#Chapter 26 EvelynA lump of guilt swims into one of the chambers of my heart and slows down its pounding. The guilt of not telling him about Warren. I've always told everything to Michael except the Chapter titled Warren Archer. I only told him how he was my good friend who broke my heart. I didn't mention love and feelings. And Michael didn't ask. The best way to stop thinking is to distract yourself and that's exactly what I do for the next hour until ten o'clock hits. I read the documents and make a list of points I know I'll object to in the meeting. I know Warren is doing me a huge favor by executing this whole plan of his, but I won't become his puppet. This is my company and I'm the boss of it. It will run on my rules.Yasmine comes to accompany me to the meeting room where two women and a man are sitting dressed to nines. Just one glance at them and I can pinpoint that they indeed work for a successful enterprise. They certainly nailed the first impression.
#Chapter 27 EvelynSince the day I started the company I've been too bogged down in work to explore my creative side. Along the way, it appears to have dulled over time. Maybe this opportunity will help me catch that spark back.When evening arrives, the office is empty. I look out the window and see the stars shimmering like glitter in the dark sky. I close my laptop and move my shoulders, which are now screaming in pain. My fingers are stiff and pain erupts down my back when I stand up. Wincing in agony I pack my stuff. In the near-silence of the building, every little noise comes out louder.I'm stapling papers when the front door opens and I hear footsteps. Tightly gripping the stapler in my hand I get myself ready to throw it at whoever comes inside.With a loud creak, my door opens and I immediately throw the stapler at the guy who dodges it at the last moment. In a panic, I search for something else when the person speaks up."Fucking hell! Evelyn, it's
#Chapter 28 EvelynWhen I said Beth wouldn't be any trouble, I was wrong. The woman gets on my nerves more than Warren does. And that's something.It's not like she isn't competent at her job; she is. It's the other things that drive me wild. She drills clients for details with a passive-aggressive attitude, which isn't how we operate. She rejects any clients who try to bargain—Beth may go for the wealthy ones but there is no leniency in the deadlines. And she calls her boss Warren—which shouldn't bother me in the least bit, but it does. Of course, I am under a wonderful contract so I don't want to cause any more changes to it. Beth is no one that I can't deal with. Tinsely and Justin on the other hand are perfect. Within a week they befriended everyone at the office and fell into the good graces of Miles who now spends his time with them. I guess he loves new people, even though he's wary of them at the start. So far only a week has passed and the new members of t
#Chapter 29 Evelyn"Ivan Reyes, would you like to work with me on this decor project just like you always have helped me?" I know the last bits of the sentence will get him. "Well since you've asked, I'd love to." I suppress my laughter."I'm coming to pick you up. Send me your location." I end the call and text him the location. I also ask Yasmine for any updates. "Did you buy stuff?" Ivan asks when we stop at a red stoplight. "No. I did a survey today." "Any ideas that you might want to discuss with me?" "I want to paint the room a nice peach color. And hang ornaments and pieces that are different from the ones around the office. That's pretty much it as of now." Ivan hums and I watch him."What? Out with it." Taking a left turn he slowly follows the trail of cars. "I'm just picturing the room. It looks nice in my imagination." "Thanks for the feedback. By the way, you and I are going to paint the room." Ivan spares me a surprised glance. "F
#Chapter 30 EvelynWhat happened ten years ago appears in front of my eyes and a lump gathers in the column of my throat."Oh, Evelyn. Come here, girl." Throwing my arms around his neck I seek comfort in his embrace and let myself savor his warmth."I hate him so much, Van." Ivan rubs my back and it evokes a soothing wave that overtakes my sadness. "I know. I can't believe he did that to you. Especially to someone like you. You're a good person Evelyn." "Good people get hurt the most." Ivan curses in my neck."That makes me want to go on a killing spree for revenge. Starting with Mr. Walter." I laugh loudly."Butchering his name now huh?" I pull away and dab my eyes. "Of course. You shouldn't have expected any less from me." "He told me that night that he won't give up on me." Ivan scowls at my words. "He should because you aren't taking him back ever."Now that I think of it, I know Warren won't give up. Maybe it was the twinge of promise gli
#Chapter 31 Evelyn"I think we should hire someone else to be our designer. I have a few people in mind. You can look at the resumes and let me know." Beth eagerly places a Manila folder on my desk."There won't be any need for that. Jessica is more than capable and I like her designs." "Jessica is a teenager. You need a skilled and experienced person for the job if you want to excel in the near future." She addresses me with a curt tone. "The clients have been happy with her work and a few have also praised her. So it doesn't matter that she's young and lacks experience. Her skills are outstanding."Her lips thin at my reply and she eyes me with a certain dislike. I don't know what I've done for her to grow such feelings for me. Perhaps it's because Warren moved her from his prestigious company to mine and the new environment is different. Often Yasmine and Ivan play music in the office while we all work. There have been instances when we've danced as a gro
