Not even the most annoying person could break you."

    "True. Wonder what happened."

    ''You''re asking me that?'' Eve mulled in her head. If she had known the answer then, she wouldn''t be confused. Her eyes flickered to their corners. She almost did a double take.

    She could have sworn Ambryan had been smiling.

    The two moved back into the crowd. Ambryan took the extra effort to smile whenever he met someone''s gaze. It was simple but it helped project what kind of mood he was in, dismissing the tension from earlier. They rxed and spread the word about his sophisticated behavior.

    Eve sharpened her senses.

    Calvin Knoc had stood up. He walked around the couch and bumped into the both of them. He raised a copper eyebrow and his skinny hands. An empty ss of champagne dangled at his fingertips. The gold sheen on his round eyesses glinted under the lights.

    "Ambryan Hathaway," he greeted. "To what do I owe the pleasure?"

    Then, he put his hands down, pointing the ss towards his fellow CEO. The corner of his lip curled upwards. "Let me guess. This is about that new series yourpany is producing."

    Chuckling, Ambryan motioned for them to step aside.

    Calvin followed and sipped, only to realize the ss was empty. Eve offered him a new ss of champagne and the same to her boss. Calvin blinked in surprise. His ck eyes lit up. He nodded in gratitude and exchanged for it.

    Eve turned around and stayed a meter away. She ced the empty ce on a tray carried by a waiter. Her hands folded over her abdomen. Squaring her shoulders, she mimicked Wen''s stance.

    "I''d say this is one of the most hospitable services I ever had," Calvin said, taking a drink. "I know that seems exaggerated but it is true. You have an attentive secretary."

    "I''ll take that as apliment on her behalf," Ambryan mused. He wasn''t sure if Eve had heard it. But he became more convinced when she took another step further away from them.

    Calvin shrugged and raised his ss. "Let''s cut to the chase, shall we? What kind of offer do you have for me?"

    Eve avoided the governor''s direction. Looking back on it now, she was grateful that Ambryan hadn''t reprimanded her. He may had done something simr but her reaction added fuel to the fire. It affected his image and thepany''sespecially when she wasn''t directly involved in the incident.

    She would be lucky if she still had a job tomorrow.

    That governor may not be able to touch Ambryan but she was a different story. She shivered at the possibility. Her lips mouthed a mutter. The blood in her ears drained little by little.

    "Don''t draw meaningless attention, speak only when spoken to, avoid unnecessary affiliation with the boss, never interfere with his personal matters, always follow his orders"

    Eve wanted to cry. There was a reason why those rules existed. Had her dual affiliation with Ambryan affected them? This wasn''t good. Although he hadn''t scolded her for it, she should still remember them whenever they attended business gatherings.

    "Eve!"

    "Sir Wilson," she answered, bowing her head. Her hands squeezed together. It seemed like the host finally recalled her name. But what could that mean? She still remembered how he reacted to her presence earlier.

    Stuart handed her a ss of champagne. "I know you''re on the job and some of us are too despite how this looks. You should have a drink as well."

    Eve shook her head slowly. "Thank you for the offer, Sir Wilson, but I already had my fill."

    He considered her words and said, "Then, you won''t mind if I drink it for you?"

    "Not at all."

    As cautious as possible, Eve stepped away from Stuart. He mingled around her area while he drank the champagne. It raised her guard up. Her instincts told her that he had hidden motivations.

    She hardened her expression, hoping it would throw him off.

    "That was quite a scene you did earlier," Stuart began to say.

 Chapter 171: To Leave or To Stay

    Chapter 171: To Leave or To Stay

    "... You and Evangeline must be really close. That''s a strong friendship you have there."

    Eve''s lips straightened into a grim line. She wasn''t sure whether to praise or scold Stuart Wilson''s boldness. He decided to strike this conversation with Ambryan around. She wondered if Ambryan heard it.

    Relying on her hearing, she heightened it in his direction. The conversation was faint but it flowed well. There was a chance that he didn''t hear it but Stuart should be aware that Ambryan would ask about thister, right?

    "I think you''re mistaken, Sir Wilson," Eve replied, watching the other guests. "I had said those things for my superior, not for another person."

    ''Where was he going with this?'' She thought. It would make better sense if he reprimanded her for speaking that way to a governor. It was also his party. Any disturbance would be bothersome.

    "Ah, yes." Stuart nodded. "Your loyalty to Ambryan is admirable. Is it out of love perhaps?"

    Eve scowled, resisting to direct her re at him. Her fingers twitched. What was that supposed to mean? There are employees who worked longer in thepany. Did that mean it was ''out of love''? That didn''t sound right.

    Why would he evene to that conclusion after thinking she and Evangeline were close?

    She forced her temper to calm down. Unfortunately, her voice still came out harsh. "If you must ask me about my work ethic, I think it woulde as no surprise that I had taken this job because it paid really well."

    Mr. Wilson tilted his head to one side. He swirled the ss of champagne in his hand. "If given a better offer somewhere else, would you take it then?"

    "If that is all there is to it, nopany can hold onto their employees," Eve retaliated. Sry benefits were important but the work environment and people were also just as important. If Ambryan had been harsher than he was, Eve couldn''t tell if she would have made it this long.

    There were moments when she felt like quitting, yes.

    But, as Andie pointed out, that was also a normal feeling to have. She''d think about it for days before making the decision. Then, that point would nevere. Her frustrations would have vanished overnight.

    Behind them, Ambryan finished his drink. He handed it over to a server and nodded at Calvin. Their discussion had been pleasant. "Thank you for entertaining my blunt motives, Mr. Knoc."

    "Nonsense." Calvin chuckled, waving his hand to brush it off. "Eros has a lot of box office sess and blockbuster movies. It would be blind of me not to see this could be mutually benefitting."

    Ambryan took half-step towards Eve. He didn''t hear most of the conversation but her voice rose by the end. His instincts signalled him to intervene. He took out his wallet and handed over his business card.

    "Then, I hope to hear from you soon."

    Calvin held it up, reading the details. "Are you also hoping to broadcast your series in a TVpany? We have strict rules about that. It divides the market and profit so it''s fair to say we consider them aspetition."

    "I''m aware of that, Knoc. Perhaps there could be a possiblepromise?"

    He tucked the business card in his breast pocket and considered Ambryan''s words. "Maybe there is a way. We''re currently under negotiation with a broadcastingpany. Like production ones, they have their own clippings."

    Ambryan pulled back his leg and narrowed his gaze. "Are you suggesting to partner with them?"

    Calvin shrugged. "They can have exclusive rights in the country while our site dominates the rest. For their clippings to appear worldwide, they do have to negotiate with localpanies of those countries. Doesn''t the job be easier if they switched to a streaming site?"

    Rubbing his chin, Ambryan thought about it. His mind went through a mental list of possiblepanies Calvin could be referring to. The decision would depend on the audience the TVpany pulled and their clippings.

    If they didn''t share the same themes, there might not be a lot of benefit.

    "I will think about it until our next meeting," Ambryan said. He debated whether he should ask for the name or if it''s too early. The idea was scrapped as soon as he realized that he could find out through his own investigation.

    "We can also add it to our discussion during that time," he concluded and bowed in goodbye. "Until we meet again."

    "Would you like to meet someone from there now? I think the person is also in attendance."

    Ambryan skidded to a stop.

    Eve noticed his movements from the corner of her eye. She turned around to face him. Stuart Wilson closed his mouth and spun on his heel. The two of them watched as Calvin Knoc hoisted himself off the wall and walked up to Ambryan''s side.

    He held out his own business card to him. "I''m sure you understand how opportunities cane and go at the speed of light. This could be another one of those times. He''s not a patient man from what I can tell and he''s in one of his rare good moods today."

    Ambryan had one question in mind.

    Was this coincidence?

    His hands balled into fists inside his pant pockets. That information narrowed it down to one person. Big names didn''t matter to that old man. His judgement relied on character heavily. The best way to get a contract with thatpany was through its trusted connections.

    "Very well." Ambryan sighed. He had to strike while the offer was still there. It could be gone any moment.

    Calvin pped his chest lightly. "Great! He also likes to talk in seclusion. Wilson, do you have a private room we could use perhaps?"

    "That I do."

    Eve looked to Ambryan for instructions. It wasn''t rare for him to be alone with other businessmen. He had gone on trips without her. Still, this seemed like a strange setup. The chips fell into their hands smoothly.

    Too smoothly.

    "Excuse me, Mr. Wilson, but I wouldn''t befortable leaving my secretary alone. Do you mind if one of my bodyguardses inside?" Ambryan suddenly asked. "I''d feel better if she''s with someone she closely worked with."

    Stuart''s smile stiffened. He would have gotten away with it if he noticed sooner. The damage had been done and Ambryan rose in suspicion. This was unlike the person he had met over a month ago.

    "Of course! Of course!" Mr. Wilson recovered, patting Eve''s shoulder. "Please, Ms. Hart. We won''t move an inch until the bodyguard gets here. Rest assured that yourfort matters to me as well."

    "IAlright." Eve moved away from the group and pretended to dial Wen''s number. She knew thetter was probably on her way. With Mr. Wilson''s strange behavior around her, she couldn''t help but be wary of him.

    A knock came from the front door.

    Stuart left to answer.

    Ambryan turned to Calvin. "I don''t think I formally introduced you yet. This is my secretary, Everlee Hart. She will be my liaison several times in the future if we coborate."

    Eve bowed her head. "Pleasure to meet your acquaintance, Sir Knoc."

    "Believe me. The pleasure is mine."

    Ambryan and Eve both stiffened.

    Calvin had taken her hand and kissed the back of her fingers. He smirked at their dumbfounded expressions. "Don''t be suspicious. I''m just a fan of old-school chivalry is all. You can even ask my close female friends."

    Eve pulled her hand back, trying not to be rude. She forced a smile. "It was merely surprising. Nothing suspicious at all."

    Wen reached them before Wilson could. She checked on Ambryan then stood near Eve. The twodies stepped away while the men headed further into the mansion. They nodded when Ambryan nced over his shoulder, reassuring him of their states.

    "Is this a good idea?" Eve whispered as she leaned her head sideways. She was d to have a person to ry her worries to. "Do you also find this suspicious?"

    Wen kept her back straight and kept a close eye on the door they disappeared into. "I can''t be sure. It''s not right to make assumptions for it can interfere in business rtionships."

    "We could have just said an emergency came in."

    "But the boss wants to proceed with the negotiations," she reasoned. "We only follow his orders. If he had wanted to do the same, he would have hinted at it."

    Eve mped her mouth shut. Maybe she should request for an assistant secretarysomeone who could remind her of her duties. Her professionalism dwindled as more days passed. If she wasn''t careful, Ambryan might be the one to fire her someday.

    But

    "I need to use the bathroom" Eve mumbled. She was about to ask if Wen woulde with her until she realized the bodyguard was probably here to keep a better eye on things. "I''ll be back quick."

    "I''lle for you if you''re not here in five minutes."

    Eve halted in her steps. That meant she needed to find a restroom within seconds. Luckily, a server walked in front of her. She asked for the nearest bathroom. The time ticked loudly in her ears even when there wasn''t a wall clock nearby.

    She dialed a familiar number.

    "Hello, Mrs. Hathaway? I need your opinion on something."

 Chapter 172: Rule No. Four! Rule No. Four!

    Chapter 172: Rule No. Four! Rule No. Four!

    "I just have a bad feeling."

    "I understand, Eve, but we can''t act without evidence," Avery said over the phone. "Ambryan wouldn''t like it either if there''s no concrete proof. Right now, he''s facing an opportunity that is too good to pass. It would be a waste if we turned out to be wrong."

    "Right."

    Eve took a deep breath, sealing her lips. It was just a feelingmaybe even an irrational fear. That thought didn''t make it easier to shake off. She bit her inner cheek and checked the time. There was still two minutes before Wen searched for her.

    She was surprised that Avery understood her in such a short exnation.

    "How about this?" The madam suddenly said. "If the meeting already reaches 2 hours, we''ll interrupt it. It should be a good time for you to head back into the restroom."

    "How would we do that?"

    "I was thinking I could but"

    "But?"

    "I think Evangeline would have greater sess."

    "..."

    Eve cleaned out her ears.

    Did she hear that right? Evangeline would interrupt the meeting? Between her and Avery, thetter held more power. The madam could suddenly show up at the office and look for her son. It might not seed but it was feasible.

    "What would she even say?" Eve hissed, lowering her volume. Time seemed to have sped back up again with how little they have left. "She can''t possibly meet him now!"

    "True." Avery thought for a moment. "Hmmmm."

    Meanwhile, Eve scowled at the door. She ced a foot next to it. The lock was secure but someone could still barge in. She preferred to be certain. This ominous feeling was getting worse. There could be a person on the other side waiting for her toe out right now.

    "I just think he''d more likely listen to Evangeline than to me."

    "Well, is there news about Elias Walker perhaps?" Eve asked, trying to find an urgent topic that would require Ambryan''s attention. "He couldn''t have stopped with a slowgram ount. It won''t work if there''s no face behind it.

    "Oh, people have seen him around." Avery snorted. The timing was impable. He was suddenly everywhere in broad daylight, participating in outdoor projects. "Even media outlets had tried to get interviews but with no sess."

    "Really?"

    "Yes."

    "Damn."

    "His excuse is that if it''s not part of his job, he won''t talk. The thing is though there are articlesing up from multiple ''reliable sources'' about his statements on Evangeline." Avery continued. Then, she breathed out a sigh. That was far as it was now. They''ll continue to monitor him until he makes his next move. "Anyway, maybe Luna can help. They could reschedule Mikael''s time on set to today. The sudden change would need Ambryans''s intervention so there won''t be an argument."

    Eve clicked her tongue, licking her bottom lip. ''Define Love'' did belong in Ambryan''s top priorities. "It could work but Evangeline can''t be the one to call."

    "Right. We''ll save that for another day. Luna will call him. Just keep an eye on things."

    Knocks came thundering on the door. Eve jumped at the sudden interruption. Her heart matched the beat and threatened to spring out of her chest.

    "Eve? Eve, are you there?"

    "I-I gotta go," she stammered, checking herself in the mirror. Her hair stuck out in different directions. She quickly patted them down into a groomed look.

    "I''ll keep you posted."

    The call ended and Eve sttered tap water around the edge of her face. The residue trickled down her neck. Then, she grabbed a few tissues and dabbed them on the same areas, starting with her chest.

    "Wen!" She greeted in surprise while opening the door.

    The bodyguard regarded her with contempt. Wen moved out of the way, big enough for her to step out of the bathroom. They lingered around the areaaway from the crowd. The restroom was at the end of a hallway, giving them plenty of space.

    "You sure took your time."

    "Yeah, I. I washed my face. Felt a bit drowsy," Eve lied. She tried to act nonchnt but the attempt failed. Beads of sweat formed at the back of her neck. "I was drying off when you came."

    "I see." Wen replied at once. Her teal eyes never left the secretary. Taking a step, she leaned her head forward until their cheeks almost touched. "I hope you remember that you have a camera lens and mic in your eyesses."

    Eve paled.

    "I won''t tell the boss but if he finds out, I will not help you," Wen continued. She twisted her neck to side, facing the wall. Her hands clenched and unclenched. This wasn''t any easier on her part. They had worked together for five years.

    It would be disappointing if something bad were to happen.

    Her gaze flickered back to Eve. "I''ll be watching you closely as well. For a secretary that shouldn''t meddle, you seem to know quite a lot about Elias Walker. I don''t want to be suspicious of your intentions but don''t give me a reason to act on it."

    Eve opened her mouth.

    Then, she closed it.

    What was she supposed to say? She had been caught red-handed. It was stupid of her. In her haste, she had forgotten about the spy gear that she wore. She had even consented to how they would be operated.

    "Also," Wen added, breaking her out of her thoughts. "We don''t normally peek into footage taken in ces such as the restroom. I checked on it when you didn''t answer and found you in a call. That''s how it happened."

    Eve shook her head. "I was just paranoid."

    "Paranoid that there could be hidden intentions going on around here?" Wen borated. Her head tilted from side to side. She fixed her stance to be firm. "Yes, I know that. But asking inside information on Elias Walker was not. That was supposed to be between the boss and the security team. Never had he mentioned that he shared it with you."

    She shifted in the direction of the crowd. "Please don''t step out of line more than you have."

    Eve followed behind her quietly. Was it luck that Wen decided not to rat her out? The hours passed by in a blur. Eve hadn''t spoken a word since. She did work on the tablet, answering emails and providing reports.

    Her gaze unconsciouslynded on the time every now and then.

    Ambryan and the others stepped out of the private room. The former bid his farewells. The interaction was short but Eve could tell that they wanted him to stay. That meant the meeting wasn''t truly over yet.

    Avery had proceeded with the n.

    Hopefully, it went well enough for them to discuss negotiations again soon.

    Eve avoided Wen''s line of sight. The bodyguard probably guessed the same as her. They stood at the ready by the door. Ambryan spotted them easily. Stuart escorted him towards the exit, talking by his ear.

    "It really couldn''t be helped, could it?" Mr. Wilson sighed, mping his hand on Ambryan''s shoulder. "Well, I''m d things went well among the three of you. If you ever need anyone else in this room, call me, huh?"

    Ambryan patted the hold on him before stepping away. "I appreciate the invitation for today, Mr. Wilson. I had a fulfilling time despite taking a break from my usual work."

    "Anytime, anytime! Take care on your way."

    "We will."

    Wen led the way out. The vehicle waited in front, driven by a different bodyguard. She opened the door to the backseat and let Eve slide in first. Thetter still didn''t look at her. She suppressed a sigh. Had she been too harsh? But she had been more lenient, it would only wee the meddling behavior more.

    Ambryan went inside, already rying instructions. "I managed to schedule a meeting with Calvin Knoc. He''s free tomorrow afternoon. Organize my tasks ording to urgency. I will handle them after it ends."

    "Day after that will be with the broadcastingpany," he said next as he pulled the seatbelt over him. "Their office is in another city. I won''t being into the office. Wen, double check security for the trip. Eve, take over Eros for the day. Madison will be there to help."

    "Understood, Sir Hathaway," Eve mumbled in reply. She noted them down on the tablet. "Will we be expecting the details from their end?"

    The car rolled down the driveway, heading for the gates. The sun was halfway on its way down. Its rays pierced through the windshield and directly at their eyes.

    "Yes." Ambryan nodded. Then, he turned towards the rearview mirror. "Wen, we''ll be visiting the studios. There was a call from set about the product cement with Athon Luxury. They requested a reschedule. It will be happening now."

    Eve felt a pair of eyes on her. Her neck felt like it was on fire. The screen on her phone lit up, indicating that the madam had sent her a message. She immediately relocked it before Ambryan could see.

    Her eyes closed as she concentrated on regting her breathing.

    "Eve? Are you alright?" Ambryan asked suddenly.

    Her spine straightened. "Huh? Yeah, I''m fine."

    She set to work. As long as she''s busy, he wouldn''t disturb her.

    That was the idea, at least.

    "If you feel faint, we can drop you off at the office."

    "No, no, no. I''m really okay."

    "Are you sure?"

    "Yes."

    Ambryan ced the back of his hand on the side of her neck.

    "Hmmm."

 Chapter 173: Guilt is Hard to Ignore

    Chapter 173: Guilt is Hard to Ignore

    Wen''s grip on the steering wheel tightened.

    This was an unusual situation. Although stern and cold, Ambryan Hathaway disyedmon concern from time to time. They rarely happen. And when they do, it would be in a subtle manner. Not many people would pick up on it.

    ncing at the rearview mirror, Wen hid her grimace.

    Maybe it was good that the boss became more open. But given the current circumstances, it might not be the best to let him get closer to his secretarynot after what she just witnessed.

    It would have been easy to lookover if the madam had been the one to initiate the orders. No matter how many times Wen watched the recording, it had been Eve who proposed the idea. She stepped out of bounds from her work assignment.

    Who was she to question Ambryan''s decisions?

    "You''re burning up," Ambryan stated. He pulled his hand back and checked her forehead. "It might be better if you go home for the day. If you''re still up for catching up on lost time, you can switch the working hours you have left today to Saturday."

    Eve recoiled away from the touch. She was fine! Her increase in temperature stemmed out of something else! Unfortunately, she couldn''t state the reason. She would have to convince him in a different way.

    Taking a deep breath, Eve straightened her posture."Sir Hathaway, I really am alright. There''s only a few hours left. If you insist, I can leave as soon as my shift is overregardless of how long our time at the studios take."

    Ambryan didn''t seem convinced. He stared into her eyes and tested her resolve. Determination stared right back at him. He yielded, nodding his head. "Alright. You cane. But as soon as you feel unwell, Wen will take you back."

    "Understood."

    The drive up to the studios proceeded like normal. Ambryan answered urgent concerns on his phone, unaware that this had been staged. Eve distracted herself in the same way. There was no point in feeling guilty now. She had to keep moving.

    By the time they reached their destination, Luna, Jordan and Mikael had already arrived on set.

    A stylist fixed Mikael''s hair. They pushed back one side while the other stayed loose. The model had an almost symmetrical face. This way, they could get different angles of him. The time for this product cement was a watch. Its golden frame matched that of his hair.

    They had him wear a navy blue suit with a silk golden dress shirt and tie. The scene was simple. It would be at the beginning of an episode to indicate its time setting.

    "Oh, you''re here!" Luna eximed, spotting the CEO and his secretary. She stood up from the ck folding chair and greeted them halfway. "I''m so sorry about the short notice. I wanted to see first-hand how this will go. That way I can say my input before I leave."

    "It''s fine, Luna," Ambryan assured her. She stood on her toes to wrap an arm around his shoulder. He leaned down to make it easier. "There wasn''t anything that needed my urgent attention anyway."

    "Really? That''s good. I''d feel bad for interrupting."

    Eve flinched behind her boss. She crossed her fingers that this incident wouldn''t take long.

    "Good to see you too, Eve," Luna greeted her. She also gave the secretary a hug, using both arms this time. "My, my. I hope you''re doing well. It can''t be easy to keep up with your boss'' schedule and your own."

    "There''s nothing to worry about, Ms. Athon."

    "Do tell me if you see her struggling," Ambryan cut in. "I had the impression that she''s unwell."

    Luna widened her ebony eyes at Eve. "Is that true? Don''t push yourself. It''s better to rest now and have youe back soon than to burn yourself out and face bigger consequences."

    "As I''ve told my boss, Ms. Athon," Eve began to say. She resisted to re in the culprit''s direction. "I am alright. You can even check my temperature. It ispletely normal."

    "Yes, please, Luna. I''d like a second opinion."

    Luna blinked, taking a bit of time for herself.

    Something had changed between these two. She just couldn''t put her finger on it. It was normal for a boss to care about their employees. But to this extent? Only a few take the leap. Ambryan hadn''t been one of them.

    She wondered if this change was because his heart knew Eve was Evangeline?

    As soon as the idea was nted in her head, she didn''t know whether tough or to cry.

    A few meters away, the stylist finished Mikael''s look. He thanked her for her hard work and joined Jordan. He picked up the script. There weren''t any lines provided for him but he had read the episode. He debated what facial expression to make.

    Set the mood for the next scene or foreshadow the entire episode?

    "First, this. Then, a videomercial," Jordan remarked as Mikael sat on a vacant chair. "Tell me, Mikael. Would you consider bing a full-time actor as your next career move?"

    "What are you? A reporter?" Mikael replied without looking up. He ran through what he had practiced in his head. It was a good thing he had been doing that when Luna called them.

    "I''m just being a supportive manager."

    "You can be supportive by being quiet."

    Jordan rolled his eyes. He got up and walked over to the group. Since Luna will be out of town, he would be apanying Mikael during these shoots. It was about time he met the CEO formally. Before this, they had no business with each other.

    "Ah, this is Jordan Dawson, Ambryan," Luna said, spotting the model manager. She pulled him to her side and finished the introductions. "He''s Mikael''s manager. He doesn''t directly work with Athon Luxury but I do trust him."

    "Pleasure to finally meet you, Mr. Hathaway." Jordan showed his best smile. His pearly white teeth contrasted against his bronze skin. He held out a hand for a shake. "I''m not one to believe rumors easily but you really don''t look older than 25."

    Ambryan epted the gesture and returned the pleasant expression. "I think you''ve mistaken me as my mother. She''d argue that it''s her who doesn''t look older than 25."

    Lunaughed at his words. "That''s true."

    Then, Ambryan started the next round of introductions. "This is Ms. Everlee Hart. She is my secretary. If there are any concerns rted to the studio, do contact her."

    "Ms. Everlee." Jordan directed his hand in her direction. The same smile was stered on his lips. "I''ll be looking forward to working with you."

    "Please call me, Eve. And likewise, Mr. Dawson." Eve kept the handshake short. She stepped back as soon as it was over, hiding half of herself behind Ambryan. The conversation proceeded as they waited for the director.

    Mikael watched the exchange.

    The pair seemed unbothered by the rumors caused by Elias Walker. Neither was Eve flustered at meeting Jordan as part of her secretary duties. His modelling manager also didn''t spot anything amiss.

    It made him wonder if it really was that hard to notice.

    Director Sam came out of the restroom and found the two groups. A dark cloud rolled over his head. They were working on a tight schedule when Athon Luxury barged in. As a result, the crew team worked around their own list of tasks. It was going to be another long day just to keep up with the deadlines.

    Ambryan was the first to detect him. "Director Sam. I apologize for the short notice. Is the location ready for filming?"

    Halting in his steps, Sam fixed his expression. "It''s not a problem, Mr. Hathaway. Not a problem at all. We were going to film there today anyway."

    "Oh, thank you, Director," Luna intervened. She walked up to Sam, towering him. She grabbed his hand and said, "I really do appreciate it. Let me treat the crew to a mealter, hm? It''s the least I could do for interrupting like this."

    Sam gulped. How could he be mad when faced with a woman like this?

    "There''s no need for that, M-Ms. Athon," he stammered, pulling his hand back and hiding it behind him. He wiped his sweaty palms on the back of his shirt. He also sucked in his beer belly to make it less prominent. "Our team is always ready to be flexible. We can adjust at any given moment because some opportunities won''te again."

    ''... is the world trying to tell me I did wrong? Or Am I actually really paranoid?'' Eve sulked in her head. This wasn''t the only time she got reminded of her actions. If they were trying to remind her not to do it again, she got it the first time!

    There wasn''t a need to keep repeating!

    "But I insist! I already ced an order in a nearby diner."

    "Then, I''d like to thank you on behalf of our crew, ma''am," Sam chuckled awkwardly and cleared his throat. "There are two golf carts outside that will take us to the location. Pleasee this way."

    Mikael rose to his feet and caught up to the group. He still hadn''t made up his mind about his acting. He was rereading the script for the nth time when he bumped into someone.

    "I''m sorry I wasn''t looking at where I was going," he apologized, finally looking up.

    Eve gave him an apologetic smile.

    Then, she said, "Nervous?"

 Chapter 174: The Walking Street

    Chapter 174: The Walking Street

    Mikael blinked in surprise.

    The secretary actually spoke to him. Either she was getting bolder or getting careless. Still, this opportunity shouldn''t be wasted. They walked side by side behind the group. He wanted to test if she could pretend under pressure. The results should be interesting enough.

    "It''s almost sunset soon." He sighed, fighting the urge to touch his hair. They had used too much wax for hisfort. "If I don''t get this right, I''ll run out of daylight and film again on another day."

    "I''m sure you''ll be fine."

    "Going to wish me luck?"

    "Of course not." Eve scoffed.

    A funny look painted over Mikael''s face. His brows knitted together as he stared at nothing. Wasn''t she supposed to be nice? So much for his efforts at small talk. Maybe she was trying to push him away?

    Eve rolled her eyes.

    She patted his upper back and said, "I wish you to break a leg."

    Mikael stiffened. Then, he red in her directionthrough the corner of his eye.

    Jordan and Luna rode with the director. Ambryan waited by the second golf cart. Standing, he already had one hand on the steering wheel. Four pairs of eyes turned towards the studio as Eve and Mikael walked out.

    Theters quickened their pace.

    Mikael rode at the back while Eve sat beside her boss. The other cart led the way to their location. Laughter echoed out of the first cart, its melodic sound carried by the wind. Eve smiled despite not knowing the subject of conversation.

    Theughter was simply contagious.

    "That''s much better."

    "What is?" Eve asked, shifting her attention to her left.

    Ambryan had his back straight and opted not to use the backrest. His hands and limbs moved in a steady motion. Every movement seemed calcted and certain. His gaze never strayed off from the other cartexcept for a second.

    "You''re looking better is what I meant to say," he borated. The wheels under them turned at a corner. People in the streets whirled their heads towards the golf carts. Collective gasps spread like a tidal wave.

    Mikael held up his script and shed them a smile.

    Since he faced the back, he saw everyone they passed by.

    Eve caught his actions and chuckled. She focused back to the front. "Guess I was just under the weather. Told you that you had nothing to worry about."

    Ambryan hid a smile. "Good. Then, let''s overtake them."

    "Let''s wha"

    The cart sped down the road. Eve held onto the backrest for dear life. Wind, leaves and dust blew into their faces. The hem of her jacket pped against her torso. If this was a golf cart, how could it be this fast? Wasn''t it dangerous?

    Mikael also clung to the backrest. His hair flew all over the ce. The pages of the script fluttered in his hands. His head stayed low and used Ambryan''s back as a shield. Wind still ruffled his hair but it had tamed even a little.

    Ambryan went ahead of Director Sam and the others. Their destination was already nearby. The sudden boost in speed wasn''t meant tost long. Out of everyone, he was the only one thrilled by the ride.

    Crew members blocked one street. The staff workers inside the shops there remained, preparing for the shoot. They would continue their duties like they weren''t going to be on film. This was a strict rule for working in the studios.

    But that didn''t stop a handful of people from trying to impress.

    Eve heaved when the cart stopped under her. She patted her hair, taming it. This was probably a sign for her to get it cut. She spared Mikael a nce. Since he was the current star of the day, they needed to give him extra attention.

    Ambryan fixed her skewed sses. "Did you ever think of getting contact lenses?"

    "You sound just like Andie." Eve snorted. "They''re still in amiable condition and are much easier to use. I don''t need to waste money on something I wouldn''t choose to wear. It would just waste away."

    Mikael hopped off the vehicle. If he didn''t leave right then, ants might crawl up the seats and bite him. He dusted his clothes and checked his hair through his phone camera. With the amount of hair products they used, he''d be surprised if it got ruined.

    "Alright, Mikael," Sam called out. He pulled the model towards the main part of the shoot, introducing the crew and pointing out the cameras. "You ready? You''ll be walking half of this street. Every time we''ll get another take, you''ll have to start from the other side again. Understand?"

    "Yes, sir." Mikael nodded.

    Being on one''s feet was part of his job description.

    He could handle this without a hitch.

    The director continued to borate. There had been a discussion during their trip as Luna shared her input. Since Mikael''s features capture immediate attention, she proposed to give him more screen time and more activities. He briefed the same to the male model.

    Mikael nodded along. Crease lines emerged on his forehead.

    Could he do this?

    "You got it?" Sam asked. He pped the other''s back. "Since it''sst minute, we''ll have a test run."

    A crewmate brought two folding chairs. Ambryan offered them to Luna, who took it happily, and Eve, who refused to be seated. He insisted, using her heels as a reason for her to ept it. In the end, another set of chairs had been brought out.

    All of them, including Jorgan, sat together.

    Sam pulled out a megaphone. "Ready? Lights, camera, Action!"

    Someone with a pper board stood in front of the main camera.

    "Episode 3, Scene 1. Action!"

    Mikael walked around the corner, his hands tucked in his pants pocket. The clouds rolled in the sky and revealed the sun. He paused to look up and shield his eyes. Sunrays glinted on his gold watch. He smiled a little.

    Then, his legs strut down the street.

    He checked the time.

    Just enough room for a quick stop at a cafe.

    He passed by a few street vendors and greeted them. Their reactions were mixed. For anyone who greeted him back in a pleasant manner, he gave a blinding smile in return. He swept back his bangs and hopped onto the doormat of the nearest cafe.

    There was a long line to the counter.

    He looked down at his watch.

    The line moved, convincing him that it would be quick. He joined the queue and waited. His fingers drummed inside his pockets. Was this okay? Or was it too long? No orders came his way so he continued to wait in line.

    "Hey, man. What time is it?" The man in front of him asked.

    "Oh, um," Mikael uttered, startled by the ad lib. He nced at the watch and read the time, "Quarter to five."

    "Thanks."

    He looked up to reply with a nod of his head. The other person had already turned around. He paid it little attention. It didn''t take long for him to reach second in line. His ears picked up the voice of the man in front of him.

    "I''d like a triple mocha but without the espresso shot. Is that possible? Yeah, cool."

    He flickered his eyes off the menu and onto the head of chocte brown hair. The man carried a camera bag on one shoulder. His army green jacket made his frame bigger. Charcoal-like dirt was smeared on the soles of his sneakers. His dark jeans wrinkled all over the ce.

    "Oh! I''d also like to pay for the guy behind me," the man said. "Whatever his order is, it''s on me."

    Mikael arched an eyebrow.

    Now, that was peculiar.

    He questioned himself whether to reprimand the person or not. By this point, he was convinced that this was a gimmick from the other personprobably an extra that wanted more screen time or a worker here who hadn''t been given his big break.

    Why hadn''t the director said anything?

    "Hey, man," Mikael spoke, caring a little less at the moment. If he needed to start over, he''d rather have it done now instead of another blockter. He reached out to tap the person''s arm. "That''s not really necessary. You don''t need to spend money on me."

    ''Because Eros would be paying for my drink,'' he added in his head.

    The man turned around. His chocte eyesnded on Mikael. There was a casual smile on his lips. "But I insist! Take it as a treat from one good-looking guy to another."

    Mikael''s hands flinched. He had seen this face before. He hid his irritation inside his pockets, nails digging into his palms. The corner of his lip curled up. "There''s no need. Besides, I think your drink is ready. Don''t want to clog the line now, do we?"

    Thedy behind the counter called the customer''s name. "Sir, here''s your triple mocha!"

    Elias Walker remained unfazed. He faced the server and grabbed his drink. Taking the straw between his teeth, he said, "Since he doesn''t want to take it, here. Put it in your tips."

    "Ah, thank you!"

    Over at the equipment area, Ambryan leaned forward. They watched the shoot from a small screen. His brows scowled in concentration. Luna had shared her idea while Mikael went down the sidewalk. It let them in on what to expect.

    None of this was meant to happen.

    He snatched the megaphone from the director.

    "Lock the street."

 Chapter 175: Sourness is Not Just a Flavor

    Chapter 175: Sourness is Not Just a vor

    Eardrums burst from the sound. People that were further away stood in shock. The words entered one ear and went out in the other. Only the security team and guards bolted into action. They dispersed and looked after the perimeter.

    Ambryan leaped off his seat, hitting Sam''s backrest along the way. The director toppled off his folding chair. Luckily, his feetnded on the ground first. It gave him a chance to regain his bnce. Jordan also grabbed the chair in timeso it wouldn''t fall on him.

    Eve typed a quick message and informed Nanzie of the problem.

    If Elias managed to slip through, at least, there could be someone outside to be watchful of him.

    The person in question left the counter before Mikael could get another word in. A muffled radio noise came from the other side of the door. Elias walked through the tables and away from the model''s sight. Mikael sensed that he only came to cause a scene, choosing not to pursue him.

    The ex-boyfriend spotted in Eros'' studios?

    What a way to grab even more attention.

    Crew members around him put down their camcorders. He sighed, rxing his stance. His Commotion urred outside as people in suits ran down the sidewalk. One guard escorted him back to the equipment area.

    It seemed like his first day wasn''t going so well.

    Ambryan conjured a mental map of the vicinity. There were a number of options to which Elias Walker could use an exit. Why did he decide to show up? Ambryan didn''t know but the timing couldn''t be a coincidence. If this was a threat, they needed to pick up the pace.

    "Wen, status report!" He yelled into his phone, entering an alleyway near the cafe. Three guards joined him. The four of them stopped halfway inside. There were no signs of movement. Ambryan resumed the pursuit with a walk and waited for the report.

    "Target is in sight. He''s headed for Gate 4. The outer area is a forest. He may be able to use it to his advantage but without a car, he won''t make it far."

    "Catch him" was all Ambryan said before ending the call. Then, he ryed his instructions to hispanions. "Intersect Mr. Walker at Gate 4. We can''t let him escape from our grasp."

    "Yes, Mr. Hathaway."

    Alone, Ambryan wrapped his head around the incident. That was a bold move from Elias, appearing in their territory. What did he want to achieve? Did he wish to be captured? Every time someone got close, he would always turn awayincluding the media.

    Maybe he was waiting for a specific person to chase him?

    Ambryan''s lips straightened to a grim line.

    He did not like that idea.

    Eve felt her phone ring. The madam''s name shed on her screen. Avery must have heard the news. Should she take it? Whirling her head around the equipment area, she didn''t stray too far and answered the call.

    "Mrs. Hathaway."

    "Eve! Thank goodness! Are you alright?"

    "I''m with the crew team. We''re staying out of harm''s way while Sir Hathaway and the security team pursue the target," she exined. There were ears nearby. The closest one was near her lips. Her role right now was Ambryan''s secretary.

    She turned down the call volume as low as her hearing could pick up.

    "Okay, don''t go wandering off on your own. We don''t know what that man might do," Avery huffed. "I really can''t understand him. Our people had approached him several times but he refused to cooperate."

    "And you just let him go?" Eve blinked. Surrendering didn''t seem like the madam''s style. Hell, if that were the case, the DTC site wouldn''t have existed and neither would Evangeline Reed.

    "If we take him by force, that''s kidnapping. He could report us. Even if he failed to, he has so much exposure right now that he could always start it as rumor."

    Eve nodded along, getting the point. She could argue that creating Evangeline was a form of lying but let it slide. That statement would also be aimed at herself. By now, it was toote to turn back around and change her mind.

    "It''s frustrating!" Avery continued to rant. "Now, he''s at the studios? What does he want?"

    Simr questions urred to Eve. She put them away for her sanity. Would it be too much to assume that he knew she was his objective? Her? Everlee Hart? Not Evangeline? The questions piled up one after another.

    She''d rather not have any of it.

    "I''ll send you an update once I receive one, Mrs. Hathaway."

    "Right. You''re on duty," Avery said. "Sorry for calling out of the blue. I was justyou know, with Elias maneuversand him appearing out of the blueI justI couldn''t help but"

    "I understand."

    There wasn''t anything else needed to be said. The both of them had the same worries. With someone else feeling the same, a dark thought murked in her head. It had surfaced for half a second when Director Sam almost fell on the ground.

    What if she stopped all of this?

    Wouldn''t that erase these troubles?

    The faces of her sisters came next. She held onto it. They were her sole reason to work hardalways had been. Her life hadn''t been threatened quite yet. She had to keep going until the tightrope of her situation snapped.

    "Please be at ease, Mrs. Hathaway," Eve added after a moment. "Sir Hathaway will be just fine."

    She hit the end button and walked back to the group. A crowd had formed outside of the shops. They searched for the source of themotion, snapping their heads in every direction possible. The locked street proved to be empty.

    Then, what exactly was going on?

    Director Sam sat on his chair. Pain shot up from his legs. His sudden loss of bnce ced pressure on his left ankle. He twisted it and tested its condition. Other than a dull ache, it seemed to be usable.

    He hoped it would fade away soon.

    Ambryan marched into the vicinity, a disgruntled look on his face. The flecks in his eyes darkened. If lightning could sh in them, there would be a thunderstorm brewing.

    Sam got on his feet, hissing at the pain. He met the CEO halfway and demanded some answers. "M-Mr. Hathaway! d to see you''re alright! Are we in danger perhaps?"

    How did the circumstances affect the shoot? Was there another reschedule? If he knew this was going to happen, he would have refused to film the product cement today. The original timetable would have gotten something done.

    Not thisThis

    This big pile of mess.

    "No. Not in that sense." Ambryan paced around the spot. Lips pursed, his teeth grinded. He checked his phone every few seconds. With each look, his expression worsened.

    Eve approached him, using the call as an excuse. "Sir Hathaway, the madam called just now about the incident. She would like to know what the current status is."

    Ambryan snapped his eyes in her direction.

    She winced.

    ''That can''t be good.''

    "I''ll deal with motherter. Don''t speak to her unless she calls again," Ambryan dismissed. He took a deep breath and tucked his phone away. "Let''s head back to the office. Apologies for the interruption, Luna, but feel free to restart. There''s still time to get the footage."

    "Can you work in this condition?" She fired back, jogging to catch up.

    "I''m in pristine condition, Luna. There''s no reason for this setback to cause a problem."

    ''Setback'' Eve repeated to herself. That meant only one thing.

    Elias Walker had escaped.

    "How was that possible?" She mumbled. Luna turned in her direction. She pressed her fingers against her lips then bowed her head. Her legs quickened the pace until she matched Ambryan''s long strides.

    The car appeared at the end of the street.

    Wen stepped out with a small rectangr case in her hand.

    She held out a hand.

    Eve understood the message and surrendered the surveince frames. The bodyguard opened the case, switching the two pairs of eyesses. Since they were headed back, there wasn''t a need for the extra security.

    She certainly didn''t want to overhear another suspicious conversation.

    Ambryan stayed silent. He neither fiddled with his phone nor shared further instructions. His gaze stared out the window beside him. Trapped in his thoughts, he let them run rampant while he still had the time.

    It was quite a day.

    After a normal morning in his office, he attended a get together out of obligation. From there, he managed to negotiate with a streamingpany and a broadcasting one. It seemed too much luck packed in one day.

    And it was.

    Now, here he wasempty-handed.

    His hand clenched into a fist. Someone seemed to be having fun with too much freedom. It went as far as toying with his business affairs. If his mother didn''t disapprove, he would have proceeded with other means.

    Eve patted her pockets. She took out a small oval. The stic foil wrinkled under her touch. Her brown eyes met Wen''s teal ones. She gulped and shook her head. ''This was going to be difficult''

    But she persisted, clearing her throat.

    Ambryan shifted his attention towards her.

    "Candy, Sir Hathaway?"

 Chapter 176: Sugar, Spice and Everything Nice

    Chapter 176: Sugar, Spice and Everything Nice

    "It''s not sour though," Eve quickly added. She wouldn''t want him to have expectations.

    "Thank you but I''m fine," Ambryan rejected. He retreated back to his thoughts. The airconditioning hummed inside the vehicle. asionally, a car asionally would honk from outside. Why? No one bothered to find out.

    Sensing that he wanted to be left alone, Eve undid the wrapper and popped the hard candy into her mouth. Sweet strawberry coated her taste buds. The added cream in the mixture gave the candy a milkshake or strawberry milk experience.

    It wasn''t popr in this part of the country. She rarely saw it in stores.

    Fortunately, Andie hadd found it a few days ago and bought a bag.

    "What candy was that?" Ambryan suddenly asked. He didn''t get a good look but the wrapper seemed familiar. It had registered a littlete.

    "It''s *Monami." Eve held out another piece, letting him read thebel.

    (A/N: It seems many candy manufacturers have a creamy strawberry-vored hard candy but this one is what I had in mind. It''s a local product from where I live c:)

    "Cream strawberry vor" he read as he took the hard candy between his fingers. Nothing much has changed. It still had the same hollow top designwhere it curved inward. "I haven''t seen this around the city. Where did you get it?"

    "Do you like that brand?" Eve couldn''t help but ask.

    "I haven''t seen one in years."

    "Yeah, I haven''t found a store that sold it regrly either. Just by chance." She sighed. Pure nostalgia hit her when she saw that candy for the first time since moving to Maize City. One bag of 50 pieces didn''t evenst 12 hours.

    She had wanted to savor that taste and refresh her memory of it.

    "I expected it to be chocte when you offered the candy."

    "Is chocte considered as candy though? Whenever I give it to someone, I call it as ''chocte'' and not as ''candy''," Eve exined. She sipped the hard candy, letting its juice flow down her throat. "I guess it could count as candy if it''s chocte-vored instead of being pure chocte."

    Ambryan undid the wrapper and ate the candy.

    He ced the wrapper inside his jacket pocket. The corner of his lips stretched upward, shing a small smile. It tasted just as he remembered. He apuded thepany''s consistent production. It was a vor that stood the test of time.

    "Good, right?" Eve asked. A soft chuckle escaped her lips. "I don''t know what it is but I think candy makes anyone feel better."

    "Thank you for the candy."

    "No problem."

    Ambryan let the candy sit on his tongue. His headid on the cushion on top of the backrest. He closed his eyes. His focus concentrated on the candy as it melted, the vor oozing out. Anything else on his mind had faded away. His head cked out and relished in quiet peace.

    The candy seemed to have developed that psychological effect on him.

    That too also hadn''t changed over the years.

    .

    .

    .

    .

    .

    <em>"These candies are too sweet!" An 8-year-old boy groaned. Twas the night of Halloween where the neighborhood stocked up on confectionaries to hand out to children trick-or-treating. He had gone as a pirate with a fake hook for a hand and a red bandana around his head.</em>

    <em>It looked cool but it wasn''tfortable.</em>

    <em>Ambryan tossed his bag of candies aside and crossed his arms over his chest. His violet eyes red at the firece. "Why can''t they give sour candies too?! Not everyone likes sugar! Ew!"</em>

    <em>"Don''t be like that," a woman scolded behind him. She picked up the candies that fell out of the bag and put them back inside. Then, she dangled it over his head and in front of his face. "These were given as treats. You shouldn''tin about things given to you. They''re blessings."</em>

    <em>"I still wont eat them," he huffed, scooting away from her.</em>

    <em>The woman sighed.</em>

    <em>She checked the bag. There was a wide range of candies. Soft, hard, on sticks, bars any kid would be happy to receive such a prize. She picked up one that had abination of red, white and pink for its wrapper.</em>

    <em>"Huh" The woman uttered. She collected more of the same candy, saying, "If you don''t like these strawberry ones, I can just give them to Little Swan."</em>

    <em>Ambryan looked up with a frown. "Why would she like that type of candy?"</em>

    <em>"Because I told her they contain magic." The woman chuckled. She sat behind him and ced the cream strawberry candy on the floor, searching the bag for more. "You know how she gets scared when on stage. I always give her this candy to calm her down."</em>

    <em>"She''s a wuss."</em>

    <em>"Watch your mouth!" She scolded, shaking her head. Then, she set the bag aside. Her gaze flickered in his direction. "Don''t you ever get scared?"</em>

    <em>Ambryan puffed out his chest. "No. I''m a big boy."</em>

    <em>"Yeah, sure."</em>

    <em>"I''m never scared when I get on stage."</em>

    <em>"That''s not the only thing people get scared about." She poked the middle of his forehead and pushed it back. This kid never changed. His arrogance needed to drop a few levels. "Besides, Little Swan is not truly scared. Just worried that she''d mess up."</em>

    <em>"So it''s a magic candy for when people are worried?" Ambryan tried to understand. It was candy. There was nothing special about it. NERDS was an exception, of course. Most kids he knew couldn''t handle the strong sour vor.</em>

    <em>That meant only strong people could do it.</em>

    <em>And he was one of them.</em>

    <em>"It''s a magic candy for when people need something to cheer them up, to calm them down or to provide them what they need," the woman described. She would have used a simpler statement like fort food'' but the boy would only associate it to ''crying.''</em>

    <em>"So it''s a wishing candy?"</em>

    <em>The woman thought about it.</em>

    <em>"Well, that''s one way to call it. But it only works if you''re struggling with yourself."</em>

    <em>Ambryan sighed. He grabbed a piece of the candy and expected it. There wasn''t such a thing as magic. If Little Swan believed that tall tale then she must be stupid. He tossed the candy back onto the floor.</em>

    <em>He was being tricked into trying it.</em>

    <em>He just knew it.</em>

    <em>The woman gathered the cream strawberry candies in one hand. "It can be anything though. Not just candy. Different people have different sources offort."</em>

    <em>Ambryan scowled at her. "Mother, you''re not making any sense."</em>

    <em>Her indigo eyes crinkled at the corners. "Maybe not now but someday, it will."</em>

    <em>He doubted it.</em>

    .

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    .

    Ambryan opened his eyes. The headquarters of Eros Productions loomed in front of the windshield. It rose high among the tall buildings. He pushed himself off the backrest and fixed his attire. The candy in his mouth had only melted by a fourth.

    He and Eve walked over to the elevator while Wen parked the car.

    "Hey, boss!"

    "Afternoon, Darryl," Ambryan responded with the click on his tongue. He had pushed the candy aside in order to speak. Then, he ced it back.

    Darryl bowed, his head matching Eve''s eye level. He had trimmed his mustache so it wouldn''t exceed the length of his mouth. White strands stuck out from his sideburns. They grew too fast for his brown hair dye topletely cover up.

    "Is boss eating candy?" He whispered. It didn''t sound like a bad thing but a few people frowned upon it, iming it was unequitable and rude. Ambryan cared about professionalism. This sort of behavior seemed beyond him.

    Eve took out three more from her pocket."You want some?"

    "Don''t mind if I do."

    The elevator doors opened.

    Ambryan stepped inside first, Eve hot on his heels. There was less than two hours before work was done for the day. Eve arranged the schedule for the rest of the week. The CEO would be out of office for the most part. She would need to email the other executives about handling part of the workload.

    "I wonder what Evangeline is doing," Ambryan spoke. His eyes watched the floor numbers go up. He folded his arms over his chest. "Tell me, Eve. What does a female feel when their ex-boyfriend shows up?"

    "I''m sorry?" Eve frowned. She fluttered her eyes. Was this a joke?

    He turned his head towards her. "Don''t you have any experience?"

    "Absolutely not." She scoffed. "To answer your question, it always depended on the breakup. There isn''t a guarantee that everyone would feel the same way. Each has their own story."

    Ambryan considered her words. "What if the ex is acting like a stalker?"

    "Then, it''s time to get a restraining order," Eve muttered. It was half a joke but stayed as a possibility. It sounded harsh but if it threatened someone''s safety, it was one of the best things to do.

    "Hm."

    Silence fell inside the lift. Eve pressed her lips together. Without the surveince specs, she was, at least, safe from third parties to the conversation. Steeling her nerves, she said, "Is one of your previous flings disturbing you?"

    "Not if they want to be ruined."

    "Ms. Evangeline''s?" She asked as casually as possible.

    A dark expression painted over Ambryan''s face. "He ims to be one."

    Eve nodded her head, happy to hear the truth. If this could continue, Wen could be less suspicious of herunless it did the opposite. "Is this connected to the interruption perhaps?"

    "Yes. Any idea on how to catch him?"

 Chapter 177: Surrounded by Care and Concerns

    Chapter 177: Surrounded by Care and Concerns

    "Absolutely not."

    Eve closed her eyes, her brows scrunching together. She had expected this blunt rejection but a part of her hoped Ambryan would reconsider it if it came from Evangeline. She paced around her bedroom with a towel draped over her shoulders.

    "It''s better than nothing," Eve wailed, ruffling her hair. "He refuses to talk to anyone whoes up to him. Mrs. Hathaway also expressed that we couldn''t break thew. This is the next best thing."

    Ambryan sneered from the other line. He had juste home from work after finishing several reports. There should be only documents left for him to review. He pulled off his oxford shoes and ced them on the rack. "I understand your impatience, Evan, but I am not risking your safety for this bastard."

    Kiri woke up at hisst words. Her head shot up straight in search of him. Her albino fur glistened under the moonlight. She followed her hooman''s silhouette with her purple eyes. He sounded more frustrated than usual.

    What had gotten into him?

    .

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    .

    .

    .

    "Yes. Any idea on how to catch him?"

    "Bait him with what he wants," Eve said, going through their options. Elias wasn''t hiding in the dark. He had a move for everything. Thousands of eyes were now on him, including them. Among those sea of gazes, there was one that he truly desired:

    Evangeline Reed.

    Ambryan went rigid.

    "Giving him what he wants would mean letting him win," he replied. Cold steel blended with his voice. When the elevator doors opened, he marched out without looking back. "There has to be another way. There might be enough evidence for a restraining order. I''ll have Wen look into it."

    "But"

    Eve swallowed her words. There was no point especially when he entered the office. While Ambryan searched for a different solution, she yed with the one she had proposed. ''Baiting Elias Walker''

    He was a photographer. Evangeline was a model. Those two careers intersect often. It could definitely be arranged. If it wasn''t for the Hathaways'' interference, he might have already done something simr to bing the main photographer of her shoots.

    She twisted a pen between her fingers.

    She had to talk to him too. He might reveal her fabricated past. What did he want from her exactly? Eve couldn''t think of a single thing. A stalker wouldn''t be this borate. His motivations were still vague to themand the best person to find that out would be

    Eve sighed. Her head went around in circles.

    She had no better idea, after all.

    .

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    .

    .

    .

    And so, Eve gnawed on her bottom lip. A ss of hot milk sat on her bedside table. She opted for the floor instead of her bed. Static noise flowed into her ears. Neither her nor Ambryan had spoken again.

    It wasn''t like she''d be alone during the situation.

    Nanzie and her security team would also be there. There was no way she''d allow herself to be alone with Elias. But, she also couldn''t sit here and do nothing. Others had been working even when she was the target.

    Something had to be done.

    "I hope yourck of response means you''ve realized how irrational that idea was," Ambryan said, breaking the silence. "Is this how biological females think? You and Eve proposed almost the same thing. Kindred minds instead of spirits."

    ''Haha about that'' Eve mused to herself. She sighed and hung her head. Her brown eyes gazed at the ceiling. "What do you want to do then? Thought of anything?"

    "I was thinking of increasing your security." Ambryan logged into hisputer. He had switched to a bluetooth earpiece, allowing him to work with ease. "I''ll personally have Wen to be part of your security team. I''d be more assured if someone I trust is onboard."

    Eve had nked out like her white ceiling. Buffering dots hovered above her head while his statement slowly sank in. When she replied, her voice sounded as absent-minded as she felt. "Ask her to do what exactly?"

    "What do your bodyguards do, Evan? Pose like mannequins?"

    Scowling, Eve blinked. Once. Twice. Three times.

    Then, she jerked her sitting position upright. "I think my security team is more than enough."

    Wen? As Evangeline''s bodyguard? The woman would bury her alive!

    It wouldn''t take long for Wen to connect the dots. Not to mention the abnormal activities her security team didas adjustments to her dual identity. If Wen was there, she''d eventually discover about the switch of vehicles and clothes in between trips.

    Thus, she''d find out about Evangeline''s secret as well.

    Ambryan stopped typing. He pushed the earbud into his ear further. His jaw locked, predicting a long discussion ahead. "Not if there''s someone like Elias Walker around. The more people, the better. We don''t know what he''ll do next."

    Eve pulled the phone away and hissed. Then, she pressed the device back onto her ear. She didn''t have a counter argument but she also couldn''t agree to this arrangement. "I strongly oppose."

    ''Think, Eve. Think! There has to be a way to convince him out of this idea!''

    "And why is that?" Ambryan asked. He leaned back on his chair. Kiri hopped onto hisp and folded her legs under her. Whatever it was, she would be here to apany him. His fingers brushed her fur.

    "Elias has been around for several weeks. Nothing has happened to me or my security team." Eve made a face. Her statement was weak and she knew it.

    "Yet. Nothing has happened yet." Ambryan pushed the floor with his toes, rotating the chair. He looked out of the window. Maize City had many lights but they didn''t totally eliminate the shadows. Even daylight was the same. Darkness was still around somewhere.

    Extra precautions had to be taken.

    ''No'' wasn''t an option.

    He scratched under Kiri''s chin. She purred. "Evan, reasonable or not, your well-being is my priority. I can''t take chances that something terrible might happen to you. Do you understand?"

    A lump formed in Eve''s throat. Genuine concernced in his voice. It was unfair. He had used it for his own advantage. How could someone reject after hearing that tone? The person had to be heartless in order to do it.

    She groaned, burying her face in her hands.

    If this was a game show, she needed a life line.

    She needed to call a friend. She needed Avery.

    "Can we talk about this another time? It''s gettingte." It was a cheap shot but Eve didn''t want to take more risks. This was also better in person. She hugged her knees and propped her chin on them. ''Please let this storm end soon.''

    Ambryan checked the time.

    Then, he sighed. "Fine. Sleep well."

    Kiri yawned on cue. She flipped to her back and closed her eyes. Ambryan turned to hisputer. New emails arrived in his inbox. He ignored them, following the task schedule he set up for tonight.

    "Don''t stay up past midnight."

    "We''ll see."

    Eve ended the call. She typed a quick message to the madam. Ambryan would be harder to convince unlike the first time. He was determined to have someone from his security team join hers. If it wasn''t going to be Wen, it would be someone else. The risk of being found out was still there.

    What could they do that would satisfy both sides?

    Ambryan''s phone vibrated. He took one look at the screen and answered the call. His fingers flew across the keyboard as he leftments on the documents given to him. For instance, some contract terms needed revision. Thepany had tried to swindle them under their nose.

    He wasn''t letting it happen.

    "Wen, status report."

    The bodyguard cleared her throat. She drove through downtown. Her keen eyes tracked every vehicle and pedestrians within sight. A hard expression painted over her face. "Elias Walker had reappeared at his apartment."

    "Have you apprehended him for trespassing?" The tapping of a keyboard became harsher.

    "Um,"

    "What is it?" Ambryan demanded.

    "He had permission to be in the vicinity. One of the new stores wanted photos as marketing. They had also established the service contract before the billboard went up. He would have entered the perimeter even without our presence inside of it."

    ''So it had been pre-nned,'' Ambryan guessed, keeping the theory to himself. The thought only solidified his resolve to increase Evangeline''s security team. Elias could be on his next move.

    There was no way he''d let her go near that bastard.

    Needing to calm down, Ambryan changed the topic. "How is Evangeline then?"

    Wen paused. She debated on how much she should share. Stick to facts or speak about her concerns? Thetter was only spection. It might be taken the wrong way and cost her her job.

    In the end, she went with facts.

    "Her security team reassured that she was well and safe. Two of our own went to visit the miss a number of times since Elias became known. Her bodyguards blocked their path each time but they always lingered around the area."

    "And was she well and safe wherever she went?"

    "Well..."

    Hesitation? Ambryan frowned. That was a rare urrence. "Wen. borate please."

    The bodyguard sighed. She had been caught.

    "Ms. Evangeline had gone out only once in the past two weeks. And that was the day you both met. That meant one day out of fourteen. I remember she had argued about grocery shopping for herself but she hadn''t done such a thing. Neither did any of her bodyguards."

 Chapter 178: Through the Looking Glass

    Chapter 178: Through the Looking ss

    "Wen, report."

    Ambryan sat in his office. He rushed to finish the documents left. His afternoon would be spent with other businessmenlike the day before. He craned his head from side to side. His sleeping schedule had lessened from his already short resting hours.

    He expected this to stay this way for another week or so.

    After negotiations for ''Define Love,'' he had to look into another project. This one would need filming locations overseas. The budget amount needed the approval of the board. Other than potential investors, he would also need to look into sponsors or coborators in other countries.

    It was a tedious task.

    But nothing he couldn''t handleespecially if he could convince his father to do part of it.

    His phoneid on the table. He left the call on speaker while he worked.

    "No activity, Mr Hathaway," Wen replied, looking out of a window. She found a spot from a building across the apartmentplex. "Its as the others said. Ms. Evangeline''s bodyguards haven''t moved from their positions."

    The n was to monitor the female model from afar.

    Based on previous experience, it wasn''t any different from trying to work closely. But this way would lower the guard of the other security team. If they had something to hide, they would be able to witness it happening.

    Wen pulled her sunsses over her blonde hair and peeked through a pair of binocrs.

    Her teal eyes remained sharp, not overlooking a single ce.

    Back in his office, Ambryan ced a hand over his lips. The report about Evangeline''sck of activities had raised his suspicions. A number of possible scenarios ran in his head. He eliminated the health-rted reasons based on the call he and her had.

    She had a job as an online English tutor so it made sense for her to be indoors most of the time.

    But theck of food they had looked into deliveries from shops within a kilometer radius but none were addressed to her. Was there something she wasn''t telling him about? Could it be the reason why she refused for extra security from him?

    Ambryan shook his head.

    He couldn''t afford to be distracted.

    His fingers went back to work. Emails flooded his inbox. It irked him. Acting on a whim, he set an automatic response and directed them to a folder by addingmon keywords for the least priority ones. It decreased the movement in his main inbox.

    He would review them after a few minutes.

    Right now, he had to finish the contract proposal for Calvin Knoc and send it to the legal team.

    "Mr. Hathaway."

    "What is it?"

    "Ms. Evangeline just walked out of the building."

    Ambryan snapped his head towards his mobile phone.

    "State her movements," he instructed at once.

    "She is holding arge tote bag and stepped inside her vehicle. te number is MEI 6923. It''s driving out of the perimeter. Someone, follow that vehicle. We can''t let it out of our sight. I''ll be on my down, Mr. Hathaway."

    "Call again once you''re on its trail."

    "Yes, sir."

    Ambryan increased his typing speed. If she was there, that meant she was alright. He could erase the theory of her being kidnapped. His temples ached from scowling too much. This scenario caused even more headaches than stubborn businessmen.

    His ringtone pierced through the air.

    "Wen," he greeted, epting the call.

    "The vehicle has stopped."

    "And?"

    "It''s parked in arge grocery store and Ms. Evangeline had gone inside with Nanzie."

    Ambryan breathed a sigh of relief. That solved their current suspicions. His shoulders visibly rxed. She was doing well. That was what mattered the most. "If you notice anything else unusual, inform me right away. Continue tailing her for the rest of the day and report it tomorrow morning."

    "Understood."

    A knock came from his office door.

    Sir Hathaway, here are the documents from the legal team. They informed me that there hasn''t been any problem," Eve stated as she walked up to his desk. She set the folder down along with a tray. Thetter contained a filled teapot, a cup and a te of chicken enchda roll ups for a quick lunch.

    Ambryan didn''t spare her a nce. "Thank you, Eve."

    "Also, I would like to ask for a leave."

    "File it."

    Eve arched an eyebrow. "I haven''t even said what it''s for."

    "You can do whatever you want. The year is almost ending and you haven''t used a single one. At this time of the year though, it''s usually for one reason."

    ''But I''m not the only one who hasn''t taken a leave of absence'' Eve mused to herself.

    "Thank you for your understanding, Sir Hathaway." She smiled and bowed her head before making her way back to her own work space. Her files had been organized in one row. The closest to herputer were the ones she''d aplish next. They had to be done for Ambryan to sign before he left for the day.

    Her mind wandered back to the night before.

    Just the thought of it sent her heart beating erratically.

    .

    .

    .

    .

    .

    "A body double?" Eve blinked, her jaw hanging open. After sending the message, she had received a call in return. Her ears couldn''t believe the news. She had been in the dark this whole time!

    "Yes," Avery nodded. She sat in front of her vanity mirror. The empty room behind her reflected on it. "Ambryan''s security has been trying to cooperate with you far earlier than you think. You both had been so busy, I decided not to tell you then. This is probably connected to your message. We believe they''re getting skeptical about you."

    Eve massaged her forehead. A stranger just had to im he was her ex-boyfriend. None of this would have happened if it weren''t for that. Ambryan must have been more restless than she thoughtwhich would exin his behavior back in the studios.

    "So... your solution is... to have another person pose as Evangeline?" She brought up again. It was the third time she heard it aloud. It wasn''t as less ridiculous as the first.

    "Well, you can''t be at two ces at the same time."

    "I am well aware of that."

    "A double for Evangeline is far more feasible than a double for Everlee."

    ''She has a point.'' Eve sighed. She uncrossed her legs and let her back fall on the bed. "But what if something happens to her? Like someone suddenlyes up to talk to her or Elias Walker does something dangerous?"

    "She worked as a stunt double and trained as a bodyguard." Avery assured Eve. She rose to her feet and folded an arm over her chest. Her feet led her to the balcony doors. "If Elias falls for it then, we can finally lure him somewhere out of his own will and get to the bottom of this."

    Eve considered the idea. It did open a lot more opportunities.

    But, at the same time, it meant another lie on top of the others. Why had they ever thought this situation to be easy? Or was it just her? Avery seemed prepared from the start. The madam''s assuredness had put her at ease about those troubles.

    Both of them must have been too naive.

    "Maybe you could have just asked someone to be a full-time Evangeline Reed." The words left Eve''s mouth before she could process them. After a second thought, she realized how much easier it would have been for everyone if that were the case.

    Oh, guilt, my old friend.

    Shoo. Go away.

    The madam snorted. "Evangeline Reed wouldn''t even exist if not for you. By the way, have you gotten to know my son better in this arrangement? Not as cold as he seems, right?"

    The positive gossip articles had brought her absolute joy. Her emotions bounced all over the ce. Theirtest public disy of affection had sent her over the moon. If that hit her hard, she didn''t know how she''d feel if they kissed.

    "Define ''better'', Mrs. Hathaway."

    "You''ve chatted a lot more than I expected."

    "I believe that rises and falls as fast as a rollercoaster."

    Avery chuckled. "I know this situation isn''t ideal. I can''t promise that it would get better but I thank you for agreeing to my antics. Sometimes I do think about reversing my impulse back then but, at the same time, there are so many things I''m grateful for because of it."

    This conversation described her emotions well. The arrangement had brought both joy and doubt. It was hard. She could hope for it to resolve with a happy ending but the chances of that seemed low. Reminding herself about it helped her focus in the moment and the positive.

    "I can understand."

    Eve meant it. She had gained unforgettable moments and irreceable allies. Hell, she even learned the basics of modelling and, boy, was it rough. It really wasn''t as easy as the photos make them seem. She gained more respect for people in the profession.

    "Get some rest. I''ll handle it. Ambryan has been spoiled since he was a kid but he can''t have everything his way." Avery ended the call and checked on the progress. They found a possible candidate days ago. They just needed the finishing touches.

    .

    .

    .

    .

    .

    ''How did a person impersonate another?'' Eve thought at the present time. She hadn''t met the body double but she knew Avery already started the n. For it to be convincing, the person had to both look the part and act like it.

 Chapter 179: Having Feelings is Valid

    Chapter 179: Having Feelings is Valid

    With Evangeline''s doppelganger in the midst, Eve focused herself on Eros.

    It wasn''t like she had much choice in the matter though. Ambryan handled business out of the office, leaving her with part of the workload. He had added more than usual as her training for the promotion. They required decision-making which she hadn''t been authorized to do before.

    Barely two days had passed and she already rethought the offer.

    "How would I know if this doesn''t mess up?" Eve groaned, thinking of an email reply. She blew on her fringes and stared at the monitor. The concerns kepting. Ambryan had instructed her not to call him unless they were top priority.

    "Let''s see" she browsed through the others and found familiar ones. The sender must be new. Her response to it came like clockwork. She had read it several times from Ambryan since working for him.

    With each email, she kept him in the loop.

    If she made a mistake, at least, he could correct it if he opened his inbox.

    The elevator doors dinged. Eve got up from her seat and stretched her back. How long had she been sitting? Her lower back already felt sore.

    Long albino hair appeared within her sight. "Eve!"

    "President!" She staggered towards him and bowed her head. She took a peek behind, unable to find Riffle. Did he escape from duty again? "Would you like some refreshments?"

    Madison paced the floor, unhurried. He tried the CEO''s office door once. The handle didn''t budge. He tucked his hands into his silver coat pockets and said, "Taking over for our CEO? Knew you always had it in you."

    His luminous green eyesnded on the secretary.

    "I''d beg to differ." Eve snorted. She was years away from matching Ambryan''s level. His experience wasn''t something to belittle. "Is there anything I can help you with?"

    She moved in front of her desk. Her fingers brushed the surface until they touched something rectangr and t. She kept it behind her back while the President walked towards her. He had one butt cheek on the table.

    "You hadn''t asked for assistance yesterday. I was worried if you were keeping troubles to yourself," Madison revealed with a frown. It hadn''t been anything new. He often heard it from her mother. "You do know it doesn''t hurt to ask for help, right?"

    "I know"

    He regarded her in silence. With her hands behind her back, Eve avoided eye contact. Madison knew her better than most employees. He had been a close friend of her mom''s. They didn''t meet often but when she died, he had reached out a hand.

    He was also doing the same thing today.

    "So," he began to say. "How are you doing without dear old Yan?"

    Eve pressed her lips together. "I may need some tips"

    "Let me take a look."

    Madison stood beside her as she opened the emails. He exined each concern, letting her remember the important points. As long as she answered with them in mind, it should be fine. Then, he went to the exception where things became a littleplicated.

    She got her notebook to write them down.

    More than half of it had already been filled.

    "What''s this?" Madison flipped the page to the first one. It had caught his eye because of therge text. The writing had been done with markers instead of pens. They upied the entire page in an organized manner. A half-smile teased on his lips. "The Five Rules?"

    "It was my first task," Eve pointed out. "Couldn''t let you down now, could I?"

    Madison read them aloud.

    "Don''t draw meaningless attention,

    "Speak only when spoken to,

    "Avoid unnecessary affiliation with the boss,

    "Never interfere with his personal matters,

    "Always follow his orders."

    "These were five years ago, right?" He said. Oh, how time flew. These had been Ambryan''s demands for a new secretary. He had taken a step out of the box and searched for a female one. The setup had to be clear to avoid trouble. One slip at the time would have resulted to a termination.

    Madison had a thought. He looked down at the secretary as she wrote down his advice. His head tilted sideways. "Eve."

    "Yes?" She replied, not sparing him a nce.

    "I need your opinion on something."

    She put the pen down and swivelled her chair in his direction. "Was it?"

    Taking the notebook, Madison used his finger as a bookmark and showed her the first page again. "Do you think these five rules are still relevant today?"

    Eve''s eyebrows shot up. Was this a test? It was near the end of the year. They were up for employee valuation again. She gulped, saying, "I-I think they''re important at keeping things professional."

    The President scowled at the ceiling and considered her words. He squinted his gaze back at her. "So are co-workers not allowed to be unprofessional?"

    "I think it depends on who they are? And the hierarchy?" Eve suddenly felt small. Maybe it was the current height difference since he stood on his feet while she sat on a chair. Madison had a natural young-looking face as if he hadn''t aged since he was a teen.

    But that didn''t seem to exist at the moment.

    He talked as a person older than her.

    "And you think you should always be professional around Ambryan?"

    "He is my boss."

    "But I''m also your superior and we''re acting more casually right now," Madison countered. He ced the notebook on the desk. He had followed the stories and news about Ambeevan. They were cute. They were nice. But something had to be done.

    Ambryan had to get to know Everlee as well!

    If they were closer, it could help the reveal or make it worse. Either way, he found it worth the risk. In order to do that, he had to convince both of them to spend more time together. It was a good thing he could meet them separately for the time being.

    "That''s because you are acting casually, President," Eve retorted. She didn''t even consider it to be a valid argument. "I only follow the flow while being respectful."

    Madison frowned. This was another reason why he needed to convince Ambryan. The man must take initiative. He had high hopes for it. These five rules clearly needed to be taken away when the people involved were obviously right for each other!

    "You and Yan have a professional rtionship, huh?" He asked, using a nonchnt voice. He took a step back until the monitor partially hid his body. His arm folded over his chest while his elbow propped itself on the wrist.

    "I believe so." Eve nodded once.

    The President clicked his tongue and rubbed his chin. His mind couldn''t find a way to phrase this next statement better. And so, he winged it. "Is that why you acted so intimate on set?"

    "We WHAT?!"

    Eve''s shriek echoed around the room. Was this a rumor circting around the workspace? Normally, she''d regret behaving this way. But right now? She didn''t give a flying feven if Ambryan had been around. She had never heard something more ridiculous.

    Not as herself, at least.

    Not as Everlee Hart.

    Madison leaned down until their eyes were on the same level. He shed a cheeky smile. "He fixed your eyesses for you after the golf cart stopped moving."

    Eve resisted to roll her eyes. "Isn''t thatmon concern for another person?"

    "But you seemed to be having a pleasant time."

    "I''m not entirely sure what you want me to say, President. But it was nothing more than a helping hand," she exined. Pushing herself closer to her work desk, she wrote down the rest of the notes.

    She didn''t have the time for this game.

    "Hm." Madison straightened his spine, not entirely convinced. He had mentioned it as a good thing to be honest. Except her reaction proved that they thought differently. It might be best not to meddle more than he had. He''d let it take its natural course.

    "Eve."

    The pen dropped on the page. She sighed and nced at him. "Yes?"

    Madison brushed the top of her head. Her mother used to do it before. He hoped the simple gesture could ease the tension. "Having feelings for someone is perfectly valid. But I''ll try not to make a move if the person is in a rtionship."

    Eve gritted her teeth. The incident had been taken out of context again."Sir King, I''m not"

    The President pulled his hand back and waved, stepping out of her work station. A grin reced his gentle smile."Oh, would you look at the time! I better go before Riffle throws a fit. You know how he gets. Good luck, Eve. Don''t forget to message me if you''re ever in a pinch!"

    "Well, that was fast."

    Madison disappeared like a bullet. The elevator had already been waiting for him. He secured himself behind its doors and breathed in relief. He scratched the back of his neck. "That went well, didn''t it? When will theplications end?"

    Eve heaved a sigh. She went back to her regr work. Although she had part of Ambryan''s work, her own one hadn''t diminished. It was Saturday tomorrow. It was also the time for the shoot for The Magical Symphony.

    She had to get this done.

    Today.

    Her phone vibrated with a message.

    ``Sir Hathaway: I will be out of touch over the weekend. Please send an early memorandum about my absence to internal employees.``

 Chapter 180: Parting is Such Sweet Sorrow

    Chapter 180: Parting is Such Sweet Sorrow

    ``Eve: Will you be taking a leave, Sir Hathaway?``

    ``Sir Hathaway: Not entirely. I will only be out of touch.``

    .

    Frowning, Eve stared at the chat. Weekends usually were off days for head management. The ones most likely to operate were the studios. There would asionally be emails from office employees and studio heads. He did reply to them within the day.

    Did he mean those perhaps?

    Then again, he probably did more work than he let on. Despite her help along with the executives, there were still some left that needed his approval. Those would also have to wait now.

    .

    ``Eve: What shall I say if the executives ask for a reason?``

    ``Sir Hathaway: That I am focusing on external affairs.``

    .

    ''External affairs?'' She thought. ''The negotiations? Was there another get together perhaps?''

    Eve nced at her desk calendar. Thest quarter of the year was fast approaching. She expected this around that time. It was to prepare for the next business year. Perhaps he started earlier because of the given opportunities with the streaming site and broadcastingpany?

    Should she askthe page for the Five Rules was open on her desk.

    Her gaze flickered towards it for a second and dropped the idea.

    This was the first step back in the right direction.

    .

    ``Eve: I will draft the memorandum for your review right away.``

    ``Sir Hathaway: Thank you.``

    .

    Eve used a previous memo as her temte. The tricky part was how to word it. She went through her emails, noting down the ones that usually came during the weekend. Her memory served her right when its majority were studio-rted ones.

    It became the focus for the body of text.

    ```Please be informed that Sir```

    ```Mr. Ambryan Hathaway will be unavable during the iing weekend. Concerns from the studios shall be queued for the next working day. Any immediate need for response should be sent to the executives. Pending matters that need CEO approval shall also be addressed next week. Thank you.```

    The rest of the day finished in a blur for Eve.

    Her hands moved non-stop. Work kepting in. No wonder Ambryan had long nights. Her fingers began to stiffen. Backspace became her new best friend. It wasn''t getting any easier as the sunpleted its descent.

    "Ms. Hart!" Darryl eximed through the inte. "Are you still there? Go home, youngdy!"

    Eve squeezed her eyes shut, noticing how dry they were from staring at the monitor for too long. Her water bottle hadn''t been touched since her lunch break. She drained it one go just before leaving the office premises. Her back ached from sitting too long.

    This definitely called for an aromatherapy-infused bath for when she got home.

    She stifled a yawn. "I got it, Darryl. I''m almost done. If I''m not downstairs in fifteen minutes, check on me again please."

    "I''m sure when Mr. Hathaway said to take over some of his work, I doubt he meant to be like him. Don''t overwork yourself. You might get sick! How else will my days beplete without you?"

    "Alright, alright. Fifteen minutes. Okay?" Eve smiled, finishing thest emails that were sent just before her official working hours ended. That had been her goal from the beginning. She had kept her promise and exited the lift with 2 minutes to spare.

    Her legs leaped for the fresh underground parking lot air.

    Darryl huffed in her direction. "Don''t think I won''t have a word with boss about this."

    "Aw,e on, Darryl. I''ve done this before when Sir Hathaway also stayed in the officete."

    "That is not an excuse," he emphasized with a shake of his head. "It''s dangerous to be outte even if you have a car. You''re still young. Don''t go aging faster by working yourself to the bone."

    Eve chuckled. She stepped towards her car. "I''ll see you Monday, Darryl. Go home early too, okay?"

    "Oh, I will. I''m not like some people."

    The lights were off when Eve stepped inside the apartment. It seemed that Andie hadn''t arrived yet.

    Or so she thought.

    A note had been left by the shoe rack. Its hot pink color easily made it stand out. Apparently, her best friend had a date night with Jarrett. There was also a hint about French macarons waiting for her in the living room.

    She chuckled before fetching the pastries.

    Sweets and a hot bath? This night was turning out to be better than she thought.

    .

    ``Lin: I''ll be sleeping in early for an event tomorrow. Don''t overwork yourself. Good night.``

    .

    Eve flopped onto her bed. Her hair was dried. Her body was refreshed. Her soul was cleansed. She predicted a deep slumber ahead.

    Her phone vibrated beside her pillow.

    .

    ``Yan: Had a long day?``

    .

    A small smile bloomed on her lips.

    .

    ``Lin: You could say that.``

    ``Yan: Hmmm.``

    ``Lin: What?``

    ``Yan: I''m simply wondering what could have tired you out.``

    .

    Eve pressed one letter.

    Then, she stopped.

    what was she supposed to say? Her brain suddenly became awake as she bolted upright. Her eyes wandered towards her study table. If Evangeline was an English tutor, what could be the problems she''d face? There had to be a real memory from her past as an example.

    Biting her lip, Eveposed her story.

    .

    ``Lin: Ambee, have you ever tried teaching children?``

    ``Yan: I had been fortunate enough not to.``

    ``Lin: It''s not always easy. One of them threw a fit earlier because I gave him a low score. His parent wasn''t pleased that I had triggered him, saying I was at fault. They stopped acquiring my services on the spot by cutting off the connection.``

    ``Yan: Name?``

    ``Lin: Name of who?``

    ``Yan: The student and his parent.``

    ``Lin: ``

    ``Lin:  why?``

    ``Yan: They need to be aware of their actions and face the consequences.``

    .

    Ambryan leaned on the headboard of his own bed, amp illuminating the room just enough for him to see the silhouette. His usual gelled hair was in a mess. The tip of his nose had a tint of pink. Kiri joined him and curled up by his side, separated by a heavy nket.

    .

    ``Lin: Hahahahahaha. You always surprise me, Ambee.``

    .

    Lifting an eyebrow, Ambryan felt a cough rising.

    .

    ``Yan: Do I?``

    ``Lin: I didn''t know you had that kind of humor! XD It was totally unexpected! Besides, there''s no convincing those people. Don''t waste your energy on them :P ``

    .

    Lukewarm water flowed down Ambryan''s throat and took the small tablet with it. Beads of sweat coated his back. Every muscle in his body felt heavy. A rope constricted around his head. mes simmered inside his skin. He had hoped to be back on his feet tomorrow.

    Unfortunately, his fever only became worse.

    He didn''t have another choice but to express his absence to thepany.

    Another coughing fit escaped his lips. It left a stinging sensation in his chest. He pulled the nket to wake up his sleeping cat. When he spoke, his voice was nasal. "Kiri, you can''t stay here. You might catch a cold."

    "Meow~"

    The feline didn''t move.

    He sighed. "I would move you but I currently don''t have the strength."

    Kiri resumed her slumber. If anything, she snuggled further onto the nketdetermined to stay. Shooting stars consumed her mind in no time. She reached up to catch them with her tiny paws. They were likeser lights but better.

    Ambryan felt his phone vibrate.

    .

    ``Lin: Is Mr. CEO busy now? You do remember it''s after office hours, right? Don''t overwork yourself! You might get sick! Think of the consequences if that happened! Think of Kiri!``

    .

    A small smile appeared on his lips.

    Could she see him right now perhaps?

    .

    ``Yan: You make it sound like this isn''t a regr part of my work.``

    ``Lin: That is not an excuse. Don''t go aging faster by working yourself to the bone!``

    ``Yan: I had been told I looked younger than 25.``

    .

    ''How shameless!'' Eve screamed in her head. ''Shameless! Shameless! Oh, I know about it, alright?! And I perfectly remember your response!''

    .

    ``Lin: You can''t possibly look younger than me.``

    ``Yan: Are you jealous?``

    ``Lin: No, I''m sleepy. Weren''t you paying attention?``

    ``Yan: Am I keeping you awake then?``

    .

    Eve took her time to reply. Well, it was true but it wasn''t a bad thing. If she analyzed it carefullymore than keeping her awake, she was probably distracting him. That would lead to more time he needed to finish his work. He had to be swamped.

    A yawn flowed out of her lips. She took it as a sign to end the conversation.

    But what could her heart do?

    It missed him and snatched the first chance it got.

    .

    ``Lin: You are but I''m notining.``

    ``Yan: If you''re tired, you should rest. You have a project tomorrow, right?``

    ``Lin: Oh, yeah. That.``

    ``Yan: Evan, that is not professional behavior.``

    ``Lin: I know, I know. Good thing I have you, aye? :P ``

    .

    Ambryan chuckled. Warmth surrounded his heavy chest. It provided him morefort than his bed. He took a deep breath, inhaling and exhaling through his nose. His sinuses had opened for the first since he got home.

    He should take advantage of it so he could fall asleep faster.

    ``Yan: Good night, Evan.``

    ''... I shall sleep with you in my heart.''

 Chapter 181: Going Back to the Magic

    Chapter 181: Going Back to the Magic

    "Is Eve really noting?"

    Eri sat at the backseat of a car. She wore her best dress. The gray-checkered top covered her from the neck and down to her wrists. The bright white tulle skirt ballooned until its hem reached her knees. A gold ribbon wrapped around her waist with a bow in front.

    Ede wore the same style but in a dark blue skirt and ck-checkered top.

    Jarrett nced at the rearview mirror. Both children had been eerily quiet since they got in the car. He understood them a bit. They hardly saw their sister as it is. Now, she''s more unavable than ever unlike when this dual identity first started.

    He peeled his gaze off them and directed it towards the passenger seat.

    Andie caught the look. She turned her head back to the windshield and sighed through her nose. The back of her head bumped into the cushion. How was she supposed to say this? "I know how you feel, girls, but your sister''s part-time job requires her to work during weekends."

    "We knoo," Eri whined, crossing her arms over her chest. "I still think she''s with a secret boyfriend that she didn''t introduce to us yet."

    "Maybe it''s someone at her job," Ede added. She yed with the tips of her caramel hair. Aunt Georgie had curled it for them. The texture of hairspray felt weird against her skin. "If this fundraiser ends early, maybe we could surprise visit her."

    Eri jerked to life as if her spine got struck by lightning. She rose to her feet, stretching her seatbelt and poked her head between the two front seats. "Can we do that? It would be so cool! It could even be a surprise! Bring her a box of French macarons!"

    "I don''t know" Andie mumbled. Her stormy blue eyes shed at Jarrett. They made eye-contact for a split second before he resumed his focus on the road. She was also alone in this one.

    ''Gee, thanks!'' She scoffed in her head, mentally rolling her eyes while she was at it. Then, she shifted her attention towards Eri. "We''ll just have to wait and see. She might get home before we could. We could always buy her that box even without going to her workce."

    Eri pouted. It made her cheeks puff out. "But she must be so miserable. She''s working because we want to keep studying in The Magical Symphony, right? I knew it cost too much!"

    Andie opened her mouth. Then, she closed it shortly after. It may not be for the music school specifically but it was for the twins. There wasn''t anything she could say to counter it. "Eri, listen. You can ask Eve all about her jobter, okay? If she says she''s fine, believe her. Your sister wouldn''t stay if it was bad."

    "You also said her boss at thepany made her workte. It caused her a lot of stress and that we shouldn''t fight whenever we meet her because it would only make it worse."

    "I did?" Andie frowned.

    "Yes, you did!" Eri practically screeched.

    Andie had to cover her ears. "But you met him, right? At the recital? You even talked to him about work. Was he as bad as I described him?"

    "I am still withholding judgement."

    She shook her head at the girl''s seriousness. The corner of her lip curled up. "Well, then I am also withholding the decision to visit Eve at her second job. We need to ask her permission first. It might get her into trouble if we showed up."

    ''Literally get her in trouble for that matter,'' Andie kept to herself. This would be the second time when Evangeline would be in the vicinity as the twins. She wondered if they''d notice this time.

    The Magical Symphony rented a different venue this time.

    Part of their event was held at their school while most of it were at a nearby building with a backyard. Teachers gathered students in circles for simple sessions. They yed the same sheet music, choosing popr songs for fun.

    The twins were chosen to have their own room in the school. Guests coulde through the back and watch them y. Focusing on one student became a lot more difficult that they thought.

    Ede caught their attention when she yed the piano with her eyes closed.

    Eri swayed along with the music as if the melody also reached her legs.

    Andie listened to the opinions whispered among the audience. She couldn''t help but smile as she recorded the whole performance. Jarrett sat beside her and paid close attention to the twins. Their passion for the instruments shined.

    A low note broke the spell on the watchers.

    "Oops," Ede uttered. She had her lips turned down at the corners with her teeth showing.

    Eri merelyughed and matched the note with her violin. "Come on! The show must go on!"

    The audience became amused. The twins let down their guard and continued the performance casually. Eri moved to her twin''s side, reading the same sheet music ced on the piano stand. Ede flipped the page for them as they tried their best to keep up.

    Even the assigned teacher found their actions charming.

    Meanwhile, at the other venue, Eve had her crimson hair up in a high ponytail. She wore a navy blue wrapped dress. The sleeves cinched at her wrists and puffed around her lower arm. The sun gleamed on the pattern of silver stars, making them glint for the camera. Her ck boots reached up to two inches above her ankles.

    There was a guitar in her hands.

    It surprised her a bit but Amy exined the concept to her.

    "Another part of our expansion is the number of instruments to teach," she stated when they walked down the hallway that led to the backyard earlier. "Guitar is easily recognizable by the public. We think it could attract a lot of attention."

    Eve brushed her fingers against the strings.

    There was only one song she could y.

    She ced her finger on the thinnest string. With each stroke, it glided to another fret. The melody was simplepurely meant for beginners. She entertained herself with it while waiting for the guitar instructor and the students.

    It seemed that for this scene, she would be a helper.

    "Well, that sounds nice," M chuckled, sitting down with her legs crossed. She unzipped the guitar case she brought and pulled out her personal acoustic guitar. It had her initials, MC, engraved on the wood.

    "Ms. rk!" Eve eximed.

    "Surprised?" The gingerhead teased.

    "Well, I shouldn''t be, should I? You are the one running this school."

    M tuned the guitar by testing the strings and adjusting the knobs. She yed it by ear. "Amy thinks I should also be in the shot so you won''t entirely hog the spotlight. Potential students and their guardians might expect to see you here if they dropped by. At least, this way, one of two people in the ads are present."

    She strummed all six strings once and beamed at model. "So. Wanna learn the intermediate level of Twinkle Twinkle Little Star? You already mastered the Beginner Level."

    Eve blushed. Her voice came out small and soft."I think we should start with the chords"

    "Good call."

    Children soon came by with their own guitars. They weren''t students of the school as Eve initially thought but volunteers for the session. They had been ying for a while and already knew the chords.

    Eve gulped. ''I think we should switch ces. It feels like I''m the student here.''

    "Hey, M!" The photographer called out, a DSLR camera dangling from his neck. Stubbles of a beard covered his chin and his 5 o''clock shadow. His shaggy raven hair covered his forehead. He opted for a green id button down and a pair of jeans.

    "Tae!" M yelled. She got up to her feet, dusting the back of her dress. Her arm wrapped around his shoulders as he greeted her the same way. "d you could make it! There''s two venues though. Will you be alright?"

    "Not a problem, not a problem," Tae reassured. "I''ll go check out the school with Amy. Rest assured just do what you had nned. My friend and I will keep up. If you have any new ideas, feel free to share them, okay?"

    "Thanks, Tae. I don''t know what I would do without you," M sighed.

    Tae merely patted her head. "Hey, that''s what childhood friends are for. I really gotta go. I know the school has the important performances of the students. I''ll check back hereter."

    "Got it. Now, get out of here. Shoo!"

    M sat down and resumed the lesson. Eve followed the instructions diligently. For the most part, she focused on her posture and cement of her fingerstrying to match M''s fluid movements.

    Then, they broke into pairs and matched up with two students. Eve partnered with a boy. He had been quiet during the session but kept up easily.

    "How long have you been ying guitar?" She asked, trying to strike a conversation.

    The boy paused and looked up at her smiling face.

    "Hold it right there," a photographer instructed. He kneeled in front of the pair and stared through the lens. He adjusted the focus before clicking on the shutter. "Perfect!"

    Then, his hands pulled down the camera to reveal his beaming chocte eyes. "What do you say about changing positions a bit, hm? So we could get more people in the shot."

 Chapter 182: The Photographer and His Muse

    Chapter 182: The Photographer and His Muse

    "What do you say about changing positions a bit, hm? So we could get more people in the shot."

    Blood drained from Eve''s cheeks when she looked up. A sense of vertigo washed over her head. The smile on her lips gradually faded away. Her hazel eyes widened millimeter by millimeter.

    That was a face she least wanted to see.

    Elias Walker pressed his lips together, his smile unwavering. He switched his gaze between her and the kid. His eyebrows shot up when neither of them responded. "Anytime you''re ready."

    "Lady, what is he saying?" The boy asked Eve. Thezy expression on his face frowned upon receiving zero response. He nudged her with his guitar, hoping it would be enough to wake her up. "Aren''t you supposed to be a model? What does the photographer want?"

    Eve blinked out of her trance. "I"

    "I was saying if you can turn this way so I get more students in the background." Elias got up and moved towards the direction he wanted them to face. He bent on one knee and tested the new angle. The sun shone in the upper right corner this way. It also had a beautiful view of nature way in the horizon.

    It was much better than the first one.

    "Lady? Hello?" The boy tried again.

    "Uh, let''s move over here," Eve mumbled, scooching over. The boy followed without questions but his scowl hadn''t disappeared. He had resumed practicing. The strings plucked a tiny bit harsher than normal.

    "Now, now," Eliasmented. He squinted his eyes at the kid with a yful expression on his face. "Is that any to look when in the presence of a beautiful woman?"

    Eve stopped breathing. The same blood that left her face came back rushing. She turned her head towards the boy and forced a smile. "You still haven''t told me how long have you been practicing."

    ''What was going on right now?'' She asked in her head, rm bells ringing for her to flee. But she couldn''t. It would be unprofessional. She was here to do a job and she would see it throughas long as a certain someone didn''t ruin it for her.

    Where was Cale?

    Where were her bodyguards?

    Did they already know?

    The next few minutes involved serious acting from Eve. Unlike other times, she felt the immense effort it took to seem okay. Most of the people were children and the instructors. They paid their session little attention.

    It didn''t take long for Elias to scout around the premises for more photos.

    "I''ll walk around," he said, getting up and scrolling through the photos. He strode towards M and added, "Please call me for the next phase. I want to get pictures of the others too if you don''t mind."

    His chocte brown hair glowed under the bright sky. The golden hues gave it that luster that came with jewelrynot to mention how it matched his happy-go-lucky demeanor. He truly lived up to the boy-next-door ims from his clients.

    M nodded her head. She had wanted to wrap up the lesson before changing the setting. "Yeah, sure! We''ll finish this in about 15 minutes tops! Why don''t we meet back here?"

    "Sounds good! Enjoy!"

    Eve rediscovered the value of fresh air. It filled her lungs like the sense of freedom when venturing out into an open road. Her right hand stopped strumming. Dull pain coated her left fingertips. She took out her phone and dialled for Cale.

    "Everything okay?" He asked as soon as he picked up.

    "Did you just see what happened?" Eve could hear her heart hammering in her chest. The reaction came after her initial shock.

    "Ugh, I''m also acting as Avery''s proxy today. It involves socializing with the other important folks. Plus convincing anyone new to fund the school." Cale sighed. He wiped the sides of his neck with a peacock handkerchief. "Anyway, what''s going on at your end?"

    "Elias Walker is here."

    "... Can you repeat that one more time?"

    Cale swore that sounded like the fake ex-boyfriend was around. His face had to be very thick for him to show up in the same ce as Eve. What would he even do? Introduce himself as her ex-boyfriend and watch her unable to counter it?

    Eve checked the premises, locating the culprit. She had to make sure he was out of earshot. The boy hardly cared about herck of attentiveness. "Elias Walker is a photographer for the campaign."

    "Shit."

    Cale walked further away from his hiding spot. He had only excused himself when he heard the call. His voice dropped to a whisper despite being beside a set of stairs. His aqua blue eyes flickered in different directions, staying alert.

    "Are you okay?" He asked.

    "I''m fine. He didn''t do anything that wasn''t necessary for his work," Eve described. He didn''t even acknowledge her like Tae did when he approached M. What was his game?

    "We still need to be careful. Do you want to cancel the shoot?"

    "No!" She yelled. Then, closing her eyes, a groan escaped her lips. "I made amitment and I will see it through. Besides, if we leave, doesn''t that mean he won? He won by inflicting fear?"

    Cale considered her words for a moment. "I understand. I''ll see if it''s okay if Nanzie joins you. I''ll also inform Avery about this."

    "What about Ambryan?"

    "I''ll let Avery handle it."

    "Okay. Thank you."

    "Not a problem. Just stay safe."

    Eve ended the call just in time for M to appear in her line of sight. The music teacher had ced the guitar back in its case. She handed it over to a staff and gestured the model to give hers as well.

    "We''ll be mingling with the other groups," M exined as Eve approached her side. "It sounds boring, isn''t it? I really wanted to focus on this ce being fun while the school showcased the main sses and individual practice sessions."

    They waited for Elias to finish his exploration. One group of children beamed at the camera as soon as they saw him. Everyone had something to offer him. The instructors also shared their ideas of how to posesome had done simr to them and pretended to be invested in the music lesson.

    "Seems like there will be a lot of good photos," Eve remarked. The corner of her lips curled up from the disy of enthusiasm. "I think whatever your message is to potential studentses through clearly. I''m wishing you sess in your expansion."

    M chuckled in the same direction as her gaze. "Music has rules but, at the end of the day, like all creative mediums, the creator is free to do as they wish. I want it to be seen as wide as this feld and as open. The sky''s the limit for their musical adventure."

    Soon, Elias finished his trip around the area. He walked up to the twodies with a big smile on his face, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "So what next?"

    "I was thinking we could get some photos with the groups," M answered. She stared at each of them with her lips pursed together. "Do you rmend any of them?"

    Elias spun on his heel and rubbed his chin. He assessed the crowd. "I think we should have at least one instrument per category. We already have guitar for the strings. What about a wind instrument? The r seemed to be an interesting bunch?"

    "Yeah?" M nced his way. Then, she searched for the same group. At the sight of them, she already knew what he meant. "Ah, the Lin sisters. Yes, they are lively."

    "Okay, then. So we agree on the r?"

    "Absolutely."

    Eve followed behind the two. She slowed down her pace, careful not to be too close with Elias. Nanzie emerged beside her. A sigh of relief flowed out of her lungs. As if her bodyguard could sense her stiff behavior, Nanzie ced a hand behind her back.

    It was all the sense of security she needed.

    Against her knowledge, Elias watched her from the corner of his eye. He conversed with M by turning his head in her direction. This allowed him a peripheral view of his beloved ''ex-girlfriend.''

    She was more beautiful than her pictures made her out to be. The crimson hair brought out the natural flush of her fair skin. Pointed round eyes exhibited both innocence and seduction. Her glossy plump lips were the same.

    He could envision an entire collection of photos with her as the main subject.

    The moment heid eyes on her, she became his muse.

    "Uh, Elias?" M said, shifting her attention towards him. They had stopped walking near the r group. She had watched where they were going and missed his far off gaze. Aware of it now, she followed his line of sight.

    Evangeline had stopped a few meters away. She crouched on the ground with a triangle in her hand. The little girl in front of her had the dinger, banging it against the at the bottom of the instrument. Then, the model would take her turn and do the same.

    Laughter poured out of Evangeline''s system.

    It became like a fun little game as the student seemed more invested as they took their turns.

    Both of their smiles gleamed like the triangr steel between them.

    Not a moment to lose, Elias lifted up his camera and froze the scene in time.

 Chapter 183: The Comfort of Familiar Faces

    Chapter 183: The Comfort of Familiar Faces

    With Nanzie present, Eve found herself able to focus on the students. Each group weed her and M to their music lesson. She''d ask about learning how to y and one of the children would volunteer.

    The experience was both heartwarming andnguishing.

    It wasn''t bad. But she did wish it could be her sisters here.

    "Wait, you mean to tell me that the violin isn''t yed this way?" Eve eximed, holding the instrument like it was a guitar or a ukulele. Her fingers positioned to y the beginner version of ''Twinkle Twinkle Little Star''.

    The girl panicked as soon as she tried plucking the strings. "No, no, no! That''s totally not it!"

    "Oh! Then, is it like this?" This time Eve ced the lower bout onto the ground and mimicked the ying of a cello. Since she didn''t have the bow, she strummed the strings like a harp.

    "No, no, no! GAH! NO!"

    Eve took pity on the girl and stopped. It seemed like thetter was about to pluck her hair out. She pressed her lips together to muffle herughter, handing the instrument back. "How is it yed then?"

    The girl snatched it as if afraid that Eve would change her mind. "Like this!"

    Then, she proceeded to demonstrate a simple piece. The rest of the group had gone quiet when they heard the ruckus. M also observed the fiasco. The little girl yed with deep concentration. Her finger movements were pronounced so that Eve could see them clearly.

    Everyone pped when she finished, Eve being the loudest. She sported a big smile on her face, saying, "Wow! That was amazing! If I wanted to y an instrument, should it be the violin?"

    "Of course! It is the best!"

    "r is still better." Another girl snorted. She turned away just before the other person could re at her. Her smug expression resembled that of a cat''s.

    "Yeah, you could use them like this." The girl beside her cut in. Her low butterscotch braid swayed behind her back. She raised two rs on either side of her sister''s ink ck hair. "Now, you have a pair of bunny ears to make you look taller."

    "Why you!"

    "Gotta st!"

    "Lei Lynn! No running!" M shouted as the two sisters chased each other. They dropped their rs and sprinted across the fields, leaving a trail ofughter and annoyance. "You too, Lin Lynn!"

    The music teacher soon gave up and sighed. A different instructor went to fetch the two. She sat with her arms outstretched behind her, keeping her posture upright. "Lively, aren''t they?"

    "Charming." Eve chuckled.

    "Is everything wrapped up around here, Ms. rk?" Elias addressed.

    "Almost. There are schrship students here today. I''d like photos of them with Evangeline."

    "Already?" Eve blinked. The negotiation with Avery was only a month ago. They had finished the transaction that fast and found schrs?

    M merely shrugged. "I''ve seen a couple of children with potential for the past few months. It may seem biased now but I had offered it to them as a jumpstart. From here, we''ll organize a more methodical way of choosing."

    They spent the next hour in a special room at the music school. It turned out that the schrship students were chosen differently. Half of them were newly admitted. Their instruments had been provided by the school. The others were struggling on-board students to pay their dues.

    When Eve was introduced as the ambassadress, thetter''s guardians engulfed her in hugsexpressing how big of a help the schrship was. She did her best tofort them.

    Tae administered an orderly fashion to take the photos. It reminded Eve of graduation ceremonies. All of the schrship students received certificates. Then, the group shot came.

    Safe to say, the room wasn''t that big for them to all be amodated by the camera.

    Elias was quick to react. He approached the group and grabbed Eve''s wrist. She resisted being pulled away. Her hazel eyes shed towards Nanzie. It seemed that her bodyguard was already on alert. She assured her with a nod of her head.

    The gesture stated, ''Don''t worry. I''m here. I''ll act as soon as something is wrong."

    Nodding back, Eve let Elias guide her to the sitting area. He ced his hands on her shoulders and sat her down in the middle. Then, he proceeded to do the same with M and the students. The guardians were told to stand behind the furniture.

    "How''s that?" He asked Tae, searching for approval.

    Thetter moved his tripod and gave a thumbs up. "Perfect."

    Eve smiled for the camera onest time. Was she overthinking a bit? Her reaction had to be weird to the others. Their silent questions surrounded her head. She couldn''t tell if they were real or just her fears.

    Out in the hallway, a party of four passed by the room.

    "What''s going on in there?" Eri wondered out loud. She saw the sh of a camera and stood on her toes. It allowed her just enough height boost to see through the door''s window. "Oh! It''s Evangeline! I wonder if Amber-ann is here too."

    Andie didn''t know whether tough or to scold her. "It''s Ambryan."

    Eri scowled in her direction. "That''s what I said. Ambeeran."

    "Ambryan."

    "Am-bye-ran."

    "Has no one told you to not crush a child''s imagination?" Jarrett cut in, holding his girlfriend''s arm. "You have to set it free so they could explore the far reached in their mind and unearth its treasures."

    Andie arched her eyebrow while Ede tilted her head to the side. The younger twin remained unconvinced, saying, "I think Eri just can''t get his name right."

    "I know his name, okay? It''s Ambyran."

    Jarrett squinted one eye, pinching his thumb and finger. "Almost there."

    A gasp came from the other side of the hallway. Four heads turned towards it. A woman had one hand on her hip. Her upper body leaned to one side, disying her tall frame and curves. She pulled up her blue-tinted sunsses and beamed.

    "Eri! Ede!" Avery eximed. She quickly knelt on one knee and spread her arms. Her ck hair fell in waves over her chest. She wore strappy heels along with a pair of apricot cks and a simple white dress shirt.

    "Aunt Avery!" The twins greeted back in unison. They sprinted down the corridor and hugged her from both sides.

    Andie and Jarrett followed at a slower pace.

    "How are my little girls?" Avery asked, giving them a squeeze.

    Just then, the door opened. The schrship students and their guardians stepped out. A chatter of thank you''s and well wishes filled the hallway. The group stepped aside to let them pass. The twins waved at familiar faces while the rest remained quiet.

    "I think that''s everything!" A voice echoed out of the room. Footsteps gradually became louder as they reached the door. "Thank you all so much for being here. Why don''t we all eat togetherMrs. Hathaway!"

    "M!" Avery responded with enthusiasm. She walked over, ready for an embrace. "How are you, dear?"

    "I''m just d to know you could make it." The music teacher returned the gesture. They swayed side to side for a bit.

    "It wasn''t easy but I wouldn''t want to be anywhere else but here." Avery sneaked a nce behind M. She found Eve and Nanzie easily. They stayed at a distance behind the photographers. Eve managed a small wave.

    M proceeded with the introductions. She redirected the madam''s focus to the two men near her. "Ah, this is Tae and Elias. They''re the photographers today."

    Avery shifted her attention ordingly and shook hands with the two.

    "Pleasure to meet you," Tae spoke first. He had heard of the madam, of course. Her ability to bring sceneries to life didn''t restrict to motion pictures. Even her still advertisementpelled people to look.

    "Likewise, Tae."

    Then, it was Elias'' turn. He gripped her hand and shook it once. His usual bright smile was reced by a polite onehis mouth closed. "Good to see you again, Mrs.Hathaway."

    "Is it?" Avery uttered, tugging the corners of her lips even higher. She let go of his hand while her violet eyes regarded him with contempt. Her voice rang loud and clear through the air. "Last time we saw each other, you wouldn''t even speak to me."

    Eve pressed her lips together, swallowing a snort.

    "Oh, my." M gasped, covering her mouth with her hand. She stepped closer between the two and held her hands in surrender. "I didn''t mean to make things ufortable."

    "Nonsense, dear," Avery quickly denied. She looped arms with M and pulled thetter to her side. "I heard you want to go for lunch? How about we join? It''ll be my treat."

    ''We?'' Eve wondered. She craned her neck to see the crowd of people behind the madam. Andie waved giddily, excited to be a part of the circumstances. Jarrett seemed to be feeling smug right next to her. The twins smiled eagerly at the sound of lunch.

    The faces she had wanted to see appeared before her.

    Wellexcept for one particr handsome face.

    .

    .

    .

    .

    .

    Cale.

    .

    .

    .

    .

    .

    And Ambryan, of course.

 Chapter 184: Whats Your Next Move?

    Chapter 184: What''s Your Next Move?

    It didn''t take long for Avery to have her way. Just before M could protest, she had booked a caterer to bring the food over. There was enough for everyone at both venues. What surprised Eve more than that was how quick the delivery was.

    as if the madam already set an appointment from the start.

    Left with no choice, M had a conference room tidied up for lunch.

    They waited until the staff workers gave their clearance.

    Eve wasted no time to join her family and friends. She tackled into a hug, almost toppling both of them over. Jarrett moved out of the way just in case. "Andie, it''s so good to see you!"

    "Aw, you''re too much, Evangeline." Andie chuckled, patting her back. It was so extra, she couldn''t help but y along in the same fashion. "It feels like I only saw you a few hours ago."

    She felt ten fingernails dig into her blouse.

    "And this is?" Eve released Andie and turned to the left.

    "Jarrett, I''m her boyfriend."

    "I see..." she muttered, shaking his hand. She used the free one to hide her lips and whisper in Andie''s direction. "You can do so much better."

    "I heard that." Jarrett gripped her fingers until they threatened to crack.

    It became a challenge not to react.

    "Kidding!" Eve giggled as she wiggled her hand from his clutch. She flexed her fingers, checking if they could still move. They were still in pain but it was tolerable. She shifted her attention to the twins and ced her hands on her knees. "Now, I wonder where I have seen such lovely little girls? They look so pretty. I doubt I could ever forget their faces."

    "We met at the bakery," Eri replied, a frown on her face. Had it been that long ago? How could Evangeline not recognize them? They had baked cookies that day!

    "Ah, I remember now." Eve straightened her spine and greeted Avery with a hug. "Are they your nieces, Mrs. Hathaway?"

    "Oh, how I wish. They are such a delight."

    "How do you know them then, Avery?" M said, joining the conversation. The two photographers began to discuss details and edits for the photos. They had used many words that she couldn''t recognize. "I recall you seated with them after the recital."

    "Their performance charmed me. I couldn''t resist." Avery ced a hand over her heart and nced at the twins. From the moment she met them, she felt like she understood Eve''s resilience to keep working hard. Who wouldn''t want to spoil such girls?!

    "Ms. rk, the room is ready now."

    "Well," M began to say. She pped her hands once and gestured towards the nearest door. "Anyone else feeling hungry? Let''s have some lunch."

    The seating arrangement went as follows:

    M sat at the head with Avery to her left. Beside the madam was Eve, followed by her twin sisters, Eri and Ede. At the opposite side, Elias positioned himself at M''s right. Tae sat next to him with Jarrett and Andie.

    Avery didn''t hold back on her catering order.

    Tossed sd, bread rolls, four-cheese macaroni, honey garlic shrimp, sriracha chicken wings plus a whole cheesecake upied the middle row of the rectangr table. Two pitchers of iced tea stood at the end with empty drinking sses. Water droplets emerged outside of the container, indicating how cold it was.

    Eri and Ede both have their brown eyes wide on the disy. Their sister could practically see the drool on their faces. It had foods that they loved: cheese, shrimp, chicken and cake.

    "What are you waiting for, girls?" Avery teased, leaning her head in order to see them. "Go on, dig in. Help yourselves. You''re still growing. Don''t worry about your weight just yet."

    Eve gave her a look.

    The madam didn''t seem to notice and started to fill up her own te.

    She did the same. One bite into the shrimp, the dressing coated her tongue. The honey and garlic danced on her taste buds. The same could be said about the chicken wings. If they were too spicy, the macaroni soothed the fire.

    It was a rollercoaster experience to say the least.

    No one spoke as they all fed their hunger.

    "Um, Aunt Avery, where is Amber-ann?" Eri asked after a while. She had a shrimp on her fork, pointing upwards. Her gaze struggled to see the madam. She had to whip her head back and forth just to get a good angle.

    Eve leaned far back to help her outwhen she recovered from almost choking at the name.

    "You mean my son?" Avery wiped the corners of her mouth with a table napkin. "You can call him, Yan, if you''re having a hard time with his name."

    "No, I don''t need a shortcut. I can get his name right."

    She chuckled, slicing her bread roll and using the piece to wipe off her te."Okay, then. He''s pre-upied at the moment. He does send me his apologies, Evangeline. He really wanted to be here."

    Eve blinked. She had wondered about that. He wouldn''t have wasted this chance. What could be keeping him? Shaking her head, Eve responded with a soft smile. "There''s no need for that, Mrs. Hathaway. I understand he''s a busy man."

    "The two of you still get to spend some quality time together?" Tae spoke. He had a chicken wing in his gloved hand. "It can''t be easy. Both of your schedules must be hectic."

    "Are you the paparazzi perhaps?" Eve teased, a sly smirk on her lips.

    Tae scoffed yfully and looked up at the ceiling. He seemed deep in thought for a moment. Then, he shifted his gaze back on Eve. "I don''t have hidden intentions"

    "I''m only joking," Eve rified. She grabbed a ss of iced tea and cleansed her throat. "Yes, I think I''d consider the time we''d spent together as quality material. There hasn''t been a dull moment with him."

    "Just looking out for you, Ms. Reed." Tae shrugged. He took a big bite of his chicken and gave her a thumbs up. "You deserve only the best for that gold heart of yours."

    "Well, I don''t mean to be the mother of the boyfriend but he''s not someone to underestimate," Avery cut in. She heard that these photographers were acquaintances. That sudden topic couldn''t be coincidence.

    This time, she faced the main reason why she was here. A drink in her hand, she swirled its content. "You have been awfully quiet Elias. Do you have a girlfriend perhaps?"

    Elias looked up with his eyebrows raised. He dropped his knife and fork. Then, wiped his lips with a table napkin. "I''m not affiliated with anyone at the moment, Mrs. Hathaway."

    "Oh?" Avery feigned innocence. She had known that, of course. It wasn''t just him who could do some digging. Her head tilted sideways as she sighed. "I remember you having many admirers. You''d even divide your time so you could take them all out."

    Eve choked on her shrimp while Andie was quick to jump on the bandwagon. Her elbow propped on the table as she rested her cheek on the base of her palm. "Wow! You must have been adies'' man then, huh? I rarely meet someone like you. I''d love to hear more about this story."

    Elias pressed his lips together and politely flickered his eyes between the two. "That''s in the past, Mrs. Hathaway. Once you meet someone special, that kind of thing bes dull and boring."

    Then, theynded next to the madam. "It can''tpare to such radiance."

    Itsted a split second before he turned back to his te. When he became silent, Eve analyzed the past few hours. ''What was his game?'' She had anticipated what he''d do since he showed up. Was he really here to only do photography?

    Thatst look said otherwise.

    M perked up at Elias'' words. "You have someone you admire, Elias? Mind influencing Tae?"

    "Oh, shut up, M." Tae responded, pieces of chicken still in his mouth.

    Eri and Ede gasped and pointed their forks at him. "Don''t talk with your mouth full!"

    Laughter roared over the table while Tae apologized to the twins. He chewed quickly and swallowed it down with his ss of iced tea. He stuck out his tongue to show them that he was clean.

    They scrunched their noises in this disgust.

    "As for your question, I do," Elias replied, a chuckle stuck in his throat. He bit into a shrimp. His chocte eyes turned glossy as he stared at the table. "It''s someone I would never forget."

    M hid her face as she drank. Her gaze flickered in Eve''s direction. She had seen how Elias looked at her. It was the same expression he wore when talking about her just now. Once in a while, a person would manage to find such love. The kind that was deep and has imprinted in one''s soul.

    Other times, someone gets lucky to have two.

    Eve stared off into space, missing the exchange. It didn''t matter anyway since they were lies. She felt her phone vibrate in her pocket. Panic rose in her chest. It had to be Ambryan. She hadn''t told him about Elias and now he had sent her a lengthy message scolding her for it.

    Hiding it under the table, she unlocked the device.

    .

    ``Unknown: I don''t know why you''d have to pretend in order to be with a man. Seems like he''s not worth it.``

 Chapter 185: Can I Have a Moment Alone?

    Chapter 185: Can I Have a Moment Alone?

    ``Unknown: I don''t know why you''d have to pretend in order to be with a man. Seems like he''s not worth it.``

    Eve paled, her lips turning cold. Her number was private. Only select people connected with Eve knew about it. All negotiations for modelling projects were made through Cale. No client had her direct contact. There didn''t seem a need for a second number when Avery had restricted her and Ambryan on the app.

    Then, who could this be?

    "Evangeline? Are you alright?"

    Blinking up, Eve broke out of her daze. Her eyes met Avery''s who reflected her startled expression. She hid her phone immediately while her lips stretched into a coy smile. "Was I obvious? How embarrassing. I thought it might be Ambee''s text message. I''ve been missing him a lot since he became busier."

    Jarrett choked on his macaroni. His silver utensils fell on the te as he coughed out the pasta. Andie quickly came to his aid and patted his back. She handed him the ss of iced tea, hoping it could wash it down.

    "You okay there, man?" Tae asked on his other side. He pped Jarrett''s back harder than Andie did. Each one was dyed by a second. He stopped when Jarrett lifted an arm in protest. The iced tea was almost gone.

    "I''m fine," he assured everyone, the ss mming on the table. "I just had my head in the clouds. Carry on."

    Avery turned back to Eve and touched her arm. "Why don''t you send him a message? I''m sure he''d be happy to hear from you."

    With everyone''s gaze on her, Eve didn''t really much have a choice. She slipped her phone out and thought of a quick message. He might be in the middle of a lunch meeting. He had been swamped with those for the past week.

    What would be the best thing to say?

    .

    ``Lin: 911 speaking. How may I help you?``

    .

    Eve pressed her lips together. Her cackle went back in her chest. It became difficult to breathe. The strands of her hair fell on either side of her face. The worries she had a minute ago went to the back of her mind. Her rtionship was out to the whole world.

    How could seven pairs of eyes make her feel shy?

    Her phone vibrated in her hand.

    .

    ``Yan: Sing a song?``

    ``Lin:  That is not part of our services.``

    ``Yan: I recall there wasn''t a problemst time.``

    .

    Eve bit her tongue. Her sheepish expression had been reced by horror. Fingers typing fast, she exined her situation in a lengthy message. She wasn''t alone likest time and she couldn''t just suddenly leave

    .

    ``Yan: I''d feel better if I hear your voice.``

    .

    Blood rushed up her neck and into her cheeks. Since when did Ambryan act this way? Was there something actually wrong? The second thought had taken over her mind. He was always put together in everything he does.

    Maybe it was just an act.

    Maybe he needed a bit of help.

    "Will you please excuse me?" Eve asked no one in particr. She had already risen from her seat. Her legs moved fast and raced for the door. Urgency simmered in her veins.

    "By all means, take your time," Avery replied when Eve was halfway out. Then, she took over the conversation, immediately grabbing Tae''s attention. They talked about several famous photo pieces and shared their tastes in aesthetics.

    M stared at the door.

    She had one fork in her clump of macaroni. It was one thing to hear and see it in the news. It was another thing to witness part of the rtionship. Her heart sank, sensingplete defeat on its way. She could im that the media sources were exaggeratingbut not anymore.

    Instincts told her that Evangeline''s behavior wasn''t for show.

    She just didn''t know how to exin it.

    Andie debated whether to follow her best friend or not. On, one hand, Eve wasn''t in the wrong identity for this one. On the other, Elias could follow her outside. It would be a good chance to have her alone. Who knew what he''d do then?

    But Nanzie was there.

    It should be fine.

    Jarrett stole a shrimp from her te. She grabbed his wrist and pulled it back, biting it whole.

    Out in the hallway, Eve checked every cubicle in the first restroom that she found. She did the same with the janitor''s closet and other possible hiding ces. Once the coast was clear, she locked the door and took a deep breath.

    The DTC app was still open.

    Three dots appeared at the bottom, telling her that Ambryan was typing.

    She pressed the call button and ced the phone by her ear. It rang for a second before the receiver picked it up. Heavy breathing flowed out of the hand speaker. The air conditioner hummed low in the background.

    Eve mped her mouth. "I''m sorry. Are you in a meeting?"

    "No," Ambryan replied. His voice sounded deeper.

    Her eyebrows knitted together. "Wait are you sick?"

    "Just a little under the weather" He coughed, cing the phone away from his mouth until he was done. "I''ll be fine in the morning."

    ''Is that why he asked for that memorandum?'' Eve began to wonder. She paced around the restroom and counted. He had messaged yesterday about his absence. His cold had to be around longer than that. It wouldn''t stop him from working easily.

    That meant the cold had developed the past few days.

    Now, it had worsened to the point where he was bedridden.

    "Have you taken medication?"

    "Yes."

    "Fluids?"

    "Yes."

    "Other than tea?" Eve demanded, halting her steps. Her reflection in the bathroom mirror disyed her stance. She had one hand on her hip and stood with her feet apart. Her scowl was directed at a wall.

    "Yes, mother dropped by with some soup."

    "Good." She sighed. Relief swelled in her chest. At least, Avery was able to visit him. There wasn''t anything in his pantry for a sick person to eat. Did he have fruit? Should she buy some? What about Kiri? Was he able to feed her? Was he okay being alone?

    "Is there anything you need?" Eve helplessly asked. He was a grown man. It wouldn''t be appropriate to treat him like his sisters. He knew what he needed. He also had the power to get themplus his mother was aware of his condition.

    There was someone to take care of him already.

    Ambryan hummed for a moment. "I think I requested a song."

    "..." Eve regretted her vague question. She should have nagged like she had wanted to in the first ce. Unfortunately, it was a littlete to change her mind. "Any request?"

    "That luby you sang in the bakery."

    "... Really?"

    "Yes."

    Eve cleared her throat. Soft whispers floated inside her head. The sound of the song from when she first heard it. A pair of indigo eyes gently watched over her as sheid in bed. Night air breezed into her window.

    The world had frozen in time.

    ```Hear this song as you sleep,

    A tale of a maiden whoys in her feet,

    Under the willow at night she danced,

    With only the whispers of winds she has```

    ```Hear this song as you dream,

    As the unsettling silence became the melody,

    With grace and poise, the maiden danced,

    Yearning for the love she won''t have,```

    Wiping the hints of a tear, Eve cut off the song. Her body trembled from the sensation. Something tight squeezed her chest. It was a miracle that she could still speak. "Get plenty of rest."

    "Thank you."

    She hung up before Ambryan could say anything more. She spun on her heel and checked herself in the mirror. It had been a while since those memories surfaced. She hadn''t stepped inside that ruddy apartment in five years.

    How did it look like now? Shaking thest trace of those thoughts away, Eve checked her appearance onest time and unlocked the door.

    She managed to take half a step before getting blocked.

    Elias Walker stood right in front of her. Gone was his carefree look. It had been reced by disdain. The dark expression spooked her, causing her to jump. She sidestepped to get around him but he merely widened his legs.

    He had her trapped.

    "Excuse me but I''d like to go back to the conference room," Eve demanded. Her hazel eyes red at him through hershes. If he was acting this way then, two could y the same game.

    He chuckled, his hands resting on either side of the doorframe. The smile on his lips didn''t match his gaze. "Oh, I''m sorry, Ms. Reed. It''s just rare to have you alone."

    "Nanzie"

    "She won''t hear you." Elias smirked. Then, he leaned a bit closer as if to tell her a secret. "I think she saw someone dressed like me and chased after it."

    Eve grabbed the front of his shirt and yanked him down, holding the fabric by the fist.

    "What did you do with her?" She sneered.

    "Your bodyguard? She''s fine. She''lle back soon enough." He assured her with a pat on her head. "I just wanted to be alone with you for a bit."

    Eve narrowed her gaze. "What do you want?"

    "Answers." He shrugged and reached for a strand of her hair. He trailed it until his fingers reached the tips then, brushed them against his nose. "You didn''t reply to my message back there. Is it because I''m not Ambryan?"

 Chapter 186: We Meet at Last

    Chapter 186: We Meet at Last

    Eve unhinged her jaw. Little by little, the tension left her ground teeth. The scowl in her brows struggled to stay constricted. His words slowly sank in her mind. The two eventsthen and nowconnected like puzzle pieces.

    But her hazel eyes remained sharp.

    "Surprised?" Elias smirked. He peeled her fingers off his shirt. "But is it really? If you think about how much I''ve done so far, getting your number is a piece of cake."

    He took a step inside the restroom.

    Eve''s arm shot up to block his path, her nails digging into the doorframe. She nudged his ribs with her elbow. "If you want answers, you won''t get inside of this bathroom."

    "Oh?" He mocked. His eyebrow arched up. Their faces were only five fingers apart. "Will you tell me out in the hall where there could be eavesdroppers?"

    "Will I let you inside where security cameras are around?"

    She wasn''t dumb. After the incident with Mikael, misunderstandings could surface with a single photo. This whole conversation had to be recorded. She made a mental note to have Nanzie and her team investigate possible copies like an insider in the school''s security.

    Avery should also know about it.

    "So you are sharper than I thought." Elias retreated until his back hit the other side of the hallway. He had one foot against the wall while he tucked his hands inside his pant pockets. He nced towards the left then towards the right. "Everyone is eating right now. I don''t think any of them would show up out of the blue."

    Eve stayed where she was. She prayed that Nanzie would be back soon. That fake Elias scheme couldn''tst long. Still, she heightened her hearing and sneaked a peek at both ends of the hallway.

    Then, she faced him once more. "My business with Ambryan has nothing to do with you."

    "Business?" Elias blinked, fluttering hisshes. "I thought it was a ''rtionship''?"

    "Is that what you n to tell everyone?" Eve maneuvered. Her response neither confirmed nor denied his implication. The only thing she could keep now was to not give him an admission/disclosure.

    Her words shouldn''t be used against her.

    "If I was, I wouldn''t have joined this charade." He snorted. It was easy to find evidence on her lies. Her education? Just look up a yearbook and she wouldn''t be in it. Her hometown? Her name wouldn''t be in the records.

    But that was too easy.

    As tempting as it was, he wanted something better than that.

    "What makes you think this is fake?" Eve countered again. She leaned her shoulder against the doorframe and crossed her arms over her chest. "Try as you will, this might just backfire on you."

    "I think I made that clear in my message." Elias gave her a skeptical look, the corner of his lip curled up. He stalked towards her until they were a meter away. His tall frame towered her. She cursed his long legs. "Who are you exactly, Ms. Evangeline Reed? No one really knows you before you became the CEO''s girlfriend. In fact, it was like you didn''t exist at all."

    He rubbed his thumb against his chin and titled his head sidewards. "Were you paid to do this? An aspiring actress perhaps who saw it as a gig? Must be a pretty big amount of money."

    Eve gritted her teeth. "Is that what you want? Find out the hidden identity that you im?"

    Elias grinned. "Well yed, Ms. Reed, but no."

    He caught on quickly on her intentions. It was admirable but evading to answer was a step closer to confirming his statementsat least, implicating that there is some truth behind them.

    "Although I am tempted to know how long you''d keep this up" he began to say, shrugging his shoulders, "If it wasn''t fake, you really would be Evangeline Reed until you''re old? Please."

    Eve pressed her lips together. There should be a way around this. It shouldn''t be a big deal like he wanted her to believe. The little information behind Evangeline Reed was hers. The only thing that changed was the name.

    This might be the time to create a backup n if he did decide to expose her.

    "Again, what do you want?" She tried for the nth time. He had denied her suspicions so far. It was about time they got to the bottom of this. They could only move forward if he admitted his objectives.

    Elias dropped his guard. His entire demeanor turned back to his carefree attitude. It astonished Eve at how agreeable he looked this way. "For you to buy my silence."

    ''What did they call this again? ckmail?'' She thought to herself, biting her inner cheek. If she agreed then that was basically a confession. It could be used as an act of her admitting that he had something to be silent about.

    He really wasn''t about to let her escape.

    "What silence? You''re the one who imed that you are a part of my past," Eve feigned innocence. He may have known about her methods but she wasn''t backing down either.

    Elias raised his hands in surrender. His eyes widened at the floor. "Hey, if I came out as a liar, it would only be a matter of time before you would be found out."

    Then, he directed a wink in her direction. "I''m not really against you. I''d actually want to be closer. Haven''t I expressed that since the billboard was up?"

    "I think you have expressed ill intentions on Ms. Evangeline," a voice responded behind him. Two strong hands grabbed his wrists and yanked them behind his back. The hold only missed a pair of handcuffs.

    Nanzie shifted her feet until Eve could see her face. Her cyan eyes darkened like an untamed ocean. "As a threat to her safety, I have to take rightful measures."

    Eve stepped towards the conference room. Nanzie could take it from here. She took onest look of Elias. Indifference painted over his face. "It was nice talking to you, Mr. Walker. I''d appreciate it if you stopped spreading lies about our affiliation. Thank you."

    Then, she left the scene.

    It was at the moment she realized that she hadn''t been breathing properly. Her hands shook as she approached the door. A part of her thanked anyone above that Elias hadn''t done anything worse. He could have threatened her with her life. She felt grateful that he didn''t have a weapon.

    But that had to be reserved for something in exchange.

    Her hand twisted the knob and let the door open by a fraction. Delightedughter flowed out from the other side, entering her ears. The day was supposed to be about the school''s expansion project. Her presence was meant for a good cause.

    She shouldn''t let this incident ruin it.

    Meanwhile, back at the restroom entrance, Nanzie didn''t loosen her grip. She waited patiently for him to make a move. The moment he would try to break free, she would knock him down.

    "I could actually be good for her, you know?" Elias chuckled. He craned his neck from one side to another as if he had all the time in the world for this.

    "You''re trying to ckmail her with things you im. That''s never good," Nanzie snapped back. The rest of her team stood on standby, reporting to Avery''s assigned personnel. They would wait for her instructions on how to proceed.

    "And what? Will you report me to the police? Are her lies legal then? If everyone had to bewfully punished for every lie they spit out of their mouths, prison bars would be extended to every house."

    Elias yawned. This was all unnecessary. The best they could do was prove he was lying. It would be too easy to redirect the attention on them with some evidence. To stop him from that, they would need to buy his silence.

    And he had already offered it on a tter.

    This game was only going in circles.

    "Not all lies are life-threatening. Only trust-breaking," Elias heard behind him. "Move inside the restroom. You''ll be detained until further notice."

    "Touch." He heaved a sigh. No one else had dropped by the corridor. They must have closed it until they could get him out of sight. Nanzie shoved him towards the door. He resisted with his feet just to humor her.

    "I don''t suppose you''d be providing me answers in Evangeline''s ce? Like who is the real person behind this faade?" He asked once his wrists were free. Nanzie set to work to see if anything could be used as a weapon against her and hid them.

    "Ms. Evangeline is who she is" was all she said.

    "And who is this she?" Elias tried again. It was starting to get annoying. "Why even bother to avoid it? I already know Evangeline is a fake. What sort of identity does she have that is ssified? It''s not like I''d judge her if she was a terminated waitress with nowhere else to go."

    Nanzie ignored him.

    She had a feeling this would keep up for a while.

    The toilet plunger was starting to give her ideas on how to silence another person.

 Chapter 187: Hm, Living Pillow/s?

    Chapter 187: Hm, Living Pillow/s?

    Avery breathed a sigh of relief when Eve stepped through the door.

    She and Elias were gone for a long time. She began to worry if something had happened. A message popped up in her locked phone screen. Her middle finger swiped it off, having already read its contents at a nce.

    Eve had to leave as soon as possible. Her grip tightened around an empty drinking ss. As long as she could, she wouldn''t let her and Elias be in the same vicinity. They also couldn''t keep him in the restroom for a long time.

    But how should she end this lunch session?

    It had to be soon or someone would notice Elias'' absence.

    Eri leaned back on her chair, her stomach bulging out of her dress. It threatened to rip off the ribbon around her waist. She hadn''t eaten so much in so long. Everything tasted really goodif only her stomach was bigger, she''d have more.

    Beside her, Ede ate herst piece of shrimp. "Delicious!"

    "I''ll say!" Eri said. She groaned and held her stomach with her hands. "I can eat that mac and cheese forever!"

    Andie shook her head across the table. "The two of you should get some exercise. You have to start a healthy lifestyle while you''re still young. How else would you be pretty and fit like Evangeline? She even has a wonderful boyfriend."

    "Hey!"

    "You''re almost as good. Don''t worry, Jarrett."

    Ede scrunched her nose. "But boys have cooties."

    "That''s right!" Andie agreed, holding up a finger. "Stay away from them as much as you can."

    "But you said we should get a boyfriend someday," Eri reminded her. This sort of talk always showed up randomly. The little girl could never tell why they suddenly decided to talk about it.

    "Yes, get a man, not a boy. That will only happen when you reach adulthood, okay?" Andie rified. Jarrett rolled his sky blue eyes. "No dating unless you''re 18. Got it?"

    Eri scrunched her eyebrows, something else on her mind. "Then, why is it called ''boyfriend''?"

    "Google it."

    Avery shed a smile. "Are you gonna go out? World of Adventure has some fun activities. You can go there for free. Just say the word."

    Eve snapped her head towards the madam. "Mrs. Hathaway, I don''t think that''s necessary."

    She had already spent so much on this lunch. Even if she had the money to spare, Eve couldn''t let her spend it impulsively like that. They had enough money to cover the fees. "You''ve already done so much.

    "Well, call me, selfish, but I just love having kids to spoil."

    Jarrett raised his ss in her direction. "Like grandkids."

    "Especially," Avery emphasized. "Grandkids."

    Eve red at the culprit. Jarrett merely fluttered hisshes, sporting a cheeky smile.

    M propped her chin on the base of her palm. The exchange was lighthearted and fun. She found it rare to see. Most people she dealt with had strict mannerisms and conduct to uphold. Some of them also had the fakestpliments.

    "Penny for your thoughts?" Tae asked from his seat.

    She scrunched her nose. "There''s not much. I''m just enjoying the conversation."

    "On second thought," Andie cut in before her boyfriend and her ''best friend'' could give away any hints on thetter''s identity. "I think I''d love to go to World of Adventure. There''s no need for you to sponsor though, Mrs. Hathaway. We''ll be able to take care of it."

    "Nonsense!" The madam protested with a snort. "The two of you should go on a date. I''m sure Evangeline can take care of the twins. If they''re ever caught in public, it might be good PR on the schrship program for the school."

    Eve choked on her iced tea. Did Avery really mean her to stay in disguise longer? Every nerve in her body alerted her to change back. It offered her anotheryer of security from Elias and she wanted it as soon as possible.

    "Oh, that could be good," M remarked. She directed a sheepish smile at the model. "I''m sorry if it''s too much to ask. It''s alright if you have other ns. I''m sure you''d want to see Ambryan right after this."

    Her chest stung from her own words. Moving on sucked. Not only was it a long process but it wasn''t easy. The littlest things could be a trigger. Oh, she started to loathe it.

    "I" Eve stopped short. Her gaze shifted onto the twins. Their brown almond-shaped eyes looked up at her. Their expressions were indifferent but those eyes were still hard to resist. It probably shouldn''t hurt.

    It might even be a good chance for her to rx. She clicked her tongue, thinking on an itinerary. "So what do you say about hanging out with me a little longer?"

    "That''s the spirit!" Avery supported. She patted Eve''s shoulder and got up. "You should go while the day is young. We''ll take care of things here. If M and Tae don''t mind, I could also be your understudy model for the day when needed."

    "I know I wouldn''t pass on the chance to work with you," Tae expressed. He rose to his feet and helped clean up the table. His movements hustled at a fast pace, excitement brimming under his skin. Maybe he could even manage a few shots unrted to the campaign.

    Avery left him to his thoughts. She would have to sneak off a littleter than usual. Her priorities were still on Eve and herpanions. Elias might connect the dots if he was smart enough.

    Everyone lended a hand to make things easier for the caterers. Then, they split up into parties. Nanzie had reappeared shortly after. She gave Eve a reassuring nod. Thetter decided not to speak about Elias untilter.

    For now, she had twins to entertain.

    ''Speaking of entertainment'' Her head tilted to the side. The others had already left. Andie seemed a little too happy about the situation but she ignored it. She agreed with Avery anyway. Her best friend deserved a break for looking after her sisters today.

    "So where are we going, Evangeline?" Eri questioned. Her stomach was still round but, at least, she could move better. She didn''t feel well enough for a world of an adventure though. Her chances of throwing up were high.

    "Do you mind if we drop by somewhere?"

    Ede was the one who reacted first. "Where?"

    A mischievous grin stretched across Eve''s lips. She had just the perfect activities for them to do. "I need to go feed a cat. But we will need to make one stop along the way."

    .

    .

    .

    .

    .

    "Is this where you live?" Eri stared in wonder at the fancy ce. Everything gleamed around her in gold and ivory. The ceilings were also high. It almost felt like a modern castle. Ede also noticed the borate interior, expressing little reactions.

    "No, but it is where the cat lives," Eve answered. She used a card key on the lock.

    A ball of white fur crawled between her legs. "Meow~"

    "Kitty!" Ede eximed. Without a moment to lose, she picked up the cat and cradled it in her arms. "She is so soft! It''s like a living pillow! Feel her fur, Eri! You''ll see what I mean."

    Her older sister touched the cat''s head.

    "Meow~" Kiri purred, pushing her head further into her palm.

    Eri gasped.

    "Can we keep her?" She breathed out.

    "Come on. Get inside." Eve rushed them into the penthouse and ced the card in a safe ce. The madam''s face was still fresh on her mind. Avery practically shoved the key into her hands, telling her to even keep it. She wouldn''t be surprised if the madam had wrong ideas about the request.

    Although she had tried to stay away, Eve couldn''t help worries.

    Two bags of groceries upied her hands. The twins navigated their way towards the living room. Eve had given them the cat food beforehand, already predicting this sort of behaviour from them. She remembered how they took care of a stray in their hometown.

    They couldn''t take it inside because their mother was allergic.

    "What do you think her name is?" Eri moved her fingers behind the cat''s ears.

    "Well, her eyes are purple" Ede noted. "Maybe ''Amethyst''?"

    "That soundsme. What about ''Vani''?"

    Eve settled the bags on the ind counter. Then, she sneaked a peek at Ambryan''s home office. She opened its door to find an empty room. Her hazel eyes squinted at the minute details. Her hand pressed against the back of theputer monitor.

    It was a bit cold to the touch.

    Which meant it hadn''t been used recently.

    ''Good.''

    "What are you doing here?" A voice breathed down her ear from behind.

    The hairs at the back of her neck rose up. She had lostmunication between her brain and her body. Her spine went rigid. Her motor skills hadpletely shut down. It was the perfect moment for a predator to snatch his prey.

    Searing hot skin cradled on her shoulder while two arms snaked their way around her waist.

    Ambryan lifted his head, his nose trailed the side of her neck. He traced the tip on the outline of her outer ear. Goosebumps rose up at each ce it touched. His breathing was heavy like he snuffed out hers and made it his own.

    Eve''s lungs screamed for air.

    "Tell me" Ambryan whispered, his dry throat rasping his voice. "What does it mean when a womanes willingly into a man''s house?"

 Chapter 188: Reminder, This is PG-13

    Chapter 188: Reminder, This is PG-13

    Silence fell inside the room. The sun descended outside the window, illuminating the space in warm colors of orange, red and purple. Eve faced in its direction but her eyes perceived nothing. Her focus fastened towards her sense of hearing and of touch.

    Unlike before, every inch of her skin felt hotnot just her face.

    Ambryan weighed heavily behind her. He supported himself up with her shoulders. Since his body leaned forward, he didn''t pull her backwards. Unfortunately, this meant that his mass of bones and muscles threatened to crush her instead.

    It also didn''t seem to lighten anytime soon.

    His breaths sounded loud in her ears.

    "Wait, Ambee," Eve began to say. She patted his shoulders. There was no response. She tried again, increasing the pressure until it became like a p. Ambryan still didn''t react to her assault.

    He had fallen asleep.

    Her knees struggled to support both of them.

    "Damn it." Eve staggered forward, her upper body feeling like it could break in half. It proved to be an impossible task with his arms on her waist. She wrapped her hands around his wrist and yanked them away from each other. She only needed a little room, enough for her to shift positions.

    Except nothing happened.

    Eve hissed."Ambee, wake up. Come on. You were just awake less than a minute ago."

    The furniture in front of her was the desk. If they fell, her body would hit it first. She attempted to rotate in ce but, once again, Ambryan proved to be a strong block. Only her legs and her feet would face a different direction.

    Maybe she should try moving sideways

    Bending her upper body lower, Eve endured more of his weight on her back. She hoped it could loosen his stance. It was basically an attempt for an awkward piggyback ride. She took a step as a test. Her foot lurched against the floorbut it was ahead of her other one.

    It should be enough for her to have them change locations.

    At least, close enough for her to guide onto the couch.

    Eve set to work.

    She lost track of time, sweat coating the back of her neck. The experience seemed like a sauna or a human-sized hot pack. She picked up the pace as they reached the couch. Every now and then, she''d pause to rest and take a breather.

    They were almost there

    Once she was satisfied with the distance, Eve straightened her spine. She seeded until her mid-back. Her shoulders remained hunched. ''Now, how to get him on the furniture?''

    Eve tried his arms again. They were like beams of stainless steel. There was no bending them with her strength. It left her with little choices. She twisted her torso so Ambryan''s weight would be off her back.

    The theory was he''d still propel forward andnd on the couch.

    The reality was the n seededbut he dragged Eve along with him.

    "GAH!" She yelped. The side of her head hit his chest. For a moment, neither one moved. Eve blinked as she tried to understand their position. Her legs had been entangled with his. She lied on her side but his arms remained around her waist.

    His chest rose up and down in a steady rhythm.

    Eve grabbed the back of the cough and pulled herself up, wiggling along the way.

    This time, his arms loosened. She took advantage of it. Careful not to wake him, she managed a sitting position. Her legs swung over to the side, her feet finding the floor. Freedom was only a few seconds away.

    Then, a hand tugged her back.

    "What the"

    Eve stopped her momentum by positioning her hands on either side of Ambryan. The base of her palm dug into the cushions, bending her wrists in an ufortable manner.Her gaze snapped to his face.

    It stared back with a serene expression and a pair of closed eyes.

    She narrowed hers. "Alright, mister. I know you''re awake. Fess up."

    Ambryan opened one eye. His lips smiled at her stern expression. "Can''t a sick person have a little fun? Don''t they say thatughter is the best medicine?"

    Eve gritted her teeth. "Well, I don''t find it funny."

    He pushed himself up until their faces were an inch apart. "Neither did I. But it was pleasant."

    "You find torturing me as pleasant?"

    "I find holding you as pleasant."

    A lump formed in Eve''s throat. Her mouth mped shut. He wasn''t holding her anymore but she felt the same fire simmering in her veins. The hairs on her skin stood upright. Beats as loud as drums hammered inside her chest.

    Ambryan''s eyes hooded. He cupped her cheek and brushed his thumb over her blush. At first, he thought it had been a dreamthat he had to hold her to be sure. Now, he couldn''t get enough.

    "Why do you tempt me so much?"

    His lips were closing thest few centimeters between them.

    .

    .

    .

    .

    .

    "What are youOHMYGOWHAT ARE YOU DOING?!" A voice shrieked from the doorway.

    Eve snapped out of her daze. Curly bronze hair caught her attention. Her breath hitched at the sight of their audience. Steel gray eyes met her hazel ones. The former threatened to pop out of their sockets.

    Richard opened his mouth.

    Then, he closed it again.

    Had their rtionship progressed this far? Howe he didn''t know about it? Was this a real thing now? Had his best friend made up his mind? Thousands of questions popped up in his head. They disoriented his state of shock further.

    The room even started to spin right before him.

    Ambryan angled his face towards the door, enough to re at the intruder through the corner of his eyes. "Richard, this better be important or I won''t have a reason to let you live."

    A shiver went up Richard''s spine. He managed to move his and pointed a finger towards the floor. His lips quivered as Ambryan intensified his re.

    "W-Well, there are children here." He gulped, praying that he''d be spared.

    Two caramel heads peeked through the doorway. Their brown eyes blinked when the pair looked at them. Their nostrils rested against the wooden frame and hid the rest of their face.Another head joined underneath theirs. This one had white fur and purple eyes.

    The seconds ticked by.

    Eve immediately got up. Her foot slipped in her haste and Ambryan steadied her with one arm. He used the opportunity to also stand up, keeping a hold on her. He used his free hand to dust off his clothing.

    Doing the same, Eve bowed her head. She couldn''t look him in the eye anyway. "Long time, no see, Mr. Kingston. Hope you have been well."

    "Likewise," Richard replied out of habit. He didn''t need to look to know Ambryan was sending a silent message for him to leave. "Anyway, I just dropped by to check on Yan. I heard he was sick from Aunt Avery. I''m d he''s doing okay. I''ll be leaving."

    Not a second to lose, he bolted for the exit. He needed time to process the scene. Normally, he did so by telling Ambryan about these things. It wasn''t possible for this case. Should he tell Avery? Or would Ambryan actually strangle him if he did?

    Whatever may happen, he was safer far away from the pair.

    At least for the time being.

    Ambryan ignored his departure and focused on the two girls. "Howe you''re all here?"

    Eve shrugged. "We were at The Magical Symphony earlier. Your mother thought it was a good idea for the three of us to spend time together."

    She might have thought of a better answer but his arm distracted her. A little more and his fingers were close to tickling the side of her stomach.

    "Is it just the three of you?" Ambryan frowned.

    "Yes."

    He directed his next question towards the twins. "Where''s your sister?"

    Eri stepped out of the shadows. She yed with her hands, feeling nervous for some reason. "I don''t know. Andie said she was at her part-time job."

    "Part-time job?"

    "Yeah," Ede joined her. She picked up the other eavesdropper and held her at arm''s length. "Evangeline said we had to feed a cat. So here we are!"

    Ambryan nced at Kiri. The bundle of fur seemed happy to havepany. He sighed. Thumping pain squeezed the sides of his head. A cough bubbled inside his chest. He lifted a fist towards his lips. "I see. Thank you for visiting my cat."

    "What''s her name?" Ede couldn''t help but ask. The debate between her and her sister wouldn''t have stopped if Richard hadn''t knocked on the door.

    "It''s Kiri."

    "Kiri?" Eri tilted her to one side. "Isn''t that cheese?"

    Eve attempted augh. "Are you hungry already? I''ll prepare something for us to eat."

    "Eh, I don''t think I can eat another bite today," Eri shared. She pointed a thumb over her shoulder. "Can we use the TV? Our favorite show is about to start."

    "Sure. Use it as much as you like."

    "Thank you!" The twins replied in unison. Then, they ran for the living room, taking Kiri along.

    Counting to five, Eve figured it was safe to leave. She pried off Ambryan''s hand on her side and took a step towards the door. "They might not be hungry but you need to eat something other than soup. I''ll bring it to your room once I''m done."

    Ambryan snatched her wrist and kissed the side of her neck. "I''ll be waiting then."

 Chapter 189: Stay?

    Chapter 189: Stay?

    Eve stood outside the door.

    She held a tray in front of her. It had a bowl of creamy soup, pieces of garlic bread, cup of hot tea mixed with honey, a few slices of orange and a ss of lukewarm water for the medicine. The soup already had a lot of solid food like chicken bits and vegetables. There really wasn''t anything for her to add.

    But she suspected he hadn''t been eating much for the past few days.

    "Aren''t you going inside?" Eri asked from the couch.

    Ede followed her sister''s line of sight. "We won''t peek. Don''t worry."

    A snort puffed out of Eve''s nose. It rxed her tensed muscles. "Thanks, girls."

    It would be her first time to enter this room. Hell, she hadn''t even seen it once before. She knocked on the door, bncing the tray in one hand. What could she expect of his room? It probably had minimalistic furniture and decor like his office.

    When no response came, she opened the door hesitantly.

    The room was dim. A small fire simmered from a firece. Her eyebrows shot up. Despite the heat, the air leaned on the cold side. She figured it was used more as a bit of light than warmth. The interior had a lot more wood design than she thought. The bed was raised on a tform in the middle. Its headboard snaked up to the ceiling like a canopy.

    She closed the door behind her and approached the bed.

    Ambryan lied on his back underneath gray sheets. He had his eyes closed. The first button of his sleepwear was open. Crease lines wrinkled on his forehead. Sweat drenched the tips of his hair.

    Eve reached out to smooth out his scowl.

    Even in his sleep, he was stressed.

    She set the tray on the nightstand and sat on the bed, crossing her legs. She checked his temperature. It was as hot as she remembered. It would take a while to get it down. That thought raised questions in her head. Like how long had he been sick for? How long had it been this high? What has he done to cure it?

    His eyelids fluttered open. The first thing he saw was her.

    "Hey" Eve whispered. "Can you sit up? You have to eat."

    Ambryan coughed as he shifted his position. His sinuses were clogged. He moved sluggishly. Eve held his arms for support. She watched him closely. "Would you like soup or tea first?"

    "Tea."

    "Of course," she muttered with a chuckle. Fetching the tea, she held it by its saucer and let him hold the cup. "I added some honey. Hope you still like it."

    Ambryan took a small sip as a test. He tasted the honey right away. It flowed down his throat, hydrating and moisturizing his airways. He felt every inch that the warm liquid touched until it pooled inside his stomach.

    Eve grabbed the bowl of soup with a mitten. It was freshly boiled from the stove. Her skin stung even just by touching the ceramic for half a second. She didn''t know if he had a bed table and prepared to feed him.

    Ambryan set the cup back on its saucer. He left some forter.

    Blowing on the spoon, Eve scooted closer. Then, she lifted it up to his lips.

    Ambryan merely smiled and let her stay in the same pose. His gaze never went to the soup. It was on her hazel eyes instead. He felt much better already. There wasn''t a need for the other things. He was confident that he could recover quickly just by having her around.

    "What?" Eve blinked.

    "I feel like a child."

    She frowned. "Do you want to eat by yourself then?"

    His expression changed into a cheeky grin, scrunching his nose while he was at it. The look gave him a youthful and boyish appeal "Not a chance."

    Eve felt her heart flutter. She ignored it. "Then, eat."

    "Mmm," Ambryan moaned as the creamy soup coated his tongue. He chewed slowly while Eve blew on the spoon again. They followed this routine quietly for several minutes. Ambryan nestled against his headboard.

    He could get used to this.

    "Does your mom always make this soup?" Eve asked, feeding him another bite.

    "No, this was made by the chef," he answered.

    Eve paused but recovered quickly. It shouldn''t be surprising that their family had a chef. Why was she reacting like she just found out that they owned a fortune? "I see Well, did you always have it when you were a kid?"

    "No. I mostly drank hot broth back then." Ambryan swallowed another mouthful of soup. Remnants of the thick cream dwelled in his throat. A smirk teased at the corner of his lips. "That and instant noodles."

    "Really?"

    "I lived somewhere else at the time."

    "Ah."

    Eve stirred the soup. She searched for more vegetables. In the meantime, her mind went on overdrive. A professional chef at home then, instant noodles? The curiosity burned at the back of her head. There was a story there and she knew it.

    But could she ask about it?

    "Grandmother also did the same. Nothing creamy such as this," Ambryan added. The salty vor lingered in his mouth as if he could actually taste it. "She used to look after me when she was alive."

    "Mother and father busy with work?" Eve said, the pieces fitting together a little.

    "It is one of the reasons, yes," he admitted.

    The bowl was now empty. Eve set it down on the traythen, the urge to facepalm came in. She had forgotten to feed him the garlic bread. It was supposed to go with the soup so he could have more carbs.

    "What about your childhood?" It was Ambryan''s turn to ask. He grabbed the medicine already on his nightstand and the ss of water.

    Eve took the small te of orange slices. She offered it to him. "Mine?"

    "I told you mine so you should tell me yours."

    "Instant noodles. Chicken vor," Eve answered in one breath. She picked up a piece of garlic bread and nibbled on it. "Then, I would throw it up minutester. I actually enjoyed it so I really felt bad when I coughed it out."

    A strong grasp snatched her wrist.

    Ambryan bit onto the garlic bread. Eve froze in ce. That had been so random. The breadstick was dry and rough. She didn''t think he''d want it anymore without the soup.

    He smiled as he chewed. Her dumbfounded expression amused him. It didn''t take long for him to give him and kissed her cheek. "Thank you for visiting. I feel better. Maybe if you stay the night, I''d fully recover in the morning."

    Eve choked. "In your dreams."

    "Dreams cane true."

    "Is this a side-effect of being sick?" She demanded, her jaw dropping. "Tell me. Had you been pretending before? When did you even learn how to flirt? Although, they can be cheesy at times."

    "Hm, why do you ask?" Ambryan thought for a moment. He put the orange slice back on the te and leaned in. The smirk had returned on his lips. "Do they make you ufortable?"

    "Yes?"

    "Then, I have to work harder."

    Eve became appalled. She would have hit him with a pillow if he hadn''t been sick. Her urge settled with a pout instead. It didn''t help that her heart had gone haywire since he had kissed her cheek.

    Ambryan ced the empty te on the tray. Then, he reached for something else.

    Caught off guard, Eve found herself pressed against his chest once more. His arms had found her waist again. Her hazel eyes stared at the wall, not daring to move. She probably couldn''t even if she tried.

    Her brain had shut down.

    While her heart picked up its pace.

    "Did I ever tell you that I''m a selfish man?" Ambryan whispered in her ear. "For instance, you probably should stay away from me so you wouldn''t get sick. But I''d rather not let you go at all."

    Eve gulped. His heartbeat followed a steady rhythmtheplete opposite of her own. Silence screamed loudly in her ears if that was even possible. Her arms and her hands were positioned awkwardly. Except, she didn''t know what else to do with them.

    "Don''t worry," Ambryan said after a while. He traced her spine with his fingers. "I won''t hold you hostage. But can we stay like this for a bit longer? I''ve missed you so much."

    An invisible rope tightened in Eve''s chest. rm bells rang in her head. Red gs emerged from the ground. This had the word, bad, written all over it. She only agreed to a fake rtionship. That was her word to him and to Avery.

    ''But why did it feel so good?'' She whimpered to herself, shutting her eyes. What had changed? They were on the same page when this first started. Tears materialized at the back of her eyesfar from spilling out. The realizations poured down all at once like tides against the shore.

    Then, a pair of hot lips touched the side of her jaw.

    It jolted her awake like a phrase offort.

    Her hands held onto him as she buried her face behind her crimson wig.

    "... only for a bit."

 Chapter 190: The Lady Boss is on Fire

    Chapter 190: The Lady Boss is on Fire

    ```

    <em>Oh-ho! Anyone here for thetest gossip? Earlier today, the model, Ms. Evangeline Reed, had been spotted near her beau''s residence. What is she doing there alone, you may ask?</em>

    <em>Wrong question!</em>

    <em>There were reportedly two little girls with her. Sources believe that the three of them had gone up inside his resident buildingand everyone I know is looking for the deets! If anyone has info on who these two girls could be, contact us!</em>

    <em>Theories had been flying around and they must be cleared! Are they rted to Ms. Reed? Maybe they are rted to Mr. Ambryan Hathaway instead? Or perhaps the couple are taking another step in their rtionship?</em>

    <em>Ah! We can''t wait to find out! o(>o<)o</em>

    ```

    Eve sat on the passenger seat on the way home.

    Her gaze downcasted, she fiddled with her fingers. Theyid on herp while her thoughts floated in the air. The rush happened so fast. It had overwhelmed her to the point of being numb. What should she even do from now on?

    Falling for Ambryan wasn''t part of the deal.

    She closed her eyes and groaned just at the thought of it.

    Would it also be too much to assume that he liked Evangeline? ''No, it couldn''t be'' but then, all the signs seemed to head in that direction. The things he did today implied it. He wouldn''t kiss or hold someone like that just to lead someone onhe was simply not that kind of person.

    Eve banged her head backwards, her eyes still closed.

    She opened them to the blur of car lights.

    Nanzie peeked at her from the driver''s seat. She couldn''t tell what bothered her client. Was it Elias Walker again? Mrs. Hathaway was currently handling it. It could also be about Mr. Ambryan''s condition. But, Wen had informed her that it wasn''t life-threatening...

    Shaking her head, Nanzie focused on the road.

    It wasn''t any of her business unless Eve shared at her own initiative,

    "So you work as a part-time model?" Eri asked from the backseat. Since it waste, Eve had decided to drop them off instead of asking Andie to pick them up. Thetter sounded too much work.

    "Yes," Eve replied absentmindedly. Her head went around in circles. She was surprised it hadn''t made her dizzy yet. Would Andie be out long? She could really use someone to talk to right now.

    "What''s your full-time job?"

    "I II work as an online English tutor."

    "Really?" Eri scowled. "I thought you worked as Mr. Hathaway''s secretary."

    Nanzie went rigid. Her cyan eyes shed back on Eve. Thetter seemed to be distracted still. There was a faraway look on her face, keeping her dazed and oblivious. The little girl''s words took time to register in her head.

    And when they did, her eyes popped out of their sockets.

    Eve slowly turned her head towards the twins. Both of them stared back at her hard. Her head recoiled from the intensity in their eyes. "I think you''re mistaking me for someone else"

    "Oh, don''t deny it, Eve! We know it''s you!" Ede cut in. She huffed, crossing her arms over her chest. "I feel so stupid. You look exactly mom! You even used her name! Those should have been enough to let us know. Tsk."

    "Ede, you''re not stupid."

    Her eyebrow shot up. "So it really is you?"

    "I" Eve spared her bodyguard a nce. They shared the same sentiments of defeat. And after what happened earlier, Eve wasn''t in any mood for more lies. It would only give her more headaches. She took a deep breath.

    "Yes, it''s me." Her voice came out small and soft. Then, it became stern as she lifted her pinky finger at them. "You have to promise me that you won''t tell anyone about this. In fact, don''t even talk about it at all even when you''re alone in your rooms."

    Both twins took their turns to pinky swear.

    Eve made a mental note to inform Avery about the development.

    "So you became a model, took mom''s name and now, you''re dating your boss?" Eri summarized. She pursed her lips. "Since when did you like him?"

    "And howe you''re pretending to be someone else around him?" Ede added, her head leaning beside her twin''s. "Didn''t you teach us not to lie? Then, why did you pretend not to know us at the baking ss?"

    "It''s a littleplicated" Eve coughed. She lowered her head until they were at the same eye level. She made sure for her tone to be firm. "When I said don''t tell anyone, that includes Ambryan. Got it?"

    "He doesn''t know?"

    "He doesn''t."

    "He''s stupid," her sisters reacted together.

    Eve couldn''t help but chuckle. She pulled back. That was one burden off her shoulders. Still, she probably should ask Aunt Georgie to keep an eye on them too. It wouldn''t hurt to be extra cautious.

    .

    .

    .

    .

    .

    Monday rolled in and Ambryan was still MIA from work.

    ``Lin: Hey, how''s it going? Are you still asleep? You didn''t workte yesterday, right?``

    Eve began to worry. Thepany party was this uing weekend. People started to wonder about his condition or if he would even attend. She worked double time to get more than half of her tasks done in the morning.

    Avery had assured her that it was only a fever. He would recover in a day or two. She prayed that was the case. The telephone rang. Her eyes peeked to see the number before answering it.

    "Eve!" Riffle spoke through the speaker. "I have the travel documents from CEO''s meetingsst week. Do you need the actual copies or just scanned?"

    "Scanned will do for now," she replied without missing a beat. "If you can, send them to ounting for processing. They have to be reimbursed as soon as possible."

    "Got it,dy boss."

    Eve stopped from typing and red at the phone. "What?"

    "Aren''t ya? You''re practically his proxy."

    "Riffle, I appreciate the help" she drawled. "But shut up."

    She received a boisterousugh as a response. "Call me if you need anything else."

    Eve proceeded to prepare the reports. Checking the time, she dialled a number on the telephone. It rang once before someone picked up. "Hello? Ms. Hannah?"

    "Yes, Ms. Hart?"

    "Is thepany vehicle still avable for my departure in 2 hours?"

    "Yes, everything has been prepared."

    "Good," she nodded, saving her file as she made changes along the way. "I''ll be down 15 minutes before the time. Keep me updated on any changes."

    "Noted, Ms. Hart."

    "Thank you."

    An email came from Venus Investments. Eve opened it and read through Richard''s message. Her cheeks blushed involuntarily. Right. He was also there when she and Ambryan were sprawled on the couch.

    Eve hit the side of her head just to get rid of the image.

    She nced at her phone.

    Venus'' board of directors wanted an update on the expenses used by Define Love''s production. She''d normally need Ambryan''s permission for sharing documents outside the office. Instead, she reached out for the telephone.

    "Riffle, is President around?" She asked, already opening the appropriate folders.

    "He is" Riffle began to say. "... supposed to be right where I left him."

    "Which is where?"

    "His office, of course." He snorted.

    Eve rolled her eyes. "Mind ringing me through?"

    "No problem."

    The dial tone sounded once again.

    "Eve?"

    "Sir King!" She eximed, her heart pumping. Time was ticking and this sted report wasn''t part of her schedule. "Sorry for disturbing. Venus Investments wants a copy of expenditures about their project ventures. Shall I send them to you before forwarding them?"

    "Absolutely! I''d been waiting for you to ask for help since"

    "Thank you, Sir King. I''ll send them right away."

    Then, the line went dead.

    Madison shook his head. The girl was on fire. He could feel her energy even from far away. Hearing her enthusiasm got his own blood boiling. He would need to work harder if he wanted her to rely on him more often.

    "Alright! Let''s finish these papers before lunch!"

    "How about not having to eat lunch before you finish them?" Rifflemented from the doorway, bringing in a fresh batch of documents.

    "Riffle, that is too cruel."

    His secretary merely smiled. "If students can go through it, so can you."

    .

    ``Yan: Good morning, beautiful. I''m fine. I can move much easier now. Mother just wanted me to be fully recovered for more than a day before sending me back to work.``

    ``Lin: Well, she has a valid point! If you even try to type one letter for something work-rted, I''d tie you to your bed!``

    ``Yan: Hm. So you''re into that sort of thing. I''d have to note that down.``

    ``Lin: ... ``

    ``Lin: I''m surprised you even know that sort of thing.``

    ``Yan: I''m more surprised that you participate in it.``

    ``Lin: I have to go.``

    ``Yan: How are you feeling?``

    ``Lin: Fit as a fiddle. Why?``

    ``Yan: Don''t overwork yourself. We did cuddle for a long time. You might get sick.``

    ``Lin: C-Cuddle???????????``

    ``Yan: That is what it''s called, correct?``

    .

    Eve put her phone down and massaged her temples. Was she supposed to believe that this is the same person that she was having feelings for? How was that even possible? Andie''s words from the night before reyed in her head like a broken record.

    "I know you''re really confused right now. But if you like this guy and he likes you back, live in the moment and cherish it while itsts."

 Chapter 191: Are You Thinking of Me?

    Chapter 191: Are You Thinking of Me?

    "And! Cut!" Sam yelled into his megaphone. He set it down and nced over his shoulder, "Would you like to see the clip, Ms. Hart?"

    "Yes, please. We''d also like the edited copies as soon as they are avable," Eve replied.

    "Alright, step right here."

    Mikael stayed still as a makeup artist touched up on his face. He wore the same suit asst time. Luna had thought it would make him easier to spot in any given situation, joking that viewers would call him as ''The Man in a Blue Suit'' in no time.

    The sun shone harshly today despite the autumn air. Clouds were sparse in the sky, giving its heat waves unlimited power over the earth. For today''s shoot, the production team had moved outside of the studio perimeter in favor of the nearest Athon Luxury store.

    Like before, part of the street had been closed for their equipment and crew.

    Only this time, a crowd of bystanders stood a few feet away to watch the shenanigans.

    "Hey, who''s that chick with the director?" A crew member asked near Mikael. Thetter pretended not to hear it and focused on his scene. He would have to redo it if neither the director nor Eve was satisfied.

    "It''s the CEO''s secretary. Ms. Hart, I think?"

    "Never noticed her before."

    "Really?" A young woman came up to them, her eyebrows raised in surprise. "She was herest time. I heard she''s always with him whenever he visits the studios."

    "Huh. Then, howe she''s alone?"

    Inspecting with sharp eyes, Evepared the clip with the list of details Luna wanted. The scenery was taken in a jewelry store where a man stood outside, looking through its window disy. Her instructions had been specific on what to highlight.

    Eve did her best not to cringe when a photo of Evangeline made its way in the background.

    It was probably bigger on the inside too.

    She didn''t even dare take a peek when Andie proudly announced that she photographed it.

    "Well, Ms. Hart?" Sam gulped. Sweat covered his scalp and the back of his neck. He was cursed to sweat easily despite the chilly air. He''d give anything to be back inside. "Is everything to your satisfaction?"

    "Yes, but" Eve said. "Ms. Athon would also like a clip shot on the inside. Then, the camera zooms out to reveal the window disy followed by the whole store front."

    Sam resisted to curse. This product cements shots were taking a lot of their budget. It took an enormous amount of effort for him to produce a smile. "Of course, Ms. Hart. Let me tell the crew about it."

    Eve pressed her lips together, seeing through him. Her phone vibrated in her pocket.

    .

    ``Yan: So, what does an online English tutor do at this time of the day?``

    .

    She pulled the screen closer to her face and checked if she read that right.

    .

    ``Lin: Is this what a bored CEO does when bedridden?``

    ``Yan: Not entirely. I have plenty of entertainment. You''re simply at the forefront of my mind right now. I just listened to it.``

    .

    Eve scoffed. How shameless! How did one respond to that? She ced her lips on her shoulder for a second. She used the clipboard to hide the exposed side of her face. Her brain had taken this chance to rebuild itself after being melted by such a line.

    Taking a deep breath, a response lit up like a bulb over her head.

    .

    ``Lin: Well, if I were you, I would think of me too.``

    ``Yan: And, if I were you, I hope you''re thinking of me too.``

    .

    "This son of"

    "Ms. Hart?" Director Sam interrupted in front of her.

    Eve locked her phone and hid it in her pocket. "Yes?"

    "We''re ready to shoot now."

    "Please proceed."

    Sam shook his head as he sat on his chair. He questioned the woman''s capabilities. The small smile on her lips hinted that she was distracted. It wasn''t quite professional of her when this wasn''t her territory. Even he didn''t allow mobile devices out on set.

    "And action!"

    Mikael entered the store, its hanging bell ringing. An extra on set walked up to him and asked about his purpose. They moved to the counter as he borated on his n and expressed his desire to search for the perfect gift to fit into the asion.

    Loud screeching of tires echoed from a distance. Eve whirled her head towards it. The bystanders were busy trying to get a clear view of the scene. But, the sound continued to increase in volume. The security team began to pick up on it.

    "Everyone move to the sidewalk!" Eve shouted. She snatched the megaphone from Sam and repeated the same thing. "EVERYONE MOVE! SIDEWALK! NOW!"

    Screams came from all around. The crew inside the store had stopped filming. They looked outside in time to see people cram against each other on the sidewalk. A taxi came hurling at the closed set. It swerved out of control, turning left and right with no signs of stopping.

    The vehicle hit their equipment.

    Then, it crashed into a tallmp post.

    Eve barked orders into the megaphone. It broke several people out of their shock and moved to clean up. Security went to check on everyone''s condition in the vicinity while she ran for the taxi, Wen already picking up her call. "Wen, call 911. We have an emergency."

    Smoke floated out of the car. She pinched her nose not to inhale it. Walking around to the driver''s seat, she knocked on the window. "Sir! Sir, can you open the door?"

    When no response came, she yanked on the handle.

    It wouldn''t budge.

    Eve tried the backseat. It opened without a problem. She unhooked the lock for the driver''s side and yanked the handle again. A man dropped on his side and in her direction as soon as she got it open. Security came to her aid and took over. Her suit had been stained with blood.

    "Ms. Hart!" Sam yelled, running towards her. He pulled her away from the scene and ushered her towards the stylists. "Let us handle it and please get changed."

    Mikael also rushed to her aid. He stopped them along the way and inspected her state. Jordan was hot on his heels. "Are you okay? No one stabbed you or anything, right?"

    Eve shook her head, pushing their hands away. "I''m totally fine. Let''s just get everything sorted out. Are there any spare clothes around?"

    "Right here!" The woman from earlier replied, waving her hand as she joined the group.

    Eve recognized her as the same person she metst time on set. Instantly, she felt much more rxed that she''d be in her hands for a while. "Thank you."

    Both of them entered a trailer. It was good that the taxi had missed it. The woman treated Eve with extra care. She hadn''t seen what happened when thetter approached the vehicle but the blood on her clothes weren''t a good sign.

    "That was totally crazy! Are you sure you''re okay?" She said when they entered the trailer.

    "I''m fine. This isn''t my blood. I just wanted to check on the vehicle. I''ve seen way too many movies where it could explode at any second and no one was getting out," Eve exined. She sat on a stool while the woman searched through their wardrobe for something she could wear.

    "Oh, that''s something I can rte too," the woman replied. She chose the least inconspicuous outfit, "Okay, we didn''t really bring a lot and most of these are men''s clothes so you''d have to make do with looking like a staff for Athon Luxury."

    "It''s better than walking around with blood on you."

    "You have a point. The dressing room is there. Just give me a sec."

    Following her instructions, Eve stripped off her clothes and checked for any stains on her skin. She used her drenched office attire to clean them off before they could dry. She also wiped her cheeks just in case they also had any.

    A hand shot up from behind the curtain to hand her a hanger with the outfit.

    More blood slipped off her face.

    She had almost forgotten what that ''uniform'' looked like. Her body flinched from the realization. She pushed her reluctance out of her system. There wasn''t much of a choice anyway. It was also not a big deal like she initially thought.

    Mikael listened carefully as the crew tried to settle down. Paramedics had arrived to assist with the ident. The taxi had crashed meters away from their closed set. The damaged equipment were also receable with just a phone call to the studios.

    But could they keep filming or not?

    That was the question.

    Sam ruffled his hair. What was else there to do? The ident had nothing to do with them. Time didn''t stand still whenever something like this happened. The world eventually moves on with its business.

    "We could but one of the extras had gone into shock," someone said beside him. "We''re not also sure if someone else could y the part. It seems like everyone is still shaken by what happened."

    The director sighed. It might not be good to proceed with the crew still restless...

    "Anything to report, Director Sam?" A voice asked from behind him.

    The words died in his throat as soon as he turned around.

    Eve had stepped out of the dressing roomand her skirt stopped right above her knees.

 Chapter 192: Silence Means Yes?

    Chapter 192: Silence Means Yes?

    The staff uniform for Athon Luxury had three colors: ck, blue and maroon.

    Eve wore the maroon. It wasposed of a pencil skirt and a stylish wrap coat. It had the refined look of the brand. There was a white inner tube top that peeked between thepels. She finished off the outfit with her own high heels.

    Mikael hid a smirk, knowing exactly what silenced the crew.

    The attire was made to hug every curve of its wearer.

    And Eve was no exception. Her boyish hair charms and square-framed sses merely added an edge to it while remaining sophisticated and feminine. She was certainly more eye-catching than the extra earlier.

    "Director?" She asked again.

    "Uh, well it would depend on you, Ms. Hart," Sam finally responded, cing the responsibility on her instead. "We can continue filming but not everyone might not be up to it nor are they not shaken from the ident."

    Eve swept her gaze across the streets. The bystanders were hot in gossip and news about the taxi. The rest of the crew seemed lost on what to do. She concluded that the ident site was a distraction.

    Then, she glimpsed at Mikael.

    His schedule was hectic. They had to adjust to it instead of him making room for them. They had to grab at any chance that he was avable. Today was part of that list.

    Eve picked up her phone. "Wen, status report on the taxi and its driver?"

    "Right now, he''s breathing and stable. No one else has been harmed either. His vehicle will be cleaned up within the hour. I''ve also increased security and gave them a wider perimeter."

    "Thank you." She nodded, ending the call, and nced at Sam. "It would take about an hour for the taxi to be exported. Will that be enough time to have our equipment reced? Are the footages okay? Or should we redo them? Please inspect everything. We can''t have a moment to lose."

    Sam grunted under his breath. Then, he barked his orders. "Give me a full inspection report. We''ll resume in one hour. And find me another actress that could rece the staff worker that fainted."

    "Staff worker?" Mikael said. The question left his lips without a second thought.

    The director shifted his feet towards him. "Yeah, she fainted. Ms. Athon is particr about her casting. I don''t know if she''d even approve of the recement."

    "Well, I''m sure she won''t mind if Ms. Hart would take over."

    Eve stiffened, realizing what she was wearing for the nth time. She slowly turned around to meet the gazes of the two men. She blinked her eyes in return. "Is there really no one else? I''m sure she''ll understand if the understudy is not to her liking."

    Mikael hummed and rubbed his chin as he folded his arms over his chest. "I think she''d rather like the way you look right now. It would definitely stand outpared to the other workers."

    "We still can''t make assumptions"

    "I''ll call her then," he volunteered, quickly pressing on his speed dial.

    "Wait" Eve had proven to bete when he walked away from the group. She heaved a sigh and ran her fingers through her hair. If he would be asking Luna, she probably should ask Ambryan.

    ''But was this step really necessary when he was sick?''

    The answer came in the form of her ringtone. "Sir Hathaway?"

    "Eve, are you alright? I saw the news," he said. His voice sounded rushed. Eve wondered what he was doing before this call.

    "I''m perfectly fine," she assured him, trying not to stammer. "Everyone is okay except for the taxi driver. We have everything under control and we''ll start filming again in an hour."

    "Really?"

    "Yes."

    Ambryan turned up the volume of his television. Kiri jumped on the couch to sit beside him.

    Reporters had already swarmed the scene. Theirpany activities were also part of the story. A bystander happened to film before they ran for the sidewalk.

    "This just in. A local taxi had swerved out of control in the streets of Maize City. From the CCTV cameras, it appeared that the driver had trouble with its brakes and could not slow down. The vehicle sped through a close set of Eros Productions, narrowly missing a crowd of civilians. Here is a footage from aizen."

    The phone camera was aimed at the cast and crew. Security and distance made it hard for the person to get a clear shot of the production. Slowly, the mic picked up a faint screech. It got louder and louder by the second.

    Then, one voice overshadowed it, "EVERYONE MOVE! SIDEWALK! NOW!"

    The clip ended just as the person recording screamed along with everyone else.

    Switching back to the newsroom, the female reporter stated, "ording to our sources, they managed to identify the woman in the video as Ms. Everlee Hart, secretary to the CEO of Eros Productions, Ambryan Hathaway. We are to believe that Ms. Hart was on set as the CEO''s representative. Her quick reaction time and her initiative had helped minimize the casualties to he taxi driver."

    "We have yet to receive her ount on the situation but we will report it as soon as possible," she concluded. The TV channel continued to show a live stream of the ident scene. Eve easily stood out in her maroon attire. The color emphasized her fair slender legs.

    She looked almost nothing like the photo they showed from herpany ID.

    Ambryan felt Kiri crawl onto hisp. His hand brushed her head all the way to her tail, studying the video clip. The taxi just happened to drive down the closed street with citizens crowding it? Unless there was no other option, it would have been understandable.

    Could it be a coincidence?

    Or pre-nned?

    They surely picked a time where he hasn''t been in the public eye. Enemies would have taken the chance to swoop in and steal any contract deals he could have had. That was how business worked. Sabotaging his set would mean something else.

    It seemed more like a grudge.

    The filming proceeded like Eve promised. She had taken the role of the store representative that Mikael talked to. They ended up rehearsing ad libs for the scene. Eve repeated her lines like a broken recordnot an enunciation out of ce.

    The male model hid a smile. Eve stood next to herrge wall disy of her photo from the Rainbow Collection. This was her branch which favored all reds. Now that he thought about it, it sounded like a funny gag that the woman in the pictures was also part of the staff.

    "Action!" Sam yelled from outside.

    Mikael entered the store and Eve immediately came to his aid.

    "Good afternoon, sir. How may I help you today?"

    He proceeded to the counter disys. "I''m looking for a ring."

    "An engagement ring, sir?" Eve asked, walking behind the counter. She directed him to the part where the rings were positioned. "We have a wide variety. We can also custom the gemstones to your liking."

    Mikael inspected them closely. "I think I like this one."

    He pointed to a rose gold metal band that had been bent to look like a rose for its head. Tiny diamonds stuck out on either side of it, adding a bit of mor. Eve handed him the ring and the more he stared at it, the more fond he became.

    He might actually buy it if he needed a ring.

    "Hm," he teased,pletely out of script. Mischief shined in his radiant blue eyes. He gestured Eve toe closer as he propped his elbow on the ss counter. "Do you mind if I test it?"

    "Test it?" She scowled. How did one test a ring?

    "Yes, like so." Mikael pushed himself off the counter and reached for her right hand. He inserted the ring on her finger. It fit perfectly. The camera outside of the shop slowly zoomed out as he let it glint under the store lights.

    The moment seemed sweet and yful.

    It would surely capture attention.

    "And cut!"

    Mikael let go of her hand immediately. "See? That wasn''t so bad."

    "Okay, I believe you." Eve chuckled, taking off the ring. It took her by surprise but she had to admit that the improvisation was a good idea. She put the ring back in its disy and took out her phone to find a message notification.

    .

    ``Yan: Silence means yes I heard?``

    .

    She chuckled. Trust Ambryan to find a way to ease the tension in her shoulders.

    .

    ``Lin: Me? Think of you? When I could be thinking of myself?``

    ``Yan: Narcissistic, are we?``

    ``Lin: I learned from the best.``

    .

    Mikael did the same. Jordan had flooded his inbox about the ident, asking him about his condition. He replied quickly and looked up. The crew moved the cameras and light umbres outside.

    Eve was still on her phone. She walked back out of the counter disy and stopped. Her thumbs typed at rapid speed. ``Lin: I forgot how impatient you are. We''ll see each other in a few days for yourpany party so get well soon or it would be dyed.``

    Shaking his head, Mikael uncuffed his sleeves. ''Well, someone ispletely smitten.''

    .

    ``Yan: I''m sure mother would let me go even if I''m sick.``

    ``Lin: Really?``

    ``Yan: Because you''d be around to take care of me.``

    ``Lin:  what are you? A baby?``

    ``Yan: Yours? Sure, if that is what you wish.``

 Chapter 193: In Too Deep

    Chapter 193: In Too Deep

    Andie unlocked the apartment door, humming to herself. Her coworker had one song on repeat the entire day. It was now stuck in her head. She didn''t mind it because it really was good. She hadn''t looked up the lyrics once and she already muttered them under her breath.

    After taking off her shoes, she tossed her bag to the couch and entered the kitchen.

    She flicked the switch to turn on the lights, still humming the same tune.

    "Uh-huh-uh-huh-GAH!" Andie yelped with a jump. She ced her hands over her chest and felt her heart''s rapid beats. "Eve! You scared me!"

    Eve looked up from her stool. She had one arm folded over the ind counter as she munched on a carrot. "Well, that''s a first."

    Her best friend rolled her eyes. "What are you even doing here? This is my territory."

    "I''m still not sure about this."

    They had crossed several lines, Eve recalled. She had sat in the dark and remembered everything Ambryan had shared about himself. He smiled a lot more than she was used to. He even joked and flirtedthings made possible by Evangeline.

    Would they all disappear if he found out the truth?

    Would they also disappear if Evangeline vanished?

    Andie joined her, skipping the te of carrots. She had brought her cereal box from the pantry and nibbled on chocte malt grains. "Because you are now madly in love with Ambryan and are afraid of hurting him because of your secret?"

    Eve peeled her eyes off the ceiling to look at her. "Why can''t I say yes or no to that?"

    "Because you''re denying one of them."

    "I''m not madly in love with him."

    "Close enough." Andie shrugged. "Anyway, let me tell you something you had forgotten but it was what made this whole thing work in the first ce."

    "What?"

    "Communication," she gushed. Had Eve really forgotten about their first conversations? This had always been their strong point. "Girl, just tell him. He already knows you have a deal with his mom. Why not already tell him that you''re notpletely being honest about yourself? Also, why won''t you just bepletely honest about yourself?"

    Eve hung her head, closing her eyes. "That sounds easier said than done."

    Andie filled her palm with another handful of cereal. "Well, if I go by romance novels'' logic, you should also make him fall for your secretary self."

    "How does that make sense?"

    She shrugged and ate three pieces. "Because isn''t Ms. Everlee Hart who you really are? Didn''t you say he was falling for a fictional person?"

    "But I don''t feel like Evangeline is fictional," Eve grumbled. She mmed a hand on the countertop and sweeped her bangs with the other one. "You''ve met her. I don''t even act. If anything, it feels liberating to be her. I could do whatever I wantedalmost anyway."

    Despite the spotlight, being Evangeline was effortless. The only hard work was the modelling. That was a skill that she needed to learn. It certainly didn''t improve overnight but she constantly evolved with the experience.

    "So what''s the problem?" Andie frowned. Just take off the wig, the contacts and the name.

    "Well, if I told Ambryan the truth, he might not see it that way. It doesn''t change the fact that I lied to him. He hates that." Eve sighed. That fear where everything would backfire haunted her. It was selfish. This whole ordeal had been selfish. One slip and she would have ended everything back then.

    But that wasn''t the case now.

    She had something to losemore than her sisters'' education fund.

    It was conflicting. If only Evangeline didn''t exist. If only Eve didn''t have to stay at a distance. Could she make Ambryan look her way even when Evangeline was gone? Could she get away with it even if he would never know they were the same person?

    Eve banged her forehead on the ind. To do the right thing, she''d lose everything. To do the wrong thing, she''d lose herself. The guilt would eat her up until the end of time.

    Legs of a stool scraped the floor from her left. Warm arms wrapped themselves around her. "If he loves you, he''d forgive you."

    "Forgiving doesn''t mean a happy ending together."

    Eve leaned into the embrace. "I can''t even me him if he never would."

    "So" Andie drawled, thinking of how to lighten the mood. "You do want to end up with him?"

    "I know I don''t want to lose what I have now," her best friend responded in a whisper.

    It sounded cheesy but she seemed to have the best of both worlds. She had a remarkable boss on one side. She had a yful boyfriend on the other. And she''d lose both if this didn''t end well.

    Would it still be selfish that she wanted to keep, at least, one?

    "We''re going in circles." Andie shook her head. "I already told you this: Cherish the moment. Thepany party ising up, right? Just forget about everything and make a memorable night."

    She pulled away and mped her hand on Eve''s shoulder. "I fully support that idea. Worry about the other things after it. Hell, I''d even sneak a condom in your purse"

    Eve pped her arm. "Andie!"

    "Girl, what is this? 1813? I''ve also seen your dress. If Ambee doesn''t take you to bed, I''m questioning his sexuality." Andie snorted. Then, a smirk tugged the corner of her lips. "See? You don''t even look that flustered. It means your own desires outweigh your bashfulness."

    "Andie!"

    Hiding her blush, Eve dropped her gaze to the floor. She couldn''t even imagine what it would be like in his arms before. But now? It was a memory she could relive over and over again. How could a hug be so intimate?

    Her mind remembered every spot they touched and how close they werefrom the top of her forehead and down to her legs. The smell of his soap lingered against her nose like he just had a fresh shower. His fingers brushing her spine as if memorizing its curve...

    It was a feeling that made her heart soar.

    And she craved for more.

    .

    .

    .

    .

    .

    "Hello? Earth to Eve? Are you listening to my story or not?"

    Eve blinked out of her daze and found herself in Evangeline''s apartment. Cale stood behind her and styled the crimson wig in curls. She had draped a nket over her shoulders to make herselffortable.

    "I''m sorry." She smiled sheepishly on his reflection in the mirror. "I might have missed on thatst bit. What was it again?"

    Cale scoffed before taking another section of her wig. "I was saying that someone spilled their drink on me."

    "What?!"

    He bopped the tip of her nose with his finger. "Now, there''s the reaction I was looking for."

    "What happened then?" Eve demanded.

    "Normally, I would have gotten my payback but"

    "But...?"

    Cale pressed his lips together, keeping her in suspense. Eve pouted in return. He caught the look and squealed at the mere memory. "But my date removed his jacket to cover me. It was the sweetest thing! I couldn''t even move! I was about to defend myself when this man just had my well-being in his mind. And that bitch''s jaw literally dropped. Her fake tities had nothing on me. My man chose moi."

    "Aww," Eve cooed. She sped her hands over her chest. This guy was a definite keeper. He received her approval at this instant. "So d to hear that Cale. I can''t wait to meet this guy."

    "All in good time" Cale replied. Then, he put the curler down and pped his hands. "And that is it! It''s your time to swoon your own man''s heart tonight."

    As if he could see the future, the doorbell rang.

    Eve stood up and shrugged off the nket. It revealed a mermaid-cut ck dress. The fabric''s embroidery slithered across her body likes vines, puffing at the shoulders slightly. They extended up to her hand with loops to hook on her middle fingers.

    A coal mesh cloth softened the effect of the deep necklinewhich extended to a narrow V right above her waist. Turning around, the mirror reflected more mesh that covered her entire back in a much wider V-cut.

    It was the most revealing yet the most modest dress she ever wore.

    "Go, go, go!" Cale hurried her. "Don''t keep him waiting."

    Ambryan waited outside of the apartment.

    He coughed onto his shoulder, praying it would be thest. If his mother heard it, no doubt she''d have him quarantine at him for the next few days. It had taken a lot of persuasion to let him do work in his home office.

    Because thepany anniversary required his presence, she refused to take any chances that he''d fall ill again. He found her behavior a little too extreme as if the world was under a pandemic.

    Then, the door opened.

    Standing before wasn''t a human but a vixen.

    He pulled her out of the apartment and captured her lips. Tilting her chin up, he managed to wrap her tighter in his arm while ttening her against him like they could be molded into one. It didn''t matter if they were in the hallway.

    If it was possible to have her not leave his side, he would have dly done it.

    "How about we ditch the party and stay here?"

 Chapter 194: The Red Carpet Sensation

    Chapter 194: The Red Carpet Sensation

    "You know we can''t do that," Eve whispered, pushing him away and giggling.

    She took the chance and gathered her breathing. The temperature seemed to rise suddenly. It tempted her to fan herself with the clutch in her hand. Thankfully, Cale had a few loose strands fall on the corners of her eyes. The tips reached down to her chin and covered her cheeks.

    That was one way to hide the many blushes she would probably get this evening.

    Ambryan chuckled along with her. "It is a very tempting idea."

    "I seem to notice that you''re not wearing a tie."

    "The designer rmended it."

    Eve pressed her lips together. Opting the tie out, Ambryan had the first two buttons of his ck dress shirt unhooked instead. The style showcased his corbone and chiseled muscles. He had also left his jacket unbuttoned. It made him seem moreidback

    but, at the same time, it made him look sexy.

    ''Never thought I''d actually say that about my boss,'' Evemented in her head. She wasn''t the only one who radiated temptation. Her fingers itched to touch the exposed skin.

    She tucked her clutch under her shoulder and reached out to straighten his cor. "Then, I should thank her for it."

    "And for what reason?"

    Eve rose to her toes to peck the corner of his mouth. "Because, if not for her, I wouldn''t have seen you this sensual."

    Grabbing her wrists so her hands stayed in ce, Ambryan arched an eyebrow. "So you like exposed skin?"

    "Not necessarily" she denied softly. Mischief twinkled in her hazel eyes. The tip of her finger brushed against the side of his neck. She saw his Adam''s apple tremble. "But I do appreciate it."

    Ambryan growled under his breath and locked his jaw. He yanked her closer until his lips found her ears. "Do more than that and I might just carry you into that apartment and not leave it tonight."

    "Do that and you might scare poor Cale who is probably watching from the peephole right now."

    "Is there a vacant apartment then?"

    "Ambee, stop!" Eve leaned her head away. His breath tickled her ear too much. "You''re the guest of honor at the party. I''m sure your mother would have my head if we ditched."

    "I''m positive that mother would be thrilled."

    "..." she considered his words, realizing they could actually be true. But Eve didn''t give in. "What about your father then? He might change his mind about me if I let you miss the event. I''m still under probation if I remember correctly."

    "Everyone is under probation when ites to my father." Ambryan snorted. Nevertheless, he let one of her wrists go andced his fingers between hers. Then, he escorted her to the elevator. The doors opened with one push of a button.

    When they closed, he lifted their intertwined hands and kissed the back of hers. "Shall I take advantage of this moment while itsts then? At least, until the lift reaches the first floor."

    Eve found herself in dj vu. She had heard something simr from someone else. Was it possible to be this happy? To have every moment in pure bliss? She chuckled at his antics. "I think it''s the perfect time to practice self-control actually. We wouldn''t know if someone else would join us here suddenly."

    "I wouldn''t mind showing you off."

    "Ambee!"

    He shed his boyish smile. "Have I told you that I missed you?"

    "Only everyday in chat." It was Eve''s turn to snort. She couldn''t understand how the novels she read describe things to feel like a dream. Over the past week, she had a good glimpse of the simile. Heart-flipping messages apanied the usual Good Mornings and Good Nights.

    And, like what they state, she''d rather not wake up if it were true.

    The party was in full swing by the time the pair arrived.

    They had rented the same venue as Athon''s Rainbow Collectionunch. Paparazzi and media representatives stood by the red carpet that led to the marble front steps. Stakeholders, guests and acquaintances lingered both in the lobby and in the main room. Floor spotlights beamed at the sky, whirling around in various directions.

    Ambryan walked around the hood of his ck Mercedes-Maybach S650.

    He clutched the handle of the passenger door and opened it.

    A slim ankle and a strappy ck heel stepped out.

    Cameras shed in rapid speed as waves of crimson hair climbed out of the vehicle. The beadings on the fabric''sced vines glinted from all the lights, adding highlights to the ck dress. The CEO shut the door close.

    Then, he locked his left hand with his girlfriend''s right one.

    Together, they joined the others on the red carpet.

    "And here he is! The CEO of Eros Productions has finally arrived!" A blonde female reporter spoke to a mic, alternating her gaze between the couple and the video camera. "As well as the highly anticipated person of the eveningif I do say so myselfMs. Evangeline Reed!"

    Across from her, a small reporter filmed the events with his cellr phone. He had pinned a microphone to his chest and squealed into his live stream. "Aaaaah! It''s been months since Ambryan had been taken but likeI still can''t believe it, babes! One thing though, they look absolutely gorgeous together! Both in ck, ohmygosh, did I step into a vampire romance right now? I would totally pay to watch it."

    An actress for one of Eros'' several projects pulled out her phone and wrote a quick post. ``Rumors are squashed! Mr. Hathaway is here with his beautiful girlfriend! Never seen her in person before this. I am telling you that she looks even better than her photos!``

    Eve smiled politely whenever she made eye contact with anyone. Unlike the man beside her, she preferred an approachable demeanor. It made her cheeks hurt but it was worth it. She even waved her hand if someone disyed enthusiasm in greeting her from a distance.

    The pair stopped in front of the event''s backdrop.

    Ambryan reced her hand for her waist, wrapping his arm around her back and yanking her closer. The abrupt movement forced Eve to cling to him. She had one hand on his shoulder and another on his chesthiding the mishap with a chuckle. They posed in this manner and swept their gazes across the cameras.

    Reporters fought for their attention.

    "Ms. Reed! If you could describe your rtionship in one word, what would it be?"

    "Are you ready to settle down anytime soon, Mr. Hathaway?"

    "Do either of you consider Elias Walker as a threat to your rtionship?"

    "Both of you had been out of the public eye for the past week. Perhaps you had spent it together in seclusion? Also, who were the kids seen with Ms. Reed near your residence, Mr. Hathaway?"

    "Mikael Davis will make his appearance in ''Define Love.'' Should we expect the same with you, Ms. Reed? Do you n to branch out of modelling in favor of acting?"

    The questions never ended. Eve''s head spun just by trying to listen. Not that she nned to answer any of them but it did give her a brief idea on what thetest gossip was. With eyes on her, she hoped Ambryan wouldn''t notice the absence of her other self.

    "Now, this is more like it!" A new voice chimed in from the other side of the backdrop. "This was what I was looking for on thest red carpet. About time I''ve seen the two of you arrive together."

    Avery entered the scene with a purple evening gown that fitted her bodice and her hips. The skirt red into an A-line cut as it reached the floor. But the main character of the dress would have to be the butterfly-shaped ruffled sleeves. They added that extra ir without overdoing it.

    Red rubies hung around her neck, matching her lip color.

    Pride swelled in her heart at this look.

    "Aunt Avery!" Eve eximed, spreading her arms for a hug.

    The madam didn''t disappoint and returned it. "Take photos with me for a while."

    To Eve''s surprise, the reception of their presence together outdid Ambryan and hers. More questions popped into the fray. The camera shes had turned blinding from extended exposure. Ambryan ushered them to the lobby when it had affected him as well.

    "I think it''s about time we greet our guests," he suggested. He nodded at the media once before escorting bothdies to the three-story building. Whispers filled the lobby when they entered it. The energy had died downpared to the red carpet.

    Avery seized Eve''s arm. "Let me introduce you to a few acquaintances. They had all been dying to meet you. I may or may not have not talked their ears off about you."

    "By ''a few'', she actually means everyone," Ambryan warned. "I strongly believe that there isn''t one person in this building that mother doesn''t know."

    "Connections are always part of social functions," she defended with a huff. "Let me spend time with her now before the party officially stars. If I didn''t know any better, you wouldn''t have her leave your side."

    "Shouldn''t I have a caretaker if I''m sick?" Ambryan faked a cough.

    "You mean a babysitter?" Eve joked, locking arms with Avery. "Cut your mother some ck. Your father isn''t attending. We should give her somepany whenever possible."

    "And the next thing you know she would share her ideas for a wedding, bragging to anybody who would listen."

 Chapter 195: So Where is Eve?

    Chapter 195: So Where is Eve?

    "And the next thing you know she would share her ideas for a wedding, bragging to anybody who would listen." What Ambryan said hadn''te true but it was close.

    If asked, Eve would say that she remembered a blur of faces. She lost track of the countless smiles directed her way. Her ears flooded with thetest gossip around the upper east side. It seemed that some customs of the past hadn''t changed. Everyone seemed to know everyone

    and she was the regr fish out of water.

    Now, she learned that phrase meant more than being an outsider. It also pertained to how exhausting it was to keep upmuch like how a fish found it hard to breathe when out of its element.

    Eventually, the event nners moved everyone inside. The invited media had their time and were ushered out. Eve lost Avery in the crowd. People crammed between them until their hold on each other broke off.

    She sighed, partly out of relief.

    "What did I tell you?" Ambryan chuckled behind her. He seized her hand within seconds after she got separated from Avery. Had he been watching her all this time?

    "Ha-ha. It''s not like you''d be any better." Eve snorted. She had been in these parties before. The CEO was one of the main reasons why people attended it. Without the barriers set up by his office and subordinates, it was the easy way toe in contact with him.

    At that thought, Eve heard a voice.

    "Ambryan!"

    "And here theye," she muttered, suddenly needing a drink. Her head twisted from side to side as she tried to locate a waiter.

    "Mr. Knoc!" Ambryan greeted with a shake of his hand.

    Calvinughed heartily."Thank you for the invitation. Now, who could this youngdy be?"

    He shifted his attention to the young woman present. Among the dazzling gold and white lights, she stood out like a red rose with all its thornsas beautiful as she was eerily captivatinglike a temptation that lured you in even when afar.

    She truly was a beauty that befitted the man beside her.

    Ambryan tightened his grip on Eve''s hand. "I''d like you to meet my girlfriend, Evangeline Reed. Evan, this is Calvin Knoc. We''re to coborate on a project soon."

    Eve held out her free hand, shing a smile. "Pleasure to meet you, Mr. Knoc. I have been enjoying yourtest selections on the streaming site."

    Calvin returned the gesture. His eyebrows rose up from her words. "Is that so? Do you have any request by chance?"

    "Not at the moment. Does the offer expire perhaps?"

    "Absolutely not. You are wee to contact me once you made up your mind."

    "I''ll be looking forward to it then."

    "Ehem."

    Eve turned towards Ambryan. "What is it?"

    A brooding dark cloud hovered around his head. Still, he met her eyes. If their gazes were connected, there would be less chance that she''d look elsewhere. "Since I trust Mr. Knoc''s insight, perhaps you might also want to make a request for what films Eros should premier in the site."

    "Excuse me?" Eve blinked.

    "Ah, yes," Calvin said, clearing his throat. Eve snapped her head in his direction. "We have"

    "Mr. Knoc and I have decided to include some of our films in his streaming site. It had initially been about the uing series but we both believed it was best to test how much audience Eros made films would gain."

    Ambryan triumphed in his attempts. Hazel eyes had focused on him again.

    "I see" Eve mumbled. Her head processed the information. "And proven worth productions would guarantee Mr. Knoc revenue even if the series incurred low ie."

    Calvin wagged his finger at her. "That''s a good observation, Ms. Reed. I can see why Ambryan is very keen on you. You''re exquisite both inside and outside."

    "You tter me too much, Mr. Knoc," she replied, trying not to blush.

    "Can I have a toast with the both of you then?" Calvin suggested. He waved a waiter over and passed two sses of wine to the couple. "For the sess of our joint venture and for the happiness of you both!"

    "For you to find happiness as well," Eve added. The three clinked their sses together.

    Ambryan sneaked a peek to his left. It seemed that someone intended to finish their wine in one go. He snatched the ss and ced it back on the waiter''s tray. The sight had given him shbacks of another party.

    Pressing his lips together, Calvin made his escape.

    He had a feeling that he just started something bad.

    "Hey!" Eve protested.

    "That would be all the alcohol you''ll drink tonight," Ambryan dered and requested for a non-alcoholic drink. He finished his own ss before sending the waiter away.

    "But" she tried again, feeling slightly desperate. "How else would I survive through this party?"

    There had to be a number of suck-ups. She was sure there had been some from the people Avery had introduced her to. Despite the taxing request, it had prepared her for the rest of the party.

    Only this time, there were probably more males than females.

    "You''re exaggerating."

    Eve groaned. She had always drank alcohol at these parties and not once had she misbehaved. If anyone was exaggerating, it was him. The gears in her head whirled for a good excuse. "Well, I can''t possibly reject it if someone offers. It''s rude!"

    "I''ll be drinking on your behalf."

    Her jaw dropped. Was he that serious? "Are you sure that''s a good idea?"

    "I can hold my liquor."

    "Mhm. Right." Eve blew a raspberry. She got the message. Ambryan had made up his mind. There was nothing she could do to change it. Scowling at the floor, she went through her memories and searched for a reason that could exin his actions.

    Ambryan cleared his throat, avoiding her direction. He didn''t mind her behavior when intoxicated. Although, he did mind it if there were others around. Her flushed face softened her gaze with childlike innocence. Predators would pounce at such an expression.

    He simply couldn''t allow someone else to see it.

    It didn''t take long for another person to greet the couple. Unlike her time with Avery, Eve noticed that these peoplee to them instead of the other way around. Her feet began to hurt from standing too long. The thin stiletto wasn''t of help either. It provided little support.

    Ambryan threw his head back and drank his nth ss of wine.

    Eve frowned. "Mr. Hathaway, I think you had enough."

    "This is nothing." He coughed and returned the ss.

    ''... men. Why are they so stubborn?'' Eve shook her head. She tugged his hand to the nearest sitting area. "Come on. We both need some rest. The night is still young. There will be more people to meetter."

    Ambryan followed silently, his violet eyes hooded. The uneven tapping of heels against tiles caught his attention. He forced his eyes to open fully. In front of him, Eve staggered to stay upright. Her legs moved stiffly to avoid inducing more pain and identally tripping.

    Suddenly, the CEO found himself wide awake.

    He let her hand go and swept her off her feet.

    With his arm wrapped around her back, Ambryan pressed Eve against him while keeping both of them upright. The soles of her stilettos hovered over his feet. If anyone squinted at the hem of her dress, they''d notice it was floating above the floor.

    "Ambee! What are you"

    "I''m sorry that I didn''t notice you were ufortable," he cut her off, setting her down on a vacant couch. Then, he kneeled and checked on her feet.

    "Hey!"

    Ambryan ignored her objections. Blisters had begun to form on her skin. They covered the spots in pink patches. Some even looked close to peeling. Gritting his teeth, he yanked off the hook on the straps. "Are these new? Why would you wear something like this if you knew the party wouldst for long hours?"

    Eve opened her mouth. Then, closed it again. A lump formed in her throat. What was the right thing to say in this situation? The heels were beautiful. She had wanted to look her best for this evening. She knew it was an important time for him.

    Did that mean she made the wrong choice?

    Once the straps came off, Ambryan gently removed the shoe. He proceeded to do the same with the other one. His sharp eyes memorized all the affected areas. Upon closer look, he noticed evidence of old blisters. The skin had healed but in a darker tone.

    He clenched his jaw and took out his phone.

    "Eve, can you"

    Said person stiffened in her seat.

    It took all her willpower not to open her purse. She had felt the phone vibrate. Her thumb lingered on thetch, ready to unlock it. If Ambryan hadn''t spoken when he did, she would have found out about the call the old-fashion way.

    A tinge of guilt pricked her on the inside.

    "Right. She must be resting. I should have ignored mother and returned to the office." Ambryan sighed, putting his phone away. "It seemed my secretary had burned out. You have to meet her another time. She''ll apany you whenever I''m not around."

    Eve pressed her lips together. Tears swelled at the back of her eyes.

    "I''m perfectly capable of looking after myself," she couldn''t help but say. The irony was too hrious to ignore. "You''re the one treating me as fragile as ceramic."

 Chapter 196: A Lightbulb not a Candlestick

    Chapter 196: A Lightbulb not a Candlestick

    "You don''t want to be treated gently?"

    Eve pondered at the question. It would be a lie to deny that she didn''t appreciate his help with her shoes. On the contrary, it surprised her. "I do on asion but not all the time."

    "I''ll take note of that." Ambryan brushed his thumb over the wounds, making her hiss.

    A pair of heels came scrambling their way. "Yan! Evangeline! What happened?!"

    Heads turned in the direction of the madam. They followed her with their sense of sight. She had an empowering presence that was hard to miss even when silent. The sound of her voice only lured them even more to her.

    Thus, witnessing themotion.

    On instinct, Eve turned her head away. It was like a bubble popped once Avery spoke. She could now hear and see everything else other than Ambryan. He had managed to upy her full attention until nowwhich was a dangerous thing to let happen.

    "Calm down, mother," Ambryan said without looking up. A shadow had blocked the lights from the corner of his eyes. "She''s fine. Just need some ointment and bandage."

    Avery ced her hands on her hips and assessed the situation. Eve chose to remain silent. She had a feeling these two would decide the best course of action. Her job was to rest. It would have been easy to rx if she hadn''t noticed the others.

    She could almost see the headlines for tomorrow in the gossip column.

    "I''ll take care of it," the madam stated, already stepping away, "Let her feet rest on the shoes and keep them under her skirt. Just stay here and don''t go anywhere until I''m back."

    "Thank you, Aunt Avery," Eve managed to muster. She cleared her throat, feeling its dryness. Ambryan pulled her shoes closer and let her feet step on them. "It really means a lot."

    "Nonsense. You''re like family. Plus, us girls need to look out for each other, you know?"

    She chuckled. Her head bowed from hesitation. "Then, if there''s anything you need"

    "Just stay here and keep my son happy."

    "I can''t promise anything. I can be quite annoying."

    "Then, annoy me all you want."

    Eve raised her eyebrows at Ambryan. He rose to his feet and helped smooth out her skirt. A smirk had formed on his lips. It didn''t seem like it would be disappearing soon either. He took the seat that blocked her from the crowd.

    She was grateful for it.

    His arm rested at the behind her head, propping on the backrest of the velvet couch. The sitting area had been meant for group gatheringsparticrly businessmen. It had three sofas that interconnect to make a U shape.

    A server prepared finger food and cold drinks on the coffee table in front of them.

    Hearing her stomach growl, Eve reached for a mini shish kabob. The sear on the meat had called to her appetite. She raised the toothpick until it matched her eye level. "I''d offer you some but I heard you hate tomatoes."

    Juice oozed out the cherry tomato when she bit into it. The smoky vor from the grill drowned her taste buds. Without swallowing just yet, she ate the meat. It had a peppery taste from its spices. She was positive that enough of these and it could be considered as a dinner meal.

    Ambryan watched her eat. "No matter how good you make that seem like, I won''t eat tomatoes."

    "Oh, please. I''m not even trying to. You do need to eat though. I can''t even count how many sses of wine you had." Eve shook her head. Was it always customary? It seemed like every person so far drank wine and Ambryan always drank with them.

    "I can never say no to a good bottle of red wine."

    Eve sighed, already aware of it.

    "Then, you won''t mind if I join you?"

    The pair looked up to see Stuart Wilson who held a full bottle of red wine and two wine sses. He sat down on the sofa across from them and set the two wine sses on the table. His mop of brown hair had been styled with wax. It brought his amber eyes more.

    He poured wine in both sses three-quarters full.

    "Mr. Wilson," Ambryan greeted, reaching for a ss. "I believe you have met Evangeline."

    "Such a charmingdy? How could I forget?" Stuart joked. He offered a hand for her to shake. "It''s a pleasure to see you once again, Ms. Reed. I dare say you look ravishing tonight."

    Eve mustered her politest smile. The difference in treatment between her and Evangeline could not be more far apart like heaven and earth. She epted his handshake, letting go within seconds. "You don''t look so bad yourself, Mr. Wilson. Getting ready for your campaign perhaps?"

    "All in good time," he responded while taking his drink. "You two are quite the stars of the night. Are there any new developments perhaps? I don''t want to bete in giving my best wishes."

    Ambryan took a sip of the wine, testing it. Then, he raised his ss in Stuart''s direction. "All in good time."

    "I see."

    Finishing her shish kabob, Eve picked up another one. "Please help yourself, Mr. Wilson. I can''t possibly eat all these tomatoes by myself."

    "Don''t mind if I do," he replied. Silence fell on the sitting area. Eve didn''t know what to make of it. The others had no trouble conversing with her around. Mr. Wilson''s hesitation reminded her of his actions thest time they met.

    He had implied an offer for Eve.

    Maybe she could find out why?

    "I''ve never really been aware of the preparations when ites to the elections," she started to say. "Is there much to be done, Mr. Wilson? If you can manage that while leading your ownpany and spending time with your family, I think Ambryan could use a tip or two."

    "I''m perfectly capable as I am right now," Ambryan rebutted. The wine in his ss had reduced to a small amount. Lifting his arm off the backrest, he checked the writings on the bottle. He muttered the words and memorized them.

    "Good, isn''t it?" Stuart mused, taking a sip.

    "You always did have excellent taste in wines."

    "You are more than wee to view my collection the next time you visit my home. Of course, Ms. Reed is also invited. I have a daughter around your age that might appreciate yourpany."

    Eve felt Ambryan stiffen

    Then, it was gone in a second. She racked her brain for any memory on Mr. Wilson''s family. Other than the head, she hadn''t met someone else who visited the office and attended these gatherings. Mrs. Wilson might have made an appearance but it had to be brief for her to forget about it.

    "May I?" Ambryan asked Stuart. He had finished his ss and craved for more.

    "Of course. Have as much as you like."

    "Your daughter, Mr. Wilson?" Eve said, curiosity getting the best of her. "She must be quite beautiful then with such a handsome father. Intelligent too no less."

    "She is my pride and joy. There are no words to describe the gift of a child. The moment my eyesid on her, I was a goner. I made a vow to make her as happy as possible."

    "That''s really sweet," she couldn''t help but gush. For all the things she heard him say, she ranked this as the most genuine one. It changed her view of him a bit. But, her walls remained standing.

    "I''m sure your father feels the same." Stuart chuckled. "It''s in our nature to be protective."

    Ambryan felt Evangeline stiffen

    Then, it was gone in a second. His mind immediately recalled the family dinner when she spoke about her family. Ambryan thought of another topic, knowing how difficult the subject of families could be.

    "Do you remember where you bought this wine, Mr. Wilson?" He quickly intervened and gulped down another mouthful. "Did you purchase it overseas or is there a reseller in our country?"

    "Oh, I had it for a while now," Stuart replied, taking his time to fully respond. "It''s a gift from my daughter. She knows my fondness for wine. I''m quite d she had taken interest in it during her stay overseas. It became a tradition for her to bring me a bottle every time she returned."

    "I see"

    "You should ask her some time. She''ll be more than d to discuss it."

    Ambryan finished his drink. This time, he felt like he needed another one. The person wasn''t even around and he already detected a headache.

    "Would you please excuse me, gentlemen?" Eve suddenly asked, standing up and letting her feet touch the floor. She kicked the shoes under the coffee table. She almost thanked her lucky stars that her dder called for an emergency. "I really have to use the restroom. Please enjoy yourselves."

    Then, she bent down to grab her purse.

    "And don''t overdrink, Mr. Hathaway," she added in a whisper. Her expression remained neutral. "Otherwise, I''ll be the one driving and you can''t refuse."

    Without waiting for a reply, Eve made her escape. The skirt draped on the floor and concealed her bare feet. Now that she was on her way, she had second thoughts. The bathroom floor had to be covered in germsmaking her nose scrunch.

    Stuart handed the bottle in Ambryan''s direction. "More, I presume? Don''t be shy. I know it''s high quality. I''ll drink whatever amount is left."

 Chapter 197: Bathrooms? Bathrooms

    Chapter 197: Bathrooms? Bathrooms

    Eve shivered the moment her feet touched the bathroom floor.

    ''That''s cold. Really cold,'' she chanted in her head. Not a moment to waste, she dashed for a cubicle in order to lift up her feet. She ced the clutch on a shelf provided above the toilet. It shuddered against the wood when an iing call rang silently.

