Eva took the business card from the director’s hands, but refused politely as usual, "I am happy where I am right now." The director nodded his head in understanding with a gentle smile as he didn’t want to pressure Eva. "Even so, we will always welcome you." Eva thanked him and started to head towards Damien. But, Gwen suddenly rushed towards her holding out her phone exclaiming, "Just now, there was a woman called Trix that called, proclaiming she is the new manager HB industry has arranged for you. She also said, after you are finished with your shooting, you should return back to the country.” Gwen quickly informed Eva. “New manager? Why wasn't I informed about having another manager?" Eva asked. “According to what I know, I am still your manager but since you are now an ambassador for two companies in collaboration, you need someone picked by the two companies to put you through your work as an ambassador. Of course, I'm remaining as your manager now matter what." Gwen expla
"No, I just thought staying away from the company might be troublesome. Moreso, I'm working here and so should you as well. I don't want to be the reason you have to skip work.” Eva replied, making Damien frown while Gwen sighed. "You're more important than the company. I also came to work by checking on our company branch here.” Damien replied. Eva looked at him for a few seconds before she slowly nodded at him. After dropping Eva and Gwen off at the hotel, Damien headed directly back to the airport where his private jet was waiting for him. The moment Eva closed her hotel room door after bidding Gwen goodbye, her phone began to buzz in her pocket. She raised a brow when she saw who the caller was. “Grandfather?" She said, immediately she answered the call. “Evangeline Carter." George's voice rang out from the other side of the phone. “It's been a while now, Grandfather? Why did you call me?" Eva asked. " What do you mean? Why wouldn't I call you when it's been a while since
After making sure that George would not send someone to pick her up, Eva hung up the call and stood up from the couch. She headed to the bathroom to shower and rest since she still had some shoots to do tomorrow as well. ‘Geez, I never knew my work was this stressful and tiring until now.’ Eva thought. The first thing that Eva did when she left the office was to call Harry. She knew if visit George tomorrow he was definitely going to interrogate her about Harry. It's better lying to George over the phone but lying to him face-to-face is very difficult because he would figure it out. At least not when he knew that Eva was very close to her male cousins. She wanted him to know that she might not be able to keep lying to their grandfather so he should prepare himself. He picked up on the first ring but what greeted her was the sound of loud explosions and gunshots. "A squad is coming in from the South East. You guys provide cover fire while we go in this house and snipe." He shouted
"The best way to hide from someone is by staying right underneath them. I know you too well. Do you grandfather wouldn't have found all this month of you running if you were in other states? It's because you never left California that they can't find you.” She explained to him as she played with her hair. " You're really scared when you know my movements and how I think. But why did you want us to eat together all of a sudden?” He was impressed by how Eva figured his secret out but he was still suspicious about her. She chuckled. "Do I need a reason to invite a cousin to eat? Don’t be so skeptical of me." "I'm skeptical if it comes out of nowhere." He said, just as his stomach decided to grumble for food. He tilted his head to look at the empty pizza box that was on his desk and wondered whether he should maybe eat something healthier. "What? Two cousins can’t suddenly enjoy a good meal together?" Eva frowned a bit because she sounded suspicious, even to her own ears. "I just wan
“Why didn’t you say so earlier? I’m going grocery shopping right now. Want me to pick something up for you?" She lied. Although she was ready to get dressed and do some shopping for him since it was not completely late yet. "No need. I’m already eating as we speak." He told her. She sighed. "Tomorrow, you’re going grocery shopping with me. You need some nutrition in your body." She scolded and thought of his tall but incredibly lean frame. He was very skinny and pale. "Going to the grocery is so much work-" "I’ll pay you to go with me." She said, "Really? How much?" He gleefully asked, his eyes lighting up at the idea of making money. Eva chuckled at his enthusiasm. "How does a couple thousand sound?" There was a fond smile on her face as she teased him. "Pft! Are you kidding, just a couple thousand? I’m pretty sure you use a couple thousand as your toilet paper! How about something in the hundred thousand or Million?" She laughed at his greedy words. "If I want to remain ri
Her heart drummed in fear when she found her body unable to move and even the driver wasn't responding to her. She struggled to open her eyes, only to see a strange dispenser near the air conditioner vent. She looked at the rear view mirror and felt her heart drop when she saw the gas mask on the cab driver. ’What the hell was going on?’ She thought to herself. He turned the air conditioner to the highest setting which caused more wind to circulate around the car and the strange dispenser blew out more gas. Eva tried to focus, to fight against the suffocating fog enveloping her mind, but every thought slipped away like water through her fingers. Her eyelids fluttered as she strained to stay conscious. ‘Something is wrong. I need to get out of this car.’ The thought came with force, shaking the last remnants of her strength. However , no matter how she tried to fight, her body remained sluggish, unresponsive, and refused to cooperate with her. She glanced around the car through bl
