Although Damien never ordered him to keep tabs on Eva's every move and report to him, Shane felt like he should let Damien know what she was doing now since it was obvious that Damien seemed to be interested in Eva. This was the first time he had seen Damien interested in a woman ever since he had known Damien. He was also sure that if Damien's grandfather who was none other than the patriarch of the Cross family heard about this sudden change in Damien, a smile would grace his old wrinkled face. Shane made up his mind to help out his boss to win Eva for him even though he got rejected.Damien paused for a few seconds when he heard Shane report without raising his head up from the file he was going through. He hadn't asked Shane to report such things but he still found the information quite useful to him at the moment.Shane waited for a few extra minutes hoping that Damien would say anything but it was futile because Damien didn't raise his head or utter any word as he only focused o
“Plans? What plans do you have? Besides, who was that beautiful lady that came to see you yesterday? I've never seen her before.” A young girl who had also been listening to the conversation between Lucien and his friend quickly buttressed into the conversation with curiosity. She was among one of the girls that were following Lucien yesterday.Lucien glanced at her for a few seconds with a blank expression on his face. “And why should I answer that question?” He replied coldly with a question.The girl was flustered when she heard Lucien's response. Though she was curious to know who Eva was to Lucien, she was secretly jealous of the fact that Lucien actually ditched them yesterday because of Eva.“I-” She was suddenly interrupted by the school bell. Lucien didn't say anything else as he slung his school bag over his shoulder and strutted out of the classroom.When his friend saw him leaving the classroom, they quickly stood up from their seats also and followed behind Lucien.Outsid
“You should have urged me no matter how hard I tried to not listen.” Eva groaned. “And would you listen if I was persistent?” Lucien questioned. He had purposely stayed behind with Eva today, because he was already expecting this situation.Eva snorted, it was true she wouldn't have listened nonetheless if he was persistent. “Whatever.” Eva groaned and eyed Lucien's suit jacket and a sly smile creeped up on her face.She turned her head and saw a light blue Porsche 718 Cayman pulling over the pavement leading towards where they were standing. Realizing that she didn't have much time to go back inside and change out of this dress- not that she was going to change it easily without arguing with Laura. Eva turned to look at Lucien who was also staring at her with a suspicious gaze. “Give me your clothes, Lucien." Eva demanded. "I knew you were up to no good when that creepy smile appeared on your face. But thanks, I can't give you my clothes, they would smell like you.” Lucien looked
When she returned back home, Eva made up her mind and decided to ask Lucien the reason why he disliked Lucas on first meeting quickly. Right now, without uttering another word for bothering to look back, Eva entered the car and sat down in the passenger seat. immediately, she took her seat. The scent in his car made her swallow the words of appreciation she was about to utter. “Smells of sunflowers.” Eva silently mumbled.“I heard that they are your favorite flowers, so I branched into a flower shop and got some for you.” Lucas said, flashing Eva a quick smile before starting the car.Eva frowned at his comment before she spoke. “Who did you hear it from?" she questioned.“A little birdie told me." Lucas replied with a teasing smile on his face. Eva blinked, the little birdy he meant was either her father or Laura. She expected as much. Eva turned her head and glanced out the window, she thought Laura was the one that went ahead and set her up with another blind date, however, it tu
Eva suddenly felt a little bit uncomfortable as she stared at her surroundings. They just had to be in a place where she had secretly sold most of her paintings to. Fucking hell! Nobody, not even her father except for Nathalia and Lucien knew that Eva had secretly sold most of her paintings she had done in her spare time to the museum. Nobody knew the identity of the infamous artist of her paintings.Never once had she visited this place because it was the place she sold her paintings and it would feel weird so she always visited other big museums whenever she had nothing to do but thanks to Lucas who had brought her here she had no choice. She can briefly sense that he was trying to please her with her favorite things but it really isn't working at all on Eva. “It's not enough." Eva finally replied to him. However, Lucas was confused by what Eva meant. He wasn't sure if Eva was indicating that the location of the date wasn't enough for her.Eva glanced at him and saw the confused e
Damien reached out his hand in order to praise her for being focused on him. He stroked her hair away from her face and pushed it behind her ear, revealing her sharp features.Damien made sure that he didn't touch her skin and only her hair. Her long lashes fluttered and immediately, he glanced at her mouth making Eva's breath quickened as she also followed his gaze.“Now, now, be a good doll and step aside. You're blocking my path.” Without waiting for her to move, Damien simply shoved past Lucas not once looking back to see the mess he had made of Eva. The second he left the spell was broken making Eva fumed in her mind. She couldn't help but chide herself for falling hopelessly into his trap. She might have as well skipped her way into the dragon's cave!“I'm sorry," Eva breathed out, she turned to look at Lucas besides her. This was a blind date with Lucas but it was suddenly interrupted by Damien's presence. She couldn't do or say anything other than the fact that she was drawn