    "Hello? Mrs. Hathaway?" Eve answered as she flushed the toilet, stepping out. It seemed that she was the only person aroundnot unless someone decided to hide their presence.

    Just to be sure, she checked each cubicle.

    The doors were all open and empty.

    She breathed a sigh of relief. Had she read too much that restrooms now paranoid her? She couldn''t even begin to count how many disasters sparked from this ce.

    "Where are you?" Avery asked, bringing her back to reality.

    "I went to the bathroom on the rightmost hallway of the ballroom. I kind of got lost."

    "Got it. I also have your shoes. Wait for me."

    "Okay. Thank you."

    Eve washed her hands and dried them with a paper towel. Then, she hoisted herself up so her feet dangled over the sink counter. While waiting, she browsed her phone. Posts from her hometown filled up her private ount''s feed. A small smile curled on her lips from the familiar streets.

    The news kepting. Schoolmates from her high school had been engaged, married and/or even given birth. The babies were so adorable. She couldn''t help but coo over them. Their photos reminded her of her own sisters when they were toddlers.

    Oh, how they grew up so fastwhat would her child look like?

    An image of violet eyes with scarlet hair came to her mind.

    The phone began to slip from her hands.

    "Ah!" She snatched it midair before it could fall. Her heart raced from the close call. A boisterousughter rang in her ears. It belonged to Andie''s like she knew the reason behind her clumsy episode.

    Eve closed her eyes and tightened her grip around the phone.

    She had enough of blushing.

    So why was it fond of her?

    .

    .

    .

    .

    .

    Ambryan stood up from his seat.

    He pinched the bridge of his nose and held still. More people hade to join him and Stuart. They had also brought more bottles of wine. It seemed that his favorable opinion of thest one had caught their attention.

    Now, they all wanted to impress.

    "Please excuse me," he said and left without another word.

    The floor felt uneven under his feet. Still, he followed his instincts and kept his spine straight. People greeted him as he passed by. He waved his hand in returnonly to avoid misunderstandings. These were his guests.

    His mother would scold him if he was impolite.

    Speaking of her, Ambryan paused from walking. He twisted his neck from side to side in search of two women. Then, he nced at his watch. The time made him scowl. If he was correct, Evangeline had left almost 20 minutes ago.

    What could be taking them so long?

    His drowsiness vanished at the thought of her. He shook his head. Nothing good came out from being disoriented. His hand clenched and unclenched, making him uneasy. He had a bad feeling about this.

    Ambryan made a wild guess and headed for the nearest bathroom.

    A janitor stepped out of the restroom. He held his hand up to ask a question. "Are there two women inside by any chance?"

    "Uh, no thest one left about two minutes ago."

    "Thank you." Ambryan turned around, heading for the other hallway.

    "Yan!" A familiar voice eximed.

    He turned his head in its direction.

    Avery ran towards him with her skirt lifted up. She stumbled once she reached him, a pair of ck of shoes in her hand. Her arms spread out to regain her bnce. A sigh of relief escaped her lips once her posture steadied.

    Ambryan scowled at the sight of the heels.

    "Mother, where''s Evan?" He demanded, seizing the shoes.

    His mother groaned in frustration. "Ugh, Mrs. Marlowe talks too much. She wouldn''t shut up enough for me to get a word in! Then, she dragged me around to meet her newpanions. Her old ones probably got sick of her and left."

    "That sounds familiar."

    "Hush, you!" She red at him.

    "Where''s Evan?" Ambryan asked again. His head whirled towards the other restroom.

    "Rightmost hallway. Since you''re on the way, maybe you canfort her feet," Avery suggested. She handed him the bag of ointment and bandages. Mischief twinkled in her eyes. "I''ll pretend that I don''t know where neither of you two are so take all the time you need in there."

    For unknown reasons, Ambryan heard through her lines. He gave her a deadpan expression. "How old are you again, mother? You sound like Richard."

    But she wasn''t fazed. Instead, she snorted and searched for the person of topic. He was usually one of the first people to greet her. How could she not notice his absence? "Oh, yeah. I haven''t seen him."

    "He''s overseas. I''ll go see Evan now."

    Ambryan carried the heels in one hand, his fingers hooked on the back straps.

    The crowd slowly dispersed as he reached the edge of it. It seemed that everyone preferred to mingle. There weren''t any lone attendees at this part of the ballroom. After all, it was only a corner that led to the restrooms.

    Voices echoed out of the hallway up ahead.

    Sharpening his hearing, Ambryan slowed down on instinct. Red started to cloud his vision.

    "Sir, I''m alright. I assure you. I need to go back now." Eve said in a rush. She bolted for the end of the hallway. Goosebumps crawled up her skin. She knew this man. And it would cause a great deal of trouble if she crossed him.

    The best course of action was to escape.

    "What''s the hurry, dearie?" The man taunted, catching up to her and grabbing her forearm. He mustered all his strength to yank her back. "Afraid someone would find out?"

    Eve yelped when he also trapped her other arm. She stepped back and jerked them free, failing to seed. His grip only tightened. Panic rmed her head and broke her train of thought. Heughed under his breath, enjoying her attempts. "I''m a powerful man, you know. No one can touch you if you''re with me."

    Then, he leaned down for a kiss.

    "Oh, would you look at the time!" She gasped, pulling her head back. No way would she let his lips touch her. He smelled like beer! And tobo! If she didn''t need air, she would have stopped breathing. "I really have to go or I''ll be left behind so please release me."

    "That''s what you are thinking about?" He cackled, moving his arm to her back. "I can have my driver drop you off. Come on now. Just let me have a taste."

    ...

    ''Ah, fu** it,'' Eve decided. Raising her leg she kicked the man in his shin. Oh, if only she had her heels. That stiletto would have driven a hole into his shoe and broken his bones. She would have stabbed both feet too while she was at it.

    Once his hold loosened, she sprinted away from him. The hallway seemed to stretch before her eyes. The closer she got to the exit, the longer it became to reach it. Her lungs gasped for air. Just how much further was she?

    ''Help! Help! Anyone! Please!'' Her dry throat cried. The words came out as mere wheezes.

    "WHY YOU" She heard him roar.

    Her feet thundered against the floor. She nced over her shoulder. The man had daggers for eyes. He hadn''t given up and pursued herlike a true predator. He charged towards her and closed the gap. Eve couldn''t exin it. Much like the hallway, he seemed to grow bigger.

    Cold fear surged in her veins and her heart leaped out of her chest.She turned her head back and picked up the pace. Closing her eyes, tears formed at the corners.

    Then, she bumped into a solid wall.

    A warm arm wrapped around her shoulders.

    Eve opened her eyes. Her risen panic slowly dissipated, calming her down. Air passed through her lungs like rain in the middle of a drought. Her surroundings became clearer. The end of the hallway was just inches away.

    The tears trickled down to her cheeks.

    She had been so close.

    "Just what do you think you''re doing?" The man said. Eve clung to the ck jacket and buried her head against the familiar scent. Her shoulders shook from the adrenaline. The corridor was long. She didn''t know if she could make it.

    "I saw her first. She''s mine!" The man spoke once again.

    Where Eve found warmth, she found air. BAM! The sound of a fist smashing against flesh and bone reached her ears. She snapped her head in towards it. The man had fallen to the ground, cradling the side of his jaw.

    "No," Ambryan threatened, dropping on one knee. The shadows darkened his gaze further. It took all his willpower not to give in to his rage. "She''s mine."

 Chapter 198: The Night is Young

    Chapter 198: The Night is Young

    People crowded the end of the hallway.

    A server had seen themotion and dropped his tray. The nearest guests noticed his line of sight. They scrambled to see what had startled him. Their hands flew to their mouths in shock. What a scene! The calm and collected CEO had lost hisposure. He grabbed the man''s dress shirt and tugged it.

    Whatever he said, they didn''t hear.

    And so the whispers began.

    Eve''s shoulders tensed when their voices registered in her head. Her fear began to take effect. It was one thing to have her reputation tainted by her crude behavior in the middle of a party, it was another thing to have Ambryan dragged into it. He was the host. Despite everything, he was meant to be courteousbreak off disturbances in a peaceful manner for theck of better words.

    Avery rushed into the scene. The two women locked eyes.

    They shared a silent agreement.

    The madam sought the crowd''s attention while Eve approached the two men. Her shoes were thrown to the floor. She picked them up on her way. Who knew such things could lead to something like this?

    "Uh, Ambryan" Eve said, using a soft tone. She touched his shoulder. "Ambryan, we have to go. Let others handle it from here."

    He didn''t respond. His fist shook as he stared the man down. She could hear his muscles clench. He only had one thing in mind: Not to strike. His control dwindled and rose again with every second that passed.

    One wrong move and he could be triggered once more.

    "Ambryan, leave him," Eve attempted again. This time, she leaned lower and used both hands to hold his shoulders. Her thumbs massaged his upper back lightly. "Come on. It''s not worth it. He''s not worth it."

    "He offended you." His words hissed under his breath, low and sinister.

    It sent shivers down her spine.

    "And you stopped him," she recalled. "That''s more than enough. Don''t let this escte. Think about your other guests. You''re their host. Don''t let this incident change their perception of you and possibly break their trust."

    "What people would think about me, you mean?" Ambryan breathed out. He released the man, letting fall back on the floor. If it injured thetter, he didn''t care. His gaze snapped towards a pair of hazel eyes. "Since when did I care about such a thing?"

    "Ambryan" Eve choked. Was he out of his mind? Wasn''t he the one who taught her how to be professional and civilized? How much wine did he drink? "You know it''s important. Manners should still be followed."

    "I believe they are old enough to distinguish business from personal matters."

    "Except you punched a guest in the middle of yourpany''s party."

    "Who tried to take advantage of you!" Ambryan emphasized, rising up and towering her. He ced the palms of his hands against the wall and trapped her within his arms. Eve tried not to cowereven when the position seemed familiar.

    And not in a good way.

    "If he had any respect for thepany or me, he wouldn''t have stepped out of line in the first ce," Ambryan sneered. "What I did was a result of his own actions. I don''t want you or anyone to feel like you''re not safe here."

    Eve was at a loss for words. She forced herself not to nce at the crowd. Hopefully, Avery and the security team managed to usher them away. This incident seemed to be her fault somehow.

    If she had been more persistent, Ambryan wouldn''t reek of wine right now. He wouldn''t have acted rashly. If she had worn old shoes, she wouldn''t have run into the man. Ambryan wouldn''t have needed to save her.

    Defeated, Eve stood on her toes and kissed his temple. "I know. And I understand. But, please, let''s go. Even just for my sake. This hallway isn''t exactly a ce of fond memories."

    The sound of shoes shuffling against tiles echoed in their ears. The security team had entered the hallway to retrieve the man on the floor. Thetter had fainted after Ambryan let him go. His injuries needed immediate attention. The chances of a concussion were high.

    Eve prayed that he wouldn''t sue.

    She also prayed that Ambryan wouldn''t either.

    Thest thing she needed was to be brought to court.

    "Fine," Ambryan agreed, pulling back. He grabbed her hand. His touch was gentlenot like the hard expression on his face. He led her towards the other side of the hallway. "I''ll let mother handle the rest. I don''t think I can calm down anytime soon."

    His strides were big. Eve did her best to keep up. After a while, he shortened them to match her pace. She remained silent as they went through the back. It was the same entrance she used when she snuck into the Rainbow Launch party.

    Wen arrived, driving Ambryan''s convertible.

    She bowed her head and mumbled once Ambryan was within earshot. Eve stepped inside the vehicle while they finalized details. She used the time to apply the ointment and wear her shoes, skipping the use of bandages. It would only prolong the process.

    Besides, since they were on the way home, she wouldn''t need to use them much longer.

    Ambryan sat on the driver''s side.

    They officially left the party scene.

    Silence filled the car. For some reason, the outside world also cooperated. Traffic was minimal. The roads were quiet. The cloudless dark sky gifted the citizens a few stars to gaze on. It had the ambiance of a perfect night out in the park.

    But neither one seemed up for it.

    Eve closed her eyes. She wrapped her arms around herself. Although her dress had sleeves, the fabric was thin enough for her to sense another''s skin. The areas the man touched burned like slick oil from the garbage dump. They made her feel filthy and tainted.

    "Evan?" Ambryan spoke softly.

    Her eyes unfolded.

    "I always cause trouble, don''t I?" Eve whispered out of the blue. When the words left her mouth, she realized they had been lingering deep in her mind. The corners of her eyes drooped. "First, the misunderstanding with Mikael. Next, the appearance of Elias Walker. Now, a dispute with a politician."

    The vehicle stopped in front of the apartmentplex. Except for security at the top of the stairs, there wasn''t a visible living creature for miles. She could almost imagine that they werepletely alone.

    Despite it being far from the truth, a new wave of tears built up.

    "Those aren''t your fault," Ambryan objected. He angled his body in her direction. "You did not cause any of those. You are not to me for any of them."

    "Call it what you want but I-I attract trouble. And problems." Eve''s thoughtsrational and irrational mixed togetherflowed out of her mouth like vomit. She stared at nothing. " I''m a walking misfortune, aren''t I? You had picked me because you thought I''d be the easiest person to make an agreement with. Now, where did they get you? If it had been a different girl, all of these might have been prevented."

    "Evan, do you hear yourself?" Ambryan asked. His skin trembled but for a different reason than earlier. His heartbeat quickened, not calming down anytime soon. "Are you saying that you regret"

    He stopped short. He knew her statements weren''t true.

    Yet, what if it had been him who brought this on her? He had failedfailed to keep her safe. Someone actually slipped off his fingers and touched her. His violet eyes nced at the way she hugged herself.

    She was terrified.

    These ims were only out of fear and nothing more.

    "Let me take you up," he suggested, reaching a hand tofort her. "You''ll feel much better after a shower."

    Eve finally turned her head to face him. She blinked and stared into his soft gaze. Gone was his wrath from earlier. His eyes pierced through her like she was the only thing that existed besides him.

    Her chest tightened.

    "I''d like that," she replied, undoing her seatbelt.

    Ambryan rushed out of the car and to her door. He opened it, offering her his hand. Her arms remained crossed. He shrugged off his jacket and ced it on her shoulders. They walked up the front steps.

    Eve took a deep breath as the elevator doors closed.

    She was safe. No one would harm her here. They didn''t have a reason to. She cleared her mind of anything outside the building. There weren''t whispers behind her. Calcting res were also not around. People who only wished to look and not to help.

    More importantly, that man was gone.

    He couldn''t touch her all the way here.

    Mikael had one hand on his doorknob when the lift stopped on the 10th floor. He turned his head towards it as a reflex. His feet rooted to the floor. The pair took their time to reach their destination. Neither of them seemed to notice his presence.

    Eve took out her key and unlocked her apartment door.

    Both of them went inside.

    Curiosity loomed over Mikael''s head.

    Thepany party was this evening. He missed it because of a project that couldn''t be rescheduled. But he heard only good things about their first formal public appearance on the red carpet. Their presence here should have been a good sign on their rtionship''s progress.

    But neither of their expressions indicated the same.

    What could have happened?

 Chapter 199: Listen to the Silence

    Chapter 199: Listen to the Silence

    Eve sat in the bathtub.

    Her wig hanging on a hook behind the door, she hugged her knees and propped her chin on them. The water had turned into an opaque white color while the scent ofvender floated in the air. Time and space drifted as quietly and as stagnant as she did.

    She had moved lifelessly the moment she stepped into the apartment. A moment of seclusion and silence was what she craved. Her legs led her straight for the bathroom. Grabbing the loofa, she scrubbed her skin cleancoloring it red from the immense force she used.

    Her makeup remained intact despite the water that sttered on her face.

    She took a deep breath and held it in, letting her muscles rx.

    ''Ambryan came in with me, right?'' Eve wondered. The thought brought her back to her senses. It wouldn''t be good to keep him waiting. She stood up and grabbed the towel. Her eyesnded on the wig.

    she froze.

    Although she acted like a robot earlier, she did know that this was Evangeline''s apartmentwhich meant that she needed to put the wig back on. But, apparently, her mind drifted away from reality enough for her to forget to bring a spare of clothes.

    Eve mmed her face against the towel.

    The robe she used was in the room. She had left it there when she changed inside the closet before the party. It didn''t cover her up as much as she preferred but it was better than a towel. Except to get it, she would have to

    "Whywhy, why, why is this bathroom not connected to the bedroom?" she whimpered. Steeling her nerves, she groaned and took the wig from the hook. There was no way to avoid it.

    The sooner she got this over with, the better.

    Ambryan walked around the living room. Theck of distinctive items reminded him of his penthouse. There weren''t any photos. Nor were they any figurines. She hadn''t added her personal touch to the decor.

    It sort of disappointed him.

    The stack of magazines on the TV cab reminded him of waiting areasprovided just to pass the time and nothing of specific interest. Then again, they could be references for her modelling career. He picked one and flipped through the pages.

    Itnded on a section filled with models for female undergarments

    He mmed the magazine shut and closed his eyes. That had to be the most amount of ck lingerie he had seen in his life. Not even the other males in his ss managed to convince him to read their ''men''s lifestyle and entertainment'' magazines.

    The door opened to his left.

    Following his instincts, his head turned towards it.

    Eve stiffened as soon as she opened the door. The angle had a direct path to a tall figure in the living room. Her hazel eyes locked with his violet ones. Her grip on the towel tightened. At first, she nned to ask for his help.

    Then, at thest minute, she realized the bedroom was a leap away.

    She could just make a dash for it.

    Unfortunately, that n wasn''t proceeding.

    Eve averted her gaze and bit her lips from the inside. Now that he had seen her, there were no take backs. She sneaked a peek at him. He hadn''t moved an inch at all. Was he nning to stare at her for the rest of the evening?

    "Um do you mind if you turn around?" She coughed, still avoiding his face.

    "Of course," Ambryan responded immediately. He threw the magazine on the TV cab and faced the windows. The tips of his ears had gone pink. He loosened his cor, feeling a bit hot.

    Quickly, Eve checked the bathroom onest time, making sure she didn''t forget anything.

    Then, she ran for her dignity and mmed the bedroom door shut.

    Her back thudded against it. Her chest rose and fell at a fast pace. She shook the matter out of her head and focused on the next step what should she wear?

    Dumping her dirty clothes in theundry basket, she assessed the closet. Sleepwear provided the bestfort in her opinion. She would have to spend the night here anyway to avoid her secret from getting leaked.

    Ambryan nced over his shoulder when he heard the door. He breathed a sigh of relief. Her skin truly was wlessbut her feet had suffered on more than one asion. They had calluses and remnants of scars. He wondered if they were purely from shoes.

    Or could it be something else?

    He left the living room in favor of the kitchen. The setup looked simple enough. He found the supplies for tea. There weren''t many to choose from but coffee would have to wait. The priority was to brew a rxing drink. It should induce better chances of sleep.

    The image of Evangeline shivering in the car came to his mind.

    That was something he didn''t want to see again.

    Back in the bedroom, Eve picked the most decent pajamas she could find. It was a three-piece set of pink silk: a pair of shorts, a button top and a knee-length robe. The fabric caressed her skin like a prized jewel. The feel of it outdid all other options.

    Maybe she could ask if she could keep it after this was all over

    Her hand lingered on the doorknob.

    Right. How many months were left? Six? When this started, Eve knew what she wanted to do. Her life would revert back to normal like this never happened. It was a temporary phase in her life. And yet she couldn''t imagine her future to be different from now.

    Could she live in this dream a little longer?

    Her fantasy shattered once the negative impacts surfaced in her memories. It manifested one thought. No one could really have everything, could they? Of course, she knew this wouldn''t be perfect. But she had only expected petty dramas brought by people like Charlee Edwards.

    "What am I doing" Eve muttered, closing her eyes and opening the door. These thoughts needed to go away. They needed to stop circling around her head like vultures. Otherwise, she wouldn''t sleep a wink tonight.

    "I know you love coffee but you''d have to settle for tea tonight."

    Ambryan had shrugged his jacket off. The sleeves of his back dress shirt clung to his arms, defining his muscles. He set two mugs on the coffee table before walking in her direction. He reached her within three strides.

    His hands cradled the sides of her head. "How do you feel?"

    "Better," Eve assured him. "Much better."

    She gulped at his close proximity. This wasn''t the man who sneered at her in that hallway. No. This was the man who took her shoes off when she was in pain. His gentle eyes seemed as endless and asforting as a purple gxy filled with stars.

    Ambryan nodded once he found what he was looking for. He squeezed her hand and led her to the couch. "Drink some tea. Take your time to collect yourself. I can''t even begin to imagine how you feel right now. But I will be here for you."

    Eve sat on the sofa obediently. She reached for the nearest mug and enjoyed its warmth against the palms of her hands. Her eyes slid to her right. Ambryan leaned on the backrest with his legs crossed. He lifted his mug to his lips.

    ''I could get used to this,'' Eve mused to herself. The silence wasforting.

    It made her smile.

    Then, something urred to her.

    Her shoulders became tense. "How long do you n to stay here?"

    Ambryan pulled his head back, lifting an eyebrow at her. "Getting rid of me already?"

    "It''s not that" Eve quickly defended. She sipped the tea and used it as a chance to organize her thoughts. It tasted much like how he preferred it. Was this the only brewing method he knew? "Nanzie lives with me here. I don''t want her to be trapped outside because of your presence. I wouldn''t befortable with her waiting too long."

    "Is that all?" Ambryan uncrossed his legs and rested his elbows on his thighs. He ced his mug on the coffee table. "We could always move to my penthouse."

    Eve choked on mid-sip. "That''s not necessary. We''re already here."

    Ambryan twisted his neck. A small smirk curled on his lips. He observed her further as she avoided his teasing. Her head was turned away and her hair was tied to a low ponytail. It gave him a good view of her slender neck. Patches of reddish pink popped up here and there.

    Before he knew it, his fingers reached to touch them. "Did he touch you here?"

    Eve jumped in her seat, sloshing the tea in its container. She put the mug down and brushed off his question with an awkwardugh. "I may have scrubbed too hard one can''t be too clean, am I right?"

    Ambryan scooted closer. Her skin had been scoured raw. The patches turned out to be her entire skin but varied in shade. Indescribable anger flexed in his eyes. What did that man do for her to feel this dirty?

    His fingers hovered near her neck. They shook with rage. He struggled to control his violent urges. Little by little, he moved his hand and tucked her hair behind her ear.

    Then, he leaned in.

    Eve''s breath hitched as Ambryan moved from her neck and to her corbone, leaving another kiss.

 Chapter 200: Probably an Interruption

    Chapter 200: Probably an Interruption

    Eve''s breath hitched as Ambryan moved from her neck and to her corbone, leaving another kiss. Her body went still. Ambryan lifted his head. Their eyes locked for the next few seconds. Then, his gaze dropped to her lips.

    They parted open when Eve realized his stare.

    Ambryan brushed his thumbs on her cheeks. He pressed his forehead against hers. "As much as I want to go further, I understand you might notappreciate that after what happened earlier. But I do want you to know about what I feel."

    "And what exactly is that?"

    When Eve heard her own words, she experienced internal panic. Her heartbeat went up. rm bells rang in her ears. Did she want to hear this? Right now? The answer wasn''t as clear as ck and white.

    She pressed her lips together. "The tea is getting cold."

    Ambryan stopped breathing for a second.

    Then, his shoulders began to shake. Muffledughter flowed through his gritted teeth. The corners of his lips stretched up to his ears. His arms slid under hers and wrapped around her waist. He shook his head, cing his temple against hers and hugging her closer.

    "What is it?" Eve demanded with a scowl. What was so funny?

    Ambryan pulled his head back to meet her eyes. Pure amusement gleamed in his gaze. The sight of it startled Eve. She''d never seen him like this. "Here I am about to tell you something important and you''re worried about the tea?"

    "But you love tea. I doubt you want it cold."

    He kissed the center of her forehead. "Hmmm choosing between tea and you."

    "Huh?"

    "I''m saying" Ambryan whispered. The tip of his nose traced downwards, staring from the spot between her brows. His lips brushed her cupid''s bow. "If ites down to you and tea, I would pick you."

    Eve blinked. Despite the close intimacy, she found herself rxed. "Well, I didn''t know tea is a rival. Maybe I should kick it out of my apartment."

    Ambryan snorted. A wide grin spread across his face. Was this from drinking? His sense of humor seemed shallow tonight. Had it always been this easy tough? "Why am Iughing so much?"

    "I don''t know!" Eve exasperated, joining him. Hisughter was contagious. Oh, how much she wanted to hear more of it. "You tell me!"

    Ambryan recovered from his fit and traced her ear with his fingers. "I''m d to hear youugh."

    "Ditto." She giggled and leaned her head back. The smile on her face was only half as big as his. She almost couldn''t see his eyes anymore. If only she could capture this moment forever. "I have to thank you for that."

    Ambryan lifted an eyebrow. "Oh? Do tell how you n to repay me."

    "Wha" On second thought, Eve swallowed her snarky response. Had she thanked him yet for tonight? He had gone out of his way to look for her. If he hadn''t, who knew what could have happened.

    Feeling a little bold, she kissed him. "Is that enough?"

    .

    .

    .

    .

    .

    .

    "No."

    Ambryan captured her lips. He ced one of his hands behind her head, cradling it and pulling her closer. Then, he used his arm around her waist to lift her up andy her down on the couch. His knee propped on the cushions, making sure not to crush her under his weight.

    Eve encircled her arms around his neck and answered his gestures. Her mouth opened every time he did the same. They moved in perfect sync as if reading each other''s minds. The world became a blur. The context of time vanished.

    They craved each other like a dying man looking for water in a desert.

    Or a kid who didn''t want to leave a candy store.

    When they broke apart, Eve panted for breath. Ambryan moved to her neck and left a trail of fire. Her eyes closed involuntarily. His touch had enraptured her mind. She could spend the rest of her life in his arms. It was a really good picture.

    Ambryan brushed his lips against her nose. "I have to go."

    Eve stiffened. "Well, don''t let me stop you."

    He snickered at her reluctance. "Because if I don''t, I won''t be able to hold myself back."

    For the first time in her life, Eve can''t think of another moment when she had been this selfish. Who cared about honesty? Who cared about tomorrow? To hell with the consequences, she ached for this to never end.

    In fact, if there was more, she''d dly ept them.

    She wanted everything with him.

    Ambryan frowned. "Don''t look at me like that."

    "Like what?"

    "You''re making this really difficult."

    "How?"

    He shook his head. Her act didn''t fool him. He knew what she was doingand damn it. It would be a lie not to say it didn''t make him feel good. His muscles clenched in resistance. "I''m trying to do the right thing here."

    "But I don''t want you to leave." Eve shrugged, pouting her lips. He wasn''t the only one who could be shameless. She yed with the tips of his hair. They felt even softer than hers. It made her envious.

    "Evan" Ambryan breathed out. Thest of his resolve was close to crumbling down. This wasn''t how he wanted this to happen. She deserved something betterfar better. He would have to n something soon.

    Or else, he wouldn''t be able in the same room as her.

    His self-control wouldn''tst long enough.

    Eve exhaled sharply. She could see the internal conflict in his eyes. Her desires set aside in favor of his decision. At least, she wasn''t alone in feeling this way. "Fine, fine. Meet tomorrow?"

    "And where would we go?" Ambryan asked. He removed his hand from the back of her head and twirled her hair with his finger. He alternated the movement between going clockwise and counterclockwise.

    "I was thinking about winging it. Discover some good spots in the city. Maybe a walk?"

    "Alright," he agreed. The answer was already at the tip of his tongue. No matter what she would have said, his response would have stayed the same. He left a kiss on her temple. "I''ll pick you up after lunch."

    "Take care." Eve nodded.

    .

    .

    .

    .

    .

    "Evan."

    "Yes?"

    Ambryan shed a smile. Whether she knew it or not, she was feeding his ego. If she kept doing this, he might be more addicted to her. "You have to let me go."

    "Ah...," Eve pretended to be surprised. The actsted only a second before she clicked her tongue. "But do you want me to?"

    "What am I gonna do with you?"

    She fluttered hershes, beaming from ear to ear. "Don''t ever hate me?"

    "I don''t think I ever could." Ambryan chuckled. He slowly peeled himself off her. Then, detangles her hold around his neck. He wasn''t even done yet but his body already coveted her embrace.

    Eve chose not to reply. She quickly sat up once he rose to his feet. While he smoothed out the wrinkles on his clothes, she grabbed his jacket and held it up, helping him put it on. Too bad he didn''t wear a tie. She could have used it to stall longer.

    The two cups of tea had gone cold on the coffee table.

    They walked to the door.

    Ambryan stood in the hallway, finding no one. He turned around to face Eve onest time.

    "Message me when you get back," she reminded him. "Don''t stay up toote. You just recovered from a fever. Do your work in the morning instead. If there''s a lot, we can just stay in your office tomorrow. Again, don''t sleepte."

    "Yes, ma''am."

    "Good. Now, scram."

    Ambryan blocked the door from closing. "I will once I get my kiss."

    Eve shook her head. The smile on her lips stated differently though. "Haven''t you had enough?"

    He returned it with a grin. "Never."

    The floor left Eve''s feet. Actually, it was probably the other way around. Her head tilted up to meet his lips halfway. Would she ever get sick of this? Euphoria bursted in her chest. Now she knew why two love birds always kissed even when she was around.

    Ambryan broke away, setting her feet back on the ground.

    Eve nudged him out of the door. He might have thought she didn''t notice but he had stepped back inside. For someone who chose to leave, he was doing really bad at seedingand this came from a man who refused to fail.

    A giggle erupted from her throat. "Goodbye, Ambee~"

    "See you tomorrow." He winked.

    She leaned her against the door''s side. Somehow, the view looked much better from this angle. She would have to use it more ofteneven without a door. "See you."

    "Good night."

    "Good night."

    .

    .

    .

    .

    .

    Wen was waiting in the driveway when Ambryan stepped out of the building.

    She didn''t speak a word. From the corner of her eye, she saw Evangeline''s security team. They might have cleared up the misunderstanding before but she still felt wary of them. If they had nothing to hide, why did their actions indicate differently back then?

    These thoughts continued to run in her head as she opened the car door.

    Ambryan paused and ced the side of his wrist against it. His eyes scanned the area. "Where is he?"

    "At a secluded area in the venue, pleading for his case."

    He scowled, the same boiling rage flowed back in his veins.

    "If he''s looking for forgiveness, he won''t get any."

 Chapter 201: Mister Warm and Chill

    Chapter 201: Mister Warm and Chill

    "I have to say nothing beats a date in a coffee shop."

    Eve wore a fitted ck sweater and a checkered wool skirt that red down to her knees. For shoes, she went forfort in the style of ts. They had short heels that stood less than an inch but the material was soft. Her foot socks made them even better.

    "Did you sleep well?" Ambryan asked. Today, he opted for something other than a dress shirt and a suit. He picked a thick pullover in navy blue, tucking it under the waistband of his trousers. A red scarf encircled his neck.

    The couple across each other in a booth. It kept them away from the public eyeespecially the front windows of the shop. Eve specifically chose the spot next to the wall. It hid her from the cameras that lingered outside.

    "I did." She nodded, lifting the hot cup of cappino to her lips. "Thanks for asking. Is it just me or does it feel like winter already?"

    Ambryan checked on his tea and kept the tea bag in. "Do you not want to walk anymore?"

    "I do!" Eve corrected. She admitted being sensitive to the cold. Others would say it was warm while she shivered from the chill air. Hence, why she chose to drop by a coffee shop. "I saw something on the way and want to check it out."

    "What is it?"

    "I''m not telling you."

    "And why not?" Ambryan ced the tea down. He had one arm folded over the table.

    "Because that removes the thrill," she pointed out. The smell of brewed coffee floated to her nose. Her head turned towards the counter to watch a barista prepare the drink. Meanwhile, a server headed their way with the cake slice she ordered.

    "Fine."

    His tone of voice caught Eve''s attention. She raised her eyebrows at him, thanking the waiter for his service. "Is work stressing you out? You seem in a bad mood."

    "I handled a few negotiations" Ambryan began to say. He swirled the tea in his cup as if it was red wine. "But not all of them went smoothly."

    "Why?"

    "I''d rather not talk about it," he dismissed.

    Eve bit her inner cheek and reached for the fork. It seemed to be serious if he was acting this way. She had a mental debate whether to push further or not. Ambryan had been open about most things. She should let this one go and respect his wishes.

    Besides, if it was important, she''d find out tomorrow anyway.

    "Fine," she caved, pointing the fork at the saucer. "Cake?"

    Ambryan shook his head. "No, thank you."

    "Suit yourself."

    On the other hand, Eve couldn''t wait to dig in. The cake had caught her eye because of its pink color. The slice had a swirl of whipped cream and half a strawberry. Most cheesecakes she''d seen only had zes for enhancing the vor.

    This one actually mixed it in the filling. It even had strawberry bits inside.

    The cake base even looked creamy with its white biscuits.

    "Oh, this is so good," she moaned after taking a bite. "I bet it would taste better if they added a bit of chocte ganache. Maybe I should have ordered hot chocte instead. It could make up for it."

    Ambryan had a small smile on his face. The cheesecake didn''t stand a chance. His date had already eaten half of it. He pointed to the corner of his lips."You have a litte"

    Eve looked up to see his hand near her face.

    She recoiled.

    He paused. "What? You don''t want me to touch you? That didn''t seem to be the casest night."

    "Hey!" Eve felt her ears grow hot. It was only out of surprise. She had been distracted by the cake to notice his movements. Ambryan merely chuckled and brushed off the crumbs. A bit of cream filling stained her bottom lip.

    He wiped it off and licked it.

    Avoiding his eyes, Eve bowed her head. She used her cappino to hide her face. Just when she thought she became used to his antics, he pulled out something from his sleeve. This was bing a little too unfair.

    "Warmed up yet?" She heard him tease.

    "Almost."

    Eve reluctantly put the cappino back. She wished she had a scarf. That way she could hide her blushing cheeks. Curse this man and whatever book he read on flirting. Why couldn''t it be cheesy lines that she couldugh at?

    Ambryan stood up from his seat and sat beside her. He ced his arm on the backrest, providing warmth with his body heat. A wide grin spread across his face. "How about now?"

    "IYouCake?"

    Eve sliced the strawberry cheesecake with her fork. Then, she brought the small piece to his lips. "I know tomatoes are red but this is definitely not tomato."

    "Very funny." Ambryan rolled his eyes and epted the offer. "Hmmm."

    "Good, right?" She squeaked, clearing her throat. While he chewed, she also took a bite. Then, she added a sip of cappino. The vors danced over her tongue. More importantly, they kept her mouth preupied.

    She had an excuse not to say something stupid.

    Her eyes flickered at the other tables. No one inside the cafe seemed to notice them. She didn''t know whether to find it refreshing or confusing. Maybe they weren''t as famous as she thought. Or maybe actual decent human beings did exist.

    Ambryan frowned at the cake. "I think it could use a bit of more sweetness?."

    "Really? I think it''s just fine" Whatever words Eve had to say stopped at the tip of her tongue. A pair of lips halted them by pressing themselves against hers.

    Ambryan broke away, the grin back on his face. "Much better."

    "We''re in public!" Eve hissed under her breath. She buried herself further into the seat until her bottom touched the edge. Camera shes went to a frenzy outside. If the other didn''t look their way before, they did now.

    This type of PDA was entirely new to her. And she was a naturally private person. She thought Ambryan was the same until recent events proved otherwise. He had taken the upperhand too!

    "And so?" Ambryan shrugged. He angled his body towards her to block the cameras away. He propped his elbow on the table and rested his temple against his knuckles. "Are we hiding our rtionship?"

    "That''s not it."

    "Then, what?"

    "I just feel a bit embarrassed, okay?" She exasperated, pouting at the table. A high profile rtionship wasn''t in her lifetime of possibilities. Oh, sure. They had agreed to pretend they were in a rtionship.

    But was this still pretend?

    This was her actual life they were invading.

    "I know. It''s cute." Ambryan replied, breaking her out of her thoughts.

    "Why you" She used and nudged his shoulder.

    Ambryan faked a cry of pain. It resulted in an eye roll from his date.

    "Finish the cake so we can go." He chuckled as he cut off a piece and fed it to her. Another chuckle rumbled in his chest when her brows remained scrunched while she chewed. "I guess we have to make this datest until you be used to this."

    "And whose fault is that?" Eve red from the corner of her eye.

    "Yours."

    "Excuse me. What?"

    Ambryan shoved another cake piece in her direction. "Yours. How else do you have me wrapped around your finger?"

    Eve picked up the strawberry and ate in one bite. She grabbed the fork from him, stabbing thest piece. She washed them down with the rest of her cappino. Grabbing her coat and purse, she pushed him off the bench.

    "Well, what are you waiting for? Cake is done. Let''s go!"

    .

    .

    .

    .

    .

    Eve breathed a bit easier once out in the open air.

    The paparazzis went scarce as soon as they stepped out. The former stayed a good distance away that didn''t disrupt their time together. Eve went ahead and skipped down the pavement. The ce was only a few blocks away. She couldn''t wait to see what''s inside.

    She also couldn''t wait to have something to do that prevented Ambryan from making her flustered while in public. Andie would agree that it was cute. But to Eve, it didn''t portray her in a good light.

    No one needed to know her embarrassing moments.

    No one.

    Ambryan stayed a few steps behind, letting her roam free.

    It was much more amusing to watch from afar anyway. Dried leaves littered on the ground. The street had trees in betweenmp posts, providing some shade for passersby and parked vehicles. That was usually the case unless it was fall or winter season, at least.

    In front of him, Eve kicked the leaves that were in her path. Her tan coat blended well with the outdoor colors. He took out his phone and aimed its camera in her direction. A certain someone wasn''t the only person who could take decent photos.

    Eve almost reached the end of the street. She pointed to a store excitedly and nced over her shoulder. The expression left her face as soon as it came. Her legs dashed for the mobile device.

    Ambryan kept it out of reach.

    "You can''t just take photos of someone like that!"

    "And why not?"

    "Because it''s rude!" She reasoned, jumping up to snatch the phone.

    "But I needed a new wallpaper," Ambryan defended. He showed her his lock screen once she stopped attacking him. "See? It''s a picture exclusively for me."

 Chapter 202: A Blast From the Past

    Chapter 202: A st From the Past

    Ambryan hid his phone before Eve could attempt to snatch it again. He squeezed her hand and pointed towards the store. "Shall we?"

    Colored lights greeted their eyes when they entered the establishment. Machines of various sizes and shapes lined up, creating a maze of some sorts. Iprehensible music sounded from all the speakers of each machinery. People from all ages littered around to y with the old video games.

    Eve scoffed out augh. "This is amazing. I haven''t been to this in such a long time."

    "It''s an arcade."

    "And it still has some vintage ssics," she added, ignoring Ambryan''s input. She proceeded to walk around the room and dragged him behind her. "These are retro games. I bet this ce would go well with the skating rink. In fact, why not just dedicate an entire space full of retro ssics? This, the skating rink, the diner at World of Adventure"

    Ambryan inspected the space. Most of the machines called for two yers based on the set of joysticks and buttons. He peeked at one screen and saw old-fashioned pixted graphics. The games looked simple enough.

    He didn''t know what the fuss was about.

    "OMG, is this Donkey Gong?" Eve eximed. She stood behind a kid as he yed on the machine. It had a tan gori throwing barrels from the top to stop the yer from reaching him and saving the kidnapped princess.

    Sneaking a nce, Ambryan found a wide smile on her face. "Do you want to y?"

    She shifted her attention towards him. "Do you even know how to y?"

    "I think I can manage."

    "Hm." Her eyebrows scowled. "How about we make a bet?"

    Ambryan crossed his arms over his chest. His gaze squinted at the mischief in her eyes. He leaned down, showing he was ineffective by her intimidation. "What''s the wager?"

    "Loser buys dinner?" Eve suggested.

    "I always buy dinner."

    "And this is a chance for me to payokay, how about this," an idea popped up in her head halfway through her defense. She wagged a finger in the air while staring off into space. "The winner gets to pick where to have dinner."

    "We''re not eating at WcDonald''s."

    Eve gave him a deadpan look. "We haven''t yed yet. You don''t get to decide."

    Ambryan weighed his chances. Since the games were oldand seemed like they were made for childrenhe concluded that it wouldn''t be hard to learn their mechanics. He had video games before even if he didn''t use the console a lot.

    A smirk emerged on his lips. "You''re on."

    It didn''t take long for his initial thoughts to be proven wrong.

    Eve had chosen a run and gun video game. It was one of the few machines that allowed two yers simultaneously. Her character wore blue pants while Ambryan''s had red. They both have rifles with unlimited ammunition. Every jump was a somersault and every touch by the enemy meant death.

    "Do try to keep up, Mr. Hathaway," Eve teased, her avatar running ahead. Except the screen won''t move unless the second yer also scoured ahead. "Are your hand joints already hurting?"

    "I''m not that old," Ambryan grumbled under his breath. He had been trying to kill a character that was below the cliffside. Once he managed to drop down but his character was wounded right away. But he didn''t know how to do that again.

    Eve watched him struggle. It was hard not tough. "You get down by pressing the jump button and down arrow at the same time."

    In order to reach the boss at the end, she decided to demonstrate what she meant and killed the enemy soldier. "There. You know we could always work together with you as the decoy."

    "..."

    Ambryan''s character eventually lost his third life.

    Only Eve was left to trudge on ahead.

    "I guess this is my win?" She teased, on her way to defeating the final boss. Her fingers moved on the keys like it was second nature. She made it look as easy as typing on aputer keyboard. She didn''t even need to nce at them.

    "It''s only been one game. I could still catch up," Ambryan defended. He watched her finish the first stage of the game and glimpsed at her character''s lives. She still had two left, making him flinch.

    He needed to upgrade his skills.

    And fast.

    Eve pped her hands when the boss died in puffs of smoke. She propped her elbow next to the buttons and rested her cheek against the palm of her hand. Her eyshes fluttered in victory. "Why don''t you pick the next one then?"

    Ambryan searched for the nearest game. Two kids just left a few machines away. He got up to check out what the game was about. Eve swore his eyes sparkled the second he saw the screen.

    "How about a race? With motorbikes?" He asked, already studying the demo video that yed.

    "Ah," Eve gasped. She had a guess on what the game could be. "I remember this. They even released it on an old console. I had yed it with other kids."

    "Really?" Ambryan arched an eyebrow. Perhaps "Was it yours?"

    She shook her head and took a seat. "Nah, it was this annoying kid. I don''t even know why but he would be in this other room while the rest of us attended dance ss. We couldn''t y unless we knew the password he came up with."

    Eve inserted the needed coins for a two-yer game. "How would we even know unless he told us what the password was? I couldn''t understand his logic."

    Ambryan sat beside her and let her set up the race. He cleared his throat. "Maybe he wanted to be alone."

    "Or he was just a selfish kid who didn''t want to share. It wasn''t like he always used it either. His mother was there so she would have made sure we didn''t break it." Eve tsked. "I got lucky though. He did tell me the password while at school."

    ''Then, you shared it with the other kids,'' Ambryan thought to himself. He had created a fuss when everyone came to that room. He got scolded for his antics. The only good thing out of it was the pack of sour candy he received as an apology.

    "Alright. Here we go."

    The screen split into two crosswise. Both showed the same track but followed different yers. The motocross game had a series of obstacles in its track. They became harder as they reached higher stages.

    Eve found herself in the same boat as when she first tried this game.

    Her engine overheated a lot which needed time to cool down. Ambryan''s motorbike maneuvered through the tracks without a breakneither did his avatar fall off it. The time shed after he finished his firstp but he kept going at high speed.

    Frowning, Eve wondered what his trick was.

    "Having trouble, Ms. Reed?" It was Ambryan''s turn to mock.

    "Just a little," she begrudgingly admitted. There was no room to escape. He could clearly see her side of the screen. "I will get the hang out of it soon. There are still 4 tracks left."

    "I will be waiting at the finish line then."

    As soon as he said, Ambryan''s character crossed the finish line. Eve blew on her fringe and tried again. The good thing was this game had no lives. The motorcycle wouldn''t suddenly blow up. Any dilemma would only dy her time.

    Of course, she''d be eliminated if she didn''t make it before the timer ran out.

    And so she rolled up her sleeves and drove down the track, climbing over the humps and flying from the small slopes. The motorbike crossed the checkpoint. There was still a bit of time left and she was halfway to the finish line. Her engine''s heat stayed consistent.

    Then, she used the elerator for thestp.

    The screen congratted her for finishing the first course.

    Eve flipped her hair and smirked. "I told you I only needed time. On to the next track?"

    Ambryan cracked his knuckles. He was finally in his element. There was no way he''d let her get the best of him. "Bring it on then."

    After five tracks, the game resulted in Ambryan''s victory. Eve med her memory for her loss. She had forgotten about the other obstacles of the game. They always threw her off during the first half. She almost missed the timer for thest one.

    It was sort of a miracle that she managed to stay in Top 3.

    "Not to worry," Ambryanforted her. He offered his hand and helped her up. "Since you have shown me courtesy, I now give you the privilege of choosing the next game."

    "Har-har."

    Eve walked around the arcade. She noticed a few newer games towards the center, thinking it was to attract more customers. She took them off her list and looked for another game she was familiar with. Actually, there should be one that both of them knew....

    Eventually, she found the machine that she wanted.

    "Are you sure you want this one?" Ambryan was skeptical about the game. The exterior design seemed new. The stickers hadn''t lost their luster quite yet.

    "Technically, it''s an old game. Just upgraded," Eve exined, shrugging her shoulders. "Shouldn''t we test it out? See the difference and find out if we could still keep up with the youngins?"

    "But PAQ-MAN?"

    "What?" Her voice rising in tone. "You''re not scared, are you?"

 Chapter 203: How Much Does He Know?

    Chapter 203: How Much Does He Know?

    The arcade was filled with chatter. Allies and enemies expressed their victories and frustrations. The game music yed like a broken record. It could probably seep into one''s dream if they stayed in the shop long enough.

    But one spot''s noise rose above all.

    People raised their eyebrows at the two grown adults.

    "I c-can''t be-lieve yo-u lo-st at PAQ-MAN." Eve cackled, clutching her stomach. It was getting harder to breathe by the second. That had to be the easiest win of the day. Did it evenst ten minutes? As the main strategist of theirpany, Ambryan surely could havested longer.

    The imaginary dark cloud around him just made it funnier.

    "I merely went easy on you."

    "Did you?" She taunted and wiped off her tears. "We can have a rematch next time then."

    Ambryan fixed his clothing and brushed off the defeat. If it made her this happy, he could overlook it just this once. He held her hand and, together, they walked out of the shop. Hues of orange, pink and purple colored the sky. The autumn leaves became vibrant under its light.

    Eve matched his pace, humming to herself. She had been craving since yesterday. The bet was a convenient tool to guarantee her request. Her mouth salivated from all the food she could eat.

    She could hardly wait!

    "So where will we eat?" Ambryan asked after noticing her expression.

    She sent a coy smile his way. "I think there''s some food at the square."

    .

    .

    .

    .

    .

    .

    Bustling noise loitered around a small section of the square. Pic tables lined up the middle of the bath. Stalls stood on either side, selling various items and food. It was such a popr ce that the city''s beautificationmittee added twinkling lights overhead.

    Eve found it bright and warm.

    Ambryan found it dreadful. "Street food?"

    "Yep!" She chuckled. His reaction was just as expected. She mentally congratted herself for her smart thinking and good luck. The smell of cooking wafted in the air, teasing her nose. Her stomach grumbled in response.

    "It''s unhealthy."

    "Aw,e on," she whined and tugged on his sleeve. "I miss eating street food and you''re dressed casually so we won''t be turning heads. It''s also crowded so we''ll lose the paparazzi."

    Scowling, Ambryan assessed the ce. There seemed to be some decent stalls. He won''t eat anything that wasn''t made with a pair of hand gloves. Drinks should alle from a bottle. "If I get a stomachache"

    "You won''t. Stop being a drama queen!" Eve quickly dragged him inside before he could change his mind. There was one stall she frequently visited as a college student. "Look! Fried tofu!"

    The pair found an empty table after they strolled through the street food market. Eve managed to gather a lot. Some she ate while walking. Others she saved forter to bring back home. She and Ambryan sat across each other again.

    Excitement quivered under her skin as she opened the paper meal box. Just the mere sight of what''s inside reawakened her appetite. The tempura sauce glistened over the food. Mayonnaise, chives, chili powder and bonito kes were added on top of it.

    "What is it?" Ambryan asked.

    She turned the box around to show him. "It''s takoyaki!"

    "Japanese cuisine?"

    "That''s right!" Eve nodded, returning the box back to its original position. She poked an octopus ball with the disposable dessert fork. It almost instantly melted in her mouth. "I just saw this on TV the other day. I couldn''t stop thinking about it."

    "Then, why haven''t you visited this ce earlier?" Ambryan let her order for himpartially because he wanted to taste what she liked. "Have your hours as an Online English Tutor increased?"

    "... I guess you can say that." Eve swallowed the rest of her first bite. She had worked overtime just to meet the deadlines. Although Ambryan could have moved them, she didn''t want to give up until thest minute.

    Besides, he was sick. The least she could do was lessen his workload

    since she couldn''t visit him again.

    "Have you ever thought about bing a full-time model? I''ve heard nothing but good things from mother and Cale. They seem to think you have a good future ahead in this career." Ambryan copied her movements, making sure there was some of everything before taking a bite. It tasted more vorful than it looked.

    "Spying on me?" Eve joked.

    "They''re really fond of you, especially mother" Ambryan thought out loud. Where was this headed exactly? Why did the topic lead this way? Of course his mother was fond of her. She wouldn''t have been a candidate if that wasn''t true.

    He sneaked a peek forward.

    Every time. Every. Single. Time. He wanted more. From the smile on her face, to the feel of her hand in his, to the sweet sound of her voice all of it. He needed more time. Weekends were too far apart from each other.

    He grabbed a juice bottle and drank half of it. "What do you think about going on a vacation?"

    "Huh?"

    Eve almost dropped the dessert fork. That was such a random question. What could have brought it on? She met his gaze. It narrowed in earnest. An internal sigh filled her lungs. "I don''t feelfortable being gone for long periods of time..."

    "It can just be for a week."

    "A week?!"

    Another week without the CEO?

    "Is that too long?" Ambryan frowned at her reaction. "Would you lose your online job if that was the case? I could help you look for another job if that happens."

    Struggling for a response, Eve analyzed the situation. There was no way she could agree to this without raising suspicion. The CEO''s absence meant more workload for her as his secretary. If she also asked for a vacation, he''d either request her to move hers or he''d moved his ns. It was the mostly likely oue since he wanted to promote her position

    Her head began to hurt.

    "Can''t it just be over the weekend?" She tried to salvage. Spending a night together was dangerous but it was better than multiple ones. She managed the previous night because she kept her make-up onbut that couldn''t be the case again if she''d sleep.

    "But that''s the reason why I want to go on a trip. I wish to spend more time with you."

    ''You practically see me everyday by now!'' Eve wanted to cry, bowing her head and rubbing her temple. Life truly liked to torture her. Those were meant to be sweet words but they also felt like daggers to the heart.

    ''Should this be the time to tell him?''

    ''Would she lose thepensation Avery had promised if she did?''

    Her eyesnded on his face. She had feelings for this man. And it was mutual. Wouldn''t it be unfair if she still binded herself by the contract? But what about her sisters? What if she also lost her full-time job?

    She hated this.

    Each time she came close to confessing the fear and risks always appeared.

    "I''m sorry, Ambryan" she began to say. "I don''t think I''m prepared for that yet. There''s just too many factors to consider. I''m not privileged to drop everything and leave. Can we reconsider it after this agreement is over?"

    Eve stabbed another piece and filled up her mouth. She chewed slowly. Selfish. Such selfishness.

    "You mean six months from now?" Ambryan confirmed.

    She nodded her head slowly, taking a sip of water. "I''m sure you remember my contract with your mother. It doesn''t limit my travels but it wouldn''t be okay if I went somewhere with you not knowing its details."

    "I see."

    Silence fell on the table. Eve yed with her takoyaki, letting them roll over the leftover sauce. The box was about to be wiped clean from her doing.

    "Then, are you asking me to wait until you share the contract with me?"

    Her spine stiffened from his words. Their gazes met once more, both of them unwavering.

    She opened her mouth. "You might not like it."

    "I''ll take my chances."

    "You might even hate it."

    "I think that''s the word people use when they don''t like something,"

    "You might hate me."

    Ambryan took a deep breath. He closed his empty meal box and brought the juice bottle to his lips. He nced in her direction once before taking a sip. "You''re living under a false name."

    "How did you?" A lump swelled inside Eve''s throat. How much did he know? Had he been testing her? Had she failed him? Cold fear dripped in her veins.

    "I know I''m not allowed to investigate you but evenmon folk look up others through social media," Ambryan borated. He finished the juice bottle and set it down on the table. "Before your Slowgram ount as Evangeline Reed, there was nothing. Even Elias Walker managed to fake posts about your alleged rtionship"

    He reached out to touch her hand and squeezed it three times. His lips stretched into a gentle smile. "But I understand if you''re not ready to share that part of your life yet."

    "Pardon?" Eve blinked.

    Was it just her or was it stuffy out here?

    "I meant it when I said I could never hate you," Ambryan reminded her. "I already knew about that at the very least. I had thought about several possibilities to what your life could have been before my mother approached you."

    He kissed her knuckles. "I think I''m more than capable at not being shocked."

 Chapter 204: Kissable like Strawberry

    Chapter 204: Kissable like Strawberry

    Hearing those words, Eve wondered what exactly went through the CEO''s head. She had a feeling that his suspicions leaned towards her having a dark pastmaybe found on the streets or some ce simr like a low-ie establishment.

    With that sort of expectation, he might actually be disappointed if he found out that she''s his secretary. Maybe she should write her story in a dramatic fashion just to appease him.

    Ambryan had no worries. Regardless of what Richard had said, he knew her from the past. She hadn''t changed much. The only thing he regretted was not remembering her name. Every time he tried, all the nicknames he gave her woulde up instead.

    ''Klutz.''

    ''Dummy.''

    ''Princess.''

    ''Klutz'' for the countless times she fell during ballet practice. ''Dummy'' for the moments when she puzzled over her homework or failed her tests. ''Princess'' for the time they were understudies in a y when she auditioned in hope for that role. There was another person tooa loud one that liked to get under his skin.

    Ambryan rubbed his chin. They were always joined at the hip. If he met her then he''d find out what Evangeline has been hiding. It might have been easy if he also remembered that person''s name.

    Eve finished the rest of her food. They strolled through the park, enjoying the twinkling lights. They hadn''t spoken much since Ambryan revealed his suspicion of her. If he already went there, couldn''t he have gone all the way and spared her?

    The moon shone through the barren branches of the trees. She watched its hazy light dance.

    Then, she stopped walking.

    Ambryan took a step forward and faced her. His hand didn''t let go.

    Eve pressed her lips together, avoiding his gaze. "I haven''t given you a proper response."

    "Is that still necessary?"

    Her eyes nearly popped out of their sockets. "Of course it is!"

    "I wouldn''t have changed my mind." Ambryan said. He stared back at her hard. The shadows of the trees painted over his face. Eve couldn''t tell if he was still blinking or not.

    She opened her mouth but no words came out. She cleared her throat, choosing to share some of her thoughts. "Look..., I really appreciate what you''ve said, Ambryan. But I do have a contract to uphold that I can''t risk. Maybe I can ask your mother about it. Just to be sure"

    Now, she was just bbering.

    "You... also might want to talk to her?" Eve suggested hesitantly. "Don''t you have anything to lose? Otherwise, this wouldn''t havested this long, right?"

    Frown lines creased between Ambryan''s eyebrows. He did have something. The gears in his head began to churn. Did his mother really choose Evangeline at random? Or did she know about their past together?

    Things seemed too coincidental now that he saw the bigger picture.

    He exhaled sharply. "I''ll go over it with her."

    Eve shed a shy smile. "And I will too."

    "Ready to go?"

    "Yeah, I think I had enough excitement for today."

    One second she felt the pavement under her feet, the next the ground became uneven. Warm lips enraptured her senses. Any source of light was blocked by a tall figure. Rough bark dug onto her back. Her eyelids fluttered close as urgency pressed against her lips.

    "In the park?" Eve exasperated as soon as she could catch her breath.

    Ambryan had steadied himself with one arm above her head. He let out a low chuckle. "If I could, I''d kiss you every step of the way until we reached your apartment."

    Eve slowly circled her arms around his neck. A giggle hummed in her chest. "My, my, my, Mr. CEO. I heard you''re the Coldest Person on Earth. What happened?"

    "Well," Ambryan started to say. He brushed his thumb on the corner of her mouth. "There was this woman with eyes as bright as a morning valley. She had red hair that zed like fire. Every time I felt her presence, she trapped me with her mes."

    Then, he kissed the side of her hand. "Not even the iciest frost could stand a chance."

    Nodding her head, Eve clicked her tongue. "My fault again, huh?"

    "No, I think it was a clumsy princess who hated Math."

    Ambryan sealed his lips against hers before she could say anything. Whether his words rang a bell or not, he didn''t find out. The thought eventually left his mind. More important things had reced it.

    For instance, how she no longer ran away from his advances.

    A smug smile stretched on his lips as he kissed her.

    .

    .

    .

    .

    .

    Monday rolled in like a ton of bricks.

    Eve found herself dazed on her desk. The weekend had seemed like a dream. If Ambryan had wanted her to forget the incident at the party, he almost managed to do so. He had entangled her in his touch and affectionerasing any trace left.

    She touched her lips.

    How could something simple be so addicting?

    The elevator doors dinged. She scrambled up to her feet and bowed her head. The sound of footsteps grew louder. She folded her hands over her stomach. "Good morning, Sir Hathaway."

    "It''s Madison."

    Her head snapped up. "Mr. President"

    Ambryan covered his mouth with the side of his fist. He turned his head towards his shoulder, muffling hisughter. A gray tie hung on his cor. He had chosen a blue suit to go with it.

    "Sir Hathaway!" Eve used. Her hands clenched on either side of her. "That wasn''t nice!"

    "What has you all worked up?" Ambryan asked after he calmed down. He checked for stains on his indigo jacket. "Weren''t you able to rest?"

    "I did. Thank you for letting me miss the party," she quickly replied. Her hand gestured towards the papers on her desk. "As you can see, I''m perfectly fine, Sir Hathaway. You seem to be in a good mood if you could make jokes this early in the morning."

    "I am?" He feigned innocence.

    Eve''s temple throbbed. Her lips felt tight when she smiled, trying to pacify the situation. "It''s just an observation. Take it with a grain of salt."

    Was this his true nature? A bully? Not only did he tease her during their dates, he now made fun of othersand she was his closest target. A series of curses jabbed out of her head and aimed in his direction.

    Oh, may the depths of the underworld send karma his way.

    "Very well then." Ambryan chuckled. He glimpsed at his watch. "Please order some coffee and pastries from Caf Loctart. Mother will being by. You''re wee to treat yourself to something. Think of it as a token for taking over my work while I was sick."

    She took it back.

    He was one of the nice guys.

    "Understood. Do you have any requests, Sir Hathaway?" Eve was all smiles. The cafe now sold chocte croissants. She couldn''t wait to eat it along with a good cup of coffee. Forget the coffee she had at the apartment. This wasn''t an opportunity to miss.

    "I''ll have a strawberry cheesecake."

    "Pardon?"

    "A strawberry cheesecake," Ambryan repeated without a second thought. He headed for his office and closed the door behind him.

    Eve sank on her chair. Maybe he was fond of strawberries? The scones Madison broughtst time did have strawberries and cream. How could she have not noticed before today?

    ''Sour candies and strawberries, huh..'' Eve tested in her head.

    It sounded like an oddbination.

    "Are these for me?! Aw, you shouldn''t have!" A voice resounded from the elevator.

    Eve hastily dashed towards it.

    Avery held two paper bags from Caf Loctart. She had her arms spread wide while her legs walked a narrow line. Her maroon bodycon dress reached down to her knees. It reminded Eve of a long turtleneck sweater.

    "Mrs. Hathaway," she greeted, reaching for the bags.

    The madam ced them out of her reach. "Don''t worry, dear. I still acted in surprise."

    "But"

    "I hope you don''t mind but I took a peek," Avery continued, ignoring her protests. She saw the delivery guy in the lobby and volunteered to bring the deliveries up herself. There was one hot coffee cup that was almost half empty.

    "Are you craving for strawberries?" She asked and pointed to the transparent container. "What''s with the cheesecake? Will you eat it with the croissant?"

    "It''s for your son."

    Eve watched as the madam stiffened. Like a slow motion picture, thetter''s gaze looked up. Her violet eyes blinked twice before her brain waves found her mouth."Ambryan. Ordered. A strawberry cheesecake?"

    "Yes." Eve nodded, understanding how she must be feeling.

    "He likes strawberries?" Avery wondered out loud. She closed the paper bag and regarded the secretary. Her head tilted to one side. "Since when?"

    "I thought you''d be the one to know that," Eve muttered. She gulped. The heavy stare made her feel like she was in deep trouble. It wasn''t her fault that she didn''t notice Ambryan''s fondness of strawberries, was it?

    "Oh, you''re right." The madam knitted her eyebrows at the floor. "You know what''s missing?"

    "What?"

    She beamed and tackled Eve with a one-arm hug. She pulled the secretary close, skipping towards the CEO''s office door.. "A red wig and a maid outfit so you can go and serve it to him, Ms. We-Shared-A-Strawberry-Cheesecake-During-Our-Date."

 Chapter 205: We Need to Talk

    Chapter 205: We Need to Talk

    "My, my, my, Yan that sure looks good. Would you share a bite with your mother?"

    Ambryan chewed the cheesecake slowly. It was less creamy than the one he had before. This one had a stronger strawberry vor because of the ze. The biscuit base also had added spices in it. He wondered what would Evangeline think of it

    "Hello? Earth to my son?" Avery sighed. She leaned back and crossed her legs, taking another sip of coffee. "Will you ever tell me why you asked me toe here or should I give you some privacy with the cheesecake?"

    "Can''t I see my mother whenever I please?"

    She mmed the cup on his work desk. Her elbow followed and rattled the surface. "Oh, don''t beat around the bush. You''d never spare your working hours unless I forced you to. You clearly need something from me. So be a good boy and tell me already. Maybe I''d actually consider it."

    Ambryan washed down the cheesecake with his favorite ck tea, clearly taking his time. The madam knew he enjoyed her impatience. He always had the upperhand in that. It was him who needed her right now and yet, it was her who acted this way.

    "It''s about Evangeline," he finally revealed and checked on his emails.

    Avery narrowed her eyes. He was still stalling at this point? Then, she would have to make her own presumptions then. She hid a grin, keeping her face serious. "Yan, if you want to propose, I think you ask her guardians and not me."

    That got his attention.

    Her son let hisputer keyboard go and gave her his full attention. His fingers interlocked and rested on the table. "It''s about your contract with her."

    "Haven''t we gone over it?" The madam frowned.

    "And her real name."

    Her eyebrows shot up. Now, that was something she didn''t expect. Did Eve admit to that perhaps? How much did he know? She observed his face. It was impassive like how he handled business meetings.

    Still, if he knew everything, would he have needed to see her? That thought brought the grin she previously suppressed. "What a bold im do borate on it, son. I find this oh-so-fascinating."

    Ambryan''s temple throbbed. She was enjoying this turn of events. Now he was the one that squirmed for her response. His lips thinned into a grim line. "Her name is not really Evangeline."

    ''And he walked right into the trap,'' Avery rejoiced inside. It was finally happening! The day hade! Noticing her own reaction, she realized how much she wanted this to happen. It was a step forward to how things should be.

    It was a happy asion.

    "If it''s not then, what is it?"

    .

    .

    .

    .

    .

    "I don''t know."

    If Avery had been on cloud nine, she just crashnded on earth from those words. Her eyes widened as far as they could. "Are you serious right now?"

    Even if Eve hadn''t told him, if he knew this much then it was only a matter of time before he made the connection. He had one of the brightest minds she had ever known. Was there something in his subconscious holding him back?

    Like the guilt of not being able to recognize her?

    "Should I know her?" Ambryan inferred based on her reaction. "Then again, you already knew we went to the same school. Is that why you picked her?"

    The urge to bang her forehead on the desk grew stronger. ''So that''s what he meant'' Avery kept to herself. The disappointment was unreal. It bursted out of her chest and sank her soul into the darkness.

    "... partially." She sighed. It wasn''t like he didn''t hit the mark. It was just a tiny bit far off from the center. "I didn''t know it when I invited her but I became more convinced to invite her when I did find that out."

    Memories of that day resurfaced. Disgust seeped into her mouth. Her initial reaction wasn''t something she was proud of. The knowledge had opened old wounds for her. They lingered until now.

    And she felt ashamed of them.

    "You knew each other, huh?" Avery whispered. Curiosity gnawed at the sides of her head. She gulped down the rest of her coffee. It had been a while since this piqued her interest. It would also take another while for it to subside.

    Ambryan shrugged. "It was a big school."

    "Aw,e on. Don''t give me that!" She red in his direction. "You spent what? 9 years of your life there? Plenty of time for your paths to crossplus you remember her. I doubt you would if she wasn''t the tiniest bit significant."

    "What exactly is in that contract?" Ambryan demanded, leaning forward. He didn''t allow her a chance to avert her gaze. "What did you n to do with her after this is over?"

    Avery raised her hands in protest. "Don''t paint me like I''m the bad guy. I had my mind set on her even before I knew about that part of her past. Besides, why are you bringing this up again? Could it be that?"

    Her son remained silent.

    She stood up and paced in front of his desk. Her arms climbed up to the ceiling as she did. "Alright. Don''t tell me. The cheesecake already speaks volumes."

    Pointing to the clear container, she sent him an incredulous look. Ambryan hadn''t left a single crumb behind. It gave her an idea. "If she said she loved tomatoes, would you eat them perhaps?"

    Ambryanid back and let her pace around. His impatience began to wear thin.

    "Mother. Answer my question."

    "Oh, fine." Avery halted in her steps and held the edges of the table. "Whatever happens after the contract is purely at her discretion. The same thing goes to you. You both are free to end this or to continue it. It''s that simple."

    That was how a contract worked. She didn''t need to exin it to him.

    "Then, I want to know if learning her real name is viting terms."

    The madam had a reply ready. She could offer a revised documentone that specifically stated office work didn''t count as dates. She could also toy with him and let him suffer a little longer.

    But more concerning matters existed.

    "I don''t think that''s a good idea," Avery breathed out, running her hands through her hair. This also finally came, huh? She nced out the windows. The world seemed quiet and peaceful from up here.

    Ambryan gripped his fingers tighter. "Why not?"

    His mother''s gaze flickered towards him. This time, she didn''t cower. Her voice took on a heavy tone. "Because Elias Walker also knows the same thing."

    Cold gust hollowed out his insides. "Is he a threat? Is that what you''re saying?"

    ''The bastard and I were on the same level?'' His mind screamed. But, at the same time, it somehow made sense. Evangeline had told him that he was a fake and he had gotten away with most of it because she couldn''t defend herself without revealing her alias.

    "Yes and no." Avery sighed and scratched the back of her head. She hadn''t rehearsed on how to exin this particr situation yet. "He keeps repeating that he only wants Evangeline as his muse. Nothing more. We even did a lie detector on him. That was the only straightforward answeralong with not physically harming her."

    Nothing in her statement pleased Ambryan. He reached for the armrests, needing something stronger or he''d break his own fingers. He''d rather be damned to hell than let Elias have his way. Thetter''s obsession had gone too far.

    "And what''s troubling you?" Ambryan finally spoke, struggling to keep his voice steady.

    "Because if that was true, he wouldn''t have needed to do all the things he''d done," his mother pointed out. "He just needed a project where they could work together and arrange negotiations."

    He took a deep breath. He hadn''t known he stopped breathing until now. Blood rushed back into his brain. "Someone else is behind it."

    "And I suspect it might be the same person asst time," Avery concluded, sitting back down. Her shoulders felt lighter now that Ambryan shared the burden. "They might also know that Evangeline isn''t all who she says she is. I think it''s best for you not to know the rest about her quite yet."

    "Are you saying I''m a threat to her now?" Her son seethed under his breath.

    "Geezus, Yan" she scoffed in return and added an eye roll. "You''re really protective of her. You even have a part of your security team tailing her though she already has her own. What more when you find out? Keeping this all a secret protects her in its own twisted way."

    Avery crossed her fingers. She hoped that was enough to convince him. A little bit more and he might finally figure it out. She hadn''t asked Eve about it yet. If anything, Eve should be the one making this request and not him.

    Ambryan gritted his teeth. "Is there really no way around it?"

    He really wanted to know, huh? The madam clicked her tongue and debated on the topic.

    Then, an idea popped in her head, lighting up her entire face.

    "How about this? If you can guess or remember her real name then, I can let it slide."

    "What?" Ambryan scowled.

    "Aw,e on," she whined, lightning nudging her shoulder. "I''m sure you can remember her name. If not, you''re intelligent enough to find a way without breaking my rules."

 Chapter 206: She is Her Own Person

    Chapter 206: She is Her Own Person

    Ambryan internally objected to his obvious disadvantage in the situation. If his mother was right, he would have known her real name by now. He had plenty of time to mull over it. But if knowing would cause her harm

    then, maybe he could be a bit more patient.

    Clearing his throat, Ambryan changed the subject. "So what did you do with Elias Walker?"

    "We have him trapped in a basement."

    The words flew out of Avery''s mouth in one breath. She found it quite funnyif only her son would as well. His re appeared on cue. The sun rays from the window dazzled the cheeky smile she wore.

    "No need to be so serious," the madam muttered. She wiped a hand on the side of her face. "We tried everything to persuade him but, like I said, he only wants one thingwell, one personand that is Evangeline."

    "He can''t have her."

    "He wants her in a photo project."

    "He still can''t have her."

    Avery bit her tongue. This was going to take a while. Contrary to what most people she thought would assume, her conversation with Elias started normal. She had treated him well like she would to a guest. Of course, she had revealed what she knew about him.

    In return, he threatened to reveal Evangeline''s secret.

    But with how much he ''needed'' her as his muse, she eventually doubted on his im.

    "... Mother. You''re not actually considering his offer, are you?" Ambryan stared at her in horror. Why would she consider such a risk? There plenty of ways for this to backfire in their faces.

    His mother flinched. She sighed and exined her side. "It''s like you said. Someone else is behind this. What better way to lure the person than see what happens?"

    If Ambryan''s eyebrows scrunched any closer, they would be one and create a unibrow with how deep his scowl became. "I will not have that man take pictures of my girlfriend for his own interest."

    Avery rolled her eyes. "Well, he could always skip the taking pictures part and just buy them."

    This sort of logic wouldn''t survive a rtionship with a mode. Although it was understandable, once the pictures were out to the public, they could go anywhere. The people could choose on what to do with them. It was the reality of anything revealed to the masses.

    "Ites with the job," she spoke out loud. "You should get used to it. There''s always going to be some guy out there who is infatuated with Evangeline. Haters who would throw darts at her pictures. Sickening people who would do who-knows-what."

    Avery closed her eyes and massaged her temples with one hand. "And it''s out of your control."

    "I''m well aware." Ambryan turned his head away. He knew that well. But it didn''t mean he should stop disliking it. Elias Walker also stood above. They shouldn''t regard him at the same level. It would be naive to do so.

    "Really?" He heard his mother say.

    "I ignore it most of the time," he admitted, clearing his throat. "Otherwise, I wouldn''t be able to hold myself back. As long as they don''t touch her then I can find a way to tolerate it."

    Avery shook her head. Not that she was any better. If someone tried to flirt with her maneven just for a secondshe''d be on that bitch''s ass and haul it to the junkyard where it belonged. The audacity of them to aim for a taken man! She''d never overlook it!

    Having these thoughts, Avery realized where Ambryan had gotten his behavior.

    She''d rather not acknowledge it verbally though.

    "Anyway, try to consider that we y along with Elias for a while," she tried again, ignoring her son''s dirty look. "You can even be there during the shoot if you''re that bothered. You can make sure they are never alone and double check on everything."

    "I will not allow it," Ambryan replied. His hands clenched into fists. Despite the possibility of another person, he still didn''t trust Elias. The man initially tried to take Evangeline away. Who was to say his demand wasn''t part of his ns?

    "What does Evangeline have to say in all of this?" The madam raised, crossing her arms over her chest. The targeted person should have her opinion be heard. And if it affected them as a couple, both partners should have their inputs.

    Ambryan clenched his jaw. "She''d agree to it."

    "Exactly."

    He sighed in defeat. The argument already worn him out. He only had Evangeline''s best interests at heart. Why was he painted as the bad guy all of a sudden? Her safety was important. He wouldn''t dare put her at risk.

    Was that not eptable to do?

    "Would it be bad to ask that you don''t tell her?" He half-pleaded. His hands were practically tied. Both women stood on the other side and left him as an outcast in these circumstances.

    Avery rxed her shoulders. She got up and walked around the work desk. Her arm wrapped behind her son''s back, squeezing his shoulder. "Hey, I understand your concern. And possessiveness. But you have to let fight her own battles too. If you coop her up, you''d lose her more."

    Ambryan leaned back. "I''ve done that plenty enough."

    He had listened when she wanted space. Was that all he could do whenever she was in trouble? It felt helpless. HE felt helpless. If he didn''t value her wishes then, he would have gotten his ways a long time ago.

    "Then, fight together."

    His head snapped towards his mother. A warm smile stretched across her lips. "See, this is what I meant about being there. You won''t always see eye to eye but either you support each other or you leave to each their own. It''s all up to you."

    Ambryan nced at the floor.

    Then, he pulled out his phone.

    "We''ll see what she has to say first. Maybe I was wrong and she''d share my opinion."

    The call rang all the way through until it ended by default. The madam gulped when her son tried the number again. Her eyes flew to the door. The soundproof walls muffled the ringtoneif Eve had it turned on that is. Her heart pounded in her chest.

    The temptation to say something was too high!

    If was here everyday, she might have slipped by now.

    "Hm." Ambryan tried the number for a second time.

    "Maybe she''s busy," Avery suggested. She grabbed theputer mouse and opened the email desktop app. Everlee''s name was sttered on her son''s inbox. All of them were rted to work but the dedication was superb.

    The secretary worked non-stop.

    Typing like she''d run out of time.

    Ambryan considered his mother''s words. "It is office hours."

    "Hello?"

    Any thought to save the call forter flew out of his head. A wide smile spread across his face. Avery pressed her lips together just to hide her reaction. She peeled her arm off and went back to her seat. Oh, this was too good. It had her heart beating erratically. Giddiness fuelled her blood like caffeine would.

    Her son was in love!

    This called for a celebration!

    "Are you busy?" Ambryan inquired.

    "Yes, I''m on the line with the CEO of Eros Productions," Eve said from inside the bathroom. She ced her mouth near the small window so it wouldn''t echo. "I''m not sure but he seems to be calling for something important."

    Ambryan chuckled. "Mother wants to see what Elias will do with his n to make you his muse."

    "Is muse?"

    Eve silently repeated the conversations she had with Elias. He hadn''t said anything about this before. Was that his intention all along? She couldn''t bring herself to believe it. "I doubt that''s all he wants but he''s trying to gain the upperhand."

    "Like how it doesn''t matter whether we believe him or not. He merely wants to pull you into his hidden intentions. Repeat it many times and people could start to doubt their initial impression."

    Avery hung her head.

    "I think"

    "So I think we should fool him and pretend to y along," Eve stated after some self-deliberation. "It''s the fastest way to end all of this. And who knows? If he has an aplice, that person might also show up."

    Ambryan squeezed his eyes shut. "You''re not allowed to be within a 100-meter radius from him."

    "Excuse me but you can''t tell me what to do," Eve scoffed. Judging by his tone, he already knew that. This sense of surrender must have been hard on him. It was his job to get the best deal avable for thepany and its external stakeholders.

    To lose meant failure.

    But it wasn''t the end. Eve had faith that he''de around.

    "I know." Ambryan admitted with a grave tone. He opened his eyes to the sight of his mother smirking. The corner of Eve''s lips curled up on the other side of the line. That was a lot faster than she expected.

    "And I like you even more just from hearing you say that," she teased. It really was heartwarming to hear. Who knew that being acknowledged as her own person would turn out to be quite romanticpared to most gestures?

    All that was left was to make him proud of her.

    "If you''re really determined to do this then, so be it." Ambryan folded his arm on the table. The smile on his face gradually straightened into a grim line. "But I do have some conditions."

 Chapter 207: Unravelling a Treasure Chest

    Chapter 207: Unravelling a Treasure Chest

    Eve faced herself in the vanity mirror. The lights illuminated on her fair face, exposing every texture on itfrom her natural skin, the liquid makeup and the powder ones. She closed her eyes and let the artist add a pair of false eyshes.

    A bit of sweat coated her forehead.

    And it didn''te from the lights alone.

    "Can I see what she''d be wearing for this shoot?" Ambryan asked from another spot in the room. His tall and broad frame easily radiated a domineering presence. The provided space was a small one and cramped things.

    Eve flinched, already imagining a sullen expression on his face.

    The stylist jumped at his sudden question. She rummaged through the rack and held up a pair of skin tone leotards. The fabric was highly stic and clung to the skin. It had a tube top and ended in a pair of shorts.

    Ambryan took one look at it and said, "She won''t be wearing it."

    Cale stepped in. He grabbed the leotards, testing the fabric''s opacity. His magenta suit contrasted against the CEO''s dark one. "I think it looks fine. It doesn''t expose anything. She''d be fully covered up."

    His answer met a cold wind in the wilderness with a tumbleweed passing by.

    The frown on Ambryan''s eyebrows had deepened.

    Eve watched them through the mirror. Her shoulder muscles started to cramp. This tense atmosphere wasn''t something she was used to. The leotards looked fine. She had worn something simr for ballet lessons.

    She was just thankful that it had shorts.

    Much better than a bikini cut.

    "How is this appropriate?" Ambryan questioned, searching for an argument.

    Cale suppressed the urge to roll his aqua blue eyes. "I think a two piece swimsuit reveals more but people walk around in them. The color is for camouge of course but this is needed for the artist''s vision. To reject it means to disrespect their creativity and work."

    "I''ll wear it," Eve cut in. ring violet eyes shed in her direction. Her hazel ones stared back through the mirror. The corner of her lips curled up. "But I need a robe or a coat whenever I''m off set."

    Ambryan exhaled sharply. He crossed his arms over his chest and flopped down on the couch, taking out his phone. His mind soon became preupied with business matters and documents.

    Eve let out the breath she had been holding. That was one of several disasters appeased. She smiled at the makeup artist to continue. Most of the look had a minimal approach but heavy focus was brought to the eyeswith the use of rose gold shadows and blinding glitter.

    Cale thanked the stylist andplimented on a few pieces. Eventually, he left her to do her job and joined the CEO on the couch. He crossed his legs and hugged his knee. His tinum blonde hair had, giving him a spiky slicked back hairstyle.

    "Boring, huh?" He asked, trying to strike a conversation. "I know the circumstances aren''t ideal but I am very d you are showing interest in Evangeline''s job. I can''t wait for you to see how much she shines in front of a camera."

    Ambryan spared him a nce. Thetter had his attention elsewhere as if observing everything in the room. Now that Cale mentioned it, Ambryan did the same. This setup was familiar to him especially when he visited the studio for Mikael''s first day of shooting.

    His gaze eventuallynded on a redhead, noting the small smile on her face while she had her eyes closed. Shine in front of a camera? She was already doing that in this room.

    "Do you have a favorite photo of her?" Cale attempted again.

    Now that was something Ambryan had an answer to. He locked his phone screen and showed it to the model manager. "This one at the moment."

    "Aw, candid? That is so sweet." Cale admired the photo longer. He recognized the street from the tabloids. Eve had her back turned towards the camera while her face focused on an autumn tree to her left. Her eyes crinkled from her bright expression.

    "She always looks the best as her natural self," he breathed out.

    "That I agree with." Ambryan nodded, pulling his hand back.

    "Does she have a matching photo for her phone?"

    Eve stiffened in her seat. "Do I need to?"

    Would it be suspicious if she didn''t? But it would also be suspicious if she did. It wouldn''t be practical to have a separate phone as Evangeline. It was a lot easier to lose. And she''d need her actual phone on her at all times.

    With that out of her mind, having her boss as her wallpaper was also a no-no.

    Cale widened his eyes, realizing what must be on her mind. "Oh, no. I just said that off-handedly because several couples do that. It''s not a requirement."

    "Eavesdropping?" Ambryan spoke. He hid his phone and gave them his full attention.

    "It''s a small room," Eve pointed out. She stuck out her tongue and said, "If you want to rece the photo of a coffee as my wallpaper then I expect nothing less of the best quality you can offer."

    "Coffee?"

    She nodded, pressing her lips together. "I need caffeine at all times."

    Ambryan turned his head towards Cale. "Please cut down her caffeine intake."

    "Hey! That''s what the photo is for. I pretend it''s my drink so I don''t drink actual coffee."

    "I find it hard to believe that method works."

    Cale leaned in his direction. "It only works on asion. She demands to have coffee in every photoshoot because each client gets her a different one. She considers it as a coffee food adventure."

    "And how many shoots she''d go through in a day?"

    "It depends on how long they need her for. It can range from one to five if given the right timing. Every shoot has to have coffee ready for her. Iced or hot, cheap or expensive, they don''t matter."

    "When will the two of you stop pretending like I''m not here?" Eve scoffed. She stood up from her chair and asked the stylist for the leotards and coat. Her gaze nced at the couch briefly. "It''s not like I drink that much everyday. My shoots are all on the weekends."

    Ambryan regarded her with skepticism. "And how much do you drink on weekdays?"

    "Depends on how much of a headache I expect to gain," she joked. "There''s this one person who is always serious during sessions. I''m actually thankful that he loosened up a bit these days. Mood does wonders in one''s work day."

    Cale grinned. "Maybe he''s in love."

    "Or maybe he''s having an existential crisis at an early age."

    Eve disappeared to the changing room. The staff cleaned up the makeup and anything that had been littered on the floor. They eventually left the room to update the studio about their progress as well as ask if the set was ready.

    Ambryan waited patiently, forgoing business-rted concerns.

    "I heard from Avery that you found out," Cale opened up. His spirited voice was lower than usual. He had his gaze on the changing room. "I''d like topliment you on being perceptive. And thank you for being understanding."

    "Do you and my mother tell each other everything?" Ambryan inquired, mostly out of curiosity.

    The model manager scrunched his sleek brows, taking his time to answer. "Maybe not. But when ites to Evangeline? Yes. She reached out to me first when this started. I know it''s wrong to deceive someone but I am d to have seen her grow so far."

    ''It truly was an adventure,'' Cale continued in his thoughts. He had received an offer for a videomercial. He couldn''t wait to tell Eve about it.

    "Then, do you know about?" Ambryan trailed. It actually sounded a bit stupid after what the model manager just told him.

    "I do. And it''s a shocker to say the least. It worries me on how it could affect your rtionship." Cale dusted off some dirt from thepels of his jacket. Then, he met Ambryan''s gaze. "I truly believe that the both of you are good for each other. I''d hate to see it end just because the truth may not be what you expect."

    "I''m more than capable of handling any news she''d tell me," Ambryan repeated with the same level of confidence as when he told Evangeline. "I''ve known her in the past."

    Cale blinked, his brows shooting up. "Really?"

    "Yes, we grew up in the same hometown. I haven''t told her about it and I''m not sure she remembers me. She hadn''t shown any hints despite being easy to read."

    Hearing that warmed up Cale on the inside. Childhood sweethearts reunited? Was this a romance novel or what? "You must be happy to see her again."

    A rare light gleamed in Ambryan''s eyes. "Very much. I had good memories there."

    The gate that kept the past away from the forefront of his mind slowly unlocked. There was only six months left before the deal with his mother would end. It was almost time to revisit them before he did so in real life.

    Eve stayed behind the door, having heard the entire conversation. Confusion and questions floated in her head. Was Ambryan from her hometown? She hadn''t heard about the Hathaways living there. Maybe he stayed with a rtive?

    The area was small. Everyone practically knew each other.

    And a ck-haired boy with violet eyes wasn''t amon sight.

 Chapter 208: The Same Person? Find Out with a Kiss

    Chapter 208: The Same Person? Find Out with a Kiss

    Eve slowly closed the door, careful not to make an audible sound.

    The voices outside continued to converse. She pressed her back against the door and went through her memories. She had read about the university and secondary education Ambryan had in the past. They were both educational establishments in Maize City.

    As for primary, nothing came to her mind. Should she check his Wikki page?

    Taking out her phone, she typed his name on the search engine. Results from recent news flooded the screen. A small profile of his wikkipeddia popped on the top right corner. She clicked on it and scrolled down to his educational background.

    "It''s not there," she muttered, noticing theck of primary school.

    Her blood went cold.

    Eve went on her speed dial and pressed the phone against her ear. She began to pace in circles inside the small space. Her heart pounded in her chest. Why was this bothering her? It wasn''t like she had photographic memory to remember everyone she interacted with as a child.

    ''''We grew up in the same hometown'' wasn''t the same as ''We grew up together in the same hometown'','' she justified to herself. He must be someone she briefly knew. Maybe in a social event?"

    "Eve?" Andie said as soon as she picked up. Kitchen noise sounded in the background. It gradually faded away as she moved to a quieter location. "What happened? Is it an emergency?"

    "No. No, no, no." Eve cleared her throat. It had gone dry with how much air she breathed from anxiety. She tucked the wig behind her ear. "I just wanted to ask something."

    "What is it?"

    Her lips pressed together as her thoughts gathered together. She tucked her right hand under her left armpit. Tension trembled in her muscles, including her jaw. "Wa-Was there a boy with violet eyes and ck hair when we were kids?"

    At Shie Bakes Shop, Andie scowled. She wrapped her arm around herself and tried to stay warm in the storage room. Her head shook at such a question. "... you have to be kidding with me, right?"

    She could count the number of people with that description in one hand.

    "I''m not." Eve admitted. Her voice reduced to a small one. That reaction backed up the ominous feeling that clouded around her. She felt like she needed to justify herself. "I was just wondering howmon those features are."

    She heard Andie click her tongue. Then, the call went silent for a number of seconds.

    "Well," her best friend began to say, "There was one."

    "Really?" Eve blinked. Her steps skipped to a halt.

    "Yeah! Noah!" Andie yelled with a groan. She smacked the wall beside her. This was ridiculous. They just talked about him weeks ago. "Don''t you remember? He''s your first kiss and all. How could you forget?"

    She suddenly felt bad for the guythough the feeling onlysted half a second. It was more than enough time he deserved from her. Just the thought of his name infuriated her insides. "Although, I never had a good impression of that boy. No wonder I also didn''t like Ambryan when I first saw him. Noah must have ruined all violet-eyed and ck-haired guys for me."

    Eve broke out of her reverie. The drumming in her chest had reached the back of her ears. Her sternum started to hurt. The ominous feeling now came like rain. Little by little, the vague image in her head became clearer. It was nearly face.

    But, still...,

    there still could be someone else, right?

    "No, I mean someone besides him," she tried again.

    "That we knew? Like someone we actually talked to?" Andie snorted. "There''s no one else. Or I would have teased him that at least said person was nice. I''d remember anyone who looked like him if they weren''t annoying."

    "That''s true" Eve bowed her head, trying to wrap her mind around the situation. There was Ambryan. And then, there was Noah. Two people she never associated with one another. Although she did remember Noah, it was hard to recall his face since she was 4 at the time.

    She did know he had ck hair.

    But the eyes maybe she thought they were more blue? Like indigo? Or did she just make that up to fill in the gaps of her memory retention? This was starting to give her a headache.

    Then again, Andie was around the same age. Was she just that had at recall?

    "You think Rose knows something?" Eve blurted out. That was another person she could ask.

    "You can try but I highly doubt it." Andie sighed. What was the big deal anyway? Avery and Ambryan Hathaway were partly famous because of their physical features. But their direct bloodline couldn''t be the only one that possessed them.

    Eve closed her eyes. Was Ambryan really Noah?

    They seemed to have opposite personalities.

    It was hard to digest.

    "Is there anything else you need?" Her best friend asked, breaking through her thoughts. "I have to go but if you still need me, I can stay on the line. I''ll tell them that it''s an emergency."

    "No, it''s okay. I''m good."

    "You sure?"

    "Yeah." Eve nodded. She only needed to wear leotards. Her absence was taking too long. "I also have to go. Ambryan seems to be more on the edge than usual. He might think I got kidnapped."

    "I know that''s a bad thing to happen," Andie defended before sharing her real thoughts. "But! I do want to see what he''d do if that was the case. If he dropped his extended working hours because of Elias, I think he''d stop everything just to find you."

    "You''re exaggerating."

    "I am a hopeless romantic. Get it straight."

    Eve managed a chuckle. "See youter."

    "Take care! And do keep me posted whenever possible."

    Andie stared at her phone as the call ended. Was it coincidence that her best friend asked about Noah who had the same features as Ambryan? Or was she reading into it too much? It seemed sort of random that this question came up with Ambryan present for the shoot.

    It had to be connected to him.

    "Oh, whatever." She blew her bangs in frustration. "I''ll find out eventually."

    Opening the door, Eve hastily walked out in a beige trench coat. The piece of clothing had enough structure that it didn''t seem like she only wore leotards underneath it. Her bare feet touched the floor.

    The conversation ceased as soon as she walked out.

    "Ah, you''re finally done," Cale noted. "If you had taken a second longer, I think Ambryan would have broken the door. But I assured him that it''s like a closet that has no windows or other exits. So if something happened to you, the culprit would have to use the same door."

    Eve nced at the person in question. The pair of violet eyes looked more piercing than usual. They rooted her on the spot. Shepared his face to the halfpleted image in her headsearching for more simrities that couldplete the picture.

    Ambryan scowled at her dazed look. "Are you alright?"

    He bolted off his seat to check on her. Her gaze never left him. Her head also tilted up the closer he reached her. The previous panic had left her. In its ce was a mesh of pure curiosity. If Ambryan and Noah did end up as the same person, would that actually be something bad?

    Because what should matter the most was the man before her now.

    "Evan?" Ambryan attempted again, snapping his fingers in front of her hazel eyes. "Is there something wrong? You''re awfully distracted."

    "Did Iever tell you how handsome you are?"

    Eve flinched at her own words. It was the first excuse that she could think of. Now that she heard it out loud, they soundedme and unattractive. That was definitely not a way to look cool.

    A smirk blossomed on Ambryan''s lips.

    It made her want to take herpliment back even more.

    "I should go check how it''s going outside," Cale cut in, making sure his voice was loud and clear. "The staff haven''t dropped by. There could be a problem."

    The door clicked when he left the room.

    Ambryan understood the excuse immediately. He circled his arm around Eve''s waist and hoisted her up for his lips to meet hers. His free hand held her chin, keeping her close.

    Eve stayed still and relished in the moment. But her consciousness had other ideas. A faint recollection of a sloppy kiss from two decades ago tingled in her senses. The level of skill alone was too far from one another. They shouldn''t beparable at all.

    Yet, they both managed to warm her up.

    Ambryan eventually broke the kiss. His face lingered close, their noses touching. The feeling of wanting to have her touch surround him was getting harder to bear. The hunger was akin to a predator''s instinct to devour their meals. It was a foreign concept up to now.

    But it felt so natural.

    "Maybe I shouldpliment you more," Eve joked.

    Ambryan pecked her cheek. Then, brushed his lips against her skin. "Maybe you should. I want to hear how Ipare to other men in your eyes."

    "Well, joke''s on you." She scoffed, smacking his torso with the back of her hand. She bit her bottom lip and grinned as she leaned in for another kiss. "There''s no other man in my eyes."

 Chapter 209: Love was Burning Red

    Chapter 209: Love was Burning Red

    "Ms. Evangeline," the stylist called Eve as soon as she stepped into the studio.

    Elias had rented a small space for his photo project. The decor and props reminded Eve a lot of her first photoshoot. It had the grays, the whites, the asional gold embellishments except based on her outfit, this was far from Ancient Rome inspired.

    The man of the hour was busy with his camera and setup. He hadn''t looked in the pair''s direction since they arrived. But that wasn''t an excuse for Ambryan to ck off. He sharpened his senses and watched Elias like a hawk.

    "Pleasee this way," the stylist continued and gestured towards the extra props area.

    Ambryan squeezed Eve''s hand, unwilling to let her go.

    She rose to her toes and kissed his cheek. "I''ll be right back."

    Cale appeared right behind her. He gave the CEO a wave of his hand. "I''ll go with her so you won''t have to worry. Just keep an eye on this out here. I heard another room is being used for a photoshoot too. It might lead to something fishy."

    Nodding his head, Ambryan took careful steps. He checked on the security from the corner of his eyes. Each bodyguard was at their respective posts. They had memorized every entrance and exit for the ce, including a list of people presentdown to maintenance workers.

    No one had been overlooked.

    Nothing had been left behind.

    Evangeline''s safety was secured. There were also people assigned to watch the perimeter. Any suspicious activity must not be brushed off. It may sound a little extra but he didn''t want to take any chances. Nothing was too much when it came to her.

    He positioned himself on a folding chair near the camera.

    It was behind Elias and a little to the right.

    Back in the prop area, Eve rolled her shoulders, getting used to the new weight. Two people stood on either side of her. They helped support the prop. The amount of detail and quality exceeded her expectations for a low budget project.

    It would make sense that Elias''s backer had funded this setup.

    "Okay," Elias announced (mostly to himself). He wiped the sweat off his forehead and finally looked around the ce. Hands on his hips, he addressed the staff. "Is she done yet?"

    Eve came into view.

    And the moment she did, work around the studio ceased. Gazes followed her every movement. She watched her bare feet as they touched the cold floor without making a sound. The lights hit the toasted glitter on her eyelids and illuminated her minimal makeup look into a tender shine.

    Two huge feathery wings hung on her back and spread outwards. Each one was twice her size. She had to be aware of the wing span in order to avoid hitting things along the way. There was an elegant demeanor to her slow march.

    Ambryan hitched his breath.

    Elias beamed. "Beautiful."

    A pair of ring eyes bore holes into his back. He hardly cared and assisted Eve to the center of the shoot. Thesers on his back shifted to his hands. He could feel them as he assisted his model on the first concept, teaching her on how to hold the wings.

    They were meant to wrap around her front.

    Since it hid her leotards, it gave the illusion that she was naked.

    Ambryan''s mood deteriorated further. The worst part was, it seemed like he was the only one bothered. Elias jogged back to the camera and peeked through the lens. Eve adjusted her feet as she crossed her legs a bit, bending her left knee and pointing her toes.

    The famous fainting on angels came to her mind. She swayed her hip to one side and her shoulders to the other as if there was a wall beside her. Her chin raised up while her eyelids closed halfway to expose more of the eyeshadow.

    Elias immediately pressed the shutter. This was already kicking off so well. It hyped up his energy even further. The staff who had worked with him before were surprised. They learned that this side of him was rare a long time ago.

    It made them also look forward to the rest of the shoot.

    After a few more poses, Eve lied on her back. Her arms began to ache from holding the wings. She was a bit d that gravity helped her with the weight. Elias picked up another camera and climbed up a smalldder. Ambryan had stood up and stayed closed.

    Hazel eyes flickered in his direction.

    It was hard for Eve not to chuckle. In her five years working as his subordinate, no serious expression couldpare on the one his face wore now. And to think it was because of her. She couldn''t be more amused.

    Ambryan raised an eyebrow.

    Eve blew a kiss and giggled.

    "Evangeline, could you please refrain from being distracted?" Elias spoke from the top of thedder. He held the camera at arm''s length, straining his muscles. "This isn''t a Vicktoria''s Secret Runway Show."

    "Understood." Eve shifted. The ends of the wings dug into her back. She closed her eyes for her first pose. Her legs were crossed at the ankles while she yed around with the wings.

    Again, Ambryan found himself the only one bothered. The flying kiss would have been normally sweet. But the way Evangeline looked at the moment changed it into a sensual one. He pinched the bridge of his nose and walked back to his chair.

    They were surrounded by security anyway. He could take a break and rx.

    Otherwise, he might end up needing a cold shower.

    Elias nced over his shoulder. His chocte brown hair swept over his forehead. There wasn''t a moment to lose. He climbed down thedder for close up shots. Kneeling beside her waist, he experimented for the best angle.

    "What do you think of my photo project so far?"

    "It''s certainly interesting." Eve narrowed her eyes. For someone who asked her not to be distracted, this was hypocritical in a sense. "I saw the ck wings. I''m guessing this is a good vs bad sort of concept? Light vs dark?"

    "Hm," he pondered, taking a few shots. "Almost. I find that people have two sides. Each one has variations. Pure, vulnerability, innocence, righteous Anger, lust, revenge, greed I wanted to showcase as many variations as possible. But I needed the right model."

    "And you think it''s me?"

    "Oh, I just don''t think," Elias corrected with a shake of his head. "I know you can."

    "Like how I know a camera has a zoom feature that allows you to take close up photos from a distance."

    Eve followed the source of the interruption. She shed a smile. "Feeling better?"

    "I would if the photographer kept his distance."

    Elias gritted his teeth and stood up. He stomped towards the CEO and pointed a finger at thetter''s chest. "Ambryan Hathaway, I have sworn it to your mother and I will swear it to you right now. This shoot is not meant to harm Evangeline in any way. Your presence here already vites my creative space. I can''t conform to everyint you have just because you''re the model''s boyfriend."

    Ambryan squinted back. He grabbed Elias''s wrist and yanked off the finger directed at him. His voice came out in a low seething tone. "Listen here, Elias Walker. You can keep repeating that statement but it''s not the main issue, is it? You have publicly shown how you coveted my girlfriend. I''m simply here to keep you in your ce."

    His fingers dug into blue veins under the wrist he held. He clenched his jaw, hissing through his teeth. "If you think you can snatch her right under my nose then, you''re mistaken."

    The tense atmosphere between the two spread towards every corner of the room. Cale rushed to Eve''s side and helped her sit up. The stylist draped the coat over her shoulders while he checked on her condition and massaged her arms.

    Cale peeked at the two men. Their conversation didn''t seem like it would end any time soon.

    The corner of Elias'' lips curled into a half-sinister smile. "We''ll just have to see about that."

    There were two sides to people. He wasn''t an exception and neither was the man before him. What was so great about the CEO that people would go lengths to acquire his interest? Or even just a second of his attention?

    The mere thought of it made him sick to his stomach.

    Fury flexed in Ambryan''s eyes. "You dare"

    "Dare what? You think I need dirty tricks to take her away from you? Please" Elias snorted. He freed his wrist from the vice-like grip. The outlines of fingers coated reddened his skin. "I haven''t done anything in this photoshoot that''s not something another photographer would do. Yet, you already pounced on me."

    "And why is that?" He mocked. His head took it''s time to shake from side to side. Amusement twinkled in his chocte eyes. "Perhaps you''re actually scared that I would snatch her from you? Oh, the great Ambryan Hathaway now has something to fear. Are you not confident that she''d still choose you despite having another man around?"

    Ambryan''s nostrils red. His chest visibly rose and fell from heavy breathing. Red spots began to appear in his vision. "You''re delusional if you think she''d leave my side."

    "Because you''d tie her to you so she can''t refuse?" Elias retorted. "Is that how you view love?"

 Chapter 210: Love is a Choice

    Chapter 210: Love is a Choice

    "Is that how you view love?"

    Ambryan chose to remain silent. Mere words didn''t work with this man. They also had an audience, whispering finally reaching his ears. His better judgement hade through and warned him to be careful.

    This most likely could have been stagedpurposely made to rile him up.

    Scripted by Elias to gain even more favor from the public.

    "What''s the matter, Ambryan Hathaway? Cat got your tongue?" Elias taunted, taking a step forward. A silly grin shed on his lips. "Can''t back up your words now?"

    "And how do you view love exactly, Mr. Walker?" Eve interrupted. She stood up with the coat wrapped around her. The wings had been detached. "Does it have anything to do with fabricating stories and creating false connections?"

    She stalked towards the two men and positioned herself beside Ambryan. Her hazel eyes zed more gold than green. They burned like mes of the sun.

    Elias fluttered his eyes in return, seemingly surprised. He bent down to match her eye level, saying, "It seems to work for some people. Don''t you think so?"

    Clenching her jaw, Eve tightened her grip on the coat. The temptation to punch the guy was too much to bear. Her urges demanded release. And if he didn''t move in the next second, she just might give in.

    "Please, Mr. Walker." She forced a smile, raising the volume of her voice. "Stop harassing my man or I might think you''re actually pinning for him."

    Ambryan coughed while Elias scoffed. Thetter straightened his spine and crossed his arms over his chest. "And what would you do about it?"

    "If this is going to continue, Mr. Walker, I''m afraid I would have to withdraw my model." Cale called out from behind the photographer. The expression on his face was far friendly."This isn''t an environment I''d want her to work under. I was given the impression that she''d be safe and that this shoot would proceed smoothly. But this situation is being poorly handled."

    Elias spared the model manager a nce. Then, he did a quick sweep around the room. The staff averted their gazes when they noticed his stare. Their opened lips shut closed.

    His chocte eyes eventuallynded back on Eve. Any hint of amusement had left his face. The little minx had switched the initial impression of the conversation to a different direction. Now, people thought that his interests were intended for the CEO.

    It upsetted his stomach to the point that he was ready to barf out his breakfast.

    "Break. 15 minutes," Elias sneered, yanking the camera strap off his neck. He stomped away from the pair and chose a secluded spot away from the studio. The noise resumed once he was out of earshot. The wings had been moved back to the prop area.

    Eve nudged her elbow against Ambryan''s side. "Hey. You okay?"

    "Fine. My temper got the better of me. That''s all." He cleared his throat and shook out of his daze. Was it possible that Elias had recorded that? Could he get a copy?

    "Okay." Eve nodded. She exchanged looks with Cale and thetter left the two alone. Looking back at Ambryan, she jabbed her thumb over her shoulder. "Want to go to the dressing room for a while?"

    They headed over like she suggested. The makeup artist and stylist quickly made excuses, leaving the room. Eve searched for something to drink inside the cooler. She offered a water bottle to Ambryan and joined him on the couch.

    The orange juice felt cold as it flowed down her throat.

    "Is that wrong?" Ambryan suddenly asked. He had his arms on his thighs while he stared at the floor. Eve waited for him to continue. Eventually, he looked at her. His voice dropped to a whisper. "Wanting to always have you next to me."

    Eve blinked at the question. She recapped her juice bottle and ced it on the table.

    "I mean, it''s not like you actually make it literal. We still go on about our individual lives but our presence is always there for one another," she began to exin, unsure of where it was leading. Her handsid on herp. She yed with her fingers.

    Her tone eventually matched his whisper. "And, to be honest, if things spiralled down, I figured you''d be the one to leave."

    "Why is that?" Eve heard him say.

    "Uh where to begin?" She snorted, throwing her hands on either side of her and onto the cushion. Her headid on top of the backrest. "We''re from different social sses? There are prettier girls than me. There are more intelligent ones. There are some who could understand your day to day life better. There are women who are more qualified to fill in that spot"

    These thoughts hadn''t surfaced since the day she considered joining the website. She had been confident that he wouldn''t choose her. Maybe she didn''t know who the other girls were but she believed the madam wouldn''t risk picking ipetent ones.

    If anything, Avery probably considered a few daughters in her social circlesomeone part of their world that could live up to their family''s surname and reputation.

    Ambryan considered her answer for a moment. Crease lines gradually appeared on his forehead, leading to a deep scowl. "These words sound a little familiar."

    Eve twisted her neck towards him. "Really? How?"

    A firm rope fastened around her chest. Her thoughts were mere spection. She couldn''t believe that she''d hear them turn out to be real. Who could it possibly be? It had to be someone special.

    Leaning back, Ambryan propped an elbow on the backrest. He scooted closer and returned her stare with gentle eyes. "Mother had said something like it back when she first pushed me to date. This was before the website. She talked so much and listed many names, eventually getting frustrated and blurted out a name."

    Eve pressed her lips together in confusion. "She favored an ex of yours?"

    "No, but she did favor someone for a while." He rified with a chuckle. Then, a thought urred to him, making him squint. "Is that... why one of your rules not to have Eve around? Because mother had mentioned that she initially wanted us to be a couple?"

    Never had Eve been more eager to live her life as a goldfishwhere it wasn''t expected of her to say something whenever she opened her mouth. Couldn''t she still do that and let Ambryan guess what she was saying?

    This was far from what she predicted he''d say.

    "... sure. Let''s go with that." Eve managed to squeak. Her mind went into overdrive. "She spends five times a week with you, sees you the most, knows your preferences and actually managed to keep her job for several years. She definitely has the advantage."

    Everything she said was a repeat of the madam''s words. Realizing that now, she mentally facepalmed at how the answer had been staring at her in the face.

    "Our rtionship is purely superior and subordinate." Ambryan twirled a piece of her hair. "The reason we worked well was because wemunicated minimally and in a straightforward manner."

    ''But does that still apply now?'' She retaliated in her head. He had changed so much the past few months. First, he had asked Eve about what to buy as a gift. Now, he consulted Evangeline about his emotionssomething much farther than a present.

    He never ceases to amaze, does he?

    "Anyway, wanting someone to be beside you is normal," Eve spoke and broke the silence. She reached out to grab his hand, forcing him to let go of her hair and look at her. "At least, I know I also feel the same way."

    She pressed her cheek against the hand and tilted her head sideways. "I believe we all have that fear that this person could disappear at any moment which fuels that desire even further. And I think it''s okay to be a bit selfish every now and then."

    Ambryan brushed his thumb over her cheek. "How often?"

    Eve thought for a moment. Then, she shrugged. "A reasonable amount."

    "And right now?" He leaned down to touch her lips.

    "Right now I need you to behave." She giggled, recalling the previous events. She patted his face and gently pushed him away. "Don''t fall for his provocations."

    "But he desires you," Ambryan reminded her. He turned his head towards the table and exhaled sharply. His blood began to simmer. The bastard finally showed his true colors. "I don''t care how it''s called. There''s not one fiber in me that trusts him."

    Eve let his hand drop. She grabbed his chin instead and pulled his attention back on her. The flecks in his violet eyes had darkened like she predicted. He must be using everything in him not to break his self-control.

    Oh, how it melted her heart.

    "Then, how about me? Do you trust me?" She asked, wiggling her eyebrows. "Because if that man tries anything, I''d be the first one to hit him."

    Ambryan closed the gap between them. Somehow that was all he needed to hear. That she, herself, wouldn''t let Elias try to break them apart. Up until now, his ims had been empting from his own thoughts and not hers.

    To hear her disapproval of Elias lifted the weight off his shoulders.

    She''d choose him.

    That was what mattered.

    Eve grinned against his lips. "And maybe the second. You can have the third."

    "How generous."

 Chapter 211: Hello? I Quit

    Chapter 211: Hello? I Quit

    Elias walked around as he pressed on the shutter.

    The photoshoot had resumed. More props were added into the concept, creating different scenes and aesthetics. He had dimmed the lights for a darker vibe. A smallmp was ced near Eve while she hugged her knees on a rectangr block. Her feet touched one edge while her bottom sat on the other.

    From what she gathered, these were transitional shots that would lead to the darker concept.

    Her eyes perceived the frustration on the photographer''s face. It was sort of amusing. He had wanted them to behave and they did as he asked. But, suddenly, it didn''t seem like he approved of it? Had they given in so easily?

    Or was he annoyed at Ambryan aplishing his desk work on the chair?

    Whatever it was, Eve caught herself smiling.

    "Hey! No distractions!" Elias scolded. Then, he asked her to close her eyes. Mutters flowed out under his breath. "What is this ce? An office? There''s a time and ce for everything so if you needed to work, you should have left."

    Eve opened one eye.

    "Then, do you prefer him watching you like a hawk?" She asked, not caring that she interrupted the shoot. He had started it first anyway. "I suggest you make up your mind, Mr. Walker."

    Her gaze directed to Ambryan at the moment. She bet that he couldn''t even hear them right now since it was irrelevant to his office work. His fingers tapped on the keyboard of hisptop. The ''permanent'' scowl on his face was deeper than normal again.

    Someone''s email must have frustrated him.

    She watched as he massaged the side of his neck.

    Then, he caught her stare. He winked just before turning back to his screen. Elias didn''t like it but he surely didn''t let the opportunity go. His camera had taken pictures of the moment between the two. One look at the view window and his pride took a blow.

    He had found the image he wanted for the cover of his project.

    It would take all of his ego for him to use this photo.

    Profanities grumbled out of his lips. "What do you even see in that guy?"

    Eve finally turned towards his direction. "Something you clearly can''t."

    "I guess that proves more than enough that I am not interested in him."

    "Oh, I know you weren''t. It was just funny to see you squirm."

    Elias took a few steps back. He assessed the photos, checking if he had what he needed. Eve straightened her spine and stretched. The wing tips brushed on the floor.

    "Go change while we rearrange the studio again."

    "Okay."

    This time, Eve left on her own. Cale was busy getting to know the staff. She could almost imagine how he gained their favor. No one could resist his dazzling smile. It seemed like an insult if one ignored it. His childlike energy was a breath of fresh air.

    Eve found herself back on the makeup chair.

    Nanzie stood guarded near the door.

    When Ambryan looked up again, he paused from his work. The vixen he once thought of was now in front of him. Eve wore another short one piece. It was simr to the leotards but made from leather. It had the drama to go with her makeup look. Dark smokey shadows framed her hazel eyes. Glistening sherry red gloss coated her lips.

    Large ck wings sprung from her back.

    Thigh high boots wrapped around her legs.

    She wanted to take it off already. The fabric was hot against her skin and so were the boots. A short skirt draped over hips, giving a cute effect to the look. Eve was at a loss on what to do for this part. There weren''t other props yet. She had free reign to improvise.

    Then, her eyes found Ambryan''s.

    She stalked towards him. Each step was done slowly and sensually. Her upper body posed to one side in between steps. She touched her lips with a finger as if silencing the man before her. His violet eyes widened by a fraction.

    Newfound confidence purred inside her.

    ''The two of them were really addicted to one another, huh?'' Elias thought as he took more images. The photo earlier turned out really well. He wondered if there would be another like it. Either way, he couldn''t let this slip under his nose.

    ''Just throw them in the same room and they''d always see their little bubble,'' he added. Even if it was crowded, the pair would find each otherand that sort of maism showed on camera.

    Maybe he was the one getting addicted

    Eve turned around and let the wings take the center of attention. They weighed lighter than the white ones. The bottom half had missing feathers while the others had been cut. It reminded her of ashes after a fire. Her feet stood apart and strong. Many might take pity at the ruined wings.

    But, to her, they were a symbol of survival.

    She red over her shoulder, letting her crimson hair frame half of her face.

    Ambryan took everything in. The transformation was phenomenal. Now, he could see why Cale and his mother wanted her to give her modelling more attention. It didn''t matter how ufortable the outfit was. She''d find a way to not let it overshadow her.

    His heart beamed with pride.

    "Alright. Where''s the train for this look?" Elias said, gesturing towards the stylist.

    Soon, Eve had anotheryer on her. It had to be her favorite piece. The train looked like it was made of the fallen feathers. Something new had been created despite the damage. It made her feel even stronger. This was her stage.

    And pity wasn''t wee.

    Elias sat on the floor and looked through the raw shots. The photoshoot had gone better than he expected. It inspired him to do moreseize all the emotions on Evangeline''s face. He could fill up an entire gallery of them. Walls and walls of her pictures alone as if in a museum.

    There wouldn''t be a better muse for him.

    "Got what you wanted?" He heard Ambryan ask from behind.

    "She''s amazing," Elias breathed out. He scrolled through the photos again once he reached the end. The flow of the poses and scene astounded him. He didn''t even need to rearrange them. It was like a story had already been written for him.

    "I''m aware."

    "I can''t exin how overjoyed I am with the results."

    "ttery won''t get you a second photoshoot."

    "Right. A deal''s a deal."

    Elias rose to his feet and ced the camera in its bag. He wiped his hands on his jeans and held one out for Ambryan to shake. "I know we got off on the wrong foot. And you have every right to resent me but I still thank you for letting me do this."

    He licked his lips, partially lost in his head. His sense of sight didn''t even perceive the re directed at him. "Have you ever been so passionate that you became blind? Then, once you have what you desired, you look back and see what you had done?"

    Ambryan let the hand hover in the air.

    "I don''t care if you suddenly realized what wrong things you had done," he spat. "You expect me to believe that after arguing with me earlier? Your obsession with Evangeline was never right from the beginning."

    The hand clenched into a fist. "Fair point."

    Elias sighed, exhaling through his nose. He ran his fingers through his hair and watched the staff clean up. Then, he nced back at Ambryan. "But I will spend the rest of my time convincing you to not regret this session. You''ll be the first to receive a copy of the photo book."

    Ambryan gritted his teeth. It would be a lie to say the offer wasn''t tempting. There were several moments which he wished he had a copy of. Although his impression of Elias was far from good, thetter still had excellent skills in photography.

    It was enough to make him curious about the project results.

    "We''ll see about that," he finally replied, taking a step towards the dressing room. "Now, if you''ll excuse me. I''d like to see my girlfriend."

    "Go right ahead."

    Elias excused himself after the CEO left. He entered the fire exit and climbed up the flight of stairseventually finding a blind spot. His phone rang against his ear. He leaned back on the wall while waiting for the receiver to pick up.

    "So, how did it go?" A sultry voice asked, giggling faintly.

    "Better than I thought."

    She squealed into his ear, obviously pleased by the news. "Am I expecting a scandal then?"

    Elias hardened his expression. "No."

    The line became silent. He counted down the seconds, waiting for the reaction.

    He had made up his mind and nothing she''d say could change it.

    "What do you mean?"

    "I quit," he said.

    "Did that girl seduce you?"

    "That girl has been more real with me than you ever had." Elias sneered. His nostrils red from the usation. How could he side with this woman over Evangeline?

    "Change of heart?" The woman scoffed, thoroughly unconvinced. "You think you can be righteous now after what you''ve done?"

    "I can''t change the past." Elias admitted in defeat. The transformation in the images came to his mind. The same confidence projected out of the photos and into his veins. He red at the floor, standing his ground. "But that doesn''t mean nothing can be done."

 Chapter 212: Extra! Extra! Ambeevan Shippers!

    Chapter 212: Extra! Extra! Ambeevan Shippers!

    Ambryan kept turning away from his monitor.

    Days had passed since the photoshoot happened. No word came from Elias Walker since that day. The men he and his mother hired also reported that the photographer hasn''t left his apartment.

    Whether that was good news or not, Ambryan hadn''t decided yet.

    A knock came from his office door.

    Then, Eve emerged in front of him.

    "There''s a package for you from Mr. Wilson," she said, bringing a box of scones, "Do you want me to read the card and shall I leave it to you?"

    "Is throwing it in the trash an option?" He replied as she set the box down onto his desk. One look and he knew it was from the most expensive bakery in the city.

    "I''d advise against it since it''s unprofessional. But you''re the boss." Eve winked. "Although, I bet it''s simr to the ones before."

    The gifts had been subtle in the beginning. It could be from a new business venture Mr. Wilson purchased, extending it to maintain good rtions with his partners. Except it became more frequent and quite random.

    At a nce, neither the CEO nor his secretary could see a pattern. They resorted to wait for Stuart Wilson to finally show his hand.

    Ambryan opened an email from the board of directors. Even when distracted, he couldn''t afford to ignore his superiors. "I''d rather have the man be straightforward about his intentions than to get on my good side first."

    "Then, this could finally be it. The day he tells us what it''s about," Eve teased, picking up the envelope. It was bigger than the other cards. A flower pattern was embossed on the pink paper. It also had a scent.

    "I already know what it is."

    Eve pushed up her sses and raised her eyebrows at him. "You''ve solved the mysterious puzzle? You really are the smartest of your generation. You should be a CEO."

    "Did something good happen to you?" Ambryan answered back. He propped his elbow on the desk and rested his temple on the base of his palm. "You seem awfully in a cheery mood."

    "Just looking forward to the day of my leave." Eve shrugged.

    "Ah." He nodded in understanding. "Give my regards to your sisters. I''m sure mother will also be happy to see them since she will be a guest."

    "I''ll be sure to do that." She showed him the envelope and added, "Mind sharing what this could be now?"

    "It''s about a birthday party."

    Eve peeled off the seal and opened the envelope. Immediately, her nose got hit by the scent of roses and, sure enough, the parchment paper inside had a written invitation.

    She did her best not to scrunch her face.

    "So?" Ambryan tested, waiting for the verdict.

    Squaring her shoulders, Eve mimicked the messengers during medieval times who read announcements from scrolls. "You are cordially invited to"

    Ambryan raised his hand. "I heard enough."

    She folded the paper back into the envelope. Then, she ced it back on the box of scones. "Shall I send an RSVP?"

    "No need. I won''t be attending."

    "I take it this happens every year?" Eve guessed. Invitations frequently arrived at the officewhether by email or by post mail. The previous secretary had left a list of senders that she shouldn''t forward to Ambryan.

    But Mr. Wilson wasn''t on that list.

    Yet, she couldn''t recall an invitation like this.

    "They usually ask mother to do it but I have always refused," Ambryan exined, inspecting the envelope. His nose scrunched from the familiar smell. It gave him a headache. "I should apud him for trying something new."

    Eve nodded. With her curiosity satisfied, she bowed her head. "If there''s nothing else, I''ll be going back to work."

    Then, she exited the room.

    Ambryan checked the calendar. The series of gifts started a bit early that he didn''t make the connection until the recent increase in number. Having partially heard the invitation, he threw the envelope away. The date fell on a weekend which meant the office was closed.

    But that didn''t mean he wasn''t fully booked.

    Opening the DTC site (his mother had connected it to the app), he logged in and sent a message.

    .

    ``Yan: What are you doing about three weekends from now?``

    .

    Eve heard the ping of a notification. It led her to the app with just a click after unlocking the phone. She scratched the back of her ear and opened the calendar on herputer screen.

    "Oh-ho," she smirked under her breath. "I see what you''re doing, Ambee."

    She turned back to her phone and typed in a reply

    .

    ``Lin: I''m sorry but I''ll have to ask my secretary. Let me get back to youter.``

    ``Yan: If you give me the contact information, I''ll book an appointment.``

    ``Lin: Pray do tell what do you have in mind?``

    ``Yan: I''ll disclose the details to your secretary.``

    ``Lin: It would still need my approval so don''t you want to know if I''d approve it or not now instead of taking an extra step?``

    .

    While waiting for his reply, Eve debated whether she should bring up the party or not. The idea of torturing Ambryan by attending was tempting. She could almost see the sour look on his face. A chuckle flowed out of her lips.

    But if she was a good girlfriend, she wouldn''t do that to him, right?

    .

    ``Yan: I rmended you for amodelling project that you might like. The shoot is on that day.``

    ``Lin: Getting more exposure because of my connection to the CEO? What shall people think?!``

    ``Yan: Do you want it or not?``

    ``Lin: Does Cale know?``

    ``Yan: Yes, I pitched it to him a few days ago.``

    ``Lin: You must really want me to take this gig.``

    ``Yan: And why do you think that?``

    ``Lin: Because you''re telling it to me yourself. Tell me, are you going to be the photographer? Don''t worry. I''ll still act surprised.``

    .

    Eve jumped when the inte rang.

    She set her phone aside and answered it.

    "Yes, Darryl?"

    "Ah, it''s such a good day."

    "Why is that?"

    "Because my day has been blessed with beauties."

    "..." Eve closed her eyes, pausing for a second, then she shook her head. She walked right into that one. Chatting with Ambryan had made her lose her touch. "I sure hope you mean your wife, Darryl."

    The security guard snorted from the other line. The microphone picked up the sounds of rustling papers. "My wife is 9 out of 10 beauties. You''re the other one, of course."

    "Is that all you called about? So you can get 10/10?"

    "There''s another package here for boss. Do you want it to be brought up or left here?"

    "What is it?"

    "Oh, nothing. Just a giant wine ss." Darryl whistled in nonchnce. He inspected the other goods inside the ss, lifting one up to read thebel. "With bottles of very expensive wine I might add. You think he''d mind if I take one?"

    Eve scowled at the mention of the gift. "Who is it from?"

    "From Mister Stuart Wilson and Family."

    "Yikes." She flinched. They must be really desperate. The party didn''t seem business-rted. But knowing these businessmen, they''d find a way to make it into one. Mr. Wilson probably saw it as another chance to butter up to his partners.

    "I take this is not a good thing?"

    "I think they want Sir Hathaway to attend a party and are trying to convince him." Eve clenched her teeth and stretched her lips into a hard frown. She might need to send that email rejecting the RSVP after all.

    This was getting a bit of hand.

    "Well, they don''t do it halfway I give you that." Darryl ced the wine back. It definitely felt expensivesomething to savor while roasting by the fire: the clink of wine sses, exchange of cheese bites, giggles and silly jokes

    "I''ll have to ask Sir Hathaway what to do. Please excuse me."

    "Mind asking if I can have one?"

    "I''m sure he won''t mind." Eve chuckled.

    She turned off the inte and exited her desktop programs, leaving the inte browser. It stayed on its homepage with headlines of news articles scrolling down on the right side. The feature kept people updated with the news. She had seen one that interested her and wanted to go back to itter.

    As soon as she got up, a new headline took the top spot.

    Then, another one.

    And another. The section became flooded with thetest scoop. Articles from every credible source covered the story as their front page news of the day.

    .

    <em>> Charlee Edwards Expos! Jealousy taken too far? Read on to find out!</em>

    <em>> Elias Walker Confesses with Hardcore Evidence! A Scheme to Break the Star Couple Apart?</em>

    <em>> Evangeline Reed''s Ex-Boyfriend ims to be a Fake! Here is the Tea!</em>

    <em>> Karma targeted CEO Ambryan Hathway''s budding rtionship! Ex-fling Strikes!</em>

    <em>> Ex''s are Oh-no''s! Ambeevan Shippers on the Move to Show No Mercy!</em>

    .

    Users in Twittah and Slowgram joined in on the news, expressing their thoughts.

    .

    ``Lei the Bunbun: HA! I knew it! I knew she wasn''t anything good!``

    ``May the Kitty: Pfftt. Am I the only one not surprised by this? Everything about her is fake: tan, lips, hair, personality should I go on?``

    ``NDdgaf: AND THE TRUTH SHALL SET YOU FREE! HALLELUJAH! But Elias is still not innocent here! I propose they both get what''sing for them! They conspired together!``

    ``sourcandy: @NDdgaf, I second that. This doesn''t erase his own actions.``

 Chapter 213: The Ups and Downs

    Chapter 213: The Ups and Downs

    "Effing! Finally!" Andie yelled, her fist pumping in the air. Heads snapped in her direction. "It''s about time that bitch got what she deserves."

    She sat at the corner of a busy kitchen with an apron over her normal clothes. Phones were prohibited but hers kept ringing. Then, when she saw the news, she couldn''t help it. She logged into Twittah and joined the storm.

    "Andie, keep it down!"

    "Oops," she muttered as sheposed a post to share with the trending hashtags. As Evangeline''s top fan, she should be part of the fun! Her allies greeted her as soon as she came. It felt good to be on the winning side.

    Her supervisor soon left, feeling hopeless about the situation.

    ``NDdgaf: @sourcandy, yes, yes! Exactly! Elias was part of the scheme. He consented to this!``

    "What''s that about?" Another baker asked. He peeped from the side of the breadracks. The giddy look in Andie''s stormy blue eyes were hard to miss. He tried to sneak a nce on her phone screen.

    Andie stood up and tucked her phone back in her pocket. She brushed off the back of her skirt as well as her hands. There was a spring to her step when she headed back to the heart of the kitchen.

    She hummed a tune in utter delight. Rolling up her sleeves, she washed her hands and returned to kneading the dough. "Just Charlee Edwards exposed for her schemes. Can you believe she hired a photographer to act like Evangeline''s ex? And now the guy betrayed her and told the media everything. She is ruined for a long time."

    The dough began to form under her hands. It was looking pretty goodprobably even better than her best one. The heavens were abundant in their blessings. They even extended it to her.

    The same baker positioned across from her, taking out a risen dough. "Isn''t she that actress that got soda spilled on her in that scene from a TV series?"

    "I would agree with you" Andie said. "But I have no idea what you''re talking about."

    Her co-worker paused to re in her direction. She merelyughed it off. Eventually, he sighed and rolled the dough before cutting it into pieces. "Anyway, good for Evangeline."

    "And her rtionship with Ambryan is progressing so well," Andie gushed. She picked up her dough and ced it inside the bowl, covering it with cling wrap. "I couldn''t be happier."

    "I thought you said you''d only be happy if Eve finally has a boyfriend?"

    "That''s" she paused, remembering those words. She could even recall when and where she had said them. "Well, close enough, I guess, since they''re both my friends. Haha~"

    Andie strolled to another counter and left her co-worker before she could spill anything else. On another note, she looked forward to heading home. There would be a lot to read and to talk about. Her inner gossip junkie didn''t want to leave anything out.

    .

    .

    .

    .

    .

    Meanwhile, back in Eros Productions, Ambryan read the articles. They stated how Charlee thought ill of Evangeline. The aspiring actress believed she wasn''t worthy of someone with his status. Then, Elias exined how Charlee was confident that he and Evangeline would break up once someone better came along.

    But she could only think of someone that was on equal standing to Evangeline.

    That was how she decided on a photographer to get in between the couple.

    He leaned on the backrest, contemting on Elias'' apology. That was surely what this scoop was about. The one he imed to do for atonement. The evidence he provided were copies of their conversationseven a few phone calls. Her voice was easily identified.

    Elias had cleared up most of it.

    But he still knew about Evangeline''s alter ego.

    Ambryan closed the search engine. As long as Elias knew about that, he was a threat. Who was to say that he hadn''t figured out her real name?But chose to keep it for himself? It had to be for his own benefita source of ckmail to use against her.

    And Ambryan hated that idea.

    He leaned on the backrest, wishing that Evangeline woulde clean. How could his mother expect that he''ll be able to figure it out? Evangeline should be able to tell him now. The culprit behind her safety was gone.

    But is she really safe?

    His eyes flickered towards the giant wine ss.

    It now served as a decor at the corner of his office. Wen and the rest of the team inspected it for any hidden cameras and microphones. The security check came out clean. Still, he''d rather have it here than any of his private space.

    The door opened for thest time that day.

    "Sir Hathaway, these are the documents you need during my absence," Eve stated. She set the folders on his desk organized by priority. "I left my business emails to Riffle. He''ll filter them out on my behalf. There is cold tea in the mini fridge. You only need to warm it up to have a cup."

    "Is that all?" Ambryan joked.

    Eve returned it with a professional smile. "Please don''t forget to use your anti-radiation sses."

    "I"

    "There is some medicine in the pantry in case you need any."

    "What about"

    "Darryl has been instructed not to let anyone in. All your appointments for you tomorrow had been rescheduled." Eve beamed. "With that said, you can also work from your home if you prefer that more."

    Ambryan took a deep breath and exhaled through his nose. "Then, there''s nothing left."

    "I''ll be going first." His secretary bowed.

    A small smile curled at the corner of his lips. "Enjoy."

    "Thank you."

    .

    .

    .

    .

    .

    The next day, Eve drove down the main streets of Maize City. Radio music flowed out of the speakers of her BMW M3. The sun shone in the sky, painting the sky a pleasing shade of blue. She wore a gray sweatshirt, ck pants and cks boots.

    The monochrome look contrasted with the two girls in the backseat.

    Her twin sisters wore vibrant jumper dresses along with long-sleeved white shirts. ck stockings and shoes covered their legs and feet respectively. Their heads bobbed to the music while watching out the window.

    "Ah, I can''t wait for Family Day!" Eri eximed, choosing the red jumper for today. She sped her hands together and grinned at the ceiling. "We''ll win the grand prize for sure!"

    Eve gave a sad smile from the driver''s seat. She stepped on the break as the traffic light matched her sister''s outfit. "I wouldn''t get your hopes up, sweetie. Jarrett couldn''te with us."

    The event was more focused on the students and their parents. It''s expected that both would show up for this special day. Of course, not everyone manages to fulfill this condition. The administration allowed other family members and friends as substitutes.

    Except, it always fell on a weekday and not everyone was free.

    "Yeah, yeah, and you''re stuck with me," Gin groaned from the passenger seat. He had his arms crossed over his chest. His rusty brown hair seemed warmer under the yellow sunlight. "And I won''t be joining any games."

    Ede snorted, wearing orange for the fall season. "That''s because you''re a natural born killjoy."

    Gin snapped his head over his shoulder. "You''re lucky that I didn''t have school today."

    "Well, you''re useless!" She retorted back with a huff.

    Eri dropped her smile. She snapped her gaze towards the rearview mirror and tilted her head sideways. "But why would we need Jarrett when you have a boyfriend now, Eve?"

    "You have a boyfriend?" Gin arched an eyebrow at the driver.

    "It''s nothing like that," Eve corrected. She met her sister''s eyes and sent a silent re. "I''m sure Eri just mispronounced. We wouldn''t want misunderstandings now, do we?"

    "Not fair!" Eriined, sinking into her seat. "She finally has a boyfanother male friend but we can''t have him as the father figure for the event? I''m sure no one would find it suspicious since you are colleagues."

    Eve shook her head. She pulled the steering wheel clockwise and made a hard right. "Eri, he has work. He won''t be anywhere near the event."

    "So we can''t join in for the rys because Mr. Party Pooper won''t even join," Ede concluded. It was the reason why Aunt Georgie forced him to go. But it was no use if he wouldn''t participate. And Eve was too nice to push him.

    Eri pouted at nothing. There was no hint of the previous excitement she wore earlier. The gloomy expression suddenly didn''t match her bright red outfit.

    It broke Eve''s heart to see. Luck just wasn''t on their side today. "Hey, there''s still three of us. I''m sure they''ll make an exception."

    "But what about the pairpetitions?" Ede pointed out. "One of us would have to sit out."

    "I''m sorry, girls," Eve apologized. She drove the car into an empty parking spot and hit the brakes. Unbuckling her seatbelt, she turned around to face them. "If it makes you feel any better if we find a poor guy to bribe and join us, I will make that happen."

    "I''d pay to see that." Gin snorted.

    Eve gave him a dirty look.

    He raised his hands in surrender and averted his eyes.

    "I''ll tell you what" she started again, shifting her attention back on her sisters. "Since this is a unique circumstance, you can also try to find someone to join us with the games. I promise I won''tin. How does that sound?"

 Chapter 214: Room for One More

    Chapter 214: Room for One More

    For the event, the school had rented out a park away from the city. It had enough space for private vehicles and had a nearby bus stop for anyone who used public transportation. Tents and tables stood around the center where the main events would happen. A small stage was provided at one end of the park.

    The administration also decorated the barren trees with streamers.

    All Eve could think about was how hard it would be to remove them.

    The four of them walked up to the registration desk. Eri and Ede both wore numbers on their clothes. Gin teased how they wouldn''t be able to win the raffles with their bad luck. Eve pped his arm and ordered him to apologize.

    While waiting for the activities to start, their group wandered around the food stalls. Volunteers and small businesses around the city joined the event. Some of the faculty also put up their own booths. There was so much to see and the girls were more than happy to explore.

    Gingged behind, displeasure written all over his face. ''How could ces be so crowded? Didn''t people have anything better to do?''

    "Don''t even try to get left behind, Gin," Eve spoke from the front. She didn''t even look in his direction. "I can practically hear your thoughts from here."

    "Whatever you say, mom," he muttered with a scoff.

    "What did you say?"

    "I said you''re the best big sister anyone could ask for."

    "Don''t let Andie hear you."

    "Gee, I''m so careless."

    Eve rolled her chocte eyes, letting it drop. She spotted arge tent beside the stage. It had several seats for the academy''s administrative body. Half of the seats were upied by them and the other half were their guests of honor.

    Among them, only one figure stood out for the sisters. She wore a pair of beige pants and a matching oversized coat. Butterfly-shaped sunsses covered her violet eyes. She spoke with the person beside her.

    But when the girls approached, she flickered her gaze towards them. The smile on her face spread wider. She bolted off her seat and dashed for them.

    "Aunt Avery!" The twins eximed, pumping their legs and meeting the madam halfway.

    "Girls!"

    Eve stayed behind with Gin. She draped her arm around his shoulders and gripped tight. He grunted in protest but let her drag him.

    "I feel like I haven''t seen you in ages! How''s school? Are there any teachers who are mean to you?" Avery asked. She squatted down and held both of the twins'' hands.

    "Mrs. Hathaway, there''s no such thing," someone interrupted from the tent.

    "Oh, I was just kidding, Principal. You know that." The madam chuckled over her shoulder. She pulled the girls closer and lowered the volume of her voice."But, seriously, tell me if someone is being bad."

    "Got it, Aunt Avery," Eri nodded.

    Avery beamed and gave them onest hug. Straightening her legs, she waved at the two people approaching her and the twins. "Eve! Good to see you!"

    "Mrs. Hathaway." Eve returned the gesture with a smile. "I hope you have been well."

    The madam turned to the teenage boy under her grip. "And this is?"

    "This is Gin," Eve introduced. "He and his mother left after the recital ended."

    "Ah," Avery uttered. She nodded her head once. "Then, it''s also good to see you."

    "Pleasure is all mine, Mrs. Hathaway. You look as lovely as you were when you still did movies and not a day older."

    The Hart sisters slowly turned their heads towards him. If they had a hard time believing those words came out of his mouth, the friendly smile on his face had the same effect. All three of them wished they had a cameraEve already taking out her phone.

    "Kiss-up." Ede coughed.

    Gin side-stepped closer to her and nudged her back. He kept his gaze on Avery. "I heard so much about you and your sponsorship at The Magical Symphony, you see. It struck a chord in me and I did a bit of research."

    "I see" the madam breathed out, looking at Eve for answers. Thetter merely shrugged. "Well, don''t let me keep you. I have to stay here and maintain social rtions."

    Eri tugged on her coat. "Can you join us for the games?"

    Taken aback, Avery assessed their group and counted an even number. She patted the girl''s head. "Aw, sweetie. I wish I could but I can''t leave my chair. The administration and I have a lot to talk about. We''re going to a meeting soon."

    "Okay." The twin sighed. She let go of the coat and kicked the ground.

    "I''m sure Gin is more than happy to apany you."

    "I-I"

    "You what?" Ede challenged. She had an eyebrow raised while her chin tilted up. It was the best thing she could do to seem like she was looking down on a person.

    Gin leaned down and smiled with his teeth gritted together. "I''m delighted."

    "Ah, wonderful. Off you go now." Avery shooed the four away and rejoined the tent. First thing in order was to sing praises about the twins. She informed the entire faculty about their amazing performance at the recital. Then, she proceeded to narrate how well her son got along with themgoing as far as imitate the conversation between Ambryan and Erin.

    Her stories were well-received.

    None of the listeners would forget about them in a long time.

    "Mind exining why you were so nice to Mrs. Hathaway?" Eve teased Gin. The twins walked a bit closer to thetter. They also wanted to hear his answer.

    He averted his eyes and shrugged. Suddenly, a cart for balloon animals seemed interesting. He wouldn''t take his gaze off it. "She is ady of great power."

    "And?"

    "And I''d rather not get on her bad side."

    "Sure. Whatever you say."

    Eve found their designated table. Finally done from walking around, Gin brought out his Nintendo Switch and opened his most recent game. The twins sat across from him, enjoying cups of bobba tea. They got different vors and exchanged sips so they could try both. Eve also had one. She offered to Gin but he chose to have water.

    Now, it was only a matter of time before the event started

    .

    .

    .

    .

    .

    "Tell me why a school suddenly thinks it''s a good choice to invite a model to their family event?" Mikael asked as he stepped out of his Lamborghini Aventador S. He wrapped a scarf around his neck. "Shouldn''t it be their sponsors or something?"

    "If you want to me anyone, me Evangeline and The Magical Symphony," Jordan replied, climbing out of the driver''s side. He locked the car and tossed the keys to his male model. "The ad campaign was a huge hit. They even managed a video montage and yed it across the city."

    Unconvinced, Mikael ced his hands on his hips. He observed the park from a distance. There was lively music and chatter. The faint smell of spices lingered in the air. Families loitered in groups. His lips thinned into a grim line.

    "And what am I supposed to do here?"

    "They want you to join in the fun," Jordan repeated for the nth. Maybe the instructions were too vague? It wasn''t like they could predict when it was a live event. "Come on, we don''t want to bete. The PR Team and photographers are waiting for us."

    "If I didn''t know any better, you make it sound like a press conference."

    The two men headed for the park. Children ran past them, squealing and screaming. Their guardians followed behind in order not to lose the kids. Mikael guessed that the entire student body wasn''t present. The school probably divided them into groups.

    Which meant if this was a sess, he''d have to go back for the other Family Days.

    "Ah, they''re here."

    The Principal rose from his seat. Mikael and Jordan, along with the PR Team and photographers, walked up to the big tent. Greetings as well as pleasantries were passed around. Soon, a small group formed for a bit ofst minute brainstormingdeciding on which events to highlight.

    "Ah, Mr. Davis!" Avery greeted with a wave. She extended her hand for a shake. "Lovely to see you. When was thest time we met again?"

    "I think it was at the Athon Launch party."

    "Was it? I thought there was something more recent."

    "I don''t have the best memory so I''ve been told."

    "Me either so no worries." The madam chuckled and moved to Jordan. "It''s also a pleasure to meet you again, Mr. Dawson. Luna is really fond of the both of you. It''s high time we spend more time together so I get to know her favorite pair."

    "I''ll be looking forward to it, Mrs. Hathaway."

    "We had given it thought and decided to mimic what The Magical Symphony did as I''ve been informed by a photographer named Tae present," the Principal interrupted as he joined the group. "We''ll have Mikael mingle with the students. You mentioned about the twins earlier, Avery. Do you think they''d be willing to let Mikael join them for a day?"

    "Yes, Mikael is very good with kids," Jordan reassured, pping his friend''s back.

    The madam''s eyebrows shot up. "You mean with Everlee Hart and her sisters?"

    At her statement, the male model snapped his head in her direction. "Ms. Hart?"

    "So you know her already!" The Principal nodded in approval. "Then, it''s settled. Let''s begin the opening ceremonies, hm?"

 Chapter 215: Mom and Dad for Today

    Chapter 215: Mom and Dad for Today

    Avery rubbed her hands together. The sun was warm but the wind was cold. The grass rustled under her feet. Her pace quickened with every passing second. It escaped her mind that she hadpany with her. She bit her thumb and red at the ground.

    "Is there something wrong, Mrs. Hathaway?" Mikael asked, pumping his legs to catch up. Jordan stayed behind to look over the details with the crew.

    "I don''t know. Is there?" She suddenly eximed as she made a full stop. Away from most earshots, she tossed her hands in the air and faced him. "Or am I just nervous for nothing?"

    Mikael frowned. "This wouldn''t be about how I know Ms. Hart''s secret, right?"

    Avery made a face. It was hard to describe but it was close to a Picasso painting. "It''s not that I don''t trust you or anything but you know, one is in the spotlight and the other is not. It''s a perfect kind ofbnce."

    She trailed off and sighed. If the madam was being honest, Eve probably enjoyed the benefits of her double lifeher privacy being at the top and it had always been to their advantage. The young woman had faced many things over the past few months. It was about time she caught a break.

    Pressing his lips together, Mikael thought about her words. "If you think that would be trouble, I believe the principal would understand."

    "But the girls" Avery started to protest. She groaned at her own indecisiveness. "Such a beautiful family. If I''m being honest, I can''t think of anyone more fitting for this campaign. One of them already has the experience too so it would be a smooth shoot."

    The madam searched for the three siblings. Eve and her sisters chatted by themselves a few meters away. Theirughter managed to reach their ears even if faint. "And no one here is about to create a scandal about you and another woman"

    "I think you''re getting ahead of yourself a little," Mikael cut in with his hands raised. He followed her line of sight. The atmosphere seemed lively and peaceful. He understood why the madam was wary.

    It was a small thing but it could be the beginning of a change in their lives.

    "Am I?" Avery crossed his arms over her chest. "Because it sounds a bit familiar to me."

    Mikael sent her a side-eye look, understanding her point. "How about we ask them?"

    "Right. They should decide like how I had told the principal in the first ce."

    He waited for her to resume walking.

    Except it didn''t seem to be happening any time soon. Circling around her, he gave her back a little push. It may be seen as rude of him but everyone needed it every now and then.

    The madam offered no resistance. She got the message and strolled down the park. The twins got up from their seats. They held empty cups of bobba tea, heading for the nearest trash. The timing couldn''t be more perfect.

    "Eve!" Avery called out and waved her hand.

    "Mrs. Hathaway!" Eve widened her eyes, finally noticing the two approach. She rose to her feet and flickered her gaze to the second person present. "And Mr. Davis. What a surprise."

    Mikael nodded in her direction. "Ms. Hart."

    "So, Eve" The madam cleared her throat. She reached for the young woman''s hand and sat her down, also doing the same. She used the silence to gather her thoughts.

    Eve scowled in confusion. "... Yes?"

    "The academy wants to do a campaign. If you''ve seen the one for The Magical Symphony, you''d know what I am talking about."

    "I have, yes."

    "Anyway, so Mr. Davis is the model for the ad and, um, the administration would like to ask if it would be okay for him to apany the girls for today''s events?" Avery spoke in broken sentences. It should be good enough. The question was a simple one. There was no need to be worried.

    Eve would make the right choice.

    "I''m sorry. Can you repeat that?" Eve blinked. For a second there, the conversation seemed more appropriate for Evangeline than for her current state. She turned her head towards Mikael but he had left their side.

    "Well, the girls want another adult to join them, right?" The madam recalled. "The principal heard it and thought they''d love it if Mr. Davis would fill in for me."

    Mikael had followed the twins. Although the trash can was nearby, the crowded park easily made a person anxious. The two girls talked in volumes too soft for him to hear. He stayed in their path and waited for them to head back.

    Along the way, Eri and Ede both stopped walking.

    Their heads tilted up until they met a pair of radiant blue eyes.

    Ede narrowed her eyes. "You look familiar."

    "I do?" The male model scrunched his eyebrows. This could either be good or be really bad.

    "Yeah." She nodded, her eyes still squinted. "But I can''t put my finger on it."

    "Hm. I think we saw him in Andie''s room." Eri added to the conversation.

    "Is he on the posters?"

    "Could be."

    Ede rubbed her chin, lost in her thoughts. "So he''s a celebrity."

    "Possibly."

    Then, she shuffled her feet and faced her sister. "What''s he doing here then?"

    Mikael stepped closer before he knelt down on one knee. The girls had receded into their bubble, acting like he wasn''t present. He cleared his throat and showed them his best smileone known to make hearts melt. "I was hoping I could hang around with you guys for today. I promise that I won''t let the team down."

    That caught their attention immediately. "Really?!"

    "Yes."

    "Awesome!" Eri cheered. She fist pumped the air and yelled towards their table. "Hey, Eve! We found a guy to y with us in the games!"

    "Wait, you''re not a creep, right?" Ede asked on second thought.

    Raising his left hand, Mikael used his right one to draw a cross over his chest. "I swear that I''m not. Both Mrs. Hathaway and your sister can vouch for me."

    "You know our sister?"

    "I''ve worked with her a couple of times."

    The twins backed a few steps away. Their hands covered their mouths as they whispered privately to each other. Their brown eyes never left Mikael''s face. The bad feeling from earlier came rushing back for him.

    Ede went first. "What do you think?"

    "I think Ambivian is much more handsome."

    "Really? He looks like an old guy who found a potion to make him look young but found out it wasn''t that effective."

    "So like this guy better?"

    "Not that much. Isn''t there a third guy somewhere?"

    Eve and Avery jogged up to the group. The former went straight for the twins while thetter stopped beside Mikael. Their discussion hadn''t ended but the points had been made. They recognized the risk of the ordealthat was when they were interrupted.

    "What were you telling me, Eri?" Eve confirmed.

    "Remember how you said we could find someone to join our group for the games and how you won''tin whoever we picked?" Her younger sister recapped in one breath. Then, she pointed towards Mikael by puckering up her lips."Well, we picked him."

    "I mean, it''s either him or Gin," Ede added. "The choice was obvious."

    Still hesitant, Eve shifted her attention towards Mikael. "Is this really okay with you, Mr. Davis?"

    "As Mrs. Hathaway has told you, the crew rmended you and your sisters for the ad," he responded despite the look in her eyes. "I was just getting to know your siblings and I''m happy to hear that they''re willing to let me y with you all."

    As far as he knew, if the couple was serious, this was bound to happen sooner orter. This may not be the best situation but it did help ease Eve into the idea that she''d be in the spotlight more once she revealed herself. Her sses wouldn''t be enough to hide her anymore.

    Eri tugged on her older sister''s sweater. "Eve. You promised."

    Turning back, Eve heaved a sigh. "Ah, fine. Thank you for joining us, Mr. Davis."

    "Please. Call me, Mikael."

    All of them, including Gin, walked back to the main tent. The camera crew briefed Eve and the twins about the proceedings. The principal had started the opening ceremony while they prepared. The three siblings were sent for makeup and hair.

    "For our first game of the day," the principal announced into the microphone. He gestured towards thenes divided by fences made of sticks. "The Sack Race! This game is a bonus and the yers are chosen from drawing lots. May we have the box of paper slips?"

    The makeup artist checked her work for thest time. She nodded her head in approval and sent the siblings to the race. Regardless of the drawn numbers, they would be a part of the game. Mikael walked up to them and asked an important question.

    "Which one of you will be ying?" He directed at the twins.

    "Eri''s ying. I don''t like this game. It makes my feet hurt."

    Beaming from ear to ear, Eri grabbed Mikael''s and Eve''s hands. She dragged them towards the middlene. "Guess, you''ll be my mom and dad for today."

 Chapter 216: The Race plus Leftover Burrito

    Chapter 216: The Race plus Leftover Burrito

    The Sack Race had a few rules.

    The participants for each group had to be one student and two guests. The three of them would share one sack together and make their way to the finish line. The winning group would receive a coupon that could be exchanged for any prize at the designated booth.

    They also received free sweets from the dessert table.

    Safe to say, Eri looked forward to winning.

    Eve passed a nce towards the dessert table. A tower of French macarons caught her eye. Suddenly, the ad campaign fled her mind. Her stomach became her new brain. This was destiny and nothing was to get in their way.

    Mikael shivered. A sudden bad feeling washed over him.

    He tapped Jordan''s arm. "Is it just me or should I flee for my life?"

    His manager frowned at him. Then, he followed thetter''s line of sight. The Hart sisters seemed to be having a heavy discussion about the game. He snorted. "You''re exaggerating, Mikael. Don''t be dramatic."

    Shrugging, Mikael lifted up the sack and gathered up the edges.

    "Are you ready, Mr. Davis?" Eve asked as soon as she reached his side.

    "I told you to call me, Mikael."

    "I will if we win."

    Mikael narrowed his gaze and held out his hand. "Deal."

    As their strategy went, Eri stayed in the middle of the sack. The other teams had thought the same thing. The principal waited until everyone was ready. A bright smile was stered on his face. The energy was just right. He was d he picked this one for the shoot.

    "Uh, Ms. Hart, I think you should take off your sses," Jordan advised while she and the others practiced their jumping. "They might fall off and be stepped on."

    "Oh, I" Was there really a choice? Eve pulled off her rectangr frames and handed them to him. "Protect it like it''s your life. I didn''t bring extra with me."

    "You got it."

    "This means I''ll have to trust the two of you all I see is a blur." She said, turning to her teammates. Their faces were a blur in her eyes. She shifted her attention to thenes and hardly detected the small fences. One misstep and they''d fall over.

    Eri patted her back. "You''re in good hands, Eve."

    Mikael nodded along with her. "That you are."

    "Thanks, guys."

    "Alright!: The principal called out from the stage. The spectators cheered for the yers. He aimed his pistol at the sky. "On your marks, ready, get set, GO!"

    "Squat!" Mikael yelled above the noise. The two girls did as they were told. "Jump!"

    His instructions helped them to stay in sync until the end. It also helped Eve''sck of clear vision. Each jump resulted in a long stride. Others who chose to amplify their speed fell over halfway. No one was allowed to get off the sack during the race, making it hard to get back up.

    The three minded their own business. There was only them and the finish line ahead.

    "We''re almost there!" Eri eximed, her heart thumping in her chest. She held her breath as they made theirst leap. "And! Woohoo! WOAH!"

    Evended on a bad angle and toppled over the finish line. Her sister lost her bnce immediately and Mikael fell t on his face. He pushed the sack off his legs, scrambling to stand up. He checked on the girls to see if they were injured.

    Eri sat up on her own and dusted off the dirt from her top. Once Mikael saw she was fine, he moved to thest person still on the ground.

    "AHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!" Eve cackled, rolling over to her back. Her mouth was opened wide and her eyes were squeezed shut. She brushed off her ck bangs from her face. "HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA...!"

    Her amused outcries led to a series of coughs.

    Mikael shook his head. Generally, he thought people who fell most likely to getughed at by othersand not by themselves. "Is that a sign of a concussion?"

    "I-I''m fi-fine," she managed to say in between coughs.

    Eri whirled her head from left to right. "Did we win?"

    "You most certainly did, youngdy!" The principal announced from behind her. He held out his hand for her to hold. "Come! I have your coupon. Let''s pick up your prize."

    "Yay!" The little girl pped and rose to her feet. The principal apanied her to the prize booth, leaving Eve and Mikael alone.

    "Better?" Mikael asked as Eve recovered from her fit. He had one knee on the ground and had rested his cheek on his knuckles. If she was okay, there was nothing else to do but wait.

    "Much. Thank you." She chuckled, finally getting up. She cleaned off the fallen leaves and dirt that clung to her sweater. "What''s the next game?"

    Jordan jogged up to them and gave her her sses back. He pointed a thumb over his shoulder. "It would be a mini game around the park. Does Ede have anything in mind?"

    Eve cleaned off the lenses before putting them back on. "Oh, well There''s one game she always loves to y. The key is that she is the boss though."

    "Great! I''ll tell the crew about it."

    She pressed her lips together and searched for her sisters. Ede had joined Eri at the prize booth. They talked about the different options while the principal focused on smiling. Her gaze shifted and spotted the photographer with them.

    She chuckled and pped the back of her hand on Mikael''s torso. "I bet you ten bucks that they''d ask for that bunny holding a chainsaw."

    "They''re your sisters. I just met them today. That''s an unfair bet."

    "Pft. Fine."

    A man took down the plushie and handed it to Eri. She hugged it tight. Meanwhile, the principal snapped his wide eyes to the representative of the booth. They hissed between themselves with the principal pointing at the camera crew.

    "I still get to enjoy being right anyway," Eve celebrated by herself. Mikael rolled his eyes.

    "Eve! Eve! I got a wabbit!" Eri showed, running back to them. Her twin kept up with her pace.

    "It''s very cute." Eve smiled and patted the plushie. Then, she turned to Ede and booped her nose. "Now, it''s your turn, missy. Who do you want? Me or Mikael?"

    The younger twin assessed them both. She circled them, inspecting every inch. Mikael felt like he was under a microscope while Eve wasn''t bothered. When Ede reached their front again, she made her pick.

    "I choose Mikael."

    "Huh." He crossed his arms over his chest and looked at Eve. "Guess, I''m better than you."

    "Yes, I am absolutely devastated. I feel ipetent to be called their sister." She sighed, her shoulders hunched. She sent him a grateful smile and said, "Thank you for being here so she can have someone to rely on."

    Mikael lost his train of thought. He wasn''t sure what it was but that same feeling came back to him. Before he could say anything else, Jordan and the photographers picked them up.

    It turned out that he didn''t need to ask.

    The answer came as soon as they reached their destination.

    "Cling wrap?" Mikael eyed the tubes upon tubes of stic film.

    Eve and Ede got to work. They unsealed as many as they could for efficient use of the actual game time. Jordan tried not tough. The task proved to be difficult. The look of utter horror on his model''s face was hard to resist.

    Oh, it was good that this would be taken by a professional team.

    He wanted this in high quality.

    [Disimer: This is not encouragement for stic to be wasted in this fashion.]

    "That''s right. You have longer and stronger legs so after we wrap you up like leftover burrito, you''re gonna hop up to that apple on a string over there and eat it whole," Eve informed him. She walked up to his side and patted his shoulder. "Like I said, thank you for being a reliable teammate for Ede."

    "Ha-ha." Mikael breathed on her face.

    She wrinkled her nose and fanned off hisugh. Then, she stuck her tongue out at him. "I''m sure it would also be popr in the ad campaign. Guaranteed sess. Congrats!"

    "I think that''s enough," Ede dered, counting the unsealed tubes. She brushed her hands together and stood next to her sister. "Yes, I think that should be enough. You get the top and I get the bottom?"

    "You got it. Are you clockwise or counter-clockwise?"

    "Clockwise."

    "Then, I''m counter-clockwise."

    Eve suddenly pointed at Mikael. "Or we could have him spin for us instead."

    "But then he''d get dizzy," Ede countered without hesitation.

    "And this is why you''re the smartest one out of all of us." Eve raised her hand for a high-five. Eri and Avery cheered from the sidelines. Gin watched from a bench behind them.

    Meanwhile, Mikael cursed under his breath. He took off his extrayers to speed up the process. The sooner it ended, the sooner he''d feel better.

    The sisters picked up their first tubes. When they received the signal, Eve pped the edge of her stic film on Mikael, causing him to flinch. She stepped back for a long radiuswhich gave room for Ede to circle around him without either of them hitting each other.

    Theirughter echoed around the park, bringing more attention to the game.

    It became the academy''s most popr one for years toe.

 Chapter 217: Come and Drop By

    Chapter 217: Come and Drop By

    "Tell me, mother. Did your chauffeur go missing that you''d need me to pick you up?"

    "It''s a family event, Yan. And you''re family," Avery reasoned over the phone. She walked behind a few kiosks at the park. "I didn''t even force you to attend. This is the least you could do."

    Silence flowed from the other line and into her ear. Children''sughter and giggled filled her other one. She stopped in her tracks, scratching the back of her neck. From the corner of her eye, she spotted Mikael and Eve with the twins. They strolled around to showcase the other attractions like food, goods and fortune telling.

    The madam bit her lip. "I also know the twins want to see you. Drop by. Say hi. Then, we go."

    Ambryan gritted his teeth. The traffic was terrible at this hour. It would be faster to take a longer route to the park. That was only if there weren''t other variables that could get in the waylike idents.

    So far, he hadn''t encountered one yet.

    "Well, if you''ll be asking me this favor," he replied. His eyes flickered to the GPS. There was less than two kilometers left before he reached the park."Then, can I have one in return?"

    "Would it still be called favors if it''s an exchange?"

    "I could always say it''s for family."

    Avery clicked her tongue. "What is it?"

    Pulling the steering wheel to the left, Ambryan started it off gently. "I know that you''re not an official member of the board but there is this project with a marketingpany"

    "It''s that bitch, isn''t it?" His mother cut him off. The hint was in the word, ''marketing'', and this person came at the top of her mind. Avery didn''t expect that she''d be brought up again.

    "I have no idea what you are talking about."

    She scoffed, smelling the lie. Her rapid fire memories shut it down immediately. "The one you spook your father with into taking that bowling bet."

    "Oh, that one," Ambyran feigned innocence. "Then, yes."

    Avery frowned and shook her head, gripping her phone tight. If she had superhuman strength, it would have been crushed into dust. "Are you sure you want to ask me this favor? It could ruin everything."

    Except on asion, the madam acted like that woman didn''t exist. It''s been years since they both retired from acting. One would think their rivalry ended there. But, as women are generally known, their grudges ran deeper than that.

    For Avery, it was justified.

    The woman still coveted her husband after all these years!

    "I''m sure you''ll be at your best behavior," Ambryan coaxed. He sped down a narrow road up ahead, noticing that it was empty. "You wouldn''t want the family name to be tarnished."

    His mother wasn''t convinced. "Exin to me why I''m to handle this and not you?"

    "Because I also can''t stand her." The woman''s intentions weren''t unknown to him but because he was his father''s son, she acted like a doting mother whenever he was around. It was sickening but her skills had to be acknowledged.

    "And you think I can?!" Avery exasperated. Among the three of them, she should be thest person to interact with that woman. Her mind would spend the time imagining how to torture her.

    "You certainly have more patience."

    "... I don''t know if I should take that as apliment or not." She took a deep breath. It was annoying but her boys didn''t possess the bestposure when provoked. Unconsciously, her gaze went towards Eve.

    ''Now, that''s another girl that had patience.''

    "I have to go. Call me when you get here."

    Avery stalked back towards the action. Along the way, she greeted a few familiar faces and stopped for autographs and selfies. It was surreal to see her fans to be parents like her. Some were even grandparents already. She envied them for a second.

    ''Yan, give me a grandchild soon!'' Her mind begged as imaginary tears from her eyes.

    Sheposed herself before resuming her walk. Then, she snatched a teenager trying to escape. He stiffened as soon as her arm wrapped around his shoulders.

    "And where do you think you''re going, Gin?"

    "M-Mrs. Hathaway!" He stammered, locking his phone and tucking it in his pocket. "I just needed to stretch my legs. They had gone stiff."

    The truth was he wanted to look for a ce they couldn''t find him.

    Avery pulled him closer and headed for the food stalls. "Then, you can keep mepany. I''m famished and I want to try something new."

    "Ah, w-would that be okay? Don''t you have a bodyguard?"

    She halted in her steps, forcing him to do the same. Her head lowered until they had the same eye levelviolet against stormy blue ones. "Listen, Gin. Always remember this. Never let a woman walk unapanied. Understand?"

    "Yes, ma''am." He nodded vigorously.

    "Good!" The madam approved. Then, she dragged him to where her nose led them. "Soon, you''ll be able to find a girlfriend, get married and have kids. I''m sure your mother would love that."

    "Um, Mrs. Hathaway, I don''t think"

    "Look at that potato skewer! Come on, move your legs!"

    At the other side of the park, a party of four finished touring half of the event. There was only another half to go. It didn''t help that the ce had the size of a football field. They paid attention to every disy, posing and interacting with the vendors.

    A few offered free sampleswhich both Mikael and Eve assigned the twins to decide whether to take them or not. Otherwise, their stomachs would burst if they ate them all.

    "How much longer do we need to walk?" Eve whined. Dull pain ached her ankles.

    "I''m guessing we''ll circle the entire park." Mikael craned his neck, checking their location. The stage loomed at the end of their path. Except, he couldn''t tell just how far it was because of the crowd. "Are your legs tired?"

    "Tell me about it. We already did our stroll earlier. This is torture now." Eve snorted. Then, she turned to her younger sister, tugging her hand. "How are you holding up, Ede?"

    "I''m alright."

    Her head snapped in the opposite direction and tilted up. "Eri?"

    "Can I be this tall when I grow up?!" The older twin eximed with a giggle. She had her arms spread wide, one hand holding up the bunny plush. Mikael grasped her legs, careful not to let her fall off his shoulders.

    Eve considered the question for a moment. "You can try."

    "How?"

    She pointed a finger at her younger sister, narrowing her gaze. "By eating your vegetables, drinking milk and getting at least 8 hours of sleep."

    "Okay!"

    "And jump at New Year''s," Mikael added. "Heard that''s a thing somewhere in the world."

    Eri suddenly bounced on his shoulders. "Oh, it''s Runaway Boyfriend!"

    "Sir Hathaway?" Eve blinked, raising her eyebrows.

    Her, Mikael and Ede stopped walking.

    Breezing through the crowd was none other than Ambryan Hathaway. The people around him parted and let him pass. It seemed to happen against their knowledge. They''d only truly notice him after he strolled by.

    Thus, wherever he went, he left a trail of whispers.

    "Amphibreevian!" Eri yelled.

    Ambryan shifted his attention towards her. His infamous scowl deepened.

    Eve pped her hand over her mouth. Beside her, Ede pressed her lips together. Mikael hid his reaction with a cough. Only Eri remained enthusiastic to see the CEO head their way. A fit of giggles flowed out of her lips. She had wanted for him toe along the most!

    "Ah, Mr. Hathaway!" Jordan greeted, intercepting Ambryan halfway. They shook hands and he proceeded to exin the situation. "We''re surprised to see you. The school hired Mikael for an ad campaign and your mother spoke highly about Ms. Hart and her siblings that they decided to let them join the promotional shoot."

    "I see" Ambryan cleared his throat and faced the others. "I''m here to pick up my mother. I presumed she''d be with you but that doesn''t seem to be the case."

    "Oh," Eve muttered. She traced her ear with her hand. Her heart weighed a little heavier. "Mrs. Hathaway didn''t join us when we strolled around the park. Have you tried to call her?"

    "I did. She wasn''t answering."

    "I see."

    Mikael frowned at the atmosphere. Did he miss something? Were they in a fight? They usually conversed with ease. His radiant blue eyes looked up. It seemed like the twins were also familiar with the CEO. There had been a news article about it if he wasn''t mistaken.

    Then, what could be the problem?

    "That game seems cool." Ede suddenly spoke.

    They followed her line of sight. A booth had double the space of the ones beside it. Toy rifles sat on its counter. Large prizes hung on its walls and food items filled up the table behind the keeper.

    "I''m not really a sharp shooter," Eve huffed, cing a hand on her hip.

    Ambryan approached the booth. Then, he looked at Ede. "Is there a prize you like?"

    She let go of her sister''s hand and joined him. "That cat looks like Kiri."

    "And that chocte bar is so big!" Eri gushed. At her words, Mikael headed for the game booth. Eve had no choice but to also follow. Her gaze swept across the disy. A funny-looking monkey caught her eye, chuckling at its heart-shaped eyes.

    "Would the gentlemen like to give it a try?"

 Chapter 218: Well, Shoot!

    Chapter 218: Well, Shoot!

    The stall keeper gestured to two free toy rifles, exining the rules.

    "You each get five bullets. The game has three levels. You are free to choose depending on what kind of prize you want. Knock down three of those tiny stic figurines and you get a bag of candy. Knock down three moving targets and you''ll receive a medium prize. Knock over a tower of cans and you''ll have the big prize. Everything clear?"

    Ambryan nodded. Then, he pointed to arge plushie. "What level is that white cat?"

    "Ah, that''s a big prize. It''s 20 inches."

    "How about that chocte bar?" Mikael bent down and lifted Eri off his shoulders.

    "That''s a medium. It costs way less than the cat."

    He rolled them for a bit of stretching. Personally, he thought moving targets would be a third level kind of hard but they were merely on a conveyor belt rolling in one direction. The question left was the speed.

    "I''ll give it a shot," Ambryan dered, taking out his wallet to pay.

    Mikael raised his hand up. "Me too."

    "Alrighty!" The stall keeper checked on the toy rifles, making sure they had the right amount of bullets. He handed them over to each gentleman. "Here you go."

    "Um, can I also y?" Eve interrupted with a shy smile. Her skills in shootingcked but she wouldn''t feel right to ask either of them to try for her. Besides, she also didn''t want to be left out. Hopefully, she wouldn''t be the only one to miss.

    "Sure, mdy."

    She thanked the store keeper and found the rest looking at her. Throwing her hands in the air, she said, "What? Can''t a woman get her own prize?"

    "That''s because you said that you''re not good at this," Ede recalled.

    Eri nodded in agreement. "We''ve also seen it with our own eyes."

    "Thank you for the encouragement, my lovely sisters."

    "Here''s yours, mdy."

    "Thank you."

    Eve and Mikael positioned themselves in front of the moving targets. It took up the center of the booth with a total of five rows. Each metallic cutout had a red circle in the middle, helping the yers aim. The stall keeper flicked a switch and the conveyor belts began to move.

    A meter down the line, Ambryan regarded the tower of cans. They didn''t seem anything special but, considering how tiny and lightweight the bullets were, this would need careful nning. Each shot at the bottom cans would only nudge them a little.

    He took a deep breath and lifted the toy rifle near his cheek.

    The bullet went flying for the rightmost can. It grazed the surface but the one on top of it wobbled. He cursed under his breath. If it had fallen, it could have saved him a bullet. He cocked the toy rifle and calcted his next step.

    "Well, well, well, looks like someone already started." Mikael whistled. He assessed the moving targets, hoisting his toy rifle. He chose the row that matched his eye level. The cutouts varied in sizes. His best bet seemed to be the taller ones.

    He finger pulled the trigger.

    Two bullets whizzed through the air and hit the same red circle.

    The cutout fell over to the other side.

    "Wha"

    "We aimed for the same thing," Eve groaned,ughter threatening to flow out of her lips. It happened too fast. Her bullet probably didn''t even hit anything. She opened her mouth to let him have the score.

    Mikael red yfully in her direction. "You stole my target."

    "Hey! It wasn''t on purpose!" She defended.

    "I''ll give you both an extra bullet. Let''s not count it." The stall keeper stepped in. He took their toy rifles and added them inside. "Instead of the middle, try to aim on your side."

    Mikael shuffled his feet to the left. "Try not to steal my score again, Eve."

    "You''re being childish!" She snorted, getting ready to try again. The taller ones gave the advantage ofwide spacing. The downside was they moved faster. The short ones, on the other hand, looked crowded because they werepressed. But their speed was a fraction slower.

    Eve took her chances with the short targets.

    Her chances to hit something were higher there.

    And so, her next bullet went over their height. She cried inside. It wasn''t even close. It was aplete miss! Mikael hit a tall cutout. He smirked softly. Eve picked up the noise and red at him through the corner of her eyes. He didn''t have to rub it in!

    "So the first one was luck," Erimented behind them.

    "I don''t think she even got it. Only Mikael did," Ede shared.

    Ignoring her sisters, Eve decided to wing it. She predicted that she''d lose anyway. Maybe actually not aiming would make a difference. Three bullets flew out of her toy rifle. An audible gasp came out of her mouth.

    She hit two out of three!

    "Somehow, I''m not surprised by your luck," Mikael said.

    "What''s that supposed to mean?"

    "Nothing." He aimed for his next targets. It took no time for him to reach the goal. The stall keeper congratted him, awarding him the chocte bar. He turned around and bent his knees. "Here''s your chocte, Eri. Remember to share it with your sisters."

    "I will!" She squealed as she jumped up and down. Hopping on her toes, she kissed his cheek. "Thank you, Mikael. Would you like some too?"

    Ambryan had three bullets left. He took a deep breath and let it out in a long sigh. At this point, he realized why this was a third level. His target was still the same can. He pulled the trigger three times for this round.

    Two cans toppled over.

    But the base stayed intact.

    He pulled out another bill and waved it at the stall keeper. "I just need to knock over the tower, right? It doesn''t mean I can only use five bullets to do it."

    "That''s right! Would you like another five?"

    "Yes, please."

    Eve turned towards him and opened her mouth to protest. "You don''t have to"

    "Have one bullet left, right?" Mikael whispered beside her, causing her to jump. "Are you going to fire it any time soon or not? Maybe you would like some help perhaps?"

    "Help?" Eve scrunched her eyebrows. "Like what? Switch yers? I don''t think that''s allowed."

    "Maybe but I can still assist you."

    Mikael guided her back towards the moving targets. He stood behind her and raised the toy rifle in her hands. His head hovered closely to hers so he could see where the nozzle pointed at. Eve lost her ability to feel her limbs. It seemed like she was a puppet.

    "You''re aiming for the short ones, right? Keep your weapon steady. Then, you wait," he exined. "The cutouts are almost touching. You would only need to aim for that narrow space in between them. By the time you release the bullet, it will hit theing cutout. Got it?"

    Eve nodded her head and blinked out of her daze. The toy rifle was in its position. All they needed to do was wait for the appropriate time. She watched the cutouts carefully, imagining when to pull the trigger.

    Then, she did.

    "I got it," Eve breathed out. Her eyes nearly popped out of their sockets. She dropped the toy rifle and pumped her fists into the air. "OMG, we got it! We got it! Thanks, Mikael!"

    He handed the toy back to the stall keeper. A closed-toothed smile spread across his face. "No problem. Always happy to help."

    Cans crashed after receiving five rapid bullets. The tower was no more. Ambryan straightened his posture and his necktie. He reached for the cat plushie near him, making eye-contact with the stall keeper. Thetter gave a nod and he passed the stuffed animal to Ede.

    "Thank you, Mr. Hathaway. Do you mind if I name her as Kiri too?"

    He smiled and patted her head. "Not at all."

    "Wow, Sir Hathaway! You did it! That''s amazing!" Eve praised. She stared at the missing can tower with her jaw slightly open. "I wish I could have seen that. How much do I owe you?"

    He flicked her forehead and crossed his arms over his chest. "Nothing, Eve. I know it''s for your sisters but I''m sure Mikael would agree that we volunteered to do it."

    "That''s true," the male modded confirmed. He spotted Jordan from the corner of his eye. Thetter gestured for him toe over. "Will you excuse me? I think there''s been an update on the ad campaign. I''ll be right back."

    Ambryan leaned against the counter. "So you and Mikael, huh?"

    "What about me and Mikael?" Eve asked. Something clicked in her head after a second. Oh, hell no"You''re not about to bring that up again, are you?"

    "Bring up what?"

    She scoffed, waving her hand to brush it off. Her ears had a hint of pink. "If you think I will say that out loud here, you are wrong."

    "I heard the two of you did well for his scene in ''Define Love''. He put a ring on your finger in one of the takes if I remember right," Ambryan thought out loud. His gaze flickered up to the sky while he rubbed his chin. "I''ve been told it seemed like a way to announce your rtionship."

    Then, he pushed himself off the counter and stalked towards her. "Now, you''re doing an ad together. What does that imply to you?"

 Chapter 219: Web of Presumptions

    Chapter 219: Web of Presumptions

    "Now, you''re doing an ad together. What does that imply to you?"

    Eve resisted her urge to pinch the bridge of her nose. He still didn''t let that go? How could he not be frustrated about them going in circles?

    She slowly breathed into her nose and spoke her words carefully as if talking to a child. "Sir Hathaway, please listen to me. I don''t have romantic interests in Mr. Davis. Never had. We merely work together when it calls for it. That is all."

    Ambryan chose to stay silent. Eve never broke eye contact. She hoped he could see that it was the truth. Even if he didn''t know about her identity, this misunderstanding needed to be gone.

    And for good.

    Because this was getting tiresome.

    The twins watched their exchange.

    "Eve also likes someone else," Eri butted in.

    Both Eve and Ambryan snapped their gazes towards her. She widened her eyes. He arched a brow and said, "Really?"

    "Head over heels," Ede backed up, caressing the tail of her new cat plushie.

    Eri gave him a look that in a I-told-you-so manner. Then, she continued by adding, "Practices her signature with hisst name all over her notebook."

    "I do not," her older sister denied.

    "It''s a figure of speech."

    "Yan, you''re here!" Avery called out as soon as she spotted him. Hand on Gin''s wrist, she bolted to close the remaining distance. The teenager yelped and attempted to break free.

    He finally got his wish when the madam let go to hug her son. Then, she turned to the rest. "Wow, everyone has prizes. Why don''t I have one? Gin, why not take a shot for ady?"

    Her gaze sparkled into pleading puppy eyes.

    "Um, okay."

    "Yay!" She handed him the change from her recent food purchases. "I''m cheering for you."

    Gin shook his head. His curly rust-colored hair brushed his forehead. Only one thought echoed in his head throughout the day, ''Females are troublesome.''

    "Mother," Ambryan said.

    "Yes?" She blinked up at him.

    "You''ve been here all day."

    "Yes?"

    He nced at the ground for a second before looking back at her. "Have you noticed anything weird between Eve and Mr. Davis?"

    "Why? Are you jealous?" The madam asked. The question came out so fast that it seemed like an automatic response.

    Her son shook his head. "No, of course not."

    She clicked her tongue, not buying it for a second. Her attention shifted towards Eve. The poor girl was at a loss for words. Her heart went out to the secretary, silently apologizing for her son''s ignorance.

    That hope for a grandchild was moving further and further away.

    "I don''t think there''s anything," Avery started to say. "Last time I checked, Eve likes someone else."

    "We told you!" the twins supported in unison. They frowned at the CEO. Disappointmet didn''t begin to describe how they feel.

    "You did?" The madam reacted to them. Then, she scoffed at her son. "And you didn''t believe them? Why would kids lie?"

    "Just skeptical, mother."

    "Might as well as Mikael while you''re at it then!"

    "Ask me what?" Mikael inquired, rejoining the group. He had his hands on his hips. His eyes flickered across their face in search for answers.

    "Mr. Davis."

    "Mr. Hathaway."

    "I''d like to ask you something."

    Eve''s jaw dropped. "You''re not seriou"

    "Do you have any romantic interest in my secretary?" Ambryan interrogated. His mother was right. It was better to be straightforward and to have it out in the open.

    Mikael was speechless. Was he serious? He looked in the madam''s direction. She merely shrugged. A short sigh exhaled out of his nose.

    He thought about the best way to answer. "Hold on a minute. Let me ask my empty abyss of feelings Uh-huh. They said that I don''t. Sorry, Ms. Hart. Nothing personal."

    Rolling her eyes, Eve felt relieved that he handled it well. "I''d like to rebut that romantic interests are personal but no offense taken."

    Avery looped hands with the male model. "Hey, Mikael. Have you tried the potato skewers? They are to die for. Do you want some too, kids?"

    Eri and Ede perked up at the sound of free food. "Yes, please."

    "Want me to carry you again, Eri?" Mikael offered as the four of them walked away.

    She shook her head. "No, thanks. I''m good."

    "How about your stuff then? It''s like having a bodyguard."

    "Sure."

    Mikael and Avery held their hands while the sisters held each other.

    "Uh, Mrs. Hathaway. Wait for me." Gin called out. He held a bag of candies in one hand and jogged up to them. One look at the CEO caused him to fear his life.

    ''He still doesn''t know?'' Mikael mouthed at Avery. ''He''s blind.''

    The madam shook her head, hiding her amused smile. Then, she snorted and replied in the same manner. ''I agree.''

    Alone, Eve leaned back on the counter and yed with her new stuffed animal. Her thumbs pushed on the monkey''s heart-shaped eyes.

    "Seems like everyone is iming that you like someone else," Ambryan said, breaking the silence and standing next to her. That piece of information caught his attention the most.

    Eve looked up and paused. Her eyes gradually stared off into space. "I do like someone. Very much. And it''s not Mikael Davis. I feel so strongly for this person that no man canpare in my eyes."

    Her words squeezed his chest. He opened his mouth but nothing came in nor out. His hands balled into fists at the crooks of his elbows. What was this feeling? Was it because others knew about it but he didn''t?

    Was this because he felt left out?

    "Well?" Ambryan croaked. He cleared his throat, averting his eyes. It was easier to talk when he didn''t see her.

    "Well, what?" Eve asked.

    "Won''t you tell me who it is?"

    Frown lines creased between her eyebrows. "Excuse me, Sir Hathaway, but why are you asking these questions? I thought we''re not supposed to share our private lives. I apologize but I think this is going a little too far."

    "I see." Ambryan gritted his teeth.

    Children intruded their space. They pointed at the prizes and coaxed their guardians to let them y. The stall keeper exined the rules, answering any questions that has been raised.

    "I didn''t mean it to be" Eve attempted to exin. This wasn''t the silence she had gotten used to. Brick by brick, the wall that was once there slowly pieced itself back together. "I''ll go check on the others."

    She walked two steps before he spoke again.

    "You''re right. That was something I decided on before hiring a secretary. Thank you for following it all these years."

    Eve closed her eyes. Her heart broke at his indifference. She found it difficult to breathe. This wasn''t how she imagined things would be.

    Turning around, she bowed low and held it for five seconds. "And I thank you for looking after me all this time. I will be going now."

    Then, she dashed for the nearest restroom. The park was a regr destination. Its caretakers had restrooms built instead of using portable ones. They had people looking after the vegetation anyway. The same ones could keep the toilets clean.

    The ce was empty when Eve entered it.

    Removing her sses, she turned on the faucet and sshed water onto her face. Her lungs panted for air. She thought that she would cry but no tears filled her eyes. It would have been easier to handle than this this

    this whatever it was!

    "That was quite the scene," a voice echoed off the tiled floor and walls.

    Eve put her sses back on and pulled her guard up. Tap water trickled down her chin. "Who are you?"

    Rose pink lips smiled at her. "Me? Just a spectator."

    "Really? You look familiar." Eve squinted. Pale skin, light blonde hair, amber eyes and designer clothing? She must be from a family of donors like the Hathaways.

    "That person you mean must be beautiful then," the mysterious woman teased. She propped her shoulder against the doorframe of the entrance. "I''m ttered."

    "Please excuse me."

    Eve strode towards her, intending to exit.

    "I overheard your conversation," the woman finally revealed. Her eyes drooped at the corners. "The man you like it''s him, isn''t it? But he can''t see your feelings."

    bbergasted, Eve crossed her arms over her chest. Thest thing she needed was someone''s pityespecially from a person who believed they knew everything just from one conversation.

    "I fail to see how this involves you," she spat.

    "No need to be rude." The woman chuckled. Shebed her fingers through her hair and checked on her acrylic nails. "I can help you."

    "Thank you for the thought but I decline."

    Eve stepped forward.

    A slim arm shot out to block her way. "I don''t think you understand. Unless I help you, he''d never see you as a woman."

    "I''d rather keep my job, Miss. You heard everything, didn''t you? That''s a line I cannot cross if I want to stay by his side. Now, if you excuse me, I have my family to look for."

    Eve shoved the arm away and stomped out of the restroom, forgetting that the woman had wealth, power and influence. Whatever. They seemed to be in the same age. She guessed that the woman''s fortune came from old money.

    The woman wed at the doorframe. Hostility simmered in her amber eyes. "That''s exactly the issue. I want you away from him."

 Chapter 220: Apology Gone Sour

    Chapter 220: Apology Gone Sour

    Eve ruffled her hair and buried her hands in it, her head bowing over the desk.

    Weeks had gone by since herst conversation with Ambryan at the park. Their work rtionship was a rewind to their first year together. Neither of them spoke unless necessary. Even then,munication stayed mostly non-verbal. She stayed a distance whenever they walked around and retreated to the shadows.

    Between them, she believed she had it harder.

    His messages to Evangeline hadn''t changed for one. Work was never the topic whenever he reached out to her. But she could tellwell, she knewthis current setting bothered him a lot. And she did her best to distract him from it or cheer him up.

    As time went on, it became more difficult to pretend that Evangeline was still the same.

    Eve threw herself back and looked up at the office ceiling. This had to stop. The tense atmosphere suffocated her. Her brain racked for an idea. There had to be something. Something she had buried into the corner of her mind

    Then, her back went rigid.

    She clicked a few buttons on the telephone and ran for the elevator. Herputer locked its own screen due to inactivity. Eve tapped her pockets, confirming she had both her phone and her wallet. Her heart threatened to leap out of her chest.

    This was crazy.

    But she had to do it.

    "Ms. Hart?" Darryl eximed when she stepped out of the lift. "Where are you"

    Holding up a hand, Eve assessed her surroundings. She spun in ce and looked for the direction she should head for. "No time to talk, Darryl. If the boss asks where I went, tell him that I needed to buy something urgently."

    The security guard made a face. He nced over his shoulder and found no one to deal with her unusual behavior. "What could be urgent that you need to leave your desk?"

    "Say that the red sea had decided to relocate and bother me today."

    "What are youOh! Okay. I see. Sure. Got it. Good luck."

    "Thanks."

    Eve pumped her legs, realizing where she needed to go. There was a convenient store just around the corner. She crossed her fingers and hoped it had everything that she needed. The sales clerk looked up from his magazine when she bursted through the door.

    Without a moment to lose, Eve searched for the candy aisle. Her eyes zed over the different packagings and pricebels. Not a nook nor a cranny was overlooked. It could be hidden from in sight. It could have fallen somewhere.

    Either way, she wanted it to be here so she wouldn''t need a trip to another store.

    Her luck ran out. Even the sales clerk expressed his apologies.

    Thankfully, he knew the nearest store. Eve thanked him and ran outside. She wouldn''t rest until she found it. If she''d need extra time to do her workter, she''d give it for free and not demand overtime pay. That became her promise to the heavens.

    Hopefully, they''d answer her prayers.

    .

    .

    .

    .

    .

    Ambryan exited out of the virtual meeting.

    He checked the time and continued his report on the expenditures made by the studios. The ratio of it against the amount of investments made wasn''t looking well. The stockholders and lenders would demand the reasons behind this. Not only would he need to exin it but alsoe up with a solution until the numbers reduced to an eptable margin.

    A knock came from his door.

    "Come in," he answered, scrolling through the proposals made by the appropriate departments.

    "Sir Hathaway."

    His fingers paused. Then, he looked away from his screen. His secretary stood in front of him. Her hair stuck out in different directions. Her eyesses crooked in a weird angle, and her hands gripped her knees, keeping her from stumbling to the floor.

    rm rang inside Ambryan''s ears. "Ms. Hart. Is there something you need?"

    Eve straightened her back, stretching its muscles. The time in the elevator was too short for her to catch her breath. She stepped forward and ced a purple/pink-colored box on his desk.

    "This is" He mumbled as he picked it up.

    "I''m sorry." Eve panted. Her gut told her that it was now or never. "I shouldn''t have talked to you that way. The truth is I''m grateful that you had decided to share some of your life with meeven if it''s just advice on a present or sharing your favorite candy or asking my opinion on an important project. My behavior was inappropriatepared to the trust you have extended to me."

    Ambryan held the box with both hands. His fingers grazed the surface as drawings of tiny cartoon blobs created chaos over the rocky pattern. He shook his head in astonishment.

    Eve sped her hands behind her and hopped from one to another. "What I''m trying to say is I''m sorry that I recicropated in such a way. I still can''t tell you who I like because I can''t say it out loud directly and it''s embarrassing but my throat gets clogged whenever I try."

    At this, Ambryan peeled his eyes off the NERDS candy box.

    "Okay."

    "Okay?" Eve eximed. Here she was pouring her half of her heart out and he wasn''t even the tiny bit fazed? She even bought him his favorite candy. He probably didn''t think she''d remember it. "Is that all you have to say?"

    He held up the box for her to see. A small smile curved at the corner of his lips. "Thank you for the candy."

    "You''re wee." She huffed and wiped the sweat off her neck. Her body warmed up from the exercise despite the chilly weather.

    "I should haven''t pushed," Ambryan continued, setting the box down. He leaned on the backrest and met her brown eyes. "You have a right to decide how much you''re willing to share with me. You had mentioned that you had no interest Mikael. That was all I was asking yet the moment I heard that you did have someone you likeI tried to push you again into admitting the details."

    He rose to his feet and walked around his table until they stood a foot apart. His hand touched her shoulder. "And for that, I am sorry."

    Eve pressed her lips together, bowing her head. Blood rushed to her cheeks. "You''re forgiven."

    "Now, are you perhaps interested how your scene with Mr. Davis turned out?" Ambryan asked to change the topic. He sat back down and opened the folder containing the ad cement shots. "I have no hidden intentions I promise. I figured you might want to see it before the public does."

    Considering the idea, she shrugged. "Okay."

    It was better for her to know before anyone else. Heavens knew how much Andie gushed over her photos stered on the magazines. Before that moment, she never thought of looking at her own pictures.

    But now, she''d rather know before her best friend started praising and showing them off.

    .

    .

    .

    .

    "There is no way this is going public."

    Eve stared at the frozen screen. The scene ended with an outside shot of the shop. Mikael and her could be seen through the disy window, holding hands while admiring the ring. A series of curses floated in her head.

    ''No wonder Ambryan thought we had something going on. The chemistry was undeniable,'' she groaned to herself. ''It was just like that photoshoot Evangeline and Mikael had in World of Adventurewhich had been used against them.''

    "Why not?" Ambryan quizzed, reying the clip. "Athon Luxury loves it. Luna is over the moon. No pun intended. It also fits right into the narrative since the episode is about the protagonist''s parents and their love story."

    If he put it that way, Eve became guilty of her selfishness. It was a good shot. It was well edited too. It would be wasted if she asked it to be removed or reced. "Maybe but I don''t know. What about you? Do you like it?"

    Her head chanted in the hopes that he''d say no.

    "It''s alright." Ambryan paused the video. Hemended the lightning and the camera angles. The music also drew people in. It really belonged to the starting scene.

    "Alright?" Eve frowned.

    "Luna approves of it. Director Sam approves of it. That''s a rare thing as you know," he exined. The two did sh when it came to these scenes. "Think of it this way. This is a reminder of how well you managed the crisis at the time. You pulled it, the cast and the crew together in order to get this done. That is something worthy to be acknowledged."

    Eve''s shoulders slumped. It was a unanimous defeat. Her gaze flickered to the monitor once more. The rose gold ring returned her stare. It fitted her finger perfectly. She recalled that ad lib vividly. Her hand flexed its fingers as if pretending the ring''s weight was there.

    She cleared her throat and gulped, hiding the hand behind her back.

    "Well, it''s not like I won''t ever hope this scene was shot with the person I like," Eve joked, trying to lighten both the atmosphere and her mood. "But no matter how much I wish for it, Mikael is the ambassador and actor for this scene."

    Ambryan pushed his chair away from the desk. He inteced his fingers above hisp, his elbows resting on the armrests. His violet eyes regarded her expression.

    "Does that mean you want to marry him?"

 Chapter 221: Reader.exe Stopped Working

    Chapter 221: Reader.exe Stopped Working

    "Does that mean you want to marry him?"

    EverleeHart.exe stopped working.

    Eve had to hand it to Ambryan. At least, he stopped thinking it was Mikael on her mind.

    "Sir Hathaway," she began to say. "I know you''re curious but haven''t we just established that I can''t confess my feelings to his face yet? The idea of marriage is not even in the equation."

    He considered her argument. "Fair enough."

    But his secretary was on a roll. Her mouth continued to run off, borating her point. "You see, liking someone or dating someone doesn''t automatically mean one already thinks of marriage. Take you for instance, Sir Hathaway. Have you already decided whether to marry Ms. Reed or not?"

    Ambryan stared off into space. This almost felt like dj vu. These thoughts weren''t unfamiliar and it wasn''t because his mother constantly asked for a grandchild. They had urred to him in this office not too long ago.

    Or was it somewhere else?

    "Uh, don''t answer that." Eve turned her head away and scratched the back of it. She bit down on her tongue. How could she ask that? It was like requesting for a trainwreck.

    Noticing her awkward behavior, Ambryan smirked. He ced his cheek on his knuckles. "How about this? I''ll tell you if you tell me who you like."

    "Not a chance!" Eve defended a little too loudly. Her eyes widened towards him as a warning. When he titled his head sideways, she cleared her throat and lowered the volume of her voice. "I need to get back to work."

    Ambryan watched her escape. Then, he chuckled and resumed the report. Moving the mouse, his knuckles touched the candy box. He picked it up, opening the purple side. Rock-shaped candy poured out of the opening. He popped a good chunk into his mouth.

    The vor of sour grapes coated his taste buds.

    He let the candy melt until the sugar crystal was left to contrast the taste.

    .

    .

    .

    .

    .

    After the long and winded day, Eve stopped by another convenient store on the way home. She bought two pints of ice cream: fudge brownie for her and chocte mint for Andie. Thetter stormed their pantry for some biscuits. Their conversation continued while being separated.

    Eve sat on the couch, licking a spoonful of ice cream. She wore fuzzy pajamas and had her feet up. Her story had just reached the end when something crashed in the kitchen. A blonde blur of a head ran into the living.

    "You what?!" Andie shrieked, pointing the pack of digestives in her direction. usation reflected on her facial expression. "You asked him if he wanted to marry you?! GuRL! You proposed!"

    She plopped down the couch and reached for her tub of ice cream. One scoop equalled two pieces of biscuit thus, creating an ice cream sandwich. She bit into it before it could melt.

    "You''re exaggerating." Eve snorted. She took a digestive and did the same thing except with half a scoop. "That wasn''t a proposal. It was an embarrassment."

    "I''d still hold it over your head until death do us part." Andie beamed. Cream, chips and crumbs covered her teeth. She chewed quickly before taking another bite. "But, wow. The both of you actually talked about marriage. Months ago, neither of you even wanted to think about dating. Oh, how time flies. My heart aches."

    Eve finished her first biscuit and washed it down with arge bite of ice scream. Her eyes gaped at the ceiling. "Can we please change the topic?"

    "Sure." Her best friend shrugged. "I''m getting married."

    "Very funny."

    Andie snapped her fingers, saying, "That''s what I said!"

    "Wait" Eve snapped her head and looked at her. "You''re serious?!"

    Andie half-scoffed and half-snorted. She avoided her best friend''s gaze while lifting up her left hand. "You would know if you actually looked at people''s hands."

    Eve gasped and put her ice cream on the coffee table. Grabbing the hand, she took a closer look at the ring. It had three studs: a diamond in the middle with two sapphires on either side. The band was gold and it looked perfect on Andie''s sun-kissed skin.

    "YOU''RE GETTING MARRIED!" Eve yelled, shaking her best friend''s hand.

    Andie squealed along with her. "I''M GETTING MARRIED!"

    Both girls spent the next few minutes screaming their lungs out. They even joked that their neighbors probably called the cops, thinking they either had gone insane or had been robbed. No matter which it was, it hardly mattered.

    This was a special moment that could not be brought down.

    "Wait, you are engaged to Jarrett, right?" Eve wanted to rify. He was the most likely person to have proposed but still, a part of her wondered if it could have been another guy.

    Andie shoved her shoulder yfully. "Who else?"

    "I don''t know. I was hoping you found some other bloke at thest minute."

    "Ha-ha."

    "Wow, Andrea Beatrice Crawford," Eve tested on her lips. She shook her head and ate another mouthful of ice cream. "When that happens, I won''t be able to tease you about the summer season anymore. Is it toote to reverse this?"

    "Yes. It''ste. No exchanges, no refunds, no returnsespecially not with a ring like this."

    "So what made you guys decide to get married now?"

    "We''re not getting married now per say," Andie cleared up. There was so much to be done. Extravagant parties weren''t her thing but she wanted to do it for her mom. "And I don''t know really. But for me? I already had my answer before he even asked."

    "Please don''t spare details." Eve sank into the couch andid her head on Andie''s shoulder.

    Her best friend chuckled and wrapped an arm around her shoulders. "As you know, the house Jarrett bought is almost done. It just needed a bit of finishing touches. It also needs some furniture. We were going back and forth on ideas: whether to go for wallpaper or paint, the color of the bathrooms, designs on the curtains and etc."

    She took a deep breath, reminiscing that day. The cement was finished and dry. The flooring was also done. The workers were waiting for the next instruction. Jarrett had informed her about it and they visited the site together. Her imagination went to work.

    The finished interior materialized before her eyes.

    "We never explicitly stated that it would be our house but from the moment he broke the news, we had acted like it was," Andie continued. In her head, she was back at the house with Jarrett beside her. "And there we weretalking about the next step. Our future. Marriage just came naturally. To me, the celebration is more like a formality than a necessity."

    She sighed deeply, breathing through her nose. Years of memories reyed in her head. Life had changed their paths many times. They attended high school together. They chose different colleges. Work schedules could be unpredictable and dates could be cancelled.

    But they had gone through it all.

    And, in all of those days, they picked to love each other.

    "I had made up my mind to spend the rest of my life with that man a long time ago," Andie breathed out. Her lips curled up at the corners. "I had been fulfilling that vow ever since."

    "How sweet~" Eve cooed, giving her a side hug. "It''s sickening."

    Her best friendughed and smacked her head, using light pressure. "Hey, do you think that you and Ambryan could attend the wedding as a couple? Like he already knows and you''re living happily ever after?"

    Eve fixed her posture. She scraped the spoon around the inner lining of the tub. Melted ice cream flowed downwards and coated thest portion or so. When she spoke, her voice came out in a whisper. "I don''t want to make promises."

    Andie stopped chewing the chocte chips. She folded a leg under her and ced her arm on the back rest. Her spoon stabbed the digestive biscuit, mixing it into the ice cream. "Why not?"

    "Because I would be the most disappointed?" Eve admitted. "I figured it''s best not to hope."

    "It''ll work out," Andie encouraged with a nudge. Was there to worry about? Ambryan knew she had a secret. He still chose to be with her. Finding out that one''s girlfriend is also their secretary wasn''t the worst case scenario possible.

    Hell, did it even belong on that side of possibilities?

    "Thanks for still believing that." Eve smiled as she finished herst bite. Her stomach bulged out of the waistband of her pajama bottoms. She pulled it off and let it cinch around her hips.

    "Both of you are strong. I have faith that you''ll make it through this." Andie offered her some leftover chocte mint. Eve picked up a broken piece of the biscuit and used it as a spoon. It tasted much better than she thought it would.

    "So" her best friend drawled. "He still thought you and Mikael were dating, huh?"

    "I certainly hope that idea of his has stopped permanently." Eveid her head on the backrest and closed her eyes. "If I hear one more word out of his mouth that I''m interested in someone else, I will staple his lips."

    Andie snorted, taking the change to ce her head on Eve''s shoulder. "Why staple his lips when you could kiss them instead? Bippity-boppity-boo! Problem solved. He''d magically recognize your soft lips like Snow White did even in her sleeping death."

 Chapter 222: Into the Shadows

    Chapter 222: Into the Shadows

    Eve overheard the rattling of candy inside a box.

    She looked up from her tablet, ncing to her right. The city buildings and stores slowly dwindled into empty lots outside the car window. Across from her in the backseat, Ambryan shook out a pile of rock candy onto the palm of his hand and popped them into his mouth.

    "You still haven''t finished that?" She said with a shake of her head.

    "A gift like this must be savored."

    "..."

    Sighing helplessly, Eve returned to her work. Wen drove the vehicle towards the newly built studio lot of Eros Productions. Thepany arranged a small gathering for its opening. Guests would also be given a tour around the new site. Reporters from every media outlet were dropping by to cover the event.

    Eve couldn''t wait to see it!

    "You seem excited," Ambryan remarked, noticing the silly smile on her face.

    "It''s like going into another world," Eve breathed out. Work receded to the back of her mind. "This studio is supposed to expand our set locations. I''m curious on how it looks. It had a high budget so I guess my expectations are just as high."

    She chuckled and swiped across her screen. "It sounds silly I know. It''s not like it will be the next Disnend."

    Ambryan chose not to answer. After the incident in a public street, he had the construction process sped up. They had assessed what locations they often looked for different movies. They also gathered a survey to see what ideas would arise from random people.

    Her expectations were reasonable.

    "It''s good that you''re downying your anticipation. That is something I can cross off my to-do list now," he joked, offering her the sour candy.

    Eve stopped her eye roll midway. Her gazended on the rearview mirror. She didn''t catch it but she felt Wen''s attention on her. Clearing her throat, she adjusted her manners. "I have sorted through the recent emails. You may look at them while we wait."

    Ambryan hid the box. "So cold."

    She ignored it and checked the venue''s status. Supervisors from various teams kept her posted on a real time basis. The caterer had arrived. Media personnel were escorted to a tent while they waited. The workers inside the studio finishedst minute decor for the tour.

    There were eyes on all sides.

    When they arrived, the assistants of the heads-in-charge walked behind Eve. They waited for her toplete the inspection and assessment while Ambryan conversed with the other executives present.

    Then, the organizer called for their attention.

    Eve found her ce for the opening event. Ambryan''s tall frame shadowed her from the sun. The ceremony consisted of a blessing over the lot and speeches about its prospects. She was too distracted by her excitement to hear any of it.

    The ribbon-cutting eventually took ce.

    Spectators, employees, investors, invited guests pped when Ambryan cut the blue ribbon. He handed the giant scissors over to Eve. She, then, passed them to the person in charge. A hand mped onto her shoulder.

    "Did you fall asleep?" Madison teased behind her, his luminous green eyes sparkling with mischief. His long albino hair draped down the back of his silver suit and ck dress shirt.

    "President!" Eve eximed, looking over his shoulder. "And Riffle!"

    Riffle perked up at the sound of her voice. He waved and fixed his sses. Soon, his phone started ringing and demanded for his attention. Madison used the moment to his advantage.

    "Now, why is it you are so formal with me but you call my secretary by his first name?" He whined, pouting like a puppy. "I thought we were friends?"

    Eve put his hand away gently. "Not while we''re both employed by Eros, Sir King."

    Madison wiped an invisible tear. "So cruel."

    "I had mentioned something simr."

    Ambryan positioned himself beside Eve. His position gave a clear view of his side profile to the paparazzis. Their cameras shed at the CEO and the President. Both Riffle and Eve noticed this sudden attention. They moved away on instinct.

    Madison jabbed Ambryan on the chest. "Well, you probably deserved it."

    "Can we move somewhere else? Like the dining area?" The CEO suggested, gesturing towards the line of people that headed for the next venue.

    "Please head this way." Eve led them to a secluded entrance.

    The media frenzy died a little once they entered the dining area. Most of the attendees were investors and executives. This part of the event wasn''t necessary to the press. And so, the reporters attacked the PR Team and pleaded for a tour of the site.

    The rest of the afternoon passed as scheduled while the tour turned out to be everything Eve hoped it to be. The cafes all had various themes. The park looked like it came out of movies with how green they were despite the autumn season. She wondered if there were others that catered to a different time of year.

    Reporters outside waited eagerly for their departure. Their mics posed ready forst minute interviews.

    "Mr. Hathaway, do you have time to answer some questions?"

    "Look this way, Ms. Hart! Anyments on the new studio site?"

    "What uing projects can we expect with thisrge step? Mr. Hathaway? Ms. Hart?"

    Eve kept her head low. Her lips thinned into a grim line. She side-stepped, positioning herself directly behind Ambryan. Her fingers tapped restlessly on the tablet. Tremors crawled over her skin.

    She was being watchedmore than usual.

    Since when had it been this way?

    A sigh of relief flowed out of her mouth when Madison appeared behind the pair and addressed the media. Their attention quickly shifted towards him. She sneaked a peek over her shoulder.

    It was a split second but she could have sworn the President winked in her direction.

    Nheless, it brought a small smile to her face.

    Wen drove down the parking lot of Eros Headquarters. She maneuvered it around the public parking and sped through the exclusive sector, skipping the ID verification taken by a security guard.

    Her face was easily recognizeda person to be respected. Eve learned early that thepany security team admired the head bodyguard. With how meticulous Wen was, she wasn''t surprised.

    "How much work is still there to do?" Ambryan inquired as Wen parked the car in its reserved spot.

    "Well, there''s a few reports due tomorrow, preparations for conference meetings with the executives,st nce over the documents needed by the audit team"

    "You can do them tomorrow. Go home." Ambryan interrupted, stepping out of the vehicle.

    "But, Sir Hathaway!" Eve ran after him with her heels echoing in the air. "There are also many things to be done tomorrow. If I don''t do them now, I''ll"

    "Office hours had ended, Eve." He told her sternly. They stopped in front of the elevator. "You''re not about to render overtime."

    "Overtime has always been a part of my job."

    "Not today." Ambryan swiped the tablet in her hands, reading through the list and pointing at several items. "If you really don''t have time tomorrow, I''ll pick up the easiest ones and get them done today."

    "You''d take more overtime that way!"

    "And you covered for me when I was sick. It''s the least I can do. I''m also here to help you if you need it," he dismissed, clearly not taking ''no'' as an answer.

    Then, he stepped inside the lift and stared her down. "Go home. That''s an order."

    "And here I thought I have to figure things out on my own." Eve crossed her arms over her chest, tilting her head sideways. "That was what I had been told on my first day."

    "And you yed CEO for a week. Paid off, don''t you think so?" Ambryan smirked before closing the elevator doors.

    That was when the sound of sniffling reached Eve. "I always knew the two of you would make a great couple. This is the best of my life."

    Blinking, Eve turned her head slowly towards her right. "Darryl, Sir Hathaway is dating a model. Don''t speak nonsense."

    "But you''re always by his side!"

    "Don''t. Just don''t."

    Eve left him to continue his wallows. They were too overdramatic anyway. It couldn''t be serious enough for him to be crushed by her actions.

    At thest minute, she stopped by a convenient store before heading home.

    "Ms. Hart."

    The bag of chips slipped off Eve''s fingers. She lifted her head to find amber eyes on her.

    "YouWhat business do you have here?"

    The woman fidgeted with the bag strap over her shoulder. She bit her bottom lip, her eyes fidgeting. "I was wondering if you had thought about our discussion."

    "What discussion?" Eve hissed. "There was nothing to discuss."

    "But don''t you want to have him?"

    She groaned and scratched her scalp. "You have repeated that so many times. It''s sounding more and more like you''re the one who needs me for something."

    "Oh" the woman mumbled. She took a deep breath. In a split second, her gaze sharpened into a re. Her lips stretched into a mischievous smirk. "You really are smart as they say."

    Eve hardened her muscles. Her hunch was right. Nothing about this woman''s presence was good. "That has to be a lie. I''m not someone you''d be that interested in."

    "And why not? Because you''re a mere secretary in the shadows of her boss?" The woman taunted. She took out her phone and shoved the screen to her face. "Well, does it still seem that way to you?"

 Chapter 223: Woman Behind the CEO

    Chapter 223: Woman Behind the CEO

    Eve stared at the phone screen.

    The same inkling flowed down her spine. Her sight took time to focus. The bright screen hurt her eyes, making it longer for her to adjust. Shock would be understating how she felt when the texts became clear.

    Articles of her had trended on the news.

    Headlines varied from:

    <em>> Everlee Hart the Real Woman Behind the CEO</em>

    <em>> Everlee Hart and Mikael Davis Spotted in Another Project</em>

    <em>> Twins from Ambryan Hathaway''s Residence are Ms. Hart''s Sisters?</em>

    <em>> What to Know About Everlee Hart</em>

    <em>> Is Everlee Hart a Secret Beauty? Look at these Pictures!</em>

    Blood drained from Eve''s face. How long had it been since these came up? She would have heard it from Avery by now. This had been their worry since the school ad campaign happened. It seemed like the press was piecing things together. In no time, they might

    "Surprising, right?" The woman broke through her thoughts. She pulled back her hand and also nced at her phone. "Everyone is slowly learning how valuable you are. It''s a shame that your boss can''t see the same. At least, I think you deserve better."

    Eve arched an eyebrow. "One second ago, you just admitted wanting me for something. Now, you''re trying to sound righteous again? I don''t think so. Besides, these are coincidences. The hype will die down soon once they can''t get more."

    "Are there really things such as coincidences? This could be the workings of fate." The woman stepped closer, putting her phone away. "I think it brought us here. Isn''t that worth something?"

    Dumbfounded, Eve stormed out of the convenient store. What she needed was to get away from that womanhave them apart for as wide as possible. Her lips muttered under her breath. "She must be another crazy like Charlee was. Everything thates out her mouth is bullshit."

    It wouldn''t be the first time someone tried to get on her good graces. After the appearance of Evangeline, she thought she''d stop dealing with themsave for bitter exes. Eve pped her cheek, forcing herself to calm down.

    The woman ran out of the store, watching Eve leave. She pressed the edge of her phone against her chin. "I see why Yan keeps her by his side. A tough nut to crack, indeed. How interesting."

    Once in her car, Eve drove out to the main streets and dialled a number. The call rang twice before the receiver picked up. "Hello? Mrs. Hathaway?"

    "Eve!" The madam eximed. "You''ve seen the articles, haven''t you?"

    "I''m being watched it seems," she replied. ''And in more ways than one.''

    "Don''t worry about it. I contacted a PR expert who can kill this trend in about a week"

    "Oh, I''m not worried, Mrs. Hathaway. I''m not someone who has an interesting life. They can dig up what they want and try to publish them but the public would move on eventually. I''m not a person of influence for them to keep track."

    It was troubling but if Eve analyzed further, she was only noticed because of the people around her. The news was actually rted to them and not her. The media just needed something to hype aboutand themon factor was Everlee Hart. They were merely using her for a frenzy.

    Her routine would be back to normal.

    The masses would soon realize that nothing is interesting about her.

    Avery frowned. She was sitting on her patio, enjoying a warm cup of tea. Heavens knew how much she needed to rx. This could have been a good distraction but it seemed like Eve had other ideas.

    "Then, why did you call?" The madam questioned as she took a sip.

    Eve stepped on the break and stopped in front of a traffic light. Her eyes went to the mirrors and the windows, checking if anything was unusual. "I have been approached by someone."

    The teacup ttered against its saucer. "Who?"

    The light turning green, Eve sped through the roads and headed for the resident areas. She couldn''t wait to get home. "I''m not sure. She has yellow eyes and hair. Around my age I''m guessing. I believe she wants something from me. My top suspicion is because of Ambryan. She wants to be closer to him."

    Avery thought for a moment. "Hm, did she threaten you?"

    "Not yet. But I won''t be surprised if she does eventually after I keep rejecting her."

    "I''ll have someone look into it. We can''t let another Elias or Charlee suddenly go rampant."

    "Exactly my thoughts."

    The madam chuckled. A maid brought a te of cookies. She picked one that had a dark chocte-vored dough dusted with powdered sugar. It was soft as if closer to a brownie than a cookie. She savored the moist texture and bnce of sweetness.

    Then, the call picked up horns sounding in the background.

    Avery froze. She ced the cookie back and said, "Are you driving?"

    "On my way home, yes," Eve answered in one breath.

    "Don''t use your phone while driving! Keep your attention on the road!"

    "Yes, ma''am!''

    Eve chuckled and ended the call. Her brown eyes went to the rearview mirror. A ck sedan followed her from not too far. She foundfort at the sight of it. The timing was perfect too.

    She parked the BMW in front of the apartment and waited by the front stairs.

    The sedan chose a vacant spot not too far away. Its ck-tinted windows made it difficult to peek into. One person stepped but Eve knew better. There was another person left inside. Another familiar vehicle also appeared at the curb.

    But, at the moment, neither of them mattered to Eve as much as the approaching bodyguard.

    A coy smile bloomed on her lips. "Nanzie."

    "Ms. Eve." Nanzie greeted, taking off her sunsses and revealing a pair of cyan eyes. Her coffee skin glowed under the setting sun. Her wavy raven hair was tied to its usual ponytail. She wore the same ck suitnot needing anotheryer to stay warm.