Eva blinked after opening her eyes again, her mind was still sluggish from the lingering effects of whatever drug she had inhaled in the car. When she tried to move, she realized she couldn’t. Her arms ached, heavy with something pressing down on them. She turned her head slightly, wincing at the stiffness in her neck. Her wrists were bound to the arms of a metal chair. Panic shot through her. Her heart hammered in her chest as she tried to move again, tugging harder, but it only made the ropes dig painfully into her skin causing a hiss sound from her. Her wrists were bound, pulled tight behind her back, keeping her firmly attached to the cold metal chair beneath her. It took a few more blinks for her vision to clear, and when it did, the sight that greeted her sent a chill down her spine. The room was massive, cavernous, with steel beams crisscrossing above her like the bones of some giant skeleton. It was a warehouse, old and worn, with the scent of rust and dampness heavy i
Since no one has walked in through the door, Eva thought of using the opportunity. Her eyes darted around the room again, searching for something—anything—that could help her. There was a stack of crates nearby, just a few distance away from her, covered in heavy plastic sheeting. The walls were rusted metal shelves, half-empty but littered with old tools and bolts. She strained to see further, craning her neck to take in the shadows at the back of the warehouse, but nothing stood out. The place was almost unnervingly empty. “Shame. My purse isn't with me." If only her purse was somewhere in sight it would have been easier for her. But she knew that the men who took her would have rummaged through it, and the dagger she always carried in her person had already been discarded by now. They’ll be back soon, she reminded herself. She needed to be ready. With no other options at her disposal, Eva leaned back in the chair and waited. The cold metal beneath her was uncomfortable, pressing
Damien’s patience was wearing thin. He had no time for groveling and lies.Sensing his boss’s growing irritation, Eric opened his mouth to speed up the conversation, but before he could, Oliver burst into the room.“Hey, Mr. Piggy, could you shut up?” Oliver snapped, his bright yellow hoodie and ripped jeans contrasting with the grim atmosphere. He twirled a sleek switchblade in his hand, his boyish face betraying a sinister grin.Rex’s brows furrowed at the newcomer. Was this some kind of joke? Who let this disrespectful kid into the room? Besides, wasn't this one way too young to even be here? He was dressed naively young, like a baby chick with that bright clothes.“Hey, human garbage,” Oliver growled, his playful demeanor shifting in an instant. His eyes turned wild, and his grin morphed into something feral. “Don’t look at me like that.” He hurled his knife with terrifying precision, the blade grazing Rex’s neck and leaving a shallow cut. Blood trickled down, making Rex stumble b
Damien didn't speak, instead, he pulled out a gun, turning it around and examining it, a crude expression on his face.His right-hand man, Eric, stepped forward. Unlike his boss, Eric is also active and very talkative in this kind of moment when it comes to cleaning up filth like this."Take a guess," Eric said coolly, his tone sharp enough to cut glass.Rex’s eyes darted to Damien, who was calmly examining a sleek, custom-made gun. A shiver ran down his spine. He recognized the weapon—a modified Smith & Wesson, known for its devastating effects. The bullets it fired didn’t just kill, they tortured, leaving behind excruciatingly slow, acid-induced agony. It was an acid that burned through everything until the pearly white bone was exposed. That pain alone would have people begging for death over mercy.Mr. Damien, I-I’m not sure of the purpose of your visit. V-velvet vipers hasn’t interfered with the Cross’s business—”“Blood fist.” Damien’s icy voice cut through the tense atmosphere,
Just as Rex reached for his expensive wine again, the door to the room burst open with a thunderous crash, silencing the revelry in an instant. Crimson laser dots swarmed the room, targeting every man, freezing them in place.Rex barely blinked when he saw the commotion. It was not something new to have enemies barge into the place he was having fun. Probably, it would end with another threat conversation before the other party leaves. Calmly, he sipped his drink and set it down. But just as his fingers released the glass, a bullet shattered it, spilling the expensive liquor onto his custom Dior shoes."Bold little bastards," Rex muttered, his patience wearing thin. Reaching into his waistband, he pulled out a pistol.Upon seeing the lethal weapon in his hand, the women beside scattered like frightened mice, their shrieks piercing the tension-filled air. They weren't women who worked for the clan, instead, they were just simple escorts and prostitutes called in to please these big-sho
