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, Damienâs strong arms wrapped around her waist, pulling her back into his chest.âYouâre not going to escape that easily,â he murmured, his voice a deep rumble in her ear.Eva turned slightly, her lips curling into a teasing smile. âEscape? I didnât know I was being held captive.âDamien 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 wasnât just a kissâit 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
Eva stood, smoothing her dress with deliberate grace. âIf thereâs nothing else, Iâll take my leave. Feel free to send any legitimate offers my wayâones that arenât tainted by ulterior motives.âAs she turned to leave, Rick called after her, his voice laced with frustration. âThis isnât over, Eva. Youâre making enemies you canât afford to have.âEva paused at the door, glancing over her shoulder with a calm, confident smile. âDirector Rick, Iâve faced far worse than this. If you want to play games, just rememberâI always play to win.âWith that, she exited the office, leaving Rick stewing in his defeat. Eva knew the battle wasnât over, but she was ready for whatever came next. After all, she wasnât just surviving in this industryâshe was thriving on her own terms.â---The next day, HB Industry and the event organizers issued statements, instructing the public on how to obtain tickets to see Eva at the upcoming event.As soon as the announcements went live, the backlash followed almost
Upon entering the house, Eva immediately noticed Damien already home. His tall, imposing figure was stretched out on the sofa, his right arm resting across his eyes to shield himself from the bright lights. Eva smiled softly, her presence unnoticed at first. She quietly approached him and sat beside him, gently running her fingers across the sharp angles of his face."Why arenât you in bed?" she asked, her voice tender."The company you're endorsing tomorrow," Damien began, his tone serious, "Cross Enterpriseâs legal team has already sent them a letter, suing for fraud. The news should be spreading tomorrow afternoon."Eva rested her head against his chest as she replied, "Itâs fine. I'll only be appearing in the morning."Although she didnât elaborate further, Damien seemed to sense what she was planning. He understood that her actions tomorrow would have consequences, and the client wouldn't let her off easily. Hence, Cross Enterprise, a company that rarely involved itself with such
------------------The venue for the event was modest, with the main hall accommodating roughly 200 seats. Despite its size, Eva knew that the real audience extended far beyond the people present. Countless eyes would be watching her through live streams, hoping to see her stumble while endorsing this low-tier brand. They were eager to find ammunition for gossip and ridicule. But Eva smirked inwardlyâthey were in for a rude awakening.After a spirited introduction from the host and a reassuring nod from Trix, Eva stepped onto the stage. The spotlight bathed her in a warm glow, and though it had been a while since she stood in such a position, her confidence remained unwavering. She paused for a moment, letting the silence settle as she adjusted to the glaring lights and curious gazes.The host, an energetic man eager to hype the event, grinned widely. "Ladies and gentlemen, our dazzling Eva is here! Doesnât she have the most enchanting presence? Letâs give her a warm welcome!"He hand
But as Eva stepped off the stage, the storm brewing backstage awaited her. Director Rick and the client stormed toward her, their expressions thunderous."Eva!" the client barked, jabbing a finger in her direction. "What the hell were you thinking? A model like you, daring to cause a scene in front of so many people? Have you lost your mind?""You turned this event into your personal press conference!" Director Rick snapped, his voice low but venomous. "Do you realize what youâve done?"Eva remained calm, her gaze steady as she met their furious stares. Her poise, far from pacifying them, only seemed to infuriate them more."Eva, Iâm warning you," the company representative growled, his tone filled with arrogance. "If you still want a career in this industry, youâd better get out there and apologize. Otherwise, Iâll make you regret ever setting foot on this stage."Evaâs soft laughter filled the tense room. Her calm expression, betraying no hint of fear, seemed almost mocking. "The wo
What kind of nonsense agency is HB Industries to force Eva to attend such a disastrous event? The management must be completely incompetent!" "Seriously, if HB Industries canât handle their artists, maybe they should let us do it. Even high schoolers could do a better job!" "Eva, Eva, what are you endorsing next? Let us know so we can support you!" "Eva, leave HB Industriesâyou deserve so much better." "Eva, weâre cheering for you after how you handled this so brilliantly!" As social media flooded with comments supporting Eva, Christine sat in her room, her nails digging into the fabric of the armrest. She hadnât anticipated Eva flipping the script so decisively, shifting public opinion and exposing HB Industriesâ ineptitude. Her irritation boiled over as she threw her tablet across the room, sending it crashing into a lamp. "How dare she?" Christine hissed, her voice venomous. "This wasnât supposed to happen!" More than Evaâs announcement of a comeback, what enraged Chri