    The two of them entered the apartment. The lights were off, implying that Andie was out. Eve took her heels off by the shoe rack and hung her jacket on the coat rack. Then, she went to the living room with Nanzie following behind her.

    Eve went straight to the point. "Were you near the convenience store when I went there?"

    "I only came after you exited its premises," Nanzie informed her. The former''s schedule changed ever since Evangeline had gotten a doppelganger. Since they were supposedly living together, Nanzie was also forced to be with her to make it believable.

    "Did you see someone follow me?" Eve undid her cufflinks.

    "Yes, but she stopped right outside the door. Then, she left."

    She crossed the room and peeked out the curtains. After the park and the office location, her resident street could be next. She almost wished it was true. It would be easier to corner the crazydy undetected that way.

    "Have you ever seen her before?" Eve asked next.

    "Not that I remember at the top of my head" Nanzie stepped forward, frown lines creasing above the bridge of her nose. "Do you want me to investigate?"

    Eve took a deep breath and let the curtain go. She put her hands on her hips. Quiet as her mouth may be, her mind had the opposite effect. She recalled clues from the woman''s appearance.

    "I presume she''s from a wealthy family. Her clothes indicated that much," Eve thought out loud. Her wide eyes stared at the floor. "It wouldn''t be too hard if they''re socially active. Try to check which ones had family members that hade home from abroad over the past month. Extend the time frame if nothing of her description pops up."

    The bodyguard hid a smile. Instead, she bowed her head. "I will do my best."

    "Thank you."

    "Is there anything else?" Nanzie inquired.

    "No need. Just contact me as soon as you find something."

    "Duly noted."

    Eve turned her head to the living room''s archway. The front door creaked open. Keys rattled onto a ceramic bowl. Footsteps shuffled against the wooden floor. Nanzie followed her line of sight, also waiting for the neer to join them.

    Andie emerged from the shadows. She jumped as soon as spotted two women staring at her. Her stormy blue eyes shifted from one person to another. Their stillness alerted her of the tension around the room. "Is this a meeting for a secret sorority or something?"

    "Nanzie was just leaving." Eve smiled.

    "Yes, that''s correct."

    The bodyguard headed for the exit. "Good day, Ms. Andie and Ms. Eve."

    "Take care, Nanzie." Andie waved goodbye. Whirling her head around, she pointed a thumb over her shoulder. "What''s that all about?"

    "Nothing." Eve quickly dismissed. Her attention shifted to the paper bag that her best friend was carrying. "What do you have there?"

    Andie beamed. She dumped her purse on the couch and yanked out two glossy reading materials. "I have bridal magazines! Come, let''s look at wedding gowns!"

    "Already?" Eve chuckled. They moved to the couch, Andie handing over the second copy. She flipped through the pages. "You''re not about to run off and elope, are you?"

    "Hey! Wedding gowns need to be ordered in advance! The sooner, the better!"

    Something sounded odd about that statement. It had Eve frowning at the ceiling. "But what if the wedding suddenly gets cancelled?"

    "That''s crazy talk," her best friend remarked. "Now, help me find a dress that will make me feel like Cindere at the ball."

 Chapter 224: A Few Peculiar Things

    Chapter 224: A Few Peculiar Things

    Nanzie reached the 10th floor.

    She headed for Evangeline''s apartment, listing out tasks to do inside her head. The stunt double inside spared her a nce. They worked silently together and spoke only when necessary. Since Nanzie opened the door whenever they had visitors, they avoided chances that could reveal their ruse.

    It had been going well.

    They developed a routine along with the security team.

    Strange noises came from the door.

    Nanzie, after changing her clothes, stood outside the door. She had one hand on the doorknob. Then, she looked at the peephole. Her cyan eyes popped out. Outside of the apartment was none other than the woman Eve met earlier.

    Her grip on the doorknob tightened. She waited patiently if the woman would knock. Thetter frantically stood in front of the door and stared at it. It seemed like the woman came alone. The longer time passed, the more suspicious the situation became.

    The question was why was she outside of Evangeline''s apartment. The bodyguard reached for her pager and sent a quick message to the security team. She gestured for the stunt double to hide in the bedroom.

    Then, she cracked the door open.

    A voice boomed from the elevator. Nanzie paused and lingered to hear more.

    "Hey! Are you a resident around here?"

    Mikael jogged up to the woman, his eyebrows knitted to a scowl. He took one nce at the apartment door. Then, his attention shifted to the mysterious person lurking in the hallway. He recognized the luxury brands she wore.

    As far as first impressions were going, she wasn''t off on a good start.

    "Oh!" The woman eximed. She shook her head and waved her hands in front of her. "No! No, I am not. I was just looking for an apartment."

    Crossing his arms over his chest, Mikael narrowed his radiant blue eyes. He didn''t buy a single syble out of her mouth. "And where is your agent? Or thendlord? I have never seen you before. You''re not allowed in here unless you have an apartment key."

    Should he suggest a change in security? The apartmentplex was taken exclusively by Lotus Agency. Paparazzis weren''t allowed. Visitors needed special permission. Other non-residents weren''t allowed to be alone when inside the building.

    "I''m apartment hunting," the woman repeated. Her smile struggled to stay up.

    "And I clearly stated that is not possible because thendlord would be apanying you to empty apartments. Not upied ones," Mikael shot back. He stepped aside and pointed to the lift. "This floor is full. So I suggest you leave before I report you."

    He rooted his feet to the floor, unmoving. If she even tried to walk anywhere else but the elevator, he would follow her. She should have learned to be a better liar if she wanted to loiter around the buildingespecially this floor.

    The woman bared her teeth and sucked in a breath.

    "Just you wait."

    She dashed for the elevators, fuming to herself. If she hadn''t hesitated then, she wouldn''t have been thrown out. The money she used had just gone to waste. Her fingers smashed the elevator button. She had to seed next time.

    Mikael sighed, closing his eyes.

    The door closed beside him. He flickered his gaze towards it. Then, he nced over his shoulder. An ominous feeling hovered above his head. Was it coincidence that the woman chose Evangeline''s apartment?

    It seemed that he would need his guard up.

    .

    .

    .

    .

    .

    Two dayster, Mikael admired the new studio site of Eros Productions. The director seemed happier to have relocated. The buildings were new. The streets were at its cleanest. The change of scenery matched the setting of the shoot.

    Today would be hisst scene for the first seasonyed as a clip on television while the characters switched channels. They were going to film inside because it was going to be an entire outfit and essories.

    A BMW M3 parked near the set.

    Eve climbed out of the driver''s seat.

    "Ms. Hart!" Director Sam blurted out when he spotted her. He scrambled to his feet and met her halfway. Pulling down the hem of his nnel shirt, he ran. "Is there anything you need? Water, perhaps?"

    "Don''t worry about it, director." Eve smiled. She caught Mikael''s eye and waved. Then, her gaze turned back to Sam. "I''m just here for Athon Luxury''s scene. We had done really wellst time that Sir Hathaway thought it would be enough if I only went. He''s really busy. I hope that is okay with you."

    "Of course, of course. Please head this way."

    Mikael stayed at the foot of the stairs. He took her left side while the director took her right. They walked into Studio Z. The crew rushedst minute set arrangements. They had no time to waste since filming resumed right after relocation. Their deadline loomed in minutes.

    Sam provided Eve with a chair. Mikael left them alone to condition himself.

    He thanked his good luck that Luna agreed that he''d only take his shirt off.

    Eve worked on her phone while the rest checked the lighting and cameras. A small smile curled on her lips, making heads turn. The hype of her recent appearance on the news hadn''t died down quite yet. Having seen her and Mikael together before, their curiosity spiked up.

    But neither of the two seemed to be talking to each other.

    They checked on Mikael, his nowhere to be seen. He stood in front of a mirror and paced. His arms moved to mimic his actionster on. He wanted to perfect it so that he could finally leave this behind. The runway was still his preference.

    "Alright! ces, everyone!" Sam barked into the megaphone.

    Eve put her phone away.

    Mikael unbuttoned his dress shirt.

    The room went quiet as the male model walked out of a bathroom door. He had his head bowed, the bangs of his blonde hair swaying from side to side. A dark blue dress shirt hung in his hand. He headed for his full-length mirror and shrugged on the garment.

    Light reflected behind him from a fake window. The golden hue made his skin glow, adding shadows and highlights to his exposed torso. He fixed his cufflinks and his cor. Then, he ran his fingers through his hair.

    If a stranger walked in on set, they would have thought he was the main character.

    "Cut!" Director Sam yelled after the scene finished. "Again!"

    "Is something the matter?" Eve asked as she tapped his shoulder.

    He lowered the volume of his phone, double checking that the megaphone was off. "We just need a few more takes so we can choose the best parts. I think I''ll make a suggestion to Ms. Athon once I see how it looks. It might be a waste to just have it as a passing scene on television."

    Eve nodded and leaned back.

    Just like Sam mentioned, they redid the shoot around five times before calling it a wrap. The crew cheered at the finished product cementwhich meant less reschedules and overtime. They could now focus solely on the main storyline.

    "It was a pleasure working with you, Mikael," Sam said, offering his hand for a shake. "If you ever think about bing an actor, I''d dly give you a rmendation letter."

    Mikael blinked. It took a second before he understood what the other party meant. He epted the handshake. "That''s a loting from you, director. Thank you so much."

    "I''ll be looking forward to the final cuts, Director Sam," Eve cut in. She smiled gently at the director. "Thank you for having me during this film process. I''ll be sure to tell the CEO all about it as well as your direction."

    Sam straightened his spine. He didn''t know how to feel about that.

    Before he could say anything, screams pierced through the air.

    "FIRE! FIRE!"

    "What the" Eve''s voice faded as smoke came from the second floor. She hitched her breath. People ran out of the room in fear as the mes grew bigger. Eve yelled at the top of her lungs. "Everyone, evacuate! Use the emergency exits!"

    No one needed to be told twice.

    They all escaped and left the equipment.

    "Eve!" Mikael called out. "Eve, we have to leave!"

    Unable to hear him above the noise, Eve nced up the ceiling. Neither the sprinklers nor the fire rm went off. She ran for the switch and pulled it. Loud sirens echoed in and out of the building while the sprinklers stayed up.

    Eve yanked off the fire extinguisher, running towards the source of the fire.

    Mikael followed behind her. He muttered out curses. Smoke fogged the studio. He pressed his nose against the crook of his arm. His lungs burned from the fumes. His vision began to fog. He trudged on, unable to leave Eve alone.

    ''Was she crazy?!'' He eximed in his mind, saving his breath. ''The fire rm was more than enough. She wasn''t obligated to put out the fire.''

    A silhouette materialized a few meters away. His legs sprinted the rest of the way. Taking a deep breath, his cheeks puffed out and he held it. His arms snaked around the slim figure waving the nozzle of the fire extinguisher.

    "Hey! What are you" Eve thew a coughing fit. The grip in her hands weakened and the fire extinguisher fell to the floor. She panted for air, only to breathe in smoke. Tears formed at the corners of her eyes.

    Then, her body became weightless.

 Chapter 225: Eve? What? PREGNANT?!

    Chapter 225: Eve? What? PREGNANT?!

    News spread about the fire in Eros'' new studio. People inside the site and outside of it gathered to watch themotion. The mes broke out of a window, sending the pieces onto the street and alerting passersby as well as vehicles.

    "We had no idea!" One of the cafe staff workers said. "Suddenly, there were people running and we were confused. Then, we see this narrow cloud of smoke spiralling up the sky."

    An interviewed street sweeper stated, "HQ had moved one of the crew from the old site to this new one. I think it was them in the building. They asked help in moving props."

    "That studio is for the exclusive use of the new series, Define Love," a maintenance man shouted when he saw the smoke from another building. "It had been inspected more than once because it''s thepany''s most important project. How could a fire ignite from there?"

    A Mercedes-Maybach S650 sped for the front gates.

    Wen opened the window and waved her pass in the air. Cameras shed and reporters shouted at the top of their lungs. Security hustled to move the crowd out of the way in favor of the vehicle. They barricaded the outsiders from using this chance to get inside.

    Upon entering the premises, a fire truck and an ambnce were also on their way. More security moved bystanders off the streets so they could reach Studio Z. The Mercedes-Maybach parked beside a BMW M3.

    Its backseat door flew open.

    "It''s the CEO" A woman gasped under her breath.

    Ambryan marched right into the scene. Wen caught up to him, followed by the rest of his security team. They blocked the horde of people flocking around the studio. Fire fighters cleared out the main location of the fire and its surrounding area.

    A number of them stormed inside while the others circled the hose around to aim for openings.

    "SAM!" Ambryan roared.

    The director jumped 50 feet in the air. He fidgeted from head to toe as he turned to face the CEO. Blood had drained from his face, making him ghostly pale. "M-Mr. Hathaway! We had no idea what happened! You can ask Ms. Hart! I was with her"

    "Ms. Hart? I received a report that she ran to the fire to put it out and almost died," Ambryan breathed down his neck. "As the person beside her, how could you let her do that? Don''t you know a studio''s emergency protocol?"

    "I-I"

    Wen stepped in and shot her arm out between the two men. "Mr. Hathaway, I think it would be best to check on Ms. Hart''s condition as well as other victims. We''ll find out the cause of the fire once the fire department has tamed it."

    The director was close to peeing his pants. Ambryan was right. He had panicked. Because Eve took charge, he forgot his role as the leader of his crew. It was like the taxi crash all over again.

    He had disyed ipetency today.

    The project could slip off his fingers because of it.

    Mikael sat near an unconscious Eve. She lied on a bench. Her face covered with soot. He held her wrist, checking on her pulse. A rough head count showed that there could be people stuck inside. The ambnce had given her a portable oxygen mask as she sustained no injuries.

    They reserved the vehicle for worse case scenarios.

    Relief seeped into his shoulders, letting them rx. The medical team advised him to stay close but he had been cleared. The smell and taste of smoke lingered in his senses. He couldn''t even begin to imagine what would have happened if he left Eve to extinguish the fire.

    ''How stupid!'' He cursed in his thoughts. Fire spread easily. By the time it took for her to grab the extinguisher and run up the stairs, it had grown far too big for her to control.

    What had gone in her head?

    "How is she?"

    Mikael slowly shifted his face to his upper right. Ambryan''s tall frame blocked the sun rays from his eyes. The cold expression could throw anyone off but Mikael knew better. This man''s studio was on fire. That would cost repair damages and would attract negative press.

    Yet, here he wasasking about his secretary.

    "She''s going to be fine," Mikael assured him. He could probably take the oxygen mask off now. The smoke should havepletely left her lungs. But he thought better of it and waited for the medical team''s advice.

    Ambryan knelt beside the bench and reached for his handkerchief. He used it to wipe off the soot on her face, careful not to touch the oxygen mask. Her eyesses had fallen somewhere during her escape with Mikael. Tips of her hair had been scorched by the fire.

    She looked better once her face was clean.

    Wen stood nearby while she listened to her bluetooth earpiece. Regr updates filled her ears. Her gaze flickered towards the unconscious secretary and narrowed. She surprised herself by being worried about Eve''s condition.

    Even after her suspicions, she still cared about thetter greatly.

    She would get to the bottom of this.

    "Thank you," Ambryan suddenly spoke.

    Mikael blinked, raising his eyebrows. "For what?"

    "For looking out for her. I shouldn''t have let her go alone. A call for a potentialpany coboration came up suddenly and she volunteered to go by herself. I should have expected something like this after the taxi crashed the set."

    Ambryan scowled as he remembered that day. They had used public ces for film shooting before but it had been the first time a vehicle went astray. They had interviewed the driver but thetter couldn''t recall why his breaks suddenly malfunctioned.

    Their investigation didn''t end there.

    But results were yet to be drawn up.

    "If she wasn''t here, the fire could have still happened," Mikael responded as if he could read the CEO''s thoughts. He had a feeling Eve wouldn''t like how he viewed the situation. "The taxi also could have still happened. If anything, everyone is grateful that she was here. She was the one who pulled the fire rm to alert you and the authorities."

    At that, Ambryan scrunched his eyebrows deeper. "That should have been automatic."

    "Well, the sprinklers weren''t working as well."

    "Damn it," he cursed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "It''s been tampered with."

    Mikael nodded. "I suspected the same. Eve too, I believe. She looked at the sprinklers and noticed how they didn''t turn on. The smoke detector failed but it could be because the fire happened in a room. But the rm should have triggered them."

    The CEO took a deep breath and released his nose. The culprit might have just made a mistakeor, at least, one of hisckeys did. His violet eyes snapped towards his bodyguard. Wen acknowledged the look, speaking to her earpiece.

    "She must be really important to you." Mikael coughed.

    It wasn''t his best acting moment but the concern the CEO had over his secretary went beyond a superior and his subordinate. Based on his personality, it also went beyond general worries and/or friendship.

    Ambryan sat on the ground and leaned his back against the bench. "I rarely find good people to work with. Even among the board of directors and other executives, I am aware that not all of them have the best impression of me and could go behind my back to stab it."

    A fire at the new studio site? Ambryan wouldn''t put it past his enemies to do such a thing. The security protocol was tight. If someone tampered with anything in the studios, they needed permission from the higher ups. Only trusted employees could get away with loopholes.

    And whoever that was just made his/her choice.

    "For that, I need my allies to always trust in me," Ambryan concluded. "Eve has not only shown her loyalty but has also disyed the same kind of ideas as I do. She''s an important individual in thepanywhether she or the others know it. I wouldn''t be able to find someone as capable."

    All his years as the CEO, he hadn''t offered a promotion to any of his secretaries. They did their job well but only Eve managed to go further by proposing ideas and speaking her opinion whenever he asked about them after meetings.

    Then, he''d find out their thoughts were on the same page. It was fascinating to experience. If she moved to a more powerful position then, he could have less worries.

    Mikael made a face. So the CEO''s point was because she was a valuable employee? More so than most? It should be ttering to hear but he found it underwhelming instead.

    He looked at the cafe to his right and muttered, "How blind can someone be?"

    Ambryan turned his head. His violet eyes stared off into space. A coy smile teased the corner of his lip. He matched Mikael''s voice, saying, "Don''t tell her."

    "Tell her what?" The male model whirled his attention back on the CEO. "That she is employee of the month again? I won''t ruin the surprise. Don''t worry. I''ll even distract her if you want."

    Ambryan chuckled, appreciating the sarcastic humor. He bent his leg and rested his elbow on its knee. "You know that they''re the same person, right?"

 Chapter 226: Eve? What? NOT PREGNANT?!

    Chapter 226: Eve? What? NOT PREGNANT?!

    Mikael stiffened and took his time processing the statement. Because if he was right and the CEO was hinting that thetter knew about the double identity then

    why would he reveal it now of all times? And to him? His eyes fell on Eve. She seemed deep in sleep to have heard. Ambryan was also asking him not to tell her about his knowledge. So this couldn''t be a ruse to let her know indirectly.

    "So you do know," Mikael finally replied, getting a headache from overthinking.

    Ambryan bowed his head and smiled with his eyes closed. "Only recently."

    That was all he said. Mikael found the answer unsatisfactory. How many days had passed since the family event? Was it a little over a week? Was he provoking Eve to confess back then? Or did he find outter?

    The non-stop questions were pure torture.

    "So you''re telling me not to let her know?" Mikael asked. He hoped it could keep the topic going.

    "I find it a little unfair." Ambryan admitted. A mischievous smirk spread across his face. The memories he once had now looked different. "Wouldn''t things be too easy for her if I just told her about it?"

    ''... That definitely didn''t sound good,'' Mikael thought. He sighed and rested his cheeks against his knuckles. "What are you nning exactly?"

    "She and my mother can''t have all the fun."

    "Oh, hey, Eve. I didn''t notice you were awake. You heard everything, didn''t you?"

    rmed, Ambryan jerked his head in her direction. His secretary slept soundly on the bench. He believed she wouldn''t be able to fake her sleep in this sort of situation. And so, he red towards the male model.

    Mikael merely shrugged. "Well, the three of you can''t be the only ones having fun."

    The CEO ignored his teasing and rose to his feet. He dusted off what needed to be cleaned as the fire fighters almost finished. A few bodies were taken out of the building and brought to the ambnce and its medical team.

    "Should I ask when you found out?" It was Ambryan''s turn to ask.

    "Way before you." Mikael snorted.

    "That makes sense."

    He narrowed his gaze at the CEO. "You''re not about to pull an Elias Walker on me, are you? I heard about the shoot from Cale."

    "You just saved her life. That wouldn''t be appropriate. Please excuse me."

    Ambryan walked over to the scene, not looking back. Wen stayed on his heels. They disappeared into the crowd. Security escorted the spectators outside of the site. Everything was shut down for the rest of the day.

    Mikael nced at the bench. Then, he flicked the sleeping beauty''s forehead. "I''ll have to take his side on this one. Good luck dealing with him."

    Eve woke up to an orange sky. Fluttering her brown eyes, memories about the fire slowly returned to the forefront of her mind. She sat right up on the bench. Her sudden movement yanked the portable container of her oxygen mask off its resting ce.

    "Eve! You''re awake!" Jordan eximed as he jogged up to her side.

    The secretary yanked off the mask from her face. "Mr. Dawson, when did you get here?"

    "I came as soon as I heard about the fire," he exined, cing his hands on his hips. "Mikael was looking after you but he had to help in handling the press since he is a key witness."

    Eve lifted her legs and stood on her feet. She assessed her surroundings. Expecting a big crowd, she found none. Most of the people left were the crew members. "Is anyone hurt?"

    "Well, a few but they''re in the hospital and their conditions seem to be stable."

    Relief flooded in her chest. "Thank goodness."

    "You, on the other hand" Jordan crossed his arms over his chest and gave her the side-eye.

    "If I''m here then, it''s nothing serious." Eve was quick to defend.

    "It''s nothing serious because Mikael carried you out." His voice lowered into a hiss. "What were you thinking?! Do you know the weight of what you did?!"

    A deep sigh flowed out of her lips. She knew she made the wrong choice as soon as she reached the elevated catwalk. "It was a fire in a small room. The sprinklers were broken. Something had to be done. I didn''t think it would escte that fast."

    Jordan grunted, understanding her perspective but disapproving it all the same. He patted her upper back. "Well, you better be prepared for the consequences."

    "Am I suspended from work?" Eve flinched.

    His chocte eyes flew wide open. "SuspeThat is the least of your worries. Trust me."

    "EVERLEE HART!"

    Both individuals jumped from the interruption. Avery Hathaway stomped her way towards them. Her violet eyes glistened like gemstones inside a dark cave. Hermanding presence faded the rest of the world into the background.

    "Mrs. Hathaway!" Eve cried out, raising her hands on instinctlike she needed protection from the storm that was about toe. Jordan stepped away from her just to be sure.

    "How dare you try to face a fire?!" The madam scolded right in her face. "If you wanted to help, the fire rm was enough. You could have done more by going with everyone else and keeping them in an orderly fashion."

    Unable to deny the logic, Eve pressed her lips together. She made a mistake. She knew that. They had every right to lecture her for such stupidity. "I''m sorry, Mrs. Hathaway. I was thinking straight"

    "Clearly." Avery scoffed.

    "EVERLEE HART!" Another voice yelled in their direction.

    Eve couldn''t believe her eyes when she saw who it was. "Andie! What are you"

    "You think I can stay still after hearing about the fire? Especially when you feel unconscious inside?!" Andie ruffled her dirty blonde hair into a bird''s nest. Then, she pointed an using finger towards her best friend. "I knew you always had this sense of chivalry but you crossed the line this time."

    "I know. And I''m sorry."

    "Sorry doesn''t even begin to cover it, missy! Your sisters also heard the news. I think it would be best if you give them a call. Andie huffed. She shifted her attention to the madam beside her and smiled. Her volume softened into a gentle tone. "Hello again, Mrs. Hathaway."

    "Andie. Nice to see you," Avery greeted back. Her gaze fell on the ring that the young woman wore. "Are you engaged?"

    "I am!" Andie dered, her smile turning into a full-blown beam to the skies. "And my maid of honor just decided to throw herself in the fire before I could even have my wedding."

    "Then, she should be punished."

    "I agree."

    Eve opened her mouth to protest when her phone vibrated in her pocket. The lock screen had been flooded by numerous notifications ranging from messages to missed calls. She made a mental note to check on themter.

    "Hello?"

    "Eve!"

    Her heart squeezed at the sound of her manager''s voice. "Cale?"

    "My poor girl, did you forget that you''re a model? It sounds superficial but your physical health and appearance are important in the business. I know you meant well but this wasn''t the best way to handle the situation." He reprimanded.

    Then, she heard him sigh. "Anyway, I''m d you''re alright."

    "I''m very d that I am alright too." Eve raised her voice enough to intercept the ongoing conversation next to her. "It''s beenforting to hear that others feel the same."

    "Think again!" Andie interrupted. "If we don''t lecture you, you''d do something like this again."

    "I got it. I got it," her best friend groaned, ending the call. "What are we supposed to do now?"

    "You have to ask a certain CEO if you have permission to go home."

    "I thought that was the medical team''s job?"

    "They said that you are fine but you''re not off-duty yet, are you?"

    Eve gulped. "Right."

    She made her way towards the studio. A small group of people stood in front of the crew. It didn''t take long to identify her boss among them. His broad shoulders were hard to missnot to mention his perfect posture.

    "Sir Hathaway," she greeted with his back towards her.

    He turned around. "Eve."

    She bowed her head, unable to look him in the eye. "I''d like to apologize for myck of judgement. I understand I wouldn''t be of help if I put myself in danger. I will keep this in mind from now on."

    A warm hand touched her head. She looked up to see Ambryan''s indifferent expression staring at her face. "I''m d you''re okay. Go home and rest. We''ll handle it from here."

    "A-Are you sure?" Eve stammered, ignoring the blush on her cheeks. "Because I can"

    "Either you leave the premises with your own two legs or I carry you out. You choose."

    She paused for a second. "I''ll see you tomorrow morning."

    Then, she turned on her heel and dashed for Andie. Ambryan watched her leave. He wondered if she noticed that her eyesses were gone. If she wanted to keep it a secret, it was bold of her toe up to him without them.

    "Do you want me to send a security team for Ms. Hart?" Wen suggested.

    "No." Ambryan sighed. His hand clenched into a fist. He tried not to touch her but failed. "Mother made it clear that it''s best not to draw attention to Eve. We''re going to need damage control for her current presence in the media."

    "Understood."

 Chapter 227: Invitations Here, Invitations There

    Chapter 227: Invitations Here, Invitations There

    Eve leaned on her backrest.

    The clock struck 12 and lunch had officially begun in Eros Productions'' head office. She took out her home-cooked lunch, her mouth watering in anticipation. Andie went to work early but, thankfully, they had some leftovers fromst night.

    There was spicy tuna maki on one sidyers of fish, vegetables and vinegared rice rolled up in a sheet of grilled seaweed. To stick to the Japanese theme, Eve had cooked egg rolls and sliced mini sausages into fun shapes.

    Her twin sisters used to love it when she did this.

    She picked up a sausage with her fork and lifted it towards her lips.

    The peppery vor almost touched her tongue.

    "Is that all you are having for lunch?" Ambryan asked, stepping out of his office.

    Eve jumped. The sausage dropped from her fork. She started to scream but the sound died in her throat when itnded on her lunch box. She breathed a sigh of relief. Then, she set her fork down and looked at him.

    "What''s wrong with my lunch?" Her head tilted sideways.

    Ambryan took a closer look. "Who makes it?"

    "Usually Andie does since we live together and she''s the better cook. But, for today, I have some leftovers and added the egg rolls and sausages," Eve replied, ying with the food a little. Of all days he chose to ask, it had to be today.

    But then again,

    It probably seemed hrious for a grown woman to have octopus-shaped sausages.

    "So you cooked the egg rolls?"

    "Yes?" She hesitated. Then, a thought urred to her. "Would you like to try it?"

    He was eyeing the lunch box. Other than it was Japanese cuisine inspired, there was nothing to stare at. She hadn''t thought about ting or presentation. This was starting to resemble a cooking contest that she did not sign up for.

    "Only if you don''t mind." Ambryan raised a hand, ready to borrow her fork.

    Eve handed it over to him. "No. Go ahead."

    "It''s a little sweet," She defended, scratching the back of her neck. Thest thing she had in mind for lunch was for her boss to criticize her cooking. If she had known, she would have prepared something more to his taste.

    Or maybe she could have ordered from a restaurant and pretended she made it.

    "It''s nice." Ambryan nodded as he chewed. He returned the fork and savored the taste. If Eve made it herself then, this was one of the things she liked to eat. He recognized the dish. It was impressive since it had the famous rectangr shape.

    "Do you want me to order some from the nearest Japanese restaurant for your lunch?" Eve suggested. There weren''t enough egg rolls for the two of them. She''d share but she had been looking forward to this all morning.

    "No, this is fine." Ambryan wiped the corners of his mouth with a handkerchief. "Please bring extra when you make them another time. I''ll be heading out to meet Richard for lunch."

    "Enjoy your time then."

    "You too."

    Eve grabbed her fork and stabbed the same sausage she intended to eat a moment ago. An inch away from her lips, she paused. Her brown eyes blinked into space. Then, her head whirled towards the elevator.

    Her boss had already left.

    "Bring extra?" She repeated, making a face. Static radio noise sounded in her head."Did bringing him to eat street food ruined his expensive palette?"

    She tossed the idea asideafter making a mental note to request the dish from Andie.

    That woman made egg rolls faster and tastier. It would be closer to Ambryan''s level of taste too.

    Eve finished half her meal when she faced herputer screen again. Sometimes urgent emails came in during break time. It made her wonder if the senders ever took a break or if they lived in a different time zone. She filtered them out and responded to the ones directed at her.

    All except one.

    .

    ```

    Dear, Ms. Hart

    Surprised? But your work email isn''t the most secure information. I know you''re a hardworking employee and figured this would be the easiest way to reach you. That''s what you do, right? Check emails all day?

    I''d like tomend you for your bravery. I heard the news about the fire and you willingly sacrificed yourself to try and stop it. I could have never done such a courageous thing. You''re in the news more than ever! You must be thrilled! Everyone is noticing you!

    Does he too? If not, you deserve much better than that. I could give you so much more. I would be proud to have someone like you by my side. You deserve a man who would never push you into the shadows because of selfish reasons.

    Anyway, this is another way to contact me.

    I''ll keep in touch!

    Regards,

    Your fateful encounter

    ```

    .

    ''Where was a barf bag when a person needed one?'' Eve wondered, a deadpan expression on her face. "Why the hell does this sound like a love confession by the end of it?"

    She red at the email, intending to ignore it. How desperate could someone be? More of this harassment and she''d think the woman had serious mental issues. This amount of pestering and seeking attention couldn''t be healthy.

    Instead of deleting the email, Eve fished out her phone and dialled a familiar number. Maybe she had been waiting for this all along. The sender had an anonymous address but it might not be as foolproof as it seemed.

    "Hello? Nanzie?"

    "Yes, Ms. Eve? Is something the matter?" Her bodyguard asked, concern evident in her voice.

    "I''ll forward you an email," Eve exined as she typed the address and wrote a short message. "Try to trace where it came from. Maybe we can finally find out who that woman is. Because I want her out of my life."

    .

    .

    .

    .

    .

    In a restaurant down the street, two businessmen sat across from each other.

    Richard had his elbows on his knees. The faint noise of pots and pans echoed in the background. A low coffee table stood in front of him. Its walnut wood texture matched the low armchairs surrounding it. The height had him wondering if it was appropriate for lunch.

    Unless a certain someone didn''t intend to stay for long.

    Ambryan raised his teacup and took a sip.

    "Yan." Richard pped, his curly bronze hair freshly cut. He pressed his lips together and organized his thoughts. "H-HowHow are things going with you and Evangeline?"

    "Going well. I always think that she''s right beside me."

    His steel gray eyesnded on the empty chair next to his best friend. "I see.. The clingy type, huh? Boy, did I not see thating. But I''m happy to hear that you''re happy. You are happy, right?"

    Ambryan raised a skeptical eyebrow. He put the cup down and mimicked his best friend''s sitting position. "What exactly do you want to talk about that you''re trying to lighten my mood?"

    "It''s not me who wants to talk to you," Richard denied, attempting augh. It disappeared as soon as it came and so he disguised it with a cough. "It''s our board members."

    "They''re worried about the damage the fire caused during filming," Ambryan predicted. The waiter came by to serve their appetizers. For him, he ordered an egg sd along with some bread. It tasted creamier than he liked but it would do.

    Richard flinched. Of course, Yan had seen iting. "I know it''s noughing matter but business is still business. They want to know about the losses and reevaluate the investment. If you can send the details as soon as possible then"

    "Cut to the chase, Richard."

    "Excuse me?" He blinked, stiffening.

    Ambryan swallowed his first bite. He reached for the table napkin and cleaned around his lip area. "If you wanted to talk about the financial reports on the fire then, we could have done this over email. If you wanted to talk about it face-to-face then, we would have done it in my office."

    The napkin fell on the table. His violet eyes looked straight into steel gray ones. "There''s another reason behind this informal meeting and I suggest you be upfront about it."

    Richard sighed and shook his head. He couldn''t deny it. There was another purpose for this conversation. It seemed that he ran out of time to stall. With a huff, he said, "Fine. Stuart Wilson contacted me the other day."

    "This is about the party," Ambryan stated. It was a fact, not a guess.

    "You haven''t sent a response."

    "Since you are here and he trusts you then, you can tell him that I''m not going."

    "Yan" Richard groned, closing his eyes.

    "It happens every year, Richard."

    "I know!" He eximed. "But he is very persistent this time! It''s driving me crazy! How could you survive this? And in all these years! I would have found it traumatizing and just attended."

    "Because you''re not strongly opposed to the party like I am," Ambryan informed Richard. He finished his egg sd appetizer and drank a ssful of water. "Besides, I already have ns on that day."

    Richard merely snorted at the excuse. This also happened every year. It didn''t take a genius to figure out the real words behind it. He crossed his arms over his chest, leaning back.

    "What kind of ns? ns to ensure that you can''t make it to the party?"

    "ns that involve an expensive date and I will notpromise it."

 Chapter 228: Couples Here, Singles There Reading—

    Chapter 228: Couples Here, Singles There Reading��

    Eve listed thest bit of her to-do list on her business phone.

    Then, she checked on the time.

    The clock was minutes away from reaching lunch break. She tucked the device away and hugged a clipboard to her chest. Her teeth bit on her lips from the inside. The faint hint of a blush colored her ears.

    Her boss continued to type on hisputer.

    Clearing her throat, she decided to wing it with her best smile stered on her face. "Sir Hathaway, would you like some egg rolls for lunch? I brought a lot today as requested."

    Ambryan peeled his eyes off his monitor. He rested his chin on the palm of his hand. A hint of a smirk curled on the corner of his lip. "I didn''t know you would be so eager. I only told you about that a day ago, right?"

    "Well, it was either today or there wouldn''t be enough eggs to share."

    He chuckled, shaking his head. "Sadly, I can''t take time off for lunch. Mind bringing it here?"

    "Of course. Wait a minute."

    When the door closed, Ambryan covered his mouth. It was hard not to smile. The days only got better as they passed. Work seemed easier to handle. Stormy weather felt sunny to him. They no longer held power to dampen his mood.

    Everything was different. There weren''t enough words to describe.

    He was even able to enjoy his girlfriend''s cooking.

    Eve entered the office, lunch box in hand. She opened it as she walked and set it down on his desk. The egg rolls were perfect. They also had a few more herbs and toppings. Just staring at them increased her appetite. She could almost taste their creamy and buttery vors.

    Ambryan picked up the fork and thanked her for the treat.

    He stopped mid-chew.

    Frown lines creased above the bridge of his nose. He slowly unhinged his jaw and bit on the egg roll. Butter oozed out while soft eggs sat on his tongue. Next, his taste buds identified the taste of mushrooms, cheese and parsley.

    "This is different from the one before," hemented. There was no denying it. The vors were too far apart. The other one had a sweet taste. This one had a fluffier impression and a savory tang.

    He took another bite.

    Perhaps she exerted more effort to impress him? Somehow that thought cheered him up a bit.

    "Oh, well" Eve blinked, almost forgetting that this was a different recipe. She struggled on how to exin. "My previous attempt was a little embarrassing. And I know you don''t really like sweets so...."

    "So you changed the vors?" He finished for her, taking another roll.

    Eve nodded. "Yes. I told Andie to make her favorite egg roll."

    Ambryan stiffened. He just bit into the new egg roll on his fork. His brain processed the new piece of information, connecting the dots and filling the gaps in between. "Andie made this?"

    "Mhm. I told you. She''s the better cook between us."

    "I can see why you think that." Ambryan steadied the fork on the lunch box. He retreated his hand and cleaned his hands before resuming his work on theputer. Then, he remembered that he still had an egg roll in his mouth.

    He swallowed it in one go.

    And almost regretted it.

    "You don''t want more, Sir Hathaway?" Eve scowled, confused by the sudden change. She lifted the lunch box to her nose and sniffed. Her sense of smell detected the fragrance of butter and herbs. She checked the rolls. None of them had an odd color.

    Why could have gone wrong?

    Ambryan coughed. He avoided looking in her direction. "I''ve had my fill. Thank you. And emails just came from investors and the board. I have to respond right away,"

    "But there''s so many left," his secretary whined. Indeed, there were a lot. The meal was enough for two people. The mere sight of it made his heart soar.

    Then, reality pulled it back down.

    "Unfortunately, my hands are full," he said. His typing speed rose the more he became focused on the texts in front of him. A yful thought developed in his head. He gritted his teeth just to stop himself from grinning.

    "Now, unless you volunteer to feed while I work"

    "I''ll go back to my desk then," Eve immediately responded. She shook her head, epting his rejection of the food. She stepped towards the door then paused.

    Her hands tore the lunch box and split it into two. She ced the underyer of the tupperware on the table. "You can have these potato cheese balls. I know a street stand that makes the best ones I''ve ever tasted. They gave me a few tips and I tried to recreate them this morning."

    Ambryan snapped his gaze towards the new dish. The breading around the potato balls had finished cooking with a golden brown color. A small container for a dipping sauce stood in the middle. He smelled the scent of butter and took a closer look.

    "They look crispy," heplimented, taking the fork and scratching it on the surface.

    The pleasant sound of brittle crumbs flowed into his ears.

    "Well, I''m d they sound like it," Eve chuckled. She bowed her head, theyer of egg rolls in both of her hands. "I''ll be going then. Please eat them in case you get hungry."

    "Thank you."

    Alone, Ambryan had his first bite. The vors sort of matched the egg rolls. It had that creamy and buttery taste. The cheese bursted when he broke the mashed potatoes apart, adding a bit of salt just enough not to overpower the other vors.

    He had only one thought upon eating it.

    ''I wouldn''t mind eating this everyday.''

    One hand on a knob of a closed door, Eve shut her eyes and let out a breath through her lips. She pulled out her personal phone and walked towards her desk. The lunch box ttered on her desk. She flopped onto the chair and pressed the mobile gadget against her ear.

    "So?" Andie greeted, the pitch in her voice rising higher. "How did it go?"

    "He tried a few but rejected the rest. I don''t know why. It''s weird," Eve answered. She blew on her bangs andid her head on her work table. Her brown eyes stared at the door. "He hates sweets. I know he does. Plus they tasted amazing. Why would he look for the same egg roll?"

    Andie clicked her tongue. "Did you give him the potato cheese balls?"

    "I did." Eve huffed. Her heart weighed heavily in her chest. That was supposed to be the main dish of her melong with some egg rolls. "And he epted them. Now, I''m stuck with pure egg rolls for lunch."

    "At least, you had something else to offer," her best friend tried to coax. "It wasn''t a total fail."

    She sighed and hung her head. The white ceiling filled her vision. "I guess so."

    Pressing her lips together, Andie nced out of the window of the bakery. A familiar face with medium blonde hair greeted her eyes. She waved her hand and hopped off the counter. "I''m gonna have lunch with Jarrett. See yater, Eve. Enjoy the egg rolls. They are made with love."

    She could almost see Eve rolling her eyes. "Have a good time."

    Andie ended the call and sprinted for the door. She dashed down the sidewalk and jumped into a pair of waiting arms. Her feet flew off the ground. Giggles erupted from her chest. Anywhere she looked, there were rainbows.

    "Babe!"

    "Hey." Jarrett chuckled in her ear.

    Pulling back, Andie pped her hands onto his cheeks. Her stormy blue eyes squinted at his face. The smile on his lips didn''t fool her. She sensed it in her bones. Something troubled him.

    "What''s wrong?" She asked, ready to rebut if he refused to answer.

    Jarrett brushed the hair on top of her scalp. His throat constricted. She always saw right through himeven before they started dating. "It''s nothing. Just stressed from work. It haspletely filled my head."

    Andie considered his response. It probably wasn''t a total lie. But it also wasn''t the whole truth. She decided to let it go for now. Maybe he needed time. This date might even be good for him.

    "Is there any way that I could help?" She stuck out her bottom lip, making it plumpier.

    Her fianc leaned his forehead onto hers. "Maybe a kiss?"

    "We can always try."

    The couple shared a kiss on the street. Andie had her arms around his neck while Jarrett kept her close. The world faded away. Their worries vanished. This little bubble kept them safe and soundas if not even lightning could prate it.

    Then, they broke apart.

    "How''s that?" Andie teased.

    "Good." Jarrett cleared his throat. "I know you don''t want me to keep things from you. And, to be honest, I thought I could go through this date without ruining the mood."

    Andie''s eyebrows shot up. "Ruin the mood? Babe, if you need someone to talk to, I''m always here. It''s not some service avable for a number of hours. We''re about to be stuck in the same house. Consider this practice."

    Jarrett caressed her ear, mustering the courage to speak. "There''s no other way to say this but I''ve been dismissed."

    "Until when?"

    "Indefinitely." The word came out of his mouth syble by syble.

    Andie stepped back. Horror struck in her eyes. "You''ve beenid off?"

 Chapter 229: What Does Jarrett Do?

    Chapter 229: What Does Jarrett Do?

    "You''ve beenid off?"

    Jarrett sighed dejectedly. Their promises echoed in his head. The future he hoped for was starting to change with this setback. To distract himself, he yed with Andie''s hair. His fingers picked up a few strands and twisted them.

    He couldn''t look into her eyes.

    Andie seemed to have other ideas. She pushed his hands away and forced him to meet her gaze. It wasn''t easy. Her fianc twisted his head from left to right, evading her hands.

    Thissted for a few seconds.

    "Why?" The question spilled out of her mouth, her hands resting on his shoulders instead.

    "I don''t know." Jarrett shook his head. Everything happened quickly. He had been kicked out of the building as soon as he gathered his things. They neither gave him the time to process nor the chance to fight back.

    "What do you mean you don''t know?" Andie demanded. Her nostrils red. Her blood began to simmer. If this was supposed to be bad news then, it should be exined. Everyone who experienced it had the right to know. "You''re part of the Crimes Prevention Task Force and a detective! Even if you don''t know, I''m sure you can find out. Or your colleagues would. They can''t cut you off without a perfectly valid reasonI''m going there now to find out."

    She stepped sideways and marched down the sidewalk. The owner of a hotdog street stand winced when he identally met her eyes. They had darkened like a tornado ready to destroy anything in its path.

    Jarrett turned around and grabbed her wrist. "Andie."

    She finally met his eyes and widened her own. "Jarrett."

    "I just want to let the day pass by peacefully," he defended, closing the gap between them. His arms went around her shoulders and his hands rubbed her back. "Tomorrow we can talk about storming the police department. I can also start looking for another job."

    "But you loved it there!" Andie protested. Tears started to form behind her eyes.

    "I know." Jarrett gave her forehead a peck. Then, he smoothened the scowl on her eyebrows. "But I have to keep moving forward. I don''t want the wedding to be dyed. I''ve waited long enough I think."

    She puffed out her cheeks, staring at the ground. "I think we can wait for a little bit more."

    "Andie."

    Andie threw her hands in the air. "Fine, fine. No more talking about work. Let''s go."

    Inside, her mind raced about this incident. Jarrett always had a good record. He wasn''t the best but he had things to contribute. Did they truly believe they could find someone else better? Was he actually being reced? It seemed to be the best exnation.

    Even if it was, the idea irritated her.

    .

    .

    .

    .

    .

    "I can''t believe this!" Andie screamed, pacing around the kitchen. The sky had darkened. She went back to work after her lunch break ended. Jarrett had refused her offer to take the rest of the day off in order to spend time with him.

    Eve sat on a stool and ate from a tub of ice cream. Her best friend entered rant mode the moment they were in the same room. Although the topic went around in circles, Eve understood that Andie''s pent up feelings.

    "And I can''t believe Jarrett!" Andie continued. She stopped walking and crossed her arms over her chest. Her stormy blue eyes red at the wall. "He''s just epting the situation! This is unlike him! I''m starting to think he actually knows the reason but wants to hide it!"

    "Where is he now?" Eve asked.

    "He went to check on the house. Oh goodness, the house." Her best friend groaned, burying her face in her hands and wailing. Then, she clutched her sideburns. "I''m d we haven''t shopped yet for furniture. We need the money for who knows how long."

    Eve stood up and walked around the kitchen ind. She held Andie''s wrists, helping her rx. The couple had done so much for her over the years. It devastated her to see them experience thisplication.

    They deserved so much better.

    "Is there anything I can do?" She whispered while rubbing her best friend''s arm.

    Andie bit her bottom lip and averted her eyes. It would be a lie to say she hadn''t thought of all the possible options. If it was for her, she wouldn''t dare hint about one of them. But this was about Jarrett despite all herints.

    "I don''t want you to."

    Eve frowned. "Why not?"

    "Because it would involve using connections," Andie exined.

    "Meaning?"

    She sighed and fiddled with her hands. This had to be her most shameless up to date. "I don''t want to be selfish but I can''t deny that you know a powerful person."

    "Ambryan," Eve blurted out, letting her wrists go. She had a feeling it would be rted to him.

    "Yes." Andie nodded. She tucked a loose strand behind her ear. "It sounds bad. I know it does. I''m not asking for you to get my fianc a job. Nor are we asking for money. But... a rmendation letter might be a big help once he figures out where he wants to work."

    "I''m sure Ambryan wouldn''t mind." Eve pressed her lips together. It was a minor favor. It shouldn''t take too much time. They also met previously so, at least, it wasn''t for a stranger.

    Her best friend stepped to her side and linked arms. She hid a teasing smile. "Maybe. But it would be better if he gets something in exchange."

    "Not egg rolls."

    Andie rolled her eyes, not appreciating the joke. "I meant something from you."

    "No."

    "But I can do you a favor in return!" Andie borated. Ambryan might agree without anything in returnbut he would still appreciate a little something. "Like a free box of French macarons every weekend for three months."

    "There''s no need for that." Eve shot down with a scoff. "I already made up my mind that I''d help you or anyone close to you whenever I canand that includes my love rival."

    Andieughed. She hadn''t heard that running joke for months. "If you say so. But I know you. If you''re going to ask Ambryan, I''m sure you''d feel awkward not giving him something in return even since it''s a favor for me."

    Eve bit her inner cheek. Her best friend knew her so well. She just didn''t want to hear what suggestions Andie had or they''d take all night talking about them. "We''ll see what happens."

    Andie leaned her temple against her shoulder. "Thank you for this."

    Patting her head, Eve squeezed her arm. "It''s not a problem."

    .

    .

    .

    .

    .

    "Thank you for seeing me today, Ambryan," Calvin Knoc said, shaking his fellow CEO''s hand. "You really are as impressive as they say. The fire would have been a setback but you got everything back on track in a short amount of time."

    Ambryan epted thepliment with a smile. "There''s still so much to do, Calvin. This is only the n on the recovery. It would still take weeks for things to fully settle down."

    "But it''s enough to assure business partners like me."

    "We''ll be going then."

    "Take care on your way."

    Eve held the door while Ambryan exited the conference room. They walked side by side towards the elevator. Whispers sounded in the halls. News had circtedtely about Eros'' post-fire business activities.

    Thepany was almost back on track. It didn''t hinder their deadlines and resourcesthanks to quick thinking of the CEO and his recovery ns.

    "You seem slightly distracted today," Ambryan opened up once safe inside the lift.

    Eve sighed. Thankfully, she thought of another solution. Now, she didn''t feel awkward to tell him."I''m not sure if you remember but Andie''s boyfrfianc, Jarrett, lost his job yesterday. Both of them need to work in order to make ends meet. It''s a disaster."

    The elevator doors opened and she headed out first.

    Ambryan followed until their footsteps matched. "He''s been dismissed?"

    "Yes." Eve nodded, her eyes trained forward. They had almost reached the building''s exit. "I was thinking if Mrs. Hathaway would know some opportunities. And that I should buy her some tarts if she agrees to help out."

    A hand gripped her upper arm. "Why would you be asking my mother?"

    Eve whirled to the side. The sun shined behind Ambryan''s head, shadowing his face. It reminded her once again how tall he was. And how intimidating it made him seem sometimes.

    She quickly yanked her arm back, refusing to have the gesture recorded by the press. "Your mother had always told me to go to her if I needed anything. I think she''d be upset if I didn''t."

    "But you don''t need my mother when I''m right here."

    "Oh!" Eve eximed, scratching the back of her ear. "Well, I know you''re already busy. And Mrs. Hathaway doesn''t have a packed schedule like you so I considered going to her first."

    Ambryan''s violet eyes hardened. "Would you please ask me before making your own decision?"

    Eve raised her hands, fear shivering down her spine. "That''s not what I meant"

    "YAN!"

    She saw Ambryan visibly stiffen. Rapid footsteps sounded on the sidewalk. She bent sideways to see who called out to him. It didn''t take long to identify the suspectlight blonde hair, amber eyes and slender arms spread out like an eagle determined to seize its prey.

    Once her target was within reach, Ambryan moved away and let her catch air.

    His cold tone dropped even further.

    "Jane."

 Chapter 230: That Stalker Bish

    Chapter 230: That Stalker Bish

    Jane pouted. "Yan, that''s just cruel."

    "I have a girlfriend and I don''t want a misunderstanding," Ambryan almost sneered. It had been a fact that whenever she was around, his patience evaporated like water. "And thest thing I want is for the inte to attack her. She only stopped mest time. But if I see it again, I might not be able to hold back."

    Eve stood by, keeping quiet. The puzzle pieces started to fit together. She almost cursed herself for not realizing sooner. The woman''s identity had been staring at her face this whole time.

    Their meeting had be inevitable.

    Ambryan flickered his gaze towards his secretary. Then, he cleared his throat to get both of the women''s attention. "Jane, this is Eve, my secretary. Eve, this is Jane Wilson. You''ve already met her father."

    The mention of Stuart Wilson brought back memories to Eve. She was positive that his strange behavior during his small get together and thepany party had something to do with his daughter.

    She should have known that the minute she saw the birthday invitation.

    Eve stered a stiff smile, nodding her head. She gripped her hands tightly. "Pleasure."

    "Oh, the pleasure is all mine! I heard about you from my father. You''re quite the loyal employee." Jane hid a smirk. Patience wasn''t in her vocabryeven when she tried, she eventually failed. Her amber eyes hardened for a second. Eve almost thought it was her imagination.

    Because it vanished and a sickly sweet smile reced the cold expression. Shifting her attention back to Ambryan, she reached for his arm. "So Yan, did you like the giant wine ss?"

    He tried to dodge but she won this time around. With his free arm, he sent a signal to Wenwarning her about paparazzis and their cameras. The bodyguard moved behind Jane and continued to stay out of her sight.

    It was Eve''s turn to hide her amusement. Jane was like an open book. Both her and Ambryan saw through her actions. Jane may have thought she won but Ambryan only misdirected her. It wasmendable acting.

    Jane remained oblivious to this gesture and babbled away about the gift. "But you probably like the bottles of red wine more. I heard from father that you liked the wine I bought for him so I went ahead to get you some too. Tell me what you think when you have a taste."

    "I will keep it in mind." Ambryan stalled while his security team took care of the press. He sneaked a nce in Eve''s direction. She also stayed behind Jane and kept a lookout. Nothing on her face betrayed her emotions.

    ''What could she be thinking right now?'' He wondered.

    "And if you love it, I can get you more from the same vineyard. They have a lot of varieties."

    Ambryan''s temple throbbed. This script sounded familiar. The words and statements could have changed but it conveyed the same intentionsto the point that finding ways to reject became an annoying and tedious task.

    "I see. I might pay a visit myself."

    Jane brightened up at his response. She clung to him closer, giggling under her breath. "We can go together! I became close to the owner and staff. I''m sure it''ll be fun."

    "I''ll have to ask Evangeline first though," Ambryan added. He averted his eyes but paid attention to his peripheral vision, checking if Eve glimpsed his way when he mentioned her.

    "Why?" Jane mocked, irritation seeping through her head. Her fingers curled on his arm. A little more and her acrylic nails would dig into his suit. "Does your girlfriend control your life now? Can''t make your own decisions?"

    "Oh, I can," Ambryan corrected her. He looked into her eyes and said, "My decision is to bring her with me. I''ll add it to the list of ces we''ll go to when we have a trip overseas."

    She clicked her tongue. "Going on a trip, huh?"

    "I''m nning on it." He shrugged.

    Eve practically choked. They had talked about a trip but overseas? That would cost a lot of money. Just the mere thought of it gave her a headache. If he was still set on it after their rtionship agreement ended then, she''d insist on paying part of the expenses.

    There should still be enough for her sisters'' education after that, right?

    On the other hand, Ambryan reconsidered his own words. Evangeline had rejected the notion of a weekend getaway. The possibilities seemed to expand now. There should be a business trip he could arrange that required his secretary''s presence along.

    She would surely agree if she believed the funds came from thepany, right?

    Jane noticed his withdrawal from reality. She yanked his arm to bring him back. His girlfriend wasn''t around. It would be selfish of her to keep his attention even when around another person.

    "Well, then" she began to say. "You are nning on attending my birthday, at least?"

    The bliss feeling Ambryan had quickly vanished. This party invitation was bing ridiculous. "It seems you need to upgrade yourmunication lines. It would be terrible if it continues to stay like this. I had sent my apologies and rejection more than once, after all."

    "But Yan!" Jane whined. Her amber eyes drooped at the corners, making her dainty features even more intense. "My birthday onlyes once a year! And I had been overseas most of the time so I really want to be with everyone that matters to me on this special day."

    Ambryan patted her hands and pushed them off the crook of his arm. Wen had given the signal that the press had been taken care of. The time to pretend was over. "I''ll send you a gift."

    Jane stuck out her bottom lip and stomped on the concrete. "What if I want your attendance as a gift? You can bring your girlfriend too. I look forward to meeting her."

    "She''s notfortable with crowds."

    "But that''s part of your lifestyle. Are you sure she''s suitable to stand by your side?"

    "As long as she''s willing to be with me, I don''t care about anything else," Ambryan stated. There was no hint of hesitation in his voice. He reached out to grab Eve by the arm, startling her. "If you''ll excuse us, we have to go back. There''s still work to do."

    "Well, I can"

    He snapped his head over his shoulder and gave Jane a stern look. "I think you''ve done enough, Jane. We should end the conversation here before I start a dispute with your father and we''d never see each other again."

    "Fine," she huffed, crossing her arms over her chest. "I''ll see you around."

    Ambryan released Eve and they walked ahead. Their vehicle was at the end of the street. It was the closest spot for Wen to park. The bodyguard met them at their destination, opening the backseat for them to climb in. Soon, they found themselves on the roaddriving further away.

    Jane lowered her gaze, ring through hershes. She gritted her teeth.

    Things were moreplicated than she thought.

    Ambryan rxed his shoulders. He wouldn''t need to see that woman for another time. It was almost a shame she came back from abroad. He made a mental note to ask Wen why Jane was in the area. The timing couldn''t be a coincidence.

    Then, he shifted his attention to his left.

    His secretary typed away on her business phone, seeming unaffected by the whole exchange.

    "Eve, about Jane" Ambryan said, thinking about how to approach the subject.

    Eve peeled her eyes off her phone screen. "What about Ms. Wilson?"

    "What do you think of her?"

    She nced up and scowled. There were many ways to describe Jane Wilson that the choices were overwhelming. Majority of them came up as negative based on their few encounters. She searched for a positive onemostly for the challenge than the need to speak safely because of Jane''s wealthy status.

    "She adores her father?" Eve attempted. It was the best thing she coulde up with from the pressure to provide an answer.

    Ambryan shook his head. Heid his head on top of the backrest and crossed his arms over his chest. "You mean she''s spoiled?"

    "That came out of your mouth. Not mine."

    "This is a safe space," he assured her, looking out his window. "I''ve told Richard many times how that woman irritates me."

    Eve debated on how much to ask. This would have been easier if she was Evangeline right now. But it would be weird for her alter ego to suddenly chatespecially when Ambryan covered up the evidence that he met Jane today.

    "Why does she irritate you?" She caved. ''This should be safe, right?''

    "It''s been like that since I can remember," Ambryan replied.

    Turning her head to her own window, Eve rolled her eyes. It was typical of him to be vague. Her question seemed suddenly useless. "But she''s quite fond of you. I''m sure it saddens her."

    Now that Eve knew her identity, it was easier to guess Jane''s intentionseither it was for her birthday party or it was to help gain Ambryan''s favor. Eve leaned more on the second one since it could result in the first option as a consequence.

    Jane''s offer to make Ambryan notice her was only a bluff. So when the spoiled young miss would try to persuade her again, she could use that as her excuse to reject.

    Hopefully, it would be enough to stop this game.

 Chapter 231: Tasting Chocolate Lips

    Chapter 231: Tasting Chocte Lips

    "Have you ever done a magazine shoot before?"

    "Hm," Eve hummed with her eyes closed. Light strokes of a makeup brush touched her lids. By now, she learned to appreciate the process. The real work started after this and there wouldn''t be time to rx at all. "Not entirely. There was one for Athon''s Rainbow Collection but since it''s a luxury brand, not a publishingpany, the photos were also used in different ways."

    "I think I remember that," her makeup artist said. "Each model was the cover for a magazine issue at the same month. I personally thought you were the best out of the bunch."

    "That''s sweet. Thank you."

    The concept of photoshoots were essentially the same wherever Eve went. There was always a theme and for the magazine, it would be for the uing winter season. The session could be rted to an article or to a paid ad. The point was to make them all fit into the main theme.

    "Open your eyes please."

    Eve did as she was told. Hazel eyes stared back from the mirror. She didn''t know what to expect but it wasn''t nude and warm colors since winter made her think of snow first. Seeing the look let her realize that it was about winterfort.

    "What are we going for?" Eve couldn''t help but ask.

    "You''re going to have the best job for today."

    Her eyes widened at the response. "Really?"

    "Yes, you''ll be sipping hot chocte for the shoot."

    "You''re right. That really is the best job."

    It was that season of the year where people preferred to stay at home, snuggle up, sit by the firece and spend the time with loved onesa warm and home-y type of vibe. Eve couldn''t wait. It sounded like her kind of photoshoot.

    "I know right?" Her makeup artist giggled. She grabbed a brown tube from the vanity mirror. "And you''ll be wearing this liquid lip that is supposed to smell like cocoa."

    Eve perked up at the sound of that. She held out her hand and asked for the product. "Can I?"

    "Sure."

    Twisting it open, she took a big sniff.

    "Wow, it does smell like one," Eve stopped breathing. The smell wasn''t a joke. It engulfed her sinuses as if she just drank a highly-concentrated chocte drinkthe type that packed a lot of vor in one sip.

    Shemended the cosmeticspany for the idea. But she would have loved a more subdued scent. Or did they want the wearers to smell it all day?

    "Let''s put it on you."

    After the makeup was done, Eve raised her phone and searched for the best selfie angle. The liquid lip was easily the highlight. It stood out the most and so her pose focused on her lip area, puckering them up just to create a plump effect.

    Then, she posted it on her Slowgram ount.

    ``EvangelineReed: These lips smell like cocoa right now. The question is if they taste like it."

    She received a message. It contained a screenshot of her post. Her eyshes fluttered at the timing. A minute hadn''t even passed yet before the chat came. It seemed like someone had too much time in his hands.

    .

    ``Yan: Well, don''t lick it.``

    ``Lin: You, sir, are no fun.``

    ``Yan: It''smon sense.``

    ``Lin: It''s supposed to be waterproof. Saliva is water. It''s testing how long it canst.``

    ``Yan: How many lipsticks have you tasted to be this defensive?``

    .

    Eveughed. The room became empty as her makeup artist was told to assist with the other models. She had been instructed to stay put and wait for her to be called. She didn''t mind it one bit if it meant that she could chat with a workaholic CEO.

    .

    ``Lin: Not many but I think each should be experienced to the fullest.``

    ``Yan: Hm. Is that so?``

    ``Lin: Yes, yes.``

    ``Yan: Then, don''t lick it all. Save some for me to experience.``

    .

    Blood rushed up to her cheeks, coloring her ears in the process. Eve pressed the phone screen against her stomach and looked around. A breath of relief flowed out of her lips. She was still alone in the room. No one could have seen the message nor her reaction.

    It was a good thing that it was a chat.

    If it were face-to-face, she wouldn''t have been more flustered.

    .

    ``Lin: Of course. Don''t let society stop you for wearing lipstick.``

    ``Lin: Hold on. I''m getting a call.``

    .

    The phone continued to vibrate until Eve hit the answer button. She cleared her throat and adjusted her sitting posture. Then, a woman''s voice sounded in her ear. "Eve!"

    "Oh, Mrs. Hathaway. Are you sure you have the right number? This is Evangeline."

    "Right!" Avery eximed. "I mean, no. This is the right number. I just messed up."

    "It''s okay. Is there any reason for your call?"

    The madam took a deep breath. She was in her room, pacing. Her hands shook from nerves. This wasn''t how she pictured things would turn out to be. "It''s about the woman you mentioned."

    Eve understood the hesitation right away. "Ah."

    Avery stopped at the foot of her bed and sat on its edge. She gripped one of the posts, squeezing it. "I just want to confirm it. Is it Jane? Jane Wilson?"

    "Yes, I saw her the other day." Eve sighed. She couldn''t tell if it was a good thing or a bad one that Jane hadn''t tried to contact her again. Ambryan''s rejection shouldn''t have stopped her. Otherwise, it would have worked long ago.

    "I can''t believe it," the madam breathed out. "She''s usually so sweet. I know she''s very forward and upfront but I didn''t think she''d do something like that."

    She knew about Jane''s feelings. The young woman had a crush on Ambryan since they met as kids. Her feelings were admirable at first because she believed in them and never gave up. Over time, she became less forward but the feelings still lingered.

    "I understand, Mrs. Hathaway."

    "I probably should also say that she was a candidate on the website" Avery heaved another sigh. She took a chance with that, hoping whatever result could either have Jane move on or have her date Ambryan. It was the perfect setup to finally put an end to the chase.

    But reality stated differently.

    "That would mean I''m not her favorite person right now," Eve replied, already calcting. By ''person'' she meant Evangeline. Could it be possible that Jane connected Eve and Evangeline?

    A shiver went down her spine.

    That was a scary thought to have.

    "I''ll take a look at the past incidents," the madam offered. She rose to her feet and resumed walking. This wasn''t a time to be idle. They had to take preventive measures. "And see if she has anything to do with them. They''re a powerful family so it would make sense how we weren''t able to connect it back to her."

    Eve pressed her lips together and yed with a loose thread on her sweater.

    "I''m sorry about this," she mumbled.

    "Why are you apologizing? It''s not your fault."

    "But I think your rtionship wouldn''t have been strained if it weren''t for me."

    She could hear the dejection in Avery''s voice. Jane was probably like a daughter to her. And Eve believed the madam when she said that Jane was sweetat least, it probably seemed like that on the surface. She was adored by many.

    Except for Ambryan.

    Avery smiled despite the gloomy situation. "I don''t think Ambryan would have picked her but she wanted a chance. I think this would have still happened if he chose another girl. But I am very very d that it''s you."

    Then, a knock came from her bedroom door. She nced over her shoulder to see a servant waiting. "Take care, Evangeline. She might have something up her sleeve."

    "Thank you. And I will."

    The call ended and Eve checked the DTC app. Ambryan hadn''t replied to her message. He must have received something that needed his urgent attention. She ced her phone on the vanity mirror and stared at her reflection.

    So far, she had dealt with people that ndered her namehoping it could break her and her rtionship with Ambryan. Her approach was passive.

    This time, there was a person who wanted to take her boyfriend away. Her nails dug into the edges of the armrests. An indescribable feeling swelled in her chest. Maybe it was pride. Maybe it was annoyance.

    Whatever it wasit told her not to let Jane seed.

    "Is my model ready?" Cale called from the door when he opened it.

    Eve grinned at him through the mirror. "To go home? Yes. I''ve never been morefortable."

    He chuckled. "Come on."

    The two of them walked out of the dressing room. The set was at the end of the hallway. Eve greeted each crew member that she made eye contact with. Their answering smilesforted her. She learned earlier that if the atmosphere was pleasant then, the shoot would also be the same.

    They turned on the corner and Eve bumped something with her shoulder. Cale caught her just before she couldpletely lose her bnce. She checked on the clothes if they were fine. Then, she searched for what she knocked into...

    which turned out to be a ''who''.

    Jane blinked, raising her hands in defense. "I''m sorry. I didn''t see you there."

 Chapter 232: A Warm and Cozy Scene

    Chapter 232: A Warm and Cozy Scene

    "No harm done," Cale replied for Eve. He pressed a hand against his chest. "I''m Cale Fisher, a modelling manager at Lotus Agency. I heard about you."

    Jane raised an eyebrow. She side swept a nce towards Eve. "You have?"

    Cale beamed. His gaze switched to a gentle manner while the flecks in his aqua eyes darkened. "Yes. I think people who don''t give up deserve some admiration. Even when our agency turned you down, you still pursued your decision to be a model. And here you are. Congrats."

    Eve swallowed her spit. Lotus Agency turned down Jane Wilson?

    It seemed like wealth couldn''t buy everything.

    "The rejection hurt but I''m both blessed and grateful to Oleander Models and Casting Studio," Jane responded. Her hands clenching into fists didn''t go unnoticed by Eve. "It''s still a shame because I''ve heard of your exemry knowledge in this industry, Mr. Fisher. I hope you can still look after me whenever we cross paths."

    "You tter me, dear," Cale giggled. He ced a hand on the crook of Eve''s arm. "I wouldn''t want your manager to misunderstand. She''s also really capable so I don''t think there''s any for me to teach you."

    Then, he pulled Eve aside so they could get out of her way. The set was only a few meters away. "Will you excuse us please? It''s Evangeline''s turn on set."

    Jane merely smiled. "I''m sorry for hogging you both. Good luck."

    Cale didn''t waste time. He led Eve down the hallway, not looking back. His legs quickened their pace while she did her best to keep up. Eve risked one nce over her shoulder. Jane had already disappeared around the corner.

    "That woman is struggling to keep her ws hidden it seems," Cale hissed under his breath.

    Eve leaned her head in his direction. "You''ve met her before?"

    "Never formally. But I had always been wary of her for some reason."

    To cross paths during functions was normal for Cale. He had met many types of people because of social events. Jane Wilson was loyal to several luxurypanies and was a VIP customer. She was almost in every pre-order list avablegaining her many favors from brands.

    The only problem was her attitude.

    Cale had to be patient most of the time.

    "Mrs. Hathaway seems to like her," Eve brought, hoping to get more insight.

    Her modelling manager sighed as they reached the end of the hallway. "Well, Avery watched her grow up. She probably feels sort of responsible for Jane. The only reason I gave that woman the benefit of the doubt was because of Avery."

    "I see."

    That would mean Mrs. Hathaway saw Jane almost as a daughter. It could exin why thetter felt a sort of entitlement towards Ambryan. Years of believing they''d end up together was imprinted in her head. She most likely assumed that it was fate.

    An idealistic dream that was tough to break.

    An obsession that could screw someone in the head.

    Cale noticed herck of concentration and snapped his fingers in front of her face. "Shake that woman out of your head. This shoot is about being cozy and happy inside your house while snow falls from the sky."

    "Got it."

    Eve found herself on a beautiful couch with her legs tucked under her. Her hands held arge cup of hot chocte and marshmallows. Just a whiff of it warmed up her insides. Closing her eyes, a blissful smile spread across her face.

    The sound of a camera shutter broke her out of her trance.

    "Are we starting?" She asked.

    "Not yet but it was a good shot." The cameraman chuckled.

    Eve shared the same sentiment and sipped from the cup. She scrunched her nose, aware of the milk mustache above her lips. Shot after shot came from the camera. Her hunch was correct. This was the easiest photoshoot she had.

    The crew even brought out a book for her to read.

    Then, they added a ck cat to share the spotlight with her. The firece burned nearby. The soft carpet invited her to lie down on it. She caved eventually and the feline joined her. Her mind became lost inside the book. She set down the hot chocte to turn the page.

    No one interrupted her reading.

    The focus shifted towards the cat who wandered beside her, over her and around her.

    Still engrossed in the world of a wild young miss chasing after a man who she brought to a funeral parlor when he needed to go to the hospital, Eve barely noticed that someone moved her feet that rested on the couch.

    She positioned herself diagonally so she could stretch her legs. The cat purred and hopped onto her legs, lying down. A warm hand caressed the feline''s back.

    Then, fingers tickled the sole of her left foot.

    "Ah!" Eve gasped, pulling her foot. She lifted the book to clear her line of sight. Violet eyes crinkled in amusement at her disbelief expression. "You! What are you doing here? And who let you interrupt the photoshoot?"

    Ambryan angled torso in her direction, propping his elbow on the backrest and resting his temple against his knuckles. "Am I really interrupting? I think they called for a break about five minutes ago."

    Eve lifted her upper body off the floor and looked around. Cale avoided her gaze by talking to the cameraman and checking her photos so far. Nheless, she narrowed her hazel eyes at him. She didn''t even get a warning about Ambryan''s sudden presence.

    Lying back down, she used her finger as a bookmark and hugged the book to her chest. "You seem to have a lot of free time today, Mr. Hathaway. Didn''t we agree to meet two hourster?"

    "But I missed you."

    "How irresponsible. Your employees and superiors might me me for letting you ck."

    "Employees like who?" Ambryan challenged. The cat nuzzled her nose on the palm of his hand. "Like Eve? It''s her day off. And I''ve finished all the meetings I had for today. What book are you reading anyway?"

    He bent over to take the book off her hands. Eve clutched it like her life depended on it. She squirmed on the carpet, trying to get away. But her instincts focused on the cat on her ankles. She tried not to move her legs while putting the book out of reach.

    Unfortunately, Ambryan managed to snatch it when she lifted it over her head. He raised his eyebrows upon reading the book''s back cover. "A CEO romance novel?"

    "What? I didn''t get to choose," Eve defended with a shrug. "I just found it funny while reading."

    Marking thest page she read, Ambryan flipped back to the first page. He rxed on his seat and started reading. The scene opened on a woman around his agementing about herck of a significant othersomething he couldn''t picture himself in.

    Eve stiffened when he turned to the next page. "What are you doing?"

    "Gathering tips on how to hold your attention."

    She rolled her eyes and searched for another topic. "That cat seems fond of you."

    Ambryan marked his page, petting the cat on its head. Its blue eyes closed from the touch. A soft purr rumbled in its throat. "And to you too. You can''t move until he gets off your legs."

    "I know that." Eve scoffed. Then, she turned her head to the one who brought the cat, waving her hand to catch his attention. "Is the cat up for adoption?"

    "Yes, he is."

    "What breed is he?"

    "He''s a ck ojos azules, born with deep blue eyes and a dark coat."

    "Thank you." Eve moved to a sitting position. Her bum dug into the carpet and her quads threatened to burn. She used a knuckle to stroke the cat from under its chin. The cat lifted its head to let her have better ess.

    She chuckled at the movement. "You think Kiri will like him?"

    Ambryan stopped patting the cat. His violet eyes squinted in suspicion. His attention darted between her and the cat. "Are you trying to matchmake my cat?"

    "I just think she''d like apanion?" Eve exined. He worked practically everyday. She was sure Kiri would love somepany.

    "What would you even name him?"

    "Blueberry? It''s the first thing I thought of when I saw his eyes."

    "But those berries are deep purple," Ambryan pointed out.

    "And? Kiri has purple eyes. It''s fate."

    Ambryan sighed. He took Blueberry in his hands and cradled him against his chest. Then, he helped Eve get to her feet. She sat beside him, reaching for the cat. Blueberry dly nestled in her arms. It seemed like he wanted to take a cat nap.

    "If you want us to adopt a cat, you need toe by more often," Ambryan taunted.

    "I''ll even buy his food." Eve simply snorted. Her eyes looked up to meet his gaze. Eagerness and hope sparkled in them. "So is that a yes?"

    He leaned down until his forehead touched hers. "Yes."

    Cale did a double take towards the couple. He tapped the cameraman''s shoulder repeatedly, pointing a finger in their direction. Thetter sprung into action and captured several shots.

    The bookid on the armrest while the hot chocte stayed on the floor.

    Both were forgotten in this moment.

    The modelling manager''s heart swelled. Tears almost threatened toe out of his eyes. He turned his head to wipe them away discreetlyjust in time to see someone leave the set.

 Chapter 233: Sweet like Fudge Brownies

    Chapter 233: Sweet like Fudge Brownies

    "Who''s a good kitty?" Eve cooed at Blueberry in her arms.

    The photoshoot had ended for the day. Her stomach grumbled urgently, begging for food. She was in luck. The bakery Andie worked at was only a few blocks away. Her sneakers scraped against the sidewalk. The city air filled her lungs. It was another short adventure.

    Ambryan followed a step behind her.

    The shutter of a camera caught her attention.

    "I heard that," Eve used him, whirling around. Her hand continued to scratch the back of Blueberry''s ear. Ambryan didn''t notice her re and tapped away on his phone. She rolled her eyes. "Oh, don''t even pretend. I know you took a photo of me."

    He paused from typing and met her stare. "Look who''s acting shameless now."

    "Must have rubbed off from you."

    "I take full credit if it means that you''d also catch my habit of impulsively kissing."

    Eve hurried her footsteps. The cat in her arms meowed at the sudden change of pace. She had enough surprises for one day. First, it was Jane. Now, it was Ambryan. Her mind retreated back to the first thought while her legs slowed down to a stop.

    She hadn''t seen Jane since they crossed paths in the hallway. Eve figured that thetter knew that Ambryan dropped by to pick her up. It would have been another chance to take him by surprise. The fact that she missed him gave Eve anxiety.

    Blueberry gazed at her face when her hand stopped caressing his fur.

    Meanwhile, Eve weighed the pros and cons of having an annoying presence around. The setup allowed her to monitor the other person''s mischief and schemes. But, at the same time, it tested her patience.Eve couldn''t decide which was more exhausting.

    "Everything okay?" Ambryan asked as soon as he reached her side.

    "Uh, yeah," Eve assured him with a nod. She shook herself out of her overthinking head. "I just can''t decide if I should go for a cinnamon bun or for fudge brownies."

    He took Blueberry in one arm and held her hand with his free one. They resumed walking. The faint smell of freshly baked goods teased their noses as well as their appetites. Eve clutched her stomach,forting it silently.

    Ambryan chuckled at her helpless hunger. "Why not go for both?"

    "Aren''t you supposed to be looking after my diet?"

    "A cheat day rarely hurts."

    "Really? I hear the opposite."

    "If the person isn''t serious about the diet then, yes. The opposite would happen and they gain more weight to shred," Ambryan exined. He ignored the stinky eye look she sent his way. "If you really want to look that good then, don''t eat sweet food for a month."

    "I''ll pass." Eve snorted. The request sounded ridiculous but she knew what he meant. Still..., "We don''t know until when cocoa beans will survive. I have to seize every moment."

    Ambryan gripped her wrist. She kept moving forward until his hold on her caused her to stop. Blueberry watched as his new hooman leaned down. His lips touched the corner of Eve''s.

    The kisssted for five seconds.

    "Seize every moment. I like that," Ambryan chuckled against her skin.

    Eve hugged herself tighter. Her bottom lip stuck out into a pout and her wide puppy eyes nced at her ''impulsive''panion. "Don''t tease me."

    Ambryan stiffened. His heart beat erratically. The feeling became more familiar as he spent more time with her. "Do you want me to stop or do you wish it was a full kiss on the lips?"

    He bent down for another peck.

    But Eve beat him to it. Standing on her toes, she reached a random spot on the side of his neck. She heard his breathing hitched into a halt. A fit of giggles escaped her throat. She had managed to turn the situation in her favor.

    She had won this round.

    "I guess you don''t mind doing that in public?"

    "Eep!" Eve ran for it. She took full advantage that Ambryan had a cat in his arms. It caused him to rethink his movements and chased her at a slower speed. Melodicughter pierced through the air. Passersby stood out of their way as they reached the bakery.

    Not only did the smell of bread entice her nose but the sound of chatter filled her ears.

    Eve frowned and forgot about the chase. Her scrunched eyebrows deepened as she took more steps forward. The jumbled voices grew louder. Did the paparazzis take a headstart? But the security teams should have kept them at bayso that they wouldn''t interrupt their stroll.

    Her confusion increased when she finally turned on the corner.

    A mob of people stood outside the bakery. None of them held cameras nor did they pay attention to her. They talked and argued among themselves. Hands were thrown in the air. Eve couldn''t make sense of it all.

    "What''s going on?" Ambryan asked once he saw the ruckus.

    "I''m not sure" Eve began to say. Then, she spotted a head of dirty blonde hair. "Andie!"

    Her best friend turned around, stormy blue eyes popping out of their sockets. She jogged towards the pair and cried out, "Evangeline!"

    Ambryan averted his gaze and hid his reaction.

    That slip-up added another name on his mental list of people who knew.

    "Why are you outside? Is there an emergency?" Eve bent her knees to take a peek at the shop windows. There was no sign of smoke. The furniture also looked orderly. The food seemed okay. "Is there a gas leak or something? I can''t smell it."

    Andie panted for breath. Her hands shook until her whole body trembled. Eve grabbed her elbows for support. Ambryan joined them, cing his hand on Eve''s upper back.

    Concurrently, Blueberry stared at everythingsilent judgment reflected in his eyes.

    "Y-You know how the owner of the bakery only rents this spot?" Andie stammered.

    Eve couldn''t tell where this was going. "Yes?"

    "Well, someone bought the lot. And... that person has ordered for the bakery to evacuate."

    The statements sank in slowly like a floppy disk inside an oldputer.

    "But this bakery has been around for more than a decade!" Eve exasperated. This establishment became a part of her life after moving to the cityand she was damn sure that locals felt even more strongly about the ce.

    "We know! Everyone''s upset, especially our boss, Shie." Andie pressed her lips together. Tears threatened to leak out of her eyes. The more she spoke, the more hysterical she came across. "We''ve tried to negotiate. Raising the rent, cutting the space by half, advancing payments anything we could think of on the spot! But they want nothing. Nothing! Nothing but for us to leave. It''s a nightmaree true."

    Eve opened her mouth.

    Then, she closed it again. She fell at a loss for words.

    Suddenly, it seemed like she could read her best friend''s mind. Andie had given everything she could for this ce. She had grown fond of its people, co-workers and customers alike. It always motivated her to get up every morning. It drove her passion for pastries

    The only thing keeping her together right now was her resolve.

    "Who is the newnd owner?" Ambryan cut in, scanning the area.

    "We actually don''t know. Only thewyer and subordinates are here. We checked their documents. Everything is authentic." Andie exhaled sharply. Her hysteria almost over, a wave of sadness nketed her eyes. "The bakery is being taken downprobably for some new business that earns a lot more."

    "That can''t be right." Eve twisted her neck over her shoulder. Her desperate eyes met Ambryan''s calcting ones. He understood her immediately and handed Blueberry over to her.

    "I''ll see if I can get more information," he said. Then, he left them without another word.

    Andie finally shifted her attention towards the cat. "Are you parents now?"

    "It''s a friend for his cat, Kiri," Eve exined.

    "Uh-huh."

    They stayed silent for a moment. Everyone else continued to ramble about the turn of events. Eve foundfort in brushing her thumb on the back of Blueberry''s neck. Andie swirled in her thoughts. They came tumbling down like dominos

    Each one turned out to be scarier than thest.

    "... what am I supposed to tell Jarrett?" Andie breathed out.

    Eve went rigid. She snapped her gaze to her left. "Still no luck at a new job?"

    "Not just that. They wouldn''t even give him a chance!" Andie wailed, burying her face in her hands. Everything came pouring out like a flood. "I know he got sort of fired but this is ridiculous. He has outstanding skills and plenty of experience. Anypany should be ecstatic to have him on board."

    "Maybe the rmendation letter" Eve tried to console. Other than that, she could only offer a one-arm hug. Guilt seeped into her chest. Her mind couldn''te up with anything else to say. She almost wished Jarrett were here to help her.

    Andie hid her face at the crook of Eve''s neck. Her grunts transformed into muffles."It''s terrible. What did we even do to deserve this? We just wanted to be happy."

    "I know, I know" Eve stopped short.

    A dangerous thought came into her head.

    Something that she would have dly thrown away if it meant that it wouldn''te true.

 Chapter 234: A Dangerous Thought

    Chapter 234: A Dangerous Thought

    Eve sort of lost her hearing.

    Static slowly overpowered the surrounding mor. Not even Andie''s voice could reach her head. The possibility of her thought being true swirled upwards and outwards like a tornado. It consumed her mind, repeating the words over and over again.

    Andie observed that her best friend zoned off into space. It temporarily distracted her from her worrieswhich was easy to achieve given how Eve looked like she saw a ghost. Thetter''s fair skin gradually turned paler and paler.

    Before Andie could ask, Ambryan jogged back towards them.

    "Well?" Eve said, blinking out of her daze.

    "It''s too soon to tell but I''ll look into it more," he told her. Then, he shifted his attention towards Andie. "In the meantime, do you want another source of ie? I''m positive that mother can sell anything you make. Evangeline can vouch how wide her social circle is."

    Eve nodded in agreement. "Very wide. And as confusing as a maze."

    "I-I''ll think about it. Thanks for the offer." Andie averted her gaze and touched the side of her neck. She acted thick-faced when Jarrett needed the help. Now that she was on the receiving end, she felt sheepish. They both extended help when she didn''t even ask.

    It suddenly seemed like she was a burden.

    Ambryan must have read her mind. "Anytime. If you need anything, just reach out."

    "I appreciate that." Andie smiled up at him. Then, she ced a hand on Eve''s shoulder and wiggled her eyebrows. "Have I ever told you found a really really good man?"

    "Feeling better, I guess?" Eve snorted. She gave Blueberry back to Ambryan and hugged her best friend. "Is there anything you want from the grocery? I can stop by and we can pig outter. It''s my treat, of course."

    "Not ice cream or anything with sugar, I hope," Ambryan protested. "Especially not when you''ll still be eating veryte in the day."

    The pair started a debate. One side argued about a healthy diet while the other brought up the topic of cheat day. The former had stated that it didn''t hurt to break rules for a day. Thetter merely reminded him about it.

    Safe to say, the oue was already decided.

    Andie shook her head, interrupting them. "It''s okay. You should go back to your date."

    "Nonsense!" Eve objected. She linked arms with her. "Sisters before misters, remember?"

    "I also need to help this guy settle in." Ambryan lifted his arms. The cat stared at the women. His cktail swayed in the air. "Kiri might mistake him as a trespasser. My hands will be full."

    Sensing defeat, Andie darted her gaze between the two. "Are you sure?"

    Eve pulled her closer. "Positive."

    There was no room to reject. The couple had already made up their minds. Rather than a burden, Andie felt like a child in front of her parents instead. Their affection came naturally. Their willingness to change their ns for her was also touching.

    She could only utter one word. "Alright."

    Eve stepped away from Andie, keeping their hands connected, and stood on her toes. She pecked Ambryan''s cheek lightly. "I''ll call youter."

    He stole a kiss from her lips before she was out of reach. "Not if I call you first."

    "The offer to get a room still stands." Andie joked.

    Ambryan bid them goodbye. "Take care,dies."

    "Do you mind if we meet back at the apartment? I have a bit of a situation"

    Andie didn''t need to be told twice. She smirked and let her best friend go. "I''ll be there in half an hour. I need to call Jarrett about this. He wouldn''t like it if I kept it from him for too long. I should do it here while I could still get some answers if he has a question."

    "Okay. 30 minutes. Got it."

    Eve sank into the backseat of a ck sedan. A cold and indifferent gaze projected out of her hazel eyes. Her hands clenched into fists under the crooks of her arms. If her instincts were on the right track, she couldn''t let this continue.

    She needed to do something.

    But what?

    "Nanzie." Eve nearly sneered, startling her bodyguard.

    "Yes, Ms. Evangeline?" Nanzie asked from the driver''s seat.

    "Have there been any reports about someone following metely? Like Every. Single. Day?"

    Her bodyguard picked up the implication. Her grip tightened on the steering wheel. rm rushed into her veins. "Not at the moment, no. But I''ll look into it deeper."

    "Hmmm."

    The car ride became quiet.

    At the rendezvous point, Eve changed out of her disguise slowly. She wasn''t a fool. Compared to her, Jane held more power. The disadvantage was a heavy one. Something she couldn''t diminish over night.

    But if she seeked outside help, there was a big chance that Jane wouldn''t let her guard down.

    Eve had to know what that woman wanted.

    She reached for her cell phone and opened the mail app. It took a few minutes for her business email to be logged in. Her thump tapped on the search button.

    The hunt for a special email began.

    Then, a draft slowlyposed itself.

    ```

    Dear, Ms. Wilson,

    I had thought about your offer.

    My childhood best friend faced a crisis today. I never felt so helpless upon hearing the news. She deserves the entire world if I had anything to say about it. Coincidentally, Sir Hathaway and Ms. Evangeline Reed chanced upon the scene. They quickly offered their aid.

    It sickened me. Not only is that woman trying to steal my best friend but also she uses Sir Hathaway''s influence. Maybe I''m not any better than her foring to you like this. But I can''t stand to lose to her anymore.

    Tell me where and when I can meet you to discuss this further.

    Regards,

    Everlee Hart

    ```

    After rereading the response, Eve hit the send button.

    Her hands quivered from the sensation. She had taken the bait. The best way to approach this was to y it safe. She couldn''t let it slip that she knew Jane was behind these incidents. Instead of using thetter as the viin, Eve thought it best to fawn over her as a savior.

    And since Jane tried to entice her by promising to make Ambryan notice her, a hostile impression of Evangeline Reed from Eve should be believableespecially with her boss'' dating history. Pent up envy, inner turmoils, ignored presence and rejected affection...

    Jane should be able to rte to them to some degree.

    Then, Eve would have to wing it from there.

    .

    ```

    <em>Ms. Hart,</em>

    <em>I''m thrilled to hear back from you. This may be the new beginning of a beautiful rtionship. If you''re still interested, meet me at the Caf Locktart tomorrow after your shift. I advise you to not speak of this with anyone. The consequences may be severe.</em>

    <em>Regards,</em>

    <em>Your fateful encounter</em>

    ```

    .

    Eve rolled her eyes at the pretense. Jane probably thought of it as a precaution to never state her own name. She deleted the entire email exchange, wondering if it was a good thing that Jane wasn''t using her personal addressnot that she''d want that but still.

    Andie opened the front door when she knocked.

    "Hey, something wrong?" Her eyebrows scrunched. Eve had been acting weird since they met earlier. She and Ambryan looked like they were getting along well so Andie threw out that theory. It had to be something rted to the bakery.

    But she couldn''t put her finger on it.

    "Yeah" Eve sighed. She ced the paper bags on the kitchen ind. They thudded against the wooden surface. "They were out of chocte syrup at the grocery! Can you believe it?! How can we make the ultimate deadly sin if we''re missing an ingredient?!"

    Andie checked the bags, taking out the contents one by one. "Then, you should have grabbed an ice cream vor that had chocte syrup as a topping. Have I thought you nothing, young grasshopper?"

    "It must have slipped my mind oh, wait! Here it is." Eve held up a tub of double dutch ice cream. The vor consisted of vani ice cream, cashews, chocte chips, marshmallows and swirls of chocte syrup.

    She set it beside everything else. "I grabbed every type of chocte candy from the shelves. Of course, I still bought more marshmallows. There''s also fudge brownies because I have been craving for these."

    "We''re going to regret this in the morning."

    "I know right?" Eve chuckled. "So, how did the call with Jarrett go?"

    Andie sat on the stool. She propped her elbow on the counter and rested her cheek on the palm of her hand. "He took it better than I thought. He initially wanted to meet but I said you called dibs so we can see each other tomorrow instead."

    "What did I tell you? Sisters before misters~"

    It was her turn to chuckle. "I might just take on Ambryan''s suggestion. There''s bound to be a ton of leftovers tonight. Maybe I can whip something up. You''ll have to let him taste for approval."

    Eve arched an eyebrow. "Let a sour candy lover be your adviser on sweets? You might go out of business faster than a woody woodpecker."

    "Don''t jinx it!" Andie warned. "We still don''t know what tomorrow may bring. I''d very much like it to be as fluffy as these marshmallows, thank you."

    "Right we won''t know unless we try."

    "Exactly."

    Busying herself with the things they need, Eve set her own worries for tomorrow as well.

 Chapter 235: A Dangerous Game

    Chapter 235: A Dangerous Game

    Eve regretted stuffing her face the next day.

    Not only did her stomach feel like it was about to burst but also she felt horrible altogether. The urge to vomit came strongly but all she could do was gag. Nothing woulde out.

    Clutching her abdomen with both hands, she lied face down on her work desk. The day was almost over. She had survived. She would have skipped lunch but Ambryan had watched her closely. Apparently, forfeiting midday meal wasn''t allowed when you also hadn''t eaten breakfast.

    The smell of ginger wafted in the air.

    She turned her head sideways. Her cheek touched the cold desk. Faded smoke drifted from a cup of warm tea. The sight of it caused her to sit up straight. Ambryan stood before her table with an indifferent expression on his face.

    "I don''t want anyone thinking I have no sense of concern towards my employees," he defended. "And I think I''ll be in a heap amount of trouble if I let you go home like this."

    Eve reached for the cup and sniffed. "I''m guessing this is supposed to make me feel better?"

    "Supposedly."

    "Supposedly." She chuckled. When the hot beverage touched her tongue, it didn''t burn. The temperature was just right. Warm tea flowed down her throat and into her stomach. It didn''t take long for the cup to be fully drained.

    "I''ll clean it up. Thank you."

    Standing up from her seat, Eve headed for the sink. Ambryan resisted to follow her. He scanned the area. In hindsight, no one should be dropping anytime soon. That thought tempted him for a second. He was in his own building. He called the shots.

    Then, why couldn''t he pamper his own secretary?

    Eve came back to the room. She dusted off the damp spot on her chest. Her hand had turned the faucet all the way by ident. When the racing water hit the base of the cup, it sttered upwards and onto her clothing. It was a good thing working hours were almost over.

    This way no one could see her in this state.

    When she looked up, Ambryan had his back towards her. He held her desk by the edges and slumped over it. Maybe it was just her imagination but a brooding atmosphere hovered above him.

    "Is it your turn to have ginger tea, Sir Hathaway?" She teased, walking back to her seat. The cup had been left to dry in the pantry room. Her fingers robotically went to the keyboard and checked onst minute work.

    "I''m fine," Ambryan convincedhimself more than her. Once he held himself together, he let her table go and straightened his back. "You think you can go home on your own?"

    "Yes, I think I''m good. Thanks again." Eve felt chirper already. The pain still throbbed but a good mood overshadowed it easily. If only she had the tea earlier, then maybe she would have suffered less.

    "Do I want to know why your stomach is so upset?"

    "Not really."

    "Then, take care on your way." Ambryan nodded.

    "I will. Don''t stay toote."

    He left for his office while Eve arranged her things. Theputer monitor disyed its shut down process. She gathered the documents and folders on her desk. Unfinished ones went to the drawer under the table. The others retired to their designated filing cabs.

    She checked her watch.

    It was almost time for her next appointment.

    .

    .

    .

    .

    .

    Eve stepped inside Caf Locktart.

    Soft bells from the same wind chime on the front door greeted her. The owner had the garden murals repainted, making them vibrant and glossy. It seemed almost brand new. The checkered floor had been newly cleaned. The mismatched furniture stood at different heights likest time.

    Nothing seemed to have changed.

    But the ambiance had. At least, it did for Eve.

    Her legs maneuvered around the ce while her brown eyes searched for ''Her Fateful Encounter.'' To use that phrase now seemed ironic. Because thest time she did this, in this caf, her fate had changed indeed. The question of what awaited her suddenly came to mind.

    Would the wheel of fortune turn again?

    Eve shook the thoughts out of her head. She needed to focus. The future would be what her choices would make. She circled around the corner of the long white counter. The path led her to a more secluded area of the caf.

    The hair on her arms rose up.

    The atmosphere changed once more.

    Jane sat at the furthest table. She had her legs crossed under it while she sat. One hand held a cup to her lips while the other grasped its matching saucer. Her amber eyes closed as she took a long sip. Eve walked in her direction carefully.

    The upants of the surrounding tables followed her with their gaze.

    "Isn''t ck tea just delicious?" Jane said, her eyes still closed. She ced the cup onto its saucer. "It also smells nice. Earthy, floral and sweet."

    ''It''s also Ambryan''s favorite tea,'' Eve fumed in her head. She stood by an empty chair, waiting to see if Jane would let her sit. She also doubted the people behind her would allow it.

    Her head turned sideways. They were discreet but she was definitely being watched.

    Jane finally opened her eyes. An ecstatic smile across her face. "Don''t be shy. Have a seat."

    Eve did as she was told. Her belongings went to another chair nearby. She let it be exposed in the open. There wasn''t anything to hide. To top it off, she shrugged off her jacket and hung it.

    "You know, Eve. Your email is much like this tea. It had lifted my heart. Would you like some?"

    "I''ll pass," Eve muttered, regretting her decision not to buy coffee from the counter.

    "Someone who cuts to the chase, huh?" Jane chuckled. She put the cup and saucer back on the table. "I like that. I may not look like it but I know a thing or two about attracting the opposite sex. If you listen to every word I say, I guarantee results. He will notice you."

    "Notice," Eve repeated. She folded her arms over the table.

    "That''s right!"

    "But not ''be attracted to you.''"

    It was a good y on words. A desperate person would have fallen for it easily if they didn''t stop to think. "There''s no need to y this game, Ms. Wilson. I know you''re the one after my boss. I had seen it when you met us out on the street. You are deeply attracted to him."

    Jane nearly dropped her jaw. The secretary had caught on the double meaning. It was wonderful. She''d never been happier. A smirk reced her ted smile. "Smart as they say. And you told me not to believe it."

    Eve frowned at this. "Because it''s not true."

    "If you say so."

    "You''ve read the email," she said, getting back to the topic. This was a secret meeting. She couldn''t stay for too long. "I''m here to do an exchange. If you help my friends, I help you outeven if I don''t understand why it''s me of all people."

    Thest part came out in a mutter. It was a shot in the dark. Eve hoped that Jane would bite. Maybe she could finally get some answers. Then, she could move on to creating a n.

    "It just came to me that Ambryan trusts you so much," Jane replied. She stared at her almost empty cup. "I''ve rarely seen and/or heard him like that."

    "It''s only with work..." Eve averted her gaze.

    This had to be the one time she wished for her face to blush.

    Jane propped her elbow on the table. Then, she tilted her head sideways, resting her cheek on the palm of her hand. "Ah, but that didn''t seem to be the case when I saw you both in the park."

    Eve momentarily froze in her seat. It was true. Things had changed since the time he asked for her advice. It hade to the point where he got upset with her being closed off.

    She bit her tongue.

    Her mind raced to think of something fast.

    "He has" Eve started to say, winging it as she went. "S-Sir Hathaway has gotten friendlier ever since Evangeline came to the picture. It would have been nice but his attention is on another woman. It clearly doesn''t mean anything."

    Her eyes shifted from the side to downcasted. She forced her shoulders to slump slowly. Her teeth gritted together, she gulped. Acting wasn''t her forte but the feeling of dejection was familiar to her.

    She used it to her advantage.

    Jane squinted her gaze. The serious woman from earlier was gone. It was almost hard to believe if she hadn''t been in the bathroom that day. These two sides were also present at the time. They represented what she wanted in an ally: strong but helpless.

    And the chips were falling into ce.

    Only the deal was left to be struck.

    "Well, you can''t be too sure. You''ve worked together for five years. You''re up for a promotion. That sort of trust doesn''te easily." When Eve looked up, Jane offered aforting expression and leaned over to touch her hand. "And it happens to be what I need. Once you''ve done your part, I''ll help out your friends."

    Eve remained silent. She bid her time and let Jane believe that she had the upper hand.

    Once her mind cleared up, she said, "Let''s hear it."

 Chapter 236: A Dangerous Choice

    Chapter 236: A Dangerous Choice

    Was it toote to turn back time?

    This scheme had to be one of the most ridiculous things Eve heard in her entire life. This woman was as crazy as she initially thought when they met. It took all her willpower not to break away from character.

    "So, do we have a deal?" Jane asked. Her teacup sat empty on the table.

    "This is" Eve breathed out. She stared at the table, her brown eyes ssy and uneasy. The consequences registered as she got over her shock. "This is insane. I''ll be fired!"

    Jane exhaled sharply. She forgot how loyal the secretary was. Was it a mistake to assume that her friends mattered more than her job? "If it seeds and you need a new job, I''ll help you."

    That should do the trick.

    But Eve proved to be difficult.

    "I still can''t do it. I owe Sir Hathaway a lot," she thought out loud. "And I can''t do that to him."

    Her hands fidgeted, her gaze didn''t know where to lookthe panic wasn''t all fake. Just hearing it was already disturbing. To think that Jane would go to that extreme. Eve considered that she had an associate like her father.

    It was hard to imagine Jane managing the property transaction where the bakery stood.

    This conversation had to be on impulse. It was sloppy. It was wed.

    But Eve needed to get out of it.

    "What about your friends then?" Jane challenged. Her patience had been waning since minutes ago. She was this close to getting what she wanted but the secretary suddenly had second ideas.

    "II''ll just have to find another way." Eve closed her eyes and covered them with a hand. Darkness crowded her vision. It allowed a temporary escape for her to think clearly.

    "You make it sound so easy" Jane clicked her tongue. This was dragging too long. It was time to y the other cards up her sleeves. She heaved a sigh. "Finding a new job is hard, isn''t it?"

    Eve stiffened. Her heart thumped in her ears. The muddling thoughts in her head vanished. A new agenda came to mind instead. She gradually peeled off her hand from her face, staring off into space. Her body felt hollow with helplessness.

    "Something wille up at some point," she ''tried'' to convince herself.

    Jane fluttered her eyshes. "Aw, because Ambryan will help them out since his girlfriend asked? But he and his family aren''t gods. Things always happen. Business can suddenly shut down. Management can change directions. People get cut off"

    "You" Eve used breathily. The false sense of agitation left her system. Her brown eyes burned like molten brass while her nails dug into the palms of her hands.

    "Is it a shock to find out your boss is not invincible?" Jane mocked. She threw her head back and giggled. Maybe the secretary really wasn''t so smart after all.

    Or was she blinded by love? "No one really holds ultimate power. It just depends on who has the upper hand. You''ve seen what happened at the new studio site, right? Everything was checked but one employee seemed to have lied and scales tipped over."

    Eve heard the rumors about the incident. The investigation suspected that an old employee had betrayed thepany and caused the fire. It hadn''t been stated to the public yeteven Ambryan didn''t want to make the assumption until the investigation was over.

    "How did you know that?" She narrowed her gaze.

    Jane rolled her eyes. The answer seemed obvious to her. "I have my own connections as much as the Hathaways do. And I''m not the only one. It''s a matter of who can be your best ally, Eve. Yan won''t ever look at you with love. Why should he care? Unlike him, I am extending my hand to you at my initiative."

    She stood halfway up her seat and leaned forward, cing a hand over her chest. "I care."

    Forgetting her intentions, Eve shook her head. "What makes you think he would be with you?"

    "I''m not one to give up easily. If I do, would I really deserve him?"

    Eve had to agree with Cale and Avery. There was something admirable about Jane''s determination. Unfortunately, the negative impact outweighed that for Eve. The woman possessed a few loose screws. There was no denying it.

    "Come on, Eve. With someone like your brain, I think this is child''s y, " Jane insisted. She rose to her feet and stalked beside the table in order to wrap an arm around Eve''s shoulder. Their heads hovered close together. "You help me sneak into Eros headquarters, slip a little aphrodisiac in his afternoon tea and quietly leave us in private"

    Having it stated for the second time didn''t make it sound any better.

    Eve felt the blood boil in her veins.

    "Can I think about it?" She reluctantly caved. It should buy her some time.

    Jane''s smile stiffened. With a huff, she straightened her back and took out apact mirror from her pocket. She held it at arm''s length, checking her reflection. The tea had wiped off her lipstick.

    So she grabbed a brown liquid lipstick that smelled like cocoa. Her lips smacked together. "Well, you know how to reach me like how people know how to reach two 10-year-old girls at their school or their home."

    Ice cold haze clouded Eve''s scorching blood.

    Noticing her reaction, Jane leaned down to whisper in her ear. "Want a tip? I heard it can happen faster once news spreads so I''d be tight-lipped if I were you."

    .

    .

    .

    .

    .

    Eve left the caf a few minutes after Jane and her group did.

    She lied on her bed, wearing her pajamas and hugging a spare pillow. Andie had gone out with Jarrett for them to discuss their future. Theughter of her sisters echoed in her ears from their phone call earlier. Their day had been great. It eased her a bit of her gloomy spirit.

    She hated this.

    Was she this powerless unless she had Ambryan around? He had already done so much.

    Should it continue this way? She sat up abruptly and screamed into her pillow. Jane had backed her into a corner. Either she helped with the seduction or her sisters paid the price. Andie and Jarrett were just the warning signs.

    She disyed her power and how even Ambryan couldn''t always save the day. It could take him a week, maybe even a month. Time wasn''t something on her side right now. One wrong move and it could all go to waste.

    Should she still try to contact him?

    The horror-stricken faces of her sisters blocked that possibility.

    Eve threw the pillow away, frustrations pouring out of her skin. She had been a fool. Her body trembled all over. Neither choice was an option to her. She refused to give in.

    Adrenaline fueled her nerves.

    Her legs swung over the bed. She paced around the room, the speed matching her mind''s. There had to be something. The conversation reyed in her head. It should contain a clue, a loopholeanything!

    Jane wasn''t a clever person. A w would show itself eventually.

    Something could still be done

    Then, the world stopped spinning.

    Time slowed to a crawl. Noises shut off.

    Eve moved like an automaton and sat on the edge of her bed. Her pale lips crusted from dehydration. A way had reached the forefront of her mind. It hadn''t been anywhere near her before. But, now, she yed with the idea and analyzed it from various viewpoints.

    The stress and anxiety gradually lifted off her shoulders as a n formed. She turned her head and pressed her lips together. It wasn''t going to be easy but she could think about the next stepter. There would always be a way.

    But right now, she had a crazy woman to get off her back.

    Her hand patted the mattress, searching for her mobile. Her memory couldn''t recall how it happened. Even if people asked, she wouldn''t be able to exin it.

    Because the next thing Eve knew, these words came out of her lips,

    "Madison? I need you to do something for me."

    .

    .

    .

    .

    .

    Ambryan reached his office floor. The secretary desk was empty. Despite the recent fire episode, Eve headed for the studios this morning. The only reason he allowed it was because the destination was the old studio site.

    A soft sigh escaped his lips.

    He hoped she felt better than yesterday.

    On his work desk, Ambryan busied himself with work. It was a good distraction. At least, it should be but his mind had other ideas. For example, the idea of lunch came to mind. Egg rolls, potato balls what else could Eve make?

    And how could he convince her to cook for him too?

    The door opened.

    Then, a sing-song voice flowed into the room.

    "Good morning, Yan. Lovely day, isn''t it?"

    Madison walked into the room with his secretary behind him. Their presence immediately lit up the room brighter than the sun outside the windowswhich was easy to aplish when the CEO had a glowering expression on his face.

    The President raised his eyebrows. "Wow, don''t you look lonely. Missing your secretary?"

    "King. Riffle." Ambryan acknowledged, standing up from his seat. He circled around his desk to meet them halfway. "To what do I owe the pleasure of your visit?"

    The President pressed his lips together. He had rehearsed his lines multiple times. But there was nothing wrong with going over them again inside his head. The best thing about it was the longer he took, the further his work got dyed.

    Riffle nudged him, having seen through the act.

    "Oh, I came here as a delivery man," Madison admitted with a shrug.

    His secretary hid an eye roll. He listened to this line about a thousand times on their way here. Each one delivered in a different intonation. In the end, the President chose the first one he used. Riffle started to wonder if it was to piss him off.

    Ambryan arched an eyebrow. "For what?"

    Madison pulled out an envelope, saying,

    "For Eve''s resignation letter."

 Chapter 237: She is Gone

    Chapter 237: She is Gone

    "For Eve''s resignation letter."

    Ambryan stared at the envelope that Madison held it out for him to take. His hands fidgeted inside his pant pockets. His other senses shut down for a minute. The words echoed in his head. They started out soft and slowly became louderuntil they consumed him.

    Madison scrunched his eyebrows. "Yan?"

    Snatching the resignation letter, Ambryan opened the envelope and read the paper inside. Everything was in order. Not a single detail was left out. The tone was also professional and polite. It had her way with words, her preferred vocabries and her precise punctuations.

    It couldn''t have been done by anyone but her.

    "That''s her signature right there," Madison added, in case Ambryan was still skeptical.

    "I can tell," he mumbled and folded back the paper. Turning on his heel, he walked back to his desk. The resignation letter fell on its surface. His hands gripped the edges and scowled.

    Now that he thought about it, this wasn''t like her. If she had something to do, there wasn''t a need to quit. She could easily ask for a leave of absenceand if she did want to leave, she would have been the one to hand over the resignation.

    Something was wrong.

    And she was keeping it from him.

    Madison followed behind Ambryan with Riffle hot on his heels. "She left it at the reception. Anyone who saw her said she seemed to be in a hurry. None of them were able to ask her about it."

    Ambryan snapped his head towards the President. He red in rm. "Hurry in what way? Like she''s being chased? Threatened? Stalked?"

    Taken aback, Madison blinked his eyes wide open. "I''ll ask for security footage if you think it''s necessary. It would be easy to see how abnormal she was acting and if anyone was tailing her."

    It wasn''t enough. Ambryan scrambled his mind for the quickest answer. He set his priority to her safety. She had two near-death experiences rted to thepany. If an enemy was behind them, they could have gotten to her and that she needed to get away, find a ce to hide

    Ambryan marched to a corner of the room and pulled out his phone.

    He swiped on the screen in search of a purple icon.

    "Hello?" Eve spoke through the earpiece.

    The agitation dissipated from his body the moment Ambryan heard her voice. The sun gleamed on his beige skin when he closed his eyes shut. His lips pressed together and he paused from breathing.

    He listened as his heart rate slowly went back to normal.

    "Hellooo~?" Eve repeated, chuckling at the end. She sat on a chair with her head bowed. A magazineid on top of herp. She had been flipping through it before Ambryan called.

    "Evan," Ambryan breathed out and opened his eyes. Relief didn''t begin to describe how he felt.

    Eve closed the magazine and gave him her full attention. "Yes? Isn''t it working hours?"

    Ambryan cleared his throat. "It is but I was wondering what you were doing."

    "Well" Eve stared at the mirror.

    The hairdresser tousled her hair, assessing its state. Its roots had gone back to their natural scarlet shade. No temporary hair color spray covered it. Cale stood nearby and discussed all the avable hair extensions with the assistant.

    They came in different shades of red and style.

    "Cale got me ast minute project. I''m at the apartment getting ready," she finally replied. It wasn''t an entire lie. There was a photoshoot but it wouldn''t be until tomorrow. The preparation just needed to be done the day beforewhich exined the present.

    "No tutoring sses?"

    "Not today." She coughed. "That was also ast minute thing. It''s like I suddenly have all this free time that I begged Cale to find a photoshoot that I could do. I just couldn''t sit still."

    The hairdresser went to the colorants he brought and searched for the same shade as her wig.

    Meanwhile, Ambryan debated if he should be amazed or worried that Eve knew how to be both truthful and a liar at the same time. It was a life skill she needed but he hoped that someday she wouldn''t need to do that towards him anymore.

    "How long will you take?" He asked, forgetting about the resignation letter.

    "A little before lunch?" Eve tried to estimate. She didn''t have a lot of hair so the full processing wouldn''t take too long. Only the extensions would be left.

    The idea of having semi-permanent long hair boggled her mind.

    Ambryan nced up the ceiling. "Then, would you like to have lunch together?"

    "Depends. Where do you have in mind?"

    "Somewhere that serves Italian."

    "I don''t know," Eve said. "It sounds a little too fancy. Maybe we could reserve it for a dinner night instead. I am in the mood for something casual."

    "Mexican?"

    "Your breath would smell," she pointed out, remembering when that happened for a business lunch. Then, her eyes lit up. "How about a pic? Or do you not have the time?"

    Ambryan shuffled his feet. Stepping sideways and turning, he caught two blurry figures from the corner of his eye. He twisted his neck away from them and hid a rising blush. "I''ll have to get back to you on that."

    "Great!" Eve giggled. The hairdresser came back with a bowl and a brush. They exchanged a smile through the mirror. "I have until lunch time to hear an answer or I''ll go to a fast food with Cale."

    "Duly noted. Take care."

    "See youter. At least, I hope."

    The call ended and Eve put her phone down.

    She wondered if Ambryan saw her resignation letter yet. Never in a million years did she think that this would be how she''d leave thepany. Her hand clenched into a fist and she took a deep breath. It was a necessary step for her to take her power back.

    And for Jane not to be suspicious, Everlee Hart had topletely disappear.

    A second identity sure came in handy under the circumstances.

    "Alright. I''ll start coloring your hair now," the hairdresser informed her.

    Eve nodded her head. "Thank you."

    At the other end of a dead line, Ambryan strolled back to the center of the room. He tucked his phone inside his breast pocket and addressed the two visitors. They had gone awfully quiet since he made the phone call.

    They also didn''t ask him about it.

    "What are you still doing here?" He demanded.

    "Well, there''s also another reason why we''re here," Madison exined.

    Ambryan arched an eyebrow. "And that is?"

    "Riffle will be your new secretary from now on." The President pushed his secretary to the front, saying, "I think Eve sent him an email about everything he needs. Just give him an hour or two to get the hang of it."

    "And what about you?"

    "I already asked someone to fill in for Riffle. Her name is Hannah."

    The request was rather specific but Madison understood the intentions. Eve''s decision may be sudden but she ced a lot of thought into it. The position she left contained big shoes to fill. To have Riffle put them on was the least she could ask for as an apology for her abrupt absence.

    Ambryan shifted his attention to his new secretary. "And you''re okay with this, Johnson?"

    Riffle Johnson nodded his head once. "I consider being able to work under two of the highest positions in head management a fulfilling experience."

    "I appreciate having you on board." Ambryan couldn''t care less. As long as the person could do the job, it had his approval. It wasn''t like anyone could rece Eve.

    He rubbed his chin and scowled at the floor. "Now, if I''m right, there''s someone here who doesn''t have an appointment and whatever reason he had to visit is nowpleted."

    "You don''t text. You don''t call. But when it''s someone else, you drop everything to contact them?" Madisonined. He marched over to Ambryan and gripped thetter''s shoulders. Imaginary tears welled up in his eyes. "How else was I supposed to see you?"

    Ambryan responded with a deadpan expression. "King, you''re not a teenage girl."

    The President huffed and gave up. He pulled his hands back, fiddling with his cufflinks. The corner of his lip curled into a mischievous smile. "Everything is going well with Evangeline, then?"

    "Stop stalling."

    "I mean, you must love her a lot to forget about your secretary''s sudden resignation and call her," he continued, ignoring the bluntment. His luminous green eyes swept around the office while his hands tucked inside his pant pockets.

    "It''s like Eve never left your side at all," he finished.

    "INo"

    Madison tilted his head sideways. "Hm?"

    At that moment, Ambryan realized something. His eyes darted back and forth between Madison and Riffle. Thetter seemed confused by his actions while the former feigned innocence. His blood gradually rose in temperature.

    "Get out," he sneered, staring underneath hisshes.

    "Excuse me?" Madison blinked.

    "Get out. Right. Now."

    The President moved his hands onto his hips and sighed. "I guess you''re back to being Mr. Coldest Person on Earth. You have my blessings, Riffle. Try to survive more than a week."

    Ambryan headed for his desk.

    His fingers tapped furiously on the keyboard. His mother, Mikael, Andie, and now Madison. How many people knew it before him? And which of them found out on their own? The questions swirled his head like mocking birds.

    Had he been that blind?

 Chapter 238: Tis but a Fake

    Chapter 238: ''Tis but a Fake

    Eve pinched her new hair, sliding the strands between her fingers. It had never been this soft. The vibrant crimson color was familiar. She only needed to get used to seeing it everyday. The same had to be done with the hazel contacts.

    Her current residence would also be the apartmentplex.

    It was aplete life change overnight. It hadn''t quite sunk in yet.

    Or maybe the transition was natural that she hardly struggled.

    Cale appeared behind her and grasped her upper arms. He propped his chin on her right shoulder, also staring at her reflection. "Well, what are we thinking?"

    "It looks great!" Eve eximed. She gripped two handfuls of hair. "And it feels much better than my actual hair. I have to know about who owned this hair and did she take care of it."

    "He."

    "What?"

    "The hair is from a he," Cale exined with a chuckle. "It''s quite the story. Hairdressers had asked for his hair countless times but he wouldn''t cut it. So, instead, he grew it twice the length he liked and donated the second half."

    Eve could only raise her eyebrows. "That is quite the story."

    "I''ll be meeting Avery for lunch," her modelling manager announced. They faced away from the mirror and turned towards one another. "Take your time today. Familiarize yourself with your new life. Call us if you need anything."

    "I will."

    The first thing Eve did was visit the nearest grocery store.

    It had a differentyout from the one she and Andie frequented. Speaking of her best friend, Andie didn''t take the news well in the beginning. Quitting was a huge life-changer and she refused to believe her false reason.

    But Andie slowly came to terms with it and trusted Eve.

    She also made thetter promise to reveal the real reason once it was safe.

    The grocery shopping list contained the usual necessities plus ingredients for the pic. There was still time to kill so Eve decided to cook. The menu included chicken pasta sd, ham & cheese sandwiches, slices of carrots, turnips & cucumbers and a fruit te for dessert. It should be healthy enough for Ambryan''s taste.

    The corners of her lips tugged down at the thought of him.

    ''Had he read it yet?'' She thought. Her grip tightened around the bottle of red wine vinegar. ''He must have. But why hasn''t he contacted me yet?''

    Eve would be lying if she said that she didn''t mind it. Before this entire fiasco, they were co-workers first. They spent nearly everyday together for more than 8 hours a day. She expected that he''d at least contact her to know how she was doing.

    Her forehead pressed against the bottle.

    A mutter flowed out of her lips. "Was the letter written for my resignation a little too much?"

    .

    .

    .

    .

    .

    Ambryan reread the letter from his office.

    It stated that Eve''s reason was a personal matter she couldn''t fully discloseone that would hinder her ability to fulfill her tasks andplicate their working rtionship and another that catered to her best interests.

    The vague reasonings had him decoding the letter for a hidden message.

    The possibility wouldn''t leave his head. She could be in danger and used this to secretlymunicate it. And how would Evangeline be involved in this? A way to hide?

    His mind continued to theorize around the resignation letter when a knock came from the door.

    Riffle opened it halfway, carrying a mesh waste basket. His sses red under the light. The tips of his cropped ck hair brushed his eyebrows. He had removed his suit jacket and walked around in a white dress shirt and ck vest.

    When he met Ambryan''s stare, he cleared his throat. "Sorry to barge in, Sir Hathway. The janitor is making his rounds. Do you perhaps have anything in your trash bin? I can put it in this basket so it would be an easier clean up."

    Ambryan shifted his attention to the waste basket. "Are those left by Eve?"

    "I believe so." Riffle peeked into the trash.

    "Bring it here."

    His head snapped up at the request. "E-Excuse me?"

    "My secretary left without even contacting me first," Ambryan exined, reigning his impatience. He''d try anything if it had a chance of helping him find answers. "I want to be sure that she''s not being threatened. It''s highly possible given the recent fire."

    Riffle immediately delivered the basket to his desk. "Understood."

    Ambryan rummaged through the trash. Most of its contents were scrap papers and staple wires. He unfolded the first paper. Eve had crumpled it into a ball. It contained a list of tasks she needed to aplish. The second one revealed doodles she drew to pass the time.

    But the third piece caught his interest immediately.

    .

    ```

    Draft 1

    August 1X, 20XX

    Dear Sir Hathaway,

    If you''re reading this letter then, I must have already tendered my resignation. It''s quite sudden I know. But, unfortunately, I can''t stay here longer I will only be a burden to you. It is in thepany''s best interest if I leave.

    ```

    .

    ```

    Draft 3

    August 2X, 20XX

    Dear Sir Hathaway,

    If you''re reading this letter then, I must have already tendered my resignation. I had thought about it a lot. You and thepany mean a great deal to me but I believe it''s time for me to move on and visit my hometown. I can only hope we can cross paths in the future.

    ```

    .

    ```

    Draft 6

    September 1XX, 20XX

    Dear Sir Hathaway,

    I am writing to inform you of my resignation from my position as secretary at Eros Productions. I will be resigning due to financial issues. I had received a generous offer from anotherpany and I had epted it after careful consideration. It''s been a pleasure working with you.

    ```

    .

    ```

    Draft 7

    September 2X, 20XX

    Dear Sir Hathaway,

    I have decided to leave thepany due to my ever-growing feelings for you. I have broken the code of conduct you have set. Therefore, I am no longer qualified to be your secretary. This may be unprofessional but I wanted you to know the truth.

    ```

    .

    .

    .

    .

    .

    Eve paused mid-chop of a cucumber. Her eyes flickered to her phone on top of the microwave. The clock hanging on the wall ticked by. Smoke floated from two pots of boiling water, fogging up the kitchen. Spices lined up at the back of the counter while utensils hung from a series of hooks.

    She tsk-ed when no notification came.

    "Maybe I really shouldn''t have made those fake letters. They might have been a little too overboard. People quit all the time!" She tried to convince herself, waving the knife around. "The reason can also be random! It doesn''t mean that they''d be able to connect it to Jane."

    Then, she sighed. "But it''s still better to be safe than sorry."

    The risk weighed heavily. The timing wasn''t coincidenceeven to someone like Jane Wilson. She''d easily guess that the resignation was due to their conversation. She may have backed Eve into a corner but the tables were turning.

    From now on, Eve would climb her way to the top.

    The gap between them would shorten in due time.

    The sound of her ringtone broke Eve out of her daze. She dropped the knife on the cutting board and seized her phone, using the volume buttons to answer it. Her heart drummed loudly in her chest.

    "Sir Hathaway?" The words came out of her lips before she could process them.

    The caller gave a snort. "No, it''s Riffle."

    "Oh, Riffle." Eve tried not to sound disappointed. She returned to chopping the cucumber into thin strips, cradling the mobile device between her ear and her shoulder. "How are things?"

    "Good, good. You sent a highly detailed document on your daily work routine. It''s easy to follow so I haven''t needed to ask for your help yet." Riffle informed her. He sat on her old chair and swivled around. His back faced the desk. "We already gave your resignation letter like you asked. I also threw those fake letters for you in the waste bin which brings me to the reason why I''m calling."

    Eve narrowed her gaze. "You didn''t read them, did you?"

    "You told me not to."

    "So you didn''t?"

    "I didn''t read them," Riffle assured her. He ran a hand through his hair.

    She bit her inner cheek, unsure of where this was going. "Then, why are you calling?"

    "I wanted to know how you knew that Sir Hathaway would look into those scrap papers if I showed him?" Riffle questioned. Just remembering it made his jaw drop. It was incredible. He didn''t even have to try and persuade the CEO to look into the basket.

    Before Eve could say something, he cut it with another observation, "Oh, and one more thing. Why does the security guard downstairs flirt with you? Isn''t he a married man?"

    The picture of Darryl calling her only to have Riffle answer amused Eve. Laughter echoed inside the apartment until sheughed too hard for her to conjure a sound. Her temples began to throb with pain.

    Riffle groaned at her reaction. "Eve, it''s not funny! He could be a creep!"

    The doorbell rang and Eve nced in its direction. "I gotta go. Later, Riffle."

    "Eve, don''t you dare hang up on me"

    Giggles still rumbled out of her throat by the time she opened the door. One look and any sort of amusement flew out of her body. Her eyes fluttered countlessly as she verified if this was real.

    "Ambryan!"

 Chapter 239: (Sel)Fish for Lunch Please

    Chapter 239: (Sel)Fish for Lunch Please

    Ambryan paused for a second.

    Standing before himin a long-sleeved ck sweater and a pair of white mini shortswas his missing secretary. She wore zero makeup along with her hazel contact lens. Her crimson hair had been pulled back into a messy bun.

    Her thin lips parted open at the sight of him.

    He locked his jaw just to stop himself from touching them.

    "Uh," Eve breathed out. She took a step back inside and peeked at the wall clock. "Is it lunch time already? I''m sorry that I''m not ready yet. I should have kept a better track of the time"

    "Eating inside is fine by me," Ambryan interrupted. He let himself in and shrugged off his suit jacket, hanging it up on the coat rack. Then, he unhooked his cufflinks and loosened his neck tie. "Are you making pasta? Does it have tomatoes?"

    Eve blinked at the empty hallway.

    Remembering herself, she shut the door and turned around. Her arms crossed over her chest. "Cherry tomatoes. Last time I checked, you''re not allergic but don''t worry. I''ll only add them on my share of the chicken pasta sd."

    "Hm."

    Ambryan scanned the kitchen counter. Almost every free space had been used up for bowls, ingredients and the cutting board. The bowl for the cherry tomatoes was small. His eyes gradually squinted as he stared at them.

    Eve tilted her head to the side. "Are you changing your mind about tomatoes?"

    "Not in the slightest."

    He spun on his heel and made his way towards the living room. Nothing much had changed since hest saw it. A few memories surfaced in his mind when he spotted the couch. The sound of a knife hitting a wooden board reached his ears.

    "How''s your day going?" He asked, checking the reading materials stored inside the TV stand.

    "Good, good." Eve nodded. Now that she was alone in the kitchen, she was able to think better. Ambryan didn''t seem too busy at the moment. It was the perfect time for him to contact Eve about the resignation letter. Did he not care at all?

    She sighed, pushing the cucumber slices off the cutting board and into the container of vegetable strips. "Cale told me to rx for the rest of the day and I was thinking if I should check Netflicks for new films. How about yours? Anything new at work?"

    ''Ha!'' Eve cheered to herself. That should get her some news. Riffle had said that Ambryan looked into the fake letters. This was the chance to know if they worked or notand maybe find out why he hadn''t contacted Eve yet.

    "I had" Ambryan began to say. He picked out a home and leisure magazine. His legs straightened as he flipped through the pages. "A peculiar morning."

    "Really?" Eve perked up, trying not to seem too eager. She busied herself with washing the chopping board. There wasn''t anything else to slice and it took up space on the counter.

    Ambryan spared her a nce. Small hair strands at the base of her head brushed against her slender neck. He closed the magazine. "Yes, not only did my secretary resign but she also left a confession letter about her affection for me."

    "She did?" Eve pretended to be surprised. She ced the wooden board on the drying rack, then dried her hands with a paper towel. "Wow. You really are popr. Have you considered going into show business?"

    "Hm."

    The apartment became quiet for a while. Eve hardly noticed because of the food. She checked the status of each dish and assessed which ones to prioritized. The fruit te was inside the fridge. The vegetable fingerlings were also done. The pasta was almost cooked. The chicken had been shredded.

    Only the ham and cheese sandwiches were left to make. Eve second-guessed the idea on the count that they were eating in the apartment instead. It might be too much. Maybe she could pack it for Ambryan to haveter in the office?

    A puff of breath tickled the back of her neck.

    "GAH!" She jumped and snapped her head over her shoulder. Ambryan met her gaze with an amused smile. "Don''t sneak up on me like that! Are you trying to give me a heart attack?"

    His hands nabbing her waist, his expression neither looked apologetic nor guilty. "Is that all you have to say?"

    Eve scrunched her eyebrows. "Say about what?"

    "About my secretary''s feelings for me."

    At the mention of that, Eve faced forward and froze for a split second. It was a quick timepse but with their proximity, it couldn''t have gone unnoticed. She racked her brain for what to sayfully aware of the ticking clock.

    "IUh. IWell, is it unusual for her to have them?" She tried tough off. But it came out too breathy. "I''ve heard about your previous dating life. I have also experienced being targeted by one of your exes. It''s within my knowledge that women could be really smitten about you. So this isn''t surprising at all?"

    The conclusion came out a little sloppy. Eve silently scolded herself over it. It was either that or she''d b until she ended up saying too much. She merely picked the safer option.

    Ambryan took a deep breath. She felt his chin dig onto her shoulder. "Are you not jealous?"

    "Why would I be jealous?"

    The oblivious tone in her question caused him to grip her waist tighter. "I''m not an expert but Eve and I spend weekdays together. It''s usually just the two of us on the top floor of the building. There were plenty of chances to be intimate."

    What did he expect exactly? That she''d fake being jealous of her other self? It sounded absurd but it would have been interesting to see her squirm. Theck of an entertaining response prompted him to tease her.

    The next thing Ambryan knew, he left a trail of kisses from the back of her ear and down to the side of her neck. Her head leaned towards the other side, giving him better ess.

    The movement came naturally to Eve like her body already knew what to do. A soft whimper resonated from her throat. "Ambee, I''m cooking."

    Ambryan flipped off the switches on the stove and spun Eve around. Before she could protest, he hoisted her up on top of the counter. His lips seized hers. Eve felt the back of her head hit the cupboard. She barely had time to breathe when Ambryan leaned in for a passionate kiss.

    Her hands moved on their own ord. They held his face by the cheeks and trapped him in ce. She had never been more selfish. The kiss deepened as she hungered for more. Her arms eventually circled around his neck and locked in ce.

    Ambryan groaned at her actions. He parted her legs open and pulled her waist closer. Everything poured out into the kiss. How scared he was that she was gone when the resignation letter came, the relief that washed over him when she answered the call, the somersault in his chest when he read the letters in the wastebasket and, most importantly,

    The fire burning inside of him because she was in his arms.

    He had been holding back the entire week.

    "Ambee," Eve gasped when she broke away for air. Her chest visibly rose and fell from rapid breathing. She literally experienced drowning without being underwater. "If we don''t stop, the pasta will get soggy and lunch will be ruined. We''ll starve."

    Ambryan ignored her pleas and bit her earlobe. "Aren''t you edible?"

    "That''s cannibalism."

    His face buried itself in the crook of her neck. Tremors crawled up to his shoulders. She couldn''t see it but a wide grin spread across his face. Silentughter shook his upper body.

    He couldn''t help himself.

    She was simply too cute.

    "What?" Eve demanded with a pout.

    "Nothing." Ambryan chuckled and kissed her temple. "I''ll be in the living room."

    Eve stayed on the counter for a moment, watching him leave to use the bathroom first. Her fingers touched her lips. It happened all too fast that she hadn''t processed what happened yet. She couldn''t understand where the raw desire for possessive came from. It had red the moment he kissed her on the lips.

    Was it because of Jane? And how she believed that she could take Ambryan away?

    She flickered her gaze towards his suit jacket. The current situation slowly sank in. Ambryan was here. In her apartment. Where they''d have lunch together. He lifted her up on the counter and kissed her passionately. Then, he went to the bathroom.

    Her other hand balled into fist.

    She didn''t want to lose any of it.

    Maybe Jane also felt the same but Eve refused to believe that they were on the same level. Ambryan was free to choose whoever he wanted. And right now, he chose Eve. Her heart soared at that fact.

    She''d do whatever it took to protect it while she still had it.

    Hopping off the counter, Eve resumed cooking.

    Ambryan stepped out of the bathroom. He leaned his shoulder against the wall and watched his girlfriend in secret. A soft hum came from her direction. It was a melody he easily recognized.

    .

    <em>```</em>

    <em>Tip toe, there she glides,</em>

    <em>As the hope in her heart slowly dies,</em>

    <em>Tip toe, she spread her arms and bend,</em>

    <em>Like the promises made that wille to an end.</em>

    <em>```</em>

    .

    The song had a tragic ending if he remembered right.

 Chapter 240: Honey for Dinner, Yes?

    Chapter 240: Honey for Dinner, Yes?

    "Eve, it''s terrible! Sir Hathaway wouldn''t answer any of my calls or my messages. I thought he''d have more sense of responsibility than Sir King but they''re almost the same! He said he would go out for lunch but never told me when he''d be back. The standard lunch break is an hour and it''s been an hour and a half since then! Work is piling up and I am going under stress because I don''t know what to tell people when they ask about him!"

    Keeping the phone at an arm''s length away, Eve squeezed one eye shut. She sat on the edge of the bed with one leg up on the mattress. Ambryan stayed in the living room while she excused herself for an uing call.

    She looked at the time. Had it been that long since Ambryan showed up at her door?

    Somehow she felt guilty that Riffle was having a hard time on his first day on the job. She should have monitored the time better. Then again, it might not have been possible. The small bar didn''t have enough space for the food so they moved lunch onto the coffee table. They spent the time sitting on the floor together to eat.

    Time simply vanished inside their bubble.

    It didn''t even exist in that ce.

    "Eve? Eve, are you there?" Riffle''s panicked voice broke her from her reverie. "Are you also not answering me? Great. This is quite the day, isn''t it?"

    "Okay, okay, Riffle. Calm down," she tried to convince him. "Have you tried checking again? Sir Hathaway may not always get back to right away but you can depend on him doing it eventually."

    Surely, Ambryan responded now that she was out of the room. The line went silent as Riffle peeked at his emails. Then, he nced at the business phone. Finally, he pulled down the notification bar of his personal mobile device.

    "Oh, he just messaged. He''ll be back in half an hour," Riffle spoke through the receiver. A huge sigh of relief flowed out of his lips. "I must be more nervous than I thought."

    "See? I told you it was going to be fine."

    Eve thanked the heavens that her hunch was right. Her gaze unconsciously flickered to the wall on her rightwhich had the living room on the other side. A small smile blossomed on her lips. It was only the first day of a new chapter in her life.

    She wondered if this lunch date could be a regr thing now.

    "Yeah, yeah, you''re right." Riffle resumed his work, plugging his earphones to free his hands and type on theputer. "Anyway, how''s your hometown?"

    "Good. Nothing has changed at all," Eve lied through her teeth. It was true for thest time she visited and her opinion hadn''t modified since then. Speaking of which, she should pay another visit soon. Maybe she could bring her sisters this time.

    "Really? Maybe I can visit when I finally get to travel."

    Eve choked at the sudden n. "Do me a favor and notify me a week before it happens, ''kay?"

    "Alright. And are you sure Sir Hathaway will be back soon?"

    "He already said he''ll be back," she pointed out. Getting up from the bed, she walked over to the door and held the knob. "Even if he didn''t, he normally doesn''t take more than 2 hours max."

    "Fine," Riffle conceded. Then, his tone turned serious once again. "But if he doesn''t and still ignores my inquiries, expect a call from me."

    "Gotcha."

    Heading back to the living room, Eve didn''t know what to expect.

    But Ambryan washing the dishes wasn''t one of them. Her eyebrows shot up at the sight of his back. He had rolled up the sleeves of his dress shirt and organized the finished tableware on the drying rack. He moved like he lived in this apartment.

    Eve left her phone on the TV stand and circled her arms around his waist.

    She shifted her weight onto her toes and peeked over his shoulder.

    Ambryan gazed down at her. "Done?"

    "Mhm." Eve nodded, inhaling his scent. She could get used to this.

    He chuckled and finished rinsing thest te. Leftovers were in the fridge. He found smaller containers for them in the cupboards. It surprised how well-stocked the apartment was since she didn''t use it much before. Sometimeter, he realized Nanzie also stayed in this ce.

    Eve leaned her head sideways to see his progress. "You know there''s a dishwasher, right?"

    "Yes, but I had no idea how to use it." He dried his hands with a hand towel hanging on a hook.

    "Good point."

    Grasping her wrists, he turned around and ced them behind him. His own arms also went around her waist. He leaned on the counter to support her weight against him. "Now, what was that all about?"

    "The call?" Eve blinked, thinking of a quick excuse. "Nothing much. Cale just informed me about an update on tomorrow''s photoshoot."

    "Why did you have to leave the room?"

    "Because you are very distracting." She beamed. Hearing her own words made her giggle. Then, she nudged her head in the direction of the front door. "Isn''t it about time you get back to work?"

    Ambryan shifted his attention towards the time. A quick calction ran through his head, estimating the travel time he''d consume on his way to the office. He promised Riffle to be back soon.

    "I suppose," he relented with a sigh. "I need to work overtime today."

    For the remainder of the time, his fingers memorized her face. His thumbs brushed over her red eyebrows. Nothing came off as expected of her natural hair color. If it wasn''t for Madison''s intervention during her application process, he might have recognized her sooner.

    Eve clicked her tongue. "Huh. I thought you always worked overtime."

    "Very funny." Ambryan snorted. After her face, his hands slid up to her hair and yed with the loose strands. They had fallen out of the bun during their lunch date. "And you? Still nothing on the agenda?"

    "Nothing but staying here and wasting my time."

    "Hm." Ambryan became quiet. If he was being honest, he didn''t want to leave. It would be easy to cancel all his activities for the rest of the day but he knew that she wouldn''t like that. With that in mind, he resorted to prolonging this date and ced his phone on DND mode.

    "What is it?" Eve asked, seeing conflict in his eyes.

    "I was wondering if you can drop by to feed the cats," he revealed. His fingertips found their way to her messy bun. They traced along the edges in search of the hair tie.

    "The cats?"

    "There''s much to be done so I''m not sure when I''ll be able to get back," he borated, pinching the hair tie and pulling it off her bun. "There''s no need to hurry though. You can feed them when you''re free. It would surely be earlier than when I can get home."

    "Hey" Eve began to protest as her hair fell down her back.

    Ambryan sealed her lips with a kiss. They tasted like strawberries. The vor brought a smile to his face. There wouldn''t be a time when he wouldn''t think of her in association with the fruit.

    "Have I mentioned how I love your hair?" He told her when they broke apart.

    "Maybe once." Eve said after some thought. "As for the cats, I don''t see why not. I''m looking forward to seeing them together anyway."

    She hadn''t been there for their first encounter. It sort of broke her heart. But her best friend needed her at the time. She wouldn''t have changed her mind even if time turned back. On the bright side, she''d be able to see them soon.

    "Thank you." Ambryan stole a peck before unrolling his sleeves and reaching for his suit jacket. The fabric had wrinkled due to the folding but the jacket hid them well.

    Eve escorted him to the door. "Take care."

    "You too."

    He leaned down for thest time and parted her lips open. It didn''t matter if they were out in the hallway. He wanted everyone to see that this woman was his. If this was how he could enjoy strawberries then maybe, just maybe, he''d have a new favorite food.

    Eve had to push him away just to get him to leave.

    "Get to work," she scolded lightly.

    "You really are so sweet."

    Her eyes rolled before she shut the door.

    .

    .

    .

    .

    .

    Eve unlocked the door to the penthouse.

    Her pattered on the floor as she hurried inside. She craned her neck in search of the cats on her way to the living room. Everywhere her gaze looked, they weren''t any felines in sight. Their bowls in the kitchenid empty on the floor.

    As ast resort, she stuck her head into Ambryan''s home office.

    Furballs of ck and white slept on the couch. Kiri left her star-patterned pillow in favor of lying close to her newpanion, Blueberry. Their heads nearly touched as their bodies faced one another.

    "Aaww, that is so cute," Eve cooed, taking a quick photo and sending it to Ambryan.

    Now that she found the cats, her next goal was in the kitchen.

    Dry cat food ttered into two empty bowls. Eve filled them ording to the instructions. She also replenished their water containers. Done with that, she inspected the penthouse.

    The only thing that caught her interest was a slice of pie on the ind counter. The golden crust invited her in as well as the filling. It was in pristine conditionlike it was fresh from an oven. It couldn''t be true though since Ambryan was in the office.

    How did this gorgeous pastry taste then?

    To satisfy her curiosity, she grabbed a fork and lifted off its ss cover.

    "Do you have permission to eat that?

    "AH!" Eve screamed. She spun on her heels and pointed the fork at the culprit. Her hazel eyes nearly popped out of their sockets. "Are you supposed to be here?"

 Chapter 241: Plus Midnight Cake for Dessert?

    Chapter 241: Plus Midnight Cake for Dessert?

    "Are you supposed to be here?"

    Eve looked at her watch. "Office hours are over but you''re on overtime, right?"

    Ambryan had removed his suit jacket once more. Only this time, his tie was also missing. The first two buttons of his striped dress shirt had been undone. A bit of his corbone and chest peeked out from underneath.

    He approached her and kissed her on the cheek. "I decided to take it at my home office."

    The dress she wore emphasized the shape of her shoulders and her waist. The sleeves cinched on her wrists like sweatbands. The deep red colors of the fabric''s polygon patternplimented her hair and contacts well.

    Just like a giant strawberry.

    But sexier.

    "Oh, really? Since when?" Eve taunted, crossing her arms over her chest. He did do that when he wasn''t in the middle of something important that could affect his momentum.

    Except, if he needed to feed the cats, he would have nned that from the beginning.

    "Around when work hours ended." Ambryan shrugged. He headed over to the fridge for a ss of water. "Oh, you''re also more than wee to eat the pie. Mom dropped it off the other day so it might go bad soon."

    Eve hopped onto a stool and pulled the slice of pie closer. The crispiness of the crust reminded her of a croissant. Its crunch was music to her ears. "If you were going to be home early anyway, what am I doing here?"

    Ambryan leaned on the refrigerator door and sipped. "You still arrived before I did, didn''t you?"

    She red at him through the corner of her eye. "The cats are asleep though."

    "Unforeseen circumstances."

    "Sure, sure."

    Chuckling, he set the ss down and joined her on the ind counter. A stool apart, he watched her take the first bite. Her eyes closed and a moan sounded in her throat. Her jaw moved slowly as she savored every bite.

    It gave him enough time to take a photo.

    "I really didn''t n this," he defended.

    Eve sneaked a peek at him. Ambryan smiled from ear to ear, not convincing at all of his statement. "Like I could believe you when you''re grinning like that. Have you had dinner?"

    "Not yet. You?"

    "I was thinking of having instant noodleswhich of course you don''t approve of." She nearly choked on the pie from attempting tough. The sour expression on his face was hard to miss.

    "It should be low in calories," Ambryan pointed out.

    Eve left half of the pie alone. How could he say something like that after letting her eat a pastry? Silently sulking, she positioned the fork on the side of its te. Then, she shifted her full attention towards Ambryan. "Fine. What do you suggest?"

    At her question, he leaned forward and said, "Why don''t I cook?"

    Her eyebrows rose in suspicion. "For someone with work to do, you sure have a lot of free time."

    "It''s only right to entertain one''s guest," he exined.

    Eve shook her head. This was a setup and she knew itwhether he admitted to it or not. Before Blueberry came to the picture, he had no problem feeding Kiri by himself. If he couldn''t, someone else did. There wasn''t a need for her to be around.

    But to want her around was another story.

    And it made her heart flutter.

    "Well, I won''t turn down free food," she ''reluctantly'' sighed.

    Ambryan stood up and pecked her forehead. "Make yourself at home."

    Turning his back on her, he circled around the ind counter and pulled out the things he needed. Eve decided to leave him alone and checked on the cats. When she opened the door, Blueberry snapped his head up and blinked. His silent stare caused her to stop moving.

    The two of them stayed that way for about a minute.

    Kiri yawned and rolled onto her side. Her sudden movement caught Blueberry''s attention. He cleaned the back of her head, meowing. The scene had Eve melting so she stayed out of their way and looked for a book to read from the shelf.

    Ambryan felt his mobile phone vibrate in his pocket. Keeping an eye on Eve, he softened his steps on his way to the front door and opened it. "You have everything?"

    Wen handed over two bags of food. "Yes, Mr. Hathaway."

    "Good. Thank you."

    "No problem," she assured him. A beep came from her smart watch, making her frown. "We have an update on Ms. Eve''s activities the past few days. I''ll send it to you right away."

    "Nice work." Ambryan nodded. That should give them a clue as to why she really resigned. The letters couldn''t have stayed in the wastebasket all this time nor could they have been random. Given that she chose her identity as Evangeline, she must have a n.

    Her body double had also gone to her hometown on her behalf.

    It was too borate for him to brush off.

    "Enjoy your dinner." Wen bowed before leaving the premises.

    Back in the kitchen, Ambryan prepped the ingredients for orange chicken. He picked green beans and cauliflower for the side dish. He figured adding two different colors would make the dish more pleasing to the eye.

    "Something smells good in here." Eve announced, sniffing the air while strolling back to the kitchen. Then, she pointed to the two furballs hot on her heels. "Look! Even the cats came out."

    Kiri and Blueberry sprinted for their food bowls. Blueberry reached it first and waited for Kiri to catch him. He didn''t eat until she started. It was too adorable. Eve was thrilled how well they got along. There could be little kittens soon.

    Ambryan nced over his shoulder. "It''s almost ready."

    Eve chose the stool farthest from the pie. Folding her arms over the ind counter, she observed the kitchen from the utensils he used down to the spices that had been taken out of hiding.

    "Have I asked you where you learned to cook?"

    "I cooked a lot during my college years. As you''ve noticed, I dislike fast food. Richard wasn''t reliable in the kitchen either so I usually made our meals." The answer came without hesitation.

    "No restaurant nearby?" She asked.

    "It costed too much."

    "How about a home chef?"

    Ambryan gave her a look, arching his eyebrow.

    She raised her hands in surrender. "I''m just teasing. Need any help?"

    "Two tes please."

    "Got it."

    Eve still remembered where the ceramic tableware was ced. She took out tworge tes for the dinner, enough room to spread the orange chicken and vegetables. Ambryan cut the orange chicken into two servings and put them on the right side.

    The fragrant smoke hit her nose.

    And a growl came from her stomach.

    Ambryan chuckled. "Give me 10 seconds and you can eat."

    Eve averted her eyes, hiding her blush. It wasn''t her fault that he did an incredible job. She must have been born under lucky stars to know such talented cooks. While Ambryan finished the ting, she inspected the fridge for refreshments but settled with water.

    "Dig in," he dered as he set the tes on the ind counter. "Thest thing I want to hear from mother is that I''m not feeding you well."

    "How would she if she doesn''t know?"

    "It''s my mother. She''ll find a way."

    Blowing on a spoonful of chicken and its sauce, Eve resisted to eat right away. She could tell that the dish would taste a hundred times better when hot. The only problem was that her mouth wasn''t burn resistant.

    Once the temperature passed the tongue test, she ate the chicken cube whole. It tasted exactly as it smelled. The orange zest and ground ginger danced in her mouth. Then, she noticed the hint of honey and sesame oil. Garlic and pepper also came through.

    It was packed with vor.

    Now, she knew why there were steamed vegetables.

    They subdued it a little so she could refresh her taste buds and eat more.

    Ambryan propped his elbow on the counter, dangling his spoon under his chin. He hadn''t touched anything from his te. "How is it?"

    "If you keep cooking like this, I''ll be fat." Eve ate a cauliflower. It scrapped off any sauce that lingered in her mouth and pushed it down her throat.

    "Don''t worry. I''ll look after your diet." Ambryan ate differently. Each bite was apanied by a cauliflower or a string bean.

    Eve kept her hazel eyes on her te and scoffed. "After you just gave me pie?"

    "Certain sacrifices must be made to avoid imminent danger."

    Her mind caught on the underlying message. "So to not upset your mom, you gave it to me?"

    "I said no such thing."

    He didn''t have to! Of course, it benefited him. He killed two birds with one stone by offering the pie to her. It avoided Avery''s wrath and avoided the calorie gain. Eve grabbed the water, drinking half of it.

    "It''s getting reallyte," Ambryanmented after finishing his share. The amount was just right. His stomach felt full but it still had room for more. He always ate this way for dinner.

    Eve gazed at the window. It waste but that was expected. She had gone home eventer than this due to work. "Not by much."

    Ambryan wiped the corners of his mouth. "It could be dangerous. Why don''t you stay the night?"

    The piece of chicken on her spoon dropped back to the te. He avoided her wide eyes and observed the cats.

    Eve rewired her brain to get it working again. "Stay the night? Is that what you said?"

    "Do you have anything better to do at your apartment?" Ambryan inquired, turning his head back towards her. "You can always waste time anywhere."

    "I have a photoshoot early tomorrow," she shot back.

    "Nanzie can pick you up from here."

    "The media would notice."

    "We''re a couple. It''s not a scandal."

    "The couch can be ufortable."

    At that, Ambryan titled his head sideways and brushed a finger over his lips.

    "Who said someone has to sleep on the couch?"

 Chapter 242: Moving Forward

    Chapter 242: Moving Forward

    "Who said someone has to sleep on the couch?"

    Eve stopped breathing. Her body became hollow and it moved on auto mode. The corners of her mind whispered to her the implications of Ambryan''s words. She wasn''tpletely clueless. Andie had stayed over at Jarrett''s ce numerous times. She knew basic details about them.

    The time when Ambryan was sick surfaced from her memories. She loved the feeling it gave her. It had the warmth and security no pillow could offer. She had almost fallen asleepthat was how much it pacified her.

    But she wasn''t sure if she was ready to experience more of that yet.

    "Right. You probably have a spare guest room," Eve eventually replied, wincing at her shaky voice as it got smaller. She took a sip from her ss of water. "I should have known better."

    Ambryan sensed his inevitable defeat. He could ask again but she had rejected plenty of times already. He probably wouldn''t be able to handle another one. They currently weren''t on the same pagethat much he knew.

    "You know I won''t do anything you''re notfortable with," he said, wanting her to know that at least. As much as he''d want to be closer, he respected her wishes more.

    Eve gulped. She did know that.

    "I-It''s not that I don''t want to. I justThere''sI have a lot in my mind," she stammered. Her thought process scrambled up as she figured out what she actually felt right now. "Today has been wonderful. I have no idea what came over you but I appreciate your presence."

    Her chest rose up for a sigh. "My priority right now is my career. I''m not sure what direction I''m headed or my next step. I want to establish my spot in this industry. If I can''t, I''ll consider another career instead. It can literally go anywhere from here."

    Without her sry from being a secretary, she needed to kick it up a notch to make ends meet. Eve wasn''t in Maize City anymore. She wouldn''t be able to find work that way. Evangelie was a high profile celebrity because of her rtionship with Ambryan. A normal job seemed out of the question, including as an online tutor.

    Biting her bottom lip, she peeked at Ambryan through hershes. A gentle gaze reflected in his violet eyes. "Maybe when I figure it out we can talk about it again? "

    "I understand." Ambryan smiled. He snatched both tes and headed for the sink. There was nothing else needed to be discussed. "Wait for me. Let me take you home."

    Once again, Eve questioned his workload. "Are you sure you need to render overtime?"

    "That wasn''t a lie," he defended, giving her a pointed look over his shoulder.

    "Don''t stay up toote." Eve huffed. She crossed her arms andid them on the counter. "And no meeting like this again during weekdays if that will be the consequence for you."

    "Can''t have exceptions?"

    "Maybe one in two weeks."

    "I hope that''s negotiable."

    "I''ll think about it."

    Half an ourter, the drive to the apartmentplex was a quiet one.

    Eve spent the time with her thoughts. A day to rx was really nice but reality hadn''t changed. She needed to know if Jane bought the charade or not. If so, what would be her next move? Would she try to convince Riffle to do her bidding? Or would she aim from a different direction?

    On the other hand, Eve already knew what she had to do but it would take time to aplish them. She could only hope Jane wouldn''t strike until that happened.

    Ambryan nced in her direction, spotting the deep frown on her face.

    Somehow he could guess what was going on in her mind. Whether he was right or he was wrong, he had made his choice to support her in the background. He''d review the materials Wen gathered the moment he reached his penthouse.

    He also needed to make a call if he wanted to fulfill his promise in supporting her.

    .

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    .

    .

    .

    "So you found out," Avery said. She swung the belt of her robe in circles and leaned against a tall post of her bed. "I have to admit that I''m impressed that you finally came to your senses."

    Her head was about to hit the pillow when the call came. The news jolted her awake faster than any brewed coffee. Her son had finally seen the light! The angels hade out to sing their songs of praise!

    And it was glorious.

    Ambryan paced behind his desk in his home office, one hand tucked inside his pant pocket. "Yes, it somehow dawned on me that it is so like my mother to bribe my secretary into bing a candidate for the special dating site she nned for me."

    "I''ve never been secretive about my thoughts about Eve." The madam scoffed. "Anyway, how did you figure it out?"

    A grin spread across her son''s face. Although she couldn''t see it, she could definitely hear it from his tone. "That''s for me to know and for you to find out once she does."

    "You haven''t told her?" Avery gaped.

    "I don''t want to. It''s her secret. It shoulde from her." The teasing was another good reason but after hearing her tonight, he realized how less fidgety she was around him. He had a feeling that telling him about the secret was part of her ns.

    But, if he jumped ahead now, he might ruin them.

    "Well, I am thrilled that you''re taking it well," the madam gushed. All of her worries evaporated into the air. Her son acted beyond her expectationsas he did on more than one asion.

    Ambryan scowled. "I wouldn''t phrase it that way."

    "Oh, really?"

    "To know how many people knew before I did isn''t a pleasant experience."

    "Mikael Davis?" His mother tried to guess.

    He shook his head. "Madison King."

    Thattest discovery hadpletely blown him over. If his memory served him right, Evangeline and Madison hadn''t encountered one another except maybe thepany party. People resembled others in different wayseven more so when they were identical twins or more.

    In order to fully connect two separate individuals as the same, it had to go beyond their looks.

    "Madison?!" Avery blurted out. Then, the light in her eyes dimmed back to their normal color. "Now that I think about it, that makes sense."

    "Why?" Ambryan demanded. This question had bothered him since this morning.

    "Oh, he had a thing for Eve''s mother back in the day," the madam exined inplete nonchnce as if it was about the weather. "And they look so alike. They''re practically twins when Eve is dressed as Evangelinewhich is why she picked that name in the first ce."

    "Thank you for the information." Ambryan sighed through his nose. None of his spections came close to the truth. "There''s another reason why I called."

    "And here I thought it was because you missed me."

    He ignored her and went straight to the point. "Have you heard about Eve''s resignation?"

    "I have, yes."

    "Did you happen to know Jane is involved in it?"

    The line became silent. Mother and son hardened their expressions. If someone walked in now, they wouldn''t think that their conversation had been light previously.

    "Hmm" Avery thought carefully. "Not directly, no. But I have heard about how she approached Eve several times since the Family Day event. She also appeared in the same studio as a model for another agency with Evangeline present."

    Ambryan pressed his lips together, dropping his gaze to the floor. "I''m sorry."

    "What are you sorry for?"

    "I know you see Jane as your own daughter."

    The madam nodded her head. "I don''t wish her harm but it wouldn''t be right to let her get away with her wrongdoings. I hope you let me try to talk to her before anything else, at least."

    "Of course."

    Once upon a time, she hoped for Ambryan and Jane to end up together. The picture was so perfect in her head but Ambryan proved how much he opposed the idea. She didn''t want to lose either of them and so she stopped meddling into their business. Ambryan continued to build his business career while Jane waited for him.

    Regrets were hard to swallow but Avery had to move forward.

    "Thank you," meaning it from the bottom of her heart. She looked at the time and yawned. "Congrattions again on joining the club, Yan. I look forward to working with you."

    "Join what club?"

    Ambryan ended the call as soon as he heard his father''s voice. With the way things wentst time, he figured his father didn''t know yet. That thought soothed his ego a bit and he''d like to keep it that way for as long as possible.

    After all, he''d want to be there when Jackson Hathaway would realize the truth.

    "Dear!" The madam eximed. "What''s with this new hobby of you appearing only at night?"

    Jackson set his things down and loosened up his tie. Visibles eyebags drooped under his teal eyes. He had bought the earliest first ss ticket he could board as soon as the papers were in order. His time overseas had officiallye to an end.

    Until further notice.

    "And what''s with your new hobby of being upte? Also, anything to tell me this time?" He rebutted, arching a bushy ck eyebrow. "Something to do with our son yet again?"

    Avery opened her mouth and closed it again. She searched for the best excuse. Ambryan was only the first step into epting Eve into the family. Her husband wasn''t the easiest nut to crackespecially with the scheme yet to be revealed.

    "Our son is so in love with Evangeline that I think he''ll ask her to move in with him," she made up as the words flowed out of her mouth. "He doesn''t think you''ll approve so he wondered if I could coax it to you a little."

    "You know how he is!" She chuckled, poking his arm with her finger. "It''s his first rtionship so he asked mommy for advice."

 Chapter 243: Wilted by Obsession

    Chapter 243: Wilted by Obsession

    Jackson regarded his wife.

    Her violet eyes fluttered innocently at him. Her lips stretched in a coy smile and dazzled most people that received it. She had always been good at mixing a few lies and a bit of truth. He hadn''t mastered spotting the lie but he did excel in noticing whenever she did this.

    "What''s really going on?" He attempted.

    "I told you!" Avery insisted. "Our son ispletely head over heels."

    His stern look caused her heart to beat erratically. She''d argue that it was more observant than a telescope or an x-ray machine. If he didn''t be a businessman, the madam believed that Jackson would have been a greatwyer.

    But luckily he didn''t or the scheme would have failed from day one.

    "And why do you say that?"

    "Because he wants her to move in with him?"

    "Did he really say that?" Her husband continued the interrogation, stepping closer in her direction. Avery responded with a step back and realized her mistake a second toote.

    She gulped and trembled slightly. "Maybe that wasn''t his exact words but I know he can''tst more than half a day without her. After all, they spent both lunch and dinner together today. Yan also ns something simr for tomorrow and the next day and the next you get the idea."

    Jackson rxed his shoulders. "I''ll have to ask himself."

    There wasn''t a point to continue. He didn''t believe that she was lying but hearing from the other source did ease his worries. Heading for the closet, he unbuttoned his shirt. A shower sounded good right about now. He was neverfortable to sleep in nes even with first ss tickets.

    Thus, he wished to sleep as soon as possible.

    Maybe that was the other reason why he dropped the subject for the time being.

    "Of course! Feel free. Yan always likes talking about Evangeline these days," the madam giggled. Her husband''s broad back soon came to view. She brushed her fingers on his sculpted muscles. It attracted her like a moth to a me.

    "Hmm" she mumbled. A sultry tone hinted behind the soft whisper. "How about we forget about everything outside of this room tonight, hm? Focus on you and I. We haven''t spent time alone in so long."

    Jackson nced down over his shoulder. The flecks in his teal eyes darkened. "If you keep touching me like that, I won''t make it to the shower. I would hate to waste the effort you spent cleaning yourself up before bed."

    A mischievous grin bloomed on Avery''s face. Her hand changed directions and lined a path that led to his front muscles. Then, it traced the dips between his pecs. Her other hand made its way around his other side to join in the fun.

    He shivered involuntarily.

    She was right. It had been so long.

    Avery had no time to lose. She trailed downwards and followed the shape of a V. The second her hands slid under the belt was the second her back hit the floor. Jackson covered her body with his. Their lips moved in sync against each other.

    Words weren''t needed to be said.

    It was a secretnguage they couldn''t speak with anyone else.

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    .

    Jane walked down a flight of stairs.

    A gorgeous chandelier hung from a high ceiling. Its yellow lights dripped downwards like rain of stars. Their shine highlighted her blonde hair and her amber eyes. Her leather ankle boots thudded on the steps. Wearing a Peter Pan cor blouse as a top, she paired it with a knee-length ruffled skirt that wrapped above one leg.

    The servants stayed out of her way, wanting to avoid her temper.

    There were moments when the young miss was very sweet. There were moments when she was picky. Then, there were moments when Jane was unreasonable. Thest one became worse whenever they tried to coax her. Her temper would get the best of her and fire them on the spotand if she was already in a terrible mood before this happened, she''d go to the extreme and humiliate them.

    As a result, only a handful of servants dared to approach her.

    "Tea has been served on the patio, young miss," the head maid informed her as soon as she reached the first floor. "Feel free to ring the bell if you need anything else."

    Jane nodded in acknowledgement, already walking in the direction of the patio. A bright expression stretched across her face and her legs sped up their pace. "Aunt Avery!"

    The madam looked up from her te of biscuits. She rose to her feet, catching the young miss that tackled her. The pose hid her tight smile. "How are you, Jane?"

    "Good, good. Do you like the biscuits? It''s from a bakery in France. Don''t they taste like tarts? I made sure to keep them at the right temperature so they''d be in their best condition."

    "They''re lovely, dear. How are the preparations for your birthdaying along?"

    Jane sat on the nearest chair, crossing her legs under the table. A maid served her tea right on schedule. Avery dy distracted herself with her own cup. She dipped a biscuit in it just to find out how they''d taste. And it did not disappoint.

    "A few mishaps here and there but they will be fixed before the party starts." Jane sighed, waving it off with a brush of her hand. "Remember that cake served at Carmen Thompson''s wedding when I was six? Well, the baker had retired but we managed to convince him to make the birthday cake and the giveaway cupcakes."

    "That''s the cake with the meringue and marshmallowyers," Avery said. The memory immediately came to her mind. "You wouldn''t stop eating it during the whole party. I even gave you my share to satisfy your appetite."

    Giggles flowed out of Jane''s lips. "And I gained a lot of weight! All of my dresses wouldn''t fit anymore. They had to do emergency shopping because there was a charity event scheduled the following week. It was around the time I first met Ambryan."

    She sipped her ck tea and relished in its aroma.

    The madam stiffened. She had wondered how she''d open up this topic. Tucking her hair behind her ear, she debated whether to seize this chance or let Jane talk more. She figured things would proceed better if Jane was in a wonderful moodso she nned to test it with a few questions and things had gone well so far.

    "Jane about Ambryan" Avery began to say. She rested both arms on one armrest and fiddled with her thumbs. "You see"

    "He''s noting to my birthday party," Jane finished for her. Her amber eyes flickered towards the garden and stared off into space. "It''s the same every year, isn''t it? There would be reasons like school, internship, work he''s a really busy man and I understand if he''d allot his limited free time with his family."

    The madam dropped her gaze to the red-bricked floor.

    "It never ceases to amaze me how you hope he''d attend the next one. You didn''t like tea before but now you''re almost an expert. The same could be said about your taste in red wine. Every time you made an effort, it was never halfway done" Avery spouted.

    Jane answered with a warm gaze. "Thank you."

    Some might think of it in a negative light but, for Avery, the exterion Jane disyed wasn''tpletely focused on Ambryan''s interests alone. They may have started that way but the girl extended her newly found knowledge to other people like her father.

    She used them as a weapon to grow into a better person.

    "But sometimes" The madam trailed off.

    Jane knitted her eyebrows at the hesitation. "Sometimes?"

    Avery took a deep breath and met her stare. "It can turn into foolishness."

    "I don''t know what you mean." Jane shook her head, not breaking eye contact. This didn''t happen before. A part of her became scared of what she''d hear. Her breathing gradually hastened with each passing second.

    Taking her hand, Avery leaned in closer. "Listen to me carefully, Jane. You are someone who loves another with everything you can offer. You even push yourself out of yourfort zone just to grow into that love and amplify it even more because you believe the person deserves better."

    Her violet eyes turned ssy. Oh, how the flower before her sight wilted and surrendered to the thorns of obsession. It hurt to see such a person lose one''s self over it. "And I believe everyone deserves to be loved by the person they cherish. The only problem is looking for that person."

    Jane parted her lips open.

    It seemed that she lost Avery''s support. She would have appreciated it better if the madam was blunt about it. It would have given her another reason to be angry, to be furious or to be enraged. What was so special about Evangeline for everyone to be wrapped around her finger?

    She had showed up out of nowhere.

    But all Jane''s efforts had gone to waste.

    "I''m also not someone to give up, Aunt Avery," Jane stated, yanking her hand back. Her head turned away and her fingers wed on the armrests. "My heart has always told me that I''d be happiest by Ambryan''s side. He''s with someone else right now, I know. But that''s only because he gave her a chance. That''s all I wanted but he never looked my way."

    ''I always had to make my own opportunities in hopes that he''d notice me,'' she kept to herself. ''And I''ll be damned if someone takes that away just because they won the golden ticket in joining that dating site!''

 Chapter 244: Emerged With Thorns

    Chapter 244: Emerged With Thorns

    Avery bit her inner lip.

    This conversation wasn''t going well like she predicted. Jane had always been stubborn. An internal sigh filled up her lungs. Maybe she should give it another try. This first attempt was doomed to fail from the start.

    "I understand what you mean, Jane," the madam replied. This time, she didn''t try to touch the young woman. Her lips merely disyed a sad smile. "I once believed I''d love another man for life. That we''d get married and have kids. But now? I wouldn''t trade Jackson for him or anyone else. I wouldn''t have been able to achieve this happiness if I had clung to that same guy."

    Jane heard of simr storieswhich was why she believed none of them could understand her feelings. Her nails dug into the armrests as her neck twisted back. "That''s different."

    "How is it different? Exin it to me," Avery pleaded.

    "My heart belongs to Ambryan for as long as I can remember. It aches whenever he''s with someone else. It longs for him whenever he''s absent. It always does something in anything that involves him and it''s not something I can easily ignore either."

    "Jane, no" she breathed out. The hint of tears swelled in the back of her eyes.

    "And then sometimes, it bes unbearable. I can''t just sit and wallow in pain. I have to fight for what I want and how to protect it. Giving up would mean my feelings aren''t valid. That they areparable to objects thrown in the trash just because someone is unsatisfied."

    The tone in Jane''s voice became edgier. It took all her willpower not tosh out.

    "I''ve never asked for anyone to put themselves in my shoes but I''d, at least, hoped that the people who care about me would respect my wishes and these feelings," she snarled syble by syble. Her amber eyes welled up in disappointment at Avery. "I''m sorry if you think I should stop loving your son just because he has someone else in his eyes but I won''t listen to any more of this."

    Jane rose to her feet and spun on her heel. She stalked back into the house without sparing the madam another nce. So what if others managed to find love more than once? Their lives weren''t hers. They couldn''tpare their own experience with hers.

    She merely followed how she felt.

    How could that be a wrong thing?

    Avery hid her face behind her hand. She hadn''t been able to speak after seeing Jane like that. She recognized that thetter truly adored her son. The helpless feeling that neither could be happy whenever together broke her heart. It was as irreparable as ever.

    Her violet eyes flickered to thest spot she saw Jane.

    It may be true that Jane loved Ambryan.

    But she also despised not getting her wayleading to her obsession over him even if she couldn''t see it. Avery finished the rest of her tea and stood up. She had tried her way. Granted, she could have tried harder except Jane made her stand clear.

    It wouldn''t have made her feel right to not listen.

    The maids came to her aid but she raised her hand in protest. She already knew the way out. There wasn''t a need for them to do the extra work of escorting her. There would be eyes wherever she went anyway.

    "Avery!" A bustling voice called after her.

    Fixing her expression, the madam stopped walking and greeted the approaching individual. This had to be her fakest smile for the entire week. Not even her act in front of her husband couldpare. "Stuart."

    Stuart Wilson wore a cashmere vest over a polo shirt. With the cream trousers and tamed brown hair, Avery guessed he hade back from golfing. His mustache had gotten longer than his usual style.

    "Came to see Jane, huh?" He chuckled, his hands on his hips.

    She nced at the ground. "I do care for her."

    "I know, I know. I really appreciate it. You know how sad she bes at this time of year." Stuart sighed. If he had his way, he''d kidnap Ambryan and forced him to attend. It would have been the easiest thing to do. But his daughter viewed it as meaningless.

    He shook those thoughts out of his head and pped his hands together. "Hopefully the party would make her forget it. I''ve prepared the best of what she wanted."

    "I''m sure it will be fabulous." Avery meant every word. The grandness was something the media always wrote about. She would never forget how they managed to use many adjectives to describe an ice sculpture.

    Stuart nodded his head. "Well, I won''t keep you. See you at the party and drive safe."

    "Have a good day, Stuart."

    Jane pushed the curtain out of the way and stared out of her second-story window. She watched as Avery headed for the gates. Her face was devoid of emotions.

    The madam resisted to run for it, silently cursing the walking path of thewn. It curved several times in order for people to appreciate its garden nts. She regretted not bringing the driver with her.

    She sighed and looked back at how far she''de.

    The curtain swayed back into ce.

    .

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    Riffle tapped his fingers on his work desk. Every now and then, his gazended on the CEO''s office door. Two men currently upied the room on the other side. Neither one was the type to neglect his work like someone he knew.

    But the meeting was made without an appointment so it should be a casual visit.

    Then, how would he be able to tell if it was okay to interrupt?

    Ambryan met his father''s eyes.

    He leaned back on his chair andced his fingers together, propping his elbows on the armrests. Jackson had a simr pose except his arms were crossed over his chest. He came as soon as he had free time in his schedule.

    His wife and his son may not think much if he missed out on these things.

    But they mattered a great deal to him so he won''t let it happen if he could.

    "Wee back from overseas," Ambryan said. "I saw the reports. Congrats on the deals you made. They reminded me that I still had a long way to go to reach your level of expertise."

    Jackson grunted, unable to hear him. "Is it true that you want Evangeline to move in with you?"

    He wasn''t about to fall for the distraction tricks. They could talk about work another time. Today was about establishing his presence in his son''s love life. These matters should also reach him whether from Ambryan or from Avery.

    They must consider telling him whenever this type of thing happens.

    Ambryan blinked in surprise. "Where did you hear such a thing?"

    "From your mother. She said it was the reason for your phone call."

    "Ah." Realization dawned on him. He rubbed his chin and stared at the ceiling, contemting the question carefully. "Well, I am thinking about it."

    "So it''s true?" Jackson gasped. He unfolded his arms and leaned forward. Both of his feet thudded against the floor. Things surely had been exciting while he was away.

    His son found the reaction amusing.

    "That I want to live with Evangeline in the same residence? Yes."

    Jackson processed the information. Not only did his wife not lie about that but also his son wanted to live with a womanhe who preferred his ownpany and privacy in one household with a woman he had interest in.

    "Then, is it also true that you think I wouldn''t approve?" The question came without hesitation.

    Ambryan arched an eyebrow. "Would you?"

    "It''s too early," his father contradicted.

    "I heard whirlwind romance is the trend these days."

    "But you hardly know her," he further exined.

    There were many factors to think aboutone of them being that Ambryan had a home office. If trusted to the wrong person, confidential information could be leaked. Another thing was that enemies could use her to get inside the house.

    Not to mention the actual connotation of living in the same ce.

    It wasn''t as easy as it sounded. Her things would also be there. It would cause rearrangements. The items in the fridge would change positions based on her actions. Then, the littlest things could cause an argument.

    In conclusion, Jackson thought it was a big decision for a budding couple.

    "On the contrary, I believe I know enough." Ambryan confidently stated.

    It was his father''s turn to raise an eyebrow. "Really? What''s her favorite dessert?"

    "French macarons."

    "Her favorite fruit?"

    "Strawberries."

    "How many siblings does she have?"

    "Two. Both girls and musically gifted."

    "Her favorite pastime?"

    "I think she has several but I''ll go with reading online novels orics on her phone."

    "A strange habit she has."

    "She likes to doodle when bored."

    "Pet peeve."

    "People chewing with their mouths open."

    "Oh," Jackson muttered. "That is annoying."

    "Well?" Ambryan taunted with a smirk. That was some rapid fire questionspared to the first time they talked about her.

    Jackson took a deep breath. "I''m still not fully convinced but you''re both grown adults, not teenagers. I trust that you''d do the right thing."

    Ambryan shook his head, smiling. He bowed over the table and skimmed a few documents before signing them. "We''re not moving in together anytime soon."

    "Why not?"

    "Evangeline declined to even stay over one night. I doubt she''d agree to moving in yet."

    "What is she waiting for?" Jackson demanded. He had mentally prepared himself for this but little red riding hood disagreed with the idea? He could have used that time and energy for something else.

    "For her to climb up in her career through her own abilities." Ambryan closed the folder and looked up. A proud expression glowed in his face. He hadn''t known he liked that about her until they started dating.

    "She can still do that even when you move in together."

    "She thinks I tend to distract her."

    "Then, she could distract you back. Everyone wins."

 Chapter 245: Passionate as Red Wine

    Chapter 245: Passionate as Red Wine

    "Then, she could distract you back. Everyone wins."

    Ambryan nearly pinched the bridge of his nose. His father needed to make up his mind. This wasn''t about to be another round of an argument. He had other things to attend to.

    "Father, didn''t you also say that it would be too fast? Evangeline thinks the same." Ambryan returned to hisputer and checked the emails Riffle had filtered for him. "I don''t mind the wait. It''s better thanpletely losing her."

    Jackson was stumped.

    There wasn''t much to do when the couple already made up their mind. He slumped against the chair and nced over his shoulder. "So I noticed you have a new secretary."

    Ambryan nodded without turning away from the monitor. "Yes. Eve resigned effective immediately. Last time I heard she had gone back to her hometown."

    "Really?" His father doubted. "I thought it was because she had growing affection for you."

    "And where did you hear that?" Ambryan had a feeling but decided not to show it on his face. There could only be one person who would have shared that knowledge to Jackson Hathaway. The main reason would be for entertainment rather than the need to inform the Chairman.

    And it wasn''t his mother.

    "From Madison."

    "Ah." He uttered, unsurprised by the information. Then, he exhaled sharply and wished for this topic to end soon. "Yes, we found drafts of her resignation letters in the trash bin. That seemed to be part of her reasons but it''s mere spection."

    "Such a shame." Jackson sighed. "I like that girl."

    Ambryan stopped typing. His head slowly shifted towards his father. Thetter wore a nostalgic look on his face and stared up the ceiling. At this point, Ambryan couldn''t tell if his father knew about the secret or not and used this as a means to rile him up.

    "Do you, now? I thought only mother liked her to be my girlfriend," he decided to say. This should hint on the answer to his suspicions.

    Jackson scowled in his direction. "I meant as an assistant. Her work ethic was impable."

    "That I agree with." Ambryan rxed his shoulders, realizing they had gone tense. So his father was still in the dark. It gave himfort to know that. He resumedposing his report and let the keys fill in the silence.

    "Oh, well. I wish her all the best despite the circumstances."

    Rising to his feet, Jackson stretched his arms lightly and turned around. He waved his hand as he walked to the door and without a nce back. "I''ll be going."

    "Take care."

    "Chairman," Riffle greeted with a bow when Jackson stepped out. Relief flooded his chest. He could now forget about the mental debates he had. Eve wasn''t exactly free to help him out. He wondered what could be keeping her pre-upied.

    "Riffle," Jackson greeted back, returning the gesture. He stood in front of the secretary''s work desk and tilted his head sideways. "How''s working for my son? Is it better than working for Madison?"

    Riffle gulped. "They both have their pros and cons. I''m quite lucky to experience both."

    It was the same answer he had given back then. Now that he was in this position though, he had a lot more to say. It was true that the CEO wasn''t sloppy like the President but he still wasn''t used to the former''s pacing.

    He couldn''t even begin to imagine how Eve felt when she first started.

    "I see" Jackson trailed off. He offered a small smile. "Hang in there then."

    "Thank you, Chairman." Riffle sat back down once he left and opened the files Eve left him. It was naive of him to think that this wouldn''t prove to be a challenge. Her system was far different from hismore efficient but also packed.

    Time was of the essence with her work.

    It exined why she didn''t do as much overtime as him.

    Jackson stepped inside the elevator. He leaned on the back wall and watched the numbers go down. So much had changed since he left. His son finally found someone he wanted to spend his life with. That was something he didn''t think would happen at this point in their rtionship.

    What could have tipped the iceberg? He covered his mouth in deep thought.

    Avery refused to let him do his research on Evangeline. Despite trusting his wife, that still raised suspicion. The only reason he could think of was because she didn''t think he''d approve of her once he found out. The possibilities were endless with that one.

    Maybe she''d let him do it now that Ambryan was this serious.

    .

    .

    .

    .

    .

    Eve felt sick.

    Thest minute photoshoot Cale booked for her was for a wine producer. Her manager thought she''d like the idea since Ambryan favored red wine. She hadn''t seen many ads that featured people for this type of product. Most of them let the wine and the bottle speak for itself.

    Safe to say, she didn''t have a clue on what the client wanted.

    Her techniques on how to drink wine came from working with Ambryan. She figured they would like that since he was a wine lover. In other words, he was their target demographic.

    The clothing she wore reminded her of the Roman theme Athon Luxury did for the Rainbow Collection. Upon closer look, she realized it matched the logo of the wine producer and took inspiration from itbut instead of being surrounded by grape vines, she had a ss of wine.

    Her back half-turned away from the camera, she sipped from the ss.

    Red wine flowed down her throat and into her stomach where the others before it settled. Her vision became cloudy at the edges. Her face also must be flushed. The sun had decided to join them today in their shoot outdoors.

    If the client was satisfied any time soon, she''d be fully drunk.

    Cale frowned at her state. He tapped the cameraman''s shoulder and said, "Can we take a break? I think my model might faint if she finishes that ss and there''s still more to do."

    The cameraman shed a sour expression. He addressed the crew over his shoulder and announced a short break of 15 minutes, walking away from the modelling manager. Cale didn''t appreciate his attitude but the pictures came out well in his opinion.

    Unfortunately, none of them matched what they were looking for.

    "Are you alright?" Cale asked when Eve reached his side. "We can end this right now. I''ll find you something else. It''s ridiculous that they want you to keep drinking the wine when it''s not a video shoot. You can always pretend to drink it."

    "It''s fine, Cale," she replied, swallowing a hup. "I can pretend but I''m sure they want authenticity. I should have done better research. I was with Ambryan not long ago. I should have asked him for opinions."

    Eve sat down in front of her dressing table. She grabbed a mini fan and aimed it at her face, closing her eyes. It was mid-autumn but she felt hot. "I wonder if he''d answer if I call now."

    "If he''s not busy, he definitely would. If he is, he''ll call back as soon as possible." Cale chuckled.

    "I should give it a shot then."

    She turned off the mini fan and exchanged it for her phone. The DTC app appeared on her screen as soon as she unlocked it. Blood rushed into her already pink cheeks. She had left the conversation window open and spotted thest message right away.

    .

    ``Yan: My father visited today. He wanted to know why you wouldn''t move in with me.``

    .

    It had taken her aback. Then, they called for her on set before she could muster a reply. With a valid excuse for a dyed response, she had forgotten about the message until now. She bit on her bottom and pressed the call button.

    Her fingers crossed in hope that Ambryan forgot about the message as well.

    "Yes?" He spoke through the earpiece.

    "Ambee. Hi." Eve cleared her throat. Cale came to her aid and held the mini fan for her. She mouthed a thank you in his direction to which he winked in return.

    Ambryan turned his swivelling chair around so he''d face the windows. "I assume the reason for this call is not because you missed me."

    "If that were the case, I would be calling you every second," Eve shot back. She knew that he wanted to catch her off guard. Well, two could y that gameespecially when she had the advantage of being intoxicated.

    "You wound me."

    "Yet, you still adore me. You are a wise man after all."

    Shaking his head, Ambryan hardly noticed how wide the smile on his face was. "So why did you call? Is there anything I could help you with?"

    "Yes, I was wondering why you love wine."

    "Wine?" He arched an eyebrow. "You''re not drunk, are you?"

    "I''m not that of a lightweight!" Eve defended a little too loud.

    "But are you drinking?"

    "It''s for the advertisement."

    "For wine?" Ambryan confirmed.

    "Yes. Apparently, I''m not doing well. I can''t seem to capture what the client wants. It''s not like they specifically said anything. They don''t exactly know what they want either so I''m left to interpret on my own"

    Eve closed her mouth when she realized that she was babbling. Taking a deep breath, she concluded the speech with, "Since you''re an avid, maybe I can figure something out based on your opinions about it."

    Ambryan thought for a moment. He could go on about his interest but it wouldn''t exactly help Eve understand wine as if she was in his shoes. His mind scrambled for amon ground that could help her.

    And he just had the right analogy.

    "You can think of red wine like your coffee," he said, pressing his lips together to hide augh. "Like coffee beans, grapese from different parts of the globe and their tastes vary in the climate they grew in and the process of extracting the juice. Appreciate it like it''s your passion."

 Chapter 246: Aromatic Pheromones

    Chapter 246: Aromatic Pheromones

    "Coffee" Eve repeated. "Yeah, I can do that."

    Now that she heard it, the idea sounded likemon sense. She was trying to be a wine lover all this time but she wasn''t and she wouldn''t be any time soon. Instead of trying to pretend to be something she''s not, she could pretend that the drink was something else.

    Because what they would be looking for was the passion in her eyes.

    Ambryan turned his chair back around and peeked at the monitor. Emails rolled from the top of his inbox. Several of them bore the red exmation mark for urgent attention. "I can''t help you if they want something more creative though. It would have to be up to you."

    "This is more than enough. Thank you," Eve couldn''t think of anything else to say. She wished she could find the words in order to fully convey her gratitude. "Sorry for disturbing your work."

    "It''s not a problem. Hand the phone over to Cale, please."

    "Oh" Frowning, she did as she was told. "Cale, he''s asking for you."

    Her hazel eyes narrowed at her modelling manager. Cale didn''t seem to mind the call. He pressed the phone against his ear and wore a bright smile. "Hello?"

    "Alert me when the photoshoot is over," Ambryan stated at once. There were more emailsing in where a few should have been directed to the other executives. He clicked on thepany''s private messaging program.

    "I can''t sit still knowing that she''s going to be drunk by the end of it," he concluded in a rush.

    Cale understood him right away and nodded his head. "You got it."

    "Thank you."

    "What''s that about?" Eve pried, crossing her arms over her chest. What could it have been for Ambryan to speak directly to Cale when he could have asked her to rely on the message? It was a short conversation from the looks of it.

    "Nothing much. He doesn''t believe that you''re not tipsy." Cale gave her a look. He waved the mini fan in front of her face and lingered on each of her cheeks.

    Eve snorted. "I''m fine. Fit as a fiddle."

    "Sure, sure," he surrendered. Then, he noticed the crew gathering back together to resume the photo session. He held out a hand to help Eve get off the chair. "Come on, break time is over."

    Eve closed her eyes for a moment. In her mind, she had teleported to a coffee shop. The air smelled of freshly brewed coffee instead of dirt and damp leaves. The wine ss in her hand contained an iced cappino. Her lips curled into a shy smile like they did whenever she basked in the aroma of coffee, awaiting its taste to swarm her mouth.

    The cameraman''s shoulder jerked back.

    The entire aura and aesthetic of the scene changed. Warmth flooded the expression of the model. He pressed on the shutter as she brought the ss close to her lips. A soft moan sounded behind her closed lips.

    She turned her head to the side and raised her chin.

    Her hazel eyes shed at the cameraas if she caught it staring at her.

    A smirk reced her smile and she bowed her head, taking another sip. Adrenaline rushed into her veins. She was in her element. She was portraying a character. A breeze flew by and swayed the leaves of the grape nts. Her hand rose higher to catch the wind as if to finish a magic spell.

    Then, the ss leaned on one side and poured the wine on her face.

    She angled her nose towards the sky, gasping from the sensation. The red wine dripped down from her jawline and down to the side of her neck. It stained her white toga and emphasized the redness of her cheeks. A drop trailed from the corner of her mouth as if she just sucked on blood like a vampire.

    "Evangeline!" Cale scolded and demanded for a towel.

    Eve couldn''t exin what just happened. The moment just felt right. Her name went in one ear and out the other. Her eyes searched for the camera as she scraped the wine with the rim of the sspressing the same between her lips and portraying the irresistible taste of the wine.

    The client stood up from his chair. He walked over to the cameraman and whispered in thetter''s ear. Eve continued to taste the beverage. This time, from her fingers that once held the ss. She brushed the knuckles across her lips.

    "And that''s a wrap," the cameraman announced. He directed a thumbs up in her direction. "I think we got it. Good job. Keep this up and I''ll rmend you to some friends I know."

    "That''s very kind. Thank you for the hard work."

    The magic of the moment disappeared and Eve only felt the need for a shower. The wine had begun to dry and to stick onto her. A bit of it also seeped into her hairline. She used the toga to wipe it off.

    It was already stained so this should be excused.

    "What on earth were you thinking?" Cale demanded when he reached her side. He draped a towel over her head and rubbed on her face. His aqua blue eyes red as he worked to dry her off. "I don''t know what offerings you gave at some shrine but you are lucky that they loved your little stunt. Otherwise, they could have been angry instead! And it would result in dying the shoot! Next time run by your ideas with me or the client or the cameraman. You hear me, missy?"

    "Loud and clear, Cale," Eve replied. Soft giggled flowed out of her lips.

    Her modelling manager stiffened. That wasn''t a good sign. He resumed cleaning her face and said, "Don''t tell me you snorted the wine like it''s powdered drugs."

    "You and I know that''s not possible," she merelyughed. The towel felt soft on her skin despite the harsh strokes. Unfortunately, the sticky feeling remained and made her ufortable.

    ''I hope Ambryan is here soon,'' Cale thought. He had messaged the CEO as soon as Eve poured that wine over her. He was almost thankful that she didn''t direct it to her hair.

    The crew packed up quickly. The client left first, needing to attend to his business matters. Cale snapped his head from left to right. Eve had changed out of the toga and into her long-sleeved dress. They only had a portable toilet on set. There hadn''t been a sign of running tap water they could use either.

    Cale suggested that they walk up to the owner of the vineyard and ask where the nearest sink was. But Eve grabbed his wrist and protested. "Let''s just go home. I can wash this off once we''re in the apartment. I don''t want to trouble them for my reckless act."

    "If they loved it, they should show some appreciation and help you!" Cale rebutted with a huff.

    "The apartment is not that far. I can survive until we arrive. It''s not a big deal."

    Eve rose to her feet before he could protest. Without the toga, no one could tell that she had just spewed wine on her face. Modelling proved to find more ways to be troublesome the longer she stayed in the industry. There should be other gigs she could book.

    Maybe runway modelling?

    But that meant training.

    ''Hmmm'' she yed the idea in her head, not paying attention to where she was headed.

    Ambryan spotted her from a distance. He had dropped the pending work to Riffle and Madison before rushing over. The deep crease lines on Eve''s forehead clued him that she must be in a sound state of mind. It relieved him that she acted normal.

    He strode in her direction and cut off her path halfway. The scent of red wine teased his nose.

    "Why do you smell like wine?" He asked.

    Eve broke out of her reverie, blinking up at him. The sun beamed behind his head. "I really must be drunk if I''m hallucinating right now."

    "You''re drunk because you think you''re hallucinating," Ambryan corrected her. He slipped one arm behind her waist and the other underneath her knees.

    "HEY!" Eve yelled. She instantly sobered up. "Put me down! I can walk!"

    Ambryan ignored her, walking back to his car. He nodded at Cale when he noticed the modelling manager from the corner of his eye. Then, he shifted his attention back to Eve. A yful smirk curved on his lips.

    "You should have expected this," he said. "I am as gentle as I promised too."

    Eve opened her mouth and closed it again. A second passed before she realized what he meant. Thest time she drank, she had something embarrassing about him carrying her out of the party.

    And he teased her about it, offering to make ite true!

    Thanks to the wine, the blush on her cheeks didn''t seempletely out of ce.

    "But this is the bridal style carry!" Eve opted to use logic. "Made for brides! Not drunk people!"

    Ambryan was unfazed. "That can be arranged."

    She smacked his chest. "Ambee, be serious!"

    He made a face of hurt but she simply huffed in return. The car was only a few meters ahead. The security team surrounded the area and kept the reports at bay. The recent sightings of them visiting each other''s apartments was hot on the news.

    The media quicklytched onto their next public disy of affection.

    A bystander even filmed the whole thing as a livestream on her ount.

    "I am serious in not trusting your current condition," Ambryan exined. He grunted under his breath, picking up the pace. "I don''t trust mine either."

    "What do you mean?" Eve wondered. Did something happen at work? Was he in a bad mood?

    He leaned down until his lips nearly touched her ear. "Either I carry you like this or I wouldn''t be able to stop from tasting this aromatic wine on you."

 Chapter 247: Sweet, Sweet PDA

    Chapter 247: Sweet, Sweet PDA

    "Either I carry you like this or I wouldn''t be able to stop from tasting this aromatic wine on you."

    Eve hitched her breath. While her consciousness died, it seemed like her wits hadn''t. Her mouth moved slowly and said, "Then..., how are you going to drive?"

    She internally scolded herself for theeback. A trip to the showerter would give her a better one. Just when she became used to Ambryan''s advances, he had taken it to another level. This would have raised panic in her in the past. Then, guilt would start to eat her up.

    But he knew that she had a dual identity.

    Although he didn''t know it yet, she trusted in his words that he''d ept her when the time came for the reveal. There wasn''t much left to do but that. It was the decision he made and she would not hinder it by doubting him when she hadn''t given him the chance yet.

    Thank goodness she dropped a hint in the fake letters.

    Then, she could im that she did in fact tell him.

    "I don''t need to," Ambryan shot back. He stood beside the hood of the car and nudged his head towards the security team. "Wen can drive for us."

    He circled around the vehicle without another word. Eve snapped her head from left to right over and over again, trying to figure out which direction he was going. She did so fast that her sight became a blur.

    Her ears picked up on a car door opening. The meaning behind Ambryan''s words suddenly dawned on her. "Wait, no!"

    She sat inside the car and looked forward. The sun shone from the other side of the windshield. Cale watched the fiasco from a distance, waving his hand when he met her eyes. The makeup artist walked to his side and said something too far for Eve to hear.

    But her modelling manager was more than happy to converse with her.

    Eve rxed and closed her eyes, finally realizing she was in the passenger seat.

    Ambryan propped his arm on top of the door and leaned down.

    "Did you think I really was going to do it?" He whispered close to her ear. "Did I disappoint you by any chance?"

    Her eyes flew wide open and widened further from seeing how close he was. Pure mischief glowed in his face, tugging the corners of his lips into a grin.

    "You!"

    Ambryan cut her off with a kiss. Eve raised her hand to shove him yfully but remembered that they were out in public. To hide the awkward mistake, she rested her hand on the side of his neck and made the scene seem sweet.

    She felt him smile against her lips.

    It was like a switch.

    Just when she melted into the kiss, Ambryan pulled back and licked his lips.

    "I think I have a new way of tasting wine."

    News articles and social media went into a frenzy the next day. The one person who filmed the exchange as a livestream ran to the other side of the car when Ambryan walked over to the passenger seat. With the angle taken from the back of the vehicle, the video instantly became viral for that perfect view.

    Twitter went on full st until #Ambeevan became the number one topic.

    .

    ``A doting Ambryan Hathaway! I thought I''d never see this day!``

    ``You can tell Evangeline didn''t even know he wasing. Then, he just swept her off her feet! AAAHHH, I''m in love with this couple!``

    ``This PDA is getting a little out of hand. They''ll probably break up.``

    ``Were they in a vineyard? Was Evangeline red from the kiss or the wine? :P``

    ``I did not just see two grown adults acting like teenagers in love! There is hope for humanity!``

    .

    Jane tossed her phone away.

    Itnded near the edge of her mattress.

    She had cooped up in the house since Avery visited her. Her birthday party wasing up and she needed to be mentally prepared. It had been a mistake to open her phone. It had a feature that notified her of articles that might pique her interestwhich the algorithm noticed easily as anything rted to Ambryan.

    And his love life had taken over the storm.

    "She doesn''t even do anything for him!" Jane yelled, throwing her hands in the air and pacing in her room. "All the news is just about Ambryan did this and Ambryan did that. She''s got him wrapped up around her finger and doesn''t give anything in return. Then, she boasts about their rtionship in her social media ounts Agh! I can''t stand her!"

    Her journey ended with a face nt on the bed.

    Should she y her next cards?

    But which ones?

    Rolling to her side, she brushed off her hair from her face. Elias had something on Evangeline when they coborated. At the time, he tried to get her as his model but couldn''t with the restrictions surrounding her. Hearing that also made Jane suspicious but then, it could have been because of her rtionship with Ambryan.

    There was always something blocking them every time they tried to dig. She and Ambryan just started dating. He couldn''t have cared for her that much already. Unlike others, Jane also knew that their rtionship started because of a contract he had with his mother.

    That led Jane to believe that those blockages were Evangeline''s doing.

    She had something to hide. Something maybe Ambryan also didn''t know based on what the madam had exined about the conditions she set for the contract.

    Jane reached for her phone, crawling her fingers to get it. She scrolled through the contact list and found who she was looking for. The call rang three times before the recipient picked up.

    "Hello?"

    "Did you miss me?" She cooed into the microphone.

    Elias Walker stiffened on his chair. The mouse in his hand also stopped moving. Slowly, frown lines creased between his eyebrows. His chocte brown eyes red at hisputer screen.

    "You changed numbers."

    "And so did you." Jane chuckled. She sat up and leaned her back on the headboard, twirling a piece of her hair. "It took some time but I''m d to be hearing from you again."

    "You won''t be hearing anything from me again," he corrected her with a sneer.

    "Aw, don''t be like that. Haven''t I done anything for you?"

    "And I already did my part in exchange. This negotiation ends now."

    Jane clicked her tongue, tugging the corner of her lip upwards. "Really?"

    "Yes. Goodbye now."

    "Nothing else you need? I see." She hopped off the bed and walked over to herptop on the desk. "But is there also nothing for you to lose?"

    Elias fiddled with hisputer, starting to record the conversation.

    "What are you trying to imply?" He asked.

    "That humans are never satisfied and always seek more. They lose sight of what they have until it''s gone," Jane replied in nonchnce. She turned on herptop and typed with one hand. "And it''s so easy to arrange too. Just a few clicks here and there."

    Wanting to finish this soon, Elias went straight to the point. "What do you want?"

    "It''s nothing much," she assured him and chuckled to herself. "I just want to know what dirt you had on Evangeline. Come on. There has to be something that she used over you. Did she pay for you to keep quiet? You wouldn''t even tell me when I offered to double the reward."

    Elias bit his tongue. It was true. He hadn''t told her that the reason for the blockages was because her namesake had no past. It was a messy disguise as expected of someone who wasn''t rich. The suspicious part came from the existence of those blockages.

    It would have cost a fortune to be that consistent and heavy.

    "Weren''t you able to threaten her in exchange that she''d work with you?" Jane reminded him.

    "And that one is also over. I do keep my end of the bargain you know."

    She gritted her teeth. "Until something better came and you cut me off! You didn''t even finish your end of the bargain! You were supposed to take her away from Ambryan!"

    "He was in the photoshoot!" Elias defended. "So was his entire security team! The n was useless the moment that happened. It wasn''t my fault that he acted the way he did. You said he was only pretending to care about her and so I didn''t take extra precaution!"

    He heaved a sigh after the rant.

    "Then, tell me what dirt you have on her aspensation." Jane was quick to try turning the tables around. "I know you found something. Tell me or I can do something worse than a phone call."

    Elias sucked in a breath, gnashing his teeth. "Give me a week to think about. That should be plenty of time for you toe up with your own n instead of impulsively threatening me."

    She scoffed. "And how sure are you that this is on impulse?"

    "The timing of your call coincides with the media''s sudden addiction to the Ambeevan rtionship. In the span of two days, they had been spotted going to each other''s apartments. Ambryan showed up in her photoshoot which wasn''t anything new but he made a grand exit."

    The other line went silent but Elias continued the list.

    "Suddenly, a magazine jumped into the bandwagon and released behind the scenes footage of his visit during their winter theme shoot. Then, people reposted old candid shots from their cellphones and created a timeline of their public appearances. They''re bing their own brand."

    "So really are you still trying to say you''re not acting rashly?" He concluded. "You do know how well it wentst time, didn''t you? Sent a secretary back to her hometown?"

    Jane''s hand clenched into a fist on herp. He was right. Things were only escting as time passed by. Thest time she tried to interfere on her own, her new ally ran away.

    "Fine. Three days. That''s all."

 Chapter 248: Day One: The Beginning

    Chapter 248: Day One: The Beginning

    Elias ended the call.

    He shut his eyes and craned his neck over the backrest of his seat. After the photoshoot, he hoped that he wouldn''t be pulled back in this soon. It was a pain in the neck since it meant more time given to something else other than the preparations for his studio.

    He rolled his shoulders before turning back to hisptop and plugging the phone in.

    After a few tinkers, his IP address became hidden along with any sensitive information that could lead to his location and his identity. Then, he opened a new email draft and typed a quick message, attaching the phone recording for the recipient to hear.

    It should be out of his hands now unless they asked a favor.

    Initiating a new call, he heard it ring twice before it got picked up.

    "Hello?"

    Elias pressed the phone against his ear and clicked on the send button. "Hi, it''s Elias Walker."

    The other side became quiet for a while. Only static came through the earpiece. Elias waited patiently. They hadn''tmunicated almost as long as he hadn''t spoken to Jane. It was only natural for the person to be cautious.

    But, finally, a response came. "What is it?"

    "I sent you an email that you might want to know about," Elias began to exin. "A certain someone hasn''t really given up on her goal. She wants to know what I have on strawberry that made thetter agree to my terms."

    "Hold on. I''ll check it."

    "Sure. No problem."

    While waiting, Elias resumed the editing he had been working on. He had finished the first draft of his photobook with Evangeline Reed in it about a week ago. This lookover was meant for him to fine tune the images and to try new styles for those he wasn''t sure about yet. He also took into consideration the feedback from the early draft.

    "Impulsive. Just like you said she''d be."

    Elias snorted at the words. He grabbed a stale fry from his WcDonald''s takeout. "She''s easy to read. You should know that too, right? Given how you''ve known each other for a long time."

    "We can only y our cards and hope she goes along with them," the person on the other line spoke.

    "So what am I to tell her in three days?"

    Unwrapping his burger, Elias opened his mouth for a big bite. His question remained unanswered for about a minute. This needed a well-thought solution or it could lead into a big mess.

    "You could always tell her the truth."

    Elias choked on his burger. "Excuse me?!"

    He put the burger down and listened intently. "It''s not like it''s something she doesn''t know. What you spected was Evangeline was a false identity which was why she couldn''t be looked up even with hacking. It doesn''t change the fact that what Jane needed to do is figure out a way around those blockages."

    "Maybe. But that also means she can threaten Evangeline about this like I did. It would only pick up where it left off," Elias pointed out.

    "That''s not a problem."

    "Are you sure about that?"

    "Aren''t you?"

    Elias frowned at the reversal. Was he missing something? Was there a backup n to this that he should know about?

    Then, his chocte eyes flickered to his monitor. A grim line shaped his lips. "Right. It shouldn''t be a problem. You''re on top of things, right?"

    "It''s better to know what she''ll do than to mislead her. That way we can control the game."

    "Has anyone told you how scary you are?"

    "Sometimes."

    Elias closed his eyes as a shiver went down his spine. This was far more than he signed up for but, between the two of them, he wasn''t the one born with the bigger brain.

    "Alright. We''ll do it your way." He huffed, already dreading the meeting. His acting skills needed to be in top shape for it. "If anything goes wrong, you only have yourself to me."

    "Nothing will go wrong," the person assured him. "Once you earn her trust again, you can be her confidant in this. We''ll be counting on you then as well."

    "..." Elias gritted his teeth. He just walked right into a trap. He should have seen iting. Why couldn''t they take her down with one go? What''s with these games?

    Although he wondered about them, he knew the answer. The longer this dragged on, the more evidence they could gather. And who knows? Maybe Jane would expose herself at some point instead.

    "Wish me luck then," Elias said, his voice dripping with sarcasm.

    A chuckle sounded in his ear. "Best of luck. Now, this is how it''s going to happen."

    .

    .

    .

    .

    .

    "How much further are we going?" Eve whined.

    She lied down on the backseat and rested her head. The hangover wasn''t intense but it still bothered her. Cale had opted to sit on the passenger side just to let her befortable. Nanzie drove the vehicle as always.

    Fallen leaves surrounded both sides of the car and covered the fields. They had left city premises for this shoot and rolled down the windows.

    Eve breathed in the fresh air.

    She had never needed it more.

    "Not much," Cale answered her. "We''re almost there. Just close your eyes and rx. This photoshoot will take a whole day you know."

    "I know." Eve groaned. She should have rethought the amount of wine she consumedbut she had been so distracted by her performance results that today''s project slipped her mind.

    Taking the advice, she closed her eyes and let the wind refresh her insides. The medicine should take effect by the time they reached the ce. It was one of the reasons she felt impatient about the journey.

    On top of a small hill stood a mansion that was roughly 109,000 square meters wide. The roofs nted and pointed up with asphalt shingles. The trail they followed led them to the courtyard side of the building. They could see arge garden on an adjacent side of the courtyard.

    Its edge couldn''t be seen from their positions but the three rows of fountains stayed crystal blue in their pools. Bare trees outlined the garden while cemented paths divided the pools.

    Eve found it breathtaking.

    But she believed it would be more beautiful during the spring season. She shook her head at thendscape. "I feel like I just stepped into 1800s London. This can''t be a mansion. It has to be a castle belonging to a nobleman once."

    "Yes, I think it has something like that in its history." Cale sighed beside her, also basking in the beautiful architecture and design. "The restoration of the castle finished over a month ago. It should be open for business in the winter."

    "Ambryan said the advertisement is to use this ce as a venue for parties and other events," Eve recounted. Her gaze tilted up until she could see the highest point of the castle. "Isn''t this a little too big though?"

    "It''s also going to be a hotel but, yes, that will be their main goal for now. You have to admit that''s better than a simple tour of the ce."

    Cale touched her arm and led her inside. "Come now. We have to get you ready. Most of the shoot will be inside because of the season."

    The dressing room was on the ground floor near the front desk. The crew had already begun to set up around the key locations. Eve focused on where they pointed at and memorized the locations.

    "Sit here, miss," the makeup artist called out to Eve.

    Thetter did as she was told and frowned at therge marble room. "Aren''t there other models today? Surely, with this many clothes and space, there should be several shoots done simultaneously."

    "No, it will be just you." The makeup artist cleaned her face first with micer water. Dust had collected onto her skin from the open-window drive. "There''s a theme for each room. We will cover them all today. There''s no time to lose."

    Eve gaped at her through the mirror. "You''re serious?"

    "Quite."

    ''Cale!'' She inwardly screamed. This had to be the biggest project she had to date. When she heard the description, she figured it was something simr to World of Adventure where she pretended to be a customer and mingled with a crowd for parties.

    Judging by the outfits, they seemed straight out of a fairy tale!

    "Close your eyes please."

    Eve listened on instinct, having done this numerous times. She used this moment to calm down and to adjust to the situation. It would take a few tries but she would get into the rhythm eventually. She recalled what she''d seen so far and pieced them together like pictured in a storybook or ballrooms of a fantasy film.

    By the time she stood in front of a full length mirror, it was like she had transmigrated to a different dimension. Her breath hitched at the back of her throat.

    She''d never seen so much red hair.

    The stylist pinned it to the back for a half-do. Volume had been added to her roots, making it thicker when twisted into a halo around her head. Curls and waves framed her face. The tips stopped at her lower back.

    On the other hand, the makeup gave the illusion of dewey skin. The blush and lip product added color to her fair skin while the eye makeup added a sultry effect in her gaze.

    "Evangeline? The camera crew is waiting oh, my."

    Cale stood in awe from the doorway. His aqua blue eyes followed the long train of the soft pink and powder blue ball gown. Intricate embroidery lined up to the open back like flowery vines.

    From there, it stretched into a V up to the shoulders. The sleeves cascaded down her arms like a thin kimonowhere more flowers in gold thread lined up fabric.

    Then, his stare met her gaze in the mirror.

    He pressed his hands over his chest and smiled, almost like he was about to cry.

    "You''ve never been more beautiful."

 Chapter 249: Day One: The Other Side

    Chapter 249: Day One: The Other Side

    Jane sat in her room and busied herself on her Slowgram.

    Behind her, people crowded the space. Three of them discussed her hair and her makeup. The others debated on which dress she should wear first for the nth time since they nned the event. The noise sounded chaotic and disorganized but Jane appreciated it.

    She preferred to work with people invested in the event rather than just those who did what they thought pleased her bestwhich they usually assumed to be the most expensive ones. It was an obvious scheme to clout her wealth.

    "Jane, honey. How about you? Do you have any input?"

    Hearing her name, she looked up from reacting toments on hertest behind the scene photoshoot. A bright smile spread across her face as she faced her stylists.

    "You know I trust you, guys." She giggled.

    "But we can''t make a decision even though we talked about it so much. What are you in the mood for today, hm? Do you want a bold eye? An updo? Curls? Anything at all?"

    Jane tapped her chin and scanned at the makeup selection. They brought almost every color imaginable as far as she was concerned. It was a bit overwhelming. Then, her gaze flickered to the rack of dresses. They had prepared five of them with two reserved as backups.

    "How about we just do neutral while the cat eyeliner could be the color of the dress?" She suggested. "It would get us started and it would be easy to change the eyeliner whenever we have an outfit change."

    The three looked at each other.

    Their brains seemed to have clicked at the exact second.

    "Brilliant!"

    "Simple but has ir!"

    "I love it. Let''s go with that."

    Jane chuckled at their reactions. She put her phone down on herp and tested a few hairstyles. Her lips scrunched at her reflection. "Then, for hair... Why don''t we start with an updo and pull it down little by littleter?"

    "Fabulous!" The hair stylist pped his hands and grabbed the curling rod. "Finally, finally, finally! We can get a move on! We have this argument every year. I don''t know why we haven''t learned our lesson."

    "Oh," Jane gasped after a moment. The two makeup artists stopped abruptly, their brushing hovering midair near her face. She pressed her lips together. "But... wouldn''t it mean more work for the three of you this way?"

    The hair stylist was the first to respond.

    "Nonsense!" He eximed, lowering his head until it almost touched her shoulder. "It''s your day to shine! We''re all here for you. You will be the most stunning person in all of Maize City. Little girls would believe that you are our own local princess and look up to you."

    "You know he''s right," one of the makeup artists agreed. She caressed Jane''s head. "We''ve been with you through these parties since your debut. Tonight, they''ll see three sides of you: endearing, sophisticated and fierce."

    "You guys really are so sweet," Jane gushed, squeezing their arms in gratitude. Her amber eyes gently crinkled up at their faces. "I take it that you''d also be doing my wedding someday?"

    "Oh, honey," the other makeup artist cooed. "That is the one we wouldn''t miss for the world!"

    She squealed. Its infectious tone invited them in to join her. "Then, let''s get this party started, shall we? There are still photoshoots to do before we meet the guests."

    Said photo session started in the same room.

    Jane lied on her bed with her arms poised like a doll across the mattress. She wore a robe but her hair and makeup had been finished. The photographer stood on a stool to capture her pictures. Ribbons, presents and balloons littered around her and on her headboard.

    It was the same setup for her Sweet 16.

    Her coral lips stretched into a coy smile as she closed her eyes.

    Even with the seeding parties, it still remained her favorite. Ambryan had been her escort throughout the night. She didn''t try to find out how it happened and merely lived in the moment. He treated her well and never left her side, making sure she ate and rested every now and then.

    That was a time when she didn''t think she''d fall for him even more.

    But she did.

    .

    .

    .

    .

    .

    "Yan!" Her sixteen-year-old self yelled. She ran across the courtyard and hugged him from behind. "Is it true? Are you going to be my escort? That''s the best present I could ever ask for!"

    A 20-year-old Richard raised his eyebrows at Ambryan. Thetter merely shook his head before turning around. He delicately pulled Jane''s arms away from his waist and raised them up, taking a step back and not letting go.

    "Jane," Ambryan began to say. "Don''t casually touch me in public. You''re supposed to be ady now. Have some manners. This behavior is no longer eptable. We''re not kids anymore."

    A crestfallen expression weighed down her face.

    He released her arms and said, "I''m only looking out for you. Your father is about to run for a political position. He needs to be a role model to the citizens. Seeing you act ordingly will let them believe that he raised you well."

    "But he did raise me well! He''s the best father anyone could have!" Jane defended immediately. Her hands clenched on either side of her. Embarrassed by the prickling tears in her eyes, she bowed her head to hide them from the boys.

    A warm hand touched her head.

    Jane looked up, hitching her breath.

    Ambryan pulled his hand away. "Then, prove it to them."

    .

    .

    .

    .

    .

    Eve stepped into a small balcony. Two pirs stood on either side of the opening outside of the castle. Her hands rested on top of the baluster as she looked down. She had changed out of the first dress and now wore a golden gown that ballooned around her legs.

    The garden spread below her in a rectangr shape. A part of her felt sad that it was the fall season. She could only imagine how beautiful it would be during the spring or the summer.

    A buzzing noise came from the quadcopter drone. It flew from her right to her left, capturing the moment in both film and pictures.

    Eve tilted her head up and shielded her eyes from the sun. Then, she thought against it after a second. Hot weather might not be the best idea in this outfit. Potential guests could change their minds about staying if it seemed too hot.

    She stepped back to the tall window. The balcony was square in shape and roughly the length of her legs. She hoisted herself up the baluster. Her back hit the pir while her feet perched on the other side. It was a tedious task because of the hoop skirt but she made it work.

    A strangled cry came from below.

    Hiding her amusedugh, Eve folded her arms on her knees. The poses she created hid the difficulty of the sitting position. Her heels threatened to slip off the edge andnd on the floor while her bottom barely had space for support.

    The drone proceeded to take the shots. The ball gown and her vibrant hair stood out easily under the sun. The building almost paled inparison.

    Hast footsteps gradually grew louder from inside the castle.