#Chapter 32 EvelynWhen I turn Warren is in my face looking down at me with an agitated expression."Evelyn, you need to rest a little." I roll my eyes."I'm telling you, I'm fine." Warren gives up by pinching the bridge of his nose."Goddamnit!" I hear him whisper and I choose to ignore him. I cross the parking lot and enter my building. I can feel his presence as he tails behind me.Ten years and I thought I had gotten rid of Warren Archer, but I should have known. That was too good to be true. The guy is like cancer. I can't get him out of my system nor can I find a cure. "Where is Miles?" Warren asks and I bite my tongue to swallow down a sarcastic comment."He must be here somewhere." He's in the room with Tinsely. I'm about to interrogate Warren about his unannounced arrival, but someone joins us and speaks before I can. "Mr. Archer, what are you doing here?" Beth's voice is suddenly so silvery that I have to actually look at her to confirm it's
#Chapter 33 EvelynSince Justin and Tinsely have arrived, I've been seeing Declan out of his room more often. I don't know whether it's Tinsely's charm or Justin's jokes but he seems to be in a good mood these days. And I love seeing him coming out of his room and spending time with people who manage to make him smile and talk more.Carrying the tins to the room in the back, I make a U-turn to get the brushes and rollers, but Warren meets me midway and puts everything on the floor."I'm not leaving.""Excuse me?" A wet strand of his delicious brown hair falls over his forehead and my fingers clench as I fight the urge to not push it back."I'm staying here and helping you." My fingers curl into fists."I don't need your help. I have people who'll help me." No one agreed to this except Yasmine. Ivan, Justin, Declan, and Tinsely had declined politely, and I don't mind. Painting a room is a strenuous task."I'm staying." Turning on his heels he leaves me
#Chapter 153 EvelynWarren puts me on the bed and hovers over me the next second. His nose grazes my jawline and his hands move up and down my waist.I press my legs together feeling the heat in my belly grow."How do you want me to fuck you tonight?"My breathing slows down as he peppers my skin with wet kisses that have my toes curling."Like you always do." I whisper as his hand slips under my warmer and runs over my stomach."Get rid of all these clothes." He grumbles and pulls back.In a haste I remove my warmer and then work on my jeans and shoes. Warren is busy getting rid of his suit. Once we're both in our undergarments we stop and stare at each other.We've had sex so many times yet tonight something is different. It feels like we're finally free from the shackles of the past-at least I am.I feel free. There isn't constant sadness and despair weighing on my chest anymore. I forgave Warren for everything but in reality it feels like I'
#Chapter 152 WarrenI've hurt her. I can see that. But I can't take my words back. The dark and malicious side of my brain is feeding me these lines. Telling me that whatever we had was just because she wanted to use me. Maybe she did."Wow. You're unbelievable." Evelyn says and puts away her wine-filled glass on the table.Getting up she hurries to leave but I catch her wrist and pull to me. My arm wraps around her and I press her body against mine. My senses go hazy and my heart starts racing at the feel of her body. "That was a shitty thing to say." I admit.Tears fill her eyes and she nods. "It was."I wipe away the tear that falls down her cheek and then caress her face with my thumb. It hasn't been so long but I miss her so damn much.Now that she's standing in front of me all I want to do is touch her, kiss her and love her. I want to hold her so tightly that she can never go away from me. "Tell me why you're here? The naked truth this time.
#Chapter 151 WarrenSitting in the boardroom I flip through the notes for my speech. I don't have a lot to say but I have a few things I want to touch upon before the holidays.It's the last day of work today. And everyone will go home after this meeting.All the important members are seated as everyone waits for Rowan.Just as the clock hits ten AM Rowan walks in and takes the seat at the head of the table. "You may begin." He says to Janice who starts the presentation she and I worked on for the past week.As she rambles on I catch a few glances at Rowan to track his thoughts but he's a blank book. Like a laser his eyes study Janice and the slides in grave concentration. When Janice finishes we review the blueprints that need a final say from him. But before that I have to give my thoughts as the CEO of the company that will bring this vision to life.Taking the pager I stand in front and pull up my presentation. I open my mouth to speak when a string of n
#Chapter 150 WarrenI hate New York.I've been here for two weeks and I can't fathom how people live here. It's so fucking cold. And the snow keeps on accumulating each day. The famous city is buzzing with Christmas energy. Colorful lights are wrapped around shops, Christmas drinks are a full-show and wreaths and impressively decorative Christmas trees are everywhere. There's so much joy and laughter in the air that I'm sick of it.It's not that I hate Christmas because I don't. For the past years I've gotten used to celebrating this day on my own, and sometimes with Connor. His family invites me over and I attend the exquisite dinner his mom cooks. Gifts are exchanged. It's nice, but not homey. When I return home it's me and my empty penthouse and that kills the spirit. In New York even Connor isn't here and it's boring and depressing.Since I've arrived I've been working a lot. I only go to sleep when my eyes begin to water and exhaustion takes over me.