Eva forcefully tore her gaze from the painting and glanced at the bottom of the drawing to read the name of the artist.“Surprisingly, it was drawn by S. Black.” Lucas read out as he looked at the name written beside the painting. "This is shocking, I never knew that S. Black made this painting before her death. Probably, this was the last piece she made before she died but how come she was able to hold a paintbrush, much less make such a beautiful and delicate line when she is sick?” “She was always good with her fingers no matter what situation." Eva muttered. "What? Do you know her?” Lucas asked, baffled by her words. Every one that the infamous artist S. Black was a woman but she had never once shown her face in public for people to know what she looked like. There was only news about her being sick and after a few months she died.Eva's eyes went wide in panic because she had forgotten that her mother hadn't revealed her identity when she was alive. “What I mean is that S. Blac
Damien ignored the murmur and glances he received from the women that passed by. His focus was entirely on Eva who had been staring blankly at the picture both she and Lucas had stopped in front. Damien watched as she touched her throat and glanced to the ground blinking her eyes multiple times. Even from afar, he could see that was choked up and emotional at the moment.“Boss, you shouldn't smoke indoors.” Shane moved closer to Damien and whispered gently beside him. He glanced at the cigarettes hanging dangerously low in his boss's fingertips. The ashes were burning, the smoke lingering to the ceiling, yet not once had Damien taken a drawl from it. Damien watched as Eva continued to tour the section but her expression was extremely dull and gloomy as he noticed the blood drained from her face.Damien straightened up, dropping the cigarettes to the ground and stomping it out. He will ask Shane to pay for the damages later.After a few minutes, she muttered something to Lucas and wi
"U-uhm, Boss?" Clara noticed he had been spacing out for quite a while.She couldn't deny the appeal of her worldly boss whose face resembled the statues tucked away in museums. His face was the polar opposite of his personality. His clean-cut appearance was amplified by the fact that he was smoking.In the dim room where the cigarette smoke was more prominent, his eyes were slightly squinted, sharp jaw clenched, and ruffled hair giving off a very dangerous type of man — the kind you wanted to convert into good."Clean my office." Mark flicked the ashes off of his cigarette.Because of the scandal, he had been having issues with Christine nonstop the past few days, with this morning being their worst… Today was not a good day for him."I'll contact the Janitor right away—""I don't have the time to wait for the janitor. Do it yourself." He commanded her, his tone not leaving any room for discussion.Disgruntled at his request, but with no option to disobey it, Clara could only grit he
The executive wailed upon hearing the two most dreadful words in the world. He squealed like a pig being slaughtered. "No, wait, Boss, please! Give me another chance! I swear I won't be bribed again—" Too late. He was dragged out of the room, screaming, kicking, and begging for mercy, his grating voice bouncing off the hallways, causing the employees to cringe upon hearing the deafening sound.Shane walked in immediately afterward. "Boss, your next order?""Have all of his work and personal history checked." Damien paused before saying, "Bankrupt him." He disdainfully said."I expect to see the stocks of Johnson Corporation drastically plummet by the crack of dawn.""Right away, Boss." Shane nodded, bowed his head, and excused himself. When he was out of the office and the door was closed, he sighed in disappointment.What a foolish man.Just a few minutes ago, the executive had miraculously talked his way into having a personal meeting with the President, and instead of eventually ut
Once outside, she spotted her assistants seated near the entrance, their faces etched with fatigue. They had clearly missed the commotion inside the store."Please ensure the purchases are delivered to the Cross Estate," she instructed. After a moment, she added, "You’re free to go home afterward. Thank you for today."The assistants blinked in disbelief before scrambling to their feet. "N-no, thank you, ma’am!" They bowed deeply as Eva walked off, determined to find a proper gift.Eva wandered from store to store, dissatisfied with every option until she reached a small boutique tucked into the corner of the mall. The store’s minimalist logo, "NE" caught her attention.“NE?" Eva muttered under her breath.Intrigued, she stepped inside. The boutique, despite its modest location, radiated sophistication. Every piece was crafted with exceptional detail and elegance. Yet, Eva couldn’t help but wonder why such an acclaimed brand was hidden away on the uppermost floor.A sales associate ap