    "Evangeline Reed!" Cale shrieked. He bolted to her side and grabbed her arms, assisting her back on the floor. "That''s dangerous! I can''t believe you! First, the wine. Now, this? What if you fell?"

    He let her go once they were a distance away. Then, he circled around her to dust off the dirt that clung to the dress. "I would have to exin it to several people, you know. And they won''t take it any lighter than me! I swear you have gotten reckless since quitting your day job."

    "Oh, Cale" Eve spoke softly. Her manager continued to fuss over the ball gown before checking her hair. She groaned in frustration. "I''m running dry on ideas. I have to take risks if I want to climb higher than where I am now. I want to be better. Think outside the box! My portfolio has to have its unique points."

    She heard him snort behind her. "If you want to be better, you do things like train in Paris."

    "There''s training in Paris?"

    "Why wouldn''t there be training in Paris?" Cale scoffed, still bitter about her stunt. "It''s one of the fashion capitals in the world. It holds fashion weeks where models walk down the runway in haute couture. The event is prestigious in the industry."

    Eve chose not to say anything more. She didn''t like hearing him upset.

    "Cale."

    He didn''t respond.

    "I''m sorry."

    The stunt had been risky and she admitted to it. Cale walked around to face her front. The stern look in his aqua blue eyes hadn''t vanished. A hair strand strayed away from his normally gelled tinum hair, pointing up like a loose bang.

    "It''s hard to stay mad at you." He sighed.

    Then, his bottom lip stuck out in a pout. "I hate it."

    "Do you really?" Eve teased, nudging his arm.

    He huffed and showed a smile. "Come on. We''re done with this floor."

    The two headed for the elevator. Eve would rather not risk the stairs in this gownespecially not after her manager just freaked. Who knew how he''d take it if she tripped on a step despite holding onto the banister?

    "The rest will be about the ballrooms," Cale exined when they reached the lift. "You''d have to wear a different dress for each of them because they decorated them in several themes today,"

    "How many are there?"

    "Ten."

    Eve''s jaw dropped. How low was thepany''s budget? Couldn''t they have hired one more model? She suppressed a tortured sigh and leaned back on the wall, saying, "... would it be weird if I took a month break after this?"

    "I''ll give you a week," hepromised with a wink. "You want to climb higher, right?"

 Chapter 250: Night One: A Party to Flaunt

    Chapter 250: Night One: A Party to unt

    Jane stood on top of the staircase.

    Cameras shes below, apuse reverberated in the ballroom, cheers and well wishes reached her ears her blinding smile lit up the ce. She waved her hand like she participated in a pageant. Her guests approved the disy with louder praises andpliments.

    She descended elegantly while the diamond tiara on her head glinted under the spotlights.

    It was truly her moment to shine.

    At the base of the stairs, she stopped at a small tform and grabbed the microphone. Her melodic voice flowed out of the speakers. "Thank you all for another wonderful year. To see your faces on this special day always touches my heart. I could only hope this party gives you as much joy as you had given me. So please"

    She paused and gestured to the other side of the room. "Give it up for one of the biggest bands in the world"

    Heads turned around as more spotlights followed her direction. A curtain parted open and five silhouettes emerged from the shadows. One on the drums, two on guitar and bass plus the lone person with the microphone. The drummer started a beat, building anticipation from the crowd. Feet ran for this second stage and swarmed around it like sardines.

    Then, a deep voice took the center of attention.

    ```

    I''m hurting, baby. I''m broken down~

    I need your lovingloving, I need it now~

    ```

    Screams and squeals overpowered the music as all the lights turned on to fully reveal the performers. Jane remained on her spot. A wide grin bloomed on her face at the scene. She made the right decision to have the band perform first. Her amber eyes met the lead singer''s and they exchanged a secret smile.

    Pulling the mic off its stand, Jane opened her mouth.

    ```

    I don''t wanna be needing your love

    I just wanna be deep in your love

    ```

    The guests gasped at the sudden sound of her voice. She ignored them and paid attention to the band alone. She blew a kiss. Now, the rest would remember to include her when they talked about the band at her birthday party.

    The lead singer reached out his hands towards her, continuing the song,

    ```

    And it''s killing me when you''re away, ooh, baby,

    ''Cause I really don''t care where you are

    I just wanna be there where you are

    ```

    Their voices joined together for the chorus. The crowd started dancing and singing along. The sound team increased the volume of the microphones and the amplifiers, drowning them out. The music could be heard throughout the estate. There was no escape.

    Jane stepped down the stage once the song reached the second verse. She mingled among her age group and danced. They had their phones out, livestreaming the party, taking photos, recording videos and slowgram stories. The party had just started.

    And they had all night to hype it up on trending topics.

    In the middle of the room, the Seven Wonders of the World took up the space as ice sculptures. Colored beverages flowed their sides like fountains and filled up towers of vintage wine sses. Servers stood by to keep the guests under control while they picked their poison.

    Food came out of the kitchen in trays. The servers constantly walked around and kept a lookout for anyone in need of something to fill in their growling stomachs. No one was allowed to go hungry at this party. There was enough food for every person to bring home if they wanted.

    Moving to a new song, Jane broke away from the group and started to greet her other guests. Cheek-to-cheek kisses were in order as well as hugging if necessary. Birthday wishes came her way one after another. Her smile stretched wider with each one she heard.

    "Amazing party as always, Jane! I can''t believe you snagged Macaroon Five!"

    "I know! I can''t believe it either! They were so hard to book. We had to pull every effort." Janeughed. Then, she leaned in and hid her lips from prying eyes. "I may have shed a tear or two just to get them to soften up."

    "So sly!" The guest teased, nudging her side. "But you do have your ways once you set your eyes on something. You have to teach us sometime. Or is it top secret?"

    Jane pouted but lightened up the expression with a scrunch of her nose. "I can see what you''re doing but you should know better that trade secrets aren''t meant to be shared. It diminishes the mystery! How else could I keep surprising you all?"

    "Such selfishness!"

    "It is my birthday," Jane reminded, giggling at the curiosity. "Am I not allowed to be selfish?"

    Someone behind her scoffed. "Always has a way to get whatever she desires, huh? How is that working out with Ambryan Hathaway? Weren''t you supposed to get married someday like you said? Then, why is he hanging around with some B-grade model?"

    Jane stiffened at the obvious jab. She allowed herself a moment to express her irritation before she twisted her neck slowly and faced the intruder. Everything seemed fine from afar but whoever looked at her closely would notice the coldness behind her warm amber eyes

    or even the forced happy smile on her lips.

    "Melissa," she greeted. "Your words may always seem like you dislike being here but I am touched that you attended nheless. It shows how much you care about me."

    "Pft." Melissa snorted. She propped her right elbow and her folded left arm, dangling the vintage wine ss by its rim. "Bullcrap. I''m only here to keep appearances. Something you should know a lot about. That''s a magnificent act you''re holding up."

    "That''s crossing the line, Melissa!" The first guest used. She marched to Jane''s side and red. "This is no ce to act like a brat. That cocktail you''re enjoying is provided by Jane. The least you could do is show your gratitude."

    Melissa arched an eyebrow and lifted up her drink. "This? Something I can also buy on my own? What''s so special about it? It''s not like you can''t have it anywhere else."

    Then, she walked up to Jane and gave her a mockingugh. "You should tell me where you get your dog treats. Our new rottweiler at home is having trouble being trained. I think he''d be better with those treats of yours."

    "Why you"

    "Oh, but," Melissa gasped, covering her open mouth. "Trade secrets can''t be shared, right? Or else, it would break the mystery and you''ll be exposed for the fake person that you are."

    "Melissa!"

    To avoid the hand that shot out to grab her, Melissa spun on her heel. The drink in her hand poured out of the ss from the abrupt movement. Red liquid dripped down Jane''s chest and into her dress, staining the chiffon fabric.

    "Oh, my," Melissa uttered. She opened her purse and offered a clean handkerchief. "Here, Jane. Clean yourself up while I look for your stylists. They should be by the Great Pyramid of Gyza"

    Jane shoved her wrist away, making the bystanders gasp. She stared at the floor with wide eyes. Her chest rose and fell visibly as well as at a rapid speed. Tremors crawled over her skin while the wine continued its trail towards the sweetheart neckline of her dress.

    "Jane"

    "I know you don''t like being here, Melissa," she began to whisper. Her gaze slowly rose up until their eyes met. Tears gathered at the corner of her eyes. She gripped her skirt just to stop her hands from shaking. "But did you have to do that? Do you despise me that much?"

    Melissa widened her eyes. Then, she shook her head rapidly. "Jane, it was an ident. I swear I wouldn''t be that petty. There''s a crack on this floor. See?"

    She stepped aside to reveal the crack from under her evening gown. Murmurs flooded the room, exchanging opinions on the new information. Camera phones recorded the scene to rewatch itter and discuss it further.

    "And you knew that," Jane simply stated. "You knew there was a crack and used it!"

    "Trip on my heels and risk injuring myself?" Melissa scoffed. Her voice raised higher, the more she heard about this usation being thrown at her. "Please. I wouldn''t put myself in harm''s way for such shallow reasons. You just want to cause a scene!"

    "Melissa, can''t you understand?" Jane''s friend spoke again to defend the former. "ident or no ident, this just ruined the night for Jane. She had spent hours and energy to make this party happen. Then, it''s ruined by your small cocktail? You should apologize."

    Melissa made a face. Her mouth half-open, she scowled at nothing in particr. "Apologize after she imed I did it purposely? After I offered to help her out? Excuse me but that kind of person doesn''t deserve an apology!"

    "That''s it. Get out."

    A scoff escaped Melissa''s lips. She bowed before the two and said, "dly."

    This time, there wasn''t any drink left to fly off her hand. A foot stepped on her gown''s mini train after she took a few steps towards the exit. "Bitch."

    The resistance forced her knees to squeeze together and lose her bnce. People moved out of the way when they noticed it happen. Shended on the floor, blowing her bangs out of her face. Her eyes glowered at the possible culprits.

    Jane dialled on her phone, her gaze flickering towards the floor and random spots in the room. "I guess we should really get that crack fixed. It wouldn''t be good if it ced more people in harm''s way. Yes, hello? I''d like to report about an incident in this venue. It will cost you if you don''t fix it soon."

    Melissa shot to her feet. She couldn''t be tricked. Jane hadn''t taken back her words at all. Only fools would believe that she suddenly had a change of heart.

    When the call ended, Jane turned to her friend. "I''ll go change."

    Then, she shifted her attention to Melissa. "Do help yourself to the giveaway tokens at the exit."

 Chapter 251: Night One: Sun Among Stars

    Chapter 251: Night One: Sun Among Stars

    "This has to be the heaviest thing I''ve worn my whole life."

    Eve sucked in her stomach and squared her shoulders. She stared at her reflection in the floor-length mirror, changing angles to see how the dress shaped her figure. The top had ace cloth that made it seem like the embroidery was a part of her skin.

    Cale squatted behind her and helped fix the folds of the ballgown. The hoop skirt for this one had a wider range to fully re out the skirt. Eve had expected the added weight it carried, what she wasn''t prepared for was the gown''s details on design.

    Not only did the sequins on the skirt glinted beautifully but the crystal beading on the bodice did as well. Unfortunately, thetter weighed a ton. The former also made the skirt heavier but it seemed manageable enough.

    But someone just had to take it to another level.

    "Now, aren''t you d you were able to wear that Latin-dress in room 9?" Cale replied, straightening his legs. "That mini ruffle skirt had to be the heaviest part of it and I doubt it weighed more than a few hundred grams."

    "It was still a little weird. I had only seen that type of clothing in ballroompetitions not for parties," Eve recalled. The dress had done a great job at entuating her figure but the fabric stopped below her buttocks. Each time she moved her legs, the ruffles emphasized the sway of her hips.

    It felt more exposing than a pair of leotards.

    "So it surprised me to see that I had to wear one," she concluded. A clothing made for performing felt weird without an audience present.

    Cale walked around the skirt and dusted off his hands. "Well, the point was to showcase different events that they could use the rooms for. A ballroompetition could be one of them. They had added a tform specifically for dancing in that one."

    "I didn''t even have a partner though," Eve whined, ignoring his point. She stepped from side to side and tested if the skirt would hold its folded shape. "So it felt out of ce. I strongly believe most of my weak shots were in that room. At least, with gowns like this, I could make something out of the skirt so it would add something to the shot."

    Brushing herints off with the wave of his hand, Cale headed for the mannequin that previously wore the ballgown "I''m sure many people would say that your exposed long legs aren''t to be demoted like that though."

    "..." Eve heard the Spanish music rey in her head.

    And it seemed like it was determined to stay that way. She had to dance during that session to make the scene authentic. Just the memory of it sent shivers down her spine. She really didn''t want to see any of her photos from there.

    "Alright. Time for the cape."

    Eve whirled her head over her shoulder. "Cape?! More jewel beading?!"

    Cale and the stylist carried the cape over to her. Like Eve guessed, it had the same beadings but on a mesh fabric. Her heart pounded while they pinned it around her neck. One wrong move and the cape could rip apart since the cloth was woven loosely. It cascaded down her back and ended above the hem of her gown.

    She gulped.

    "They sparkle rather nicely. Don''t you think so?" Cale beamed. He stepped back until he stood a meter behind the floor-length mirror. The dress was beautiful. Under the lights, the sequins gleamed like white-silver while the main fabric had a creamish champagne color.

    A separate stylist polished her hairstyle with hairspray. Both sides of her hair had been braided towards the base of her head where it nestled into a messy bun. A small gold tiara sat on her scalp like a headband.

    Eve took a deep breath. "I''m starting to see why there aren''t other models."

    "What do you mean?" Her modelling manager asked, walking back to her side.

    "The clothes are... luxurious," she began to say, her eyebrows shooting up and her eyes widening like saucers. "I don''t think I can even guess which outfit has the lowest value. That Latin-dress had less fabric but the details on it weren''t cheap."

    "Ah, yes. It''s definitely not the cheapest."

    "..." Eve opened her mouth then closed it again. Did she really want to know its price? "Anyway, the point is they decided to save on budget by hiring only one model to wear them all."

    Cale''s lips curled up on one corner. "Aren''t you a luckydy then?"

    She sighed at that. It had to be the truest words she heard all day. "Well, yeah. I mean I only got this gig because of Ambryan in the first ce. I wouldn''t be here if it wasn''t for him."

    "Nonsense!" Cale practically screamed in her ear, causing her to flinch. He red openly at the mirror. "Yes, Ambryan had the connections but the client was impressed with your work. That''s not something that he created. A ce as big and as grand as this doesn''t need anything from Eros Productions that they couldn''t possibly find in anotherpany."

    "Not only that but I''m certain Ambryan wouldn''t have endorsed you if you aren''t doing brilliantly. He knew that you''d fit into the campaign and suggested you." He huffed and ced his hands on his hips, exposing the purple belt under his blue suit jacket. "Ambryan isn''t the type to make things easy for you, is he?"

    "No" Eve responded meekly. She suddenly felt small. "I remember how much I needed to improve myself when I started working for him. He always emphasized the need for individual strength. I couldn''t go to him unless I had no other choice."

    "See? So stop bringing yourself down like that!"

    She offered her manager a smile. "Thank you... but I have a long way to go."

    None of this was enough. It might have been months ago but things had changed since then. If she was going to pour herself into this, she had to deliver excellence. The way to do it was to gain more experience and to train. The question left was how to make it happen faster.

    Cale shuffled his feet until his front angled towards her. His aqua blue eyes studied her face. "Will you never go back to your secretary job? Or in the business industry? That''s what your degree was for."

    "I" Eve stopped short, staring at the floor. She had ced emphasis on that before. What use would her degree be if she didn''t acquire a job that pertained to it? Her gaze flickered back to the mirror.

    If it wasn''t for this job, she wouldn''t have seen herself in many different ways. From a Roman toga to neon clothing to leotards plus gigantic wings and to gowns she could only see in filmswhich were now in one room dedicated for her to wear.

    A soft whisper flowed out of her lips.

    "I''m not sure. Something about modelling feels nostalgic to me. The freedom of creativity is" she trailed off. Her faded words were reced by a tight smile.

    Cale stepped closer in her direction until he could give her a one-arm hug behind the shoulders. He shared the same expression on her face. "You were always an artist and a performer at that. If you suddenly decide to go back to ballet and put this as a side job again, I''d fully support you."

    ''Ballet'' a world Eve hadn''t seen in years. One cue, her feet shifted her weight onto her toes. She didn''t fully let it happen or it could break the straps of the heels she wore. Her muscle memory still remembered the pointe technique. It would probably hurt now though.

    She leaned into the side-hug, savoring thisst moment of peace. "I just quit my full-time job. I''m not about to make another life-changing decision so soon."

    "Besides," Eve added and shrugged her shoulders. "I would start from scratch where I wouldn''t be able to earn anything since I can''t perform yet. That''s not something I''d risk right now."

    Cale nodded his head in understanding. "I can''t really say that''s too bad when I love having you as my model. You will do great in anything that you do. Just know that I will fully support whichever path you choose."

    "Thank you."

    .

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    Up on the second floor, Eve waited by the end of the hallway.

    It opened into a curving marble staircase after a few steps. She could see the other hallway in front of her where it also had a simr staircase but it bent in the opposite direction. With this, both sets of steps created the shape of aurel wreath.

    She yed with her hands while listening intently for the signal. Every ballroom had a video-recording advertisement apart from photos. The final product would serve as her firstmercial.

    She wouldn''t be able to thank Ambryan enough for this.

    "Action!" The director yelled.

    Piano music flowed out of the speakers. The gentle keys yed a melody as if they were clouds on air. The chandelier lights shone from above and illuminated the whole room in a soft golden hue. Yet, her presence would overshadow them as expected of the beadings and sequins.

    Eve exited the hallway, following the beat. She was the sun in this sea of bright stars. Her body felt light almost floatinga sensation far from her earlier grumbles. She ced her gloved hand on the banister and continued her approach.

    Violins joined the score when she reached the top of the stairs.

    She paused and waited for the next cue in the tune of the waltz.

    Then, she began her descent with her head held high.

    Eve smiled halfway down the steps. Cale watched along with the crew. The scene was perfect like a fairy tale brought to life. Another nostalgic feeling swelled in her chest. Tears started to pool behind her eyes.

    Movement at the end of the stairway caught her attention.

    And Ambryan returned her smile with his own.

 Chapter 252: Night One: Waltz in the Air

    Chapter 252: Night One: Waltz in the Air

    Eve''s legs continued walking down the stairs. Her face disyed a look of shock, her eyebrows scrunching a little. A hint of a smile tugged the corners of her parted lips. Her conscience has lost itself in the moment as if following a scriptlike this moment had always meant to happen.

    The expression she wore only made Ambryan smile wider. He offered his hand when she was close enough. His bluish-gray jacket had ckpels that matched the buttons on his vest that had been tailored from the same fabric as the jacket. It also made up the trousers while a ck bow tie hung under the cor of his white dress shirt.

    He bent down to kiss the back of her hand.

    The cameramen moved silently, afraid to disrupt the current atmosphere.

    Still holding her hand, Ambryan led Eve to the center of the ballroom. Their eye contact never broke offnot even for half a second. He stopped once their assigned spot and pulled her in ce so she''d face his front.

    Cale strode towards the couple and touched his model''s shoulder. He gave her a brief nod and undid the hook of the cape. Wrapping it around his arm, he bowed forward and retreated backwards.

    Eve shed him a grateful smile.

    Ambryan positioned her right hand on his left shoulder, seizing her attention once more. He snared the back of her waist and pulled her closer. His free hand held hers. Eve took a deep breath and double checked if her back was straight. They remainedmunicating through their eyes.

    Together, they rocked back and forth, dancing right into the music with a waltz.

    Then, Ambryan shifted his feet so they''d change angles. He stayed in ce while Eve circled around him. The crew dived right into action. New determination glinted their eyes. Adrenaline pumped in their veins. This had to be the most exciting part of the day.

    They aimed for the entire session to finish in one take.

    The couple widened their range and increased their technique. Ambryan let Eve''s waist go, spinning her once. His arm resumed its ce behind her waist. They carried on with their exploration of the ballroom through dancing.

    Only them and the music existed.

    At one point, they almost collided with the video camera. Eve mouthed an apology to the crew. The incident broke her out of her daydream. Her professionalism was at stake here. She couldn''t have word spread that she easily got distracted by Ambryan''s presence.

    As if reading her thoughts, mischief twinkled in his violet eyes.

    Eve squinted her gaze, her instincts telling her to brace herself.

    Ambryan grabbed her waist with his hands and hoisted her up.

    She almost squeaked in surprise. Then, he set her back down and proceeded to waltz like nothing happened. Eve scowled at him, warning him not to do it again. The look only encouraged him more. He''d dly do it over and over again if it meant he got to see her cute annoyed expression.

    The music slowly made its way to the end.

    Ambryan guided them back to their original spot where he and Eve stepped back for a bow.

    Apuse came from their audience. Cale was the loudest of the bunch, whistling every now and then. Eve broke into a fit ofughter which made the pping louder. Ambryan closed the distance between them and hugged her close, kissing her temple.

    By this point, the cameramen moved on instinct.

    And sessfully captured the moment.

    "I think we got it," the director announced as he jogged up to the pair. The apuse quickly died down while the crew checked on the equipment. "There''s no need for a second take. The both of you did really well that I contacted the owner just to talk about the progress. We''re sending a sample right now and wait for his verdict."

    Eve was at the loss for words. She knew they performed well. Her heart raced as they reached thest notes. She couldn''t afford to mess up a second time. But was that really enough for one take? They had slipped up once.

    The director continued to express his thoughts. "We might ask for a few pictures on the staircase though. Would that be okay? I don''t want to beg but I would if I have to."

    "Um" Eve exchanged looks with Ambryan.

    He shifted his attention back to the director and said, "We''d be happy to if Chris agrees."

    "Great!" The director eximed. He gave them both a thumbs up and headed back for his chair.

    It didn''t take long before the owner gave his approval.

    The couple each had a staircase to themselves. Eve stood halfway up the steps with her arms folded over the banister. Her cheek rested on top of her wrists as she gazed down towards the base of the other staircase. She just might fall asleep if thissted long enough.

    Ambryan leaned his back on the other staircase with his feet crossed at the ankles. The bow tie on his neck had been undone, letting it hang like he was getting dressed. He tucked his hands in his pant pockets and exhibited azy boy posture.

    Eve could hardly believe her eyes.

    "So" she said. "What brings you here?"

    "I have no idea what you are talking about."

    She scoffed, not buying his response for one bit. "Come on. Are you going to let me believe that you just walked on set and someone thought you''d be a good addition to the scene? With a suit perfectly tailored to your exact measurements?"

    A chuckle escaped Ambryan''s lips. Of course, she saw through the entire thing. He drew in a long breath through his nose. "Maybe I just wanted to understand your work."

    Eve arched a brow. "Understand my work?"

    "Go through the motions and experience it. I feel like it brings us closer. Don''t you think so?" He smirked, genuinely thinking that. She had spent five years working with him and understanding his job enough to handle it when he was sick.

    He figured it was only right of him to be aware of her work''s extensiveness, at least.

    She propped her elbow on the banister and cupped her cheek. "If that was the case, you should be the one wearing this dress."

    "But I could never look as beautiful as you do when you wear it."

    "That''s true," Eve agreed without hesitation. "But the hrity would make up for it."

    Ambryan crossed his arms over his chest, tilting his head to one side. "Shameless, are we?"

    "Yes, we are." She beamed down at him. A few giggles rumbled in her throat. "Maybe it''s true that the more you spend time together, the more you pick up each other''s habits."

    The director called for their attention. Both heads turned towards him. He stood with his feet apart and gestured up the stairs. "Could you please face each other on the second floor?"

    While waiting, he rubbed his chin and debated on the next pose. "Yes, now meet in the middle. Mhm. That''s right. Have your arms around one another and touch foreheads... Lovely. Now, smile. Maintain eye contact... Great. Hold it while we take the photos."

    Eve first gazed at the floor. She let the eye makeup have its moment. Her lips parted open, emphasizing the plumpness of the gloss. Warm hands squeezed her waist. Then, a nose nudged the side of hers. The moment reminded her of a puppy.

    With that, an image of Ambryan with a dog filter came to her mind.

    Her snort echoed across the room.

    She mmed her hand onto her mouth.

    It was Ambryan''s turn to be suspicious. "What were you thinking about?"

    "Nothing," she denied, waving it off with her hand. "Let''s get back to our pose."

    He grabbed her wrist. "But I want to know."

    Her lips pressed together to suppress the next flood of giggles. The image resurfaced again but this time the dog filter had its tongue sticking out. "It''s not something that will kill you if you never know about it."

    Ambryan lowered his head until his lips hovered near her ear. His breath tickled the tip, brushing over the skin. "Either you tell me now or you won''t sleep tonight."

    Eve gulped. Now that she calmed down, she got a better look at his face. The topic was ridiculous, she couldn''t imagine that he''d take it seriously. So this had to be a joke, right? He just wanted to know if she''d change her mindsee if she''d walk right into the trap?

    "Fine. How aboutter?" Shepromised. When his eyes narrowed in doubt, she quickly cleared up her side of the bargain. "I promise! Just help me go through my slowgram ount."

    "What''s wrong with it?" Ambryan released her wrist and she ced her hand back around behind his neck. He felt her fingers y with the stubble.

    Shrugging, Eve choked on her amusement. This was so going to be good! "I just think a little visual will help you understand what I mean."

    Ambryan considered it for a moment. "Alright."

    He rested his forehead on hers again, not allowing her to break eye contact this time. The hazel contact lenses stared back at him. His hand cupped her cheek and caressed it. In doing so, his thumb crawled over her skin until the tip touched the corner of her lips.

    They opened about a centimeter apart, gasping faintly.

    Ambryan acted on instinct. His head tilted sideways and leaned forward. He closed his eyes halfway. Their noses touched again but he aimed differently this time. His target was a pair of bubblegum pink lips. They invited him in, tempting him to try what vor her lips held this time.

    .

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    "That''s a wrap! Thank you!"

    Cale flinched when Ambryan snapped his gaze in their direction.

    He wouldn''t have interrupted but the atmosphere had changed. The two had retreated to their little bubbleunable to hear the director when they had a private conversation up the steps.

    If they hadn''t called them out, the temperature in the room would have risen significantly.

 Chapter 253: Night One: Bed in the Clouds

    Chapter 253: Night One: Bed in the Clouds

    "Ambee,e here."

    Eve raised her cellphone in one hand while the other one held Ambryan''s. She tugged him closer, stopping him from walking. The screen reflected what the front camera could see. She beamed at the camera as Ambryan''s legs appeared from the side.

    Once he was close enough, she changed the angle so it would capture his face.

    His head tilted sideways when he noticed that the device was recording. Then, dog ears and nose emerged on the screen, matching them to where they should appear on his face. His eyebrows shot up and the dog ears unfolded to mimic his expression.

    Eve bursted into cackles. She ended the recording and clutched her stomach.

    It had turned out better than she expected! Her knees began to give up. The weight of the ballgown suddenly came flooding back to her senses. The photoshoots had finally ended. She could rx little, letting herself fall onto the side of her legs.

    Her stomach ached from the uncontrobleughter. Her throat squeezed until she couldn''t make a sound other than literal wheezing.

    "I take it that was what you wereughing about?" Ambryan guessed. He got down on one knee beside her and scowled slightly.

    "It was funny. You have to admit." She giggled and rewatched the whole thing. The video showed her first with the same filter. Her wide smile made her eyes squint. She could hardly see the hazel contact lenses.

    Another round of cackles barked out of her mouth when Ambryan came to the picture.

    Then, an idea shed in her mind. "AH! Wait, wait, wait"

    Ambryan merely frowned. He debated on what to do. One hand, she was happy about the whole thing. On the other, she was making fun of him. They had teased each other countless times but this had to be the first time he felt embarrassed.

    Eve took a screenshot of him with the filter.

    His scowl deepened. "What are you?"

    The answer to his question came when she set the photo as her background for her lock screen. Eve tested it by pushing the power button then, pushing it again to make it light up. The shocked expression of Ambee the Dog greeted her sight.

    "OHMYAH! THIS IS TOO GOOD! I CAN''T!" Eve shrieked in amused hysterics. Somehow, she managed to capture a second screenshot with a serious Ambee the Dog and had it be her home screen.

    Now, every time she turned her phone on, Ambee the Dog seemed shocked from the sudden intrusion. Then, his expression changed into a deadpan one as if waiting for her to let him live in peace behind a ck screen.

    With his face now both on her lock screen and her home screen, Ambryan considered it enough reason for him to protest. "So you now see me as aughing stock, huh?"

    Eve straightened her spine and shook her head. His tone had dangerously gone low. The roots of her hair rose up. "What? Come on, you also tricked me into a photo for your phone! This is just payback. We''re even now."

    "At least, I had taken a nice photo of you."

    "Well, I wanted a cute puppy photo of you." She lit up her lock screen, pressing the side of her phone to her face. "Why would I need a pet when I have this? I am willing to bet that pet owners would also be jealous."

    Ambryan arched an eyebrow. "I''m a pet?"

    "I''m saying you''re as cute as a puppy," Eve rified. She patted his cheek twice.

    "Cute?" He repeated and leaned in closer. Her head recoiled until it hit the wall behind her. She tried to slide it across but he blocked her path with his hand. Then, his voice softened into a husky whisper. "Are you sure about that?"

    Eve gulped. Major panic rushed into her veins. She pressed her cellphone against her chest. "Um you''re not about to prove that I''m wrong, are you?"

    "Proof?" He smirked. "Now, that''s the smartest idea you said all day."

    "What? IAMBEE!"

    The floor disappeared from under Eve. What astonished her wasn''t even the fact that Ambryan had lifted her up bridal style but that he did so while she wore a humongous dress that was probably twice her weight. Her arms wrapped around his neck, worried that he might drop her.

    He shifted her weight onto one arm and unlocked a room in the same hotel.

    Her head snapped towards the end of the hallway. Neither Cale nor the crew was in sight. Since when had they been alone? Ambryan stepped inside sideways so her skirt would fit through.

    "Wait!" She objected, getting over her shock. They were only supposed to stroll. The crew had told them there was another route back to the dressing room. She thought they had been following behind them this whole time! Especially Cale!

    But something else tickled in the back of her mind. "This isn''t right! We can''t just barge into a room! I know this is a hotel but it''s not even open yet!"

    "I have it rented," Ambryan stated. He set her down on the bed.

    "This room?" Eve gaped, supporting herself with her hands behind her. They dug into the soft duvet. Her eyes fluttered around the room. It looked exactly like how she pictured a luxurious hotel.

    Pressing one knee beside her legs, Ambryan pulled off his undone bow tie. "This estate."

    Her hazel eyes widened in his direction. "You rented the whole ce?!"

    Another smirk stretched on his lips. He lowered his head until their foreheads touched again. His hands rested on the duvet, trapping her in ce. Her only way out would be to crawl backwards but he''d catch up quickly.

    The rm bells came back to Eve. That meant he temporarilymanded everything under this roof. She was right! She knew he had a n! How could this one slip her mind?!

    "I figured you''d be exhausted after today''s shoot," Ambryan exined softly. His fingertips traced the outline of her ear. "So I asked Chris if I could rent it for the weekend. The hotel may be closed but it has enough staff to keep it clean. There is food in the kitchen and other activities. Treat it as a weekend getaway."

    He moved to the side until they were cheek to cheek. "We are also more than wee to use any room however we want."

    "Wait, I"

    Anything she had to say died when he kissed her lips. He parted them open and invited himself in. His hand circled around her waist to support her lower back. Lifting her up by the knees, he moved her further back until her head rested on the pillows.

    "Ambee, we can''t" Eve gasped when he trailed kisses along her jaw. Her eyes stayed close.

    Ambryan continued on his path, searching for the sensitive spots on her neck. "Can''t what?"

    She turned her head to the side and pressed her lips together. "You know"

    "I know what?" He teased her. The corner of his lips curled up when she moaned in her throat.

    "Please don''t make me say it," Eve begged.

    Ambryan stopped to see her face. He cupped her cheek and brushed his thumb over it. Her hazel eyes stared up at him deliriously. She waspletely vulnerable under him.

    "Are you scared?" He kissed the tip of her nose. "So am I."

    Eve blinked, waiting for her vision to clear. "Huh?"

    "I''ve never wanted you more than I have now," Ambryan admitted. He undid the first two buttons of his dress shirt, suddenly feeling a little too hot. The flecks in his violet eyes had darkened significantly. "I may not be able to control myself."

    "WaitHuhWhat" Eve tried to control her consciousness. It had started to slip away again when his lips kissed the spot under her ear. Her eyes half-closed on instinct. "Ambee, please."

    This time, he responded without looking and traced a path back to her lips. "We won''t go all the way if you don''t want to. But I really have no intentions to let you go tonight."

    Ambryan reached for the back of her dress. It really was big. He couldn''t kneel properly because of the hoop skirt that forced his knees to be further apart. His finger pinched the zipper''s pull and yed with it, asking for her permission to open the dress.

    Eve grabbed both of his cheeks and pushed him off long enough to breathe. True to his word, Ambryan simply moved to tease her under her jaw. His lips grazed ces she''d never thought about, particrly a spot that nestled along her neck and under her chin.

    "I just feel like this is happening a little too fast," she said in between breaths.

    Ambryan pulled the zipper by a centimeter, testing her reaction. "How?"

    "I don''t knowI justthere''s still so much to talk about" Eve managed to stutter. Slowly, everything came rushing back to her. The magic that transpired since he joined her on the shoot dissipated.

    He didn''t even know the truth yet. Would this be okay? A hot kiss that seared the skin where her neck and shoulder met distracted her for a second. She gasped, sucking in a breath and pausing. Her lips mped shut but a moan had managed to slip out.

    ''No!'' She scolded herself. She had to tell him! And she had to do it now! It could ruin everything up to this point but that didn''t matter. What was important was that he knew exactly who she was.

    So if they were to keep going, she wanted him to ept her wholly,

    "Like what, Eve?" Eve heard him say when she hadn''t said anything else in a whileas if mocking her for losing her concentration. He was doing it on purpose and was rubbing it in!

    She wasn''t about to let him this time around!

    "Like" That was when her brain suffered from a shot circuit as his words sank in.

    She pushed his shoulders back so she could see his face. "What did you just say?"

 Chapter 254: Night One: An Evening to Remember

    Chapter 254: Night One: An Evening to Remember

    Ambryan fell on his side.

    He propped an elbow on the pillows, angling his body towards Eve. The skirt of her ballgownid under his legs. He shrugged off the jacket for additionalfort. A soft sigh escaped his lips. It seemed like his previous intentions would have to wait.

    Despite his rxed demeanor, Eve stared at him with horrified eyes. She sat halfway up and waited for him to respond. Bits of her hair came loose from the braids and stuck out in different directions.

    "Do you really think I''m a fool?" Ambryan asked, raising an eyebrow. "How could I not recognize my own secretary? You specifically mentioned not to bring her anywhere you''d be."

    Eve didn''t buy it. She scoffed and said, "Last time I checked, Sir Hathaway, you had the impression that Mikael was my boyfriend. It even came to the point where it caused a little riff between us."

    Her arm mimicked his position. "Now, if that was your idea of getting me to confess then, that was really mean. Were you feeling narcissistic at the time that you wanted to hear me say it was you who I was dating?"

    A wide grin spread across Ambryan''s face. (A/N: No, he''s just pleased to hear you say that now and that you stayed loyal to him even when you couldn''t admit who your boyfriend was. Very narcissistic of him, indeed. *munches popcorn*)

    "So it was that!" Eve used him. She mmed her hand onto the duvet.

    "Of course not," he objected, shaking his head. "I found out a littleter than that."

    The realization came when he least expected it.

    It started off as a passing thought. Then, slowly the pieces connected themselves in his head. Who else could his mother mean? Why wasn''t he allowed to investigate her? And why did she believe he could figure it out?

    "And?" Eve uttered when he didn''t say anything else.

    She was dying to know how it happened! Not even Avery told her anything! Did the madam even know? How about Cale? Was she purposely left in the dark?

    Her voice broke him out of his reverie. "And what?"

    "How did you find out?" She eximed. "Was it something I said? Something I did? Did you overhear me? What? Come on, tell me! What gave it away?"

    "You weren''t there when it happened so you didn''t slip." Ambryan frowned after hearing his own words. "Which I should be worried now that I think about it. You did a good job keeping yourself from being found out. I wonder how many secrets you have."

    "What secrets?" Eve snorted, Jane lingering in the back of her mind. She pushed the thought away and refused to let it ruin their time. Her eyebrows scrunched out of the blue. "That would exin your sudden interest in my lunch."

    Ambryan tucked a loose hair strand behind her ear. He somehow felt lighter now that this had been cleared up. "Did I overwork you that much that you''d eat in the middle of working?"

    "I eat in the middle of working because it''s less awkward than going to the cafeteria," Eve reasoned. She did know other employees to eat with but their schedules didn''t always match. Depending on the urgency, she would end up spending her break on her desk in the end.

    It naturally just became that way.

    At least, this arrangement allowed her to render less overtime. Or, if she was lucky, none at all.

    "Again. Did I overwork you that much?" Ambryan repeated. He had once witnessed her lunch box still almost full despite how she only had 15 minutes left of her break. She only took one bite before being buried in her work.

    Eve showed him a lopsided smile. "What do you think?"

    He shook his head in return. Clearing his throat, Ambryan yed with the beadings on the skirt and traced them with his fingers. The dress suited her well like he predicted. They had shown him countless designs but this one had the right splendor he wanted.

    "Is that it?" Eve spoke after a while. "You have nothing else to say?"

    "What should I say?"

    "That I lied to you? Or that I went behind your back and epted a deal with your mother?" She cited as examples. It couldn''t be this easy. The guilt and worry had been eating her up for weeks! There should be more to this.

    Ambryan scowled. He looked up from the skirt and met her gaze. His eyes softened when he saw the distress in them. He pulled her close and wrapped her in his arms. His fingers brushed against the zipper. The tips made contact with her skin, causing her to shiver.

    There was the response he had been looking for.

    "It''s my mother we''re talking about. She would have her way if she truly wanted it," he told her, caressing her hair and kissing the top of her head. "Since I met your sisters and heard about your family situation, I can understand how she persuaded you. I''m also in a simr boat where I have my own bargain with her."

    Eve nodded, understanding what he meant. Relief washed over her. She clutched onto his dress shirt and buried her face against his chest. She took a moment to let it sink in. Ambryan had known! He had discovered the truth and still wanted to be with her.

    What had she done to deserve this kind of happiness?

    It sounded like a dream.

    Ambryan traced her spine while sheposed herself. Everything about her enraptured his senses: her scent and her touch in particr. He closed his eyes and only focused on her in his arms. All these years they stayed about a meter away from each other.

    Oh, how they wasted time.

    Eve tilted her head up. "Were you really going to buy the roller skating rink?"

    "You still remember that?" He teased, grinning like an idiot.

    She snorted at his amused face. "How could I not remember such a ridiculous idea?"

    "I''m still considering it."

    "No."

    "Not even as an anniversary present?"

    "Absolutely not."

    "How about for your birthday?"

    "Ambee!" Eve pped his arm lightly.

    He nuzzled his nose against her shoulder. "If I had known you were this cute when you get riled up, I should have done it more often over the years."

    Eve rolled her eyes. "Allow me to express that I have different views on that."

    At some point, she had wondered if things would be awkward once the truth came out. It seemed like that was also something she shouldn''t worry about. If she thought about it carefully, the lines had blurred slightly during herst days at work.

    Maybe it was a good thing he kept his discovery a secret.

    Heavens knew she''d b her mouth in defending herself if he confronted her head on.

    "So" Ambryan traced a path from her neck up to her jawline. His mind already wandered in another ce. The much needed talk had finally happened. There should be nothing else to block him tonight.

    Eve gulped, goosebumps rising from her skin. "S-So?"

    "Is there anything else to talk about?" He asked, pressing his cheek against hers. His lips touched her ear. "Because if not, I''d love to resume where we left off before this discussion."

    "Ambee, I" Eve closed her eyes and hitched a breath. He had targeted a sensitive spot. It was cheating! She hadn''t even said anything yet!

    Ambryan came up to kiss her forehead.

    "We don''t have to go all the way," he reminded her while taking her hand. He pressed his lips on the back of her fingers. "But you have to understand. Because of that secret, you kept your distance from me no matter how close you were. Then, you decided to quit your job and I thought you left but you picked up the phone. There''s only one you now and I''m not about to let you keep this wall up between us."

    Eve knew what he meant. It must have been hard whenever she tried to widen the distance between them. Had he experienced doubts like she did? Every time she refused him, did he think she''d leave once this over? That her feelings might not be true?

    Her hazel eyes drooping at the corners, she ran a hand through the side of his hair.

    Ambryan seized his chance and pulled the zipper down further.

    "At least, let me be the one to undress you," he said.

    "Hey!"

    His hand met bare skin underneath. "No bra, huh?"

    "How shameless!" Eve reddened at the ears, averting her gaze. Breathing proved to be difficult under the circumstances."I-If you wanted to wear one, I''d get one in your size."

    The temperature rose significantly and her skin lit up on fire. She could feel a bead of sweat trickle down her scalp. Her awareness of him heightened further. Anywhere he touched burned a mark. He had created a map on her skinces he considered as his territory.

    "Hm," Ambryan hummed. He slipped the zipper until it reached her lower back. "You do know you''re the one who had been snuggling her face on my bare chest? Do you have any idea what that does to a man?"

    "They suddenly want to shave their chest hair?" The words escaped Eve''s lips before she could process them. The cringe made her flinch. She shouldn''t have attempted to joke at all.

    Ambryan moved his lips against hers.

    Eve gradually melted into it. This kiss now became different in her eyes. They are no longer for Evangeline Reedbut for Everlee Hart, instead. That reality fuelled her desires for more.

    She ced her hand behind his neck and pulled him closer. Ambryan reached the end of the line with the zipper. Both of his hands stroked her bare back. She gasped onto his lips. With the bodice loose, the fabric detached from her skin.

    Cold air grazed the top of her breasts.

    Ambryan kissed the corner of her lips.

    Then, her jaw.

    Then, her neck.

    Until his lips trailed down her chest.

 Chapter 255: Day Two: The Morning Report

    Chapter 255: Day Two: The Morning Report

    <em>> A Fairy Tale Come to Life: Ambryan and Evangeline</em>

    <em>```</em>

    <em>Just when we thought nothing can believe more in love, Ambryan Hathaway and Evangeline Reed had exceeded our expectations. The couple had been reportedly spotted at Zehell Castle. This old estate had been refurbished as a hotel by its owner... and it seems like the restoration process is over!</em>

    <em>Ambeevan (as fans decided to call them) brings us into the establishment with eyes full of wonder and awe. Photos appeared on the hotel''s website, advertising its open appointments for party events. The couple dancing under lit chandeliers is a sight too dazzling to behold. Whoever came up with this marketing strategy knew what they were doing!</em>

    <em>And where did the pair head after that?</em>

    <em>Who knows?</em>

    ```

    .

    Eve gazed outside the balcony.

    She leaned against the doorframe and admired the view. A white robe hugged her body. It was the only clothing in the room apart from the ballgown. She wrapped her arms around herself, the autumn air almost seemed like winter.

    But the sunrise looked beautiful as always.

    "You''ll catch a cold."

    Her brown eyes nced over her shoulder.

    A tall figure hugged her from behind. Warm arms sheltered her from the chilly atmosphere. A broad back provided a strong support. Her body rxed, slightly leaning backwards. She could get used to this.

    "Well, not anymore," Eve joked.

    Ambryanid his head on top of her shoulder, setting half of his weight onto her. He wore a robe simr to hers. His nose almost tickling her neck, he kept his eyes closed. She could feel his chest against her back as it rose and fell.

    "Why are you up early?" He mumbled.

    A chuckle escaped her lips. "I''m surprised you weren''t up yet."

    "We stayed up quitete if I remember right."

    "And whose fault was that?"

    "Well, I have no regrets."

    Ambryan grinned to himself. His hold around her tightened on reflex. Memories came rushing in his head. Such was human nature to keep wanting more once they had a taste. Despite the night''s events, he felt like nothing could ever fully satisfy his desiresbut to feed it over and over again as if a bottomless pit.

    "Such shamelessness," Eve muttered, shaking her head.

    Comfortable silence enveloped the two. Ambryan rested a little more. When he found that the spot next to him was empty, his eyes immediately shot awake. Then, his sight was greeted by beautiful crimson hair that shined under the warm-colored sunset.

    He stood up and walked over without a second thought.

    He wanted to touch her as long as possible during this weekend.

    "Have you ever been in a hot tub?" Ambryan said out of the blue.

    Eve scowled at the horizon. "No?"

    "There should be one in the bathroom. Or maybe another suite has it," he continued, thinking of more ways where he could possibly keep her close and touch her. "I heard it''s effective at keeping someone warm."

    "It would be a huge letdown to its name if it can''t." She snorted.

    Chuckling, he lifted his head and whispered in her ear. "So do you want to try it?"

    Eve shivered from the breath in her ear. She considered the idea just to amuse him. But then, a low grumble came from her stomach. Sure enough, it should be time for the most important meal of the daywhich, for her, also meant one more thing.

    "I think I want a cup of coffee," she decided. "And I think you need a cup of tea."

    Turning around, she tapped his nose and clenched her hand into a fist right after. The temptation to further mess up his bed hair was growing strong. This had to be his most handsome state. And to think barely anyone has seen it apart from her.

    Ambryan pressed his lips on her fingertips. "Brew it for me?"

    She smiled, returning the gesture with a peck on his lips. "Just how you like it."

    .

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    .

    Jane woke up early, ecstatic for the news.

    She jerked into a sitting position and snatched herptop from the bedside table. The party had been a sess except for one small incident. It was good that she mixed it up a bit. Otherwise, all her parties would look the same.

    Herptop booted in her hands while she wondered about the headlines.

    ''What will it be this time?'' She mused in her head. ''Magnificent? Enviable? Vivacious?''

    The possibilities were endless! Everyone raved about the party during the event. They hadplimented her about it even after it ended. It should be all over the media by now. How could she top this next year? It was getting harder and harder to think.

    But, at least, they pay off.

    Jane clicked on the web browser and

    .

    > A Ball for Two? Ambryan Hathaway and Evangeline Reed Sure Makes Us Want to!

    > The Debate: Is Evangeline Reed Wearing a Wedding Dress or Not?

    > Is Ambryan Hathaway Finally Tying the Knot? Sure Looks Like It!

    > Ambryan Hathaway Shows Off His Girlfriend in Splendor!

    > A Prenuptial Shoot in Disguise! Or So We Hope!

    .

    She opened a new tab, logging into Twittah.

    The hashtags trending were: #Ambeevan, #ZehellCastle, #RomanceIsReal, #WhereIsMySoulmate, #YourFavoriteHyung

    Her heart thumped loudly in her ears. The air in her chest had gone missing. No matter how much she sucked in air, it would never fill up her lungs enough. Theptop fell from her hands. Her vision began to blur at the edges.

    She stood up only to find weak legs. Her knees almost gave in under her. She forced them to move, walking around the bed and supporting herself every time she seemed to fall.

    Questions flooded in her mind.

    Was that what Ambryan had to do? Was that the reason he missed her party? He couldn''t even spare her a day! Jane threw a hairbrush onto the floor. That night should have been hers! This day''s news should have been hers! It was supposed to be the highlight of her year!

    How could they keep taking things away from her?

    She bowed her head and scrunched her hair in frustration. Her body trembled all over. "HowHow is this happening? That should have been me."

    Jane paused, stiffening at her words. She slowly looked up. Her hands stayed in the same position as if carrying a heavy load. She had her mouth open. shes of her Sweet Sixteen surfaced from her Sweet Sixteena scene simr to the ones in the articles.

    Up until now, Ambryan had only done something like that with her.

    "That should have been me," Jane repeated.

    Then, her amber eyes saw red.

    She yanked the door open and marched out onto the hallway. The servants recoiled in fear from the wild look in her gaze. Her disheveled light blonde hair amplified the crazy expression. She ignored them and made her way to the staircase, her hand scraping the wall along the way.

    "M-Miss" One of them attempted to tap her from behind.

    "Get away from me!" Jane shrieked, shoving the servant away. The rest gasped from her actions. They stepped back and watched her lips thin into a grim line. There wasn''t a trace of the young miss they knew.

    Just who was this person in front of them?

    "Jane!" Her father yelled from the first floor. He bounded for the steps, running up to her side. This had never happened before. She hadn''t hit anyone in any of her tantrums. They had always been pure screams and wailing on her bed.

    Twisting her neck, Jane faced him with indifference. "Dad."

    Stuart Wilson stopped a meter away and tried to catch his breath. He hadn''t exerted that much exercise in years. There could only be one reason behind her actions. "Is this about the news?"

    His daughter chose not to reply.

    "What were you nning to do?" He demanded, stepping closer.

    Jane red in his direction. She threw her hands in the air and howled in pure anger. "I don''t know. Something! I can''t sit still knowing that she is unting Ambryan right to my face! And I know that''s what she''s doing! Why else did it happen on my birthday?"

    Resisting to shut his eyes, Stuart raised his hands in surrender before taking another cautious step. He should have done better. Maybe it wouldn''t havee to this. He had always managed to give her what she wanted.

    How could this be an exception?

    How could this be the one to push her this way?

    "Jane...," he spoke softly. Others might say he was ipetent as a father but this had always been the way he expressed his love for her. He knew nothing else. "That''s enough. Making an impulsive decision won''t make things better."

    "And so?!" She wailed, hitting the wall with the side of her fist. Tears ran down her cheeks. "Nothing seems to go right anyway!"

    Her knees fully cave in and thudded on the hardwood. Her arms shot out to keep her from dropping face-first onto the floor. Droplets of tears fell from her chin.

    "I could forgive stealing the spotlight on my special day..." she spoke softly. Her wide eyes stared at nothing. "I could forgive anything if I had Ambryan with me. He had been who I wanted ever since. Nothing I have could match this ache in my chest. There isn''t anything else. Nothing else.."

    She gave in to her sobs. People said that hard work pays off that good efforts would be returned tenfold. It was those principles that helped her hope. Where did sheck? What hadn''t she done yet? Just how much did it take for the one she loved to return her feelings?

    Far away screams sounded in her ears.

    But the longer they continued, the more she realized they were her own.

    "Jane" She heard her father say. A rough hand touched her arm. "Come, dear. Let''s have breakfast. We''ll talk about it, okay? Let father hear all your frustrations so he could help you."

 Chapter 256: Day Two: A Couple of Idiots

    Chapter 256: Day Two: A Couple of Idiots

    Staring at theputer screen, Elias tilted his head sideways.

    Any social tform he went to, news about a certain couple always came up. The photos had circted everywhere that he had seen them too many times to count. A bit more and uninterested people might be sick of them.

    But it seemed like things were going well for the couplewhich meant someone shouldn''t be happy. He looked up Jane''s birthday party. The search results were still a lot. The good managed to outweigh the bad which was only one and it had caused a little debate on the truth of who was at fault.

    He considered it as a generous amount of publicity still except she wouldn''t be thinking that way. What would be her next move? His gaze flickered towards his mobile phone. The deadline in their conversation was tomorrow.

    Would she call now since this happened?

    A dull ache seeped into Elias''s head. As much as he dreaded it, Jane should make her move soon. Then, he''d be free of anything associated with her.

    He closed the tabs and stood up from his swivelling chair. His arms stretched over his shoulders. He had a project to do today but he''d keep his phone on vibrate. Who knew if someone would make impulsive decisions again?

    .

    .

    .

    .

    .

    Jane stared nkly at the dining table.

    The food on her te was untouched. No matter how well lit the room was, she couldn''t bring herself to feel the same. Her insides felt hollow. Her body felt numb. She became nothing but a shell. It had to happen.

    At least, the pain wasn''t there anymore.

    Stuart set his fork down. He had hope that she''d do the same after he took a few bites. His hand reached out to touch her, reminding her of anything about the physical world. She needed toe back if they were to discuss this n.

    "Jane" he uttered. His throat constricted, making it harder to talk. "Please eat, dear. Don''t let this affect your health. The chef made your favorite souffle pancakes today. She''s really concerned about you. We all are."

    But her lips remained sealed.

    Sighing, Stuart scooted his chair closer. He sat at the head of the table while she took up his left. The seat to his rightid empty. "Dear, if this hurts you so much, I will have to take action. I can''t let people think they can hurt you however they want. If I could, you''d bear no pain at all."

    Jane snapped her head towards him. Her nk eyes widened in shock.

    "Don''t touch Ambryan," she warned him. "You''ve always med him but it''s me who isn''t good enough. Nothing I do is enough for him to see me as a woman."

    "How could you not be good enough for any man?!" Her father protested. He mmed a fist onto the table. An exasperated sigh flowed out of his lips. "There are other men out there, honey"

    "But I don''t want another man!" Jane yelled. Her neck twisted to the other side while her eyes red at the floor. "You''ve told me that you''d respect my wishes even when you''ve disapproved of me having a rtionship with Ambryan."

    Her hands gripped tighter on herp. "I thought you loved me. But you wouldn''t set your pride aside just to make me happyjust because Ambryan refused to help sponsor your election campaign."

    Stuart stiffened at the mention of funds. The Hathaway wealth and influence were part of the reasons he could tolerate the idea of having Ambryan as a son-inw. They both knew how to act civilized in public which made their interactions easier. It would work in its own way despite his objections.

    The advantages were too tempting to set aside.

    He gritted his teeth. Even if Ambryan refused, there was still a way to get those funds. After all the previous partnerships they had, this should be reasonable enough. Anyone would be bitter from being cut off like that.

    "Is this what you really want, dear?" He spoke softly, taking her hand in his.

    Jane shifted her gaze back on him again. The daze expression on her face sparked a bit of life. Her dull eyes saturated at his sudden interest and support.

    "More than anything," she breathed out.

    "Then, if we''re doing this, we have to get rid of roadblocks first." Her father nodded. This time, determination fuelled his nerves. "Starting with a woman named Evangeline Reed."

    .

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    .

    .

    "Missy! You''rete! Late,te,te! I heard it from someone else already! Our friendship is over! This is utter betrayal! How could you let someone else know before me?!"

    "You mean you found out on the inte?" Eve yawned, not the least bit worried. She wore a long-sleeved flowery dressd to have something decent to wear. She couldn''t imagine wearing that robe all day.

    Her eyebrows shot up when she saw Cale on the other side of the door. He wore a mischievous grin on his face, eager to ask her questions about the night. She quickly grabbed the paper bag and thanked him for the help.

    Just when she thought she had escaped, she spotted the underwear he provided

    "Yes! The whole world knows!" Andie wailed as she paced around the kitchen of her apartment. Jarrett sat on the stool, enjoying his te of pancakes. "I can''t believe you let this happen! I should always be the first person in on the gossip! What other use is being a best friend other than that?"

    Eve rolled her eyes. She sat on the bed with her legs crossed over the edge. "Gee, Andie. Thanks."

    "You''re wee."

    "I miss yoouuu," she gushed, half-meaning it and half-puckering up to her best friend.

    Andie narrowed her stormy blue eyes. "And why is that?"

    "You always made the best breakfast." Eve grinned.

    "So you only miss me for my food?"

    "Well, the way to my heart is through my stomach so yes."

    "I''ll try to remember that next time," Ambryan spoke behind Eve. He lied on the bed with his back on against the headboard and aptop on hisp. The keys tapped softly as he typed about urgent inquiries from the board of the directors.

    "Is that Ambryan in the background?" Andie sat on a stool across from Jarrett. Thetter poured coffee from the pot and into her mug. She grabbed it, puckering up her lips in his direction for a flying kiss.

    "Yes, it is."

    A slight smirk began to form on Andie''s lips. "Did you spend the night together?"

    "I''ve been meaning to talk to you about that." Eve rose to her feet, heading for the balcony. This was a conversation she''d rather not have her boyfriend hear. Her predictions indicated that it would only fuel his growing ego and shamelessness.

    "Oh?" Andie challenged. Her eyebrow arched up. "Is there something the world doesn''t know yet and I get the privilege to be the first person to hear this news like it should always be?"

    Eve sat on a bench and chuckled. "That depends if Cale hasn''t figured it out yet."

    "If it''s Cale, I can forgive."

    Another chuckle escaped her lips. "So Ambryan told me that he knows about the dual identity."

    "Yes, we''ve talked about this before." Andie frowned, not realizing what she meant yet. "He knows your name is not really Evangeline Reed and that you could be this random stripper from a club or this jobless hobo in a dark alley."

    "That''s quite an imagination." Eve''s face turned into a deadpan expression.

    "Well, he seemed pretty confident in epting whoever you might turn out to be. I''m just stating whatever extreme possibility I could think at the moment. There should be better ones but I haven''t taken a sip of coffee yet."

    "You might want to have that drink before I tell you more."

    "Okay," Andie muttered, raising the mug to her lips.

    Eve listened for the slurp and timed her news perfectly. "What I mean to say was that Ambryan knows that Evangeline Reed is his former secretary, Everlee Hart."

    The glorious sound of spitting coffee reached her ears.

    "Say that again?!" Andie demanded. She pushed herself off the stool and set the mug down. She resumed her pacing around the kitchen while catching Jarrett''s confused look from the corner of her eye.

    She paused from walking and repeated the words towards him. "Did I hear you right, Eve? Ambryan knows that he has been dating his secretary who he spends 5 days a week with this whole time?"

    Eve scrunched her eyebrows. "Is Jarrett there?"

    "Yep, he is."

    "Tell him he can''t use my coffee mug," she said. "I don''t want the trace of his spit on it."

    Andie nced over her shoulder just in time to see Jarrett wash down the mouthful of pancakes with a drink from Eve''s coffee mug. She grinned, saying, "Jarrett, Eve says you''re an amazing fiance for keeping mepany since I''m alone at the apartment."

    "That''s a lie," he responded, not bothering to look up.

    "It''s true!"

    "Andie!" Eve scolded from the other line. "Focus!"

    "Right, right."

    Andie peeled her gaze off her fiance. "What was our topic again? Right! Mr. CEO finally knows your identity. Tell me all the details!"

    Eve pressed her lips together, deciding how to narrate this. "I would but I can''t."

    "What do you mean you can''t?"

    "Because he wouldn''t tell me how he found out."

    "Wait, wait, wait" Andie said. "He figured it out?"

    A tired sigh came from the other side. "Yes."

    "But he''s an idiot."

    "Andie!"

    A hand snatched away Eve''s phone. She opened her mouth to protest but Ambryan already had it pressed against his ear. He gestured for her to make room on the bench. Like Eve, he changed out of the robe for a simple white shirt and dark blue trousers.

    "I heard that you know," Ambryan spoke into the mic. "Is that really how you should treat the person who helped you? I doubt an idiot would manage to do what I did."

    "Hey, back off, mister! This is a girls only conversation!"

 Chapter 257: Day Two: Salty as Cheese

    Chapter 257: Day Two: Salty as Cheese

    "Hey, back off, mister! This is a girls only conversation!"

    Eve leaned in until her chin almost touched Ambryan''s shoulder. "Don''t lie. You''ve been leaking our conversation to Jarrett this whole time."

    Andie scoffed, brushing it off with a wave of her hand. "He just happened to be in the same room. I don''t control where he goes and where he doesn''t go."

    "Didn''t you kick him out of the apartment once?"

    "That was an exception!" She quickly defended. With two against one, her wits were at a disadvantage. She decided to change the topic. "Anyway, Ambryan. I thoroughly appreciate that you managed to take the bakery back. I don''t want to know exactly how since it would have been a lot of money. Nheless, thank you. That''s on behalf of everyone who works there."

    Ambryan nodded along. Instead of buying out the property, he had searched for someone who''d want to do business with the bakery. Most of the people he considered were close to retirement and would appreciate the passive ie on the rent.

    "How''s Jarrett doing?" He asked.

    Andie nced at the said topic of conversation. He stood up and ced his empty te on the sink. Her voice lowered in volume a bit. "Well, an agency has taken him in. Thank goodness."

    At that, Ambryan frowned. "He doesn''t want to go back?"

    "I''m not sure. Ask him yourself at another time."

    "I see" he muttered. It would take time to get Jarrett back in public service. To have a job was better than nothing at all. "Well, tell me if there''s anything else I can do to help. Don''t think about how big or small it is."

    "Hmmm," Andie considered. She folded her free arm over her stomach and propped an elbow over its wrist. "Since you offered then"

    "Yes?" Ambryan rose to his feet, leaving Eve alone on the bench. She scowled in his direction. What could Andie possibly ask that she wasn''t allowed to hear? It wasn''t like neither of them would tell her about it.

    They would tell her about it, right?"

    Andie held up a finger despite how he couldn''t see her. A serious look disyed on her face. "I want dibs on every surprise you have prepared for my best friend. An incident like this can''t happen again since you already know she''s Eve. These surprises need my approval. Do you hear me?"

    The corner of his lip curled up. "I hear you perfectly. You won''t be disappointed."

    "I better not be." She snorted, exhaling sharply. "Well, I have to go. Send Eve some kisses for me. Please don''t make it gross because it''s from me and not you. Also, tell her that I''ll call againter in the day when we''re both free."

    "Got it." Ambryan nodded. He ended the call and handed the phone back to Eve. "Andie sends her well wishes and hugs. She won''t be disturbing us for the rest of the weekend either."

    Eve grabbed the mobile device. "You should have told her to send cake. So the bakery''s doing okay now, huh? Was there anything unusual about that?"

    She arched an eyebrow and crossed her arms over her chest. She did the same with her legs.

    "How about you? Has there been anything unusual going with youtely?" Ambryan shot back. He positioned his hands on either side of her, holding the edge of the bench. "Like maybe why you suddenly decided to resign from being a secretary and take up modelling full-time?"

    Eve didn''t move an inch. It was about time she got used to him blocking the light out of her eyes. The shadows on his face didn''t seem as intimidating as she recalled. "Didn''t you support the idea of me modelling full-time?"

    "That was before I knew you were my secretary."

    "I''m sure Riffle is doing a good job filling in my shoes."

    "But I get to see you less," Ambryan bluntly pointed out. All that time, he held back from acting out of turn. But now that it was out in the open, he didn''t even get a chance to do that? "You''re a lot harder to tease when far away."

    Eve fumed at that. "You didn''t have a problem with it before though."

    "That''s the point. It was before." He leaned in closer until their noses almost touched. "I''m not sure if you''ve noticed but things have changed since then."

    "Yeah," Eve trailed off. She narrowed her brown eyes and slowly stood up, forcing Ambryan to give her some space. "You didn''t want to date anyone and asked what deal I had with your mother. You scared the shit out of me."

    Her legs led her back into their hotel room.

    Ambryan smirked and followed behind her. "I remember you handled that well."

    "That was one of the good things about the dual identity," Eve started to say. She checked the kitchen for the rest of her coffee inside the pot. "I didn''t have to remember to be polite to my boss."

    "Please. You nagged me every now and then even as a secretary."

    "It''s only when you''re being stubborn!"

    "Why are you yelling at me? Am I being stubborn now?" Ambryan retorted. He snatched the coffee pot from her hands. "You just drank an hour ago. It''s not good to drink too much."

    "But it''s better to drink more in the morning thanter," Eve defended. She gripped her mug tighter and tried to reach for the pot. "Otherwise, I won''t be able to sleep early."

    Ambryan''s smirk blossomed into a full grin. "I''m hoping for that very thing though."

    Eve felt the blood rush into her cheeks.

    He took advantage of the moment and whispered in her ear. "Maybe without clothing on."

    Her breath hitched. An image of the lingerie Cale brought shed in her mind. It wasn''t like anything she wore before. The ckce barely covered anything. Who would want to wear something like it? What if the shirt was too thin that it became almost see through?

    Then, her attention shifted towards her boyfriend.

    Would he like something like that?

    "Are you thinking aboutst night?" Ambryan teased.

    She shoved him away yfully and stepped back, shaking off her previous thoughts. "Don''t you have work to do? You can go take care of it while I explore around the hotel."

    "I''d rather explore more of you."

    "Okay, now that''s going overboard." Eve objected. She put the mug down and ced her hands on her hips. "Who are you and what have you done to Ambryan? That''s unlike anything he would say."

    He showed her a boyish grin. Then, he kissed her temple. "You just angry pout so cutely I couldn''t help it. It makes you look like a small kitten that pretends to be a lion."

    She returned his look with a deadpan expression. "You really like cats, huh?"

    "I like you mo"

    Spinning on her heels, Eve headed for the door. She shut if behind her and pressed her back against its surface. It has been hours since they talkedst night. Several things had also happened in between.

    But how did it still feel like a dream?

    As if it could slip off her fingers in any second?

    She closed her eyes and sighed. Maybe that was the sign that she should be more alert. Pushing herself off the door, she walked down the hallway. Only a few workers lingered in the establishment. Most of them had already cleaned the corridors earlier so she couldn''t see them nowprobably doing more chores in the other parts of the hotel.

    One attraction caught her eye when she had the photoshoot.

    If that didn''t happen, she probably wouldn''t have noticed.

    Near a forest was a stable. Eve had heard noises from it previously but she hadn''t seen a horse yet. A caretaker speared hay outside of it and brought them to the horses inside. Her heart began to race.

    She had always wanted to try horseback riding.

    Perhaps lessons were avable.

    "Morning, miss," the caretaker greeted her with a tilt of his hat.

    "Good morning." Eve beamed. She tried to peek inside. "Are the horses feeding right now?"

    "Nah, I just restocked the food storage inside. You can go on and look at them if you like."

    Eager to meet the horses, Eve epted the invite with an enthusiastic response. The smell of manure mixed with the straw. She endured it and walked over to a stall. She shifted her weight onto her toes, sneaking a nce.

    Gorgeous big brown eyes met hers.

    The horse lifted its head and stared back. Its bushy tail flicked back and forth. Eve couldn''t peel her gaze off his shiny coat. It had an elegant beauty that she couldn''t describe. Under its gaze, she didn''t feel any malice nor any intimidation.

    In fact, the horse seemed to invite her inas if permitting her to touch its head.

    "Would you like to ride him?" A voice spoke behind Eve.

    She jumped.

    Ambryan gripped her arm before she could fall.

    "W-What are you doing here?" Eve stammered. She focused on regting her breathing and steadied herself on her feet. "Aren''t you buried with work? You''re usually busy on weekends too."

    "Madison and Riffle were more than happy to take over so I could spend more time with you," he exined. Then, his attention returned to the horse. "Of all the ces I''d thought you''d go to, I didn''t think of the stables."

    She huffed. "So what if I haven''t ridden on a horse? It''s not umon."

    "I know it''s not." He chuckled. "But I don''t think you''re dressed for riding. How about we settle on a carriage ride on the grounds instead?"

    Eve bit her inner cheek. A carriage ride also sounded good. Although, she would have preferred it during the winter season where there was snow on the ground.

    "Then, we can get lost and the driver would have to search for help while we stay in the forest alone," Ambryan continued when she didn''t say anything.

    She gave him a nk stare. "Andie''s rubbing off on you, huh?"

 Chapter 258: Night Two: (Hot)Dog Food

    Chapter 258: Night Two: (Hot)Dog Food

    "Richard, I''m on vacation," Ambryan exined into his mobile phone.

    He stepped out of the bathroom, a towel in his hand and using it to dry his hair. He was back to wearing a robea different one fromst night. His violet eyes automatically scanned the room in search of his girlfriend.

    One elbow propped on the duvet, her damp red hair flowed over her shoulders as Eve lied on her stomach on the bed. She had changed into brand new pajamas that Nanzie bought on her behalf. Its pink color reminded him of a strawberry milkshake.

    Richard frowned in his home office. "Since when did you take vacations?"

    He paced in a straight line with one hand on his hip while the other held the phone to his ear. His curly bronze hair had been freshly cut and shaved on the sides. It made him look a bit more rugged than youthful.

    "You''re like a working machine," he continued, shaking his head for a second. "Even on national holidays or when everyone else is out of the office for leisure and rest."

    Ambryan stopped in his tracks. "Are you saying that I''m not allowed to have long breaks?"

    "Well, of course you are," Richard quickly defended. Then, added quietly to himself, ''You just never bothered to take one is my point.''

    The measures they had taken just to get him to stop working were fresh in his mind. First, they needed to confiscate all of his devices. Then, they needed an itinerary to distract him from trying to get them back. Lastly, they had to trick him into the first two steps.

    Richard rubbed his forehead. It felt like he was forgetting something.

    "Where are you?" He asked.

    "I''m at Zehell Castle."

    "... the one on the news?" He recalled. A split secondter, theirst conversation surfaced in his memories. His back stiffened and his steel gray eyes widened. "Is Evangeline with you?"

    ncing towards the bed, Ambryan said, "Yes, why?"

    "Did you" Richard stammered. Blood colored his ears red just from the memory of the time he interrupted them by ident in Ambryan''s penthouse. "D-Did you"

    "Did I what?" Ambryan taunted. He sat on a chair for a table set used for afternoon snacks or tea and resumed drying his hair. The onyx strands stood up in different directions.

    Richard cleared his throat and mustered courage toplete his statement. "I mean, did you and Evangeline"

    He felt his airways shrink after thest syble. Suddenly, every word he knew flew out of his head. How should he phrase this question? Should he try being blunt? Or would his so-called best friend retort back and not respond to it at all?

    "Did we what?" Ambryan repeated, following the change.

    The second time around, Richard found his tone more daunting than usual. He shivered from the sound of it and chickened out. "Uh, never mind. It''s cool. Cool, cool, cool. Anyway, I do need urgent feedback on the email I sent you."

    Mentally, he berated himself for his cowardice. But since he was here to ask for a favor, it might have been for the best to let Ambryan win. There would always be a next time anyway and his chance woulde thenif he''d manage to survive that long.

    "If you want answers, go bother Madison. He''s taking up my duties until I''m back in the office," Ambryan stated. It had to be the only time the baby-faced old man had agreed to that request on the first try. Usually, he had to persuade more or corner Madison, leaving thetter with no option left.

    Richard raised his eyebrows at that. "Even during weekends?"

    "Especially this weekend," Ambryan emphasized. He dropped the towel onto the table and stood up, walking over to the bed. "If you call me again about work, I will block your number until I feel like adding it back."

    "Wait, no!"

    "You have three seconds to hang up."

    "I"

    "One."

    "Fine!" Richard surrendered. He gnashed his teeth and twisted his neck to the side. A bitter taste lingered in his mouthbut only for tonight. "Enjoy your dog food!"

    Eve scrolled on her phone, reading a document that Mikael had sent her. It had captured her full attention the moment she received his email. Anything Ambryan had during this time didn''t reach her ears. And the longer she stared at the soft file, the deeper her scowl became.

    Ambryan joined her by sitting on the other side of the bed. She still lied on her stomach with her legs swinging in the air. The fuzzy pajamas kept her warm from the cold autumn evening. Curious about her concentration, Ambryan bent his upper body towards the foot of the bed her head was.

    "What''s that?"

    She froze for a second.

    Then, ced the phone on the bed and turned on her back.

    The device now wedged between her pajamas and the duvet, Eve sported her best fake smile. It wasn''t something she was ready to share with him yet. "Nothing to be rmed about."

    He arched an eyebrow. "Sounds like the opposite."

    "Well," Eve considered. It wasn''t exactly relevant yet. He''d also find out when the time came. She mulled it over, ultimately deciding that she needed the time. "How about you remind me about it after a week, hm? Give me some time to get ready?"

    Suspicion rose in Ambryan. Weren''t they done with secrets?

    Nevertheless, he caved in. He could think about that another time. "Very well. I don''t need to tell you that I''d certainly remember it, now do I?"

    She beamed and gave him a salute. "I know that perfectly, boss."

    Ambryan sported a grin, wrapping her up in his arms. "Are you sure you don''t want to go back to being my secretary? I''d be more than willing to help you fabricate a third identity."

    Eve coughed out a snort. "And then what? Create a scandal that you''re cheating on Evangeline with your new secretary? What would they think about you? Hell, what would they think about me? And myself?"

    "People can mind their own business."

    She patted his cheek, finding him cute. Who knew hearing these things could make her heart flip? "That sounds sweet and all but I doubt your father would be okay with it. He still doesn''t know, right? I have to maintain a good impression for when he finds out."

    Ambryan shifted his head to kiss the palm of her hand. "He also can mind his own business."

    "Aw,e on." Eve chuckled. She shifted in her position until she lied on her side. Then, she reached up to grab both his cheeks. "You don''t really mean that. I know you look up to him a lot. His opinion matters a lot to you. I''m not about to ruin that."

    No matter how good Ambryan became at his job, he never felt satisfied by his work. He''d push himself everyday and pursue excellence. That came with a firm determination to reach his father''s level someday.

    He didn''t show it a lot but Eve knew that was the case.

    "Ruin it more than I have that is," she added in mutters, averting her eyes. Jackson should be the only person left on her list of people she hoped would forgive her for her dual identity. Although Avery had been reassuring, she couldn''t help but think that he''d take it the wrong way.

    "He adores you. Trust me," Ambryan interrupted her thoughts. It had taken him everything he had not to spill the beans when he and his father talked about Eve''s resignation.

    He had full confidence that Jackson would get over the shock in a short amount of time.

    Eve showed him a side-smileat least, she had two family members on her side when the time came. "Sorry, but I won''t trust any opinion unless I hear it from his mouth personally."

    "Suit yourself."

    Ambryan merely shrugged and pulled the back cor of her pajama top. His lips left a hot searing kiss at the base of her neck. The smell of vani tickled his nose. He dragged the back cor further, revealing more of her skin. Each spot he touched felt as soft as a marshmallow.

    "Ambee" Eve breathed out, biting her lip. Her hands clenched into fists.

    "What?" He whispered against her skin.

    "What are you"

    Eventually, the clothes gave him resistance. He trailed along the cor and slid his hand towards the right. The fabric stretched enough to uncover her shoulder. Then, he tried the same on the other side until it resembled an off-shoulder top.

    Eve grabbed a fistfut of her pajama and held it to her chest.

    It had been an entire day since hest touched her therebut she could still feel every kiss fromst night. Her body memorized it and, now, the sensations came back as if they never left. Anything his lips brushed against now heightened the lingering tingles on her skin.

    "What''s this?" Ambryan questioned. His finger hooked under a thin ck strap. "Do you normally wear something like this to bed? Mind if I have a look?"

    ''The lingerie!'' Eve screamed in her head. Nanzie hadn''t provided her with another set of underwear and so she had to wear this one from Cale. She wouldn''t normally bother but they were sharing a room!

    The weather was so cold she needed the extrayer for her peace of mind!

    Eve tried tough it off while tugging the back cor up again. Ambryan let go, watching her intensely. "No, I don''t. I usually don''t wear bras when sleeping. They can get ufortable."

    He titled his head sideways while a mischievous smirk stretched on his lips.

    That could only mean one thing.

    "Let''s get it off then."

    "Huh? Wait! Ambryan! No!"

 Chapter 259: Day Three: Where the Author Aplogizes

    Chapter 259: Day Three: Where the Author Aplogizes

    The next day, Eve visited Lotus Agency.

    Hertest appearance in the news was a hot topic up to now. Whispers spread as soon as she stepped inside. Her other advertisements had been up all over the city. She still had a long way to climb but her efforts had been acknowledged, at least.

    She smiled with each contact she made.

    If she nned to go down this path, she needed to mingle with her colleagues. She needed to build her clique for anything up aheadjust like she''d seen Avery do when thetter introduced her around.

    "Evangeline," a male voice called out to her.

    Her head turned in its direction.

    "Mikael," Eve greeted. She looked over his shoulder and added, "Jordan."

    ''Something was different about her,'' Mikael noted. Not only had her style changed but also her entire demeanor. She radiated the same confidence from when she walked down the stairs during the Rainbow Launch Party. At the same time, it seemed like she had surpassed that.

    There was a glow to her that matched any A-list celebrity.

    The corner of his lip curled up. He sort of liked this new look of hers.

    They met halfway in the lobby.

    "How are you both?" Eve smiled, holding her clutch closer to her stomach. She wore a white sweater that had trumpet style long sleeves. A fitted maroon skirt made of wool hugged her hips and upper thighs. To finish it off, she had worn knee-high ck boots.

    "I''m good," Mikael responded. "You?"

    In contrast, he had chosen jeans and a in shirt. His gray scarf stayed loose, dropping down to his waist. Itid over thepels of his dark gray trench coat. The outfit gave him a casual yet ssy appearance.

    "Same."

    "In what way?" Jordan cut in. "If anything, you''re grumpier these days."

    Mikael glowered in his direction. "And why do you think that is?"

    His modelling manager gulped. He had a little too much the other day and missed his rm. Hours had passed before Mikael banged on his door to get up. They had an appointment and they arrivedte due to this incident.

    The liquor he drank at a party had to be spiked.

    Something like that didn''t happen before.

    Jordan cleared his throat. His Adam''s apple bobbing up and down. "Did I say anything? I don''t think I have. You must be hearing things, Mikael. Tell me when it happens again so I can take you to the hospital."

    Eve chuckled at their exchange. "Has either of you seen Cale?"

    "Did I hear my name?"

    Just then, Cale walked through the entrance. The attire he opted for today easily looked like an abstract painting in a museum. Some might argue that it resembled a carpet more but thosements never reached his ears.

    They had a built in filter that threw away unnecessaryments before he could register them.

    He didn''t want them to dampen his mood when he knew he looked good anyway.

    "Cale!" Eve beamed, ncing over her shoulder. She shuffled her feet so her body faced her left. "Are you supposed to be fashionablyte?"

    "I don''t know if you heard, darling." He stopped in his tracks and removed the pink lens sunsses he wore. "But a queen is neverte. Everyone is simply early."

    Jordan was the first to chuckle. His pearly white teeth stood out against his smooth bronze skin. "That''s exactly what we all say when he arrives after everyone else. He simply stole the show the moment hees into the picture."

    "That''s true," Cale confirmed. "I''m notte this time though. The client and I met halfway here. They should be parking their vehicle now. Let''s get to the conference room and check if it''s ready for the meeting."

    Just like he said, the client showed up after a few minutes. They gathered around the table and sat down. Folders were passed formon reference. They had gone through this online and over the phone. This personal meetup was more of a formality.

    "We want this to be about several stories sewn together," the client said, going over the documents in her hands. "Everyone is connected through this cafe they visit everyday."

    The project was a videomercial that would air different points of views. It had individual stories and a part where they all came together inside the cafe as an overall ending. The approach deviated from the traditional marketing form.

    It immediately caught Eve''s interest when Cale shared the news.

    From what she knew, she and Mikael would be doing themercial together. It sort of reminded her of the times he shot the product cement for ''Define Love''. The experience should help her reach her goal.

    "You have to understand that we''ll also be working with models from other agencies," the client continued. "Namely Daisy Talent Agency as well as Oleander Models and Casting."

    At the mention of ''Oleander Models,'' Eve froze for a millisecond. She had heard of that name once before. She hadn''t forgotten it since then. A question lingered at the tip of her tongue. Her mind debated on whether to ask or to expect the worst case scenario.

    "I see." Cale blinked. His thoughts mirrored his model''s. He leaned back on his chair and crossed his arms over his chest. "Each agency will be bringing two models I suppose?"

    The client frowned at the pair. "Is there a problem?"

    "Not at all," Eve answered for the both of them. "I''m looking forward to learning more from models outside Lotus Agency. Thank you for such a project."

    "What about Mr. Davis?"

    Mikael closed the folder. Heced his hands together and set his hands over it. "I''ve worked with those agencies before. It''s wonderful to have another opportunity for it to happen again."

    "Great!" The client eximed, rising to her feet. "I''ll see you both tomorrow then."

    Pleasantries and farewells were exchanged. The models and their managers stayed inside the conference room while another worker escorted the clients to the parking lot. The former group discussed among themselves about the new project.

    Time wasn''t on their side for this one.

    "What script did you get?" Mikael inquired towards Eve.

    "It''s actually quite interesting," she replied without looking up. "I''ll be portraying a teenager, a working adult and an olddy. I''m supposed to be narrating a story about my important moments in the cafe. I think this could actually be a blockbuster."

    When she finally raised her head, she spotted Mikael''s hesitant expression. "What''s yours?"

    "I''m supposed to be a sessful businessman that visits the cafe to rx from work," he stated. The story sounded much like a romance novel online. "I also meet ady who works there and leaves me sticky notes whenever I seem stressed."

    "Aw, that''s so sweet," Jordan remarked, leaning forward to read the script. "It sounds so unlike you. I can''t wait to see it in action. Hope they let me film a part of it. Or maybe send me a copy."

    Mikael shut the folder close. "That is if you wake up on time."

    "I won''t make the same mistake again."

    "Sure, you won''t."

    Beside them, Eve showed the script to Cale. Thetter nodded at the mini plot. "I am willing to bet you got the best narrative. I can''t think of anything else that can top this. You should be proud."

    "Thank you, Cale." She grinned and closed the folder. Her hazel eyes nced at her wristwatch. "We should get going. The shoot today is at the other side of the city. If we don''t leave now, we''ll bete."

    The group shared an elevator together.

    Mikael and Jordan discussed their schedule for the week. They had it jam packed for the uing trip to France. Anything they could squeeze together, they had done so. This should be thest few weeks of projects until the training in Paris.

    Eve felt her phone vibrate in her pocket.

    Tapping on the notification led her to the DTC app

    .

    ``Yan: Are you free for lunch?``

    .

    A full-blown smile blossomed on her face. She tapped on the keyboard quickly while Ambryan''s status was still online. It was Monday so he should be swamped in workespecially if Madison and Riffle hadn''t finished what needed to be done over the weekend.

    .

    ``Lin: Why?``

    ``Yan: I was thinking I could cook for you.``

    ``Lin: And what would you make?``

    .

    Ambryan had his head bowed as he stared at his phone screen. Hisputer monitor had several windows and programs opened. ``Yan: How about chipotle veggie burritos? You can take some on your way to your shoot. I just want to see you.``

    Eve raised her phone and held up a peace sign with her free hand, capturing a selfie. She sent it through the app, writing, ``Lin: There. You''ve seen me. Now, be a good boy and concentrate on your reports. The deadlines won''t be moving you know. Neither would the reports write themselves.``

    .

    ``Yan: But it''s not the same as real life.``

    ``Lin: You just want to ck. That is highly irresponsible.``

    ``Yan: I merely see it as the optimal solution to my problem.``

    ``Lin: Problem? What problem?``

    ``Yan: Yes, I have a problem that involves missing you.``

    .

    The elevator doors opened and Eve hid her phone. She twisted her neck towards her right and shielded the bottom half of her face with a hand. Her cheeks had to be burning by now.

    Cale nudged her side. A smirk stered across his face. He leaned in so the others wouldn''t hear what he had to say. "Had a fun timest night? The lingerie was the most rmended item in the store."

    "I still haven''t forgiven you for that." She red.

    "There''s nothing to forgive. Only to thank."

    Eve marched off towards the exit, hisughter echoing behind her.

    Outside the Lotus Agency, a digital billboard stood on top of a building. An advertisement for a famous brand of wine shed on the screen. The woman in the poster had poured a ss of wine over face, staining her light blonde hair.

 Chapter 260: Day Three: Dealing the Cards

    Chapter 260: Day Three: Dealing the Cards

    Elias walked into Caf Loctart, the door closing softly behind him.

    Low chatter filled the establishment. His camera bag hung on his shoulder. He tucked one hand into his jacket pocket and scanned the area. Most of the tables and chairs were upied. He considered it as a good signespecially with who he was meeting with.

    The day had inevitably arrived. He checked his watch for the time. There was still five minutes left before the appointment. His head turned towards his shoulder. The billboard in his line of sight showcased a standing in the middle of a vineyard background.

    He gritted his teeth the moment amber eyes flickered towards the camera.

    ''That woman would stop at nothing to trample Evangeline, huh?'' Elias thought. He shifted his attention back to the cafe and ran a hand through his chocte hair.

    The sooner this meeting ended, the sooner all of this could stop.

    He stopped by the cashier and ordered a milkshake. When they asked if he''d wait for it, he agreed. There wasn''t a line of orders so he received it in no time. Sipping from the straw, he smiled with any woman he made eye contact with.

    Jane spotted him doing this as he made his way towards the back.

    She huffed, drinking her cup of ck tea.

    As a rising model, she opted for a disguise. A short brown wig hid her light blonde hair while a sunhat covered the obvious lump it made over her scalp. Large sunsses shielded her eyes. The multi-colored scarf around her neck rose up to her chin and all the buttons of her tan trench coat were sped together.

    She had refused to remove any of it despite the heater in the cafe.

    It may look ridiculous but the important part was that no one recognized her.

    Elias stopped when he reached her table. The temptation to scowl was strong.

    She was easy to find even with the disguise. Who would wear a sunhat in the middle of autumn? Not only that but she brought her favorite pursea limited edition item that only 10 people owned which happened to include one person in Maize City.

    He could feel the eyes of her security team boring into his back. Just to rile them up, he flipped his camera bag open. The sounds made by releasing the safety pulls of guns reached his ears. He hid a smirk and pulled out all the contents of his bag.

    Then, he did the same with his pockets.

    Chairs scraped against the floor when the bodyguards returned to their original positions.

    With the performance over, Elias turned towards Jane. "I''m amazed at how calmly you watched the whole thing. Were you that confident that I didn''t bring a weapon?"

    "I am that confident in thepany I keep, Elias," she shot back. The cup rattled when she set it down on its saucer. The smile that blossomed on her lips didn''t reach her sinister eyes. "You would have been dead before you could even blink."

    She propped her elbows on the table and interlocked her fingers. Thetter rested against her chin. "Please have a seat. Forgive the pun but you stand out too much by standing like that."

    He chuckled but did as she said. "I''m sure you know well that good-looking people like us naturally attract attention. It''s something we can''t really avoid."

    A scowl creased her forehead. "Don''t be full of yourself. You''re not handsome by any means."

    Elias felt his temple throb. His grip on his milk shake tightened, causing the cup to crinkle. "Of course, you don''t think so. Only one man is attractive in your eyes."

    Jane smiled behind her hands. "Are we done with small talk? Tell me what''s your decision. I hope you know which one is the right answer."

    Any sense of amusement vanished from Elias''s face. His lips thinned into a grim line and he tucked in his chin. His chocte eyes darkened like soot. First thing first. "You took one of Evangeline''s advertisement projects, didn''t you?"

    "I have no idea what you are talking about." Jane sighed. She sat back and reached for her tea. "The winery simply thought of trying another model before they made a final decision on the advertisement."

    "I didn''t even mention it was the winery." Elias smirked. He let his drink go and clenched his hand into a fist. "You can''t fool me with this foul y."

    She nced at him once before taking a sip. "Is that so? Then, you know very well what would happen to you if you refuse to cooperate. You see unlikest time, I have no leverage other than sparing your life. You should have known that beforeing here."

    Elias chose to stay quiet. It was true. He cooperatedst time because of the money he needed for his studio plus the opportunity to have Evangeline as his muse. He reported Charlee Edwards as the person behind the whole scheme so Jane would know that he wouldn''t expose her.

    Ideally, he hoped she''d leave him alone after that.

    But, of course, he knew that wouldn''t happen and so he waited for her to approach him instead.

    "Trust me, Ms. Wilson," he sneered. "I had known that since the day we met."

    "Perceptive," Jane mocked him. She tilted her head sideways. "And you know the only reason I hadn''t killed you is because of this secret you know about Evangeline Reed, right?"

    "Why else haven''t I told you?"

    "And so the rules of the game must change," she concluded. Her tea cup sat empty in front of her. "Either you tell it to me right here, right now or you won''t walk out of that front door."

    "If you do that, you''d never find out."

    Jane merely shrugged. "It just means I don''t find you necessary anymore. I can''t let you escape when you know about my schemes. So what will it be?"

    Elias took a deep breath, exhaling through his nose. He folded his arms over the table and slowly leaned forward. The two of them maintained eye contact, neither one refused to surrender. The timer beside the chessboard had almost reached its limit.

    Someone needed to make the next move.

    And that someone was him.

    "Evangeline Reed is not what everyone thinks she is," Elias began to say. "You know how we tried searching about her? Her background? Her previous jobs? Her familial rtionships?"

    "Yes?" Jane frowned. "Are you saying that you were able to uncover it?"

    "I''m saying that her name isn''t even Evangeline Reed."

    She stiffened in her seat. A switch clicked inside her head. "What do you mean?"

    Elias suppressed a smile. He got her right where he wanted. "It''s a false identity. Evangeline Reed is not real. The woman is fooling Ambryan Hathaway into thinking that she is a real person."

    Jane processed the information. The edges of her vision stained red. Why was a woman like that standing by his side? Did this implicate that she had lost to a liar? How outrageous! More than a liar, she was a fraud!

    A person like that only deserved one thing.

    Something swelled inside Jane''s chestnow she had the perfect excuse for what is toe.

    Elias felt sick. The woman before him didn''t even bother to hide her delight. He could almost hear her braining up with ways to use this knowledge. Taking a sip from his milk shake, he let her imagination run wild.

    It would be easier to persuade her this way.

    Jane paused, noticing that she was getting ahead of herself. She hadn''t even asked the most important question yet. "If she''s not Evangeline Reed then, who is she?"

    "I thought I could get her to confess with that ex-boyfriend scheme." Elias pressed his cheek on his knuckles, cing his elbow on the table. "You saw it yourself. There is no record of her so it''s aplete nk. And with a nk paper you could"

    "... write anything you want."

    He nodded. It was a good n at the time. It surely brought him what he wanted while pulling along Jane so she wouldn''t interfere. He even managed to get Evangeline''s number which he chose to withhold on this meeting. It would only be a burden to the real n.

    "Is that everything you know?" Jane asked, breaking him out of his thoughts.

    "She didn''t tell me who she was but she did seem worked up when I tried to interrogate her on this false identity." Elias put the milk shake down and spun it within his hand. The bottom of the cup scraped the table. "If you y the right cards, you might get what you want."

    She arched an eyebrow and crossed her arms over her chest. "What are you saying now?"

    He beamed. Since she asked, she should be willing to listen to his opinions. "I mean, you''d tell Ambryan about this, wouldn''t you? But how could he believe you? And even if he did, how sure are you that he wouldn''t choose Evangeline still?"

    Jane averted her gaze. Who would still ept a deceiver like that? Wouldn''t it be natural to not trust that person anymore? Evangeline had lied to him about everything. It should bemon sense to be furious or upset.

    Then, she''d be the one tofort him.

    And maybe he''d finally notice how much she cared.

    "Now, if there is evidence let''s say something that could prove Evangeline''s ''real identity'' and taint her image in his eyes that''s beyond redeemable" Elias thought out loud, faking a sigh. "Then, you would have the ball in your court."

    Jane snapped her head back towards him. The gears in her head started to turn. With the nk background, it would be easy to manipte. Why not go the extra mile? Evangeline should have seen iting. It could also be another source of ckmail if needed.

    The n sounded better and better.

    "What if he finds out that it''s a lie?" Jane questioned after a moment of silence.

    Elias grinned. "Who said it couldn''t be true though?"

 Chapter 261: Night Three: Surprise Grocery Visit

    Chapter 261: Night Three: Surprise Grocery Visit

    A green-skinned monster stared back at Eve.

    But, it turned out to be her face with a green tea facial mask. She thered it on her skin, making sure to keep it out of her eyes. Cale had bought for her with the reason that she could use the extra careespecially when she wasn''t getting any younger.

    He had also told her to use a coffee scrub for her body. It felt weird to use but she appreciated the results. Her skin had never felt more smooth.

    "Ms. Eve, I will be heading out," Nanzie called from the other room.

    Eve scrunched her eyebrows, remembering what time it was. "Aren''t you going out a littlete? Is there an emergency I should know about?"

    "It''s not serious, Ms. Eve. I only want some fresh air."

    ''If she wanted fresh air, she could use the balcony,'' Eve responded in her head. She opened the bathroom door and peeked at the living room. Her bodyguard headed for the front door in full gear.

    ''Wasn''t a serious matter, huh?''

    "Well, okay." Eve sighed. Then, her voice turned into a mutter. "Have fun, I guess."

    She stepped back and checked on her y mask. Whatever it was, she''d find out at some point anyway and Nanzie was someone she could trust. They might just be tightening security around the building. The uproar from the weekend photoshoot had escted things a bit.

    When Eve stood in the middle of the living room, she heaved another sigh. It was moments like this that she missed sharing an apartment with Andie. They would be wearing this y mask together and watch whatever old movie they could find on TV.

    Eve grabbed her phone from the coffee table and lied on the couch. The timer was set so she could wash off the mask. Then, she decided to waste time by reading thest book she picked up. It took some time to remember the events but she got the hang of it after a while.

    In the midst of an adventure in a farawaynd, messages lined up her notification bar. She always put the phone on silent and on DND whenever she read. Only calls would go through since she figured that usually happened only for emergencies and for important matters.

    It gave her a peaceful time for reading.

    A few minutester, a few knocks came from the door.

    Eve stood up and continued to read. Her muscle memory remembered exactly where to go while her brown eyes focused on the climactic moment in the chapter. She processed the knocks slowly, wondering why someone was at the door.

    It eventually urred to her that her bodyguard left earlier.

    "Nanzie? Did you forget your keys?" Eve asked, pushing down the knob and pulling the door open. Then, her head snapped up suddenly. "Ah! Was this supposed to be a drill? I forgot to look into the peep hole, didn''t I?"

    Ambryan raised his eyebrows. "I must say. This shade of green doesn''t look good on you."

    "Ambee!" Eve eximed. Her eyes threatened to pop out of their sockets. "W-What are you doing here? Wait. Are you the reason why Nanzie left the apartment? I keep telling you that she lives here too you know."

    He pecked her forehead lightly with his lips. "Do you mind letting me in first before you scold me? I have a feeling this might be a long one."

    Eve put her foot down. She red up at him. "Yes, I do mind."

    "Well, I can always carry you inside."

    "I could always ask my bodyguards to kick you out."

    "And here I thought that our rtionship is progressing so well."

    "If it was, you would have brought a box of French macarons with you."

    Ambryan held up a pink box. It had a white ribbon that tied into a bow on top, doubling as the handle he could carry it by. "I do believe that''s one of the things on Andie''s list to please you."

    Eve showed him a deadpan expression. "She has a list?"

    Taking the box, she stepped aside to let him in. "I''m only letting this slide for this time. The next time you visit should be through an appointment. I want to spend quality time with Nanzie too you know."

    "I did send you a message," Ambryan defended. He shrugged off his jacket and hung it on the coat rack. "I have an early business trip tomorrow and your ce is closer to the meeting ce. I could get extra sleep by crashing here."

    At his words, Eve checked her phone and exited her ebook reader. The DTC icon showed up on top of her home screen, representing message notifications. She found it sort of amusing that they still used it tomunicate when they had each other''s numbers.

    "What about the cats?" She wondered out loud. If he was spending the night here, that meant the felines would be alone.

    Ambryan scanned the apartment. Nothing had changed since hisst visit. "Wen will feed them."

    Eve set the box down on the counter. "So you never needed me to drop by and do that, huh?"

    "Of course, I needed you to drop by." He turned his head in her direction and shed a boyish smile. Since that scheme had seeded, he didn''t need to hide his real agenda at the time. "To satisfy my own selfish reasons."

    Rolling her eyes, Eve stood on her toes and checked the cupboards. "Have you eaten dinner? I think we ran out of groceries though. We only have instant noodles left and I know you don''t like that."

    "Too much sodium."

    "See? I knew it." She chuckled. There should be some food in the fridge but they were mostly dessertsanother thing he rarely ate. It also wasn''t sustainable for a sufficient meal.

    Ambryan thought for a moment. "Isn''t there a nearby supermarket?"

    "Yeah, it''s across the street."

    Eve watched him reach for his jacket again and put it on again. Then, she opened the box of French macarons. She already had her dinner. Dessert was within her right to eat. She picked one that had the same color as the box.

    Raspberry vor coated her tongue.

    She just might finish the entire box in one sitting.

    "Well?" Ambryan asked, eyeing her up and down.

    Eve took another bite of the macaron in her hand. Then, she made a face at him while shrugging her shoulders. "Well, what?"

    "Don''t you want to wash off your mask first?"

    .

    .

    .

    "Are you suggesting that we go out to buy groceries?" Eve choked. She dashed for the refrigerator and drank from her water bottle. "Can''t you just order in or something?"

    Ambryan wrinkled his nose towards the cupboards. "It surely has more options than your apartment. It''s also close by. There''s no need to ask for extra help when it''s near."

    Somehow Eve found the setup strange. She stared at Ambryan, trying to imagine him inside a grocery store. He always looked stern that she could picture him analyzing the items like they were business documentsas if they were arge sum of investments to be made.

    She finished thest bit of her macaron and said, "Fine. Wait for me."

    Since she needed to restock on groceries, this would also be beneficial to her. Maybe he would pay for all of them? It would be a good way to save some money. Eveughed at her simple mind. She''d refused an all-expenses paid vacation in some foreign country.

    But she''d be more than happy to get free groceries.

    Soon, the couple arrived at the supermarket.

    Eve had popped in her hazel contact lenses real quick. She also changed out of her pajamas to a casual sweater and jeans. Ambryan found the push carts as soon as they walked in. He pulled one away from the pile and led the way to the first aisle.

    Milk in different sizes, colors and sources stocked the shelves. Eve skipped ahead to where her favorite one was ced. Ambryan followed behind her slowly. He examined all the milk he passed by, looking for the healthiest one to drink.

    The options ranged from skim milk, soy milk, almond milk...

    The push cart rattled under his touch.

    Not just once.

    Not just twice.

    But three times.

    Eve had ced three pink cartons inside. She grabbed a fourth one from the shelf.

    "Strawberry milk?" Ambryan chuckled, recognizing the packaging.

    "Don''t judge!" Eve defended. She hugged thest carton to her chest. "I heard every time you drink a cup, a fairy woulde by to grant a wish. It sounds silly I know but it has shaped my childhood. I haven''t outgrown it, okay?"

    "I''m not judging." He picked almond milk among his top choices. "But you should also drink other types of milk. That one has more sugar than regr white milk."

    Eve added the fourth carton to the pile. "Yet, it has a lot of nutrients like fiber and vitamins. It''s sweet but it does have less calories. You should try it sometime."

    "I''ll pass."

    "Right. You only like sour things." She went ahead towards the next aisle. Colorful wrappings greeted her sight. She beamed, crouching low in search for her next target. It should be near the other end of the shelf. Her heart raced in anticipation.

    Ambryan frowned behind her. Was she looking for a bar of dark chocte? There shouldn''t be anything else she''d be excited about in the candy aisle. Well, except the strawberry candy she had shared with him before.

    "AHA!" Eve celebrated. She held up her newly found treasure and showed it to Ambryan. The box shook in her hand. "Just like this box of NERDS."

    He chuckled and rolled the cart closer. "From the day you apologized to me."

    "... You''ll never forget that, will you?"

    "How could I?" Ambryan snatched the box from her hand and surveyed it with a smile. "Didn''t we also watch your video shoot with Mikael back then? Do you still remember what we talked about?"

 Chapter 262: Night Three: More Surprises in Store

    Chapter 262: Night Three: More Surprises in Store

    "We talked about what?" Eve asked. As the words flew out of her lips, she remembered the conversation. Her lips mped up. That had been about the product cement she helped Mikael with. Now that he knew about the dual identity, the talk sounded different from her memories.

    ```

    "Well, it''s not like I won''t ever hope this scene was shot with the person I like," Eve joked, trying to lighten both the atmosphere and her mood. "But no matter how much I wish for it, Mikael is the ambassador and actor for this scene."

    "Does that mean you want to marry him?"

    "Sir Hathaway. I know you''re curious but haven''t we just established that I can''t confess my feelings to his face yet? The idea of marriage is not even in the equation."

    "Fair enough."

    ```

    Her eyes were tempted to look in his direction. The desperation to know whether he knew about the secret back then or not tempted her to ask. But that would only mean opening the topic further. What if he asked for her to admit her feelings? Or even talk about marriage?

    It was an obvious trap.

    Loud thumping pounded her chest.

    Meanwhile, Ambryan picked up only one box of NERDS before moving forward. He pushed the cart towards the end of the aisle and made a left turn. His head turned in her direction. "Are youing? If you take any candy, I will put it back."

    At that, Eve broke out of her reverie. "Dark chocte is healthy."

    "I still don''t allow it."

    "So stingy" she mumbled as the wheels on the cart rattled away. Her hazel eyes scanned the shelves again. The colorful wrappers beckoned her to take them with her. She nced at the end of the aisle and didn''t find Ambryan.

    A grin stretched her lips as a wicked thought sparked in her head.

    Ambryan assessed the next aisle. One side had cereal, oats, honey and jams while the other had ground coffee, powdered hot chocte, tea bags and creamers. He stopped by the selection of oats.

    There were many to choose fromwhole oats, steel-cut oats, rolled oats and instant oats.

    Thest one was quickly eliminated from the options.

    He held two boxes of oats. One was whole oat groats. The other was steel-cut oats. Thetter had lesser calories based on the nutrient table. It also had a nutty vor. None of the items were his usual buy of oatmeal so he needed to sort out which to have for breakfast tomorrow.

    Eve hopped to his side. "Whatcha doing~?"

    "Trying to figure which oatmeal to buy for tomorrow," Ambryan replied without looking up. He liked the whole oats because they contained more in each bite. The question was if the 10 calorie difference between the two was worth it.

    She frowned at the two boxes. "Why not go for that small instant oat one? It''s only going to be for one meal. No need to waste money on a boxed one."

    "Who says it''s going to be only for one meal?" He challenged.

    "Ambee, I know we slept in the same bed for the past two days," Eve began to say, patting his shoulder from behind. "And that you never had any sensual rtionships before but please control your hormones. You''re a grown adult. Not a teenage boy."

    Ambryan tossed the box of steel-cut oats into the cart. "I will control them when you learn how to control your moans."

    "That''s not fair!" She practically yelled. It wasn''t like she had chosen to do that. It just came naturally in the process. She had frozen into shock when she realized what her voice sounded like whenever he touched a sensitive spot.

    It didn''tst long before he''d target another ce.

    "It is fair. If you want to ask me the impossible then, you should prove it''s not impossible. " Ambryan smirked. He leaned down to whisper in her ear. "Just so we''re clear. That means I will make it very difficult for you to achieve that."

    Spinning on his heel, he checked the cart.

    Colorful wrappers filled up half of it.

    Ambryan opened his mouth. "Evan"

    "Have fun putting it back!" Eve cheered before sprinting away. Herughter slowly faded into silence. Bystanders turned their heads when she passed by. Then, they checked the direction she was running from.

    Ambryan red at the push cart.

    He grabbed the handle bar and rolled it back to the other aisle. The candies blurred together when he reached it. The colors blended, showing little sign where each started and ended. He picked up one from the cart and searched for its correct cement.

    He had finished five when a voice called out his name.

    "Ambryan?"

    His eyes flickered towards the source in reflex.

    A head of curly ginger hair bobbed as the person jogged up to the side of his cart. Her jade green eyes crinkled from herrge smile. "It is you!"

    "Hey! Long time, no see." M nudged his arm. A giggle escaped her lips. Then, she spotted the stack of candies and choctes in his cart. She raised an eyebrow. "Have a sweet tooth, huh?"

    "I prefer sour candies." Ambryan corrected. He resumed returning the items. It was the perfect excuse to avoid her gaze. For some reason, his skin crawled in her presence.

    "Oh, my. I''ll try to remember that." M scratched the side of her neck. She didn''t mean to run up to him. But grocery shopping seemed mundane for someone of his status. The sight of him here had amused her to the point that she yelled his name.

    And now, it was toote to pretend that she didn''t see him.

    She cleared her throat, feeling awkward under the silence. "How have you been? Are you returning these? Do you have a kid with you that decided they want every candy in this store?"

    "A pretty tall kid if she could reach this shelf."

    Mughed breathily. "Uh, yeah. I guess."

    Ambryan felt relieved when he noticed only this part of the aisle had dents. He figured that Eve used her arms to grab a hugful. It was the fastest way to fill up the cart before he could notice. His hand gripped a box of NERDS.

    The one he grabbed was still where he left it.

    ''Hm,'' he thought. ''Maybe another one wouldn''t be that bad''

    "Ambee!" Eve appeared at the other end of the aisle with a beam on her face. She carried bags of tomatoes in each hand. Laughter rumbled in her chest when his violet eyes flew wide.

    Then, M spotted her. "Oh. Evangeline. You''re here too."

    Her amusement died quickly. Composing herself, Eve moved the candies left in the cart and ced the tomatoes inside. She did it slowly to buy more time. Ambryan ignored her, determined to finish his mission.

    There was no way he was going to lose this petty fight she started.

    With nothing left to do, Eve greeted the music teacher. "M. It has been a while."

    "Yes, it has." M shifted her attention back to the cart. "That''s a lot of tomatoes."

    "Oh, these? We''re having tomato soup. It''s going to be a life-changing event so we need a lot."

    "I see..." she muttered, clearing her throat. There were still two bags of candies left in her hand. She turned to the shelves and put them in their rightful ce. "The advertisement is going great, by the way.

    "It was nothing. I had fun with the kids."

    "Are they the same kids who piled candy in the push cart?" Ambryan interrupted.

    Eve red at him discreetly. "They have excellent humor. And are very good sports."

    "Theyck maturity."

    "Sometimes it''s good to simply have fun."

    "Having fun and maturity aren''t mutually exclusive."

    "But, apparently, Ambryan and pranks are."

    M watched the banter. She curled her lips inwards and bit on the bottom one. Just like that she had be the third wheel. She could leave right now but she waited for an opening out of politeness.

    The conversation was also entertaining.

    "Pranks aren''t good when time is of the essence."

    "Life should be about living in the moment. What is time without some good old-fashioned fun? Come on, you''re not seriously mad, are you?"

    "I''m not mad. I could never be mad at you."

    "So you don''t need help with those candies then?"

    After some time, it was clear the couple wasn''t about to stop.

    "I better get going," M decided to cut in, backing away and waving her hand. "It was nice seeing you both. Have a good evening."

    She didn''t get to hear the response. Over at the small pharmacy counter, she purchased medicine for headaches. Inspiration struck her one night. She hadn''t gotten a proper sleep or meal since then. It was starting to take a toll on her body.

    "Oh, sorry." M apologized when she bumped into someone outside.

    Chocte brown eyes squinted at her. "Hey, I know you."

    .

    .

    .

    .

    .

    Eve opened her mouth to say goodbye but M had already left. She craned her neck but there wasn''t a sign of thetter. Shrugging, her attention shifted back to Ambryan. "What were you talking about?"

    "Is that jealousy I hear?" Ambryan arched an eyebrow.

    She rolled her eyes. "It''s curiosity."

    "Are you sure?"

    "Yes, I''m sure."

    "Even if I say mother had also chosen M for that website?" Ambryan revealed.

    Eve snapped her head to where shest saw the music teacher. The memory of M and Ambryan after the recital suddenly made sense now. "She''s my rival this whole time? What a small world."

    Ambryan ignored her remark and returned thest bag of candy. "Return those tomatoes."

    "At first, it was a gag," Eve said. Then, she ced her hands on her hips, staring at the red fruit and tilting her head sideways. "But I want tomato soup now. Would you ear it if I cooked one?"

    He gazed at the pile and thought about it.

    .

    .

    .

    .

    .

    "Maybe one serving."

    Eve almost jumped in joy. Maybe girlfriends did have power.

    "One serving for our entire lives."

 Chapter 263: Night Three: The Red Card

    Chapter 263: Night Three: The Red Card

    "Come on, it''s not that bad."

    "What doesn''t kill you make you stronger!"

    "Okay, it literally won''t kill you since you''re not allergic but you are wee to puke in the toilet."

    Ambryan disgustedly stared at the bowl of red soup. His nose scrunched up as its scent floated up in smoke. The surface somewhat glistened under the indoor light but it didn''t make it less unappetizingmuch like the smiley face Eve drew with the parsley garnish.

    Eve sat on his left, waiting for him to take a bite. "Maybe you''d want to dip that grilled cheese sandwich in the soup instead so there is something else to taste other than tomatoes."

    His scowl deepened. "That would be cowardly."

    She raised an eyebrow. "We both know you wouldn''t eat this soup on its own though. Only the first bite if you''re dead-set on it."

    Scooping a small amount, Ambryan lifted the spoon up to his lips. Eve leaned forward and watched in anticipation. He let it linger in the air. She imagined that another round of debate was going through his head. It was like watching a child eat his vegetables for the first time.

    Her hand reached for the te of grilled cheese sandwiches so she could offer him to take one.

    But then, he ate the spoonful of soup all at once.

    Eve saw him visibly froze once it hit his taste buds.

    Ambryan stopped breathing. His consciousness only registered one thing and it was the sweet, tart and tangy vors in his mouth. He felt this throat constrict as his gag reflex came in. He tightened his grip on the spoon, forcing himself not to throw up.

    Beside him, Eve started to feel bad for putting him up to this. She reached over to pat his back. And just before she could touch it, Ambryan swallowed the soup. He seized his ss of water and washed down both the taste and the after taste.

    Eve rubbed his upper back, nheless, and offered him the grilled cheese sandwiches.

    "Good job," she couldn''t help but say. Then, she rose to her feet and nted a kiss at the corner of his mouth. "That''s for not throwing up. Otherwise, I wouldn''t be near your lips."

    "So kisses cost now?" Ambryan asked. He gripped her chin and held in ce, stealing another chaste kiss. "I haven''t been informed that I need to set my price."

    "I mean, an extra kiss," Eve corrected with an eye roll.

    Ambryan pressed his lips together. He still didn''t let her go. "Hm, extra a word used in marketing to attract humans by saying they could get more than usual."

    "Which is my point."

    "Which also means I could get more for each bite," he grinned, finally releasing her chin. He stirred the soup and stared at her by turning his bowed head in her direction. "I have to admit that it''s a good strategy for me to eat tomatoes. But I''m sorry, mdy. This is the first andst time I''d eat them for you."

    Eve merely chuckled. She pecked his temple and said, "It''s alright. At least, I know my cooking is good enough for someone that detests tomatoes."

    Her phone started vibrating in her pocket.

    "Hold on."

    Ambryan was back to where he started. He should have promised one bite instead of one serving. True to what his girlfriend predicted, he took a grilled cheese sandwich and dipped the tip in the soup. Then, he made sure to take a big bite so the cheddar and ricotta cheese overpowered the tomato taste.

    Taking out the phone, Eve nced at the screen. Andie''s name shed underneath a candid photo of herself with her cactus mug. Eve frowned but answered the call. "Hello?"

    "Eve!" Andie screamed into her ear. "What are you doing?"

    "Just having my second dinner," Eve sneaked a peek at Ambryan. He had eaten half of the sandwich while had only taken two bites of the soup. Her gaze flickered to the te of grilled cheese.

    She had a feeling they wouldn''t long.

    "Get online now!" Andie instructed her, speaking in a rush. "I mean it! Do it now!"

    That caught Eve''s attention immediately. "What''s going on?"

    Rushing into her room, she grabbed herptop from the nightstand and booted it up. Her mind pondered on what the fuss could be about. Nothing else had happened since the photoshoot at the Zehell Castle. There shouldn''t be anything for the public to talk about.

    She clicked on the web browser and typed in her alias.

    "Andie, what am I supposed to be"

    <em>> Evangeline Reed: From Princess to Rags</em>

    <em>```</em>

    <em>Hello, gossip lovers! </em>

    <em>Over here, we deliver the hottest gossip at the fastest time possible. And this time, it''s about thedy who had taken the recent spotlight everywhere! That''s right! More Evangeline Reed news!</em>

    <em>This famous name has seen many ups and downs since she joined the modelling industry. Her life has always been kept private even to the most devoted fans. Questions were raised on what could she possibly be hiding. Something scandalous perhaps?</em>

    <em>We are here to satisfy that curiosity!</em>

    <em>A photo of Ms. Reed has turned up recently and is taking the world by storm yet again. The rising model was spotted along the red district with a different rich malepanion. That''s right, folks! It''s not Ambryan Hathaway!</em>

    <em>My, my, my, seems like Evangeline is an expert at seducing the wealthy hearts in the city. No wonder she had made it to the top of thedder in romance!</em>

    <em>Will she have another target after Ambryan? Oh, we can only wonder.</em>

    ```

    Eve scrolled down the article, searching for the photo.

    Her eyes widened at the sight of not just one but three pictures. They had been taken during night time so they came out grainy. She gritted her teeth and red at the forged photos. A sense of deja vu spilled over her head.

    Only one person could have possibly made this believable.

    On second thought, there were two potential suspects and they could be working together.

    "Did you see it now?" Andie asked from the other line. Her best friend had suddenly gone quiet. It was the only thing she could think of that happened. She sat in the living room of her apartment, Twittah taking up the screen of herptop. "I swear! These people should freaking leave you alone. First, you''re having an affair with Mikael. Next, you have a bitter ex-boyfriend. Now, you are not only a gold digger but a slut?"

    "Why are people buying this?" Eve thought out loud. "No one can even see my face."

    "Ugh, I know. They made such an effort to match everything about you. I''m surprised they didn''t go all the way and had the woman undergo stic surgery. She could even take your ce, pretending to be you everywhere."

    "Please don''t give my enemies ideas."

    "Hey, if you''re gonna do it, do it right!"

    Eve snorted, propping her elbow on the mattress and scratching her head. "I''d rather be lucky that the person isn''t the smartest. That makes things easier for me to clean up."

    She logged into Twittah and read the trending topics. Her name was up there alright but themunity hade up with creative words to describe her. Since this wasn''t the first time anymore, she had grown immune of this attack.

    Her only worries were about her important people and her current career.

    This should affect her projects again like before.

    "You have a game n?" Andie tilted her head sideways and trapped the phone between her cheek and shoulder. She typed on herptop, attacking a ridiculous post. "Babe, I''m all ears but my best solution is to whack them with a shovel named Phil."

    (A/N: Hi, Hatchi, Phil and Joey!)

    Eve bit on her thumb. "Not yet."

    "What''s going on here?" Ambryan stopped at the door. Crease lines wrinkled on his forehead. He walked over to the bed and sat beside Eve. "You were taking too long. I figured something must have happened."

    Herptop showed a series of tweets under the hashtag, #CurseEvangeline.

    .

    ``@bitch: EvANGELine? More like she''s the dEVil. That romantic photoshoot was too good to be true. Why did we even try to believe it? Fairy tales don''t exist. There''s no cleansing this much dirt. #CancelEvangeline.``

    ``@hoe: If she is such a goody goody, why do these keep turning up? It''s really fish.``

    ``@dunce: I had no idea what to expect by looking into this hashtag but I''m actually disappointed that it''s not about witches, spells and/or horror enchantments.``

    ``@tramp: A person''s true colors always show up eventually.``

    .

    "What are they talking about?" Ambryan sneered under his breath. He seized theptop away from Eve and checked the search engines. Gone was his yfulness. He had be the CEO once again. "How long has this been going on?"

    "I don''t know. Probably only recently."

    "But there are thousands of them."

    "The mystery of the inte." Eve sighed, checking her phone. The call between her and Andie was still connected. She wiped down her face. People would take longer forgetting this newspared to the previous ones.

    How could she prove that the photos were fake?

    Ambryan got up and dialed Wen''s number. He walked out of the room, leaving Eve alone. "Wen? Howe I haven''t heard about this recent scandal about Evangeline? It''s been hours since it came up."

    "But you instructed me not to disturb you."

    "This is an important matter. It''s an exception."

    Eve drowned out his loud voice and resumed her reading. None of them were really creative. It was almost insulting that they were generic. "Want to take a guess who is behind this, Andie?"

    "Let''s see" Andie said. She tossed a popcorn in the air and caught it with her mouth. "There''s that stalker fake ex-boyfriend and that desperate weirdo who wanted to seduce Ambee."

    "Which one do you think it is?"

    "Well, that stalker has the better skills. But I thought that was already okay?"

    "It should be" Eve trailed off. "Except these pictures almost don''t look fake."

 Chapter 264: Night Three: Three Heads are Better

    Chapter 264: Night Three: Three Heads are Better

    "Whatever." Andie huffed. "But we need to put an end to this."

    The tide was turning little by little from what she could see on Twittah. Andie wondered if Eve knew exactly how many fans she gained. The mystery around Evangeline did make a few people suspicious but with Ambryan on her side, they usually kept quiet.

    It sickened her how they always jumped at the chance every time Eve faced a scandal.

    But now, oh, they had a waveing.

    Ambryan came back to the room. "Wen doesn''t have all the details yet but it''s most likely Jane."

    Eve pressed her lips together and tucked her hair behind her ear. "You know about Jane?"

    "How could I not know about Jane?" He said, flicking her forehead. "I was only waiting for you to say something. We tracked your activities as soon as I received your resignation letter. Did you think I''d never find out?"

    "Not that you wouldn''t find out" Eve started to exin. "Well, I didn''t know that you knew that Evangeline and I were the same person. But I believed you''d look into my resignation."

    She had also asked Madison to put Riffle in her ce since he was well affiliated with the big three: the President, the CEO and the Chairman. He also knew important people outside of the office. It wouldn''t be easy for Jane to try and persuade him.

    "Something really needs to be done about that father and daughter." Ambryan sighed, sitting down on the bed. He and Eve faced different directions but they turned their heads towards one another.

    "Exactly what I said!" Andie yelled from the phone. "They''ll never stop! Okay?! This is insane! The two of you practically just told the word that you''re nning on marriage but they still target Evangeline! Nothing will get through their heads!"

    Snatching the mobile device, Ambryan switched it to loudspeaker. "I agree. It''s taking a lot more time than I thought to dig up Stuart''s underground activities. He has many connections to cover it up."

    "Since when were you doing that?" Eve interrupted. She scowled at the sudden information.

    "For a while now," he admitted. His lips thinned into a grim line. This wasn''t progressing how he wanted it to go. Roadblocks kepting upjust like this one. "Stuart spoils Jane a lot. It would be a lie to say I didn''t see this oue as a possibility."

    Eve bit her inner cheek. She also had that impression. Only Ambryan and his family could do something to put a full stop to this. Her hand clenched into a fist. She wished she had more powersomething to add on top of Ambryan''s influence.

    "What should we do until then?" She asked him.

    "Pretend like we''re not nning an attack."

    Nodding, Eve nced at the screen. This should be her focus right now. It was what they wanted. If she yed into their hands, it might buy Ambryan more time. "Do you want me to seem like I''m affected by this?"

    "This?" Ambryan sneered. He ced the phone on the bed and pointed to theptop. "This will be easy to clear up. Don''t cower in front of them, especially not Jane. She doesn''t deserve it from you. She also never will."

    Even if they won, Jane would always have that memory imprinted in her head. Ambryan refused to let her get that ounce of satisfaction. She needed to feel like she had no chance from the beginningas she should have realized when he nned that fiasco for the photoshoot.

    Eve couldn''t help but smile. "Got it."

    "What about me?" Andie opened up. The sound of a scheme fueled fire in her blood. It was hard to contain the excitement to bring a bitch down. She wanted front row seats and a bucket of popcorn!

    Ambryan picked up the phone again. "What are you doing right now?"

    "Leading the fandom. We have this discord server where we talk and report about these things." Eve arched an eyebrow when she heard that. "We also do strategies so we''re in unison. Any ideas on how to persuade the public?"

    "Just always say that Evangeline is innocent and that it''s fake. I''m not saying they''ll believe it but the more they hear it, the more likely they''d start questioning themselves," he quickly responded.

    "And if they don''t?"

    "Then, they''ll fall harder once the truthes out."

    Andie giggled, typing harder. "I like this n."

    "I trust I don''t need to tell you how to argue with them?"

    "Oho, of course not. I got this. You go do your superman thing. We''ll be here to build it up." Andie sent the current instructions to the fandom. She also reminded them to watch out for each other and the few bad eggs they have. "And, if you have anything to add, just message me."

    Anyone who argued back with her seemed like ants now. The confidence in Ambryan''s voice reassured her mind, causing it to be sharper. ``@NDdgaf: Blind rats! Evangeline has always been innocent. Whoever made this scandal, prepare yourself! You''ll be 20 feet under!``

    "Sounds good." Ambryan hung up. His violet eyes flickered in Eve''s direction. A scowl had taken shape between her eyebrows. "What are you thinking about?"

    "Just mentally preparing myself," she spoke softly. Her stare remained on the bed. She hardly blinked. Once he had everything he needed, this petty fight would be over. She had to y her part well for it to seed.

    "Why?"

    "Tomorrow the videomercial and Jane will be there," she exined, closing her eyes for a moment. When she opened them, her gaze shifted towards another spot on the mattress. "I have to be ready for whatever she''d throw at me. A few insults, passive-aggressive tone, etc."

    Ambryan kissed the side of her forehead. "You''ll be fine."

    "Oh, I know I will be." Eve stretched up her arms. Pushing theptop aside, shended on her back and stared up the ceiling. "It''s her who should be worried."

    "Did I ever say I like this side of you?" He chuckled, bending down to parallel her position. His nose nearly bumped onto hers.

    "No." She grinned. Her hands went to the cor of his dress shirt. She brushed the fabric with her thumbs. "Your scheming self is not too bad either."

    The two shared a kiss on the lips. Ambryan opened his mouth and coaxed her to do the same. Eve moved her hands to the back of his neck, pulling him closer. Their worries had fled to the corners of their minds and the rest of the world faded away.

    "Huh," Eve whispered on his lips when she came up for air.

    Ambryan twisted a loose hair strand on her head and yed with it. "What?"

    "You taste like tomatoes." She beamed.

    "..."

    Sometimes people find themselves to have be the thing they swore to destroy.

    Among those times, it coulde up in funny ways.

    The deadpan expression on his face made Eveugh.

    .

    .

    .

    .

    .

    "Now, remember. You can''t go anywhere without me or Nanzie," Cale said. A purple scarf wrapped around his neck. "It''s more dangerous than before. The paparazzi will try to sneak in just to get an interview. The angry people might harm you if you''re close enough. It all sounds crazy but we can''t be too careful."

    He sat in the back of a sedan with Eve by his side. They were on their way to the set of the videomercial. Nanzie sneaked a peek from the rearview mirror. She spotted Eve staring out the window. Thetter had been quiet since they left.

    "I know, Cale. I know," Eve answered just to reassure him. "I won''t wander around. I''d rather now anyway. I could get lost."

    "Exactly. We can''t know what will happen!"

    She shifted her attention towards her modelling manager and touched his arm. "Cale I know you care about me a lot and that you''re just worried. But do try to rx. We''re supposed to act indifferent about the situation."

    "How can we be indifferent?" He shot back, mming his back against the seat. "We should be allowed to be furious with her. It''s not the sophisticated route but this has gone too far. She should learn that we won''t back down if she caused a fight!"

    Eve scooted closer and gave him a side hug. Her temple rested on his shoulder. "We will have thestugh. Don''t worry. Then, you can''t rant about it to as many people as you want. They''d die to hear about the gossip."

    Cale stayed quiet.

    The only sound came from the hum of the vehicle''s engine.

    Taking a deep breath, Eve closed her eyes. The sun hadn''t even fully risen yet. Since she yed a character at different stages in her life, she needed to go early for the makeup. Her first role would be the grandmother since it had the most features to work on.

    If it weren''t for Jane, she would have been excited to see herself as an olddy.

    "Have you thought about the training?" Cale whispered.

    Eve stiffened in her seat. The document Mikael sent had been extremely informative. It gave her a wider view on what to expect and what to mull over. "I''m still thinking about it."

    "Just tell me when you made your decision, okay?" He lifted his arm and returned her side hug. "Don''t feel pressured to do it either. Every time you book a project is already a part of training."

    "Yeah, but I want to try the runway."

    Cale chuckled at her ambition. "Someday, dear. Someday. I''m sure of it."

    The car soon arrived at their destination. The crew was limited since it was early in the day. Eve and Cale immediately headed for the makeup room. They spent nearly two hours to add 60 years worth of life onto Eve''s face. Her cheeks now sagged, wrinkles had taken over her forehead and a white wig covered her head.

    Like on the drive, Eve used this time to catch on more sleep.

    "Ugh, I can''t believe we''re stuck with her."

 Chapter 265: Rise and Shine, Whippersnapper

    Chapter 265: Rise and Shine, Whippersnapper

    "You''ve seen the news then, I suppose?"

    "Who didn''t though? It was all over the inte."

    "I can''t believe such a disgusting person is getting this much fame."

    "And dating one of the wealthiest men in the country?"

    "If you think about it, how else did she meet Ambryan? Probably through mutual contact with one of those old geezers."

    "Didn''t they say it was because of his mom?"

    "Then, she met his mom and used her to get to him."

    "Are you girls done?" Cale spoke up from the door.

    He had stepped out for a while to take a phone call. What he didn''t expect was to find both the stylist and makeup artist talking behind his model''s back. They whirled their attention towards him and gulped. Their hands dropped to their sides.

    Cale stalked towards them with his head bowed slightly.

    His aqua blue eyes darkened in contempt.

    "If you have time to gossip among yourselves, I bet you have the time to find yourself some recements," he threatened under his breath. "I don''t care what you say about me to others but I won''t stand for toxic people like you to be around her. "

    The two women chose to stay silent. One bit her tongue while the other looked the other way. Behind them, Eve''s chest rose and fell steadily. The conversation hadn''t fazed her rest.

    "What are you waiting for?" Cale demanded. Then, he side-stepped and pointed to the door. "I want those recements now!"

    They ced the makeup and styling tools back on the vanity mirror, leaving as they were told. They had heard about Cale Fisher before. Everyone knew him as a bubbly person. He was also easy to work with and was very attentive. To see this side of him sent shivers down their spines.

    Cale closed the door and walked further into the room. He huffed once he reached Eve''s side. The first thing he inspected was the current state of her makeup. With the words the two had exchanged, it wouldn''te as a surprise if they sabotaged this shoot for his model.

    Eve opened her eyes, her corner lip curling up.

    "Did I ever tell you what a great manager you are?" She teased.

    Scoffing, Cale checked each makeup product on the table. "How much did you hear?"

    "Everything."

    His re flickered in her direction. "And you let them speak about you that way."

    Eve shrugged. "I''d rather know what exactly they were thinking than not."

    She might have spoken at some point but Cale arrived before it could happen. With the recent scandal, the gossip was to be expected. She''d rather her their unbiased opinions than to cut them off. She considered it always better to know the people she worked with.

    Then, she would know when to be wary and by how much.

    Cale shook his head. So far, nothing amiss caught his attention with the products. It was most likely a stroke of luck. "We should have done this a long time ago but I think we should get you a personal makeup artist and stylist. They''ll always know what is best for you even with different themes given by the clients."

    "Let''s talk about itter." Eve sighed. "I can imagine it won''t be easy at the moment."

    "Avery and I know a few that could fill in the positions but they have clients already."

    "I''d rather not cause another riff by taking someone''s personal stylist."

    "Figured you would." Cale crossed his arms over his chest. He leaned his on the wall beside the vanity mirror and watched the door. "If there''s really no one avable, we''ll post an ad and do it the old-fashioned way."

    Eve pressed her lips together. She stared at her reflection. They had added prosthetics to her face so the wrinkles looked realistic. The white wig had big short curls. Its style reminded her of Marilyn Monroe.

    At least, she was going to be a ssy grandmother.

    "I wish I could say that it''s not necessary," she said after a while.

    Cale showed her a sad smile. This part never became any easier through his years as a modelling manager. The higher his models climbed, the more rocks were thrown at them so they''d fall. Sometimes they overcame it. Sometimes they didn''t.

    Either way, he hated that part of the business was this suffering.

    "Is there anything we can help you with? A cup of coffee perhaps?" He offered, one hand in his pocketready to call Nanzie for a quick coffee run. The client hadn''t even provided her one like he asked.

    "Hm..." Eve considered, fiddling with her thumbs. Her hazel eyes suddenly lit up like stars. "I can never turn down coffee but I think I have a better idea."

    Taking out her phone, she opened the DTC app and started a video call.

    The feed was ck when the receiver picked up. Then, it was followed by a tired voice. "Hello?"

    A grin spread across her face. She recalled a random olddy from films and mimicked her tone of voice. "You,zy whippersnapper! What time is it?! How could you still be sleeping?! You should be up even before the rooster crows! Youth these days aren''t as hardworking as before. Back in my day"

    Ambryan scowled. He had heard the ringtone and answered the call without a second thought. Only now did it register which ringtone it had been. Bolting up, he became wide awake. "EVE?!"

    "That''s grandmother Eve to you!" She cackled. Her voice returned to normal. "You might want to pull the phone away from your ear. It''s a video call, you know."

    Eventually, the video feed revealed her boyfriend''s face. His coal ck hair stuck out in different directions. His violet eyes still had azy haze over them. Eve couldn''t help but smile. This had to be one of her favorite looks on him.

    "You''re old" was the first thing he said once he caught a glimpse of her costume.

    "Yes, it''s part of the script." Eve pointed out. She yed with a hair strand, pulling it straight and tried to get a good look at it. "You think you''d still like me when my hair isn''t red anymore?"

    Ambryan chuckled. "Your hair isn''t the only thing I like about you."

    Any hint of drowsinesspletely left him at this point. He rubbed his hand over his chin. Only one thought came to mind when he gazed at her aged look. And that was the future. Someday they would be this old and gray.

    He hoped they would still be this smitten over one another.

    "Really?" Eve blinked. She cupped her ear and leaned it closer to the speaker. "Tell me more."

    "You have this insane sense of humor that wakes me up this early in the morning."

    "Well, either I wake you up or your food gets cold." She winked, leaning back and dropping her hand. A deep breath exhaled out of her nose. Her voice also lowered in volume. "Message me when you leave the apartment and again when you reach your destination, okay?"

    "I will. How are things going?"

    Ambryan assumed there was something more to this video call. As humorous as it was, Eve wasn''t the type to disturb his sleep unless it was an important matter. Maybe it could wait but he didn''t mind the interruption.

    He''d actually much prefer it if she ran to him before anyone else.

    "The scandal definitely has an effect but it''s nothing serious," Eve admitted, averting her gaze. "Cale is sticking by my side, keeping an eye on anyone who''d dare to say or do something. He just ordered coffee for me too."

    "You can rely on me! I''ll make sure they''d regret ever thinking about Evangeline badly!" Cale spoke from his spot. He and Eve exchanged a smile. Then, he checked his watch. If it weren''t for the current circumstances, he would have followed the makeup artist and stylistjust to speed things a little.

    Ambryan nodded in approval. "And Jane?"

    "She''s not here yet and I''d rather impress people before she arrives."

    "Good girl."

    Eve snorted at that. "What am I? A dog?"

    Swinging his legs towards the edge of the bed, Ambryan let out a yawn and rose to his feet. "I''ll get ready to leave. If I finish early, you think we can grab lunch together?"

    Eve bit her bottom lip. They had an itinerary but that usually served as a formality. "I''m not sure how the schedule will be for today. I''d rather not ask for special favors until the scandal is cleared up."

    "I understand. But you wille home to the apartmentter?"

    "Of course."

    "I''ll see you then."

    "Hey! Nanzie"

    Ambryan hung up before she could finish protesting. He stretched for a second and reviewed his phone notifications. Wen and the others should have been upst night for the investigation. Once he found what he was looking for, he grabbed hisptop and checked the news.

    The developments he, his mother and Andie nted should have taken effect.

    <em>> Evangeline Reed Update: A Witness Recalls Night of the Photo </em>

    <em>> More Come to Light as People Point Out Details in the Image</em>

    <em>> Evangeline Fans Continue to their Journey of Denial</em>

    <em>> Who is the Man with Evangeline? We Might Just Have the Answer!</em>

    <em>> Man in the Photo Refuses to Make a Comment on Scandal</em>

    Skimming through them, Ambryan nodded at the progress. This should be enough for them to make their moveter in the day. Whoever came up with the fake pictures really didn''t think deeply. It was easy to debunk once they fell into the trap.

    Such as when was it taken.

 Chapter 266: Words Sharper than a Knife

    Chapter 266: Words Sharper than a Knife

    Eve finished the first part of her shoot without a hitch.

    The crew acted professionally once she stepped into the set, At the end of the day, they had a client to please. There wasn''t word that she had been removed due to recent developments. Her new makeup artist and stylist kept their mouths shut when they prepped her.

    The tension had been suffocating.

    Walking back to the dressing room, the sun had finally risen. More people came to the location. Eve kept to the sidelines and avoided most of them. Unfortunately, she had to share the dressing room with another model. Her mind already guessed who''d upy the empty seat.

    "Hey," Mikael greeted behind her.

    "HeWoah. Well, don''t you look sharp." Eve giggled. She turned around topletely face him and assessed his outfit further. "Did you raid Ambryan''s closet by any chance?"

    The colors he wore were monotone. It had the typical white dress shirt, ck tie plus matching gray jacket and trousers. It had no special embellishment. It also could easily blend into any room. But Mikael pulled it off like it was the ideal suit to wear.

    "Very funny." He snorted, his breath hitting his one-sided curtain bangs. "How are you feeling?"

    Eve sped her hands together and averted her eyes. She found a random spot on the floor, speaking in nonchnce. "How am I feeling after being used as a slut? Not too bad, I guess."

    Mikael stepped closer and ced a hand on her shoulder. He had been in this business longer but this sort of continuous attacks was downright ridiculous. "If you ever need anything, just reach out to me and Jordan. You still have allies here other than Cale."

    Her hazel eyes stared up at his radiant blue ones. Suddenly, a million spotlights pierced her skin. She stiffened under them, barely moving her lips. "Then, can you not touch me?"

    Jerking his hand back, Mikael''s eyes widened in rm. He examined the room. Anyone who had looked in their direction turned their heads away. He gritted his teeth. His re remained towards them, daring them to try and stare. They''d regret it almost instantly.

    Eve flinched at his actions. "I''m sorry. That came out rude."

    Mikael huffed. Hopefully, there would be less of this for the rest of the day. "We had a scandal together before. It''s understandable that it could make things worse. Just contact me when you need me, okay?"

    "Yeah. Thank you."

    Eve retreated inside the dressing room. The makeup artist and stylist were already inside, waiting quietly. She sat on her designated chair and sighed. Her eyes closed briefly. Her roommate should be arriving soon.

    She didn''t look forward to it.

    "Hi, everyone"

    Hazel eyes shed open.

    Jane stood by the doorway with a yellow box in her hand. She cautiously entered the room, her gaze fidgeting in different directions. She tucked her hair behind her ear. "I know it''s fairly early so I brought some snacks for everyone. Figured we all could use an extra boost!"

    She approached her vanity mirror and opened the box. Its freshly baked smell instantly enveloped the roomeven those who had eaten suddenly gained an appetite. "These are cheese breads from a famous bakery. It''s one of my favorites. I hope you like them too."

    "Why not take the first one, Evangeline?" Jane offered, handing over the box. A shy smile stretched on her lips. "Since we''ll be rooming together, I thought you''d need a pick-me-up after the recent scandals. A bite just might brighten up your day!"

    Eve flickered her eyes towards their corners. She recognized the bread. They were from the same bakery Andie worked at. The cheese bread was one of their popr products. Her stomach grumbled, abruptly craving for a taste.

    "I''m sorry, dear." Cale cut off her thoughts. He stepped in between the two models. "I have Evangeline on a strict diet. She already hit her calorie count for this morning. Thank you for the gesture but we have to decline."

    Amber eyes darkened like cinnamon sticks.

    It happened for a millisecond that the modelling manager almost thought he imagined it.

    Jane faked a gasp.

    "Oh, my. How careless of me!" She immediately bowed her head. "Please ept my apologies instead, Evangeline. I should have known better. I hope you don''t misunderstand."

    Eve showed her best smile. "None taken, Ms. Jane. I appreciate the gesture. Do eat my share on my behalf. Think of it as there''s more for you to eat. A lovely bonus."

    Jane''s expression tightened. She fixed it just before she needed to look back up. A soft chuckle escaped her lips. "Aha, yes. That''s true. Anyone else want to share? Please help me. I can''t possibly eat them all while they''re still hot. They taste the best that way."

    The door opened once more. Eve''s previous makeup artist and stylist entered the room. They had been assigned to Jane and avoided Eve''s side of the roommostly because of Cale. The smell of cheese bread caught their attention.

    "Don''t be shy, girls!" Jane told them and the others. "It''s for everyone."

    "Take your time and eat," Eve instructed her team. "You deserve a proper break."

    The two exchanged a look before reaching into the box for the bread. Meanwhile, Eve received a message. The smile on her face grew bigger. She chose to call back instead of replying.

    "This is turning out to be a good day," Ambryan said. "Are you any younger yet?"

    Eve leaned back and let herself rx. "Not yet. Did you like the breakfast spread I made for you today? Since you finished the tomato soup, I figured you deserved a wonderful breakfast."

    Jane paused mid-bite and Cale saw it. The people behind her chatted among themselves and missed it. Touching her shoulder, he leaned down and said. "Are you okay, dear? Do you need a ss of water?"

    She broke out of her reverie and chewed. Her head whirled towards the opposite direction from him, breathing out augh. "I''m fine. Just remembered something that I needed to doter. Would have been dreadful if I forgot."

    "Do you want me to note it down for you?" Cale pressed. "Just tell me and I won''t forget it."

    Eve apuded her manager''s acting in her head. She couldn''t be prouder to have him.

    Ambryan leaned on a post. The view of a forest met his violet eyes. Soft voices came from behind him where the entrance of the house was situated. "At least, you used the oats I bought."

    "I know you wouldn''t have it any other way."

    He clicked his tongue, his corner lip curling up. "Is there another reason for this call?"

    Eve bit her inner cheek. She debated how far she should take this. Her attention shifted towards herpanions. It seemed like Jane distracted herself by talking to the stylists. Herughter echoed a little too loudly for both Eve and Cale.

    It was a tiny victory but Eve relished in it.

    "We''re just taking a quick break," she decided to say. "I just took the chance to see if you''d actually pick up. I knew you were probably driving."

    At this time, Ambryan heard his name being called. He nced over his shoulder and gestured for the other businessmen to wait. "Well, I have to go. The meeting is starting soon."

    "Break a leg. See you at lunch, I hope."

    "Take care."

    When the call ended, Cale nudged the side of her chair. "Cooked him breakfast, huh?"

    His voice was loud enough to attract interest.

    Eve grinned, trying to hide her blush. "It''s not much. He just wanted oatmeal. I used the fruits he picked from the grocery store and prepped them or him. The main star was the ck tea, of course. I had reserved some in a canister so he could drink it on the way."

    "Aw, that''s sweet," her modelling manager cooed. He walked around her chair and helped in removing the wig. "You''re making me jealous. Maybe I should take the next step with my beau. Then, we can also spend the entire weekend together in a hotel. Somece that is warm."

    "Oh, like the beach?"

    Cale winked at her through the mirror. "I''d rather reserve that for the honeymoon."

    Eve gaped. "Oh, I see. How bold."

    "Well, wouldn''t you do the same?" He mocked back. Leaning down, he hissed near her earstill using enough volume for a certain someone to hear. "You''d practically be naked all the time. It''s the best destination."

    "Stop teasing." Eve hit his arm yfully. It only caused him to cackle. And because of it, the others had gonepletely quiet. She pressed her lips together and pretended not to notice. "I don''t need the beach as an excuse when I''ve already seen enough."

    A bottle fell on the floor and broke into a million pieces.

    Its contents spread across the floor.

    "Ah, I''m sorry!" Jane apologized. She kneeled on the floor and began picking up the shards. "I pushed the box too far. I didn''t know it would hit the makeup products like dominos and cause one to fall"

    "Ms. Jane, stop!" Eve yelled. She lunged off her seat and grabbed the former''s wrist. "Don''t touch anything. We still have a videomercial to shoot. It''s not worth it to be injured for something as small as this."

    "DON''T TOUCH ME!" Jane screamed back, jerking her hand back.

    A drop of blood dripped from her finger.

    Everyone froze in their ces. Jane lost her voice in the same second. Her throat constricted upon realizing her mistake. Eve stood up and backed away, raising her hands in surrender. Cale positioned himself in between them againready to intervene if things escted.

    "Okay, I won''t touch you," Eve spoke softly. "But please step away from the ss. The crew will clean it up. Your wound also has to be disinfected right away."

    At first, it seemed like Jane hadn''t heard her.

    But thetter eventually rose to her feet slowly. She wrapped a tissue around her finger and shifted her attention towards the crew members.

 Chapter 267: Have a Sour Candy

    Chapter 267: Have a Sour Candy

    "What''s going on here?"

    Seven heads turned towards the doorway. The director of the videomercial red, assessing the situation. The fallen bottle escaped his interest. What mattered to him more were the two models that weren''t in costume yet.

    "Why is no one ready? Are you being paid to ck off?" His scowl deepened. "Next scene is in fifteen minutes with Mikael Davis. I need my waitress to be there to rehearse before we begin the shoot. No adjustments!"

    The door mmed behind him when he left.

    Jane''s designated makeup artist and stylist immediately went to work. They stood on either side of the model, guiding her back to the chair. Whispers offort flooded her ears. They needed her calm in order to proceed.

    Otherwise, they could get into trouble if she didn''t perform well.

    Jane opened her mouth but nothing came out.

    Eve averted her gaze. She sat back on her chair and closed her eyes. Her makeup artist peeled off the prosthetics while her stylist fluffed her hair, prepping it for retro curls. Her next scene happened to be the opening of the cafe where she met her future husband.

    She wondered how it would y out and if it would affect Ambryan in any way.

    A few minutester, Jane left the dressing room. Her makeup team stayed behind, hoping to avoid the director. Their lips remained shut as they waited for Eve to also walk out of the room. Cale kept a close eye on them. He didn''t like it but it had to be done.

    Jane''s stylist felt her phone vibrate in her pocket.

    She took it out and found a link sent to her by a friend. The message had several exmation points (!!!!!), gaining her attention right away. Her eyebrows scrunched as the link opened a new tab in her mobile browser.

    <em>> Fan Debunks Evangeline Reed''s Viral Photo!</em>

    <em>```</em>

    <em>Anyone up for tea? Because we are spilling it! If you have been disconnected to the world, we shall recap the events for you! If you are up to date then, skip the paragraph below!</em>

    <em>This whole thing started when a picture of Evangeline Reed was released online. The image showcased the model lingered along the red district with a middle-aged man. More photos havee up but Evangeline''s fans denied their authenticity. </em>

    <em>Since then, numerous evidence had been brought to light such as the man in the image as well as the exact time and date it was takenall of which are PROVEN FALSE!</em>

    <em>A fan had posted a security footage that reveals Evangeline''s activities during the date imed by the source! Is this an amateur move or what? Whoever sent that photo needs to make a better story if they want to bring down this queen!</em>

    <em>```</em>

    "Evangeline" Cale breathed out.

    Peeling her eyes off the mirror, Eve gave him her full attention. Her modelling manager became rooted in ce. His mouth hung open as he scrolled down the article. The end of the page had ament section, disying initial reactions to the development.

    "What is it?" She asked.

    Cale handed her his phone and let her see it for herself.

    Eve skimmed through the paragraphs and found the original post embedded at the bottom.

    <em>``@sourcandy: This is for anyone who believes the credibility of the photo. Once again, this was clearly done by someone who merely wants to tarnish her image. There is no ''tea'' to spill.``</em>

    Attached to his post was a footage of her inside the grocery store. This one happened to be the shopping she did a few weeks ago. The video had been sped up to show that she had been inside for over an hour, matching the lies created by the source of the photos.

    "Noah?" Eve whispered, suddenly remembering his name. She gave the phone back and stared off into space. Security footage wouldn''t be that easy to obtain. The grocery store owned it as a property. It wouldn''t be handed over smoothly because it would breach security protocols.

    Had Ambryan given it to Andie so it wouldn''t be linked with him?

    Cale scoffed at the people who tried to wipe their hands clean. "Serves them right! I swear. They need a new hobby other than loitering on the inte all day. You''d expect this behavior from teenagers but some of them are grown adults!"

    Eve let him rant off while shemended the n in her head. Because of the hype Andie built up, they managed to also establish that the person behind the pictures was a fraud. Thetter dug their grave before the footage had been revealed.

    They shouldn''t be able to create a simr move now.

    .

    .

    .

    .

    .

    Jane muttered under her breath. Her heels cked on the floor as she marched back to the dressing room. She had rehearsed just as the director saidbut working with Mikael was impossible! They practiced separately so the first time they did the scene together was in front of the camera.

    Surprise, surprise! It didn''t go well.

    A series of curses flew out of her head, targeting the director. The old geezer only saw her mistakes. Anything she did well was merely acknowledged with a nod. Meanwhile, Mikael received endless praises! There was clear bias!

    The door opened just when she reached for the knob.

    Eve stepped in her line of sight, raising her eyebrows. "Ms. Jane. Is your cut better? It might get infected if it wasn''t treated right away."

    "I''m fine." Jane snorted. She stomped around Eve and grabbed the door. Her teeth gnashed together as she hissed in low volume. "No one buys your goody two-shoes act, you know. You''re still a slut no matter how nicely you try to treat other people."

    Unaffected, Eve moved closer until their noses nearly touched. A hint of a grin blossomed on her lips. "Then, I should learn from you and do a better act."

    She left before Jane could say anything else, waving her hand without looking.

    Jane closed the door and turned around. Her nose scrunched at the scene. Cale had lost his serious expression in favor of his infamous smiles. He chatted with both makeup teams, gossiping on thetest celebrity news.

    She approached them, shing a smile. This was her chance. She could earn all their favors while Evangeline was out of sight. "Nice thing we have going here. Want to share it with me?"

    "Oh, Ms. Wilson! It was all a misunderstanding!" Her makeup artist wailed.

    Her amber eyes blinked twice. "Excuse me?"

    "The scandal about Ms. Reed! It''s all a lie!"

    Jane felt the blood drain off her face.

    "A dedicated fan posted a security footage of Ms. Reed when the alleged photo had been taken. The source was so confident too! I wonder how that person feels now that the amateur sabotage was squashed?"

    Cale took a sip from his bottled water. Since Eve left, he had taken her spot on the chair. The others crowded around him and enjoyed their time. "Evangeline had done nothing wrong from the start. It was only a matter of time before the truth came out. Don''t you think so, Jane?"

    "Huh?" Jane uttered as a response. Her mind was still pre-upied elsewhere.

    The modelling manager ced a hand over his chest. His aqua blue eyes crinkled at the corners. "I won''t ever forget the concern you showed Evangeline. It''s too bad she couldn''t eat the cheese bread but I hope you know that she appreciates the thought behind it."

    She shook her head, staring off into space. "No problem. I''m d things worked out for her."

    Jane wobbled back onto her seat. Her knees threatened to give in. She bit her thumb, analyzing what just happened. Should she have fabricated an older photo? One that happened before Evangeline entered the modelling business?

    That would have prevented this counter attack.

    Her hands itched to contact Elias, furling and unfurling. They needed their next move figured out. Evangeline probably thought it was over. She and her allies should be feelingfortable. It was the right time to strikesince they would be vulnerable.

    "Jane? Jane!"

    Fluttering hershes, Jane snapped her gaze towards the right. "Y-Yes?"

    Cale hopped off his seat and checked on her. "My dear, girl. Are you alright?"

    "Hm?" She said. It was at this time she noticed that she trembled all over. Her lips also felt cold. What was this sensation? Why did it seem like she was panicking? "This is nothing, Cale. Just nerves! Mikael is quite intimidating to work with. Not that I mean he''s a terrible person! But he is so good at everything he does, I can''t help but feel stupid."

    "Try not to think of him too highly. He''s human like we all are," Cale replied. He patted her head before returning to his chair. "If you see him that way, it''s like saying you already lost."

    One of the makeup artists nced in his direction. "Didn''t Evangeline work with Mikael before? I''ve seen those ads and they are doing well. Maybe she has some tips for Ms. Wilson."

    Cale sighed, pretending to think about it. "I''m not sure about thest part but they did have a project together before. If my memory serves me right, they rehearsed for that which had been taken the wrong way."

    Jane bit her tongue. Of course, Evangeline did well. They were from the same agency. It would reflect badly on them if their two models underperformed. This and that shouldn''t be up forparison.

    Her situation was entirely different.

    "I remember that!" Eve''s stylist eximed out of the blue. "They were used of having an affair. It was how I learned about Ms. Evangeline and her career. "

    "Ah, yes" Cale sighed again. He finished the rest of his water and screwed the cap back. "Seems so long ago now. I hope whoever tries to target Evangeline again should know that my model won''t be broken down."

 Chapter 268: Kiss, Kiss, Fall in Love!

    Chapter 268: Kiss, Kiss, Fall in Love!

    "I can''t work with you!" The director yelled, jumping off his seat and pointing his finger. "You don''t get topromise because you think yours is better than the rest of us. Especially when I have told you many times that this isn''t what I asked for!"

    Mikael sat still. He had his legs crossed under the wooden round table and his back propped against the backrest of the matching chair. A cup of steaming hot coffee sat in front of him. Its aroma floated up to his nostrils.

    Despite the tense atmosphere, he took a sip.

    Meanwhile, the person standing next to him trembled under the scrutinizing gaze.

    Jane''s throat tightened from the sudden outburst of the director. She had been trying hard to learn what exactly he wanted. The script was simple enough. She merely needed to ce the cup on Mikael''s table while he had his eyes closed for a nap.

    But then, he would hear the rattling of ceramic and snatch her arm.

    It should be the highlight of their scene.

    Jane couldn''tprehend what went wrong. She had done every single step precisely. She figured it had to be something else like her expressions but no matter how she changed it, the director disapproved of every one.

    "I want you off the project," the director decided. He waved his megaphone towards the exit. "I don''t care who you are or who I''d piss off. This is non-negotiable. I''d given you enough chances so get out and stop wasting my time."

    "B" Jane opened her mouth to protest but the director had already turned around. He instructed everyone to take a break while they figure out the next step. Mikael ced the empty cup on the saucer and walked away, leaving her alone.

    No one spared her a nce.

    "Ms. Wilson must be having an unlucky day," a crew member whispered to herpanion. They were positioned by the snack table, using food to disguise their gossip. "She also got scolded earlier for cking off in the dressing room."

    "I had seen iting since she first showed up on set. The director wasn''t happy from her performance and gave her a break. He''s right. He already gave her several chances. Otherwise, he would have fired here right then and there."

    "She''ll get more projects anyway since her father is an influential man."

    "Yeah, it''s a pity but she''s not exactly pitiful."

    Eve watched the scenario from the sidelines. Her shoulder leaned against the wall while her arms crossed over her chest. Of all the people present, she expected Jane to perform the bestgiven how many times thetter had acted well in real life.

    "Her manager has to be spoiling her too," Calemented,ing up to her side from behind. "I haven''t seen the person try to discipline Jane. But they''re also not pleading to the director. Wonder why."

    "Because it would look too desperate after being yelled at." Eve sighed. She shifted her attention to the other people in the room. Everyone talked in hushed tones, obviously speaking about the incident. She eventually lost sight of Jane.

    "Gossiping? Never knew that was part of your hobbies." Mikael walked up to the two, drinking from a bottle of water. Jordan stood nearby with a phone to his ear.

    Eve nced over her shoulder and ttened her upper back against the wall. "You really are cold though. You didn''t even try tofort her."

    "Why should I?" He moved to mimic her position beside her. He screwed back the lid of the water bottle, tucking a hand into his pant pocket. "I tried to help her but she wouldn''t listen to me."

    "And I bet you did oh so nicely?"

    "You act as if I also didn''t give you a hard time when we first met."

    "So you''re saying that you are always like this to rookies?"

    Cale snorted, interrupting the conversation. "He was like that because he thought you bought your way in the industry. Just like how a certain someone seemed to have done so he tested if the person could handle pressure."

    "Huh" Eve clicked her tongue. She gave Mikael the side-eye but he avoided it, seemingly distracted by the lights that hung from the ceiling. "I must have passed with flying colors if you''re this nice to me now."

    Mikael snorted. "I can still change my mind."

    "We''ll see."

    "Have you thought about what I sent you then?" He met her gaze and arched an eyebrow. "If you''re serious in modelling as you say, I''d be disappointed if you didn''t take it."

    Eve pressed her lips together and averted her eyes. She knew immediately what he meant. It was the document that he had sent her the other day. The details described a training program she could partake in to advance her career but she needed rmendations.

    Since Mikael had done it before, he volunteered to write her that rmendation.

    He only needed her word and he''d do it.

    "Hey! You two!" A voice shouted towards them.

    Whirling their heads in its direction, Eve and Mikael pushed themselves off the wall and waited for the producer to reach their spot. Cale and Jordan noticed the fiasco. They also approached the scene, intending to listen to what they assumed to be new instructions.

    "We changed the script," the producer began to say. He paused to catch his breath, wheezing slightly. "The story of the grandmother will now be about how she worked in the cafe when she was younger. At the time, she met a young man but their feelings never led to anything because the young man had to leave."

    "By the time he came back for her, she already married someone else," he concluded. Then, he handed them the new script. "There''s only little changes but prepare for it. The director has little patience left. We''ll start as soon as break is over."

    Eve and Mikael exchanged looks.

    No words were spoken as they only had five minutes to prepare and rehearse. The scenes were meant for a montagemost of them a redo of Mikael''s scenes with Jane. Eve skimmed them through. She had seen them earlier so it should be easy to reenact.

    She just wished it would finish before lunch time.

    .

    .

    .

    .

    .

    Ambryan climbed out of his ck Mercedes-Maybach S650. The crew members near the entrance of the venue recognized him right away. Half of them raced inside to announce his presencewhich sounded more like warnings.

    He passed through security and entered the building.

    The staff led him to the set where a scene was currently being filmed.

    Eve turned away from the counter, carrying a tray with a cup of ck coffee. She paused and gazed at a table near the center of the cafe. Her hazel eyes dted. Using light footsteps, she strolled towards it. The gentleman who sat in it had his head bowed and his eyes closed.

    Careful not to disturb his sleep, she gently ced the cup on his table.

    She managed to take one step when a hand grabbed her wrist.

    Horror covered her expression as she faced the gentleman. Radiant blue eyes stared up at her. Pulling her closer, his gaze flickered towards the cup and its post-it note. He rested his elbow on the table and used his free hand to cup his cheek.

    "Are you the one who has been writing these to me?" Mikael spoke softly but his face remained stern.

    Eve opened her mouth. Then, closed it. She avoided his eyes and stuttered. "My job is to only serve the coffee."

    "That doesn''t mean it didn''te from you."

    Her breath audibly hitched. She tried to break free from his hold, twisting her arm and yanking it back. "Please, excuse me. I have to get back to work."

    Mikael released her and reached for the coffee cup. "Then, let''s meet after your shift is over."

    Eve gaped in his direction. "W-What?"

    "And cut!" The director yelled into his megaphone. He stretched his arms and rose to his feet. "That''s a wrap for the morning session. Let''s resume after lunch. Be on time, people!"

    Heaving a sigh, Eve felt her shoulders rxed. She didn''t realize how stiff they were until this moment. It was a surprise that the director didn''t call her out for terrible acting. She leaned over the table and buried her face in her hands.

    "You did fine." Mikael said, patting the spot between her shoulder des. "The director gave his approval. Time to move on. There''s still more to shootter."

    Eve forced herself to straighten her back upright. He was right. She didn''t have time to mope about her mediocre acting. Her character wore a watch which made it convenient for her to check the time. Heavy footsteps stopped on the other side of the table.

    Mikael spotted the neer first. "Mr. Hathaway!"

    At the sound of his name, Eve snapped her head up. "Ambee!"

    Ambryan alternated his attention between the two. "Evangeline. Mr. Davis."

    The male model noticed the subtle panic in Eve''s eyes. He shook his head. The scene hadn''t been intimate. There wasn''t anything to worry about. Still, he felt like he should ease the tension for a bit.

    "Try not to read into this like you did with me and your secretary, Eve," Mikael exined. "Ms. Evangeline is just nervous from the sudden change in script. None of us predicted that Jane would be kicked off the project."

    Ambryan narrowed his violet eyes. He regarded the male model, wondering if there is implication behind his words. "I already had that cleared up, Mr. Davis. Don''t make me suspicious now."

    Mikael chuckled and nced at Eve onest time. "I''ll be going. Enjoy your lunch."

    He stepped sideways, trying to get out.

    Then, his foot hit the leg of the table.

    Ambryan caught him just in time.

    "Sorry about that"

    Eve mped a hand over her mouth. Maybe her height difference with Ambryan wasn''t so bad after all. If she was as tall as Mikael, she and Ambryan would have been prone to idental kisses...

    just like now.

 Chapter 269: Demands of a Mother-in-Law

    Chapter 269: Demands of a Mother-in-Law

    Mikael stepped back, his hands raised in surrender.

    His wide radiant blue eyes failed to blink. His lungs ceased breathing. Even his muscles went stiff. If someone would ask him what being a mannequin must feel like, he''d describe it in this same manner.

    Moving for him was akin to being a literal dollunfeeling and artificial.

    If Mikael turned mannequin, Ambryan became a statue.

    Nothing that his mind could control moved. His violet eyes nked out. They registered nothing within his line of sight. All his senses shut down. If it wasn''t for his heartbeat, he would have thoroughly believed he wasn''t human anymore.

    "We''ll never speak about this," Ambryan breathed out.

    Mikael didn''t need to be told twice. "Agreed."

    Thetter fled the scene before they could gain more witnesses or idents. Eve busied herself with trying to hold in herughter. One burst of it and everyone in the premise would look in her direction. Her stomach cramped from her actions. She hugged it as her body bent forward.

    That had to be the highlight of her day.

    Not even Jane knocking the bottle couldpare.

    Ambryan scowled once he regained his senses. "You found it funny, huh?"

    "Well, it was." Eve managed to say in between breaths. She wiped off imaginary tears and strode to his side. "Say if I kiss you now, does that count as an indirect kiss with Mikael?"

    Nothing in that statement sounded funny to Ambryan. He glowered and turned on his heel, gripping her upper arm. "You canugh in the car but after that, I don''t want to hear another word about what you just saw. Understand?"

    "Oh, yes. Completely." Eve snorted. She let him drag her towards the exit while humming a little tune. Her head bobbed side to side. "Mikael and Ambee sitting on a tree~"

    "Evan..." he warned under his breath.

    "Then, they had an ident ''cause the branch broke!"

    "EVAN." She heard near her ear. The growl reminded her of an anguished animal. It shouldn''t be funny but it still gave her enough serotonin for augh to escape her lips.

    .

    .

    .

    .

    .

    The couple chose a nearby restaurant for their lunch meal. Ambryan had the idea to visit Stitz Bistro but Eve protested that they''d waste more time on the drive than to eat. If they overstayed for even just a few minutes, she could bete for the next part of the shoot.

    One side of the wall showcased a lovely view of the mountain fields. Eve asked if there was a table avable beside it and convinced Ambryan that they didn''t need a private room. The sound of pots and pans from the kitchen reached her ears faintly.

    Not only that but the savory smell of delicious also made its way to her nose.

    "Stopughing," Ambryan said as they looked at their menu.

    Across from him, Eve looked up. "WhaI''m notughing."

    "Sure, sure."

    She pressed her lips together and shut her eyes. The scene merely yed for a second in her head. Now, it repeated again and again continuously. It was out of her control at this point. If only she had a physical copy of it like a photo or a video.

    "Are you ready to order?" A waitress asked.

    She took out her pen and notepad, ready to jot down their chosen dishes.

    "We''ll have the seafood tter," Ambryan ordered for both of them. "I''d like a cup of ck tea and the missus will have lemon water. On second thought, change it to a pitcher-full along with a bit of honey."

    "Right away, sir."

    Eve kicked his leg under the table as soon as the waitress left. "Missus?"

    "A little payback forughing at my misery."

    She rolled her eyes. How did it count as revenge she didn''t know.

    Ambryan felt his phone vibrate. Frown lines creased between his eyebrows once he saw the email that just came in. "Give me a few seconds, Evan. I need to respond to this."

    "No problem." Eve distracted herself by admiring the venue. The modernism design gave her a sense offort. It wasn''t the Stitz Bistro but it was close enough. Recalling that small restaurant brought a smile to her face.

    Oh, how time flew by.

    "Yan! Evangeline!"

    The couple followed its source.

    Brisk walking from the entrance was none other than Avery Hathaway.

    The madam wore the biggest smile. Her violet eyes could hardly be seen with how much they crinkled at the corners. The expression''s natural glow added to her youthful appearance. Her long-sleeved sweater dress red around her legs. She matched it with a brown belt to emphasize her waistline.

    Ambryan resisted the urge to sigh. "Mother."

    "Aunt Avery!" Eve greeted back. She leaped to her feet and met the madam halfway. Her arms immediately wrapped around thetter''s shoulders. "When was thest time we saw each other? I literally can''t remember right now."

    "I haven''t seen you both in so long!" Avery gushed, returning the hug with the same amount of enthusiasm. "It honestly feels like forever! I''m so sorry you had to go through that!"

    The two women sat down on the same table. Eve slid in and sat by the window. Her decision allowed the mother-son duo to sit directly in front of each other. "You can me Yan for taking so long to leak the footage of you in that grocery store. "

    Ambryan put his phone away andced his fingers together over the table. His indifferent expression was back on his face. "The build up was important, mother."

    "He had this crazy idea that it should debunk as much as it can," the madam exined, angling her body towards Eve. "He had the source reveal details that gave credibility to the photos. He believed it would be the best way to take down all the possible responses from the attacker."

    Eve gave them a tight smile. It surprised her how rxed she felt after receiving their help once again. Did things change that fast? "Well, I''m thankful either way. If there''s any way I can repay you, just say so."

    "I want grandkids but you already knew that."

    "Aunt Avery!"

    "All in due time, mother."

    "Ambee!"

    Avery pointed her finger at her son. She wiggled her eyebrows, the corners of her lips tugging upwards as far as they could. "The fact that you indirectly agreed is already good enough for me to celebrate. I am sure you''ll make it happen."

    The waitress returned to serve their drinks. Ambryan cleansed his palette first with the lemon water before taking a sip of tea. "The request to ask is how many do you want, mother."

    ''Kids with Ambryan?'' Eve reddened at the mere thought of it. But, in the back of her head, something about it felt like a deja vu. Had she had she entertained this idea before? She couldn''t quite put her finger on it.

    Still, it had her blushing as red as a tomato.

    "Four," the madam stated, breaking Eve out of her reverie. "Two twins."

    "Twins?!" Eve eximed too loudly. The soft chatter around them died. She waved her hand and bowed her head in apology. Shifting her attention back to their own table, she hid her face behind a hand.

    "You get to take care of one, I get to take care of one." Avery borated. "I''ve waited for a long time to have grandkids. Of course, you wouldn''t want me monopolizing the baby so the best solution is to have two at the same time. Everybody wins!"

    Eve wiped her hand down her face. She shivered at the mere idea of howbor would feel like when bearing twins. Her voice came out almost as exhausted as a woman who just gave birth. "I''m pretty sure that is not how it works."

    Avery pouted, leaning and hitting the back of the bench. "Fine. Just make sure one of them is a girl whether inside or/and outside."

    "Again, that is not how it works. You don''t get to decide their gender beforehand."

    The madam wagged a finger at her. If her nose could elongate to a pointy tip, Eve would see it happen during this moment in time. "There''s actually a calendar that states what the sex of the baby would be when conceived on a certain date."

    "I" Eve choked. Her hazel eyes nearly popped out of their sockets when she peeked over at Ambryan. This was partly his fault. Why should she be the one to suffer?

    "Ambee," she hissed under her breath. "A little help here."

    Ambryan sipped from his cup of tea and averted his eyes. He didn''t need to speak words. That alonemunicated his response. Eve narrowed her gaze. Was this another payback? It''s not like she forced him and Mikael toto

    "..."

    "Now what shall we be having for lunch?" Avery asked, changing the topic. One grumble from her stomach and her mind listened to its needs. A melodic ringtone interrupted her. "Ah, please excuse me."

    She stepped out of a side door that led to a porch. Fresh mountain air filled her lungs. It managed to keep the atmosphere clean despite theck of greenery. Breathing in lungs full of it, she nced at her phone screen once before answering the call.

    "Hello?"

    Baby birds chirped from their nest. Their mother had juste back with something to eat. The squirrel that lived in the same tree hunted for more nuts before winter rolled in. Their day progressed peacefullyjust like how they expected it to be.

    On the other hand

    "I see," Avery muttered. She scratched the side of her head. "She''s that upset?"

    The other person on the line responded in a straightforward manner. Her scowl deepened as their conversation continued. She nced over her shoulder, spotting the couple at their table. Their mouths moved rapidly but their eyes stayed gentle towards one another. Her heart squeezed at the sight.

    A sigh escaped her lips as she turned her head back around. "Well, what else is there to do other than giving her what she wants? It''s how she copes."

 Chapter 270: What a Girl Wants

    Chapter 270: What a Girl Wants

    A few dayster, Eve had an appointment in Lotus Agency. She wore a simple tank top and fitted culottesa pair of pants that stopped below the knee. Her crimson hair had been tied up into a bun. Flip flops wrapped around her feet.

    She stood straight, facing forward and expressionless.

    A camera shed right in front of her.

    Then, she rxed her posture and folded her arms behind her. The pose emphasized her curves. Her chin tilted up to elongate her neck. The photographer captured her photo once more.

    Eve kept the momentum and half-turned away from the camera. She nced over her shoulder and exposed her side profile. The camera moved closer to take it as a headshot that disyed her facial bone structure.

    Lastly, she leaned back on a white wall with one leg bent, its heel lifted off the floor. Her arms returned to her sides. The photographer dropped to one knee for a better angle that would show off her height.

    "That''s a wrap for you, Evangeline," he announced, scrolling through her shots.

    "Thank you." Eve stepped off the set and grabbed her belongings. She shrugged on her trench coat and tied it around the waist. Nanzie assisted and remained a step behind her.

    A line of models waited for their turn outside. The sight of them made her heart pound. Could she actually outshine them? She walked beside them until she reached the end of the hallway. The eyes that followed her varied from disdain and indifference.

    She let out a breath once she reached the elevator.

    Mikael and Cale could have warned her how fierce thepetition was.

    "Hey. Will you be dropping by for dinner?" Eve said over the phone, crossing the lobby.

    "Is this an invitation?" Ambryan paused from typing. He sat in his office with Riffle standing in front of him. Thetter hung his mouth open slightly. He had been in the middle of exining the schedule when the CEO received the call.

    This had to be the first time he ever overheard their conversation.

    Eve snorted at the subtle teasing tone. "Did an invitation ever matter to you?"

    "It''s always a good feeling to be invited."

    "Well, sorry. It''s not an invitation." Eve reached the entrance. Nanzie positioned herself between Eve and the street, strolling side by side. They headed for the car that was parked a block away.

    "Is that so?"

    "Yes." Eve nodded. "It''s an invasion. Can I cook at your house instead?"

    Ambryan raised his eyebrows. "This is a first."

    "I want to y with the cats." She pressed her lips together, seeming to wait for his response. But, as soon as she heard him open his mouth, she added, "Eri and Ede also want to y with them. I''m sure you know how hard it is to resist them."

    "And there''s the catch." He chuckled from the other line. Riffle nearly had a heart attack.

    It really was true that love could change people.

    Nanzie stepped ahead and opened the car door for Eve. "So?"

    "As long as dinner won''t be another bowl of tomato soup." From the corner of his eye, Ambryan spotted an email notification from his desktop monitor. He clicked it right away and opened the attached file.

    "Of course! I wouldn''t torture you more than once."

    "I''ll remember that."

    The call ended and Eve undid her hair. She sat in the backseat, buckling her seatbelt, while Nanzie ced the vehicle in gear. Her heart weighed heavy. The week was almost over. Ambryan should be asking her again what was the document she was reading back in the hotel.

    How should she tell him about it?

    ''Over dinnerter perhaps?'' She contemted. With her sisters around, it should be a pleasant enough atmosphere. This had to be another thing she never dreamed of doing before she joined that sted website.

    But a part of her also felt excited for what is toe.

    "Ms. Evangeline, hold on!"

    The tires screeched under the sedan.

    Eve screamed, grabbing onto whatever she could reach. Her body flew forward but the seat belt pulled her back. She bowed her head and closed her eyes on instinct. She lost her sense of direction as the car jerked in different directions.

    Then, it jerked to a sudden stop.

    "Please stay in here," Nanzie instructed. She climbed out of the driver''s seat and locked the doors. A gun in her hand, she crouched beside the vehicle with its nozzle pointed to the ground.

    Eve looked up, panting. Vans blocked their path on the street. Horns red out from other affected cars in traffic. She peeked behind her for the rest of her security team. They should be closed behind but more suspicious vehicles cut off the street.

    ''What was going on?''

    On cue, men and women in ck exited the vehicles.

    They were clearly outnumbered.

    Nanzie stepped back until she stood next to Eve''s side of the car. Unconsciously, Eve clung to the door between them. Her senses heightened. She needed a n but what?

    One guy reached Nanzie''s side. She immediately elbowed him in the ribs and flipped him over her shoulder. Then, another one came and raised a punch in her direction. She ducked and executed a roundhouse kick.

    More of them flocked over her.

    She gnashed her teeth together.

    She knew exactly what they were doing. Her cyan eyes snapped towards Eve. Hazel ones stared back at her in rm. She couldn''t help but find itical. It was obvious that Eve was the one in most danger but her client acted like it was her who was in deep peril.

    The sounds of a fight reached her ears.

    It seemed like the rest of her team were trying to break through.

    Nanzie knew at least one thing. These people weren''t here to kill them. They had guns like she did but none of them were used. The best she could do was keep as many of them away from the careven if it meant taking the first shot.

    Eve yelped and pressed her hands against her ears when a gunshot sounded.

    The person on the other side of the car dropped to the ground.

    Nanzie pulled the trigger three more times. Each shot found its marknot enough to kill but hopefully enough to immobilize the enemies. She thrusted a kick behind her and changed directions.

    The others also started to surround the car.

    Her arm swung in a half circle, opting for speed instead of precision.

    Then, she ran out of bullets.

    The guy she flipped over her shoulder earlier seized her wrist, forcing the gun to point up. He slowly made his way up until he could crush her hand. Her grip on the gun tightened. Nazie wouldn''t allow him to force her into dropping it.

    She lifted her free arm for another jab to his ribs.

    But someone else twisted it to stop her.

    A painful grunt escaped her lips. Nanzie bent forward. Using her whole weight, she rammed her back towards them and pushed. The three of them stumbled backwards andnded on the ground.

    "Nanzie!"

    The shriek of her name caused Nanzie to scramble to her feet.

    Two guys held Eve''s upper arms. Thetter steeled her legs in resistance but they possessed strength that she didn''t have. Her legs gave in until the enemies practically dragged her across the ground. The asphalt scratched her exposed skin.

    She hissed and kicked, yanking her armsanything that could loosen their grip.

    But the attempts were fruitless.

    "NO!" Nanzie cried. She ran for it.

    A hand snatched her elbow and her feet elevated off the ground. Shended on her back, grunting in pain. Hands held her down before she could even try to get up. Their faces were shadows against the orange sky.

    She spat at a random face, making the person close their eyes.

    "What? You think there aren''t many of us?" One of the enemies threatened breathily. He rose to his feet and wiped the corner of his mouth with the back of his hand. He was the only one who didn''t touch her. "There''s twice of us on the other side, stopping your backup."

    Dread washed over Nanzie.

    They had been well-prepared, knowing that it would only be here with Eve inside the car. To call for this much force meant they were dealing with a powerful person. Her gaze darted in different directions, pretending to be vulnerable and confused.

    Then, she jolted up as a surprise.

    But the grip on her pushed her back down.

    "Thinking about how to escape?" The same guy grinned. "I''m afraid you''re toote."

    Eve continued to trash around.

    Then, they shoved her at the back of a van.

    Her first instinct was to lunge for the doors. She met a solid resistance as they shut close. Her fists banged on the window. The van should leave the premises soon. Others would be able to see her. She needed to catch their attention and call the authorities.

    "HELP! SOMEBODY HELP! I''M BEING KIDNAPPED!" Eve shouted at the top of her lungs.

    "BE QUIET!" Someone barked from behind her.

    She whirled her head around to give them a piece of her mind. Whatever words that lingered in her mouth went back down. Her throat clogged up and prevented her from uttering a single sound. She gulped.

    "Go ahead," the person mocked her from his seat, utching the gun''s stopper. The van started moving. "I dare you to say something."

    The events gradually sank in as her body trembled from cold fear. Eve dropped to the floor and raised her hands in surrender. She kept eye contact with the kidnapper, watching the gun. Her sudden silence amused him. It both sickened her and terrified her at the same time.

    In this vehicle, they held the power.

    One wrong move and it could be game over.

    That was when she noticed that she wasn''t alone.

    A wide grin spread across the stranger''s face. "Hey, cutie."

 Chapter 271: Smile for the Camera

    Chapter 271: Smile for the Camera

    "Hey, cutie."

    Goosebumps emerged on her skin when she heard his voice. Steadily, she moved her hands and wrapped her arms around herself. One hand went to her shoulder and the other touched her hip. This was her only protection now. A lowugh came from the man who held the gun. What kind of sickening person would find amusement in this?

    The stranger before her crawled across the cramped space, a rope in hand.

    She kicked the floor and slid away. He smelled like tobo and alcohol.

    "Aw, don''t be like that, cutie. I won''t hurt you."

    "Maybe not" Eve said shakily. "But I would hurt you if you try to touch me."

    "You think that will be a good idea?" He mocked, cackling under his breath.

    The man on the seat folded an arm over the backrest. He rested his chin over it and wiggled his eyebrows. "I surely wouldn''t stop her. It would be mildly entertaining."

    The stranger red in his direction. "Aren''t we on the same side?"

    "I have one job and one job only. You''re in no position for me to listen to you."

    Eve silently thanked the man for his intervention. As long as they kept talking, things would be fineeven just for a meantime. Her hand on her hip tapped the side of her thigh. For some reason, the kidnappers didn''t take her phone.

    It should have been the first thing they did when they opened the door.

    Pulling up her legs and bending at the knees, the butt of the phone slipped out of her pocket. Her thumb brushed over the fingerprint reader and it led her to her home screen. She scrunched her face and hoped her expression looked remorseful. Her eyelids fidgeted as she tried to see where to tap next.

    "Aw, look at her. Like a scared littlemb."

    Eve shed her eyes open.

    The two males stared back. Their wicked expressions made her heart pound. Had they seen what she was trying to do? The stranger with the rope attempted to get close to her once more.

    Her instincts kicked in. She hit the corner that connected the backseat and the side of the car. It was the farthest she could go.

    "He''s not lying, you know. We just need you to be tied." The other person winked. His other arm hung over the backrest, letting the gun dangle from his finger."Can''t have you try to escape now."

    "Don''t touch me!" Eve yelled when the stranger tried to grab her foot.

    Her phone ttered to the floor.

    "Ah, trying to contact someone? Lines are jammed in this van. Nice of you to try though."

    Eve felt herst string of hope snap. She was clearly outnumbered. Nanzie was outnumbered and so was her security team. Had the news picked up the kidnapping yet? Ambryan or Avery should have heard about it now. There was no way they could hide it with that grand of a scale.

    "Now, be a good girl" they coaxed her.

    She didn''t have any of it. When the stranger tried to grab her foot again, she kicked him in the chest and pushed him back with all the strength she had. Maybe she didn''t have a chance with the phone but an escape could still be possible if her legs were untied.

    If the other person saw it as entertainment then, she''d use it to her advantage.

    "Why you" the stranger growled, exposing his stained teeth from years of smoking.

    "Useless," hispanion muttered with a shake of his head. "Move. I''ll do it."

    "No, I''ll do it! This was our agreement!"

    "Your foot fetish has me doubting you."

    "I can control myself long enough to tie her!"

    Eve wished she could block her hearing. She''d rather not hear any of this. Her hazel eyes flickered to her phone screen. The signal really wasn''t avable. She couldn''t see it before because it was disyed at the top bar.

    Moving on to her next idea, she tried checking the view from the windows.

    There should be a clue about where they were. Then, maybe she could map out a route.

    A thud vibrated under her. She whirled her head out of impulse. A rough hand covered her eyes. Her arm sprung to shove it away. Solid muscle dug into her bones. Except, it wasn''t enough to stop her. She repeated the motion, refusing to give up if no one was stopping her.

    "You''re feisty. I like you."

    Eve stiffened at his voice.

    This wasn''t the stranger who tried to tie her

    "Oho, have you recognized me already? How sweet." His breath brushed the tip of her ear. She shivered involuntarily. "I think you and I will have lots of fun together."

    Just then, the vehicle lurched to a stop.

    "Oh, we''re here already?" The same voice teased. "The fun should be starting soon then."

    The trunk door of the van opened. Two men in simr outfits assessed the situation. One of them red at the rope, holding out his hand to take it. The other spotted the mobile phone and snatched it away.

    "What''s a guy gotta do to get some privacy around her?" Eve heard the man beside her say.

    "Get out of the vehicle."

    "Okay, okay. Sheesh. No need to be rude."

    Eve squinted. The sky appeared blinding after being kept in the dark. Brick walls loomed on either side of the alley way. Her ears didn''t pick up the sound of traffic which meant they were in a secluded area. Nothing else offered her a hint as to their specific location.

    Maybe if she could get to the opening of the alleway then, maybe she''d recognize the ce.

    "Well, well, well" a female voice spoke away from her line of sight.

    Light blonde hair glistened under the setting sun. Large cat-eye sunsses framed a pair of amber eyes. Even with a top hat on her head and a thick scarf around her neck, Eve recognized her instantly. Her hands clenched into fists.

    Then, the woman took off her sunsses. "Isn''t this a lovely sight?"

    "Jane" Eve red, her nostrils ring. "I should have known it was you."

    "Not so smart after all, huh?" Jane teased. She lifted a gloved hand and gripped Eve''s chin, leaning down and pulling thetter closer. "Hm. Not a scratch on your pretty face. They had taken care of you well."

    "Why are you doing this?" Eve breathed out.

    Jane released her chin and pulled back. She signaled one of the henchmen to tie Eve''s wrists. A mouthful of scolding lingered at the tip of her tongue. Their job was simple but couldn''t they execute it properly? Who would leave the victim untied?

    The henchman nodded and reached for Eve''s wrists.

    She resisted him, yanking her hands back.

    "Can''t we talk this out, Jane?" Eve pleaded. It was a false cry but the vulnerable act should work. It amazed her how her brain hadn''tpletely broken down. She would havepletely lost it if it weren''t for the adrenaline in her veins.

    "You''re in the way that''s why," Jane sneered.

    "Because you''re crazily obsessed with my boyfriend?"

    She turned her head to the side and snorted, acting indifferent. "You know he''s only with you because you remind him of someone. It''s that red hair of yours if you were wondering."

    "And you just know him so well, don''t you?" Eve shot back with an eye roll. The henchman used this opportunity to wrap the around her wrists at least onceand seeded at it.

    Jane shifted her attention back on Eve, resisting the temptation to wipe off thetter''s smug expression "Better than you, at least. We''ll see if he still thinks of you in the same way after realizing your true colors."

    "Talking to yourself now?"

    A smirk stretched on her lips. "Oh, no. Not me. But a certain someone who has a profile in an illegal x-rated website, selling her body for a living. The two of you seemed to share the same name too. Do you know each other? Now that I think about it, you kind of look alike."

    Eve instantly understood what she meant. Disgust didn''t begin to describe how she felt. Bile foamed in her mouth, aching to spit out. "You''re a bitch."

    Jane switched her smirk to a full smile. "Coming from you that has little effect."

    Then, she turned to another henchman. "Ready for the camera, Norman?"

    "Always, Miss."

    "No" Eve saw her life before her eyes.

    She had dreamt of being a ballerina since she was a child. Everyday, she''d go to the ballet studio after school and practice until her feet bled. Then, her family hit rock bottom and she had to give up a performing arts school in favor of a business major.

    Things were starting to be well again until her mother fainted one day.

    When her mother died, rtives came to give their aid but her father ran away with the money.

    Only Eve was left to fend for herself and her little sisters. The Summer Family lended her enough to finish her college degree. They had taken her and the twins under their wing. For that, she could never be able to express her gratitude.

    They didn''t go through all that trouble just for her to fall like this.

    She didn''t go through all of that just to let some psychotic spoiled brat get in the way.

    Fuelled with newfound determination, Eve kicked the nearest henchman and hopped off the vehicle. She dashed for the opening. If what Jane said was true, they needed her alive. An injury would only be a hindrance to their ns.

    The small view of the street ahead showed closed shops.

    "What are you waiting for? Get her!" Jane barked.

    Two henchmen immediately ran after Eve. The others fell on the ground as the backdoors to the buildings opened. People flocked out and twisted the culprits'' arms behind their backs, locking their wrists in handcuffs and confiscating their weapons.

    Jane only had enough time to blink in utter horror.

    "Smile for the camera, sweetie!" Someone told her.

 Chapter 272: Snow Storm with an Ice Castle on Top

    Chapter 272: Snow Storm with an Ice Castle on Top

    "Smile for the camera, sweetie!"

    "What in the world...." Jane trailed off. Then, someone snagged her arms and twisted them behind her. She grunted, trying to break free. Her amber eyes red at the person holding the video camera. "What''s the meaning of this, Elias?"

    Elias tilted his head sideways and revealed his face. "I had tried to convince you not to do this but nothing could sway you. A little more protest on my part and you would have known something was up."

    When he first heard the idea, he knew it wouldn''t be easy to flip the situation back around. A small dy could have been toote. A wrong chess move could have cost the entire game. They had to execute it delicatelyand nt double agents into the scheme.

    Something he wouldn''t have been able to do without some help.

    Jane snorted at his words. She shook her head, her mouth hanging open slightly. "Are you trying to redeem yourself? Because it won''t work. No matter how you plead your case, you''re still my aplice."

    "Under my instructions that is."

    The blood drained off her face when another person came out of the steel backdoor. Her chest became hollow in an instant. Her lips turned blue. Ringing sounded in her ears. This couldn''t be real. It just couldn''t!

    "Aunt Avery" Jane breathed out.

    Avery climbed down the short set of stairs. She walked up to Elias'' side, a stern expression on her face. She had wondered about this moment numerous timesthinking about what to say and how to respond. Her consciousness still took Jane''s feelings into consideration. It was hard to break out of an old habit.

    But now that Jane was in front of her, those memories vanished.

    What she had witnessed minutes ago shattered them into millions of pieces.

    "I wish I didn''t have to do this." Avery sighed. She wore a long ck coat and had her hands tucked into its pockets. Her violet eyes hardened into gems. "But you and your father left me with little choice. I can''t believe you were about to ce Evangeline in apromising position."

    No words could describe how she felt when Elias called her about it. It was one thing to fake a photo on the inte or to fake an entire story. It was another level to force the person to participate in a constructed demise against them.

    Worse scenarios could have happened and Avery knew that well.

    They had to cleverly execute their y just to persuade Jane not to drug Eve.

    Jane hardly believed her ears. Why was everyone on Evangeline''s side?! What was so amazing about her? She was a person who had faked her entire identity for crying out loud! "She''s the one deceiving people with her lies! You should know more than anyone that Ambryan deserves better!"

    Avery closed her eyes briefly. What seemed like a ridiculous idea months ago had escted this much. When she opened her eyes again, she whispered in Elias''s ear and stepped towards Jane. This was her fault. None of these would have happened if it weren''t for her own actions and decisions.

    Her desperation and impatience on her son finding love had stemmed out into several brancheswhere on several of them, good oues had sprung. On others, they led into situations such as this.

    And people had suffered from it.

    In her softest voice, Avery exined the situation as short as possible. "Jane, the truth is Ambryan does know about Evangeline''s secret. He''s one of the people keeping it and is dly showing off to the world that he still chose her."

    Tears swelled in Jane''s eyes. They stained red. Utter betrayal poured out of her system. One of her pirs had broken. Her voice trembled as she spoke. "You were like a mother to me. How can you turn against me like this? Don''t you consider me as your daughter anymore?"

    Avery felt her own heart break. Years of acting helped her suppress the tears that threatened to leak out. Now wasn''t the time for her to be vulnerable. "It''s because you matter to me that I treated you this way. Believe me that I and especially Ambryan could have done far worse. I hope you can learn from this incident."

    She shifted her attention to the people within the vicinity. "You may take her away now."

    Her back turned on Jane as she gazed at the opening of the alleyway.

    Elias had ran towards it when she instructed him to awhile ago. Eve should be physically safe by now but she couldn''t help feeling worried. Her mental state had to be unstable. Although someone was there to clear up the situation, maybe Elias could enhance it better.

    At this time, Eve panted for breath. Her swollen wrists were untied and her hands were on her knees. She had her eyes closed and had clutched her upset stomach. A groan escaped her lips. She might throw up at any momentand she despised that.

    Standing beside her was no one other than Jarrett.

    "Can you please exin to me just who was that guy?" He demanded, looking across the street.

    Eve''s mind wandered back to the mysterious man who had intervened. He and his bodyguards appeared while she was being chased. She didn''t know who he was but, feeling bold, she shouted for his help. The bodyguards had moved even before she could finish her statement.

    She stopped running and watched them take down the kidnappers.

    When her head whirled around to thank their boss, he had vanished.

    "I don''t know," she gasped. Her breathing hadn''t stabilized quite yet.

    "Then, why did he help you?"

    She grunted in frustration and flipped her hair back, straightening her spine. Her hazel eyes red at his confused face. "Jarrett, if I knew that, I would have told you by now for goodness'' sake. And why are you even here? Am I supposed to believe that this is some strange coincidence?"

    Jarrett pressed his lips together and ced his hands on his hips. "Yes and no."

    "Excuse me?" Eve blinked. She crossed her arms over her chest, arching an eyebrow. The day had enough fun in toying with her life. She certainly didn''t need another one. "Exin yourself."

    For some reason, he couldn''t meet her eye. Everything else seemed far more interesting: the broken shop sign, stic bag caught up in a post, the cat that observed them from an old bench

    "We knew you were going to be here, " Jarrett admitted under his breath.

    "We?!" Eve eximed. "Who is ''WE''?!"

    He coughed and cleared his throat. "Forensics."

    Eve batted hershes, absorbing the new information. Did he mean to say that this was part of a grand n? A n she hadn''t consented to. A n she hadn''t been aware of beforehand. She was merely joking earlier but life did seem to be toying with her after all.

    "Am I bait or something?" She scoffed, each syble dripping with sarcasm.

    "We received a tip that you''d be kidnapped and be brought here. That''s all," Jarret rified. Then, his gaze flickered to a spot over her shoulder. "As for the details, I think someone can fill you in better than I ever could."

    Eve frowned and followed his line of sightjust in time for Elias to close the gap between them.

    Her face froze into a shock. This was a person she never thought she''d see again. "Elias?"

    He gave her a tight smile and raised his hand for a wave. "Hi, Eve."

    She instantly caught on the switch. "Eve?"

    Elias nced in Jarrett''s direction. Thetter merely shrugged. He''d rather not jump into something that was between the two of them. Elias turned back to Eve and nodded once. "Yes, I know about it. Only recently though."

    ''This day just keeps getting better and better, huh?'' Eve mused. Reality felt more like a dream than itself. ''Had hell also turned into a princess''s snow storm with an ice castle on top?''

    Jarrett took this chance to make his escape. "I''ll leave you guys to it."

    "Hey" Eve began to protest but she let him go, blowing on her bangs. She clicked her tongue and shifted her attention towards Elias. Her eyes narrowed in concentration. "Word on the street is you can tell me what the hell is this about."

    "Right," Elias replied. He gathered his thoughts and proceeded to provide some answers. "You see"

    Eve stayed quiet as Elias narrated the events. Among all the schemes Jane had a part in, he was one of her more reliable aplices. He and Avery believed that it would only be a matter of time before she reached out to him againwhich came true when Eve quit her job as Ambryan''s secretary.

    He admitted to helping with the fake photos in the red district. As soon as he mentioned this, Eve recalled how amazingly realistic the images turned out. He had done the same thing when he fabricated that they once shared a romantic rtionship.

    As for the kidnapping, he had suggested the same form since he knew it would be debunked but Jane had enough of itarguing that they would be stopped again because they were clearly fake. She was convinced that the only way to make it believable was to have Evangeline ''caught in action.''

    "And so she kidnapped me with sloppy henchmen in order to get the evidence that she wanted to facbricate," Eve finished for him. That part had already been partially exined earlier. Her body shook from the memory of it.

    "Safety precaution?" Elias said, his pitch rising higher by the end. He received a deadpan expression for it. "The ws were intentional so you could escape in case things didn''t go as nned."

    "Does Ambryan know about this?" Eve asked after some consideration.

    Elias shook his head. If Ambryan had been involved, the kidnapping wouldn''t have happened at all. "Only Avery does. Although, I think he should be handling something else right about now."

    He tapped on his phone and showed her a video of a live news report.

 Chapter 273: Diffusing the Threat

    Chapter 273: Diffusing the Threat

    Eve lowered her head until she and the phone were on eye-level. Static mixed in with the sounds as it sted out of the speakers. She squinted her eyes in order to see better against the ring sky reflected on the screen.

    The newscaster stood in front of imposing tall gates. Behind her, other reporters flocked the area while police and investigators walked out. Cameras shed continuously and voices became louder as question after question were addressed to the owner of the mansion.

    "Politician Stuart Wilson had been ced under arrest after decisive evidence tipped forensics about his moneyundering," the newscaster said, staring straight into the camera. "Mr. Wilson denies such ims but he''s being detained and taken in for questioning. The evidence includes several fraudulent bank ounts opened overseas under his deceased wife''s maiden name"

    Looking up, Eve met Elias''s chocte eyes. "Ambryan was the tip?"

    He nodded in confirmation. She could hardly believe it. Both family members were arrested. Even if they made bail, their reputation and image had taken a blow. She could already imagine how long the court hearing would be just for Stuart to prove their innocence.

    That was if their wealth hadn''t been confiscated.

    "And you knew about this how?" Eve asked. She blocked out the newscaster from her hearing and focused on Elias. His presence hadn''t sunk in just yet. Based on previous encounters, she figured Ambryan wouldn''t be willing to work with him.

    She also wanted to know how he found out about her real identity.

    Elias tucked his phone away and folded his arms behind him, bouncing on his feet. "Well, anything he investigated also reached his mother. Technically speaking, I only spoke to Ambryan once since the photoshoot."

    Eve scowled at the ground. "Right. You''re working with Avery."

    "As part of a deal," he replied. The truth was he told about Jane to the madam first. She refused to believe ituntil Eve called about a woman who approached her. "I''m not truly off the hook yet for what happened before. But I also won''t mind helping out if you and the others need a hand. Hopefully, things would work out for the better in the future."

    His lips curled into a simple smile. It elevated his natural boyish charm.

    "Well as shitty as this whole thing was, I do thank you for your contribution." Eve scratched the spot behind her ear. To think even Elias was a part of this mess. "It feels like everyone doing something but me."

    The words had flown out of her mouth before she could process them. It was true but Elias wasn''t in the list of people she trusted. She didn''t want him near her vulnerable thoughts. Speaking of vulnerability, she scanned the empty street.

    Was it really okay for her to be alone with him?

    Elias chuckled. That should only mean that she was deeply loved. It had zero relevance to her false ipetency. He truly believed that she would have managed to escape if they had beente. It was in her nature to get out of sticky situations.

    "That''s because you''re the target," he said, lifting a hand to pat her upper arm twice. "I heard you almost died trying to put out a fire. It was a terrible choice but you managed to save lives when the rm was broken. So don''t downy yourself."

    Hazel eyes nced in his direction warily. "Thanks, I guess."

    Before Eve could say anything else, cars emerged from the end of the street. She gulped at the familiar vehicles. Her hands shot up to her head andbed her hair. She brushed off any wrinkles that would look suspicious. Then, she checked for wounds.

    Blood had dried on her leg where a cut manifested from when she fell on the ground.

    "Eek~!" She hissed under her breath. The scratch felt tender to the touch. The reddish pink tint stood out against her fair skin. It looked like a long bad rash but Ambryan knew better than that. There was no avoiding it.

    She was doomed.

    The driver''s side of the most expensive care opened and out came Ambryan. He left the door open and ran straight for Eve. His gelled hair ruffled against the wind, causing it to disrupt and to point all hair tips in one direction.

    Pure worry filled his violet eyes.

    If the circumstances had been a little different, Eve might have been ecstatic to see him act this way. But, unfortunately, she was stuck with the way things were.

    "Oh, boy" Eve muttered.

    Elias backed away, pointing a thumb over his shoulder and saying, "Not to be rude or anything but I''d rather avoid him right now. See ya, Eve. Good luck!"

    She whirled her head to scold him but he had vanished around a corner. She huffed and stomped her foot on the pavement. Turning back around, her hands raised in surrender as she began to speak, "Ambryan, I''m fine"

    Strong arms wrapped around her body. Warmth instantly enveloped her. All she could see was the sky over Ambryan''s shoulder. His cologne hit her nose like hot chocte for a quiet afternoon in the living roomthe smell of home.

    The sensation had been so sudden, she almost cried.

    Almost.

    "I can''t believe mother let this happen," he hissed in her ear, gradually baring his teeth. "What if something went wrong? They didn''t need you in order to prove that Jane has been conspiring against you. People have also been injured because Nanzie was trying to protect you"

    "Nanzie!" Eve eximed and pushed him away. Her wide eyes stared up at his anxious expression. The sound of gunshots echoed in her head from memory. "I can''t believe I almost forgot! Is she okay? Last time I saw her, they held her down on the ground. I couldn''t even do anything to help! It was awful!"

    Ambryan exhaled sharply through his nose. He caressed her head and provided her the words she needed to hear. Inside, he felt a little relieved that she acted normally. "Nanzie is fine. Your entire security team is fine."

    Then, a frown creased his forehead. "Although, I think they should be reced."

    "Don''t!" Eve protested. She shook her hands in front of him along with her head. Her security team was as fantastic as it could get. She finally got to know them all and talked to them. There was no recing that sort of bond.

    "You should know that not everything can be prevented. They had done their best," she tried to coax him. It was a weak attempt but she''d keep refusing his idea.

    "It''s still their job to protect you. This is a far cry from what they should be doing."

    "No one was harmed. It''s all okay now."

    "Is it really? You don''t have to act tough with me."

    "I-I''m fine. Psh. Wish I punched someone though. But, other than that, I''m okay."

    Ambryan ignored her words and pulled her into a hug. Even if things had been in favor in the end, the experience couldn''t bepared to a walk in a park. He had seen the clip of when they dragged her into the van. The video was muted but he could hear her screams.

    His heart wrenched at the time.

    Every fiber in his being only wanted one thingto find andfort her.

    "Sssh," he whispered. "It''s okay, Eve. It''s okay. They''re gone. No one wille after you anymore. More than exposing the Wilson Family, this is a warning to anyone who dares to cause you harm. I won''t be as lenient next time."

    And that undid any defense mechanism Eve had up.

    She broke like dam, pouring out a river of emotions and thoughts. Things could have been worse. They could have been far worse. She didn''t how to express her gratitude that things hadn''t gone that way. Someone had to love her from above for her to be rescued before the situation escted.

    What if it wasn''t Jane who attempted it? What if no one was there to help her? What if she wouldn''t have been able to escape? What if she had been drugged and things

    Eve clutched onto Ambryan''s back like her life depended on it.

    She buried her face into his shoulder. Her body began to tremble. The same showed in her voice. "I was so scared. I didn''t know what would happen to me. I couldn''t even defend myself. They were much stronger and more skilled. I hate it. I hate being this vulnerable!"

    "Sshh," Ambryan coaxed in her ear. His hand moved to the back of her head while the other tightened its grip on her waist. "Don''t me yourself, Eve. This is all my fault. You wouldn''t have gone through this if you weren''t an important person to me."

    "What? No," Eve protested, sniffing like a frog''s croak. Her worries fled from her mind. "That''s your choice as much as it''s mine. It wouldn''t have mattered if I didn''t agree to this rtionship."

    "Oh, it would matter because you''re the one thing that could break me."

    "You''re exaggerating."

    "And you''re stubborn."

    "Please! It''s clearly my"

    "Are you done fighting, children?" Avery asked, announcing her presence. She stood behind Ambryan with her arms crossed over her chest. The couple released each other from their hold and faced her. "If it''s anyone''s fault, it''s mine. I shouldn''t havee up with a better n. I shouldn''t have been easy with Jane. I should have known to do what was right from the beginning."

    Eve stepped forward, a rebuttal at the tip of her tongue. "But Aunt Aver"

    "While it''s true that this could have gone better and I do hold you against that," Ambryan cut in. His arm shot out to block Eve''s path. Her rmed face snapped towards him, spotting his indifference. "At least, we can all collectively agree that the threat is gone now. We shouldn''tment over what could have been done for too long."

    The madam pressed her lips together and bowed her head. She didn''t want to admit it.

    But this incident brought shbacks.

 Chapter 274: Once was Lost

    Chapter 274: Once was Lost

    Avery sat on the edge of the bed. She wore a silk robe over her night dress, wrapping it tight around her body and hugging herself. Her violet eyes stared at nothing. Not a light nor a shadow reflected in their nk expression.

    How did things be like this?

    Her eyes shut involuntarily. She gulped, repressing her darkest thoughts. Her hands balled into fists in the crook of her elbows. The indoor lights flickered off and only themps on the night tables stayed on. She let out a deep breath and fluttered her eyes open.

    The dim room gave herfort.

    "Avery, is something the matter?" Jackson asked behind her as he sat on the opposite of the bed. His ck hair was still damp from the shower. There was a tablet on his bed table which he''d read articles from before going to sleep.

    But that didn''t seem to be the case for tonight.

    Avery woke up from the sound of his voice. She tucked her hair behind her ears and pulled her legs up, cing them under the nket. "It''s nothing."

    "It certainly doesn''t seem like nothing." Her husband frowned. He scooted closer until his back hit the headboard. She couldn''t meet his gaze which was his sign that something was bothering her. He gave her a pointed look. "You know you can''t hide it from me."

    ''Yes, I know!'' Avery shouted in her head and groaned under her breath. She sighed. "I''m just"

    "Just what?"

    She lied on her back, gazing up at the canopy of their bed. There was no use trying to hide anymore. "I realized... I realized that selfishness never leads to anything good. Normally, at my age, that should be something I already knew and practice, remembering to be a role model to others."

    Jackson watched her expression closely. The tiniest movement could hint how she truly felt despite what came out of her mouth. "I''m guessing this is about what happened with Jane and Evangeline?"

    "Evangeline wouldn''t have gone through that if I wasn''t trying to protect Jane," Avery spoke, using her softest voice. "I should have stopped Jane even before things got out of hand."

    "She''s like a daughter to you though," Jackson pointed out. A lock of her hair came loose. He tucked it back behind her ear. "You practically pampered her since she was a baby. It''s normal for you to be protective of her."

    When Avery received the n about kidnapping Eve from Elias, she questioned why she wanted to spare Janewhich led to another question: why did she care about Jane so much? The cycle continued until a chest of memories opened.

    "I know" she mumbled, lowering her gaze. "But look at what good that did."

    Jackson grabbed her arm and pulled her into an embrace. His hand caressed the back of her head as he said, "Avery, darling, you can''t change the past. Jane is also a grown adult. She should be capable of knowing what''s right and what''s wrong. The choices she made were purely her own. That was out of your hands."

    Avery rxed in his arms. She hadn''t realized that her body was stiff until that moment. Her husband''s words rang true but she couldn''t help the way she felt. As the person who helped raise Jane, she had a hand in what type of person thetter would grow up to be.

    Something that triggered her another time when she used every advantage to monopolize that right. The Ambryan back then looked at her with the same cold eyes she spotted earlier in the day. She flinched, reminded by her greed.

    "That''s not all of it, is it?" Jackson prodded, knowing there is more to the story.

    Suddenly, Avery felt small. "... Yan''s upset with me."

    Fingers brushed her spine. "He''ll forgive you."

    "I hope so." She sighed into his shoulder.

    "He will. You''re his mother."

    "But that wasn''t always the case, was it?" Avery pulled her head back to look into his teal eyes. The hint of a tear pooled at the corner of her eye. "He had another mother. Someone he cherished and loves. And because I was so selfish, I"

    "Ah." Jackson nodded, finally understanding what was going on. "Now, things make sense."

    This was a topic he hadn''t heard in years. That had been aplicated situation but the court ruled in favor of them. Never had a day gone by where he wasn''t grateful for that ruling. Only, it dide with a pricebecause it affected Avery''s mental state heavily at the time.

    The son who they believed they had lost turned out to be alive.

    But he didn''t want to go with them.

    "This started because I really wanted to see him have a steady and healthy rtionship," Avery began to say. Her thoughts had jumbled together. She didn''t know where they started and where they ended anymore. "That escted so much that he and I entered into a contract."

    Jackson stiffened. That didn''t sound good. "What contract?"

    Avery cleared her throat. This would be the first time she openly talked about this with him. She prepped her ears for a hefty scolding while trying not to stutter. "T-That... I w-would select a number of women who I approve of as his romantic partner. And, among them, he would choose one to date for 9 months straight."

    Her husband released her and bolted off the headboard. A simmer of mes danced in his teal eyes. "You did what now?"

    There had to be a catch. Jackson was sure of it. Ambryan wasn''t the type to agree to this sort of arrangement without a gain. That would mean his wife used something that would get her what she wanted. It was as she said.

    Her greed had taken a step too far.

    "I''m sorry!" Avery eximed. A whimper in her throat. She sat up and buried her face in her hands. "I should have told you but I knew you''d object"

    "Why wouldn''t I?!" Jackson almost roared. He ran a hand through his hair, frustration gushing into his veins. "You meddled in our son''s personal affairs! Something he is capable of handling himself. I''m guessing you also used a leverage on him to agree to it."

    The madam pressed her lips together.

    "Spit it out."

    "An amendment to a legal document."

    Jackson heaved a sigh. His head shook at a snail pace. It was his turn to stare off into space. "Now, things really are making sense. You promised that you''d have the restraining order lifted so he could meet that woman?"

    That document emerged when they argued in court that Avery couldn''t fulfill her role as a mother if the other woman was present. She was grateful that someone had rescued and raised her son but she should also have a fair chance.

    The court couldn''t fully grant the request but limited the woman''s visits.

    And, eventually, she stoppeding by the mansion.

    "I shouldn''t have had it made in the first ce," Avery said.

    Her husband merely shook his head. "Avery, do you realize what you just did"

    "I know, love. I know. And I''m paying for it now," she cut him off. She knew what he would say. She had done it the same thing as before, manipted the circumstances to get what she wanted. "I can''t believe I let it run for this long."

    Ah, it really was her fault, wasn''t it? Jane had learned this trait from her. She was almost convinced of it. The former was present in the courtroom at the time. Somewhere down the road, Jane could have realized what had transpired and how one could always get what they wanted if they desired it enough.

    Avery chuckled without humor.

    Karma truly was a bitch.

    "You were scared that he''d go back to her," Jackson recalled in one breath.

    "But he''s almost 30 now! He could have requested for the amendment himself," Avery defended. The restraining order had no time limit. It could be subject to change whenever the parties wanted. Ambryan could have argued that he was no longer a child.

    That he was legally an adult and so the restraining order wasn''t necessary anymore.

    She knew this and yet, she used it against him. He had every right to be upset.

    Jackson forced himself to calm down. "Maybe he knew you wouldn''t agree to it."

    His wife scowled at that. "I would have."

    "Then, why haven''t you done anything about it all these years?" He arched a brow and leaned sideways, closing the gap between them. "You could have taken the initiative and told him about the amendment. There wasn''t a need for him to take the first step."

    Avery opened her mouth. Then, closed it again. "It It slipped my mind?"

    She groaned. It was half-true. Any time she''d think about it, something woulde along and distract hermaking her forget. The side of her head began to throb. She massaged her temples, attempting to ease the pain.

    How could she still act like a teen at her age? "Sometimes I wish my mother was still around. She would have stopped me right from the beginning. Maybe she would have stopped Yan from getting into and out of flings."

    "She was an amazing woman," Jackson responded with a nod of his head. "And I agree with you. Ambryan would have listened to her."

    Silence surrounded the couple.

    Avery dropped her hands. "What should I do now?"

    Her husband nced in her direction. He wrapped his arm around her shoulders. His breath tickled the tip of her ear. "Well, you can start with the thing that''s long overdue."

    Sheid her head on the crook of his neck, taking in his scent and the fabric softener their maid used. "Is it weird to still be afraid that he wouldn''t want toe back?"

    "Considering how much of a workaholic our son is, he would be bored out of his mind if he stayed in such a small townso yes, it''s weird."

    "Jackson"

    He chuckled and kissed her temple. "Come on, let''s get some sleep."

 Chapter 275: Now was Found

    Chapter 275: Now was Found

    Eve walked out of the apartmentplex.

    On the driveway, Ambryan had his head turned away from her. He leaned against his car with his hands tucked inside his pant pockets. A deep scowl reflected on his face. Eve grabbed this chance to admire his figure.

    The dark trench coat emphasized his height. He left it unbuttoned, revealing the ck turtleneck he wore underneath. It fitted him well while underlining his muscles and built. The trousers and leather shoespleted the aesthetic appearance.

    Seeing him in casual clothes like this made Eve realize that he had a sense of ssy fashion.

    She strolled towards him, dressed in a white coat over a blue jumpsuit. A simple smile stretched on her lips when she reached him. "Hey."

    Ambryan shifted his attention towards her. The scowl vanished but his expression merely turned into indifference. "How are you feeling?"

    "A little better." Eve bowed her head and licked her lips. This wasn''t the atmosphere she expected. Did something happen that she didn''t know? "Having a sleepover party with Andie and Nanzie was more fun than I expected."

    The corner of his lips curled upwards. "I''m d to hear it."

    ''It didn''t quite meet his eyes'', Eve observed. She decided to risk it. "So what brought this on?"

