*********Meanwhile, at Elite Entertainment...Eva sat in her personal dressing room, leaning back against the plush chair with a sigh of relief. She had just returned from Kai’s office, where the encounter had been far from pleasant.“Why are the people around me so nagging all the time?” she muttered, rubbing her temples and scratching her ear as if trying to dispel the lingering echoes of Kai's scolding voice.The moment she stepped into his office, she was bombarded with a lecture about the dangers she faced and her reckless decisions. Though he had already reprimanded her over the phone when she was in California, it seemed that was just the preview. Today, Kai had unleashed the full movie.He paced back and forth, arms crossed, his tone both stern and worried as he drilled into her about the kidnapping incident and her insistence on returning to Miami. His concern was obvious, but to Eva, it was overwhelming.“I get it, Kai,” she had tried to interject at one point, but he would
“You know Christine is an ambassador for HB Industries too, right? Apparently, someone has been canceling potential contracts and jobs meant for you. And since you weren’t available, most of them ended up being handed to Christine instead.”“Who’s in charge of approving or rejecting contracts for me?” she asked, though she already suspected the answer.The expression on Eva's face darkened instantly. So that is how they've been playing it during her absence, right?Gwen sighed. “Who else? Trix. She’s been rejecting your contracts left and right. Worse, the ones she does accept are from companies with questionable reputations. Those deals won’t do you any favors—they could even damage your standing in the industry.”Eva’s frown deepened. “Christine’s scandal had quieted down while I was in California, but it’s still a hot topic. Damien and Elite Entertainment made sure Mark couldn’t bury the story entirely. Yet, thanks to the contracts Christine has been accepting, her reputation has st
After weighing her options, Trix finally nodded. “I’ll help you prepare everything.”Eva offered a slight nod of approval. “You can leave now." She waved at Trix who nodded and turned to leave. However, just as she reached the doorway, Eva called her again which made her pause and turn back, only to be met with a steely expression from Eva. “One more thing. If you don’t have the ability to handle a PR crisis, then don’t do anything scandalous that I’ll have to clean up after you.”Her words were a direct hit, and Trix’s face went pale. The message was clear: if she couldn’t keep herself out of trouble, she shouldn’t be playing risky games like seducing people she had no business pursuing.For the first time, Trix realized just how far ahead Eva planned. This wasn’t the naïve, easily manipulated woman she’d been led to believe. In contrast, Christine was rapidly being exposed for her dependency on cheap tactics, while Eva seemed poised to not only outshine her but dismantle her influen
After a moment of silence, Damien finally spoke. “Let me change your bandage now,” he said gently. Though he was savoring the moment with her, her health remained his top priority, and he couldn’t let it slip his mind.Eva pouted, letting go of him with a hint of disappointment at his response. She couldn’t argue and allowed Damien to change her bandage carefully."Since we're done, let's head outside," she finally said once he finished. But before she could get up, Damien scooped her up effortlessly in a bridal carry."Hey! What are you doing?" Eva exclaimed, caught off guard by the sudden gesture."You’re not walking on your own," he replied firmly, his expression calm and unyielding as he made his way to the door."I have my own legs, and they work just fine! I’ve been walking around all day," she protested, even as she instinctively leaned into his embrace.“You’re at home now. You don’t need to walk when I’m here. I’ll carry you until you’re fully healed,” Damien responded, his t
