Damien turned his back to her while flicking his wrist. The men came forward to surround her. This was not the first time that Nathalia had gotten in trouble with her brothers due to her unruly ways. The guards already had a long protocol on how to deal with her without hurting her. Damien has strictly forbidden rough treatment against his younger cousin even while forcing her to come home. They could only surround her on all sides, and coerce her to walk.Eva frowned upon seeing her bestie’s frightened expression. When they made eye contact, she was pleading for help. She was familiar with Nathalia's mother's nagging ways. She knew she would suffer along the nagging indirectly as Nathalia never fails to run to her side and vent after getting a scolding.“Brother, listen to me. This isn't really my fault that Gabriel and ….Hey, don't touch me!” Nathalia screamed, almost as if she was being kidnapped. “Besides, I can't go back now because of my job." She protested.Eva turned to Damien
Edwin decided to drop the subject. His brother was right. This wasn't the best time and place to speak about such crucial information."I'll bring Nathy back to Miami—""You will do no such thing. Nathy will remain with me and keep me company." Eva immediately cut him off, frowning as she watched the scene unfold before her."Eva, Nathy needs to be taught a lesson-""For what? Helping me move on?" Eva angrily asked in disbelief.Damien fiercely glowered at her, "Moving on with what? Useless rebounds that would only waste your time?"She narrowed her eyes to glare at him. "She was just trying to help!" She tried to yank her hand out of his, but instead, he tugged her towards him. His pull was so strong, she would have fallen off the bed if he didn't haul her to his chest.Even when he stared down at her, she wasn't scared of him. A staring competition between the blizzard in his eyes and the raging fire in hers had started. At that moment, none of them planned to yield."Stubborn littl
She had fought hard to pursue her career in modeling, a path her family had initially resisted, but her persistence eventually won them over. This latest scandal, though, had brought fresh waves of disapproval from her parents. She feared their disappointment and, worse, the wrath of her formidable grandfather. If her parent's scolding is not enough, they would definitely send her to meet their grandfather and the thought of it alone was making her cringe. Her grandfather might have a soft spot but that old man was really scary and terrifying.“Nathalia is an adult,” Eva cut in, coming to her friend’s defense just as she had done so many times during their younger years. “She can go home by herself.” Her loyalty to Nathalia was fierce, and Eva had always shielded her friend from trouble, regardless of the consequences.Damien turned his gaze to Eva, a flicker of frustration evident in his intense stare. “If you keep coddling her like this,” he began, his tone edged with reproach, “yo
“Oh, really?” Eva raised an eyebrow, crossing her arms with a skeptical look. “How about that time you sneaked out at midnight to meet a stranger who promised to show you a dozen puppies? You slipped past security, left your bodyguards behind, and nearly got yourself into serious trouble.” “T-that was one time!” Nathalia stammered, her cheeks flushing as she remembered the incident. The incident happened when they used to be models together and the security detail had woken Eva in a panic in the middle, frantic after discovering that Nathalia had snuck out on her own. Eva had been furious, and Nathalia, although grateful for the rescue, had never quite heard the end of it. “And don't get me started on the other naive things you've done in the past because it would only confirm that you are naive." Eva shook her head with a tired sigh, rubbing her forehead. She caught herself as she brushed against the thick bandage, a reminder that she was still lying in a hospital bed. Glancing u
Damien scowled, his gaze simmering with irritation. The company can wait, he thought stubbornly. He’d rather be here with her, watching over her, than stuck behind a desk in some corporate boardroom.“I can stay here and—” he began, but she cut him off.“Damien,” She called, cutting him off. Her eyes scanned his entire body before meeting his gaze with a raised brow. “You look…awful. And it's very concerning.”“Pftt….” Edwin who had been quietly watching them almost couldn't control himself and nearly burst out laughing. Even Nathalia managed to not laugh out.Damien’s lips twitched faintly. “That’s rich, coming from someone who’s been unconscious for two weeks. If my look is your concern, I'd go home and change then come back-”“No need to come back here, Nathalia will stay with me. We have a lot of catching up to do,” she continued, her tone softening slightly. “Meanwhile, Cross Enterprise has thousands of employees who are depending on you. They need you more than I do.” Her voice
“Perhaps I am, perhaps I’m not,” Eva replied with a nonchalant shrug, a small smirk playing on her lips.Damien felt the breath leave his lungs as he stared at her. Her mischievous sweet smile lit up her face, and for a moment, he was completely caught in her gaze, looking at her like a man bewitched. She was such a mystery—this woman who could challenge him, unafraid and unabashed. It made his heart race in ways he could barely control.Beneath his admiration, however, a flicker of jealousy lingered. The thought of other men pursuing her, even if it was in the past or on harmless blind dates set up by Nathalia irritated him.“Now go back to your company and make more money,” Eva said, giving his chest a gentle push as she tried to shoo him toward the door. She was smiling, her teasing tone light, and the sight of her so relaxed with him made the tension in his chest ease.Damien let out a soft laugh, one that felt light and boyish even to him. She rarely treated him with this much wa
