#Chapter 35 EvelynBlasting music through the speaker we get to work. For the next thirty minutes, I hear Yasmine and Connor laughing and talking like friends. The initial awkwardness between strangers cannot be found between the two of them. They're growing immune to each other and I sneak multiple glances at them. Yasmine has gone on several dates and every time she's met some new version of a shitty man. As her friend, I've seen her begin to lose hope and stick to her work because what else can you do? It's hard to find a decent guy in Seattle, who isn't egotistical or talks nonstop about his clock collection—Yasmine had immense strength to endure that chat. Dating is hard nowadays. So many people are wearing so many different cloaks that sometimes it's hard to find the real person hiding inside. Dating requires vulnerability and being genuine, two things that are lacking in the world now. That's part of the reason I haven't given a chance to any guy. Being open and t
#Chapter 36 EvelynMy back and wrists are crying in pain. The gentle strings of my tendons are stretched and aching. The layer of muscles in my shoulders, arms, and lower back are jammed with cramps to a hundred degrees. I can't move an inch without hissing in pain.Ivan, Connor, Yasmine, and Warren did the most work. But I went to all of them and corrected their brush movements and pace so we wouldn't have to do another coat. And so the walls would look like they had been done by professionals and not by some rich and excited amateurs who had nothing better to do. While some took little breaks in between, I didn't. I went to each of their walls and let my brush course onto the surface just to be safe. And now I was tired more than anyone in the room. Even my eyes are dropping and my stomach is twisting in hunger. I am tired and hungry, but happy."I'm gonna order pizza," Connor announces and everyone rants off their favorite flavor while I sneak out of the room and go
#Chapter 37 EvelynPepperoni isn't my cup of tea—well more like slice of pizza—I liked it with extra cheese black olives and green pepper. An odd combination that sets my stomach on fire afterward, but I love it. "I never forgot Evelyn." My heart squeezes into the size of a ping-pong ball. I don't know whether that happens because of pain or the sheer joy that he hasn't been able to forget me. "You should have. It isn't like you and I would have a chance." I bitterly tell him. Even though a part of me hates me for those words."The possibility of you is better than no reality of you." My heart skips a beat."When did the others leave?" I divert the topic, not wanting to talk about things that'll rip out the old me."Around ten. Your guy friend wanted to stay back and drive you home, but he had an emergency and had to rush." I wonder what emergency made Ivan leave. "So you volunteered to stay," I sort of tease him. "I wanted to stay," Warren speaks so slowly
#Chapter 38 WarrenInett, my assistant designer, explains the concept while using her hands—it's a habit of hers. I found it odd at the beginning, but I've gotten used to it now."I suggest redirecting pipelines so they go from these bathrooms on the left and then out." I align my gaze with hers as I correct her."I'll change that. Is there anything else?" Inett is a slim blond who was the only capable intern in her group. She did make clumsy mistakes at the start but managed to learn from them instead of giving up like the others. Over the years, her malleability to my cold instructions has landed her a good position in my company."No." I stand up to leave when she stops me."Yes?" I turn to her. Her cheeks are flushed. "Mr. Archer I was wondering...can I get a few days' leave?" My eyebrows dip in a frown. "Who'll complete the blueprint?" My voice cuts through the room with an edge as I remember the deadline."I'm almost done with it. It's no—" "Almos
#Chapter 39 WarrenIn the next two minutes, I summarize Evelyn and me in a paragraph, omitting the details but keeping the essence so he understands why I can't travel for long. I watch with interest to see if Rowan is amused at my misery But he isn't. If anything his face radiates empathy and I wonder if he has a woman in his life too. After all, he's twenty-nine and has wealth and power sufficient to land in Forbes magazine. "I've always wondered what laid under the glacier armor you wear. And now I realize there is a heart." Rowan gracefully takes a bite of the steak and then points his fork toward me. "You know money is nothing when you don't have someone to spend it on or with. Take it from someone like me. I have a billion sitting in my bank account but that's all it does. It just sits there. Alone." Rowan takes another bite while I can't even seem to touch my steak. "You're like me," I smirk behind my wine glass. "I am. But there are reasons why I am the way I
#Chapter 40 Warren"Evelyn..." I start but she cuts me off like every other time I've tried to start this one specific conversation. It's as if she knows what I'm about to say, and fights with everything inside her to not hear it. I don't blame her for protecting herself. Last time things got beyond messy. They got to the point of breaking each other's hearts and tainting souls in a way they'd be marked forever with the damage. And it was all my doing; all my fault. A burden of a thousand pounds that I carry with me every day. "Warren, I'm not going with you." Her facial expressions contort into mild fierceness."I thought you'd like to go. It's a charity event for orphans." Evelyn stares at me with a softness that I'm glad to witness.Compassion has always been her biggest strength. One that makes me fall in love with her even more. "Orphans?" Her sweet voice is thick with empathy."Yes." I nod and amble into the room, wanting to drench in the light she spr
#Chapter 41 Evelyn"He did what?" Ivan nearly erupts in a roar."Oh my God!" Yasmine joins, completely giddy with excitement as a big smile takes over her face.Ivan quickly shoots her a murderous glare and then looks at me with the same intensity."What did you say?" He asks in a grave tone."I agreed. The function is for orphans. I couldn't refuse. You know I love children." For a second I assumed my reply would make Ivan relax in understanding, but he sighs as if a whole planet was now resting on his shoulders. "He's manipulating you into spending time with him. So he can win you over and then hurt you later." Yasmine speaks before I can. "For fuck's sake. Now you sound like an old cranky granny who's had more heartbreaks than my vinyl collection.""Your vinyl collection consists of Harry Styles and he's had only three albums.""Three extraordinary pieces of art Ivan. They're perfect. Especially Harry's House." "Fine, Matilda was good." Ivan finis
#Chapter 42 EvelynFingers snap in front of my face and clear the fog of my thoughts. "Boss, you okay?" Yasmine asks in a troubled tone."Yes, I'm fine. Just thinking about some things." I give her a smile. Luckily the conversation moves in another direction. We talk about Yasmine's dates and hear Ivan's opinion on every guy. She flushes in embarrassment as Ivan and I both pick out every little fault in the men she's dated so far. After lunch, Yasmine and I go shopping to find a dress reasonable enough to be worn at a lavish charity event. Knowing Warren, I know it'll be prestigious and opulent in every sense. And I don't want to look any less than (perfect which doesn't exist) beautiful.My mind rewinds the last six months and I can't pinpoint one moment when I dressed up for myself. Between managing my company and personal life, I barely find time for anything else. Also, the stress of the low sales has been keeping me awake for quite some nights. So this eve
#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