#Chapter 58 EvelynThe air leaves my lungs when I notice an array of cars lined up in the elegant hall, lit up by the bright fluorescent lights in the ceiling. They're all in dark colors and reflect the light off their pristine exteriors."Oh my God," I whisper as I walk towards a black car that has a Mercedes logo on the bonnet. Miles puts his front paws on the top of the car and I scoop him in my arms so he can't scratch the surface with his nails. Sometimes my dog behaves like a baby."You like cars?" Warren comes and stands beside me."I do. But I'm not really into the details of them. As long as it looks fabulous, I'll buy it." "Which one looks the most fabulous here?" My eyes roam over the array of cars, stopping at a BMW. "I see," Warren says quietly.Slipping into his private elevator we reach his penthouse, which is located on the last floor of the building. With a ding, the doors slide open and I set Miles down as he wanders into the place
#Chapter 59 WarrenThis must definitely be a dream. Evelyn is at my place, with her dog, and eating dinner with me. Fuck! I've gotten fond of her dog. He's so smart. Definitely like his owner. "When will that project be completed?" Evelyn asks, sipping the hot chicken soup I made. "In three years. We're still working on the blueprints and designs. The investor wants it to represent the culture of France while also having a modern edge," I explain, my passion for the subject leaking into my voice."So that is your WIP. Wha—""WIP?" "Work in progress." She looks at me.I nod, encouraging her to continue. "I have a question." A smirk takes over her delicate face."Go ahead," I say."Do you create the designs yourself or do you just get someone else to do it?" "The designs are called blueprints and I used to draw them myself but then I founded the company. So now I overlook everything before finalizing."Evelyn gets quiet as she eats. Bes
#Chapter 60 WarrenWe prepare the table in my living room for dinner. It gives an impeccable view of the city and Miles perches up on the couch, staking his claim on the spot. Evelyn and I share a smile and follow his lead.I had prepared sauces while Evelyn had fried a container of wings. Apparently, Miles loves chicken whilst Evelyn isn't a fan of it. Something I noted down in my mind for future reference."So if you were on a date, you'd prefer vegan dishes?" We're sitting on the floor munching on the wings.Miles barks in response to my question and Evelyn laughs."Yes. I'd hate to contribute toward the butchering of animals," she explains and my heart soars in my chest at her reasoning. Only Evelyn would care about damn animals."You loved eggs in high school," I counter. With a gasp, she hits my arm. "Don't mention that." Her words are like vapors wafting away from my head as my concentration focuses on where she had hit me on the arm. Just a week ag
#Chapter 61 WarrenIt's time for the third thing and she goes into it. "After all that happened in high school. I was heartbroken. I had the worst friends and with everything that happened with you..." Her eyes find mine and she's never looked more vulnerable. I can feel the pain in her voice. "...I had lost myself completely. That time was so dark and gloomy that I felt like I would never be able to recover and be whole again. For months my world spun off its axis, small and invisible." I advance toward her but she stops me. "I'm fine." The fuck she is! Her eyes are filled with tears. "Come here, Lina," I say gently and she reluctantly scoots closer to me until her head is settled in the crook of my neck. I wrap my arm around her shoulder and rub her back. "You don't have to tell me," I say."I want to." She brushes away all the remnants of her sorrow and straightens but doesn't inch away from me."I learned to mend broken pieces of mine and make myself whole.
#Chapter 62 WarrenEvelyn presses herself into me until I can feel our chests touching and our hearts beating against each other. I can feel the steady fast rhythm of her heart. I wonder if she can feel how mine is racing. "I can feel your heart, you know. It's beating so fast." She speaks as if she's read my mind which is astounding. Sometimes I forget that we were best friends and I fell for her later. My palm lands on her back and I attempt to pull her closer to me but my muscles are so exhausted that I can't muster up enough energy to do anything. I think my body is crippled with anxiety. I haven't had a panic attack in so long."I can't breathe," I murmur hoping she can hear me. That she will understand how my heart is slowing down and my breaths are deepening but no air seems to occupy me."I know." Pulling away, she aligns our faces until we are looking directly into each other's eyes. A silent yet powerful connection forges between us and takes me bac
#Chapter 63 Evelyn"I need a boyfriend," I announce. "No," Yasmine instantly replies. "Yes," Ivan agrees with a grin.My assistant shoots him a glare and then turns her gaze back at me."Why do you need a boyfriend?" Her hazel eyes study me."Because I almost kissed Warren four days ago." Admitting that makes my stomach fill with butterflies. Very strange. "What?!" They yell in unison. Miles looks up at us from the couch and wags his tail and barks."Well, I..."Both of my friends lean over the table in interest."We were talking and one thing led to another and I ended up straddling him. Our faces were close and we were going to kiss but he stopped it.""Oh my fucking God." Yasmine fans her face with a silly grin. "What the actual fuck?" Ivan exclaims with a tight expression on his face.The two of them are showcasing such different emotions that I'm torn between what to decide. "Look, guys, I need a rebound guy. I need to do somet
#Chapter 64 EvelynDropping to his level I cup his face in my palms and rub his sides slowly, trying to make him feel safe."Everything's fine. I'm fine. Don't worry," I speak so quietly that only my overprotective dog can hear me.With a woof he puts his paw on my shoulder and then his head. I wrap my arms around his back and hug him, smoothing out his silky fur coat. He's been shedding a lot lately and I had to get him some shots for the allergy. "I'll be fine. Relax," I assure him before pulling away and gesturing to Jessica to call him. Miles is hesitant to leave me but I kiss him and then boop his nose. Giving me an open-mouth smile he throttles away."Chances are your dog might bite me if I take you out."I shake my head with a chuckle. "He's looking out for me. It's been just him and I for so long. He gets worried when I'm around new people, especially men.""I understand. It will take him time to trust me," Noah casually puts it out there and I
#Chapter 65 EvelynOver time I've learned to not feed into the darkness and sadness that swirls inside of me as if it's a part of my soul. I have a lot of blessings in my life. But those two, they're just there. Nothing can change that for me. I sit in the cafe with Noah for an hour, talking and laughing. Later he drives me to my office but refrains from entering it due to Miles, whom I see peeking out at us from behind the glass door."I had a great time with you today.""I'm glad. It was great for me too." Glancing at Miles I find him still looking at us."Can I take you on a date?"I saw this coming but now that it's here. I don't know what to say. I'm conflicted. Go on a date with him. Yasmine's words echo in my mind. "I'd love to," I say confidently. I should give this a try. Maybe this comforting company that I share with Noah can become my new normal. A cheeky smile takes over his face, making him look more handsome than ever.I peek at the
#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