"It's alright, Mr. Billy. A few replaceable employees aren’t worth losing sleep over." Eva’s calm smile sent shivers down Mr. Billy’s spine, leaving him terrified yet eager to please her.Understanding the unspoken warning, he quickly replied, "As the head of the security team, it is my responsibility to handle nuisances like these. Please don’t trouble yourself with such matters, ma’am." The fear of losing his lucrative position was evident in his voice. Though Eva appeared composed, Mr. Billy knew better than to underestimate someone with her reputation.The sales associate, now pale as a sheet, stammered, "M-ma’am, w-would you still like the cufflinks? I-I can wrap them up immediately and include a bonus—"Eva waved her hand dismissively, her gaze fixed on her nails. "No need for bonuses. Just swipe the card." She ignored Christine, who angrily slapped her polished black card onto the counter."I said those cufflinks are mine!" Christine’s voice trembled with rage. Losing to Eva tw
"Ms. Lily, what seems to be the matter here?" the head of the security team, Mr. Billy asked, his sharp eyes scanning the crowd of dazzling socialites and the two strikingly beautiful women standing by the cashier.One exuded an angelic innocence, her golden glowing halo hovering above her head, while the other had a magnetic charm and a commanding aura that was impossible to ignore. Though dressed in casual, understated clothing, it was clear from her demeanor that she came from a background of privilege and influence."Thank goodness you're here, Mr. Billy!" Lily exclaimed dramatically, her tone laced with frustration. "This young lady here is causing an absolute scene! She’s insulting and disturbing one of our valued customers. Her behavior is disgraceful!" She put on a distressed expression, though her eyes still held their usual arrogance.Mr. Billy frowned, sensing there was more to the story. Still, before he could interject, Lily continued her tirade. "Can you believe the aud
Christine didn’t spare Eva another glance as she made her way to the checkout counter, but Eva decided to linger just a bit longer, intrigued by the brewing drama. If her memory served her right, Christine had always been meticulous when it came to spending, often opting for practicality masked as elegance.The sales associate broke the silence. “Ma’am, your total is fifty million dollars. Will that be debit or credit?”Christine froze, her carefully crafted poise faltering for the briefest of moments. A flicker of unease passed through her eyes as she stared at the bill in her hand. The credit card tucked away in her wallet wouldn’t even cover a fraction of the total.If only she had known this little excursion would cost so much, she would have brought her other credit card. But Tanya’s stern advice echoed in her mind: minimize spending and public outings until the scandal blows over. If anyone caught wind of her shopping extravagantly in the midst of her controversy, it could spark
……..The days passed peacefully, with little to disrupt Eva’s recovery. Soon enough, she found herself healed enough to venture beyond the confines of Damien's mansion. Thanks to Damien, she has been focused on causing chaos but he had been the ones to take extra care of her injury and body. Her wounds had started to fade, and the scar-reducing ointment he had given her worked wonders. Now, she was as elegant as ever, with no visible marks left behind.The upcoming banquet was less than a week away, and Eva decided it was time to shop for the perfect dress. Her grandfather had specifically requested that she shop at Stardom Mall, not only to show respect to the Banks family, who managed it, but also to honor the family’s deep ties to the mall. Everyone there knew better than to disrespect Lawrence Smith’s favored granddaughter—a figure of power who held significant shares in the mall.Eva opted for a casual outfit of black leggings and a simple hoodie. She believed comfort was key for
Eva leaned her elbow against the window, a sly smile forming on her lips. “Let’s just say certain people needed a reminder of where they stand.”“I knew it!” Nathalia burst into laughter, the carefree sound lifting Eva’s mood further. “I was telling one of the stylists yesterday, ‘Eva doesn’t let people get away with things. If she’s back, she’s back with a bang!’ And look at you, proving me right.”“I didn’t do anything without reason,” Eva replied, her voice calm but firm. “Christine and Mark needed to be handled. And Director Rick? Well, he made his bed.”“Oh, believe me, I’m not judging,” Nathalia said, her tone growing slightly wicked. “You know I love seeing Christine squirm. She’s got that fake, angelic act down, but I’ve always known she’s rotten to the core.”Eva smirked. “You’re not wrong. She’s good at pretending, though.”“Too bad for her that she’s not as good as you,” Nathalia teased, a playful lilt in her voice. “By the way, did you see the video of Mr. Carl’s press con
Mr. Carl hesitated, clearly weighing his next words. “Given your... influence and recent actions, I wanted to request that you refrain from taking further steps that might escalate this situation. We’re still cleaning up the mess left by Director Rick, and another scandal would be... disastrous.”Eva crossed her arms, regarding him with a cold, calculating gaze. “Mr. Carl, I don’t cause chaos for the sake of it. Every move I make is deliberate and justified. If you’re asking me to sit quietly and tolerate disrespect, I’m afraid you’ve come to the wrong person.”“I’m not suggesting that,” Mr. Carl said quickly. “I’m only asking for your understanding. The company can’t afford another scandal right now.”Eva tilted her head slightly, her smile fading. “The person you should be worried about is Christine, not me. Both she and Mark have already shown that they won’t back down quietly. If I were you, I’d focus on keeping them in check.”Gwen cleared her throat, stepping in to soften the te