Chapter - [ 4 ]

[ Evangeline ]

"Eve, wake up."

"Sir, I think we should call medical service."

"Evangeline, please wake up. You're scaring the shit out of me."

"Sir, we shouldn't waste time. Miss Parker has passed out for quite a long time and no one has noticed her."

Why do I hear Dominic's panicked voice mixed with some strangers'?

I feel a gentle pat on my cheeks which forces me to open my eyes. Dominic's worried face is the one that came in my view.

But how can I see him?

I was dead, right?

"Eve, Oh My God! Can you hear me?" A relief washed over his face but still I can't understand what he's doing in the heaven or hell or whatever place I am at?

"Dom..Domi..nic." I coughed as I tried to speak through my dried throat.

I feel my body being lifted from the ground and then my eyes widened in shock.

I was in the backyard garden of the hotel where I met Colton and Evanca. They gave me a death threat and then....some goons stabbed me to death in a deserted alley on the order of Colton.

But how can it be possible?

If I was dead, I wouldn't be here. It means my death was just a dream.

Someone handed me a glass of water and I drank it in a go while trying to process the events which seems like a nightmare or hallucination of my subconscious mind.

"Thank God! You scared the shit out of me, Eve." Dominic sighed in relief and it forced me to run my eyes on many curious face launching at me.

"Ma'am you ran away from here after your argument with a couple. I didn't see their face but I saw you leaving in a hurry but when did you come back and fainted in here, at the same place?" The same waiter who asked me of my reason of crying when I rushed in the garden after my encounter with Evanca in the party.

His question left me bewildered.

It means I wasn't dreaming. The chain of events actually happened but why do I not remember coming back here?

I touched my belly and the places where those goons stabbed me. I felt slight pain but not a fatal wound's signs.

"Let's go back to home, Eve." Dominic's gentle voice brought me out of my conflicting thoughts.

He helped me to stand on my feet but my numb feet gave up as soon as I transferred my body weight on them.

"Ahh!" I buckled up and about to fall back on the grassed ground when Dominic held me in his arms.

I stared at his face. For the first time, I saw a different man in him other than a best friend I've known for years. He looked surprised, disappointed, sad and somewhere behind these emotions, a little angered but he masked it brilliantly by a neutral face which smiles continuously at me.

"You okay? Do you want me to lift you?" He asked me in a deep husky voice.

"No, I am fine." My body wanted to say yes but my heart and mind chose otherwise. I slowly removed myself from his hold and tried to stand straight on my own feet. I had enough of drama in a single night and many confusing questions running through my mind.

"Pardon me for causing you trouble." I smiled apologetically at the hotel staff who are still staring at me with confusion and wonder.

"It's our duty, Ma'am. Please enjoy the party as the bidding is going to start soon." The same young man replied in their behalf.

"I'll take you home." Dominic insisted and turned to take the direction of exit but my feet refused to follow him.

I had many unanswered questions and I have to find them.

I clearly remember praying the God to give me another chance to rectify my mistakes.

Does it mean that I'm reborn and the God has given me another chance for payback to the conspiracies and torture that I had been and would be gone through.

"Eve? Why are you not coming?" Dominic frowned at me as I kept rooted on my spot.

"I think we should go back inside the participate in the bidding. Remember, we came here to be a part of a good deed and to make new allies. Let's focus on the charity and the business." I said in my professional attitude.

His frown deepens more, he wanted to say something but he chose the alternate option.

"If you say so but I strongly advise you to return home and take some rest. I am your friend first and as a friend, I want you to stop stressing yourself when you don't feel good." He said but I don't Why but I couldn't connect to his words.

What am I missing here?

"I was talking to Mrs. Ricardo when I met an annoying trude who made me feel sick." I started narrating him about my little conversation about business with Mrs. Ricardo.

His eyes lightens up immediately upon listening to my words.

"Really? What did you two talk about?" He asked me impatiently as we made our way through guests to our table.

"Mr. Ricardo is very impressed by our quarterly growth in the first trimester of this financial year. So, he's planning to give us the next project. In fact, we can negotiate on having an equal partnership. I just hope, Colton won't create any trouble for us." I heaved a sigh.