*******The next morning, the air hung heavy with humidity. Eva was roused from sleep by the persistent ringing of her phone. It was Trix, and her tone was surprisingly softer than it had been the day before."Eva, I just arrived at your house, but only your assistant is there." Trix said. She has gotten Eva's current home address from Gwen but unfortunately she met Olivia there."I’ve moved," Eva replied flatly. Of course, she had given Olivia the key to her apartment before she left to California and since she heard Olivia was currently looking for a place because of the incident that happened."I came to tell you something important," Trix began, hesitating for a moment before continuing. "After HB Industry announced you would be appearing at the corporate event, your fans are in an uproar. They’re arguing fiercely among themselves. They say if you attend this event, it means you’re endorsing unreliable products. They’re threatening to abandon you if you go through with it."Eva re
Christine stormed into Director Rick’s office, her heels clicking sharply against the polished floor. Without knocking, she pushed the door open with enough force to make it bang against the wall. The sudden force made Rick look up from his desk, his expression turning sour.“Christine,” he said coldly, setting down his pen. “I wasn’t expecting you. To what do I owe this surprise visit?”She strode to his desk, her anger barely contained. “Don’t play dumb with me, Director Rick. I just signed a contract with these companies, and now all my other deals are being revoked. I want an explanation, and I want it now.” Christine demanded.He was one of the directors at HB Industry, tasked with overseeing most of the models working in collaboration with the company. Beyond his professional role, he maintained a close friendship with President Adolf of BTG Industry, a connection that often allowed Christine to leverage favors from him. It was through his influence that Trix was appointed as Ev
As Director Rick read the magazine offers, he hesitated. But before he could act decisively, Christine intercepted.“We agreed not to accept any work for her, didn’t we? Are you ignoring what I said?” Christine snapped, her voice dripping with entitlement. She had also taken a glimpse of what is written in the file from where she was standing.Trix smirked inwardly at Christine’s audacity. It was almost amusing how she acted as if she already owned this company.Director Rick sighed, he wanted to shut her up but he knew things wouldn’t end well for him because she had Mark Johnson backing. So he tried calming down and tried to placate her. Unbeknownst to Christine, Trix had already switched sides, reporting every move back to Eva. When Trix relayed both Christine and Director Rick's plan to use her as a shield, Eva’s response was swift.“Reject the offer. Tell them I’m not feeling well if that so-called Director Rick asked about me,” she instructed, her tone calm yet firm.Trix nodde
After ending the call, Eva placed her phone on the small garden table and picked up the watering can again, intent on tending to the roses that had flourished under her care. But before she could continue, Damien’s strong arms wrapped around her waist, pulling her back into his chest.“You’re not going to escape that easily,” he murmured, his voice a deep rumble in her ear.Eva turned slightly, her lips curling into a teasing smile. “Escape? I didn’t know I was being held captive.”Damien tilted her chin up with his hand, his dark eyes locking onto hers. Without another word, he lowered his head and captured her lips with a passion that stole her breath away. It wasn’t just a kiss—it was a declaration, intense and consuming.Eva sighed into him, letting the watering-can slip from her fingers and thud softly onto the lush grass below. Twisting in his arms, she wrapped hers around his neck, pressing herself closer as she returned his kiss with equal fervor. The garden seemed to fade int
Just as Eva had anticipated about David Harper brand, it began to happen.It started as murmurs—whispers of instability surrounding Harper Luxuries. Industry insiders noted financial discrepancies, missed payments, and desperate rebranding strategies. But Christine, too caught up in her perceived victory over Eva, was blind to the warning signs.For a fleeting moment, she basked in the glory of being the new face of an esteemed luxury brand. She flaunted her success at elite events, paraded her contract in front of her peers, and even threw veiled jabs at Eva in interviews.Then the storm hit.A week after Christine officially signed with Harper Luxuries, a bombshell investigative report was released. The company was drowning in debt. Fraudulent financial reports, unpaid suppliers, and looming lawsuits surfaced overnight. Their attempt to save face by attaching Christine to the brand was exposed as a desperate cover-up.But the worst blow came when Mark’s name appeared in the scandal.