    Ambryan pushed himself off the driver''s side and apanied her around the hood, opening the door for the passenger seat. He tilted his head sideways as a nudge for her to hop in. "I figured you''d want to rx after what happened. A change of scenery seemed like the best idea."

    "Don''t you have work?" She pointed out, her eyebrows scrunching. It was Friday but there should be a lot ofst minute work, especially when he used some of his time to focus on Stuart''s moneyundering schemes.

    He shrugged. "Madison and Riffle can manage."

    "..." Eve climbed inside the vehicle. Shecould almost imagine how stressed Riffle was. With Madison''s infamous behaviour to procrastinate and neglect his work, most of the load rested on Riffle''s shoulders.

    Then, a thought urred to her.

    "Maybe you should consider Riffle for the promotion you offered me," she said as soon as Ambryan sat on the driver''s seat. At least, the amount of work Riffle did would receive some justice.

    He considered it for a moment, pausing in the middle of buckling his seatbelt. It only happened for a second. "I would but that would mean he won''t be able to babysit Madison if the need everes."

    "Isn''t Riffle your secretary now though?"

    "If I can handle it, I ask him to check on Madison sometimes."

    It was Eve''s turn to shrug. The car drove towards the gates and three sedans followed behind them. Her brown eyes flickered to the rearview mirror. There were usually only two. "You hired more bodyguards?"

    "It''s a long trip. I want to be as careful as possible."

    She chose to not reply and watched the city sights pass by.

    About half an hourter, the establishments and building dwindled. They entered the expressway where mountains could be seen from a distance. Most of the scenery was made of nature but there buildings and small homes popped up every now and then.

    Sneaking a peek, Eve debated if she should make conversation. This shouldn''t feel unnatural but they had grown closer through the past few weeks. It suddenly seemed foreign. Her gazended on the music yer.

    She pushed its on button.

    Soft jazz music yed from the speakers. Eve chortled augh. She hurled forward but the seatbelt yanked her back. Eventually, her voice faded and she clutched her stomach. It became hard to breathe with how muchughter erupted in her system.

    Ambryan nced her way for a second. "What''s so funny?"

    "Is this your personal collection?" She said, surprised that she managed a straight sentence. She wiped a tear from the corner of her eye. This music brought so many memories. She almost missed hearing it.

    "So what if it is?"

    "Because it sounds exactly like the elevator music back in Eros Headquarters."

    "And?" Ambryan prodded. He didn''t understand why that would be funny.

    "Nothing. I either imagined you telling the workers to change the music or that you liked it so much so you wanted to hear it more." A few more giggles flowed out of Eve''s lips. Then, she rxed and inclined the chair back. "Do you mind if I catch on sleep? I barely had anyst night with how much sugar we had."

    "Of course that''s what happened," he muttered with a shake of his head. "Go ahead. I''ll wake you up when we get there."

    The quiet drive allowed Ambryan to be alone with his thoughts. Behind him, a brown envelopeid on the backseat. He propped his elbow on the thin ledge under the window and pressed a knuckle against his lips.

    The journey should take about three hours, enough for a short nap if Eve was exhausted.

    Meanwhile, his mind floated and reyed a conversation he had the other day.

    .

    .

    .

    .

    .

    <em>A knock came from his office door. "Ambryan? Are you free?"</em>

    <em>Ambryan immediately stopped working. His violet eyes shed on the desk briefly. Then, his head slowly tilted up. Only his mother''s head peeked out from behind the food. He blinked twice at the sight of her shy face. </em>

    <em>"Since when did you learn the habit of knocking?" He asked. </em>

    <em>Avery rolled her eyes and let herself in. "You''re being dramatic."</em>

    <em>He turned back to his documents, affixing his signature. "I think that statement fits you better."</em>

    <em>The madam slowed down her walk. Her book bag swung against her hip. She took the time to admire the room''s interior design with each step. Most of it matched the colors Ambryan usually wore. Her mouth opened to make the joke but she closed it again.</em>

    <em>After a while, she found herself in front of his desk. </em>

    <em>She just sat on one of the two chairs before Riffle arrived in the room. He used long strides and served them tea. He had unpacked the biscuits Avery brought and transferred them into a ss bowl. </em>

    <em>Before leaving, he waited for Ambryan to finish signing the documents.</em>

    <em>Avery helped herself to a biscuit. It gave her some extra to think. She scanned the room once more, thinking that it should get some color. Maybe she''d be able to find a painting to put up. Her son should be able to tolerate a new addition to the walls.</em>

    <em>Riffle bowed when he received the documents and walked out of the office.</em>

    <em>Ambryan ced his pen back on its holder,cing his fingers together and cing them on the desk. His eyes watched his mother carefully. She had been acting unusual since the incident. His father even called to warn him about it and to ask him to act normally.</em>

    <em>It was rare for his father to request a favor so he granted it.</em>

    <em>"So, what is it you came for this time, mother?" Ambryan said. "Do you want to go back to show business and star in one of our uing movie projects? All I can is father has the better influence since he''s part of the board."</em>

    <em>The madam couldn''t bring herself to smile. But, in her heart, she appreciated his gesture.</em>

    <em>Her gaze finally met his. Somehow she mustered enough courage to say what she wanted. The corners of her eyes drooped in tenderness. "I''m here to apologize."</em>

    <em>Ambryan leaned back on his chair, saying, "You already did that but, if you still insist, I think I''m not the one who you should be apologizing to."</em>

    <em>Avery visibly flinched. She actually went to see Eve before this. It was hard to tell if the poor girl was forcing herself to be strong or if she was really feeling better. They had a quick chat. Most of it consisted of Eve trying to convince her that she understood why things happened the way they did. The madam didn''t need to apologize at all.</em>

    <em>She almost slipped when she heard it. </em>

    <em>But it was only natural for Ambryan to hear about it first.</em>

    <em>"No, it should be you," Avery spoke softly, averting her gaze. "I''m sure of it."</em>

    <em>Ambryan tilted his head and rested his cheek on the back of his hand. It seemed like the situation was as bad as his father made it out to be. Without opening his mouth, he took a deep breath and said,</em>

    <em>"Go on"</em>

    <em>The madam took out a white folder from her book bag. "I want to cancel the contract we made."</em>

    <em>She looked up just in time to see Ambryan freeze in his seat. If things weren''t awkward at the moment, she might haveughed. It was rare to catch him this off guard.</em>

    <em>"What?" He breathed out. Then, he seized it from her hands and assessed the documents inside. It had the copy of the contract plus a formal writing that stated his mother''s desire to cancel it. Only his signature was missing for it to be finalized.</em>

    <em>Avery yed with her hands. They had begun to shake. "It''s useless now, isn''t it? You and Eve are dating as both your choices. I read through the uses and I don''t have a problem with any of them. I''ll fulfill them all as part of the cancetion I initiated."</em>

    <em>Ambryan set the folder and its documents on the desk. His eyes still remained wide by a few millimeters. "You mean"</em>

    <em>"Well, why should I be against it?" The madam attempted to brush off with augh. She looked at any direction but his. "I promised what I promised. And like you said, if I cancel the contract then, it should still stand that you receive your side of the deal because you had been in good faith."</em>

    <em>The office became quiet.</em>

    <em>It was almost suffocating. Avery much preferred it if her son said somethinganything at all! Even yell at her if he really wanted. Her heart clenched when she checked on him. He hadn''t moved a muscle.</em>

    <em>She showed him a tight smile.</em>

    <em>"Go see your mom."</em>

 Chapter 276: To the Batmobile—I mean, a Studio!

    Chapter 276: To the Batmobile��I mean, a Studio!

    Eve dreamt of strawberry fields.

    Acres upon acres of the flowering nt stretched before her eyes. All of them had strawberries ripe for picking. She nced down at herself. She twirled as a big grin spread across her face. The pink dress matched the asion. It was a duplicate of the one she owned in real life.

    But far more sensible for a long day outdoors.

    In her dream, Eve ran through the fields. The sweet scent of fresh strawberries filled her nose. She inhaled a lungful, relishing in it before picking a nt. Her slim fingers plucked out one. Its skin glistened like red silk.

    Then, she took a bite.

    A soft moan sounded in her throat. She moved on to the next nt and checked how the taste wouldpare. Her legs kept going, hopping from nt to nt as she sampled them all. Eventually, she lost sense of time and the nts blurred together around her.

    Up ahead, a little girl picked strawberries up ahead, putting them inside a basket. Her red hair blended with the fruitespecially with the gold glitter that cascaded over her hair. Eve almost thought she was a mythical creature.

    She walked up to the little girl in order to ask for directions, tapped her on the shoulder.

    Thetter turned around and met her gaze with round violet eyes.

    "Eve? Eve" A voice whispered. "Wake up. We''re here."

    Eve''s eyes flew wide open. She sat up abruptly but the seatbelt held her back. She scrambled to utch it. Her chest rose and fell rapidly. A bead of sweat trickled down the back of her neck. She pressed a hand against her forehead, trying to get her bearings.

    Ambryan watched her with a worried look. "Are you okay?"

    "Hm?" She turned her gaze towards him and blinked. "Y-Yeah, yeah! I''m fine."

    An awkwardugh escaped her lips. It didn''tst long before her face morphed back into a shocked expression. Yet, somehow it also felt like she had experienced something familiar before. She just couldn''t remember the details at the momentbut it contributed to her shock.

    "Are you sure?" Ambryan asked again. It had only been days since the kidnapping. To be honest, he was still waiting for another breakdown. "It''s okay not to be fine, you know. No one expects you to be after what happened."

    "I''m okay, Ambryan." Eve took a deep breath. Then, she looked straight into his eyes. "Really."

    He paused for a moment, debating whether to let it go or not. He didn''t know how to describe what just happened. With how fidgety Eve''s eyes were, he thought she had a nightmare. It could have been a worse case scenario of the kidnapping.

    Eve slowly stretched her lips into a coy smile.

    Ambryan sighed. "Okay."

    "So we''re here?" Eve said, attempting to change the subject. Ambryan nced out his window and she followed his line of sight. He had parked the car in front of a two-story establishment with white paint.

    Her lips turned cold. "Wait a minute"

    She unlocked her side of the car at once and circled around the hood until she stood right in front of the vehicle. The ce had a window disy that took up three-fourths of its front. A lone wooden door stood to its right.

    Above the window and the door was a sign with a ck background and cursive writing.

    "Madame Isabelle''s Ballet Emporium" Eve read in a whisper.

    Ambryan also exited the car, carrying the brown envelope. He gripped it tight and stared up at the familiar establishment. It hadn''t changed much since hest saw it. His chest clenched slightly from nostalgia.

    Then, he headed for the stairs.

    "Come on," he told Eve over his shoulder.

    She rushed to follow him. Ambryan checked if the door was unlocked. Once it opened without resistance, he entered inside. The smell of wood and dust met his nose. Despite this, the ce was well cleaned. The floor was polished and there weren''t any visible cobwebs.

    He hung his long coat on the rack, helping Eve to remove hers.

    This was when he noticed that his hands were trembling.

    Eve was in a world of her own. Her fingertips brushed on the wall as if she couldn''t believe this was real. She took cautious steps as walked further in. A staircase led to the upper floor at the end of the narrow hallway. Multiple doorways appeared on each side, leading to specific rooms. The main office was built behind the staircasewhere both the flight of steps and passageway to the office only allowed one person at a time.

    Ambryan walked ahead while Eve stayed close behind him.

    Then, she stopped and looked inside a doorway.

    He continued on his journey, not noticing that she stopped following him. The stairs creaked under his weight. He frowned at that. Not many had ess to the upper floor since it wasn''t part of the ballet studio. Halfway up, the stairway changed directions and he disappeared from Eve''s peripheral visionpletely.

    More rooms were found on the upper floor.

    Ambryan paused at the top of the stairs. Three doors stood before him. One in the middle and the other two angled on either side of it. All of them were half-opened. He stepped closer until he positioned himself at the center.

    It enabled him to a take peek at each room

    "Don''t tell me you had grown up to be a coward," Ambryan heard behind him.

    His back stiffened at the voice. It sounded familiar but at the same time, it had be raspier with age. His feet shuffled and turned his body around. Another door was present beside the staircase. It had been closed when he passed it by and ignored it.

    He should have known that she was there.

    An old woman stared back into his nk eyes. Her grey hair had been tied into a bun. She wore a hulking fur coat that reached down to the floor. Her hands folded together on top of a straight ck cane.

    ck eyeliner framed her indigo eyes.

    No one outside of town would have pictured a ssy woman to be living in this rundown building. The corner of her lip tugged upward when Ambyan hadn''t said anything for a while.

    "Well? Are you just going to stand there?" She demanded with a yful scoff. "Kids these days. They don''t know how to respect their elders anymore. Do you know what that is? It''s because of adults like you who don''t practice it."

    Ambryan''s lips parted slightly. "Mom"

    "Oh, dear" The old woman sighed. She walked up to him, her cane knocking on the wooden floor. Her gaze shifted into tenderness. "I have to admit. You really are far more handsome in person, Noah. Always said that photos never do you enough justice."

    Suddenly, Ambryan was a kid again. He closed the gap between them and hugged her. He buried his face against the side of her head. The smell of vani and cinnamon captured his sensesabination he hadn''t found anywhere else other than from cinnamon buns.

    But they could never get it right. Either they would have too much vani or too much cinnamon.

    They could neverpare to the smell of the home he knew for nine years.

    "Oh Noah," his mom cooed in his ear. She let her cane go and patted him on the back. Tears swelled up behind her eyes. She blinked them away. "It''s so good to see you, boy. Seems like you''ve developed some good muscles over the years. That''s great because I want you to have enough stamina to give you me grandchildren"

    Ambryan snorted, mucus clogging his nose. He hadn''t expected to cry. He couldn''t even remember thest time he did. His voice shook as he spoke. "What''s with maternal figures and grandchildren?"

    "Avery also asked for them, aye?" She teased. "Just in case you forgot, I am far older than her so I don''t have the luxury of time to wait for you to settle down."

    She pulled back from the embrace. Ambryan only had a second to wipe off his tears before she''d see his face. He cleared his throat and avoided her eyes. No matter what age, he found it embarrassing to cry in front of parental figures.

    His mom gave him a tight smile and raised a hand.

    Then, she grabbed his earlobe and yanked it. "So howe I had been hearing all these rumors that you''re dating countless women?! Not one rtionship longer than weeks! I raised you better than that, boy! I even taught you how to woo women! And you dumped it all in the garbage?! How ungrateful!"

    Ambryan flinched from both the pain and the yell. He puffed out his cheeks, offended that she still saw him that way. "You must be reading old news, mom. I have been in a steady rtionship for the past four months."

    Her eyes narrowed in suspicion. "Based on your previous rtionships, it might notst long."

    "I intend to make itst as long as possible," he informed her confidently while meeting her eyes. A wide grin spread across his face. "In fact, I brought her with me."

    His mom assessed him for a moment before she released his ear. Ambryan touched the tender spot, hoping to soothe the pain. There should be an ointment somewhere in these rooms. She had given it to him since this was amon punishment.

    "And you think I''ll approve of this girl?" His mom challenged.

    "I''d be very disappointed if you don''t," Ambryan teased.

    Music started ying downstairs, the melody floating up the stairs. His mom jerked her head from left to right. There shouldn''t be anyone else in this building. Not even the cleaners were due todaymost especially her students.

    That only left one possibility.

    "I''m guessing that''s her touching things that she doesn''t own?" She sneered. As first impressions go, the woman wasn''t on a good start.

    Ambryan gulped. "Well,"

    His mom spun on her heel and marched down the stairs.

 Chapter 277: Piku? Pas-De-Deux!

    Chapter 277: Piku? Pas-De-Deux!

    When Eve saw the empty ballet studio, she had lost control of her own consciousness.

    Her legs moved on their own as they brought her inside. The ce was clean and well-kept. Mirrors covered two interconnecting walls from the ceiling down to the floor. They reflected back her dazed state. Both were lined with railings in two different heightsone for children and another for adults.

    A long horizontal window upied the other wall to her right. The one where the door was located had boxed shelves and a cab. She walked towards thetter. Each student had a designated shelf for their belongings. Her hand touched the one within her reach.

    It was the one she often used at the time. A small smile cracked on her lips. All of them were very possessive over their boxesuntil Madame Isabelle scolded them for such behavior.

    Eve moved towards the cab. Its doors were closed. Her hands trembled as she reached out to open it. The hinges creaked with age. It also seemed like Madame Isabelle never got the lock fixed. Something Eve never questioned as a child but, now as an adult

    well, it didn''t hold anything valuable to a burr.

    And most of it was cleaning supplies.

    She kneeled on the floor after pulling the left door open. Like she expected, an old broom stood inside along with a dustpan. There was an empty bucket and mop beside them. A yellow rubber glove that didn''t have its pair hung on the bucket.

    Slowly, Eve rummaged through the supplies. Her hand tapped the wooden floor underneath them. She leaned over and found the spot she had been looking for behind the broom and a box of rags. Her sense of touch recognized the feeling of dust over the soft satin.

    Eve pulled them out.

    In her hands were thest ballet slippers she ever wore. Her thumb pulled the lining so she could see the inside. A soft gasp escaped her lips upon reading her name in ck cursive letters. She clutched the shoes near to her chest and closed her eyes.

    They were still there! She couldn''t believe it.

    She would have thought someone found them and threw them away or maybe had been donated in a charity drive or to another dancer who needed shoes. Like the cab, the shoes had worn out in appearance.

    Eve looked up and blinked away her tears. After recovering from shock, she tested the sturdiness of the shoes. The rigid boxes on their tips were still as sturdy as she remembered. She found herself chuckling at the discovery.

    They were still good for use.

    Her head whirled towards the spot between the door and the wall of mirrors. A boombox sat on the floor. A crazy idea went to her head. She slithered across the floor and checked if the boombox had a cassette tape inside.

    She couldn''t remember when was thest time she saw one. It amused her that Madame Isabelle still used this method despite the advancement of technology.

    Checking if it was plugged in, Eve removed her heeled bootsthankful that she hadn''t opted for something that had a shaft higher than ankles. She tied her old pointe shoes from memory. Since she quit in the middle of college, they fit her perfectly because her feet hadn''t grown in size anymore.

    She stood up and tested the shoes again. Hopping in ce, she attempted to stand on her toes. The positionsted only a few seconds the first time. Her toes began to hurt but not as much as when she first started.

    Eve tried again. It took several attempts before she found the right momentum for a pirouette. One foot touching the side of her other knee, she circled her arms in front of her and did a quick spin. The sensation was like riding a bicycle.

    Her muscles still remembered the correct way to move but because she hadn''t done it in a while, it almost felt simr to sessfully doing it for the first time. Her wide brown eyes stared back at her in the mirror. She wondered how much she could still do

    Peeking out into the hallway, Eve didn''t find anyone. She turned back to the boombox again and turned it on. The volume was the normal one used in ss but since the lower floor was empty, it sounded louder than usual.

    Panic quickly seeped into her chest. Eve spun the knob to its lowest setting.

    A bit relieved, she rotated it the other way around until she hit her desired volume.

    Her body swayed along with the familiar violin music. Right arm over her head and the other stretched in front, she crossed her legs at the knees and ''walked'' right. She stopped halfway, where the center was, to raise her leg behind her and bend down forward slightlyas if mimicking a bow.

    Eve continued to move to her right and brought her arms into an arc.

    Once she reached the end, she started moving back until she reached the center again. Then, she spun with both sets of toes on the floor. Her next steps included circling around the center spot in graceful twirls and asionally pausing to raise her leg parallel to her hips.

    She finished the full circle and posed with one foot behind the other and both arms raised like wings of a bird. Then, she took a few steps diagonally where her feet alternated between stepping t on the floor and rising to her toes.

    Losing herself into the dance and the music, Eve didn''t notice that she had gained an audience.

    Madame Isabelle and Ambryan stood in the doorway. The former wore a frown on her face. Her mouth had been opened wide just before she stepped inside the studio. Anything she had to say died quickly.

    Not only was the dancer in a jumpsuit instead of proper attire but also she had untied hair that swayed along with her movementssomething most people didn''t seed at since they''d always wear their hair in buns. But this person didn''t struggle.

    It was as if the loose hair was part of the costume and enhanced the movement.

    Isabelle gave Ambryan the side-eye. She spotted the smug expression on his face right away. He had known who exactly was inside the studio and tricked her into thinking it was a stranger. She nced in Eve''s direction, recognizing the music and choreography.

    Then, she nudged Ambryan with her elbow.

    He raised his eyebrows at her, ready to hear her scold him for not telling her that it was Eve. But, instead of that, his mom gestured her head towards the center of the room. "Do you still remember what happens in this dance or should I hit you with my cane to trigger your memory?"

    The next dip was lower than the first one Eve did which normally needed support. Her body readied itself for the shift in weight when she''d bend forward and raised her leg, its foot pointing to the ceiling.

    Her arms spread across fully stretched and she dipped forward.

    That was when two hands supported her arms. It had taken all of Eve''s concentration not to break away from the dance. When she straightened her spine, she transitioned into the next step which consisted of a spin without her raised leg touching the floor.

    The hands that supported her had switched ces. They now held her waist as the pirouette allowed her to face the culprit. Her raised leg slowly descended until it brushed the floor.

    Ambryan had a smirk on his face.

    Just before Eve could berate him for it, another voice cut her off.

    "Posture was okay. Positions weren''t precise. You missed a few beats when you walked forward. Arms movements weren''t elegant enough. It''s a dance not a workout," Madame Isabelle said, announcing her presence. She stopped a meter away from the couple. The tip of her cane thudded on the floor.

    Her indigo eyes focused on Eve. They narrowed in disapproval. "Overall, it was an unsatisfactory performance. I know you can do better than that, Little Swan."

    "Madame Isabelle!" Eve eximed. The criticism didn''t even face her. She had known them all while dancing. Just the sound of her teacher''s voice almost prompted her tears. It hadn''t changed a bitincluding the stern intonation.

    "And you, Noah!" Madame Isabelle added. She pointed her cane at him. "Are you a gangster? What kind of walk was that? The moment you moved to join her was the moment you entered the stage. Therefore, you were no longer an ordinary person."

    Her chin tilted up as she dropped the cane back to the floor. "You became a dancer."

    Eve froze for a second. She stepped away from Ambryan so she could get a good look of his face. Disbelief painted over her expression. "Did she just call you Noah?"

    Isabelle red at Ambryan. "You haven''t told her?"

    Thetter darted his gaze between the two women. He raised his hands in surrender, feeling slightly attacked. "I thought it would be best to do it today when you''re also present, mom."

    "How can you enter into a rtionship without telling her the truth?" Isabelle hissed. She walked over to hit his leg with her cane. "Secrets shouldn''t exist between a couple."

    "I didn''t even know it was her at the time!" Ambryan defended, hopping away. But it was useless. His mom didn''t stop until she could manage a good smack.

    "And so you wouldn''t have told her at all if she turned out to be someone else?" She shot back. "I raised you better than that boy!"

    Eve snorted at the disy. It was the first time she saw Ambryan act like a kid in trouble.

    Ambryan squinted his eyes at her. "What''s so funny? You didn''t even tell me you were E."

    "Well, I didn''t know you were Noah!"

    "You heard what mom said. That''s not an excuse."

    "I didn''t raise her. I raised you! So I expect more from you than this."

    Ambryan shielded himself behind Eve. "Can we please smooth this over tea?"

 Chapter 278: Complications inside Complications

    Chapter 278: Complications inside Complications

    The three of them sat on a booth in a nearby cafe.

    Eve had changed back to her boots ordingly. Her head whipped from side to side. The cafe was a popr hangout among teens. It was close to the school and had a nice interior for photos. It was the go-to destinationsome even stayed over to do homeworks or projects.

    "What is it?" She heard Ambryan ask.

    He sat by the window which Eve found peculiar. It wasn''t until she took the seat next to him did she realize why he picked that spot. Because she was now on the opening side, she had Madame Isabelle sitting directly across from her.

    Eve swallowed augh.

    So there was someone in the world that Ambryan was afraid of.

    "Madame Isabelle!" A waitress eximed, heading over their table straight away.

    "Rose!" Madame Isabelle greeted with a wide smile. "Covering for someone today?"

    A giggle escaped Rose''s lips. "You got it. My cousin had something to do and couldn''t find a coworker to take her shift. Since I worked here before, the owner was pretty lenient. I didn''t have anything else to do so why not?"

    "I hope you get something out of it though. Your cousin can''t expect you to work while she''s the one who gets paid for your efforts," Madame Isabelle scoffed. She skimmed through the menu and stated, "Ginger tea for me, dear. And maybe that avocado toast. I always feel a little hungry when someone else is paying."

    Eve pressed her lips together, trying not to crack a smile. She bowed her head at the failed attempt. Her shoulders trembled slightly. Ambryan red in her direction. He didn''t have to read her mind to know what she found funny.

    Rose raised her eyebrows. Then, she shifted her attention to the other side of the booth. "Really? Are they these lovelypanions of yours?"

    The cheerful expression on her face vanished. Her cinnamon eyes widened as they took in the other people present. She dropped her hands to her sides, nearly letting her notepad go.

    "Everlee?" She uttered as she blinked several times.

    Eve smiled tightly. In her head, she silently scolded herself for getting swept in the moment. She should have remembered to contact Rose when she realized she was back in town. This could go in any direction but the chances of it being bad was high.

    "Rose, been a while," Eve attempted tough. It came out breathily. "Have you gotten tanner even when it''s near winter? Or maybe you just had your highlights redone? Looks great with your ash brown hair!"

    Rose clicked her tongue and crossed her arms over her chest. She arched an eyebrow, pointing its arc as high as she could. "Gee, what do I owe the pleasure of this visit that I wasn''t informed beforehand?"

    "Trust me, Rose." Eve flinched. Under the table, her foot found Ambryan''s and she pressed the sole of her boot onto the tip of his shoe. He jumped. "Even I didn''t know that I wasing here until I woke up in this town."

    "A likely story."

    "It''s true!" She defended and pointed her thumb towards her left. "Ask him."

    Rose''s re flickered towards Ambryan. Her reaction may be an exaggeration to many folks but she, Eve and Andie had a deal. They had to inform one another for each time any of them were in the vicinity of the other. It could be Rose visiting Maize City or Eve and Andie driving by the town.

    Ambryan nced at Eve. She returned his gaze with a side eye. It was his fault that she was in this mess. It should be him who should help her fix it. Ambryan received her message loud and clear despite not exchanging a single word.

    He turned to Rose and said, "I have no idea what she''s talking about."

    "Ambee!" Eve smacked his arm. Her palm reddened a bit. She hoped it was enough to inflict him pain. Otherwise, she just might resort to another jab on the footand maybe use the heel of her boot.

    Madame Isabelle also stared at him in disapproval. "Don''t betray your girl, Noah."

    "Wait, hold up," Rose interrupted, her hand raised with its palm out. She squinted her eyes and leaned forward. Ambryan was used to people looking at him and rarely was he fazed by someone''s scrutinizing gaze.

    This almost counted as one of those rare encounters.

    That was when Rose snapped her fingers and straightened her spine. "I knew you were familiar. You''re Ambryan Hathaway, the CEO of Eros Productions. Last time I heard, you had a girlfriend who was a model What was her name again? E? Emily? Esther?"

    Eve hung her head, already knowing where this was going.

    "Evangeline," Ambryan supplied. Across the table, Madame Isabelle scowled.

    "Riiigght. E-van-ge-line," Rose repeated as if she had a revtion. Then, she propped a folded arm on Eve''s shoulder, saying, "Funny how she has your mom''s name right, Everlee? Looks like her too. It''s almost like she''s your doppelganger"

    "Rose." Eve sighed, meeting the pair of mischievous cinnamon eyes.

    "Yes?"

    She pinched two fingers and yanked them across her lips. "Zip it."

    "Fine." Rose pulled her arm back and started writing on her notepad. All the while, her month continued moving. "I mean, I''m just your friend who never moved to the big city and stayed here. It''s not like we practiced ballet together growing up or anything. Coffee for you, I suppose? And a cheesecake? What will this man who is not your boyfriend want?"

    "ck tea. And tbread." Ambryan nodded once. He wasn''t sure what was going on but he did have a theory. Up until today, he actually never thought that Eve could have a friend around her age except for Andie. He didn''t recognize Rose so it must have been after he left town.

    "Thank you for choosing Caf Stitz. I''ll be back as soon as I get everything." Rose shed a smile for Madame Isabelle before returning to the counter. She ripped off the paper and added it to the queue.

    "Rose" Eve tried to call out but her voice got stuck. She was sure Rose was only kidding earlier but it wasn''t the time to bring it up when there was something else to focus on. A groan rumbled in her chest as massaged her temples.

    She really should have just called Rose first when they got out of the car earlier.

    "Do you want to smooth things over before we get into it?" Ambryan spoke softly. His body was angled towards her while his elbow rested on the table in order to support his chin. "It''s not that long of a story but you could be distracted by this."

    Eve blew on her bangs. She sneaked a peek towards the counter. Rose hadn''t spared them a nce since leaving the table. It started off as a joke but because of how she interrupted her friend, a misunderstanding emerged.

    "I''ll be right back," Eve muttered.

    She headed for the bathroom, her hand gripping her phone inside the pocket. She didn''t want to be rude and center the time around her problems. This day was dedicated to Ambryan and Madame Isabelle. Whatever Rose was feeling would have to wait.

    But, first, a little help should make things better.

    Back at the table, Ambryan cleared his throat. He fixed his sitting posture and folded both arms over the table. "I haven''t asked yet but how have you been, mom?"

    Her indigo eyes regarded him. "I am happy to announce that I have been well."

    "No trip to the doctor? Or anything simr?"

    "Now, why would you think that?"

    "You do have a bit of a smoking problem," Ambryan reminded her.

    She merely snorted and brushed it off. "Nonsense. It''s nothing I can''t handle. We all die eventually and people around my age usually focus on living longerbut I can''t give up everything that gives me a bit of joy."

    Ambryan chose not to respond. He did agree that his mom enjoyed her habits but that didn''t mean they weren''t unhealthy. A passing waiter came by and provided them with three sses of service water.

    He dly drank one and drained it by half. "E changed her name?"

    Madame Isabelle sported a deadpan expression. "Am I really the one who you should ask about that?"

    "It''s not that," Ambryan quickly defended. "It''s one of the reasons I didn''t recognize her when we met. Her surname isn''t Spinster anymore like I remembered it."

    He watched as his mom had an internal debate with herself. "Well, yes. She changed it to her mother''s maiden name. She and her sisters that is. That bastard father of theirs should never think ofing back. I wouldn''t allow him to live."

    Hearing this, Ambryan gained a wider perspective on things. It wasn''t just him who had a past to share. It was Eve too. He had the thought briefly but since he had no ns to share his yet, he quickly ced the thought into the back of his mind.

    "He left, right?" Ambryan replied, recalling that part from when he and Eve had dinner with his parents. "He abandoned them. Pushed the responsibility onto Eve''s shoulders so she had to give up ballet and support her siblings."

    "Oh, he did more than that, boy." Madame Isabelle sneered. Then, she looked at the restrooms. "But that''s Eve to tell. We should focus on telling her about how I found you as a baby a long time ago. To this day, even when I know what happened, I still find it hard to believe."

    Ambryan nodded in understanding. "A baby found in a delivery truck? Yes, I can imagine the driver checked for an address but didn''t find any."

    His mom stared at him like he grew a second head. "No sane person would think that the baby was for transport."

    "It was a joke, mom."

    "It''s a good thing that you inherited your family business." She said, catching a glimpse of Eve from the corner of her eye. "You''d make a terribleedian."

 Chapter 279: The Truck of Fate

    Chapter 279: The Truck of Fate

    Eve paced inside the restroom. She checked each stall before making her call. Although she wasn''t wearing contacts today and was technically not posing as Evangeline, the chances were that people would still perceive her as suchespecially with Ambryan around.

    Once the coast was clear, she dialled the most familiar number she has ever known.

    "Hello, you''ve reached Andie Summers, future Mrs. Jarrett Calhoun."

    Eve scrunched her nose, "Ew, please don''t let that be your voicemail."

    "But it is one way to spread the word that I am engaged," Andie pointed out. She sat on the couch with her feet up, eating from a bowl of cereal on her knees. "A bit more creative than just posting it on social media. Plus my old rtives don''t use the inte and remain old-fashioned."

    "Do they even call you?"

    "No, but they call the house so mom changed the voicemail to make sure they know." She chuckled. Then, she took a bite of cereal. "So why did you call? Aren''t you supposed to be busy being intimate with your beau?"

    "Andie, hear me out," Eve began to say. She slowed down her speech, easing her into it. "I''m not asking much. I''m just in the middle of something and I need your help."

    Andie ced the bowl on the coffee table and unfolded her legs. "What is it?"

    "I need you to coax Rose."

    "..."

    The line went quiet for a few seconds. Eve counted it inside her head while waiting for her best friend to reply. They both knew that Rose rarely got upset. If she did, it was usually hard to bring her back into a good mood.

    They could get lucky that she''ll get over it quickly.

    But, most of the time, it needed some dedicated enticing and charm.

    "What did you do?" Andie finally said.

    Eve sighed and scratched the back of her head. "I''m in town and I didn''t tell her. In my defense, I didn''t even know I was gonna be in town! It hasn''t been an hour since I got here too."

    "What are you even doing in town?"

    "Well, AmbryanthoughtthatI needed a change of scenery so instead of going somewhere foreign to me, he figured a familiar ce would be good." Her heart almost jumped out of her mouth. That probably wasn''t something she could share just yet.

    Andie''s eyebrows shot up. "Really?"

    Hearing about the town visit suddenly made her want toe over. She and Jarrett had ns to do it since his family still lived there but it was way too long. It would also be nice to have Eve and Ambryan around. Maybe even bring her family too.

    Her mind started working on a n.

    "Yes, we''re talking to Madame Isabelle now," Eve said, unaware that her best friend was distracted. She leaned on the sink counter and closed her eyes briefly. "And Rose almost brought my dual identity so I told her to shut up."

    "Eve!" Andie eximed in protest.

    "It''s not a conversation I wanted to have in public, okay?!" Eve retorted with the same tone. If she hadn''t done that, Rose would have dragged the subject on and so they would have to address it. "Plus we have some things to discuss and I don''t want to be worrying about Rose."

    Andie plopped backwards on the couch. She slipped down the backrest until her head rested against it. "Ugh, fine. I''ll help you."

    "You are an amazing woman, you know that?"

    She rolled her stormy blue eyes. "What things do you have to discuss anyway?"

    Eve felt her throat clog up. Her mouth opened and closed like a goldfish. She needed toe up with something quick. "Oh, you know just things."

    "Things like what?" Andie challenged. Her gaze narrowed at the coffee table.

    Detecting the suspicion, Eve hurried. She pushed herself off the sink counter and scrambled to stimte her wits. There had to be something she could say was true. Something that would be part of the conversation outside of how Ambryan and Noah were the same person.

    Then, it clicked.

    "I have a feeling that Madame Isabelle will bring up my childhood with Noah," Eve said, her heart hammering in her chest. She immediately stopped walking and held onto the counter.

    Andie made a face. "In front of Ambryan? That''s not something for him to be jealous about. The annoying bastard must be kissing up to his boss somewhere for a promotion. He always acted like he was smarter than anyone else."

    Eve contorted her face. If anyone walked in right now, they''d think she was in pain. But, in reality, she strongly resisted the urge tough. "I think Ambryan would appreciate that thought. You should tell it to him sometime."

    "I''ll probably bring it up eventually."

    "Please don''t do it while I''m not around. Anyway, I have to go."

    Nodding, Andie checked on her cereal. She raised a spoonful to her lips. "Leave Rose to me. But you still need to remember to talk to her every once in a while."

    "Yeah, I know. If she starts talking to me again, we''ll arrange a weekly catch up."

    "Oh, invite me too."

    "Of course." Eve chuckled and ended the call.

    As she walked back to the table, she observed Madame Isabelle and Ambryan. This had to be the first time she had been alone to digest what just happened. Not only did her childhood frenemy turn out to be her current boyfriend but also it took a trip to town for her to realize it.

    The ck hair and violet eyesbination should have been enough to trigger that.

    Guess Ambryan wasn''t the only one slow at this.

    Eve sat back down on her spot and smiled at the two. "You didn''t start anything without me, did you? Because I will be greatly offended and only a lifetime supply of free coffee will fix that."

    Ambryan snorted, pushing the coffee cup closer towards her. "You didn''t miss anything really. I was trying to figure out how to start the story. That''s all."

    "Let me get one thing straight first," Eve cut in, pointing her finger upwards. "Who is your biological motherthough now that question came out of my mouth, I realized it has to be Avery since you look alike."

    Madame Isabelle chuckled across from her. "That is true. NAmbryan is a Hathaway through and through. Their blood runs in his veins. I''m not someone who has been blessed with a family of my own, Little Swan. My lover died in a war and I never got the chance to open my heart to someone else."

    Her indigo eyes zed as she walked down memoryne. "It waste afternoon back then. Taylor who stayed next door to the studio never told anyone this but his vegetable and fruit deliveries usually came near sunset. The ones he kept fresh everyday were only the meat and fish."

    "Since I knew this, I always asked him to sell some to me once they arrived." The corner of her lips curled upwards. "I even threatened to tell everyone about it just so he would give in. Then, one day, I caught him and the delivery truck driver talking in the back."

    "I immediately ran over to see what the fuss was about. And, lo and behold," she paused, flickering her gaze in Ambryan''s direction. "There was a baby inside the truck."

    "How" Eve blinked. "Huh? What??"

    "I think you need to take a drink." Ambryan frowned.

    Eve sipped the coffee, drinking half of it all at once. She stared at the table as the information sank in. "How did you end up in the truck? And, Madame Isabelle, didn''t you file a report that you found a baby? I feel like Avery would have found Ambryan right away with their influence."

    Ambryan chose to answer first. "My parents hired a nanny months after I was born. Mother was going back to show business because she wasn''t quite done yet. The nanny turned out to be just a cover. She was an aplice to a kidnapping."

    He drank a bit of his tea, seeming nonchnt about the story. "Everyday she walked me around the park to know which time would be the crowdest and best time for the bodyguards to identally lose sight of her"

    "When the day finally came for her to do it, they had lost sight of her like she predicted but they also found her quickly too. They yelled for her to stop and she ran faster. Panicked, her aplices didn''te out since they''d also get caught. She decided to leave the baby near the drop off and the truck"

    "... happened to be there. She thought they were watching her by this point and used the truck''s enclosure to block the baby from the bodyguards. By the time security caught up to her, she was holding a lump of cloth," Ambryan sneaked a peek at Eve. Her brown eyes stared back in shock and rm.

    He smirked and found it amusing as always. "Except her aplices didn''t see her put the baby inside the truck. They only knew which direction she went. The truck workers came back before the aplices could and left."

    "How can you be so calm about this?" Eve breathed out. Her head shook slowly. "Your parents must have been devastated to know what happened. A kidnapping meant there would be a ransom so they needed you safe but, for you to vanishpletely? No one knows what could happen."

    Madame Isabelle nodded. "The men didn''t know what to do about the baby until I joined them. I instantly checked on Ambryan, worrying about how long he had been in that truck."

    She would never forgive the two blockheads that day. The driver tried to insist that Taylor should take the baby to the police since he still had a few more deliveries to do. Thetter shoved the responsibility back since the baby was in his truck.

    Their selfishness needed toe first.

    It made her sick.

    "Then, it turned out that he had a fever."

 Chapter 280: Flash of Memories

    Chapter 280: sh of Memories

    Madame Isabelle closed her eyes.

    At that moment, she was transported back to 28 years ago. Her gray hair gleamed in dark blonde that reached her chin. She had pulled it at the roots and used hairspray to add volume. Then, she finished it with a big swoop at the tips. Her wardrobe consisted of a ck elegance from the 60s.

    "What''s all this ruckus about?!" She yelled. Her heels cked on the pavement as she marched over to the store next door. "For grown men, you''re acting like immature children."

    "Oh, stay out of this, Isabelle!" Taylor grumbled with a scratch of his balding head. "I''m in the middle of something here. Buy the produce tomorrow like everyone else. You can''t always get special treatment."

    "Is this how you should treat a good neighbor?" Madame Isabelle shot back. Her red lips curled into a smirk. "I have you know that I"

    A loud cry cut her off. She whirled in different directions, trying to detect its source. Her eyebrows scrunched together. "I-Is that a baby? Didn''t you forbid babies in your store?"

    "That''s what I have been trying to tell him! I can''t handle kids and I have a lot of stuff to do! I don''t have time to handle his problem!" Taylor screamed in pure frustration. He was already behind schedule with this bothersome argument.

    "I also have things to do, Taylor. Who knows how long he''s been there?"

    "Well, it''s your truck. You take care of it!"

    "I''m asking a favor, man! I can''t just leave a baby in the police station!"

    "There''s a first time for everything!"

    Madame Isabelle ignored the two men and sauntered over to the back of the truck. She couldn''t believe her eyes. Lying in a box of tomatoes was a baby. It had to be less than a year old based on size. Eyes closed, the baby wailed as loud as he could.

    "Oh, you, poor dear," she spoke softly, picking it up in her arms. "Did the childish men scare you? Don''t be afraid. They''re not as tough as they look."

    "Hey! (Hey!)"

    She red at them through the corner of her eyes. "Are you even men when you can''t do the right thing? Shame on you both. A baby is someone who can''t look after themselves. You''d rather think about yourselves than those who are helpless."

    Her attention shifted back to the baby. The scowl on her face disappeared immediately. A wide smile reced it instead. "Let Auntie Isabelle look after you, huh? How''s that sound? Now, now. There''s no need to cry anymore, love."

    The truck must have been stuffy and the baby needed some fresh air. She brushed her fingers over his face, pulling away the small hood of his clothes. Then, her hand froze. She sensed nothing but the burning skin underneath her fingertips.

    "Taylor, get your car," Madame Isabellemanded at once.

    "You''re on his side?! So much for all I did for you, huh"

    "Stop yapping and get your damn car!" She repeated. This time, she added a stern look in his direction. "The baby has a fever and we need to go to the hospital right away. If you don''t want me taking your keys and driving it myself then, you better get your ass moving."

    Taylor gulped. Anyone who grew up in this town knew she meant business when she started cussing. Each word symbolized her level of anger. He did not want to reach the next level. Otherwise, he might wake up with his car egged from every direction possible.

    "Bill, get these inside while I go get the keys!" Taylor shouted over his shoulder, dashing for the door. He wasn''t safe yet until he and Madame Isabelle were in the car.

    "But"

    "We''re already taking the baby! It''s the least you could do!"

    Meanwhile, Madame Isabelle took out her handkerchief and dampened it under the garden spout. She squeezed all the extra water out before patting it on the baby''s head. "It''s alright, dear. You''ll be fine. I got you. As soon as you get better, we''ll look for your family, okay? They must miss you so much."

    The drive to the hospital was a short one.

    Madame Isabelle rushed into the emergency room and left Taylor in the car. A nurse came to her aid right away. She exined the situation quickly, handing over the baby. She stayed in the waiting area. It was so tiny. It couldn''t have the strength yet to ovee a fever. Not to mention that it was in a foreign ce. It must be so scared.

    When the nurse came back, they told her that the baby would have to stay overnight since it was too young and really fragile. Her hands clenched together when she heard the news. It was just as she feared.

    Despite their reassurance, Madame Isabelle couldn''t sit still. They allowed her to see the baby before visiting hours ended. He slept soundly in his small bed. A little bit of relief washed over her once she spotted him. His peaceful expression convinced her enough.

    For now.

    Madame Isabelle ran to the nearest police station and reported about the missing baby. They couldn''t get much information from her but promised to stop by Taylor''s store and spread the word in their system. She opted to walk home, her mind wandering back to the baby.

    She never imagined they could be that small and so lightlike it could literally break in half with just one mistake. Her life had been dedicated to ballet for as long as she remembered. She had moved out of her home country and rarely visited. But there came a time when she hoped to be blessed with one.

    s, fate didn''t grant it.

    Maybe

    Madame Isabelle shook her head. The baby''s parents must be frantic. It would be for the best if they were reunited. They needed each other. Besides, she didn''t know the first thing about living with a baby. Her logic started and ended at ''when a baby cries, give it attention.''

    So when she could take the baby home, she may have gone overboard

    The spare room in the upper floor had been transformed into a baby room. It had a crib, bottles, bottle sterilizer, clothes, diapers, air purifier and whatever the sales person told her that was essential. The baby in her arms slept, not flinching nor crying when sheid him down.

    She pulled up a stool and sat besides the crib. A small smile blossomed on her lips. "You have to be the cutest baby I''ve ever seen. Your mother must be beautiful. You''ll be reunited with her soon enough."

    Days passed and no updates came from the police station. Madame Isabelle began to worry.

    "Are you sure there''s no one looking for him?" She demanded from the front desk.

    The police officer put his pen down and rose to his feet. He mmed his hands on the table. "Ma''am, no one really thinks their baby was ced inside a delivery truck. The story eliminates mostmon cases of missing persons unless investigation says otherwise."

    "But it has to be in one of the truck''s stops before this town!"

    "The system is the system. If a reportes in about a missing baby, protocol will lead the police to search up any possible leads in the system but there many cases like this. Besides, the baby you mentioned isn''t the only one with ck hair and blue eyes."

    "But his blue eyes are different!" Madame Isabelle protested. "It''s like they have this undertone or tint to them. It''s not a true blue. It changes every time, depending on the light. Just like gemstones! That small piece of information can make a difference you know"

    "Ma''am, I suggest you leave the premises before I would have thrown out."

    Horror shed in her eyes. She opened her mouth to say something but closed it again. The police officer took that as his cue to sit back down. The discussion had ended. She went back to her studio with storm clouds above her head.

    "Isabelle! I told you I don''t know how to take care of children! How could you leave me with him?" Taylor wailed as soon as she walked through the door. "Are you even listening to me?!"

    Anything he said travelled from her ear and left the other way. None of them registered in her mind. She paused outside the room. Soft melodicughter came from the other side. She slowly opened the door, thinking it might stop if she did it too fast.

    The baby lied on the crib. His eyes stared up at the farm animals that floated above him. He giggled every now and then as they spun in a circle. A bit of drool trickled down the side of his mouth. He licked his lips like he noticed it too.

    Madame Isabelle took a few steps forward. From this angle, his eyes shined in another color yet again. They almost looked violet. She chuckled at the thought. It was ridiculous. She had never heard of such an eye color before.

    "Seems like you''ll stay here for a while, baby," she said, closing the gap between them. When she reached his side, he flickered his gaze at her and smiled. It sent a tingling sensation in her chest. "You really are precious. What should I call you?"

    The baby shifted his attention back to the animals. He attempted to lift his arms to grab them. Madame Isabelleughed at his struggle. "You like animals, huh? Do you also want an ark full of them?"

    He responded by kicking his legs.

    "I should call you" Madame Isabelle hesitated. To give a name meant attachment.

    She didn''t have that privilege.

    Yet, the name lingered at the tip of her tongue.

    The baby looked at her as if waiting for her to say it. The bright toothless smile on his face melted her worries. Maybe they would part someday. But Why worry about that now?

    She picked him up until they were on the same eye level. "Hi, Noah."

 Chapter 281: Passcode to the Heart

    Chapter 281: Passcode to the Heart

    "You can''t go in here! No one can!"

    "And why the hell not, Noah?"

    "This is my territory now. I conquered thisnd so I''m king and I make the rules."

    "Sounds stupid."

    "That''s just because you''re not smart enough."

    "Guys, don''t fight."

    A 5-year old Eve hunched her shoulders. Her scarlet hair brushed the top of her shoulders. She usually kept it shorter than that but because of ballet lessons, Madame Isabelle told her to let it grow so that it could be styled and/or tied into a neat bun.

    Andie huffed, crossing her arms over her chest. She angled her body towards Eve and red at Noah through the corner of her eyes. "Madame Isabelle said we could y here while our parents are out. But it seems like someone wants to break the rules."

    "Which part do you not understand, Andrea?" Noah rolled his eyes. He held a stic sword and used it as a barricade against the doorway. "Maybe you should focus on studying rather than being a brat. Then, maybe you wouldn''t be so dumb."

    "Who you calling brat, pipsqueak?!"

    Eve immediately intervened. She lunged between her best friend and Noah, pushing Andie away with her back on thetter''s front. Her lips morphed into an apologetic smile. "Sorry, Noah. We''ll just y in the backyard. Have fun with your kingdom."

    Andie muttered profanities as Eve dragged her by the arm. When they reached the backdoor, she yanked herself free and mmed the door open. She stomped across the back porch before spinning on her heels.

    "How could you let him win?!" Andie demanded, throwing her hands in the air. Her dirty blonde hair swung in a low ponytail. She wore a cheerleading uniform given by her aunt who coached the high school team. That was where she hung out the most while Eve had her ballet lessons.

    "He lives here." Eve shrugged.

    "So do we for a few hours."

    "Come on, it''s not that big of a deal." She positioned herself on Andie''s right and hooked their arms together. "Let''s cook some bugs instead. I bet Madame Isabelle will say it''s okay as long as the fire is small."

    Andie pursed her lips together. "Fine. But Noah can''t join us if he ever changes his mind."

    The girls spent the next half hour cooking bugs on dried leaves. They used a kitchen lighter they once saw Madame Isabelle used and lit up the dirty candle on the window ledge. They used thin branches that fell from the trees and stabbed it through the leaf.

    Then, they hovered the leaf with ants on it over the me.

    Giggles escaped their lips as the ants ran all over the leaf.

    Noah frowned from his window.

    His bejewelled violet-blue eyes narrowed. The girls had their backs turned towards him so he couldn''t see what was happening. Except, theirughs sounded suspicious. They also talked in hushed voices. It could only mean that they were up to no good.

    He gazed up the ceiling, debating whether to disturb his mother who was on the upper floor.

    She read books at this time in the day which meant she had little attention span. A sigh flowed out of his nose. He contracted his lips to one corner and stared at nothing. Deep in thought, he didn''t notice that one of the girls left the backyard.

    That same girl materialized at his doorway.

    Eve waved, holding two juice boxes. "Thought you might want one. It''s grape. Just like NERDS."

    She held the purple one in his direction, staying outside of the room. Noah blinked his eyebrows up. He did like grape. He also liked NERDS. The juice box probably tasted just as good too. Maybe just a little sweet. Hm, what if he drank it while eating the sour bits of candy?

    ''No, no, no'' he quietly scolded himself. ''This isn''t how a king should behave!''

    Noah shook his head and stuck his nose in the air. He averted his gaze, rooting himself on the spot and proving he wouldn''t budge. "If you think you can bribe the king then, you are wrong."

    "I wasn''t" Eve mumbled. She retracted her arm and bowed her head. Her body trembled slightly like she had just been scolded. "Guess, I''ll give it to Andie."

    "Wait!" Noah yelled, thrusting his hand out. Eve snapped her head towards him. His cheeks reddened from embarrassment and hid them by coughing into his fist. "There is a way for you to enter the kingdom, a visitor''s pass they call it."

    Eve tilted her head sideways. "There is?"

    "Yes, yes! If you utter the passcode then, you can enter. I will also believe you''re in good faith and ept the humble donation," he continued. "It''s a simple riddle. The answer is the passcode. If you solve it then, you are smart enough for the kingdom to trade with."

    "A riddle?"

    Scowling, Eve didn''t understand the second half of what he just said. They sounded like what adults would say. Her brain still couldn''tprehend them. Noah noticed her struggle. He cleared his throat loudly to get her attention.

    "Are you ready?" He challenged her.

    Eve nodded robotically, going through the motions out of politeness.

    "Here''s the riddle." Noah paused. They had just tackled this in ss the other day. It was the highlight of his school experience. He picked one of his favorite ones and said, "Name four days in a week that start with ''T''."

    At this, Eve broke out of her reverie. She fluttered her eyes.

    "But my mom says every day starts with tea."

    Noah froze in ce. It only took two seconds before he realized what she meant. His shoulders shook first asughter climbed up his throat and out of his mouth. It was peculiar. He scoffed at his ssmates who didn''t get the riddles yet, even when Eve was wrong, he liked her answer.

    "You pass," he decreed and gestured to her toe in. "Hand over the grape juice."

    "Yay!" Eve cheered. She ducked under the sword and handed him the juice box. Her hand yanked out the straw from the back of her juice box and poked it through the sealed hole.

    "Why is yours colored pink?" Noah asked, noticing the other box for the first time.

    "This one is strawberry," she exined and lifted it up for him to see the fruit image.

    He bent down to get a closer look. "Oh, it is. Why do you have a grape one then?"

    "Because it''s the colors my favorite doll wears."

    "..." Noah was stunned speechless. Who picked food ording to colors? Shouldn''t it be because of the vors? He shook his head and noticed a tiny box on a nearby table. A revtion dawned on him.

    "Look! They''re the same colors as this box of NERDS too!" Excited, he picked it up and showed it to Eve. Then, he read thebel. "See?! It also says strawberry and grape!"

    "Cool!" Eve giggled. She sipped from her straw until the juice box shrivelled up.

    When she ran out of juice, Noah tossed her a small paper bag. "Here."

    She caught it in her arms and opened it. Her brown eyes lit up like stars. It contained candies wrapped in red and white swirls. She ate all the ones she had at home. Her mother also refused to buy her more.

    At the time, she was devastated.

    Now, her sprites were fully restored. "Monami!"

    "Mother says you like it. I had some left so I''m trading it for the juice box, okay?" Noah rified. His juice box also became empty. He took her juice box and walked towards the door. "You''re an official merchant to this kingdom now."

    "Yay, I''m a merchant!" Eve celebrated, following behind him.

    Madame Isabelle didn''t allow trash cans inside the house. Anyone who needed to use them should step out front and throw them in therge bins. It became the best solution in keeping the studio clean since she had many young students. Not all of themsted long but, at least, they could take home a lesson in discipline.

    Noah pushed the door open with his shoulder, Eve still hot on his heels. He wondered if she had forgotten about Andrea in the backyard. A smug expression appeared on his face and made sure to hide it from her.

    He had to be Eve''s favorite if she shared the juice box with him.

    "Aw, Jackson! It''s a ballet studio! Who would have thought we''d find one here?" A woman gushed from across the street. Then, her eyes flickered towards the children. "And those kids are adorable. Look at them cleaning after themselves."

    She looped her arms around her husband''s andid her head on his shoulder.

    The children in question started talking and exchanged some candies. Although she couldn''t hear it, she could imagine what they said. Those grins on their faces didn''t fool her!

    Her instincts were never wrong!

    "I smell romance."

    "Dear!" Jackson scolded. His teal eyes looked at her in disapproval. "They''re too young for romance. Don''t say things like that. Let children be children, alright?"

    His wife pouted in his direction but he avoided her meeting her eyes. She huffed and shifted her attention back on the children. They walked up the front steps. The little girl pulled the door open and hit the young boy.

    The box of candy in his hands fell to the floor, bouncing down the stairs.

    He turned around to get it.

    Then, his eyes nced across the street.

    Avery choked on a gasp. Her hands tightened on Jackson''s arm. Suddenly, her legs lost their strength and wobbled like jelly. She held onto him to keep herself upright. The boy only looked at her for a split second before heading back inside the studio.

    But it felt much longer than that for the madam.

    "Avery? Avery, what''s wrong?" Jackson worried frantically.

    "J-Jackson," she stuttered in between breaths. Her throat had constricted, blocking most of her air flow. "J-Jackson. Jackson!"

    "What, dear? What?!"

    She pointed a finger towards the ballet studio. "Ambryan I saw Ambryan!"

 Chapter 282: All is Well in Tea and Books

    Chapter 282: All is Well in Tea and Books

    "Wee! Make yourself at home."

    Ambryan hesitated by the doorway. It had been a week since the woman from across the street knocked on the ballet studio. When he answered it, the same woman broke down into tears. It had shocked him so much that he shouted for Madame Isabelle instead of walking up the stairs.

    The two women locked eyes for a few seconds.

    Now, he was here in the middle of a grand estate. It contained riches beyond his imagination. The ce was beautiful but nothing that caught his interest. Servants nced his way but they averted their gaze whenever he looked back.

    It was odd. He could hear them whisper after this happened. ''His resemnce to the woman of the house was uncanny'', they said. The statement had a mix of pity and amazement in it. In his opinion, both of them did possess the same set of violet eyes.

    But nothing about it should sound pitiful.

    Ambryan turned around and said, "Mom, how long are we going to stay here?"

    Beside him, Avery stiffened in her ce. Jackson grabbed her hand immediately. He squeezed it tight, hoping she would calm down. Things had gone smoothly so far with Madame Isabelle. The rest were up to Ambryan on how he would take in the new environment.

    It was a big change.

    And they had to have patience.

    Madame Isabelle knelt on one knee and grasped both of Ambryan''s hands. She looked straight into his eyes, holding a gentle gaze. Her hand brushed his hair over his right ear. "Treat this just like home, okay, NoAmbryan?"

    He frowned at that. "But you have sses, right? We can''t stay here forever."

    She shifted her attention towards his biological parents. Avery turned her head to the side. Her hands clenched into fists. Her heart wrenched at how her son only acknowledged one maternal figure. Even when they had exined what happened, he couldn''t seem to ept it.

    So they thought they needed to do something so he''d warm up to the truth.

    Avery found the process excruciating. All she wanted to do was hold him in her arms and never let go. She had missed 9 years of his life. They had failed him for that long. She would never be able to forgive herself for it but, at least, she hoped that the guilt wouldn''t grow bigger.

    If only that he''d give her that chance.

    "When sses are back, I''lle visit you during the weekends," Madame Isabelle responded. She couldn''t find another way to phrase it. She had closed it for a week to help with the transition. Not a minute had gone by without her pushing back her tears.

    Ambryan''s scowl deepened. "Visit?"

    "Yes, you''ll stay here from now on," she reminded him. "Didn''t we talk about that?"

    "But I never agreed to it. I don''t want to stay here, mom."

    Madame Isabelle moved her hands to his upper arms, caressing them infort. It was a lot to take in but their progress had been so little. They had to change tactics. "Ambryan, you haven''t even given it a chance yet."

    "No! I want to stay in Cornelia Town with you and E, and that stupid Andrea and everyone else!" Ambryan cried at the top of his lungs. "I don''t want to change schools! I don''t want to change anything! Let''s go back please."

    "Listen to me," Madame Isabelle said sternly. She pulled him closer and hardened her voice. If he had to hate her for it, she would let it happen. "Everything will be alright. It will take some adjustments but you will find that this new ce is just as good as home."

    He shook his head continuously, refusing to hear it. "No, it can''t if none of you are here!"

    "Ambryan" Jackson cut in. Avery wasn''t doing too well either"Let''s go up to your room, shall we? You can decorate it in any way you want. We''ll go straight to shopping once you''ve settled in if you want to get started."

    "No! I don''t want a new room! I don''t want a new home!" Ambryan stepped backwards and pushed Madame Isabelle''s hold on him away. He spun on his heels, running in a random direction.

    "Ambryan!" Avery yelled after him.

    Jackson instantly trapped her in his arms. "Leave him alone for now. There are guards all over the estate. He won''t be able to get out. We won''t lose him likest time."

    Madame Isabelle straightened her legs. She heaved a sigh. Ambryan really did have a way of making things difficult. "I''m sorry. I thought he had gotten over it when we had our talk."

    "It''s alright," Jackson reassured her. He gestured to both women to enter the house. It would take a while before Ambryan calmed down. They needed to talk about the n until then. "We appreciate all you''ve done so far. Are you sure there isn''t a way for us to repay you?"

    "I stand by what I said, Mr. Hathaway. No matter what it is you have to offer me, please redirect your efforts towards Ambryan. I know you have the riches to satisfy both his needs and your desire to thank me but"

    "My time with him is more than enough for me," Madame Isabelle exined. "I''ll never forget it."

    Avery mustered a smile, easing a bit of her husband''s worries. She couldn''t break down againnot when her son had miraculously returned. "I understand itpletely. If you ever need help in the future, please don''t hesitate to contact us."

    "I''ll keep it in mind, Mrs. Hathaway."

    Meanwhile, Ambryan found a ce to hide. The hedges stood over seven feet tall on either side of him. He followed the narrow passage that they created and used his instincts in choosing at crossed paths. It should be enough to confuse the adults.

    Maybe if he found an opening, they wouldn''t be able to find him at all.

    Then, the hedges opened to a square clearing.

    "Young man, what are you running away from?" The old woman asked from her chair. Her curly white hair poofed around her head like a shower cap. She wore a long-sleeved white dress that had a leaf pattern and a belt cinched around her waist.

    Her teal eyesnded on him as soon as he came out of the garden maze.

    "I-I" Ambryan stuttered. Somehow, she reminded him of Madame Isabelle.

    "Would you like some tea?" She offered, holding her own cup and saucer.

    Ambryan noticed the setup on the table. Tea pot, cakes, scones and more, he realized that the woman was having her afternoon tea. Only one question popped in his head. "What kind?"

    "ck, of course." She smiled and took a sip.

    Gulping, Ambryan proceeded with caution. Tea was something he was familiar with. He had tried it one day because Madame Isabelle always drank more than a cup. Ever since then, he grew to like it so she started brewing two cups everyday for breakfast.

    It was the most home-like item in the estate for him.

    "Go on, take a seat," the old woman told him. "The servants will pour it for you."

    On cue, a servant came forward to serve him a cup. He also offered Ambryan the tower of finger food desserts. Thetter took a scone and bit it. His violet eyes lit up. It tasted much better and fluffier than the bakery in Cornelia Town. He wouldn''t have thought it possible before.

    "Do you also live here?" Ambryan asked. When the servant showed him the tower of sweets again, he grabbed another scone and dipped it into the tea. The world of vor in his mouth caused him to moan.

    "Yes. Yes, I do." The old woman chuckled. She put her cup down and took a good look at him. "Are you also going to be living here? We can have tea again tomorrow if you like."

    Ambryan paused for a second. He ced his scone on an empty te, wiping off the crumbs that stuck to the sides of his mouth. "Um I don''t know. I want to go home."

    "Home?"

    "Yes, I live in a ballet studio with my mom. I know she''s not my real mother but I promised I''d never leave her side. I also have a few friends there. I don''t want to leave any of them behind either," Ambryan confessed, bowing his head.

    How could they ignore his feelings like that? Everyone had just unanimously decided on the move. What''s worse his mom wouldn''t be able to stay. She was going to leave him alone with these strangers like it didn''t matter to her.

    Tears started to form in the corner of his eyes.

    Why was he the only one who didn''t want to be separated?

    The old woman regarded him with indifference. She propped her elbows on the table and folded her hands, resting them on her chin. "Young man, do you know how big the world is?"

    "Very big," Ambryan choked.

    "Do you not wish to see how big it is?" She added. "Cornelia Town is only one of many ces in this world. I personally lived in more than 5 countries during my lifetime. I never regretted it once. They were adventures that hold dear memories to me."

    Ambryan blinked several times, looking up slowly.

    "Being away from our loved ones doesn''t mean our rtionship has changed. Your mom loves you just as much as you love her back. Like me, she knows what the world has to offer and believes you deserve the best of everything."

    Her stoic expression melted into a warm one. "Try looking at this as an adventure. Think about it. A mysterious and foreign ce, new people to meet there is so much of it to explore. New knowledge to learn. Do you like books?"

    "Yes, I do."

    Her eyes squinted in delight. "We have our own library you know. Every brilliant work you can think of is in there. If not, wait for seven days and it will be."

    "Can I see it?" Ambryan squirmed in his seat.

 Chapter 283: No Tears Left to Shed

    Chapter 283: No Tears Left to Shed

    "Mom, mom, mom!"

    Ambryan ran out of the car and up the front steps of Hathaway Manor. He had started in a new school after two weeks from moving out of Cornelia Town. The uniform was a new experience to him. Its navy blue color brought the cool hues in his eyes.

    Everyone wore the same thing. The bathrooms were well-kept. His history teacher was also amazing. They had a discussion after ss about the Peloponnesian War. He was neither turned away nor brushed off because the teacher thought he was too young.

    His Nana was right.

    The world had so much more to offer.

    And he couldn''t wait to tell Madame Isabelle all about it!

    "Mom!" Ambryan screamed again when a servant let him in. He raced to the upper floor, one destination in mind. He turned around the corner, pushed the bedroom door and

    If a stranger had walked up to this room, that person would think no one was using it. The bedid empty, sheets and pillow covers all clean and free of crease. The dressercked skin care bottles and hairspray. Nothing hung on the cab''s handle. Bedside table had amp, no hair tie in sight.

    Ambryan scanned every direction as far as his eyes could see. He stepped inside and wandered around. He checked the bathroom. The sink counter only had a liquid hand soap which he also saw in his own room.

    Out in the hallway, Avery walked up to the doorway and knocked. "Ambryan, are you in here?"

    He left the bathroom, meeting her gaze with rmed eyes. "Where''s mom?"

    "S-She" the madam trailed off. "Why don''t youe down for some afternoon snacks, hm?"

    "Where''s mom?" Ambryan repeated. His hands began to tremble. They had a deal. She should be here. Even when she went back to town, her stuff remained so he knew she''d be back. But now

    "Let''s join Nana for tea first, okay?" Avery tried to touch his arm but he pulled away.

    A tear trickled down the corner of his eye. "You made her go away, didn''t you?"

    Her throat clogged. "That''s not"

    "It was you! You told her to leave! Because I don''t want you as my mother!" Ambryan wailed. Two streams of tears flowed down his cheeks. His eyes stained red as he red in her direction. "Why do you take everything from me?! I already live here. What more do you want?!"

    He slipped out of the room and bolted for the library. It had be his refuge. There was a nook between two shelves that people normally missed. He couldn''t remember how he found it but he did. Legs bent in front of him, he hugged them to his chest and sobbed on his knees.

    Back at the guest room, Avery closed the door. Thetch clicked softly. Her back slumped forward until her forehead hit the door. She shut her eyes and gripped the knob tight. Footsteps sounded from the and stopped right behind her.

    "Jackson" she said without looking. "Have I gone too far?"

    He hugged her from behind and kissed her shoulder. "We both know he wouldn''t stop unless something stopped him. Forget epting us, he wouldn''t be able to see us at all. Neither as his guardians nor his family."

    Turning his wife around, Jackson held her chin up. "Madame Isabelle understood that perfectly despite her initial objections. We''ll get it lifted once things are mended among us, hm?"

    "I hope it will work," Avery whispered. "Otherwise, he''d just hate us forever."

    Days went by and Ambryan spent his days on auto-mode. He didn''t speak inside the manor unless spoken to. They were short replies. If possible, only one or two words. He never did anything else but his homework and necessities.

    Not even his Nana could get him to talk.

    It was the coldest week in the manor as his mood affected everyone.

    Avery knocked on his door each day, determined to earn his forgiveness. She''d bring his favorite tea and scones but he never answered. The tray would be left for him to get if he wanted. She refused to use the keys since that would mean invading his privacy.

    Sometimes the tray would be empty when she''de back to get it.

    Other days, it would be untouched.

    She brought the tray back to the kitchen, a nk look on her face. There had to be something they hadn''t tried. A servant took the tray from her and she sat on the nearest stool of a kitchen counter.

    "Nana, what should we do?" The madam asked the old woman across from her. "This can''t keep going. I''ve tried everything I could think of. Should I read books? Discuss them with him?"

    Nana Hathaway ate an orange slice. "That would work in other circumstances. But knowing Ambryan, he''d know you''re only doing it for him to forgive you. It has to be something more genuine than that."

    "Maybe I should ask the school about how he''s doing. Like if he had made friends. He needs, at least, one," Avery ranted. These thoughts had lingered in her mind so much that they mixed together like a cake batter. "Then, invite the person to a ydate. I''d be happy just to see him interact with someone at this point."

    "Why not host a party?" Her mother-inw suggested.

    "Too many people might overwhelm him."

    "Only the guardians and/or parents of the kids in his ss," she borated. "Even if he made friends or acquaintances, we need to know what kind of people they are. Plus it would help distract you from hovering over him."

    Avery pressed her lips together, considering the idea. They do need to be more involved. He would also be mingling with more people in the future. It should have a beneficial long-term effect. But

    "I don''t think it will work." She sighed.

    "Leave it to me. It''ll work out." Nana Hathaway threw her orange peels in the trash and headed for the upper floor. She made a slight detour, grabbing the handset of a wireless telephone. There should be one person who would be able to help sort this out.

    Nothing like a little bribe wouldn''t be able to do.

    Especially with a nine-year-old. She must teach him sometime when he bes older.

    Believing Nana''s words, Avery invited Ambryan''s ssmates and their families for a barbeque. Jackson came back home early just to attend it. The manor had been its liveliest since Ambryan started the silent treatment. The kitchen was busy as well as the servants.

    Avery managed to smile here and there, chatting with the women.

    Jackson sat around a table with the adult males. They yed a friendly game of poker while drinking wine. Both sides talked about one thing the most:

    Their long lost son.

    "Ambryan? He''s very studious. Never lets his education bepromised," Avery stated.

    Jacksonughed heartily when someone on his table mentioned the same. "I can''t wait until he''s old enough to y. I bet he could outwin us all in one game."

    Nana stayed by the doorway that connected the house to the back porch. She watched the two socialize, delighted to see some happy expressions. Then, she nced over her shoulder. The children stayed inside under supervision. Toys and video games had been provided.

    A copper-headed boy tripped over a lego.

    Still lying on his stomach, his steel gray eyes blinked in confusion. "What was that?"

    Two leather shoes appeared in his line of sight. He had to squint to notice their shapeand that they were connected to a pair of legs. His head tilted upwards until he saw a face. At least, he figured it was a face.

    "Who are you?"

    Ambryan stared down at the kid his age. He didn''t remember thetter. They weren''t in the same ss. Although, if he looked closely, the kid seemed familiar. Maybe he had a family member in school that Ambryan recognized.

    "What color are my eyes?" He asked out of the blue.

    The kid scowled. "Um ck?"

    Rolling his eyes, Ambryan bent down and helped the kid stand up. "I think you need sses."

    "sses?"

    "Your vision is blurry. That''s why you tripped."

    "Ooohh" The kid nodded, not even questioning how Ambryan knew about that. He looked around the room before shifting his attention back to Ambryan. "HeyWhere did he go?"

    "Ambryan, nice house!"

    "You have so much room to run!"

    "These toys are amazing too!"

    "Your TV is pretty big but we have a bigger one at my house. Want to see it?"

    "You have dolls? What are you? A girl?"

    Ambryan ignored the noise.

    He only came down because he made a promise. Profanities flowed out of his lips. Thanks to Nana Hathaway, he was able to talk to his mom every month from now onexcept Madame Isabelle would only ept his calls if he cooperated with his new family.

    His feet brought him to a passage that led to the library.

    That was when a small figure bumped into him.

    "Ow!"

    "Are you alright?" Ambryan questioned, offering his hand to help her.

    Amber eyes blinked up at him. "Are you Aunt Avery''s son?"

    He frowned. "Do you like the floor so much that you don''t want to get up?"

    She grabbed his hand and hoisted herself up. A huff escaped her lips. "Well, you''re really rude. Don''t you know any manners?"

    "Didn''t I just help you?"

    "Jane! Jane, there you are!" A boy cut in the conversation. Two of his friends stood on either side of him. "Come y with us!"

    The girl immediately hid behind Ambryan. Thetter scrunched his eyebrows at her actions.

    "Come on! It will be fun!"

    "I don''t think she wants to," Ambryan replied for her. He met kids like this boy in his previous school. They would always invite Eve to y and bully her for it. "Go find someone else to y with."

    "You think you''re better than us just because you live in this house?"

    "Where I live is irrelevant. She doesn''t want to y. Or are you too stupid to understand?"

 Chapter 284: Earth to the Present, Please

    Chapter 284: Earth to the Present, Please

    "Where I live is irrelevant. She doesn''t want to y. Or are you too stupid to understand?"

    One of the boy''s friends whispered in his ear. This wasn''t the time and ce for a fight. Not when their parents were nearby. The boy grumbled, spitting in Ambryan''s direction. Thetter stepped back and the spitnded on the floor.

    "Just so you know, this isn''t over yet," he said before the three of them left.

    Ambryan watched them closely until they disappeared among the crowd. He took a deep breath and resumed his journey to the library. This incident reminded him why he disliked noisewhy even when he had an imaginary, he didn''t invite anyone to y.

    Everyone was troublesome wherever he went.

    "Wait!" Jane called out to him, seizing his arm.

    He frowned over his shoulder. "Now, what?"

    "I-I"

    "Spit it out. I don''t have all day. Frankly, I don''t even have a minute," Ambryanined. He tugged his arm back but Jane held on tighter. He attempted multiple times, his temper rising higher and higher.

    "Aw, isn''t this sweet?" Someone cooed.

    Avery took a quick trip to the kitchen about changing the drink menu when she caught sight of Ambryan and Jane from her peripheral vision. Her heart swelled. She approached them and ced her hands on her knees.

    A wide smile spread across her face. "Getting along well, are we?"

    Yanking his arm again, Ambryan managed to break free.

    "Whatever," he muttered and walked down the hallway. Whatever they had to say he didn''t care for it. He made his appearance at the party, talked to more than one person and helped someone out. It should be more than enough to satisfy the adults about his need to mingle.

    It wasn''t like he was lonely.

    His taste inpany was just selective.

    "Ambryan!"

    His eyebrows shot up at the angry voice.

    Ambryan whirled around just in time to see Avery stalked towards him with her hands on her hips. Her heels cked on the floorboards like a ticking bomb. She red, her violet eyes zing. Gone was her gentle nature.

    The hint of fear tickled his brain.

    She stood in front of him with her feet apart and hip leaning to one side. "I know you''re not happy to be here. That''s fine. You''re wee to mope or be mad. But, never never be rude to a guest, you hear me? Not only were you rude to that girl but you have disrespected me as well."

    "Be angry at me all you want but do remember your manners," Avery concluded. Her shoulders began to rx as the steam left her system. She cleared her throat and took one step back towards the party. "I''ll have Ivory bring you a tray of food while you stay at the library."

    Then, she left him alone.

    Ambryan stayed still throughout the short lecture. Even when the madam left, he barely moved a muscle. Had he gone too far like she said? He pondered on her words. They contained a valid point but he didn''t regret his actions.

    Shaking his head, he pushed the thoughts away and turned back around.

    His gaze flickered in the direction Avery took. The hallway was now empty. The kids at the other end didn''t notice his presence. The madam was nowhere in sight. Something fluttered in his chest. A fuzzy feeling that kept it warm.

    It was weird so he ignored it.

    Then, he snapped his head back and headed for the library.

    .

    .

    .

    .

    .

    Back in the present, Madame Isabelle finished her short story. Her tea had been refilled in the middle of narrating it. She hadn''t thought about them in years. Sometimes she needed a while to recall the next events. The court ruling was a blur but she managed.

    There was so much more to tell but she reserved them for another time.

    Eve had an elbow on the table, the side of her head resting on the palm of her hand.

    "Are you sure that Ambryan is Noah? I''m sorry but they act and sound like two different people to me," she joked. Then, sneaked a nce at her boyfriend. "Guess that exins why you suddenly left and why Madame Isabelle never told us where you went."

    Ambryan merely shrugged. He already knew the story so he barely listened to it and checked on work through his phone. Emails came in from Madison and Riffle about certain topics. He looked them over and responded back when done.

    Seeing him do his job, Eve couldn''t imagine thepany without him. What if he never reunited with his family? What kind of life would he have? Would he have stayed in this town all his life? It seemed unfair for what intelligence and potential he possessed.

    Heck, what would her life be like? She would have had a different bossnot to mention, her current career. There would never have been an Avery trying to matchmake her son. There would be no catalyst to where her life had taken her now.

    Then, again maybe all the horrible things wouldn''t have happened either. Life would have been much more peaceful for them both. She felt guilty even just thinking about it

    Since it could mean that Avery would never find her son.

    "Little Swan asked about you everyday back then."

    "Madame Isabelle!" Eve eximed in horror.

    Her ballet teacher returned it with a chuckle. "It''s true. You and Andrea were the ones I had the hardest time shaking off my back. Neither of you would stop talking. You even snuck to the upper floor for clues if I''m not mistaken."

    Ambryan looked up from his phone. The hint of a smirk curled on his lips. He leaned sideways and whispered in Eve''s ear. "I didn''t know you liked me that much."

    Her expression morphed into a deadpan one. She mimicked his movements, meeting his gaze through hershes. "If you go by that logic, that also counts Andie."

    He scowled. "I''d rather not have that thought in my head."

    Madame Isabelle observed their exchange. She couldn''t ask for anything more. The news about Ambryan''s flings worried her for some time. It sounded nothing like him. She feared that his heartpletely changed. That it was her fault for distancing herself and neglecting their rtionshipfor not fighting for it after months passed.

    He also always seemed cold whenever the news talked about him.

    But now

    Her attention refocused on the conversation.

    "Well, it was your idea."

    "She never even urred to me."

    "But Madame Isabelle mentioned both Andie and me."

    "Her name is censored in my mind."

    "Didn''t you just help her get the bakery back?"

    "That''s a different Andie."

    Sweet relief flooded her on the inside. Her little boy was right in front of her again. She felt so happy that she might just thank a certain bastard for abandoning his family. If he hadn''t left then, maybe Ambryan and Eve wouldn''t have crossed paths.

    Her grip tightened on the walking cane.

    Maybe she should ask for a quick favor to see how he was doing. That way they could stay alert of his movementsespecially with Eve growing in fame.

    "Everything okay here?" Rose asked meekly. She avoided looking in their direction and scratched the back of her ear. "We noticed that you''ve finished most of your food and drinks. The cafe owner also wants to treat you to another round if you please."

    "What for?" Madame Isabelle responded on behalf of everyone.

    "Just as a thank you for visiting. And maybe for a photo to hang on the corkboard."

    "Well, I don''t see why not."

    "I''ll get them then."

    "Rose, wait!" Eve said, getting up from her seat. Now that the story finished, she could pay some attention to her friend. "I really am sorry about today. Is there any way that I can make it up to you? I don''t care how ridiculous it is. Just tell me."

    Spinning on her heel, Rose led her to a corner and crossed her arms over her chest. She received a call from Andie earlier who exined the situation. It was a long one but she understood. It didn''t change how she felt though.

    She always held the fear that they''dpletely forget about her.

    Then, Eve showed up in town and didn''t even think of her? It hurt.

    "Hm" Rose thought out loud, noticing the pleading brown eyes. The sincerity in them almost made her feel bad.

    "Yes?" Eve pressed on. She crossed her fingers that she''d take the bait.

    Rose beckoned her closer, saying, "Then, do you have a hot male model''s phone number?"

    Eve gaped at her and rolled her eyes. "I should have known it was about boys."

    Gigging, Rose shrugged and raised her hands in surrender. "Hey, there aren''t many people in this town. None of them really appeal to me. Now, if I have two friends in the big city and one of them is now in the modelling business, that is an opportunity that I''d be dumb to pass on."

    "I can''t just give you their number though."

    "I thought you''d do anything even if it''s ridiculous?"

    Eve paused for a moment, curling her lips inwards. She did say that but there was only one number that she knew. The price to pay in giving it away would be her sond that would just be the base prince. No doubt there would be extra charges that she needed to pay.

    Rose pped her hands together and ced them near her chest. "I promise I won''t say anything to embarrass you. "

 Chapter 285: The Awaited Verdict

    Chapter 285: The Awaited Verdict

    While Eve and Rose conversed at the corner, a different waitress stopped by the table to serve the free meal. Madame Isabelle had a whiff of her tea before taking a sip. Its calming effects warmed up her insides. She pushed her worries aside and let herself rx.

    Ambryan busied himself with thest of the current inquiries. Once he started paying attention to them, Madison flooded his inbox. The old fool was trying to take advantage of him during his leave of absence. He was clearly cking since Riffle didn''t mention anything.

    Sending thest response, Ambryan turned on airne mode. Anyone who needed him urgently would have to go through his security team first.

    "Will you be staying long?" His mom asked when he picked up his cup of tea.

    "Until Sunday afternoon."

    Madame Isabelle nodded. Her gaze shifted in the direction of the girls. They seemed to have made up. There was once a time when she looked forward to them gracing the stage. They would be the best of rivals and friends. She truly believed it.

    But life didn''t always work out the way people wanted.

    "So" Ambryan dragged, noticing her line of sight. "What''s the verdict?"

    She directed her attention towards him. "What would you have done if I said I didn''t approve?"

    He shed a confident grin. "Convince you otherwise."

    Shaking her head, Madame Isabelle sighed with a soft smile on her lips. "I''m happy that you''re happy. I''m happy that she''s happy. And I''m honored that the both of you came to see me."

    Ambryan watched Eve for a while. His mind had wandered elsewhere during the story. Something else had caught his interest. He opened his mouth, violet eyes still on his girlfriend. "Will you tell me about Eve''s father?"

    Madame Isabelle dropped the smile. Her lips thinned into a grim line. "He wasn''t always like that you know. But, eventually, he became a greedy and selfish man."

    The story of Russell Spinster was well-known in town. He wouldn''t be able to walk the streets peacefully anymore. Although Eve should be the one to tell Ambryan about her father, Madame Isabelle also knew that the girl disliked discussing him.

    Ambryan obviously had better connections and power. It shouldn''t hurt to warn him about Russell. Eve would understand the decision in the long run.

    "I''ll tell you a few details about him in case he decides to show his face," Madame Isabelle said, scowling at the table. "I can imagine he might, considering how high Everlee has climbed."

    "That''s alright. Mother and I will look him up."

    She raised her eyebrows at the endearment. "How is Avery?"

    Ambryan exhaled sharply. "Not good. We had some unfortunate incidentstely. She''s currently reflecting on them. Father says that she''ll be okay though. I would have to believe him on that."

    "You haven''t gone to see her?"

    "She met with me for the amendment. Other than that, we haven''t interactedtely."

    Eve returned to the table with conflicting emotions. She had given in to Rose''s request, causing her to be even more anxious. Her mind debated whether to tell Mikael or not. That should have been the first thing she did but she knew what his response would be.

    This shouldn''t be big enough to put a strain in their friendship, right?

    Right?

    Madame Isabelle finished her tea. "I need to go. I''m sure the two of you would like to go sightseeing. I won''t keep you. If you need a ce to stay, my home is open."

    "Why don''t we go on a pic tomorrow?" Ambryan suggested.

    Eve widened her eyes at him. "Oh! We can even go to the old yground!"

    "Sounds like a n. I''ll see you both tomorrow."

    That said, Madame Isabelle stood up and waved before leaving the premises. She wanted to make a phone call. Despite how long it''s been, she believed Avery deserved somefort. They weren''t in the best of terms but it was better than nothing.

    It was about time things changed.

    Ambryan and Eve finished the rest of their meal.

    They stepped out of the cafe, watching the sunset hover above the small establishments. Ambryan had booked them a room in a B&B which Eve found hrious. They walked down the sidewalk while holding hands. No one spared them a second nce or a long stare.

    Part of it was due to the security team that monitored the premises of the town.

    Eve found theck of attention refreshing since dying her hair permanently. She hadn''t realized how much she missed Cornelia Town until now. A few people did recognize her and they exchanged smiles. Some of them were her old ssmates who now managed their own small businesses.

    Everyone had grown up like she did.

    It was a surreal feeling.

    The longer the couple walked, the more her body and mind remembered her days here. They passed by stores that held several memories. She, Andie and Rose used to take photos in the dressing rooms while trying out several clothes.

    That wasn''t allowed but they managed to get away with it.

    A wide grin spread across her face.

    "You were right," Eve breathed out. A group of children appeared from around the corner. They chased each other,ughing as they yed tag. She had done the same thing too at this exact spot. The nostalgia never seemed to end.

    "Of course, I am," Ambryan replied at once. "But what is it about this time?"

    Eve ignored his narcissisticment and said, "I needed a scenery change. And this ce is the best one out there. I didn''t realize how long it''s been since I came here. I suddenly feel bad."

    "You haven''t done anything wrong," Ambryan told her. "It''s not like you stopped caring about everyone. We all have our own lives. At least, you''re here now. It''s what should matter."

    He squeezed her hand. They reached the corner and made a left. The old yground loomed in the horizon. They unconsciously walked in its direction. The paint had peeled overtime. Rust collected at various hinges and exposed metal areas. It was mostly empty since the children had already returned to their homes.

    Eve headed straight for the swing set.

    Once seated, she kicked her legs and let herself go, relishing the breeze. Ambryan took the spot beside her. He kept his feet firmly on the ground and rested his elbows on his thighs. His eyes turned towards her. Sunlight colored his skin orange.

    His own secret was out in the open now.

    He wondered how Eve truly felt about it.

    "E," Ambryan spoke, using her old nickname.

    "Hm?" She reacted. Her feet stomped on the ground and halted her momentum. "You know I think it hasn''t fully sunk in that you''re Noah yet."

    "Funny. That''s what I was going to ask you about."

    Eve snorted. Feet on the dirt, she moved the swing from side to side. "If someone had told me that months ago, I would have thought they had a few screws loose in their heads. One was an annoying kid who never shut up about sour candy while the other was the coldest person I''ve known on earth. There was simply now way it could be true."

    Ambryan found zero humor in that. "If you were still my secretary, thatment would havended you with extra work on Monday."

    "Are you sure you want me to go back? Because you''re making it sound like a bad idea."

    "Will you?"

    Eve visibly stiffened.

    At the same time, Ambryan nced up and saw the moon peeking out of the sky. He missed the changepletely. "You resigned because of Jane but she''s not a problem anymore. I would understand if you don''t. I just need to find another secretary because no one can handle Madison other than Riffle."

    Eve dropped her eyes on the ground. She pressed her lips together and gripped fabric on her thighs. Silence fell between them. This was it. This was her chance. If she waited any longer, she would chicken out until thest minute.

    Her brown eyes closed briefly.

    A slow deep breath flowed out of her lips.

    "Um, Ambryan" Eve started to say.

    He peeled his eyes off the moon and turned towards her. "What is it?"

    She stared at him dead in the eyes

    "I want to go to Paris."

    .

    .

    .

    .

    .

    Ambryan returned the facial expression with a confused one. "Paris? For vacation?"

    Eve shook her head. "No, for a modelling camp."

    Another round of silence lingered around them. Ambryan took his timeprehending what she just said. "That was what you were looking at when we stayed in Zehell Castle, wasn''t it?"

    "Yes," Eve admitted, involuntarily averting her eyes. "I didn''t expect this, to be honest. But I want to be better. I want to pursue modelling to see how far it would take me. I know this is all sudden and I should have discussed it with you all the way through but"

    Every fiber of her being fired up. She forced herself to meet his eyes once again. This time, they were free of hesitation. She mustered every fragment of courage and determination in their projection.

    "I really want to go. And I n to do so."

 Chapter 286: Right Next to You

    Chapter 286: Right Next to You

    Eve twiddled her thumbs, sitting on the edge of the bed.

    Anxiety puffed out of her chest. Ambryan hadn''t said another word since she told him about Paris. It was a huge decision that wouldst for 3 months. She had carefully thought it through as well as constituted a n for what she''d be leaving behind if she got in.

    Although it would be her benefiting from the camp, she would be given a weekly allowance for her staywhich, ording to Mikael and Cale, would be more than she needed for living expenses. It was another reason why thepetition for it was fierce.

    And the results of the audition came back earlier along with the invitation.

    Her heart dropped the moment she saw it.

    Ambryan came out of the shower. Eve looked up when she heard the door. Using the towel, he dried his hair and headed for the closet. He wore nothing but another towel around his waist. His path headed for the closet. He opened the doors and stepped forward, the towel dropping to the floor.

    Eve reddened and averted her gaze despite how she couldn''t even see anything.

    Her phone lit up from the night stand.

    ``Did you tell him yet?`` Cale messaged her.

    She bit her bottom lip and wrote a reply. ``I did.``

    Cale: ``And?``

    Eve: ``And I don''t know! He went quiet on me.``

    Cale: ``Give him a bit of time, honey.``

    Eve: ``I had no idea what to expect but the silent treatment is torture.``

    Cale: ``Patience, dear. Are you wearing the new lingerie we bought you tho?``

    Eve felt her body lit up like inferno. She did wear them. There was a week left before her scheduled flight to France. It would be her first out of the country experience. Unless Ambryan joined her by some miracle, this would be theirst weekend to spend alone.

    .

    Eve: ``... am I really doing this?``

    Cale: ``Reminding you that this was your idea. Good luck!```

    .

    Sneaking a peek, Eve shifted her attention back to the closet. Ambryan dressed up painstakingly slowly for some reason. She frowned. It wasn''t like they brought many clothes. What could be keeping him there?

    Then, an idea popped in her head.

    She put her phone down and tiptoed in his direction. Her brown eyes stayed up, avoiding anything lower than her chin. A broad back appeared in her vision decorated with sculpted muscles. Water droplets dripped over them.

    She gulped.

    Ambryan felt two arms wrap around his torso. He nced over his shoulder and spotted a head of red hair. The corner of his lips tugged upwards. "What''s this about?"

    Eve tilted her head up, propping her chin against his back. "Are you mad?"

    A soft smile emerged on his lips. He turned around and returned the gesture. "I''m not mad. I could never be mad at you. I was just surprised."

    She pursed her lips together. "Then, why does it feel like you''re avoiding me?"

    "You never hinted about the modelling camp. Now, you''re telling me that you''re leaving in a week? I''m conflicted," Ambryan exined. He caressed her hair and cupped both of her cheeks. "While we''re at it, you have be quite bold, Ms. Hart. Sneaking up to a man like that."

    She slid up her knee against his inner thigh and crotch.

    He froze right under her touch.

    A teasing smirk spread across her face. "You were saying, Mr. Hathaway?"

    His violet eyes narrowed at her. "That''s ying dirty."

    She blinked back, feigning innocence. "I heard it''s quite healthy actually."

    Ambryan grumbled under his breath. Eve had zero chance to react before he swept her off her feet and tossed her onto the bed. Heid on top of her, capturing her lips at once. His hand slithered to her back. Her back arched in response and molded against his body.

    A moan rumbled in her throat. In return, she traced him. Her hands travelled from his shoulders down to his sides and went back up on either side of spine. They stopped at his shoulders des, pulling him even closer until their chests merged together.

    Her bent legs also trapped his hips.

    Ambryan smiled into the kiss. "You''re very responsive tonight."

    "I have three months of you to make up for," Eve panted, her eyes still closed.

    "How far do you want to go then?" He asked. It was meant as a tease but

    "All the way."

    And that was how Ambryan''s brain short-circuited and disconnected with the rest of his body. He pushed himself up and stared at Eve''s disheveled state. Lips slightly swollen, her crimson hair spread over the pillows in different directions. She stared back at him in a daze.

    Never had he seen her more defenseless.

    "Are you sure about this?"

    Eve responded by pulling up her nightgown. White embroidered flowers on sheer fabric covered her chest. The same material embellished around her hips and between her thighs. It was less provocative thanst time but she still felt the same sense of exposure.

    Ambryan moved his hands to her waist. His thumbs massaged circles on either side of her stomach. "I see you have been nning this."

    She pressed her lips together. "Maybe."

    "I might not be able to hold back."

    "I don''t want you to."

    The rest of the night, (A/N: Yes, I am cutting it here :P), was spent awake. They lost track of time and crashed just before the sun came up. Eve clutched onto the nket with her back pressed up against Ambryan''s chest. Even when her consciousness surfaced, she stayed in ce and savoured the blissful moment.

    Outside in the hallway, two sets of feet climbed up the stairs.

    "What number are they in again?"

    "86?"

    "This one?" Ede walked up to a mahogany door, shifting her weight onto her toes. The peep hole was about a feet away from her eye level. Her cinnamon hair was tied into two pigtails.

    Eri followed behind her and read the number sign. She opted for a high ponytail today and a simple purple dress with ck polka dots. "Aren''t you going to knock?"

    "But what if we got the wrong number?"

    "Then, we smile cutely and apologize to whoever opens it."

    Ede nodded and banged her fist on the door non-stop. "Hello? Anybody home? We''re lost. Someone please help us. Our dear sister would be very worried. I''m sure her rich boyfriend would reward you if you lend us a hand."

    "There''s two of us so that''s double the prize," Eri added.

    The door opened suddenly. Eve scowled at the twins. The second she heard their voices, her eyes flew open. She immediately got up and grabbed a robe to wear. Despite seeing them she hardly believed they were actually there.

    "What are you doing here?" Her gaze snapped back to the bed. Ambryan lied peacefully, oblivious to their visitors, but Eve suspected that this was his doing.

    "Oh, hey, Eve," Eri said. "My lovely sister, you look beautiful this morning."

    "There''s this glow around you," Ede remarked and rubbed her chin. "Did you change your soap?"

    "I think that''s the sun from the window, Ede."

    "Oh. Sad."

    Eve rolled her eyes. "Don''t ignore my question."

    "We came to see you, of course!" Eri pointed out. She crossed her arms over her chest and huffed. "How could you visit town without us?! You know we wanted to go back to see mom''s grave for the longest time but nooooo, you''re always busy."

    At that, Eve rxed her stance. She scratched the back of her head, saying, "I''m sorry, Eri. I should have remembered that beforeing here."

    Her younger sister beamed in triumph. "If we can get ice cream for breakfast, I''ll forgive you."

    "There will be no ice cream for anyone without eating their vegetables first," Ambryan cut in and put on his slippers. He stood up from the bed, wearing an untied robe on. He stopped behind Eve and embraced her. "That''s what happens when troublemakers wake up adults too early in the day."

    "It''s 9am though," Ede pointed out.

    "And we''re starving," Eri whined. "Aunt Avery said we can''t eat until you join us."

    Eve looked up at her boyfriend, waiting for him to decide. This was how Ambryan found three pairs of eyes on himalso known as the pressure of two adorable girls and his lovely girlfriend. Avery knew exactly what she was doing.

    He didn''t know whether to resent it or not.

    "Tell her we''ll be there in ten minutes." Ambryan sighed, giving in. "Not a second sooner."

    "Yay!" Eri cheered. She instantly dashed for the stairs, yelling, "He said we can have ice cream!"

    Ede heard it and backed up the statement. The both of them ran for the lower floor and disappeared from sight before the couple could deny the ims. Excited voices echoed behind them like breadcrumbs dropped by Hansel.

    "Eri-!" Eve began to protest. She took a step forward and the hold on her waist tightened.

    "Leave them be." Ambryan yawned. He rested his chin on her shoulder and closed his eyes, a satisfied smile on his lips. He could spend that whole ten minutes in this position without any regrets that they''d bete.

    Her eyebrows rising up, Eve shifted her head in his direction. "But it was you who told them they can''t get ice cream."

    He shrugged. "I changed my mind."

    She shook her head and nudged his chin with her shoulder. "Come on, we need to get ready. I don''t want to see them when I smell like sweat."

    "I wonder how that happened."

    "Don''t be shameless now," Eve opposed. She tried getting him off her back but the difference in strength was apparent. She couldn''t even peel off his arms around her waist. Well, if she was being honest, she wasn''t really trying.

    There was something about this ridiculous behavior that she found endearing.

    Or maybe she just wanted this alone time tost longer.

    Ambryan grinned. "Trust me. If I was, we wouldn''t be leaving this room until lunch time."

 Chapter 287: To be a Parent

    Chapter 287: To be a Parent

    Avery drummed her fingers on the table. She had her arms folded over it, waiting patiently for the couple toe down and join them. Her gaze scanned the area and the bustling crowd. Chatter was kept to a low volume despite the variety of groups present.

    They managed to snag a round table near the center of the lounge. The linen embroidered tablecloths on top of wooden furniture took her back in time. The ce projected a home-y feel that reminded her of her childhoodwhich was one of the reasons why she loved Cornelia Town.

    Inevitably, Avery shifted her attention back on the table. "How have you been, Isabelle?"

    Madame Isabelle sat on the chair to Avery''s right. She had pushed the chair back in order to steady her cane on the floor, keeping her chin up at all times. People who recognized her tipped their heads in her direction. She would answer them back by smiling slightly.

    At the sound of her name, Madame Isabelle gave Avery a hard look.

    "Oh, don''t look at me like that," she berated the madam with a wave of her hand. "Things are in the past. Everything worked out in its own way. Don''t be sulking around me now. This should be a day of celebration."

    Avery bowed her head, feeling sheepish. Madame Isabelle''s poise and sophistication always caused her to feel immature no matter how much time passedalmost like her mother-inw, Nana Hathaway. She could only hope she''d be half as wise and as collected as them.

    "I''m sorry," Avery mumbled.

    Madame Isabelle patted her hand, making her look up. The former softened her expression. "It''s okay, dear. I knew I had borrowed time. That nine years was a blessing I would never regret. And I''m happy to know that you and Ambryan became closer over the years."

    No words could describe how Avery felt when she heard those words. She considered herself but lucky and blessed that the person who found her son was Madame Isabelle. If only they stayed in touch, maybe things would be even better than they were now.

    "Thank you for everything," Avery breathed out, tearing up a little. "How could I ever"

    Madame Isabelle yfully smacked the back of her hand. "Stop asking for repayments. Just let me attend the wedding and I''d be more than happy."

    She beamed at that. "You''re definitely first on the list!"

    Meanwhile, two young girls made their way back to the table. They each held an ice cream cone that came from the freezer besides the front counter. Their tiny bodies squeezed between chairs that were merely inches apart while raising their arms to keep their ice creams safe.

    "Hey! The chocte is mine!"

    "No, it''s not! You ordered vani!"

    "I ordered chocte!"

    "You did not!"

    "Did too!"

    "Did not!"

    "Girls," Madame Isabelle called sternly. Eri and Ede immediately closed their mouths and stood side by side, staring back with wide ''innocent'' brown eyes. Madame Isabelle merely narrowed her gaze.

    "That is not howdies should behave," she scolded. "Practice the art ofpromise. It will save you from exhaustion, stress and never-ending arguments. For instance in this case, can''t you share both vors?"

    The twins looked at each other. Then, they nced at their ice creams.

    "Waiter, please bring two bowls please," Avery requested. She knocked on the table in order to get their attention. "Come and sit, girls. I have some chocte buttons in my bag that we can mix into the ice cream."

    "Okay!" They replied with enthusiasm.

    The watier came back and ced the bowls on the table. Avery picked one, telling the girls to drop their ice creams along with the cones. She crushed thetter into pieces and added a pack of MnMs. The twins''s mouths literally watered in anticipation.

    This was the scene Eve came up as soon as she spotted them.

    "Oh, no" she gasped, taking a seat. "Are you sure you want them to be sugar-high this early?"

    Madame Isabelle was quick to react. She arched an eyebrow at Eve and the man approaching their table. "Well, this wouldn''t have happened if two adults woke up on time."

    Ambryan quickly kissed both his mother and his mom on their temples. Then, he chose the spot between Madame Isabelle and Eve. Avery directed a smile his way before cutting the ice cream into two servings. The girls happily ate the concoction and ignored everyone else.

    "If you want to y it that way, the reason we slepttest night was because of Eve''s shocking news," Ambryan defended, draping his arm on top of Eve''s chair. "I''m nothing but an innocent man being wrongly used."

    Eve red at his smirk. "No one believes you''re innocent."

    Avery interrupted their banter before it could even start. "Eve has news?"

    Madame Isabelle followed her example. She ced a hand over her heart and hitched her breath. "Dear heavens, are you pregnant?"

    "Eve''s going to have a baby?" Eri asked, ice cream on her lips. She ate another spoonful without breaking eye contact.

    Ede snapped her head in her older sister''s direction. Excitement lit up her entire face. "Is it a boy or a girl? Please let it be a boy who looks like you."

    "I''m not pregnant," Eve denied. She sent a re over to Madame Isabelle who hid a smug expression. "That''s not even in our minds yet. Don''t get ahead of us please."

    "I don''t know" Ambryan frowned. He pulled his head back and nced down at his girlfriend. "Did we use protectionst night?"

    A foot kicked his shin.

    "Ow!"

    Eve closed her eyes briefly and took a deep breath. Deciding to speak up instead of letting someone else make the wrong assumption, she stared everyone down and said, "I received an invitation to Paris and I''ve epted it."

    "The modelling camp!" Avery eximed. She covered her mouth and muffled her squeals. "You got in? I am so happy for you! I knew you could do it!"

    Madame Isabelle had something else in mind. Her attention had gone to the young girls. "Where would you sisters stay?"

    "With me."

    All eyesnded on Ambryan.

    Needless to say, each pair had shock written all over them. The CEO received their blunt stares without a care in the world. To him, it wasn''t even up for debate. The answer came as natural as the oxygen that flowed into his lungs. This was how things should be ording to his mind.

    Eve was the first to break. "I''m sorry but no."

    He snapped his head in her direction. "Why not?"

    "You are far too busy to look after them."

    She knew his schedule more than anyone. There wasn''t free time there that allowed him to babysitnot even during the weekends. What about sudden calls from the school? Or appointments like for a dental checkup? Or a parent-teacher conference?

    There was no way he could always move his work hours around them.

    Avery raised her hand up. "I could pick them up from school and look after them until Ambryan gets home. I''ll keep track of their meals too and take them out on weekends. It would be so much fun."

    "That''s not" Eve began to protest.

    "We''ll be staying with Kiri? I miss her," Ede cut in.

    Eri gaped at her twin. "Me too!"

    Eve mmed her hands on the table. The table became quiet in an instant. She kneaded her temple. "Girls, I know Aunt Georgie isn''t feeling well but you''ll be staying with Andie and Jarrett."

    "Why them?" Ambryan questioned. Worry lines creased on his forehead.

    Eve shrugged. "Andie has this idea that she wants to know how it feels like to be a parent."

    Madame Isabelle and Ambryan exchanged looks. The short conversation about Russell Spinster lingered in their minds. Now that Ambryan was aware that he could be a threat, he found the situation rming. It was a wonder how Russell hadn''t found them in all these years.

    Ambryan shifted his attention back on Eve. "I still think they should stay with me."

    Groaning, Eve wiped her face. "They have been more than fine living with Aunt Georgie. They''ll be able to handle themselves. There''s no need for them to stay in avish penthouse."

    "Well, what if I''m the one who wants to know what it feels like to be a parent?"

    "You have pets."

    "It''s not the same."

    "Some would argue that it is."

    "Madame Isabelle, what do you think?" Avery asked out of the blue.

    Both Ambryan and Eve followed her line of sight and waited for the answer.

    Scowling, Madame Isabelle took what information she had into consideration. She had known Georgie when the Summers used to live in this town. She was a caring and observant mother. The girls weren''t in their teens yet. They would still need that sort of attention.

    Not to mention their securityit should be ounted for more than before.

    That said, the decision came easy for her.

    "In my opinion, it would be best if the girls stayed with Avery," Madame Isabelle began to say. "I understand Andie''s wishes but she should prepare for pregnancy and taking care of babies first. Looking after your sisters will not benefit her all that much."

    "I agree with her," Avery piped in, nodding her head vigorously.

    Eve bit on her bottom lip. "Aunt Avery, I couldn''t possibly"

    "Eve, I actively volunteer to do this. You''re like family to me. And your sisters as well," the madam exined. She looked at the twins affectionately and smiled. "Plus we might just be family someday."

    Ambryan exhaled sharply, giving in. "If I can''t look after them, I would have to agree that mother and father''s house would be the next best ce."

    Eve found herself at a loss. Three people against one, who wouldn''t feel that way? She owed the Hathaways more than enough. There wasn''t a need for them to go this far. But

    Her eyes travelled around the table, taking everyone in.

    But who was counting? Family shouldn''t be that way.

 Chapter 288: Another Day Without You

    Chapter 288: Another Day Without You

    "Sir Hathaway, this way please," Hannah, an Eros employee, guided their CEO to a conference room. She stood outside of its opened door and kept her mousy brown hair in a low bun, bowing as Ambryan entered the room. She didn''t dare meet his eyes.

    A huge breath of relief flowed out of her system when he walked inside.

    "Hey Hannah!" Someone whispered harshly.

    Her ck eyes darted around in search of the source. Most of the hallway was empty while the office spaces were encased by ss windows as walls. Except for a few inches from the top and from the bottom, the ss was opaque for privacybut not enough to give them full freedom.

    Hannah found the person peeking from across the hallway.

    "What?" She mouthed back with a frown.

    "Is it true that the CEO is looking for a new secretary?"

    Dread washed over Hannah''s head. The applicants were lined up in the lobby, being screened through tests and first interviews. Ambryan found it inefficient and requested to interview those who already passed instead of waiting for all of them to finish.

    It took zero time before the news spread across the building.

    "Yes," Hannah answered with a sigh.

    "Do you mind sneaking me in a spot?"

    "I''m pretty sure he''s looking for a male secretary."

    "I won''t tell him that it was you who helped me out."

    Hannah deepened her scowl. Because of her petite stature, most employees overlooked her presence. She neither excelled nor did her job carelessly. Only Eve consistentlymunicated with her since she joined thepany. Then, people started noticing her.

    And somehow a number of them thought they could take advantage of her.

    "I''m sorry, Ms. Martin," Hannah rejected. She gripped her clipboard tighter and headed for the elevator. "But I can''t do that. If you want to risk applying, go through the same process as everyone else. I wish you luck though."

    The co-worker sneered and hissed under her breath. "Bitch."

    Hannah chose to ignore it and stepped inside the lift when its doors opened.

    Throughout the exchange, neither woman nced at the conference room. If they had, they might have noticed that the door was slightly open. Ambryan sat at the head of the table with resumes and rmendation letters in front of him.

    He fished out his mobile phone, dialing a familiar number.

    "Yes, hello, Riffle. It''s me, Ambryan. Does Madison have any record on Hannah Moore?"

    Riffle jerked in his seat. "Hannah from the support staff?"

    "Yes, I remember Eve had good rtions with her."

    "Well that is true." Riffle trailed off, unsure where this was going. Then, he remembered his ce and shook his head. "I''ll gather her employee records for you. Do you need me to bring it to the conference room?"

    "There''s no need. Just email them to me."

    "Got it."

    Ambryan scanned the first batch of applicants, reading numerous impressive curriculum vitaes. Yet, none of them caught his interest. He didn''t need a mere assistant who worked efficiently. He needed someone who would absorb thepany''s operations like a spongea mind that was open to learn and to grow, adding value to Eros beyond what the position asked.

    For that, arrogance was an obvious downfall.

    And overconfidence could be a problem.

    Contemting deeper, his mind wandered to Eve''s interview from years ago.

    .

    .

    .

    .

    .

    "What makes you qualified for the job?" Ambryan asked, sitting at the same spot in the same conference room. He had worn an all-ck suit and stuck out against the furnishings.

    Eve sat across from him. The gap between their lives felt more prominent with the long table between them. She gulped and clutched the hem of her zer. Her rectangr frames slid down her nose from sweat.

    She pushed them back up just in time for the CEO to look up because of her silence.

    "I understand that I don''t have the edge of experience," Eve started to say, celebrating internally that she didn''t stutter. "But I''m not someone who would quit halfway just because of how difficult the job turns out to be. I know my limitations and the areas that Ick. And because of this, I''m more than prepared and determined to make ends meet."

    Ambryan narrowed his violet eyes by a few millimeters.

    Her brown ones stared back, not shying away from fear.

    "We look for people that can be an asset to thepany," he said. "Anyone of you ispetent enough to learn the ropes of your role. What can you bring that''s above the rest?"

    Eve was d that she thought of this as a possible question she''d face so she had an answer ready. But, still she wished she came up with a better one. "As I have mentioned, Ick the experience but once I''ve understood how thepany works and gained enough knowledge, I will let you know."

    Ambryan arched an eyebrow. "Let me know?"

    "For me, that question isn''t easy to answer right now. I have yet to know what areas I can help thepany improve on and what skill set I possess that would be of help." Eve cleared her throat. She second-guessed herself. Was she being a little too honest?

    Silence fell between them.

    The CEO assessed all of her responses. They were consistent and she never broke from under the pressure. Although she didn''t have the experience others did, everything about her said that she could do this jobor more like,

    She would make sure she fits into it.

    Her confidence and resolve brought that across clearly.

    "You may go, Ms. Hart," Ambryan spoke after a while. "Thank you for your time."

    Eve felt cold blood seep through her veins. She rose to her feet, busying herself by tugging on her clothes. She bowed her head just before exiting the room. "Thank you for your time as well, Mr. Hathaway."

    Back in the present, Ambryan had chosen a ck dress shirt and matching light gray trousers and coat. A silver tie hung on his neck. He nced at the other side of the long table. Eve''s absence became apparent more than ever. She had chosen a different path.

    And she most likely would nevere back to this job.

    While the CEO brooded over the excruciating process of finding a recement, Eve walked on the floor of Paris, France. The modelling camp was inside amercial building much like Lotus Agency. The facilities also reminded her of the training rooms she once glimpsed at back in Maize City.

    She wore white stilettos for their current lessons. A small runway had been built in the center of the room. On either side of it, sets of curtains resembled the backstage where they would be dressed by fashion students before they could walk on the runway.

    Eve and the other models lined up beside the walls, following its outline. None of them could take a peek to see what was in store for them behind the curtains. But, they do know that most of the clothing involvedyers over their current outfits of tank tops and skinny jeans.

    Trainees made their first appearance on the mock runway. The instructions on how to walk and where to go only came once at the beginning. From here, they were also being graded for memory retention andprehension for the rules.

    Eve gulped as each trainee brought their own spin to both their walk and in showing off the clothes. The highlight of the event would always be the clothing and it would be their job to present them in the way the designer wanted.

    ''Everyone looks so prepared,'' she mulled in her head. Her brown eyes flickered towards the judges. Poker expressions painted over their faces as they watched the trainees. There wasn''t a single hint on their opinions.

    The line slowly moved and Eve almost reached the front.

    When the staff gestured for her to enter the curtains, she didn''t know what to expect. The fashion students immediately ambushed her with the clothes. One helped her into wearing the coat. Another fixed her hair and ced a hat on top of it. A third person applied makeup. There wasn''t a mirror so she had to notice what colors they used and what areas the brushes touched.

    "Go, go, go!" The staff worker near the runway called out.

    Eve tucked her hands inside the coat pockets and marched out already in character. The stage lights shined down on the shimmers over her peach eyelids. The makeup artist used a lot of gloss on her lips so Eve parted them open slightly, making them poutier.

    She crossed the runway with newfound confidence.

    Before she reached the front end, her hand grabbed the fedora and let her hair fall in waves. She did a turn, using the moment to pull the belt of the coat and opening it. Her head bowed to the side when she spun around to face the judges once more.

    She posed that way for a few seconds before putting the hat back on her head.

    Then, she strolled towards the back end of the runway.

    Her other hand remained inside the pocket all throughout while the one that held the hat previously swung on her side. Her walk had changed slightly to a strut. Doing this, she managed to showcase the outfit in two different waysone with simplicity and sophistication and another with re and assertiveness.

    She could only hope it was enough to impress the judges.

    Cale waited outside the room once the lessons had finished. He perked up as soon as Eve came out. Squealing to himself, he skipped towards her side and pped his hands together.

    "So, how did your first day of practical lessons go?" He asked. A stray of tinum blonde hair fell over the middle of his forehead. His aqua blue eyes glimmered with pure excitement.

    Eve flinched at his energy. They sashayed away from the other trainees, intending not to cause drama with the words they''d drop. She took a deep breath and said, "They haven''t told us anything yet. We''ll find out in the rankings tomorrow."

 Chapter 289: Nothing Like Friendly Competition

    Chapter 289: Nothing Like Friendly Competition

    The next day, Eve woke up to a quiet morning.

    Cale slept on the other bed avable in the room. They had requested that they shared one when processing the application. Most of the models had done the same since their managers would be their emotional support system during the camp. Rivalry was bound to happen and it was better to, at least, have one person on their side.

    Eve was about to find that out today.

    She did light stretches before taking a shower. Her heart raced in anxiety over the rankings. When she looked back to what she did, she found ws to her performance. What if it wasn''t what the designers wanted? What if the judges thought she overdid it?

    The worst case scenario would be her name appearing at the bottom of the list.

    Repeating that in her head like a chant, she stared at her reflection in the bathroom mirror and prepared for bacsh. Sidements were bound toe her way. She steeled her nerves for those bullets and spat out the toothpaste foam in her mouth.

    Her gaze went to the wall clock that hung outside the bathroom.

    It was almost time for breakfast.

    "Cale Cale" Eve whispered, shaking her manager''s shoulder. She ced one knee on the bed and leaned down closer. "Come on, we have to go down soon."

    He grunted in his sleep. A pink silk eye mask over his face, he rolled over to his other side and continued his slumber. Eve shook her head and tried again. "Cale, if you don''t get up, I won''t save you any chocte pudding."

    Cale bolted upright and pulled off the mask to reveal his squinted eyes. "You wouldn''t dare."

    "I mean, if you take too long, I''m bound to eat it."

    "Cruel. Just cruel."

    Eve merely beamed. "Good morning to you too."

    She exited their room in a simr outfit from yesterday, a ck tank top, tight jeans and sandals. The other girls also walked down the hallway and chatted among themselves. Eve slowed down her pace, waited to see if they''d fill the elevator.

    She could just wait for the next one and avoid the awkward atmosphere.

    Everyone came from different parts of the world. It amazed her how well-known the camp was and how its influence was widespread. Thankfully, the girls didn''t notice her when they entered the lift and pushed the down button.

    A breath of relief flowed from her lungs.

    The sound of someone clearing their throat caught her attention.

    "Evangeline, right?"

    Whirling her head, Eve met a set of ck eyes with purple hair cropped into a bob. She wore strong ck eyeliner and blue lipstick. The stick of a lollipop dangled from the corner of her mouth. Her outfit consisted of a cropped top, denim jacket and mini shorts.

    And if Eve was right, the woman was also paler than her.

    The person grinned mischievously, her eyelids half-hooded. "You don''t remember me."

    "I''m sorry?" Eve managed to squeak.

    "No, it''s fine," the person said, pushing the button for the other elevator. She waved her hand to brush off Eve''s apology. "It was a one-time thing and it was long ago. Don''t stress yourself over, okay?"

    Eve scrunched her eyebrows. They were about to share the same lift. She couldn''t let this awkwardness continue for another few minutes. So, she attempted a shyugh. "I actually do want to know when it was."

    The woman looked at Eve from the corner of her eye. The elevator doors opened. She stepped inside first and waited for Eve. When thetter came in, she pushed the down button and gave into the question, "The Rainbow Collection for Athon Luxury."

    Eve stiffened. "You were one of the models."

    "Yes, a rookie like you. And here we are now. Such a small world, huh?" The woman giggled. She tucked her hands inside the pockets of her denim jacket. "And before you ask, my name is Tiffany. Tiffany Quartz."

    "Nice to meet you." Eve nodded in her direction.

    Tiffany shed a smile in return. "You too."

    The lift opened at the hotel lobby where a crowd flocked to the spot across from theml. Everything gleamed for the interior design as if it was all covered in a sheet of ss. Gold, white and flowery colors dominated the design theme. And among them, a white scroll hung on the wall with a golden frame. The edges were burnt to resemble an old parchment.

    The names of 50dies were listed ordingly with their scores.

    Tiffany headed right into battle, shoving people from left and right to get to front. Noise flooded her ears as the models gave mixed reactions. She became irritated at how they stayed in ce despite seeing their names already. Couldn''t they take it to the cafeteria?

    Eve followed behind Tiffany. It was easier than creating her own path. She could waitter but she wanted to get it over with. Her brown eyes immediately went to the bottom, widening when she didn''t see her name.

    Her gaze slowly travelled up and she almost thought that she missed her name until...

    "Well, then, I guess that makes us rivals." Tiffany smirked beside her. She felt a weight on her shoulder as the former propped her arm on it. "Nothing like a friendlypetition, aye, Eva?"

    Eve stared at her name that took second ce, just below Tiffany.

    She gulped and replied, "Right back at you, Tiff."

    Tiffany frowned at that. "Don''t call me, Tiff."

    "Then, don''t call me, Eva."

    The atmosphere became cold at once. Eve squared her shoulders and a silent staredown ensued. She didn''t know how things escted this way but she didn''t have a good feeling about Tiffany since they bumped into each other. Her instincts told her to keep her guard up.

    This woman most likely had two distinct faces. She had dealt with that once.

    She wasn''t about to make the same mistakes again.

    Clicking her tongue, Tiffany gaped at Eve. Thetter''s public persona had always been quiet except for her notable rtionship. It seemed like she was about to see someone bring her ws out to y. Camp was far more interesting than she imagined.

    And she looked forward to it.

    Tiffany crossed her arms over her chest and nodded her head once. "Alright, Ms. Hotshot. Let''s see who takes home the better score today."

    Eve returned her smug expression with one of her own. "Bring it, Ms. Candy Floss."

    .

    .

    .

    .

    .

    "I can''t believe I called her, Candy Floss," Eve wailed with her forehead on the table. Her breakfast trayid untouched beside her head. She had her mind wrapped around the earlier incident, wondering what had gotten into her.

    Cale sat across from her. He scooped a spoonful of chocte pudding and said, "Tiffany Quartz, huh I heard about her. Another rising model like you from a different agency. You were bound to get a rival and, to me, it makes sense that it''s her."

    Eve propped her chin on the table and blew on her bangs. "But it seems like she''s been targeting me from the beginning. How did I not know that?"

    "Silent rivals do exist," Cale exined. He put the pudding down and folded his arms over the table. "Also, Luna did favor you a little over the other models at the time."

    "She did?"

    He snorted to the side. Then, gave her a look of disbelief. "Of course, she did. Mikael wouldn''t have reacted the way he did when you first met if that wasn''t the case."

    "Right. Mikael." Eve flinched. Had Rose contacted him yet? She imagined that he wouldn''t rest until he found out who gave his number away. And for that, Eve was d she was in a different country. She could always control the volume if he decided to call and berate her about it.

    "Just focus on today''s photoshoot, alright? Tiffany is not Jane. She''s far more sensible. Plus, rivals are normal to have. Even Ambryan has rivals. At least, Eros does, which he has to deal with all the same."

    .

    .

    .

    .

    .

    Back in Maize City, Ambryan faced his own problems.

    His new secretary was in her adjustment period. Luckily, Riffle had spare time to help her in that process. Madison left the office for a business meeting with investors. Heavens knew that all possible stops had been pulled in favor for the new tv series.

    But that didn''t mean their movie projects had taken a hiatus.

    "Richard, you can''t do this to me," Ambryan said, a deep scowl on his face. He paced behind his chair with his hands on his hips. Theputer monitor showed Richard who sat in his own office, watching his friende in and out of the frame.

    His steel gray eyes closed briefly. Then, he sighed and rubbed his right temple. "Yan, it''s out of my hands. It''s the board who has decided. I can''t bend the rules."

    Ambryan red at the screen. "But to Peitho Entertainment?"

    Venus Investments was one of their top investors. They also financed other smaller productionpanies but nothing that threatened to take the funding Eros has earned over the years of their business rtionship.

    At least, until now.

    "Look," Richard began to say. He opened his hands and repeated what he had heard during the meeting. "They think you''re ying a little too safe. The audience are sick of sappy andedic romance. They want more drama and Peitho had a script that met all those requirements."

    "And so Venus decided to fund my top rival''s project?" Ambryan retorted.

    "Venus decided to fund the most promising movie production. And it wasn''t yours." Richard paraphrased. He bowed his head and paused, scratching the back of his neck. He didn''t like how he had to be the one who delivered this news.

    "I''m sorry, Ambryan." And he meant it while thinking of a way to salvage the blow. "If you cane up with a better script before the papers are signed, I guarantee that I will make sure they hear about it first before finalizing the contract."

 Chapter 290: Wanted for Inspiration

    Chapter 290: Wanted for Inspiration

    "I heard about the Venus investment," Ambryan heard as soon as his office door opened.

    Jackson Hathaway let himself in, walking over to the mini bar. He pulled out two sses and filled them with ice. The bottle of brandy already waited for him in the ice bucket. A grim expression painted over his face.

    If the project from Peitho turned out to be a blockbuster that surpassed them, that meant future coborations would also bepromised. Even if they had Richard, the scales could always tilt. It was a matter of who gained the upper hand and how long they could keep it.

    "And we need a script that counters it," Ambryan finished. He sat on his chair and kneaded both his temples with one hand. His violet eyes shut closed. "I can''t think of a single uing project that would be good enough."

    "Then, we need to scout for fresh ideas," his father said, bringing the two sses of brandy to his desk. He sat on the across from Ambryan and took a sip. "There''s bound to be an endless pool of scripts that are eager to be produced."

    Ambryan sighed and snatched his share of the brandy. He let the ice circled the ss, listening to the melody they made. Scouting wasn''t a new strategy but its time frame was unpredictable. They needed a more concrete n to narrow things down and have it done in a week.

    He took a swig of his drink, grunting in frustration.

    Jackson rubbed his chin. His teal eyes stared discreetly at his son. He knew Ambryan could handle this. He just needed the right nudge. "There should be a tactic we can use. Something that guarantees a market."

    "We can hire the best celebrities but it might cost more than we''d gain. That''s what happens if the script isn''t decent enough," Ambryan shot back. He let his hand drop from his face and nced at his monitor. Titles of their movie projects stared back at him.

    None of them stuck out from the rest.

    "But you can''t deny the influence celebrities have," his father continued.

    "I''m aware of that, father. That''s basic knowledge in this business."

    "And there''s several things you can do with that!" Jackson proceeded further, raising his voice a little. "Like asking a retired actor or actress to join the cast. It''s bound to cause hype. Combined with A-list celebrities, it would be another level of publicity."

    Ambryan slowly met his father''s eyes. He didn''t blink until he finished expressing the following statement, "You''re not suggesting we ask mom toe back, are you?"

    Jackson opened his mouth immediately to protest.

    Then, he closed it again and thought about it.

    "Only for the right script," he negotiated. If his wife would be back in the spotlight, he wouldn''t agree to anything less than the best script for her skills and her worth.

    "Which leads us back to where we started," Ambryan pointed out. His head ached from going in circles. He wasn''t normally like this and he hated every second of it. His mind should be thinking about the next step, not getting lost in the moment.

    He had to think better.

    He had to think bigger.

    What kind of script did Peitho even have?

    This time, his father surrendered, realizing Ambryan won''t be moving on until they had a good script in their hands. Fresh ideas were endless but which ones would hit it big was the real question. They could strategize all they want but without a strong plot, it would be futile.

    Jackson finished the rest of his brandy and ced the ss on the desk.

    "Yan, I''m sure you cane up with a solution," he spoke softly, leaning forward and patting his son''s arm. "Don''t stress over it right now. There''s work to be done. Think about itter when you get home. Check the stats and get some inspiration. I''ll also be here if you need me."

    Ambryan forced himself to rx and nodded. "Thank you."

    "Now" Jackson stood up and straightened his suit. He had done what he intended to do. There wasn''t another reason for him to prolong his stay. "I should probably go and check on your mother. Who knows what she has done with the twins? I can imagine the amount of clothes she bought them by now."

    "Hopefully, not enough to give Evangeline a heart attack."

    He winked in his son''s direction. "I''ll do my best."

    Ambryan sighed and leaned back on his chair. His hand picked up his mobile phone. The screen lit up to show his lock screen of Eve walking on the sidewalk. A hint of a smile curled on his lips while a tang of pain pierced his chest.

    .

    ```Yan: I miss you.```

    .

    Just when he was about to put his phone down, a message notification came.

    .

    ```Lin: As you should.```

    .

    Ambryan chuckled at the response. The stress and worries he previously troubled over evaporated from his shoulders. For the first time in a while, work wasn''t in the forefront of his mind. Not even the pings from thepany''s desktop chat app caught his attention.

    .

    ```Yan: How is the camp?```

    ```Lin: Much morepetitive than I thought.```

    ```Lin: Rough day?```

    ```Yan: You have no idea.```

    ```Lin: Try me.```

    .

    Ambryan summarized the situation in a short message.

    .

    ```Lin: Oh, wow. That is rough.```

    ```Yan: As I''ve said.```

    ```Lin: What are you gonna do now?```

    ```Yan: I was hoping you had ideas.```

    ```Lin: Am I going to get paid?```

    ```Yan: It''s up for negotiation.```

    .

    He waited while Eveposed a reply. Catching his reflection on the monitor, he noticed the grin on his face. He covered it with a hand even though he was currently alone. His chest fluttered from the brief conversation.

    If only they could do it more often.

    .

    ```Lin: How about a story of a human and alien falling in love? Make it like Romeo and Juliet even. Twos, both alike in dignity, in the milky way gxy, where wey our scene. From ancient grudge to new mutiny, where both human and alien blood makes all hands unclean.```

    ```Yan: Eve, be serious.```

    ```Lin: Who says I''m not?```

    ```Yan: ```

    ```Lin: I''d like to share more brilliant ideas but I''m up for a photoshoot. Update me when there''s progress, boss! I believe in you! xoxo```

    .

    The smile on Ambryan''s face gradually disappeared. He closed the app and phone icons flooded his screen. His eyebrows scrunched a little at the purple square with three letters. Then, an absurd idea came to his head.

    He jerked upright in his seat as soon as it came to him.

    Eyes wide, he remembered what his father had said about celebrity power. He put the phone down and pulled his chair closer to the desk. His hands shook as he opened the inte browser to check on thetest romance news. The page flooded with recent articles and different hits on romance. He went to the top stories, skimming through the headlines.

    Many of them included celebrity pairings, some new and some long-standing rtionships. There should be a famous couple that he could take into inspiration for a movie script.

    At this point, he was just researching if there was one better than his own.

    Because, for him, the idea was 100% crazy and would cause several controversies if not yed right. People involved would need to give their consent to make it happen. The process would be long and excruciating.

    Not to mention, he wasn''t sure what Eve would say about it

    .

    .

    .

    .

    .

    Eve sneezed in the middle of her photoshoot. The photographer frowned at her and she smiled in apology. A few snickers came from the spectators. She didn''t need to look to know who they were. Another person shushed them, ring in their direction as well.

    She knew who that one was too.

    The set consisted of life-size building blocks in different pastel colors. Eve wore an oversized pastel yellow coat and trousers. A white dress shirt with violet polka dots peeked from underneath thepels. She also wore a pale blonde wig and pink sunsses shaped like octagons.

    Somehow, Eve had to use these blocks as props. She had done several poses while sitting on a cylinder in the same color scheme as her outfit but neither the photographer nor the director was satisfied with her performance.

    Her gazended on Tiffany who smirked back at her.

    This was thetter''s strength in modelling. It was an easy win as far as anyone could predict. Eve felt her blood pressure rise up in an instant. There was no way she''d give in that easy. The clock was ticking and she needed to think outside the box.

    She turned her back on the camera, her brown eyes sweeping across the set.

    Then, she began climbing.

    Staff on standby moved in to monitor her progress. Cale did a gasp and also stepped forward. Eve ignored them all and continued on her path. Another cylinder stood at the top, perched over a square block. She reached it and leaned her back against it while crossing her ankles.

    The director shooed the staff away and signalled for the photoshoot to resume.

    Eve used the height for different pose ideas as well. Each time she climbed down, she tried to connect both her hands and her feet to any of the blocks. It didn''t matter how weird the shapes or the angles they made, she made it work.

    Tiffany grimaced when Eve exited the set. Neither one said a word but electric waves danced between their eyes. It happened only for a few seconds, overlooked by almost everyone on set except for those who knew about their rivalry.

    Sitting on her designated vanity mirror, Eve checked on her phone.

    One message waited for her in the DTC app.

    ```Yan: What do you think about a story about a woman dating her boss?```

 Chapter 291: Heart That Beats for You

    Chapter 291: Heart That Beats for You

    ```Yan: What do you think about a story about a woman dating her boss?```

    ```Lin: How is that supposed to be original and better than Peitho?```

    ```Yan: It will be if it''s based on a true story.```

    .

    "A true story?" Eve muttered to herself.

    "What''s a true story?" Cale asked,ing up behind her.

    "About a woman dating her boss."

    "You mean your story with Ambryan?"

    "What" Eve stopped short. It couldn''t be what Ambryan, could it? She hastily typed in her response, her heart thundering in her chest. She bit on her thumb when she was done. Ambryan couldn''t possibly mean to use their story for a movie script.

    It had a lot of ws which might backfire on themparticrly about her and Avery.

    The media would have a field day if they found out.

    "That''s how you and Ambryan started dating?" Tiffany interrupted. She had been given the spot beside them in their dressing area. Hoisting herself up, she took out her phone and yed a game. "I wouldn''t have guessed that, not gonna lie."

    Cale became wary. He and Eve exchanged looks. They hadn''t known Tiffany that well yet. Although they had no reason to suspect her, they also had no reason to trust her. Cale nced over his shoulders and checked if no one else had heard what they talked about.

    "Well something like that," Eve finally said,ughing breathily. She cleared her throat and tucked her hair behind her ear. "Not many people know about it though."

    Tiffany merely snorted. "I''m not about to spill the beans either. Your business, not mine."

    "Thanks."

    Eve sneaked a nce at Cale who messaged Avery about the incident. All three of them became silent for a moment while they waited for instructions. Tiffany eventually closed her game and closed her eyes for a short nap. Cale chatted with the staff, trying to get any update.

    Afraid of what Ambryan had said, Eve didn''t dare to check on her screen.

    .

    .

    .

    .

    .

    "A movie about you and Eve?" Avery spoke on the phone. Her violet eyes sparkled with life. "I think that''s a fantastic idea! Anything either of you are ufortable with, we can modify."

    She sat in the middle of their estate''s garden mazea spot her mother-inw frequently used. Anytime the madam felt the need for some peace and quiet, her mind always drifted to this area. Nana Hathaway''s favorite tea setid on the table.

    Others might have stored such items for safekeeping.

    But Avery believed her mother-inw would be happier if they still used it.

    "I still need Eve to agree to it," she heard Ambryan say.

    The madam moved the mobile phone from her right hand to her left one. "Have you told her?"

    "I have but she hasn''t seen my message."

    Avery thought for a moment, stirring a cube of sugar into her tea. "I''m surprised that you''re willing to let people know about this. You''re one of the most private persons I met. Are you sure you want to st your romantic life just for the sake of thepany?"

    She lifted the cup to her lips and tested the temperature.

    "I don''t mind if it means clearing Eve''s name."

    "Are you talking about the duel identity?"

    "Yes."

    "And you think Eve would like it if the truth was told through a movie?"

    "She might consider it."

    "I''ll leave it for the two of you to decide." "But, just in case, get a backup n."

    "Yes, mother."

    "Helen, would you watch a movie about how your young master met the love of his life?"

    "I would be interested, madam." "I think many people would be."

    "Hm." The gears in Avery''s head started turning.

    .

    .

    .

    .

    .

    "May I have everyone''s attention please?" The host announced from the center of the studio. She waved her hand in the air in order to be more visible. Her light brown hair was styled in big curls. Wrinkles creased at the corner of her eyes whenever she smiled.

    "We''ll be stopping here for today. Tomorrow, we will be working with the male models who have joined the camp. You''ll be paired by drawing lots. I won''t give away the theme but it will be done outside so dress warmly. Enjoy the rest of your day."

    "Hope your boyfriend is not the jealous type," Tiffany said before leaving Eve and Cale behind. She waved her hand without looking back and blended with the crowd.

    Eve puffed out a sigh. They had changed back to their casual clothes. She let everyone exit the studio first. Her phone felt heavy in her pocket. She hadn''t thought of a response yet to Ambryan''s idea. Was she ready to let the people know?

    To ept every opinion they''d have to say?

    Her chest tightened from anxiety.

    She badly needed a distraction.

    Back in their room, Cale had his shower while Eve sat on her bed. She booted herptop with a towel wrapped around her shoulders. Water droplets dripped from the tips of her hair. She dried them by using the towel and clicked on a blue desktop icon.

    A wide smile spread across her lips.

    "Eve!" Two high-pitched voices greeted her as soon as the camera loaded.

    "Girls!" Eve squealed, her arms ready for a hug until she realized it was only a video call. She put them down gently and stared at the monitor. "What have you been up to? You''ve been on your best behavior, right?"

    "We''re always in our best behavior," Ede defended. Theptop they used was propped on a pillow set. She left her cinnamon hair down and wore blue pajamas, lying on her stomach. "We don''t get into trouble like Gin."

    "Aunt Avery took us shopping the other day!" Eri cut in, raising her hand.

    Eve felt the blood on her face drain. "Oh, no"

    Eri disappeared from camera view and came back with a pink dress. It had a tutu in the same color as a skirt. Faux gemstones decorated the top. "Look at this! I look like a fairy princess!"

    "Wow!" Eve gasped in mock surprise. "Can you grant wishes like a fairy godmother?"

    "That takes advanced skills, Eve. I''m only a kid."

    She rolled her eyes and shifted her attention to the other twin. "What about you, Ede?"

    "I got this baby that poops." Ede pulled out a baby from outside the camera fram. She sat up and cradled the doll in her arms. It had its eyes closed as if sleeping. Eri crawled off the bed to put her dress away.

    "I''m an aunt? What''s her name?"

    "Right now, her name is Daphne."

    "What about other times?"

    "Bill."

    Eve nodded her head several times. "Gender fluid, I see."

    "That is correct," Ede dered proudly. She ced her baby back on the bed to let it rest. From what the box said, the doll should mimic a real baby like crying in the middle of the night. She looked forward to having that experience.

    "Where''s Aunt Avery?"

    "Over here!" The madam shouted. Eve heard footsteps and assumed Avery had just entered the room. Soon, she saw the madam beam at the camera and waved. The twins moved aside to give her some space. "Hi, Eve! Don''t worry about a thing. We got everything covered."

    Eve waved back. "Thank you again for looking after them."

    "I told you. It''s not a problem," Avery reminded her. Then, the madam leaned in closer and whispered, "So I heard Ambryan ns to make a movie out of our shenanigans?"

    At that, Eve stiffened. "He told you, huh."

    "He needed consent from everyone involved," Avery defended. Her gaze morphed into a gentle lookone that provided warmth like a cup of hot chocte. "How do you feel about it, dear?"

    "I-I don''t know, to be honest."

    Eve found herself in the same spot she had been hours ago.

    How did one decide whether to make their life into a movie or not?

    The madam merely patted the top of theptop screen as if it was Eve''s head. "Take your time. Ambryan is bound to have a second idea in case. But do remember to talk to him about it so he knows where you stand. Maybe you both cane up with something else too."

    "I''ll think about it, Aunt Avery."

    "Well, I''ll let you and sisters talk."

    "Thank you."

    Eve bit her bottom lip. She couldn''t keep Ambryan hanging forever. The story didn''t need to be 100% urate, right? They needed to make some changes if they wanted to outmatch the drama and re the other script had.

    After another careful thought, Eve finally opened the DTC app and sent her reply.

    What came next was beyond her imagination.

    "But we need a climax!" An Eros scriptwriter spoke in front of Ambryan''s desk. Eve was on video call, watching the whole thing. "Shees out in the rain after you walked away, Mr. Hathaway. Chasing after you, the two of you have a dramatic scene about how she had kept this secret from you all this time!"

    He stepped aside and got into a character. Throwing his hands in the air, he continued the scene. "She cries to you, ''Oh, my love. I know I was wrong but this heart only beats for you. That part of me has always been true. Even if you never believe in me again! Just know that my feelings are pure.''"

    Eve opened the private chat for the video call. ```You can''t seriously be considering this.```

    Ambryan sneaked a response and hid it from the scriptwriter.

    .

    ```Yan: I just might so I can experience you saying these lines to me.```

    ```Lin: But we''re not the ones acting.````

    ```Yan: I am capable of putting myself in the shoes of a character.```

    ```Lin: May the heavens have mercy on whoever gets picked to act as you.```

 Chapter 292: Is This Deja Vu?

    Chapter 292: Is This Deja Vu?

    Richard rests his cheek on the base of his palm.

    Reading the script Ambryan gave to him, his eyebrows slowly scrunched together while his gaze swept across the page. Both he and Ambryan sat together outside of a hotel''s cafe. The porch spot provided a bit of privacy from the rest while providing a good view of the garden.

    Ambryan waited patiently and sipped his ck tea from his side of the round table.

    The script had been finished with one day to spare. He actually felt proud of it.

    "So" Richard said after a while. He put the script down and stared at his best friend. "This story is about a woman who wanted a career change and met her boss on a dating site while using her stage name?"

    "Yes." Ambryan nodded.

    "Meanwhile, the boss has a nagging mother who struck a deal with him which is how he ended up on the dating site but doesn''t recognize that the woman is his assistant?"

    His hands flinched under the table. "That is the basic premise of the plot, yes."

    "Something about this bothers me for some reason." Richard turned his head sideways, closing his eyes and scratching the back of his neck. A sigh of frustration flowed out of his lips. "But I just can''t put my finger on it."

    Ambryan watched with an indifferent expression. He rxed against the back of his chair and entertained himself for a bit. "Like you''ve heard of it before?"

    Richard snapped his fingers and pointed one towards Ambryan. "Yeah!"

    Then, he let his hand drop. His face morphed into a worried look. "Which would be bad if I pitched this to the board. They would say it''s been done before."

    His heart nearly stopped when he heard they voted in favor of Peitho. It almost seemed suspicious but the productionpany had risen in the market recently, closing in on Eros for top gross revenue. It hade to the point where the board deemed their chances of suffering a loss wouldn''t make a significant difference whether they chose Eros or Peitho.

    It all came down to the attractiveness of the script.

    And Peitho didn''t want anything more than to crush Eros at their top genre.

    Not giving himself away, Ambryan picked up a scone and said, "Maybe you recognize it because we based it on a true story."

    That caught Richard''s attention. His steel gray eyes bulged out.

    "A-A true story?" He blurted out, holding up the script. "This?!"

    Ambryan merely shrugged. "Elements of it are."

    Richard blinked and tried to wrap his head around this new piece of information. Propping his elbow on the table, he pressed his hand against his forehead, pushing up his curly bronze hair.

    He stared at nothing in particr. "Who in their right mind would believe this is real?"

    "You don''t?"

    His gaze shifted back towards Ambryan. "Should I?"

    Thetter merely drank his tea to wash down the scone. "Give it some time. It wille to you."

    Richard started muttering to himself. Now that Ambryan phrased it that way, it would hurt his pride if he didn''t figure out what his best friend meant. His lips moved and repeated what he had mentioned before,

    "A nagging mother who forced her son to join a dating site"

    Then, a light bulb lit up above his head. His eyes snapped towards Ambryan, wide and surprised. "Yan, you don''t meanare you sayingIHoly cow."

    ''How could he had been so stupid?'' Richard mulled in his mind. The answer had been staring at him right in the faceliterally! He held the script with both hands, gaping at it. His body trembled from shock. Many people would do anything to get their hands on this.

    It was pages of coveted details on the famous couple.

    Good or bad publicity, thousands of people would want to know the contents.

    "Is Evangeline really your assistant?" He asked as he flipped through the script again. He only read the beginning earlier. Knowing he now had ess to this romantic story, he wanted nothing more than to devour it while he still could.

    "I don''t have an assistant, Richard," Ambryan pointed out as he finished his tea. "We just said that for dramatic purposes. But she was my employee before fully shifting to her new career."

    "Ooohh," Richard trailed off. The corner of his lip curled up, resuming where he left off. "You took inspiration from Eve''s resignation, I see. That''s clever."

    He missed the deadpan expression on Ambryan''s facea habit thetter picked up from his significant other. "Something like that."

    "A movie based on your romantic life" Richard whistled after skimming through a few pages. He closed the script and never let it go, treating it like it was a national treasure. His mind continued to race and took everything in.

    "This is going to sell," he concluded. Then, he leaned forward and looked at Ambryan dead in the eye. "Do you realize how much PR this would gain just with that sentence? A glimpse at the private heartthrob CEO''s life? Not to mention how this is another type of public attention towards your girlfriend especially with your ownpany would be producing it?"

    "I don''t want to hear you call me a heartthrob ever again."

    "Yan, what I''m saying is"

    "I know what you''re saying, Richard," Ambryan interjected. He didn''t need to hear this. Another group of people did. "That''s why you have that script in your hands."

    Richard nced down. One thought urred to him, skipping to thest pages. "Does this script end with a wedding by any chance?"

    "Wouldn''t everyone like to know?"

    He snapped the script shut and beamed. It was getting harder to contain his enthusiasm. "I''ll pitch this just like I promised. You really went above and beyond this time. But I am very happy that you finally found someone. I can only envy you."

    Ambryan gave a sarcastic smile in return.

    "I''m sure mother can make another website just for you."

    "I don''t envy you that much."

    In Paris, Eve had gotten over the anxiety about the movie. The longest part was deciding the ratio between truth and fiction. The modifications were necessary to make it better suited for the big screenwhich she found entertaining.

    By the time it would be released, her real name would be associated with Evangeline Reed.

    Then, it wouldn''t take long for people to realize that ''assistant'' actually meant ''secretary.''

    The camp continued the week with activities involving the male models. Eve met several of them who she did coborations with. She almost suspected that the camp directors nned to have everyone pair up at least onceif it weren''t for how many they were.

    Thest activity was meant to be done in a group of six, three females and three males.

    And, for this, they had a guest mentor.

    "Group shots are much trickier than people initially think," Mikael started to exin. He stood at the front end of the runway, wearing a matching ck dress shirt and trousers. "It''s easy to bepetitive and try to outshine the others. But that shouldn''t be the case. Even if you don''tmunicate, you are meant together and produce a photo where you all belong in it."

    Eve half-hid herself behind a male model.

    She was sure Mikael had already spotted her but it gave her a sense of security. They hadn''t spoken since the news about her eptance. At the time, she knew Rose hadn''t contacted him so she was still safe. The same couldn''t be said when it''s been nearly two weeks since then.

    Silent prayers floated out of her head and up to the heavens.

    May a higher power have mercy on her soul.

    "This is meant to go fast. The theme is the same for everyone so you''ll be dressed and ready before any photo sessions begin. You are not allowed to talk during this time even while waiting. You will also only know your groups once your names are called for your turn in the photoshoot."

    Mikael shed a smile while scanning the crowd. "Give it your best. I''ll be watching."

    The models dispersed as staff members instructed them to the dressing rooms. The outfits came in a variety of bold colors. Since the groups would be random, no one knew what kind of color palette they would create togetherposing as another challenge for them to ovee.

    Only Mikael and the staff seemed unworried.

    The photos would be printed in ck and white anyway.

    Eve had received a neon blue bodycon dress. It had a turtleneck and short sleeves. The fabric hugged her body like tight swimwear most surfers usedexcept it had a skirt. The hem stopped mid-thigh and her heels were brighter than her future.

    She cursed under her breath.

    It didn''t have any pockets or other decorative designs. Nothing that she could use for ideas on poses. The silence in the waiting room suffocated her a little. Standing in front of a mirror, she did her best to work out possible poses so that she could adjust herself to what the rest of the group would end doing.

    When her name was called, she almost felt relieved. The studio had little to no furniture, only enough to create a 3D background. She and the rest had 10 minutes for touchup andst minute preparations.

    As the makeup artist lined the bottom of her eyes, a voice came up to her. "Having trouble?"

    Eve sped her hands together. "Just a little nervous, Mr. Davis."

    Mikael raised his eyebrows. "That''s something I haven''t heard in a while."

    Ignoring him, Eve refocused her attention towards the photoshoot. She recalled all the poses she had prepared and thought about small modifications. Her brown eyes flickered towards the set. She wondered if they could use the two cubes as props.

    The only question left was who would use them.

    An amused smile teased his lips, Mikael leaned in on her ear and said, "Break a leg, Ms. Reed."

 Chapter 293: Cheers to the Weekend!

    Chapter 293: Cheers to the Weekend!

    Eve chose the gray cube on the right which reached up to her mid-thighs. She sat down and angled her body towards the left. With a fitted dress like this, what needed emphasis was the silhouette it created. Her legs spread out, only the toes stepping on the floor.

    Because of her eye-catching pose, the other models in the group nced her way. Each of them strutted a pose that matched her elegant disposition. They all used the same expression but changed angles ordingly.

    The camera shuttered in motion.

    At the other end, Tiffany shot her leg up to the ceiling. She had grabbed the other cube and pulled her arms behind her back, propping her elbows on the surface. Her pants and crop top outfit gave her free reign on movement. She made it seem effortless and as natural as possible.

    The others noticed her outrageous pose and switched positions.

    Eve bit her inner lip, clearly seeing what was going on. She kept her focus and adjusted like she had prepared. She dropped to the floor on all fours. Her hair fell on the side of her face that was away from the camera. Like her previous stance, she used her side profile and made sure her arms were straightone shoulder higher than the other.

    The photographer continued taking photos while staying silent.

    For the next one, Eve seized the initiative before Tiffany could. She brought her legs from under her and pulled them to the front. Her bottom sat on the floor while her back leaned against the cube. She bent one of her legs and let the other remain parallel to the floor. Her hair framed both sides of her face.

    Tiffany gritted her teeth. Not one to back down, she yed along and lied on the floor. The back of her thighs pressed against the side of the cube while her legs stayed on top of it. Her arms stretched beyond her head to elongate her body.

    Their group members became confused. Without simr props, they found it hard to adapt to their poses. The director wasn''t pleased. A male model found an opportunity to sit on Eve''s cube because of the vacant surface. The third female model saw this and ced a foot on Tiffany''s cube.

    The remaining two male models sat on the floor back to back and copied Eve with a little variation. At this, the director wrote something down on her clipboard.

    Their photo session ended after finishing ten poses altogether.

    Walking out on the other side of the studio, Tiffany skipped to Eve''s side and patted thetter on the back. A wide grin stretched her lips. "Nice fight you put up, Reed."

    Eve scowled ahead of her. "Shouldn''t the point be not making group shotspetitive?"

    Tiffany merely smirked and winked in her direction. "But someone always has to lead for the betterment of the group. It just so happens that we''re two alphas in a pack. See youter for deliberation."

    The deliberation was a private session for each group where their mentors would share their feedback and opinion on their work, hoping to give insights. The discussions started an hour after all the photoshoots ended.

    Everyone had gone back to the waiting room, twiddling their thumbs until their names came up again. One part of the studio had a long table where the mentors sat one one side while the models sat across from them. Nervous heartbeats pumped when the models came in.

    Since it was thest day of the week, the activity weighed heavily on their performance scores.

    It would showcase their growth and the potential of snatching future projects.

    "Hello, everyone," the camp director greeted from the other side of the table. She offered the models a dazzling smile. "Did you like the activity?"

    "I think it trained us better on keeping on our toes," Tiffany spoke first. She and Eve sat in the middle of their group. "I had a lot of fun."

    Mikael checked the photos on his folder. "Tiffany Quartz correct?"

    "That would be me, yes."

    He frowned and flipped to the next picture. The rest of the mentors stayed silent as he took the spotlight. His radiant blue eyes stared intensely at the photos, studying and criticizing them. "I can see that you''ve found your own style in modelling. You know your body well and how to move it."

    At that, Tiffany felt her heart swell. "Thank you."

    "However," Mikael quickly added. He flipped the photos for the group to see as their reference. "In several of these, you failed to blend in with everyone else."

    Eve raised her eyebrows along with Tiffany. She leaned forward and inspected the picture. While everyone seemed to be on the same page, Tiffany had an exaggerated style on numerous shots. They were good but

    they didn''t seem to fit in.

    "What" Tiffany gasped breathily. "But I''ve led some of these poses."

    "You did but yours are easily distinguishable from the rest. Not everyone has the same mindset as you nor do they always know how to keep up," Mikael exined as best as he could. It was one of the harder concepts to grasp since the person could take it the wrong way.

    He took a deep breath and attempted again. "As a group, it''s all about bncing each other out. Know the limitations of your other models and match their level. But, at the same time, don''t forget your own individuality."

    Tiffany slowly shook her head. Be original but not too original?

    Was that what Mikael was telling her?

    Mikael heaved a sigh and pulled up another photo. "Here. Take a look at Evangeline."

    Eve stiffened in her seat upon hearing her name. No one seemed to notice since all attention was drawn to Mikael. The male model tapped his finger beside Eve in the picture. "This is a perfect example of what I mean. Can you see how the two other models also used the same tactic of sitting on the floor?"

    Pressing her lips together, Tiffany nodded.

    "You also did well here actually," Mikael told her. "But you still manage to stick out enough by a hairas if rebelling. On the other hand, Evangeline made this pose her own by keeping her posture curved which is definitely different from a male body."

    He ced the photos back on the folder and sped his hands together, resting them over the documents. "Yours would work if you are the main model and the others are there as your backup. But this is not that kind of session. I hope you understand what I mean."

    "I will improve on it, Mr. Davis," Tiffany replied. What else could she say but that? She had wanted to strike back and say, ''How was I supposed to know their limitations if you instructed us not to talk before the photoshoot?''

    She pushed the thought away almost immediately. That was probably the aim of the activityto see where they would mess up so it could be addressed. Her back hit the chair as she took a deep breath solely through her nose.

    Her rank would definitely go down now.

    "As for everyone else," Mikael said, addressing the rest of the group. "You did well in working together but you also need to work on your individuality which Tiffany has an abundance of. I think your group is well-bnced so I hope to see improvement from here."

    His gaze flickered towards the camp director.

    Thetter opened her mouth and said, "I want to add something about thatst photo Mikael showed. You all adapted well to each other but I have to givepliments to Evangeline on that one."

    Eve blinked once. "Me?"

    The camp director smiled at her. "Yes. Besides Tiffany, everyone else seemed a bit lost. But, because of your pose, you were able to give your teammates some inspiration on what they could do which resulted in what Mikael had pointed out. I think your team also agrees."

    Mumbles of positive feedback came from the other models.

    Hardly believing her ears, Eve tried not to faint. Of all the things she''d get praised for, she didn''t think it would be over something like this. She wasn''t thinking of her teammates that much when she did her posesbut she was d her preparation paid off somehow.

    "Which is why I''m happy to announce that you''re number one among thedies today," the camp director dered. "Congrattions. Keep up the good work."

    "Number one! AAAAHHHH!" Cale eximed back in their room. He jumped up and down, pping his hands. "I need to see those photos when they share it. You have to tell me every detail on how they happened. I want to hear all about how it became a sess."

    Eve stood in front of the closet, hanging her clothes that came from the dry cleaners. "I told you I don''t even know how it happened. I was busy keeping up with Tiffany. We did the exact opposite of what the activity is about."

    "But because of that, you managed to bring the whole photo together. It''s like the center on any dance group. The person has to embody the kind of vibe all her group mates give so the whole dance makes sense to the audience."

    "I''ll pretend like I know what you mean."

    Cale came up behind her and grabbed her shoulders. "Don''t think about it too much. It''s the weekend! Our days off from camp! We should celebrate. Maybe even go clubbing?"

    "I hate clubbing." Eve groaned. The loud music always irritated her.

    "Fine. What about a bar?"

    She opened her mouth to protest but reconsidered the idea. It has been a while since she had a drink. "I think a bar sounds good. Let me message Ambryan first."

    Cale scrunched his nose. "Well, if you''re telling him now, say Mikael and Jordan wille with us."

    "Why?"

    "So he knows you''re with a group and will be safe from drunk strangers."

    "It''s a bar, not a club."

    He raised his hands in surrender. "It''s your boyfriend, not mine."

 Chapter 294: French for Bar? Anyone?

    Chapter 294: French for Bar? Anyone?

    Eve, Cale, Mikael and Jordan arrived at the nearest bar in the vicinity.

    It was located at the rooftop of a building. To reach it, they had to climb a sheen spiral staircase made from stainless steel. It could amodate up to four lines of people. Twinkle lights decorated the open area of the bar while its main attraction stood under a rectangr tent.

    Stools lined the half-moon shaped bar counter against one side of the rooftop. The rest of the furniture was a mix of couches that formed a square with their backs facing one another plus wooden tables and chairs that were provided for both small andrge groups.

    "I still can''t believe Ambryan let you go," Cale repeated for the nth time. He passed by the open-air lounge and headed for the tent. He had chosen a long-sleeved navy blue dress shirt patterned with white birdspairing it with cream colored trousers and tan shoes.

    "Fine. I''ll tell you what happened." Eve sighed dramatically, picking a crop top and a pair of jeans. She finished the look with a matching leather jacket and boots. "I told him about the bar and never waited for a reply."

    "Wait, so you didn''t ask him?"

    "I wasn''t asking him. I was informing him. There''s a difference."

    Cale grinned in approval. "Clever girl."

    "One of the reasons I''m happy to be single," Mikael spoke up from behind them. The group picked out one of the square tables. He wore a simple white shirt and a ck fleece jacket to go along with his denim pants.

    Taking their seats, Cale gave him a look. "You just need to find the right kind of fun girl."

    Mikael brushed off the statement. Then, he froze for a split second. "Speaking of finding girls"

    "You wanna hook up with the French?" Eve cut in, a smirk on her lips. She had a feeling where this was going and wanted to disguise herself. "Do you even know thenguage?"

    He red in her direction. "That''s not what I was going to say."

    "What is it then?" Cale frowned.

    Mikael massaged his temple. "A random number texted me the other day."

    He had ignored the first message. Just before he could block the number, he was called on set. More messages hade in after he finished the photoshoot. He made sure to block the number then and there. He had seen this before.

    He was determined not to y by their rules, refusing to give what they wanted:

    Attention.

    "And?" Cale pressed. He mmed his hand on the table to get the male model''s attention. "Don''t leave me hanging like that, Mikael."

    Jordan snorted from his chair. Rolling his chocte eyes, the dreadlocks over his forehead shook. "And nothing, Cale. Mikael always ignores them. He''s too uptight."

    It was sort of sad at this point. How else was Mikael going to think about dating? He never took the initiative in any possible way. Not a text, not a call, not a face to face conversation his first instinct was to flee when it came to small talk.

    Mikael shifted his re towards Jordan. "I am not."

    His best friend gave another snort. "Oh, yeah? Prove it."

    He pointed a finger at him, lifting a knowing eyebrow. "That''s a trap. I''m not falling for it."

    "Like I said. Uptight," Jordan repeated to the others.

    Eve rxed in her seat. Thank goodness for Jordan''s intervention. It also seemed like Mikael was used to receiving strange messages. Maybe it was amon hobby among his fans. Some of them sure seemed like the type during the ''scandal'' Charlee Edwards had initiatedst time.

    "Jordan," Mikael warned.

    Scoffing, Jordan pushed the finger away. "I''m not telling you to hook up with her. Just meant you should try holding a conversation. Then, you can decide if she is worth your time or not. Simple."

    Mikael opened his mouth to protest and paused. No matter how many times he''d say it, Jordan wouldn''t believe it. He needed to get the evidence which proved that answering random numbers never led to a good thing. Shouldn''t they be worried about this breach of privacy?

    Was the stranger suddenly not a possible threat?

    Either way, Mikael bared his teeth. "Fine. I''ll reply. But only because I want to prove my point."

    Jordan raised his hands in surrender. "Be my guest. With your charming self, I bet you''ll realize you don''t need to block numbers. They''d leave on their own."

    "I''ll take that bet."

    Eve stood up. "I''ll get us some drinks. What do you want?"

    She received three responses and headed for the bar counter. A bartender noticed her approach, smiling as they made eye contact. Eve returned the hospitality with a sheepish expression. "Is there a chance that you speak English?"

    "Yes, there is."

    Relief swelled in Eve''s chest. "Oh, good."

    She repeated the orders and picked a martini for herself. While waiting, she sat on a stool. Her fingers drummed over the countertop. The conversations around her were naturally in French. She couldn''t understand a thing. It was both an interesting and a terrifying revtion.

    She should learn thenguage a bit since she''ll be staying for three months.

    "You''re not French, are you?" A voice asked from behind her.

    Eve nced over her shoulder and scowled.

    A boyish face met her gaze. The young man held a beer bottle with one hand and casually propped his elbow on the counter, staying near her. Two perfect rows of pearly white teeth grinned at her. He definitely knew how good he looked.

    But Eve had met better looking men.

    It didn''t faze her.

    "Judging by your reaction, I guess I was right," he teased, lifting the bottle to his lips.

    Eve flipped her hair behind her shoulder. "And how old are you?"

    "I''m very mature for my age."

    "Riiiight," she drawled, rolling her eyes. The bartender came back with a tray of her drink order. She took it before the young man could offer to help. Then, she said, "Stay in school, kid."

    His jaw dropped as Eve left. She carried the tray in one hand and held her drink in the other. To show off a little, she sipped from her cocktail ss without missing a beat. She had worked as a waitress over one summer before. The tray practically weighed nothing.

    "One scotch on the rocks, please," another voice called out to her.

    Eve gritted her teeth and kept walking. She squeezed herself in narrow spaces just to evade the person. Wasn''t this supposed to be France? Why were there so many tourists around? Two in less than half an hour? It was a bit too much.

    "Well, that''s not the service I hoped for," she heard a little too near than she wanted.

    Deciding to change tactics, Eve stopped abruptly and turned around. "Will you"

    A pair of hooded ocre eyes greeted her sight. Dark blonde hair sprouted from his scalp and down to the base of his neck, curling at the ends. His skin looked like golden sand from the beach. It was an unusual sight considering it was near Winter.

    Which meantat least, ording to Evehe had recently visited a warm ce.

    Which also meant, in her opinion, he had way too much time and money. Something she wouldn''t judge a person by if it weren''t for his mannerisms.

    "Oh, my." The man feigned a gasp and ced his hand over his chest. "Are you that stunned over me? Am I that handsome to you?"

    Eve dropped any expression on her face. "I''m taking my leave. Please excuse me."

    She spun on her heel, stomping back to the table. The others looked up only when she was close enough. Appetizers and finger food had been served. She ced the tray of drinks on the table and took her seat, drinking almost half of her martini.

    Cale snatched her wrist to stop her. "What''s gotten into you?"

    "Someone just annoyed me," she answered, wiping the corner of her mouth with a tissue. She put the cocktail down and squeezed her forehead. The cold drink had reached her brain. "Ugh, that probably wasn''t a good idea."

    Mikael checked behind her, scanning the steps she had taken. No one in the bar looked in their direction. Still, he couldn''t shake off that something wasn''t right. He carefully widened his range and closely studied every person his sight came across.

    "Anyone suspicious, Mikael?" Jordan whispered beside him.

    "There doesn''t seem to be anyone" Mikael replied in the same tone. "It might have been just someone who tried to hit on her. Prettymon considering where we are."

    "Alright. If you''re sure."

    Mikael took a long swig of his beer. He actually wasn''t sure. His gut told him that they were being watchedbut he couldn''t find the person. He could only hope that it was pure paranoia. Otherwise, who knew what could happen?

    The man leaned against a post, hiding half of himself behind it. He assessed the group from his spot. Anyone who tried to get near him only received the silent treatment. Circling his brandy ss by using his wrist, the ice inside traced the outline of the drinking ss.

    His corner lip curled upwards.

    "Well, well," he spoke to himself. "And so themb had gotten out of her fences. What a fool."

 Chapter 295: Prepare for Trouble

    Chapter 295: Prepare for Trouble

    "Ambee~" Ambryan heard on the phone. His hand froze over the keyboard. Kiri and Blueberry slept soundly on his home office cough. He gripped his phone tighter and narrowed his gaze.

    Two hours had gone by since his girlfriend bluntly ignored his warnings on her liquor. Judging by her sing-song voice, she had a few drinks. "Ambee, Ambee, Ambeeeee, are you there? Hello? Is this working? Helloooo?"

    "Eve, how much did you drink?" He finally responded.

    "Um" The conversation became silent as Ambryan waited for a reply. He could hear the faint sound of music in the background and concluded she must have been in a less crowded area.

    That thought didn''t sit well with him.

    Was she alone?

    "I forgot." Eve giggled in his ear. "But that''s not the point! I have to tell you something very very important."

    "Alright." He sighed, bowing his head and massaging his temples. "What is it?"

    "I don''t want four kids."

    Ambryan slowly lifted his head back up. An image of a pregnant Eve came to his mind, tinting his ears pink. He cleared his throat. "What brought this on?"

    "I was talking to this woman when I grabbed another drink at the counter. She''s a mom and exined how painful giving birth was!"

    "It doesn''t exin why you specifically said four."

    "Oh, she has an aunt who has four kids. Her aunt said each one was more painful than thest. So the fourth child meant 4x the pain!" Eve rambled on, panicking a little. He tuned out most of it and made a mental note to tease her about this conversation when she was sober.

    Then, she said, "So you better not knock me up four times!"

    Ambryan choked at the bold deration. She just had to bring that up. Ever since that night back in Cornelia Town, he could never be satisfied. It was a foreign feeling that he found to be natural. He now understood why some people became addicted to it.

    "Don''t worry, Eve," he spoke softly on the phone. "I''ll make sure to help you forget the pain for a long time before we decide on a second child."

    "Hmph!" She huffed.

    Shaking his head, Ambryan grabbed the chance to change the subject. Pressing matters needed to be addressed. "Where''s Cale?"

    "He disappeared. I remember he was seeing someone before but I guess they might have broken up."

    "What about Mikael and Jordan?"

    "They have their own agenda. Jordan wanted to prove to Mikael that mingling wasn''t all that bad and left to flirt with a hot girl."

    "Mikael?"

    "He went to the restroom."

    Ambryan lowered his voice on a dangerous level. "You''re alone?"

    Eve sat by herself on the table she had with everyone. One bottle of beer remained in front of an empty seat. Her ss of martini was half-empty. She leaned back on her chair and smiled cheekily. "What do you mean? I have you."

    "Eve, find one of them," Ambryan told her.

    She pouted and sank deeper into the chair, hugging her jacket. "I''m waiting for Mikael."

    Ambryan paused for a moment. It did sound reasonable. It wouldn''t have made sense if she stuck by his side to the restroom. Reluctant, he gave a sigh. "If he''s not back in five minutes, go find him. You gave Nanzie the night off, right?"

    "Yep. She''s probably close by though. She never listens."

    "I''ll be giving her a call. Don''t move."

    "Sir, yes, sir."

    The line went dead and Eve pursed her lips at her phone screen. The photo of Ambryan with a dog filter stared back at her. She poked his fake dog nose several times. "For someone supposed to be smart, you should have realized that I''d be safer if you stayed on the line. At least, you''d know what I''m up to or if I''m in trouble."

    Eventually, she folded her arms over the table andid her head on top of it. This wasn''t how she pictured the night would go. It was Cale who insisted on going out but he had found a differentpanion. Now, she was stuck with Mikael the Party Pooper.

    They should have gone to an arcade bar.

    She could have entertained herself with a pinball machine.

    "How about that scotch on the rocks, miss?" A familiar voice said.

    Eve felt her muscles hardened. Her hands clenched into fists as she tucked her phone away. She would have ignored the person but judging by his presence alone, he didn''t seem to be the type to get the message. She peeled herself off the table and straightened her spine.

    A subtle fire red in her brown eyes.

    Her tone didn''t match it and feigned innocence instead. "I''m sorry but that seat''s taken."

    The pair of ocre eyes simply twinkled. "I can give it back when yourpanions return."

    His hand yed with his scotch on the rocks, twisting the ss on top of the table. Short strands of dark blonde hair fell over his eyes. The grin on his face deepened when it happenedas if he was aware of how attractive it made him look.

    At least, to anyone but Eve.

    She snatched her ss and swallowed a mouthful of her drink. Gnashing her teeth, her lips barely moved. Their corners had curled up in a fake smile. "I''m guessing you''re one of those people who love to test another''s patience?"

    "It does have some entertainment to it," the man admitted with a shrug. He heard her click her tongue and knew she was about to ignore him again which wouldn''t be as fun. And so, he said, "You''re Evangeline Reed, am I right?"

    The tip of her martini ss stopped near her bottom lip. Eve steeled her muscles, exercising caution. Her gaze narrowed in his direction. "And how do you know that?"

    He blinked and held up his hands in surrender. "We live in the same country."

    "I don''t think I''m that famous."

    "Give yourself more credit." He chuckled, clearly enjoying her negative reaction. He lifted his ss off the table and mumbled a few words. "Your boyfriend practically worships your feet. That knowledge has reached far and wide."

    Eve lowered her drink but held onto it. "And what? You want something from him?"

    "Now, how could you say that?" He snorted and nced over her head. Rising to his feet and stepped away from the chair, he leaned down close enough for her to hear him whisper. "Last time I checked, people aren''t objects."

    She snapped her head in his direction but he had vanished. Her eyes scanned the area, failing to find a trace of him. She cursed under her breath and pulled out her phone. ```Lin: Which enemy of yours has terrible blonde hair and ocre eyes?```

    "Who was that?" Mikael asked as soon as he came back.

    "I don''t know," Eve replied curtly. She watched her phone screen, waiting for a reply. "But I don''t have a good feeling about it. He was the same person who annoyed me a while ago. And as far as I know, I''m not famous in France. He''s most likely from Maize City."

    Mikael raised his head and tried his luck on finding the guy. "It might not be thest time we see him then. Do you have a taser on you?"

    "Yes. I should get a stronger one."

    He gave her a look. "It''s not meant for killing."

    "Who says I want to kill him?" Eve blinked up at him.

    "You will if you get one that has higher voltage." He shook his head and grabbed his beer. "Anyway, I''m guessing you told Ambryan? Finallymunicating with him about your troubles, I see."

    "It was hard to adjust, okay? Especially given his position," she quickly defended. Sure, outside the office, they weren''t a superior and a subordinate. It wasn''t as if she''d bare her soul to him so easilynot even Andie always had that privilege.

    Mikael arched an eyebrow. "You mean that was because he was your boss and not that you naturally you''d feel guilty for using his influence?"

    "How did you" Eve stopped short and lowered the volume of her voice. "And don''t say that so casually."

    He propped an elbow on the table and rested his chin on the base of his palm. An amused smirk spread across his face. "So they never told you that I found out about it. Wanna guess how long have I known?"

    Eve looked back to her encounters with Mikael.

    The memory that came to her mind was the pic when Ambryan insisted that she had a thing for the male model. Mikael had shared that he believed she was interested in someone else. He and Avery also escaped the situation quicklylike BOTH of them knew something they shouldn''t blurt out.

    That was weeks ago which meant Mikael had figured it out a lot longer than that.

    "How. Long?" Eve uttered, emphasizing each word. Her gaze never left his radiant blue eyes.

    Mikael looked up at the ceiling and rubbed his chin. Eve felt her temple throb. He was doing it on purpose and she knew it. "Tell me before I pour this martini over your head."

    He shifted his attention back towards her, both eyebrows raised up. "You''re a lot more aggressive when intoxicated. I''ll try to remember that next time."

    "Spill it, Davis."

    "Do you remember theunch party for the Rainbow Collection?"

    Eve gaped at him. "You knew from the beginning?"

    "Well, not the beginning. I met you in both identities before that night and didn''t know," Mikael exined. "It was the most absurd thing I''ve ever heard of. Lying to the world like that for the sake of some petty scheme."

    She drew out a long breath, his words ringing true. "What changed your mind?"

    "Nothing. It was still wrong."

    Eve hung her head and closed her eyes. Someday the public would also know.

    She crossed her fingers that it would go well.

    "But you gave modelling your best effort even when it''s only for pretend," Mikael added after a few seconds. "That was something I had to acknowledge."

 Chapter 296: And Make It Double

    Chapter 296: And Make It Double

    "But you gave modelling your best effort even when it''s only for pretend. That was something I had to acknowledge." Mikael paused, recalling the time they spent in World of Adventure. "And look at you now. Aplete career change."

    In spite of herself, Eve blushed. Wasn''t that a natural thing to do? Avery, Cale and Luna had opened doors for her that others would have loved to have. She wouldn''t drag down a brand just because she wasn''t intending to be a model.

    It was part of the deal and she did what she had to do. Now that she thought about it, she never considered that there was any other choice but to do her best.

    "I remember how critical you were when we first met," Eve said out of the blue.

    "You were an untrained model who got a gig with a luxury brand," Mikael defended. "Unless you had connections, that is unlikely to be given out that easy. The other rookies Luna contracted that time had, at least, trained before she offered them the campaign. I was very skeptical of your intentions."

    People who seeked shortcuts didn''t necessarily have the passion. Why else would they want an easier path? That type of person didn''t care about the process or the hard work it required. They just wanted to rip off the benefits it came with.

    "Understandable." Eve nodded along. One question came to her mind. "How did you be a model then?"

    Mikael debated how to answer this question. It had been years since he first started. Some days, the time was a blur of memories. Other days, he remembered them vividly. For this night, his mind leaned on thetter.

    And he needed another drink.

    "The same thing," he said, sighing a little.

    Eve scrunched her eyebrows. "Same thing?"

    "Luna offered me a gig."

    .

    .

    .

    .

    .

    "I want you out of my house! You are not to step foot in here again until you quiting back drunk in the middle of the night!" A woman yelled from her front door. Her eyes directed a sinister re at a young man who had fallen on the ground.

    "I. Am. Sick of this, Mikael!" She shrieked, squeezing every air her lungs could provide. "Unless you start taking your education seriously, even your father will put his foot down. Get it together before that happens or it will affect all of us!"

    Mikael coughed, standing on his arms and knees. He puked out a mouthful of alcohol. The sun began to rise on the edge of the horizon. It provided a shed of light in his blurry vision. He blinked several times. His ragged breathing the only sound after his mother shut the door.

    He pushed himself up in order to sit on his bum. Leaning back, he stared up at the house he lived in for 19 years of his life. Just another two-storey building in the suburbs that connected to other houses in the same style. Nothing but a small front yard as purend.

    Morning joggers passed by across the street.

    They paid him zero attention.

    "Home, huh" Mikael chuckled without humor. Then, he rose to his feet and wiped off the dirt on his pants. "Whatever. Nothing in their lives would change if I was gone anyways."

    He walked down the sidewalk and tucked his hands inside the pockets of his hoodie. His foot kicked a can on the way. He checked the time on his cracked phone screen. Since it was a school day, a certain someone should be awake soon.

    Jordan heard a crack from his window. He sat up and spotted Mikael letting himself in.

    "Dude!" Jordanined, getting off his bed. He wore nothing but his boxers. "What the hell happened to you? Why do you have a wound on your cheek? Also, stoping through my window. It''s the second floor for heaven''s sake!"

    Mikaelnded with a thud. He smirked and sped his hands together. "Good morning, sunshine. Ready for another day in college? I heard it''s a good ce to shape up a man."

    Chocte eyes rolled from the fake cheerful tone. "You got in a fight again with your mom?"

    Shrugging, Mikael picked up a textbook from the study table. "Apparently, my father actually gives a shit if I did well in school. Not like he ever went to my graduations."

    Jordan sighed. He snatched the textbook away and tossed it back where it belonged. His arms crossed over his chest as he stared Mikael down. "Man, I don''t care what you want to do with your life. But it better not be to fuck it up."

    Mikael mped his hands on his best friend''s shoulders, saying, "Jordan, Jordan, Jordan have you ever heard of this privilege for being pretty?"

    At this point, Jordan became tempted to ruin his other cheek.

    It didn''t help that Mikael now wore a silly grin on his face while batting hisshes.

    Jordan took a deep breath and willed himself to calm down. Mikael was obviously testing his patience. He would not give in. Not this time, at least. Instead of picking a fight, he stuck his thumb towards the door. "Get your butt downstairs for breakfast."

    After a hearty meal made by Jordan''s mother, the two boys headed for campus. Neither of them carried the ambition for top quality education. They didn''t find it as important as staying close to home. So, they picked from the majors avable in the town''s small college institution that only needed two years worth of sses before graduating.

    Mikael had cleaned up and ditched his hoodie but kept his jeans as well as his shoes. He believed no one would notice that he hadn''t changed clothesnot when the sculpted muscles on his arms were visible.

    He fished out a cigarette and lit it up.

    Jordan gave him the stink eye. "Seriously?"

    "Don''t you smoke too?" Mikael retorted, blowing a long breath of smoke.

    "In ces where I''m told it''s safe to smoke," Jordan said. The pitch of his voice rose by the end of the statement. "You''re going to get us both into trouble if one of the neighbors filed aint."

    "Let them." Mikael snorted. "We''re all allowed to be selfish. They hate smoking. I like smoking. They want to file aint. I want to keep smoking. That way we both get what we want."

    Jordan shook his head at the sky. Where had things gone wrong? When they first met, Mikael had excellent grades. He always understood the lesson even without taking any notes. If he needed to pull up his grades before the school year ended, he managed to do it. He always stayed a hair line away fromplete trouble.

    But it seemed like his best friend wanted to y with that line like a tightrope.

    Jordan snatched the cigarette and threw it on the ground, stomping it. "I don''t care what problems you had with your mom this morning but don''t go shitting everyone else''s day."

    Mikael clicked his tongue. From their position, the campus gates loomed not far away. Unfamiliar vans had parked around it while a crowd of people blocked the way. He grimaced at the sight. Crowds were always a painespecially when they were in the direct path he needed to take.

    "What''s up with that?" Jordan wondered out loud, also noticing themotion.

    "I don''t know. Some productionpany decided to shoot on our campus for their movie to seem more down to earth?" Mikael guessed randomly. He tskd under his breath and rolled his dull blue eyes. "We''ll have to go take my favorite way."

    Jordan snapped his gaze to his right. "Over the walls?! We''ll be suspended."

    "It''s not our fault but theirs." Mikael threw his hand towards the gates.

    "Let''s just squeeze our way in. It can''t be that bad."

    Mikael huffed and pointed a finger at Jordan. "Fine. But if we get injured, I get to shave your head and you can''t grow it out for an entire year."

    "Deal."

    When they came closer, the crowd slowly morphed into arge group of paparazzis. Jordan figured Mikael''s spection shouldn''t be too far from the truth. Their campus became a popr school spot for aid back character who lived an ''ordinary'' life.

    Then, they would get swept away into a life of luxury because of a peculiar event.

    Mikael gestured for Jordan to go first, intending to follow directly behind him. Jordan exhaled sharply and chose a path that led to the security guard. He shoved his way in and felt Mikael hold onto the back of his shirt.

    They managed to reach their destination but the security team paid them little attention.

    The main guard for the gates was busy talking to a woman. Thetter worerge sunsses over her eyes, hiding most of her face. Her ebony hair was tied up in a high ponytail that reached her lower back. The cameras shes in her direction, making it clear the crowd was because of her presence.

    Jordan struggled to call out to the security team.

    "Hey! Hey, hey, hey! We''re students here! Please let us in!"

    Mikael nced over his best friend''s shoulder and saw the exchange. He stepped away from Jordan, deciding to take the matter in his own hands. He lifted his leg and kicked the gates. The iron fence rattled from the impact.

    The sound of nging caught the guard and the woman''s attention.

    Snapping his fingers, Mikael waved his ID at the security guard.

    He put his ID away as soon as the guard approached their side of the gate. The woman pulled her sunsses off and watched the two boys enter campus. She bit on the temple tip of her frames, receding deep in her thoughts.

    "Ma''am, we can''t"

    "Who are those kids?" She cut off the security guard.

    "They''re in the psychology department."

    "And their names?"

    Her sharp eyes flickered towards him when he remained silent. "Didn''t you check their identification when they came in? Or does the school not have a proper security check-up?"

 Chapter 297: A Million Dollar Deal

    Chapter 297: A Million Dor Deal

    Mikael slept on his chair as the professor drowned about their lesson. Beside him, Jordan rolled his eyes. He wasn''t fond of their major either but they still needed to graduate in order to find a decent job. It took every willpower for him not to fall asleep as well. The professor''s monotone voice proved it to be a difficult job.

    When ss ended, both boys headed for the nearby building.

    "Aren''t you supposed to be making a better effort at studying?" Jordan nagged.

    Mikael nced his way. "I need proper sleep in order to do that though."

    "So you''ll choose to sleep in ss instead of night like a normal human being?!" Jordan eximed, his shoulders weighing heavy. He rolled one in order to massage it. "Maybe you should stay home for a week. Take a break from your shenanigans."

    "No, can do. How else am I supposed to earn money?"

    "Doesn''t your father send you an allowance?"

    "I''d rather die than use his money," Mikael sneered. When another student recoiled from being in direct line of his angered expression, he forced himself to calm down and ced his hands at the back of his neck. "And so mom uses it. I guess she got addicted to getting more money that she can''t have me expelled."

    Jordan heaved a sigh. Although there were probably better ways to handle the situation, he could understand where Mikael wasing from. He decided to drop the subject and focused on their path to the cafeteria.

    They passed by the gymnasium where a significant amount of noise came from. He turned his head towards it as they strolled in front of it. A few banner signs gave them a hint that a fashion show was going on.

    "Seems like some exciting stuff happening in the fashion department."

    Mikael blinked out of his daze and followed Jordan''s line of sight. "The runway show is today, huh? I forgot all about it. That exins the media frenzy earlier. A famous designer should be a part of the event."

    Jordan looked in his direction. "Did you learn about that when someone tried to recruit you as a model?"

    "In the long exnation on why it''s an important event to them."

    "You really have no sympathy, Davis."

    "I would have epted if they were paying me for it but they didn''t have the budget."

    "I am willing to bet you asked for an outrageous price."

    "I have to make good use of my looks while still young, after all."

    "Is that so?" A feminine voice asked from behind them.

    Both boys halted in their steps and nced over their shoulders. The same woman from earlier had her arms crossed over her chest. Upon closer look, Mikael noticed that her dark brown hair roots had started growing out in contrast to her dyed ck hair.

    Her ebony eyes crinkled at the corners. "What''s your price, young man?"

    Mikael pointed a finger at his chest. "Me?"

    "Yes, you." The woman stepped forward and assessed him from head to toe. "I''m also in the runway event, you see. My model had an emergency at thest minute. I''ve been searching for a recement and I think you''d do well. I''ll pay whatever price you ask for."

    "HA!" Mikael cackled. "Don''t drop words like that,dy. What if I asked for a million?"

    "Then, I''m free to negotiate the terms to get my money''s worth."

    Jordan''s eyebrows shot up at the deration. The glint in her gaze promised that this offer wasn''t a joke. Yet, it didn''t seem to be real. Who would drop that much money on a random stranger?

    "Look,dy," he said, holding Mikael by the shoulder. "I don''t know what game you''re ying but my friend is no model. He''s not even on an amateur level. Besides, he has bruises and wounds. Nothing like the wless skin you need."

    The woman tilted her head to one side. "It''s a total misconception that all models are wless. We use makeup to cover up what we need to. I can give the money for the event as soon as it''s over. I can also give half before it starts. You have nothing to lose essentially."

    Mikael made a face, narrowing one eye and curling one corner of his lips downward. He knew that he possessed above average looks but there should be models or trainees crawling to get such an opportunitypeople who had the experience to do exactly as she expected.

    Why would she waste that much on him?

    As if reading his thoughts, the woman smiled. "Don''t get me wrong. I wouldn''t trade anything that I don''t find worth it. If you want that million, you have to work for it as much as I see fit. You can always ask for a smaller amount. That way you only need to do this one event."

    Jordan nodded his head. She did have a point. He sneaked a peek over at Mikael. If this could be a chance for his best friend to stop getting himself into trouble, he''d dly try to convince Mikael to take it. It should be enough to get that one week break he suggested, right?

    Still skeptical, Mikael mimicked her stance. "Lady, if I ept this model gig of yours, you can''tin about what I do and reduce the money. You already know that Ick the skills."

    The woman raised the side of her fist to her lips and giggled. "Please. Call me, Luna."

    Minutester, the boys found themselves backstage for the runway event. Staff members approached Luna as soon as they walked into the room. She gave them a set of instructions and they whisked Mikael away to the vanity mirror for makeup and hair.

    Jordan stayed a step behind her, observing the chaos. Everyone seemed on edge. There werest minute stitching on dresses. Others used different methods as they saw fit. On one side of the room, an array of food sat on top of a table.

    His stomach growled.

    Luna arched a brow at him. "Go on. Help yourself. I don''t want to be responsible for starving a college student. Bring some to your friend too."

    The event was an opportunity for the fashion students to showcase their work. Because of Luna''s influence and fame, it became a scouting event for her and other designer brands. The media coverage also spread the event to all interested parties.

    The runway show always ended with a teaser for her uing collectiona privilege given to her as the biggest sponsor. She had taken inspiration from the early 1900s, drawing works that highlighted clothing from all social sses. It was a mission of hers to better represent the styles worn by the people during that time.

    A disy that could embody the entire fashion era not only at its finest but also at its lowest.

    Jordan munched on a donut while watching the event through the curtains. Luna stood behind him as she inspected each model before they headed for the runway. Mikael soon emerged for his turn.

    "Worked out better than you thought, huh?" Luna teased.

    Turning around, Jordan nearly choked on his strawberry filling. Mikael wore a brown dress shirt and a tan suspenders that matched his trousers. His brown hair and blonde highlights had been swept back on one side. Clip on earrings hung on his exposed ear. The cut on his cheek added to the aesthetic of the look.

    Mikael red at Jordan''s dropped jaw. "I dare you not to say anything."

    "It''s nothing bad" his best friend defended. "I actually think this look fits you really well."

    "And that is why I told you not to say anything."

    Luna chuckled at the exchange and patted Mikael on his upper arm. "Break a leg."

    When Mikael stepped foot on the runway, blinding lights shed on his face. His blue eyes squinted and tried their best to see where the floor was. Lines creased across his forehead and both corners of his lips turned down.

    Whispers came from the audience but he didn''t care. He just needed to get through this and he''d be richer than yesterday. No idea about poses, he only had one hand tucked inside the pant pocket. His shoulders were slumped as he made his way to the frontnot far from how he usually walked.

    He turned his head from side to side when he reached the tform. Then, he spun on his heel and turned his back on everyone. The whole thingsted about two to three minutes before he became safe once again backstage.

    Luna handed over a bundle of cash to Jordan, inserting her business card as well. "Now, that wasn''t so bad was it. Tell your friend to contact me if he ever changed his mind about that million dor deal."

    Without another word, she attended to the rest of her crew.

    Later that day, Mikael came home. No one greeted him. It almost seemed like no one lived there. His feet directed him towards the kitchen where a woman sat in the dining room. She was mincing a variety of vegetables and dumping them in one bowl.

    Mikael cleared his throat to get her attention.

    Then, he tossed the money next to her arm.

    "What''s this?" His mom asked, pulling out the rubber band and unfolding the wad of bills. Her eyes widened at the amount. "Where did you get this kind of money? Who did you rob?"

    Mikael felt his heart squeeze from the usation. "No one, ma."

    She stood up and mmed her hands on the table. The flex in her eyes darkened with fury. "Then, how did you get this?"

    "I earned it."

    "Don''t lie to me, boy!"

    "It''s true!" Mikael screamed desperately. "We don''t need dad anymore, see?"

    "What''s your father to you? An ATM? He''s more than that and you know it."

    "Unbelievable" he breathed out, shaking his head slowly. Tears formed at the back of his eyes. "You still choose him over your own son? He abandoned us, ma."

    His mom pursed her lips. "Study, okay? Be a useful son for once."

 Chapter 298: Blooming Like Orlando

    Chapter 298: Blooming Like Ondo

    Back in the present, the group returned to their hotel. Mikael had Jordan''s arm wrapped around his shoulder as he supported his friend towards the lift. Apparently, thetter fell victim on a drinking game with a woman who had a higher alcohol tolerance.

    He dumped Jordan on the nearest bed before heading for the bathroom.

    Cold water sttered on his face. Water droplets dripped down the side of his cheek and onto the sink. He stared at his reflection in the mirror, recalling the night''s events. It had to be the alcohol''s influence. Or maybe it was because they were sharing secrets...

    why else would he have shared his past with Eve?

    .

    .

    .

    .

    .

    After hearing his story, Eve fell at a loss for words.

    Mikael neither pressured her for a reaction nor did he feel ashamed about what he just said. Years had gone by since those events. Despite what happened, he sent money every month to his mom''s bank ount. It was an anonymous transaction but she probably figured it out.

    In return, he had blocked all means ofmunication.

    Her words weighed much more than he wanted to admit.

    Eve yed with her empty ss of martini. She pressed her lips together. When she spoke, her voice came out soft and "What happened next?"

    "Eventually, I called Luna about the offer," Mikael resumed the story. "I received a lot of good feedback from that one time I walked the runway. The best part about that moment was I didn''t even do anything other than be myself. The same thing applied for the rest of the campaign."

    "And so you fell in love with modelling?" Eve teased.

    He shrugged. "I liked how different I could be with each photo. I learned a lot about myself."

    It became addictingthe way he could forget about himself for a moment. He didn''t have to talk nor did he have to exhaust himself to earn enough for his expenses. He studied about bodynguage, angles that worked best, colors that suited him and many more. Each piece of clothing had been carefully made by its designer and they too had something to say.

    Modelling opened his eyes to a bigger world.

    And he owed it all to Luna Athon.

    "If it''s worth anything," Eve began to say, offering him a small smile. "You deserve every sess you''ve received. You also deserve a lot more. I''m d you found something you love to do."

    Mikael chuckled and leaned in a little closer. "Thank you for sharing it with me."

    She shoved his head away. "Please, don''t do that. I don''t want another scandal."

    "I should really get myself a girl then," he joked. His phone suddenly weighed like a thousand pounds in his pocket. Profanities flooded his mind. He still had to engage in conversation like he promised Jordan. Just the thought of it increased his appetite for another bottle of beer.

    Muttering under his breath, he pondered about an appropriate reply.

    .

    .

    .

    .

    .

    Mikael sat on his bed while drying his hair with a towel.

    The clock on the wall stated that it was close to midnight. The sedative effects from the alcohol started to kick in. He stifled out a yawn. His eyelids were tempted to close but his hair was still damp. He forced them to stay open and stood up, deciding to use the hair dryer.

    Jordan probably wouldn''t wake up from the noise anyway.

    Then, his phone screen lit up from the nightstand.

    He reached over to grab it and peeked at the notification. The mysterious number had sent a reply. If Jordan was awake, he would probably be screaming at the course of events. Not to mention how he''d rub it in Mikael''s face that it was only one messageunlike what most fangirls would do.

    So far, the entire conversation fit into the phone screen.

    .

    ```Unknown: Hey!```

    ```Unknown: Left me on read, huh? Not like I was going to bite you.```

    ```Unknown: How sure are you that I''m not someone you know?```

    ```Unknown: Alright, alright. I''ll stop pestering you. Yeesh.```

    ```Mikael: People who know me are aware that I hate small talk.```

    ```Unknown: Well, well is that a challenge for a long message? Because I can do that.```

    .

    Mikael frowned at thetest message.

    .

    ```Mikael: Thank you for sharing your skills but they are unnecessary.```

    ```Unknown: HAHAHAHAHAHA. Although you probably won''t ever talk to me again, thank you for this!```

    .

    "Although you probably won''t talk to me again" Mikael repeated out loud. He read the conversation several more times, searching for what wasughable and not finding it. The person had to be crazy. He should have never agreed to this.

    .

    ```Mikael: What are you thanking me for?```

    ```Unknown: For making meugh!```

    ```Mikael: You think I''m funny, do you?```

    ```Unknown: More like very a-mousse-ing.```

    .

    Mikael chucked his phone onto his bed and walked back to the bathroom. In the mirror, he found a deep scowl between his eyebrows. How many messages had he sent? Four? It should be enough to satisfy Jordan and the rest.

    But something in the back of his mind said that wouldn''t be the case.

    No doubt they''d ridicule his behavior and call him out for being ''rude.''

    "Oh, my head!" Jordan groaned, waking Mikael up. Thetter cursed in whispers before pushing himself up. He rolled onto his other side and checked on his stupid best friend. He didn''t bother to change Jordan out of his clothes, only taking off his shoes.

    "There''s aspirin on the table," Mikael stated and checked his schedule on his phone.

    The notification bar filled his lock screen. One message instantly stood out among the rest, its time showing it was sent at midnight. He resented how his eyes flickered towards it as soon as the screen lit up. That shouldn''t be a habit.

    .

    ```Unknown: Yo, why are you awake at this time? Don''t stay upte, Mousse!```

    .

    Mikael considered sending a reply then, dropped the idea.

    It would only provoke the person to message more.

    "Dude, why did you let me drink so much?" Jordanined. He managed to sit upright and drank the ss of water that came with the medication. A vice-like rope seemed to squeeze his head. He did not look forward to the rest of the day.

    "I was busy apanying Evangeline like we told Cale we''d do," Mikael defended. He dropped on the floor and started his morning exercises with push ups. "You have no one to me but yourself."

    Jordan kicked a spot near his foot. "Since when did you be the responsible one?"

    "Since I started bringing home the bacon*." Mikael smirked, knowing it would trigger him.

    "No way in heaven, earth nor hell am I gonna be married to you."

    The two boys eventually left their room for breakfast. Mikael walked ahead, his hands tucked inside his jacket pockets. He whistled loud enough for the entire hallway to hear. Behind him, Jordan maintained a slow but steady pace. The high notes of the whistle prompted him to be more irritable than he already felt.

    Once he got better, Mikael would pay for that.

    Eve stretched her arms when she got off the lift on the first floor. Cale typed away on his phone, addressing concerns by his other models that were left behind. The other elevator opened its doors to reveal Mikael and Jordan, reuniting the group.

    "Jordan, you don''t look so good," shemented.

    Just the sight of him made her feel sick herself.

    "I don''t feel good at all, Evangeline," he confirmed, panting for breath. He rested his hand against the wall and squeezed his eyes shut. "I should have taken the stairs. Now, I have a headache AND nausea."

    Mikael shook his head and copied the same tone. "If you had taken the stairs, you would have a headache AND a concussion."

    "Ms. Reed?" A hotel staff said, making her presence known. She made eye contact with everyone but Jordan before she settled on Eve. "The manager would like to know if you want your flowers delivered to your room or do you want to get them on the front desk?"

    Eve tilted her head sideways. "Flowers?"

    "Yes, a delivery came for you."

    "Did ite all the way from Maize City?" Cale joked, hiding his phone in his inner breast pocket. He looped his arm with Eve''s and tugged her towards the front desk. "Can we take a look at them now? Then, you can take it up to our room."

    "Of course." The hotel staff nodded, escorting them to the front desk.

    Mikael followed behind. Jordan tried to catch the back of his cor but failed. He considered whether to go to the breakfast buffet by himself or join the group. After a second, he chose thetterdeciding that he''d rather be with people he trusted than a group of strangers.

    On the desk was arge bouquet of pink roses and lilies. They werepressed together in a vase, ready for disy. If Eve had to estimate, it probably reached almost 3 feet tall. It was grander than the bouquet she received along with her custom skates.

    Giddiness overflowed Cale. Ambryan was missing his lover! He was sure of it!

    "Does it have a card? Tell me it has a card" he gushed, smelling a rose.

    Mikael smacked his hand. "It''s not yours. Don''t mess with people''s stuff before they could."

    Cale stuck his tongue out. "Someday you have to learn that, in certain situations, what''s more important is impressing close family and friends of the person you''re wooing."

    "If that''s the case for this one, the flowers should be addressed to you, not Evangeline."

    "Oh, stop being a party pooper! I''m not even breaking anything.''

    While they bickered, Eve signed the delivery receipt and looked for the card. The flowers and leaves had buried it from sight. Vines and roses were embossed on the expensive parchment. A red wax seal served as the lock.

    She took a whiff, not recognizing the faint scent.

    Then, she unfolded the card.

    ```

    <em>To Evangeline,</em>

    <em>Thank you for your timest night.</em>

    ```

 Chapter 299: To Woo Anothers Lover

    Chapter 299: To Woo Another''s Lover

    Jordan saw the parchment fall on the floor.

    "Woah, what''s going on?" He blurted out.

    Mikael and Cale turned their heads towards Eve who had gone pale white. She avoided their gazes, retreating to her thoughts. The guy had some nerve. Either he followed them when they left or he already knew which hotel she stayed at.

    Whichever it was, Eve detested him for it.

    She marched up to the staff behind the desk. The manager next to the staff opened his mouth topliment her but she cut him off. "Miss? I''d like to donate these flowers to the hotel."

    Both him and the staff member stiffened from her words.

    "A-Are you sure?" The female worker stammered, looking at her manager for help.

    "Positive." Eve beamed to assure them. Then, she moved the flower vase in their direction and used a sanitizer to clean her hands. "And, if more flowerse in without a sender''s name, please help yourselves to them. Thank you."

    With that said, she picked up the card and tore it to shreds. Who cared if she offended an influential person? She was done with them at this point. Her heels cked on the floor louder as she walked back to the hallway.

    "Ms. Reed!" The staff worker called out but she ignored it.

    Cale jogged to catch up to her. "If the flowers aren''t from Ambryan then, who sent them?"

    "A pest," Eve scorned. She opened her chat with Ambryan, rereading their conversation.

    .

    ```Lin: Which enemy of yours has terrible blonde hair and ocre eyes?```

    ```Yan: That''s quite a description. Any reason why you''re asking?```

    ```Lin: Well, a guy who looked like that came up to me in a French bar, bringing up our rtionship. He didn''t act like a fan so I concluded it''s someone who doesn''t like us.```

    ```Yan: Did he do anything to you?```

    ```Lin: Other than flirt? No.```

    ```Yan: I''ll have Wen investigate.```

    ```Lin: Please do.```

    ```Lin: Also, don''t stay upte :*```

    ```Yan: I''ll promise you that if you stop going to bars.```

    ```Lin: Then, we shall call this an impasse.```

    .

    "Is it that guy fromst night?" Mikael guessed, a step behind Eve and Cale.

    Eve ced her phone away. "Yes."

    Cale darted his eyes between the two of them. "What guy?"

    Mikael exined the encounter briefly. He instinctively nced towards the hotel entrance. Then, he realized the person could also be staying here. It didn''t help that they didn''t have a name, causing them to be even more on edge.

    His attention shifted back to Eve who had her back straight.

    Her grip on her purse didn''t scream that she was terrified. Instead, she seemed ready for battlea far cry from her calm approach to things.

    "Did you tell Ambryan?" Cale asked. He sent a quick message to Avery about the incident. They were in a foreign country away from everyone. It was not a time to act brave. They were in a vulnerable spot.

    "I did, asking if he knew anyone in that description. I didn''t get a photo so it''s a little harder." Eve tsked at her missed opportunities. It was clear that the person wanted to be discreet, making himself even more suspicious.

    She entered the restaurant first and scanned the area. It was avable to every hotel guest. Mikael did the same since he caught a glimpse of the stalker before. Jordan appearedst, trying to take all the information in.

    "Come on, let''s eat," Eve said after a while. It wouldn''t do them any good to stay by the entrance. "Just keep your eyes open for him."

    More flowers came for Eve over the next few days like she suspectedeach one grander than thest. They eventually reced the flower arrangement in the hotel lobby. No hint had been dropped yet that the culprit was also in the hotel. None of the staff they asked recalled any guest that fit the description.

    That told Eve that it could have been a disguise.

    "This guy sure has a lot of time to be doing this" she muttered after seeing another flower vasee in. She could tell it was from the same person because the delivery man was always the same.

    At one point, he had sent choctes and she had given it to the staff. The delivery man was also the same for that one. She started to wonder if the person really was a delivery man or an assistant to the sender.

    Eve shook her head.

    The people back home should be able to identify him soon. She shouldn''t worry about it for now. What needed to do was pay attention to her current surroundings. As luck would have it, she got a modelling side project while in Parisfor a product that she had wanted to get:

    Contact lenses.

    Each color had a different theme. The studio had six sets, three on each side across from each other. Their color palettes matched the colors of the contact lenses to enhance themwhich also meant Eve had to let her red hair go for the time being.

    It was the perfect opportunity for her to merge her current looks with her old one.

    Then, it was just a matter of slowly changing her public info to include her real name.

    It would be like it has always been avable for anyone to view. It would only be a matter of time before someone noticed it and word would spread, creating another media frenzy.

    That had been her grand n before Ambryan thought of making their story into a movie.

    .

    .

    .

    .

    .

    Ambryan sneezed all the way from Maize City. He rubbed the tip of nose, thinking it was because of the change in season. Hannah stood by his desk while he reviewed her work on the reports. She hardened her legs muscles so they wouldn''t tremble. Her hands nervously yed with a loose thread on her zer.

    It was the first time she did something by herself.

    The feedback would either make or break her spirit.

    What actually made her think she could do this? She wasn''t Ms. Hart. The previous secretary was on another level she could never reach. No one could keep up with the CEO better than her. Hannah wished Ms. Hart had never left.

    She would have been spared from this mental anguish.

    "This is good," Ambryan remarked, closing the folder. He put it away along with the rest. "I have a meeting with Wen in a few minutes. Why don''t you go home?"

    "Huh?" Hannah blinked. Her clipped bangs fell over her ck eyes.

    "Go home," he repeated. "There''s only half an hour left. It wouldn''t make much difference."

    Hannah struggled to reconnect her brain cells. They had worked non-stop for the past two weeks. She even had taken overtime like she had anticipated because her pace was still slow and there were many things needed to be done.

    The point was that half an hour could make a huge difference.

    "Take it as a small bonus for a job well done," Ambryan concluded, resuming his work on hisputer and forgetting about her response. He responded to email concerns while waiting for Wen and failed to notice when Hannah left.

    A knock came from the door to announce Wen''s arrival.

    "Come in."

    Ambryan finished thest of his urgent work and shifted his focus to his head bodyguard. Wen wore her blonde hair in a low ponytail like usual. She pulled off her sunsses since they were inside, revealing her vivid blue eyes.

    "Wen," Ambryan greeted her.

    She bowed her head in return. "Mr. Hathaway."

    Violet eyes darkened. "Did you find him?"

    "I believe so," Wen stated. She took out the tablet tucked under her arm and browsed for the files. "The team in France said that he''s being discreet. He hasn''t approached Ms. Reed since they met at the bar. All the information about him is in here."

    Ambryan''s gaze immediately went to the photo as soon as he held the tablet. Then, he noticed the name. Pieces of the puzzle came together in his mind. The temperature of the room dropped from his menacing aura. It didn''t matter how much the person changed his appearance.

    He could still recognize the same arrogant expression.

    "The twerp," he spat.

    Wen chose not to react to thement.

    Instead, she said, "Kyle Rivers, heir to Peitho Entertainment."

    ording to several media sources, Kyle Rivers was Ambryan''s rival in the business of the film industry. Ambryan never agreed with those articles. Kyle simply didn''t have the brains or the diligence to maintain apany. He believed those in power wouldn''t even let him make anypany decisions without a proper vote from the board.

    His dyed session was proof enough of his ipetence.

    Unlike Ambryan who earned his spot a year younger than Kyle was now.

    The CEO leaned back on his chair and read the rest of the gathered information. He put together what the current situation looked like. "He''s trying to woo my girlfriend as we speak."

    "It seems like that is the case," Wen said. Her hands balled into fists at her sides. The fool was only ying with fire. It would only get him burned if he kept walking in this path.

    Feeling his phone vibrate, Ambryan peeked at the lock screen.

    It was a notification from Mikael Davis.

    Crease lines wrinkled on his forehead. He feared the worst had happened as he opened the message. It contained a single photo of a studio filled with arge number of people. They stood around the runway where two people upied the front end.

    One of them had the same face as the tablet showed.

    A text message soon followed the picture one.

    ```Mikael: It seems like we have a guest for today''s modelling session.```

 Chapter 300: Troublemaker of a Hooligan Prat

    Chapter 300: Troublemaker of a Hooligan Prat

    ```Mikael: It seems like we have a guest for today''s modelling session.```

    Ambryan thanked him for the information and dialed a familiar number. He could only think of one reason why Kyle would go to such lengths. Adrenaline rushed into his veins. He rose to his feet and paced behind his chair, hardly being able to contain it.

    Then, the receiver picked up.

    "Hello, Richard speaking," the voice said from the other line.

    "Richard," Ambryan practically hissed. "Do you know why Kyle Rivers is in France?"

    "Kyle?! Rivers?! That troublemaker of a hooligan?" Richard eximed, almost spitting out his water. "Why are you suddenly interested in him? He''s never worth your attention."

    "Because apparently he''s been sending my girlfriend flowers."

    This time, Richard choked on his drink. He stood up from his home office chair, coughing until his throat became dry. That had to be the most unexpected thing he had heard of. Someone had decided to step out of the shadows and wreak havoc.

    "Does he want to die?" He said after recovering from his coughing fit. Then, he remembered who they were talking about. "Forget what I said. Of course, he does. He''s always reckless."

    Ambryan had the same thoughts.

    Was it a coincidence that the heir to Peitho Entertainment appeared after Eros snatched the investment back? All arrows pointed to this as the reason for Kyle''s behavior. Ambryan gritted his teeth. If the bastard tried anything on Eve, he would wish for death for what Ambryan had in mind.

    As for Ambryan, he would enjoy every minute of it.

    "Richard, is there a spy in yourpany?" Ambryan dared ask. He pushed his predatory instincts aside and focused on the rational part of the matter. The rtionship between Eros Productions and Venus Investment could be on the line if his skepticism was taken wrongly.

    The same thoughts ran in Richard''s head.

    His voice dropped to a whisper. "Ambryan, what are you saying?"

    "I''m saying that Kyle has impable timing on his trip to France. He also must be extremely lucky to have met Evangeline in a bar and fell in love with her at first sight. It doesn''t matter if she was taken." Ambryan paused. He gripped the back of his chair, clutching it tight and using it to calm down. He''d never experience this before. Not even when Eros faced a financial crisisthe utter worry that something could go impably wrong.

    He took several deep breaths and slowed down his speech so Richard could hear his implication better. "The story could simply just have a different ending."

    Richard''s facial muscles stiffened. His best friend''s outburst now started to make sense. "You think he knows that the script is about you and Evangeline?"

    "It''s my current lead." Ambryan sighed. Exhaustion weighed down on his shoulders. He let his chair go and sat on its cushion. "But I''d greatly appreciate it if you look into it."

    "Okay." Richard nodded. Then, he raised his voice louder. "Okay, I will. I''ll call you back when I have something. In the meantime, drink some tea."

    Ambryan ended the call and closed his eyes. Why was he reacting this way? Was it simply because Eve was in harm''s way? No. Something from the corner of his mind hinted at its presence. It was a thought he refused to entertain because he didn''t have a reason to.

    But now...

    What if Eve left him?

    "Wen, please investigate Kyle''s activities," Ambryan instructed, opening his eyes. This was what they wantedto mess with his head. He should be stronger than this. "This could still be a distraction to a bigger plot."

    "Yes, Mr. Hathaway." Wen noticed the change in the CEO''s demeanor. She couldn''t put her finger on it but she felt like she should say something. "Anything else?"

    Ambryan remained quiet for a while. He turned his chair towards his floor to ceiling windows. No matter how far he looked, he would never be able to see beyond Maize City. His chest became hollow.

    When he spoke, it was barely audible. Wen almost didn''t hear it.

    "There is one thing..."

    .

    .

    .

    .

    .

    Eve paled in horror.

    It had to be a dream. No! It had to be a NIGHTMARE. She pinched herself on the side of her arm, desperate for this reality to vanish. She hid behind another model and squatted a little. It should be enough to shield from her sight.

    Tiffany spotted her moving weirdly and frowned

    "This is a golden opportunity and I wish you luck," the camp director dered from the tform. "The videomercial will need three female models. It''s always good to be versatile and to widen your experience. So, I hope you all do your best to impress Kyle."

    ''Where do I sign that allows me to be disqualified by default?'' Eve moaned in her head. Because this was a modelling camp, her actions would be under a lot of scrutiny. She wouldn''t be able to do anything to him unless she wanted to be kicked out.

    "How much do you want to bet that he''d y favoritism?" Mikael taunted from her right.

    Eve joined him on the sidelines, distant from everyone else. She avoided looking at Kyle''s direction. Her brown eyes stared off into space as a resultjust to be sure they didn''t end up wandering towards him.

    "I never thought of him as someone who took their job seriously," she shared. "I''m also broke but I''d bet Monopoly money that he totally would do that. Skills wouldn''t be in his priority list."

    Mikael stuck close to her side. Staff members handed out a script for the videomercial. It wasn''t part of the original curriculum but they saw a good opportunity with the idea. One of the personnel handed Eve a copy.

    It was at this point that someone else also noticed her.

    "Evangeline!" Kyle called out, acting shocked to see her. Eve mustered all her willpower not to smack the grin off his face. "I didn''t think I''d see you here. Small world, huh?"

    Mikael turned his head away. Otherwise, he would have rebutted that statement. Without a name on those cards, he wouldn''t be able to link Kyle to the flower bouquets. How much had he nned exactly?

    Kyle tilted his head sideways, squinting at Eve. He leaned in closer and said, "Hey uh I remember your eyes being hazel from pictures. Are you wearing contact lenses?"

    Eve blinked. Her eyebrows gradually rose up in surprise. Once again, she found herself walking on thin ice with this man around. "I actually just did an ad for contact lenses today. I''m fond of how they can change a person''s gaze just by wearing them."

    He rubbed his chin and continued to inspect her eyes. He had narrowed his eyes so much, Eve spected he actually couldn''t see a thing anymore. "So you''re saying that those hazel ones were contact lenses?"

    "I''m saying that you are more than wee to specte if I am wearing contact lenses now or not," She shot back with a wide smile. At the back of her mind, she made a mental note to inform several people about this small encounter. It was another suspicious topicthe ''suspicious'' part meaning Kyle''s terrible acting.

    From the corner of her eye, Eve noticed the camp director walking towards them.

    "You know Ms. Reed?" The director asked.

    "Oh!" Kyle answered. He spoke again before Eve or Mikael could contribute to the conversation. "We''re actually both from the same city. She''s quite famous there if I do say so myself. I''ve heard nothing but good things about her career. Her first project was even for Athon Luxury! I''m honestly a secret fan of hers."

    "Oh, my" the camp director gasped. Her gentle expression warmed up Eve on the inside. She couldn''t bring herself to deny Kyle''s words. "Then again, I shouldn''t be so surprised. She''s one of our top models this year. With yourpliments, I guess we can expect more great things from her then."

    "Shall we discuss future endeavors?" Kyle offered his arm to the camp director. He nced over his shoulder once as they left the studio. "I''ll be looking forward to your performance, Ms. Reed."

    They disappeared among the crowd in the nick of time.