#Chapter 149 Evelyn"All the flights are booked. I can't go to New York." Ivan and Yasmine mutter curses at the situation."God. It's like I'm not meant to go there." I complain, hating how everything seems to be stopping me. I opened the website to book a flight and it kept crashing. I spent all day trying to get it to work but it wouldn't work. And the next day when everything was back in order the prices were so high my eyes almost bulged out in shock. With a heavy heart I booked a seat but the page kept having issues. By evening all the empty seats were gone and I couldn't find a single seat."Don't blame the universe." Ivan says in a stern tone."Yeah sure. It seems to help me quite a lot. It's snowing so much I can't even go to the airport to buy a ticket myself." I say in an aggravated tone. "We'll figure it out Evelyn." Yasmine assures me."I don't know. Everything is closed. An airplane is my only chance." I say in a gloomy tone."You shouldn't
#Chapter 148 EvelynTwo weeks have gone since Warren and I broke up. But it feels like I'm still stuck in that night when he was inside me and told me how much he loves me. I was always a bit in doubt about his real feelings toward me, but that night cleared everything for me. Warren loves me and has loved me since high school. My heart explodes in joy but sorrow filters in the next second. The past weeks have been nothing but dry and boring for me. Nothing interests me.Jessica and I have been splitting work due to the flow of orders. Apparently, Noah and his sister raved about my company at the wedding and now more people have approached me. It's surreal and I feel happy. But that also means there's a lot of work which I'm appreciating. I've become a workaholic. From making designs till late at night to holding long meetings. I keep myself as busy as I can but the ache in my chest refuses to disappear.No amount of work or long drives helps me take my mind
#Chapter 147 Warren"Do you still have the New York project?" Rowan looks up at me with calculating eyes as he sees me coming into his office. "Yes.""Bring it over for the signature." I unbutton my jacket and sit in the chair across from his desk. Eerie silence fills the room as Rowan stares at me. "You want it or not?" I ask in a gritted tone annoyed that he's wasting my damn time."You broke up with Evelyn." He says astutely and makes me grind my molars."It's none of your fucking business., but what is your business is that New York project."Rowan leans over the desk and criss-crosses his fingers. "Watch that tone with me, Archer."Clenching my jaw I look away from his annoying face and stare at the sunset that adorns the evening sky. Fuck the sunsets. I don't like them anymore.Okay that's a lie. "You wanted me to sign the project for months. Now I'm here.""You're a little too late for my patience. But since you're the best I'll set my p
#Chapter 146 EvelynOn my way I buy two bottles of cheap wine and arrive at Yasmine's place. She lives with her mom outside the city in a nice big house with a picket fence. Her house looks dreamy and feels like home. I texted Ivan to come. By the time I pull up at her house it's two in the morning, and I'm emotionally tired and physically numb. Yet still I can hear my heart aching in excruciating pain.The lights are on as I make my way to the door. Before I can knock, it opens, and my two best friends look at me and pull me in a hug. I let the tears stream down my face. Miles goes frantic beside me and I try to calm him down, but he's not having it. Sitting on the couch in the living room I pull him on my lap and rub his fur in long slow strokes."Where's your mom?" I ask Yasmine."She's with Aunt Riley for the weekend." I nod and put the bottle on the table.Ivan and Yasmine sit across from me and pour wine into the glasses."So I guess this i
#Chapter 145 EvelynI swear my lungs stop working, my heart stops beating and my mind goes blank. For a nanosecond my world stops spinning and I do nothing but lie and stare at him.My heart breaks inside my chest and tears cloud my vision."I've loved you for ten years. It's you. It'll always be you. It doesn't matter if another decade goes by, for me it'll always only be you." He says.Tears escape my eyes and reach my ears. The orgasm I was experiencing vanishes."Stop. I can't." I fight my wrists in his hold and he lets go of me and pulls out of me. Quickly I sit up and cover myself with his sheets as he slips on a pair of boxers. Picking up his shirt he hands it to me but I don't take it."We need to talk." There's a finality to his tone. Taking the shirt I wear it and then wipe away my tears. Warren sits at the foot of the bed and looks at me. "What's the matter?"I laugh hard. "The matter is love can't erase the past between us."Warre