You Make Me Laugh

“I like jokes and you like jokes too. That's perfect, right?

“You’ll get off easy this time. I’m in no mood to play. A candid advice though. When next you gossip about someone, make sure that they are not around.”

With a last look, she scoffed and made her way out of the powder room. A chuckle escaped her lips as she heard their sighs and arguments,

blaming each other for their predicament.

Eve smothered her dress and began to make her way back to the hall where the grand ball was being held. Knowing her way through the mansion, she therefore needed no assistance.

Her fist clenched at her side as the memories of her past in the mansion came flooding back.

The mansion that was once a home to her.

As her eyes scanned the familiar hallways and walls, her legs moved of their own accord and began to lead her deeper into the house.

“It’s the same,” she whispered to herself. Everything was the same. From the designs to the layout. The only thing that had changed were the flowers. The tulips that she’d lovingly nurtured were gone, probably thrown out and she knew who was responsible for it. Melissa without a second thought.

In her momentum of looking around, she failed to watch her step and her head bumped into a wall. It was only when she inhaled the intoxicating scent and got assaulted by the warmth did she realized it was his chest.

Butterflies fluttered to life in her stomach. Scared ones. Frantic wings and fast beats.

“You..you,” she stuttered, unable to look away, unable to flee.

“What are you doing here?” The sharp tone of his voice broke the spell.

She blinked, breaking away from the moment at the deep voice of the man before her yet her eyes still couldn’t look away. But she reminded herself that this wasn’t what she’d come for.

At that thought, her gaze snapped away from his.

And she wrapped her arms around her chest. She narrowed her eyes.

“I was just looking around.”

“I didn’t ask that,” he snapped, his words laced with venom. “I asked what you’re doing showing your face in this house, Eve? We ended a year ago.”

“Pfft,” Eve’s laughter erupted. “I didn’t argue about that, did I? Or…” she took deliberate steps closer to him until they were only a breath apart, their eyes locked on each other. “You’re regretting letting me go? Sorry to burst your bubbles Mr. Hank but I want nothing to do with you.”

“What’s your motive?”

“What?”

“Why did you suddenly appear here again after a whole year? What do you want, Eve?” He observed her with a scowl. “Tell me. Is it money? Is it because I gave you notice after our divorce? You could just ask if it’s money that you want.”

She raised a brow. “Oh, you make me laugh, Mr Hank. Money? You of all people should know that money is the least of my worries now. I have the ‘Gray’ name as my surname. Your filthy cash is hardly worth my attention. Why get some when I can get it all?”

It was what she wanted. She didn’t return to take some money from him. Considering her current position as the daughter of the Gray family, ‘some’ of his money was way too little for her. She returned to take it all!

His money, his goddamn connection, and his power in the country, and once she was done, she would throw him and his family in the streets just like they did to her. They were going to have a taste of their own medicine and only after she gets her revenge would she rest.

The corners of Noah’s mouth twisted distastefully and stayed that way as his gaze trailed down her body. “The Gray family name. It’s shocking,” he spat. “How did you convince Mr. Gray to make you his daughter for today? I bet all they say about you is true. You crawled up to an old man’s bed so he could give you cheap money…”

His head was thrown to the side by Eve’s slap. Her chest heaved upward and downward as she resisted the urge to deliver another slap that would cause him never to cross her path again.

How dare question her character and accuse her of whoring around?

She ignored his blazing eyes and the way his finger wiped the small blood at the corner of his lips. She continued.

“You’re one to talk. One more word about my character and a slap isn’t the only thing you’ll get, Noah Hank. I can take every insult from you and your undeserving family but don’t you dare question my values. I was brought up decently unlike someone standing here. If you so much doubt my relationship with my father, why don’t you check the internet? My father has published the DNA results that prove that we are in fact blood-related. I’ll suggest that you watch your tongue if you want to keep the deal between you and my father.”

“How the fuck did you know about that?”

“I’m his daughter so of course I know. That deal is at stake here.”

How did she come to be the daughter of a billionaire and heir to a multi-billion company and many more from being the street girl who had to work as a waitress to take care of herself and her grandmother? That was a whole long story.

A long story that even she didn’t want to tell. Perhaps it was a story for another day.

“Genevieve?” A familiar voice called from behind.

She turned, her eyes landing on Liam who made his way to stand before them.

“You’re here.” She stepped away from Noah. “I was only speaking to Mr Hank. Why did you come here?”

“I didn’t see you returning to the table so I had to come check what was keeping you. Someone said they saw you come his way.”

“Oh.”

“Mr Hank.”

The two men shook hands and from the side, Eve could see the glaring eyes of Noah and his resistance to say some things

“Nice chatting with you, Mr. Hank. How about we call it a day? Don’t forget the deal between you and my father. We’ll see again.” She added the part to at least let him know that they weren’t done.

It was to let him know that she was only getting started and they would definitely be seeing each other more often than he wanted. She planned to haunt him with her presence and words that he would find it so fucking difficult to sleep at night just like her.

With her back to him, she clasped her hands around Liam’s arms and let him lead them back to the hall.

It was just in time for Melissa to get out of her hiding place and snuck up beside Noah. “Oh, my goodness. Look at her. Fuck, I can’t believe this,” she cursed.

“Were you eavesdropping?” He asked coldly.

She flinched. “Of.. of course not. I wasn’t eavesdropping.”

“What do you want?”

“Noah, she’s back. I’m so scared. How dare she show her face here again after what she did to me?” Her voice dripped with such a ridiculous amount of sweetness that could make anyone diabetic. “You have to do something about this, Noah. I’m scared. Remember what she did to me right, she put me in this condition that I’m afraid to go out. My legs are all damaged because of her.” She stepped closer to the man.

“Think about that, Noah. She has done so much harm to me. We should get rid of her before she causes more harm.” She burst out in low tears. “I… I feel like she came back solely for me. She… she wants to end my life. She doesn’t want me to be with you. Please do something. I’m scared. I’m… I’m going to die.”