    "I''m also famous. I''m also from the same city. I don''t hear any praisese my way," Mikael muttered. He crossed his arms over his chest and red at a far wall. "I''ve never heard a more scripted dialogue in my life."

    Eve smacked the back of her hand against his stomach. She had her lips pressed together to restrain herself fromughing. "Now, now, don''t be jealous. Keep acting like this and I''ll start bragging about you the next time we attend the same party."

    "Please don''t."

    "But that''s no fun."

    .

    ```Lin: Still no luck on who the guy could be? We spoke today and he noticed my eye color. I guess it should be a normal reaction but he kept staring at me.```

    .

    Late in the night, Ambryan paused from doing extra work in his home office. He pushed his eyesses up his nose bridge. It was going to be a long night ahead. The cats decided to sleep on his deskas if sensing that he would be staying for a while.

    He caressed Kiri''s head after sending a reply.

    .

    ```Yan: We''ve found him.```

    .

    Eve scowled at the message. She waited a few seconds

    Then, half a minute passed by. Was Ambryan leaving it at that?

    .

    ```Lin: Please inform me when you decide on telling me. I''m starting to think I should know who he is. He seems both familiar and not familiar. It''s driving me insane.```

    ```Yan: Hm```

    ```Lin: Well???```

    ``Yan: I think you can figure it out. Just ponder over it a bit more.```

    ```Lin: So I know him?```

    ``Yan: Yes and no.```

    ```Lin: Any hint?```

    ```Yan: I can give you one for a price.```

    ```Lin: What price?```

    ```Yan: A kiss.```

    ```Lin: :*```

    ```Yan: A real one.```

    ```Lin: Now, you''re just teasing me.```

    .

    Eve stuck out her bottom lip.

    Did he really not n on telling her until she gets back home?

 Chapter 301: Oh, I Just Love Interruptions

    Chapter 301: Oh, I Just Love Interruptions

    The event for the videomercial officiallymenced the following day.

    Eve spent the night memorizing the script. It was a strangemercial that had 3 mini stories. The style reminded her of thest videomercial she participated in. Except, for this one, the theme made her believe it was created solely for the event and wasn''t a realmercial for TV.

    As far as she observed, no one promoted watermelons on video advertisementsespecially for the winter season.

    Themercial used colors to its advantage. Initially, Eve had chosen the one for red watermelons since it was her best color. Then, she recalled the need to break out of her shell and picked the yellow watermelons instead.

    What would she look like as a blonde? She wondered.

    To ensure everyone gains a proper experience, all models underwent hair, makeup and wardrobe as if shooting a realmercial. Eve kept her eyes closed during the makeup session. She meditated her mindset to match what the script indicated. The makeup brush touched her eyelids gently.

    Since yellow watermelons were bright like the sun, she''d need to channel a lot of bubbly energy for the shoot.

    A notification ping came from her phone.

    .

    ``Yan: Good morning. My offer still stands.``

    .

    Eve became irritated at once. Trust her boyfriend to dangle the bait in front of her face. She hadn''t thought about Kyle since she woke up. Why did he have to speak about it now when she needed to concentrate?

    .

    ``Lin: Can''t I take a tab? Tell me now, kissester.``

    .

    She smacked the side of her head. That would only provoke him even more. She put her phone on silent and pushed the Kyle incident to the back of her mindway, way, way far in the back where it would collect dust.

    Themercial took ce in a tropical country. Eve let images of summer in: beaches, ice cold drinks and, of course, watermelons. It was the closest experience she had topare with a humid nation. Among the avable wardrobe, she chose a navy blue bohemian dress that fell to her ankles.

    The only thing missing was the hat which she''d wear after the stylist was done with her hair.

    "Evangeline!"

    Like a hammer on a ss, the voice cracked through Eve''s meditation. She controlled the emotions on her face. ''This is turning out to be a whole new level of annoyance. Not even Ambryan disturbs me this much while at work.''

    Kyle soon appeared in the mirror. Eve assessed his outfit. Only the models were supposed to wear beach-inspired clothing. That was only because of themercial''s theme. Then, why would someone like Kyle also adhere to it?

    A pair of khakis and a blue Hawaiian button-down shirt, he left the three buttons on top open and exposed his chest muscles. A pair of sunsses sat on top of his head and pulled back his shoulder length hair away from his face. He wore a wide grin, showing off his pearly white teeth.

    Eve had a bad feeling about this.

    "Hey," Kyle greeted her. He folded his arms and propped one on the vanity mirror. "Are you doing that thing where actors mentally prepare for a scene? That''s some dedication."

    Already tired of their exchange, Eve opened the script and pretended to memorize more lines.

    "I''ll give you a tip."

    She ignored the bait, flipping to the next change.

    "What we''re looking for is also someone who can think on their feet if the director was suddenly struck by inspiration," Kyle continued. He lowered his head so he could see her face but Eve angled the script to hide it further. "So what I am saying is don''t focus on the preparation. There''s bound to be out of the blue instructions which are more important."

    "I appreciate the heads up but," Eve finally caved in. The man thought he was doing her a favor but she didn''t share the same sentiment. "Since those instructions are spontaneous like you said, I still must act like I don''t know about it and prepare diligently."

    Kyle bursted outughing. "I knew I liked you for a reason."

    ''The feeling isn''t mutual,'' Eve responded in her head. She had to bite her tongue so the words wouldn''t slip out. With Kyle satisfied, she crossed her fingers that he''d leave. He needed three models. Why not mingle with the other two he fancied?''

    "What do you think about the script though?"

    "Hey, Eva!" Tiffany interrupted. She bluntly ignored Kyle''s existence while holding up two flower nesmon in Hawaii. "I''m wondering whether to match the watermelon or pick aplementary color."

    Grateful for the distraction, Eve took her time assessing both gands. One had red artificial flowers. The other had blue which wasn''t aplementary color if she remembered right.

    "I''ll pick the blue one if I were you," Kyle saidan attempt at joining the conversation. "It goes really well with the purple hair. It also fits in with the set from what I have seen."

    Tiffany pursed her lips. Her eyes stayed on Eve and the flowers. "Red is the better one, isn''t it?"

    "I think red would look better on Eve."

    "Hm," Eve hummed. She touched both gands and held them close to Tiffany''s outfit. Since thetter wore white, both colors would work well. "Maybe don''t use a flower ne? Why not seashells or something?"

    "But I really want to use a flower ne." Tiffany whined, pouting her lips. "They''re notmonly seen so I think it would catch the attention of viewers."

    Eve scrunched her nose. "Why not a floral dress?"

    Tiffany bit her inner cheek and darter hew gaze between the two flower nes. Kyle watched the exchange silently. His face betrayed zero emotion. It had to stop at some point. They couldn''t talk about the ne forever.

    If they thought they could break him, they were wrong.

    "Oh!" Tiffany gasped, her ck eyes lighting up. "How about I clip a flower to my hair?"

    "That should work!" Eve cheered. Although she cried on the inside, her facial muscles hurt from how wide she grinned. Tiffany still needed to finish getting ready. She''d be left alone with Kyle again who hadn''t left. She didn''t dare take a peek at him.

    The bastard must be enjoying the fake tones in their voices.

    She might hit him if she found a smirk on his lips.

    "I think so too!" Tiffany nodded eagerly. She spun on her heel and took a step towards the clothing racks. "Thanks for the help, Eva! Break a leg!"

    Eve waved her hand as Tiffany walked away. She faced her mirror once more and let the stylist work through her hair. Kyle typed on his phone. Relief flooded inside her chest. Maybe something came up and he finally needed to leave.

    The wider the distance between them, the calmer she would be.

    "So, Evangeline" Kyle opened up, leaning down so their faces could be closer.

    Eve felt her heart stop in rm. Without the script, their noses nearly bumped into each other. She shoved him away out of reflex and recoiled back. Kyle hit the wall beside the vanity mirror. The stylist and makeup artist gasped from the sudden development.

    Blood drained from Eve''s face when she realized what she had done.

    Kyle merely smiled back. He straightened out the cor of his shirt and acted like nothing had happened. After all, the one who had the upper hand was him anyway. "Don''t worry, Evangeline. I''ll judge fairly. This won''t affect your chances to be in ourmercial."

    Eve opened her mouth, letting her jaw stayx. That should have a hidden meaning under it. Her arms trembled from the silent threat. If he had the connections in the modelling industry, did that mean he could end her career?

    Besides, who was he again? She hadn''t heard him anything about hisst name so far.

    Maybe he purposely told people not to say it out loud? What did he have to hide that wouldn''t make their already terrible interaction worse?

    Hasty footsteps slid across the floor, growing louder as the person came closer.

    Eve looked up in search for her next savior.

    Aqua blue eyes met her gaze.

    "Hey, dear. Is Evangeline done with hair and makeup yet?" Cale asked, smiling at the makeup artist. Then, he tapped Eve on her shoulders. His eyes drooped at the corners when he faced today''s guest of honor. "Oh, Mr. Kyle. Sorry about this but do you mind if I take Evangelie to a quieter ce? I want her to really do wellter."

    "Sure." Kyle shrugged. He massaged his hands as if he had all the time in the world, unbothered by all the interruptions. "I understand. I''ll be looking forward to the performance."

    Eve didn''t say another word and stomped towards the exit. The quiet area should be the hallway. Maybe she could hide in the restroom too before the video shoot began. Kyle wouldn''t dare to sneak inside the women''s bathroom.

    At least, she hoped he didn''t.

    The restroom door opened, its knob hitting the wall. Eve released all the tension in her muscles and checked each cubicle. When they all turned out to be empty, she leaned back on the sink counter and red at her manager.

    "What took you so long?" She demanded.

    Cale gestured his hand towards the door, roughly guessing which direction led to Kyle. "I had to let him talk for a bit. He would have known something was up."

    Eve groaned. The beginning stages of a headache rushed into her brain''s blood vessels. Frown lines creased between her eyebrows. "I don''t know what it is but I just get so irritated with him."

    "I know, dear. I know."

    "And I can''t shake off this feeling that I should know who he is."

    "You do?"

    "I don''t know, Cale." Eve sighed. "Why did he have to be a sponsor for the camp? I can''t say what I want to his face anymore. I had to sacrifice a lot of things to be here. I can''t let him win like this."

 Chapter 302: Taste of Summer Heat

    Chapter 302: Taste of Summer Heat

    "I can''t let him win like this."

    Little did Eve know, she''d soon be tested by the words she dropped.

    The video shoot soonmenced. The team had converted thergest studio space into a tropical paradise. Green screen would be used for the oceanic background but the set had the sand, therge umbre, a beach chair and other small props.

    The watermelons were on a small table, sliced and ready for everyone to eat.

    Kyle spoke with both the camp director and videographer. Their hush discussion failed to reach anyone''s ears. Mikael stood among the staff. A part of his focus was always on Kyle. Like Eve, something felt off about him wearing a beach attire.

    His gut had its spection but he squashed it downpraying it wasn''t true.

    One by one, the models took their turns for the shoot. Only a single model was allowed inside until everyone finished their turn. Then, they would have a party inside the studio, another event sponsored by Kyle.

    Eve already nned to fake a stomach ache just to get away from it.

    A staff member eventually called her name.

    She took one look at the set and knew immediately what she wanted to do. Her starting point was on the left, out of the camera''s reach. The videographer gave her the signal and she walked onto the artificial beach.

    Her glowing smile shed towards the camera.

    "Life" she began to say, standing behind the table of watermelons. Her hands rested on the surface as she bent forward. "... isn''t always what it seems."

    Her lips curled up as if she had a secret to share. "There are friends who turn out to be enemies, enemies who turned out to be friendsmaybe even a flicker of light in a long dark tunnel that never seemed to end."

    "Then, sometimes" Eve paused. She pulled out a triangr slice from the watermelon, revealing its yellow interior and ck seeds. "There would be surprises in ces you never thought"

    She bit into the watermelon and chewed slowly. Its sweet juice flooded her mouth. A soft moan sounded from the back of her throat. "And they would turn out to be sweeter than you think."

    Tworge hands captured her waist. "May I have a taste?"

    Eve jumped and tripped on her own feet. Profanities came out of her mouth. She avoided the collision with the table, falling towards the floor instead.

    Kyle caught her arm and supported her. The watermelon slice dropped to the sand. Eve hitched her breath. Every fiber of her being wanted nothing more than to p off the hand on her arm. Her hands balled into fists just to control the urge.

    Once she regained her bnce, she yanked her arm back as gently as she could.

    Kyle moved his hand onto her upper back. She stiffened under his touch.

    Mikael took a step forward but Jordan stopped him. Both of them knew this was different from how Kyle treated the other models. He only touched their shoulders and not their waist.

    But, he hadn''t gone too far quite yet.

    Even if they wanted to call him out, it was simple to debunk when he hadn''t done something indecent. All they could do was stay alert and hope nothing would happen.

    "Are you okay?" Kyle asked. Worry projected out of his ocre eyes. He started checking the rest of her body. "Are you hurt? Your ankle could have been twisted."

    Eve flinched and avoided every spot he tried to touch. "I''m fineFINE! Let''s just finish the shoot. The earlier we get done, the more we can prevent my clumsiness getting in the way."

    Kyle chuckled, raising his hands in surrender. "If you''re sure then"

    He signaled towards the videographer and Eve went to her starting point. She could hear her heart pounding inside her chest. Her mmy hands clenched and unclenched several times. Forget about faking a stomach bug. She would race to her room for a bath as soon as she finished the video shoot.

    ''So that''s what he meant by impulsive changes!'' Eve braced herself for simr tricks. It sickened her how Kyle would enjoy any reaction she''d make. She had to think of something.

    But what?

    The pboard sounded and themercial resumed filming.

    Eve repeated her lines exactly the same way. Delivery, intonation, movementsall of them an exact replica of her previous performance. The videographer raised his eyebrows, noticing it immediately. He narrowed his gaze. Their focus intensified and nitpicked at her acting down to the minute detail.

    Then, Kyle came into the frame.

    His hands squeezed her waist as he whispered into her ear. "May I have a taste?"

    Eve moved her hand to feed him but the watermelon slice hit his cheek instead. She feigned a gasp andughed at his shocked expression. Mentally, she gave herself a pat on the back for doing a good job.

    "Well? Sweeter than it looks, right?" She teased, giggling behind her hand.

    Kyle wiped off the watermelon with his thumb. He grazed it onto his lips and licked for a taste. His ocre eyes flickered from her eyes down to her lips. "I''m sure something else tastes even sweeter"

    An ominous feeling came over Eve. Her fight or flight instincts activated from his intense stare. It was so unlike the way Ambryan made her feel. She always melted whenever it was him and she never minded.

    Sometimes, she''d dly be a puddle if it meant that he''d hold her together.

    With Kyle, the experience was the exact opposite. Nothing in his predatory gazeforted her.

    "Cut!" A scream echoed inside the studio.

    All heads snapped towards Mikael. Eve had the widest pair of eyes on him. She didn''t know whether tough or to cry. It was out of character for him to do that but she was happy that he did it.

    Since the shoot was interrupted, she finally moved away from Kyle until she reached a safe distanceby that, she meant a whole table between them.

    Mikael ced his hands on his waist, posing like this was normal. "I think we got it. Don''t you?"

    When no one answered him, he jabbed Jordan by the ribs. His best friend grunted in pain and rubbed the sore spot. "Don''t you think so too, Jordan? I mean, the video was also already 15 seconds longer than what''s required for themercial."

    The camp director scowled in their direction. "You were timing it?"

    "Yes, for efficiency." Mikael nodded. He racked his brain for every ounce of wit it contained. "There''s still a lot of models lined up and this is more of an audition tape than an actualmercial shoot. Each person should usually just have one chance so I think two chances is more than enough."

    Another round of silence fell in the studio.

    He inclined his head to his left. "Right, Jordan?"

    Jordan looked up, noticing all the attention on them. He eventually locked eyes with Eve. Her silent plea woke him up. "Ye-Yeah. I agree. That''s how we determine the best."

    "Well then," the camp director sighed. She shifted her focus on Eve and smiled. "Thank you for your time today, Ms. Reed. Please wait in the other room while the rest of the models take their turns."

    "Thank you."

    Eve practically bolted away from set. Once out of sight, she went straight to the restroom at a faster speed. Disgust burned under her flesh. She had the faucet on full st, washing her arms. Soap foam covered both arms. After this, she would also change out of her dress.

    Any trace of that man had to vanish!

    Mikael and Cale met her as soon as she walked out of the restroom.

    "Did he try anything?" Mikael demanded, towering over her. "I don''t care if he would excuse it as acting. If he makes you ufortable, he has to pay for it."

    Cale chose a calmer tone in speaking. "Please don''t endure anything. If they kick you out of the camp, I''ll make sure that you cane back next year. Or maybe attend a different camp. There''s bound to be at least one every season."

    Eve took a deep breath and sped them on one shoulder each. "Guys, I''m fine. He might have tried something if Mikael didn''t stop the shoot but we can''t be sure. Don''t stress too much. I feel like he loves it when we do that. And I don''t want to give him that satisfaction."

    Mikael "Let him think what he wants. You should worry about yourself."

    "At least, I have you guys, huh?"

    "Oh, you''re here," a new voice said, announcing their presence.

    "Is there something you need, Mr. Kyle?" Mikael spoke up on their behalf.

    Kyle paused and pointed a finger at him. His eyes stayed on Eve. "Is he always this serious?"

    "Actually, yes."

    Mikael shifted his attention towards her. "Aren''t you on my side?"

    Eve shrugged. She saw an opportunity and she took it, regardless of who was the other person.

    "Anyway." Kyle sped his hands together in prayer. "I''m unsure but I feel like I had done something wrong to offend you. And I wanted to make up for it."

    He left for a few seconds and came back with a tray of fruit punch. There were exactly four sses that formed the diamond shape when connected together. He lifted one of them up and handed it over to Eve.

    "Here y"

    Mikael snatched it away from him, immediately taking a sip.

    He peered at the drink in suspicion. "Is there alcohol in this?"

    "Yes," Kyle admitted without hesitation. "Since today''s shoot is over, I thought we could all use some chill time. Good, isn''t it?"

    "Why, thanks, man." Mikael grabbed the other drink and headed for the studio entrance. He raised one ss at the group before he opened the door. "Evangeline can''t hold her liquor well so I''ll be taking her share. Jordan might want one anyways."

    Cale took the other ss, tasting the fruit punch. "The alcohol gives it a bit of kick, huh?"

    "Sorry, Evangeline." He smiled apologetically. "Maybe next time."

 Chapter 303: The Consequences of Chivalry

    Chapter 303: The Consequences of Chivalry

    Unfazed by their behavior, Kyle managed to maintain his friendly smile. He turned the tray around and directed thest ss in front of Eve. "I mean, there''s still one more left in case you want to loosen up a bit. I''ll dly give it to you."

    Cale shot put his arm and blocked Eve from taking the drink. "Many thanks for the drinks, Mr. Kyle, but there''s still modelling sessions tomorrow. Eve needs to abstain from any alcohol until the weekend."

    "Oh,e on," Kyle fussed, raising the drink in her direction. "It''s only a little"

    "Fruit punch!" Tiffany eximed. She seized the ss and drained half of the beverage. Her foot stumbled back a step. "Oh, wow. I probably shouldn''t have done that. But this is really good."

    Kyle dropped the tray to his side, resting it against his hip. The smile on his face stayed up but it no longer reached his eyes. He didn''t seem to be aware of it but the rest did.

    Eve gritted her teeth. He must be frustrated by the continuous interruptions.

    "It seems like I''m all out," he said, attempting augh. "I should have prepared more."

    "It''s quite a popr drink indeed," Cale yed along. He took another sip and wrapped his arm around Eve''s shoulders. "We''ll see about next time."

    "That''s a good idea. I should go back and see what else we have for the party. Maybe there''s enough to whip something up."

    With that said, Kyle made his escape.

    Eve watched him disappear. It was a sight she never got tired of seeing. Then her eyes red at the two servings of fruit punch. "Are you guys feeling okay?"

    Tiffany arched an eyebrow. She looked at Eve while drinking from her ss. "Why wouldn''t I be okay?"

    "Like I don''t know. Do you taste something weird?" Eve couldn''t help but ask. When Mikael had taken the drink, she wondered if he thought there was something wrong with it. Why else would he grab that one instead of the others?

    "Not that I can tell." Tiffany peeked at the fruit punch through the opening. Then, she flickered her gaze towards the other ss. "What about Cale?"

    Cale sniffed his drink and frowned. He shook it, the ice rattling together. "I also can''t tell. Mikael might have it."

    Eve shook her head as they finished the rest of the fruit punch. "I can''t believe you guys actually drank them when you''re also suspicious that he messed with the drink."

    Tiffany scoffed, rolling her ck eyes. "Oh, please. We''ll be fine unlike you, Ms. Popr. You would have been vulnerable. We don''t even know how strong the dosage is."

    .

    .

    .

    .

    .

    At the first sign of heavy breathing, Mikael ran away to his hotel room. He alerted no one about his absence at the party. It should be easy enough to figure out. Jordan had been talking to a staff member and failed to notice him make his escape.

    Mikael wobbled while walking down the hallway. The walls bent in different directions, curving like worms. He pressed a hand against one wall to know if he was walking straightuntil he found the door to his hotel room.

    He crashed onto the bed and kicked off his shoes, closing his eyes. Heat pooled at this stomach. He lied on his side and hugged his knees in hopes that it could lessen the sensation. Beads of sweat trickled down the back of his neck.

    His two rows of teeth gnashed together. A strangled cry rumbled in the back of his throat.

    ''That fucking bastard!'' He roared in his head. ''When this is over, I''ll beat the shit of him!''

    For a second, Mikael wondered if Kyle had tricked him into taking that first drink. It would have been the smart thing to do given how they were suspicious of himwhich was why he took the other ss and used Jordan as an excuse.

    He dumped both contents in the nearest washroom away from the studio, hoping Cale didn''t get the contaminated drink.

    But to think that Kyle had fully intended to give this drink to Eve. Mikael tasted vile in his mouth.He only drank a little but the effects were stronger than he anticipated.

    Mikael opened his eyes and stared at the wall. Another wave of heat flooded over his abdomen. He felt it crawling into his veins and rush over more parts of his body. It became harder and harder to resist. He should have gone to the bathtub when he had the chance.

    At this rate, he might not be able to stand up.

    His hand shook as he reached for his phone. He scrolled through his recent contacts and searched for the number he wanted, leaving the call on speaker and next to his head.

    A female voice came from the other end.

    "Hello?" Rose greeted. "I have to admit. Based on how our conversation endedst time, I didn''t think I''d hear from you again. Now, I got a call? Is the world ending?"

    Mikael groaned at his mistake. He opened his mouth and tried to speak in betweenbored breaths. "Even ifthe worldwasendingI wouldn''tcall youat all"

    Rose sat up on her bed. She red at her bed sheets, listening intently to the call. "Hey, are you okay?"

    "I-I" Mikael uttered out incoherent noises. The heat intensified near his lower abs. He bit his tongue so Rose wouldn''t be able to hear him.

    Unfortunately for Mikael, her sharp ears picked it up. "Dude, speak up. Tell me what''s wrong. Do you need 911? I can call them for you. Just tell me what''s wrong."

    "NO!" Mikael objected. "It''s nothing. It''ll pass."

    Rose bit on her thumb. Her curiosity couldn''t let the issue go. Not to mention that Mikael could be in trouble but only refused to admit it to her. She thought of a number of reasons as to why his breathing was irregr.

    "Are you about to give birth?"

    "What?! Why would I even"

    "Sheesh! It was a joke," she defended. "Don''t be too serious. But, if you were offended by it, I''m sorry. I won''t do it again while you''re in pain."

    Mikael red at his phone. "So it would be okay if I wasn''t in pain?"

    "Of course."

    He scowled. The tight muscles above his eyes caused pain in his head. "I''m getting off. Don''t speak about this with anyone."

    "Hey, wait!" Rose protested. She folded one arm below her chest. "If you''re going to be like that, there should be an exchange. A favor for a favor."

    "I''m currently struggling here and you have the audacity to ask for something back?"

    "Other than your breathing problems, you sound perfectly fine to me. Let me stay on the line until you feel better."

    "Are you crazy? I''m about to go take a bath."

    "A bath hmmm" Rose contemted, thinking it could be a clue on his situation. "Hot or cold?"

    Mikael opened his mouth. Then, he caught himself and closed it. That was too easy. He could have given himself away. It would only be a matter of time before a rumor would spread about his dilemma

    "It''s cold, isn''t it?" He heard her guess. The call became quiet for a while. In that moment, Mikael almost forgot about the heat that erupted his insides. He waited for her reaction. His mind couldn''t move on to the next thing without him knowing.

    "I think" Rose whispered, pressing her lips together. This wasn''t what she had in mind when she saw his name sh on her phone screen. But she also couldn''t leave him alone like this. "I think I know what''s going on. I could be wrong! Of course but you don''t have to tell me anything. Just let me stay on the line."

    Mikael shut his eyes.

    ''What did this girl want?'' He wondered to himself. There was nothing to gain from keeping the call open. It had to be a trick. Maybe to get more information on his activities based on the sounds? He could just mute his microphone.

    "Hey," Rose interrupted his thoughts. "I don''t have bad intentions. I could be wrong but, if I am right on what you''re experiencing, it''s easier to abstain by having someone to talk to. If you just need me to babble, I would. Just. Stay. On. The. Line."

    "What makes you think I''m abstaining?" Mikale challenged.

    Rose snorted at his weak rebuttal. "You wouldn''t be having this problem if you weren''t."

    He chose not to respond to that. She could think of him in any way that she wanted based on the silence.

    Sure, this dilemma could have been fixed easilyor could have been less difortingbut he didn''t like how the situation happened. That alone gripped him not to surrender to the effects of the drug. Although it had missed its target, it would still feel like letting Kyle win. He had taken that resolve the moment he grabbed that drink.

    "So want to hear about my day?"

 Chapter 304: Your Life Over Mine Any Day

    Chapter 304: Your Life Over Mine Any Day

    The party hosted by Kylestedte in the night.

    During this time, he managed to convince the camp director to postpone lessons and give the models a holiday in exchange for another lump sum of funds. People cheered when he made the announcement. They left their worries for another time and partied to their hearts'' content.

    Eve pulled her hair up in a bun the next morning. Cale groggily got up from bed. To her knowledge, the fruit punch had no effect on him nor on Tiffany. Jordan was present at the party as well and looked like he was doing just fine.

    That left one person who she had no idea about.

    She would have checked on him in his hotel room but

    she figured privacy was what he needed more.

    The staff let the rooms they used for lessons open. Eve headed to one of them after breakfast. A few other models had a simr idea. Tiffany wasn''t included among them. She and Jordan retreated to their rooms as soon as they finished their breakfast.

    Mikael hadn''te down at all. Jordan assured her that he was okay and was sleeping soundly. Eve decided to head outter and buy them something as her gratitude. She had dodged a bullet because of their intervention.

    Strapping on 4-inch heels, Eve faced the wall covered in mirrors. She angled her side profile and checked out how the pumps shaped her legs. She hadn''t walked the runway in this type of shoes beforeespecially their height.

    And so, today would be the day she mastered walking in them.

    The first attemptsted her about 3 meters before her foot slipped. She strolled back to where she started in order topare the lengths better. The second round ended almost at the same spot. The back of her feet began to hurt from the straps.

    Since she had never worn them before, they were practically brand new.

    New shoes weren''t advisable for practice but she didn''t exactly have a choice.

    One of the models noticed her struggles and approached her. "Hey, need some help?"

    Eve pushed herself off the floor after tripping for the nth time. She didn''t get it. The pumps had added height at the sole so they are easier to wear. Was it the weight that she struggled with? They were, in fact, heavier than stilettos. It didn''t help that the floor was a little slippery. She might have done better on pavement.

    "Yes, please," Eve tried not to sound too desperate.

    Her fellow model chuckled and showed her the ropes. She walked in front of Eve, pointing out certain movements she would use when wearing pumps. Eve tested them in ce and familiarized herself with how the shoes felt.

    After a while, she joined her fellow model in walking.

    5 meters became her new record.

    "Wow!" Eve eximed, excited by her progress. "That really helped. Thank you."

    The model offered her a small smile. "No problem. Oh, I need to go. You can ask me questions if you''re still confused about something."

    "I appreciate that a lot. Thank you."

    Eve spent the next hour walking five meters. She didn''t dare to go further until she was confident enough. What she had learned so far was how to befortable in pumps. What she still needed to know was how to use them in different styles.

    The chatter around the room slowly died down as time passed. Eve focused on her side of the studio, even recording herself so she could see her progress from the side. The mirror only showed her front since she headed towards it.

    Eventually, she would have to turn away from it and not rely on her sight for walking.

    The wound at the back of her feet throbbed scalding pain. Eve sat on the floor and untied her heels. The patches of skin had turned red. Thankfully, there wasn''t any blood but the skin had swelled.

    She blew on them to soothe the pain. An image of Cale''s stern face shed in her mind.

    Oh, he would be furious if he saw these wounds.

    "You''re a hard worker, aren''t you?"

    Eve cursed at how well she could recognize that voice. She rose to her feet, not looking his way and hooking her fingers under her shoe straps. The exit was only a few meters away. She just needed to reach it before he could reach her.

    A hand mmed the door shut when she pulled it open.

    "Do you know how rude it is to ignore someone, Ms. Reed?" Kyle whispered against the back of her ear. She shivered involuntarily.

    "What about you, Mr. Kyle?" Eve said. Her eyes red at the door. She switched her grip on her shoes from the straps to the outsole. "Don''t you think it''s rude to force someone to do something they don''t want?"

    Muffledughter sounded behind her. The more she listened to it, the more it sounded sinister.

    Cold fear electrified her nerve endings.

    Kyle rested his other hand on the door as well, trapping Eve between his arms. He lowered his head and leaned forward until they were cheek to cheek. "Is that what you told Ambryan Hathaway when he offered you a deal to fake date him?"

    Eve jabbed her right elbow against his ribs. He dodged it at once. Seizing her chance, she used her heels to hit the crook of his elbow. Kyle howled in pain and let the door go. Eve yanked on the knob, running for her life.

    She heard him curse from inside the studio but didn''t dare look back.

    Pulling out her phone, Eve dialed Ambryan''s number.

    "Pick up, pick up, pick up" she chanted. "Come on, Ambee. I need to tell you something important. Pick up the call, please!"

    The hallways were empty as she passed through them. Could it be possible that Kyle cleared them out? That sounded a bit exaggerated but, based on what happenedst night, it wouldn''t be something he couldn''t achieve. Pushing that thought aside, Eve begged her brain to figure out Kyle''s identityan influential young man who knew about private information on her dating life with Ambryan.

    Ambryan''sck of response wasn''t helping.

    She ended the call and headed for the elevator, dialing Nanzie instead. The floor numbers indicated that they were still at the top. Her room had to be the safest ce for now.

    "Ms. Eve?"

    "Nanzie! Where are you?" Eve wailed. She ditched the lift and used the emergency stairs. Since she was barefoot, they should be easier to climb. "I need you to guard my room with Cale."

    "Drat. Mr. Kyle has escaped our surveince," Nanzie cursed from the other line. She shouted instructions to herpanions before focusing back on Eve. "Have you seen him, Ms. Eve? Has he harmed you?"

    "I saw him in the practice room. I don''t know what he wants anymore. He seems to know things about Ambryan and I that the public don''t. He could be a reporter, an enemy I don''t know! Ambryan thinks I can figure it out but I''m in a state of panic that I can''t think straight right now."

    Eve reached her floor and mmed her shoulder against the metal door. Her eyes snapped towards the elevator when she heard it ring. Kyle blinked in surprise at the sight of her. The same overwhelming sense of fear thundered in her chest.

    She backed away from him, never breaking eye contact. One look away and he could spring on her. He had just tried to drug herst night. What had he intended to do with her if she had drunk it? The possibilities grew darker and darker as she thought about it.

    "Stay back!" Eve yelled, pointing her shoes at him. She prayed that Nanzie or the hotel staff could hear her. "I''ll report you for assault if you try anything!"

    Kyle stepped out of the lift and tilted his head to one side. "Why, Ms. Hart don''t you think you''re overreacting? You''re acting immature. Aren''t you a grown woman with a fully developed brain?"

    "And aren''t you a grown man who knows right from wrong so why attempt to drug someone?" Eve sneered back. "I think many people would see that as a valid reason for my current actions."

    "Ouch, Ms. Hart," Kyle breathed out, cing a hand over his heart. He stalked towards her. Eve picked up the pace. "You''re using me without evidence. Why would I hurt you like that? I''m quite fond of you."

    Eve shook her head vigorously. She took a chance and threw one shoe in his direction. It hit him on the shoulder. "I don''t know anything other than I''m supposed to know who you are because Ambryan thinks I should. And that somehow that will give me all the answers to your motivations."

    Kyle had begun massaging his sore shoulder. When he heard Ambryan''s name, his hand froze in ce. He turned his head to face Eve once more. "Ah, dear old, Ambryan the son every wealthy businessman wanted."

    "So it is about Ambryan," Eve confirmed to herself, her voice too low for Kyle to hear. She amplified the volume and said, "You have a grudge against Ambryan. That''s why you''re targeting me. Why you were hitting on me, flirting with me, feeling me up on set and were trying to dru"

    She gulped on thest one. Her grip on her shoe tightened. Gradually, the fear she felt diminished. Newfound determination pumped in her blood. She had reached the end of the hallway without her knowledge.

    Her brown eyes darkening with rage, Eve hardened her stance. "If you think, for one minute, that you can use me against Ambryan, I''d like to see you try."

    Kyle almostughed in her face.

    Until, he saw a figure emerge from the shadows.

    A thick and warm arm wrapped around Eve''s chest from behind. The tension on her shoulders immediately rxed.

    Ambryan pulled her closer to him and rested his cheek against her temple. "Think about trying and you''ll wish you''ve never been born, Kyle Rivers."

 Chapter 305: GET LOST! (In My Eyes~)

    Chapter 305: GET LOST! (In My Eyes~)

    "Think about trying and you''ll wish you''ve never been born, Kyle Rivers."

    The light of realization shined on Eve''s brown eyes. Above her, the ceiling had parted and revealed the heavens. Angels came down to y her a tune with their harps. A steady heartbeat pounded near her ears,forting any traces of her worry left inside.

    Behind her, Ambryan breathed in her scent. Little did Eve know, the effects he had on her were also the exact effects she had on him. Word reached his ears that Kyle had attempted to drug Evest night. He saw red the moment they stated that Kyle had gone off their radar and cornered Eve.

    The drive from the airport to the hotel couldn''t have been more dangeroussqueezing through narrow spaces, beating the red lights and going over the speed limit. Foreign authorities had

    "Kyle Rivers? That does sound familiar," Eve remarked, the heel of her shoe still pointed at Kyle. The name even felt aquantainted by the muscle memory of her mouth. The answer was literally at the tip of her tongue.

    Ambyran peeked at her through the corner of his eye. "Don''t you remember, honey? His family runs Peitho Entertainment."

    She snapped her head towards him, meeting his gaze with wide eyes. Her voice softened into a breathy gasp. "That... twerp??"

    The Infamous Self-Proimed Rival of Ambryan Hathaway? The articles about the both of them came into her mind wave after wave. She remembered being furious by theparison. Any time she encountered Kyle in the same room, he bragged about his past achievements or what his parents thought of it.

    Some of them were even from his childhoodirrelevant information among businessmen. He vowed to outrank Eros in the stock market. Some timeter, he had stopped appearing in social events. No one knew the reason behind it except for a number of people.

    He had tried to double their investment through gabbling the principal amount.

    Anyone who had heard of it knew it was only for his self-satisfaction. His family had cut off his personal allowance but he still had ess topany resources.

    With those memories in mind, Eve now had a better idea of Kyle''s intentions.

    Ambryan grinned at her aghast expression. "I knew I liked you for a reason."

    "And here I thought it was my charming good looks."

    "It''s a close second."

    Kyle bared his teeth. The couple acted like he wasn''t there. This sort of treatment wasn''t new to him. But to think, the people who he considered as his enemies also belittled him like his family did. Just one mistake and they started questioning his methods. Although they disagreed with him, at least, his ns got the job done.

    He patted his back pocket and pulled out a bread knife.

    "I''d drop that if I were you," Wen warned behind him. She twisted his wrist in one swoop. A strangled cry erupted from his lips while the knife fell to the floor. Nanzie grabbed it with her gloved hands and secured it in a ziplock bag.

    Wen nodded at Ambryan and Eve, locking Kyle''s other wrist. "We''ll be taking it from here. There''s enough evidence to warrant a case."

    Ambryan granted them his permission. "Good work. Inform me once the Rivers Family respond to the allegations."

    "Yes, Mr. Hathaway."

    More bodyguards surrounded Kyle. He had nowhere to run. He thought back to where it all went wrong. It should have been a simple n. He had dered himself as a fan of Evangeline Reed, crushing any suspicion on his motives.

    Weren''t celebrities supposed to be fond of their fans?

    Howe she never once gave him the benefit of the doubt?

    When the group left, Eve finally let her arm drop. The pain from holding it up for too long slowly seeped into her consciousness. She rolled her shoulder to soothe the pain. "Since when were you here?"

    "Enough to see you throw a shoe at him," Ambryan answered, beaming from ear to ear. He side-stepped and turned her around to face him. His hands sped together behind her lower back. "I''ve never been more proud to call you my girlfriend."

    "Oh, please." Eve scoffed, rolling her eyes.

    He chuckled and tucked a loose hair strand behind her ear. "Figured out what he wanted?"

    Eve pondered about it for a moment. The strings pulled together like a spider''s web. Each new thread connected the facts avable on hand. The angel chorus became louder as she slowly figured it out.

    Ambryan resisted to kiss her scrunched nose, fearing that she''d lose her concentration and me it on him.

    Was it his fault that she looked cute? No. His actions were merely responses to reality.

    "He knows I''m Eve and that you and I had an agreement to fake date..." Eve thought out loud. Then, her brown eyes flickered towards Ambryan''s face. "... it''s because of the script, isn''t it? The one we made to get back that investment from Venus. He got his hands on it."

    ''I love you,'' Ambryan spoke in his head. His chest swelled twice its size. He didn''t know whether it was because of how long they''ve seen each other or how she threatened Kyle for him or how her brain matched his own.

    Eve squinted at the silly grin on his face. "What?"

    Ambryan shook his head. The curled corners of his lips never wavered. "Nothing. I missed you."

    Her heart leaping in joy, Eve stared straight into his violet eyes. Time and ce diminished from the front of her mind. Her senses perceived only him: his touch, his face, his smell

    The only thing that was missing was taste.

    She rose on her tiptoes, her eyelids half-hooded.

    "Now, wait a minute!"

    Eve snapped her towards the end of the hallway. Steel gray eyes threatened to pop out of their sockets. Curly bronze hair stuck out in different directions. Thin lips stretched into an ''O'' shape, Richard had a finger pointed at the couple. His hand trembled slightly.

    He breathed through his mouthaudible enough for Eve and Ambryan to hear.

    "Mr. Kingston?" Eve replied out of reflex. She mped her lips and corrected herself, her voice shrinking. "I mean, Richard. You''re also here."

    "Kyle knows what now?" Richard asked, his eyshes fluttering. "That you''re Eve? Is that what I heard just now? You''re Eve? Former secretary of Ambryan Hathaway in Eros Productions?"

    Eve averted her gaze and puffed out her cheeks. Just how many people did she know? How many more personal reveals should she expect?

    Richard shifted his attention to his best friend. He wagged the finger, yanking it down to the floor. "You told me the assistant part of the script was for dramatic purposes!"

    Ambryan moved back to behind Eve. The palms of his hands rested on her stomach. "Well, Eve wasn''t my assistant now, was she?"

    "..."

    Eve offered Richard a sympathetic smile. Ambryan knew no mercy at times. For someone who figured it out muchter than Mikael did, he sure acted arrogant. He could petty sometimes despite what most people thought.

    And she was more than privileged to know that part of him. Just how many times would she fall for him?

    "Out with it." Richard sighed after a while. He ced his hands on his hips, pulling up the hem of his silver zer. "What else do I need to know? I''m sure you''ve thought of telling me. It''s not like I''m a stranger and not your closest friend."

    "Don''t worry, Mr. Kingston," Eve replied. She squeezed Ambryan''s handsa silent warning not to tease Richard further. "Ambryan didn''t know until monthster. And I saw him almost everyday."

    Ambryan had other ideas. "She''s the childhood crush I told you about."

    Richard nearly had another heart attack. "WaiWhatWhy is that not in the script?!"

    "Childhood crush?" Eve craned her neck to look at Ambryan. "That''s the first time I heard of it. Are you sure you''re not making this up to tease him?"

    Ambryan raised his eyebrows at her. "I wouldn''t kiss just anyone as practice for a y I''d never step on stage for."

    Eve gulped, her ears growing hot. "Y-You remember that?"

    "You were very bold."

    "I was not! I stuttered the whole time!"

    "And that''s why I kissed you. For you to stop shaking. I wouldn''t be that thoughtful unless it was you."

    Richard nced up the ceiling. He spun on his heel and pped his hands, holding them in position for a prayer. "Oh, higher power in heaven, please spare me from this dog food. Spare my single soul from these public disys of affection."

    Eve pursed her lips and dropped her gaze. The Blood rushed into her cheeks. Since they were on topic, she might as well say it

    "I-I liked you too."

    "Oh, have mercy on my weak heart. It is as fragile as talc, the softest mineral on Earth. Its weak delicate nature doesn''t define its worth just like my"

    Ambryan closed his eyes. Then, he opened them in Richard''s direction. "Don''t just pray for things. Take actionsuch as leaving us alone."

    "I''ll see you both tomorrow then. Goodbye."

    Richard fled for his life. At least, he got under Ambryan''s skin even just a little. How dare his best friend not tell him the most important details about his romantic life?

    What would he say in his wedding speech if he didn''t know about these things?

    Eve ced her arms around Ambryan''s neck, ying with his hair. Her lips gradually stretched into a smile. They were alone once again. The same sensation came over hertheir surroundings faded away.

    "What is it?" Ambryan suspected with narrowed eyes.

    "Nothing." Eve said, shaking her head. She could hardly see his face because of how wide she smiled. "I missed you."

    Then, she pulled him down and closed the distance between their lips.

 Chapter 306: I Missed You

    Chapter 306: I Missed You

    A soft moan flowed out of her lips. Her hands clung to the back of his neck, tugging him closer as if to merge into one person. Eve deepened the kiss with a hunger that zed from her core. Critical thinking flew out the window as she gave in to her instincts.

    Ambryan tightened his hold around her waist, answering back just as eager. But something seemed to be missing. Rather, something seemed to becking. It wasn''t enough. His desires wanted more. He groaned against her lips and restrained himself.

    Otherwise, he might have devoured her whole right then and there.

    Eve broke away from the kiss and came up for air. She panted, her breath brushing his skin. She met his brooding eyes and gulped. "I missed you?"

    "I believe you." Ambryan kissed her forehead and held her hand. He led her towards the elevators. "But I don''t think this should be done in the hallway."

    "Right. We should" Anything Eve had to say then would never see the light.

    Once the doors opened, Ambryan yanked her inside and picked his floor. The lift closed its doors and trapped them inside. It was only for a less than a minute but he lost thest bit of his strength and swept Eve off her feet.

    He tilted his head up to kiss her, finding this position much morefortable.

    Eve gasped in surprise. Her knees supported herself up by mping onto his hip. How? She didn''t know. They had moved on their ord and, before she knew it, she couldn''t adjust anymore. Ambryan had left her with little choice when he circles his arms below her bottom.

    Her arms clung to his neck once again.

    The elevator reached the correct floor without interrupts. When the enclosed space unhinged its opening, the couple already separated from each other. Eve averted her gaze away from the hallway. She couldn''t dare to look at anyone if someone happened to be there. She had ridden lifts with Ambryan more times that she could count.

    Never had she thought he''d be the type to attack her like that.

    Ambryan stepped out of the elevator and adjusted the knot of his tie. His pristine clothing and straight posture revealed nothing of what had just transpired. Eve clenched her jaw at the sight, stomping her way behind him.

    It wasn''t fair!

    She probably looked like a messpared to him.

    Unlocking his room, Ambryan finally glimpsed in her direction. The angry scowl between her eyebrows amused him. He smirked and let her inside firsteven bowing like a butler.

    "After you, mdy," he said.

    Eve huffed and marched into the room. She headed for the bathroom immediately. Ambryan chuckled, undoing his tie and shrugging off his zer. He headed for the desk table. Hisptop bagid on top of it. He took out hisptop and logged into the device.

    The sound of keys typing caught Eve''s attention when she exited the bathroom. She paused in front of the door and watched him work. After a while, she sat on the bed. Her focus never left his broad back. The muscles underneath his dress shirt shifted asionally.

    Her hand flinched, itching to trace the creases on the fabric.

    She fell on her back and folded an arm over her eyes.

    ''I must not distract him, I must not distract him, I must not distract him,''

    His eyesses perched on his nose, Ambryan cleaned up a document Madison had messed up. He let the matter go since he had left in a rush when a lot of work needed to be done. It was still somewhat better than starting from scratch.

    He immersed himself into his work mode, failing to notice the time.

    The previous events had slipped out of his mind.

    Then, a slim figure creeped under his right arm.

    Ambryan paused and elevated his hands up. Eve wiggled her way onto hisp. She thought of pulling up his arm but realized she''d block his view of the monitor. In a split second, she decided to spring from the floor. She soon realized it didn''t work as she nned since Ambryan looked in her direction when she appeared.

    Her brown eyes batted theirshes at him. "Hello."

    "What are you" Ambryan trailed off.

    Eve snuggled under his other arm. She sat sideways with her legs dangling over the edge. She hugged him on his torso, resting her temple below his shoulder. Her eyes closed and she sighed. "Don''t mind me. Just keep working."

    "There''s a perfectly good bed"

    "But I don''t want the bed." Eve pressed her lips on his dress shirt and looked up at him through hershes. The pupils of her round eyes seemed bigger than usual. "I want to be with you."

    Ambryan exhaled sharply and wiped a hand over his face. Internal conflict took ce in his head. On one hand, he couldn''tdidn''t!want to deny her wishes. He shared the same sentiments as her. One the other, he had obligations to fulfill. It would cause him more trouble in the future if he neglected them now.

    "It''s okay," Eve whispered as if she could read his mind. "I won''t distract you. I just want to cuddle. I''ll probably fall asleep but if I''m too heavy, you can put me on the bed."

    Caressing her hair, Ambryan pulled her head back against his shoulder. He shifted his attention back on hisptop and resumed typing. Eve slowly gave in to her tired eyelids. The soft keys sedated her like a luby. His body heat soothed her muscles and worries.

    "Ambee," she spoke softly.

    "Yes?"

    "Thank you foring."

    Ambryan flickered his gaze down at Eve. She had her head tilted up towards him. Mouth slightly open, she snored lightly. He brushed a thumb over her exposed cheek and kissed her temple. This image of her would forever be engraved in his mind.

    It was how he wished she''d look for a long period of time.

    The look of peace.

    (A/N: But breathing, of course, right? Right??)

    Eve rolled over to her side. Soft duvet cushioned her slumbering figure. She had changed out of her clothes and wore the oversize robe in the bathroom. Sometime while sleeping, the knot around her waist had loosened.

    Ambryan closed hisptop and joined her on the bed after changing into his sleepwear.

    He took a deep breath, redoing the knot of her waistband. They both had an exhausting day and earned a good amount of rest. He left another lightfeather kiss on the corner of her lips. She mumbled something in her sleep and stretched her arms in his direction.

    A smirk emerged on his face. "Having a naughty dream, Mrs. Hathaway?"

    "Ungh," Eve grunted. Her arm hooked around his neck, she yanked him along with her when she rolled to her other side. Ambryan had the lower half of his body on one side of the bed while the upper half had been trapped by Eve''s embrace. He scooted his legs over her sleeping form and lied on her side of the bedhis back close to the edge.

    He closed his eyes and fell into a deep sleep.

    The next morning, Eve yawned. She nuzzled her nose against Ambryan''s chest. His arm over her upper body kept her warm and safe. A satisfied sigh flowed out of her nose. If Cale could see her now, he''d roll his eyes at her. She had always woken up before her rm went off sinceing to Paris.

    Now, she wouldn''t mind beingte for a day if it meant more time in this bed.

    Her leg slid between Ambryan''s legs and something poked her on the stomach.

    Eve''s eyes flew wide upon realizing what it was. She stared at her boyfriend. His onyx hair had be unruly sometime in the night. He slept soundly and undisturbed. His chest rose and fell in slow and steady beats.

    Pressing her lips together, Eve shifted her position.

    Ambryan held her in ce. She red at his face and suspected that he wasn''t really asleep. She waited for a minute if he''d twitch or try to peek at her. Neither happened. She attempted to escape again but their difference in strength was apparent.

    Eve pinched his side.

    Nothing.

    She bit onto his shoulder.

    Still nothing.

    She blew on her bangs, wondering what to do. She would have been merciful earlier and let him sleep peacefully but this was too much. Arms stretched over her head and parallel to the bed, she tried slipping out of his embrace instead of breaking it.

    It didn''t take long for Eve to face another dilemma.

    Like how the same something poked her on the face

    Ambryan stirred in his sleep. She stayed still. Freedom was almost near. One wrong move and not only would she bete but also she would be sore. Slowly, she inched towards the other side of the bed and nted her feet on the floor, standing up.

    "Where are you going?" Ambryan asked groggily.

    Eve whirled around to see him staring at her with sleepy eyes. Her heart skipped a beat. And, when his lips stretched into azy smile, she almost melted on the stop. Oh, how this man affected every fiber of her being.

    He''d be the death of her somedayand it would be an honorable way to die.

    And that day could be today if he kept looking at her like that.

    Ambryan pressed one side of his face deeper into the pillow and said, "I think we had unfinished business from yesterday. Should be alright now that we''ve rested enough, right?"

 Chapter 307: Kids Can Change the World... or a Grump Old Man

    Chapter 307: Kids Can Change the World... or a Grump Old Man

    Over the next few days, Eve and Ambryan fell into a routine. They had their breakfast along with Cale, Mikael, Jordan and Tiffany every morning. Eve would attend her sses while Ambryan retreats to their room for work. Sometimes he would leave the hotel for a casual meeting with foreign partners.

    Then, for dinner, they''d drive out to explore a new ce to eat. The rest of the night would be spent in their hotel room where Ambryan would resume his work on hisptop.

    He propped an elbow on the desk and covered his mouth with his hand. Scrolling through the document, questions raised in his mind about the financial figures. The rest of the staff had gone home but he needed to learn why they resulted the way they did.

    His chest rose up in deep sigh.

    This meant he had another all-nighter ahead of him.

    From the corner of his eye, he saw a sh of crimson hair. Eve stood in front of the room''s only full-body mirror. She had learned new poses during her sessions. The entire week had been dedicated to best model specific clothing items. Sometimes the photographers coached them on which angles worked best for their body.

    She faced her body towards the right in 45 and pulled her right shoulder back, right hand on her hip. To emphasize her waist, she rested her right elbow against her side. Her left hand rested on the front of her thigh.

    The nightgown she wore had a straight-cut shape.

    But, now, her pose created folds that shaped her curves.

    Ambryan watched silently as Eve tried to remember how to angle her face. She turned her head from left to right, lifted her chin up and tucked it downeven craning her neck. Her undone hair followed each movement like a waterfall over her back.

    He could do this all day and not get tired of it.

    Then, a thought urred to him. The wardrobe Eve obtained were either sponsored by brands or borrowed. Their existence was to elevate the looks of her status but none of them were specifically acquired to suit her as her own personal style. She had to model for the brands in return.

    His violet eyes flickered to his mobile phone.

    Paris was known as one of the fashion capitals of the world.

    What was a better chance to shop than now?

    .

    .

    .

    .

    .

    "Dear, have you heard about the incident with Kyle Rivers?"

    Avery sat in the living room of Hathaway Manor. She wore her pink silk pajamas, waiting for her husband toe home. Her legs were perched up on the sofa while her back leaned on the armrest. Because of the floral pattern of the furniture, she seemed part of the decoration.

    A servant helped Jackson hang his coat in the closet. He had returned from a business dinner that included severalpany associatesone of them notably being Venus Investments. He undid the knot of his tie but left it around his neck.

    Avery put her magazine down and moved her feet to the floor.

    Jackson approached her, nting a kiss on top of her head.

    "Had a rough night?" She asked as he sat down beside her. She scooted closer and lied on top of him with her arm around his waist. He began rubbing her back. She wondered if he was even aware of this habit.

    "News spread fast about the Rivers'' son." Her husband sighed, closing his teal eyes.

    Avery ced her head on his chest and looked up at him. "Any rumors that they''d counter sue?"

    "Nothing yet." Jackson sighed again. He fluttered his eyes open and stared at the ceiling. "Let''s face it. It''s not the first time Kyle had done something outrageous. What they want to preserve is the family name. Private negotiations should start soon to avoid the public eye."

    The meeting urred every three months. As much as he wanted to focus on their agenda, his business associates couldn''t help but gossip about the incident. It was understandable given that it had something to do with the investment from Venus.

    They had yed it off like they wanted to congratte him for getting back.

    But, in reality, they just wanted to know more about the aftermath.

    "Do you think" Avery trailed off, biting her bottom lip. A nagging suspicion tickled her mind. She couldn''t shake it off since finding out what happened. Some might say it was a ridiculous thought but the moment she thought about it, she thought of nothing else.

    "No, I don''t think so."

    Her violet eyes widened at his face. "You didn''t even know what I was going to say!"

    Jackson looked in her direction with his eyebrows raised. They had been married for almost 30 years. How could he not know what she was thinking? "You were going to ask if Kyle was behind the fire at the new studio."

    "Well" Avery felt her throat clog up. He got her there. "ButIt''s not the first time he had done something outrageous?"

    "He''s not the only one outrageous in that family."

    Her heart sped up when he dropped those words. Power struggle was a known issue within the Rivers Family. With Kyle behaving this way, others pounced at the chance to inherit thepany. They kept the conflicts internal so far.

    But to attack Eros in order to get what they wanted wasn''t impossible.

    When Avery spoke again, her voice became small. "Will Ambryan and Evangeline be okay?"

    "I''m sure they''ll be fine," Jackson assured her. He pulled her close and kissed her forehead. "Just focus on the holidays. They''d face a lot together. A good party might be something they''d need soon."

    The married couple sat in silence. Although he said it with good intentions, Avery barely had any energy to think about a party right now. Traces about the fire came to light piece by piece but they had a long way to go if they wanted to lead it back to its mastermind. Footage about the taxi crash also became sources for clues.

    She wouldn''t rx until they had been resolved.

    "Are Eve and Ambyran in trouble?"

    Avery and Jackson snapped their heads over their shoulders. Two innocent faces waited for their response. Both had a pair of almond-shaped brown eyes each. Cinnamon hair framed their faces and gleamed under the chandelier lights.

    "Girls, shouldn''t you be asleep?" Avery asked. She sat up and narrowed her gaze at them.

    Ede ced her chin on the backrest of the sofa. Shrugging her shoulders, she said, "But we got worried when you didn''t leave the couch."

    Eri followed her example. The twins stared at their guardians. Their under eyes had a tint of bluish purple. They had snuck into the kitchen for some milk when they noticed the madam in the living room and checked the time.

    They''d never seen her do that the other times they came down for milk.

    Avery softened her expression. How could she resist such cuties? "Aw, thank you for staying, dears. We''re just fine. Go to your room."

    "Yes, Aunt Avery."

    The twins bid them good night and ran up the stairs. Although they were in the clear, the couple could still change their minds. They didn''t want to be around if that happened.

    Jackson observed the little girls. The house had never been livelier before they got here. Their music practice echoed around the cepleasant to the ears as well. They also interacted with the help. They always spoke their minds and shared their little sources of joy.

    It was a far cry from when Ambryan moved in when he was close to their age.

    "I wonder when I''ll get a grandchild from our son."

    Avery craned her neck to have a look at her husband. "You want a grandchild?"

    "Can''t I?" Jackson frowned.

    "No, I just never heard that before."

    He opened his mouth. Then, he closed it again. Of course, he wanted a grandchild. If possible, he wanted Ambryan and Evangeline to stay in the manor during that time. That way, he could see the baby easily whenever he was free.

    "Then again, maybe I am getting ahead of myself," he thought out loud. "Marriage should be the next step. I should give Ambryan a call on his ns for a proposal."

    Avery gaped, hardly believing what he just said. "Dear, they haven''t dated for that long yet. You''ve barely met Evangeline all this time. How could you suddenly be this eager to have her as a daughter-inw?"

    "She''s a smart woman."

    "And?"

    "Charismatic."

    "And?"

    "And a lot like my wife. What''s a better qualification?" Jackson concluded. He wouldn''t admit to it but the presence of kids was the real reason behind it. The younger they were, the more time to build a family. That also meant more time for him to make memories with the young ones around.

    He couldn''t wait to see what offsprings their genes would produce.

    .

    .

    .

    .

    .

    "Ambee, why are we here?"

    Eve trailed behind him, entering a boutique. The weekend hade and they had more the entire day free. Ambryan expressed that he wanted to start looking around for souvenirs. Avery loved it when he took the time in making a decision. Safe to say, Eve had left the hotel with the madam in mind.

    A clothing store sounded reasonable.

    Except, based on the sign, they used a traditional approachsuch as tailoring every piece of clothing to the wearer''s measurements. They offered a variety of styles from day time wear to night time. Even one catalog contained popr designs from different eras.

    Because of mass production, this practice dwindled but the shop continued to keep it alive.

    Not only did it take a lot of time before a customer could wear them but it also charged a significant amount of money. Eve pressed her lips together and clung to her purse strap.

    What were they doing here?

    "Bonjour, madame et monsieur. Que puis-je faire pour vous?"

    Ambryan approached the counter and scanned the wall behind the store representative. The disy showed photos of theirtest works. "Bonjour, mademoiselle. Avez-vous ce dsign disponible?"

 Chapter 308: La Madame Hathaway Exposé

    Chapter 308: La Madame Hathaway Expos��

    The store representative nced at the spot he pointed out. It was one of their premium designsmostly reserved for VIP customers. She typed into herputer hidden underneath the counter, saying,

    "Avez-vous une rservation, monsieur?"

    "Oui, sous Hathaway," Ambryan replied. He peeked at Eve over his shoulder. She stood by the entrance like a lost rabbit. Her brown eyes pleaded with him for help. He paused and enjoyed the moment for a bitfinding it cute while she deepened the scrunch of her eyebrows.

    He turned back to the store representative. Thetter had changed entirely in demeanor. Her smile had widened in the second he looked away.

    "Parlez-vous anis, mademoiselle?"

    "Bien sr, monsieur Hathaway," she responded. Her eyes alsonded in Eve''s direction. "Est-ce pour madame?"

    "Oui, s''il vous t. Nous vous en serons trs reconnaissants." Ambryan gestured for Eve toe closer. She hastily walked towards him and realized how silly she must look. Squaring her shoulders, she smiled at the store representative.

    "Good morning, madame Hathaway," she heard her say in a thick French ent. "Thank you for choosing our shop."

    "Oh!" Eve gasped, feeling sheepish. "G-Good morning. Thank you for using English."

    "No problem, madame. Please head this way. Your reservation is on the upper floor. Enjoy."

    Ambryan held Eve by the hand and led her towards the elevator. The front of the shop was for aesthetic purposes. If they peeked further back, they''d find a modern setupmon in other luxury boutiques.

    The lift opened its doors once when they reached the correct floor. Eve jumped at the group of staff workers that waited for them. She clung to Ambryan''s arm, fixing her expression upon noticing their warm smiles.

    "Madame and monsieur! Wee, wee!" One of them greeted. He wore a dark buttoned vest with gold embroidery patterns. His olive skin glowed like a new penny. ck twisted curls sat on top of his head that faded near his ears.

    He also had the same richness in his ent.

    "I''m Luc and I''ll be your host for today. Please follow me."

    He strutted down the hallway. The rest stepped aside to let Ambryan and Eve walk ahead. As Eve looked around, she noticed the borate furniture that looked straight out of a Jane Austen novel. They had chosen a cool scheme with different shades of blues and greens along with white and gold.

    "Ambryan, is this a cafe or a boutique?" She asked.

    "You''ll see."

    Soon, they entered a room hidden from the rest of the upper floor.

    Eve felt like they just time travelled to the past. The interior design had replicated a drawing room from the renaissance era. From the carvings on the ceiling to the matching drapes and cushions to the richly decorated cream furniture with carving, gilding, iidit was all too much to take in.

    Luc headed over to the sitting area, pointing towards the sofa. "Have a seat. Everything is prepared for you. Would you like to see the clothes first or browse the catalog for the unreleased designs?"

    While Ambryan led Eve to the couch, Luc shifted his attention to the other staff. "Servez le champagne s''il vous t."

    Ambryanced his fingers together and ced his arms on his thighs. "I believe we ordered some designs ahead of time. Please let madame Hathaway try them first while I check the exclusive catalog."

    Eve snapped her gaze towards him.

    ''Did I just hear what I think I heard?''

    "Aha! I like how you think, monsieur Hathaway!" Luc pped his hands and passed the instructions to the rest of the staff. They disappeared to another room while a bottle of champagne and a bowl of chocte-covered strawberries came on a cart.

    He offered his hand to Eve and said, "Right this way, madame Hathaway."

    "Um" Despite her thoughts a second ago, she turned to Ambryan for answers. The current events had her overwhelmed. This wasn''t a simple clothing store nor a tailor shop. It felt like a hybrid of both that she experienced only once beforewhich was when she and Cale shopped for her first date dress.

    Except, this was a whole new level.

    Ambryan merely smiled and nudged her side. "Go ahead."

    Eve took a deep breath, epting Luc''s hand. He led her into a double doorway. The other side had to be the biggest closet she had encountered so far. Racks of clothes and shelves of shoes and essories outlined the room.

    "Wow! That''s a lot of clothes..." Eve remarked, looking in every direction at once.

    Luc pulled her towards the clothes that made up one side of the room. Then, he let go of her hand. "Please take a look around, madame Hathaway. Choose which one you want to try first. All of them are catered to your measurements."

    Eve''s ears perked up at hisst statement. "My measurements?"

    "Yes, madame Hathaway. See? Looks exactly like you, no?" Heughed.

    Brown eyes popped out of their sockets. While rolling another rack of clothes, the staff had also brought a couture dress worn by a mannequin with a red wig. Eve touched her own hair, ying with the tips while she connected the dots.

    Then, she looked down at her bust andpared it to the mannequin.

    "Holy sh"

    "The dress is beautiful, don''t you agree?" Luc interrupted her. He advised the staff to ce the mannequin in front of them. "Would you like to try it first? Give monsieur Hathaway a shock."

    It was beautiful like he said. Strapless, it had a straight across neckline and cinched at the waist. The skirt red down to the knees. The cut seemed simple enough but the design was intricate. Silk organza flowers covered the bodice and the skirt like a gardenpink, violet and blue colors popped out among the other daisies, daffodils and more.

    Eve didn''t notice she had attempted to touch the dress until she felt it under her fingertips.

    "Is it for the spring collection?" She asked. From what she had learned, this was a certified couture dress. One that usually graced the runways during fashion week. Since spring season for the year had passed, it sounded more logical to think it would be for the following one.

    "Why no, madame Hathaway. It''s from the spring collection back in the 40s. Isn''t it exquisite how some designs never lose their touch? Monsieur Hathaway insisted on having this remade even if it''s not produced anymore. All done by hand," Luc exined.

    His words confirmed her thoughts about the dress. Nodding her head, frown lines creased between her eyebrows. "Ambryan requested for this?"

    "He requested for everything you see in this room, madame. You may choose whichever design you please but this one dress is a must."

    Eve assessed the dress from head to toe. She had been in awe of it since it came in. It ced everything else to shame. This was a piece that she could confidently call as a work of art. The quality and the details proved that.

    Her hand brushed over the soft flowers. None of them ovepped. Their cements were precise like a puzzlefilling up spaces where they strategically belonged.

    Luc watched her admire the dress. He tilted his head to one side and lowered his voice into a whisper. "If I may be so bold, madame Hathaway. Designers love nothing more but for their creations to be loved and worn. The passion for their craftsmanship is in every inch of their clothes."

    Eve remained silent.

    "Others might find it ridiculous to spend this much money on couture but the intricate work ced in the products and all the ones before them cannot be denied," he concluded. Everything had already been paid for since they had to be sewn to her specific measurements.

    Thus, there was nothing else to do but wait.

    "I would like to try it on," Eve said after a while.

    Luc kept his soft tone and directed her to one corner. It had a small tform with drapes that hung on a circr metal pole. "There''s a changing area right over there. The staff will assist you."

    "Thank you, Luc."

    Ambryan sipped on a cup of tea, reading the catalog like it was a newspaper. He had consulted several people before making the trip. Cale and his mother provided insights on what they thought looked best on Eve. Andieand Rosealso gave opinions. Then, he asked the designer for suggestions, remembering the information he had gathered.

    The double doors opened and he set his cup down. He crossed his arms over his chest and prepared for the reveal.

    Heels cked on the wooden floor, echoing in both rooms.

    Time had slowed down and Eve emerged from the dressing room with her head bowed. But, at the same time, Ambryan saw her gaze up in half a second. Her red lips parted open upon eye contact.

    A faux fur white shawl wrapped over and around her shoulderswith a silver brooch pinned on the middle. The clear crystals matched her teardrop earrings and the butterfly barrette on one side of her crimson hair. Together, they elevated the dress'' alreadyvish aesthetic.

    "What do you think?" Eve asked when Ambryan hadn''t reacted. She even swayed her hip to the side, ced her lower arms up and shrugged her shoulders.

    "You look beautiful," he said, perking up his lips with each syble and smiling from ear to ear.

    Eve averted her gaze and hid her blushing cheeks. The way he said it made it seem like it included flying kisses. Either he meant it to do that way or her subconscious wanted him to.

    Ambryan regarded her from head to toe, noticing the silver heels as well. "Do you like it?"

    "Well" Eve paused. She followed his line of sight and ced her hands on her hips. Her feet rocked back and forth. "I heard from Madam Isabelle you used to like dresses and even wore them sometimes. Guess your taste never fully faded away, huh?"

 Chapter 309: A Private Fashion Show

    Chapter 309: A Private Fashion Show

    "I have two maternal figures with impable taste," Ambryan retorted, clicking his tonguea habit he may or may not have picked up from Eve. He picked up his tea. "I would be considered a disappointment if I can''t live up to it."

    Eve merely shook her head. She did a little twirl. The way the flowers blended together mesmerized her. The staff watched from the open doors. They had seen couples visit the store before. Rarely did they see both engaged in shopping for clothes.

    Ambryan smirked. "So you do like it?"

    "I love it," Eve gushed, brown eyes sparkling at him. "Can I wear it for the rest of the day?"

    "You still have to try the rest."

    She nced over her shoulder. The staff averted their gazes and busied among themselves. Even from this viewpoint, the doorway barely revealed the amount of clothes inside the other room. Her head slowly turned back to Ambryan.

    "I can''t do that. I already have a closet of clothes," she reasoned. They were beyond anything she had imagined. Several of them had pushed her out of herfort zone, discovering new styles to love.

    Ambryan exhaled sharply through his nose. He had seen thising. "But those are from brand deals. You never really got to choose what you want and that''s what I want to give you. I already spoke to Cale about your closet. Anything you don''t like can be returned. That way you have room for the ones you do like."

    Eve made the mistake of looking into the dressing room once more. This time, the staff met her eyes with warm and encouraging smiles. Eagerness painted over their faces. She could almost hear their silent words of anticipation in her head.

    "At least, try them all," she heard Ambryan say. "Don''t think about it too much. Everyone in this room worked hard for this moment. You of all people should know the clothes should be given a chance."

    Then, she shifted her attention back towards him. Her shoulders slumped slightly.

    Ambryan shed her a wide smile and pped his hands. "So put on a show."

    "What?" Eve scoffed in disbelief, putting her hands on her hips. "You think you can just bring me here without any fair warning and fully expect that I''ll just give you a whole private fashion show?"

    And so a private fashion show didmence.

    Eve and the staff agreed to categorize the outfits. They started with more casual dresses. Each one included a dramatic entrance. She used everything she learned so far from the modelling camp.

    Throughout the process, she added her own spin for the outfits she enjoyed and emphasized the clothing items she loved. From a pair ofbat boots to a wool-tweed coat to a fully-buttoned ck suit jacket with nothing but lingerie and mini shorts underneath

    "This gives me an idea," Eve said, tucking her hands inside the jacket''s pockets. "If you have spare suits, I can have them altered to fit me like this one. I''d wear to an event and, if they asked me who I was wearing, I could say you"

    Ambryan spat on his third cup of tea.

    He cleaned himself up while a staff member took his cup away and reced it with a new one.

    "andpletely mess with the public!" Eve continued. She remained in her own little bubble and missed his reaction. Then, she half-turned towards the dressing room, still babbling, "It''s brilliant! I should have thought of it sooner!"

    Meanwhile, Ambryan had gonepletely red. He hid his face behind his hand. The neckline of the suit jacket extended to below the breast area. Never mind that his girlfriend just came out looking like a sexy fox but that she would recreate the look with his own clothes

    the image had given him fantasies he never knew existed to him before.

    "Madame Hathaway is quite bold, isn''t she?" Lucmented while Ambryan recovered from the depths of his imagination. "Far from her demure appearance earlier."

    Ambryan chose not to take the bait. "Put that suit jacket in the bottom of the pile."

    "As you wish, monsieur Hathaway."

    Eve found herself in a round of pants and tops ensemble. They ranged from patchwork wide-leg to wool ck pants to even faux leatherwhich she didn''t enjoy. Tops came in cream blouses in silk, a sheer ck one withce stron, cotton poplin with a shirt tail and many more.

    This one tired Eve the most since they came in, at least, two pieces each time.

    They saved the evening gowns forst.

    The first one reminded Eve of a movie scene where the main actress wore something simr. The emerald dress had a wide V-neck that thinned into strings over the shoulder for straps. The front draped over her torso simr to a nightgown. The skirt flowed down to the floor in a straight cut, ring only near the hem like curtains.

    For this one, Eve opened the doors herself and marched into the drawing room. The emerald skirt red out from her catwalk and her swaying hips. She turned around to reveal the backless cut. The fabric wrapped around her lower back and hips, emphasizing her shape.

    She flipped her hair while her back was still turned and winked in Ambryan''s direction.

    "Hello, Mr. Hathaway," Eve spoke softly, resisting the fit of giggles that threatened toe out of her lips. "Can I please have the leading part in your next movie?"

    Ambryan arched an eyebrow. "And why should I pick you among the rest?"

    It was her turn to smirk. Her hands went to behind the sides of her waist and she pulled her shoulders back and entuated the curve of her spine as well as her chest. "So you''ll be able to take off this dress."

    "If you want some privacy, we''ll dly get out of your way," Luc suggested.

    The other staff members snickered to themselves when they saw Ambryan blush red. Unlike his significant other, he needed to practice proper decorum to conserve his family name. Eve bit her tongue between her teeth and showed it to him.

    It broke a bit of his resolve.

    If she was having fun, two could y that game.

    "Thank you for the thought, Luc," Ambryan began to say. "But we have no intention of breaking your furniture nor having you discover that the room isn''t as soundproof as you think."

    Eve widened her eyes at him while their audience covered their mouths, suppressing both their amusement andments. She narrowed her gaze. This wasn''t over yet. She had no doubts about the confidentiality agreement of the shopespecially when they were VIP guests.

    Smiling sweetly at Luc, she said, "I''d like some private time with monsieur Hathaway please."

    "Certainly, madame Hathaway."

    Luc and the staff retreated to the dressing room. The double doors closed with a click. Eve opened it for a while and told them something before she locked the doors. Her brown eyes found her target once more. A mischievous grin slowly curled the corner of her lips upwards.

    Ambryan stared at her with watchful eyes. "Pray tell me what you n to do."

    Eve reached the sofa and propped her hands on either side of his head, pressing them against the wall behind him. She leaned down until their noses were inches apart. "I don''t n to do anything, Mr. Hathaway. After all, it doesn''t take long for you to get in the mood, does it?"

    .

    .

    .

    .

    .

    "That has to be the most exhausting shopping spree I''ve ever been to," Eve dered as she exited the boutique. She waved her hands at the staff who escorted them to the main entrance. They returned the gesture with equal enthusiasm.

    Ambryan came up behind her and pressed a hand on her lower back. "But you enjoyed it."

    "I did and I enjoyed messing with you the most."

    "I gathered as much."

    Eve took his hand on her back, moving it to her shoulder and using his arm for warmth. She had changed back into the flower dress that she fell in love with. Pairing it with tights and heeled boots, she managed to keep herself warm along with a wool coat and the faux fur shawl.

    But, a little extra body heat never hurt anyone.

    The couple strolled down the sidewalk and enjoyed the scenery of Paris. They passed by cafes and shops. A mix ofnguages reached their ears, hinting on the amount of tourists. Eve peeked inside a cafe window. Another couple sat inside with their hands intertwined. The woman had a diamond ring on her finger.

    Suddenly, memories of her and Andie talking about honeymoon fantasies came to her mind. Paris had always been among the choices. She had been here for weeks but only did she smell the City of Love in the air, squeezing the hand on her shoulder.

    Ambryan gazed down at her.

    Then, he followed her line of sight. "Do you want to go inside?"

    "Oh, no, it''s okay," Eve corrected. She bowed her head as a flusteredugh flowed out of her lips. "I want to keep walking. We can go to a cafeter."

    "Aren''t you exhausted?" He frowned.

    "Yes, but I''m in a mood to explore. My legs can still hold up." Eve scrambled her mind for a topic she could use to change the subject. "Are you really not gonna tell me which clothes you pick until they''re delivered to the hotel?"

    "Yes, I really won''t tell you." Ambryan chuckled, patting her head. Then, he tucked a loose strand behind her ear. "But I want to thank you for humoring my antics."

    "You mean cornering me into epting the gifts?"

    He shrugged. "Well, it''s a start since you''ll be wearing a lot more clothes like this soon enough."

    "What?" Eve froze. She pulled their walk into a halt. What was he trying to say?

    Ambryan gave her a confused look. "You are aiming to be part of fashion week someday, right?"

    "Ah, yeah." Eve cleared her throat and pushed her thoughts aside. "I am."

 Chapter 310: Shinier Than the Stars Above

    Chapter 310: Shinier Than the Stars Above

    "How beautiful is this ce."

    Eve stepped out the elevator. Before her, two ss-panelled white doorsid open. Her heels cked on cement as she strolled through them and entered the rooftop garden.

    Red and orange dried leaves covered the soil. Twinkling lights hung on the barren branches of bushes and trees. A small waterfall flowed on the right, surrounded byrge rocks for a pond. She followed the stone path and dipped her fingers into the water.

    It felt warm to the touchsomething she found surprising at this time of year.

    Ambryan emerged from the same entrance she took. A waiter excused himself and passed him by, heading for the marble table and chairs. He set down their afternoon snacks and hot beverages.

    "I bet this would look so much better in the spring," Eve remarked, her head whirling around to look in every direction. She could almost imagine the abundance of green leaves on the tall trees. They could cover the cityndscape and enclose them in a small patch of nature.

    Thanking the waiter, Ambryan brought Eve her cup of hot chocte. "I think some of the trees are a little old. They may need recing. Any idea on what type of trees should be good? Nothing that bears fruit."

    "Hmm," Eve hummed, taking a sip. She had stolen Ambryan''s jacket and wore it around her shoulders while he used his dark overcoat for warmth. Her brown eyes scanned the ce. "White and/or pink dogwood. Maybe cherry blossoms if possible."

    "White and pink themed?"

    Eve shrugged. "I don''t know what trees are in this VIP cafe. I''m not well-versed on trees either."

    She approached the garden table and sat on the marble bench. She felt its cold temperature through the fabric of her skirt. Ambryan joined her, resting his arm on the backrest. Eve snuggled into his side even without knowing.

    The traffic noise sounded far away despite how they never left the city.

    They had walked around for over an hour before taking their lunch in a 5-Star restaurant that Ambryan rmended. Like their previous dates, Eve didn''t know how to read the menu and ate what Ambryan ordered for them. She enjoyed every bite andplimented the cookwith Ambryan tranting for her.

    Eveid her head on Ambryan''s shoulder and enjoyed the view as well as their privacy. She pulled up her feet, propping her legs on the bench. "We''ve been sight-seeing a lot but I don''t think we''ve seen everything yet."

    "Do you want to?" Ambryan asked, arching an eyebrow.

    She tilted her chin up to meet his eyes. "Why does that sound like there''s a warning to it?"

    He chuckled. "It requires spending."

    "Ah."

    "I don''t mind spending my money for our dates," Ambryan reasoned. She didn''t have to say it but he knew it was a constant thought in her head. She always hesitated whenever it involved arge sum of moneybut, eventually, gave in.

    "I know. It''s just" Eve trailed off, her eyes dropping. She had racked her brain for something that would show her gratitude and her feelings. What she had done so far couldn''t evenpare to how thoughtful Ambryan became all of a sudden.

    He had just bought her a new wardrobe for crying out loud!

    What could a man like him want that he didn''t have and she could give?

    Ambryan put his drink down. "I''m not patient enough for your investments to grow."

    Eve snapped her head in his direction. "You know about that?"

    "That my smart girlfriend invested the majority of her money in stocks and bonds?" He borated with raised eyebrows. "Yes, of course, I know. Your financial adviser is the same as my mother''s. You can guess who told me."

    She groaned and scratched the side of her. She never meant to hide it but she''d rather not bring it up until the investments earned returns. It had be her newfound goal since saving enough for her siblings. Avery had insisted she took the money from the contractwhich felt weird after catching feelings for Ambryan.

    They eventually reached apromise and invested the money.

    Avery had told her to view it as a gift but Eve couldn''t think of an asion where that idea would fit the most.

    "I''m not going to lie. Having the luxury to spendrge amounts of money is very nice..." she began to say after a moment of silence. Her hands gripped the mug tighter. "But I still standby that the best feeling in the world is me being able to spend my own money. It''s something I didn''t have until"

    She nearly choked at the end of the sentence. It seemed like years had passed since shest struggled for financial stability. Since dating Ambryan, she had taken steps that catered to her own happiness. There was still a long way to go for her to fulfill forgotten dreams.

    But she looked forward to the journey more.

    "I understand." Ambryan kissed the top of her head and rubbed her upper arms. "And you can spend your money as you wish. But, right now, let me spend mine on what I love."

    Eve slowly blinked her eyes up at him. "Suits?"

    "..."

    "Tea!" She gasped. How could she have forgotten about that?

    "..."

    "Tomatoes!"

    Ambryan flicked her nose. "Now, you''re just being silly."

    She rubbed the sore spot, pouting through hershes. "Is it not an object?"

    "Are you an object?" He pointed out with wide violet eyes.

    "See, Ambee" Eve rubbed her lips together and angled her hand one palm up. "The one of the basic rules in English grammar is that a person is a ''who'' and not a ''what.''"

    "People are not objects," she concluded, batting hershes with innocent eyes.

    Ambryan gradually leaned down until their foreheads touched. Eve gulped. A small ounce of fear tingled at the back of her head. As if detecting her anxiety, Ambryan trapped her in ce. He enveloped her attention and all five senses.

    "Maybe this would make it clearer for you, " he said and paused. Eve hadn''t blinked since he closed the gap between them. Her brain went on overdrive and full alert. She almost missed his next words.

    "I"

    "... love"

    "... you."

    Eve hitched her breath. She had frozen still while the world moved on. The three words echoed in her head, over and over again like a broken record. She fell in a loop, euphoria overwhelming her insideif only she could take the time to call Andie and Rose to squeal all about it.

    Ambryan started to worry a little. "Eve? Are you okay?"

    "I-IThey make this so easy in movies. I should have memorized what the script said," Eve bbered. The urge to facepalm tempted her.

    "You don''t have to answer it back as long as you don''t go running away from me like when I first kissed you." Ambryan gave her a pointed look. "I even warned you about it this time."

    Eve opened her mouth, thinking of something romantic to say. "I appreciate that."

    It failed the second she tried.

    "Come on. They should light the Eiffel Tower soon."

    Ambryan led her to a staircase at the end of the garden. Made of cement and pebbles, it could fit three people simultaneously and opened to a small balcony that overlooked the city. The infamous Eiffel Tower stood tall and proud as the sunset shined behind it.

    Eve rested her wrists on the baluster. A wind caressed her cheek. Ambryan hugged her from behind. The sun continued its descent and the couple, along with the people of Paris, watched the day shift into nightwhen Eiffel Tower melted with the shadows.

    At first, yellow light bloomed from inside the tower. Eve stared in admiration. It was as if the light of the sun had been snuffed by the tower and had taken possession of it. The timing couldn''t have been more right for it to light up.

    She thought that was it until the lights began to dance.

    The Eiffel Tower sparkled from the res of white light that frisked over it. Stars faded in from the dark sky but they paled inparison to the famousndmark. Faint ssical music began to y from one of the nearby buildings.

    Then, themp lights turned on around the garden, illuminating the couple.

    "Eve," she heard Ambryan whisper in her ear.

    Smiling, Eve met his gaze. "Yes?"

    Maybe she was bad at words but she hoped he could see how much love was in her eyes.

    He leaned down to kiss her lips. "I love you."

    "So I heard." Eve waited for him to give her another kiss. The moment was perfectas if straight out of a movie or a romantic nonsensical novel published online. She wouldn''t mind another sappy memory to relish.

    But Ambryan broke her fantasy with another phrase that contained three words.

    "There''s something else."

    He rummaged through his pant pocket and took out a ck velvet box.

    Then, he let her go, lowering himself on one knee. Eve stepped back in shock. Her brown eyes almost popped out of their sockets! She covered her mouth with both hands, trying to regain her breathing.

    Wasn''t he supposed to give her time? What changed his mind? Or wait he must have had that box all along. He never intended to wait. It had all been hinted throughout their conversation. They all led to this moment.

    "Eve, I know this is surprising but" Ambryan opened the lid. Its content shined almost as bright as the Eiffel Tower they just saw. His tender violet eyes looked up at her, full of hope.

 Chapter 311: No Refund and No Return Policy

    Chapter 311: No Refund and No Return Policy

    "Eve" Ambryan started over. He watched her face as a million emotions painted over it. She fluttered her eyes at the velvet box, hardly believing what she saw.

    "Would you"

    .

    .

    .

    .

    .

    .

    .

    .

    .

    .

    "... move in with me?"

    A gold-coated key sat inside the velvet box. It had a tiny strawberry keychain attached to it made of ss beads in red and green. Both glinted under themp lights. The teardrop shape of the beads added an extra effect much like the twinkling Eiffel Tower.

    Eve bent down and inspected the key closer. It had an ordinary shape but not like the one she had be familiar with. "That''s not your apartment key is it?"

    "No, it''s not," Ambryan replied, riding to his feet. He plucked out the key and held it up by the ring that connected the key and the strawberry. "It''s my house key. I have a residential house as you know. If Jared and Andie can live together, I don''t see why we can''t when we get back."

    Slowly, Eve grabbed hold of the key. She had heard of Ambryan''s house but had never seen it. He never hosted parties outside of work. If it''s anything like his penthouse, the ce had to be pre-furnished when he purchased it.

    "Why does the keychain look weird?" She asked. The strawberry had been welded onto the ring instead of having a string or a chain to dangle from.

    "I find that they easily break," Ambryan exined. "I had the strawberry made so I thought you wouldn''t want to lose it like how I don''t want you to lose it."

    "For a second there, I thought you were going to ask something else," Eve joked.

    "Well"

    Her body had turned into ice strong enough to wreck the Titaa ship. It was a trap! Yet, another thing she failed at today. Of course, he had something up his sleeve! This was all a ruse to mislead her and to weigh her reaction.

    Ambryan checked his other pocket and took out a white leather box. Eve widened her eyes. Her heart threatened to jump out of her chest. How dare he let her go through this a second time

    He opened it, handing her a second key. "This one is for my residence here in France."

    Eve felt her knees go weak. She had lost years of her life from the anxiety he caused her in a span of minutes.

    "You" she breathed out. Her voice gradually grew stronger as she spoke. "Have a house... in France?"

    "More like a floor space," Ambryan exined. It was nothing like his residential home and was more simr to his penthouse. "This garden is included."

    "This is yours?!"

    "Yes, this garden is on top of my residence. Your wardrobe from earlier should be in the closet. I was worried that you might not like to stay here because it''s not near the hotel but Cale told me to let you decide."

    Ambryan grasped her other hand and ced the key on her palm, folding her fingers over it. "It has more space for you to practice and more privacy if you need it. We can stay every weekend or whenever you feel like it. Your choice."

    Eve blinked and looked around. She had taken the elevator here with Ambryan and thought it was an exclusive cafe. The waiterservanthad greeted them, asking what they wanted to drink.

    She backtracked to their earlier conversations. It was Ambryan who said he knew a ce which served better hot chocte than the cafe she wanted to try. He never once hinted that it was private property

    Shaking her head, she let the sequence of events go and focused on the next step. "Aren''t you ever going home?"

    Ambryan pulled her back into his arms. "I will go back with you for the holidays. Then, stay in Maize City while you fly to Paris once again."

    He gripped her tight, already dreading the near future. "I just wanted you to know that you have a home here to run to whenever you feel unsafe."

    Eve tightened her hold on the two keys. She threw her arms around his neck and rose on her toes for a kiss. "Thank you."

    "You can''t return it, okay?" Ambryan warned.

    She giggled in response. "I won''t."

    He held her in ce, deepening the kiss. Snow began to fall from the dark skya perfect setting for a new chapter in their lives.

    The couple spent the remaining days in Ambryan''s residence. Although Eve wouldn''t have minded staying in the hotel during weekdays, she found out that Ambryan would also do the same which meant he''d be spending unnecessary money.

    And so, that led her to choose staying in the residence.

    Nothing else happened at this time. Both focused on their jobs and spent time together whenever free. It was a sneak into their lives once they permanently moved in togetherforming a new routine.

    Their "Good Morning" and "Good Night" messages had be whispers in bed. They shared both the start and the end of their day together. Ambryan cooked breakfast while Eve washed the tes.

    The days passed by in a breeze.

    Soon, they hopped on a ne and travelled back to Maize City.

    "WELCOME BACK, LOVE BIRDS!" Avery yelled, running out of Hathaway Manor. She had specifically instructed Wen to drive the couple to their estate as soon as theynded.

    Safe to say, she had looked forward to it all week.

    "Aunt Avery!" Eve greeted back with half of the enthusiasm. Tired from the flight, it was all she could manage. Servants came to take their luggage into the mansion. She opened her mouth to ask but the madam tackled her into a hug.

    "Eve, I missed you! Ambryan wouldn''t even let me inside his office anymore!" Avery whined dramatically, squeezing the life out of her future daughter-inw. "I know it may sound like he has another woman but trust me. He has no one in his eyes but you!"

    "..."

    Eve shifted her attention in Ambryan''s direction. His brooding eyes stared at the back of his mother''s head. She gave him a look, signaling that he should let it go. He merely rolled his eyes and helped unload their bags.

    "I believe you, Aunt Avery."

    The madam cackled and pulled back, keeping Eve at arm''s length. "Well, of course, you do! Being engaged and all."

    "Engaged...?" Eve uttered, a confused expression on her face.

    The smile on Avery''s face stiffened. Like a robot, she let Eve go and stomped over to her son. Her hands went to her hips. "Yan, dear. Am I supposed to believe that you spent weeks together in Paris, the most romantic city in the world, AND YOU HAVEN''T PROPOSED?!"

    Eve jumped from the sudden

    Ambryan hadn''t flinched at as if used to this scenario. He stared his mother down and said, "Eve still has a lot of things she wants to do, mother. Getting married isn''t in her current priorities and I respect that."

    "But she can still do all of that even when married!" Avery shot back, throwing her hands in the air. "It''s not like you''recking in money. The sky is the limit for you both whether married or not."

    Ambryan lifted thest bag out of the trunk and gave his mother his full attention. "Mother, I know you believe in fate, destiny, the right time or whatever you want to call it. Proposing is one of those moments."

    "And how is now not the right time?!"

    "I''m sorry, Aunt Avery. There seems to be a misunderstanding." Eve came up behind the madam and touched her shoulders. "Ambee had proposed."

    That immediately caught Avery''s attention. She snapped her head towards Eve. "What?"

    Thetter had shifted her gaze in her fiance''s direction and morphed it into a re. "It''s more like he tricked me into it."

    "Trick?" The madam darted her eyes between the couple, getting confused by the second. "I''m too old for this. Can someone please exin?"

    "I had asked Eve to move in with me and she epted it," Ambryan rified. He grabbed two bags and marched towards the house. Eve and his mother followed behind him.

    "That''s still not a proposal," Avery protested.

    "He ims it is." Eve snorted.

    The madam shook her head, tired of their evasive behavior. "Just tell me everything that happened!"

    Eve and Ambryan exchanged looks.

    It was quite the story.

    A few hours earlier, Eve and Ambryan sat in first ss. Cale along with the rest also joined them from the other side of the ne. Mother nature had beckoned Eve to the restroom. She walked down the aisle and headed towards it, answering the call.

    Ambryan read a magazine during the flight. It was the Winter Season issue that Eve shot a month back when he had visited her on set. A candid photo of them upied two pages in the middle.

    He almost wanted to rip it off and keep it.

    "What are you reading about?" Eve asked when she came back. She grabbed her purse and searched for candy.

    "Decoration ideas for the house."

    "Why?"

    "It''s the holidays."

    Eve searched for herpact mirror to retouch her makeup. They should bending soon. While pulling out the mirror, she bumped into her new house key and it fell to the floor.

    Beads crashed,their strings snapping in two. They rolled across the floor and spread out on the aisle. Ambryan whirled his head towards themotionso did a few other passengers.

    "No!" Eve gasped. She quickly dropped on her knees, gathering the beads together.

    A flight attendant came to her aid. "Please, miss. Take your seat."

    "But"

    "You might injure yourself while in a state of panic. Let us clean up the mess. Here''s your key."

    "Thank you" Eve whispered.

    She heaved a sigh and looked at her key. It seemed dull without the bright red beads. Her thumb and finger touched the spot where the strawberry hung froma small pink bead had been left in its ce.

    Then, she stopped rubbing it.

    And lifted the ring up to her eye level.

 Chapter 312: The Most Beautiful Woman in Town

    Chapter 312: The Most Beautiful Woman in Town

    "Ambee what''s the meaning of this?" Eve blinked.

    Using her thumb, she caressed the pink bead. It had been shaped differently from the red and green ones. Its color intensified and darkened near the middle while the stud of the ring wrapped around it like a crown.

    It almost looked like a diamond

    "Let me take a look," Ambryan said. He gestured his hand in her direction, palm up.

    Eve stretched her arm to give it but he sat too far away. Then, she leaned over in order to close that gap but Ambryan made zero effort to help. It all happened in two seconds, Eve missed how he deliberately acted this way and stood up.

    Ambryan did the same thing, snatching the key and the ring. He examined them both carefully before pulling the key off. The small chain that linked it to the ring snapped. By this time, theirpanions watched themotion.

    "Hey!" Eve wanted to protest but Ambryan grabbed her hand and slid the ring on her finger.

    Her mouth mped shut at once. Now that she wore it, it became clearer to the eyes and her eyes bulged out at the stealthy way he had given it to her. "Is this what I think it is?"

    "It''s a ring."

    "An actual ringlike an actual piece of jewelry?"

    "Yes." Ambryan nodded, his hands tucked inside his pant pockets.

    Eve flickered her gaze up to his indifferent face. "And?"

    His eyebrows rose up. "Hm?"

    "That''s it? No questions asked?" She had made a conclusion. Nothing was safe about this man before her. She had thought the second key was thest of it but no. Not for Ambryan Hathawayhe had mastered the art of being discreet.

    And he had always ced good thought in his gifts once pointed to the right direction.

    He also knew her now better than before.

    Ambryan frowned at her cautious stance. "I have asked the question."

    "You have?"

    "I asked that you wouldn''t return it," he reminded her.

    Eve shut her eyes and exasperated a sigh. "That''s not what I"

    Ambryan slipped the ring off and peeked at its inner rim. Then, he stepped closer, showing it to her. The lights bathed the tiny engraving in warm incandescence. "Can you see that?"

    "By epting this ring, I hereby dere I''m engaged to Ambryan Hatha" Eve trailed off. Her brown eyes blinked numerous times. The writing never vanished from her sight.

    "And you agreed not to return it," Ambryan continued as if he didn''t just drop a bomb from the sky. "So that means you had indirectly epted it."

    "W-Wh-Wha-What?" Eve struggled to regte her breathing. How was one supposed to feel when their significant partner not only tricked her into an engagement? Should she be angry? Delighted? Shocked?

    Amused?

    All of the above?

    Ambryan chuckled to himself. Done with his shenanigans, he dropped down on one knee and held up the ring. He reached for her left hand, saying, "Everlee Hart, I had hidden this ring as a keychain in hopes that you''d discover it at the right time. I''m a confident man most times but to you, I am vulnerable."

    "This is another turning point in our lives," he further exined. His heart pounded at the back of his ears. "As silly as it sounds, I considered that you''d run away from me again like before. And maybe that''s why this became the right moment. You have nowhere to run while up here."

    Eve managed a chuckle. She pressed her free hand against her lips. That moment must have left a deep impression on him. Cale had stood up from his seat to film the entire exchange. She pretended to ignore it and gripped Ambryan''s hand.

    It was her way of letting him know that she was here to stay.

    Ambryan kissed the back of her hand and stared straight into her watery eyes. "I would always be yours as long as you keep choosing me. So. Eve will you marry me?"

    An incoherent choke caused Eve to cough. She quickly cleared her throat and ced her right hand on her chest. Her heart beat erratically under her touch. She took a deep breathand another one, calming herself down.

    It was a failed mission.

    Her lips grinned so wide, she nked out. "You better buy me a new keychain because I won''t be taking this ring off."

    Ambryan officially slipped the ring on her finger and rose to his feet. Eve jumped into his arms, lifting her feet off the ground. He hugged her tight while everyone within reach either cheered or pped for them. His own pain-inducing smile spread across his face.

    Their heartbeats drummed in harmony, drowning everything else.

    In 5 months and 5 days since they met on their first date, Ambryan & Eve celebrated their engagement. No one could be happier by the whirlwind romance more than a retired actress waiting to greet them even before she got the news.

    .

    .

    .

    .

    .

    "Like I told you, Aunt Avery," Eve said. "He tricked me!"

    "It was all in the writing. You just didn''t read it."

    "No, no, no don''t try to reason yourself out of this. You had admitted that you were afraid that I would refuse. That''s why you created an borate n as a backup."

    Hands on her hips, Avery shook her head at the couple who sat on the living room couch. They had started bickering the middle of storytelling. She understood the events for the most part and let them ramble ontoo scared to speak.

    It might jinx the current happy ending.

    "What''s all of this about?" Jackson asked as soon as he reached thest step of the stairs.

    His wife shed him a smile. "Our son is engaged."

    The head of the household stopped in his tracks.

    Meanwhile, Eve bolted off her seat as if hit by lightning. She whirled around to face Hathaway Sr. who scrunched his eyebrows at her strange behavior. Ambryan sat leisurely with his arm draped over the backrest. Eve kicked his foot but he wouldn''t budge.

    This was her problem.

    Eve''s and his mother''sit had nothing to do with him.

    Absolutely nothing.

    "Mr. Hathaway," Eve greeted Jackson for starters. She inched closer to Avery who also had a confused expression on her face. Only when Eve pointed to her brown eyes did the truth of the situation ur.

    "Evangeline," Jackson answered back. He had resumed walking and paused beside the couch. "Why do you look like you''ve seen a ghost? And why does my wife also have the same expression?

    "Well, you see, dear" Avery began to exin. Every word she knew flew out of her headexcept for a few profanities she used on herself.

    Jackson grew impatient. "Yes?"

    He crossed his arms over his chest and stared at the women. "Out with it."

    "Are you familiar with stage names, Mr. Hathaway?" Eve asked, struck by inspiration.

    "I am. Why? Do you want one?"

    "Oh, no, sir. I don''t need another one." She attempted augh but it came out awkward. Nudging the madam by the side, she continued her story. "I picked my mother''s name. It''s like having her watch over me when I made a career change."

    "Yes, that''s right!" Avery backed up, pping her hands. "It''s such a sweet story, dear. You might want to sit down while we tell you about it."

    Ambryan squinted in their direction. "I don''t recall the two of you asking me to sit down for this story. I must have missed the full experience and received only 50%."

    "Can you please get to the point?" Jackson reminded everyone. "I know it''s the holidays but business never stops. Unless you want to tell meter, you should speed it up."

    The madam tilted her head over at Eve. Her voice softened into a whisper. "Maybe we should tell himter. We''ll have a few drinks too so he''d be in a good mood."

    Eve didn''t seem to share the same sentiment. "I don''t know, Aunt Avery. I feel like if I don''t do it now then, I won''t ever do it. It woulde from someone else instead."

    Jackson gritted his teeth. It was like talking to a doormat! "Then"

    "EVE!" Two high-pitched voices screamed from the top of the stairs.

    The twins beelined for their older sister, rushing down to the first floor, still in their pajamas. The servants who cleaned the staircase moved out of the way and let them through. Their feet thudded on the wooden steps like drums.

    Ede pumped up her legs and tackled her sister''s waist into a hug. Eve caught her in the nick of time, steadying the both of them from falling. "You''re back! It''s an early holiday present!"

    "I can''t believe you didn''t tell us you wereing back!" Eri used her older sister. Unlike her twin, she stomped her foot on the floor and crossed her arms over her chest. "I thought we agreed not to keep secrets from each other anymore, Everlee."

    Eve and Avery stiffened at Eri''s statement.

    The inevitable had finallye.

    "Everlee?" Jackson questioned Eri. "What about Evangeline?"

    The little girl nced over her shoulder to blink up at him. "Evangeline is our mom''s name. Evangeline Hart, the most beautiful woman who had ever lived in Cornelia Town!

 Chapter 313: To Forgive or To Not Forgive

    Chapter 313: To Forgive or To Not Forgive

    Jackson eyed the twins. Eri returned his gaze. They shared a silent staredown while the rest waited for what would happen. Eve hugged Ede tighter. The longer the quiet ensued, the more nervous she became. No doubt the oue would affect her younger sisters as well.

    And they had lived in Hathaway Manor for more than a month.

    The trust they had built with Jackson Hathaway could be shattered like his trust on Eve and on Evangeline. She had been distracted by her sudden engagement, any preparations she thought of flew out of her mind.

    With his advanced analytical skills, Jackson connected the pieces together. His teal eyes darted among the Hart sisters. He recalled how the twins addressed Evangelinefrom nickname to full name. Eri had mentioned their mother who shared the model''s namesake.

    Then, Evangeline opened a topic about stage names.

    His stare lingered on Eve. He stepped closer and paused, waiting for how she''d react. Then, he resumed his walk. Eri moved out of his way without a word. The temperature in the room had dropped a few degrees.

    Jackson only had one goal in mind and it reflected as the flecks in his eyes gradually darkened.

    Eve gulped.

    She discreetly nudged Ede out of the way. Avery stayed close by, ready to jump in if things escted badly. Eve squared her shoulders and faced Jackson head-on. Whatever came next, she would get through it.

    "Eve," Jackson spoke after the long pause.

    She opened her mouth to greet him, deciding to switch to how she addressed him when she was a secretary. Her hands folded over her abdomen and Eve said, "Chairman."

    Jackson clenched his jaw. His voice hardened and lowered an octave. "Your eyes are brown."

    "They had always been, Chairman," Eve replied. "I wore contacts in the beginning for any event rted to modelling. Please know I had made sure that this didn''t hinder my job as a secretary."

    He didn''t seem convinced. "Weren''t there five rules to follow for your job as a secretary?"

    At this, Eve had gone cold. Water from the melted icebergs flowed into her veins. It froze anything it touched, including skin. Her lipsthough pale whitemoved at their own ord.

    The rules shed in her mind as if engraved on a rock she had tucked away to a corner.

    "Don''t draw meaningless attention,"

    "Speak only when spoken to,"

    "Avoid unnecessary affiliation with the boss," she choked at her own spit. This rule had been broken the moment she epted that contract from the madam. The next one didn''t sound good either. "Never interfere with his personal matters"

    Eve exhaled out of her mouth. Her voice grew small. "And always follow his orders"

    She felt like crying now. Things had been going so well. She forgot how her decision affected other parties. Avery came to her side and rubbed her upper arms. The madam wasn''t sure what happened but

    Ambryan also reacted from the couch. He scrunched his eyebrows at the back of his father''s head. "Father, those were my rules to make and mine to amend as I saw fit. They are irrelevant now."

    Jackson turned towards him, his nostrils ring. "The purpose of those rules was for your secretary to not attempt to establish a personal rtionship with you. Not only had Eve broken it but she had done so by creating a second identity. How can you trust that she has good intentions?"

    "It was my fault, Jackson," Avery intervened. She stepped forward and pulled her husband''s elbow to get his attention. "It was my idea for Eve to create a new identity and join the dating website I had told you about. Ambryan picked her. He knows she''s Eve. Now, they''re engaged."

    Jackson whirled his head in her direction. The crease lines on his forehead deepened. The madam stood her ground and persisted. "Those things are in the past now. Their story even inspired the script for that Venus Investment"

    "Oh, so they''re usingpany resources to fix the issues they''d have with the public?"

    "You know that''s not true, Jackson Be," Avery hissed. She rose to her toes and returned his re. "That script will bring in arge ie for thepany and you know it. It would face different kinds of publicity and they''re both prepared for that just to keep thispany on top."

    His rationality amazed Avery at timeswhenever she needed a clear mind to calm her erratic one. Then, there were moments like these where he wouldn''t let things slide despite how the parties involved felt. The kids were in love! That''s what mattered the most.

    They had revealed everything to each other.

    Now, they were ready to spend the rest of their lives together.

    "Uncle Jackson" Eri whispered. She kicked the floor, ying with her hands. Everyone looked at her but her almond-shaped eyes only stared up at Jackson. "We know what Eve did was a bad thing but she only did it for me and Ede. Wouldn''t you also do anything for your family?"

    Jackson exhaled sharply, pulling his arm back. Avery let him go and stepped back to Eve''s side. The corners of his lips frowned at Eri. "It still doesn''t excuse that what she did was wrong."

    "But" Ede joined in. She grabbed her twin''s hand, saying, "It''s true. She had done it for us. If anyone deserves to be punished it should be me and Eri."

    "Ede!" Eve scolded. Shaking her head, she propelled herself towards her younger sisters but the madam held her back. "Girls, this doesn''t involve you. It was my decision. It was my choice. It should be my consequences."

    "You''ve always done things for us, Eve," Eri defended and squeezed the hand in hers. "Now is our time to do something for you. Let us help you too. Don''t take everything."

    Ede shifted her attention back on Jackson. "Uncle Jackson, our sister had nothing but good intentions. She and Ambryan agreed to fake their rtionship in the beginning. They both didn''t expect this to happen. Tell us what we have to do for you to forgive her."

    "Yeah!" Her twin backed up immediately. "We want Eve to be happy too. Challenge us to anything and we''ll defeat you! We''ll show you how much she deserves to be forgiven!"

    Jackson raised his eyebrows. Two little girls stared back with determined eyes. They steeled their resolve and refused to avert their gaze first. They had to protect Eve and her happiness like she had done a million times for them.

    "Are you saying that you''d also do anything for your sister?" He asked.

    "Jackson!" Avery protested. An ominous feeling trickled down her spine. He wouldn''t do anything rash, right? He had grown fond of the twins. He should know they were innocent in this and dismiss their request for a challenge.

    "Alright."

    "Jackson!"

    He ignored his wife''sints and knelt before the twins. One finger up, he told them his terms. "If you win, I''ll let what happened go and Eve can marry Ambryan. But, if you lose"

    Then, he nced over his shoulder and met Eve''s aghast face. "Their engagement will be off."

    Ambryan rose to his feet. "Father."

    "Stay out of this," Jackson dismissed before his son could say anything else. He faced the twins once more and waited for their answer. "Well?"

    Eri and Ede exchanged looks, mouthing their conversation. They discussed the risks. If it would be too much, they were confident that Avery or Eve would step in. If it was too easy, that wasn''t their fault but that didn''t mean their victory was fake either.

    "It''s a deal," they told Jackson and held up their hands for a shake.

    Jackson nodded his head, grabbing both hands. "Deal."

    That day marked another turning point in Eve''s life. She pulled the twins aside once Jackson left the room. She trapped them in her arms and squeezed the life out of them. They had always stood up for what they believed in since young. Her emotions went rampant between pride and anger.

    What did she do to deserve such sisters?

    Her heart could literally explode from their touching performance.

    "You don''t need to do this," she nearly cried on their shoulders.

    "Eve" Ede sighed, patting her older sister''s back. "Come on, we''re cute kids. We have a better chance at earning his forgiveness than you. We''re not stupid. If we were a little older, we might not have gotten away with it."

    "Like what Ede said." Eri nodded. "Don''t worry. It will all be fine. We have mom''s blood in our veins, right? And she''s the strongest person we know."

    Eve managed a chuckle through her clogged nose. She leaned back and smiled at her younger sisters. "That''s right. Mom''s the best. Her blood has magic which protects us."

    "And since Ede and I are twins, we have twice the magic!"

    "What did Jackson challenge you two?" Eve asked, wiping her nose.

    "Bowling."

    That afternoon Eve found herself in the same bowling alley as when she met Jackson for the first time. They headed for the samenes as they had used from that time as well.

    The twins bolted for the bowling balls, wearing matching pink polo shirts. Both wore their cinnamon hair up in high ponytails. Giggles flowed out of their lips at the pretty colors each ball had.

    Eve crouched behind them and began to fuss. "Is it too heavy? You can always change your mind. I won''t be mad. I''m sure Jackson would also understand"

    They red at her. "EVE!"

    She raised her hands in surrender. Then, proceeded to back away. She slumped beside Ambryan, crossing her arms over her chest and giving him the stink eye. "How are you okay with this?"

    "It was a collective decision."

    Huffing, Eve buried herself deeper into the couch. "Do you think your father really will break off the engagement if the twins lose? It would break their hearts."

    He arched a brow at that. "And yours won''t?"

    "That''s notI''m the least of my problems now. My sisterse first. If this ends badly, I wouldn''t know what to do."

 Chapter 314: To Cry or Not to Cry

    Chapter 314: To Cry or Not to Cry

    The rules of the game were simple. Ede and Eri formed one team while Jackson yed by himself. Whoever scored the highest would be dered the winner. The twins were given a bit of time to warm up but Avery, Eve and Ambryan weren''t allowed to interfere.

    Eve sat on the couch with her back straight. She clutched her knees, her nails digging through the fabric and into the skin. Avery watched with her hands posed in a prayer over her lips.

    Jackson faced hisne.

    Then, he turned his head towards the twins.

    "Ladies first."

    Eri took a deep breath, picking up the electric pink bowling ball. It weighed heavily but she managed. She approached the foul line and made sure not to overstep. Her arm swung backwards before letting the ball go in the direction of the center arrowas Eve instructed back in Hathaway Manor.

    The ball rolled all the way towards the pins, swerving to the left.

    It hit 3 pins before it fell over on the other side.

    "That''s okay, Eri! I''m here for you!" Ede cheered from the back. She continued pping her hands while her sister walked back towards her. "You did great! That''s three points!"

    "It could have been better though." Eri scowled at the floor.

    "Don''t worry. There''s still plenty of time."

    Ede took her turn for their second chance to topple all the pins. Her roll managed to hit 5 of them, leaving two pins on thene. She returned to her sister''s side, saying, "Okay, okay. It''s not that bad. We only missed two."

    A ck bowling ball crashed into 10 bowling pins, knocking them all to the floor. The twins snapped their attention at Jackson''sne. Their eyes bugged out when the fallen pins had been reced by a full set for the next frame.

    His teal eyes met their wide stare.

    He tilted his head sideways. "Giving up, girls?"

    "Never!" Eri shot back. She marched towards herne and focused her strength on her right arm. This time, she sped up her approach, swinging her arm as high as she could.

    The ball bounced onto thene. She straightened her back and gasped. It rebounded to the air once before rolling towards the pins. Eri bit her bottom lip, crossing her fingers on each hand.

    "YES!" Eri screamed when 8 pins fell over from her roll. She jumped multiple times and ran back to her twin, hugging thetter''s shoulders. "You can hit those two pins, right?"

    "I can and I will!" Ede promised. She left to finish the job, grabbing the deep blue ball. She paused at the start of the approach area. Thest pins were on the right side so she needed to roll the ball off-center.

    The question was how far into the right should she do it?

    Her ball went between an arrow and a half from the center towards the right. It rolled straight down thene,nding on the other side while hitting only one pin.

    Her shoulders slumped in dejection. Scratching the back of her head with both hands, shemented over her miscalution. Jackson stood next to her as his ball rolled down hisne. She watched him manage another strike.

    Their eyes met briefly.

    Jackson merely shrugged before walking away. Eri emerged behind her, grabbing her shoulders. "Do you want to take the first turn now, Ede? Maybe it would work for us."

    Ede pursed her lips. "Yeah, let''s try it."

    The game continued for another 6 frames. The twins managed to score a spare twice in the midst of it all. Jackson scores either a spare or a strike. The difference in skill levels were clear as day. The twins persisted to finish all 10 frames. They shared words of encouragement, keeping each other''s spirits up.

    Eve supported them silently as did Avery. Every time Jackson had his turn, thedies exchanged looks with the girls and mouthed words offort.

    With 2 frames left, Ede vowed to redeem herself. She had taken the first turn in the spares they scored. Eri had more than half of the credit for that since she basically saved the score for those frames. Ede had to do better so she didn''t drag her twin down.

    The deep blue ball weighed lighter than when she first tried it. Her swings had progressed better. She had watched Jackson and other yers on how they bowl. Copying his stance, she dipped low in front of the foul line with her right leg sliding behind her left one.

    Her roll progressed in a straight line and passed the center arrow. A cold feeling tingled at the back of her neck. She stopped breathing, waiting for the ball to reach the pins. Time moved in slow motion but, at the same time, it shed by in a second.

    The ball struck the first pin. Thetter hit both pins behind it and the rest followed like dominos until all 10 had fallen. Her high-pitched scream pierced through the air, attracting bystanders and other yers.

    Eri shrieked in the same manner and joined her twin at the approach area. They hugged and jumped around in circles. Their older sister leaped off the couch from immense pride. The madam also rose to her feet. She and Eve held each other''s hands, beaming at the twins.

    Even Ambryan wore a small smile on his seat.

    Jackson pped his hands and caught the attention of the twins. The corner of his lip curled into a smirk. "Not bad. There''s still one frame to go. Do you think you can manage another strike?"

    "I can definitely try," Ede red.

    "How about we change the rules a bit?" He said as he rubbed his hands together. "There''s no need for you to score higher than me. Get that second strike and you win."

    "But that''s not"

    Eri elbowed her twin in the ribs.

    "We already lost in the score and we know it," she whispered, a tinge of disappointment in her tone. "We''re supposed to do this for Eve. That means grabbing every chance we can get."

    Ede narrowed her gaze at the floor. It was true that even if they scored a strike for thest frame, they wouldn''t be able to close the gap in the scores. Her hands clenched into fists.

    "Fine. You have a deal," she agreed reluctantly.

    "Wonderful." Jackson grinned. He spun on his heel and headed over the table for some water. His teal eyes connected with his wife''s violet ones. Thetter had clear disapproval on her face. He drank his ss of water and didn''t lose eye contactestablishing his resolve on the matter.

    What he and the twins had decided were final.

    He wasn''t about to change his mind.

    "Do you want to do it, Eri?" Ede asked.

    Eri shook her head and waved both of her hands in front of her. "Oh, no. I think you should do it. You managed one so you have a better chance than me."

    ''I was afraid you''d say that,'' Ede thought. The pressure dropped on her shoulders like a boulder. At least when the gap between the scores widened per frame, she had the time toe to terms with their loss.

    But now, things would be determined in a sh.

    If she did bad, it would be over.

    Eri noticed her twin''s difort. She turned thetter around and forced Ede to face her. Gripping her sister''s upper arms, Eri stared straight into the eyes identical to her own. "You have mom''s blood, okay? She''s with us. And she also wants Eve to be happy. We can do this."

    Ede closed her eyes and smiled. When she opened them, her anxiety had melted away.

    "Sometimes I just love you."

    "Only sometimes?" Eri scoffed. "I deserve more love than that."

    "And that''s why."

    "Hey!"

    Giggling, Ede left her sister and plucked her fingers inside the holes of her bowling ball. She took a deep breath. All she had to do was channel the same mind set she had when she did her first strike. Something went right in that form. She wasn''t about to let it go to chance.

    Her roll followed the center arrow like before. Her heart skipped a beat when she saw it.

    But her excitement hade a little too early.

    When the ball reached the pins, it hit a little off-center and left one lone pin on thene.

    "Oh, no" Eri whispered as she covered her mouth. She shifted her attention to the back of her twin''s head. Ede stayed in front of the foul line, unmoving. She looked at nothing but thest pin left on the other sidethe one thing that stood between her and victory.

    Eri cautiously took a step forward. "Ede?"

    "Well, that concludes things then," Jackson spoke. He had his arms folded over his chest. "The engagement is off between your older sister and my son like we agreed."

    Snapping her head towards him, Eri shoved him on the side of his hips. "Can''t you see you''re upsetting Ede?! Why did you have to bring that up now?! Don''t be insensitive."

    Then, she sprinted for her twin, hugging thetter''s shoulders. They huddled their heads together and bowed. "It''s okay, Ede. We''ll figure out a way. It''s not over yet."

    "It is over," Jackson said with finality. "That was the deal. We''re not changing it."

    Eri red in his direction. Tears formed at the corners of her eyes. "We just changed the rules at thest minute. Why can''t we do it again?"

    "The rules changed because all of us agreed on it. The rules can''t be changed if at least one person protests."

    "Then, agree to change it again!"

    "I will not," Jackson spat in return. "This is part of life, girls. Get used to it."

 Chapter 315: The Circle of Life

    Chapter 315: The Circle of Life

    "This is part of life, girls. Get used to it."

    "Jackson, how could you" Avery breathed out, her violet eyes shaking with rm. "They''re children. Good children. They understand when they are wrong. They listen when it''s important. Besides, I''m positive the girls know more than enough that they can''t always win."

    This had gone too far. If Jackson truly had a problem, it should be between him and the couple. There was no need for him to drag the young girls. He should have known better. He knew the oue would be like this. He had the advantage.

    All of that for the sake of a life lesson?

    It wasn''t worth it!

    Her husband moved towards her, nting his hand on the metal rack that held the bowling balls. The frown lines between his brows deepened. "So you think I should let them go? And let Eve marry our son?"

    "They love each other. Of course, they should!"

    "But if you think about it" Jackson paused. His head tilted to the side as he returned the same re his wife directed at him. "If anyone should take responsibility for this oue, shouldn''t it be you?"

    Avery paled from his words. Her muscles ckened at the implication. What was he saying? How could this be her fault? To call off the engagement was entirely his choiceand so was ying against a pair of kids!

    Despite her thoughts, Jackson ignored the horror on her face and continued talking. "After all, you are the one who started everything. You are the one who withheld this information from me. It''s only fair game that I get to do something like it."

    "What?" Avery blurted out, getting more confused by the second.

    Eri and Ede slowly came forward and attracted everyone''s attention. Eri wore a pained look, her entire face frozen in a scrunch. She mustered a shy smile and said, "Sorry, Aunt Avery. He bribed us with ice cream."

    "It was all an act," Ede exined further. She also wore a sheepish expression. "For not telling Uncle Jackson about Eve. Fool you like you had fooled him because of the secret..."

    Eve flinched from her spot. She squinted her gaze at the twins who felt her stare. They mouthed their apologies, making her flutter her eyes. Then, she shifted her attention to Jackson Hathaway.

    He began stretching his arms and nodded his head at Eri and Ede. "You did good, girls. If you want to try acting, let me know. I''ll also buy you extra ice cream."

    "Wait a minute..." Avery eximed, the gears in her head turning and enlightening her. She marched in her husband''s direction. "So this is for you to get back at me?!"

    Jackson merely shrugged. "More or less."

    Then, a cheeky grin spread across his face.

    She gasped and pointed a finger at him. "YouYouYou better know how lucky you are that I love you!"

    A setup! Kept from her! She knew there was something wrong. Everything was out of character. If he was truly angry, he wouldn''t have epted the challenge from the twins. It had been staring her right in the face.

    But she had fallen for itdidn''t even try to take a stand.

    Jackson walked around the metal rack and hugged her from behind, kissing the back of her ear. "Like how you are also lucky that I love you?"

    Avery pursed her lips. She channeled every ounce of willpower she had and did her best not to hit him for his terrible revenge n. His muffledughter near her ear didn''t help.

    Instead, she took a deep breath and changed the topic. "So when did you know that Eve is Evangeline?"

    An epiphany crashed on Eve''s head like a ton of pricks. She spun on her heel, searching for Ambrayn. He hadn''t left his seat on the couch and watched things unfold in silenceas if trying to hide.

    "It was you," Eve stated. It was a fact, not a question. That exined his calmness so much!

    Jackson heard her and turned his head towards the newly engaged couple. "Yan had told me about it when he expressed his intentions to ask your hand in marriage."

    "Us, men, had to stick together somehow," Ambryan said, finally standing up. He wrapped his arms around his fiance''s shoulders. "You can''t have all the fun now. We had to have ours too."

    Eve rolled her eyes while Avery huffed. The women exchanged looks and held a silent conversation. Were they going to let this go?

    Or were they going to n a revenge on top of the revenge that just transpired? The men also did the same but only shared victorious smiles. Although it could have been better, it had worked out like they wanted.

    And that became the answer to what the women contemted about.

    "So can we go get ice cream now?" Eri asked, cutting in before things could get worse.

    The look on her older sister''s said as much.

    .

    .

    .

    .

    .

    Ambryan, Eve, Eri and Ede stayed in Hathaway Manor for the following days. They helped decorate the ce for Christmas, pulling out ornaments from the attic and picking a tree from the nearby forest.

    It was the biggest Christmas tree the twins had ever had for Christmas morning. It had lots of room for presents and they couldn''t wait to see how much Santa us would give them this year.

    Unlike them, Ambryan and Eve spent the night before Christmas scrambling to getst minute work done. Eve had been relieved from modelling duties because of the holidays and helped Ambryan with troubleshooting.

    The marketing for their winter special movies had fallen throughfailing to umte enough hype and publicity. They stayed upte to help the marketing teame up with a backup n.

    Safe to say, they had fallen asleep hours after midnight. The idea of Christmas had flown out of their minds from exhaustion. All that mattered was restand plenty of it.

    Unfortunately for them, that had to wait for another day.

    "Eve, Eve, Eve!" Eri screamed as she ran down the hallway, looking out for the bedroom her older sister stayed in. "Eve, wake up! It''s Christmas! IT''S CHRISTMAS! That means hot chocte time!"

    Her hand grabbed the doorknob and it turned without resistance. Ede reached her twin sister just in time the door opened. The both of them dashed inside and dived for the bed.

    Two small figures crashed onto the sleeping forms of Ambryan and Eve. Thetter pair grunted from the surprise attack, proving that none of the yells earlier had reached their sleeping consciousness.

    "Guys, it''s time to wake up!" Ede insisted, shaking her older sister. "It''s time to open presents! And we have to all be there. It''s tradition soe on!"

    Eve yawned and rolled to her side. She patted the bed and looked for Ambryan. When her hand touched his arm, she scooted closer and went back to sleep.

    "Eve,e on!" Eri wailed.

    Next to her older sister, Ambryan also changed sides so he''d face Eve. He reached out to her and pulled her close. His arms went to her back, trapping her from leaving.

    Eve sighed against his chest.

    "What are we going to do?" Ede whispered to Eri. She pouted at the couple and theirck of enthusiasm. How could they act like this on Christmas Day?

    Eri rubbed her chin.

    Then, a light bulb appeared over her head.

    She rose to her feet and bent her knees. Gasping for more air, she started to sing and mimicked the lyrics.

    ```

    Five little monkeys jumping on the bed~

    One fell off and bumped his head~

    Mama called the doctor and the doctor said~

    "No more monkeys jumping on the bed!"

    ```

    Ede got the idea and joined her twin in jumping on the couple''s bed. The mattress bounced from the force and their weight. The surface even rolled like waves near the beach.

    But their n wouldn''t work.

    The couple was too determined to stay in bed

    "Still not getting up, huh?" Ede mocked. She switched tactics and chose a different song.

    ```

    Baby shark, doo, doo, doo, doo, doo, doo~

    Baby shark, doo, doo, doo, doo, doo, doo~

    Baby shark, doo, doo, doo, doo, doo, doo~

    ```

    Eri let her continue and dropped on all fours, creeping up to the couple. She hovered above their ears and said, "NAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAANTS INGONYAMAAAAAA BAGITHI BABA~"

    "HOLY SHI" Eve bolted upright, covering both of her ears. "We''re up. We''re up! We''ll be down in a minute."

    "Happy Christmas, Eve!" Eri giggled and gave her a kiss on the cheek. "See you downstairs. Let''s go, Ede."

    "Ugh," Eve groaned as the twins left the room. Her shoulders slumped from exhaustion. "I think that jetg hit mest night."

    She checked on Ambryan but he continued to sleep peacefully beside her.

    "Wakey, wakey, Ambee." She pped his butt. "Get up,zy bum. If I''m going to suffer. You will suffer with me."

    Shaking her head, Eve inched for the edge of the bed. A hand smacked her bottom when she shifted her weight on her hip.

    Her brown eyes red over her shoulder.

    Ambryan cracked an eye open, a satisfied smile on his lips. "If I suffer, you suffer with me. But I do hope our kids won''t be that energetic every morning."

    "It''s Christmas. What do you expect? It''s the one time of the year when they could be exceptionally happy."

    "What about birthdays?"

    "Not as fun. There''s only one person at the center of attention during birthdays. For Christmas, we all get to celebrate the asion as we see fit."

    Ambryan quirked an eyebrow. "Then, why can''t we stay in bed?"

    "Because it''s presents time! Weren''t you listening?" Eve scoffed.

    "What if I want my present in bed?" He smirked, peeking at the open doorway. "Plus a new lock on the door which no one has the key to except you and me."

 Chapter 316: Cheers to the New Year!

    Chapter 316: Cheers to the New Year!

    A week passed and Eve came down the stairs in what she''d call ''the ck version of her strawberry dress'' that she wore on her first date. Her crimson hair was swept to one side and over her chest, framing half of her face in big waves. A silver butterfly pin clipped it in ce.

    All eyes turned in her direction as she made her descent.

    Whispering among themselves, Eve shed a polite smile. Her silver pumps cked on the marble steps. She glided over them in one smooth motionas if walking on butter. Ambryan met her on thest step and offered his arm.

    He wore a ck suit with a dress shirt and a red tie. Their matching attire hadn''t gone unnoticed nor had the pink diamond ring on Eve''s finger. They headed towards the crowd, smiling and greeting familiar faces.

    The ballroom in the Hathaway Manor had been converted into an elegant party. Servers strolled around, carrying trays of sparkling wine and juice. Business partners, close friends and family loitered the area.

    Eve took a deep breath. It was only a matter of time before the introductions started.

    "Oh, you must be Evangeline! I heard so much about you from Avery.

    "Aren''t you staying in France? Do you know famous designers like Jean Paul Gaultier?"

    "What a lovely ring you''re wearing. Did Ambryan give it to you?"

    "This might sound strange... but I think you''ll have the cutest babies ever!"

    "Back in my day, people would be married in their early 20s. What are you waiting for?"

    The room began to spin before Eve''s eyes. Faces became a blur and words became jumbled inside her head. She bowed her head, pressing her forehead onto the palm of her hand. Ambryan quickly excused themselves from the conversation and moved to the side of the room.

    Eve expressed her apologies before they left. Then, she subtly yanked Ambryan down so she could whisper in his ear. "You did this on purpose."

    "Did what on purpose?"

    "You usually offer your left arm," Eve started to exin, not buying into his innocent act. "Now, you gave me your right so my left hand is on the crook of your elbow."

    Ambryan shrugged. "Why would that matter?"

    "Because it shows off the engagement ring."

    "Fastest way to get the news out don''t you think?"

    Eve shook her head, motioning to a nearby server. The party had barely begun and she already felt worn out. A drink was a must in this sort of situation. It was the fuel to keep herself uprightcontrary to the fact that alcohol was a sedative.

    Ambryan frowned as she reached for a ss of champagne. "Aren''t you dizzy?"

    "That was just an excuse so we can get away." Eve snorted, taking her first sip. The drink fizzled in her throat. "I can''t even remember anyone we just met."

    "Not even Uncle Otto?"

    "Except him," she corrected with a scrunch of her nose. "He smells heavily of tobo."

    "Eeeeve!" A familiar voice spoke loudly.

    The couple shifted their attention towards it. A beaming bride-to-be stared back at them, wearing a navy blue floor-length dress. She waved her as she practically jogged over. Her dirty blonde hair tied up in a ponytail, it swung side to side behind her head.

    Stars twinkled in Eve''s brown eyes. Her arm shot up to wave back. "Andie!"

    Andie squealed in her ear when they squeezed each other in a tight hug. Moments like this reminded Eve how they had been inseparable over the years until now. Even the sight of Jarrett which she often ''despised'' filled her with joy on this asion.

    She gestured for him to join the hug.

    His eyebrows shot up briefly before he caved in.

    "I missed you so much!" Eve gushed, pulling back. "How have you two been? Are you moving out of the apartment yet? What about wedding preparations? Tell me everything because I want to hear someone else''s story for once."

    The server noticed the new arrivals and offered the drinks. "Champagne?"

    Jarrett grabbed one but when the tray moved towards Andie, he blocked it with his hand. He shook his head and said, "No, she can''t have any."

    "I''ll have sparkling juice please," Andie requested.

    A switch flicked inside Eve''s mind. "You''re pregnant?"

    Her best friend turned towards her. The former pressed her lips together. It did little to suppress the smile that spread across her face. "2 months."

    "Oh my go" Eve choked. She lunged for another hug but she remembered about the baby and rxed her approach. Andie giggled in her ear while her heart nearly leaped out of her chest. "Congrattions! Have you thought of names?"

    "Yes, have you?" Ambryan cut in. He raised his ss in Jarrett''s direction, a silent way to express his congrattions. Then, he focused on Andie once more. "I would suggest Noah."

    Eve let Andie go and gasped at her fiance. Had the time finallye? She had waited for so long. Her excitement threatened to burst out of her chest. Jarrett noticed the look on her face. It deepened his curiosity about the situation.

    Andie scowled at Ambryan, confused by his words. Her best friend''s reaction hinted that there was a meaning to it. The couple even looked at each other as if she couldn''t see them do it.

    But what could it be about?

    "I see what''s happening here." Andie nodded, confident that she guessed what it was about.

    Eve practically dropped her jaw. Her eyshes fluttered in disbelief. "You do?"

    "You went to our hometown and now you''re trying to annoy me with that name," Andie revealed. She waved her hand to brush off Ambryan''s poor attempt to rile her up. "But jokes on you! Another Noah has cleansed my memories of that brat. This one is not only clever but also much much nicer."

    Turning around, Eve bit on her tongue as she covered her mouth. She didn''t trust herself to be able to hold it. Oh, to be the one in on the secret instead of actually being the secret. No wonder Jackson had thought of the bowling game with the twins.

    This had to be one of the best feelings in the world.

    "I see," Ambryan replied, considering her response. He rubbed his chin as he thought of what to say. "Then, there shouldn''t be a reason why the baby can''t be named Noah."

    "I" Andie stopped short. "It''s not an option. If I ever see that brat again, he''d brag about it."

    "Oh, he definitely would." Eve snorted. A light cackle escaped her lips.

    Andie had enough of it and marched to her side. She ced her hands on her hips, squinting her stormy blue eyes at Eve. "Spill it. What''s so funny?"

    "Nothing, nothing." Eve coughed. She spun on her heel to face Andie properly, a wide grin stretched on her lips. "Don''t worry about it. Stress is not good for anyone, especially for pregnant women."

    Jarrett came to Andie''s aid. "Don''t test a pregnant woman now."

    "Come on, you can tell them," Ambryan encouraged from behind the pair. His violet eyes met brown ones. "She''d be madder if you keep it a secret from her. Probably worse than her finding out that Noah Roche from childhood and Noah sourcandy from Twittah are the same person."

    A

    Moment

    Of

    Silence

    ...

    "The brat knows how to use Twittah?" Andie eximed and stepped towards Ambryan, her left eye twitched. The information slowly sank in. She hadn''t heard about Noah Roche in so long. Now, he was supposed to be one of Eve''s biggest supporters?

    "How do you even know about this?" Her voice came out in a whisper.

    Ambryan merely shed a smile. "Because I''m Noah."

    Another

    Moment

    Of

    Silence

    ...

    Andie stretched her hand behind her. "Jarrett."

    He quickly grabbed it, squeezing it reassuringly. He set his ss on a tray that a passing server carried. Worry lines creased on his forehead. "What is it?"

    "Can pregnancy affect someone''s hearing?" Andie thought out loud. She leaned onto his front and regained herposure bit by bit. "I thought I heard Ambryan say that the Noah I befriended is the same frenemy I had back in the day."

    Andie blinked at the floor and stared off into space. "THEN, not only did I hear him say that but he also said that he, Ambryan Hathaway, is this same brat I had been bad mouthing all these years."

    It was Jarrett''s turn to press his lips together. "That''s exactly what just happened."

    Stormy gray eyes flickered in Ambryan''s direction. A smug expression had painted over his face. Then, a hint of arrogance gleamed in his violet eyes. The longer Andie stared, the more she recognized the simrities between him and Noah.

    "Oh," she said. "Oh-ho-ho-ho"

    "Merry Christmas to you too, Santa." Eve couldn''t help but say, recovering from her fit ofughter. She had lost it when Andie froze like a clock that ran out of battery or like aputer that crashed from overload.

    She had the memory forever printed in her head.

    Andie red over her shoulder. "You''re not off the hook, missy."

    "I love you too." Eve giggled. She skipped over to Ambryan''s side and grasped the crook of his elbow, her ring clearly exposed for everyone to see. "Isn''t life funny?"

    "Hrious," her best friend responded, a deadpan expression on her face.

    "I''m d you agree!"

    "..."

 Chapter 317: By Any Other Name Would Smell As Sweet

    Chapter 317: By Any Other Name Would Smell As Sweet

    The group heard a female voice.

    "Coming through,ing through" it said. "Bridesmaid but never the bride for two gorgeous brides is here."

    Looking like a literal flower, Rose sauntered towards the two couples. She had her ash brown hair up in a bun. The rouge pink dress she wore hugged her figure and made her seem taller. The tiny sequins sparkled under the lights.

    "Rose!" Andie greeted first. She leaped for her friend but Jarrett grabbed her arm.

    "Papa bear is right, baby momma." Rose giggled, giving Andie a hug. "Don''t exert yourself over unnecessary things. We''lle to you, okay?"

    "But I didn''t want you to think I wasn''t happy to see you after so long," Andie exined with a sniffle. "Unlike someone who visited town and forgot to contact you."

    "Hey!" Eve pouted. She crossed her arms over her chest and said, "We had gone over that already. And why am I being excluded on purpose?"

    "Oh, fine. Come here." Rose giggled, raising her arm to let Eve join the hug. Thetter beamed and tackled bothdies.

    It had been so long since they had been together in one ce. It almost felt like the years between now and their high school days never happened. Their teenage selves would have been over the moon to know that they had managed to stay friends for this long.

    Adulthood had given them a lot of obstacles. Their once joint roads split in different directions. The n was for Rose and Eve to pursue ballet but, at some point, that was no longer an option for Eve.

    Andie''s family had decided to move to Maize City right before college. She would have gone with them even if Eve didn''t attend university there. The apartment she had now would have been upied with a different roommate.

    "So" Andie wiggled her eyebrows at Rose. "I heard you caught the attention of some famous celebrity, a stubborn one who wouldn''t reply to messages from strangers but responded to you."

    Rose scoffed at her obvious interest for some gossip. "Oh, please. It''s nothing like that."

    "Not another blossoming romance through messaging? Such a shame." Andie sighed. "That could have been a sequel to the uing movie"

    Eve scowled at the floor. Then, she flickered her gaze towards Rose. "Does he know what you look like?"

    "Nope," Rose pressed her lips together while shaking her head. A server passed by with fruit snacks. She reached for a handful of grapes. "He doesn''t know my name either in case you are wondering."

    "Why not?"

    "Because, to him, my name is Nosy Parker."

    Ambryan turned his head to one side. "Oh, hello, Mikael. I didn''t know you were invited."

    "Luna insisted that we attend," Mikael exined, gesturing to himself and Jordan. "Personally, I think she''s afraid Jordan would take me to a club and that he''d pass out."

    "I''m not that lightweight!"

    Rose stiffened on her spot. Her girl friends checked behind her and spotted Mikael David. He had chosen copper for his checkered suit. The silkpels easily stood out. His brown hair and blonde highlights were gelled backwards, shaping a small hump on the front of his head.

    Andie and Eve shifted their attention back on Rose. Their friend hinted at zero intentions of introducing herself to the neers. The three of them awkwardly stayed in their positions, unsure of what they wanted to do next.

    "Hello, Eve," Mikael greeted when they made eye contact. He frowned at her hands that held Rose''s right one. Then, he looked at Andie who did the same thing but on the left. He could get back at his best friendter.

    "Hey, Mikael," Eve answered back. Her lips slowly stretched into a smirk. "How is that bet going for you? Have you met your mysterious stranger. Is she here?"

    Jordan hollered and grabbed Mikael''s shoulder. Thetter already wore a bored expression but chose to stay out of politeness.

    "You''d never guess what I found out," Jordan started to say. "They were on a call while Mikael took his break for a shoot. On. A. Call. That is rare for him to do. And to think he refused to chat with her in the first ce."

    "Huh" Eve fluttered her eyes for a bit and stared at Mikael. "Would you say that you can recognize her just by the sound of her voice?"

    "I could," Mikael said, thinking about it more. "It could be possible. Phones sort of distort a person''s voice but it''s not totally unrecognizable."

    "Too bad she couldn''t make it," Andie butted in. Then, she grabbed both of Rose''s shoulders and forced her friend to turn around. "Have you met Rose? Like you, she''s also dateless tonight."

    Rose saw Mikael for the first time. The photos and videos of him she''d seen did little to prepare her for this moment. Unlike Ambryanwho was also famousMikael had a glow that drew people in. His radiant blue eyes looked like two prisms as dazzling as jewels.

    He was even prettier than her.

    "Why, hello, Rose," Jordan spoke first, offering his hand for her to shake. "Are you a friend of thedies?"

    "Hm?" Rose blinked out of her daze. She epted the hand gesture, softening her voice and raising it by an octave. "Yes, I''m a friend of Andie and Eve. We all attended the same high school."

    "Sounds like Mikael and I. Except, we also attended the same college. And primary school... and now, we''re working together"

    She looked at the two of them. "Are you two a couple?"

    "Absolutely not," Mikael shut down. Frown lines creased between his brows. He had nothing against other genders but he preferred not to be misunderstood as something he is not.

    "It''s okay. There''s no need to hide it."

    "There is nothing to hide," he voice deepened into a hiss.

    Jordan jumped in before things could escte. He looked up and down at Rose, admiring her elegant posture. "I don''t swing that way,dy. I can swing in your direction though."

    Mikael dragged him by the cor. "Excuse us. I''ll be taking this away."

    Rose tapped her fingers over her lips. "Sounds like someone is jealous~"

    A blonde head stopped abruptly.

    Then, it spun around to confront her. Jordan blocked his path while Rose giggled at the entire scene. Her initial nerves had evaporated. Teasing Mikael face to face turned out to be more amusing than she thought.

    She waved a hand as Jordan pulled Mikael back into the crowd.

    "It was lovely to meet you, Mikael." She beamed until he and Jordan disappeared from sight. Sighing in satisfaction, she nced over at her girls. "That went well, don''t you think?"

    Eve simply shook her head. She had moved back to Ambryan''s side and had wrapped her arm around his waist. A server refilled her ss of champagne. "At least, I know Mikael will figure out that you''re the girl he''s texting in no time."

    Ambryan hid an eye roll.

    "Gee, I hope not," Rose reacted. "I have a feeling he''d block me and that would ruin all the fun."

    "What exactly are you nning to do?" Andie demanded. "Like what is your goal from this?"

    "Meet hot guys."

    "And now you''ve met one."

    "Since when is one enough? Hot model friend means he knows more hot models."

    Rose mped her mouth shut,remembering the significant others of her friends. She showed them a sheepish smile and inched away from the group. "That said, the night is still young and there are plenty of fishes. I''ll catch you allter."

    She sped off before they could say anything back.

    "My, my, my I see familiar faces." A head of albino hair appeared almost as soon as Rose left. Luminous green eyes crinkled with joy as they took in everyone. "It''s like Cornelia Town had taken over Maize City!"

    "Madison," Ambryan said. "I presume you''re done with the end-of-year reports?"

    "I know you''re a workaholic, Yan, but this is a party. It is a holiday. Work could wait."

    Ambryan ignored him and peeked over his shoulder. "Are they done, Riffle?"

    "Yes, Mr. Hathaway," Riffle affirmed with a boy of his head. Then, he noticed Eve smiling at him. "Um, and greetings, Ms. Reed. I mean, Mrs. Hathaway. Wait, no. I mean"

    Madison smacked him at the back of his head. "Easy there, boy. It''s just Eve. You''ve met her plenty of times."

    "E-Eve?"

    "Ah, right" Eve gasped softly. She stepped forward and pped her hands together in front of Riffle. Holding them in ce, she bowed her head. "I''m sorry I didn''t tell you, Riffle. I wanted to try out modelling and created a stage persona. I didn''t expect that I''d one day be in this position."

    "Eve?" Riffle blinked. He leaned forward when she looked up. "Is it really you?"

    "Of course, it''s me." She chuckled. "Who else would be this nice to you?"

    "W-Wow" he breathed out. "I''ve never seen you more beautiful."

    "She''s taken." Ambryan yanked Eve backwards and trapped her in his embrace.

    "O-Of course, Mr. Hathaway!" Riffle eximed. His body shook under intense violet eyes. "I never had such intentions. It only makes sense that someone as dashing and as handsome as you would have an equally beautiful and extremely capable woman by your side."

    Madison ced his hand on his secretary''s shoulder. "Nice save, kid."

    "It''s good to see you, Madison," Andie interrupted. "Still single?"

    "My heart isn''t that easily swayed, dear," he sighed dramatically. "It has a peculiar tasteone that can only be satisfied once in a blue moon and my blue moon has passed. But it is wonderful to see all this love in the air on this special asion."

    Riffle leaned towards Eve. "Here I thought it''s because his baby face intimidates women."

    "I heard that."

    Eve snorted and answered back, bluntly ignoring Madison''s presence. "I think that''s what mother said when he tried courting her back in the day. They were both in high school and Madison looked like an elementary student."

 Chapter 318: A Literal Angel that Fell

    Chapter 318: A Literal Angel that Fell

    About three decades ago, in a small high school called "Cornelia High", Madison waited by the lockers. He had dyed his albino hair into a brown shade and had styled it into a messy look.

    He wore an outfitposed of denim jeans, a white shirt and a printed red id shirt. He wrapped the long sleeves of thest one wrapped around his torso, just above his hips.

    The longer he waited, the more he paced from wall to wall. His teacher had dismissed ss five minutes early. He ran out of the ssroom just to not miss this opportunity.

    Today was the day.

    He was finally going to ask her out.

    The school bell rang and students flocked the hallway. Madison pressed his back against the lockers, careful not to get swept away in the crowd. It was amon urrence when there was only one public high school in town.

    And then, among the sea of people, she was there. Scarlet red hair curled to perfection, matching acid wash jeans and jacket, hot pink sneakers and neon-printed shirtplus an infectiousugh.

    It was none other than Evangeline Hart.

    "Evangeline!" He said, his luminous green eyes lighting up. He pushed himself off the locker and gripped his backstrap tighter.

    This wasn''t going the way he nned.

    Was standing always this awkward?

    Evangeline stopped in her tracks. Her plump pink lips parted open in surprise. "Madison."

    She tucked her books closer and walked up to her locker. He moved aside to let her arrange her things. "School''s finally done for the week. Can you believe that Chemistry test? That''s thest time I''d pull up an all-nighter. It was useless. I am sure I failed."

    "I think you did just fine," Madison assured her. While she busied herself with her books, he had an internal monologue about how he should ask her out. They had been on good termsmaybe even friendsover the past years.

    "So" Madison started to say. His hands began to shake from the nerves. "Any ns this weekend?"

    "Movies, I believe. I heard the new sci-fi movie is good," Evangeline said. She adjusted her bag on her shoulder and shut her locker.

    "Really?! I did too! Maybe we can"

    "So I told my boyfriend we should see it but something coulde up and I''d find myself in ame dinner party," she finished, rolling her eyes.

    "You have a date," Madison stated.

    "Wait" Evangeline trailed off and knitted her eyebrows. "You haven''t heard that I''m dating Russell?"

    "You didn''t tell me"

    "Oh!" She blinked, her hazel eyes widening. "Right. Sorry. It''s been all over the school. I didn''t stop to think there''s still someone who didn''t know."

    When Madison didn''t say anything, she continued talking. "It''s a crazy story. I heard awful singing one night and I looked at the window. Russell was there serenading me while drunk. Of course, I didn''t approve of it but he came back the next day and brought a guitar did it properly. It was sort of sweet."

    "Yeah, yeah, I get it." Madison nodded multiple times. His gaze dropped to the floor. He fell at a loss for words. This was what he got for chickening out too many times. They had the same Chemistry ss together and he blew all those chances.

    "Ready to go, babe?"

    Madison looked up to find Russell Spinster had joined them. It took everything he had not to roll his just at the sight of him. Russell and his group had set the standard for male beauty on campuswhich Madison figured to be their weird hairstyles.

    It was disgustingly cringe-y.

    "Almost." Evangeline smiled at Russell.

    That was when Madison felt his heart drop. Theplete adoration in her eyes was something he could only dream of.

    "Hey, squirt," Russell greeted Madison, towering over thetter and smirking. "Did your dad drop you off at the wrong campus? Pre-schoolers are on the other side of the road."

    "Your brain is the one that belongs there."

    "What did you say"

    "Enough!" Evangeline interrupted. She ced herself between the two boys and looked at each of them. "Madison, I''m sorry. You''re not a pre-schooler."

    "Are you kidding me? With that face and that height?" Russell scoffed.

    She red into his brown eyes. "Be nice, Russell. It''s one of the things you promised when I agreed to date you."

    He snorted but Evangeline refused to let him off the hook. So, he exasperated as sigh and said, "Fine. Sorry, King. It won''t happen again. If it does, you have permission to punch me in the face."

    "Russell!"

    "What? It''s a fair agreement.*

    Evangeline shook her head and checked on Madison. Thetter avoided eye contact. One look and he''d cave. He usually wouldn''t have minded but this was Russell they were talking about. He didn''t trust a single hair on his body.

    "Whatever," Madison muttered. He took a step towards the exit and nodded in Evangeline''s direction. "I''ll see you in Chemistry next week. Partners, right?"

    "Right," Evangeline confirmed.

    He gave Russell onest look before leaving.

    .

    .

    .

    .

    .

    "Your mother was the nicest person in school," Madison reminisced. "I don''t think any guy deserved herme included. She was a literal angel that fell from the sky."

    "Aw," Andie gushed, sticking out her bottom lip. "That''s so beautiful. And you never thought of her any less."

    "Of course not. She deserves nothing but the best."

    Eve smiled. Although she wasn''t fond of the particr memory, she loved hearing stories about her mother especially before motherhood.

    "I think mom and I are alike in some ways," Eve spoke softly. She leaned into Ambryan''s side and said, "She would protest against that, defending that she''s also human. For one, she fell in love with a man who didn''t love her as much as she loved him."

    "But in that, she got you and your sisters. You''re the reasons why she found everything worth it in the end," Madison shared. "She would have been very proud of the woman you''ve be."

    "Thank you," Eve whispered, almost in tears.

    The President of Eros Productions sighed and pped his hands. "That''s enough shbacks for now. Don''t forget to invite me to the weddings. I look forward to seeing you both walk down the aisle."

    Andie and Eve said their goodbyes. Riffle bowed several times at the CEO and his fiance. It still hadn''t fully sunk in yet that Eve who he knew as someone who focuses on workwas now engaged to another person who focuses on work.

    He had heard Madison joke about the pairing for as long as he started working as a secretary. And now the couple was right before his eyes.

    And he couldn''t think of a more suitable pair.

    Eve sighed. Her eyes stared off into space while she drank from her ss of champagne. Ambryan frowned in her direction, keeping track of how many drinks she had.

    "What''s wrong?" He asked.

    "Hm? Nothing''s wrong," she replied, the absent look never leaving her face. "Sometimes I just wonder what life would have been if Madison was my father. But then I wouldn''t even be here if that was the case. So I just realized howplicated life is."

    "Madison as a father would be more childish than his child," Ambryan said. The words flowed out of his mouth like running water. "He''d cry when the baby cries and tries to get his wife''s attention but she''d always prioritize the baby."

    "That''s oddly specific."

    "I''ve known him long enough to make an educted guess."

    Eve pressed her lips together, her fingertips tapping on the ss. "What about me, then? What kind of parent do you think I''ll be?"

    It wasn''t something she thought about up to now. What if the kids didn''t like her? What if she lost temper and got mad at them? She''d never be able to forgive herself if she hurt them in any way or form.

    Ambryan raised his eyebrows at her question. "If the children would turn out to be anything like Ede and Eri, I think you''d make a great mother."

    She elbowed him in the ribs. "Be serious."

    "I am serious," Ambryan defended. "Either you''d master motherhood in no time or you''d see that you have a natural motherly instinct. I never once doubted that you wouldn''t do a wonderful job."

    Eve spent a few more minutes contemting motherhood. She touched her stomach involuntarily and nced at Andie''s. They had been using protection all this time but

    what if one lucky sperm managed to

    Would she be ready?

    "Hathaway!" Someone called Ambryan. Eve slowly turned her head towards the source and found Knoc walking over while waving his hand.

    "Knoc," Ambryan greeted, offering a handshake. "On behalf of my family and I, we''re d you cane. Are preparations going well for ''Define Love''?"

    Eve drowned out the conversation. She excused herself and headed for the small buffet table. The table had an array of appetizers such as sds and soups. She ate by the table until she had her fill. The rest could wait a little bit longer.

    At least, she would be able to test the taste first and only get portions of the best ones.

    Eve ate toothpicks of mini hotdog sandwiches. Spinning on her heel, she bumped into a cocktail drink and spilled the alcohol everywhere, just as needed. She was about to drop to the floor when the victim pulled her back up.

    "Sorry!" Eve apologized. She fished out a handkerchief and dabbed on stained spots. "Oh, dear. Do you have a spare dress? I''m sure we can find some upstairs if you don''t."

    "Evangeline?" M blinked. "Is that you?"

 Chapter 319: Let Thy Emotions Be Rampant

    Chapter 319: Let Thy Emotions Be Rampant

    "Evangeline, is that you?"

    "M!" Eve blinked. She nced over the area near the foot of the stairs. Among the four chairs, one was empty. She turned back to M and said, "You''re with the string quartet, right? I''m so sorry about the dress. Let''s go upstairs and see what we can rece it with."

    M began shaking her head. "Oh, no. You don''t have to"

    "Of course I do," Eve cut her off. "You''re performing and there are enough dresses in this house for you to wear instead of this one."

    She put her ss down and M''s. Then, she tugged thetter in the direction of the nearest exit. Luckily, it wasn''t too far. They could stay near the wall to avoid unnecessary attention.

    "What I meant to say is" M tried again. By this time, they had entered a hallway. "I do have a spare dress in the car."

    "Oh."

    Eve stopped walking. She spun on her heel and scratched the back of her neck. "Sorry about that. Is your car nearby? Let me help you."

    "It''s not too far from here." M cleared her throat. She pulled her hand back and gave Eve a shy smile. "Why don''t you wait here while I go get it?"

    The two women found an empty room that hada private bathroom M can change in. Eve waited for her on the bed, texting Ambryan what happened.

    Things happened so fast. She had almost forgotten that the twins were present in the party too. They stuck by Avery and Jackson''s side, parading among the crowd. She wondered if M knew about the secret suddenly

    The connection could be made easier now than before. After all, they had no intention of hiding it anymore.

    The bathroom door opened. "Um Evangeline?"

    "What is it, M?" Eve rose to her feet, making her way towards the bathroom.

    M stuck her head out. She wore a sheepish expression. Then, she turned around so her back would face Eve. "I need a little help with the zipper."

    "I''m on it." Gripping the pull tight, Eve yanked it upwards. It stopped around the rib cage area and she cinched both back pieces of the dress and narrowed down their gap.

    M stared straight. The door directly opened to a mirror where she could see her reflection along with Eve''s. The zipper almost reached the base of her neck. It had a halter cut top so the zipper was high.

    When Eve touched her shoulder, her gazended on the pink diamond. She couldn''t peel her eyes off it and counted the months. Almost half a year had gone by since that fateful day.

    Her mind went into a trance.

    "I joined the website too, you know." M thought out loud. The words came out of her mouth before she could process themher head had be preupied with the past.

    Eve finished pulling the zipper and looked up. They made eye contact through the mirror. "Ah, yes. I heard about that."

    She pressed her lips together before breaking away first. She busied herself with M''s dress, dusting off dirt and smoothing creases.

    "I know it sounds weird to hear now but I always liked him a bit even though we never met." M wanted to p herself for her own rude behavior. She shook her head and broke out of her reverie.

    The couple was engaged! This wasn''t something she should talk about! "I don''t have any feelings for him now! Don''t worry about that. I''m sorry if that came out wrong."

    Eve straightened her legs and smiled in the mirror. "It''s okay. I''m not worried at all."

    ''And she did seem like it'', M thought. Both of them had been walking on thin ice around each other. Except for work, they hardly talked about anything else.

    It was sort of a shame. From what she could tell, Evangeline sounded like an amazing person. She had to be, considering how picky Ambryan was based on what M heard.

    "How about you? Did you like him too?" M attempted to ask. There probably won''t be another opportunity like this. Since she already made a fool of herself, it couldn''t really get much worse.

    Eve frowned at the ginger curls in front of her. Without warning, she adjusted the hairb that M wore on her head. "I I admired him. As a person, I mean. But as a potential lover? Not really. He seemed too serious for me and not good withmitment."

    M found it amusing for some reason. A wide grin stretched across her lips. "Well, look at you now, future Mrs. Hathaway."

    "Yeah, life''s funny that way." Eveughed breathily. Silence fell between them again. "So how have you been?"

    "Good, good."

    "Seeing anyone?"

    "Oh " At this, M turned red. The blush on her face could rival her hair. "I-I don''t really know"

    Eve''s perked up. She grabbed M''s upper arms and propped her chin on thetter''s shoulder. Brown eyes and jade ones met once again in the mirror.

    "Tell me the details. I want to hear all about it!" Was it because she was engaged? Eve wasn''t normally this eager about someone''s romantic life. Maybe it was because pairings were sprouting around hersuch as Rose and Mikael.

    "I''m not so sure about that." M bit her bottom lip. She hadn''t told anyone about this yet. Her heart pounded inside her chest.

    "Why not?"

    "Because you know him."

    "And?"

    "And I don''t think you like him."

    Eve scowled. That could be anyone but, at the same time, she felt like she should know who it is. "Why don''t you tell me and we''ll see how it goes. Only if you''refortable that is."

    M took a deep breath. She stared into Eve''s round brown eyes. They pulled her in, assuring her with its endless abyss. And so, she recounted the story in a brief summary. It took every ounce of restraint for her not to share any sidements on the story.

    Things felt natural in a way that she found scary.

    Eve stepped back.

    "You" She breathed out.

    M nodded her head and closed her eyes. "Yes."

    "And Elias Walker?" Eve gaped at the mirror, her jaw dropping. That was definitely a name she hadn''t heard in a while. "I mean, wow. I probably wouldn''t guess that if you had asked me too."

    M spun on her heel to direct her scrunched eyebrows at Eve. "How many guys do you hate?"

    "Hate? Oh, no, no, no. I don''t hate Elias. But I am not fond of him either. My thoughts and feelings on him are neutral, I guess."

    "It''s crazy, huh?" M chuckled but it didn''t reach her eyes. She raised her right hand and touched her left arm. " One day, this man makes a joke and smiles at me. The next, I''m singing while doing my chores."

    "I know I shouldn''t feel anything," she groaned. "The man is a natural born charmer. He''s like that to everyone probably."

    Eve thought about her encounters with Elias. When they first met, she did see his boyish charme through. Things escted after that and she failed to see it again.

    A thought urred to her head.

    Was it possible that he also attended the party?

    M stalked towards the bed and sat down. She cupped her cheeks with both hands. "How do you deal with this? Emotions I thought I had known before are going rampant. How do I handle this? Why do I sound like I''m not a grown woman at all?"

    Hesitating, Eve approached M at a snail pace. She also sat down and rubbed both of M''s upper arms. "Don''t pressure yourself, dear. If you makes you feel any better, Ambryan will never forget how I ran away after our first kiss."

    "You ran away?" M forgot about her problems for a second. "Are you secretly 12?"

    "Shut up." Eve scoffed, nudging her side. "I''m just saying we all have our own pace. It gets easier over time but that won''t happen if you avoid it."

    M stayed quiet for a while. Her mind went to the time she ran into Ambryan and Evangeline at the grocery. Elias had recognized her right away, inviting her to a cafe he was headed for. They ended up chatting about different things and stayed until the cafe closed for the night.

    It seemed surreal even when it''s been weeks.

    "I don''t think I''m the best person to give this advice but" Eve started ro say. She ced her hands behind her and let them sink into the mattress. "Just see where it goes. Let emotions be rampant if they want to be. ept them. Suppressing them will only make things harder for you."

    A huge rock lifted off M''s back. There were still some left but she appreciated the loss of weight nheless. Although still unsure about the future, she had started to worry less.

    Her hand touched Eve''s. "Thank you, Evangeline."

    "Um" Eve sat up abruptly. She tucked her hair behind her ears. "If it''s okay with you, you can just call me, Eve."

    "Eve?" M arched an eyebrow and thought about it. "I have met an Eve and I wouldn''t want to mix you two up. I''ll stick with Evangeline."

    "And who is this Eve?" Eve flinched.

    "An older sister of two students in my school."

    "Erin and Eden?"

    M tilted her head sideways. "You know them?"

    "I never thought I''d actually say this," Eve spoke softly, mostly to herself. "Maybe I did before but people had been doing it for me that I had gotten used to that instead."

    "What are you talking about?"

    Eve held M''s hands and tucked her chin. She looked at M at an angle that showcased the seriousness in her brown eyes.

    "I am their older sister. Me. Everlee Hart."

 Chapter 320: What Love Feels Like

    Chapter 320: What Love Feels Like

    Ambryan conversed with Knoc about their prospective partnership. He became engrossed in the topic,pletely in his element, and missed the time Eve left the room. Jarrett and Andie stepped out in the garden for fresh air.

    "Um, Ambryan" Mikael said, interrupting the conversation. He stood behind Knoc and pointed a thumb over his shoulder. "One of the servers said there''s a disturbance at the gates."

    Knitting his eyebrows, Ambryan excused himself and joined Mikael. They walked to the nearest exit together. "Did they say anything else?"

    "The person is iming to know you and your mother," Mikael provided. "I was around the area when it happened. I saw the server running to the house so I asked."

    A grim line stretched Ambryan''s lips. The estate always had security around. Paparazzis couldn''t even glimpse the manor without trespassing. That meant the person was recognizable to the guards.

    But there had to be something wrong for them not to let the person in. Ambryan quickened his pace. Mikael stayed on his tail. The former didn''t even question his presencedismissed it for curiosity.

    When they reached the front yard, a loud wailing sound came from the gates. The yells were incoherent because of the slurs. Ambryan could see Wen and the others trying to keep the person from entering.

    "Wen!" Ambryan called out.

    His head of security snapped her head towards him. She spoke to the others and jogged in his direction. "Yes, Mr. Hathaway?"

    "What''s going on?"

    "A drunk man won''t leave the premises."

    "Who is it?" Ambryan inquired. Was it from the Wilson Family? The Rivers Family?

    Who did it have to be for the guards to go easy on him?

    Wen cleared her throat. Since it was dark outside, she wasn''t wearing her sunsses. The pale moon painted a gentle glow in her blue eyes.

    "It''s Elias Walker."

    Both Ambryan and Mikael raised their eyebrows.

    Another wailing scream came from the gates. "Did my heart love till now?! Forswear it, sight! For I ne''er saw true beauty till that night!"

    They left Wen on the spot and dashed for the gates. Their eyes could hardly believe what they were seeing. What they heard turned out to be true. Elias Walker had clung to the gates, his feet propped on the lowest bar ledge.

    "Deardy, by yonder blessd moon I vow! That tips with silver all these fruit-tree tops"

    "Walker!" Ambryan yelled. The guards turned to his voice, clearing a path so he and Mikael could pass by.

    Elias wore a tailcoat suit. Three buttons on his white dress shirt had been pried open along with his matching white vest. His chocte brown hair had a sheen to it like it had been waxed or gelled but the hairstyle had been messed up.

    His head was bowed when Ambryan and Mikael stood in front of him. As if stuck in a slow motion picture, Elias looked up. A wide grin stered on his face at the sight of the two.

    "Isn''t it a beautiful night, gentlemen?" He began to say. "Reminds me of Shakespeare''s Romeo and Juliet."

    "You don''t say?" Mikael remarked.

    "A romantic y for a romantic night. A romantic night for my wounded heart," Elias continued, ignoring the sidement. He stepped down from the ledge but gripped the gates tight. "Do you know what love feels like, gentleman?"

    "I do."

    "I don''t."

    "It''s like a thick nket that keeps you warm, a hot chocte on a rainy day or even a nectar of honey that sweetens your tea."

    "I don''t use any sweetener in my tea," Ambryan said, crossing his arms over his chest. They needed to make a decision about Elias and fast.

    "You don''t need any when your honey is a living being." Mikael couldn''t help but snort.

    Elias stuck his head between the metal bars. A lonely expression painted his face. Heavy bags were evident under his eyes. "But it''s also a knife that slices you open, a thousand needles that wound you deep and a clothing iron that burns through your flesh."

    "Open the gate," Ambryanmanded.

    "Are you going to let him in?" Mikael questioned. He eyed the tall ck gates as they parted in the middle, creating a passageway enough for two persons.

    "It''s either we let him in or something happens to him if left alone," Ambryan replied. He stepped through the gates and pried Elias off it.

    Thetter spun around and grabbed him by the cor. "Why is love like this, good sir? When I saw tears flow down from her eyes, my own heart broke. At that moment, it was no longer mine. It belonged to her. She possessed it the minute I saw her try to smile through her sadnessas if my heart had known her long before we met."

    Mikael came up behind Elias, pulling him away from Ambryan. "Come on, man. Let''s get you inside. You can talk about this girl all you want. Do you want another drink? Just have enough of it and maybe she''d even manifest in front of you."

    Ambryan gave Mikael a look. If he had been trying to make Elias faint, there were faster ways to do that than getting him to drink. Ambryan, then, nced at Elias who had his eyes half-closed.

    Elias''s grip on Ambryan''s cor slowly loosened until he let go of Ambryan and fell backwards. Mikael slipped his arms under Elias''s armpits, supporting thetter''s weight. The alcohol smell was stronger when they were this close.

    "That was easier than I thought," Mikael said. He began walking backwards and dragging Elias through the gates.

    Ambryan followed and gestured to the guards, signaling that they closed the gates. The iron bars had just rejoined together when Elias scrambled out of Mikael''s hold.

    He swayed as he walked. Mikael kept a close eye on him, his arms ready to catch Elias if he suddenly fell again.

    But Elias seemed to be determined to stay on his feet. He stalked towards Ambryan who had stayed near the gates. Since Elias looked unstable, he remained rooted on the spotready to catch him like Mikael.

    Elias shot his arm out and held the metal bar besides Ambryan''s head. Upon closer look, Ambryan noticed Elias had his eyes closed. He shook his head. The guy must be sleepwalking or dreaming.

    The droopy eyes slowly peeled open. They stared at Ambryan with a dazed look. Thin lips parted open, saying, "You''re taller than I remember, M. Are you wearing heels?"

    Then, he leaned in for a kiss.

    Ambryan blocked it with the palm of his hand. Elias passed out for a second time butnded on Ambryan this time around. He muttered words too low for anyone to hear.

    "Why can''t you like me? You look at me but you see him. Why can''t you see me?"

    Mikael held in hisughter.

    "Don''t say anything," Ambryan warned. He made eye contact with everyone in the vicinity. "That goes for all of you."

    .

    .

    .

    .

    .

    Back in the room, Eve pushed M out of the doorway. "Come on, you need to go back out there. I know you have a ton of questions but this is not the time."

    M halted in her tracks. She stood in the middle of the hallway while Eve closed the door. Her head had be busy with observing the new piece of information. She had met both Evangeline and Everlee. How could she not make the connection?

    "If you''re wondering why you didn''t figure it out, there''s plenty of people on the same boat as you," Eve reassured as if she could read M''s mind.

    "You were at the recital, right?"

    "Yes. I was also there when we asked about the school fees. I have picked up the twins plenty of times as well. We have crossed paths on many asions."

    M opened her mouth. Then, she closed it again. Her legs started walking without her knowledge. "It''s still unbelievable. That''s such a small world if we ran into each other that much with both identities."

    "Tell me about it" Evangeline mumbled, keeping up with her pace. "The word should spread soon. I don''t want to keep having two lives exclusive from each other. But, until then, would you mind keeping it a secret?"

    "Of course!" M answered without hesitation. "Would this happen to have something to do with Avery?"

    "Plenty."

    "Got it."

    The hallway ended and they found themselves another one, only wider. It had doors that led to a parking lot which was used by the guests. The women had just turned their backs on the double doors when they bursted open and two men came inside, carrying an arm on each of their shoulders.

    All four pairs of eyes made contact.

    M sprinted at once. "Oh, my god. What happened?"

    She lifted the unconscious man by the chin. Her jade green eyes nearly popped out of their sockets. "Elias?"

    The strong alcohol stench finally hit her nose. She looked at Ambryan and Mikael. "Is he drunk?"

    "He mostly definitely is," Mikael grunted. "He was at the gates, yelling lines from Shakespeare."

    M gasped. "I love Shakespeare."

    "Well, the both of you are just meant to be, huh? Maybe if you kiss him, he will wake up and you can live happily ever after."

    "Mikael!" Eve scolded.

    "He''s heavy, okay? If they wanted to practice lines for a y, they should do it somewhere else like their own houses."

    "You don''t even live here."

    "And here I am helping to get him inside."

    "Geez, what''s stuck up your butt?" Eve snorted. She shooed him away so she would help Ambryan instead of him but he refused to let go.

    "Leave it," Mikael hissed. "I offered to help. I will see it through. Go back to the party while we take care of this."

    Eve shifted her attention towards Ambryan. He nodded his head in agreement with Elias. "We''ll be back soon. The countdown should start soon. You wouldn''t want to miss the fireworks in the courtyard."

 Chapter 321: A New Years Kiss

    Chapter 321: A New Year''s Kiss

    Eve stayed rooted on her spot while Mikael and Ambryan took Elias to one of the guest rooms. M seemed to share the same sentiment, also feeling hesitant to leave. Both women looked at each other and conversed in silence. Everything they had to say was painted on their faces.

    "You go first since you and your family are hosting the event," Mikael said after he and Ambryan dropped Elias on the bed. "I''ll take off his shoes or something, tuck him in and then, I''ll be down soon."

    Ambryan checked on their uninvited guest. Elias was out like a light. A light snore even purred out of his chest. "Are you sure?"

    "Yeah, go. I want some quiet anyway."

    "Tell the servants if you need anything."

    "I will."

    And so Mikael did as he had told. Elias was no easy person to carry or drag across the bedbut he managed. All the while, his mind floated somewhere else such as the words Elias spoke earlier. They hadn''t crossed paths much but like him, Elias made the impression that he was passionate about being a photographer. As if, there wasn''t room for anything else.

    But then, at the gates, he sounded much different.

    Mikael had always found love iprehensible. He had people he cared about. Some he''d be willing to donate a kidney to or blood. He''d also be devastated if any of them were gone. But a love that was as warm as a quilt but as painful as a knife to the heart?

    That was something out of his range.

    A knock came from the door. "Can Ie in?"

    Blinking out of his daze, Mikael made thest pull on Elias'' shoe and nced at the open door. M leaned sideways on the frame. Her lips hinted the shyest smile he had ever seen. The same light in a pair of brown eyes reflected in her jade green ones.

    He gestured for her to step inside. "Shakespeare, huh?"

    M stopped beside the bed, tucking her hair behind her ear. "Did he say anything else?"

    "Why do you ask? Was he talking about you?"

    "I could only hope he was" she admitted. Then, she began to help and searched for a nket in the room''s cab. "Was there anything about how he got drunk? He was supposed to attend a wedding as the official photographer."

    Mikael headed for the bathroom, intending to wash his hands. Water surged out of the faucet. The sound echoed into the bedroom. "Since you''re nning to stay with him. Why don''t you ask him yourself when he wakes up?"

    "Oh, no. I can''t stay for long. I have to y the violin."

    "The countdown is about to start and so is the fireworks show. That should give you enough time," Mikael stated. He dried his hands with a paper towel and walked out of the bathroom. M had draped a nket over Elias. "If you''re lucky, he''ll sober up and you can talk. Even if it doesn''t happen tonight, I think you really do need to talk. Take the initiative because I doubt this bastard would. He''d rather resort to drinking his problems away."

    Sitting down on the bed, M smiled in spite of herself. He brushed a few stray hairs off Elias'' forehead and shifted her attention towards Mikael. "I will think about it. Thank you."

    "I''ll go now and give you some privacy."

    Mikael closed the door on his way out. He could hear a loud voice counting down the seconds behind him. Looking over his shoulder, he spotted a small balcony outside of a two-door window. A quick debate ran in his head where he ultimately decided to skip going down the stairs and made a detour towards the balcony in his sight.

    "About to have your private show?" A voice asked from the other end of the hallway.

    Rose grinned as she stalked towards him, a ss of champagne in her hand. "For your information, I saw that spot first and I''m not about to let you take it away from me."

    "Well, if we stay here talking then, no one would be able to use it." Mikael snorted. He resumed his walk. cks of two heels gradually grew louder in his ears until they reached his side.

    "Fine. Since it''s New Year''s Eve, I''m feeling extra nice so we can share."

    "Not if I lock the window before you coulde in."

    "Why you"

    Mikael sprinted down the hall, Rose right at his heels. She raised her ss up in the air like the Statue of Liberty. No way would her drink be sacrificed over such petty behavior. The both of them grabbed a handle each and pried the windows open.

    They fit through the entryway and found themselves on the small balcony, its size only big enough for two people to stand in. The rest of the guests had gathered below. Their eyes were trained towards the dark horizon. An announcer stayed on the sidelines with a microphone in hand and read the seconds that ticked by.

    Falling into the spell casted from the chant, Mikael touched the railing and also stared into the distance. The fireworks show hosted by Hathaway Family was infamous in Maize City. It could be seen for miles but the best seat in the house always belonged to their manor''s courtyard.

    The small balcony proved to be a strong contender for that title.

    At least, in Mikael''s perspective.

    "FIVE!"

    "FOUR!"

    "THREE!"

    "TWO!"

    "ONE!"

    "HAPPY NEW YEAR!"

    The first set of fireworks shot up in the sky.

    But Mikael failed to see them. A tug from his tie forced him to look away. He opened his mouth to protest but a pair of soft lips trapped the words in his throat. The multi-colored lights from the show gleamed on his eyelids. He could hear them as wellbut what was to be the highlight of his evening had now be a mere background to something else.

    "Happy New Year, Mr. Davis," Rose greeted him when they broke apart. Then, she took a sip of her drink and enjoyed the fireworks show along with the rest.

    "What was that?" Mikael finally spoke. His body had frozen mid-kiss. Itsted only a few seconds but the effects left him immobile for a little longer. No one had ever dared to kiss him in such a sneaky way.

    Rose glimpsed his way through the corner of her eyes. "What?"

    A breath of disbelief, Mikael regained his focus. He scrunched his eyebrows and fully-faced Rose while supporting his weight with the railing. "Why did you kiss me? Without my consent no less."

    "WhaDon''t people kiss when the new year strikes?" Rose covered her mouth. A hard expression had taken over his face. She wasn''t sure whether tough or to scoff. The kiss wasn''t even anything special.

    Mikael tilted his head the other way. "Is that mandatory?"

    Rose thought about it for a while. "I guess not but it''s something I''m used to."

    "You kiss the closest guy to you every new year then? Do you realize how that sounds?"

    "It makes for interesting stories someday though," she defended with a giggle, finishing her drink. She hadn''t thought about it until the countdown ended. From there, she just wanted to see how he''d react and did it.

    The disapproval was as she expected.

    How it happened was slightly different from what she imagined.

    She sneaked a peek at Mikael who looked at the fireworks disy. The scowl hadn''t left his face. It made her wonder if he''d still react this way if he knew she was the girl he had been texting. The thought saddened her a bit.

    "Was that your first kiss?" She couldn''t help but ask.

    "Absolutely not." Mikael red in her direction.

    Rose lifted her hands up in surrender. "Could have fooled me."

    "It was just a kiss. Not something worth my time."

    "You''re right. It was just a kiss. Nothing to worry about." She tried to drink from her ss but realized it was empty. Checking the courtyard, she spotted servants loitered among the crowd. That had to be the only downside of being up in the balcony.

    She should bring two drinks next time. Mikael chose to remain silent and watched the fireworks. Music flooded from the speakers as they filled the dark sky in neon colors. Both the show and the music moved together in sync for a beautiful disy of lights dancing in the air.

    "You know," Rose began to say, propping her elbow on his shoulder. She too had her eyes on the fireworks. "There is a saying that if you don''t kiss anyone when the clock strikes midnight on new year, that means you have 365 days of loneliness ahead."

    Then, she grinned towards Mikael. "Aren''t I nice to not let that happen to you?"

    "..."

    He exasperated a sigh and peeled her arm off. Then, he took one step towards her. "Just so you know, I wouldn''t be this lenient if you weren''t close with Eve and the others. Don''t get the wrong message."

    Mikael turned his back on the fireworks and headed back inside. He had seen enough for the evening. The next order of business should be thete dinner meal. After that, he can finally go home and enjoy the rest of the holiday.

    It was back to business on January 2nd.

    Rose had her eyes trained on his back until he disappeared. She took a deep breath before she focused on the fireworks again. Her hand hadid on her chest, the heart underneath thundering.

    "Oh, you poor thing. Why him?"

 Chapter 322: A New Years Confession

    Chapter 322: A New Year''s Confession

    Ambryan headed for the staircase at the hallway when he walked out of the bedroom, leaving Mikael to tend to an unconscious Elias. He stumbled upon a mirror on the way and noticed his crooked tie. Halting in his steps, he straightened hispels and started fixing the tie.

    "Looks like you had a rough time with Elias," Eve spoke as she emerged from the top of the stairs. Her legs led her towards the gap between her fiance and the mirror. And, her hands snatched the tie away from him.

    "It was certainly unexpected."

    "Mhm."

    Silence fell over them as Eve redid the knot. Ambryan watched her hands handle the material delicately. Then, his gaze flickered to her face. The corner of his lips tugged upwards. Eve probably didn''t know it but the smile he wore was a mirror to her own.

    "I remember this," Ambryan said after a while.

    Eve raised her eyebrows without taking her eyes off the necktie. "Remember what?"

    "The first time you did my tie."

    This time, she looked up at him. "At theunch party?"

    "Yes."

    A soft chuckle flowed out of her lips. "It certainly leaves an impression."

    She went back to work, nearly finished. She had to wrap one end around the other several times just to get the right shape. That part had always been tricky to herespecially when ties were made from different fabrics. Each one required a set of new skills.

    Ambryan took a deep breath, sighing and shaking his head. "I would have never guessed the woman that walked down those stairs was my secretary."

    Eve paused to nce at him through hershes. "News sh. It did happen like that."

    "Very funny."

    "There you go." She patted his chest and stepped back, leaving her hands on either side of the tie and admiring her handiwork. "That has to be the best one I have done so far."

    Ambryan lifted her left hand and kissed the back of her fingers. "Thank you."

    "For the tie?"

    "That and for agreeing to marry me." He smirked and didn''t let go. He held her hand over his heart. "I don''t think I''ve ever known true happiness until that moment."

    Eve narrowed her gaze. "I could still change my mind."

    Ambryan merely chuckled, letting their hands finally drop. He snatched her right one this time and headed for the corner where another hallway was. "Come on."

    "Where are we going?"

    "To the bedroom."

    They encountered no one on their way. All the servants were downstairs, taking care of the party and preventing guests from prohibited areas. It was the most privacy they had sinceing to manor. The eerie quiet almost seemed scary.

    Eve struggled to catch up to Ambryan''s long strides. "Which one?"

    "Mine. The fireworks are better enjoyed in the bedroom."

    "I think that''s a different type of fireworks."

    She bumped into his back when he stopped abruptly. Her brown eyes met his when he nced over his shoulder. A sheepish expression painted over her face, bluntly ignoring how her own sears had grown hot.

    "I''ll behave."

    "I can''t promise the same."

    Before Eve coulde up with a retort, they had reached Ambryan''s childhood room. They had slept in one of the guest rooms during their stay since this one didn''t have a big enough bed. Avery had suggested switching it out but Ambryan insisted a guest room was perfectly fine.

    Eve stayed by the doorway while Ambryan disappeared into the small opening. She took everything in, from the navy blue walls to the grey carpet of the sitting area. Her eyes scanned the toys on the shelves near the y area.

    If she looked closely enough, she could see dust on the tower of blocks on the floor.

    ''Had they never cleaned this room?'' Her mind wondered. Then, she checked the rest of the floor and that didn''t seem to be the case. Her head whirled around in search for Ambryan and finally noticed the short hallway inside the room.

    Another wave of blue greeted her sight. Unlike the sitting area, this one definitely resembled a boy''s bedroom. Eve shook her head at the wall of books. His home office had a smaller version. The study table looked as neat as his desk. The only thing different was the swivelling chair which had blue cushions.

    "Is your favorite color blue?" Eve remarked, walking further into the room and sitting on the twin bed. "Aunt Avery told me you locked yourself in here a lot."

    "I did," Ambryan replied. He stood in front of the windows with his hands tucked inside his pant pockets. His ears picked up the faintest sound of the countdown. "Only my grandmother coulde in."

    Eve left the bed until she stood directly behind him. "Why?"

    "Because she would be the only one trying not to get me to leave." Ambryan angled his body towards the left, still not meeting her eyes. He pointed to the corner of the room. "Her and mom used to sit in that rocking chair beside the bed. Mom would do it until I fell asleep. Nana would do it and hold me on herp whenever I missed mom."

    "So what you are saying is," she started to say, staring at the chair. "You''ve been adies'' man since you were a kid?"

    Ambryan stepped in her direction and quirked an eyebrow. "I only had onedy."

    Eve tucked her chin in. She met his gaze with a knowing stare. "That''s not what M said. Frankly, I think you forgot how I worked for you which includes breaking up your flings on your behalf."

    Then, she looked up at the ceiling and rubbed her chin. A deep scowl creased above her nose. "I actually wondered if I would have to do that to myself."

    "Then, it''s a good thing you don''t work for me anymore." Ambryan pulled open the windows. Eve moved closer and ced both of her hands on the windowsill. Both of them stared at the dark sky, hidden from everyone else.

    The first set of fireworks shot up and exploded like stardust. Eve leaned into Ambryan, hugging his torso. She fit perfectly right under his arm. His heartbeat filled her ears along with the music from a distance. It seemed like a mundane start to the new year but she had a different opinion.

    She had attended these parties before. Her Christmas days were dedicated to the twins and Andie''s family. They''d spend the whole day celebrating and bonding. In return, they let her attend the New Year''s Eve party in this manor where she recorded the fireworks show for them.

    She''de back to let them watch it from her phone along with gifts and their favorite cake.

    Not once had she gone up the second floor. Let alone be in Ambryan''s bedroom. To her, it may seem simple but it was intimate in a multitude of ways. This room held much more value than the one in his penthouse or his residential house that she hadn''t seen yet.

    If only she also had her childhood room.

    Then, she could let him experience this feeling as well.

    Ambryan wrapped his arm around her shoulders. Except for that one time, he hadn''t been in this room since he moved out of the house. He only stayed during breaks while attending college. His attachment to the room was nothingpared to the one in Cornelia Townbut it had a fair share of impact in his life.

    With Eve here, the past came back to him once again. Only this time, he epted its presence and let it consume him. Numerous days were spent alone. His younger self could have felt lonely at the time but looking back now, it didn''t seem like that anymore.

    His eyesnded on Eve.

    She felt his gaze and stared back. "What?"

    Something had always been missing about this room. It could have been his absent momor his grandmother when she passed away. But no. It was also her, Everlee Hart. Her mere existence made him d to have something to share about himself.

    No doubt she would enjoy scouring this room, all of its nooks and crannies. She''d dig up every story and memory he made in it. He could almost hear her infectiousugh.

    "I love you," Ambryan whispered.

    Eve averted her eyes for a second. Then, she made eye contact with him again.

    "As I love you," she answered, pressing her lips together. It felt both foreign and familiar to her. She had almost said something sarcastic but changed her mind. If she was about to say these words for the first time

    New Year''s Day had to be one of the best times.

    Ambryan leaned down to kiss her. She closed her eyes, reciprocating the gesture. Her hand cupped his cheek while he grasped the side of her neck. The fireworks continued their work while they retreated to their little bubble.

    "Can you say that again?" Ambryan mumbled against her lips.

    Eve grinned at his eagerness. A pelt of kisses attacked her jawline.

    "I love you." She giggled before Ambryan captured her lips once more.

    The fireworks show had stopped but they failed to notice. Neither noticed how much time passed by, acting as if there was never enough in the first ce.

    "Are you sure that day I agreed to marry you is still the happiest day of your life?" Eve joked, pulling back for some air. They still had thete dinner meal to attend to. Avery would choke them if they failed to make an appearance.

    Like Eve''s admission of her feelings, the madam also thought New Year''s Day was the best time to announce a certain engagement.

    Ambryan wrapped his arms around her thighs, sweeping her off the floor. A wide grin spread across his face as he stared up at her. "I have a feeling the actual wedding would top it."

 Chapter 323: A New Years Beginning

    Chapter 323: A New Year''s Beginning

    When Ambryan eventually let Eve go, he excused himself to use the restroom. Eve wandered around the room while waiting. She checked out the titles on his shelves, searching for the sort of books young Ambryan wanted to read.

    His nightstand also had a few reading materials. Sitting on his bed, Eve brushed her fingers up along the spines of magazines. Then, they touched a hardcover one found at the very top.

    The only lights in the room were from outside the window.

    "Why is this book away from the rest?" Eve asked as Ambryan walked back into the room. "Has it always been here?"

    Ambryan took one look and immediately knew what it was. "Since it came here, yes."

    She widened her eyes in his direction. "It has legs?"

    His response came with a shake of his head. "No, but it was in my penthouse."

    "A book you always have to have with you. I wonder what is it" Eve thought out loud, her voice in a sing-song tone. She pulled out the book and immediately dropped the act.

    "This is not a book."

    "It''s a photobook."

    "Yes, but"

    Eve fell at a loss for words. She hadn''t seen this photobook before but she knew of its existence. Ambryan turned on the lights, making it clearer to see. The cover had the face of a young woman edited to look like an oil painting. It had a nted tear right across the middle where the canvas revealed a ck and white version of half of the painting underneath.

    Ambryan stayed by the doorway and leaned his shoulder against the wall. When he had asked Wen to pack up things from the penthouse, he hadn''t expected she''d bring along a present he got in the mail.

    He had hidden it in this room ever since.

    Why?

    "This is" Eve attempted to speak again. She flipped through the glossy pages. The artistry in the photos astounded her. "This is the portfolio Elias had me do, isn''t it?"

    It was.

    "It''s the final version of it, at least," Ambryan supplied.

    She looked up at him. "There were other versions?"

    "That bastard had sent me a sample copy, asking for my opinion on the photos, the theme and theyout." Ambryan walked over to the bed and sat beside Eve. He took the photobook into his hands. "I didn''t want to admit it but he did a wonderful job. These ck and white ones hadpletely drawn me in. I knew for sure that you could make it as a full-time model just by looking at them."

    "You''re exaggerating. You''ve seen me do other things too," Eve protested with a snort. "Besides, you had asked me about that even before this photoshoot happened."

    "I know but this had blown me away unlike the others."

    "In what way?"

    "Look at this one."

    Ambryan opened to a page where a headshot of Eve stared right into the camera. The giant wings red out behind her. Elias had edited the ck and white version to include ck wings instead of white. He also dimmed the lightning to match the dark themecausing the shadows in the photo to intensify while the highlights dulled.

    "That is beautiful," Eve breathed out. "But that''s due to Elias'' handiwork."

    "That''s you," Ambryan said.

    "I know."

    "It''s you."

    "I am the subject of the portfolio."

    "You''re misunderstanding me."

    "I think you''re the one misunderstanding the whole purpose of this photobook."

    Ambryan chuckled, licking his bottom lip. How should he exin this? He closed his eyes briefly and said, "This was how I found out you were Eve."

    Now that he mentioned it, Eve snatched the photobook back. She scanned through more pages made of ck and white. The colors lost meaning in these photos. It came down to lighting and shadows, angles and shapes, and monotone shades. Whenever Elias dimmed the light, her eyes resembled a darker coloralmost simr to her brown ones.

    That trickbined with the minimal makeup for a dainty angelic look and hair pushed back, it did resemble herself without the Evangeline disguise.

    "That''s scary."

    Ambryan released another chuckle. He propped his hands behind his back, digging into the mattress. "I''ll say. I had stopped breathing when I realized I justpared the photos to my own secretary. I looked for more and saw the resemnce again."

    "I could also hear my motherughing inside my head, I might add." He frowned at the memory. "It sounded ridiculous but I remembered how confident she was that I should know who you were. Then, everything else made senselike your demands when we started fake dating."

    Eve closed the book and hugged it to her chest. She pressed her lips together, turning her head towards Ambryan. "Were you angry?"

    Her voice came out small.

    Ambryan raised his eyebrows and straightened his posture. "Surprisingly, I wasn''t. I had gotten to know you during this time as my fake girlfriend and as my secretary. I had also known we both had our own agendas with the arrangement."

    "I was more amazed at how much time you actually dedicated to me," he continued. "I was very ttered. It really boosted my ego. I didn''t have to wait every weekend to see you. Of course, I was sick at the time so I actually had to wait"

    Eve grabbed a pillow and whacked it to his face.

    She rose to her feet, putting the photobook back. "Come on, Mr. Detective. We still have the announcement to go through. Your mother will have our heads if we missed it."

    When the guests came back in, the servants had finished setting up the tables and silverware. Avery paced behind her chair while the twins drank their sses of juice. Jackson sat beside Ede and nced at his wife.

    "Why won''t you sit down?" He questioned, frown lines between his eyebrows.

    "Where are they?!" Avery hissed under her breath. "It''s an important night and they''re supposed to be here. I had taken ages to make this presentation and they will not miss it!"

    "What presentation, mother?" Ambryan asked to announce their presence. He was almost afraid to hear the answer if he was being honest.

    Avery''s violet eyes snapped in the direction. Eve had taken her seat next to Eri while Ambryan followed beside her.

    "Well, FINALLY!" Avery exasperated. She grabbed a remote control from her purse and ordered a servant to get her a microphone.

    Eve gulped, already sweating from what she witnessed so far. Just how big of a presentation was this? She searched for Andie in the next table and found both her and Rose looking their way.

    rm and desperation radiated out of her brown eyes. They shrugged, answering with sympathetic smiles.

    "Ladies and gentlemen, may I have your attention please," Avery spoke through the microphone. Chatter died down as people shifted their attention to her. A white sheet screen lowered from the ceiling behind the madam.

    "First, I''d like to thank everyone foring and to greet you a Happy New Year." She beamed. The lights slowly dimmed as a projector lit up on the sheet screen. "I have an important announcement to make. And I would also like to take all of the credit because it was me who had introduced my son to his fianc"

    A round of apuse and cheers erupted from the crowd. Eve buried her face instantly on Ambryan''s shoulder. The loudest support came from the nearby table where Rose and Andie had stood up.

    It took about a minute or two before the audience became quiet once more. Avery brimmed with excitement from the positive feedback.

    "Now" she said, looking at the couple. "I could save this for the wedding but tonight is a night where new beginnings happen. And I thought why not look at an old beginning to celebrate a new one."

    "As many of you know," Avery addressed the crowd once more. "My son wasn''t always keen to have amitted rtionship. Not only is he my only child but I am also an old woman who wants to see her grandkids before the inevitable timees"

    A fewughs echoed around the room.

    "So when my son finally agreed to regrly date someone, I had wanted assurance of hismitment."

    Eve spotted a familiar photo shed on the white screen. She blinked several times. Five purple buttons were connected by a swiveling line. Each one had a name and symbol.

    > Chat

    > Call

    > Memories

    > Calendar

    > Capture

    "And this was it," Avery said, pointing to the menu screen of the DTC app. "Every message, every call, every date, every photo was recorded in this app I have customized. ording to my research, it''s a wonderful app to use. Be sure to check out the app storester after this."

    Moreughter came from the audience at herst statement.

    "I don''t think either one of you had used this before," the madam told Ambryan and Eve. "But we will tonight. Let''s take a walk down memoryne, shall we?"

    A white border outlined the button for "Memories." Then, the screen had vanished. In its ce was a roadmap that followed dates instead of destinations. Avery manipted the settings so it rewinded back to the beginning.

    "Do you both still remember your first chat?"

    When Eve heard what Avery had said, her ears reddened like two strawberries on either side of her head. She did remember it. But the madam surely wasn''t about to show the conversation to everyone, was she?

    "July 12, 20XX," the madam read from the white screen. "Then, the first date came on July 18, 20XX. My son works fast, huh?"

    The pin for July 12th moved down a few dates until it hit July 18th. A slideshow began where a picture of Stitz Bistro came up along with the time of their meetup. The app also tracked their visit to Parthenos Mall where Ambryan attempted to buy a bag for Eve.

    Then, came the Alight Rolling Skating Rink where they spent the most time for their date. It ended with a final destination at Evangeline''s apartmentplex.

    Without Avery''smentary, the pin moved again until itnded on the night of theunch party when their dating status became public.

    It had recorded their stop at WcDonald''s and the cliff they stayed after the party. Their next meetup came two weekster when Eve met Jackson for the first time. Their time apart grew longer after that due to the scandal Eve fell into with Mikael.

    But among all of them were recorded time for their chats and their calls. The pattern continued until the presentation reached the time Ambryan cooked for Eve in a restaurant''s private room.

    Eve hadn''t noticed she welled up into tears. Each pin had given her a sh of memoriesjust like the app had intended.

    "Truth be told," Avery spoke after a while. "I had added this feature in case something wrong happens. I wanted you both to be able to look back and see what exactly you were about to let go if you had decided to end your rtionship"

    Her voice cracked at the end. Jackson touched her hand that held the back of her chair. She showed him a small smile. "I know this app is now unnecessary since you will be making new promises on yourmitment to each other."

    The screen showcased more memories such as their date at the arcade and a street food fair, eating lunch everyday at Evangeline''s apartment, the unexpected weekend stay at Zehell Castle, their visit to Cornelia Townand so much more.

    Tears began to form in the corners of Avery''s eyes. The sight of a crying Eve didn''t help her eitherbut the madam did her best to steady her trembling hand.

    "But know that DTC will always be here for you. No matter how much time passes by."

 Chapter 324: SS1 01: Breaking and Entering (Except with Keys)

    Chapter 324: SS1 01: Breaking and Entering (Except with Keys)

    Kiri and Blueberry slept on the penthouse couch. Her white fur and his ck one created an image simr to the Yin and Yang symbol. Their food bowls had been licked clean. Their water was almost out. Fluffy white clouds rolled by outside the window where a light rain of snow fell down from the heavens.

    Keys jingled from the other side of the front door.

    "Kiri?" Eve said, shrugging off her coat and hanging it on the coat rack. She tucked her bob cut hair behind her ear before walking further into the room. "Kiri? Blueberry?"

    At the sound of her name, Kiri pulled her head up. "Meow?"

    Her purple eyes scanned the living room and failed to spot Eve. She leaped off the couch, hitting Blueberry in the face. Thetter feline hissed under his breath. Then, he softened when he noticed it was Kiri at fault. Sitting up on the backrest, he shook his head and nced in the direction of the front door.

    His blue eyes watched indifferently as the missus of the household reached the living room.

    "Hey, Kiri," Eve cooed. She lifted up the albino cat and cradled it like a baby. Kiri purred under and nestled her head under Eve''s shoulder. "Is Ambee home yet? Not yet? Are you hungry?"

    An irritated "Meow" came from the couch.

    Eve looked up and waved at Blueberry. "Two wet cat fooding right up."

    Checking the time, Eve prepared enough food for the cats before Ambryan would feed them. She rubbed her hands together and at her cashmere sweater. It probably wasn''t the best time for a haircut but she had been itching to do it. Her natural hair had grown long enough.

    She knelt down and gave both cats onest pet. "I''ll be taking the guestroom now. Don''t tell Ambee I was here, okay? Let''s surprise him tomorrow instead."

    Her phone vibrated in her pocket.

    .

    ``Yan: Where are you right now?``

    .

    Eve nearly jumped on the spot. She whirled around, checking for cameras. No one should know she was in the city. She hadn''t told anyone about her visit besides Cale and Averyas well as the cats now that they saw her. Her leg took a step back. Her other leg did the same. The hairs on her arm had risen up in caution.

    Goosebumps shivered down her spine.

    Then, she bolted for the guest room that Ambryan never looked at.

    .

    ``Lin: Nice and cozy in your house in France. You?``

    ``Yan: My house?``

    ``Lin: Our house. So, where are you and why were you dodging my question?``

    ``Yan: I wasn''t dodging your question.``

    ``Lin: See? You just did it again. Are you workingte again, Mr. Hathaway?``

    .

    Eve snuggled under the nket after a quick bath and change of clothes. She had stored clothes in the penthouse due to Avery''s insistence. If the madam had her way, Eve would have clothes in every residence Ambryan owned plus the Hathaway Manor. She was family, Avery said. His house was her house, the madam continued.

    Thus, even the house Eve hadn''t seen yet had a closet full of clothes.

    .

    ``Yan: Only for a little while. They want to try filming tomorrow in the office and I have to be present. There is this new director that Venus Investments wants to try out. A fresh mind in the industry they like to call him. I have a bad feeling about it.``

    .

    Eve''s heart sank. She hade to stay over the weekend but it seemed it wouldn''t be anything like she nned. Her thumbs typed a response slowly.

    .

    ``Lin: Work truly never stops for you, huh? Will Hannah also be there?``

    ``Yan: Yes, she will be assisting me. If I agree for them to film in the office, I also want her to be there to supervise every weekend. The crew may be working for us but I will not take chances.``

    ``Lin: Oh, yes. Please hide your inappropriate magazines.``

    ``Yan: Ms. Hart since when had I kept inappropriate magazines in my office?``

    ``Lin: So you are saying there are some not in your office?``

    ``Yan: ``

    .

    Covering her mouth, Eve muffled herugh. Ambryan could be walking down the hallway from all she knew. She rolled onto her back and peeked at the door. She had turned off the lights outside after her bath. The gap under the door remained dark, hinting that Ambryan hadn''te home yet.

    A yawn flowed out of her lips.

    .

    ``Lin: Don''t stay up toote, Mr. CEO. I''m going to sleep. Good night. Mwah!``

    ``Yan: Good night, Mrs. Hathaway.``

    ``Lin: We''re not married yet.``

    ``Yan: If I say it enough, it would erase any second thoughts you might be having.``

    ``Lin: I''m not having second thoughts!``

    ``Yan: Then, it shouldn''t be a problem calling you that.``

    ``Lin: ...``

    .

    Eve shook her head at the dark ceiling. Disapproval projected out of her brown eyesbut the blossoming grin on her face begged to differ. A deep sigh exhaled out of her nose. Oh, how deep she fell for this man.

    He better be surprised to see her tomorrow.

    .

    ``Lin: Why am I marrying you again?``

    ``Yan: Because you love me.``

    ``Lin: Says who?``

    ``Yan: You did.``

    ``Lin: Well, aren''t you a lucky bastard.``

    ``Yan: Now that you found a way to insult me without it sounding offensive, you can now go to sleep. Good night, Eve. I''ll call you in the morning.``

    ``Lin: You know me so well. Okay, we can get married. No need to be pushy. Good night, Ambee. Don''t just call! Send a selfie too!``

    .

    Ambryan stepped out of the elevator in Eros Headquarters. The cold air of the parking lot crawled up under his sleeves. A deep scowl scrunched over his eyebrows. He had heard of selfies before. He and Eve had taken several photos as wellbut none from his own initiative.

    What sort of selfie did she want? She could have been more specific.

    "Late work today, boss?" An old gruff voice asked him.

    Looking up, Ambryan spotted the security guard on duty. He stopped in his tracks and raised his eyebrows in question. "Darryl. Isn''t your shift over?"

    The old man merely shrugged and wrote something on his notebook. "I had to do something earlier so I switched ces with Darren. The quiet is nice sometimes. I also get to y any music I want."

    Ambryan opened his mouth, trying to recall his memories from earlier the day. What had he been doing that he failed to see his security guard was different? "I''m sorry I didn''t notice."

    "It''s alright. I know what it feels like to be young in love. Although, we didn''t have cell phones back in the day. I imagine if we did, I would be as engrossed as you are whenever the missus sends me something."

    At that, Ambryan chose not to answer. The probability that it had been about Eve was high. He didn''t need actual statistics to know it too. Since she had gone back to France, he spent every possible free time talking to her on the phone.

    The wedding couldn''te any sooner.

    "Have a safe trip home, boss." Darryl smiled. He wouldn''t say it out loud but he and his wife ate up any news about Ambryan and Evangeline. His wife had never been more eager to hear stories about the young CEO. It always shocked her to hear how different Ambryan had be.

    He couldn''t wait to tell her about the movie.

    "Take care of yourself, Darryl."

    Ambryan reached his penthouse in record time. He hung his jacket on the coat rack. A bundle of white fur snuggled up the side of his leg. He lifted Kiri up at arm''s length away from his face. He heard cats couldn''t really smile but they had the muscles to mimic the expression on their lips.

    Kiri wore that on her face right about now.

    "Meow," she greeted him, licking her lips. "Meow, meow~"

    "Well, you seem energetic. Had a good time while I was gone?" Ambryan chuckled. He looked down and found Blueberry. Unlike Kiri, he stayed still while sitting on the floor. "What about you? Anything to report?"

    "Meow."

    "I see. The two of you must be hungry. Let''s get you some food."

    Blueberry followed right behind while Ambryan carried Kiri to the kitchen. He opened the cupboard where their food was stored and noticed something peculiar. His hand paused in mid-air as he counted the cans of wet food.

    Then, his attention shifted towards the bowls.

    A tiny thin piece of wet cat food had been left in one of them. From looking at it, Ambryan figured it hadn''t been long since the cats ate. He specifically remembered that he only gave them enough for the morning and the afternoon.

    Why would there be fresh food on their bowls then?

    "Had mom or Wen stopped by to feed you both?" Ambryan wondered out loud. He scratched Kiri''s head while looking at Blueberry. It was the only exnation he could think of. "You two are very loved cats, aren''t you?"

    "Meow, meow," Kiri answered him. Ambryan nced down at her and moved his fingers from the top of her head to under her chin. She closed her eyes, purring from satisfaction. Ambryan was still her favorite even with newpanions around.

    Meanwhile, Blueberry had his head turned towards the guest room. His tail swept across the floor once. Twice. Three times. Then, he looked at Ambryan. If the tomcat could frown, he would right about now.

    Not from his girlfriend epting affection from another male but from this hooman failing to realize they had a guest over. Why was he so calm? There could have been an intruder!

    "I should get to bed," Ambryan dered. He put Kiri back on the floor and patted Blueberry''s head on the way. "Try not to wake me up for anything that isn''t necessary. Good night"

    Kiri appeared beside Blueberry, acting as calm as Ambryan. Thetter red at Ambryans''s retreating back. Wasn''t this hooman supposed to be smart?

    Then, why did he act stoopid?

 Chapter 325: SS1 02: Officially Meeting the New Secretary

    Chapter 325: SS1 02: Officially Meeting the New Secretary

    Eve pressed her ear against the bedroom door. She had woken up over an hour ago and saw a message from Ambryan, greeting her just half an hour after the sun rose. Running water sounded from the other side which she suspected to be the sink.

    Ambryan hadn''t mentioned what time he''d be leaving for the office.

    But based on the time, it seemed like he''d be following his regr hours.

    "Yes, Hannah?" She heard him speak faintly. "No, they can''t start anything without me. Setup is fine but only the crew and only outside my office. They aren''t allowed inside until I get there."

    Eve lowered to the floor and crossed her legs. She fiddled with her phone while waiting for Ambryan to step out of the penthouse. Her stomach grumbled in hunger. Just how much did he do in the morning? And how was he neverte all this time?

    The sound of scratching against a hardwood door triggered rm bells in her ears.

    "Blueberry? What is it?"

    Like lightning, Eve scrambled off the floor and raced to the bathroom. She thanked herself from 15 minutes earlier for making the bed. Thetch on the bathroom door closed with a soft click. Relief swelled inside her chest at herst minute escape.

    She couldn''t tell which cat it was but when she found out

    Ambryan opened the door, his phone pressed against his ear. Blueberry stalked inside and leaped up the bed. "Meow~"

    The CEO shook his head.

    "Tell them I''m on my way," he said on the phone as he picked Blueberry off the bed. Tucking his phone away, Ambryan raised the ck cat up to his eye level. "You''re acting weirdtely. Do we have a mouse?"

    Blueberry openly red at the CEO. Not one to give up, the feline scrambled off his hold and bounded for the front door. He stopped in front of the coat rack, cing his front paws on it.

    He meowed at the dark coat Eve had left. It was buried under Ambryan''s overcoat so it wasn''t noticeably visible.

    Ambryan followed behind the cat and took his own coat. He shrugged it on with his back against the coat rack. Blueberry kept trying to get his attention but failed miserably.

    Kiri joined the two and bid goodbye to Ambryan. "Meow, meow~"

    "Behave you two. I''ll be at the office."

    Blueberry jumped for the front door as it closed. He mmed against it with his front legs spread over the wood. He stepped back, growling intensely under his breath. Then, he turned around and faced Kiri.

    A pair of sparkling purple eyes stared at him.

    He opened his mouth and said, "Meow, meow." (We should leave him.)

    "Meow?" (Why?)

    "Meow, meow, meow." (He''s an idiot.)

    "Meow, meow." (But he cares about us.)

    "Meow, meow, meow!" (He doesn''t even know the woman is here!)

    "Meow, meow, meow." (That''s because it''s a surprise, silly.)

    Blueberry snapped his head towards the guest room door. Eve had finallye out. She hid behind a wall, peeking at the front door. Her eyes eventually found the cats.

    "Is Ambee gone?" She asked them.

    "Meow! Meow!" Kiri responded enthusiastically.

    Eve grinned. "Perfect."

    A dark cloud hovered above Ambryan''s head as soon as he reached his office floor. Too many people cluttered around it. He almost didn''t recognize his own building anymore. Shouts, instructions and arguments filled his ears.

    Hannah stood by, frantically trying to keep up with all that was happening.

    Ambryan closed the elevator doors behind him. He stalked through the room, passing by equipment and staff members. His violet eyes zero-ed in on his office door. He clenched his jaw, choosing to stay silent.

    The crew eventually noticed him. They moved out of his way and lowered the volume of their voices. Hannah warned anyone else who still talked with her eyes. Their boss didn''t look happyand they shouldn''t make that worse.

    Ambryan took out the key to his office.

    "Mr. Hathaway!" The new director greeted the CEO from behind. She sauntered towards, wearing a ck shirt and a pair of jeans. She mmed her hand on his back. "My, you look much better in person! I don''t think our actor can even live up to it."

    An amused cackle flowed out of her lips. She turned towards their leading actor and said, "What do you think, Ghong Yu?"

    "There''s always nothing like the original..."

    "That is true!" Sheughed.

    Ambryan half-turned in her direction. "Excuse me, Director Sguist. There are still things I need to do. Please refrain from disturbing me or Hannah."

    Sguist raised her hands in surrender. "We''ll be on our best behavior. You won''t even know that we''re here."

    Choosing not to answer, Ambryan gestured for Hannah toe along. She dodged both equipment and people to reach his side. They entered the CEO''s office where nothing seemed to need attention.

    That was until Hannah spotted the painting on the right wall. "This is still up, sir?"

    Ambryan nced at the portrait before checking if his desk drawer was locked. "As ridiculous as it looks, neither my mother and I trust just anyone to touch that. Wait for a little and I will help you."

    Hannah gulped. She wouldn''t have dared even if he didn''t say that. Her ck eyes looked up at the 36in x 48in (91cm x 122cm) portrait of Evangeline Reed. Besides itsrge size, the painting also had a thick gold frame that weighed more than the canvas. It had surprised her when she first saw it but she eventually grew to admire the painting.

    The futuredy boss of theirpany was truly beautifulthe massive white wings she wore for the photo was fitting for her image.

    "Where would you like it?" Hannah asked when Ambryan came to her side. He too stared at the magnificent painting his mother gifted him for the engagement.

    "I''m not sure yet but we''ll find a ce."

    Numerous floors below, Eve sneaked a peek at the parking lot. She found Ambryan''s car immediately and recognized the vans their film crews used. Her right hand instinctively touched the back of her head where she had tied her hair to a low ponytail. Thanks to a temporary ck hair dye that came in a spray can, she resembled herself back when she used to work here.

    Her sses slipped down her nose. It had been a while since she took them out from their case. After she had resigned from her job as a secretary, she wore contacts more again until she had almost forgotten about her eyesses.

    The sound of whistling reached her ears.

    Eve shifted her attention towards the elevator, excited to see Darryl after all this time. The growing smile on her face immediately dropped. Her favorite security guard wasn''t on duty today. Would she be able to get past this one?

    What was his name again? Daniel? Darwin?

    Daryus?

    Profanities hissed out of her mouth. Knowing the name was half of her ticket to get inside. She retreated out of sight and paced around for a bit. The name wouldn''te to her. Leaning on the wall, she pped both of her cheeks.

    Nothing woulde if she just stayed here.

    She needed to get to the top floor.

    "Whatever. Let''s wing it," Eve told herself as she squared her shoulders. Except for the pencil skirt, her outfit was almost an exact match to what she wore before. She cleared her throat as she reached the security guard.

    "Hi, I would like to visit the top floor please?" She said, mustering her sweetest smile and clutching her hands together.

    "Do you have an appointment?" The security guard asked. He concentrated on a sudoku puzzle and hardly paid her any attention. Eve almost regretted talking to him. She might have gotten away with just directly using the elevator.

    "I don''t" Eve flinched at her own voice. "It''s supposed to be a surprise."

    He snorted. "That''s what they all say."

    "They do?"

    "Yeah, think of something more original than that, missy. All his past lovers had said the exact same thing," he further exined as he wrote down a number on his puzzle. "And everyone knows Mr. Hathaway is with that red-haired model."

    "" Eve pressed her lips together.

    Maybe she should have dyed her hair after she had gotten inside.

    "Well, Dar" she paused, clenching her sped hands. "Da-DarI''m not his past lover. Only his past secretary."

    The security guard opened his mouth for a retort but the words died inside his throat when he saw her face. His jaw nearly dropped in surprise. "Ms. Hart!"

    "Hey!" Eve trailed off. Now, she felt bad for not remembering his name. "H-How have you been?"

    "You''re here to help out with the filming, right? There''s an assistant involved in the story and you probably know a lot from your experience. You should have said so from the beginning!" Heughed, louder than she liked. Maybe it was because of the empty parking lot.

    Soon, hisughter died down and he escorted her to the lift. "But I get it. It was a funny joke."

    Eve chuckled along with him. "Thank you for the assistance, D"

    "Darren."

    "Darren! Right! You usually take the night shift," Eve resisted the urge to facepalm. She had long joked about Darren and Darryl''s names. It was a shame she had forgotten one of them.

    "I did Darryl a favor so our schedules are messed up right now." Darren stepped aside to let her pass. A warm smile spread across his face. "It was nice seeing you again, Ms. Hart."

    She returned it with equal warmth. "You too, Darren. Enjoy your puzzle."

    "Do you have more extensions?" A crew member asked Hannah.

    The secretary turned around to face him. "Extensions?"

    "Yeah, we need this plugged in."

    "Right, right," Hannah muttered, looking around the office. "Extensions, extensions..."

    Not a momentter, Eve found her checking the outlet behind the sofa in the waiting area. She tapped the secretary on the shoulder. "Hannah?"

    "GAH!" Hannah eximed, nearly jumping 10 feet into the air.

    "Calm down. It''s me. Eve."

 Chapter 326: SS1 03: A Lesson on Acting 101

    Chapter 326: SS1 03: A Lesson on Acting 101

    Hannah froze for a second. Like a robot, she stiffly straightened her spine and blinked twice at the woman before her. Hannah took Eve in, hardly believing that she was there.

    "E-Eve?" She stammered.