Finally, Nathalia stomped back to Eva's bedside, a childish pout settled on her face. “Eva, I seriously don’t understand what you see in such a stubborn man!”Eva's laughter filled the room, rich and warm, as she gave her friend a knowing look. “Nathy, you should know better than anyone that stubbornness runs in your family’s blood,” she teased. She’d missed Nathalia’s lively spirit and the fun they shared. It felt like ages since she’d seen her friend so full of mischief and life.Nathalia’s mouth dropped open, and she let out a dramatic gasp, her hand clutching her chest, while deepening her pout. “Eva! I am not stubborn!” She eyed Eva's arm, clearly itching to grab and shake it as she always did, but she held herself back, remembering her friend’s injuries.Eva rolled her eyes, a smile still on her lips. “Yeah, right.”“If you keep rolling your eyes, they’ll get stuck that way,” Nathalia countered with a playful stomp of her foot, crossing her arms in a pretend huff.Eva chuckled,
After indulging in the hearty meal and feeling her energy begin to restore, Eva settled back against her pillows, her eyelids growing heavy with drowsiness. But just as she began to drift into a contented nap, Nathalia nudged her shoulder insistently.Groaning, Eva cracked an eye open, her exasperation clear. “What now?” Her voice was laced with irritation from being disturbed as she raised a brow at the expectant look on her friends face.Just as Nathalia was about to open her mouth and speak, her cell phone went off which interrupted her. When she glanced at her cell phone screen, she glanced back at Eva who was staring at her as well.“Who is it?" Eva asked.“Gwen. You know she always makes sure to visit everyday since you've been here. I wonder why she is calling me." Nathalia told Eva before she answered the call."Gwen, is there a problem?” Nathalia asked, after answering the call." Yes, there is a problem. I'm outside Eva's ward and the guards won't let me in. Though they loo
For the past few days, Christine had kept a low profile, following Tanya’s advice to wait for the right opportunity. Her previous schemes had failed miserably—each attempt to sabotage Eva had only backfired, making Eva look even more poised and untouchable. But Christine wasn’t the type to accept defeat.If she couldn’t surpass Eva professionally, then she would tear her down personally.Her mother, Laura, had been the one to plant the idea in her mind. "If you can’t win on the battlefield they’ve chosen," Laura had told her, "then change the game. Make them play on your terms."And that was exactly what Christine intended to do. This time, she wouldn’t just aim for petty sabotage—she was going to destroy Eva’s reputation completely.…………Early in the morning, Eva’s phone buzzed non-stop.Gossip sites, entertainment blogs, and even major media outlets were exploding with headlines:"Supermodel Eva Caught in Scandalous Affair with HB Industry CEO!""Is Eva Using Her Influence to Secure
Meanwhile, Eric, who had been silently watching the interaction, let out a small scoff. “So this is what I wasted my time for?” he muttered under his breath.Gwen immediately shot him a glare. “Excuse me?”Eric smirked slightly, shoving his hands into his pockets. “You barged in here like it was urgent, but all you’re doing is dragging her out for a photoshoot?”“Oh, I’m so sorry,” Gwen said mockingly. “I forgot you were Mr.Cross's bodyguard and not his secretary. If it bothers you so much, maybe you should have stayed outside instead of following me in.” she said, though she knew that he was Damien's secretary but still said that to irk him.Eric chuckled darkly.’This crazy human being.’ “Believe me, I wouldn’t be here if someone didn’t insist I help her get past the receptionist.”“I did not beg—” Gwen started before cutting herself off, clenching her fists. “You know what? Forget it. I don’t have time to argue with an overgrown ice cube.”Eva, who had been watching the entire exch
Eva leaned back against the couch, patting her stomach in satisfaction. "I have to say, I really outdid myself picking that restaurant," she mused.Damien, who was already sitting behind his desk, raised a brow. “You outdid yourself? All you did was order the food. I don’t remember you being the one who actually cooked it.”Eva scoffed, sitting up straighter. “Excuse you, do you know how much effort it took to pick the best dishes from that menu?”Damien smirked. “Oh, I’m sure scrolling through a menu and pointing at things was exhausting.”Eva gasped, placing a hand over her chest dramatically. “Wow, Damien. I put all this effort into making sure my husband doesn’t starve, and this is the appreciation I get?”Damien let out a chuckle, the warmth in his gaze betraying his otherwise teasing expression. “Your husband could have easily ordered lunch himself, you know.”Eva narrowed her eyes. “Really? Because from the looks of it, you were buried under so many files that you probably woul
