EVA'S POV "She needs to be held accountable, Tristin. This isn’t just about Eva. It’s about the toxic environment Livia is creating.""I know," he said quietly. "And I’ll handle it. But right now, we need to focus on making sure Eva feels safe and supported here."I looked at Sophie, my eyes filled with gratitude. "Thank you for standing up for me."She gave me a small, reassuring smile. "No one deserves to be treated like that, Eva. Not on my watch."As we sat in the conference room, the tension finally began to dissipate. Tristin looked between Sophie and me, his expression still serious but softened with concern."Sophie, I’ll go speak to Livia," Tristin said, his voice calm but firm. "We don’t want to escalate this any further than it already has."Sophie nodded, her demeanor relaxing a bit. "Alright, Tristin. Just make sure she understands that this kind of behavior is unacceptable.""I will," he assured her, then turned to me. "Eva, if you need anything, don’t hesitate to reach
EVA'S POVOnce inside, I let out a long sigh and dropped my bag on the floor. I made a beeline for the shower, letting the hot water wash away the stress of the day. As I stood there, I replayed the events in my mind, from Livia’s slap to Sophie’s fierce defense. It had been one heck of a rollercoaster.Fresh and in my favorite comfy pajamas, I settled onto the couch with a contented sigh. I grabbed my phone to check for any messages and noticed a text from my foster mom—no, my real mom. That’s how I saw her now.*Mom: Hey sweetheart! How was your first official day at work? Call me when you can. Love you!*A warm smile spread across my face. I quickly hit the call button, and within seconds, her familiar, comforting voice came through the line."Eva! How are you, honey?""Hi, Mom! I’m okay. It’s been quite a day, though.""Oh? Do tell," she said, her voice laced with curiosity and concern."Well, where do I start? I found out Tristin’s fiancée is Livia, my high school bully, and she’
TRISTIN'S POVAfter Eva's hesitant text about driving lessons, I found myself thinking about her more than I cared to admit. There was something endearing about her vulnerability mixed with determination. I was lounging in my apartment, Livia’s earlier tantrum still a dull ache in my memory, when I decided to take matters into my own hands. If Eva wanted to learn how to drive, why wait?I made my way to her apartment and rang the doorbell. The seconds stretched into what felt like hours before she finally opened the door, looking adorably disheveled in her pajamas. I couldn't help but smirk."Get dressed, Eva. We’re going for a drive."She blinked at me, clearly disoriented. "Now? It’s the middle of the night.""Precisely," I said with a grin. "Less traffic. Come on, get dressed."She sighed but complied, returning a few minutes later in casual clothes. I led her to my car, opening the passenger door with an exaggerated bow. "Your chariot awaits, milady."She climbed in, giving me a l
TRISTIN'S POV"I’m new at this, remember?"I laughed. "Alright, alright. Easy on the gas. Let’s just coast a bit."She managed to get the car moving more smoothly, and I began giving instructions. "Turn left here. No, the other left! Brake! Not that hard! Gently, Eva, gently!"She hit the gas instead of the brake, and the car lurched forward again. I clutched my chest in mock terror. "Eva! Are you trying to end my life? I still have so much to live for!"She burst out laughing, despite her nerves. "I’m not trying to kill you, I promise!""Could’ve fooled me," I muttered, though I was smiling. "Alright, let’s try that turn again. And remember, slow and steady wins the race."We spent the next hour driving around, with me alternating between teasing her and giving overly dramatic reactions to her mistakes. At one point, she attempted to park, and I pretended to cover my eyes. "Dear God, if I survive this, I’m never complaining about Sophie’s driving again."Despite my antics, I saw her
LIVIA'S POVThat little nobody from high school had somehow managed to infiltrate my life again. Seeing her here, in my company, was infuriating. It was bad enough dealing with her back then, always so eager to please, always getting in my way. Now she was here, and she had Tristin’s attention. That was unacceptable.When I arrived at the office, I made a beeline for the department I was overseeing. I needed to establish my authority. If Eva thought she could waltz in here and play the victim again, she was sorely mistaken.As the hours passed, I watched Eva closely. She was trying to keep her head down, but I could see the nervousness in her eyes. Good. She needed to know her place.Then, during a department meeting, I decided to make my move. As everyone was leaving, I called Eva over.“Eva, stay behind. I need to discuss something with you,” I said, my tone cold and authoritative.She nodded, looking anxious, and I relished the control I had over her. Once everyone else had left, I
LIVIA'S POV“Is this true?” Tristin asked, his eyes darkening as he looked at me.I crossed my arms, trying to maintain my composure. “She was being insubordinate. I was just putting her in her place.”“Insubordinate?” Tristin repeated, his voice low. “You think that justifies physical violence?”I felt a flicker of panic. “Tristin, you know how important it is to maintain discipline—”“Enough,” he interrupted, holding up a hand. “This is not how we handle things in this company. You’ve crossed a line, Livia.”I opened my mouth to protest, but Tristin cut me off again. “We’ll discuss this in private. Sophie, Eva, come with me.”As they followed Tristin out, I felt a mix of anger and humiliation. How had things spiraled out of control so quickly? I needed to regain my footing, and fast.I followed them secretly behind to eavesdrop on their conversation In the conference room, Tristin turned to face them. “Are you okay, Eva?” he asked, his voice softer.Eva nodded, though her voice was
LIVIA'S POV"Where have you been, Tristin?" I demanded, my voice sharp. "I've been waiting here for hours!"He closed the door behind him with a sigh. "Livia, it's late. I took Eva for a driving lesson."My blood boiled at the mention of her name. "That little nobody? You left me here to go help her? What is wrong with you?"Ignoring my outburst, he walked past me, clearly trying to keep his composure. "Livia, calm down.""Don't you dare tell me to calm down!" I shouted, standing up and following him. "Why are you wasting your time with her? She's nothing compared to us!"Turning to face me, his expression turned cold. "Livia, enough. Eva is an employee and a friend. You will not insult her in my presence."I couldn't believe what I was hearing. "Are you defending her? Over me? She's a pathetic little nobody, Tristin! You should be focusing on us and our future, not playing chauffeur for some insignificant girl!"His patience seemed to wear thin. "Livia, our engagement was arranged fo
LIVIA'S POVBack in my apartment, I collapsed onto the couch, the adrenaline from our fight still coursing through me. I needed to devise a plan to ensure that Eva didn't interfere with our future. But for now, I could only wait and hope that Tristin would see reason and prioritize our relationship over his misguided loyalty to that insignificant girl.My chest heaving with anger and frustration. This wasn't how things were supposed to go. Tristin was supposed to be mine, and that girl, Eva, was getting in the way. I needed to take control of the situation. I grabbed my phone and dialed my mother’s number. The moment she answered, I could feel the tears welling up in my eyes.“Mom,” I began, my voice trembling, “I need you.”“Livia, darling, what’s wrong?” she asked, concern evident in her tone.“It’s Tristin,” I sobbed, letting the tears flow freely. “He’s spending all his time with this girl, Eva. I don’t know what to do. He’s ignoring me, and I feel like I’m losing him.”“Calm dow