    "Miss, that extension. Where is it?"

    Hearing the film crew member, Eve shifted her attention towards him and gave a polite smile. "Just a moment. There should be one in the utility closet."

    She crossed the room towards the supply closet. It usually contained cleaning supplies, toilet paper and towels but it did have a few other misceneous items. Eve crouched and dug out an electric extension hidden behind water buckets.

    The film crew member thanked her and left to do his job without another word. Hannah released a breath she hadn''t known she was holding. Her body retreated away and her bottom crashed onto the couch.

    "Rough morning?" Eve chuckled.

    Hannah ced her neck on the backrest of the sofa and turned her head towards Eve. "You have no idea, Ms. Hart. I would tell you all about it but Mr. Hathaway is here and he might scold me for bad-mouthing about my job."

    Eve sat beside her and Hannah''s head slipped off the couch,nding on Eve''s shoulder. "How did you do all of these?"

    "By bad-mouthing about my job."

    "I''m serious!"

    "Okay, I wasn''t really bad-mouthing," Eve rified with a roll of her eyes. "But I did voice outintsjust not to AmSir Hathaway."

    "You?" Hannah snorted. She would have shook her head too if it wasn''t on Eve''s shoulder. "Comin? I don''t think so."

    "And here I was going to suggest you take a break."

    "But who will do my job?"

    "I will, of course."

    Hannah bolted upright. Her mousy brown hair had turned into a mess from lying her head around. "Are you serious?"

    Eve put her hands on her hips. "Now, why would I joke about that?"

    "Because it seems funny?"

    "You have 15 minutes. Leave the tablet and get off this floor."

    "Yes, ma''am!"

    Watching Hannah escape, Eve stood up and straightened her clothes. She grabbed the tablet to see what needed to be done. It was outside normal office hours so the tasks concentrated on filming. She double-checked every ce that contained confidential information, making sure they were locked.

    Most of them were in Hannah''s workstation. Eve sat on the swivelling chair and checked the drawers under the desk. She also took the little scrap paper in the waste bin and tucked it in her pocket.

    Nothing could be left to chance.

    "Well, look at you! Already getting familiar with your role!" She heard someone say. A shadow came from across the desk.

    Eve raised her eyebrows. "Excuse me?"

    Director Sguist tsked while wagging a finger at her. "I appreciate the effort, missy, but you were stillte. You think you can sneak on set and pretend like you had been here all this time? Not on my watch!"

    Speechless, Eve choked on her own spit. She fluttered her eyes. What was that person talking about? Was Hannah in trouble? But the poor girl seemed to be tired from running errands. And Ambryan had required her to be here. She wouldn''t dare to leave her post.

    The director faced away from Eve and lifted up her megaphone to her mouth, saying, "Five minutes and we start filming. ces, everyone!"

    Eve rose up from her chair. "Wait"

    The door to the CEO''s office opened.

    "Is everyone here?" Ambryan asked no one in particr. He nced over his shoulder onest time and scanned his office. It should do despite what the crew members had suggested. He refused anything that shed with the monochrome color disy.

    Director Sguist gave him a thumbs up and a wink. "Rock and ready to roll, Mr. Hathaway."

    "Be more professional, director."

    "You got it, Mr. Male Lead!"

    Ambryan sighed over his right shoulder. His violet eyes connected with another almost simr in color. Ghong Yu, the actor they hired to y the CEO, walked up to Ambryan. His leather shoes hardly made a sound on the carpeted flooring.

    He tucked his hands inside his pant pockets.

    The motion hadn''t escaped Ambryan''s attention.

    "May I, sir?"

    "By all means."

    Ambryan moved out his way. At this point, Eve came face to face with her fiance''s back. She backed away slowly. Her foot hit the leg of the swivelling chair, causing her to fall. Her sses slipped off her nose andnded under the desk.

    She immediately crawled to retrieve it..

    "I do hope your acting skills are good," she heard Ambryan say. "My fiance is not that clumsy."

    By the time she stood up, he had left to stand in the sidelines. That was when it clicked. Had they mistaken her as the actress for Evangeline? At that thought, Eve mentally screamed on the inside. It wouldn''t even make sense to wonder how they came to that conclusionwhen the person they hired had to resemble her features.

    And she definitely qualified!

    "ces!" Director Sguist announced from behind the monitor. She sat on her chair while Ambryan stood beside her. He looked around the office in one swoop. Everything seemed to be in order.

    "Action!"

    Eve arranged the mock props on the filing cab near her desk. Funny enough, her body moved in its own ord once the camera started rolling. Every movement she made was out of muscle memory.

    The situation was so hrious she almost cried!

    "CUT!" The director yelled. She red at Eve. "That was your cue!"

    Eve snapped out of her daze and did a double take. Ghong Yu had stepped out of the office. She reddened at the ears when they made eye contact. Then, she bowed her head, fiddling with the stack of papers in her hand.

    "I''m sorry," she managed to mumble.

    "Are you alright?" He asked, genuinely concerned.

    Eve leaned towards him and whispered near his ear. "Do you know what I was supposed to do?"

    His eyebrows scrunched together. "You You haven''t memorized the script?"

    "There''s just so many scenes like this. I''m not sure which one it is."

    Ghong Yu seemed skeptical but he gave her the benefit of the doubt. He pressed his lips together for a second and said, "It''s when you tell me about the breakup with Charlene Evans."

    "Oh!" Eve eximed. Now that was something she remembered vividly. "Got it. Thank you."

    He smiled at her enthusiasm. "Any time."

    "Let''s do this again" Director Sguist instructed. The crease lines across her forehead deepened. This seemed like it was going to be more difficult than she thought. She waited for signals among the crew before yelling... "ACTION!"

    Eve resumed what she had been doing. This time, when the door clicked, she walked towards her desk and handed over the folder to Ghong Yu. "Here are the previous contracts we made with investors. I would also like to report that Charlene Evans had epted the gift."

    Ghong Yu shut the folder close after skimming the first page briefly. "Was there any problem?"

    "Nothing we weren''t able to handle."

    "Good."

    "CUT!"

    Everyone directed their focus on Sguist. She hopped off her seat and approached her actors. She briefly mimicked what just happened with quick hand gestures before addressing them.

    "This can''t do, okay?" She spoke firmly. "There isn''t much time in the film. You have to establish chemistry from the start! No one wants to see you act this stiff! There has to be sparks even when there''s no romance yet. Maybe do a little ad lib flirting"

    Eve opened her mouth to protest. "But"

    "I object to that idea," Ambryan cut in. He stepped forward with his arms crossed over his chest. "The assistant and the CEO aren''t meant to flirt in this scene. It''s not how it goes."

    "We''re trying to condense this story into the movie''s time frame. The audience must root for the female lead from the start! That even with a montage of different women, the CEO has the most chemistry with her but they fail to see it!" Director Sguist insisted.

    "Let''s try it once, okay?" Shepromised not a secondter.

    Ambryan clenched his hands into fists. If this woman hadn''t been backed by the investors, he would have gotten rid of her on the spot. Her behavior was simply uneptable! And there wasn''t any respect for the material!

    "Fine," he agreed through gritted. "But only once."

    Eve shivered down her spine. She exchanged looks with Ghong Yu before retreating back to her previous post. The crew adjusted once again and the third shotmenced. The atmosphere had more tension than usual.

    Ignoring the frosty air, Eve added a small change.

    She let her hand linger on the folder as she gave it away. "Here are the previous contracts we made with investors. I would also like to report that Charlene Evans had epted the gift."

    "Was there any problem?"

    "Nothing we weren''t able to handle."

    Ghong Yu poked his inner cheek with his tongue, watching his assistant arrange the rest of the files. The way his eyes flickered was quick enough for the director not to call him out for theck of ad lib.

    He spent a significant amount of time staring at the back of Eve''s head.

    Eventually, he gave in to his curiosity. "What about you?"

    "What about me?" Eve stammered from shock. Her hands dropped the files. Legitimate panic agitated her head. It showed in her wide eyes. She made a move to pick them up but a shadow blocked her way.

    Firm fingers dripped the tip of her chin and forced her to look up. Ghong Yu tilted his head the other way. "What gift would you have liked?"

    "CUT!" Sguist shouted, brimming with energy. "Now, that''s more like it!"

    "Now, hold on," Ambryan said, his re had turned into icicles. "That''s too much. That''s not how I would have acted. It''s not true to the chara"

    "How about we stop beating around the bush?" The director groaned. She threw her hand towards the desk. "If you are so opinionated, why don''t you show us how it''s supposed to be done?"

 Chapter 327: SS1 04: A Lesson on Seduction 101

    Chapter 327: SS1 04: A Lesson on Seduction 101

    Eve snortand covered her mouth before it could reach Ambryan''s ears. Ghong Yu heard it, raising an eyebrow in her direction. She failed to notice due to focusing on the tensed shoulders Ambryan now wore.

    Director Sguist grinned at the CEO who had been taken aback by her suggestion. "That''s right. You haven''t been avable for Ghong Yu to study up close. This is the perfect opportunity. How would the you from that time flirt subtly?"

    Ambryan took his time to respond. It was an obvious bait. The director had a hidden agenda. It was the actor''s job to prepare for the role. It was the crew''s job to understand the script and to amodate the demands of the investors.

    The script had approval for what it is.

    Changes weren''t allowed without permission. Except, he couldn''t deny the logic presented to him. The audience needed to be hooked from the beginning. They needed something to go for.

    "I mean we could always keep trying until the actors get it right" Sguist mentioned in nonchnce. She could almost hear the gears grinding inside his head.

    "Just this once."

    She beamed and snapped her fingers towards him. "You got it, superstar."

    Ambryan fixed his attire as he entered the scene. Eve turned her back on him, pretending to move into ce. Ghong Yu exchanged ces with the CEO and stood beside the director. Out of everyone, he seemed the most calm.

    Sguist immediately signalled to the crew to hurry. It was a chance they wouldn''t want to miss. The CEO could suddenly change his mind and they''d have no material as reference.

    Eve hid her smile. She also had the same thoughts.

    It was a chance no one wanted to miss.

    The scene restarted but something had changed. Director Sguist narrowed her eyes on the assistant. The actress had her back on the camera but her footing was different. Her weight rested on one foot, making her hips sway to one side. The curve of her back became more prominent.

    She had been stiff for the past two shots. What could be the reason for this one?

    Then, her eyesnded on Ambryan who exited his office.

    Eve nced over her shoulder when she heard the door. Ambryan had walked out with one hand inside his pant pocket. He aimed for the elevators, waiting for no one unlike Ghong Yu did. He expected those files to be ready.

    And they would be if it was Eve doing them.

    Instead of staying behind her desk, Eve moved around it and blocked his path. Her brown eyes gazed up at him in admiration. He returned it with an icy stare. The expression brought shbacks for Eve. But, more importantly,

    Could he tell it was really her ying herself?

    This was the first good look Ambryan had at the actress ying Eve. The casting crew had done a good job to find a close match to her features. They even had the same light in their eyes. He almost fell under their spell.

    Could such a phenomenon exist?

    Eve offered him a small smile. "Here are the previous contracts we made with investors. I would also like to report that Charlene Evans had epted the gift."

    Ambryan grabbed the folder but kept it closed. "Was there any problem?"

    "Nothing we weren''t able to handle."

    "Good."

    He passed her, even lightly bumping her shoulder. Eve almost broke from character right then and there. Was that his subtle way of flirting? It sure didn''t look like it. People could take it the wrong way instead.

    Eve whirled around. "Sir Hathaway!"

    Ambryan paused mid-step. Frown lines creased between his eyebrows. Then, he spotted the director looking at him with a smug expression. The expectation in her gaze bothered himlike she had been waiting for him to mess up.

    He gritted his teeth and half-turned towards Eve. "Yes?"

    Thetter rxed her facial muscles, longing written in her eyes. "Do you really have to go?"

    "I have an important meeting." Ambryan refused to y along. This game had gone far enough.

    "But we''ve barely had time together." Eve leaped forward until she closed the gap between them. She pressed her hands on his chest, standing dangerously close, and bit her bottom lip. "Why must you always look at another woman? I''ve always been here for you. Am I not good enough?"

    "This is in vition of thepany rules," he scolded. His posture stayed rigid but his skin tingled. His left eye twitched from resisting the urge to touch her back.

    "But didn''t you hear, Mr. CEO?" Eve lowered her voice into a whisper. She flickered her gaze to his lips for a second before meeting his eyes once again. Oh, how she missed them. Wouldn''t it be funny if he realized who she was from a kiss?

    There was only one way to find out.

    Her tone remained soft. "They say that rules are meant to be broken."

    Then, she puckered up and yanked him down.

    Ambryan used the folder to prevent their lips from touching. Fury zed in his eyes.

    "How dare you"

    "OHMYGOD! I''M SO SORRY I''M LATE!" A woman yelled from the lift. Her red hair hade undone from a ponytail, framing her face like a haystack. "I would have gotten here earlier but my stylist cancelled so I had to go to a salonwho are you?"

    Eyes snapped towards Eve. She still had her arms around Ambryan''s neck. A pout formed on her lips as she rested her cheek on his chest. "Aw, and I was having fun too."

    "What''s going on?" Director Sguist demanded. She rose to her feet and darted her gaze between the two women that looked alike. "Which one of you is a fake? Who dares crash into my set?!"

    "Before we started filming, I thought she was also a secretary" a crew member confessed. He wobbled from holding up the microphone. "She had been cleaning up the office like the other one did."

    "I only have one secretary. Do remember it," Ambryan rified. Then, he shifted his attention back to the woman in front of him. As if feeling his stare, she blinked up at him and shed a cheeky smile.

    "Filming has started?" Hannah said, walking out of a hallway and talking to herself. The room had gone quiet enough for everyone to hear her question. She mmed a hand onto her mouth and muttered apologies to the film crew.

    But then her eyes popped out of their sockets as she took in the scene.

    "Ms. Hart! Mr. Hathaway!" Her jaw dropped from the intimate pose. Ambryan hadn''t made a move to push Eve off despite his interrupted protest to a kiss. His attention solely focused on the neer, trying to make sense of the situation.

    "That''s future Mrs. Hathaway to you." Eve winked at Hannah.

    Sguist stiffened. Her hands dropped to her side. "You''re the real assistant?"

    Eve loosened her hold on Ambryan and addressed the director. "Only a reference."

    "And someone who shouldn''t be here," Ambryan pointed out. He grabbed her shoulders and pushed her at arm''s length. "Since when were you in the city? Howe you didn''t call? Did you also lie to mest night when you said you were in France?"

    Hannah gasped, catching the attention of Ghong Yu. Her emotions really showed on her face. "Holy shis Ms. Hart and Ms. Reed the same person?"

    Minutester, Eve sulked in her seat. Ambryan had scurried her away from the crew and locked her up in his office. When she tried to tell him the crew would use it, he had already left the room. She pouted in his small sitting area and red at anything her eyesnded on.

    No one came in after 15 minutes. Eve slipped off the cushion and stared up the ceiling. He couldn''t expect her to just wait, right? It wasn''t like she meant to crash the set. The director had mistaken her identity and she had gone through the motionsready to be removed from the role.

    Except, it didn''t happen that way.

    But, at least, now they also had material on her to use as reference.

    Eve hopped off the couch and stretched her arms. Ambryan''s office hadn''t changed since shest saw it. His tea set was in the same ce. She was also willing to bet his pens on his desk hadn''t been reced either.

    The bookshelves caught most of her interest. They reminded her of the one he had back in Hathaway Manor. Her hands brushed the spines, browsing for titles that seemed familiar. She pulled one out that looked older than the rest.

    Its now empty spot revealed a ssh of gold.

    "What" Eve ced the book back and walked to the end of the shelves. Pressing her ear against the wall, she found more gold behind the bookshelves. "What the hell"

    Her hand reached out and touched the frame.

    Then, she tugged it. It was as heavy as it looked.

    Not one to give up, Eve thought of another solution. She arranged the books by order of which spot they upied on the shelves and ced them on the floor. It felt like a reverse puzzlewhere she had to take the pieces apart in order to see the picture.

    The canvas slowly emerged from the shadows.

    Eve carried thest stack of books and stepped back. Words could not exin how she felt at the moment. The painting was beautiful. She could tell from the strokes that it was handmadenot merely edited to look like one.

    There was just one question in her mind.

    "Eve"

    She whirled her head towards the door, saying, "Why is there a portrait of me in your office?"

 Chapter 328: SS1 05: Enough Surprises for the Day

    Chapter 328: SS1 05: Enough Surprises for the Day

    Ambryan glowered as he talked with the crew. He gave Director Sguist a thorough lecture about her mistake. That error had caused time and money. If the person didn''t happen to be Eve, the damage could have been much worse.

    Hannah stood nearby, waiting for her turn. She should have informed him about Eve''s visit. It should have been the first thing she did! It was the CEO''s office and so Ambryan had to be aware of everything that happens on his floor at all times.

    That aside, her heart skipped a beat in memory of the intimate hug.

    Words failed to describe her shock. She had seen the photos and the videos. Each time she looked at them, she almost couldn''t believe it was her boss and his fiance. Hearing Eve was the said fiance was another level of information to wrap her around.

    Yet, it all clicked togetherespecially being in this room. The truth had been staring at her in the face. How could she have not made the connections up to now?

    "Hannah," Ambryan called out to her. His curt voice sent a chill down her spine.

    She met him halfway and bowed her head. "Mr. Hathaway."

    He crossed his arms over his chest. "How long has it been since Eve came?"

    "Less than half an hour."

    "And when were you going to tell me about her visit?"

    Hannah opened her mouth then closed it again. Her spection was right. That was her error. "I apologize, Mr. Hathaway. When Ms. Hart came, she offered to relieve me of my duties for 15 minutes. She had told me not to make an appearance so I could enjoy my break. I will take this into ount the next time shees by."

    Ambryan''s scowl deepened. "Relieve you of your duties?"

    rm bells ringing in her ears, Hanna bit her tongue. Of course! That was unprofessional of her to do. Eve was no longer with thepany. It wasn''t right to leave things in her hands. Genuine fear flooded in her chest.

    "Yes, she thought I could use a break," she finally admitted and bowed her head further. Her voice had be smaller as well. This was it. She was about to be put back in her department.

    Or worse.

    She could get fired.

    Ambryan pursed his lips. "And did you?"

    Hannah gulped, unsure of what he meant. "Did I what, sir?"

    "Did you need a break?"

    "... only a small one."

    Nodding his head, Ambryan unfolded his arms. He moved his hands into his pockets and saw Ghong Yu had the same pose. His hands clenched into fists. He had almost taken them out in order not to match.

    He shook his head and let the matter go. His focus returned to Hannah. "I talked to the director and the filming would end in 2 hours. You may go home after that."

    "What?" She snapped her head up and met his eyes.

    Was he serious? Filming had been scheduled tost until normal office hours. She had cleared her day just to be here. The crew probably had done the same. There shouldn''t be a reason why this small mishap caused a pro

    Her eyesnded on the closed office door.

    Then, it hit her.

    "I understand, Mr. Hathaway," Hannah responded. She gripped the tablet closer to her chest and straightened her spine. If it was for Ms. Hart, she could be able to do anything. "I will check everything while they clean up and after they leave."

    "Thank you."

    Ambryan sighed when he reached his office door. He was bound not to hear the end of this. Eve had once again escaped his notice. He hadn''t even heard about her cutting her hair like that! Was the color permanent or temporary? It was hard to tell.

    He opened the door and said, "Eve"

    "Why is there a portrait of me in your office?"

    Whatever he had to say died in his throat. The books he had carefully ced on the shelves had been moved to the floor. How did she find the painting? He had tested it himself if he would notice the painting hidden behind the books.

    "It''s there because I''d rather not have unnecessary people see it," Ambryan exined, walking towards his desk. The painting had reminded him of his own share of secrets. That would make them even now though Eve wasn''t aware of it.

    Eve frowned and followed him. "That''s not my question."

    He sat on his chair, his hands posed over his keyboard. The monitor was ckpared to what he had expected. He hadn''t turned it on. There was no desk work for today. Nothing was there to distract him.

    Ambryan cleared his throat. "Mother gave it as an engagement gift."

    "That sounds about right, I guess." Confused by his behavior, Eve gently pushed his hands away and sat on hisp. Her legs dangled over one armrest while her arms found themselves around his neck again. He stiffened under her touch.

    She smiled directly in front of his face. "How are you? Like really."

    "What are you doing?" Ambryan breathed out. His arms slowly wrapped around her waist. Until this moment, her presence seemed like a dream. She had another month and a half left of modelling camp. It should also be busier than the first half.

    "I''ve seen this in films. I thought I should try it at least once."

    "I mean, what are you doing in Maize City?"

    Eve pressed her lips together. The answer should be obvious. "Can''t you guess?"

    Ambryan didn''t share the same sentiment. "I think I have enough surprises for one day."

    "But it''s your birthday!" She eximed and pouted that he hadn''t yed along. Inside, her heart ached a little. He had been so focused on work and almost missed his special day. "Surprises are part of the package during birthdays, dear Mr. Hathaway."

    Hearing those words Ambryan realized what day it was today. Oh, how wonderful it was to be born. He took her in, one sense at a time. Sight, smell, touch and tahis gaze flickered to her plump lips. They invited him in. He leaned forward without knowing.

    "Are you saying" Ambryan began to say, still staring at her lips. His thumb brushed over the curve of her waist. "That you came all the way from France just to celebrate my birthday?"

    Eve scoffed, startled by his disbelief. She rested her forehead against his. Her hands cupped both of his cheeks. "And why wouldn''t I? What better gift can you get than me?"

    "I''m notining."

    "Good."

    The two shared 2-weeks worth of kisses. Life was good. Each had progressed in their individual sess. The secrets hadn''t stopped but what was life without surprises? Another rain of snow fell outside the windows. The time couldn''t be more perfect to share body heat.

    "How long do you still have to stay?" Eve asked when they broke apart. She adjusted herself on hisp, inching closer to his chest. "You didn''t mention itst night."

    Ambryan tucked her hair behind her ear. His Adam''s apple shook. "Only for 2 more hours."

    She arched an eyebrow. That didn''t sound right. "2 hours? Are you sure?"

    "Of course, I''m sure."

    Eve didn''t buy it. She recounted the facts while her eyes narrowed at his expression. "The crew came all this way and did their preparations to film for 2 hours?"

    "The preparation time is always part of the process."

    The Amrbyan she knew wouldn''t let something that takes a lot of time and effort go to waste like that. Transporting equipment from the studio and up the lift was a tedious task. A reason why he would agree to this arrangement was if the crew made the best of it.

    Had he cut the time because she was here?

    Eve dropped the thought. It wasn''t good to specte. If it did turn out to be true, the negotiation had already been made. "Okay, I won''t say anything since it''s your special day. You, more than anyone I know, deserve a break."

    Ambryan pecked her cheek. "You can think about where we''d have lunch instead."

    "I think your mother sent an invitation."

    "I could see her another day."

    Chuckling, Eve leaned in for another kiss. "I missed you."

    He grinned into her lips. "I probably missed you more."

    "Well, you have me for the entire weekend," Eve reminded him. "We would need some activities."

    The couple spent their lunch at Stitz Bistro. It brimmed with nostalgia especially when they used the same room as their first date. Eve shared her recent assessment. The modelling camp had increased their expectations and training. She had expected it but it was still extensive work.

    On the other hand, Ambryan talked about their ns to expand thepany. Ideas came from all over the world. Why limit them to just their country? He and head management had been on the hunt of a productionpany they could coborate with.

    "Are you considering France?" Eve joked, taking a bite of her pasta.

    "I would but I believe your modelling camp would be over by then."

    "I could still have projects in France. But I wouldn''t mind visiting another country."

    Ambryan ced his utensils down and sipped his water. "We could do that for the honeymoon. How many ces do you want to visit? Compared to the wedding, that needs more nning."

    Eve chuckled. "So eager."

    "I want to be there when you first visit your favorite ces," he exined. His hand reached out to hold hers. "Create the memories with you and share them. I can probably do a better photobook than Elias Walker."

 Chapter 329: SS1 06: Wheels Go Round and Round

    Chapter 329: SS1 06: Wheels Go Round and Round

    "And what? Gift it to me?"

    Ambryan looked at her funny. "It''s for me, of course."

    Eve gaped at his shameless admission. She pulled her hand back and smacked his arm. "You should be satisfied. You have a photobook, pictures in your phone and a giant portrait of me in your office. Can''t you get rid of it?"

    "I have grown to like it." He shrugged, picking up his knife and fork.

    "How?"

    "It''s a great conversation starter."

    "..."

    Her deadpan expression amused him. He hid his smile with the back of his hand. "I am serious though because I get to talk about you. Their reactions give me hints if the negotiation will go well or not. It''s a lot more beneficial than you think."

    "Oh, no" Eve groaned. She buried her face in her hands. "I can''t even begin to imagine what you have been telling people. What happened to being private about your life? Have you thrown that away?"

    "But I''m proud of you. Any chance to boast about you is a pleasure to me."

    "You sound like an Asian parent."

    "I''ll take that as apliment."

    "Okay!" Eve pped her hands together and jerked up in her seat. "Let''s change the subject. Is there anything you had always wanted to do? Even as a kid but have never gotten the chance to do it? I think we should do it today."

    Ambryan wiped the corner of his mouth with the table napkin. "A quiet afternoon in the penthouse is more than fine. There''s no need to do big things on birthdays."

    "We can do that tomorrow so today has to be something different."

    Knitting his eyebrows, Ambryan considered the idea. The question had triggered his curiosity. Life had changed since he left Cornelia Town for Hathaway Manor. Because he disliked being there when he first moved, he kept his interests secret except for books.

    It was an act of rebellion.

    He nned to keep those secrets to his grave.

    "I think there might be something we can do," Ambryan shared. Looking back now, his thought process sounded ridiculous. There was no need to hold back anymore.

    Eve lit up immediately. "What is it?"

    An hourter, the sound of wheels on gravel pierced her ears. Indistinct chatter bounced off the walls. Ambryan looked around with a small smile on his face. This should be able to satisfy Eve. More than that, he looked forward to see her attempt

    "Skateboarding?" Eve blinked, gulping down her fears. They had gone to an indoor skate park in a nearby city. Teenagers crowded the ce, either sitting on the edge or skating through the park. A few noticed them and spected if they were parents of someone.

    She bluntly ignored them and turned to Ambryan. "Did you really want to skateboard? Or is this some revenge for making you roller skate?"

    He thought about his response. "Can''t it be both?"

    "Ambee"

    "I did." He chuckled at her helpless face. "It fascinated me. There''s obvious science involved in this activity. I was curious to know how it worked. Roller skating makes you use two feet and two sets of wheels. This? And just the board? It had me studying books about it in the library."

    Eve puffed out her cheeks. When he put it like that, it sounded real enough. "Then, why have you never tried it? I mean, did Aunt Avery forbid you?"

    Ambryan found a small shop in the park. He headed towards it, pulling Eve along. "Let''s just say that I was very stubborn."

    "I don''t think that has changed."

    An old man managed the shop. He stood behind the counter and polished an orange skateboard. His products were disyed ording to category: the skateboards, the helmets and the misceneous items like knee pads.

    He looked up when the wind chime sounded from the door.

    "Well, you don''t see this everyday," hemented upon seeing the couple. Walking around the counter, he sped his hands. "How may I help you?"

    "We''d like to purchase two of your best skateboards," Ambryan started.

    Eve nudged his side, whispering, "And protective gear."

    He smiled at the seller. "And two sets of protective gear."

    "Whose skating? Your kids?"

    "We are."

    "Oh" the old man blinked. Then, it started to make sense. "High school sweethearts, are ya? Reliving memories? I remember my first girlfriend. She thought I was really cool and watched me skate. I''ll make sure you get nothing but the best. It would be almost like old times."

    Ambryan thanked him and began browsing the skateboards. They all came in different shapes and materials. He remembered each by name and picked up a longboard. It was good for city usenot that he was about to use it for transportation any time soon.

    Eve stayed back by the door. She prayed to the heavens that there weren''t going to be injuries. Maybe she shouldn''t have agreed to this. Cale would have her head if something happened. She peeked out the window.

    There should be a ce for beginners, right?

    The answer to her question came soon enough.

    The skate park was bigger than Eve thought. They moved to another area where the park had smaller hills. She sighed in relief, observing while she waited for Ambryan. She had changed out of her clothes for a t-shirt and a pair of jeansas well as geared up for the activity.

    "Don''t be nervous," Ambryan said. He wore a simr outfit. Thanks to the heater, they could prance around his simple clothing. The cotton shirt fit him like a glove and hinted at his muscles. "I didn''t just read about this but I also yed it in a video game."

    Eve snorted. "Well, that''s reassuring."

    Ambryan locked his helmet in ce. Then, took his first step on his skateboard. The wheels rolled from the sudden weight. He put it back in ce and pushed with his other foot. He cruised over the t surface until the board lost speed.

    He nced over his shoulder. "Why don''t you try it?"

    "Fine." Eve took a deep breath. She ced her skateboard on the ground and mimicked what Ambryan did. One foot on the board, she lifted herself up and the board rolled under her as far as her leg could stretch.

    It caused her to almost slip before her other foot mmed on the ground.

    Ambrya rolled back to her. "Are you okay?"

    "Yeah, yeah. Good, good."

    "Maybe we should forget about this?"

    "What? No!" Eve protested. "Don''t hold back on my ount. I can practice by that railing. It should be able to help me work on my bnce"

    Eve shifted her weight too close to the tail. The board moved like a seesaw with the head rising up. When she lifted her foot off it, Ambryan caught her by the waist. What seemed like a fun idea now seemed inappropriate.

    "Sorry!" She apologized. "I really need to get to that railing."

    "You don''t need that railing. You have me."

    Ambryan pushed his skateboard away and tugged hers back with his foot. He held her hand constantly. "Let''s try this again. You need to get used to lifting your back foot. Just put your front foot on the board. Then, try moving your back foot from the floor onto the board and vice versa."

    He felt her gripping his hand tight. It showed how nervous she felt but she was still trying. Following his instructions, her board did move forward with each step but Ambryan''s hold on her helped it not to slip too far.

    Eve became more familiar with the motion as time went on.

    "You think you can try on your own? I''ll be close by and catch you."

    She finally met his eyes since they had started her impromptu lesson. "I don''t know why you''re so patient with me. I''m clearly holding you back from making the best out of this trip."

    "I wouldn''t say so. I get to flex what little skills I have. Now, try it."

    And she did. Her back foot hopped onto the board on her first pushbut it hadn''t taken long before she lost bnce. True to his word, Ambryan caught her as her back footnded back on the ground.

    Eve let her head hit his chest. "Are you sure I have to do this?"

    "I never knew you gave up so easily."

    "I don''t but this is beyond my skill set."

    "Won''t you be bored just by watching me?"

    "I see it as my own chance at revenge. If anyone asks about you, I can tell them all the juicy details of your childhood." She beamed and fluttered her eyshes. "Then, I can tell them about your fear of tomatoes."

    "..."

    Eve rxed her grin. "I''m kidding. Go have fun. I''ll be here sitting like a proud fiancee."

    "Are you sure?"

    "Positive."

    Ambryan attempted his first hill. The steps were vivid in his mind. The important factor was to lean forward as the board slid down. Otherwise, he would fall. The others in the park moved out of his way out of respect. Eve sat near the edge with her legs crossed and leaned her back on the floor-to-ceiling windows.

    "You can do it, Ambee!" She yelled, cackling at herself as heads turned in their direction.

    He didn''t share the same sentiment.

    "I believe in you! You''re always going to be the best guy for me."

 Chapter 330: SS1 07: How You Impress the Girl

    Chapter 330: SS1 07: How You Impress the Girl

    "Dude, check that out."

    Two young adult males stood together a few meters away from Ambryan and Eve. They had entered the beginner''s area for some warm up, not expecting to find a pretty girl. Their eyes easily found her since she sat beside the windows by herself.

    There had been numerous females who visited the skate park but her beauty was unparalleled. If they didn''t know any better, they would have mistaken her to be a celebrity but no brown-haired female A-list stars came to their minds when they stared at her face.

    Her high-rise jeans cinched at the waist so despite her oversized white shirt, they saw enough to make out her curves. To them, it was inevitable to be attracted to her.

    "You can do it, Ambee!" She yelled, pping her hands together. The smile on her face could lit up any room. "I believe in you! You''re always going to be the best guy for me."

    The two boys followed her line of sight.

    Ambryan pushed himself up a slope. This one had a milder slope, intended for rising back up instead of sliding down. He tried again to glide over the small hill. He had tripped over the first time by underestimating the wind resistance. His body had inclined backwards which almost caused him to fall.

    Thank goodness he caught himself in time.

    "Wow" one of the guys said. "Look at gramps go. What do women see in this type of guy?"

    "Money?" His friend shrugged. "He got the looks though so money and looks."

    He pointed to his chest. "Well, I have those too."

    "Come on, man. We''re still in uni. Women like her want a stable future."

    "I could always get a part-time job."

    "Quit ying. You wouldn''tst a week working."

    "Hey!" He defended quickly. "All I''m saying is there is nothing to lose when trying."

    His friend snorted and patted his shoulder before walking away. "Good luck, Tristan."

    Tristan red over his shoulder. Then, he shook his head. It didn''t matter. He stood by what he said. So what if he was a few years younger? He had a bright future ahead. A seven-year-old boy rolled past him.

    An idea struck him in the head.

    "Hey, kid!" Tristan called out. "I''ll give you a twenty if you do me a favor."

    Eve shifted positions. Legs still crossed, she had lifted her knees off the ground so she could prop her elbow on one of them while leaning on the window. A small smile never left her face while Ambryan practiced.

    If he had never left Cornelia Town, would they have been like this as teenagers?

    Her imagination ran wild from the thought. Knowing Ambryan, he wouldn''t have wanted anyone to knowbut she would. Then, it would be their thing and she''d lie to Andie saying she asked Noah to tutor her

    Who was she kidding? Andie would have found out. Maybe even Rose.

    "Miss," Eve heard a small voice say.

    She peeled her gaze off Ambryan and found a little boy beside her. Her sitting height was just below his forehead. The first thing she noticed was his chubby cheeks. It took all her willpower not to pinch them. So cute!

    "Hey" she breathed out gently. Her head whirled around to find his chaperones. They couldn''t have left him unsupervised. "Are you here alone?"

    The little boy shook his head. Then, he pointed his finger towards a spot on the skate park. "That guy wants to tell you something."

    Eve flickered her eyes to where Tristan did a grind rail. The back of his skateboard scraped the metal railing, its sound echoing around theplex. He turned his head towards Eve and the kid when hended on the ground. A smug grin spread across his face.

    Confused, Eve tilted her head sideways.

    "Is he a fan of mine?" She ended up asking. The question made her cringe. It sounded obnoxious but she couldn''t figure out a better way to say it. That was also the only reason she could think of for a young guy to take notice of her.

    The little boy nodded his head. "He is."

    "Then, why doesn''t hee over?"

    "He wants to show you a cool trick."

    "Oh." Eve raised her eyebrows and blinked. Then, she waved her hand towards Tristan. "Hi!"

    Ambryan heard her voice but spotted her stare elsewhere. He nted his foot on the ground from the top of the hill. Crease lines wrinkled his forehead. The flecks in his violet eyes darkened, a menacing look directed towards the obnoxious twerp.

    On the other hand, Tristan felt a boost of confidence when Eve grinned his way. His heart threatened to pop out of his chest. She really was a beauty. So what if she might be a little older? Attraction was attraction.

    And they were both of legal age.

    "You have a trick for me?" Eve shouted, totally missing Ambryan''s glowering face.

    "Did you see the one I did just now?" Tristan replied. He could see two holes being drilled into his back but ignored it. He had the upper hand now. He wasn''t about to let it go.

    Eve scrunched her eyebrows. "Was that it?"

    "No, but they''re connected."

    Tristan hopped off his board and climbed up the mini stairs. He rolled away to gain distance and momentum. This was sure to amaze her. It was far too advanced for Ambryan to master in a day. Even if he didn''t get herat least, he had impressed her with something her rich and handsome boyfriend couldn''t do.

    "Are you watching?" He yelled just to further spite the sniper on his back.

    "Let''s see it!" Eve answered. She lowered her knees back on the floor and paid close attention. Since he was a fan, it was only right of her to amuse him for a while. It was just a skateboard trick after all.

    Kicking the floor, Tristan glided across the floor and jumped once he reached the end of the railing. This happened to be one of the longer railings in this side of the park so he had time to really show off.

    The back of his board hit the railing in a twist, his feet on either side of the metal. It slid down over the railing then he jumped for another turn. This time his back faced the lower end of the bannister. He did it again so he switched to his front before slipping off andnding on the floor.

    "Cool!" The little boy gaped.

    Eve giggled at his fascination. "It is cool, isn''t it?"

    Ambryan grimaced. This had gone a little too far for his taste.

    He rolled his skateboard towards the same railing Tristan had used. Thetter noticed his approach and widened his eyes. That was when Eve and the kid finally noticed him too.

    There was no stopping him. Ambryan went full speed but changed directions. Instead of the railing, he aimed for the mini stairs. The twerp probably thought he couldn''t match up to the trick. Ambryan saw right through him. It wasn''t the first time he had witnessed such behavior.

    But it was the first time he had it happen towards his fiance.

    So what if he had never skated before?

    He knew enough to know if something felt right or wrong.

    And like he had thought, the second Ambryan jumped off the top step on the mini stairs, he knew that it was a badnding ahead of him. The board dropped off his feet until it was too far away for him to catch. Hended on his front foot and tumbled to the ground.

    Sharp pain climbed up his leg.

    "AMBEE!"

    "Gramps, are you okay?!" Tristan eximed. He ran for Ambryan and checked his front leg. The foot it connected to had twisted into a weird angle. "Ugh. That''s bad. Very bad. Were you out of your mind?"

    Eve reached them in seconds. She kneeled beside Ambryan who gritted his teeth. So what if he had sustained an injury? He still had enough dignity left not to reveal his agonizing pain.

    "Ambee? What theHow could youDamn it," Eve muttered. "Wen is calling 911. Don''t move until the paramedics get here. What had gone through your head, huh? You''re never this reckless!"

    Ambryan directed a re towards Tristan. Thetter stepped back and raised his hands in surrender. He hadn''t even touched his woman nor had he flirted with her. It was just harmless fun. If anything, it was Ambryan''s temper that was to me for the mishap.

    Tristan chose not to say anything and retreated. He nudged his skateboard, catching it in one hand. Ambryan may detest him but he was still staying close by until the ambnce came.

    "Is it some male ego thing to refuse being outdone by someone?" Eve thought out loud. Her irritation had outweighed her concern for Ambryan''s injury. It was going to be fine. It would eventually heal. What needed more attention was his brain. "You just started skateboarding a few minutes ago! It''s normal to not be a master at everything the moment you try. You didn''t have to rush it!"

    At that, Ambryan had enough. "I brought you here so I could impress you! I wasn''t about to let some skinny arrogant baby try to take that away from me."

    Eve gaped at him in disbelief. "He''s just a kid!"

    Tristan flinched at her words. Violet eyes nced his way, letting him know that it hadn''t gone unnoticed. Well, damn. He really never had a chance. It was one thing to think about it but it was another to actually hear it.

    "Well, he doesn''t think of himself that way!" Ambryan answered, ring at Eve. "And you even encouraged him!"

    "I was told he was a fan so I gave him some encouragement as thanks for supporting me!" Eve exined and scoffed. This was getting sillier by the second. "You''re not gonna be like this every time I interact with a male fan, are you?"

    Ambryan had gone quiet for a while.

    "... not if they kept a social distance."

    "Ambee!"

 Chapter 331: SS1 08: How You Get the Girl

    Chapter 331: SS1 08: How You Get the Girl

    The paramedics soon came to assess the situation. Since Ambryan could have sustained other injuries, they had decided to bring him to the hospital. Eve rode with him inside the ambnce. Neither one of them mentioned a word to each other.

    Arms crossed, Eve scowled at the floor. How was he mad at her like it was her fault?! Not too long ago, she had mentioned that he was the best guy for her. Did her words mean little? How could it have gone over his head?

    And over a guy barely out of his teens?!

    She groaned and hit the back of her head against the wall behind her.

    Ambryan nced in her direction. "Are you still mad at me?"

    "I don''t know" Eve replied in nonchnce. "Are YOU still mad at me? Because I think that''s what got us here in the first ce. Maybe I will not be mad anymore if you''re not mad anymore first."

    "Eve"

    "Let me cool my head a little more."

    "Okay."

    Turning his head, Ambryan stared up at the vehicle''s ceiling. Eve was right though. What had gone through his head to make that reckless decision? Things could have been a lot worse than they were now. He just got lucky that he went away with only a twisted ankle.

    Although, his bottom did feel tender. It was the main reason for the hospital visit.

    Eve stayed by his side throughout the process until he had been transported to a private room. A cast had been wrapped around his injured left right ankle. The nurses also elevated it off the bed so he couldn''t move it unless necessary.

    "Well, this is not how I pictured this day would go." Eve sighed, entering the room. "I had called your mother about what happened. I''m sorry but she''s your family so she had every right to know that you were jealous of a kid and injured yourself."

    Ambryan gave her a deadpan expression.

    A sarcastic smile stretched her lips when she reached his bedside. "Just kidding. You can tell about the jealous part yourself. I only told her that we went to the skate park and you got yourself injured."

    Eve pulled a chair so she could sit. "Oh, and I heard her tell your father that he and Madison will be relieving you of CEO duties until you can walk without aid."

    "It''s only a twisted ankle," Ambryan emphasized. "I sit at a desk all day. It won''t prevent me from doing my job well. I can even do it while at home if they don''t want me to go to the office."

    "Not unless your mother manages to get a doctor''s note that you can''t use gadgets."

    "That sounds ridiculous."

    "I believe Aunt Avery is capable of anything." Eve chuckled. She locked her mobile phone and ced it on the bed table. Then, she folded her arms over the mattress. "How are you really feeling? I heard the paramedics. It''s not just a twisted ankle. How''s your hip?"

    Ambryan red at the wall across the room. "I''m not that old."

    "This has nothing to do with age. You tripped right after younded on your foot!"

    "It''s fine."

    "If I poke it, would you flinch?"

    "They injected a pain reliever so no."

    "So there is pain!" Eve eximed, pointing a finger at him. Ambryan didn''t share her enthusiasm. She sighed and cupped her cheek. "Come on, Ambee. There''s no need to be embarrassed. I saw what happened. I''m thest person you need to act brave in front of."

    Ambryan remained quiet. He was downright humiliated by what happened. Thinking back on it, he should have controlled himself before. Eve was right on all ounts. He had let the twerp get under his skin when he should have proven his maturitysomething Tristancked.

    Yet, he had stooped down to his level.

    Eve bit her bottom lip. She rose to her feet and sat on the bed, cuddling beside him. With his foot raised in the air, he wasn''t about to escape easily. "Fine. You can act in any way you want but don''t think you can just get back to work after being discharged. We all know you can handle it. There''s no need for you to prove your top tier performance."

    Ambryan raised his eyebrows. His frustrations had melted away when sheid her head on his shoulder. "If you think work is the only way for me to prove mypetence, you are mistaken, my dear Eve."

    "In fact" His voice dropped into a husky tone. "I can even prove it right now."

    The hair on the back of her neck rose. She looked up at him, brown eyes popping out of their sockets. "YouThis is notAmbee, this is a hospital!"

    Blood crawled up her neck and her cheeks. She could be wrong but she knew that look in his eyes. What pain reliever had the doctors given him? Anesthesia? Was he high right now? This waspletely inappropriate behavior!

    "So?" Ambryan blinked. "I believe reproduction and anatomy are being practiced here."

    "It''s not like that and you know it!" Eve protested, her mouth hanging open. "If you so much as even try, I am walking out that door."

    "And here I thought younger people take the ''You Only Live Once'' motto to heart."

    "No wonder you got yourself injured then."

    Ambryan mped his mouth shut. Eve huffed and sank down the wall. At this point, he had taken her appearance in. The makeup she wore had worn off. ck eyeliner had smudged under her eyes while her lipstick had faded, revealing their natural pale state.

    The situation had affected her more than he knew.

    He grasped her hand in his. "I''m sorry for getting jealous."

    Eve turned her head in his direction. She arched an eyebrow. "And?"

    Ambryan averted his eyes and took a deep breath. "And I will try to control myself next time."

    She kissed his cheek. "Thank you. I''m d you didn''t get more serious injuries."

    Unsatisfied, Ambryan grabbed her chin and captured her lips. His other hand slithered around her waist. He pulled her into him, savouring her taste. Any ounce of jealousy he had left projected into the kiss. Only he could do this to her. The twerp could only dream of it.

    And no matter what Tristan could imagine, it would never be close to the original.

    Ambryan moved to her jawline. Then, his lips trailed down the side of her neck. Hunger swelled up inside of him. The chains that lifted his leg sling to the ceiling rattled when he fully turned to his side so he could kiss her exposed corbone.

    Eve''s voice wobbled as she spoke. "Ambee"

    "You were saying?" He teased against her skin. His hand pulled the hem of shirt out of her jeans and slid up her spine, searching for a sp. "It was something about walking out the door, right?"

    "Bastard," she muttered.

    It made him chuckle. "No cursing the birthday boy."

    .

    .

    .

    .

    .

    .

    .

    .

    .

    .

    The door opened.

    "YAN! I heard about what happened"

    A remote control went flying towards Richard. He yelped and moved out of the way, crouching. Eve jumped off the bed at once. She undid the rest of her hem and let it hang around her hips. A nce over her shoulder, she spotted Ambryan''s re.

    She moved so Richard couldn''t see it.

    "Richard!" Eve greeted him. "So nice of you to visit."

    Their guest slowly lowered his arms. He took one look at her swollen lips and instantly knew why he was attacked the moment he stepped in. "Now that you mention it maybe it would be nicer to visit at another time. Nicer is better than nice. Don''t you agree?"

    Ambryan rolled onto his back. He had lost his chance.

    Eve wasn''t about to let Richard go.

    "No, no, no! Stay!" Eve insisted. She grabbed Richard by the wrist and yanked him towards the bed. "Ambryan has been sulking about missing work because of what happened. I''m sure he''ll feel better by talking about it. And since he has talked my ear off, your presence will not only help him but me as well."

    "Oh, but" Richard shivered when he saw his best friend''s scowl. He turned his back on Ambryan, scared to see more. "The chairman at Venus Investments called not too long ago. I missed it because I was driving. Let me just step out so I can call him back"

    "I''m sure he can wait." Eve stered her best fake smile, silently wishing the ground would swallow her up. It was obvious from Richard''s behavior that he had witnessed what happened. His persistence to leave only made her feel more embarrassed.

    Because of that, she decided to switch tactics.

    "You would be doing me a real favor, Richard," Eve pleaded. Her brown eyes drooped at the corners. "I have to get Ambryan''s medicine as the doctor prescribed. I was there but couldn''t stop him from getting injured. Please let me do something that would help Ambryan out. I would at least feel less guilty."

    Ambryan frowned, hearing her obvious lie. He didn''t know whether to be impressed or to be disappointed that she really didn''t want to be alone with him for some time. Then, he drilled an intense gaze into the back of Richard''s headthe only person who could turn this situation around.

    Thetter must have missed the telepathic message because he cleared his throat and said, "Well, when you put it like that"

    "Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! I''ll be back soon!" Eve fled out of the room before he could change his mind. Her heart beat erratically inside her chest. She pressed the button on the elevator and proceeded to calm herself down.

    ''How long was it before Ambryan was discharged again?''

    Richard gulped. He eventually turned around, moving as slowly as possible. Even when he fully faced the bed, he avoided Ambryan''s eyes. "Is it toote to wish you a happy birthday?"

    "Ah, if only you can turn back time" Ambryan began to say. "Then maybe you can find out for yourself."

 Chapter 332: SS1 09: An A-PEEL to the Mother

    Chapter 332: SS1 09: An A-PEEL to the Mother

    "We checked the x-rays and it''s an avulsion fracture on the hip. It''s when a small chunk of bone attached to a tendon or ligament gets pulled away from the main part of the bone. It''s alsomon in sports."

    "And he''s not allowed to move right? Like going to work? Must rest until fully healed?"

    "Well"

    "I want the fastest way to recover, doctor," Avery Hathaway demanded. She stood before the young doctor with her arms crossed over her chest. Although he was taller, she clearly had the upper hand in terms of superiority.

    "Then, yes! Rest is definitely a must!" He quickly said, clearing his throat. Then, he switched to his patient who glowered on the bed. "Ice on the injured area is also required for the first few days. I''ll write you a prescription, Mr. Hathaway. I wish you a speedy recovery."

    He wrote it quickly while Avery sat on a chair. She had left the house in a rush, only throwing on a coat and a scarf to keep herself warm. Who could me her? Ambryan had never been sick enough to be confined in a hospital. Hisst illness was a fever which he actually rested for.

    But that was when Eve was his secretary who handled things while he was away. He trusted her enough to have things under control.

    Since Hannah was still new, she had full confidence that Ambryan would be constantly restless even when capable people were still avable like his father and Madison. And that was because he''d refuse to ept his condition.

    ''Men and their pride,'' she sneered in her head.

    "Hmph!" The madam half-rose from her chair and pointed a finger at Ambryan''s face. "You heard what the doctor said. Rest is primary treatment. Don''t you dare move until you need to. You should also stay at the mansion. No one can look after you in the penthouse."

    Ambryan fixed his expression to be nk. It also reflected in his tone. "That''s not true, mother."

    "Is it?" Avery countered, raising an eyebrow. "Eve needs to go back to France."

    "Richard can look after me."

    At the mention of his name, Richard choked. He had retreated to the other furniture in the room. It was a sofa near the window. Ambryan shifted his attention towards the man who had a debt to repay. Thetter felt a chill down his spine.

    One look said it all.

    ''Take my side or I''ll give you hell.''

    "Uh," Richard stammered as he fiddled with the remote, twirling it in his fingers. It ttered to the floor. "Uh, yes, Aunt Avery. I can look after Ambryan."

    The madam heard none of it. She threw her arm sideways in protest. "Nonsense. You have work to do. We need someone who can keep a constant eye on him. Who knows what he might do alone because he''ll hate every minute of this."

    "How are things?" Eve asked when she opened the door, carrying a bag of fruits and food for visitors. She heard from the nurse that Avery hade. It calmed her instantly to know the madam was present.

    That meant she wouldn''t be alone with Ambryan again for quite some time.

    "Oh, Eve!" Avery cried. "Knock some sense into this man."

    Eve stopped next to the bedside table and filled the empty fruit bowl she noticed earlier. The corner of her lips curled upward. "You mean the floor wasn''t hard enough?"

    "How could youugh at this?" The madam gaped at her amused face. Then, she looked at Ambryan. Then, at Richard who shrugged in response.

    Eve rolled her lips inwards. Now, that was an excellent question. Her eyes connected with Ambryan''s, a silent warning over them. Eve smiled sweetly and made sure Avery couldn''t see it.

    She wrapped her arm around the madam, saying, "Oh, Aunt Avery. Ambee is a big boya really really big BOY. He can handle this and take the consequences unlike a kid or a teenager."

    Ambryan clenched his jaw and stared hard at the ceiling. Richard caught his actions, frowning slightly. He bit his tongue and chose not to ask. Was it always gonna be like this now? The private jokes between couples that he could never hear about?

    His heart ached. Ambryan had even stopped running to him for problems. He had been reced and he missed the good old times when he could be better than Ambryan at something.

    Avery looked up at Eve. "But you agree that he should stay at the mansion, right?"

    "Of course."

    "I''m fine in the penthouse," Ambryan was quick to cut in. If he went to the mansion, not only would he have limited movement but his mother would fuss. It wouldn''t be quiet even if the doctor said he needed to rest.

    If that was the case, he could use that time to be productive instead.

    It sounded logical enough to him.

    "If you''re at the penthouse, you''d ask Wen to take you to the office. You might need crutches for a while. Are you sure you want your employees to see that?" Eve snorted. She stuck her thumb over her shoulder. "The press is already outside."

    "Ugh," Avery groaned, massaging her temple. She stood up and ced her hands on her hips. "I should take care of that now. What''s the story we need to cover up? I imagine you don''t want anyone to know about this?"

    Ambryan and Eve shared a silent debate. They could produce a lie for Ambryan''s dignity but they had witnesses on the scene. Unless they tell the truth, one of them might spill the beans. Not to mention how convenient smartphones have be.

    Someone might have even filmed the whole thing! They needed to cover every area if they didn''t want the public to know.

    And so, Ambryan reluctantly grunted for Eve to tell his mother and best friend what happened.

    The madam raised her eyebrows, astonished by the intricate storytelling Eve had conducted. Her wide violet eyes shed at her son. Thetter turned his head away and hid the subtle blush on his cheeks. Unfortunately, Richard still had a good view of it but Ambryan red before he could say anything.

    "Well" Avery began to say. Her voice broke the moment of silence that abruptly appeared. "At least I know what to get you next Christmas. Try not to get another injury before then, Yan-yan."

    "..."

    Eve covered her mouth, suppressing herugh.

    "See you again soon."

    With that, the madam headed for the door. Richard dashed to open it for her. His rushed movements didn''t go unnoticed. Eve and Ambryan understood immediately when he followed behind Avery and left the room.

    So the couple were alone once again.

    "Discharging soon?" Eve asked, trying to make conversation. She picked up an orange and started peeling it. It took her mind off the awkward atmosphere that had engulfed the room.

    Ambryan sighed. Exhaustion weighed over his shoulders. "Should be fine in a few hours."

    "That''s some good news, at least."

    Eve sat on the bed and offered him the orange. She had peeled off its skin, leaving it stuck together in its original shape. Ambryan quirked an eyebrow. "Are you really about to let a sick person feed himself?"

    Words failed Eve. Nobination of words could describe her thoughts on her fiance''s shamelessness. She pulled out a piece of the orange and lifted it to his mouth. "Look at you changing your mind when it''s not about work."

    Ambryan ate it in one bite and licked her fingers.

    She pped his arm. "Ambee!"

    "The fibers of the fruit are important for recovery. I can''t let any go to waste." He swallowed the orange and said nothing else. Eve continued to feed him, peeling another orange. Ambryan epted each one without another trick this time.

    Eve could almost hear the frustrations in his head. Although it was for his own good, she knew he didn''t want to go back to the mansion. His life would change for the next few weeks and she could empathize with itespecially when she worked as a secretary.

    Just one sick day during the work week could cost her a lot.

    She''d rather work from herptop if she could.

    "How about I convince Aunt Avery to let us go back to the penthouse until my flight?" She suggested after a while. She picked up a third orange. "It shouldn''t be too hard to convince her."

    He gave her a look. "That''s because she loves you a lot."

    "More than you do?" Eve teased. She broke the orange into quarters this time. The bigger they were, the more he needed to chew. That also meant the more oranges he could eat.

    Ambryan pushed himself up and grabbed her wrist. He ate the remaining orange pieces in her hand. The juice oozed out, coating her skin. He sucked her fingers and winked at her shocked face when he was done.

    A smirk emerged on his lips.

    "Never."

 Chapter 333: SS1 10: A BERRY Happy Birthday

    Chapter 333: SS1 10: A BERRY Happy Birthday

    Eve helped Ambryan all the way to the penthouse. He used a crutch beside the leg that didn''t have his twisted ankle or his small fracture. Thankfully, both were on the same side or he would have needed two crutches.

    He''d rather not use one but he also did want to recover quickly.

    That meant no rying his weight on his injuries.

    They arrived a few minutes after 11PM. Eve yawned while they waited inside the elevator. Her sleep fromst night wasn''t enough topensate for her jetg. The bags under her eyes felt heavy. She''d sleep on the couch as soon as they entered the penthouse if it was possible.

    "Uh, Wen, would you mind helping Ambee for a while? I''ll get the door open myself."

    Wen nodded and held her boss by the arm. Eve unlocked the door, stepping inside ahead of them. Ambryan and Wen soon followed but she had disappeared from their sight. Ambryan thought she headed for the bedroom.

    "I can take it from here, Wen," Ambryan said.

    He used his free hand to also use the wall as support.

    "Are you sure, Mr. Hathaway?"

    "Yes. Eve is also here so I won''t be alone."

    Wen bowed her head. She heard the message between the lines and left the room without another word. Ambryan adjusted to his temporary handicap. It required a lot more effort than walking as expected but the pain killers they had provided worked wonders.

    He rounded the corner at the end of the wall.

    A ball of fur circled his legs.

    He nced down and found Kiri, a pointed hat on her head.

    "Meow~"

    "What are you wearing?" He scowled. Then, the softest and sweetest melody he had ever heard reached his ears. His gaze looked up to find Eve wore a matching hat to his cat. Blueberry also had one as he sat on the kitchen indannoyance clearly written in his blue eyes.

    He also had a stupid party hat.

    "Happy birthday to you~" Eve sang. She walked towards him, a small cake in her hands. It had one blue candle in the middle while being surrounded by white icing and sprinkles. "Happy birthday to you~"

    Eve dared to take her eyes off the cake so she could see his face. At times like this, she wished there was another person present who could capture this moment. Ambryan had gone still beside the wall. Kiri followed his line of sight and purred, her tail swinging on the floor like a feather duster.

    "Happy birthday, dear Ambee~" Eve continued until she stood right in front of him. Her smile had grown into a full grin. "Happy birthday to you!"

    Ambryan darted his gaze between her face and the cake. The icing wasn''t enough to fully cover the cake. He could see the texture inside, deducing that it was a vani cake. Others would have found it in especially for a birthday celebration.

    But he had always preferred it that way.

    "The candle needs blowing, birthday boy." Eve chuckled when he still didn''t respond. "Remember to make a wish too. Just not a skateboard. We already know that''s covered."

    Ambryan rolled his eyes before blowing on the candle.

    Then, the corner of his tugged upwards.

    "Thank you," he whispered. "Did you make this?"

    "I did." Eve nodded. She turned around to put the cake on the kitchen ind. Blueberry watched her do it. Kiri soon joined him on the counter, her happy expression a contrast to his displeasure.

    Ambryan finally remembered how muscles worked. He also moved towards the kitchen ind, heading for a stool. Eve had taken out two forks so they could eat. "I baked it yesterday with Andie''s help. She had Jarrett deliver it this morning so you couldn''t have the chance to see it."

    "Why would he need to deliver it?" Ambryan asked, cing his crutch aside. He reached for a fork. "You could have just taken it with you. He wouldn''t have a key anyway."

    "Oh, that''s because I slept herest night."

    "Last night?"

    Eve fluttered her eyshes. "Well, I thought it could be a nice surprise. Then, I just found the idea of you not knowing about it until now funny."

    "Of course you did."

    She giggled and walked behind him in order to reach the other side of the counter. A silver box had been waiting on another stool. She pulled it out of hiding. "What''s a birthday without a gift?"

    Ambryan set his fork down. His heart raced when he spotted the gift box. Right then and there, it didn''t matter to him what was inside. He already treasured it. Unlike him, Eve fidgeted from nerves. She had taken a long time to decide what to get him.

    What did someone give to a person who could buy anything he wanted? Multiple people also give him presents. She had to think of something uniqueeven if she couldn''t do it again, at least, the first one could be special.

    Untying the ribbon, Ambryan opened the lid. Stripes ck, blue, white and gray greeted his sight. His eyes blinked twice. The piece of clothing had all of his color preferences. He couldn''t tell whether it was to mock him or impress him.

    "A scarf," Ambryan whispered when he pulled it out of the box. The fabric unfolded and rolled towards the floor. Then, he inspected the quality. The knitting wasn''t perfect. It contained a few holes here and there. They weren''t noticeable unless someone stood too close.

    Eve propped her elbows on the counter and cupped both her cheeks.

    "Handmade by yours truly," she revealed. It had taken weeks for her to finish. When he visited her in France, she had to make time to do it without his knowledge. She grabbed any chance he left while she stayed behind.

    Ambryan pecked her cheek. "I love it. Thank you."

    "Good because" Eveughed nervously. She snatched the box and showed him the other items. "... I also made you these gloves! And this beanie! You could say that I got carried away but the way I see it is that I just have so much love to give you."

    "You got carried away."

    "Or maybe I started early and had a lot of yarn left?" Her shoulders slowly rose up. "It''s called minimizing waste."

    Shaking his head, Ambryan pulled her in for a kiss. "Whatever it is, thank you."

    He poured his feelings into that kiss. He hoped the same warmth he felt from the gift reached her. It had the cleverness and thoughtfulness only Eve could muster. His birthday was during the winter season. And since the scarf catered to the cold, he could easily remember that he received it on his birthday.

    It fit perfectly as a present and he had received the same item in the past.

    But this one outdid them all no matter how expensive they were.

    Eve sighed when they broke apart. She sneakily stole the scarf from him and wrapped it around his neck. Her eyes casted downwards. "So how long before those pain meds go away?"

    "What happened to resting my hip?" Ambryan smirked. His hands went on either side of her waist. They squeezed her skin like a pillow.

    "Well, it is your birthday" Eve paused. She used the ends of the scarf to cover the bottom half of her face. Blood colored her ears. "And I''m at your service, monsieur."

    Ambryan stiffened. "Those are dangerous words."

    "Your birthday ends in 20 minutes so think fast." Eve stepped away from his embrace, escaping to the bedroom. She left the door open. Ambryan groaned at her teasing. He grabbed his crutch and followed behind as fast as he could.

    The door shut behind him.

    On the kitchen ind, Blueberry red to where the hoomans disappeared to. They had been gone for the whole day and when they came back, one of them was injured. He doubted for the nth time if they were reliable owners.

    The string of the party hat itched his chin.

    Then, his attention flickered to the only food out in the open. If cats could frown, he would have deep crease lines across his forehead. "Meow, meow?" (What about the cake?)

    Kiri stalked towards the cake. She sniffed it and booped her nose on the icing. Her tongue wiped it off, wondering about the taste. "Meow, meow, meow." (Maybe we can eat it.)

    Blueberry appeared by her side. "Meow." (Don''t.)

    "Meow?" (Why?)

    "Meow, meow, meow." (It could be poisoned.)

    Stomach rumbling, Kiri bowed her head. "Meow, meooow." (But I''m hungry.)

    Someone had dropped by to feed them but she had wanted more. Two unopened cans were by the sink. Eve had ced them there so the cats could eat while they had the cake. Kiri had looked forward to it once she glimpsed the cat food.

    But it seemed like they had been forgotten.

    "Meow, meow. Meow." (So am I.) Blueberry responded. They shared a moment of silence before he spoke again. "Meow, meow, meow, meow." (But, at least, I haven''t eaten you whole yet.)

    .

    .

    .

    .

    .

    "Meow?" Kiri squeaked.

 Chapter 334: SS2 01: Rewind to Ten or so Years Ago

    Chapter 334: SS2 01: Rewind to Ten or so Years Ago

    Hallways during lunch time at Cornelia High were mostly deserted. Most students either hung out in the cafeteria or outside on the school grounds. While the rest enjoyed their meals or quality time with friends, a junior student named Everlee Hart stood on the staircase.

    Her stomach rumbled and asked for foodexcept it would have to wait as the boy in front of her continued his speech. She stared at his forehead, listening intently. It was the only thing she could give him.

    Eve nearly lit up when he finished but she controlled herself. A sheepish expression disyed on her face. "Matthew, I''m ttered but I would have to"

    "Don''t say it!" Matthew cut in. He raised a hand to her face.

    She raised her eyebrows.

    "But"

    "I already know the answer," Matthew insisted. He dropped his hand and averted his gaze. His chest rose and fell visibly. "It would only hurt more to hear it. Thank you for your time. I''ll be going now."

    He disappeared before Eve could even blink.

    "Um" she caught herself saying.

    Andie popped out of the hallway and climbed down to the stairs. "Is he gone?"

    Eve nced her way, pointing over her shoulder. "He ran away."

    Both girls peeked down the stairs. People who passed by saw them look. They broke eye contact and descended the rest of the way. Eve sighed when they reached the lower floor.

    "That was much more dramatic than I thought."

    Andie shrugged, pretending she hadn''t heard the confession. "He''s in the theater club, right?"

    Eve frowned. "Oh, yeah."

    They entered the cafeteria. It buzzed with activity and conversations. Andie headed for the food line. Eve followed behind her. They stayed close together, a distance away from those in front of them.

    "Matthew Collins. Cute, smart, a tad bit dramatic" Andie started muttering. She sneaked a peek behind her and saw an uninterested Eve. "So what''s wrong with him? He''s not an annoying pest?"

    Eve red in her direction as she grabbed an apple. Andie''s stormy blue eyes sparkled. The suspicion she felt rose higher. "Now, why would I want an annoying pest?"

    "I don''t know. Why did you like Noah?"

    Nudging her best friend to move forward, Eve exited the line and headed for their table. "Only you think he''s an annoying pest. I remember a lot of people liked him."

    "You mean the teachers?" Andie snorted. They sat on one bench while Rose ate her food across from them. "I don''t really count them because they only liked how he turned in his homework on time. That''s not enough to be likeable."

    Rose swallowed her mouthful of pizza. "Who don''t we like?"

    Andie tied her hair back and picked a fry off her te. "Noah."

    "Hm." Rose pressed her lips together. "That name again. Did someone confess to Eve?"

    "Matthew Collins."

    "Ohmygawd, he finally did it?!" She eximed, covering her mouth. Her head whirled from left to right in search of Matthew. His group of friends sat at their usual table but he was absent. He had low self-esteempared to his club members.

    The rejection must have hit him hard.

    Eve narrowed her brown eyes. "And what do you mean by that?"

    Rose arched an eyebrow, refusing to believe that Eve didn''t know about it. Then, she looked at Andie who nodded her head as if she knew what Rose was thinking. Thetter blew out a long breath. That meant Eve really didn''t know about it.

    "Everyone in the theater club knows he likes you," Rose finally revealed.

    "Great." Eve flinched. "Now, they''ll know I rejected him."

    "I''d avoid their clubroom at all times."

    Eve propped an elbow on the table and wiped a hand on her face. A deep sigh flowed out of her nose. "Can we please change the topic?"

    "Alright then." Andie grabbed another fry and said, "What about Mark from Chemistry ss?"

    ''This is going to be a long day,'' Evemented.

    .

    .

    .

    "1, 2, 3 1, 2, 3 1, 2, 3" Madame Isabelle counted. Apart from her, four girls filled the room, wearing tights and pointe shoes. They all faced the mirror as their instructor pped her hands in time with the beat. "Keep your backs straight. Check your shoulders. Don''t dilly dally. This is not a leisure walk in the park. Focus."

    Eve and Rose were positioned beside each other. Their arms interlocked along with the other girls, forming a straight line. They moved their legs and feet in synchronization. It demanded teamwork, trust and confidence.

    Fail at one and everyone would crumble to the ground.

    Madame Isabelle sighed from the doorway. "Start from the beginning. Remember. You''ll be performing this live. There''s no rewind button if you mess up. Everyone would see it."

    Rose suppressed her groan. They hadn''t stopped for over 2 hours, practicing the same move over and over. She let go of the others and stretched for a while. Their joint hands limited movement. It almost stiffened her arms permanently.

    On the other hand, Eve did a quick recall of the steps and executed them as the grouppressed again. They repeated from the start like they had been told. Heading towards the right, heading back to the left, their hands never let go.

    They practiced the same move three more times before sweet words reached their ears.

    "Better." Madame Isabelle nodded. "But don''t frown during the performance, Eve."

    "Thank god," Rose exasperated and broke away from the group first.

    Eve closed her eyes, realizing she had been too focused on the mirror. The tricky movement had her constantly on edge. Her eyes watched her legs just to be sure they stayed in sync with the others. She would need to work on that.

    Madame Isabelle nced at her pocket watch. "Alright, girls. Time to stretch."

    "Are lessons done yet?" Andie peeked from the door a few minutester. She smiled at Madame Isabelle. "You look even more beautiful than thest time I saw you, Madame Isabelle."

    Thetter gave her a yful re but stepped aside. "Save your flirts for your boyfriend."

    Andie shrugged, her smile unwavering. "Only stating facts."

    "They''re done for the day. You may kidnap your friends."

    "I knew I always liked you for a reason."

    She walked into the studio where the other girls were busy packing up their things. They had already changed out of their leotards. She waved at the two girls then approached Eve and Rose who stayed further in the room.

    "How was practice?" Andie asked.

    Rose checked for Madame Isabelle but didn''t find her instructor. Her shoulders rxed in relief. Rising to her feet, she shrugged her backpack on and said, "Brutal. What else?"

    Eve also did the same. "I think it was alright."

    "Of course you do. You''re a model student," Rose remarked. She led the way out and turned to Andie. Thetter still wore her club uniform. "How was cheer practice?"

    "Oh, you know. We stomped, flipped, tossed someone. Nothing really new." Andie snorted. They exited the building and she hopped down the front stairs,nding on the sidewalk with a big jump. "We should go somewhere though. It''s Friday!"

    "You guys can go. I have to get home," Eve said. Her head turned towards the direction of her residence. It was an apartment on a newer side of town. A businessman had built one while she was a kid and they lived there ever since.

    "What? Why?" Andie pouted.

    Eve shifted her attention back on her best friend. She gave Andie a sympathetic smile. "Yeah, I''m worried about mom. It''s her ninth month."

    Rose scrunched her eyebrows. "Is Aunt Evangeline going tobor?"

    "Well, I don''t think so yet but dad won''t be home untilte."

    The group became quiet. Andie heard about a new cafe that sounded like a good ce during her cheer practice. She had wanted to go as soon as possible and with people not Jarrett. They could have their date another time. Her first visit should be dedicated to her girls instead.

    "Let''s just hang out at Eve''s," Rose suggested. "It should be fine. The important part is we''re together, right?"

    Andie gave her a look. She just had to go there. There wasn''t a way for Andie to refute. Then, Andie looked at the bright side. "Aunt Evangeline does cook really well and I''m hungry."

    Eve chuckled and wrapped her arms around both girls. With them around, she''d definitely be calmer. "I''ll text her on the way so you have food when we get there."

    "This is why I love you."

    "Gee, thanks."

    Evangeline Spinster hummed as she cooked in the kitchen. She had tied her scarlet hair up into a loose bun. One hand on a spat, her free hand rubbed her round belly. Twins! She couldn''t be more blessed.

    It was only a matter of time before she could hold them in her arms.

    "Mom, we''re here!" She heard from the front door.

    "I''m in the kitchen!"

    "Anything that happened today, girls?" Evangeline joked as soon as the teenagers walked in. They sat around the dining table. The kitchen had no partition so the dining table acted like a kitchen ind whenever possible.

    "Nothing much," Rose began to say. "I did hear about this boy confessing to Eve though."

    "Rose!"

    She raised her hands in surrender, a mischievous grin on her face. "I just heard it. Doesn''t always mean it actually happened."

    "Yeah, Eve," Andie cut in. She folded her arms over the table. "What''s that about?"

 Chapter 335: SS2 02: Fast Forward to Five or So Hours

    Chapter 335: SS2 02: Fast Forward to Five or So Hours

    "Yes, I want to hear it too," Evangeline backed up.

    Eve narrowed her gaze at them openly, including at her mother. Was she a reality show they were watching? Their investment in her love life seemed unhealthy. Just because she wasn''t eager to date, it didn''t mean she had no interest.

    "There is nothing to tell," Eve eventually told them. "He left as soon as I rejected him."

    "You mean, when you were in the middle of it. He didn''t even let you finish," Andie corrected. She stood up to grab some water in the fridge for them to drink.

    "Are boys suddenly different in Cornelia High from when I attended it?" Evangeline wondered out loud, ncing up the ceiling with knitted eyebrows. "Why else would my daughter not be interested in anyone?"

    Rose pursed her lips. "I think they''re just not Noah who I never met."

    "It''s not even about Noah!" Eve protested. Would they ever drop him as a topic? They hadn''t seen him in years. Andie wasn''t fond of him either but she seemed to use every chance to bring him up.

    Evangeline turned off the stove and picked up the te of food. Her daughter rose up from the table to help out but she told Eve to fetch clean tes instead. "Noah was a good kid. I wonder how he''s doing now?"

    "I still can''t believe his real parents found him. Wasn''t he abandoned?" Andie recalled, pouring water into drinking sses. As much as that brat annoyed her, she did wish him well enough. "Why would he want to go back?"

    "I''m sure he''s happy to meet them. Not everyone gets that chance," Evangeline pointed out. She had seen enough cases on TV. They always made her tear up. She set down the food she prepared in the middle of the dining table. "Anyway, I made pancakes."

    Eight pieces of pancakes stacked on the te. Each fluffy goodness had the perfect golden color. Rose got up to fetch the maple syrup and butter while Andie a jar of strawberry jam and a can of whipped cream for Eve.

    Evangeline pulled out a chair and sat with them. Eve had given her a te but she refused.

    "Breakfast food before dinner is always the best." Rose moaned. She had a ssic butter and syrup topping. The butter melted easily when she spread it over the pancake. "Thank you, Aunt Evangeline."

    "Yes, thank you for your wonderful presence and your excellent cooking," Andie raised a fork that had a slice of in pancake towards Evangeline. Then, she ate it in one bite. "If only Eve is half as good as you are."

    Eve looked up, still holding the can of whipped cream. She had outlined halfway around her pancake when Andie made thement. "I won''t even get offended because we''ll be rooming in the same dorm someday. And you promised to do the cooking. Getting free food is always a good thing."

    "So that''s the way, huh?" Rose chuckled. "The guy has to be good at cooking to win you over?"

    "Can we stop talking about boys?" Eve groaned.

    Her mother stuck her bottom lip out. "But I want to talk about boys."

    "Gross. I don''t want to hear about you and dad. Or that baby-faced good friend of yours who still silently likes you after all this timewhich you deny wholeheartedly no matter how many times I''ve pointed it out."

    "Madison is just a good friend," Evangeline said.

    Eve resisted to roll her eyes, only because the other party was her mother. She wanted to believe that but there were too many signs. Any time they were in trouble, he would be the first person to help. He also sent presents for every asion possiblethat always cater to her mom''s likes.

    There was also the look on her dad''s face when those presents arrived.

    Except, he''d cave into mom''s smiling face and let her ept them.

    The girls finished their pancakes and stayed at the dining table. While some friend groups liked to keep to themselves whening over, the girls liked talking to Evangeline. It might be because she was younger than most moms.

    "It''s gettingte," Evangeline observed when she glimpsed at the clock. "And you''re still minors so you have to go home. I don''t want your parents being worried."

    Andie made a face when she saw the clock. She couldn''t wait until she was 18 and living in the dorm. That would be the day she could call the shots. No more curfew. She already looked forward to visiting a convenience store just because she got hungry in the middle of the night.

    "Can we stay over next weekend?" Rose suddenly asked. "We''ll bring snacks."

    "Yes, please!" Andie added.

    It had been a while since theirst sleepover. She needed more time to unwind. This visit was too short to relieve her worries about grades.

    "You''re wee anytime you know that," Evangeline reminded her. "But your parents should agree first. No sneaking around. They''ll be calling me and I don''t want to break that trust of one mother to another."

    "Yes, ma''am!" Andie and Rose replied. Eve escorted them to the door. They had a small chat before Rose pulled Andie away. They made quick ns to go to the park.

    Little did they know, it would have to wait.

    Eve scowled at the open bathroom door. Her heart pounded in her ears. Dashing to the bathroom, she stuck her head inside. "Mom?"

    Evangeline sat on the toilet. The floor around her feet had be wet. When she stood up, Eve was quick to help her out. Then, she uttered words her daughter feared. "My water broke."

    "WHAT?!" Eve quickly helped her to a nearby chair. Panic rushed into her veins. She paced in front of her mother, trying to remember those self-help books they had lying around. "Oh, oh, ohwhat should I do? Maybe I should call Andie and Rose back."

    Grabbing her daughter, Evangeline got back on her feet. "It''s fine, Eve."

    "Mom, what are you doing?! Go sit down. You''re about to give birth!"

    Evangeline chuckled and ignored her. The stuff they needed had been prepared for over two weeks now. Still, they had other things to pack up. "Not yet. There''s still time."

    "But your water broke!"

    "And I''m inbor but it will be a while before your sisters pop out. Don''t panic." Evangeline cupped both of her daughter''s cheeks. Her hazel eyes stared into brown ones that inherited her round shape. "Rx, Eve. Rx. Call for a taxi. Your father used the car so we can''t get to the hospital on our own. You have to be calm oryour sisters wille out just to p you in the face."

    "Really?" Eve breathed out, blinking several times. "Because I love them already."

    She slowly got her bearings back. She was here to support her mother. A support should be as solid as a pir, as swift as a coursing river, as strong as a great typhoon with all the strength of a raging fire. Her heartbeat receded back to a steady rhythm.

    She could also see more clearly.

    Anything before this moment seemed like a haze.

    "That''s my girl." Evangeline smiled as soon as she noticed that Eve had rxed. She left a peck on thetter''s forehead. "Now, go. I''ll call your father while you get the taxi."

    Every now and then, Eve would feel a sudden burst of panic. It would fade away again whenever she glimpsed at her mother''s calm state. She heard the contractions should hurt a lot in ss but not once had Evangeline hinted a sign of pain.

    ''Was it for my sake?'' Eve wondered. She bit her thumb while she crossed and uncrossed her legs. It sounded like what her mom would do. Should she say something about it? Or maybe she was wrong about the whole thing?

    When the nurse came, Eve practically jumped off the bench.

    "Hello, Evangeline." The nurse smiled warmly.

    "Been a while, Ingrid." Evangeline returned the gesture. She lied on the hospital bed, waiting for her cervix to open enough for the birth process.

    "That is true. Look at how much Eve had grown." Ingrid shifted her attention at Eve who pressed her lips together and nodded in greeting. "I held you when you popped out of your mom''s womb. One of the easiest baby deliveries we ever had. One of the prettiest ones too."

    "Well, she''s about to getpetition," Evangeline teased. She rubbed her stomach on both sides. "Because I have a strong feeling these babies have taken the best of the best when ites to genes. They''re smart cookies."

    "Have you named them?"

    At Ingrid''s question, Evangeline grinned. "Erin and Eden. Eri and Ede for short. I heard three is a lucky number. So I could resist and have my three girls be called: Eve, Eri and Ede."

    Ingrid lowered her head from the foot of the bed. "No more babies after this then?"

    "We''re having two at once. Russell should be sick of babies once we''re taking turns to look after them."

    "They all say that until the little ones have kids of their own. Then, the grandparents fight over the babies along with the parents." Ingrid folded back the nket and removed her gloves. "Does Eve have any ns of getting married soon?"

    "Oh, please. I''m still trying to get her a boyfriend."

    Ingrid arched an eyebrow, hardly believing her ears. She turned to Eve and said, "I know someone who is avable. Got that tall, dark and handsome vibe the girls swoon over."

    Eve opened her mouth and closed it again. How could she say this in the politest way?

    "I''ll have to pass."

    Her mother shrugged. "See? I told you."

 Chapter 336: SS2 03: Twin Stars Are Born

    Chapter 336: SS2 03: Twin Stars Are Born

    Eve made the excuse of being thirsty. She exited the hospital room and entered the hallway. A shiver went down her spine. She was thankful that she grabbed a hoodie before they left. The hospital was usually too cold for her.

    Amotion from the nurse''s station reached her ears on the way to the vending machine.

    "Is Mrs. Evangeline Spinster on this floor?"

    She stopped in her tracks and spotted her dad.

    Russell Spinster was a man in his 40s. Despite his age, he maintained a subtle youth to his appearance. A stubble lined his jaw while his short dark hair stuck up in a spiky style. He wore denim jeans and a white shirt under a leather jacket.

    The nurse spoke softly in response. He thanked her quickly and headed in Eve''s direction. He halted in his steps when he spotted her. "Hey, kid. You feeling alright? Is your mom okay?"

    "Hey, dad." Eve cleared her throat. "Mom''s fine. The nurse is with her. Thought I could get a drink while waiting. How was work?"

    "Uh, good, good. The big man in the casino pays well. They said I could take a few days off because your mom is about to give birth. Anyway," Russell babbled. He tucked into his jean pocket and pulled out a bill. "Here. Let me pay for that drink."

    "Thank you," Eve replied, taking the money and dropping her gaze. "Would you like one?"

    "I don''t think they serve alcohol here."

    It was a joke but Eve knew better. She could smell the alcohol underneath his cologne. Holding her breath, her lips stretched into an awkward smile. She pointed over her shoulder. "The nurse might leave soon. You should keep mompany."

    "Right, right. I''ll get going then."

    Eve let out the breath she held after he walked past her. She didn''t know when it started but things had be tense recently. Suddenly, her dad workedte and even on weekends sometimes. She didn''t want to be suspicious of him.

    But she found it hard to let go.

    "Coffee and tea can''t go together in a drink," Eve heard her dad say when she entered the room. She held two bottles in her hand. One had water in it while the other had soda.

    Her mother snorted at Russell. "If that was true, coffee and matcha drinks wouldn''t exist."

    "Matcha is not real tea, my dear."

    "It''s ground tea leaves. It counts." Evangeline turned her head when Eve appeared at the corner of her eye. She smiled. "Hey, find anything?"

    "I got you some water."

    "Thank you, Eve. What about your dad?"

    Russell shook his head, waving his hand to brush it off. "I''m fine, dear."

    "If you say so." His wife shrugged and drank from the bottled water. "Will you be in the delivery room with me?"

    He snorted. "Is that even a question? Of course, I will."

    Evangeline shifted her attention. "Will you be okay waiting alone outside, Eve?"

    The corners of her eyes drooped. She was grateful to have her whole family present for this asion. But, it pained her to think Eve would only be outside. Only one person could be in the delivery room with her. She wished it could be two people.

    Eve ced her soda on the night stand and gave her mom''s hand a squeeze. "I''ll be fine, mom. Just focus on getting these twins out. They want to see the world already. Don''t let them down."

    Her words came true in a matter of an hour. Evangeline was wheeled to the delivery room, Russell holding her right hand. Eve held the left one and did her best to keep up with the pediatrics. She eventually had to let go when they reached the doors of the delivery room.

    Even then, her mother put on a brave face. She mouthed the words, ''I love you'', before the doors closed and cut their connection off. Eve retreated to the bench. She became its only upant. Her heart clenched from anxiety.

    ''They will be alright. They have to be,'' she chanted in her head. Evangeline was no weak person. She had endured many things throughout her life. Early pregnancy, dealing with odd jobs, keeping the house cleanshe was a superwoman and no one can change Eve''s mind about it.

    Eve rested her head against the wall and closed her eyes. She focused on steading her breathing pattern. Her imagination filled her thoughts with screams from her mother like the other women who gave birth in movies. Their pained expression transferred to Evangeline''s face.

    How could people bear giving birth?

    She could barely handle her period pains.

    "Hey, Eve wake up."

    Eve frowned, noticing her closed eyes. She felt someone shake her shoulder and she jolted awake. In front of her stood her dad. Russell''s brown eyes crinkled at the corners. "Your mom wanted you to know right away that you''re a big sister now."

    "They''re okay?" Eve grabbed his arms. "All of them?"

    "Yes, they''re fine. Your mom will be taken back to the room soon."

    "Oh, thank goodness!" She threw herself forward and wrapped her arms around him. Russell froze for a few seconds, surprised by her reaction. He patted her back. A genuine smile spread across his face though his daughter couldn''t see it.

    Hourster, Eve stayed awake. She visited the baby room but the curtains were closed. It didn''t matter. The fact that her younger twin sisters were on the other side of the window warmed her heart enough. She couldn''t wait for them toe home.

    But before that, she needed to learn how to tell them apart.

    "Eve," a voice spoke after the elevator doors opened nearby.

    She twisted her neck towards it. ''Dad."

    Russell sprinted in order to close the gap between them. His hands went to his knees as she struggled to catch his breath. Eve waited patiently. Then, her father gripped her wrist and straightened his posture.

    "Listen, I have to go," he said in between breaths.

    Eve widened her eyes. "Where are you going?"

    Her body had gone stock-still. This This couldn''t be going where she thought it was going. She didn''t need this right now. It had been a while since he was around for this long. Her mother had just given birth for goodness'' sake!

    Whatever it was, it could probably wait!

    Even just for tonight!

    "I still have to work in the morning," her father said. Blood boiled in her veins. "I have to get home and get ready. Maybe catch up on some sleep."

    "But you just said you had a few days off" Eve began to point out but he cut her off.

    Russell patted her shoulders and looked straight into her eyes. "Take care of your mother, okay? I''ll be back as soon as my shift is over. Here''s some money for food. It should cover enough."

    "Dad!"

    "Thanks, kid. I knew I could rely on you."

    Eve exhaled out of her mouth. She blinked at the wall to her left, clenching the money in her hand. Her dad had taken off before she could say anything else. The hallway became empty once more. She had never felt more alone.

    So what if she''d be eighteen soon? Her mother was right. She was still a minor. This was too much responsibility to bear. In the end, she had only followed instructions given to her. If Evangeline wasn''t as sturdy as a rock, she would have panicked for every second that passed.

    A few minutester, Eve reluctantly turned the knob on her mother''s hospital room. She glimpsed over at the bed before walking inside. She had hidden the money in her pocket when she got inside the lift.

    There was no need for her mother to be troubled right now.

    "Hey, sweetie," Evangeline greeted as she opened her hazel eyes. Her voice was as melodic as the sea inside a conch shell. "Were you able to see the twins? They''re beautiful, aren''t they?"

    Eve sat on the chair beside her bed. "No, they already had the windows closed."

    "Ah, that''s okay. You''ll get to see them tomorrow morning."

    "I know." A yawn stifled her throat. It had been a long day. Why couldn''t her sisters wait for Saturday after she had a good night''s rest? The school week had exhausted her with all-nighters. She had looked forward to the weekend for some sleep.

    Except, the twins had other ideas.

    They needed to arrive before Friday ended.

    Her mother caressed the top of her head. "Get some sleep, Eve."

    "But you might need something."

    "Then, I would ring the nurse in."

    "Can''t you let me help you for once?" Eve groaned. She rubbed the sleep out of her eyes. "I''m fine, okay? This is nothingpared to what you''ve gone through. You should be the one sleeping."

    "I''m not sleepy though," her mother pointed out.

    She curled her bottom lip inwards and bit it. "Do you want to chat then?"

    Evangeline squinted her gaze. She knew about Eve''ste nights. They only had one bathroom and she often heard someone use it when the sun had risen up yet. It could be just mother nature calling but the bags under Eve''s eyes proved otherwise.

    "How about I sing you a luby?" Evangeline challenged her daughter. "If you fall asleep, you''re tired. If you stay awake then, I won''t force you to sleep."

    "Deal." Eve yawned again.

    Her mother chuckled then cleared her throat.

    The first notes flowed out of her lips.

    ```

    Hear this song as you dream,

    As the unsettling silence became the melody,

    With grace and poise, the maiden danced,

    Yearning for the love she won''t have,

    Tip toe, there she glides,

    As the hope in her heart slowly dies,

    Tip toe, she spread her arms and bend,

    Like the promises made that wille to an end.

    But as the eveninges and the moon rises above,

    Alone, the maiden waited,

    For ad who''s already gone,

    Her feet showed scars, her legs went numb,

    Yet she keeps twirling and spinning all around,

    Dancing ''til the sorrow stops.

    ```

 Chapter 337: SS2 04: Twin Girls Are Cinnamon Rolls

    Chapter 337: SS2 04: Twin Girls Are Cinnamon Rolls

    "I am SUPERMAN!" A 4-year-old Eri dered with her hands on her hips. She had taken her red bath towel and tied it around her neck, letting it drape her back like a cape. Grabbing clean underwear from her drawer, she pulled it over her pajama pants.

    Her twin sister, Ede, sat on the floor and shook her head.

    "You can''t be superman, Eri. You''re a girl."

    She had a toy kitchen set where she fried fake bacon and eggs. She bared her teeth and hissed, mimicking the sound of cooking oil on a hot pan. While she cooked, a stic chicken sat inside in the small oven the kitchen set came with.

    "But I want to be superman." Eri pouted. She dropped her hands to her side and turned her head to the right. "Eve, can I be superman?"

    Lounging on the couch, Eve had a book propped on her thighs. She ate a bag of peanuts while reading. Her eyes stayed on the page when she answered her sister. "You can be Supergirl. She''s Superman''s cousin."

    Eri lit up at once. She raised her chin and pumped one fist into the air. "Then, I am Supergirl!"

    Then, a revtion sparked her brown eyes. "Just like mom!"

    "Mom is Superwoman." Eve looked up at her this time, amused by Eri''s determination.

    "Then, is dad Superman?" Ede asked. She moved her fake bacon and eggs into a te. Grabbing a fork, she stood up and served the stic meal to Eve. "Try this! Calcifer said I should add soy sauce this time. And ketchup! It should be saucy and not dry."

    Eve raised her eyebrows at the ingredient list. She could almost taste the real thing in her mouth. And it was far from a pleasant experience. If she discouraged Ede now then, she might as well have discouraged her from cooking ever again.

    She grabbed the stic fork and pretended to stab the bacon.

    "Mmm, that tastes good!" Eve moaned, chewing air. "You and your fire demon, Calcifer, are onto something. Will you cook real food for me when you''re old enough?"

    Ede tilted her head sideways. "Why? Are youzy?"

    Eve choked at her question. "I''m NOTzy."

    "That''s what Andie said."

    "Don''t believe everything Andie says. I''m your sister. I''m more trustworthy."

    "If you say so." Ede shrugged and went back to her toy kitchen. She peeked inside the oven, checking if the chicken was done yet. A painful hiss flowed out of her mouth when she stabbed the chicken with her finger.

    "I wonder when mom will get home," Eri wondered out loud. She checked the front door but didn''t hear anything. Her bottom lip stuck out. "I want her and I to be superheroes together!"

    "Who am I then?" Eve joked.

    "You''re Supezy."

    The smile on her face vanished, reced by a deadpan expression. She looked pointedly at Ede who took out her chicken from the oven. "I should stop watching my shows around you."

    Then, the knob on the front door rattled.

    "Mom''s back!" Eri eximed, jumping up and down. She ran for the door. "Mom! Mom!"

    Evangeline poked her head inside. A wide grin spread across her face when she spotted her girls together. Eri already had her arms raised for a hug while Ede garnished her stic chicken. Eve sat up on the couch and waited for their mom toe inside.

    The room instantly became brighter.

    "How are my cinnamon rolls?" Evangeline teased and opened the door all the way through. It was the nickname she gave the twins after they started growing their hair out as babies. "Eri, look at you! Are you Superman?"

    "I''m Supergirl!" Eri corrected her, a giggle on her lips. "And you''re Superwoman! And-and-and Eve is Supezy!"

    "HEY!"

    "That''s right!" Evangeline perked up with a gasp. "She is Supezy!"

    Eve snorted as she rose to her feet. She approached the two and gave their mom a peck on the cheek. "Don''t say that after I did all the chores today."

    Evangeline chuckled. Her voice softened a little. "Was there a lot to do?"

    "No, not really. It helped that the twins were well-behaved."

    "Mom!" Ede interrupted the exchange. She presented her stic chicken on a pink te. Crushed dried leaves from their time in the park earlier surrounded the brown poultry. "I made roasted chicken with melted cheese! I used a fire gun for the cheese so it''s toasted."

    Leaning down, Evangeline took a big whiff. "It smells really good!"

    "Calcifer was very cooperative today with the fire."

    "Maybe you should give him some chicken too."

    "Okay."

    When Ede walked back to her kitchen set, Eri jumped into their mom''s arms. Her body could barely contain the energy she produced. "Mom, mom, mom! Let''s y superheroes together! Fight bad guys and lock them up! You and I will save the world!"

    Evangeline caressed the top of her head. The grin on her lips hadn''t wavered since arriving home. All the stress she endured from working in the parlor melted away. "I will in a bit, sweetie. Right now, I need to make us some dinner."

    "I can cook for you, mom," Eve volunteered. No one in this household could dare say she waszy after this. They only thought that because of how much time she dedicated to reading.

    "You already did a lot of the household chores today, Eve," their mom said. She stepped further into the room and headed for the kitchen. "It''s okay. I got this. How does some pizza quesadi sound? I''ll see what we have for some soup too."

    "Oh, oh, oh!" Eri raised her hand. "With lots of tomatoes and cheese?"

    "Of course."

    Eve returned to her spot on the couch. She had bookmarked her page with her finger. When she opened the book again, her eyes easily found thest spot she read. The main character was an author who wanted to write a viiness novel. While in the middle of writing, the viiness in her story came to life and entered the real world.

    It was another night of reading ahead of Eve.

    Good thing it was Saturday or she was doomed.

    Heavy footsteps approached their front door on the other side. The knob turned once again, revealing Russell. He brushed the soles of his shoes onto the doormat before stepping inside. Eri was the first to greet him since she stood by the doorway.

    "Dad, look! I''m Supergirl."

    "That''s nice, kid," Russell replied, patting her head. Eve watched him from the couch.

    "Want some chicken, dad?" Ede asked. She raised the te in his direction. "I saved the legs because they taste the best. I also saved you some cheese."

    "Sounds good, kiddo. You''ll be a professional chef in no time."

    Russell passed by her kitchen set and disappeared from the living room. Eve exhaled sharply. She flickered her gaze towards Ede who lowered the te. It wasn''t something she noticed as a kid but what she just witnessed mirrored her childhood memories.

    It pained her to see history repeat itself though the twins weren''t aware of it yet.

    Eve crawled down to the floor and slumped her shoulders. "Where''s my share, Ede?"

    In the kitchen, Evangeline wore a pink apron and diced the tomatoes. Her figure had returned a few years after the twins were born. She felt warm arms wrapped around her waist from behind. Rough lips trailed the side of her neck and her shoulder.

    "Russell, I''m making dinner." She attempted to shrug him off but he persisted.

    His hands found the hem of her blouse. He bit her right ear. "Well, I''m hungry."

    Evangeline tried again, careful not to move the knife recklessly. She put her free hand away from it just to be sure. "Come on. The kids are in the living room."

    "They won''t know if they can''t hear us."

    "But what if one of them walks in?"

    "Then, wee up with an excuse."

    "Be reasonable. We''re not teens anymore," she chided lightly. A scowl creased her forehead. This would have been fine if they were home alone. But, that wasn''t the case today. He wasn''t the only one hungry. They all were.

    The sooner she finished this meal, the sooner they could all retreat for the night.

    Russell pulled back his arms. "You can say that again. You''ve be very uptight."

    "It''s called being responsible," Evangeline reasoned. She resumed dicing thest of the tomatoes. Then, she grabbed an onion and sliced it in the middle. "You''re home early today."

    "Boss didn''t need anyone to stay for extra hours," he answered right away, leaning on the dining table for some support. "Why do you ask? You don''t want me here anymore?"

    The knife banged on the wooden chopping board.

    Three heads turned towards the kitchen. Evangeline nced over her shoulder with a sneer.

    "What''s the matter with you?" She demanded. "You''ve been acting stranger than before."

    "Me?" Russell blinked as his eyebrows shot up. A disbelieving scoff flowed out of his lips. He pointed a finger to his chest. "I''m the one who is acting strange? What about you? You don''t even do your obligations to me anymore."

    Evangeline dropped her jaw. "Obligations? Isn''t cooking your meal an obligation?"

    "Oh, forget it." He snorted and turned around. Eve pulled the twins away so they wouldn''t be spotted spying. Russell headed for the living room. "I''ll look for food elsewhere. "

    "Russell!" Evangeline called after him. She reached for his shoulder but he shrugged her off. "Russell, the food will be done soon. You don''t need to go out."

    He refused to listen and shoved her hand away. "Go cook your dinner. Not like you care about what I want. Since those kids came, you only listen to them."

    "Russell"

    Evangeline stopped mid-sentence.

    Her eyes rolled back and she dropped to the floor. Her shoulder hit the edge of the dining table while her head bumped the back of the chair. The vase on the table ttered from the sudden force, breaking into a million pieces.

    Time stood still and silent.

    Then, it suddenly moved faster than normal.

    "MOM!"

 Chapter 338: SS2 05: Goodbyes are Not the End

    Chapter 338: SS2 05: Goodbyes are Not the End

    "I can''t believe Mr. Brunner sprung that pop quiz on us!" Andie ranted. She marched down the sidewalk, the sleeves of her button up id shirt wrapped around her waist. It draped over her bum and hips. "He just taught us the lesson for five minutes and expected us to get a perfect score?! What kind of day did he have to take it out on us?"

    She stopped and whirled her head, mouth poised open.

    Whatever she else had to say died in her throat.

    Eve had fallen behind. She hugged her books close to her chest while she stared at the pavement. A million things upied her mind, transporting her out of the real world much like a book wouldexcept there was no life in her eyes.

    Andie dropped her frustrated expression. "Eve?"

    "Hm?" Eve blinked, breaking out of her reverie. "I''m sorry. Can you repeat that?"

    Her best friend sighed and shook her head. "It''s nothing important. Come on, I''m sure the twins are excited to go home this weekend."

    The girls walked up to the Summers'' household. It was a small house near the edge of Cornelia town made of mostly wood and white paint. It reminded Eve of a cottage, only slightlyrger. They had just reached the porch when small footsteps echoed from the other side of the door.

    "EVE!" Eri and Ede greeted as soon as they opened the door.

    "Hey, munchkins." Eve grinned. It was like the dark clouds that hovered above her head parted, revealing the sun. "Are you ready to go home? Packed up all your stuff? You were good to Aunt Georgie, right?"

    A chuckle came from behind the twins. Aunt Georgie joined the group, rubbing her hands against her apron. "Oh, give them a break. They''re always lovelypany to have around. "

    "I have to agree with mom," Andie piped in. She scrunched her nose cutely at Eve. "They are much better than me when ites to annoying Gin. I already hired them for future purposes."

    Her mother squinted her eyes in suspicion. "And what future purposes are those, Andie?"

    "Nothing dangerous, mom. Just a surprise." Andie smiled, fluttering hershes. When Aunt Georgie didn''t lighten up, she cleared her throat and made her escape. "See you tomorrow, Eve. Take care on your way back."

    Aunt Georgie shook her head as her daughter ran up the stairs. Then, she turned to Eve and the twins. "Are you sure you''ll be alright? You can wait a little and Ariel will be home soon. He can drive you back."

    "It''s okay, Aunt Georgie," Eve declined. "We like to walk. Maybe stop by the park or a store we''d pass by. Thank you again for looking after twins this week. Mom wouldn''t let me skip school."

    "I wouldn''t have let you either! There are plenty of people who would lend a hand. It''s not as big of a deal as you think. In fact, you''d be doing us a favor if you reach out. It makes us worry less about you all."

    Warmth seeped inside Eve''s chest. It has been a while since she had this feeling. Other than her own mother, only Aunt Georgie could make her feel this way. It was like having a second mothera figure she was grateful to have in moments like this.

    "Thank you for everything, Aunt Georgie," Eve said,cing every word with pure sincerity.

    "Any time."

    Eve, Eri and Ede made their way back to their own home. It wasn''t too far but it did exercise them significantly. Their pace was slow and unhurried. The apartment would be empty. Their father would be workingte again. Since their mom was at the hospital, he needed to pull extra shifts just to make ends meet.

    That only left the problem of medical bills.

    If only Evangeline would tell Eve how to contact Madison. Then, they''d have a solution.

    "When will mome home?" Eri asked. Based on the tone of her voice, she hadn''t intended to say it. The thought had weighed heavily in her mind that her subconscious spoke it aloud.

    "I don''t know, Eri," Eve confessed. She didn''t have the strength to make a white lie. "But what''s important is that she''s being cared for in the hospital. She''ll be back once they make her better."

    "Gin said cancer kills people," Ede shared. She squeezed her older sister''s hand. Her brown eyes look up, fidgeting and unable to focus. "Mom doesn''t have cancer, right? She just needs lots of rest. She''s overworked. That''s all."

    Eve pressed her lips together. She had made a promise not to tell the twins the truth. She wouldn''t have kept that promise if their mom hadn''t insisted. Any time she felt tempter, Evangeline''s voice would echo in her head.

    "Mom is Superwoman," Eve reminded Ede. "She''s not ''people''. She''s a superhero."

    "Yeah, and heroes always win!" Eri eximed. At the sad tone in her twin''s voice, she had pushed away her own troubles. "So mom will win too! We have to stay happy too so mom doesn''t get worried about us. That would only make her condition worse."

    "Look at you acting like the big sis," Eve joked. The apartment building was only a few steps ahead. They only needed to ride the elevator before finally reaching their destination.

    "I am the big sis!"

    "Only for 3 minutes! And we''re the same height!"

    Before it could turn into a fight, Eve cut in and pressed the button for the elevator. "Until either of you are taller than me, I am the big sis."

    All three remained quiet as the lift brought them up to their floor. They had a short walk towards their front door. Eve let go of their hands so she could get the key. It slipped right in the knob but no sound came when she turned it.

    Eve widened her eyes. "The door''s unlocked"

    rm bells immediately rang in her head. "Get behind me, girls."

    She pushed her sisters back. The twins watched her in confusion. Their gaze darted between Eve''s face and the front door. The atmosphere suddenly became tense. Their heartbeats drummed in their ears.

    "What is it, Eve?" Ede whispered.

    "It could be a robber. Shh."

    Without a moment to lose, Eve kicked the door open.

    "Gah!" Evangeline eximed, dropping the opened packet of WnWs on the floor. She pressed a hand over her racing heart. "And here I was nning to surprise the three of you. But you''re the one who surprised me instead."

    "MOM!"

    Eve, Eri and Ede dashed inside, tackling their mother to the ground. Evangeline had zero time to move. All four of them crashed to the floor but the pain was bearable. The three girls buried their face on whichever body part they could reachsuch as the shoulders and the stomach.

    Evangeline chuckled and hugged them tight. "I missed you too, girls."

    "Promise not to get sick again, mom," Eri cried. She looked up and exposed the tears that pooled at the corner of her eyes. "You always tell us not to get sick so you should stay healthy too."

    "Aw, baby girl," Evangeline cooed. She cupped her daughter''s cheeks and wiped the tears away. "Don''t cry. I''m here now. Everything is going to be alright. No one is going to get sick. Not even during flu season!"

    "Promise?" Ede huped. She rubbed the back of her hand against her nose.

    Evangeline kissed her forehead. "I promise."

    The memory reyed in Eve''s head like it had only been yesterday instead of years.

    Her scarlet hair fluttered in the wind as well as the hem of her dress. She stood before her mother''s grave. Spring had finallye and Evangeline was surrounded by deep red peonies. They not only reminded her of her mother''s hair but they also symbolized honor and respecttwo things she would always have for Evangeline Hart-Spinster.

    And so she nted them on each side of the tombstone.

    "Hey, mom," Eve whispered. The back of her eyes became wet. She blinked but it did little to help. "It''s been a while, huh. Well, if I was going to visit, why not your favorite season, right?"

    Nothing but silence reached her ears.

    She pressed her lips together, thinking of what to say.

    "It''s been a crazy past few months. Well, more like three-fourths of a year but who is counting? You wouldn''t believe it even if you were alive. Andie is getting married to Jarrett, you know. They actually did that high school romance dream, marrying your first boyfriend."

    Her throat clogged up. She had to clear it before speaking again. "Sounds like you and dad, huh? I haven''t seen him since you"

    Eve trailed off. She averted her gaze and saw the rows of tombstones. A deep breath exasperated out of her lips. She closed her eyes briefly before shifting her attention back to her mother''s grave.

    This wasn''t how she pictured this would go.

    What she wanted was to share the good news but now...

    "I know you would have wanted us to stick together," Eve began to say. "But it''s not possible, mom. And I''m sorry I couldn''t do it."

    She sniffed, unable to hold back anymore. Her trembling hands clenched into fists. "I didn''t know what else to do. He was out of control. He could have hurt Eri or Ede I wouldn''t be able to bear it if something happened to them."

    Eve''s knees gave in. She kneeled before the tombstone, trying to catch her breath. These visits never became easier over the years. The sense of loss would hit her like a strangle to the heart.

    "But it''s okay now, mom," Eve breathed out. A humorless chuckle escaped her lips. "It''s funny. Do you still remember Noah? I met him again. And on a dating site no less! He and his family have taken us in like we had always been this way."

    She ced her hand on top of the tombstone. "You don''t have to worry about us anymore and get that beauty sleep. I know you''d want to look your best for my wedding."

 Chapter 339: SS2 06: They are Ill Miss You

    Chapter 339: SS2 06: They are I''ll Miss You

    Maize City weed spring season with food stands at the park, clearance discounts for stores and an influx of outdoor activities. After months of frozen weather, people had a Spring to their step. (A/N: Yes, that was a pun.)

    Downtown bustled with legwork activities. One giant billboard screen took up the front of a shopping center. It housed big names in both couture and popr retailpanies. If a person wanted the best ce to fill up their wardrobe, this was the ce to go.

    "Did you miss thest Fashion Week?" An announcer spoke from the speakers. A montage of models and designers filled the jumbo screen. "Not a problem! You can stream it at OBH. Sign up now and get a 30-day free trial."

    Andie walked towards the shop window. Although indoors, she wore sunsses on her noses. She pulled them down to watch the advertisement. The speaker was so loud. It had passed through the small cracks of the thrift store.

    Not that she wasining.

    How could she? When that sweet voice had led her to rewatch one of her favorite moments in Fashion Week. Eve walked on the runway in avender evening gown. The fabric slithered up to one side of her neck, making up the top. The slit of the skirt rose up to her hip.

    On the crook of her arms was the biggest and fluffiest shawl Andie had ever seen.

    They had lc-colored feathers that almost reminded her of a peacockif the peacock had been dyed in light shades of purple. A gown like that would have swallowed Andie whole.

    But not Eve. Her best friend reached the front of the runway with her chin up. She posed as if the outfit weighed nothing. Extensions had been clipped to her scarlet hair. They draped over her back in ringlets so when she turned, eyes still followed her.

    The maic attention Evemanded was far from Andie could ever have imagined.

    Too bad she wasn''t there in person.

    "You''re really something else now, Eve," Andie said, biting into a chocte-coated pocky stick. "You''re on the biggest screen in the entire city. And look over there! There''s your contact lensmercial. No one will question your eye color now."

    She peeled her eyes off the digital screens and turned back around. "You''ve worn clothes us mere peasants could only dream of. Yet, you''re here shopping at a thrift store."

    Eve put down the shirt she had been holding. Her disguise wasposed of a straw hat and a denim dress which had buttons on the front. She had worn extensions again to frame her face, covering the sides so people don''t easily recognize her.

    "They''refortable," Eve defended with an eye roll.

    "But you have a whole new wardrobe," Andie pointed out. Her best friend had always been someone who didn''t want to waste money on unnecessary things. She would have worn those clothes in her closet until a hole appeared on the fabric.

    Lifting the shirt up again to check the design, Eve sighed. "I only need to wear them on certain asions. I''m here to hang out with you and nothing is better than wearing my mostfortable clothes since I amfortable around you."

    Andie ced a hand over her heart. "That has to be the sweetest thing you ever said."

    Eve chose to ignore her and ced the shirt on her arm. She strolled to the end of the rack, picking out a new pair of jogger pants. What she had said was true. Her new clothes were beautiful butfort could never be beaten. She''d rather wear this shirt and pants at home.

    Shrugging, Andie explored the store. She peeked out the front windows again to see if Eve would reappear again but spotted something else. A small patch of nature was added near the center of the city. It had nts such as bushes and flowers.

    And, if Andie was hallucinating, a ck camera had just ducked into a bush.

    She straightened her spine and spoke over her shoulder. Her stormy blue eyes stared at the same spot, checking if she''d see it again. "What''s the rule about paparazzi again?"

    Eve nced her way for a second before shrugging. "I''m not sure anymore. They normally shouldn''t be seen whenever we go out. Except, Aunt Avery thinks that pretending they could get away with some of their shenanigans could benefit us. It indirectly gives publicity to the movie we haven''t announced yet."

    The pocky stick snapped in between Andie''s teeth. "Huh Since you''ll be out in the open now, these sunsses might not do me any good."

    "But they already know you."

    "Yeah, as this person in the bakery who taught a ss which you guest-starred in," Andie continued. She folded up the empty pocky box and threw it in the trash beside the cashier counter. "Now, they''ll know me as this girl who you''re always with during your free time."

    A dramatic gasp flowed out of her lips. "What if they start stalking me too?"

    Eve finished browsing and headed for the cashier. "Ring these up, please."

    She took out her wallet, noticing the tip box on the counter. She pulled out her smallest bill and slipped it through the narrow hole. "If they stalk you, you better have it to your advantage. Advertise the bakery or something. Promote anything I''m in, I guess. Or introduce yourself as president of the fan club."

    Andie looked up at the ceiling and tapped her chin. "Or maybe I should befriend them so we can have some people on our side. Get thetest news before it''s leaked out. Use it to our advantage."

    Eve thanked the cashier as she grabbed the paper bag. Her body angled towards her best friend, ready to walk to the door and leave. "It''s amazing how you''re not a criminal mastermind."

    "Don''t hold your breath. There''s still time."

    Vibration came from Andie''s pocket. She took out her phone and read the notification. "Ah, boys are almost here. Do you want to grab a smoothie next door?"

    "Sure."

    Nanzie stayed a good distance away from the two women. Her senses stayed alert for anyone that had ill intentions. Andie talked to Eve but stayed a step behind. Thetter kept her eyes ahead, ignoring the paparazzi that had started taking photos of her.

    A small smirk curled the corner of her lip, hidden from view.

    She pretended to pull a loose hair strand away from her face. The sun rays red on the pink diamond on her ring finger. She could almost hear the increased sounds of the shutter button. Then, she and Andie entered the smoothie shop. The paparrazi couldn''t get a closer look.

    Ambryan and Jarrett soon arrived in front of the shop. They had been fresh out of a bowling game with Jackson Hathaway and a few of his friends. It was meant to be for males only so Ambryan had invited Jarrett along with Richard.

    For this, they picked out simple outfits like a breathable button up and trousers.

    The sound of the wind chime on the front door caught their attention.

    Eve had stepped out first. She beamed as soon as she noticed the two men.

    Ambryan returned the gesture. "Had fun?"

    "I found some great finds." Eve held up her bag as proof. They had gone to the thrift store as ast minute idea to kill time. Then, she offered him her strawberry drink. "Smoothie?"

    "Well, guys, we''re heading this way," Andie dered. She stuck out a thumb over her shoulder. "We still have some things to go over for the wedding. Next time, let''s go have a real double date."

    Eve frowned. The future seemed clear as day in that short moment. "We''re going to be those married couples that meet once a week for board night, aren''t we?"

    "You say that like it''s a bad thing."

    Ambryan stood behind Eve and propped his hands on her shoulders. He addressed the couple in front of them. "I hope it''s alright if some of our security team follows you until you reach home."

    "No worries. We understand." Andie shook her head, already waving goodbye. "Bye, Eve!"

    "Bye, Andie. Bye, Jarrett."

    Jarrett scrunched his nose in return. "See you, lovebirds."

    He and Andie spun on their heels, heading for the car. Eve spotted two bodyguards who had already tailed the vehicle. She sipped on her smoothie and grinned upwards. "Alone, atst?"

    Ambryan chose not to answer. Instead, he turned her around and raised her left hand up to his lips, kissing the spot in front of the ring. A wicked grin spread across his face. "Almost."

    Eve resisted to check if the paparazzi had caught the exchange. They must have! But, if she looked at their way now, they might suspect that she and Ambryan were up to something. She giggled, amused by the fact that her fiance had the same thoughts as her.

    She shifted her weight to her toes and closed the gap between them. Her voice softened to a whisper. "Want to continue messing with the paparazzi? There''s still time before we need to pick up the twins."

    Ambryan took the smoothie off her hands and drank from the same straw. His other hand wrapped around hers. He started moving away from their spot. "You think we can walk all the way there?"

    "I think we can do anything," Eve teased. "Who is there to stop us?"

 Chapter 340: SS2 07: The Lost and Found

    Chapter 340: SS2 07: The Lost and Found

    Eve halted in her steps. "Huh"

    "What is it?"

    "I think this will be the first time I''ve seen M since New Year''s."

    The Magical Symphony stood a few meters away. It was a Saturday and the twins had their music lessons. They had permanently moved into the Hathaway Manor though Aunt Georgie would have loved them to stay longer.

    Since Eve and Ambryan would be married soon enough, Aunt Avery thought quality time with the twins would be best to strengthen their familial rtionships.

    "That would be the same for me then," Ambryan shared. They had passed an ice cream shop on the way, ordering ice cream shakes for the twins, one chocte and one vani.

    "I should have asked the twins what M thinks of me now." Eve hade back to Maize City for almost a week now. She had taken the whole time off and nned to spend quality time with Ambryan and her sistersanother tactic to have her real identity slowly revealed to the public.

    "Why?" Ambryan scowled. He tugged her hand forward. "I don''t think it would be anything bad."

    "That''s only spection."

    "Just act as you normally would. She won''t get used to it if you avoid her like the gue."

    Eve curled her lips inwards. Ambryan had a valid point. She was only dying the inevitable. Theirst conversation hadn''t been terrible but it had been awkward. It''s been more than a month since then. This should be interesting.

    But, hopefully, in a positive way.

    "Alright." Eve gathered any courage she had left.

    She and Ambryan walked the rest of the way. Most of the students had already left. There were barely any cars in the limited parking space. A different employee greeted them, recognizing them by face and letting them inside.

    They headed for the piano room where M stepped out with a clipboard over her chest.

    Her jade green eyes popped out of their sockets. "Eve! Ambryan!"

    Like the couple, it hadn''t escaped her mind that it had been a while since they saw each other. She had stared at the twins weirdly any time she saw them and they confronted her about it. It led to her admitting that she knew about their sister.

    She may or may not have heard stories she probably shouldn''t hear.

    "Hi, M." Eve showed a friendly smile. "It''s been a while."

    M broke out of her reverie. She tucked her ginger hair behind her ear and tried to think of a casual topic. "You''re back from France? I saw you at Fashion Week. You did great."

    Eve raised her eyebrows, not expecting that at all. "Thank you. Um, where are the twins?"

    She peeped into the doorway but found an empty ssroom. Students usually stayed here when their guardians werete. Eve and Ambryan had underestimated the time of their walk. Their distracted minds might have also been the cause of theirck of punctuality.

    Frown lines creased above M''s nose bridge. "Oh you didn''t know?"

    Shifting her attention back to the music teacher, Eve replied, "Didn''t know what?"

    M opened her mouth then closed it again. This was an unusual scenario. It could still be alright but something in the back of her mind told her it wasn''t. "Your father came to pick them up."

    A needle could be heard in the silence that came next.

    .

    .

    .

    .

    .

    .

    .

    .

    .

    .

    Kiri and Blueberry jolted awake when the door banged open.

    Eve marched into the penthouse and paced around the living room. She tossed the hat towards the couch. The cats leaped off it just before it could hit them. Her handsbed through her scarlet hair, turning it into a bird''s nest.

    "They could be anywhere by now," she said, her voice shaking with fear. The tremors travelled to her limbs. Her chest rose and fell in rapid speed. "IHowUGH!"

    Ambryan walked up to her. He had his phone pressed against his ear. He spoke rapidly in low breaths but changed back to his normal voice when addressing his fiancee. "They''re fine. We''ll find them."

    Wrapped around her own thoughts, Eve had a wild look in her eyes. They barely focused on one spot and always darted in different directions. Blood drained from her head. It became light, causing her to stop movingjust until the room stopped spinning.

    "How could this happen?" She continued as she gasped for proper breath. "How could he just show up like that? We even had our names changed. It''s been almost six years since hest saw them. They had changed so much. He wouldn''t have been able to recognize them!"

    Ambryan locked his phone and closed the gap between them. He forced her to face his direction, kneading both of her shoulders. "Wen is looking for them. Mother is also arranging bodyguards for the girls. This won''t happen again."

    Eve closed her eyes. She breathed through her mouth. Her hands had unknowingly grabbed Ambryan''s upper arms. She squeezed them like a stress ball. It was hard to do because of his defined muscles but it did the trick.

    Her mind had cleared.

    She wasn''t alone.

    Ambryan was here. It probably worried him to see her like this. While she went hysterical, he had actually taken action. There was a group of people already searching for her sisters. They all needed her to calm down. She contributed nothing by acting this way.

    "I can''t believe this." Eve sighed, pulling back and crashing on the couch. Sheced her hands together and bent forward. Her forehead rested against her finger knuckles while her elbows propped on her thighs.

    One question came to her mind. "What does dad want?"

    Ambryan sat beside her. A grim expression painted his face. "He''s very elusive, your dad."

    Eve lowered her hands and slowly looked up. "Have you tried to track him down?"

    He didn''t answer right away. "I may have heard warnings from mom."

    Another deep sigh exhaled out of her nose. It was only a matter of time. Avery must have known it from the beginning when she did a background check. Yet, the madam had weed Eve in with open armsand pushed Eve towards her son.

    "Russell Spinster" Eve said. The name felt both foreign and familiar on her tongue. A humorless half-smile tugged the corner of her lips. "I remember him being there as I grew up. It wasn''t untilter did I realize that he wasn''t really there. He spent most of his time outside even after work or an off day. They married early so maybe he felt like he missed out on the life of not having family obligations."

    "Eve" Ambryan began to say, ready to stop her.

    She gripped his hand and pulled it to herp. Both of her hands trapped it there, ying with his fingers. "It''s okay. I know the kind of man my dad is. I just sometimes wonder what kind of man he was for my mom to fall in love with him."

    They had been sweet and romantic asionally. But, the majority of the time, it didn''t seem that way. Something must have happened. She didn''t know what it was until after Evangeline died.

    Ambryan thought of what to say. "If she hadn''t, I wouldn''t have you right now."

    Eve dropped his hand and scoffed. "That is so cheesy. Don''t say that again."

    "It is a fact though," he pointed out. "And it made youugh."

    A genuine smile stretched her lips this time. Her hands had found his right one again. She massaged the palm of it. "It did, yeah. I wonder how things would be right now if Madison had been my father. And how you''re working him to death when you take holidays out of the blue like going to France."

    He humored her for a few seconds and pictured the scenario in his head. In his opinion, it didn''t look as pretty as reality did. "It''s a blessing that Madison isn''t your father then."

    Madison would surely use it to his advantage, iming Ambryan wasn''t good enough for Eve, telling Ambryan to prove his dedication, criticizing his work efficiencyall to have his own workload lessened.

    A cell phone rang and Ambryan answered the call immediately.

    He listened briefly, thanking the other person on the line. Then, he turned his head in Eve''s direction. "Wen found them."

    Her heart leaped out of her chest. "Are they okay?"

    "Yes, they''re fine."

    "Oh, thank goodness!"

    "Let''s go."

    Russell had taken his daughters to the same arcade Eve and Ambryan had their date. He had let them y any machine they wanted, introduced them to some of his favorites and paid for everything. From the window, all three of them seemed to be having a st.

    Eve almost didn''t recognize him when she and Ambryan arrived.

    "Eve! Eve! Look who is here!" Eri yelled. Heards turned towards her as she ran up to her older sister. "Can you believe it?! Dad''s here!"

    Gulping down the lump in her throat, Eve fingerbed her sister''s hair. "Well, you look like you''re having a good time."

    "There''s so many games here! I didn''t know why boys like them so much but I do know!"

    "What about you, Ede?" Eve asked. She avoided looking in a certain direction. That could wait. What mattered the most were her sister''s conditions.

    Ede had stayed on the bench. In front of her was a short arcade machine. "It''s alright. A little loud but the games are fun. Right, dad?"

    Eve finally met the eyes she inherited. What she felt in that moment was indescribable. Both hot and cold blood rushed into her veins. This was a man she didn''t know how to address anymore. Hell, she didn''t even know she truly thought of him.

    Like, did she still consider him as her dad after all that happened?

    Russell had his mouth opened. He blinked several times and cleared his throat. Rising to his feet, he helped Ede hop off the bench. He stayed behind her as they approached the group.

    If Eve didn''t know any better, she''d think he used Ede as a shield.

    "Hi, Eve."

 Chapter 341: SS2 08: The Give and Take

    Chapter 341: SS2 08: The Give and Take

    "Hi, Eve." Russell bowed his head slightly in the presence of his oldest daughter. His hands shaking, he held onto Ede''s shoulders to hide them. "How have you been?"

    Eve watched her dad carefully. He smiled without showing his teeth. She suspected they had darkened over time from smoking. Other than wrinkles, his face had be sunken, especially the area around his eyes.

    "Hi dad," she replied with some reluctance. "I''ve been well. Come here, Ede."

    Her youngest sister walked over to her side at once. Russell had no choice but to his trembling hands behind his back. A stiff chuckle came out of his mouth. "Uh, aren''t you going to introduce me?"

    "Dad, this is Ambryan. Ambryan, this is my father."

    "Nice to see you," Ambryan greeted out of politeness. He took a step forward, as if ready to get in between the family if needed. "What brings you to Maize City?"

    "Oh, II had some business," Russell stuttered. He scratched the back of his head before continuing. "Then, I saw my little girls the other day. I wasn''t sure it was them. I didn''t want to frighten anyone so I took my time until I found a good opportunity."

    "By picking them up during the music lessons that only happen every Saturday?" Eve shot back. The words flew out of her lips like bullets. The w was obvious in the story. She exhaled sharply and averted her eyes. "I''m guessing you had intentions? It''s been years after all. You''ve never tried to contact us before."

    Russell scoffed but stopped halfway. He ced his hands on his hips, looking up at different spots on the ceiling. "How can you be sure I haven''t tried? You have changed your names. You made it hard to find you."

    Eve leaned forward. Her grip around her sisters tightened. "We changed it to mother''s maiden name. It''s not rocket science."

    "Well, I know that NOW." Russell stepped forward and Ambryan retaliated. He got the message immediately and stopped. Eve openly red in his direction. His temple throbbed at the sight of it. "Do you want to know how I found out?"

    "The news?" It was a shot in the dark but Eve knew it was the most obvious ce.

    "I had to find out from a third party," her father said. "Not from my own daughter. Do you know how much that hurts? How humiliating it is?"

    "Well, I found out you ran with the money from a third party too. Not from my own father."

    Ambryan sneaked a nce at Eve. His worry levels rose up. She wasn''t normally this cunning and cut-throat. The subject about her father dug deeper than he thought. His attention shifted back to Russell Spinster.

    The twins took after him more than their mother. He had their cinnamon hair and their brown eyessame as Eve. His build was thinner than Ambryan expected, almost simr to a skeleton. He wore worn out but clean clothes. The leather jacket made him seem youthful but the deep lines on his face stated otherwise.

    "You really have some nerve" Eve taunted after a moment of silence. She smirked then pursed her lips. There was no time to waste. He''d never understand anyway. "You must want something to show up like this. Instead of ttering me, you''re using me of things I did that were the consequences of your actions. Is that how you try to get on someone''s side?"

    Russell opened his mouth.

    But, nothing came out.

    "It surprised me to see the twins," he said, recovering quickly. She was right. He had a motive and a n. It wasn''t the time to be distracted by trivial matters. "The sight of them brought back a lot of memories. I was never a good father. That guilt ate me up inside. I had nothing but pure intentions when I finally decided to meet them."

    Eve clicked her tongue. Her father could go into the acting industry. That had to be the biggest load of bullshit she had ever hearde out of his mouth. It hurt so much she wanted tough. She squashed that feeling down and chose a different tactic.

    "Then, I hope you understand that I" Eve paused but met her father''s eyes once more. This time, she stared straight into them. "I have nothing but pure intentions by asking you not to approach me or the twins again. If you dare even try I''ll file a restraining order. Goodbye."

    Eve switched to her sisters'' hands and led them out of the arcade. Ambryan followed them by sight before checking on Russell Spinster. Thetter had dropped any warm expression off his face. His hands clenched into fists.

    After raising her all those years, putting a roof over her head, providing food on the tablethis was how she''d repay him? Was it because she was some big shot now? Sess after sess in her modelling career plus a big fish as her boyfriend?

    If anyone had some nerve, it was his daughter!

    "If I were you," Ambryan whispered near his ear. "I would listen to her."

    He waved goodbye before leaving the arcade, tucking his hand inside his pocket and gripping his phone. An ominous feeling tickled his mind as if a dark aura emanated in his direction.

    One move from Russell and he''d have their security team intervene. The feeling hadn''t faded even when he and the girls safely left the premises. His eyebrows scrunched into a deep scowl. This couldn''t be the end of it.

    It was too easy.

    Way too easy.

    Unbeknownst to Ambryan, his hunches were correct. Russell had moved his fists to his sides. He glowered at the door where hest saw his children. The whites in his eyes had more red than white. His arms began to shake along with his fists.

    "Don''t say I didn''t try, Everlee," he spoke through gritted teeth. "Then again, maybe you''d rather have an eye for an eye. You''ll know soon enough what it feels like to taste ''the consequences of your own actions.''"

    Another week had gone by and Russell smoked a cigarette in his hiding spot. It gave him a good view of The Magical Symphony. Not once had he seen anyone look in his direction. He could almostugh at how ignorant people could be.

    The ringtone of his cell phone reached his ears.

    He answered the call without peeling his gaze off the school.

    "Hello?"

    "Yes. I''m aware."

    "No, I''m not running this time."

    "I will have your money soon enough."

    Cutting the call, Russell heard the bell this time. It signaled that sses were almost overa time used to pack up so everyone could leave at the exact time. He threw the cigarette on the ground and stomped on it. A puff of smoke flowed out of his lips.

    If he wanted to proceed with his n, this would be the perfect time to do it.

    .

    .

    .

    .

    .

    Eve had just finished a photoshoot. Riding in the backseat of the car, she checked her reflection in apact mirror. It had be a habit since Ambryan proposed. Aunt Avery had given her a list to remember as the future madam of the household.

    It was a lot longer than the five rules she received as a secretary.

    Her spirits stayed positive. Because of her sess with those old rules, Eve had taken the measure to learn these new ones five at a time.

    "Well, look at you," Calemented from the other end of the backseat. Eve retouched her lipstick and tenderness disyed in his aqua blue eyes. "I''ve never seen you so attentive to your appearance, especially the makeup. I feel like a proud parent."

    Eve gaped at him. "This is a proud parent moment? But not Fashion Week?"

    "That''s a career proud parent moment. This is a self-care proud parent moment."

    She returned his remark with a skeptical expression. The steady vibrate of her cell phone caught her attention. Andie''s name and photo shed on the screen. She closed thepact mirror and leaned back.

    "Hello?"

    "EVE!"

    "Andie?" Eve answered, her posture stiffening. The tone of her best friend almost gave her goosebumps. This couldn''t be good. "Are you alright? Are you hurt? Tell me where you are and I''ll be right there."

    "I''m fine, Eve! I''m fine!" Andie blew out a long breath. She craned her neck, massaging that connected her neck and her shoulder. "Jarrett just called. He got an alert that an incident is happening at The Magical Symphony. Before you asked, he didn''t tell me what it was because it might aggravate me and the baby."

    "The Magical Symphony" Eve thought out loud. If it was the school, could there possibly be an ident? Like a fire? Different possibilities flooded her mind. "Is he still there?"

    "I think so. He hasn''t responded to me."

    "I''ll go and see what it''s about."

    "Don''t forget to call me!"

    Eve hung up. She nced at the rearview mirror and made contact with a pair of turquoise eyes. Her tone of voice had turned serious. "Nanzie, let''s stop by The Magical Symphony."

    Cale frowned in confusion. The frazzled face Eve wore made his heart race. Her lips had paled during the phone conversation. She lostposure in an instant.

    "What''s going on?" He asked. Then, he took out his phone to look up the school''s name. If it was that serious, it should be all over the news by now.

    "I''m not sure," Eve admitted. She dialled Ambryan, thinking he could provide answers before they arrived at the scene. His cell rang twice. "But I will find out."

    Oh, my" Cale breathed out. His hand flew to his mouth. A live footage of the article was shown at the bottom. He clicked on it and it covered his entire screen. The voice of the reporter came out of his mobile''s speakers.

    "Reporting live from The Magical Symphony, the police have arrived at the scene where a hostage situation had taken ce. The suspect''s identity is still unidentified and, based on given information, he has yet to contact anyone for negotiation."

 Chapter 342: SS2 09: For the Love of a Daughter

    Chapter 342: SS2 09: For the Love of a Daughter

    "Reporting live from The Magical Symphony, the police have arrived at the scene where a hostage situation had taken ce. The suspect''s identity is still unidentified and, based on given information, he has yet to contact anyone for negotiation."

    Eve''s phone ttered to the floor while her heart sank. The world became quiet in her ears. She only heard her own heartbeat, not even the reporter''s voice reached her. To her, the pieces fell into ce and created a picture.

    She itched to break it apart.

    Cale watched her in worry. The life in her face had vanished, particrly her gaze. It had turned dark and dull. He felt the temperature drop a few degrees. A shiver went down his spine.

    "Nanzie," Eve said, blinking out of her daze. Something in her expression had changed. A small fire had begun to burn behind her eyes. "Go faster."

    "Yes, Ms. Eve."

    Jarrett stood in front of The Magical Symphony. The building loomed over him as if mocking. It wasn''t big but their hands were tied about the situation. He cursed under his breath. The police force had divided into teams and had covered all exits while the experts discussed their next move.

    Yet, none of this seemed enough for victory.

    "Jarrett," he heard from behind. Turning around, Jarrett spotted Ambryan jogging up to the site. He sighed. That was one person down. The other one should be on her way. At least it was Ambryan who arrived first. He could be the one to deal with her.

    "Ambryan," Jarrett greeted the CEO and shook thetter''s hand. "I guess you''re here about the twins?"

    Nodding, Ambryan looked towards the windows. The blinds had been drawn. No one could see a peep inside. "Do you guys have an assessment of the situation?"

    Jarrett crossed his arms over his chest and nced in the same direction. "More or less. There''s no aplice from what we can tell since most of the ss had escaped except for one room. There haven''t been casualties either and we''d like to keep it that way."

    Ambryan''s face became grim. "Is the ssroom where Eri and Ede are?"

    "Unfortunately, yes." Jarrett averted his gaze. His blood boiled. He was here as a spectator. One of his good friends had called him about the situation though he was no longer with thew enforcement. It frustrated him how he couldn''t do anything but wait.

    "She''s not answering" Ambryan muttered. He pulled his phone away from his ear and saw Eve''s photo before the screen locked automatically. "This can''t be good. Something could have also happened to Eve."

    Jarrett whirled in his direction. "Is someone targeting Eve and her family? An enemy of yours or hers perhaps? Do you have any idea who could be behind this?"

    "For this one, I don''t think it''s an enemy." Ambryan sighed. He left a voice message before hanging up. "But an old face who had decided to resurface."

    Before Jarrett could ask again, loud static pierced through the air. A contorted deep voice spoke right after. "My, my, my are we having a party? I see so many people had gathered. I must say, I appreciate all of you foring here."

    "Please release the students," one of the experts answered from the front row.

    The deep voice chuckled. "Now, why would I do that for free?"

    The expert sighed. "State your terms then."

    "How about a million for each child?"

    "That''s absurd!"

    "Are you saying a child''s life isn''t worth at least a million?" The kidnapper mocked. Heughed slowly, noting how the negotiator had gone quiet immediately. "How could you say something like that when you''re supposed to protect public safety."

    A gunshot echoed from inside the building.

    The police officers readied for a fight. Jarrett guessed that one team or one person sessfully infiltrated the school. Since there wasn''t an aplice, the scheme had plenty of holes. What mattered left was the timing and execution of the n.

    It should all be over soon.

    Then, the ominous voice returned.

    "Ah, a sneak attack" it said. "Howmendable but too bad it didn''t work."

    A second gunshot fired then an anguished cry came from the megaphone. Thew enforcement outside had stood up, dashing for the front entrance. They waited for the go signal from the other team that had entered the building. They needed to know if it was safe to barge in.

    Unfortunately, that wasn''t about toe any time soon.

    Russell Spinster lied on his side. A pained grunt hissed between his teeth. He clutched his wounded leg while the students and teachers crowded beside the farthest wall. He clenched his hand into a fist and pounded at the floor.

    A student screamed from the sound.

    "Get the kids and the teachers out please," a new voicemanded.

    His closed eyes slowly opened. He craned his neck to look at the doorway. The first thing he saw was a sh of red hair. The light from the hallway made the person glowmuch like an angel that fell from the sky,

    "Evangeline?" He breathed out.

    "Look again."

    Squeezing his eyes shut, Russell reopened his eyes. The person before him became clearer. Where he usually found hazel eyes were brown ones that match his own. Behind her was a woman he didn''t recognize and the legs of the police officer he shot earlier.

    "Everlee" he whispered as he returned to his focus towards her. "You shot your own father?"

    "No." Eve stepped closer, her hands inside the pockets of her denim jacket. She nudged her head in Nanzie''s direction. "My bodyguard did."

    "So you told her to shoot."

    Eve was ready to snap. She was on herst thin fiber of wood. "Again..., no. You thought we were the cops and were ready to shoot. We just shot first."

    Never in her wildest dreams did she think her father was capable of this much. Despite her worries a week ago, she had a sliver of thread left that believed he''d keep the twins safe. Maybe he wasn''t nning on harming them now either but what about the other hostages?

    Was he willing topromise their safety just for his own desires? And, even if the twins were spared, this incident had left an invisible scar. He really didn''t care at all! The only person he ever cared about was himself.

    And Evangeline Hart.

    "Kidnapping" Eve started to say. She moved to her dad''s side, crouching low. Her brown eyes pierced him like daggers. "Most of the time criminals do that for money. Did you bury yourself in debt? Or did you not have enough money to buy your drugs?"

    Her hands clenched and unclenched alternatively. It took all her willpower not to hit him. Just the sight of his face made her sick. He was no longer than the man she knew. He had been reced by the monster beneath his bloodshot eyes.

    Russell clenched his jaw and refused to let her get under his skin.

    Aggravated and enraged, he shot back. "This wouldn''t have happened if you hadn''t turned me away! You''re really selfish, keeping all that money to yourself. Have you ever thought about how your poor dad was doing?"

    Eve mmed her hand next to his right ear. Then, she bent forward and pointed a finger at his nose. "Listen here, Russell You had left us to starve. You didn''t leave a single cent. How dare you ask forpassion when you''re incapable of it?"

    "Oh, please. There were plenty of people to help you out."

    "They helped out by giving that money that you stole!" She screamed at his face. There was no point in holding back now. "I don''t know where you got this bizarre idea that I owe you but you are deeply mistaken. I have done EVERYTHING that I could just so Eri and Ede have a better life! The least you could do ise up with a better exnation than some cheap excuse!"

    Ambryan appeared in the doorway. He made eye contact with Nanzie who stepped aside. Then, his violet eyes found Eve. She knelt on one knee beside her father. Tears streamed down her cheeks. Her nostrils red with every breath.

    He raised a hand towards the police officers, telling them to wait.

    "I want them to be able to reach their dreams which I wasn''t able to do because of you," Eve sneered. She sniffed and poured out her pent up emotions. "They deserve so much better than the life you had left us."

    "And whatever is in your future I could only hope you realize that the only person who can help you is yourself." She rose to her feet and Russell never broke away from her intimidating eyes. She almost taunted him for his numbness.

    He really was incapable of being shameful.

    Eve stomped her foot, resisting the urge to kick him. She wiped the back of her hand against her nose and said, "Heavens know that''s what I learned from you."

    Without another word, she turned her back onto him. It didn''t take long for her to spot Ambryan. The police officers flooded into the room while he stayed by the door. Eve dapped away her tears before approaching him.

    "How are the twins?" She asked, swallowing the lump in her throat.

    He caressed the side of her hair and cupped her cheek. They stayed silent for a moment. Despite theck of verbal words, the couple understood one another. Eve leaned into the palm of his hand. It was small but it was more than enoughfort.

    Then, Ambryan yanked her into his arms.

    She buried her face into his chest. "Are Eri and Ede okay?"

    "They''re fine." His thumb brushed the outline of her ear. Jarrett is with them and so is Cale. And judging by the sudden noise outside, mother is probably there too."

    "That''s good," Eve managed to say. She cleared her throat and nuzzled her nose against his suit, breathing in his scent. "But we probably should stop your mother though."

    "Good luck with that because I won''t even try."

 Chapter 343: SS2 10: For the Love of a Sister

    Chapter 343: SS2 10: For the Love of a Sister

    "The recent hostage incident at The Magical Symphony left many in fear and affected the expansion ns of the school. To support the institution, the Hathaway Family has offered to help increase its security on top of their yearly donation. The Hathaway Family has many ties with the school, including Ambryan''s significant partner, Evangeline Reed"

    The LED screen cked out.

    "Stop watching the news," Ambryan said, standing behind the living room couch. He tossed the remote back on the cushion. "It''s bad for your health right now."

    Eve took a deep breath. She wore matching pink cotton pajamas and put her feet up on the coffee table. Kiriid on herp. She brushed the feline''s soft white fur. "I didn''t know the news could be part of a doctor''s diagnosis."

    "It can be if it doesn''t bring any good to a person''s mental state."

    "Since when does the news bring any good then?"

    Ambryan stopped mid-step. He carried two mugs, one filled with coffee and the other filled with tea. His violet eyes hooded in yful disdain. "Sometimes I regret falling for your smart mouth."

    "Imagine how dull your life would be without it," Eve retorted with a flutter of her eyshes.

    Suppressing a smile, Ambryan continued the rest of the way and sat beside Eve on the couch. Then, he set down her mug on the coffee table, already taking a sip of his tea. Eve leaned forward to take her drink and made sure not to disturb Kiri.

    She blew on the coffee before taking a small taste.

    "I''m still amazed by your family''s influence on the press," Eve couldn''t help but say. She stared at her coffee. The golden brown hue reminded her of mornings on a wheat field. "It didn''t even cross my mind until Aunt Avery mentioned it."

    Ambryan scooted closer and rested his arm on the back of her neck. "You''re Everlee Hart now. No one needs to know you were once Everlee Spinster and that the man was your father. The few people that knew had also agreed not to tell."

    Eve had another deep breath, inhaling and exhaling through her nose. The sun hovered on the other side of the window. The couple had decided to enjoy a quiet day inside the penthouse. Kiri joined them happily while Blueberry stayed by the window and watched the tiny cars.

    "I''m worried about Eri and Ede," Eve spoke all of a sudden.

    "They''re strong girls. They will be fine."

    "Still there has to be something I could do." She craned her neck and rested the base of her head on Ambryan''s arm. Her brown eyes stared up at the ceiling. "I can''t just sit here and think about myself."

    Ambryan ced his tea on the table. "Then, what do you propose we should do?"

    "I don''t know" Eve racked her brain for an idea. They needed a distraction, an escape from reality. Anything that could make the current situation go away. "A trip maybe?"

    "Pick a country and I can book first ss tickets right now."

    She straightened her posture and widened her eyes at Ambryan. Her mouth hung open. She shook her head quickly, making herself clear. "Not a country just just somewhere."

    There were too many ces to choose from. She didn''t know how she wanted to narrow them down. Distance wasn''t a problem. Budget wasn''t a problem. The important thing was to be in one car while they travelled to their destination.

    Ambryan considered her words. "Why don''t we ask the twins then?"

    Eve pped her hands. Her gaze sparkled with excitement. "That''s a good idea!"

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    .

    .

    An hourter, Eve and Ambryan picked up the twins from Hathaway Manor. They drove out of the city. Eri rolled down the window and stuck her head out. The fresh air filled her lungs. She feasted on the endless greenery in front of her.

    "Eri!" Eve scolded over her shoulder. "Don''t do that. You''d lose your head."

    Pouting, Eri rolled the window back up. "But there was nothing there to hit my head."

    "Don''t take any chances."

    "But"

    "Your sister is right, Eri," Ambryan backed up. He kept his eyes on the road.

    "That''s because you''re marrying her," Eri muttered under her breath.

    Ede pulled out the earphones she wore. "Are we there yet?"

    She tilted her head sideways and peeked in between the two front seats. Eri did the same, causing their heads to bump gently. They had no idea where they were at the moment. But that was alright. What they really cared about was

    "The beach is still far away, Ede," Eve answered. "We could probably get there in half an hour though. I don''t know why you picked a summer destination in the middle of spring season."

    "That''s exactly why we should go now," Eri exined. "It would be less crowded."

    "It would be cold though."

    "Then, the resort should have some hot springs to warm up their guests."

    Eve scowled and faced her younger sister. What Eri had said sounded impossible. "Hot springs are in the mountains. The beach is nowhere near the mountains."

    "Make artificial ones."

    "..." Eve surrendered, leaning on the backrest of her seat. She pinched the bridge of her nose. There were limited resorts nearby. They didn''t have the time to search for another just for the hot springs.

    She let her nose go and shifted her attention back on the road. A line of goats walked near the path. Eve prayed they wouldn''t block the way. "You can warm up in the hotel room we booked. No hot springs."

    Eri beamed. "Good enough for me."

    Eve shivered all over as soon as she opened the door. She almost regretted agreeing to this. They reached the beach a few minutes after her estimated guess. The valet came to park the car while the bellboys of the resort took their bags. They nned to stay for the night. Eve had even called the schools to let them know about the twins'' absence.

    They headed for a private spot away from the public eye. Their security teams stood around the perimeter, keeping an eye out for anyone suspicious. Eri and Ede started making sandcastles while Eve prepared the food.

    She''d hear themugh and glimpse in their direction.

    The sound was literal music to her ears.

    "Those aren''t tomatoes, are they?" Ambryan asked, back from the changing room.

    Eve looked up with her sunsses over her eyes. The hem of her white beach dress brushed her knees. "For someone who hates tomatoes, you sure bring them up a lota-aren''t you feeling cold?"

    Ambryan wore nothing but blue board shorts. He had a towel around his neck. Eve could tell he had a quick shower by the dampness of his ck hair as well as a few droplets that dripped down his abstomach. His beige skin looked more sunkissed than usual.

    He took the white dress shirt he left on a chair. He shrugged it on, saying, "It''s a little chilly but it''s probably because of the shower."

    Eve shook her head and continued slicing the watermelon. "I know there''s no skin left but you could have noticed the seeds, at least. Is your vision getting worse?"

    "Are you wearing a green bathing suit?"

    "Yes?"

    Ambryan stole a watermelon and smirked. "Then, it''s not getting worse."

    Eve looked down at herself. The dress had a thin fabric so the color of her bikini was noticeable. She rolled her eyes and tossed the watermelons into a bowl. "Don''t you dare say that kind of thing in front of the girls."

    "I doubt they want to be near us longer than necessary."

    At that, the couple checked on the twins. Ede had managed to build a towel while Eri scrapped her original idea and decided to make a snowman made of sand. Thetter hummed a tune about a snowman in the summer season, clearly drawing inspiration from it.

    Eve felt five fingers slip between hers.

    Ambryan leaned close to her ear. "I want to show you something."

    She turned her head, their noses nearly bumping. His violet eyes seemed brighter than usual. It must have been because of how much sun exposure the beach had. They almost looked like jewels upclose.

    Clearing her throat, Eve looked for Nanzie and Wen. "Please look after the girls for a while."

    They nodded and walked a little closer to the table. Except for two guards, the rest of the security team stayed put. Ambryan led Eve to the gulf connected to the beach. It had even more privacy than the spot they used.

    "What''s in here?" Eve asked, her gaze wandering around. "You''re not about to propose, are you? Fair warning. I''m not sure I would say ''yes'' a second time."

    Ambryan chuckled. "Don''t worry. The next words I''m looking for is ''I do.''"

    They stopped at the entrance of a cave. Eve gasped and stepped inside. Unlike how she imagined most caves, this one had an opening at the center. Light enveloped the cave. She could see theyers of rock that made up the walls as well as the tiny crystals that glistened all over them.

    Ambryan stayed behind and snapped a photo.

    The shutter sound echoed inside the cave, catching Eve''s attention.

    "HEY!" She marched right out and aimed for his phone. Ambryan raised it out of her reach. He backed away while he free hand held her arm, making sure she wouldn''t trip.

    The attempt was futile as Eve jumped to get the phone.

    She crashed into him and Ambryan lost his bnce. They fell on the sand with Eve on top. A collective groan came from both parties. Eve propped her hands on either side of his head.

    For a moment, they saw nothing but each other.

    .

    .

    .

    .

    .

    "Heeyyy! What are you guys doing?!" Eri and Ede screamed from the beach.

    Eve pushed herself off Ambryan, heading back immediately. "You found us! Good job, girls!"

    Ambryan nced up at the sky and squinted at the sun. His patience was running thin.

    The wedding couldn''te any sooner.

 Chapter 344: SS3 01: Fail to Plan, Planning to Fail

    Chapter 344: SS3 01: Fail to n, nning to Fail

    "Ms. Hart," the wedding nner called. She bustled over to the lounge room of her office, carrying a portfolio of themes for the big day. "This is ourtestption. I apologize for how it looks. It''s still in the works but we wanted to open all options for you."

    Eve sat sideways with one ankle tucked behind the other. For the asion, she had chosen a rosy pink pencil skirt made of wool and a cream chiffon blouse. Her scarlet hair was swept to one side. It had already grown past her shoulders since she had it cut.

    A pearl-crusted hair clip cinched one side of her head.

    She ced her coffee cup back on the saucer before cing both on the table. Then, she browsed the portfolio. Her head nodded as she flipped the pages. "I''m not sure what you mean, Mishta. This looks as wonderful as the others."

    Mishta, the wedding nner, smiled and bowed her head. "You''re too kind, Ms. Hart."

    "I simply give credit where it''s due." Eve looked up long enough to wink. From the corner of her eye, she spotted a few bystanders that had been staring from the window. They were a mix of adults, teens and children talking to each other.

    Although Eve couldn''t hear, she waved her hand at them.

    That was when they started snapping photos.

    "Oh!" Mishta gasped. She nced over her shoulder and gestured to the blinds. "Alecia, didn''t I tell you to close the windows because we have a VIP guest?"

    She turned back to Eve as Alecia rolled down the blinds. "I''m so sorry about that, Ms. Hart."

    Eve brushed off the matter with a wave of her hand. "It''s quite alright. I''m used to it."

    "Ah, the life of a celebrity" Andie thought out loud from across the table. She held another portfolio, marking her suggestions with sticky notes. "And a soon-to-be socialite. Aunt Avery was right. Everyone would be looking at you once the press announced your engagement. They''re all waiting for the grand wedding of the century."

    "I can''t tell if you''re jealous or you''re bragging that your wedding will be small," Eve said. Anyone who knew her would know she wanted a private wedding. Her anxiety over the big day already rose up just from seeing the guest list.

    Was it necessary to have that many people? She skimmed through the new portfolio and stopped at one page that had purple as the main color. Not only did it look simple enough but it also spoke volumes.

    "Trust me, Eve," Avery spoke up from the other side of the couch Andie sat on. The side of her portfolio practically had sticky notes on every page. "One day, you will look back to your wedding photos and remember how much of a fairy tale kind of night it was. You''ll hardly believe it was real though you were there."

    Mishta cleared her throat. She stood behind the left armrest of the sofa Eve used. "May I ask where you n to have the wedding? A specific church perhaps? I can look into nearby venues."

    Andie snapped her head towards the wedding nner. "What about a beach wedding?"

    Eve choked on her own spit. Her ears grew hot. "I-I don''t think outdoors is my type of wedding."

    "Then, what about a wedding under a giant tent?" Avery suggested.

    "With the amount of guests we have?" Eve blinked. "I don''t think it would be worth it. Plus I''d feel more secure knowing it wasn''t about to copse in case of a storm."

    This was a strange experience. Eve knew she had memories of the times she dreamed of her ideal wedding. But, now when it mattered most, they had vanished from her head.

    Mishta raised her hand. "Does the groom have any ideas?"

    Eve pressed her lips together. "The courthouse."

    "The groom is banned from suggesting, Mishta. Remember that from now on." Avery frowned and rolled her violet eyes. "Men. They only think about getting the wedding over and done with. They don''t think about the people who want to celebrate this asion with them or the bride who most of the time has pictured this special day all her life."

    Andie and Eve exchanged looks. Thetter had actually agreed with Ambryan about the courthouse idea. Hell, they even joked about eloping instead. The fantasies were pretty in their headsexcept the horror of Avery''s wrath squashed those ideas in one swing.

    Mishta gulped. "I will note that down, Mrs. Hathaway."

    "Good." Avery closed the portfolio and smiled in her direction. "Do you perhaps have books that contain pictures of wedding dresses?"

    Later that day, Ambryan had gone to the kitchen for a ss of water when he heard the door m shut. He walked out to see what themotion was about. His fianc marched into the penthouse, her heels cking on the floor. A series of mutters flowed out of her lips.

    Eve finally looked up when she reached the living room.

    Ambryan raised his eyebrows.

    "I want to call off the wedding," Eve dered. She stomped towards the sofa. The cats leaped out of her way as she copsed on the cushions. "This has to be more stressful than anything I''ve done so far. How do people decide on what to do for their weddings?"

    "That''s what wedding nners are for," Ambryan replied. He joined her on the couch, lifting her legs up so he could sit down. Then, he ced them over hisp. "Did mother give you a hard time?"

    "She''s the one contributing the most. She has many ideas but I need to narrow things down before making a choice." Eve groaned and threw her hands in the air. "But then! Nothing in what we''ve seen so far made me want to get married."

    "If that''s what you''re looking for, then you only have to look at me."

    She chucked a throw pillow in his direction.

    Ambryan caught it, a shameless smirk on his lips. "What about a wedding at Zehell Castle?"

    "But we already did that." Eve sat up abruptly. A deep scowl creased her brows. "You should have saved that idea for the wedding. That way we wouldn''t be in this dilemma."

    "I hadn''t thought about marrying you then," Ambryan defended. He twirled the throw pillow between his hands. Emails waited for him in his home office but he didn''t care. It was a long day without his fianc.

    He needed her presence in order to recharge first.

    Eve leaned forward, propping her chin on his shoulder. He nced down to look at her. "When did you think about marrying me then?"

    Ambryan sat still. His watch ticked as the seconds passed by.

    .

    .

    .

    .

    .

    "That''s confidential information."

    She stole the pillow from him and hit him in the chest. "Oh,e on. Tell me. Maybe I can get some inspiration from it like the ce where you thought about it."

    Ambryan reclined on the backrest of the couch. He gazed up at the ceiling.

    The idea of marriage teased him many times. It could be a wedding dress shop he spotted while stuck on a red light. It could be an advertisement for wedding photos that shed on a billboard he could see from his office window. It could also be a couple taking pre-nuptial photos at a restaurant he held a meeting.

    There were too many to mention once he explored those days.

    But, if he were to share when was the exact time he wanted to propose

    It would have to be

    "I can''t believe you chose a girl who uses things without permission," Madame Isabelle scolded over her shoulder, climbing down the stairs as fast as she could. "Also, where are her manners? Shouldn''t she greet me first? Of all the"

    She stopped and whispered profanities instead.

    Ambryan sighed but followed his mom to the studio room. The closer they got, the more familiar the music became. He had heard manypositions during his stay in this studio. Madame Isabelle had a preferred ylist for her lessons.

    This one, however, left asting impression.

    He took thest step in order to peek inside the studio. Seeing Eve dance brought him years backto the time they had rehearsed this for the town festival. Madame Isabelle had booked a slot for a ballet performance. To attract arge crowd, she had convinced him to participate.

    Eve had taken it seriously from day one while he reluctantly did his part. His mom smacked his arm every time. He didn''t mind because he thought she''d eventually give up and let him go.

    That was until Eve finally spoke up.

    "If you''re just here to ruin things, why not just run away from rehearsal?" She sneered in her tutu, crossing her arms over her chest. "I don''t need a selfish kid who is too much of a coward to perform ballet in front of people."

    "I''m no coward!"

    He heard her tongue click. "Then, prove it."

    Ambryan shook his head. She sounded annoying enough to provoke him. Thinking back on it now, he really was a selfish coward. His violet eyes focused on the dancer before him. A serene expression painted over her face but concentration red in her brown eyes.

    That look had never changedwhether as a young ballerina, or as amitted secretary or as an aspiring model. The same could be said about her smile. It had that maic pull he didn''t experience with anyone else

    "Do you still remember what happens in this dance or should I hit you with my cane to trigger your memory?" Madame Isabelle asked. She raised her cane just in case.

    Not needing to be told twice, Ambryan silently walked into the room. He hurried a little when Eve was about to make her dip. He held her arms from behind and supported her. Then, he moved his hands to her waist as she spun around to face him.

    Time had slowed down for him. Her round eyes widened by a fractionanother expression he grew to love. He stepped forward and...

    He never wanted to let go again.

 Chapter 345: SS3 02: How to Calm Thy Mother

    Chapter 345: SS3 02: How to Calm Thy Mother

    "Good day, Ms. Hart."

    "Good day," Eve greeted back. She stood on a tform, three mirrors poised in front of her. Studio lights lined the top and created a spotlight pointed in her direction.

    The seamstress stepped up the tform, stretching the tape measure. She gave instructions which Eve obediently followed. Then, she said, "Have you decided on a design for the wedding gown?"

    Eve bit her inner cheek as she raised her arms. "Um not entirely."

    "Are you worried about the cost?" The seamstress asked. "Mr. Hathaway had told us you might. You do understand this dress will be sponsored by Athon Luxury? Neither of you will spend a single cent."

    "I know but"

    "This is an honor to us, Ms. Hart," she stressed. "And a wedding gift to you both. Please ept it. And choose a dress you''d proudly wear. That''s all designers wantto see the wearers smile at their creations when worn."

    The doors of the dressing room ttered shut. Eve nced over her shoulder to find none other than Luna Athon. Thetter''s ebony eyes crinkled at the corners. "There''s my blushing bride."

    "Luna!" Eve eximed, making her way towards the designer. She enveloped Luna in a hug which was returned with the same amount of enthusiasm. "We missed you. How have you been? Don''t tell anyone this but Cale misses you the most."

    "And why shouldn''t I tell anyone that?"

    "Because Avery would protest."

    "Ah, yes. She would." Luna chuckled. Her dark brown hair was swept up into a high ponytail, one of her signature styles. She pulled back and stared at Eve from head to toe. "I saw you at Fashion Week and I''m very proud of how far you''vee."

    Eve couldn''t help but blush. "I probably wouldn''t have made it without you though."

    "Maybe but I merely gave you a chance. You''re the one who made it work."

    Silence surrounded the two. The seamstress earlier had written Eve''s measurements in a notebook. For a wedding gown, it was important to check in intervals until the big day. It has to be the perfect fitbut before they worried about that

    They needed to know what designs and materials they''ll be dealing with.

    Luna gestured towards the lounge area in the room. "Now, shall we talk about wedding gowns?"

    Books on top of books littered the coffee table. A server came by to offer beverages and snacks while the two women collected images for inspiration. Luna ced another stack on Eve''sp. "I needments after you''re done looking at these. Like what kind of material you prefer, the shoulder/upper design, the skirt, and must we include the veil too?"

    Eve felt overwhelmed. They had done more sticky notes for the wedding gown than she, Andie and Avery did for the theme. Everything looked so beautiful and magical. She almost couldn''t tell which styles she''d like to go for.

    "I think" Eve started to say. The only way to narrow this down was to be practical. The wedding is in the summer season so she needed breathable fabric. "I''d prefer a simple cut but maybe add small details ince, fake gemsanything to elevate the design. And not just the top but also the skirt."

    Most of the designs she liked only had the top embellished. The skirt looked boringpared to all the attention the bodice received. Then, if it wasn''t that, it would be the other way around. She needed something that would be bnced.

    Luna wrote it down. "What type of skirt do you want? A-line, fitted, mermaid?"

    "A-line, maybe?"

    "Neckline?" She continued, pulling out a sheet of paper from a folder. She handed it over to Eve. "Here''s a reference for you."

    "Oh," Eve uttered. It contained images of neckline examples. She picked out which ones stood out to her the most. "Sweetheart or off-shoulder maybe."

    For her, they were ssic cuts for a wedding.

    "Okay." Luna finished writing and pped her hands. She reached for a book Eve had finished looking at to see what notes thetter made. "Let''s see if I can make a mock design you might like."

    They repeated this several times for the next hour. Luna pointed out a few designs Eve chose, asking more questions like the color and the weight of the gown. All of it would be handmade and they didn''t have a lot of time for a few ideas they considered.

    Then, Luna started talking about fabrics which Eve knew little off.

    It was both fascinating and confusing to learn.

    A phone rm interrupted the conversation. Eve checked her phone, reading the reminder for her next appointment. "I think that''s all of my time today, Luna. I need to go check on the caterer."

    The designer stood up and smoothed the creases on her blouse. "Don''t worry. I''ll email them to you. If you also have any sudden ideas or inspiration, message them to me. Send photos from the inte if you must. I''m all eyes and ears."

    Eve grabbed her purse and reached out for another hug. "Thank you, Luna."

    "No problem, Eve." Luna chuckled before they broke apart. Then, her ebony eyes narrowed in suspicion but her lips stayed yful. "I heard you worried about this being free. Believe me when I say, I can''t think of a better gift on this day except for your wedding gown. We can do a reception dress too if you''d like."

    "OH! A reception dress would be nice, indeed," Eve replied without a second thought. If the wedding gown turned out to be heavy, she''d love a second dress to wear for the rest of the evening. They would be dancing and making rounds. She''d prefer something lighter for those.

    Luna''s grin became coy. "Something easy to remove perhaps?"

    "..."

    Eve nearly choked, reading between the lines. She averted her gaze. Not even her and Andie talked about this part of their rtionship much. Was it normal for other people to be this open about it? Was she expected tough or do something not awkward?

    "Just teasing, dear." Luna patted her shoulder.

    "I''ll be going now," Eve said, ready to escape before things be awkward again.

    "Take care."

    Eve almost reached her next stop half an hourter. Paparazzi had tailed her vehicle all day, providing live feed about her wedding preparation. She blew out a breath and nestled her head on the backrest.

    She''d like to say that she couldn''t wait for the wedding to be over.

    But, this wouldn''t go away even if that did happen. The movie would be out by the end of the year or in the first half of the following year. Then, if she would get pregnant, they''d keep their eyes on her stomach and the baby

    She shook the thoughts out of her head.

    She''d rather keep her sanity.

    Nanzie opened the door for her when they arrived at Stitz Bistro. It was a good thing it was in a remote ce away from the city. There were less ces for paparazzi to hide so they couldn''te closer.

    Ambryan waited near the entrance. He reached out for her hand and kissed the back of her fingers. The world finally knew this woman was to be his wife. He couldn''t stop smiling at that thought.

    "How did things go with Luna?"

    Eve stepped closer and cupped his cheek. "Why not wait for the wedding and find out?"

    Then, she slipped away from his grasp, heading for the private room they booked. A server waited for them by the door. The couple entered the room and two chefs stood behind the owner. They were positioned beside the doorway.

    "Hello, Mr. Hathaway, Ms. Hart," the owner said, bowing her head. "I''m Ayna. Thank you for considering Stitz Bistro for your wedding caterer. Please have a seat."

    "Pleasure to meet you, Ms. Ayna." Eve smiled. She headed for the table. Just before she sat down, Ambryan beat her to it. A scowl appeared on her forehead. She changed directions, aiming for the only empty seat left.

    A hand grabbed her wrist. "Where are you going?"

    Eve pointed to the chair. "To sit."

    "But Ms. Ayna said to only take one seat." Ambryan blinked. A few seconds passed by before Eve understood what he meant. When her expression changed, her fiance blinked at her expectantly.

    She flicked his forehead. "Stop fooling around. You''re a grown man."

    "Being in love makes one feel youthful."

    "If only it actually reverses age."

    Ambryan frowned and let her go. He watched her smug face as she took her seat. "And they say this should be a blissful time. Except, it seems like my fiance is adamant to prove everyone wrong."

    "We''d like to start with your choice of appetizers, please," Eve addressed the crew, bluntly ignoring him. It may be a private room but they hadpany. It wasn''t a free invitation to flirt.

    "ck tea for me and lemon water for thedy," Ambryan added. "She''s had a long day. A drink that could refresh her energy would be good. Thank you."

    "Right away." Ayna turned to the two chefs who left for the kitchen the room came with. She headed for a nearby drink stand, preparing their desired beverages. She moved as stealthy as she could in order not to disturb the couple.

    "Now, tell me" Ambryan started to say. "How are you and wedding preparations? Like really."

    "It''s all good. Mishta takes most of the load. She''s really good at her job."

    "You know it''s never toote to go to the city office and sign the papers."

    Eve thanked Ayna for her drink, ring in Ambryan''s direction. "Then, Aunt Avery would be furious that we skipped the ceremony and reception. She''d never let it go and you know that."

    "Mother?" Ambryan blinked. The chefs returned with two tes of sds. He smirked while unfolding his table napkin. "You should know her by now, darling. She''ll calm down eventually."

    "Do you know how to calm her down then?"

    "Easy. We escape to our honeymoon."

    "That doesn''t solve anything."

    "It does when we bring back a baby."

 Chapter 346: SS3 03: The Last Days of Freedom

    Chapter 346: SS3 03: The Last Days of Freedom

    "Cheers!"

    Eve raised her ss along with the others. She, Andie, Rose and Avery clinked their drinks together. The ring music from the karaoke machine echoed inside the private room. Lights of purple, pink and blue colored the walls and the floor.

    They had filled the table with orders of food and cocktail beverages.

    Tonight was a night to remembera time to forget about all worries.

    With that in mind, Eve drank everyst drop of her martini. Then, she mmed the ss on the table and reached for the bottle of regr beer. Wedding preparations are almost done. They only needed somest minute check-ins but it would all be handled by Mishta and Alecia.

    It was an aplishment worth celebrating to say the least.

    "Ohhh, look at you go, Ms. Bride-To-Be." Andie smirked. She enjoyed her soda water while the rest drank alcohol. Due in 3 months, she rxed in her spot on the couch. "I know your wedding is in two days but you can''t drink too much. You might not fit into your dress on the big day."

    Eve brushed her best friend''s concern with a wave of her hand. She swallowed a mouthful of beer. "This is probably the only night Ambryan would let me drink. I''m not about to waste it."

    "Then, drink on my behalf."

    Avery chuckled from across the table. She picked up a nacho chip from a te. "You girls should n night outs like this. I imagine you''ll need some once babies are popping out. Every woman needs a night out to herself. It would be your each other''s jobs to make sure you all get to rx at least once a month."

    Rose snorted beside the madam. "More like taking turns babysitting while the parents go out."

    "That could also work."

    Eve suppressed herugh. If not, she''d choke on her drink. "Why don''t we pick songs?"

    "Permission to have a duet with the bride?" Rose asked, raising her hand like they were in ss. Then, she grabbed the song book and searched for a song they both knew. She hopped up the moment she found it, punching in the numbers.

    There were two microphones avable. Rose handed one to Eve while the music began to y. Piano notes filled the room, softer than the default songs that had been yed so far.

    The former caught her cue, serenading the bride while she was at it.

    "Living in my own world~"

    "Didn''t understand~"

    "That anything could happen~"

    "When you take a chance~"

    Eve burst outughing. She snatched the second microphone and stood up. Rose headed for the small raised tform inside the KTV room. There were two mic stands waiting for them. She picked the left one while Eve slipped her microphone on the right one.

    The cue for the second singer was almost there.

    Eve cleared her throat, crossing her arms over her chest. Her brown eyes darted up to the ceiling like she''d rather be anywhere but here.

    "I never believed in~"

    "What I couldn''t see~"

    "I never opened my heart~"

    Rose leaned into her microphone, "Oh~~"

    "To all the possibilities~" Brown eyes stared at her. She stared right back.

    Their voices blended together, hesitant at first but gradually growing stronger. A magical moment sparked between themas if they were the only two people in the room. Maybe it was the booze or maybe it was destiny but

    right here tonight,

    Could be the start of something new.

    "GIIIRRLLSS!! I''m here!" Cale announced when he opened the door. He had brought a faux fur purple scarf and wrapped it around his neck. A round of apuse greeted him as he bowed to the waist several times. "Thank you! Thank you! Tonight was a sess beyond measure. I couldn''t have done it without your moral support."

    Eve shook her head. She hadn''t stopped smiling since they got there. "So you were able to take Ambryan out of the penthouse? That''s some magic I would like to learn."

    Cale sat on Rose''s seat. He reached for an empty ss and poured his own drink. It almost seemed like he had been there from the beginning. "Oh, please, Eve. You''ll have stronger powers soon enough."

    "Like what?"

    "The power of a wife," Avery answered Eve, adding a wink. She and Cale clinked their sses together before she took a sip. "You''ll see its strength soon enough."

    About a few miles away from the KTV bar, Ambryan found himself in another bachelor pad. His violet eyes glowered every step of the way. The second he knew something was wrong, he had tried to escape and head back to his penthouse.

    Unfortunately, Cale had aplices that blocked his path.

    Now, here he was, on an elevator that led to Richard''s apartment.

    "Heeyy" Richard attempted at an energetic greeting. "Yan! Good to see you. Good to see you. Come on in. There''s plenty of room. I know you love your work but this should be a time for you to rx. Maybe even have some wine."

    Ambryan invited himself in, undoing his tie. "Wine is the only thing that could make this worth it."

    Richard turned back to the hallway and mumbled a few things. Then, he closed the door. He and Ambryan headed for the kitchen. Richard stayed a step behind, humming to himself. Things should be fun soon enough.

    He kept his mischievousugh in his head.

    ''Oh, this should be good.''

    When they turned the corner, Ambryan nearly jumped when he spotted the fake giant cake. He stepped back but bumped into Richard instead. Thetter gripped his shoulders and trapped him in ce.

    "You think only the girls would have fun tonight?" Richard taunted in his ear. "I doubt you''d get married a second time so this will be the only chance you''d ever get to have a bachelor party. You bet that me and a few people have pitched in for this."

    "Richard" Ambryan warned. He had attended bachelor parties before out of courtesy. In one of those times, he had seen this very cake. Its implication had been embedded in his mind.

    His best friend blinked innocently. "Aw,e on now. This is from me, Madison, Mikael, Jordan and your new business partner, Mr. Calvin Knoc. I know you''d turn me down but what about everyone else? They might be disappointed if you don''t ept this gift."

    Ambryan clenched his jaw. Richard had him there. Maybe if they hadn''t pulled Calvin into it, he would have found a way to refute. s, their business rtionship wasn''t solid yet. It hung on a bnce and it was important to be able to please each other.

    "..." Ambryan took a long deep breath. "No touching please."

    "That''s the spirit." Richard beamed. He nced over his shoulder and started pping. "He agreed, guys. Come out and let''s enjoy this show!"

    All the men Richard listed came out of hiding. They pped along with him, congratting Ambryan on his uing wedding. Thetter ignored almost everyone except Calvin who he greeted back with a nod of his head.

    Gulping, Ambryan sat on one of the stools. He braced himself as sultry music yed from the surround sound speakers from the home theater system. ''Here goes nothing.''

    A hand popped out from the top of the cake. It held a small bouquet of roses. The hand tossed it in a random direction. By sheer luck, the bouquetnded in front of Ambryan. Hispanions cheered and brought out their drinks of wine and beer.

    Another hand slipped out of the hole. Then, a head of long ck hair emerged, facing away from the audience. Shoulders rolled to the beat of the music. The dancer slowly turned around. Each inch of movement teased the onlookers.

    The closer they got to the face reveal, the louder they cheered.

    Ambryan''s violet eyes bulged out.

    "RIFFLE?!" He yelled. There was no mistake. Under the ck wig was Riffle, Madison''s secretary. He wore red lipstick and eye makeup to go with the look. Fake eyshes outlined his eyelids.

    "Please don''t fire me, boss," Riffle begged, flinching at how ridiculous his position was. He opened the cake and stepped out. The heels he wore cked on the hardwood floor. Fis stockings covered his legs.

    bbergasted by what he was seeing, Ambryan snapped his head towards the culprit. He red in usation. "Madison, did you put him up to this?"

    "Hey!" Madison protested. He and Ambryan had a stare down but thetter refused to give in. Riffle still continued to dance, mimicking a shaman more than a stipper with his fans. The strips of cloth they glued onto them fluttered like the ribbons used for ribbon dancing.

    Madison averted his gaze, muttering, "It was a fair game of rock, paper and scissors."

    Richard propped his elbow on his best friend''s shoulder. A knowing spread across his face. "Of course, I know you wouldn''t want a real stripper. It''s still a bachelor party so we thought of an alternative."

    "By forcing Riffle to do this?"

    Riffle paused from dancing. "Can I stop now?"

    Madison shook his head, setting his bottle of beer down on the counter. He sat beside Ambryan but never took his eyes off his secretary. "Not good enough yet. Tell you what. If you give us a good show, I will raise your sry on top of your yearly increase."

    Spinning on his heels, Riffle pointed a fan at Eros''spany president. "How much are we talking about here?"

    "King, that''s againstpany rules," Ambryan pointed out.

    "As long as no one tells."

    "I won''t tell. I definitely will not tell. Anyone else promises not to tell? Please?"

    Calvin patted Ambryan on the back. "I have to hand it to you, Ambryan. This is the most unique bachelor party I''ve ever attended. I''ll remember it for years toe."

    "I''ll say." Mikael snorted, drinking a mouthful of his beverage. "I lost years of my life ying rock, paper and scissors. I''d never be able to show my face in front of anyone here again."

    "Gee, thanks, everyone. You better give me tips!"

 Chapter 347: SS3 04: Honored Guests, Bail Time has Arrived

    Chapter 347: SS3 04: Honored Guests, Bail Time has Arrived

    Melodic music flowed through the air. The screen of a smartphone lit up with a photo and a name. The man in the picture had his eyes wide while a filter gave him a ck nose and a pair of dog ears. Labelled above his photo was, ''Amble Bee.''

    As if catering to his namesake, the phone''s vibrate buzzed the sleeping Eve awake.

    She turned to her side and patted the mattress in search of the phone. Her eyes squeezed shut as a rope constricted her head. Once she found her mobile device, she used the volume buttons to answer the call.

    "Hello?" Eve yawned into the microphone.

    Ambryan chuckled. He sat outside of a cafe, reading a newspaper while enjoying a cup of tea. His smartphone was on speaker. He leaned down to speak. "Sounds like you enjoyed your bachelorette party. Maybe a little too much fun I might add..."

    Eve jolted up in a sitting position and regretted immediately. She cradled the side of her head, cing her back against the headboard. "Ambryan? What time is it?"

    She opened her eyes to squint at her phone.

    "Almost lunch time."

    "Aw, damn," she cussed. Her mind recounted the events fromst night. She remembered they had several rounds of shots while taking turns on the microphone. "What time did I even sleep? Hell, how did I even get back to the old apartment I shared with Andie?"

    The teacup ttered on the saucer te when Ambryan set it down. He grabbed his phone and pressed it against his ear. "I know I have my smarts, love, but those aren''t questions I can answer for you."

    "Useless," he heard her say.

    A smirk tugged the corner of his lip.

    Eve forced her brown eyes to fully open. A hint of pain crusted the outer corners. She dabbed a finger on them and found sand. "So why are you calling? Were you afraid that I''d get cold feet?"

    A waitress came out of the cafe and asked Ambryan if he wanted another cup of tea. He waved his hand and refused. She left right away.

    "Let''s meet up for lunch," he said on the phone.

    Eve suddenly felt more awake. "Ha?? Aren''t you not allowed to see the bride the day before the wedding? It''s only one more day. You can afford a little more patience."

    Ambryan pursed his lips. He yed with his teacup, spinning it in ce "So no more courthouse? Less than 24 hours left to decide."

    Eve bit her bottom lip. She looked out her window where the sun rose high. Her hangover pounded the sides of her lead like sledge hammers. After all she had gone through preparing for it, how could she back out now? Her gaze flickered to her cab where arge garment bag hung.

    Before, they would have faced only Avery''s wrath.

    Now, they would face Luna''s fury as well if they bailed.

    "I might add that several uninvited mediapanies have been trying to sneak into the ceremony," Ambryan spoke when she didn''t answer. "Oh, and I heard one of my enemies nned to nt a bomb as a wedding gift. There''s endless risks. It could endanger everyone''s safety. It''s best to reassess while we still can."

    Eve clicked her tongue. The desperation in his voice couldn''t be more obvious.

    "You really want to get out of this, don''t you?" She grinned with a shake of her head. "Getting cold feet? I didn''t know Mr. CEO was afraid of being the center of attention."

    "There''s a difference between being scared and being ufortable."

    "If you say so" she trailed off, finally getting up on her feet and stretching her arms. "They still both mean you''re not strong enough to handle it. I should have known. We could have saved a lot of money and a lot of time if you had just been honest with me earlier."

    Ambryan exhaled sharply, ignoring her provocations. "Can you please juste see me?"

    Eve skipped on her way to the bathroom. "Alright. I''ll see you in an hour."

    The next day, a well-known building in Maize City had transformed overnight. This infrastructure had hosted Athon''sunch party for their Rainbow Collection which many remembered as the first time a couple came out in public.

    Many adoring fans of this couple had considered it a historicalndmark. It made sense that another historical moment wouldmence in it againone that would mark the turning point as the pair tie their lives together in holy matrimony.

    The red carpet had turned white. Bouquetsposed of flowers in pink, white andvender perched on top of stands, lining the carpet along with cream fabric made of silk. They stretched from the entrance, to the lobby, to the main venue and up to the base of the grand staircase.

    The media were only allowed outside while invited people would walk on the carpet. It was like prom night or a movie premiereonly the best for the citizens'' favorite couple.

    There was just one tiny problem.

    "WHERE. ARE. THEY?!" Avery Hathaway screamed inside an airbnb they had rented. She wore a floor-length dress. The skirt hadyers of bothvender and pink, representing both bride and groom. She marched into the lobby where the bridesmaid and groomsmen waited.

    Rose stood up, decked in avender bridesmaid dress. The phone in her hand told her to leave a voice message. "I can''t reach Eve. I''ve been trying since this morning. It''s ringing but she''s not answering."

    From the other room, Richard walked out. He wore a white and gray suit with a pink bowtie. "Ambryan''s phone rang but he turned it off after my first attempt. He definitely knows we''re looking for them though. He wouldn''t have done that otherwise."

    Avery slowly swept her wide eyes around the room. Her hands began to tremble. Jackson came up behind her to massage her shoulders, saying, "There''s still time. They will be here. Maybe they had gone to pray."

    She turned towards him. The flecks in her violet eyes had darkened. Pure anger red up her nostrils. "But they needed to be here for the wedding video. It''s supposed to y during the reception. How can we have the video without the couple getting married?!"

    Mikael had been enjoying his drink on the chair. He wore a matching suit to Richard except his didn''t have the lined dark trimming. "We can go start looking for them."

    "No!" Avery protested. She approached the group, making eye contact with each of them. "No one else is allowed to leave, alright? The security teams will handle it."

    Guests began to arrive at the venue. Ushers greeted them at the front stairs and escorted them inside. No one present could contain their enthusiasm. Everyone shared their ounts about the couple along with their well wishes. Even uninvited people watched live streams on their phones and TVs.

    With the ceremony almost due to start, Avery ordered the bridal party to head out for the venue. They had been tasked to entertain guests while they stalled for time. The madam paced around the lobby of the airbnb, muttering curses under her breath.

    "I can''t believe this I simply can''t believe this!" She screamed at the ceiling. Her husband sat on the couch and listened. He watched both his phone and hers on the coffee table, waiting for news.

    "How could they do this?!" Avery continued. Her heels sounded as if they could break any moment. "They''re adults! They understand responsibility! This is uneptable behavior. When they get here, I will give them a thorough lesson. Unbelievable..."

    Jackson sighed and yed with his hands. "Maybe they wanted a private moment."

    She pointed a finger at him. "Don''t say that out loud. You''ll jinx it."

    "Jinx what?"

    "Don''t y dumb." She scoffed, resuming her walk. "We both know there''s a chance that they won''t show up. It''s in my head this whole time but I didn''t want to say it out loud. Then, it mighte true."

    "Excuse me, Mr. and Mrs. Hathaway," Hannah started to say. She had worn a baby blue cocktail dress for the asion. "But the guests are restless. Mr. King suggests that you both appear. It could calm them down further while waiting."

    Jackson rose to his feet and fixed the buttons of his gray suit. He pocketed both phones, offering a hand to his wife. "Let''s go, dear. It''s our turn to stall."

    Avery huffed but gave in. They arrived in a single car. Their faces stered smiles while they hooked arms. They waved at the media present before attending to the guests. Many questions came their way, including ones asked to the bridal party earlier.

    People wanted to verify the answers they got.

    But the madam knew better. They were just hungry for gossip, especially a scandal.

    "I''m so sorry about the dy," Avery apologized, bowing her head slightly. "The bride is really nervous. It''s making her nauseous. She keeps throwing up in the toilet. Please don''t bring talk to her about itter. She''s really embarrassed and her anxiety might rise up again."

    Relief lifted the weight off her shoulders when they epted her exnation.

    "What about Ambryan then, Avery?" One of thedies asked. Avery gritted her teeth at the sight of her. Mocking eyes seemed to smirk at her. "The groom usually arrives first. Unless"

    "Ladies, please," Jackson warned. His stern expression shed on his face. "It''s my son''s wedding. The least you could do is to be respectful."

    Suddenly, the cameras around them shed faster than usual. Heads turned towards the end of the carpet where a ck Jaguar XK had shown up. Wen climbed out of the driver''s seat, walking around the vehicle. She grabbed the door handle for the backseat and pulled it open.

    Ambryan stepped out, covered from chest to ankles in an all-whiteplete suit. His leather shoes matched his onyx ck hair while a pink tie hung on his neck.

    His violet eyes instantly found his parents.

    The corner of his lip curled up. "Am Ite?"

 Chapter 348: SS3 05: Honored Guests, Pardon Thy Tardiness

    Chapter 348: SS3 05: Honored Guests, Pardon Thy Tardiness

    "Am Ite?"

    Avery did not hesitate. She marched right up to her son, gripping her clutch and forcing her smile more than usual. "I''m sorry. Should I have sent you an invitation? Because you clearly don''t know what time the wedding starts."

    Ambryan merely beamed and hugged her shoulders. "Thank you, mother. Everything looks great. I''m sure Eve would be blown away when she walks down the aisle."

    Scowling, Avery stepped back. She assessed her son''s face and searched for a hint of sarcasm. "Who are you and what have you done to my son?"

    "Leave him be," Madame Isabelle cut in, walking up behind them. "Weddings are a good time for children to be grateful to their parents. ept it now and questionter."

    Avery gave her son onest look before linking arms with her husband again. Mishta appeared beside them, informing them that the ceremony would begin soon. She gathered and lined up the entourage at the lobbyRichard at the front as the best man.

    (A/N: I rmend listening to any wedding song while reading.)

    The doors opened to the venue split into two by the carpet. Heads turned in anticipation when they heard them open. Tables had been provided for everyone, leaving the ones for the entourage empty. They had a set of chairs waiting for them on either side of the stairs.

    Each table setting had a centerpiece of peonies, cloth in the color cream and cutlery in gold.

    M sat in front of the piano. She smiled towards the entrance, waiting for a signal.

    The assistant photographer roamed near the stairs in order to take photos of everyone walking down the aisle. For a second, he snapped photos of the orchestra and the seated guests. The videographer beside him panned the camera across the room.

    Ambryan had his arm intertwined with his mother. Behind them, Madame Isabelle and Jackson Hathaway formed the pair meant for the mother of the bride and the father of the groom. The four of them walked after the groomsmen.

    They stopped at the tform prepared at the base of the stairs.

    Madison led the party of sponsors. The aisle soon emptied again.

    People near the walls wondered why the walk had been interrupted. They craned their necks searching for the group that should be walking by now but found noneUntil they stood up and caught a glimpse of two furballs.

    Kiri and Blueberry headed for the tform, tiny pillows tied around their neck like bowties. Each pillow had one wedding ring. Kiri had the pastel pink pillow and the ring meant for Eve. Meanwhile, Blueberry had the blue pillow with the ring for Ambryan to wear.

    "Meow," Kiri purred, winning the crowd. Blueberry refused to do the same so she rubbed her head under his chin. "Meow, meow~"

    Rose and Cale walked down the aisle next. They both carried small bouquets while joined at the elbows. A few meters behind them, Andie made her entrance. Jarrett apanied her due to her pregnancy. The doors had closed as soon as they stepped inside.

    Outside the building, the bridal car appeared. Nanzie opened the backseat door and two little girls climbed out of the car. Ede and Eri flinched when cameras shed at their eyes. They held tightly on their flower baskets and followed Alecia to the entrance.

    Then, a white shoe emerged from the backseat.

    The veiled bride had finally arrived.

    Miniscule gemstones decorated her ivory wedding dress. They formed a pattern of sparklers as bright as any star. The mesh fabric of her bodice extended to her shoulders, creating an illusion with the gemstones. Her gloved hands held a bouquet of white roses and pink hydrangeas.

    Two braids pulled her scarlet hair back, knotting into a bun at the base of her head.

    A tiara of pink diamonds sat on her scalp. The tip made a point under the veil.

    More security blocked the paparazzi and bystanders that tried to get a closer look. Eve gave a wave to her left. Then, she did the same to her right. Cheers and squeals came from her supporters who wanted to have a glimpse of the wedding.

    Mishta guided her up the front stairs while Wen and Nanzie held the train of her skirt.

    The lobby was empty except for security personnel and the twins waiting by the doors. They watched as their older sister approached the main venue. Their cinnamon hair was up in a ponytail along with a giant bow. Silk ribbons invender and pink wrapped around their waists, tying into a bow behind thema perfect match to the ones in their hair.

    M changed the music. This time, the rest of the small orchestra joined her.

    The doors slowly opened once more. Everyone stood up to greet the bride. All three sisters walked inside together, Eri and Ede two steps ahead of Eve. They rained the carpet in pink and white petals for their sister to walk on.

    Eve smiled at her sisters.

    Then, her brown eyes met violet ones waiting for her at the podium.

    They had rehearsed this scene several times. It wasn''t until now did she feel tears well up in her eyes. It was crazy. How could this man turn out to be the one she''d spend the rest of her days with? How could he have turned out to be her long lost friend?

    A year ago, she mostly saw his back.

    Now, he always faces her wherever she may be.

    Eve smiled through her watery eyes. Ambryan returned it as if he could see her tears through her veil. The twinkling lights that hung on the ceiling seemed to dance around them. Ambryan had taken a half-step forward but Richard caught him in time.

    When the bride finally reached the tform, the twins along with the parents bid their blessings to the couple. Ambryan held out his hand to Eve which she dly epted. Together, they climbed hand in hand up the grand staircase where the pastor waited on thending.

    The doors officially closed for the ceremony.

    "Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today to join this man and this woman in holy matrimony," the pastor spoke into the microphone. "If anyone can show just cause why this couple cannotwfully be joined together in matrimony, let them speak now or forever hold their peace."

    .

    .

    .

    .

    .

    .

    .

    .

    .

    .

    The doors rattled with a bang.

    Collective gasps turned towards it. Eve nced over her shoulder while Ambryan scowled in the same direction. Murmurs erupted in the room. Who could this be? Theories hurled out of the mouths as if they had waited for this moment.

    Mishta tiptoed to the doors and peeked outside.

    Elias was on his knees, rubbing his forehead. He hade from a photoshoot that had taken longer than he wanted. Since he waste, he dashed through the lobby and slipped on the floor. His head dived headfirst against the closed doors. A small bump grew on his hairline.

    Letting him in, Mishta bowed her head to the crowd and the pastor. Elias stepped inside. His head snapped up when he heard them gasp. It took him a second to feel unwee. He cleared his throat and raised his camera.

    Then, he ducked his head and disappeared to the shadows.

    "Well, then" the pastor said, gaining everyone''s attention. "May I please have the rings?"

    Two felines walked up the stairs. Andie, who had stayed on Eve''s side on thending, reached for the bride''s bouquet to get it out of the way. Richard stood at the other end. Ambryan picked up Kiri for Eve''s ring. They had picked identical gold bands that twist at the top with encrusted diamonds.

    He eventually let Kiri go and reached for his bride''s hand. Pulling off her glove, he recited his vows. "Do you, Everlee Hart, with this ring, take me to be your husband, to have and to hold from this day forward for better or for worse, for richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish until death do us part?"

    Eve beamed from ear to ear. Her heart backflipped when Ambryan looked up to meet her eyes.

    Why did he have to be this good looking?

    "I do," she managed to say.

    Ambryan slipped the ring on her finger and kissed the back of her hand. She melted right then and there. How could this man be real? How was he the same person who refusedmitment? It was like a dream.

    And she never wanted to wake up.

    He gripped her hand tighter, his thumb brushing the back of her fingers. "Eve, I never desired to marry. You know this very well. But, the thought did linger in the back of my mind. I know my parents would want it. I know close friends also hoped for it. I figured it was something I did need to do someday."

    "And that day finally came today." He paused. His violet eyes stared right through her. "I couldn''t be happier that it is with you. No one can make me feel the way you do. No one can convince me to have fun every now and then the way you do."

    "Lastly." Ambryan exhaled sharply. "No one can love me the way you do. You''ve seen every side there is to me and I''m grateful that you still chose to stay. You''re my evening star when times are dark. I promise to make you as happy as I can, supporting you every step of the way."

    He stepped closer and leaned down until their foreheads touched. "I love you, Eve. And I know I always will. Thank you for making me the luckiest man alive today."

    The pastor smiled and tilted his head sideways. It wasn''t how they rehearsed it but who cared? Spontaneous ideas conveyed better sincerity than scripted ones. The crowd sent their silent blessings to the couple. Their chest had squeezed from the sweetness.

    And that was only one out of two speeches/

    "Meow, meow~" Kiri cheered, making everyone chuckle.

    With a sniff, Eve picked up Blueberry to take Ambryan''s ring.

 Chapter 349: SS3 06: Honored Guests, Enjoy Thy (Dog) Food

    Chapter 349: SS3 06: Honored Guests, Enjoy Thy (Dog) Food

    "Do you, Ambryan Hathaway, with this ring, take me to be your wife, to have and to hold from this day forward for better or for worse, for richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish until death do us part?"

    Eve waited for him to answer before slipping the ring onto his finger.

    Ambryan tilted her chin up for their eyes to meet. "I do."

    Hiding her blush, Eve cleared her throat and recalled her speech. "Ambee, when I met you six years ago, I thought you had to be the coldest person I know. I could never share things with you outside of work. I had to maintain my distance physically, mentally and emotionally..."

    "Now...," she trailed off. It was toote to try. The tears in her eyes had dripped down to her cheeks. "Now, I can''t imagine a day without talking to you. You''re the first person I think about in the morning. You''re thest person I talk to before going to sleep."

    Ambryan felt his heart squeeze. He raised his right hand to her cheek and wiped the tear away through the veil. Every word she spoke aimed at his chest. Her affection never failed to stir up his insides.

    How did he even manage to win the heart of this woman? Why would she be willing to marry a workaholic? His schedule was never certain. In case of an emergency, he''d leave without prior notice. They were bound to have little time together...

    It sounded like a lonely life to his ears.

    "I can always be myself around you,forted that you''d be there like a nket and a cup of hot chocte on a winter day." Eve used both hands to squeeze his left one. "I love you in ways more than I can express in words. From this day forward, I will be the secretary of every aspect of your life. I promise to give you a loving home to return to, especially on hard days."

    Just when he couldn''t fall more than he had so far, she broke the floor underneath his feet.

    Ambryan yanked her into his arms.

    "Don''t be shameless. It''s not time to kiss the bride yet!"

    Laughs, giggles and chuckles came from the crowd. Eve also joined them. She used this time to wipe the rest of her tears. Ambryan hugged her closer, propping his chin on the top of her head. Andie and Richard exchanged looks.

    For a couple that wanted a private ceremony, their best friends sure love their PDA.

    The pastor bowed his head briefly before addressing everyone once again. "By the power vested in me by the higher power that exists in this world, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may now kiss the bride."

    At this, Ambryan had to pull back. He lifted the veil off his bride''s face. Her makeup was perfect despite her cries. The tiara on her head glittered under the lights. He cupped both of her cheeks before leaning down for a kiss.

    "Woohoo!" Richard cheered and fist-pumped the air.

    "Ladies and Gentlemen, please wee Mr. and Mrs. Hathaway."

    The crowd rose to their feet for apuse and cheers. Andie would have pped the loudest if it weren''t for the bouquets she held. Kiri swept her tail faster from the excitement. Avery covered her mouth and her nose with her hands and tissues. Jackson squeezed her shoulder infort.

    Madame Isabelle smiled fondly. Madison nced up the ceiling as if someone was watching. Cale cheered louder when the kiss continued. Rose pped harder beside him. Eri and Ede had stood up on the chairs, tossing flower petals towards the staircase.

    Luna nudged Mikael''s side. "Don''t make me wait too long for your wedding, okay?"

    He merely rolled his eyes.

    Jordan peeked behind Mikael, telling her, "It might not be that long. He''s been texting the same girl everyday. If that doesn''t tell me he has fallen for her, I don''t know what."

    "Would you both not talk about my love life? It''s not my special day today."

    M resumed ying the piano as Elias positioned near her. The orchestra soon followed when their cues came. Without looking, her voice spoke above the music, "You have impable timing. Everyone thought you came to stop the wedding."

    Elias snorted, changing angles for the photos. "If I did that, I wouldn''t get paid."

    She chuckled and shook her head.

    "Then, it would take longer to save for our wedding."

    People flinched when the piano yed the wrong keys. M ducked her head before they could see her face. The rest of the orchestra also looked in her direction. She was not one to mess up easily. What could have caused her to be that startled?

    "What''s wrong?" Elias teased. "Don''t want to get married?"

    Taking a deep breath, M squared her shoulders and restarted the piece. "It''s not that."

    "Then, is that a ''yes''?"

    Ushers escorted the entourage to their respective seats. A group of them also converted the tform with a pink and gold loveseat and a table. Andie returned the bridal bouquet. Then, she and Richard climbed down first to join the rest.

    Ambryan stayed a few steps ahead of Eve when it was their turn. Another round of apuse came from their guests. Eve was tempted to pull the veil down again and conceal her face. She felt much safer that way.

    Unfortunately, her husband didn''t share the same sentiments.

    When they reached thest steps, Ambryan stole a peck from her lips. She pped his arms in an instant. Eve realized her mistake as soon as she did it. The guestsughed at their little exchange, causing Eve to blush more.

    Oh, this was going to be a long day.

    The sound of a knife hitting a wine ss echoed around the room.

    Richard stood on his seat, raising his drink for a toast. "May I please be the first to say this on a microphone... Congrattions to the happy couple!"

    He paused as people supported his statement. "Anyone who knows Yan will know how true his wedding vow is. He found the idea of marriage unnecessary. It was something he couldn''t picture in his life. Therefore, whatever anyone said, he stood by his principles."

    "Now, for those that think they know Yan very well," Richard began to say. "Unless you know how his head turns for every redheaded female he sees then I''m sorry. You don''t know him that well. Why? Up until the couple started dating, I thought Yan had a fetish he wouldn''t admit. He would stare at their faces intently. I didn''t want to doubt him but I always end up debating whether to warn the girls or not."

    Eve leaned back on the couch, crossing her arms over her chest. She pressed her lips and checked on Ambyran. Thetter red daggers at his best man.

    Richard shifted this attention towards the couple, ignoring his best friend''s sour face. He ced a hand over his chest. "That said, I would like to thank Eve for enlightening me on this situation. It''s not everyday that a person has their first love as their true love. His heart has been yours long before anyone could try to steal it. I would want nothing more than for you to keep my best friend happy."

    "Because I definitely like him better when he''s in a good mood," Richard added after another pause. "I''m sure his employees would agree with me too."

    Eveughed out loud. It immediately caught Ambryan''s attention. He raised an eyebrow.

    She patted his back. "You know it''s true. Happy boss means a happy work life."

    "Congrattions again on your wedding." Richard raised his ss higher.

    Andie rose to her feet next. Sparkling water filled her ss. "To Ambryan and Everlee."

    "To Ambryan and Everlee!" The crowd repeated.

    "I wouldn''t say Eve never thought about marriage," Andie said. "But it was always at the bottom of her priorities. Her top one was always how to please her boss. If we all had known things would end this way then, we could have had the wedding much sooner.

    "I remember Eve in their first days of dating. She was always anxious. Always worried. She thought her uninterested attitude would be able to drive him away. Well, we can all guess that it was actually the opposite that happened."

    It was Eve''s turn to re at her best friend.

    Andie chuckled. "On behalf of everyone, I would like to congratte you on how far you''vee. We''re all d that you have found each other. It only took 5 years of seeing each other a minimum of 5 days a week to make it happen.

    "If there is one thing you have gifted us, it''s that love does arrive at the right momentthat it would eventually find you. Thank you for proving to us that fairy tales could exist after all."

    She clinked sses with Richard.

    They both drank their beverages and the rest did the same thing.

    Meanwhile, Mishta positioned herself near the orchestra. She tested the microphone in her hand before speaking. "While the food is being served, may I please ask the parents and the couple to move to the dance floor?"

    Avery and Jackson did as they were told.

    Eve and Ambryan soon followed.

    Jackson offered his hand to his new daughter-inw. "May I please have this dance? I''m sure Ambryan would enjoy listening to me brag about how I''m your first dance tonight."

    "With pleasure, Mr. Hathaway," Eve replied, epting the gesture.

    He pulled his hand out of reach. "Please. Mr. Hathaway is the chairman of Eros Productions. You''re no longer an employee there and neither are you a stranger to our family. Please call me something different."

    Eve curled her bottom lip inward and bit on it. "Uncle Jackson?"

    "That makes me sound like an old man."

    "You are an old man," Ambryan interrupted. His mother pinched his side.

    Jackson returned his focus on Eve. "Try again."

    "Um" she hummed, her heart racing and her cheeks flushing red. "DaDa-Dad"

 Chapter 350: SS3 07: Honored Guests, May We Have This Dance?

    Chapter 350: SS3 07: Honored Guests, May We Have This Dance?

    "DaDa-Dad" Eve choked on her own spit. Why was this harder than it seemed?

    "You don''t have to listen to him," Ambryan whispered in her ear. He ced a hand in the middle on her back to assure her. "I know I wouldn''t if he asked me to divorce you. There''s no use to stress over something nonsensical."

    Jackson red in his son''s direction, his teal eyes glinting. "Now, now. Don''t say that kind of thing. People might think I''m against having Eve as my daughter-inw. If I really had it my way, I''d want her back in thepany. You were supposed to promote her too."

    Avery giggled lightly. "Well, you can still give her special rights to run thepany if Ambryan is overloaded. I''m sure our son would like to have herpany better than you or Madison."

    "He would have to wait then," her husband huffed. He offered his hand to Eve once more and this time didn''t pull away. "Because I believe it''s my turn to have herpany for a little while."

    Eve gulped. She knew their itinerary like the back of her hand and knew this time woulde. Then, why hadn''t she prepared better? A bead of sweat trickled down the back of her neck. She began sending silent prayers, pleading that she wouldn''t step on his foot.

    Unlike her, Ambryan had no trouble in sweeping his mother off her feet. Avery had waited for this asion for a long time. It didn''t take much to please her. Not only was she dancing with her son in front of everyone but also they were dancing on his wedding day!

    She couldn''t be more happy.

    Their tardiness hadpletely slipped her mind.

    For now, at least.

    "Shall we?" Jackson asked as he ced his hand on Eve''s shoulder. "I know my son is an impressive dancer but he has years to go before he can get to my level."

    Eve smiled at that. Thement relieved some of the tension she felt. "What they say must be true then. Nothingpares to the original."

    A boisterousugh sounded throughout the hall. Jackson led the dance, starting it off slow by swaying side to side. "You, my dear, are born to be in the spotlight. I realize that now. Confining you to the office will only hold you back to your potential."

    "I''m ttered, Uncle Jackson."

    "Alright. If you''re not going to address me with a paternal nickname, at least, drop the ''uncle'' part." Their steps gradually extended to a wider space on the dance floor. "Avery might like you calling her ''aunt'' but that''s because she''s an old hag."

    "I heard that Jackson Bet!"

    "Just testing your hearing, dearest!"

    Eve suppressed her giggles. Ambryan had whispered in her mother''s ear which changed her expression. Maybe he really did know how to calm her down. She sighed and continued watching them converse. "I can only wish to be as affectionate as you two are when Ambryan and I be older."

    "Now, why would you doubt that?" Jackson knitted his brows, noticing the forlorn face she wore. "I know this might sound rude but is it because of your parents?"

    Averting her gaze, Eve met his worried eyes. It was a joyful asion. This wasn''t the time to have this conversation. "It''s alright, Jackson. And yes, that''s the reason but I don''t want to think about that today."

    "My lips are sealed."

    They danced in silence for a moment.

    "But, if it''s worth mentioning, I don''t think you have anything to fear," Jackson spoke. He cleared his throat, hesitation evident in his voice. "You and my son have a very supportive rtionship. You both think of each other. A selfless trait like that is enough proof that it won''t be the same."

    Eve gritted her teeth. She closed her eyes before looking up at him with a smile. "Thank you, Jackson. I might starting to you if I need rtionship advice."

    He chuckled. "I look forward to hearing what bastard thing my son has done."

    Soon, the song faded as it came to close.

    Then, the orchestra yed a new one.

    Ambryan led his mother towards his father and his wife. He spun her around. Eve moved out of the way so Jackson could catch Avery. Their handsnded perfectly in ce and they danced without a pause. They easily stole the spotlight.

    "Dance with me, dear wife?"

    Eve turned around to find Ambryan bowed at the waist. He held out his hand for her to take.

    "It would be my pleasure, dearest hubby." She giggled and epted the offer. Ambryan straightened his spine and used his free hand to hold her waist. He pulled her closer, leaving as little space as possible between them.

    If smiles could blind someone, they would have blinded the entire room. Their dance focused on the middle of the dance floor and away from the other couple. Thetter was like a orbiting around the sun.

    "What did you tell your mother so she wouldn''t strangle your father?"

    "I told her that she''d be the first to hold her grandchild."

    "..." Eve felt her cheeks grow hot. "Don''t say it like that! It sounds like a lot of pressure."

    Ambryan blinked and raised his eyebrows. "Oh. I''m sorry. You don''t have to bear a child. I''d still be happy to have only the two of us. But, if you do, you can decide on when we can try. I''ll keep anyone who is impatient at bay."

    She pouted. That was supposed to be a joke. "You know I want children."

    "I wouldn''t if it meant peopleing by our house all the time."

    "Speaking of houses, when will I get to see this secret house of yours?"

    A boyish grin spread across Ambryan''s face. "Soon enough."

    "So secretive." She tsked.

    "Only on certain times."

    Mishta watched the two couples dance. She had witnessed many weddings and this had to be a rare urrence. People who really immerse themselves to the asion always filled her heart with joy. It made all the nning that more special.

    She raised the microphone to her lips. "Others may now join the dance floor if they wish."

    Rose leaned her shoulder against a wall, sipping her ss of champagne. Her cinnamon eyes scanned the area. Several people had taken the invitation and headed for the dance floor. One of the tables near the center was almost empty because of this

    until only one person remained.

    She drained the rest of her drink and left it where a server could easily spot it. She made her way to the table in her line of sight. A head of waxed brown hair with blonde highlights faced away from her. The suit he wore entuated his broad shoulders.

    Although uninterested in dancing, the person watched the dance floor intently. Rose sat on the chair behind and scooched it over. She hovered near his ear. "Mind dancing with me, mister?"

    Mikael jumped in his seat. His head whirled around with wide eyes. "I''d rather go insane than do something like that."

    Rose pursed her lips. "Well, if you just give it a chance, you might be crazy over me."

    "Thank you but I refuse the offer." He turned back around, prepared to ignore her for the rest of the evening. His temple throbbed just from their conversation. He had done his best to avoid her all day. If she wasn''t Eve''s friend, he would have been ruder to her.

    "What''s there to fuss about? We already kissed."

    "That was a stolen kiss!"

    "Aw, how cute." Rose covered her mouth. "It''s like talking to a teenage virgin."

    Mikael shut his eyes. Incoherent noise rumbled in his throat. This woman really loved to test his patience. He always debated whether to give on or to stay strong. There were plenty of men in the room. She could go bother someone else

    '' Someone else,'' he repeated in his head.

    Fast as lightning, he sent a message on his smartphone.

    "I see the two of you are getting closer and closer everyday," Cale joked. He had gone to the restroom and just came back. "That''s a relief. Mikael needs more female friends."

    "Cale!" Mikael eximed as he rose to his feet. "Dance with me."

    "What?"

    Without a second to lose, Mikael dragged Cale to the dance floor. Rose folded her arms over the backrest and propped her chin on top of them. A small smile tugged the corner of her lips. Mikael held Cale''s hands while they attempted a waltz.

    "Where''s Mikael?" A new voice spoke behind her.

    She pointed towards the dance floor. "Did he tell you to take me away?"

    Jordan snorted. "Yes, he did. I swear, he''s more immature than most people think."

    Silence filled the air between them.

    "Want to dance and trap him into dancing with me?" Rose suggested.

    "You bet I do."

    Back on the dance floor, Ambryan slowly led Eve to the edge. He let her shoulder go and squeezed her hand tighter. "Come on. I want to show you something."

    Eve scowled at his back, letting him lead her away. "Does this ce have the door to Narnia?"

    "No, but it''s close enough."

    They headed for the back where Eve snuck in during the Rainbow Launch party. The staff nodded their heads while they passed but chose not to say anything. Eve looked around, hoping for a hint. What was there to see in this building? It was in the middle of downtown without any greenery.

    Then, the city air hit her lungs.

    Wen waited by the car.

    "What''s going on...?" Eve trailed off. The bodyguard opened the door to the passenger seat and gesture for her to climb inside. "Where are we going?"

    Ambryan smirked. "You''ll see."

 Chapter 351: SS3 08: The Escape to Narnia

    Chapter 351: SS3 08: The Escape to Narnia

    When Eve got inside the car, a surge of panic squeezed her chest. The reception was far from over. There were still things to do such as the bouquet toss, the games, the garterwhich she didn''t mind missingand more. Although most of the guests might not mind an early, handful of people would and they had the ability to make her guilty about it.

    But, when the building faded away and they drove out of Maize City, those fears melted away.

    Eve eventually figured out that it must be because she had left her phone so no one was calling or messaging her about the party. At least, she didn''t receive any of them.

    She peeled her eyes off the window and peeked at her husband.

    Unlike her, Ambryan seemed calm. It was hard to tell if the serene expression was genuine or for show. His gaze stayed on the road but his rxed posture implied how familiar he was about these roads. It had to be somewhere he had gone before.

    A secret hiding ce, perhaps?

    "Will you tell me where we''re going now?" Eve asked. They already passed the outskirts of the city. Wasn''t this good enough for him to reveal their destination? "If we''re really about to go on our honeymoon, can we please go somece where I can change first?"

    Ambryan smirked without looking in her direction. "Sure."

    He didn''t say anything more than that. Eve crossed her arms over chest and exhaled sharply. He hadn''t denied what she said so it must be true. Whatever. If anyone tried to scold her, she''d point the me towards him.

    She waited for him to fulfill her request.

    What she received was far better than her expectations.

    A few kilometers from Maize City was arge gate. Neither of them spoke nor did anyone get out of the car. Eve searched for clues to their location. Then, the gates parted open for them.

    They closed again once they managed to cross.

    Empty lots surrounded them from both sides. Every now and then, either a house or a construction site popped up. Eve guessed they had entered a developing subdivision. It was far out from the city so the wide space made sense.

    But why were they here?

    The vehicle reached a small hill where they found another gate. Ambryan reached into his inner breast pocket and fished out a small remote control. He pressed a button, aiming the device through the windshield. The lock sounded as the gates opened for the car to pass through.

    Eve sat up straighter, one hand on the door and the other on the dashboard. She ducked her head to see further into the horizon. A modern house slowly emerged in her line of sight. She counted two floors apart from the small shed on the rooftop.

    Despite its size, it had a minimalistic design. Neutral colors painted the exterior walls.

    A garage had been built as part of the house. Ambryan headed for it straight away, turning off the engine once he parked the car. He climbed out of his seat and helped Eve. Her brown eyes darted in different directions as she took it all in.

    "Is this what I think it is?" She breathed out.

    Ambryan grabbed her hand and led her to the servant''s entrance. "What do you think?"

    He switched the light on as soon as she stepped foot inside. The door had led them to a state of the art kitchen. It had to be the size of his bedroom up at the penthouse. Her heels echoed around the empty space. She began to explore the ce, not minding if Ambyran let go.

    But he didn''t.

    Instead, he let her lead him around the house.

    "This is your house, isn''t it?" Eve questioned.

    She was 99% sure it was his residential home. It had his personality written all over it. For instance, the ck furniture and marble countertopsboth things that made cleaning easier. There also wasn''t a carpet in sight nor were there photo frames and trinkets on the walls.

    Ambryan sighed disappointedly. He stepped closer and wrapped his arms around her shoulders. He propped his chin on the top of her head. "And here I thought you''re smarter than that."

    "Please don''t tell me we broke into someone''s house"

    "It''s our house, Eve. OUR house."

    "..." Eve pressed her lips together and gulped. Her hand reached for his wrist. They stood in front of the living room with their only light sourceing from the kitchen. "You know that''s what I meant."

    "Mm," Ambryan pressed his lips together. He kissed her hair and gradually moved down the side of her head, biting her ear. "But you need to start getting used to it. We''ll be living here when wee back. It''s a little far but it has its perks."

    He forced her to face him. Her brown eyes trembled as she looked up into his deep violet ones. He cupped her cheek and ensnared her waist. His husky breath brushed her face. "For instance, there isn''t anyone around to hear us. Not unless we scream loudly enough."

    Eve hadn''t realized she fell into a daze until his lips descended to capture hers.

    She gasped and Ambryan seized the chance to deepen the kiss. He guided her backwards until her legs hit the edge of the sofa. Nowhere else to run, Ambryan pulled her hips closer. Heat bundled inside his lower abdomen.