After switching the light on, her eyes landed on a set of bags near the couch. The scent of familiar dishes wafted through the air, and her heart twisted painfully. He had brought her favorite foods, likely intending to eat with her.He had wanted to eat with her. Her chest prickled with guilt and for a moment, she hesitated.But then she glanced at the shattered vase she had thrown in anger, and the guilt was replaced by frustration. Gathering the bags, she marched to the door and opened it to find Damien’s bodyguards standing stiffly outside.“You must be hungry standing out here all day,” she said, shoving the bags into their hands. “Take these. I’m not in the mood to eat.”The men exchanged bewildered glances.“Lady Boss, are you sure—”“If you don’t want them, throw them away,” she said curtly, shutting the door before they could protest further.“We can't really toss this away, can't we? This is too expensive." One of the bodyguards said, glancing at the bag while the others nod
His scowl deepened, and for a moment, she thought he might explode. But instead, he bit back whatever retort had been on the tip of his tongue. He knew that pushing her further would only backfire.“I understand you hate hospitals,” he said after a long pause, his voice gentler. “But staying here and resting is for your own good. You’re too stubborn to take care of yourself, so I have to do it for you.”Did he view her as a child? Why was he so persistent in keeping her here? She could recuperate somewhere else with a personal doctor — anything was fine, as long as it wasn't this chemical-filled location brimming with painful memories.Eva’s lips pressed into a thin line. “I don’t need your intervention.”His eyes narrowed, his irritation simmering just beneath the surface. “Don’t be stubborn—”“You’re a hypocrite,” she shot back before she could stop herself. Well, to some extent, she was hypocritical."Ehm, ehm……you demand me to not be stubborn, but here you are again, also being st
Eva felt her heart ache at the tone of Damien's voice, so small and fragile, like that of a lost child. Her chest tightened with guilt for having pushed him to this point. Her logical mind chastised her for taking things too far, while her heart yearned to soothe and comfort him.“Will you do it again?” she asked softly, her fingers tracing gentle circles over his rough, calloused hands.Immediately, his hand shifted to clasp hers tightly, intertwining their fingers in a firm yet comforting grip. Her heart skipped a beat at the gesture, a tiny smile tugging at the corners of her lips.“I can’t promise you a definite no,” he admitted, his deep voice muffled as he rested his head on her shoulder. He breathed her in—the intoxicating, calming scent of jasmine filling his senses and clouding his mind. “But I will try my hardest to be lenient.”She paused, unsure how to respond. Sensing her silence, Damien tightened his hold on her fingers, giving her hand a reassuring squeeze.“Are you sti
Eva’s heart pounded as she searched for a way to diffuse his anger. She knew that escalating this tension would only make things worse. Desperate, she decided to play a different card—a gamble.“Tell me, how would you like to handle the consequences? Perhaps I should start with—" He was interrupted when she abruptly stepped forward, wrapping her arms around him in a tight embrace. The suddenness of her action made him freeze in place.“What are you doing?" He blinked. "Damien," she murmured softly, her voice sweet and soothing. She pressed her face against his chest, rubbing her cheek against the silk of his shirt.His body stiffened, his clenched fists trembling at his sides. "This won't work," he said, though his voice had lost its sharp edge."I'm cold," she whispered, her words muffled against his chest."Eva," he warned, but his tone lacked conviction."Won’t you hug me?" She tilted her head up, gazing at him with wide, pleading eyes and a slight pout on her lips. Her heart ski
After bidding Belle goodbye and promising her one last time that she would return tomorrow, Eva walked down the hospital halls with a spring in her step. A soft hum escaped her lips, her arms filled with snacks Belle had insisted she take. The little girl had brightened her day and made her feel less alone in the dreariness of the hospital."You shout it out, but I can't hear a word you sayI'm talking loud, not saying muchI'm criticized, but all your bullets ricochetShoot me down, but I get up," Eva softly sang, her favorite song playing in her mind as she strolled back to her room. She smiled, wondering if her friend Nathalie would enjoy the snacks she was carrying.“I'm bulletproof, nothing to loseFire away, fire awayRicochet, you take your aimFire away, fire awayShe was in such a good mood that she even gently danced along the hallway to her. “You shoot me down, but I won't fallI am titanium………..”“You shoot me down, but I won't fallI am titanium” a low voice suddenly com
She paused, her mind flashing back to the countless fights, the shattered dishes, the cold silences that followed her every rebellion. "But I didn’t let their expectations control me. I chose my path, even when it meant walking away from them entirely." Eva let out a sigh, her gaze still focused outside the window. " I really loved it when I refused them, even though it would earn me being slapped senselessly. I always find pleasure somehow and I took pride in becoming the perfect, graceful black sheep of that damned family.” Belle hung on every word, her eyes wide with admiration and curiosity."But," She continued. “I only did it when I was a grown adult, legal enough to make my own choices. My plan wasn't perfect nor did it work in pleasing my family, but then again, why should I continue to please them when they were never family to me in the first place?" Eva gently moved her gaze back to Belle, leaning forward, "However, as someone who has gone through all that, you should k