Kai chuckled dryly, a sound that carried no humor. âExplain? Iâd think youâd be the one providing explanations, Mr. Carl. Your Director, Rick, has been making moves that directly impact my model and, by extension, my company. Care to tell me why?âCarlâs jaw tightened as he leaned back in his chair. âI have no idea what youâre talking about. If Rick has overstepped, I wasnât informed. But let me be clearâHB Industry doesnât tolerate unilateral decisions that jeopardize partnerships.âKaiâs tone hardened. âThen I suggest you rein him in before things escalate further. Eva is under my protection, and I wonât stand by while someone from your company attempts to undermine her.âCarlâs brow furrowed. âProtection? Are you implying Rickâs actions were deliberate?ââIâm not implying anything,â Kai replied coolly. âBut Evaâs influence is growing, and there are those who see her as a threat. If HB Industry is looking to make an enemy out of Elite Entertainment, I can assure you itâs a battle yo
Eva walked into the sleek glass lobby of HB Industry, her heels clicking against the marble floor with quiet confidence. Heads turned as she passed, her commanding presence impossible to ignore. The receptionist looked up, wide-eyed, and quickly gestured her toward the executive elevator."Mr. Carl is expecting you," the receptionist stammered, her voice slightly shaky.Eva offered a polite nod and stepped into the elevator, her expression calm but her eyes sharp. Moments later, the elevator doors opened to the top floor, revealing the expansive office of Mr. Carl.âMiss Carter,â Mr. Carl greeted with a practiced smile, rising from behind his desk. His tone was warm, but there was a hint of tension in his eyes. âThank you for coming on such short notice. Please, have a seat.âEva walked in with her usual poise, taking the offered seat but not relaxing. âYou wanted to see me, Mr. Carl. Letâs not waste time with pleasantries.âCarl chuckled lightly, though the sound was hollow. âStraigh
âI... Iâm starting to think Eva might be trying to sabotage me. You know, with the awards coming up, and her growing popularity... I just have this feeling sheâs trying to push me out of the competition,â Christine said, her voice trembling slightly as if she was on the verge of breaking down. She knew Mark would respond to weakness, to vulnerability, just as he always had.Markâs voice was low, filled with annoyance. âWhat do you mean, sabotage you? Sheâs already got the public on her side. What else does she want?ââI donât know, Mark. But I canât shake the feeling that sheâs behind some of the things happening to me lately,â Christine continued, carefully planting the seed of doubt. âSheâs been getting more endorsements, more media attention... Sheâs always one step ahead, and I feel like sheâs using me to boost her own career. Maybe sheâs trying to push me out of the spotlight, making sure I donât have a chance to win.âMark was silent for a moment, processing the information. Chr
Eva didnât respond immediately. She could feel the seriousness in Everettâs words, and for a brief moment, the playful rivalry between them was pushed aside.Everettâs eyes softened slightly as she looked at Eva, a rare glimpse of concern flickering in her gaze. âWhat are you going to do about her? Sheâs the one who caused my accident but had that person lie he was a fan, right? Also with the recent things happening, I can tell sheâs been pulling strings, trying to break you down.âEva's expression hardened, her grip tightening on her wine glass. âIâm not sure yet. But Christineâs time is running out.â She gave a slight, bitter laugh. âI wonât let her destroy me.âEverett studied Eva for a moment, her face unreadable. âBe careful, Eva,â she said quietly, her tone more serious than Eva had ever heard. âChristineâs dangerous. And sheâs got a way of making everyone believe her sweet little act.âEva took a deep breath, looking away briefly as she processed Everettâs words. The concern wa
The day of the event arrived, and Christine was glowing with victory. Dressed in an elegant gown, she enjoyed the attention as she mingled with industry elites, knowing she was now the headlining speaker.With Eva out of the picture, this was her moment.Then the doors opened.Gasps rippled through the crowd as Eva walked in, effortlessly poised, wearing a breathtaking designer dress. The cameras instantly shifted toward her, flashing in rapid succession.Christineâs smile faltered. âWhat is she doing here?âBefore she could react, the event host stepped onto the stage, microphone in hand.âLadies and gentlemen, we have a special surprise. While there were some scheduling changes, weâre honored to have Eva here tonight.âChristine stiffened. âWhat? Thatâs impossible!âEva merely smiled, making her way toward the front.Kai had pulled the right strings behind the scenes. Even if she wasnât an official speaker anymore, she was still one of the biggest names in the roomâand the audience
Christine was livid. Every attempt to ruin Eva had backfired, and now, the industry was beginning to suspect foul play.Her carefully crafted innocent image was slipping, and she refused to let that happen.Gripping her phone tightly, she dialed Tanya, her voice sharp the moment the call connected."Tanya, listen carefully. I donât care what it takesâpull every string, bribe whoever you need to, but make sure Eva does not attend the upcoming fashion event. I want her out, completely.âTanya hesitated. âChristine, are you sure about this? Maybe you shouldâââDonât question me!â Christine snapped, her frustration boiling over. âDo you think I have the luxury of waiting? Eva is already taking the spotlight. If this continues, I wonât even be considered for the Top Ten Models Award!âTanya sighed. âFine. Iâll see what I can do. But Christine, be careful. Youâre playing a dangerous game. If this backfires, it could cost you everything.âChristine scoffed. âPlease. Eva wonât be able to prov