    Then, his lips explored lower, tracing the neckline of her dress. He also moved his hands to the sides of her chest. He hooked his thumbs along the edges of the neckline, gently peeling the fabric off her fair skin.

    Eve shivered as cold air caressed her exposed chest.

    Her head hung backwards at once when Ambryan began fondling her there. He lifted her up so she could sit on the amrest. Little did she know, it wasn''t for herfort. Ambryan had used it to move closer until he was between her thighs.

    His hands on her back, he gained better ess to two beautiful mounds.

    Whatever the evening had in store for him was interrupted by loud ringing. The telephone on the small side table beside him relentlessly irritated his ears. Ambryan chose to ignore it and pinched his wife.

    Eve hitched her breath and grabbed onto his shoulders. Her eyes remained closed. The more Ambryan pressed his face onto her chest, the more she leaned back until her feet hovered above the floor. Her grip on his shoulders tightened or she''d fall onto the cushions.

    The ringing soon faded into a beep.

    "AMBRYAN HATHAWAY, YOU BETTER GET BACK TO YOUR WEDDING PARTY THIS INSTANT!" Avery yelled over the phone. "Don''t even pretend you can''t hear me! I know you snuck into your residential home! That bride better be in clothes or my security team will have quite a sight to beheld"

    Without looking, Ambryan mmed his hand on the telephone. His face was still buried on his wife''s chest. "Who said telephone lines are useful? They''re clearly bothersome."

    A disheveled Eve chuckled. Her breaths came in and out in pants. The areas he touched still tingled from the sensation. "Why do you even have it if you''re hardly here?"

    "In case of emergency."

    She ran her hands through his hair. "You want me to unplug it?"

    "Then, mother will surely know we''re here." Ambryan clenched his hands into fists, groaning. It was quite the sight for Eve. It was likeforting a toddler.

    "So we escape to our honeymoon now?" She suggested.

    Ambryan propped his chin on the midline of her chest. Eve raised her eyebrows from the surprised expression he wore. "Dearest wife, I didn''t know you were so eager to consummate our marriage."

    Eve smirked right at his face. Their noses nearly touched. She whispered on his lips in response. "Hadn''t we already done thatst night?"

    "Really? I can''t remember. I must be getting old. I think I need help with such fond memories."

    He felt herugh under him. "Quite strong for someone old, dear hubby."

    "I''m sure that''s from pure desire."

    Eve grinned from ear to ear. They stayed like that for a moment, their foreheads touching. Her brown eyes hooded until she could spot his lips. They were much more tempting in the dark. Was it because they were harder to see? So she needed reassurance that they were there?

    As soon as she thought about it, Eve stopped herself from digging further.

    It sounded quite unhealthy...

    but when Ambryan closed the gap for a kiss, she had forgotten all about it.

    Headlights shed through the front windows. Ambryan grumbled profanities and helped his wife fix her dress. His mother really was unpredictable. He couldn''t guess which moments she''d be on his side and which moments she''d be against it.

    This was his wedding day. Why couldn''t he have what he wanted? He had done everything to please everyone for this special day. All he wanted was alone time with his wife. Since the ceremony was over, couldn''t they let him have her to himself for the rest of the night, at least?

    Sensing Ambryan was lost in his thoughts, Eve touched him where he''d reacted from the most.

    He jumped, startled by her boldness. Eve wrapped her arms around her stomach. She bent overughing from his reaction. His violet eyes drilled into the back of her head but she didn''t care. It was tiny sufferingpared to what he would face for the next few hours.

    "Is it that funny?" Ambryan muttered.

    Eve wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes. Knocks came from every entrance the house contained. She gazed downwards to assess his situation. Her hand mped over her mouth. She swallowed down her giggles but her shoulders betrayed her.

    "Do you want to use my veil? I''m sure it will help conceal that from everyone."

 Chapter 352: SS3 09: The Glory of Traditions

    Chapter 352: SS3 09: The Glory of Traditions

    "Well, well, look who''s back," Richard said in his seat before taking a sip of champagne.

    On top of the grand staircase, Ambryan and Eve made their way down to their designated seats. Avery had instructed Eve to change to her reception dress so it would cover up their absence. It was a good thing they served food before they had left, managing to distract the guests.

    The small pins on Eve''s small hair bun were taken out. Her wavy scarlet hair fell to her upper back. Her reception dress had almost the same neckline as her wedding gown. Beaded metallic ribbon decorated the bodice down to the red skirt that reached the floorall done in periwinkle color.

    It was almost a shame she would only wear it once.

    Ambryan and her parted ways behind the sofa so they''d walked around on either side. They shed smiles at each other''s face, acting too engrossed with each other. Their handsced together once again when they sat down.

    All of it was ording to someone''s wordsa PR expert skilled enough to divert the crowd into the right direction, allowing them toe up with safer conclusions than what actually happened.

    Jordan shook his head beside Richard. "They couldn''t wait for the honeymoon, huh?"

    "Heard they also left their phones," Mikael added. "So they probably didn''t n to bolt just yet."

    "Just a quickie then?"

    Rose leaned over the back of her chair. Their tables were actually beside one another. Directly behind her was Jordan. Her voice spoke loud enough for those nearby to hear. "You need to be clearer, Jordan. I don''t think Mikael knows what that is."

    Cale covered up his snort. He drank from his water ss.

    He may or may not have had too much to drink.

    Mikael gave Rose a deadpan expression. "Stop or I get a restraining order."

    Her brows shot up. "So you really don''t know what a quickie is?"

    "I know what it is!" He sneered back.

    Jordan whistled at the exchange. "Do you now, Mikael? Has my little boy grown up?"

    Radiant blue eyes red in response. "I''m not your little boy."

    "He''s a tough one, Rose." Andieughed from her side of the table. She and Jarrett enjoyed their time mostly by themselves, talking about wedding details at times. They nned for a small scale but appreciated a few things about the current wedding.

    Surprisingly, the majority of the guests were still around.

    Rose beamed at her friend. "That''s what makes him more special."

    "I can hear you, you know."

    "May I have your attention please?" Mishta asked from the podium stand near the orchestra. "I would like to invite the newlyweds to cut their cake. For everyone''s information, it''s a fiveyer moist chocte cake with soft vani frosting. The couple chose to decorate it with edible red roses and pink hydrangeas in memory of the first bouquet given by the groom to the bride."

    "Aw," Cale gushed. "I remember that day. The flowers were gorgeous."

    Jarrett tilted his head to one side. "What an odd choice to make. Wasn''t that also the time they thought Mikael had given her those flowers and present box?"

    "You''re right!"

    The couple of the evening seemed to have forgotten about that incident. The servers rolled out the cake on a push cart. Ambryan and Eve stood up, heading towards it. Everyone waited in anticipation as the servers grabbed the top tier and set it down for the newlyweds.

    Ambryan and Eve held the same knife together, counting to three in whispers.

    Mishta watched from her spot. "They said the bigger the piece you feed your partner, the bigger is your love for them. I wonder who loves who more?"

    Eve lifted the small te and jokingly stabbed the whole piece they sliced. It fell apart when she raised it to her husband''s lips. A small chunk was left on the fork which she fed to him. Bemused, Ambryan copied her method but since the slice had broken apart, he easily managed a bigger piece to feed his wife.

    "Ambee!" Eve exasperated.

    He grinned as he chewed on his cake piece. "This is my love for you, dearest wife. You''re not going to reject it, are you? Because it''s toote."

    Eve nearly choked when she bit the whole thing. It filled her mouth, barely letting her close her lips. She mped down her teeth ang gobbled it up as fast as she could. Ambryan helped her brush off the loose hair strands from her face.

    When they finished eating, a round of apuse came from their guests.

    "The dance floor is now open to everyone who''d like to join the bouquet toss."

    "Wish me luck, guys," Cale said, rising to his feet.

    He grabbed Rose along the way and dragged her with him to the dance floor. Eve stood in front of the loveseat, bouquet in hand. She waited for everyone to gather around before spinning on her heel. Chants in her head reminded her to toss lightly.

    If it''s too hard, it could cause an ident.

    And no one wanted that to happen.

    "Ready?" She shouted over her shoulder. As they responded, she turned her head back around and threw the bouquet above her head. Yelps of surprise came from the crowd. Fingertips brushed the petals before the flowers officiallynded on someone''s hands.

    Andie covered her mouth.

    Mishta joined the group and escorted the lucky winner to the tform. "I''d usually ask for the name but I already know yours. Give it up for the luckydy tonight, everyone! Ms. Rose Taylor!"

    Rose waved at the audience, raising the bouquet for everyone to see. Her enthusiasm easily won them over. Eve pped as she sat down beside Ambryan. A fit ofughter flowed out of her mouth.

    Oh, this had to be good.

    "Now, would the groom please take off his wife''s garter? Only using your teeth, of course."

    Not a moment to lose, Ambryan pulled up Eve''s legs on the couch. Her brown eyes bulged out of their sockets. The skirt of her gown was fitted near the hips and thighs. With little space, it was easy to see the bump of Ambryan''s head when he went in.

    Eve faced away from the crowd, hiding her immense blush.

    It didn''t help that Ambryan bit her as he came closer to the blue garter.

    She felt a kiss on her thigh before Ambryan yanked the garment with his teeth. He pulled back in one smooth motion, straightening his wife''s leg for faster results. He looked up as soon as he was done and made eye contact with Eve.

    Ambryan grinned cheekily.

    "Today, I had the privilege to witness that CEO, Ambryan Hathaway, get things done fast," Mishta joked. "First hand experience of the infamous ims people made about him. May we please have the single men take over the dance floor?"

    Jordan mped his hand on Mikael before thetter could escape. Richard snatched Mikael on the other side. They marched to the dance floor until they were surrounded by other men. Mikael glowered the whole time. He made the mistake of looking at Rose.

    She merely smirked and blew him a kiss.

    Oh, this had to be the worst.

    Ambryan stood up and twirled the garter around his finger. Eve buried her face in her hands. Who knew he''d act this way in public someday? Did he have too much to drink? This was beyond what she could take.

    "Normally," Ambryan began to say. "I wouldn''t want any man to touch my wife''s undergarments."

    His words received a couple ofughs.

    "This has to be the only exception. As per my mother''s request, I will give this to one lucky gentleman," he continued, raising the garter higher. "And who would that be? Let''s find out."

    He flicked the garter towards the dance floor. Itnded smack right into someone''s face. An angry hand wiped it off but it was toote. Mishta called him up to the stage. Congrattory pats came from the others as he forced his legs to move.

    A smirking Rose greeted him when he made it up the tform.

    "And they say that fate doesn''t have a sense of humor," she told Mikael. "Yet, here we are."

    "Nothing is amusing about this," Mikael retorted.

    "So I should take fate seriously?" Rose gasped. Then, she ced a hand over her chest. Her eyes widened by a fraction. "Are we meant to be?"

    Mikael scowled. "I''d rather eat raw bitter melons."

    Ambryan and Eve guided Rose to the loveseat. They stood at the side while she and Mikael took the center of attention. Ambryan embraced Eve from behind. For once, it was their time to enjoy the show rather than be in it.

    Mishta cleared her throat. "I believe most people know whates next. The lucky gentleman now has to slip the garter up the luckydy''s leg. And he can''t stop until the audience says so."

    Rose pressed her lips together, Mikael kneeling in front of her. Since he had his back to the guests, only she could see the blush in his cheeks. This man couldn''t be more adorable. He acted tough but he had the innocence of a young boy.

    This man had so many sides to him.

    And he never failed to make her more curious.

    She leaned down so only he''d hear her. "I''m wearing a long gown so you only have to pretend. I''ll react so they''d think you reached high enough. Pull up every once in a while too."

    His radiant blue eyes squinted in suspicion. "And why would you do that?"

    "I like teasing you, Mikael, but I won''t force you to do something you clearly don''t want to do." Rose snorted. She took off the shoe for her right foot and extended her leg.

    "Could have fooled me," Mikael muttered, slipping the garter to her ankle. The chants behind him could barely reach his ears. The opposite effect her voice had on him.

    "Trust met. There''s a lot of things about me that you don''t know."

 Chapter 353: SS3 10: Where the Author Died. RIP.

    Chapter 353: SS3 10: Where the Author Died. RIP.

    <em>Author''s Note: This is a fair warning to underaged readers because this chapterincludes sensitive sensual scenes. To those of legal age,don''t get your hopes up too much :P</em>

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    <em>=====</em>

    <em></em>

    "Wishing you both love and happiness, Ambryan and Eve!"

    "It was a lovely wedding. Thank you for the invitation."

    "Congrattions on your marriage! Best of luck on your future together!"

    "Remember to invite us over once you have a little one."

    "Please enjoy our gift. I think it will be a lovely addition to your kitchen!"

    Eve lost count and faces as the guests left. Her cheeks hurt from smiling. Despite not knowing everyone by heart, she appreciated their well wishes. Ambryan fared better than her and managed to strike a small conversation here and there.

    "Huh," she spoke to herself.

    Ambryan raised an eyebrow. "What is it?"

    Clicking her tongue, Eve crossed her arms over her chest. "I''ve gone rusty since quitting. I used to remember every business partner you have and if they had romantic rtionships or children. It has to be because I''m getting old."

    "Very funny."

    "Oh." She blinked, meeting his violet eyes. A cheeky grin stretched her lips. "You know you''re an exception, dear hubby. You don''t look older than 29."

    "I am 29."

    "See? I told you."

    Ambryan shook his head and pulled her closer to his side. Thest of the guests had finally left the venue. All that was left was to clean up. The couple turned on their heels, heading back inside. Their wedding entourage had stayed behind along with them.

    Like a private after party.

    "Well" Avery said as she met them halfway. Her hands went to her hips. "The wedding party was a sess! Congrattions for not totally screwing it up but you still owe me an exnation for your tardiness."

    Eve pressed her lips together. She hadn''t figured out how to approach this moment yet.

    "We woke upte." Her excuse sounded bad even to her ears.

    As such, the madam thought the same way. Her violet eyes hardened like jewels. "Aren''t the two of you not supposed to see each other the night before the wedding? It''s bad luck!"

    She hadn''t asked them for much since she had them sign up for the dating website. Was it wrong of her to care so much about their wedding? It was a simple request even if neither believed in its superstition.

    This time, it was Ambryan who answered her. "We did exactly as you said, mother."

    Avery arched an eyebrow, higher and pointier than normal. "Oh, really?"

    "Enough of this wishy washy nonsense," Madame Isabelle interrupted. She appeared beside Avery and stomped her cane on the floor. "They got married yesterday."

    "You did what now?" The madam whirled her head back towards the newlyweds. Judging by Eve''s guilty face, it had to be true. Her mind went nk. She had prepared so much for their weddingonly to find out she missed the actual one?

    "Now, now. Don''t be too harsh on the kids," Madame Isabelle tried to coax her. "You know they both like to keep their affairs private so, of course, they had a private wedding. It wouldn''t be like them not to have one."

    "Hmph," Avery madam huffed. If they had wanted one, they could have told her. Would she have rejected the idea? If they expressed how much they desired it, she would have agreed to two weddings.

    She didn''t know what to feel anymore. On one hand, her blood boiled from the secrecy. It hurt to know that they hadn''t shared that moment with her. She had every right as a parent. On the other side, Madame Isabelle was right.

    The secret wedding did sound like something the newlyweds would do.

    Eve stepped forward and took her mother-inw''s hand. The madam met her brown eyes which drooped at the corners. "We''re sorry, Aunt Avery. It was definitely a spur of the moment thing."

    Avery remained silent before addressing Madame Isabelle. She neither pulled her hand back nor gripped Eve''s hand in return. "I''m guessing you were a witness to this?"

    Thetter shrugged, a hint of a smile on the corner of her lips. "Maybe."

    "Who is the other one then?" Avery wondered out loud. Before Eve could reply, another person joined their small group. She wore a wide grin like she overheard the entire conversation. It didn''t take long for the madam to piece it together.

    "Luna"

    "Private or not, Eve needed a proper dress." The famous designer shrugged as if the simple exnation was enough of a reason.

    "I can''t believe this," Avery breathed out. She massaged both her temples with one hand. Then, she sent an using re at her son and her daughter-inw. "And you even tried to sneak off for an early honeymoon!"

    "We are technically on our honeymoon," Ambryan reminded her.

    She pointed a finger at him. "Don''t take that tone with me."

    "Please don''t be mad," he coaxed, walking around her to hug her shoulders from behind. "I know how much you wanted this grand wedding so I didn''t want to ruin it for you. It was also my fault that we arrivedte. Don''t take it out on Eve."

    His chin rested on her shoulder.

    Avery turned her face away from him. "You think you can persuade me like that?"

    "You''re one of the most caring women I know. You''ll forgive us when you decide to." Ambryan kissed her throbbing temple. "I''m very grateful to have a mother like you."

    Luna nodded her approval. "Smooth, Ambryan."

    "Very smooth," Madame Isabelle agreed.

    A moment of silence surrounded the group.

    Eve watched, bemused, as her husband embraced his mother. It was quite a sight. Avery might hide it but Eve knew the madam enjoyed the affection. Maybe it was the alcohol but Ambryan had expressed himself more openly tonight.

    ''Elias better have taken good photos. I want to remember all of them.''

    "Okay, okay. Let go of me." Avery surrendered and pushed her son''s arms off. Then, she shooed him away along with his wife. "I''ll stay behind for the clean up. The two of you can go."

    "Are you sure about that?" Eve responded first.

    "Leave before I change my mind."

    "It''s okay. You don''t need to do this, Aunt Aver"

    "Thank you, mother," Ambryan cut her off. He seized her hand and ced one foot towards the exit. He used his free hand to wave at them onest time before the honeymoon vacation. "Good night,dies."

    "Enjoy yourselves, children." Luna smirked.

    The couple arrived at the same house they snuck into earlier. Unlike back then, Ambryan jogged over to the passenger''s seat and swept Eve off her feet as soon as she climbed out. He carried her like the bride she was towards the front doorthe house key ready in his hand.

    He kicked the door behind him when they entered the threshold.

    Eve let him carry her all the way upstairs without aint. It was an exhausting two days. One wedding was enough no matter how small or big. How could people manage more than that? A soft yawn flowed out of her lips.

    "Tired?" Ambryan asked, unlocking the door to their bedroom.

    "A little."

    The master bedroom illuminated under the moonlight. A king-sized bed waited for the couple. The minimalistic design matched Ambryan well. That was all the thoughts Eve had on the room before Ambryan tossed her on the bed.

    She rolled to her stomach, pressing a hand under her cheek and closing her eyes.

    Featherlight kisses traced her spine from her neck to her upper back. When the pair of lips reached her lower back, she felt the zipper slowly pull downwards. More kisses followed after it.

    "Hm," Ambryan hummed to himself. His hands slipped the thin straps off her shoulders. She moved her arms to help him out. "By any chance, do you have any idea how I should wake up my wife so I can spend the night with her?"

    Eve grinned mischievously, her eyes still closed. "I''m sure she''s willing to see you try."

    Ambryan shifted to the sides of her bodice and skirt, tugging the fabric towards her feet. Eve felt the night air on her exposed skin. She rolled onto her back and peeled her eyes open. Her husband stood at the foot of the bed while taking off his tie.

    She swung her legs to haul herself upwards.

    Her arms immediately went around his neck, yanking his head down for a deep kiss. Ambryan unbuttoned his dress shirt and shrugged it off. Then, he held his wife by the waist and guided her back on the bed.

    Eve gasped for air but didn''t break away. Instead, she helped him undo his belt and used her feet to push his trousers off. Her hand travelled from his back to his chest and down to his stomach. Before, he used to flinch in surprise.

    Now, he relished in her touch.

    But, before she could go lower, Ambryan cupped her mound.

    "Sneaky," she used under her breath.

    Ambryan merely smirked and slipped his finger between her folds. "Payback for earlier."

    Eve bit on his bottom lip. "I''ll get you soon enough."

    "What are you talking about? You already have me," she heard him say. "All of me."

    He moved to the sensitive spot on the side of her neck. Both of his lips and his finger moved in the same rhythm. Eve moaned and the sweet sound only encouraged her husband further. Heat built up inside of her and she craved for more.

    Her hands clutched onto his shoulders as he shifted to another sensitive spot.

    Just before she crumbled under him, Eve pushed Ambryan down to his back and straddled on top of him. She refused to let herself be the only one to suffer such sweet torture. Kissing his lips, she created a trail that led downwards.

    His breath hitched when she found his sensitive areas.

    It made her smile to know only she would be able to do that. Her heart drummed in her ears, adrenaline had fused with her lust. These shared intimate moments, his sensual breathing and his aroused state belonged to her alone.

    In return, she''d take care of him as best as she could.

 Chapter 354: SS4 01: The Honeymoon Couple Package

    Chapter 354: SS4 01: The Honeymoon Couple Package

    Eve snuggled her head on Ambryan''s shoulder. Eyes closed, her lips wore a small smile. Exhaustion weighed her down despite being conscious. A soft hum rose above the quiet atmosphere. The sound tempted her to go back to sleep.

    "Are you awake?" A deep voice whispered.

    "Not until I opened my eyes." Eve yawned, moaning as she exhaled..

    "We''rending soon."

    "Just carry me out of the ne," she mumbled.

    Ambryan chuckled. He set his red wine down and brushed his fingers through his wife''s hair. "I told you we should have skipped the wedding party. We could have found another ce to hide where mother couldn''t reach us."

    Eve snorted at his words. She tightened her grip around his torso. The scent of his cologne tickled her nose. "If that was true, we should have gone there in the first ce."

    "Well, I was curious if anyone would guess where we were."

    "And are you happy with the result?"

    "I have my share of regrets."

    A scowl appeared between her eyebrows. "What''s on the itinerary today again? Tell me that it''s lounging at the hotel. I don''t think I can move. Why is our honeymoon so full of activity anyway?"

    "Because you said it''s boring not to have activities." Ambryan traced her facial features, starting with the crease lines on her forehead. He smoothed them one by one until her frown rxed.

    "There goes my share of regrets." Eve yawned for a second time. Her husband continued his exploration. The lightest touch brushed her eyshes and trailed down her nose. She puckered up her lips to kiss his fingers.

    Their ne soonnded in New Zendthe country near the eastern edge of the map, if not the actual one. The day proceeded as Eve feared. After their hotel check-in, their tour guide had called to confirm their meetup at the lobby.

    They only had 3 days to stay.

    That meant 3 days to cram as much adventure as they could!

    Their first stop was at a local cafe. They obtained a table that overlooked theke. Eve ordered a hot cup of coffee. Electric energy surged her veins the moment the beverage hit her tongue.

    "This coffee tastes so good," she moaned, taking another sip.

    Ambryan drew out a tissue from the box of table napkins. He reached out to wipe off the milk foam on the corner of his wife''s lips. "Then, will you let me have a taste?"

    Eve blinked up at him. "You''re interested in coffee now?"

    The question died on her lips when Ambryan stole a kiss.

    He curled his own lips inward and licked them. "It is tasty."

    "... You''ve be more shameless now that we''re married."

    "I have to use it to my full advantage, of course."

    Since it was almost lunch, the couple had a quick brunch meal. They ordered poached eggs on potato breads for appetizers,mb burgers for the main course and sticky buns for desserts. A full stomach always left Eve drowsy.

    offee would only be enough to keep her brain awake but not her body.

    It was a good thing their first full stop after this would pump out the adrenaline in her.

    The tour guide drove them around town, pointing to tourist attractions and more food destinations. He did this to kill time and let their food digest. After all, the string of activities ahead could make someone puke.

    But it wasn''t like he''d let them starve until the end of the day.

    Soon, they reached a cliffside.

    Fresh air filled Eve''s lungs. It also felt cool to cheek from this height. A giant hut had been built along the edge of the cliff where a bridge connected it to the other side.The sound of running water could be heard nearby. Screams in different volumes echoed above it.

    "Mr. and Mrs. Hathaway" their tour guide said. He threw his arms out towards the giant hut. "Wee to the highest bungee jump in the world!"

    Was it toote to have regrets? Probably not.

    To this day, Eve wondered how she convinced Ambryan to try this.

    She sneaked a peek at him while the tour guide introduced a staff member. His face remainedposed and his violet eyes stayed calm. This right here this was exactly her reason for their trip to this ce.

    This had to faze Ambryan. No one was immune to the thrill of bungee jumping.

    Excitement bundled up inside Eve. She couldn''t wait to see more sides to her husband!

    They had moved closer to the cliff''s edge. They stood over a vast river and observed the people ahead of them in line. The ropes were tied to the harness around their hips. All of them jumped with their arms spread like an eagle.

    Eve didn''t find the activity intimidating at first nce. Not until she realized how long it took before the people reached bottom. Then, she saw how many times they ''jumped'' because of the rope. Their screams rang loud in her ears.

    Her blood ran cold.

    She''d be dead before she hit the first drop!

    "Who would like to go first?" The staff member encouraged.

    Eve wrapped her arms around her stomach, parting her lips open. "I think I ate too fast. I don''t think I can get through it. I''m sorry you brought us out here all this way."

    "Oh, Mrs. Hathaway" the tour guide sympathized. He shook his head infort. "It''s okay. We can adjust the itinerary and switch this time slot for another. I should have known better when I had taken you to the cafe."

    "Is it possible to switch?" Eve questioned. Her brown eyes drooped at the corners. "Most of it was booked through appointments. It might not be possible since it''sst minute."

    She flickered her gaze in Ambryan''s direction. "I''m sorry, Ambee. I thought I could do it."

    Ambryan knew this would happen but Eve had insisted. He came to the conclusion that she had to see it for herself before she changed her mind. If only she listened to him in the first ce, they would have saved time from the drive.

    "Come on." He grabbed her hand and stepped towards the car. "Let''s go."

    "No!" Eve protested.

    He nced back at her, his eyebrow raised. "You want to try it?"

    "No, I mean" Eve began to say. Then, she cleared her throat. She hade here for one goal and one goal only. She had endured a long flight for this and she was not about to leave empty-handed! "I mean, it would be a waste if neither of us try it out."

    Ambryan narrowed her gaze. "What are you trying to say?"

    "Do you also feel sick?"

    "I''m fine."

    "Then, give it a shot!" Eve nudged him. "At least, one of us could enjoy the experience on behalf of the other. Also! This way no one has wasted their time! It''s a win-win situation!"

    ''What win-win situation???'' Ambryan mulled over his head. He never nned to jump from the beginning. How was he supposed to get out of this? The thought soon left his mind.

    It was a ridiculous question.

    The answer was simple. He had to be firm

    "Please, Ambee?" Eve attempted again, trying her best for a puppy pout.

    When his wife stared at him like that Ambryan closed his eyes briefly. He covered his upper face with his hand, considering the idea. It both delighted and pained him that Eve liked to use her influence on him for things he didn''t particrly like.

    Except, that was part of the reason why she acted in such a way.

    His reluctance amused her.

    ''Oh, how I love this woman,'' he groaned silently, opening his eyes. He stomped towards the tour guide and the staff. "I have to wear a harness first, right?"

    Eve contained her squeal as she and Ambryan stood on the bridge. She checked her phone battery, happy to see it was still almost full. She had asked the tour guide for the best ce to film this experience. He suggested two spots, one for close up and one for a fuller shot.

    Thetter offered a more beautiful scenery but she also wanted the close up shot.

    In the end, the tour guide offered to film one for her and promised to send it.

    Ambryan listened to the instructions while the crew strapped him in. He chose to wear protective gear though they informed him that not everyone used them. This was the highest bungee jump experience in the world.

    He wasn''t taking any chances.

    "Oh, could you please take a picture of us before he jumps?" Eve asked a staff member.

    Ambryan frowned but stood still. Eve skipped over to his side and hugged him around the waist. "Have I ever told you that you are the best husband anyone could ever have?"

    "From what I''ve been told, most women say that when their husbands give them their favorite things or do favors on their behalf," Ambryan replied, his face remained stoic. "Not when they''re asked to do ridiculous stuff."

    "That''s just what you heard. Who said they''d confessed to doing the ridiculous stuff?"

    "..." This time, he chose to stay silent.

    She had a valid point that he didn''t want to admit.

    Eve squeezed tighter and beamed. The photo turned out to be aical one where the couple both wore opposite expressions. The bright smile on her face almost shone as bright as the sun. On the other hand, Ambryan''s scowl invited gloomy skies and storm clouds.

    Close family and friends would soon attest that this described their personalities perfectly.

    "You can do it, Ambee! You''re the man for me!" Eve cheered him on.

    He faced the long river, one hand on either side of the railing. The crew gave him the go signal and left him to decide when to jump. The river rushed below him in raging waves. He bent his knees to gain momentum.

    ''Here goes nothing...''

    ...

    ...

    ...

    ...

    ...

    ...

    ...

    ...

    ...

    ...

    Ambryan nced over his shoulder. "This has a couple package, right?"

 Chapter 355: SS4 02: The Honeymoon Photo Package

    Chapter 355: SS4 02: The Honeymoon Photo Package

    "This has a couple package, right?"

    Eve stiffened, hearing the implication. She hunched over and clutched her stomach. The phone camera in her other stayed pointed at her husband. "Oh, my poor stomachOohh, it hurts."

    A staff member patted Ambryan on the shoulder. "It''s tough to act brave in front of your girl."

    Ambryan snapped his gaze towards him. "Who says I''m acting?"

    "The sooner you jump, the sooner you can get it over with," the staff member said. He stepped back and let Ambryan make his choice. He had seen this scenario way too many times. People seemed to think that as one grows older, they mature in every aspect.

    In reality, theyespecially menstill made irrational choices if it meant impressing the woman they loved. Not only did it boost their ego but it also made their hearts flutter.

    The same scenario was about to happen right in front of him.

    Taking a deep breath, Ambryan pulled his shoulders back with his arms on his sides. Eve covered her smiling lips. She loved this look on him. The silhouette of this pose made him sexier than usual. Her camera shutter quickly snapped a few photos.

    Then, he jumped.

    Ambryan had clenched his jaw just before he fell. He dived headfirst and the wind resistance mmed against his face, shoving his facial muscles upwards. It was almost impossible not to screamat least, to not open one''s mouth.

    Clear blue waters soon enveloped his entire vision. The rope tugged once he reached right above the water. It yanked him back up like a fish caught on a fishing rod.

    Eve watched in amazement. She should have known better. It would take a lot more than that to faze Ambryan Hathaway. How could he even keep a straight face? The video she was recording suddenly looked dull.

    "You look disappointed," the same staff member remarked.

    She scrunched her nose. "A little. But what did I expect from my always calm husband?"

    "You wanted to catch him off guard?"

    "Why do you make it sound like it''s a bad thing?"

    "I''m not," he defended with a chuckle. "In fact, I think I can help you out."

    Eve narrowed her brown eyes at him. She thought about it for some time. If there was anyone who knew how to surprise a guy, it would be a fellow guy. The mischief on the staff member''s face made her hesitate a bit.

    She would have to follow her gut on this one.

    "Fine," Eve surrendered. "I''m listening."

    "You would need both hands for this one."

    Ambryan was oblivious to their conversation. His momentum eventually came to a halt. Relief flooded him inside and out once it waspletely over. The rope gently pulled him up. He grabbed it between his legs and turned himself right side up.

    His violet squinted from the ring sun.

    But he spotted his wife''s scarlet hair in an instant. She waved down at him, a big smile on her face. Then, she blew him a kiss. That made his heart soar. It nearly popped out of his chest. Their gaze never left one another even when the crew helped him out of his harness.

    Eve giggled from the butterflies in her stomach.

    Her husband approached her, exposing his teeth behind his grin. He ced his hands on either side of her waist while Eve wrapped her arms around his neck. "What''s going on?"

    She looked at him up and down, and bit her bottom lip. The font of his onyx ck hair trailed down his forehead. "Nothing. Sweat really looks really good on you. You never looked sexier."

    "You''re awfully affectionate."

    "My husband just jumped off a high bridge. Don''t you think he deserves a reward?"

    Ambryan lowered his head until their noses touched. "And what do you have in mind?"

    The corners of her lips stretched even further. It was thest thing he saw before she closed the gap between them. A few crew members whistled at the passionate kiss they shared. Newlyweds almost never disappointed them.

    The couples'' disy of affection seemed to give hope that everyone had a true love.

    Ambryan was in bliss. So what if it was in public? It gave him a valid excuse to show off his wonderful wife. The portrait of her in his office was proof of how much he liked to brag about her. His mother had seen right through him and knew the painting sparked conversation.

    It was a perfect gift

    Sharp pain attacked him from two sides.

    "Ow!" Ambryan eximed as he pulled back. Two sets of fingers pinched both of his cheeks. The sting swelled across his skin. His eyes squeezed shut when it happened. He grabbed her wrists but didn''t pry them off.

    "Huh. So it is true," Eve uttered, letting him go. She gave each cheek a quick peck. "No one is immune to cheek pinching."

    Ambryan rubbed the sore spots with one hand. He tested his jaw as if he had been punched in the face instead. "Were you experimenting on me?"

    "No," she answered right away until a thought urred to her. "Actually maybe I was."

    He squinted in suspicion. "Why?"

    Eve fluttered her eyshes. "To get to know my husband better, of course."

    "Well, you have a peculiar way of showing it."

    "Thanks to that your life has never been boring again since we started dating." She bumped his nose and noticed someone approached from the corner of her eyes. The staff member handed her her phone back. "Oh, thank you."

    Ambryan red at the staff member. Thetter raised his hands in surrender before backing away. Eve headed for the big hut. Their turn was over and it was time to go. She scrolled through the pictures the staff member had taken while filming.

    She stopped at a photo of her pinching Ambryan''s cheeks. Her nose was scrunched and her lips were pursed while his face contorted with pain. It was such a cute pictureone that the press and the general public would love to see.

    It became her new home wallpaper.

    Then, she switched out her lock screen one for the photo they took before Ambryan jumped.

    Ambryan stared at his wife''s back. Her yfulness knew no bounds. He had tried the bungee jump at her request. She had won that round. It shouldn''t be fair that she was able to win another.

    Picking up the pace, he seized by the waist and threw her over his shoulder.

    "AMBRYAN, PUT ME DOWN!" Eve yelled. She pushed herself upright so she''d be able to see. Their tour guide pressed his lips together but thanked the crew. All three of them walked towards their rented vehicle.

    Eve huffed and crossed her arms over her chest. "Needed to have your fun, huh, Ambee?"

    "You can''t be the only one who gets to tease."

    "But I get teased more than you!"

    "Because I''mpetitive by nature," he replied, putting her down on the backseat. He buckled her in and bumped her nose back like she did earlier. "And you don''t like to give up. This is why we make such a good pair."

    Eve pouted as he closed the door.

    Well, at least, she had a photo to remember her win by.

    The adventure continued as the couple climbed out the car in favor of a helicopter. High up somewhere in the mountains was a winery. The owner had a private vineyard but he granted them a visit. It was Ambryan''s side of the bargain since Eve picked the bungee jump.

    Helicopter des roared from above their heads. Eve peeked out the window, holding her husband''s hand. They sat on either side of the backseat while their tour guide sat out front with the pilot. Lush greenery stretched for miles under their feet.

    "Eve, look," Ambryan called out to her.

    She scooted over to see out his window. He pointed to the boats on theke. From what he can see, there was a boat rental near it and couples could row for a while. Ducks, swans and geese swam along with them.

    "Do you want to try it?" He asked Eve.

    She thought about it for a moment. "Maybeter at sunset? Unless we already had ns."

    Their heads turned towards their tour guide. He caught their eyes from the rearview mirror and jumped in his seat. He had overheard their conversation but decided to wait for their final decision. It wasmon for tourists to throw ideas.

    He found it easier when they made up their minds before offering ideas.

    "Anything on the itinerary around that time, Mr. Bert?" Eve asked, talking louder.

    Bert looked over his shoulder to give his response. "As a matter of fact, it''s an outdoor dinner near thatke. We should be able to squeeze in a quick boat ride."

    "Great! Thank you."

    The helicopter soonnded near the winery. Ambryan helped Eve climb out the helicopter. Then, almost all of his attention shifted towards the vineyard. Eve followed his line of sight. Grapevines grew on acres ofnd.

    "You must be Mr. and Mrs. Hathaway," an old man said. He offered his hand for them to shake. "Wee to my vineyard. I don''t usually do this but I''m always happy to wee enthusiasts."

    Ambryan was the first to shake his hand. "It''s a pleasure to be here. Thank you for doing this, Mr. Ernie."

    "Have to get the best souvenir for back home somewhere, right?" A heartyugh left Ernie''s lips. He shook Eve''s hand, appreciating her small smile. "You came just in the nick of time. We''ll be making wine like the olden days today. It''s been a tradition for myte mother''s birthday. Come,e. Everyone is eager to meet you."

    Eve gulped. Just how many people were there? Ambryan walked ahead. Their interconnected hands pulled her out of her daydream. He conversed with Ernie about the vineyard. It had a rich family history, dating back to centuries ago.

    Chatter slowly grew louder as they headed for the back of the house.

    And Eve soon felt like she was transported back in time.

 Chapter 356: SS4 03: The Honeymoon Addiction Package

    Chapter 356: SS4 03: The Honeymoon Addiction Package

    "You must be the honeymoon couple," an old woman said as she waltzed up to Ambryan and Eve. Her salt and pepper hair was tied back by a flowery headwrap. bun.

    She held out her hand to Eve first. "I''m Ericka, Ernie''s wife."

    A boost of loud music boomed behind her. All their heads turned towards the merry group. From Eve could guess, most of the people present were also couples. There were also children ying near the fields.

    Arge basin that could fit 20 people say under a huge tree. Vintage songs yed out of the speakers and everyone wore clothes from the 40s. With the fields in the background, the party resonated a simple life aesthetic.

    As if it was that easy to live without today''s technologyexcept for the music yer they used.

    A group of men came from the fields, carrying buckets of grapes on their shoulders. They dumped them one by one inside therge basin.

    Ericka chuckled a little before she shifted her attention back on Eve. "I trust you have no spare clothes? We prepared a dress for you. Come. Let''s get you changed."

    Eve blinked as Ericka dragged her to the back of the house. She nced over her shoulder, staring at Ambryan with wide eyes. He nodded his head as a form of encouragement. Ernie pped him on his upper back.

    "We get visitors from all over the world here," Ernie started to say. They walked towards the group. "There are others like you who came on this day during their own honeymoon trips. Be warned. They''ll probably tell you this ce is magic for love."

    Ambryan arched an eyebrow. "Hm?"

    The first couple they passed by beamed a little too wide for his taste. It was the wife who spoke up first. "Are you and your wife on your honeymoon? You''re so lucky to be here right now. Legend says the marriagests when you go grape treading around here."

    Ernieughed heartily. "That''s only a myth and you know it. It''s great for tourism though so thank you."

    "It''s true and YOU know it," the wife insisted. Her eyes flickered back to Ambryan. "We''vee here every year since our first visit during our own honeymoon. And look! We''re still happily married to this day!"

    Ambryan wore a polite smile.

    Although the husband hadn''t talked, the way his eyes sparkled in his wife''s direction reminded Ambryan of himself. They should be a few years older than himprobably got married around his age.

    To many, the myth sounded absurd.

    As for Ambryan...

    "I''d very much like to stay happily married," he yed along. "If grape treading helps with that, I''m more than d to be here."

    "That''s the spirit!"

    "Sorry to keep you waiting," Ericka announced when she stepped out of the house. Eve trailed behind her, wearing a floral summer dress that reached down to her knees.

    "Are you sure I can wear this?" Eve couldn''t help but asked. The dress turned out prettier than she expected. It was a shame to have it stained by grape treading.

    "Trust me. You''d want to wear a beautiful dress for this."

    "Alright, gather around, everyone," Ernie said, pping his hands and walking along the basin. "Since we have new faces, let me exin how this goes. Ericka and I will go first, followed by oldest friends and neers will best."

    "I hope you''re light on your feetdies," he added. "Ericka, dear. Will you do me the honors?"

    Ernie bowed to the waist and offered his hand to his wife. Ericka epted it with a cursty. "Yes."

    In one swift motion, Ernie swept his wife off her feet and ced her inside the basin. The music started to y louder. Their close friends followed suit. Ericka led a simple dance. Each woman who entered the basin fell in sync with the steps while their partners pped their hands to the beat.

    "I knew you probably liked my winemercial the most," Eve teased her husband as they waited for their turn. "But I didn''t think you''d like to live it."

    "You think I did this on purpose? I didn''t know about this either," Ambryan replied.

    Eve narrowed her eyes at his face. "Liar. You probably had fantasies of bathing me in wine like the addict you are."

    "And why would I do that?" He questioned, crossing his arms over his chest. "Are you suggesting the wine would taste better on you?"

    "So you have thought about it!"

    "No. But"

    "But?"

    Ambryan looked above her head. Then, he grinned at her face. "But I do want to find out."

    Eve felt the ground leave her feet. She clung to Ambryan until he ced her inside the basin. Eve held up her skirt like she saw the others do. Ambryan stayed in front of her, pping along as he was supposed to do.

    An inner debatemenced in Eve''s head. Her hands clenched the fabric. Everyone was enjoying their time. She didn''t want to ruin it with her pride. With a huff of breath aimed at her bangs, she mimicked the dance steps.

    The steps were half-circles, starting on the left. Thedies swayed their hips after each turn while their eyesnded on their partners.

    At first, Eve made sour expressions when she and Ambryan made eye contact. Then, she shifted to silly faces until a full-blown smile eventually bloomed on her lips.

    Seeing her mood lighten up, Ambryan almost believed magic did exist in this ce. Thedies held onto the edges and hopped in a clockwise direction. They yed among themselves, forgetting about their partners and holding hands.

    Ambryan felt a tap over his shoulder. Ernie hade up behind him. "I know I should have warned you but it''s considered bad luck to do so."

    Ernie and several men grabbed Ambryan by the arms. They hauled him up to the basin where Ericka took off his shoes and socks. It happened all so fast. Next thing Ambryan knew, half of the women had trapped him on one side of the basin.

    The other half had taken Eve.

    Both groups closed the gap between the couple and pulled them away from each other. This happened numerous times as they circled each other. Eve eventually managed to kiss his cheek.

    Unfortunately, Ambryan slipped the next second. The juice seeped onto his back.

    The women who held Eve nudged her towards him, causing her to stumble as well. Shended on top of Ambryan.

    Everyone seized handfuls of squished grapes and rained it down on the couple. Cheers and well wishes were given to the couple.

    Eve stayed on top of her husband. Ambryan sat up with his hands on her waist. His hair stuck up in different directions and her shoulders shook withughter.

    When he gave her a questioning look, she wiped her hands on his cheeks. Ambryan turned his head away as if traumatized by the time she pinched him earlier.

    Eve dabbed a finger to her tongue. "Wow. It does taste better on me."

    Ambryan leaned over. "And where''s my share?"

    "Why not taste yourself?" Eve shut her eyes as soon as the words left her lips. "That sounds off somehow."

    "Of course, it does. You should be the one I should taste."

    Eve bolted off him and ran around the basin. Ambryan rose to his feet, rolling up his sleeves. He charged for his wife who wriggled her way in between people to slow him down.

    Ambryan predicted her movements. He made a blind guess which direction she headed for and tackled her by the waist. They rolled over the batch of grapes,pletely soaked from the juice.

    He hovered on top of her this time.

    The sweet taste of fermented grape juice looked so inviting under him. He brushed off the hair strands that clung to her face. Eve had gone under a spell as if there were only two of them in the world right now.

    How couldn''t it feel that way when she saw nothing else but his face? The violet hue in his eyes seemed endless and deep.

    Ambryan slowly aimed for her juicy lips.

    Hands gripped him from behind and hauled him off. Whoots and cheers filled his ears. Eve scrambled to also get up. Her cheeks had reddened as the grapes under her feet.

    It wasn''t fair for Ambryan to see. The flush on her face only made her more desirable.

    Ericka skipped towards her husband. She folded her arms on the edge of the basin and propped her chin. "I think Mr. and Mrs. Hathaway had enough. Don''t you?"

    "Ah, my scheming wife." Ernie chuckled. "The bath for the guest room upstairs should be free for the next hour."

    "Maybe even two hours."

    Another chuckle left his lips. "It''s your call."

    Eve felt the stickiness of the grapes when she stepped off the basin. Her dress clung to her skin like glue. Someone offered her a towel which she dly epted and wrapped around herself.

    She and Ambryan climbed up to the second story of the house. The music sounded faint and far away. The guest room had a small bathroom. Eve found it as soon as she opened the bedroom door.

    "Do you want to go first or?"

    Her words died in her mouth.

    Ambryan had kicked the door closed and cradled the back of her head, trapping her in a kiss. The sweet taste finally reached his senses. One taste and he wanted morelike how a dying man craved water.

    Eve suddenly felt the bed hit the back of her legs.

    Ambryanid her down.

    "Ambee, we can''t do this here," she breathed out once Ambryan moved to her jawline. "We have to clean up."

    "I am cleaning you up."

    "You know what I mean!"

    "It would be a waste to wash this off by water."

    "You are too addicted to wine." Eve snorted.

    Ambryan stopped to meet her eyes. "I do like wine. And I love you. How can I not be addicted to this newbination?"

 Chapter 357: SS4 04: The Honeymoon Cruise Package

    Chapter 357: SS4 04: The Honeymoon Cruise Package

    "Stay back! Don''te any closer!"

    "No! Stay where you are. I mean it. I''ll let go."

    "What do you mean no I won''t? Don''t presume to tell me what I will and will not do. You don''t know me."

    "You''re distracting me. Go away."

    "What in the world..." Ambryan had left to order drinks for him and his wife. His aviator sunsses shielded his eyes from the sun. White shorts and three unbuttoned blue short sleeves, he had captured the eyes of many.

    So did his wife but for a different reason.

    Eve paced up and down the poop deck. The hem of her maxi skirt trailed behind her whichever direction she headed for. She wore a hat as protection from the sun. Despite her frustrated stomps around the deck, elegance fell on her shoulders.

    The scowl between her eyebrows deepened.

    Ambryan stopped a few meters away from her. "Eve, what are you doing?"

    "I know what ice fishing is!" She red in return.

    Now, Ambryan felt more lost than before. The cold drinks in his hands began to sweat and to soak his palms. He took cautious steps forward, saying, "Good to know."

    Eve halted in her steps and shook her head at him. "You''re crazy."

    "I''m starting to think that."

    She pursed her lips and groaned. "This is the part where you introduce yourself."

    Her husband raised both of his eyebrows, more confused than ever before. He offered her the ss of pia cda. "I''m Ambryan Hathaway."

    "No! Not like that!" Eve protested, both of her hands waving in front of her. Her dreams were shattered in an instant. "You were supposed to say you were Jack Dawson!"

    She huffed out thest of her frustrations and snatched the ss. Her legs marched towards the main deck as her lips muttered. "I swear CEO of one of the top romance moviepanies but doesn''t even know one of the top romance movie blockbusters of all time and we''re already on a ship!"

    Ambryan stayed one step behind her and heard all of it. "The love story on a sinking ship?"

    "Come on, now. No need to hate. It was sinking from the start."

    A pool upied the center of the main deck. People from all ages flocked around it as well as in it. Eve shifted her focus to the endless blue waters on the other side of the railing. Sheid her arms on top of it and sipped from the straw of her pia cda.

    "How far are we from the ind?" She asked Ambryan without looking his way. They had left New Zend after three whole days of activities. A cruise was just what they needed. She had never been more d to do nothing but rx.

    For his beverage, Ambryan picked white wine. He took a sip and enjoyed the view along with his wife. "About a few more hours. It should be visible from the bow by now."

    "The bow? The front part of the ship?"

    "Yes, that one."

    "Then, what are you waiting for? Let''s check it out."

    Eve sprinted ahead, leaving him in the dust. Ambryan had learned she did this whenever she didn''t want him to refuse her ideas. He followed at a slower pace and savored his white wine. A group of tourists appeared from behind a door.

    They walked in one big group and blocked his sight of his wife.

    Eve checked behind her but only found the crowd instead. She decided to wait for Ambryan to catch up, drinking the rest of her pia cda. She set the straw aside and drank it all in one go. A server happened to see her and offered to take her empty ss.

    She thanked him.

    "Hey, prettydy," a voice called out behind her.

    Assuming it meant someone else, she ignored the voice and focused on the door. The crowd never seemed to end. Just how many of them were able to fit in that room? That was when she felt fingers touch her hair.

    Eve clutched the spot and turned around. Her muscles went rigid with caution.

    A blonde-haired and blue-eyed man her age stared back in amusement. Eve wished he wore a shirt besides his broadsorts. That was her impression of himespecially how his sun-kissed skin seemed to mock how pale she was.

    His hand still hovered in the air. He let it fall to his side when she neither spoke nor moved. "Has anyone mentioned how beautiful your hair is? Like a ruby or a red rose?"

    "And if it was brown, would youpare it to poop or to a tree?"

    He threw his head back inughter.

    A bored expression painted over Eve''s face. Herment wasn''t that funny.

    "I think I would have used chocte or coffee, depending on the shade."

    "Nice choices" Eve nodded. She let her hair go but watched their distance. "Thedy is bound to like one or the other. Props to you for that."

    A smirk stretched the corner of his lips. "Then, which one are you?"

    "Both"

    "Mine," Ambryan cut her off. He stepped in between them while grabbing her wrist. The flecks in his violet eyes darkened. His sunsses sat on top of his head. The warning in his gaze intensified every passing second.

    "Woah, dude, chill." The guy whistled and raised his hands in surrender. He pointed his chin towards Eve who half-hid behind Ambryan. "I didn''t know she was taken."

    "She has a wedding ring."

    Eve lifted her free hand for him to see, an apologetic smile on her face.

    "That she does now that I see it" he said in a daze. His expression returned to normal after a second. He had a nice chat with Eve and that would have to be enough. Backing away, he waved his hands goodbye. "Nice meeting you both, anyway. Enjoy your time."

    Ambryan eyed him until thetter vanished from their sights. Then, he turned around to face his wife. "Why were you talking to him?"

    Eve blinked up innocently. "I was waiting for you. We didn''t actually get to talk much."

    "He was flirting with you." The goofy smile on the guy''s face was unmistakable and his eyes liked what they saw. Ambryan found that Eve often underestimated her looks and charm. She could simply thank someone with her smile and they''d take a liking to her.

    He never pointed it out since her attention would shift to something else after that.

    That wasn''t the case for this incident though.

    Eve saw it in her husband''s eyes. She only had one thing to say about his behavior. "Please don''t try to jump off a flight of stairs. You know what happenedst time."

    "I''m not jumping off a flight of stairs."

    "Good boy." She rose to her tiptoes and patted his hair. "Now, let''s take a peek at the ind."

    Ambryan continued holding her hand. They were to spend with the same crowd of people for the next few days. It shouldn''t take long before their rtionship status bes bluntly obvious. That should be enough to ward off the busy bees around his wife.

    Eve gasped when she saw the bow and the ind up ahead.

    She let go of Ambryan, dashing for the front of the boat.

    "It''s so beautiful" she breathed out as she held onto the railing. There was so much greenery on the ind. She could also see the white sand of its beach. They were still too far away for her to see more detail but she already liked the ce.

    It was a tempting ce to live.

    Ambryan snorted before ncing at the back of her head. "Yes, it is."

    Eve climbed onto the lowest bar of the railing. Ambryan immediately lunged for her. He snatched her by the waist, intending to pull her back on the deck. Eve spread her arms like an eagle. "I''M THE KING OF THE WORLD!"

    Her loud voice caught him off guard.

    Laughing at herself, Eve screamed some more. "Whoo! I''m flying, Jack! I''m flying!"

    "Alright, get down before we get in trouble," Ambryan lifted her off the railing and walked backwards until they were at a safe distance. He set her down on her feet. Relief settled on his shoulders.

    Eve spotted lounge chairs behind them. She dragged Ambryan to one and instructed him to sit. Once he did, she ced herself between his legs, wrapping his arms around her. A satisfied sigh exhaled out of her nose. She leaned back a little to feel more of his warmth.

    "I''m sorry about that guy I was talking to," Eve spoke softly.

    Ambryan listened quietly and yed with her hair. Remembering how the guy tried to do the same, Eve couldn''t help but smile. She detected the difference right away and knew it wasn''t Ambryan who touched it earlier.

    Another sigh flowed out of her lips. "Besides, heughed a little too loud for my taste."

    "Why is that?"

    "I''m supposed to be the only loud one. He''d be stealing my spotlight"

    Ambryan chuckled, starting a thin braid from the top of her head. "Pretty and loud how could you have hidden that all those years as my secretary?"

    Eve stiffened for a moment. "That seems so long ago."

    "It was long ago."

    "It''s been only a year. Give or take."

    "Felt longer to me."

    Chuckling, Eve raised her left hand. Two rings glinted under the afternoon sun. The man who nevermitted gave both of them to her. All those years of beautiful women and he had picked her? Would it always feel like a dream?

    "Don''t find another wife, okay?" Eve joked, putting her hand down.

    Ambryan stopped braiding her hair. He frowned in her direction. What could his wife possibly be thinking? "I''m busy enough as it is and barely have time for one wife."

    "Have time for kids too."

    "Well, I definitely have time for making kids."

    A smack hit his arm.

    "Ow!"

 Chapter 358: SS4 05: The Honeymoon Interruption Package

    Chapter 358: SS4 05: The Honeymoon Interruption Package

    Bubbles floated up to the surface of the water. Bright-colored corals decorated the ocean bed. Sea anemones swayed to the rush of the sea water. A school of clown fish swam over it all while a starfishidzily on a big rock.

    Down here where all the fish was happy, Eve fell into a state of tranquility. It was like a painting hade to life right before her eyes. Ambryan stayed beside her. The both of them wore snorkeling gear. Divers guided and observed them at all times. They were careful not to touch anything or it could be dangerous to the fish.

    The bottom of the sea was fromnd noises and chaos. Peace surrounded the coral reef. WIth such wonderful things around them, what more could they look for?

    Eve pulled out her mouthpiece when they rose back to the top. She sat on the boat, gasping for air despite how she had been able to breathe during the activity. Her arms wrapped around her stomach. A funny feeling quivered inside.

    Her gag reflex began to kick in. She closed her eyes and let herself breathe through her mouth.

    Ambryan dropped to one knee in front of her. "Eve?"

    He checked on her temperature, finding it normal.

    "Here. She may need some water."

    At that, Eve shook her head violently and mped a hand over her mouth. Ambryan snapped his head to the nearest crew member. "Do you have a bag? Or a bucket? She''s seasick."

    "Right."

    Eve loathed this feeling. The urge to vomit tingled her senses but nothing came out yet. Her lips began to pale and her head felt light. An empty bucket appeared on herp. She buried her face on top of the opening while Ambryan rubbed her back.

    After a few pants, the contents of her stomach finally had enough.

    Ambryan wiped her lips with the back of his arm. He waited for the color to rush back into his wife''s cheeks and cradled her head gently. "How are you feeling? We need to get back to shore."

    "I''m fine. We should go," Eve managed to breathe out.

    The motor roared to life and the boat headed for the beach. Their cruise ship had anchored for the rest of the day. Everyone was to enjoy the ind until curfew. It had many activities to offer but for these newlyweds, they had enough ofnd.

    And it seemed that Eve''s stomach now had enough of the sea.

    She sat on the sand, hugging her knees to her chest. Her dizziness slowly faded away. She let herself fall sideways and rested her head on Ambryan''s shoulder.

    Thetter brushed her hair off her face. "Better?"

    "Definitely better than before." Eve sighed. Her eyebrows knitted together. "I don''t even know how it happened. I was on a cruise ship for more than a day and I was fine! Was it something in the food? But we ate the same things"

    "Sssh," Ambryan silenced her. "Don''t stress about it. We''ll figure it out once you''re better."

    "Can I be shameless?"

    "Why not?"

    Eve lifted her head enough to prop her chin on his shoulder. She peeled her eyes half-open and smiled cheekily. "Would you carry me back to the ship? I want to lie down on a bed."

    Ambryan didn''t need further convincing. He lifted her up in one smooth motion and headed for the cruise ship. Eve chuckled, rubbing her cheek against his chest. She let her shoulders rx. Drowsiness weighed her eyes down.

    Maybe she was just tired.

    As Ambryan walked up the nk, a woman stood at the top. She had her hand on the strap of her tote bag. A hat sat on her head while sunsses protected her eyes. She removed thetter and revealed her ck eyes.

    She arched an eyebrow at the couple. "Well, that''s a sight you don''t see everyday."

    Ambryan blinked in surprise but continued walking. "You''re also on this trip?"

    "It was a gift from a sponsor." She shrugged. Then, her attention shifted to the half-asleep woman in his arms. "Is Eve okay?"

    "Who is that?" Eve mumbled to Ambryan. At this point, they had reached the deck. Their location was mostly private to their friends and family. It could be paranoia but neither she nor Ambryan believed that none of them wouldn''t attempt to sneak into their honeymoon trip.

    Ambryan had demandedplete privacy until their return.

    Eve had gone along and supported his ideaher first order of business as his wife.

    The woman had heard her words. She leaned close to Eve''s ear before speaking. "It''s your friendly neighbor, Spiderman."

    "That doesn''t like Tom Hond, Andrew Garfield or Toby Maguire."

    "It''s Tiffany," Ambryan said before it could go on further.

    Eve instantly woke up. "Tiffany!"

    She rolled off her husband''s arms andnded on her feet with a thud. Ambryan had readied his arms to catch her but Eve found her bnce. She tackled the model, squeezing the life out of her. "OMG! I haven''t seen you since well, I was going to say the wedding but you didn''t make it."

    Tiffany chuckled and patted her on the back. "For someone who looked like a hospital patient, you bounced right back to your feet faster than Lightning McQueen."

    "I think I had food poisoning," Eve shared as she pulled back from the hug.

    "Food poisoning?" Tiffany tilted her head sideways and assessed Eve. The reason sounded unlikely if no one else had it. They all enjoyed the same meals by the same chefs. Given how expensive the cruise was, the highest of highest quality was expected.

    "Tell me there isn''t another stalker trying to endanger your life," Tiffany couldn''t help but say. Last time, Eve almost got drugged. If more crazy people like him existed, someone might have spiked her drink.

    Eve pursed her lips. "I don''t think that''s the case"

    "I told you. Don''t stress about it now," Ambryan interrupted. He swept his wife off her feet once more. Eve yelped in surprise. "The goal is for you to get better. I can investigate while you rest. We''ll have to call the doctor first so we can have a diagnosis."

    Tiffany stepped out of his way and waved her hand. "Feel better, Eve. It was nice seeing you both again. Enjoy your honeymoon! I''ll be sure to visit once you have little ones."

    Ambryan and Eve bid her farewell. Tiffany sighed as they walked away.

    It seemed like her hint was ignored.

    Ambryan waited in the corner of the bedroom while the female doctor checked on Eve. Since drugs could be the problem, they had Eve pee and ran tests on it. His hands clenched into fists on the crook of his elbows. He wouldn''t be as forgiving before if something serious happened to her.

    The doctor began to pack her things. "She''s not poisoned but she needs to be careful. No alcohol, no raw fish, no raw meat, less coffee, less sugar"

    "That''s a lot of things she needs to avoid," Ambryan said, rmed by

    "That''s because it''s a serious condition that needs extra attention and care," the doctor stated. She walked around the bed and headed for the door. "But it''s not umon so no need to worry."

    Ambryan blocked her way. "So she''ll be okay?"

    Worry projected out of his gaze. It wasn''t until now did he realize that he didn''t have the slightest idea how to care for someone ill. He always stubbornly let any of his sickness pass when they urred. Only his mother and his mom forced him to eat and to drink medicine.

    The doctor pressed her lips together, suppressing her amusement. She tapped Ambryan on the back of his hand. "She''s going to be just fine. The baby too as long as you follow what I said. I''ll be checking in during the rest of the trip. Congrattions on being a parent."

    She closed the door behind her after she left.

    The world had gone upside down ording to Ambryan. His head snapped towards his sleeping wife. He couldn''t remember how but he suddenly stood beside her bed. At first, he observed her face. The color in it hade back.

    Then, his violet eyes flickered to her stomach.

    He ced his hand on top of it. It rose and fell in the rhythm of Eve''s breathing pattern.

    "A baby" Ambryan mouthed, too stunned to use his voice.

    Eve found him sleeping on a chair when she woke up. His left arm was draped over the bed and her stomach while his right one was folded underneath the left one. Heid his cheek over his arm and snored softly.

    She kissed his temple before getting up.

    The sun had set outside the window of their cabin.

    "EVE!"

    She heard Ambryan yell. Tremors ran up and down her body.

    Then, knocks came from the door. "Eve! Eve, are you there?"

    "Yes. Yes, I''m here," she answered, more confused than ever. Did he know something that she didn''t? Was the food poisoned like Tiffany had suspected? She flushed the toilet and opened the door. "What are you"

    Ambryan yanked her into a bear hug. His cologne flooded her senses. She stiffened for a few seconds before returning the gesture. Her hands rubbed his back. It had to be serious for him to turn out like this. She just wasn''t sure if she was ready to hear it.

    "It''s okay. I''m okay." Eveforted him.

    Ambryan grinned. "And the baby?"

    "What baby?"

 Chapter 359: SS4 06: The Homecoming Secret Package

    Chapter 359: SS4 06: The Homing Secret Package

    Richard nced down at his watch.

    The airport bustled with activitypeople under security checks, people in a hurry, people waiting for their flight, people flocking the shops. And, somehow, Richard Kingston managed to keep himself more restless than everyone.

    His bronze hair sat on his like a palm tree with curled leaves.

    "Damn it," he cursed under his breath. His hands went to his hips, raising the hem of his silver suit jacket. He scanned the airport for the flight announcements. His foot tapped on the floor. Ambryan and Eve should be here by now.

    Except, they were now more famous than Richard could have imagined. Their arrival was meant to be a secret, even to their close family and friends. Ambryan had entrusted him to take care of security and to keep the press distracted.

    Richard was more curious about the reason behind their homing.

    They had about 2 months left for their honeymoon.

    Why would they want to return sooner than that?

    "Nothing new, I guess. I still don''t understand you sometimes, Yan," Richard muttered with a shake of his head. "What do you even want me to do in the middle of this airport, ah? Dance for the paparazzi on standby?"

    He scratched the back of his neck and turned around. The reporters hid their cameras but he felt their eyes. None of his actions so far had been interesting for them to report. Hemended their patience.

    "DARLING!" A woman yelled, catching the attention of the crowdRichard included.

    "OH, I MISSED YOU!" The voice became louder as soon as he snapped his head in its direction. Arms wrapped around his neck and hands squeezed his shoulder muscles. "Have you been working out? Your muscles are much firmer than I remember."

    Stunned, Richard took her presence in. Her soft purple hair touched his cheek. His hands had held her waist on instinct. The tips of his fingers nearly touched from how slim she was. He gripped her tight and pushed her back gently.

    Lines creased across his forehead. "Who are you?"

    ck eyes widened with disbelief.

    "Richard!" The woman eximed. Then, she stuck out her bottom lip. "How could you say that? I''m no different since west saw each other Is it my tan? I lied under the sun a lot during the cruise."

    Her wrists crossed at the back of his neck. The amount of intimacy had him distracted. He could hardly process a word she was saying. From how supple her face was, he guessed she was a few years younger than him.

    That still didn''t answer his question though.

    "I had such a good time," she gushed, her eyes sparkling with happiness. "You should go with me next time. You have to go at least once. Even a couple who needed to go home unexpectedly still stayed for an extra night because of the extraordinary experience."

    Her words broke Richard from his trance like a bullet through a window.

    "Ohhh!" He gasped, realizing the situation. "I definitely have to try it next time then..."

    ''What was this?'' Richard mulled in his head. He could have used a heads up if they had decided to do it this way. He could have shoved her away by ident and it would have messed up the n.

    Ambryan just loved to make things difficult for him.

    Tiffany giggled. Her thumb traced the bags under his steel gray eyes. "Has work been treating you terriblytely? What are these dark circles? You''d grow bald if you stay stressed like this."

    "It''s not serious." Richard gulped. His body had turned into a statue.

    Any knowledge he had about romance had ditched him.

    "But prevention is still better than cure!" Tiffany pointed out. Her voice spoke louder than usual. That was when Richard noticed the camera shutter sounds around them.

    Tiffany took a step forward, narrowing the gap between them. A cheeky grin stretched her lips. She wiggled her eyebrows for effect. "And I know just the thing to make it all better."

    "W-What?" Richard cleared his throat. "What is itdarling?"

    "A magic kiss."

    He blinked. Twice. "Magic kiss?"

    "True love''s kiss conquers all. Didn''t you know?" Tiffany defended. She puckered her lips in his direction. The cameras went wild. The corners of her eyes crinkled in amusement. She was a natural, leaving the rest up to him.

    Richard opened his mouth.

    Then, he closed it again.

    "I" He said, never more lost in his life. The pressure built up on his shoulders. His cheeks turned red from all the attention. Their anticipation for a kiss rang loudly in his ears.

    Just when he thought that was it, Tiffany had closed her eyes.

    .

    .

    .

    .

    .

    "That was some show, you two."

    About half an hourter, Richard and Tiffany rode in the same vehicle as Ambryan and Eve. They split into pairs and sat down, facing each other. All the windows were tinted ck. Richard''s security team upied the front seats.

    A deep sigh flowed out of his mouth.

    He had lost years of his life in that airport.

    "Mr. Kingston turned out to be a better actor than I expected," Tiffany responded to Eve. She rxed in her seat, unfazed by it all. The incident almost convinced her of an acting career.

    "How low were your standards exactly?" Richard asked, wiping a sweat off his brow.

    "-0.99%"

    "Sounds about right then." He nodded. Deposit herment, it did feel like a -0.99%. He had frozen on the spot. Tiffany had salvaged the situation and pretended she had just noticed the cameras. She buried her face in his chest in embarrassment.

    Then, they made their escape.

    Eve tilted her head sideways. "Have you met before?"

    She and Ambryan held hands while he spoke on the phone. They still had arrangements to make for their sudden return home. It was unfortunate that they couldn''t finish their trip but Eve also looked forward to their home stay vacation.

    "No, we just met today," Tiffany answered. She propped her elbow on the backrest and angled her body towards Richard. "But we already call each other, darling. Can you believe it? It''s a whirlwind romance like no other."

    Eve pressed her lips together and covered them with her hand. She dropped her gaze to the floor, suppressing her amusement. It wasn''t the best but she was d Tiffany joined them on their flight back. The distraction idea couldn''t have been better.

    Richard pinched the bridge of his nose. This whole sequence seemed like a dream.

    A dream he wasn''t about to wake up from any time soon.

    "Just so we''re clear, I''m not really your darling, okay?" He told Tiffany, annoyanceced in his tone.

    She fluttered her eyshes. "Whatever you say, sugarplum."

    "I''m not" Richard stopped abruptly. He looked out the window, whispering to himself. "I think I now have a glimpse of Mikael''s life."

    Unfortunately for him, Eve had heard it. She chuckled and winked in his direction. "Just catch a bouquet and a garter and you''re both good to go."

    Richard ignored her remark and focused on Ambryan. Although the two were married and he was good friends with Eve, he had done this for his best friend. The least he could get was the exnation he wanted.

    "So, mind telling me why you guys are here?"

    Ambyran noticed his displeased gaze. He ended the call quickly and nudged his head towards his wife. "Eve has a serious condition."

    Richard looked at Eve, his eyes popping out of their sockets. "Are you okay?"

    Ambryan grimaced. "I just told you that she has a serious condition."

    "Right, right," Richard corrected himself. He rubbed his temples with one hand. When he stopped, his eyesnded on a pair of violet ones. "And you want to keep this from everyone you know?"

    "I know we''re back but we''d still like some privacy," Ambryan repeated. Richard had raised the same question when they discussed the matter over the phone. It was better to be close to home because of the baby but who said they couldn''t still have their honeymoon?

    "And how does my housee into the picture?" Richard asked even if he sounded like a broken record.

    If the two had wanted a vacation while in Maize City, they could have gone to any hotel. That was where they would have stayed anyway if they continued their trip. His residence was in one of the best suburbs. He actually quite liked it and if the two were staying over, between their lovey-dovey phase and his house, safe to say, he''d rather not be in the same house as them.

    "If we went to the penthouse or our residence, people would know we''re back," Ambryan exined. "Also, I''m not about to spend money on hotels when there''s perfectly good residential homes to stay in."

    Not all of their cancelled appointments gave back full refunds.

    They had a budget to follow and they would stick to it.

    "Wouldn''t they think you''re at my house?" Richard rebutted. He didn''t like this. He really really didn''t like this. Since privacy and secrecy were factors, his hands were mostly tied. Ambryan wouldn''t agree to have another person know more about this.

    "Nonsense." Ambryan snorted. He exchanged side-nces with his wife. Even Tiffany joined in though they didn''t look her way. "They''d be too busy following you from the office and to Tiffany''s apartment."

    Richard nodded. Of course, Ambryan had an answer. He was thorough that way.

    "You really thought that aheadHUH?!"

 Chapter 360: SS4 07: The Homecoming Room Package

    Chapter 360: SS4 07: The Homing Room Package

    Eve fluffed out the pillow in her hand.

    She stood inside the guest room of Richard''s home, wearing her pajamas. Her brown eyes swept across the room. It looked as good as any hotel she had the pleasure of sleeping in. The fridge was also stocked up with food supplies.

    The amodation was beyond what she expected.

    Ambryan walked out of the room''s private bathroom. He scrubbed the towel over his damp hair. When he looked up, he met his wife''s gaze.

    "What''s wrong?" He asked.

    Eve bit her bottom lip. "I still feel bad for kicking Richard out. Don''t you think we''ve gone a little bit overboard with this one?"

    He sat on the foot of the bed and let the towel settle on his shoulders. "We could stay at a hotel but we''d never know if someone would leak it to the press. Any other ce is traceable to me and to you. They would have been able to find us easily"

    "I know. It''s just" Eve sighed and sat down beside him. She hugged the pillow to her chest. "Did we really have to kick Richard out? It''s his house."

    "I doubt he wanted to stay with a couple of newlyweds."

    "Then, did he have to stay over with Tiffany?"

    Ambryan took a deep breath, observing her guilty face. He reached out to tuck her hair behind her ear. "Anywhere else would be suspicious because he has his own residence. Since they had that moment at the airport, the paparazzi would easily eat up what they see."

    "I hate that you''re right," Eve groaned. She leaned backwards until she fell on the mattress. Ambryan followed her example. Their feet stayed t on the ground.

    She turned her head in his direction. "Do you think Richard can handle the press?"

    "He''ll be fine."

    "I''m worried."

    "Me too" Ambryan looked up at the ceiling. "If we didn''t do this, Richard might be infertile soon."

    Eve jabbed him in the ribs. "You''re the same age."

    "But I''m not single."

    "How fortunate for you."

    "I know I am." Ambryan grinned from ear to ear. He draped his arm across her stomach. Then, he pulled it back a little and let his hand rest on top of it. "Let''s get some sleep. We need to get to that check up early tomorrow."

    Eve pressed her lips together and nodded. They moved up the bed until they reached the headboard. Eve ced her head close to her husband''s, their noses nearly touching.

    Her hand touched the side of his neck.

    "I love you," she whispered with a small smile.

    "I"

    "But I love the baby more," she cut Ambryan off. Soft giggles flowed out of her lips when she saw him frown.

    Ambryan slid down so he could talk to her stomach. "I see you took after me. If you want something, you have to be early before someone else gets it."

    His violet eyes flickered to Eve''s face. "And here you are ready to take my wife from me."

    Eve smacked him on the shoulder. "Don''tpete with your own kid and stop being childish."

    While the happy couple settled in their temporary residence, Richard had brought a duffel bag with him to Tiffany''s apartment. He had stood in front of her door, contemting if he could sneak away to a hotel.

    The press had already seen him enter the building. There was no need for him to actually stay in the same apartment as her. Maybe there was a vacant one around

    Tiffany opened the door.

    Richard jumped in surprise.

    She chuckled and said, "Don''t worry. I was just messing with you earlier about the sugarplum thing. I won''t bite. Make yourself at home."

    "Please excuse me." Richard cleared his throat. He walked into her apartment while she held the door open. The ce wasn''trge but it had enough space for two bedrooms and a nice living room.

    Tiffany appeared beside him and propped her elbow on his shoulder. "After this is over, we''re gonna have a dramatic breakup. Then, Ambeevan wille save the day andfort all those sad hearts so we can move on with our lives."

    "I don''t like this. I don''t like AT ALL." Richard shook his head.

    She pressed her lips together and stepped in front of him, gripping both his shoulders and forcing him to look into her ck eyes.

    "Hear me out. Do this right and imagine all thedies who''d love to nurture your broken heart. You''d be this valiant guy in the press who wants nothing more than to spend as much free time as he has with his girlfriend. He spoils her, shows affection, gets heartbroken, bes vulnerable I hate to be blunt but you''d be very desirable."

    Richard closed his eyes and made a face.

    When he opened them, a scowl morphed between his eyebrows. "And why would I want that?"

    "You don''t?" She blinked and dropped her arms to her side. "Ambryan said you were lonely. We thought this could benefit you in return for letting them stay in your house."

    He pursed his lips together, refusing to answer that. "And what do you get out of this?"

    "Fun."

    "Unbelievable," he muttered while looking away and shaking his head. It really was just home who found this entire thing odd.

    "Don''t worry about me, okay?" Tiffany assured him with augh. She pointed to one of the rooms. "You can have that room. The bathroom is that way and there''s also food on the table. I need to be early tomorrow so I have to get my sleep now. Do you need anything?"

    "No, I think I can manage."

    "Great. Good night, roomie." She left for her room before he could respond.

    Richard lied down on the couch, his arm covering his eyes. The tension on his shoulders evaporated a little. "Do I seem really that lonely?"

    Tiffany hadn''t fully closed her door when he spoke to himself. She peeked at the living room with one eye exposed. When she heard it from Ambryan, he sounded like he was joking and was telling the truth at the same timebut maybe this was deeper than she thought.

    The following day, Richard woke up alone in the apartment. He prepared for work like he normally did. He hesitated taking Tiffany''s coffee but remembered he already ate her food. What was there to be wary about?

    He could stock up whatever he ate during his stay anyway.

    As he buttoned his suit jacket, his thoughts wandered up the sky.

    "It really doesn''t feel any different." He mumbled. "I''m not sure if that''s a good thing or a bad thing anymore."

    His phone vibrated from the bedside table. A message from Ambryan shed in his notifications.

    He opened it as soon as he saw it.

    It was a photo of a monitor. The screen showed the ultrasound of the baby. Another chat message popped up from Ambryan. This time, it was a video of the same screen.

    Richard smirked. "Now, you''re just gloating."

    He quickly typed in a reply.

    .

    ``Richard: Congrattions! I can tell the baby looks like Eve. Thank goodness for that.``

    ``Yan: Yes, the world is relieved. If it looked like me, the baby would have be a heartbreaker with such fine genes.``

    .

    "..." Richard regretted his words.

    He shouldn''t have said anything. The baby would be as shameless Ambryan if he kept provoking his best friend like this. They couldn''t have that happen.

    .

    ``Richard: How long do you n to hide from your family? You know Aunt Avery will be furious if she finds out about this.``

    ``Yan: Not that long but I still hope you get along with Tiffany. The press might doubt you''re together if you don''t.``

    ``Richard: We get along just fine. Just enjoy your stay-cation and don''t break anything.``

    ``Yan: Your hospitality is very much appreciated. I''ll consider you when Eve and I decide on the baby''s godfather.``

    .

    Eve arched an eyebrow at her husband. "Who are you texting?"

    She lied on the recliner with her stomach exposed. The cold gel had warmed up a little after a few minutes. She had stared at the monitor the whole time and hadn''t realized Ambryan became preupied with something else.

    "It''s Richard," Ambryan replied without looking up. "I''m just thanking him for a peaceful checkup. It wouldn''t be like this if he hadn''t kept our secret."

    "You better be thanking him properly."

    "Of course, I am."

    The couple drove back to Richard''s residence. They chose the long route that led to the back of the house. There was a small gate they could use to sneak inside. The trees also hid their rented vehicle well.

    "So what do you want to do today?" Eve asked when they entered the gate. Their intertwined hands swung in between them as they passed through the backyard.

    "I don''t know." Ambryan nced at her stomach. "Does the baby want anything?"

    Eve ced her free hand over it. "Watermelons."

    He gave her a look. "Are you sure that''s the baby and not your stomach?"

    She merely shrugged her shoulders. "Who says we can''t crave the same thing?"

    "We''ll have the housekeeper buy some then," Ambryan surrendered. Did it even matter which one of them wanted it? His cheeks started to hurt. He had been smiling for days even if he didn''t know.

    Eve side-stepped and fluttered her eyshes up at him. "And pineapple?"

    Ambryan pinched her nose. Her funny expression made himugh. "Anything else?"

    "A tent."

    "A tent?"

 Chapter 361: SS4 08: The Homecoming Fun Package

    Chapter 361: SS4 08: The Homing Fun Package

    Eve set up the tent in the middle of the living room. The opening faced the mounted LED TV on the wall. A portable stove served as their bonfire for meals. Sheid on her stomach on the sleeping bag, her shoulders up to her head peeking out to stir on the pot of noodles.

    Ambryan came with two sses of fruit juice. He crossed his legs and sat on the floor. The both of them had changed into their pajamas. "I don''t think this is a healthy diet."

    "It''s only one serving and only for tonight," Eve defended. "It''s fine as long as I don''t stuff myself with it. As agreed, you''ll be in charge of food starting tomorrow. But today, I feast!"

    Her fork went up in the air as she paused. "Moderately, that is."

    Offering her the drink, Eve took a sip. "You think the baby will like camping when they grow up?"

    They had drawn the curtains over windows and ss doors. The residence had be their personal bubble. It secured them from the outside world and any disturbances. Soft music yed from Eve''s phone. It was as good as dining out for the evening.

    "Why do you ask?" Ambryan said. He scooted closer until he sat beside the portable stove with his back against the tent. Eve''s arm would asionally graze his knee as she cooked. "Do you like camping? You didn''t even want set up the tent outside."

    "Because it could rain."

    "It could always rain if we camp outside."

    "Not if we check the weather first. Then, the chances are minimal." Eve stirred the noodles onest time and tapped the fork on the side of the pot. She scrambled to get up. "Aanndd! Done. Let''s eat!"

    Concerned about his wife''s diet, Ambryan decided to eat most of the noodles. That was the only way he could think of to lower her intake. Eve turned on the TV for a movie. Each of them had small bowls, chopsticks and soup spoons.

    The opening scenes of the movie yed on the mounted TV.

    Ambryan, focused on eating quickly, missed several minutes. He ate until a small portion was left. His shoulders finally sagged in relief. He stretched his mouth to massage his jaw. Dull pain gnawed on either of it due to eating harshly.

    By the time his eyes nced at the TV, the old woman was talking on the phone and the person on the other line was on a ship.

    .

    ``Can you tell me who the woman in the picture is?```

    ```Oh yes. The woman in the picture is me.```

    .

    "If there is nudity in this movie, I refuse to watch it," Ambryan told Eve, not realizing what the movie was yet. "I don''t think it''s good for the baby."

    "Ssshh," she replied back. "This is educational."

    .

    ```Are you ready to go back to Titanic?```

    .

    Ambryan snapped his head in her direction. "Eve, you''re not serious"

    "Ssshh," Eve insisted. She scooped out more noodles from the pot. "This is research."

    "This is revenge for not ying along with you on the cruise ship."

    "Aw,e on. I am not that petty." She looked at her husband through the corner of her eye. The expression on his face told her that he didn''t believe it. "Okay. I am not always that petty. Happy? But I''m not lying either. After our movie is out, you need to think about the next great romance movie. Tragedies should be a good idea. They leave asting impression."

    Ambryan shifted his focus back on the movie. The first part had finished and the storytelling had begun. The bright sun shone down on the magnificent ship. People boarded it ording to their ss.

    Then, it cut to a poker game near the docks.

    "Nope. We''re not watching this. I don''t want the baby to be interested in gambling."

    Eve hung her mouth open.

    She set the bowl down and nudged the portable stove out of the way. Dropping to her hands and knees, she crawled up to Ambryan. Her brown eyes narrowed in suspicion. "Mr. Hathaway. Are you going to be like this until the babyes out?"

    "Of course not," he retorted. "Babies are fragile and need extra care. The responsibility doesn''t stop after you give birth. If anything, it''s just the beginning."

    "I still think you''re overreacting."

    "I''m just being cautious."

    "We can skip this scene then. Not like I haven''t seen it." Eve sighed. Since she let him win this round, maybe he''d be more lenient as the movie progressed. She grabbed the remote and pressed the fast forward button.

    "Skip over any drinking too."

    "That part needs to be skipped over."

    "Nope. You can''t watch this scene."

    Eve felt more exhausted than rxed from his shenanigans. She threw her hands up in the air, yelling, "Fine! Let''s change the movie. Something family friendly. Cartoons like Cloudy with a Chance of Spaghetti."

    "I already don''t like the sound of that," Ambryan remarked. Just from the title, he could infer that it was food-rted. A food movie meant gluttony. Gluttony was unhealthy. Therefore, the movie was unhealthy.

    "You pick the movie then." Eve handed him the remote and rose to her feet. It was better to have him do his evaluations before they watched anything. Thements were just running the movie experience. "While you decide, I''ll go slice some fruit."

    Ambryan had no response. He moved on to the task at hand, flipping through the rmended movies for children. A deep scowl creased his forehead as if he faced aplicated math problem. Bright colors and advanced cinematic photography tried to capture his attention.

    But those were irrelevant to him.

    Eve came back with a tray full of watermelon and pineapple. A new movie was shown on TV. The opening yed out as a cartoon, listing names of the cast and crew. Two kids ran around as tiny as ants to add to the entertainment.

    "Really?" Eve arched an eyebrow at the LED screen. "You picked ''Honey, I Shrunk the Kids''?"

    Ambryan pointed the remote towards the TV. His eyes were glued to the screen, nostalgia swelling up inside of him. "It''s imaginative, has adventure and more fantasy than real. It has a lot more educational points than a movie like Titanic."

    Eve sat down and stabbed the fork on a watermelon. "You really are old."

    "Didn''t we watch this when we were kids?" Ambryan reminded her. He took the other fork, choosing a pineapple slice. "We always watched it when it came on TV. Ballet lessons was over but you''d stay just to watch it with me."

    A small smile tugged the corner of Eve''s lips. The memory painted vividly in her mind. "Then, we hid under the table to pretend we were tiny."

    "And used the floaties in the pool as cereal and imagined the water as milk."

    "Yeah" Eve sighed dreamily. The grin on her face stretched from ear to ear. Those were some of their best memories. Their imaginations knew no limits. "You were a lot more fun back then."

    Ambryan set his fork down. "Who says I''m not fun now?"

    "Everyone?"

    Eve paid no attention to hisck of answer. The opening sequence finally finished and the main story began. She finished her watermelon slice and reached out to grab another. Movement unfolded from the corner of her eye.

    When she gave it her full attention, Ambryan pounced and attacked.

    "NO!" Eve screamed. She fell on her back, wrapping her arms around herself.

    But Ambryan was relentless. He straddled on top of her and tickled her exposed sides. Theughter of his wife filled the whole room. It only encouraged him to know more about her sensitive spots.

    His fingers tickled the side of her neck.

    She trapped them between her cheek and her shoulder.

    Unfortunately, she could only protect one side. Ambryan went ahead to tickle her on the other side. His other hand stayed near her waist. Instincts instructed her to push his hands away but theughter absorbed her strength.

    "Am I not fun?" Ambryan teased, increasing his attacks.

    "NO!" Eve protested. "You''re a bully!"

    "These are affectionate tickles."

    "No, this is bullying!"

    "You know I only have love for you."

    The ringtone of a cell phone interrupted their tickling session. Eve patted the floor in search of her phone. Ambryan released her neck and focused on her waistit became fully exposed as she hunted for the mobile device.

    Eve eventually found it. It vibrated in her hand.

    She managed to open one eye to see who it was. A name shed on her phone screen. She hitched her breath and straightened her spine. Her head hit Ambryan on the chin.

    "Ow!" He uttered, cradling his jaw.

    Eve pressed a finger to her lips and showed her phone screen to Ambryan. He leaned closer, narrowing his gaze. He lowered the volume of the TV and gave his wife a warning look before nodding his head.

    This was the true test of their escapade.

    If they managed to fool this person, they could fool anyoneand that meant more alone time.

    "Hello? Aunt Avery?" Eve greeted, turning on the loudspeaker feature. She bit the tip of her thumb in suspense. Her hand began to shake. Ambryan seized her wrist to help stop it.

    "Eve," Avery said.

    A nket of silence followed. The couple exchanged worried looks.

    That wasn''t a good sign.

    "Yes?" Eve replied, her heart racing.

    "Why is the location of your phone in Maize City?"

 Chapter 362: SS4 09: The Homecoming Baby Package

    Chapter 362: SS4 09: The Homing Baby Package

    "Why is the location of your phone in Maize City?"

    The world fell silent. There was no TV background noise, no drops of water leaking from a faucet nor a singing cricket outside. Eve jerked her head up and made eye contact with Ambryan. Her husband stared back, mimicking her wide look.

    "Eve?" Avery spoke again. "Eve! I asked you a question."

    "Mother." Ambryan flickered his gaze towards the smartphone.

    "Yan? What are you doing in Maize City? Shouldn''t you be in Rome?"

    Gulping, Eve waited for Ambryan to say something. Her mind had gone as nk as the day she had a speech contest back in college. She bbered her heart out until one of the judges gave the cue that her time was up. Anything she could have said better rushed to her head after it was over.

    If only she had them during the actual contest.

    Why were the best responses always after when she needed them?

    "AMBRYAN HATHAWAY, ANSWER ME!" Avery yelled when the line became silent once again. Jackson looked up from his book. He lied on the bed with his back on the headboard. The passage had captured his entire attention that he hadn''t noticed his wife was on the phone until now.

    He sent a silent prayer for Ambryan and Eve.

    Ambryan opened his mouth. Then, he closed it again.

    "Don''t yell, mother. It might stress the baby."

    Eve smacked his arm. "AMBEE!"

    She couldn''t believe him! She knew bloody well he said that to soften his mother''s anger! Whatever happened to wanting some more privacy? All of their ns just flew out the window now. Well, mostly for Eve since she knew Avery and a few others would fuss over the baby.

    Ambryan recoiled but said nothing. It had only been a day and he already worried about the future ahead. If they remained secluded, who knew how many bad eating habits Eve would have? The only way for her to listen was to have more peoplewhich was precisely why she wanted to avoid their loved ones for now.

    But it was toote.

    Since Avery found them, there was no point in trying to hide anymore.

    "What babyIs Eve pregnant?" Avery felt her heart skip a beat. She nced over her shoulder, looking for her husband. "Darling, I think Eve is pregnant?"

    Jackson took off his reading sses. "Already?"

    Avery turned back to the phone before he could get a response. "Hello? Hello? You two better tell me the truth or I wille right down there this instant."

    Eve sighed. "4 weeks, Aunt Avery."

    She''d deal with Ambryanter.

    A piercing scream sted out of the speaker. Eve dropped her phone in surprise. Her hands went to her ears. "AAAAHHHH! This is magnificent news! I can''t believe this! I''m going to have a grandchild!"

    "You mean, we''re going to have a grandchild," Jackson corrected, standing by his wife''s side at once. He pressed his ear on the other side of her phone, eager to hear more.

    "Yes, yes. Same thing."

    He rolled his eyes. Once his wife was too excited, nothing else could distract her.

    Avery forced herself to calm down but her heart hadn''t stopped racing. All these blessings in a span of a year! She couldn''t be more grateful. "Since you''re back, when do you n oning home?"

    Eve bit her bottom lip. She exchanges looks with Ambryan. He saw the question in her brown eyes and nodded in encouragement. What could be the harm in trying?

    She picked the phone off the floor and tucked her hair behind her ear. When she spoke, her voice had softened from hesitation. "Can we have another 2 weeks to ourselves please? Our honeymoon was cut short after all."

    Avery frowned. She folded her free arm over her chest. "...And what do you mean by that?"

    "She means no visits, mother," Ambryan interrupted. He scooted closer to Eve and reached for her hand. His wife rarely had requests. If she wanted to extend their honeymoon, he''d dly support her.

    "What?! No! I won''t agree to it!" Avery huffed. She ced her hand on her hip, ring at the window. Jackson stepped back in caution. "Pregnancy is a crucial time. You need all the support you can get."

    "How about youe to appointments?" Eve suggested. Guilt filled her chest when the other side went silent this time around. She half-regretted her words. She should have phrased it better.

    "Eve are you driving us away?"

    Jackson blinked, his eyebrows shooting up. He positioned himself behind Avery and massaged her shoulders. She leaned back against him unconsciously.

    Hearing the madam''s voice, Eve knew she hit deep. Ambryan wrapped his arm around her shoulders and pulled her close. "It''s not that I intend towell, maybe I do. I''m just bummed out that my vacation was cut short."

    Avery took a deep breath. She understood a bit of Eve''s perspective now. Their itinerary was grand from what she could recall but flying wasn''t advisable at the moment. It was best for the couple to head back first.

    "You can still stay at home if you want. No need topletely stop your vacation period. You both already filed your leaves," the madampromised.

    "But I won''t get modelling projects once I start showing. That''s another long break..." Eve trailed off. It was back to work for her once they were out of hiding. She refused toze around while she was in good condition to work.

    "Right" Avery answered. Her shoulders sagged in defeat. She turned her head and made eye contact with Jackson. He offered a small smile. Another deep sigh flowed out of her nose. "Well, one week. That''s it. We''ll see you after a week. Okay?"

    Eve nearly leaped for joy. "Thank you, Aunt Avery!"

    "Yan, watch what she eats. If she doesn''t listen to you, give me a call."

    Ambryan chuckled. "I will take you up on that."

    Eve pinched his side, causing her husband to jump in his seat. They had one week to themselves! It was a miracle. Both couples said their goodbyes and Eve fell on her back. She stretched her arms while the smile on her face grew wider.

    "I can''t believe Aunt Avery let us go."

    "Don''t be so rxed if I were you," Ambryan said. Heid on his stomach beside her, drawing patterns over her abdomen. "Mother won''t let you go once the week is over. If you don''t listen, she''d hold this favor against you."

    Eve pursed her lips. He had a point. "I''ll deal with that when ites. Right now. I. Am. On. Vacation. And no one can stop me!"

    Ambryan grinned.

    Then, he hovered on top of herone hand on each side of her face.

    "Undisturbed for a week" he began to say. "I wonder what can happen in that time span."

    "As long as no one else finds we''re here you mean," Eve joked.

    "We must take every chance as if it''s thest then." Ambryan used his knee to spread her legs apart, implying what was on his mind.

    Red gs popped out on top of Eve''s head. "Now, now, Ambee There''s a baby in the family now. Don''t you think that this is inappropriate behavior for a baby to witness?"

    "But this is how a baby is made."

    "The baby doesn''t know that!"

    "I''m sure the baby will still understand."

    Ambryan proceeded to undo the buttons of her pajama top. Cold air caressed Eve on the spot between her breasts. She shivered but made no move to stop him. Ambryan leaned down to kiss her on the lips. Like a ma, she became glued to him and even lifted her head.

    The TV continued ying in the background. Ambryan patted the floor for the remote, turning the movie off. His hands grazed his wife''s bare waist, massaging it a little. Eve moaned into their kiss and reached up for the back of his hair.

    She could taste the pineapple on him.

    The vor seemed to suit him well.

    After her waist, Ambryan sneaked upward and nudged her top off her shoulder. He broke away to leave a soft bite. No matter how many times he touched her, it never ceased to amaze him how soft she was. His hand went around her back and she arched upwards, her breath hitching.

    Then, he nipped a bud with his teeth.

    Eve gasped.

    His other hand travelled downwards to her thighs. He pulled up her knee to the side of his hip. His fingers teased the waist belt of her pajama bottoms. The tips brushed the top of her underwear. He followed the lines to where it led him.

    On the other hand, Eve wasn''t about to lose.

    She traced the cor of his own pajama top until her hands found the buttons. One by one, she undid them and pushed it off him. Ambryan paused topletely take it off, throwing it aside. That moment was enough for Eve.

    Her legs seized his hips and turned them over.

    "Eve," Ambryan reacted at once. "I don''t think this position would be good for the baby."

    She smirked onto his lips. "Don''t lie. You just want to take charge."

    "If I remembered right, you had moaned countless times when I did."

    "Maybe. But I also like hearing you moan," Eve teased. She left a chaste kiss on his lips and moved downwards.

    If someone was about to be naked, it wasn''t going to be her!

 Chapter 363: SS4 10: The Homecoming Family Package

    Chapter 363: SS4 10: The Homing Family Package

    "Mom! Dad!"

    "Mom! Dad! Wake up!"

    Eve groaned, rolling onto her other side. She felt Ambryan''s body heat beside her and scooted closer. Her arm went around his stomach while her head rested on his shoulder. Ambryan stayed still, buried deep in slumber.

    Loud banging came from their bedroom door.

    Then, two pairs of feet ran up and jumped on the mattress.

    "Wow, mom. You''re not naked this time," a red-haired five-year old boy remarked.

    "Cain," Eve warned, instantly awake. She sat up abruptly and narrowed her gaze at her little troublemaker. He inherited the round shape of her eyes which masked the mischief mixed with their violet color.

    "It was just an observation" Cain muttered, blinking twice.

    Eve knew the act well so it didn''t fool her.

    "Well, I observe that mom looks prettier today," Cain''s older sister said. She crawled towards Eve and gave their mother a kiss on the cheek. The tips of her onyx ck hair tickled her chin.

    Eve scrunched her face in delight. At least, her daughter had a sweet side to bnce out Cain''s bluntments. "Thank you, Chloe."

    Chloe showed her pearly white teeth and fluttered her hazel eyes. "Those anti-aging creams must be working."

    "..."

    The other side of the bed began to shake, catching the attention of three heads. All their eyes nced in its direction. Eyes still closed, Ambryan had a wide grin on his lips. The shaking came from his shoulders due to theughter he couldn''t contain anymore.

    Eve red down at her husband.

    Then, she smacked his stomach. "What are youughing at?"

    Ambryan flinched from the pain but the smile he wore stayed the same. He finally let sleep go and also sat up. Azy look projected out of his eyes. After making eye contact with his pouting wife, he rustled Cain''s hair.

    The boy lit up immediately.

    Cain tackled his father and sat on hisp. If he had a tail, it would be wagging by now. Ambryan was his hero. He always got away with teasing Eve and Cain aspired to achieve the same someday. The expressions his mother made were always funny.

    "How do we have such savage kids?" Ambryan thought out loud.

    Eve tsked and rolled her eyes. "I me it on your genes."

    He snorted, pointing his lips at her. "And I me it on yours."

    "What are you two whispering about?" Chloe interrupted. She started tugging her mother by the arm and climbed down the bed. "It''s pic day! And we want to y in the park before the other kids get there! Right, Cain? Cain!"

    "Right!" Cain backed up, finally back to his senses. He nodded his head at Ambryan with determination clear in his eyes. "We have to im the swings before someone else does."

    Eve looked at the two alternatively. Memories sprung in her mind. She couldn''t even remember how many times they got into trouble at the yground anymore. "Do I need to remind you both that the yground is for sharing?"

    "That''s why we need to be early!" Chloe defended. "With no else there, Cain only pushes me on the swings. No one else will ask him to do it for them."

    Cain opened his mouth but realized what his sister said. "Why do I have to push you?"

    "Because I''m older!"

    "Only by a year!"

    "Alright. Stop it," Eve cut in, raising a hand in each of their directions. She gave her children a pointed look. Their mouths mmed shut at once. "If you want to go now, you need to eat breakfast and get ready first."

    They bowed their heads in defeat. "Yes, mom."

    Ambryan chuckled. A dull morning didn''t exist in their household. "How about this? Whoever eats, showers and dresses up the slowest will be pushing the other person on the swings."

    "DEAL!"

    Chloe and Cain bolted for the exit. Their parents could hear their loud footsteps as they raced down the stairs. The hinges for the pantry creaked faintly when the two reached the food pantry for their favorite cereals.

    Meanwhile, Eve arched an eyebrow at her husband. "Really?"

    "Apetitive spirit encourages growth." Ambryan shrugged.The method had been proven effective before when the kids fought over the TV remote.

    She shook her head, patting his thigh. "Come on, let''s join them for breakfast."

    Just before she could move an inch, a pair of strong warm arms wrapped around her waist. Ambryan kneaded her sides and started a trail of kisses from her shoulder up to her ear. "I think we have some spare time today"

    Eve hit his armbut a hint of a blush colored her cheeks. "See. This is why we got a second baby a year earlier than nned."

    "But the third baby is long overdue."

    "Get up or there won''t be a third baby."

    "I think everyone knows that."

    Eve grabbed the pillow and pressed it onto his face, knocking him over. Ambryan struggled to shove it off but Eve refused to back down. She used every bit of strength she could muster until she couldn''t endure it anymore.

    With onest push, she leaped off the bed and ran for the door. "See you, downstairs!"

    Ambryan stopped, taking a deep breath. He lifted the pillow off and tossed it aside. His head turned to the end table on his side of the bed. A smiling family photo met his gaze. All four of them had gone to the studio for it, the kids sitting between their parents.

    Eve wore the same strawberry dress from their first date and Chloe wore a small cherry version in light blue to match. Cain, on the other hand, wore a green suit and a ck bow tie for the cor of his white dress shirt. Ambryan wore a navy blue along with a silver tie.

    All the colors brought out a merry atmosphere that enhanced their smiles.

    Propping his elbow on the mattress, Ambryan rested his chin on the palm of his hand.

    "A third baby I wonder who would it resemble more?"

    "Don''t tell me you really want a third baby soon."

    His head snapped towards the open doorway. Eve used her shoulder to lean against the doorframe with her arms crossed over her chest. The corner of her lips slowly curled upwards.

    "What if I do?" Ambryan confessed. If someone were to ask him years ago if he liked kids, his response would have been an immediate ''No.'' They needed a lot of time and attention. He wouldn''t be able to fulfill them because of his work.

    But now, so what if he workedte sometimes?

    He could endure anything if it meant making free time for his family.

    Eve pursed her lips and nced up at the ceiling, seriously considering his words. When their eyes met again, she chuckled and stuck a thumb over her shoulder. "Instead of keeping it to yourself, why don''t we ask the kids? They also asked you to be the judge of who wins."

    Ambryan sighed and finally left the bed. "Such a big responsibility. Should I say it''s a tie?"

    "This was your idea. I''m staying out of it."

    He ced his lips close to her ear. "Coward."

    "I prefer the term ''cautious,'' thank you."

    Eve heard him snicker as he entered the hallway. She craned her neck to watch him head for the stairs. They hade so far over the yearsboth as a couple and as individuals. Ambryan no longer worked on the weekends while she matched her gigs to their kids'' school schedule so she''d pick them up on time.

    Her investments from back then had flourished with returns. It secured her enough not to book more projects. Apart from that, she wasn''t alone anymore. Ambryan was also there for their family''s financial support.

    And he was the same man who disappeared right before her eyes when he reached halfway down the stairs. Eve pushed herself off the door frame and closed their bedroom. Chloe and Cain began to yell once they spotted their father.

    Soon, she also joined in the fiasco.

    "Mom!" Chloe called out. "Be on my team!"

    Eve scrunched her eyebrows. "Team?"

    "No one is safe from the game, Eve," Ambryan answered. He sat beside Cain with a spoon in his hand. "As parents, we must give our kids our utmost support."

    "And we do that by joining them?" Eve reached the other side of the ind counter, sitting on the stool beside Chloe. Thetter handed her a spoon. She epted it and checked the two bowls, making sure they both had the same amount of milk and cereal.

    "It would be fun, mom," Cain encouraged. "Dad also says if we win, we''ll have a baby brother."

    Eve clicked her tongue. It all made sense now. "He did, huh? What happens if Chloe and I win?"

    "Then, it''s going to be a baby sister!"

    Her brain stopped functioning for a moment. "That''s not how"

    "I really want a baby sister, mom." Chloe pouted. She looked up at her mother''s face, a new sense of determination fueled her veins. "So we really have to win!"

    Eve dropped her jaw. It was a trap. Not only did Ambryan acquire their approval, by bringing her into thepetition, he would also gain her consent to have a third baby. He knew so well that she was weak to their hopeful eyes.

    Sighing, she pointed her spoon at Ambryan.

    "You better be the one to deal with this in the future."

    "What better time to have them learn a little bit about biology?" He smirked. "I doubt it will be a lesson they''d forget. To me, that''s a win on parenting."

    "..."

    Thepetitionmenced in a fierce battle. Both teams gave it their all. The breakfast segment ended in a tie. Empty bowls were put inside the dishwasher, away from everyone''s minds until they got back hometer. The boys took the lead after they finished their showers. But then, the girls gained the advantage because of their summer dresses.

    It was a tight race.

    And when thepetition ended, the winners were

 Chapter 364: OS 01: A Decade of Romance (Andie & Jarrett)

    Chapter 364: OS 01: A Decade of Romance (Andie & Jarrett)

    Today was a special day.

    Andie had long waited for this moment. She stared outside the window of the guest room. Her hand touched the ss. Renovations were finally done. George was born. Nothing else stood in the way of her wedding.

    "Knock, knock," she heard someone say while actually knocking at the same time.

    Her head whirled towards the door. "Jarrett?"

    She stood up from the chair and walked across the room. The hem of her white gown scraped against the floor. It was a simple off-shoulder with beading on the bodice and an A-line cut skirt. Her dirty blonde hair was tied up in a bun decorated in fake white flowers.

    "What are you doing?" She asked, pressing her ear on the door. They had decided to follow the tradition of not seeing each other before the ceremonySo why was he here?

    On the other side, Jarrett had two hands propped on the door. He picked a suit with a blue jacket with a gray vest underneath, thinking thebination matched Andie''s eyes well. The stylist pushed his medium blonde hair back for a ssic look.

    "Nervous?" He joked, his sky blue eyes crinkling at the corners.

    "What''s there to be nervous about? We''ve been together for 10 years." Andie snorted. Hearing her own words brought a sense of nostalgia in her chest. She spread her skirt and sat on the floor with her legs crossed.

    Her stormy blue eyes gazed at the door as if she could see Jarrett through it. "Do you still remember the day we met?"

    Jarrett bit his bottom lip and did the same thing. With both of their intense stares, it was as if the door didn''t exist at all. "How could I forget?"

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    10 years ago at Cornelia High, Jarrett Calhoun sat by himself for a quick lunch. He had brought food from hometwo lunch meat sandwiches, a banana and a juice bottle. His prescription sses were perched up his nose and a bookid open on the table for him to read.

    Several of his teachers announced back to back tests.

    He needed to study as much as he could before they started.

    The sound of a chair scratching the floor reached his ears. Then, the table shook from the sudden weight dropped on its surface. Jarrett paid no mind to it. It was normal for another person to join since he was alone.

    He was leaving for the library as soon as he was finished with his meal anyway.

    "You really are diligent," he heard a female voice say. "Studying even during lunchtime. No wonder you''re so smart. I should be more like you."

    Jarrett frowned. He looked up from his book to find a girl his age with her hair tied up in a high ponytail. She stretched her lips in a wide smile when they made eye contact. It was a smile meant to dazzle anyone or, at least, amuse them.

    But this didn''t faze Jarrett.

    "What exactly are you doing here?" He asked her. She looked familiar. Then again, after three years in this high school, it was about time to remember faces even if not their names.

    Andie tilted her head sideway. "Can''t I sit here?"

    "You can but" Jarrett paused. He clicked his pen and pulled up the book so it was standing. He could now use it to block the person from his sight if needed. "It probablyes with a motive."

    Merely amused, Andie cupped her cheek and propped her elbow on the table. This turned out to be a lot more fun than she thought. "You really are smart."

    Jarrett made a face, closing his eyes halfway. He stayed still for a moment. Should he y along or ignore her? The mental debate onlysted a few seconds before he surrendered. With a sigh, he closed his book and gave her his full attention.

    "Stop talking about my intelligence. What do you want?"

    Andie pursed her lips, studying him a bit more. He wore sses most of the time but it didn''t hide his good looks. His aloof attitude also gave him a mysterious vibe Jarrett arched an eyebrow, implying his impatience. Andie shook out of her daze and started unzipping her bag.

    "Do you like cupcakes?" She asked while taking out a tupperware and opening the lid. Two rows of blue cupcakes upied the entire space. "Because I made too much in cooking ss. Take some. You''ll be doing me a huge favor."

    Her eyebrows wiggled in persuasion.

    Jarrett nced at the cupcakes.

    Then, he shifted his focus back on her face. His other eyebrow perked up.

    Andie stuck out of her bottom lip and closed the lid. The conversation didn''t seem fun anymore. He was too serious for his own goodlike an old man facing a midlife crisis. "Fine! I was hoping you could tutor me in Math."

    "What did you say?" Jarrett frowned.

    "I said, will you tutor me in Math?" Andie repeated herself. She averted her gaze, feeling intimidated now that she revealed her intentions. He wouldn''t even take a cupcake. It was bound to go all downhill from here.

    Lines creased across his forehead. "And you are?"

    "I''m Andie Summers I sit behind you in Math ss with Mr. Fleming?"

    "Right."

    "I''m also on the cheer team," Andie flinched at her own words, realizing she had her cheer uniform on. That sounded way too dumb. He probably thought she was one too.

    Jarrett flickered his eyes towards the school logo on her uniform. "I can see that."

    ''Like rubbing salt on a wound,'' Andie thought. It was her own fault anyway. She walked right into that one. Shaking her head, she moved the topic along. "Anyway, can you help me? You always get good test scores. If I flunk again, they''ll kick me out of the team."

    "I don''t think so." Jarrett opened his book again, ready to get back to business.

    Andie reached out to grab it. "It''s just 2 hours from Monday to Friday."

    Jarrett yanked the book back but her grip was strong. He red openly at her pleading face. His teeth clenched in irritation. "Precious 2 hours and you have cheer practice so it would be veryte in the day."

    "But I really need your help," Andie tried again. She was flunking too much this year. A little more and she''d be kicked off the team. That was almost as bad as failing, especially when they were already in their junior year.

    "Ask someone else."

    "I''ve tried."

    "Ask them again."

    "Jarrett, please."

    Jarrett blinked three times at her tone. Did she do this to everyone she asked? How did they get rid of her? He better figure it out so she''d stop pestering him.

    His eyesnded on the tupperware. "You''re asking a huge favor and all you have is cupcakes?"

    Andie saw her chance. To her ears, that statement was an invitation topromise. It was the perfect moment to pull out her wild card. "If you tutor me in Math, I''ll help you get a date with Mindy. You like her, don''t you?"

    Jarrett went white as a sheet. He had never told anyone about Mindy. Heck, he never even whispered about it even to himself. "H-How"

    "I knew it." Andie tsked, a smirk tugging the corner of her lip. "Your eyes follow her everywhere, you know. I''ve seen you stare at her too many times to count. And by that, I mean, you''ve been attracted to her since freshman year."

    ''Freshman year'' Jarrett internally panicked. Thatst part hit home. He did started liking her then. They only spoke briefly once but it left an impression on him. Ever since then, he couldn''t help but watch when she was in the same room.

    "Am I that obvious?" He muttered, unaware of his actions.

    Andie held back a snort. She released his book and leaned forward. Her head hovered several inches up the table. His gaze followed her every move. She grinned and patted the top of his book. "Not to everyone. And don''t worry. I didn''t tell anyone either."

    When she pulled back, she opened her juice box and sipped on the straw.

    Jarrett hadn''t gotten over his shock yet.

    And that was her sign to seal the deal. "So will you help me?"

    Two weekster, Andie sat at a table in the library. She had a pocky stick hanging on the corner of her mouth and a pencil in her hand. Notes and scribbles lined up the side of her math book. She had written on any space avable so she''d have all the information in one ce.

    Jarrett picked up the chocte cupcake she got her pocky stick from. "Why do you have so many sweets? You practically bring a new batch every two days."

    Andie took out the pocky stick but kept writing. "That''s because everyone on the cheer team is conscious about their weight. They only take a cupcake once a week. Sounds extreme but my baking is so delicious, they''re scared to be tempted to eat more."

    "Then, you should bake less."

    "This IS less." Each cupcake batch was already half a dozen. The recipe ratio was enough for one egg. She couldn''t possibly reduce the egg to half. Not only was it too much work but it was absolutely ridiculous.

    Jarrett pinched out a bite of the cupcake as he ate it. Crumbs fell on the table but he didn''t care. "Howe you''re not worried about your weight?"

    "Because I don''t gain weight easily." Andie looked up to find him eating the cupcake she had her eyes on. He should have known that when she took the pocky stick off the frosting. "How about you? Are you now worried about your weight because you''re dating Mindy?"

    Jarrett paused mid-bite. He cleared his throat before giving a response. "I''m not dating Mindy."

    "Oh?" Andie shifted her attention back to her book. "Did the date not go well?"

    "It was fine but" he trailed off. "... she talks too much."

    They had gone out to the movies because Andie told him how Mindy wanted to see the new rom. They figured he''d have a higher chance if he took Mindy to the new fancy theater that opened at the mall. It had leather couches instead of the usual seats.

    Andie chuckled. "That bothers you? Aren''t you used to it yet after hanging out with me?"

    "But hers is a lot more annoying than I thought," Jarrett borated.

    He liked watching in silence with the asionalugh if the scene was funny but Mindy Mindy had ament on everything. She made it hard for him to focus on the movie. Couldn''t she have waited until after it was over before sharing her thoughts?

    And besides

    Andie mmed her hand on her book before Jarrett couldplete the thought.

    Her wide using eyes stared into his sky blue ones. "I''m offended."

    Jarrett froze in his seat. "W-Why"

    She pointed the eraser tip of her pencil at him. "How can you find someone more annoying than me? That is something I uphold with pride and joy. You can''t just find another girl more annoying. That''s rude. Rude, I tell you."

    "Mindy may be more annoying but no one has the chance to annoy me more than you." The words were out of Jarrett''s mouth before he could realize what they meant. His ears reddened almost immediately.

    Andie slowly showed him a smirk. "Are you saying that you like me?"

    "Um"

    "You have excellent taste, my dude," she continued, chuckling a little. "You''ll never find another girl like me in your entire lifetime."

    Jarrett grimaced. "Don''t call me, ''my dude.''"

    "But how would I beat Mindy then?"

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    Back in the present, Jarrett let out a long sigh. "I can''t believe you invited Mindy."

    "Why wouldn''t I invite her?" Andie turned her to her left and pouted. "I''m very grateful that she ruined your date. Otherwise, I might not have stood a chance."

    Jarrett grinned as he bit his bottom lip. He rose to his feet and straightened his suit jacket. He turned around and tucked his hands in his pockets. "Meet you at the altar?"

    "Maybe I won''t, just to annoy you."

    "But you can''t annoy me more if you don''t go."

    "True" Andie paused. She made a face towards the ceiling. "That''s a tough choice."

    "So? Are you marrying me?"

    She could hear the amusement in his voice. With a deep breath, she too stood up and stretched her arms. The sun seemed to shine brighter outside the window. It was hard not to feel optimistic about the future.

    "You''ll just have to wait and find out, my dude."

    The pastor stood under an arch made of vines and white flowers. He talked fondly to the bride and groom before him, amplifying his voice for everyone to hear. He chuckled to himself as the two sneaked adoring nces at each other.

    It gave him great joy when he finally said the following words, "You may now kiss the bride."

    Jarrett pulled the veil over Andie''s head. She wore light pink lipstick that reminded him of sweet candy. His arm snared around her waist and pulled her into a kiss, catching her by surprise. Their friends and family all stood up in apuse.

    Elias snapped photos from further down the aisle.

    He gave them a signal when they broke apart.

    "Drew~!" Andie called out to the front row. She handed her bouquet to Rose and pped her hands. Then, she held out her arms to the baby on her mother''sp. "Come to mommy."

    Drew inherited most of his mother''s features. Although, Jarrett would like to argue that his genes were also mixed in. Georgie walked towards them to hand over her grandson. A cute smile immediately lit up on his face.

    Andie carried him in her arms, bouncing him a little and kissing his temple. "My handsome little boy. You did a good job today. Look. Here''s mommy''s ring that you carried down the aisle."

    She showed her left hand and Jarrett also did the same. Both rings in front of him, Drew reached out to grab both. His parents and their guestsughed. Elias snapped his fingers to get their attention. His assistants had brought over a love seat for them to sit on.

    "Alrighty," he said, crouching down on one knee. "Big smiles."

    That photo would eventually hang in their living room for years toe.

    "Can we please have the entourage now?" Elias shouted over his shoulder.

    Eve stood behind Andie for the picture. Drew''s eyes flickered towards her.

    She made a face, causing him tough.

    Ambryan snorted. "You even attract babies now."

    "What are you trying to say?" Eve shot back, her jaw dropping.

    "But it''s cute," Rose cooed. Her hand unconsciously rubbed Eve''s stomach.

    "What''s cute?" Eve asked. She had her hands locked under her stomach, supporting the weight. Her due date was drawing close. It had both her and Ambryan tense but Rose''s touch was gentle andforting.

    "Andie was pregnant for your wedding. Now, you''re pregnant for her wedding. Are you both nning to be pregnant at my wedding?" Rose joked.

    "Who would marry you?" Mikael spoke up from Jarrett''s side of the seat. He posed professionally for the camera. Then, his gazended on Rose. He betrayed no emotion.

    She cleared her throat and shifted her attention back on the bride. "Let me fix your veil."

    Elias counted, making sure everyone was present. The bridesmaids faced the left while the groomsmen faced the right. Ambryan and Eve took up the middle, nearly facing each other. Everyone knew what to do

    except for Drew.

    His attention was elsewhere. Craning his head, he searched for Eve over his shoulder. He then leaned in her direction with his arms stretched in front of him. He had moved so fast that Andie nearly dropped him. Jarrett also became alert.

    Eve instantly grabbed the baby by his arms. "Drew, are you okay?"

    He responded in an incoherent manner. None of their gestures stopped him from his pursuit.

    Jarrett was the first to realize what was going on. "Oh, no."

    "What?" Andie interrogated.

    "If you move him closer to Eve, you''ll see."

    Confused, Andie did what he said.

    And that was when Drew touched Eve''s stomach.

    Ambryan raised his finger as a warning. "If you want to date my daughter, you better hand in your resume first. I won''t be lenient just because your mother is best friends with my wife."

    Eve rolled her eyes and smacked the back of his shoulder. "Stop scaring him. He''s just curious since my stomach is big."

    "Yeah," Rose backed up. "Maybe he''s actually trying to say that he wants a sibling."

    Her head snapped towards the newlyweds. "Right, mommy and daddy?"

    Jarrett coughed while Andie pulled Drew back. Georgie iled his favorite toy beside Elias. At that, Drew forgot about Eve''s stomach and directed his focus on the stuffed turtle. Hisughter livened up the atmosphere.

    Elias quickly called for their attention and looked through his lens.

    Gin glowered from his seat, already done with the festivities. Since his sister had the perfect love story, their rtives would be hopelessly wishing him the same. Just the thought of it made him sick to his stomach.

    "You look like you ate poop," Edemented. She hopped on the empty chair beside him.

    "How have you been, little brat?" He greeted her, shing his teeth in a wide smile.

    "I''m not little anymore!"

    "Oh, really?" Gin taunted andpared her height to his. The top of her head only reached his shoulder. Knowing how she''d react, he teased her a bit more. "Maybe you''ll grow some more but don''t get your hopes up."

    Ede huffed. Her mood was the opposite of his. "Want to bet?"

 Chapter 365: OS 02: A Week of Relationship (Richard & Tiffany)

    Chapter 365: OS 02: A Week of Rtionship (Richard & Tiffany)

    Richard rubbed the drowsiness out of his steel gray eyes as he stepped out of the bedroom. He normally couldn''t sleep in someone else''s house but his workload doubled for this week. He stayed up until his body couldn''t handle it anymore.

    "Morning."

    "Gah!" Richard stopped in his tracks and jumped. It was his third day staying over at Tiffany''s. For the past two mornings, he woke to an empty apartment. He also came back to it still empty. She was a famous model so he figured her days were full-packed.

    It was like he worried over nothing.

    But that didn''t seem to be the case anymore.

    "Coffee?" Tiffany offered, raising her cup. She sat on the table with her phone in her other hand. She had her purple hair up in a messy bun and worefortable clothes. tes of pancakes, scrambled eggs and bacon wereid out on the table.

    Richard regained hisposure and headed for the coffee maker. "No early work today?"

    "I''m free for the next 3 days actually," she exined before taking a sip of her coffee. A new site covered her phone screen. "Then, I''ll be off to Mn. Help yourself with the food. I ordered it from the diner nearby. Felt a littlezy to cook."

    "I see" Richard filled his mug with the coffee left in the pot. He nced over his shoulder and found Tiffany scrolling through articles. A te was already on the other side of the table. He sat in front of it and assessed the food.

    "What about you? What work ns do you have?" Tiffany locked her phone, watching him. This had to be their first proper conversation since living together for a week. She almost felt bad that they hadn''t crossed paths until now.

    But maybe it was also better this way.

    "Nothing much."

    The pancakes gave off a creamy and sweet scent. The eggs were perfectly scrambled and the bacon was lightly crisped. Richard took one of everything to start with. After the first bite, he nodded his head in approval. They tasted as good as they looked.

    "How much do I owe you for the food?" He asked.

    Tiffany gave him a deadpan expression. "You don''t have to pay. If you insist though, I could use a little more detail about your day. People might ask me where you are and I don''t want to look like an idiot."

    Richard reached for some water. "Are you going somewhere?"

    She nodded, her mind wandering to the clouds. "I want to shop a bit, visit favorite spots and maybe see what''s new in the city I''ll be gone for a month so I don''t want to miss out on thetest Maize City trends before that."

    "How long will you be gone?"

    "I''ll probably leave around lunch so I might be back a littlete."

    "Alright."

    Tiffany clenched her teeth. It was him who was supposed to talk. Howe she ended up being the one to share her ns? In the end, she dropped it and shook her head. She would just have to wing it if it was necessary.

    Unlike her, Richard wasn''t aware that he dodged her request.

    "You look deep in thought," Tiffany told him after a moment of silence.

    He raised an eyebrow. "Do I?"

    She clicked her tongue and narrowed her ck eyes. Her lips pursed in concentration. Then, she snapped her fingers while her face lit up. "Are you worried if Ambryan and Eve did it in your house?"

    Richard spit out his coffee.

    "You''re sooo easy to startle." She cackled.

    He wiped himself clean. "You''re really having fun, huh?"

    Tiffany folded her arms over the table. "What else is there to do in this situation?"

    Richard opened his mouth to retort but an rm rang out from his smartwatch. He dismissed it and quickly ate thest bite. "I''ll be leaving first."

    "Take care, honey!" Tiffany shouted as he headed for the front door.

    He winced but waved his hand without looking back. He could almost see the mischief on her face. After taking a breath, he opened the door and came out as a different man. His mind began preparing for the office work waiting for him.

    Tiffany swept her around the apartment. It was almost like he was never hereuntil her gaze fell on the empty mug and te across the table. She scrunched her nose. "He couldn''t even put them in the sink."

    Then, an old saying popped into her head. "Or does he believe I''ll be single forever if he did that?"

    She red at nothing and drank the rest of her coffee. "What an odd person."

    Hourster, Tiffany walked around the mall. Shanel sunsses covered the top part of her face. She cut out a full set of bangs just to conceal her forehead. Long aquamarine extensions fell down her back, creating an ombre effect on her hair.

    She picked a baggy ck shirt and tight denim jeans to finish off the look.

    It was a near perfect disguise.

    Tiffany stopped by a window disy. The mannequin wore an off-shoulder cocktail dress. What attracted her to it was the cut of the bodice. It looked structured to give a nice shape. She waltzed inside the store and talked to the sales representative she found, pointing to the mannequin.

    "Can I try this?"

    The sales rep widened her eyes. "Are you a model?"

    "Uh" Tiffany pressed her lips together and tucked her hair behind her ear. A sheepish smile spread across her face. "Am I that pretty?"

    "Mm." The sales rep nodded vigorously. It was like meeting a celebrity! "Your body shape is also like the mannequin too so I''m sure the dress will look good on you. Let me just get another stock so you can try it on."

    Tiffany appreciated her enthusiasm. "Thank you."

    Richard nearly slept against the elevator wall. The board gave him a hard time during the meeting. Their investments hadn''t done well over the past six months. He studied statistics and projections for hours, trying to find a way to boost their profits.

    He needed a solution or he might lose his job.

    His secretary followed right behind him when he exited the lift.

    "Ugh, I can''t wait to get some sleep," Richard thought out loud without looking his way. "Must have been hard on you too, Scott. I had to stop my usual work just to look for our next investment. Do you need a ride? I can drop you off."

    Richard unlocked his car and went towards the driver''s side. Scott gawked at his back. Then, at the vehicle. He switched back and forth and processed what his boss had said. "M-Mr. Kingston... Aren''t you going to meet with Ms. Tiffany?"

    Opening the door, Richard angled his body towards his secretary. "What makes you think that?"

    A few whispers followed him since Tiffany made a scene at the airport. No one dared to ask him directlynot until now. He studied Scott carefully. If he was being honest, he had been waiting for her name toe up at some point between them.

    He had been conflicted whether to let his secretary know the truth or not.

    Scott opened his mouth, thinking he made a mistake. It was toote for regrets so he fell down the hole he created. "S-Someone posted that they saw her sitting alone at a restaurant. Isn''t she waiting for you?"

    Richard checked the time on his watch.

    It was almost nine in the evening.

    ''What was she doing?'' He questioned himself. Tiffany seemed more than willing to y along the charade So why would she have dinner outside by herself? The news outlets would be all over it and fabricate some messed up story that they fought.

    Scott pressed his lips together, waiting for his boss to respond.

    It was odd how Richard hesitated.

    Wouldn''t most lovers run off to their date even if they initially forgot about it?

    "Miss, are you alone?" Tiffany heard from the seat across from her.

    She nced up from her ss of fruit cocktail. A bored expression projected out of her eyes. The man wore casual clothes though this was a high-ss restaurant. He had to be one of the reporters that were tailing her.

    Her eyebrow arched up pointedly. "Did I give you permission to sit there?"

    "So cold."

    "Then, I suggest you leave and buy a jacket."

    Tiffany proceeded to ignore him. She increased her drinking speed. As much as she wanted to leave right away, she didn''t believe in wasting foodor even a drop of her fruit cocktail. The reporter clenched his teeth.

    Didn''t celebrities need to maintain a good image?

    He had just handed her a golden opportunity by sitting here. The public were voicing negativements about her current situation. Whatever she had to say, he could spread it almost instantly and turn the tide.

    But, before he could speak this out, a hand mped down his shoulder.

    His eyes looked up to find a pair of steel gray ones. Richard red down at him, his fingers digging into thetter''s skin. "What are you doing?"

    The reporter paled.

    "I-I see you have a date.'' He chuckled awkwardly and rose to his feet. His knee hit the table, causing him to trip. Richard merely stepped out of his way. He scrambled to escape. "I-I''ll be leaving then."

    Richard sighed and loosened his tie. His gaze shifted towards Tiffany. She stared back with wide eyes, unfazed by the whole ordeal. "Looking at you now, I wouldn''t think you were the same person inside that limo when we talked to Ambryan and Eve. You sounded helpless back then."

    "What are you doing here?" He asked her, taking a seat. His face rxed once he sat down. More eyes had paid attention to their table. If he wasn''t careful, they could mistake the mood of their conversation.

    Tiffany shrugged in response. "I walked around all day and needed a break. It might not look like it but this ce has some of the best alcoholic drinks in the city."

    "But isn''t what you''re doing ruining the whole picture that we''re dating?" Richard pointed out. A waiter passed by their table, asking for their order. Richard requested for a ss of water. Tiffany didn''t seem to order yet so she might not have nned to stay long.

    "Look at you being cooperative." She giggled. The alcohol tingled on either side of her head.

    The waiter came back to serve Richard his ss of water. He drank it in one go. "Might as well have one thing go right. I can''t fuck up on everthing or I''ll go insane."

    He mmed the empty ss on the table, causing Tiffany to jump in her seat. She set her own ss down and studied him. Initially, she thought he was in a bad mood because of the scene she made. Why else would he have showed up?

    But, now,

    "Hey, is everything okay with you?" Tiffany caught herself asking. When Richard met her eyes with a deadpan expression, she saw his answer. "Stupid question, I know."

    "Just have a losing streak," Richard added. He turned his head towards the window. Thankfully, the paparazzi situation calmed down a bit. The restaurant had a top security team. He was surprised to find a reporter talking to Tiffany.

    Unless she nned itRichardh shook his head. This wasn''t the time to create spection.

    He would have better luck in using this energy for his next business n.

    Tiffany sympathized with him a little. It wasn''t anything special. Every person must have been in that ce at least once. She stretched her arm to pat hold his fist that rested on the table. Richard snapped his eyes back towards her.

    A teasing grim bloomed on her lips. "It''s times like this when you need a girlfriend."

    Richard frowned. That wasn''t something he wanted to hear, especially in this sour mood.

    A retort was at the tip of his tongue when Tiffany suddenly continued talking.

    "You''ll just have to settle for a fake one." Standing up, she moved her hand to his wrist and gripped it tight.

    "Come on. I''ll show you something."

    "Wha" Richard lost the ability to think. His attention went all over the ce until he noticed the shopping bags left on her seat. "What about your bags?"

    "My manager will take them back," Tiffany assured him and tried again. This time, Richard lifted his bottom off the seat. "I doubt you go out thiste because of how overworked you are. So you definitely have to see the city at this time at least once."

    The next few minutes was a blur for Richard. They somehow reached the parking lot and climbed inside his vehicle. The city lights surrounded them as the wheels rolled down the street. Tiffany had her window open, letting the wind inside.

    Richard pursed his lips. "Where are we going?"

    "Just go wherever the road takes us," Tiffany cackled. Then, she closed her eyes. The cool air caressed her skin. Without the view, it almost seemed like she was out on an adventurean endless one that could take her anywhere, even the stars.

    Richard nced in her direction and found her in that position.

    He took a deep breath, deciding to go along with it. He could also temporarily forget his problems by worrying about hers first. Eventually, the tall buildings disappeared and a line of small stores covered either side of the road.

    As if she had a sensor, Tiffany opened her eyes and pointed at a street corner.

    "Turn right here."

    At the end of the street was a small eatery. It had the exterior of a minimart but the hanging sign clearly said, "Stitz''s Pizzeria." Tiffany quickly opened her door and raced towards the small window near the counter.

    "Auntie!" She called out, pumping her legs. "Auntie, give me tokens!"

    A hand came out of the window to smack her head. "Who are you calling an aunt? You''re not a kid. You have no right to call me an aunt."

    "Aw,e on." Tiffany pouted, rubbing the sore spot "I''ve known you since I was in high school. You didn''t mind it back then."

    "You were still a student at the time."

    "But I can''t call you, ''sister'', now! It''s weird!"

    "Um" Richard uttered. If he didn''t make a sound, neither party would have noticed his approach. The pizzeria owner stuck her head out. She pulled out her sses to see him under the faulty street lights.

    "And who is this?" She asked.

    Tiffany seized the opportunity to reel the conversation back to the original topic. "He''s someone bored and in a bad mood. We need tokens to cure it."

    "Hm," the owner grunted, giving Tiffany the side-eye. She reached into her apron pocket for a few tokens. "I think I read somewhere that he was your boyfriend."

    Happy to see the copper coins, Tiffany snatched them and counted. "Auntie how can you still gossip at your age? You''ll grow old faster."

    "Why you!"

    Then, she ran off towards the entrance of the pizzeria. "Thank you for the tokens! Come on."

    The owner sighed and looked at Richard. She nudged her head. "You should go before she uses them all up. Despite how enthusiastic she is, she''s actually a bad yer."

    Richard gave a shy smile and nodded before following Tiffany. The pizzeria had various attractions in front of their shop. It wasn''t obvious before because of the night sky. The streetmps and lighting from inside the pizzeria turned them into silhouettes.

    "What''s this?"

    Tiffany sat down, her knees higher than the bench "You''ve never seen an arcade cab?"

    "But it''s so" Richard trailed off. It didn''t lookfortable but she didn''t seem to mind.

    "Small? That''s what makes it more fun!" Tiffany inserted the tokens and patted the empty space on the bench. "Come,e. Sit, sit."

    Richard thought for a moment. Then, he shrugged off his suit jacket and ced it on top of the arcade machine. Game music yed out of the speaker while the screen asked for both yers to pick their characters. The joystick was the size of his thumb.

    "What pizza do you two want?!" The owner screamed from the window.

    "Everything on it. Plus two beers!" Tiffany shouted back. The game started and she pushed the buttons aggressively, attacking Richard''s character with a flying kick.

    "Alright. I''ll have the busboy get you your beers."

    Tiffany responded back and bumped her shoulder against Richard. "You''re not allergic to anything, right?"

    If he didn''t know any better, he''d think she did it on purpose to throw him off. Unfortunately for Tiffany, he wasn''t about to let his guard down that easily. He returned the flying kick she sent and knocked down a few hp points off her character.

    "Not that I know of." He shrugged, acting nonchnt.

    "Good. And you are sooo going to pay for that."

    "You''re even worse than kids," the pizzeria owner scolded the two. It was an hour after closing time and they still yed with the arcade cab. "Shoo. Go home. I have no space for you two to sleep in."

    "But, Auntie" Tiffany whined. She yawned as soon as she stood up. Her legs bent like jelly from sitting too long.

    Richard caught her and steadied her on her feet, not letting go. He smiled at the pizzeria owner. "Thank you for the hospitality. I enjoyed the pizza very much."

    The front door bell rang and a man stepped outside. "I''ll be off."

    He headed for the truck parked on the other side of the pizzeria. Tiffany took a step forward when she heard his voice. Richard stayed close to catch her. "Where are you going?"

    "Our supplier can''t make deliveries today," the man exined, opening the driver''s side. "I want to head over to pick them up. It''s a long drive. If I want to make it back before opening, I need to go now."

    "They''re also close friends so he can take a bit of rest before heading back," his wife backed up. She waved and sent him a flying kiss.

    Tiffany squinted her eyes at Richard.

    He arched an eyebrow. That didn''t look good. "What are you thinking?"

    A mischievous smile spread across her face. "Do you have anyone who can pick up your car?"

    "You''re not thinking about" Richard stopped the thought. He should have known from the start how dangerous this woman was. Her impulsive nature never took a break. The asional impulse was fine but today already had enough tost him a month!

    "Two more days and I''m out of your hair," Tiffany reminded him. She ran up to the driver and shared her ns. Her face lit up when he expressed his approval. Not a moment to lose, she jumped on the back of the truck.

    Richard only had one thought.

    Was he really about to let a woman go off alone in the middle of the night?

 Chapter 366: OS 03: A Future to Achieve (Mila & Elias)

    Chapter 366: OS 03: A Future to Achieve (M & Elias)

    [A/N: With a little Ambeevan.]

    ```This is CBB News bringing you thetest gossip on the hottest couples in the country. One of the wealthiest known bachelors in Maize City, Richard Kingston, revealed his romantic not too long ago. Recent reports state that the CEO of Venus Investments was spotted in Mn, Italy along with model, Tiffany Quartz, at Piazza dei Mercanti for a```

    The LED TV yed in the background as M sat in front of a digital piano keyboard. Her back towards the news and headphones over her ears, she used a pencil to write the next notes in hertestposition.

    A short clip of Tiffany and Richard appeared on the screen. Her fingers flew across the keys, ying the melody she had so far. It fit right into the scenery of the piazza as if transported back in time when love stories consisted of serenading on balconies and windows.

    When the notes she wrote finished, she kept going and let the music speak to her.

    A knock came from the door.

    She didn''t hear it.

    After knocking a second time, Elias decided to open the door. He leaned on the door frame and crossed his arms over his chest. Boxes covered the corners of their new apartment. They hadn''t finished unpacking since moving to a new ce.

    His chocte eyes scanned across the room. He didn''t imagine M would prefer a small space such as this but watching her y, she seemed at home. Things were finally looking up for them. He wouldn''t want anything to ruin this picture.

    M stopped ying and rolled her neck.

    That was when she caught something from the corner of her. Her lips shed a wide smile. She pulled her headphones off and greeted her boyfriend. "Elias! You''re back!"

    "Yep! I am home," he replied, skipping to her side. She scooted over the bench and let him sit. He kissed her temple before talking again. "I also stopped by the school. Want to see what shots I got?"

    M nodded her head and Elias booted up his camera. Photos came into view on the tiny screen. Her eyebrows scrunched as he scrolled through them. "... These are all the trees behind it."

    "Well, what do you expect?" Elias chuckled. "The building is still under construction."

    The Magical Symphony finally got the green light for their expansion. They had chosen an old building near the field at the base of the mountain. M still found being close to nature as the best setting for musical inspiration and for motivation.

    It would almost seem like they had teleported somewhere remote.

    "..." M rolled her eyes at his cheeky expression.

    She left her headphones on her shoulders and reyed thest few notes, humming a melody. Elias bolted for the remote the moment a scowl appeared between her eyebrows. He shut off the TV as she turned around to re at the noise.

    "Why did you even leave it on if you were going topose?" Elias jested. He tossed the remote back and ced his hands on his hips.

    "I probably"

    "forgot about it," he finished for her. Deadpan eyes stared back at him. They only caused him tough. "You''re so predictable. It''s cute."

    "Hmph!" M returned to her keyboard, reaching for her headphones. If he had already known that, he shouldn''t have asked. There was no need to mock. As someone who would be dazed for days, Elias should have been more sympathetic.

    A hand grabbed her wrist before she could cover her ears.

    yfulness had left Elias''s face. "Hey, M"

    She stiffened her shoulders. "Y-Yes?"

    Elias moved to the right side of the bench. His eyes dropped to the floor. This turned out to be harder than he imagined. "I know we just moved in together"

    "But?" M prodded. He was taking too long. The seconds sounded loud in her ears.

    "But I''d like to take a new step into our rtionship," Elias breathed out in one go. Once that was out in the open, his posture rxed.

    M''s breathing sped up. "What are you saying?"

    He held both of her hands in his, crouching down to the floor. His thumbs brushed over her knuckles while his mind thought of how to say the following words. "I know this may sound sudden. But I was walking down the street earlier after I left the school and"

    Elias reached into his pocket.

    The piece of paper weighed like a ton in his hands. He unfolded it for her to read.

    "Will you adopt a puppy with me?"

    M blinked, widening her emerald eyes. She hunched down and snatched the adoption paper. The logo of a local pet shop was at the top right corner. Elias also clipped the photo of the dog for her to see.

    Large brown eyes smiled at the camera. Its ears fell down on either side of its small face. The waves of silky ck fur made the ears look like it had two pigtails. The dog had its tongue out. It had to be one of the cutest creatures M has ever seen.

    Her heart leaped at how adorable the puppy was.

    "Wha" M choked but the corners of her lips tugged upwards. But a wary thought popped into her head. Sadness welled up inside her.

    She looked at her boyfriend with an unsure gaze. "A dog? I agree on the responsibility part, Elias. We both work long hours. Sometimes we even get buried in it so much, we don''t even realize how much time passed."

    Elias inhaled sharply, exhaling in the same manner. He had considered this too. Both of them were artists who immersed themselves in their craft as if nothing else in the world existed.

    "I understand your concerns, M," he started to say. "But if we''ll someday start a family"

    M knew what he meant even before he could finish. She averted her gaze and bit her bottom lip. Their current lifestyle wasn''t healthy enough for a family life. Babies needed special attention and care. Although she''d take the time off, she couldn''t give up her passion for long.

    Was there a way to have both?

    "Then, do you think we can do it?" She asked Elias, searching for an answer on his face.

    "I know we can." Elias rose to his feet and kissed her temple. "When do you want to visit the shop?"

    M thought about it for a moment. If he believed that then, she would have to do her best. They''ll both make it workfor them, the puppy and their future children.

    She stood up from the bench and said, "Right now sounds good."

    They could worry about the futureter. What she wanted the most now was to see this fur baby in the flesh.

    "She''s so adorable!" M gushed inside the pet store. The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel leaped into her arms the moment she and Elias were in its line of sight. She dropped down to her knees, meeting the puppy halfway.

    "Have you named her yet?" She asked Elias as she straightened her legs. He patted the puppy in her arms and smiled at how rxed the canine was. It was all going to be alright. They will have many happy memories together.

    "I haven''t yet," Elias said. He looked up at M''s eyes. "Naming gives attachment. If you had refused to adopt, I''d have to break both my heart and the puppy''s."

    "So dramatic." She chuckled, directing a loving gaze at the new addition to their family. "What should we name her then? Oh, did the shop give her a name?"

    The store representative jumped in to respond. "She''s one of the dogs from the shelter. We sometimes take a few in so there would be space for more strays. They named her, ''Yae''."

    "Yae" M tried. "Sounds like a happy moment."

    Elias pursed his lips. "Pretty sure it has different meanings in othernguages."

    "Well, I like it. Want toe home with us, Yae?"

    Yae barked with enthusiasm. M, Elias and the store representative were delighted to hear it. The sound of a wind chime caught their interest. Their eyes went to the front door and found no one. Instead, the sound came from the connecting door to the vet''s.

    Two people walked into the store with a cat in each of their arms.

    Elias spotted them first.

    "Oh," Eve gasped when she noticed the couple.

    "Back so soon?" Elias questioned the returning newlyweds. He pointed alternatively between the two. "Weren''t you supposed to be gone for another month or two?"

    "Are you both behind the news?" Eve responded on behalf of her and Ambryan. Her hand rubbed Kiri''s belly continuously. "We got back a week ago. Most people already know about it."

    "Sorry we''rete to hear it then," M cut in. Then, she thought about it. "But I think a new couple is to me for that. They are about to kick you out of the limelight."

    Eve and Ambryan exchanged a look, knowing exactly who she meant. Blueberry slept in Ambryan''s arms without a care in the world.

    "How are you, M?" Eve asked.

    "Good, good. Came here to pick up your cats?"

    "Had taken them for a check up and some grooming since we were gone for some time." Eve turned her head towards the wall to her right. She pointed towards it while saying, "If you''ll excuse me, I need to get cat food."

    "Right this way, ma''am," the store representative escorted her.

    "What brings you back though?" Elias questioned Ambryan, his eyebrow raised. "Don''t take it the wrong way but I rarely hear about a honeymoon cut short for reasons other than the couple had a fallout."

    Ambryan sighed to himself. He lost count how many times he answered this question. Luckily, it hadn''t reached the press yet. "Eve''s not allowed to travel for a while. We figured we should go home if that was the case."

    "Is she sick?" M knitted her brows.

    "Oh, no. She''s healthy as a horse. A little more nauseous every now and then." Ambryan winked in her direction. No one could wipe off the silly grin on his face. "Especially mornings."

    M received the underlying message loud and clear. Her heart leaped with joy. "Oh my gosh! Congrattions! I''m so happy for you guys! "

    Yae sensed her elevated amount of energy, barking in return. A pair of blue eyes snapped open and shifted towards the yapping puppy. Blueberry silently watched the annoying ball of fur. His ws extended and retracted while he tried to remain calm.

    Elias turned to M. "I don''t get it."

    Ambryan used this opportunity to attend to his wife. The staff was kind enough to carry the bags of food and cat litter for her. He kissed her temple without warning. Eve gave him a yful pout before they walked towards the counter together.

    "Eve is carrying a new family member," M exined to Elias.

    He craned his neck to check on Eve. "Isn''t that Ambryan''s old cat?"

    "In her womb."

    "Oh!" Elias blinked, his jaw hanging open. "Wow, That should have been obvious. I don''t know why I didn''t get it."

    M shook her head. Sometimes she wondered what was going through Elias''s head. He was normally smarter than this. When the newlyweds passed them by on their way to the door, M beamed at Eve. "Eve, congrattions on the baby. I''m sure he or she will be as beautiful as you."

    "Everlee Hathaway is pregnant?!" A bystander yelled inside the store. The manager immediately rushed into action, ushering the fake customer away. A few murmurs surrounded the group.

    "Whoops," Eve muttered, unfazed by the incident. They were talking about how to make the announcement but this just solved that problem. It felt weird to post about it when the important people already knew about the good news.

    M had her eyes wide with guilt. "I''m so sorry about that"

    "Don''t worry about it," Eve interjected. She nudged her husband in the ribs. "I''m sure Ambryan doesn''t mind knocking Richard''s rtionship down the trending topics."

    "You make me sound so petty." Ambryan scowled.

    "I know. You make it look adorable sometimes, that''s why." Eve directed another reassuring smile at M and Elias. "We''re serious. You just saved us from having to make a public statement. We''ll be going first then."

    M stared at the floor after the newlyweds left. Yae observed her closely, studying the emotions that shed in her emerald eyes. Suddenly hearing about the pregnancy made M feel nostalgic. If things were still the same as back then, she might have felt sad or even felt envious of them.

    She looked down at Yae and smiled.

    "What''s the matter?" Elias spoke beside her.

    "It''s just... I realized how amazing life is," M started to say. Her scattered thoughts formed into sentences. "I heard about Ambryan from Aunt Avery many times before. We talked about him every time we met and how she thought Ambryan would never marry or have kids."

    "I would always tell her that the right time wille. What she didn''t know was that I was imagining myself to be a part of that time." She took a deep breath and held Yae up to her eye level. "But now"

    "But now you''re thinking about another guy and talking about him around me." Elias frowned. He took Yae from her hands and approached the counter. They were supposed to be taking a new step in their lives, not walking backwards.

    M rushed to catch up and shoved her shoulder against his arm. Her cheeks turned red. "You know it''s not like that. Those things don''t affect me anymore."

    "You''re blushing right now."

    "That''s because it''s cute when you act petty from jealousy." She hopped onto her toes to peck his cheek. "If I heard about this, the old me might have done something ridiculous like Jane. Like her, I only saw Ambryan in my future. That''s all in the past now and... because of you, I''m having a future I adore much more than my fantasies."

    Elias halted in his steps. He snatched her hand and squeezed it. His chocte brown eyes red into her emerald ones. "You''re nothing like her, you hear me? Don''t everpare yourself to that that"

    M pressed a finger to his lips, trying not tough. "Don''t finish that. She made terrible decisions but don''t curse her. Think about it. If it weren''t for her, I don''t think we might have met. It''s the least we could do."

    He snorted, letting Yae down. "We would have crossed paths sooner orter."

    "I didn''t know you believed in fate."

    "I don''t. All roads are just connected one way or another."

    The couple headed back to their new apartment after signing the paperwork. They also bought supplies and discussed where her stuff would be. Yae dashed out of her cage as soon as they released her inside. She went to work and familiarized herself with her new home.

    M put away the food and let Elias do the rest.

    She had a project to finish.

    Days went by and the keyboard filled the home with a light melody. Yae instantly became a fan and lied down beside M every time she sat in front of the keyboard. Elias monitored her progress as he worked. Something seemed off about it. So much time had passed but M''sposition didn''t seem to lead anywhere.

    When he finished editing the photos in his studio, he stepped out and looked at her.

    Her mouth moved as she yed the keyboard. That was his first clue.

    "M, what are you doing?" The curiosity finally got the best of him.

    She yelped, causing her fingers to smash on the keys. He walked over and sat on the bench next to her. "You''re hardly using more than six notes. That''s not like you."

    M couldn''t look him in the eye. Elias sneaked a peek at her music sheet. Scribbles were written under the staff lines and the notes. He leaned closer for a better look.

    Hearing only silence, M nced over her shoulder.

    She followed his line of sight and snatched the music sheet.

    "Were you" Elias propped an elbow gently over the keys. "Writing a song?"

    M scoffed and ced her folded music sheet back on the stand. "I''m not good, okay? I never tried to write lyrics before. No need to mock me."

    "Now, why would I mock you?" He said. "''Eyes that have me craving for chocte'' sounds like a sexy line. I wonder where you got the inspiration. Must be equally sexy."

    Yae barked in agreement while M cringed and buried her face in her hands. Writing lyrics was harder than she realized. The creative frustration felt familiar but she had no clue how to find thatthat voice which wanted to sing.

    Elias relished in his girlfriend''s embarrassment for a moment. M was alwaysposed even when she was frustrated over the melodies of herpositions. This was a rare sight that will be forever engraved in his mind.

    "Why are you trying to write lyrics anyway?" He

    "Because" M trailed off. "I''m not good with words."

    She hadn''t realized how bad it was until now.

    "I think I understand you just fine," Eliasforted her. He yed a few notes, remembering a lesson from when he was a child. "Just do what you always do. Although..., I didn''t know this but do I now owe you a chocte bar for every time our eyes meet?"

    "Elias!"

    "Or would you prefer a piece of me instead?"

    "ELIAS!" M scolded louder. She pointed at the floor. "There''s a kid in here!"

    He nced at Yae who lookedpletely unaware of the growing mood. "She''s not that young anymore. I have to be a good role model so she can pick out a good partner. That mut in the park will never get my approval."

    "Why? Does he intimidate you?"

    "M, I''m a grown man."

    "And somehow you find a dog to be more manly than you."

    "The opposite! That dog can''t protect her."

    Yae ignored the banter of her parents and went to the balcony. She stared at the building across the street. As if sensing her presence, a white havanese also appeared in his own balcony and found her instantly.

    They stayed still with longing in their eyes.

    Maybe someday they''d have their own story.

 Chapter 367: OS 04: A Secret to Unravel (Mikael & Rose)

    Chapter 367: OS 04: A Secret to Unravel (Mikael & Rose)

    "Pregnancy looks good on you, Eve," Rose spoke from the living room couch. She turned her head towards the kitchen that was separated by a long counter. "It''s turning you into a good housewife. Keep this up and you''ll be on Andie''s level of cooking."

    Eve could spot Rose from the corner of her eye. She stood in front of the stove, stirring a pot of stew for lunch. Her stomach had started to show so she switched to wearing more flowy dresses. Her scarlet hair was up in a messy bun.

    "I can cook this much, Rose." Eve red briefly towards her close friend. "I don''t always rely on Andie, you know. I was justzy most of the time."

    "Whatever you say." Rose reached for the jar on top of the coffee table. It was filled with candy-coated chocte discs. She grabbed a handful and leaned backwards.

    Eve tasted the stew and ced the lid on top. "When is your flight again?"

    "In two days. Thanks for letting me stay, by the way."

    "I''m just practicing my hosting skills," she said, deciding to clean the bowls and utensils she used. "Aunt Avery says I need to get used to it in order to keep good rtionships with Ambryan''s business associates and their families."

    "Ah, the life of a madame" Rose trailed off. "So demanding."

    Compared to Eve who was settling down, her life had just started taking her overseasParis in particr where she would be performing at the Pis Garnier. It was a dreame true. Words couldn''t describe her excitement when she got the call.

    This was her chance to climb up in her career.

    Eve turned off the stove and started preparing bowls for the stew. "Maintaining good ties is not that far from what I did as a secretary. I had to know what they liked to create a good mood during meetings, and be a good hostess if they needed anything I just have a new job title."

    "As Mrs. Hathaway?"

    "As the wife."

    "Oho" Rose smirked. Finishing her chocte, she walked over to the counter and sat on a stool. "Guess you''re still in honeymoon bliss. Good. Because that will be gone once the little rascal is born."

    She looked down and found three servings of stew. A scowl knitted her eyebrows. "Is Ambryan joining us? Didn''t you say he had a business meeting for lunch?"

    "He does." Eve nodded. The corner of her lip tugged upward. "But I am expecting another guest."

    Rose felt an ominous feeling at the back of her neck. "Who?"

    The sound of the doorbell echoed inside the Hathaway residence. Eve wiped her hands with a towel before opening the front door. She wore her most hospitable smile. "You made it just in time. Join us for lunch."

    Mikael stepped inside, holding up a paper bag. He wore a button shirt and a pair of jeans. "Sometimes I wonder if Luna thinks I work as a part-time delivery boy. She should know I have more important things to do than bring you some fruit."

    "Maybe she thinks I needpany."

    At that, Mikael nced above her shoulder. "Then, her assumption is wrong."

    He spotted Rose as soon as he walked in. She had made her presence clear around him so much, he could already sense her even without any indication. A stunning smile spread across her face when he red in her direction.

    "He-yo." Rose waved from her seat, tilting her head. The tips of her ash brown hair dropped off her shoulder. "We could always use an extra hand around here. Eve can be too stubborn. She tried to carry a heavy box earlier."

    Mikael instantly had his radiant blue eyes on Eve. "You shouldn''t risk that."

    "But it was in the way." Eve groaned. "They left it at the door before I could even open it."

    He shook his head. "You really need someone to stay here with you."

    "I''m here!" Rose shouted, raising her hand up.

    "Then, where were you when that happened?"

    "Hey! I only got here today. I also came just in time to do it for her. I don''t need this usation." She huffed at her bangs. "I don''t want to be rude"

    "That sounds like a lie." Mikael snorted.

    It was her turn to re. "But Eve needs to eat. Baby needs to eat. I need to eat. So unless you insist on turning down this bowl of stew Eve prepared for you then, leave."

    "Rose!" Eve scolded. "That''s too rude."

    "Ha! See? Whatever you say is either rude or too rude."

    "That goes to you too, mister. Get inside and eat!" Eve yanked the bag of fruits from his hand and closed the door behind him. "You''re acting like a pair of kids whenever you face each other. But, oh! When you''re on your phones"

    She mped her mouth shut, realizing what she just said.

    "What about us being on our phones?" Mikael questioned.

    "Nothing, that''s what," Rose answered for Eve. She hopped off the stool and snatched the bag of fruit from Eve. "We''re quiet when we''re on our phones. Too distracted to argue. But people say it''s a bad thing."

    Eve let out a silent sigh. That was a close one. It''s been months, almost a year, since Rose started messaging Mikael. For some reason, both agreed not to reveal their true identities. They liked to keep the atmosphere of being strangers.

    They foundfort in it whenever they felt vulnerable.

    But, now, instead of looking for a stranger, they just find each other.

    Mikael left as soon as lunch was over. A nket of silence fell inside the house. Rose saw the invisible eggshells on the floor. The text exchange between her and Mikael became a taboo topic one day. She couldn''t exin it but she knew one thing.

    She liked how she and Mikael bonded over it.

    And she didn''t want to lose it. He already disliked her enough. If he found out, not only would it stop but good memories would also be ruined.

    "Rose when are you going to tell him?" Eve asked as if reading her thoughts. "You can''t hide it from him forever. You thought it wouldn''tst long but it''s different now. You need to seriously consider telling him."

    "I did consider it!" Rose defended. Her shoulders sagged in defeat. "But you saw us. He can''t even look at me without ring at my face. He''d cut me offpletely if he knew. As bad as our interactions are, it''s better than nothing."

    Eve took a deep breath. She couldn''t argue further. As someone who also had a secret before, she knew how Rose felt. She got lucky that Ambryan was understanding about the situation. But Mikael was far from an Ambryan Hathaway. He''d be furious if he knew he''s been pouring personal things to Rose of all people.

    "Well" Eve trailed off. Both of her hands held the edge of the counter. "Leave it to fate then. You need to prepare for it though. It could happen at any moment."

    Rose sighed. "Good thing I''m flying off to Paris then."

    .

    .

    .

    .

    .

    A weekter, Rose stood on stage at the Pis Garnier. In front of her were rows and rows of velvet seats. There were more on the upper levels and private boxes. It will be her biggest audience since she started learning balleteven the air smelled prestigious.

    "Rose, it''s time to get ready," someone called out from behind the sidestage.

    "I''ming." She turned around and sprinted towards the dressing room, unable to stop the smile on her face. It was only rehearsals but exhration pumped in her veins like it''s opening night.

    A ss of champagne in his hand, Mikael had his thigh raised on a bar countertop. He wore a cerulean blue suit over ck vest. The stylist gelled his hair into an elegant fashion. Lamp camera lights shone in his direction. The camera shutter filled his ears.

    His gaze reflected a faraway look.

    He seemed lost deep in his thoughts.

    "That''s a wrap! We got it."

    One blink of his eyes and the expression left his facepletely.

    Jordan came to help him out, taking the champagne and handing it over to the staff. "You killed it today, Mikael. We have the rest of the day to ourselves. What do you want to do? Visit the Louvre? Walk along the Seine River? We could hit the clubter too"

    "Sounds nice. But I have ns," Mikael said, uncuffing his sleeves. He headed for his dressing room and shrugged off the jacket. "Don''t let me stop you though. You deserve a break too."

    "Wait, wait, wait" Jordan jogged up to cut Mikael''s path with a bewildered look on his face. "You want to look around Paris alone? I know we came here multiple times before but it''s still dangerous to go by yourself. You''re a celebrity for goodness'' sake!"

    Mikael dropped his eyes to the floor and ced his hands on his hips.

    His nostrils red in concentration.

    When he shifted his focus back on Jordan, he exhaled sharply. "You''re right. I''ll change quickly and meet you out front."

    "Good. I''m d you came to your senses."

    Jordan shook his head as he headed for the entrance. Mikael had been acting strangetely. Ever since they got booked for a photoshoot in Paris, he had long periods of silencesometimes he would pace around by himself. Then, the night before, he was tossing and turning in his sleep.

    When Jordan asked him about it, Mikael merely brushed it off as nerves.

    "But he never gets nervous," Jordan found himself saying out loud. The streets of Paris greeted his sight after he stepped out of the establishment. "Hell, he just pulled off a perfect photoshoot. Nothing was redone. What''s with him?"

    A tap on his shoulder brought Jordan out of his reverie. "Mr. Dawson? Mikael wanted to tell you that he won''t be outte. We gave him one of the costumes so he won''t be recognized."

    "What are you" Jordan''s eyes bugged out as the words sank in. He grabbed the staff by the arms and yanked her closer. "Where did he go? Which direction did he take? I only took my eyes off him for one minute and he''s gone?! How could you let this happen?!"

    Mikael walked in a circle, taking in the sights of Paris, France. He wore a jersey jacket over a white shirt. A nnel was tied around his hips and covered the back of his denim pants. A baseball cap sat on top of his head.

    The outfit gave the impression of a student cking off from school.

    ''Would she recognize me like this?'' He contemted in his head. He quickly dropped the thought. That wasn''t part of the n. He just wanted to see her once, get a face to the person on the other side behind the text messages.

    Since she was a ballerina, it was hard to cross paths.

    But today today, they were in the same area.

    A few seconds would be enough.

    He reached Pis Garnier by taking a taxi. The building was more magnificent than any of its pictures he saw. It was an architectural masterpiece. Onyx, luxurious marble, delicate frescoes, rich gilding it deserved to be known as an exceptional monument. It was no wonder she was so excited to perform at such a grand ce.

    Mikael slowly made his way up the front steps.

    He reached into his pocket and took out his phone, dialing her number.

    Rose had changed into her leotards. Music flowed out of the speakers. Markers were ced on different spots of the stage. It was to help the performers adjust to the space. Rose was in great shape. She hit her cues with perfect timing. Her movements caught people''s attentionbut it never overpowered the main lead.

    It was a perfect first day of rehearsal.

    She refused to let anything break her focus.

    Mikael felt his heart race with every missed call. Was he wrong? Maybe he remembered it differently. He scrolled through their conversation window, checking for the date. She rarely revealed information about herself. But she slipped this time because of her excitement.

    It might be his only chance.

    He couldn''t let it fail.

    Following the signs, he headed for the theater.

    "Excuse me, sir. This ce is off limits," the security guard informed him.

    Mikael pointed to his phone. Worry lines creased his forehead. "I''m sorry. My friend is inside but she''s not picking up. Her uncle is in the hospital. He raised her after her parents died so he''s like a father to her. He''s in critical condition and I know she''ll regret not being there for him. She wouldn''t even be able to perform. Please let me in. The ballet is at stake too."

    The security guard pressed his lips together. He nced at Mikael''s smartphone, noticing the number of missed calls. "Fine. But I''ll escort you inside. I won''t leave you alone until you find her."

    "Thank you!" The stars must have aligned over Mikael.

    Would he be able to guess which one was her?

    "Right this way."

    He and the security guard entered the empty theater. Dancers flocked the stage, performing their best. It was like being teleported to a new world. The ce, the music, the performers Mikael had attended his fair share of grand events but this was a new level.

    "Can you see your girl?" The security asked him, pointing towards the stage.

    Mikael squinted and tried to make out their faces. "It''s a little hard to see from here."

    "What''s her name?"

    "... Snow," he answered reluctantly. It was a code name. They both had one and used it in their conversations. He didn''t mean to use it but making up a fake name didn''t sound good either. She would recognize it though, right?

    But then she wasn''t supposed to know he was here.

    How should he proceed from here?

    "Snow? Like Snow White? That''s crazy," the security guard ridiculed.

    Mikael breathed out a fakeugh. "Right? I told her the same thing."

    "There''s more shadow over there so we can move a little closer to the stage."

    Luckily, the female dancers lined up together and faced the vacant seats. It gave Mikael the advantage. His eyes became sharper as he checked their faces one by one. A familiar face stood out immediately.

    "Rose?" Mikael blurted out, fluttering his eyshes. There was no mistaking it. He had seen her far too many times for hisfort. He''d never mistake her for someone else.

    "But why" he paused. Then, he nudged his elbow at the security guard. "Do you know that girl?"

    Thetter scowled in response. "I just guard this ce. I''m not close to any of them."

    Hours passed by while Mikael sat on the front steps. He watched as the people passed him by. The sun slowly made its descent in the distant horizon. Arms on his bent knees, he gripped his hands tight.

    Why was Rose here? He couldn''t shake off the feeling that this wasn''t a coincidence.

    From what he knew, Rose worked as a waitress. He initially found it strange because of her perfect posture. Her back always stayed impably straight. It wasn''t amon achievement. When he tried to ask further, she teased him about how he was interested in her. He had to let it go and dropped the topic.

    Chatter came from the side of the building after the sun had set.

    He straightened his legs to get a better look.

    "Rose!" Her name left his lips as soon as she came into view.

    At the sound of her name, Rose stiffened. She knew that voice anywhere. Her colleagues turned their heads in her direction but her attention was only on one person. Blood drained off her face. The sky came crashing down.

    Judging by how Mikael was dressed, he came in secret.

    Her thoughts led to one reason he could be here.

    .

    .

    .

    .

    .

    "Did you have to say that in front of everyone?" Rose called out to Mikael''s retreating back. He halted in his steps. Cold wind caressed the back of her neck. It was the same as that night at Pis Garnier.

    "Say what?" Mikael scoffed, spinning on his heel. He looked at her through the corner of his eye. "Oh. About how no one would marry you? That''s bothering you? I think I said worse things in the past."

    "Maybe." Rose clenched her hands. Her voice quivered just now. "But they weren''t as hostile."

    Mikael chuckled without humor. He took a step in her direction, fully facing her. "Hostile? If anything was hostile, it was how you made a fool out of me. You just could never stop, could you? Was it funny? Had fun stringing me along?"

    Rose closed the gap between and seized him on both sides of his cor. "Listen to me, Mikael Davis."

    Her voice died inside her throat after that. Her mind had gone nk. She felt as lost as that day he found out. Nothing had changed over the weeks. Her head was a mess. How could she even begin to exin? To apologize? Hell, she couldn''t even face him until now.

    "Can''t deny it, can you?" He smirked.

    "I never had ill intentions."

    "Oh, really?" Mikael pulled her hands off by her wrists. "It doesn''t sound like that to me."

    This time, Rose let him walk away. The tears she suppressed trickled down her cheeks. Her mouth opened but no words came out. Her chest squeezed and she choked on air. No matter how much she wanted to exin

    a voice in the back of her head that said she deserved this.

    And she should just take it all, not fighting back.

 Chapter 368: OS 05: A Budding of Chemistry (Hannah & Riffle)

    Chapter 368: OS 05: A Budding of Chemistry (Hannah & Riffle)

    "Morning, Hannah," Riffle greeted as soon as she appeared in the office.

    Her desk had been moved to the opposite wall across from his. With Ambryan Hathaway absent from the office, thepany president, Madison King, had taken most of his duties. Both secretaries will be working under him until Hannah bes capable enough to share the load on her own.

    Hannah nodded in his direction. "Morning, Riffle."

    The light that red in his eyesses made his eyes shinier. The tips of his cropped ck hair touched the top of his ears. Leaning on his desk, he turned back to the folder in his hand. "Did Sir Ambryan and Madam Eve''s flightnd in New Zend yet?"

    "Yes, it did." Hannah sighed. She sat down and logged into herputer. "I don''t think I''ve been happier attending a wedding than theirs."

    A chuckle left Riffle''s lips. "It was quite a sight."

    He grabbed a notepad and a pen, writing information down that he found in the file. "Is this the first time you''ll be working with Madison for a long period of time?"

    Hannah thought about it. Her ck eyes squinted at her monitor. "No, there was that time Sir Ambryan went to France."

    With how nervous she was, she was unlikely to forget it anytime soon. It was the first time he''d be away from the office for weeks. She remembered how Eve handled matters in his absence. It was one of the things she admired about Eve.

    But she just wasn''t at the same level.

    At least, not yet.

    "Right." Riffle snapped the folder shut. He ced it back in its rightful ce inside the filing cab and turned around. His full attention was on Hannah. "But he still worked during that time. Since he''s on his honeymoon, the executive management has forbidden him from even thinking about work."

    Hannah nodded, recalling it perfectly. The president and the chairman had persuaded the board to let Ambryan offpany affairs for the duration of his honeymoon. They had also assured the board that they''d share his workload.

    Unfortunately, the chairman travelled a lot, taking over most of Ambryan''s external affairs.

    The bulk of the work was actually left to Madison.

    Theypensated it by assigning Hannah among his staff. Since they had worked before, Hannah felt more rxed. She survived before. She could do it again.

    Riffle pressed his lips together. Her emotions were written in her ck eyes. Although she had the confidence this time, her gaze fidgeted like before. "Since you''ll be staying with us, I''ll give you a piece of advice and you''ll be doing me a huge favor if you follow it."

    "What is it?" Hannah was on full alert. She opened a sticky note on her desktop, ready to type.

    "Never let him go by himself. If he says he wants food, you order it for him. Never let him buy it himself. If he says he wants fresh air, open a window in his office. If he says he wants to walk, tell him to use the treadmill in his office. Basically, there''s always a way to handle things without him stepping away from this floor."

    "..."

    Hannah realized her fingers hadn''t moved.

    She woke up from her trance and typed his instructions word per word.

    "I did hear he liked to skip work..." she said, trying to hide her momentaryck of concentration. "But I didn''t see that happenst time. I almost thought it was just a silly rumor."

    Riffle finally sat down and resumed his work. He dragged the notepad across his desk to transfer the data into hisputer. "You got lucky at the time. It varies but once he''s distracted, it''s hard to get him back."

    He propped an elbow on his table and cupped his cheek. Hannah noticed him from the corner of her eye and glimpsed his way.

    The most innocent smile shed on his face. "So to save both our necks and avoid too much overtime, we have to be extra strict."

    "You got it, Riffle." Hannah assured him, returning the expression.

    If every day was going to be like this, the next few months would run by in a sh.

    "Again where is President Madison?" Riffle interrogated Hannah a few hourster. He had left and delivered a document to obtain another executive''s signature. Then, when he got back, he found Hannah pacing in front of the President''s door.

    Her head bowed in embarrassment. If she had a pair of rabbit ears on her mousy brown hair, it would have drooped on either side of her head. "I think he snuck out while I was in the bathroom. I''m sorry."

    Riffle closed his eyes and exhaled sharply. Of course, President Madison had found an opening. Hannah had probably been engrossed in her work to hold it in until he got back. He took a deep breath and let his frustration go.

    "It''s not your fault. We''ll get through this," Riffle told Hannah. The shake of her hands didn''t go unnoticed by him. He dialed Madison''s number and pressed his phone against his ear. A scowl knitted between his eyebrows. "He''s not answering. Hm let''s look at his GPS tracker."

    "You have a GPS tracker on President Madison?" Hannah blinked, her eyes widening.

    It wasn''t unusual but hearing it from Riffle made her realize she didn''t have ess to Ambryan''s. Should she have asked for it? How could she have overlooked it?

    "Yes, and Sir Ambryan has one too," Riffle replied, confirming her thoughts. "But his security team rarely needs itoh, that bastard."

    "Can you curse your boss like that?"

    "I can when he''s in pain and is out of earshot," Riffle sneered at his phone screen. He sent a quick message to Madison''s security team and grabbed his suit jacket. "Come on, we need to get him back."

    "Wait!" Hannah ran to her chair and wore her cardigan. She caught up to him at the elevator. "Where is he anyway?"

    "At an auction house."

    Half an hourter, Hannah stood a half-step behind Riffle. She was older than him by a year but his tall height concealed it. He had his arms crossed over his chest as the security brought someone out of the auction house.

    "Come now, Sir Madison. There''s no need to make a scene." Riffle frowned. The stress must be building up for Madison. His childlike actions always came out when this happened...

    That won''t do. It was only the first day since their CEO left for his honeymoon. They hadn''t established a system yet on how to juggle

    Like a suspect being arrested, the bodyguards held Madison in both of his arms. His eyes lit up when he saw Hannah and scrambled to stand in front of her. He seized her shoulders and lowered his head until they were on the same eye level.

    "Hannah, dear! Have you ever gone to a sale because there was this item you always wanted? Have you ever gone back to a store just because you can''t get something out of your mind? Or that it could disappear at any moment?"

    Madison took a deep breath, ignoring the shocked face she was making. "Please, Hannah. You should be able to understand me in this situation. This is a rare chance to get my hands on the Holographic First Edition Charizard card"

    Riffle yanked him off her. "She''s not a weird collector like you. Leave her alone. We have things to finish by today or the board will have our heads tomorrow."

    "But Riffle"

    "No buts, President Madison. Now, get in the car!"

    The rest of the week flew by with a tense atmosphere. Hannah leaned back a little and checked on Riffle. Deep concentration creased his forehead as he stared at his monitor screen. It was Friday but there was still too much to be done. He wasn''t about to let Madison rx just because the weekend was near.

    Hannah hid her face before Riffle could catch her spying. She returned to her report, organizing the notes. The sound of tapping keys upied most of the day untilte afternoon. Hannah stretched her arms and her upper back.

    They finally did it.

    They had both Saturday and Sunday off.

    Madison came out of his office and marched towards Riffle''s desk. His long albino hair fell over his right shoulder. Riffle shifted his attention towards his superior and stood up, not at all intimidated by the re aimed at him by a pair of luminous green eyes.

    "Riffle," he began to say. "Now, I know there''s an hour left before office hours aren''t officially over. BUT! We''ve done all our work. I have double-checked the reports too. Also, I am the boss around here so when I say let''s leave early, we will lea"

    "As you wish, President."

    "ve" Madison stopped short.

    Unfazed, Riffle nced at Hannah. "That means you too, Hannah. Good work this week."

    She rose to her feet and bowed her head. Tongue-tied, she awkwardly waited for either man to close off the conversation.

    Madison hung his head low. He took a peek at his secretary and sighed in dejection. "I swear. I still can''t tell when you''ll go along with my antics and when you will treat me like a toddler."

    Riffle shed a bright smile. "I will be lenient as long as you do all your work and don''t give me a migraine."

    Hannah stifled augh.

    It was like a mother and a son talking.

    Shaking his head, Madison straightened his posture and looked at both secretaries alternatively. "You both did a good job this week. Go get something to eat before you go home. It''s my treat so have fun. I''ll be off first."

    He waved without looking back and whistled. Their coordination was admirable. It was only right to reward them. And who knows? Maybe Riffle would loosen up a bit if he had a g

    "Oh, Sir Madison," Riffle called out to him, interrupting his thoughts.

    A shiver went down Madison''s spine. His head slowly rotated to see what Riffle wanted from him. "What is it this time?"

    "Don''t forget this."

    A small card was wedged between two clear ss sheets. Bolts were screwed on all four corners, keeping it safe and in excellent condition. Hannah tilted her head sideways in confusion.

    The same couldn''t be said with Madison.

    He walked back as if trapped in a dream. His trembling fingers touched the ss. When they felt the cold surface, they steadied and epted the frame from Riffle.

    "Is this" Madison breathed out. It was the card he had snuck into the auction for. He could hardly believe his eyes. His lips grinned from ear to ear, unable to hide his excitement. "I can''t believe it! Riffle, you''re the best! I could kiss you!"

    Riffle held up his hand before he could even try. "I respectfully decline."

    Any ill thoughts Madison previously had melted away. Who said Riffle had a cactus up in his rear? They were clearly lying.

    "Wow, you got him the card?" Hannahmented after Madison left. She and Riffle packed up and headed for the elevator. "That was really nice of you."

    "You think he''d notice a huge chunk of money was missing in his bank ount." Riffle snorted. He adjusted the strap of his messenger bag, staring at the floor numbers. "President can be a handful at times but when he''s focused, I can''t deny how fast things are resolved. He''s really good at what he does. We can''t have him in a sour mood."

    Soft jazz music enveloped the two as the lift travelled downwards. Hannah hadn''t gotten over the incident yet. A secretary did more than just assist their boss. They also made sure their superiors were in good condition to perform their duties well. It wasn''t a clean cut method, every person had their own form.

    She probably wouldn''t know Ambryan as well as Eve did and then, they''d probably team up if something like this happen

    Newfound energy buzzed in Hannah''s veins. She couldn''t wait to work with Eve in some way. "You and Miss Eve are so amazing. I wish I can be half as good as you two are someday."

    Riffle raised an eyebrow, surprised by her statement. He nudged her arm. "Cut yourself some ck. You''re doing an amazing job yourself. I''m d to have you here."

    Blood rushed into her cheeks.

    Working for Sir Ambryan felt lonely at times. He also wasn''t as generous withpliments. Hannah just realized how nice it was to hear. She cleared her throat andposed herself.

    "Thank you, Riffle, but I"

    Nearly shoulder to shoulder, Riffle had his head tilted in her direction. It gave Hannah a good angle of both his face and his jawline. The upper curl of his lip corner really suited him. The elevator light also illuminated his high cheekbones.

    "But what?" He prompted when she didn''t continue.

    Another wave of blush reddened her cheeks. "Buf I know I still need to improve. So I hope to learn a lot from you for the next few months."

    Heughed. "Sure. But right now, let''s celebrate your first week''s sess!"

    They made it to a rustic bar around the street corner.The tables were already full so they settled for the bar counter. Hannah wedged her bag between her hip and the stool''s backrest. She and Riffle ordered a pint of beer each.

    She couldn''t remember thest time she went out and drank. Oh, but she missed this. When Riffle mentioned his order of beer, she couldn''t help but ask for the same thing. This wasn''t just about her first week in the President''s officebut also all the exhaustion she umted since bing the CEO''s new secretary.

    Riffle raised his ss for a toast. "To you, Hannah."

    Getting the message, Hannah did the same. "And to you too, Riffle."

    They clinked their sses and chugged their beer down. Their night went on about work stories and a few about their personal lives. Hannah found herselfughing until her stomach hurt. Riffle draped his arm on top of her stool''s backrest. It was a little and he worried that she might fall off.

    His intuition was proven correct when Hannah topped sideways. Thankfully, it was towards him and he managed to catch her in time.

    "Hannah" he said, a warning tone in his voice. "Are you a lightweight? How much can you drink exactly? You had two and a half already."

    A silly grin appeared on her face as she held up one finger. Riffle paled when he saw it.

    "Just one actually," Hannah huped, giggling. "But it was sooooo good and I was sooooo stressed that I risked drinking a second one.Then, I just forgot about how I can''t hold liquor well"

    Riffle raised his hand. He called out to the bartender to pay. "We''ll take the bill, please."

    The bartender nced at Hannah once and understood. "Let us call for a taxi so you and girlfriend don''t have to wait outside for too long."

    "She''s not my" Riffle attempted to correct but the bartender already left to ask the staff for help. He let it go and focused on Hannah, grabbing her bag and steadying her on her feet.

    .

    .

    .

    .

    .

    The next morning, Hannah regained consciousness when the sunlight hit the back of her eyelids. Her mouth hung wide open as she slept. She closed it immediately, noticing how dry it felt along with her throat. Her nails scratched a spot beside her chest.

    She moved her legs.

    The air caressed her bare skin.

    Her ck eyes snapped wide open. Sitting up, she found herself in an unfamiliar room. Her hand unconsciously went to her heart. She looked down to find a hoodie covering her body. A sniff in the air hinted at a faint scent of vomit.

    She sniffed some more, trying to pinpoint where it came from. Was it from her? On her hair? On her skin? Should she even be worrying about this first?

    Just what happened to herst night?

    And what happened to Riffle?

    "You''re up?" A familiar voice asked from the doorway of the bedroom. Riffle had a towel in his hand and rubbed it on his damp hair. He wore a white shirt and pajama bottoms.

    Hannah gulped, her grip on the hoodie tightened.

    He averted his gaze and cleared his throat. "Sorry. I should have asked but you were too out of it after you passed out from puking. I couldn''t let you sleep in your dirty clothes so I had to help you change"

    "Wait! Did you" Pure horror painted over her face.

    Riffle met her gaze at once, his eyes nearly popping out of their sockets. "I swear I didn''t look! I also didn''t try anything! I was going to take you home but I was thought you might be living by yourself and I wasn''t about to let a drunk woman home alone"

    "Anyway," he cut himself off. They could talkter. There was no need to ramble. "Iid out some fresh clothes for you. Take a bath while I cook some breakfast. There''s water and medicine on the night stand by the way."

    Hannah let herself fall onto her back.

    The white ceiling greeted her line of sight. Information and little memories flooded into her head. The blurry face of Riffle appeared. It was dim but his worried eyes were clear to her.

    She ced her hand on the side of his neck.

    "Are you awake? Hannah, can you hear me?"

    "Riffle" her voice raspy from dehydration. "You should stay like this. You look really handsome at this angle."

    He shook his head. "Hannah, do you live alone? Is there someone to take care of you?"

    She merely giggled and pulled his neck down. "I think I can see why President Madison really wanted to kiss you earlier."

    "H-Huh?!"

    What happened after was too much for Hannah''s sober self. She rolled onto her front and buried her face onto the pillow. A silent scream bursted from her chest. Her hands wed on her head, messing up her bed hair even more.

    There was no way she could face Riffle now! Let alone for the following months toe.

    Couldn''t Sir Ambryan and Evee back soon?

 Chapter 369: OS 06: A Crowd of Three (Cale, Luna & Jordan)

    Chapter 369: OS 06: A Crowd of Three (Cale, Luna & Jordan)

    Mikael leaned on his dark blue Lamborghini Aventador S under fluffy clouds of the afternoon sky. Hands in his pockets, he stared disdainfully at the residential house up the hill. It has been nearly 15 minutes since he got here but, even now, he contemted running away.

    It was so obvious what Eve nned for this baby shower. From his little knowledge, he knew most showers only have womenso why was he invited?

    Because Rose would also be attending. They hadn''t talked in months and she seemed hellbent to seem unaffected by what happened. Well, two people could y that game.

    The thoughtsted a second before Mikael realized he was too tired to keep up appearances hence why he wanted to leave.

    The only problem with that was no one would believe any excuse he''de up with.

    "Mikael?"

    ''Speak of the devil'' Mikael muttered in his head. He shifted his focus towards the opposite direction of the Hathaway Residence.

    Luna and Cale walked side by side, making their way up the hills. Vehicles were parked along the road. There wasn''t any spot left near the house.

    "What are you doing there looking like a wild weed that popped out of the ground?" Luna continued to say. She carried a purple gift box in one hand while she and Cale linked arms.

    Cale snorted. "He''s being a coward, that''s what. He knows he can''t run away because we know his schedule. He has nothing to use so he could miss the baby shower."

    Luna stuck out her bottom lip. "Oh, the poor baby."

    Mikael made no move to hide how he felt about their teasing. To put the cherry on top, even Jordan wasing to join the festivities.

    Cale and Luna soon reached him. Both of them leaped in his direction, trapping him between them. They dragged him up the hill. Mikael made it difficult for them just for fun. Cale rang the doorbell when they reached the front door. He red at Mikael who simply smiled and fluttered his blonde eyshes.

    "Coming" Rose opened the door and immediately made eye contact with Mikael. He still wore his mocking smile.

    Rose averted her gaze at once, paying attention to the gift box Luna brought. She beamed. "You''re all so close. You even picked out a gift together."

    "Oh, this is nothing, dear," Cale denied. He tugged Mikael into the house. "It''s not like we have him wrapped around our finger for him to disappear right after a photoshoot and meet us in an opera house located in Paris."

    Pressing her lips together, Rose took the gift box and ced it at the designated table. The furniture in the living room were pushed to the walls. The arrangement created a wide space in the middle.

    Eve sat on a lone chair with a tall backrest covered in velvet cushion. Since she was 8 months pregnant, Andie and Rose forbid her from moving too much. The lights on her yellow chiffon dress made Eve even more radiant.

    She flickered her brown eyes to the entrance while in mid-conversation.

    Her smile made Mikael guilty for his attempt to run.

    It was really selfish of him. Today was about her and her baby girl. How could he skip such an asion? His personal matters shouldn''t get in the way of their friendship.

    "Mikael! Cale! Luna! Thank you all foring," Eve greeted them.

    Beside her, Avery stood up. "It was about time you got here. I''ll go check on the food with Andie."

    "Sorry, we''rete," Luna perked up. She took the seat Avery previously upied. "We picked up a stray on the way."

    Rose snorted. "Was it taller than you?"

    Mikael red in her direction. She fluttered her eyes and smiled. He realized his mistake right away. His gaze flickered back to Eve. "Good to see you, Eve. You look great."

    "That''s understatement!" Cale objected beside him. "She''s the most gorgeous pregnant woman I''ve ever seen! The magazines want to buy her pregnancy photos from the shoot."

    "Isn''t that for pure publicity?" Mikael raised an eyebrow.

    "Of course, but she would still be gorgeous."

    A knock came from the front door. Before Rose could open it, Jordan stepped in and waved at everyone. "Am I thest one?"

    Eve shook her head. "Sadly, no. We''re waiting for three more people."

    Avery and Andie appeared from the kitchen. The former frowned after seeing the group. "You''d think people would be on time for these things."

    "Now, now, Aunt Avery," Eve soothed her. "It can''t be helped. It''s a busy time at thepany. ''Define Love'' did better than Ambryan thought. The movie is also about to premiere. It''s a crucial time for Eros."

    "I know that." Avery huffed. She sat on the armrest beside Luna. "That''s why I let Yan and Jackson miss the shower."

    Luna turned towards her. "Ambryan''s noting?"

    "Heavens no. If he was here, he wouldn''t stop nagging. Eve needs a breather from that mother hen."

    "Then, who are we waiting for?"

    "Hello, hello!" Madison greeted, not bothering to knock. Riffle and Hannah stood behind him. They kept a social distance between them and stared straight aheadcontrary to the wide grin Madison wore.

    Avery threw a pillow at him. "About time, old man."

    "Avery, that''s rude." Madison tossed the pillow at a nearby couch. "We''re the same age. If you call me old then what are you?"

    "The Fountain of Youth."

    Eve made eye contact with Hannah and Riffle. "Wee, guys. Come in. Games are about to start."

    "What''s the prize?" Jordan inquired, squinting his dark chocte eyes. "I want to know howpetitive I have to be."

    "Buffet tickets," Andie answered. She reached for a wicker basket behind Eve. "Free food is always the best motivator. Now, the game is a scavenger hunt. yers will form teams of 2 and whoever finds the most hidden baby items wins."

    She angled the opening of the basket in Eve''s direction. "May we please have the star of the show have the honor of picking the teams?"

    Eve, Avery and Andie were exempted from the game. They collectively agreed to leave this to the guests who have no children of their own. As parents, they had the advantage of knowledge for baby items. It wouldn''t be a fair game.

    The teams were as follows:

    Mikael & Cale,

    Jordan & Rose,

    Luna & Madison, and

    Hannah & Riffle.

    [A/N: We totally didn''t see thatst oneing.]

    "There''s about 20 or more baby items hidden in this house, except for the master bedroom. Some items have more than one piece. The game is to gather as many as you can in 30 minutes," Andie exined. "Once you find one, you give it to Eve so little Chloe can use it in the future. It doesn''t count unless you gave it to Eve before the game ends. Are we all clear on that?"

    Andie shed them a smile and didn''t wait for their response. "Good because your time starts now."

    Luna pulled Madison down the nearest hallway. Seeing this, Cale also dragged Mikael up the stairs. Jordan led Rose to the other side of the house while Hannah and Riffle tried to figure out where they should head to first. The living room cleared out in a matter of one minute.

    Eve took a deep breath, alerting Andie and Avery.

    "Is something wrong? Are you feeling anything?" Avery questioned her at once.

    Eve waved her hand to brush off their worried thoughts. "I''m fine. I''m more worried about Rose and Mikael. It would have been nice if I managed to pick up their names for the team."

    "Oh, please." Andie snorted. "They would only pretend to y if you did. It won''t help solve their issues."

    "You''re right" Eve trailed off. She was grateful that they both showed up for today, even if Mikael almost didn''t make it. It''s been months. How long would they keep this up?

    Was there no chance at being just friends at all?

    "Of course, I''m right. Which is why I texted Jordan and Cale to do something else."

    Jordan found a guest room on the first floor. He wasn''t sure where they were since the house had multiple hallways. The ce seemed untouched so it was a good spot to find a baby item before the others did.

    "Hey, Rose," he whispered, pointing to the closet. "Check in there. Maybe it''s in a corner inside or something."

    Rose nodded and gave it no second thought. Between him and her, she''d fit better inside to search the tricky spots. It had tolietry and bedding supplies on the top shelvesplus a few cleaning equipment for the main body. She hopped inside and used her phone shlight to see better.

    The sound of a door shutting caught her attention.

    "Jordan?" She eximed, exiting the closet.

    A pair of wide radiant blue eyes stared back at her.

    "No," Rose gasped. She dashed for the door and tried the knob. "Damn it. They locked us inside JORDAN! CALE! THIS IS NOT FUNNY. OPEN THIS DOOR!"

    She pressed her ear against the door to hear Cale''s muffled voice. "Mikael, you better find that baby item before Rose! I won''t forgive you if you don''t!"

    "We don''t even know if there is one in here!" Mikael shouted back. Rose flinched beside him. Suddenly, his warmth coated her back. Did he also pressed his ear on the door like she did?

    "I''m counting on you, Rose! I need that buffet."

    She merely rolled her eyes and left to check the closet again. If both Cale and Jordan were ying that card, they would only be free if they had the baby item. If she couldn''t find it then, she''d bang on the door until it broke.

    Unlike her, Mikael stayed in his spot. He focused on his breathing and calmed his temper. Cale had found a narrow staircase while they were on the second floor. They hadn''t searched any room yet before Cale climbed down.

    He should have known it led to anything but good.

    His eyes scanned the room,nding on the bed. Mikael dropped onto his knees and checked under it. It was mostly empty except for a box that was directly below the headboard. He pushed himself further inside and stretched his arm.

    The low frame was suffocating.

    His hand touched the box after his bottom also slid under the bed. He gripped it tight and used his free hand to push the floor, intending to back out the way he came in.

    Except, it didn''t go as nned.

    "Mikael?"

    "Don''tugh," he warned Rose. His cheeks med from embarrassment. "Can you lift up the bed?"

    "Oh, sure. Just let me get my extra arms packed with muscle."

    "This is serious!"

    "I know it is!" Rose yelled back. It was hard not to when he was being rude. He was the one who needed help, couldn''t he be a little nice? She put her hands on her hips and looked around.

    "You know what" she said after a pause. "I can use it as an excuse for Jordan and Cale to unlock the door. Stay right there."

    "You just always find a way to turn something to your advantage, huh?" The words flew out of Mikael''s mouth before he could process them.

    "What''s that supposed to mean?!" Rose marched right over and kicked his foot. He wanted this. He definitely wanted her mad. Well, she wasn''t going to hold back then.

    "Nothing!" Mikael groaned. He hit her back based on the direction of her kick. "Just go get them!''

    "Maybe I don''t want to anymore!" The mattress above his back suddenly dipped low. He hissed from the impact. Rose bounced on the bed for good measure. "Stay stuck there so you can listen to what I have to say!"

    "Spare your breath!" Mikael gritted his teeth and pushed himself up.

    Rose yelped, losing her bnce. She steadied herself and blew on her bangs. "You''re right, okay?! That''s what you wanted to hear, isn''t it?! You were right! I knew it was you I was texting and pretended like I didn''t know you when we met face to face! I teased you and provoked you because I knew I had our text messages to fall back into!"

    She paused, heaving for breaths. Nothing moved from under bedneither was there any noise. She repositioned herself on the bed and softened her tone.

    "Look, I''m not here to make amends. I know once you make up your mind, you''ll most likely stick to it." Rose bit on her inner lip, trying to arrange her thoughts. "But if you think I kissed you on New Year''s just forughs then, you are seriously mistaken!"

    "I used teasing you as an excuse but that was only because, as selfish as it sounds, I really wanted to! And I knew you''d be furious once you found out about this. That''s why I took the risk while I could still get away with it."

    Her chest squeezed just from remembering it. It was a gamble. It was already toote for him not to feel betrayed and so she created a memory she''d like to treasure for a long timeone that would always make her smile. The regrets would never go away.

    At least, now she can say she tried her best.

    Rose exhaled sharply and took out her phone. "I''ll go call them. You can''t stay under there forever."

    Mikael remained silent. Rose got off the bed and called Cale, exining what happened. The door burst open and she slipped out before Jordan could go inside. Cale caught her wrist but she shook it off.

    Jordan immediately freed Mikael. Thetter had crawled out with dishevelled hair and wrinkled clothes. He shoved the box at Jordan''s stomach, "Here. I''m quitting the game. The two of you can team up. "

    Mikael had a quick debate in his head. He could stay and ruin the mood or he could leave and ruin the mood. Neither one was better than the other. But one of them had worse consequences and so he chose to leave.

    His feet thudded on the stairs. The sound of unfamiliar voices made him halt in his steps and take his time topose himself.

    "Ow!"

    "Hannah?" Riffle sprinted for the bathroom door. His arms spread out and his hands gripped the frame. "What are you doing under the sink?"

    Hannah rubbed the back of her head. She had slipped while checking behind the toilet. It wasn''t the most sanitary ce to hide a baby item but that was precisely why she thought it was a good ce to hide. The fall wasn''t bad but she hit the sink on her way up.

    "I''m fine, Riffle," she assured him, finally back on her feet. She smoothed out her clothes.

    Riffle shook his head and sighed. The corner of his lip was curled up. "What am I going to do with you?"

    Hannah''s ears burned. She brushed her hair to hide them and stared at the wall to her left. "Nothing. I''m a strong independent woman."

    He chuckled and leaned on the door frame. His arms crossed over his chest. "Then, what am I going to do without you?"

    "That''s easy," Hannah responded without hesitation. She smiled and squeezed herself into the narrow space he left on the doorway. "You''re a strong independent woman too."

    Riffle used this chance and trapped her with a one-arm hug around her shoulders. Her back was pressed against his chest. "Not so fast. You gave me a panic attack just now."

    "What?? You look pretty calm to me."

    "What you see on the outside isn''t always what''s on the inside."

    Hannah sighed and craned her neck, looking up at him. "You''ll never stop teasing me, will you? Here I thought you were a nice guy."

    Riffle pecked her temple. "Well, that''s because I actually have a childish personality and like you so much that bullying you is me expressing my affection."

    Mikael raised his eyes to the ceiling. The universe wasn''t giving him a sign. Nope. It wasn''t. There was no such thing. This was all in his head. He snuck back up the stairs, careful not to disturb the two.

    The hallway was now empty. He reached the other side and rounded the corneronly to find Luna blocking his path. He jumped in surprise.

    "I know what Rose did is never okay. Some things are like that. People we know and love will make these mistakes. They will also make bad decisions," she started to say, closing the gap between them. "And it will affect us sometimes. We can also do the same thing with them. So how do couplesst for a lifetime?"

    Luna''s eyes drooped at the corners. "I know that''s hard to imagine given what you witnessed while growing up but the right answer is always figuring out what''s most important to you."

    "So" she tapped her fist lightly on his chest. "I wish you''d make the choice you won''t ever regret."

    With onest smile, Luna left Mikael to think by himself. What was important to him? He didn''t know. How could he know? How did anyone know? They all made this sound easy but it was difficult for him. They expected him to have the right answerthe correct choice.

    But what if he didn''t?

    What if he couldn''t figure it out and regret it when it was toote? His heart raced inside his chest. Why was he feeling this way?

    "Oh, dear. I me myself," Cale told Jordan. They were hiding in another hallway. "Rose is moving away and I just wanted to give her onest chance"

    ''Moving? To where?'' Mikael''s back jerked upright. Before he knew it, he ran down the stairs and beelined for the nearest exit.

    "Mikael?" Eve called out, rising to her feet.

    Jordan passed her by and gently pushed her down. "I''ll go get him. Stay here."

    Cale gulped as he reached thest step. He saw Rose exit the washroom beside the stairs. "Hey, Rose. I think Mikael is looking for you."

    She raised an eyebrow. "Didn''t he leave?"

    "He might or might not have heard that you''re flying off the country?"

    Jordan came back, holding Mikael by the cor. Mikael stopped struggling once he realized Rose hadn''t left. She red at Cale before taking a deep breath and filling the holes.

    "Forget what you heard from these meddling kids. I''m not leaving until the end of the week. It''s also not permanent. The cast is just having a tour so we''ll be gone for a few months."

    "I''m not going to run away just because we''re in a fight." She huffed. Hand on her left hip, she leaned to the right. "If you think I''m that type of person, I''m seriously offended."

    Mikael had his mouth open. His legs moved on their own, walking in her direction. Step by step, the distance between them lessened.

    Rose had her guard up. This silent Mikael was scarier than an angry one.

    "You''re saying you won''t run away from a fight? No matter how ugly things can get?" Mikael asked. He stopped right in front of her and looked straight into her eyes. "No matter how miserable it can be? And how you could have a better life somewhere else?"

    The entire room was silent. Cale hunched and escaped for the couch with the rest. At this point, Hannah and Riffle came with a handful of baby items. They stopped at the end of the hallway, wondering what was going on.

    "You know" Rose cleared her throat. This tension wasn''t good for her health. She had to break it somehow. "You really should be careful how you say things. People might misunderstand that this is your weird way of proposing."

    Andie snorted for her benefit.

    "Well, what if I am?" Mikael challenged.

    Any humor left in Rose''s face vanished. "You''re joking."

    "I''m serious."

    "Marriage isn''t easy, Mikael."

    "That''s something we can agree on."

    Mikael stalked forward. Rose instinctively stepped back like a prey being hunted. Mikael smirked at the sight. "I thought you''re not the type to run away?"

    "You know what they say you never really know the answer until someone gets down on their knee and asks you."

    "If you put it that way"

    "Don''t you dare, Mikael Davis!" Rose protested, pointing a finger at him.

    Mikael grabbed the same hand with both of his own. His grin was ear to ear wide. "A little toote for that, don''t you think?"

 Chapter 370: OS 07: A Sitting of Babies (Jackson & Avery)

    Chapter 370: OS 07: A Sitting of Babies (Jackson & Avery)

    "Would you like sugar in your tea, grandma?" A 3-year-old Chloe poured imaginary tea into a purple cup. She was kneeling on the floor, hovering over a round table filled with toys of fake food and a stic tea set. The three chairs that came with the table had stuffed animals while Avery Hathaway sat on the floor across from her.

    Avery epted the cup. "Yes, please."

    Chloe reached for the bowl of sugar cubes, tiny tongs ready in her hand, "How many?"

    "Two, please," Avery squeaked. She stopped breathing to suppress her giggles. Her granddaughter had to be the most adorable thing in the worldeven more adorable than when Ambryan was a baby.

    She sipped from her cup and sighed deeply. "You have to tell me where you got this tea, Chloe. It''s simply divine."

    "It''s Yorkshire tea. Dad says it''s the best."

    "Of course, he did." Avery snorted and shook her head. In the back of her head, she could imagine Ambryan educating Chloe about tea as soon as she could talk.

    The living room of the Hathaway Mansion was quiet. Jackson sat on one of the arm chairs with a book in his hands. His eyebrows scrunched above his teal eyes. He hardly perceived anything from his surroundings, not even his wife and his granddaughter''s afternoon tea roley.

    Avery sent a re his way, knowing full well he wouldn''t notice. It took a lot of convincing for Eve and Ambryan to let them babysit the kids. But then, her husband didn''t seem to care enough about their presence and would rather read a book?

    She set her cup down and looked at Chloe who entertained the teddy bear next to her. "Do you want to go shoppingter, Chloe? I can buy anything you want."

    Hazel eyes nced her way. "Mom said it''s not okay to waste money."

    "But I''m your grandmother. My job is to spoil you. If you don''t let grandma spoil you, grandma will be sick."

    A snort came from the armchair. Avery squinted her gaze at her husband. Of course, he heard that one but none of the others. She huffed and stood up. "I''ll check on the kitchen and see how our afternoon snacks areing along."

    Chloe nodded and turned to her toy oven. It had a timer on top, telling her she had a few seconds left before her food was fully cooked. The ringing of a bell filled her ears and she switched it off.

    A piece of fake cupcake was inside the oven. She transferred it to a te and grabbed a stic fork. Rising to her feet, she made her way towards her grandfather.

    "Grandpa, I made you a cupcake," she told him with a soft tone. Her eyes blinked up expectantly. Eve taught her to be considerate for every guest. Jackson sat by himself but he was still invited to her tea party.

    So she had a cupcake baked for him, choosing one in the right colors.

    Jackson raised his eyebrows at her. He looked at the cupcake and set his book down, gripping one side of the te. "Is this for me?"

    Chloe nodded. "Dad said you liked blueberries and cheese."

    "Uh" Jackson raised the cupcake up to his eye level. The icing had a yellow tint much like cheese while the sprinkles were blue. He cleared his throat. "Thank you."

    He made an attempt to set the cupcake aside but his teal eyes met Chloe''s. She waited by his side and watched him. Jackson stiffened.

    Was he actually intimidated by a 3-year-old? He nced at the cupcake and lifted it up to his lips. He opened his mouth, producing a sound of taking a bite. He chewed on airan odd experience that felt foreign in his mouth.

    "Mmmm!" Jackson moaned. "That''s a really good cupcake."

    Chloe beamed, her smile stretched from ear to ear. "I knew you''d like it!"

    "I do, I do." Jackson attempted another bite when hasty footsteps gradually became louder. He hid the cupcake from sight and fixed his appearance. Chloe hopped onto hisp, pretending to eat the rest of the cupcake.

    A maid appeared from a hallway, panting for breath. She gulped and slowed down her pace until she came to a full stop.

    "What is it?" Jackson asked gruffly.

    "Master Jackson, excuse me for being rude."

    "Don''t disy such unruly behavior in front of my grandchild. You should always mind your manners. She could copy you and think it''s okay."

    "I apologize, Master Jackson."

    "Go on then. What is it?"

    "Young master Cain is missing."

    "WHAT?!" Avery yelled, waltzing back into the living room. Her gaze flickered towards Jackson then back at the maid.

    The madan did a double take.

    Was Chloe sitting on Jackson''sp? What happened while she was gone?

    Avery shook her head. That wasn''t something she should worry about now. She gritted her teeth and crossed her arms over her chest. "Exin yourself. How could you lose a sleeping baby who is almost 2 years old?"

    "II" the maid stammered. They were short of staff today and another servant had asked for help for only a few minutes. She didn''t remember if she locked the door not but when she came back, Cain wasn''t on the bed anymore.

    Clicking her tongue, Avery pped her hands and called out the servants. She instructed them to get in line and exined the situation. "Cain is wandering somewhere inside the mansion. Find him in less than an hour or you all will get a cut on your pay this month."

    They bowed their heads and scurried out of the living room. Avery felt the pocket of her dress vibrate. She fished out her phone and her eyes flew wide. ''A mother''s instinct really was phenomenal,'' she thought.

    Avery cleared her throat and answered the call. "Hello? Eve, dear. Why are you calling in the middle of your date? Didn''t I tell you that you have absolutely nothing to worry about?"

    "This will be quick, I promise," Eve responded, her voice shaking a bit. "I forgot to tell you and couldn''t get it out of my head. Don''t ever leave Cain alone, especially when he sleeps. He likes to roam around and get stuck in the most unlikely ces. He almost crawled up a chimney once"

    Whatever Eve had else to say went out of the madam''s other ear. Her lips became cold as the blood drained off her face. A chimney? They had fireces in almost every room.

    "That''s all I have to say. I''m sorry. It''s not that I don''t trust you, Aunt Avery. I''m just really worried and the feeling won''t leave me alone. I''m sure you can understand."

    Avery snorted, rolling her eyes. "Of course, dear. This is natural behavior. Cain is sleeping next to me right now. I won''t let him get out of my sight."

    "Really?" Eve gasped. "Can I see him?"

    "Well"

    "Eve?" The madam heard Ambryan say. "Are you calling mother?"

    "Ambee" Eve tried to reason but her husband snatched the phone from her hands and pressed it against his ear.

    "Why did you answer the phone if you said we shouldn''t call you?"

    "I" Avery trailed off, her heart hammering in her chest. She did say that. "I told you not to let your wife call. So why didn''t you stop her, Yan?"

    "I was in the restroom."

    "That''s not my problem so this is not my fault."

    Ambryan closed his eyes briefly. He and Eve stood outside of the movie theater. Unlike their previous movie date, people bustled around them. They wore thrifted clothes to appear less conspicuous and both had their eyesses on. Eve caught someone looking who averted their gaze straight away.

    She signed, stealing a glimpse of her husband''s face. No matter how much they drabbed down, Ambryan still had the air of a rich CEO around him. It was simply second nature to him.

    "Mother, you''re not making sense," Ambryan finally said.

    "You''re the one still on the phone, Ambryan! Then, you''re ming me for talking? You clearly have no self-control," Avery bbered. She spit out whatever came to her mind as long as it wasn''t rted to the children.

    "Grandma, is that daddy?" Chloe called out.

    "Yes, dear. He''s being a naughty boy."

    "Mother!"

    "Time to go. Behave! Bye! Kisses!"

    Avery hung up and massaged her temples with one hand. She dragged that conversation way too long.

    "But I wanted to speak to him" Chloe mumbled. Her head bowed in disappointment.

    Jackson picked her up and rose off the chair. "Want to see your daddy''s old room? You can bring home anything you want. I''m sure he''d be happy to see you interested in his things."

    "Yay!"

    The madam watched them leave. She didn''t agree to what Jackson said but that was the point. He''d make sure to let Chloe see the embarrassing stuff Ambryan had hidden. It was very immature, especially at his age.

    But who was Avery to stop him from bullying their son?

    That matter aside, Avery also joined the search. There were many rooms but there were also enough servants to search the entire mansion. How could they not find Cain in five minutes? Impatience simmered in her veins as she marched down the hall.

    Avery ced herself in Cain''s shoes. If what Eve said was correct, what would Cain find interesting? A few rooms came to her mind and she headed for the nearest one. It was the mini library they had for guests to use. Nothing valuable was inside for this purpose.

    She opened the door and there was no Cain.

    Her search continued down the corridor for another room. Cain wasn''t in it either. She kept goingby this point, checking all doors just to be sure. Her worries were starting to knaw her head.

    Then, she caught up to the servants who turned their heads when they noticed movement.

    "Madam, the young master"

    Avery dashed for them as soon as she heard those words. She mmed her hand on the doorframe to stop her momentum and looked inside. Her ears picked up the sounds of old gears turning. Before her eyes was the gym room Jackson had built out of an old storage room.

    "There you are!" Avery yelled but Cain didn''t seem to hear her. She marched right up to the treadmill and picked up the toddler crawling over the belt. "Why would you want to be here? It always smells like sweat"

    She paused and had a look around. "Then again, Jackson hasn''t used it in years so it doesn''t anymore. You can have everything in this room if you''re still into fitness when you grow up."

    Avery spotted the servants and dismissed them, assuring them no one would be punished. Their relief was evident on their faces. The madam hugged Cain closer. He hadid down his cheek on her right shoulder and stayed limp. His round violet eyes stared at nothing.

    She brought him up the stairs to Ambryan''s old room. Cain turned his head when he heard his sister''s voice. His attention switched from her to the tower of blocks in the corner of the room. He raised his hand towards it, letting his grandmother know what he wanted.

    "Cain!" Chloe shouted as she ran out of the hidden part of Ambryan''s room. She patted her younger brother''s head. "Did you wander off again? Don''t worry. It''ll be our secret."

    Avery narrowed her gaze. "Do you always hide things from your parents?"

    Chloe blinked up at her. "No, grandpa said not to tell or it will make mother worried when there''s nothing to worry about. Mom is supposed to rx today so telling her won''t help."

    That was when the madam directed her squint at her husband. She spoke through clenched teeth. "Are you teaching our grandkids to lie?"

    "It''s called being considerate, Avery," Jackson defended. "Or do you want Eve to know about what happened?"

    "..." Avery averted her gaze. "If no one is telling her, I won''t."

    Jackson chuckled.

    Cain wailed, both hands reached for the tower. Chloe followed his line of sight and grinned. "You want to y, Cain? Let''s y."

    The two spent the rest of the day in their father''s old room. More blocks could be found inside the toy chest. Cain''s eyes lit up as soon as he saw them. He built his own tower, using various shapes. He''d get up to grab another block once he determined where to ce the block he was holding.

    Chloe made simple houses, pretending they were a vige and found tiny figurines to y as vigers. Jackson decided to do his reading in the same room and sat on the armchair in the opposite corner.

    Avery had their snacks brought up to the room as well. She watched the children y. Their territory expanded as the blocks scattered in different directions. Sheughed at how serious they were while having fun. Before, she couldn''t understand why grandparents like to knit. Now, she could and spent her time knitting a hat while asking Chloe or Cain to try them so she could make adjustments.

    The day passed by without another incident.

    Night time, however, was another thing.

    Eve and Ambryan stood outside the front door. They had removed half of their disguises on the way to the manor. They wouldn''t admit it but a small fear that their children won''t recognize them dwelled inside of their chest. Both raised their eyebrows when a maid opened the door.

    "Where''s mother?" Ambryan asked, forgetting her manners.

    "Oh, she''s with master and the kids upstairs, second door to the left."

    "Upstairs?" Eve exasperated. Although Chloe could be old enough, she didn''t believe they could handle going up and down the stairs yet.

    What if Cain started wandering around? If he went to the stairs

    She and Ambryan sprinted inside for different reasons. While Eve worried about their children''s safety, Ambryan aimed to catch mischievous grandparents in the act.

    "Oh, you''re back," Avery greeted them. She nced at the door then, returned her attention to Chloe. The red berette she knitted was almost done. She just needed to cut off the yarn from the needles.

    Jackson also nced at the door. Cain was on hisp, fiddling with two lego pieces. "How was the movie? I heard it was all the rage among the youngsters."

    Ambryan stepped inside, his eyes fluttering in different directions. Blocks covered almost a quarter of the floor space. Visible footprints could be seen going in and out of the entryway to the actual bedroom.

    "What What are you doing here?" Ambryan breathed out.

    "Oh, no need to be embarrassed, Yan," his father said. "You weren''t like other boys. You never had questionable magazines."

    Ambryan squinted in response. "And how would you know that?"

    Jackson froze for a second.

    "Ask your mother."

    "Jackson Bet!" Avery eximed at the betrayal. She met her son''s re and raised her hands in surrender. The berette on her granddaughter''s head also slipped. "Fine. Just so you know we would have loved you no matter what"

    "What''s that supposed to mean?!" Ambryan stared at his parents, jaw hanging open. Was his mother implying what he think she was implying?

    Behind him, Eve had bent over fromughing. She had her mouth covered so Ambryan wouldn''t hear. Once sheposed herself, she patted Ambryan on the back and said, "It''s not about the magazines but I think Ambee hid other things though"

    "Daddy! Daddy! You looked so pretty as Cindere!" Chloe squealed. She grabbed the album Avery had hidden from sight and skipped right up to her father. She opened it for him to see. "I''m also going to be Cindere for Halloween! Can you dress up with me?"

    Eve snatched the album before Ambryan could. She waltzed into the room, widening the gap between them. "I finally get to see this! Have I ever told you that you''re the best inws one could have?"

    "Not often enough," Avery snorted yfully.

    It was hard to stop the grin on Eve''s face. She leaned in for a closer look. "Is that Richard as fairy godmother?"

    One hand on his hip, Ambryan covered his entire face with the other. Chloe tugged on the hem of his shirt. "Daddy? You don''t want to be Cindere with me?"

    Ambryan immediately looked downwards.

    His daughter''s pleading eyes stared back at him.

    "Sweetie" he began to say, getting on one knee in front of her. "There can only be one Cindere. How about I get to be the prince instead?"

    Eve plopped down on the couch across from Avery. She flipped through the album as much as she could. Ambryan had told her the story about the y but refused to reveal where he hid the photos. This was a chance she couldn''t waste!

    Chloe pressed her lips in concentration. "Okay. You can be the prince. Mom will be the fairy godmother and Cain can be a mouse!"

    "I thought I was going to be the prince?" Jackson interrupted.

    "Father!" Ambryan protested.

    "Just teasing, son." Jackson turned to Cain on hisp and lowered his voice. "Have you ever seen your dad flustered? Pretty funny, right?"

    To Ambryan''s dismay, a hint of a smile curved on his son''s lips. He exhaled sharply. That was it. He would no longer allow his parents to babysit

    "Oh! Daddy, can wee back next week? Grandma said we''ll go get my costume! I can design it myself too!"

    Her eyes sparkled more than usual.

    "..."

    Eve smirked at her husband''s dilemma. "It would be fine, you said. What could possibly happen?, you said. I bet you wished you listened to me now."

    Ambryan red at his wife who stuck her tongue out. He only wanted some alone time with her. If he had known this was the consequence then, he wouldn''t have agreed!

    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and

    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!