Gwen strode into Cross Enterprise’s grand lobby, her heels clicking sharply against the polished marble floor. She just got back from where she had told Eva she was going and had tried calling Eva multiple times, but as expected, Eva was too busy flirting or whatever she was doing with Damien to answer her phone.Glancing at the time, Gwen muttered under her breath. “If she doesn’t come out now, Victoria’s going to have my head.”With no other choice, she let out an exasperated sigh, and approached the receptionist’s desk.“I’m here to see Mr. Cross,” she said, adjusting the strap of her handbag. “Let me through to the top floor.”The receptionist, a young woman with perfectly styled hair and an unbothered expression, simply smiled. “I’m sorry, miss, but you don’t have an appointment. I can’t let you in.”Gwen blinked, momentarily taken aback. “What?”The receptionist gave her a polite but firm look. “Without an appointment, I can’t let you through. Company policy.”Gwen narrowed her
As Damien led her to the couch, Eva suddenly halted, making him turn with a questioning brow.“You know,” she mused, tilting her head with mock seriousness, “before you interrupted me, I was actually offering a very expensive consultation service.”Damien crossed his arms, amusement twinkling in his dark eyes. “Oh?”Eva nodded, tapping her chin as if in deep thought. “Yes, I used to charge companies millions for my insights. So technically… you owe me.”Damien let out a low chuckle, stepping closer. “Let me get this straight,” he said, his voice rich with teasing authority. “You walked into my office, sat in my chair, went through my documents without permission—and now you’re asking me to pay you?”Eva grinned. “That’s business, Mr. Cross. Nothing is free.”Damien smirked. “And what if I refuse to pay?”Eva pretended to think, then shrugged. “Then I guess I’ll take my brilliant mind elsewhere.”Damien’s eyes darkened slightly, but he played along. “That would be a shame. Tell me, Mrs
Minutes passed, and Eva quickly grew bored.She had been in Damien’s office many times, but she still found herself looking around. It was immaculate and organized, but it lacked anything personal. Nothing in this room screamed Damien—except for the towering stacks of documents and reports on his desk.Her eyes narrowed as she walked over, running her fingers lightly over the ridiculous amount of paperwork.“No wonder he barely has time to eat.” She muttered, shaking her head.The sight of his overwhelming workload triggered a familiar ache in her chest. She remembered her past—being buried in work, managing her father’s company alongside Mark. She had spent countless nights drowning in documents, starving herself to meet deadlines, and yet… no one had cared. Neither her father nor Mark had ever asked if she had eaten.Her fingers clenched slightly against the papers.She had left that life behind, yet here Damien was, doing the same thing to himself.Determined to help him, Eva sat i
The sleek black car pulled up in front of Cross Enterprise, and Eva didn’t waste a second stepping out. Instead of the casual home-cooked meal she initially planned, she had opted for something more refined—a gourmet lunch from one of the most renowned restaurants in the city.“Wait here,” Eva told Gwen as she adjusted her coat.Gwen smirked knowingly. “Of course, take your time, lover girl.”Eva rolled her eyes but didn’t argue. She knew exactly what she was doing. There was no need to hide anymore—not after the scandal had already made headlines, exposing her connection to Damien. So, she walked into the building with confidence, her heels clicking against the polished marble floor of the grand lobby.The moment she stepped inside, all eyes were on her.Employees, visitors, and executives alike paused in their conversations, their gazes snapping toward the stunning supermodel who had just entered the headquarters of one of the most powerful companies in the world.It wasn’t just her
--- After the Fitting As Eva stepped off the platform, Gwen handed her a bottle of water. “You handled that beautifully.” Eva took a sip and smirked. “Christine’s getting predictable.” Trix rolled her eyes. “What’s next? Tripping you on the runway?” Eva chuckled. “If she does, I’ll be ready for that too.” Christine might have thought she could sabotage Eva with clumsy tricks, but Eva wasn’t easily shaken. When they got to her room, Eva sighed in relief as she kicked off her heels, rolling her ankles to ease the tension. “What’s my schedule looking like today, Trix?” she asked, rubbing her temples. Trix scrolled through her tablet, barely glancing up. “You have a photoshoot with Victoria this afternoon after you wrap up here.” Eva groaned, sinking into the plush chair. “Can’t we reschedule? At this point, I can’t tell if she’s just dedicated to her work or if she’s obsessed with overworking me to death.” Gwen chuckled, settling onto the couch beside her. “She’s taken a real l
The fashion house hosting the campaign had scheduled a fitting session for all the models. The room buzzed with activity as assistants, designers, and stylists adjusted gowns and accessories. Eva arrived, poised and confident, dressed in a sleek black dress. Gwen and Trix trailed behind her, chatting about the campaign’s recent success. Christine was already there, surrounded by a few stylists, her laughter deliberately exaggerated as she chatted with a designer. Eva ignored her and focused on her fitting. A stylist handed her an elegant white gown, its fabric shimmering under the lights. It was one of the most anticipated pieces of the campaign, and Eva knew this photoshoot would be critical. As she stepped onto the fitting platform, Christine made her move. A designer approached Eva with a clipboard, giving her details about the shoot. Christine, pretending to walk past, "accidentally" tilted a cup of coffee in Eva’s direction. Time seemed to slow. The dark liquid splashed on