Christine sat alone in the dimly lit hotel, her fingers lightly tapping against the side of her untouched wine glass. The usually confident and composed woman looked lost in thought, her expression unreadable as she stared at the city skyline beyond the floor-to-ceiling windows.Everything she had planned against Eva had backfired spectacularly. Instead of destroying Evaâs reputation, she had only fueled the publicâs admiration for her. The industry was turning against Christine, and the narrative was slipping out of her control.A soft click of heels echoed through the room, breaking Christine from her thoughts.âChristine?âShe turned her head slightly, finding Tanya standing near the entrance, a curious look on her face.Tanya was one of the few people Christine trustedâor rather, toleratedâbecause she was useful. Smart, cunning, and always willing to play dirty, Tanya had been by Christineâs side long enough to know exactly how far she was willing to go to get what she wanted.âWh
A few days after Mark successfully cleared his name from the Harper Luxuries scandal, Christine sat alone in her dressing room, her perfectly manicured fingers tapping impatiently against the vanity table.She had tried everythingâsabotage, whispers in the right ears, carefully placed rumorsâyet Eva always came out unscathed. Every plan Christine devised had crumbled before her eyes, and it was beginning to drive her insane.If indirect tactics didnât work, she had to change her approach. This time, she wouldnât hide behind shadows. She wouldnât need to.Instead, she would manipulate the situation so well that Eva would ruin herself.All she needed was the perfect stage.---An exclusive fashion gala was set to take place, attended by top designers, influencers, and media elites. Both Eva and Christine had been invited as brand ambassadors for their respective labels.Christine smirked to herself. This was it. The perfect opportunity.She had carefully arranged for the mediaâs attenti
The dim candlelight cast a golden glow over the elegantly set dining table. A soft melody played in the background, filling the room with warmth. Christine had spent hours preparing thisâhis favorite dishes, the finest wine. Tonight had to be perfect.She glanced at the clock anxiously. Mark would be home soon. And she had to fix this.The front door finally opened, and Mark stepped inside. His face was tired, his eyes dark with frustration. He didnât even glance at the romantic dinner she had prepared. Instead, he sighed heavily, running a hand through his hair.âChristine, what is this?â His voice was cold.Christine swallowed and stepped toward him. âA dinner. For us.âMark scoffed, shaking his head. âA dinner? Christine, do you have any idea what Iâve been dealing with? My fatherâs furious. Investors are backing out after the Harper Luxuries. I've lost of funds.â His voice grew sharper, filled with exhaustion. âAnd do you know what people are whispering? That my own fiancÃĐe might
The silence between them was thick with unspoken thoughts, but Damien wasnât one to leave things unresolved. He turned slightly, his piercing gaze fixed on her.âWhy didnât you ask for my help?â His voice was calm but held an edge of something deeperâsomething close to frustration.Eva, who had been absentmindedly tracing the rim of her wine glass, glanced at him. A small smirk curled her lips, but it didnât quite reach her eyes.âBecause it was something I could handle,â she said simply. âLike always.âDamienâs expression remained unreadable, but his fingers curled slightly against his knee. âAnd if you couldnât?âEva shrugged. âThen I would have asked. But it wasnât time for that yet.âThat answer didnât satisfy him. He exhaled slowly, rubbing his temple. âEvaâââI know what youâre going to say,â she interrupted, meeting his gaze head-on. âYou think I should have let you take care of it. But Damien, I donât always need you to fight my battles. Sometimes, I want to win them on my own
Eva sat on the couch, feeling bored. The scandal had caused too much noise, and going homeâwhere the paparazzi were undoubtedly lurkingâwas out of the question.With a sigh, Eva reached for her phone and scrolled through her contacts. Her finger hovered over Damien for a moment before she pressed the call button.The phone rang twice before his deep, smooth voice came through. âEva.âJust her name. Nothing more. But there was something in the way he said itâlow, controlled, yet sharp with attentionâthat made her exhale slowly.âHey,â she murmured, leaning against the plush headboard.Silence. Then, âWhatâs wrong?âShe almost smiled. He always saw through her.âI canât go home,â she admitted, rubbing her temple. âThe reporters are camped outside. And after todayâs interviewâĶ theyâll only get worse.âDamien didnât answer immediately. She could hear the faint rustling of papers, the click of a pen, before he finally spoke. âWhere are you?ââPenthouse suite at the Grand Royale,â she repli