A few days passed, and as expected, Christine was basking in her so-called victory. News had already begun circulating that Christine had secured the prestigious luxury campaign, and the industry buzzed with her success.She made sure to flaunt it at every opportunity, from social media posts carefully curated to highlight her “hard work” to exclusive interviews where she subtly hinted at her rise in the fashion world.Tanya, however, wasn’t as thrilled. She sat across from Christine at a café, stirring her coffee with a thoughtful expression.“You don’t look as happy as I expected,” Tanya noted, watching Christine sip her latte.Christine smirked, flipping her hair over one shoulder. “Oh, I’m happy. Eva lost. That’s all that matters.”Tanya raised an eyebrow. “Are you sure she lost? Because something doesn’t feel right.”Christine’s smirk faltered for a second before she quickly masked it. “What’s that supposed to mean?”Tanya leaned forward. “You’ve never ‘beaten’ Eva before, right?
-That evening, Gwen stormed into Eva’s mansion, her face flushed with anger. “They pulled your contract! Christine convinced them you’re unreliable.”Eva, seated comfortably on the couch, calmly stirred her tea. “I suspected something was off when they postponed our last meeting.”Gwen threw her hands up in frustration. “And you’re just sitting there? This was a huge deal, Eva!”Eva’s lips curled into a knowing smile. “Christine’s biggest flaw is that she thinks she’s always one step ahead. But she’s predictable.”Gwen frowned. “What are you saying?”“I already arranged a private meeting with David Harper before they even made the final decision.”Gwen’s eyes widened in relief. “So you can fix this?”Eva exhaled softly. “That was the plan.”The next morning, Eva and Gwen, who had insisted on accompanying her, arrived at the private lounge where her meeting with David Harper was scheduled. Dressed in a sleek, tailored suit that exuded confidence, she walked in with her usual grace, ex
The sound of glass shattering echoed through the luxurious hotel suite as Christine hurled a vase across the room. Her chest heaved with rage, her nails digging into her palms as she glared at the headlines flashing on her phone screen. Her latest scheme to ruin Eva’s reputation had backfired, and instead of dragging her sister through the mud, she had only strengthened Eva’s position. Every carefully placed trap had been countered, every lie had been exposed. Christine had never felt so powerless. Sitting on the couch, Tanya crossed her legs and sighed, watching Christine throw another decorative piece to the floor. She had been working with Christine for years now, and while she had always known that Christine despised Eva, it was becoming clear that this wasn’t just about competition anymore. ‘It was an obsession’ she thought. Tanya remained silent as Christine raged, knowing full well that any attempt to calm her down would only make things worse. Instead, she waited for the
— That evening, Eva arrived at the mansion, feeling a strange sense of relief as she stepped inside. After staying in a hotel for so long, returning here felt like coming home—not just because of the place but because of who was waiting for her. She slipped off her heels and sighed, stretching her sore muscles. Just as she was about to call out, a deep, familiar voice came from the living room. “Took you long enough.” She turned and found Damien leaning against the doorway, watching her with that quiet intensity that always made her heart skip a beat. His sleeves were rolled up, his tie loosened, and despite the exhaustion she knew he must have felt from his long day, there was a softness in his gaze reserved only for her. A slow smile spread across her lips. “Miss me?” she teased, walking toward him. Instead of answering, Damien reached out and gently pulled her into his arms. His embrace was warm, steady—like an anchor. Eva let out a soft breath as she melted into his hold, re
—-- Meanwhile, at Cross Enterprise, Damien was already aware of the situation. Sitting in his office, he scanned the online articles, his expression darkening. Christine had dared to attack Eva through the media, hoping to cause irreparable damage. Big mistake. Damien didn’t tolerate anyone trying to harm what was his. Without hesitation, he placed the tablet down and looked at Eric. “Tell the PR team to shut it down,” he ordered. “And make sure every major outlet retracts the story and destroys whatever companies are involved in this scandal.” Eric frowned slightly when he heard his boss. Again he was trying to protect Eva all again. However, he couldn’t voice out his displeasure so he quietly nodded his head. “Yes, sir.” Within an hour, the suspicious articles started disappearing. Gossip blogs that had been flooded with scandalous headlines were suddenly quiet. Comments under posts were being flooded with contradictions. The narrative was crumbling before Christine’s eyes.
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