"He won't do anything. I will make sure of it and if he will try to mend in my business, I'll snatch something very precious from him." He gritted his teeth.

And how would I share my dilemma with anyone? Dominic, Kate or anyone else will laugh at me if I share my reborn theory with them but I think it actually happened to me. I died and took rebirth just before a life changing event to divert the course of my present and future.

We sat back on our table. For some odd reason, I feel constant stare on me. I don't want to look at that direction but it filled my heart with uneasiness.

"Eve, I don't think you're fine." Dominic whispered in my ear thus bringing my attention on him and the anchor who is conducting the bidding.

"I am good, Dom. You should buy the item on the display. Just look at the rare beauty of the pendant. You can purchase it for your Mom. She's fond of ruby and pearls." I pointed my finger on a 18th century necklace for which rich folks are competing and price was going higher by each bidder.

"It will cost me a fortune." He shook his head in a disinterested manner.

"But Colton seems interested in the necklace. He has surpassed all the bidders. Don't you think that you should challenge him and crush his pride." I attempted to trigger him and I found it working.

"120,000$." He raised his hand.

A loud gasp waved through the hall.

"Alright, so, Mr. Rodriguez has gone upto 120,000$. Is there anyone who wants to challenge him?" The auctioneer said over the microphone.

"130,000$" Colton's deep voice resonated in the hall. His eyes found Dominic and a sly smirk played on his lips.

His face scratched the fresh wounds. He was the one to hire the goons to kill me and he succeeded in his vicious plan.

"150,000$." Dominic glared at him whereas I enjoyed the show.

"175,000$" Colton's voice rang in the silenced air.

"200,000$"

Dominic rose from his chair.

This time I also gasped at his length of competition against his step-brother.

"Well..if there's anyone who wants to bid higher than this biggest amount tonight?" The auctioneer asked after coming out of her own shocked state.

"Dominic, what the hell is this? We came here to gain more profit but you lost a fortune." I whispered to him and even regretted my stupidity but he ignored me.

"230,000$" Colton roared.

"Dom, you have Chase's swear. Please stop this foolishness and let him have this piece of jewelry. I know your Mom wouldn't be happy if she finds out the price you spent on a mere necklace." I begged him.

"Does anyone want to bid more?" The auctioneer asked.

But silence answered her question and I heaved a sigh of relief. At least, Dominic respected his godson's swear.

"Congratulations to Mr. Colton Black, this beautiful and rare necklace goes to him for 230,000$. Please give a huge round of applause to him for donating this huge amount for the welfare of orphan and needy children." The woman grinned widely and as soon as she turned off the mic, the hall roared with claps.

Colton and Evanca walked upto the high podium. His head held high with pride as he smirked down at Dominic who had a very calm expression. Which confused me.

"You're not angry?" I asked.

"No, why would I? I made him pay 230,000 for a 60,000$ worth necklace. I can always buy more expensive and more rare jewelry for Mom but Colton has left a negative impact on many rational minded businessmen over here who now think that he takes decisions on impulsiveness rather than using brain." He smirked cunningly.

"You're unpredictable, Dom." I shook my head in disbelief and looked at the front but the sight sliced my heart.

Colton was helping Evanca to wear the necklace with a huge smile on his handsome face while my greedy sister grinned ear to ear as if she got her favorite candy.

He never bought anything for me during one of the many auctions we attended. He simply used to give them cheaques.

"Let's get have our dinner then we can leave. Tonight, you have done excellent job by gaining new possible investors for us." Dominic smiled at me.

"Thank you, Boss and please let's eat something. I am famished." I said but my main agenda is to meet Colton or Evanca to confirm my doubts.

We headed to the buffet and I served myself a small portion of food. My appetite was long dead, I'm hungry only for seeking my answers but much to my dismay, I didn't see them.

Disappointment filled my heart. It was the for us to take our departure.

"I'll be back in a minute. I need to use the washroom before we leave." I excused myself from Dominic who seemed lost in his own thoughts and made my way in the direction of toilet.

The area was deserted and it refreshed my memory of the alley where I might be stabbed. I took steady steps. I was about to enter in a toilet when a familiar voice halted me in my track.

It was Evanca lashing out on someone over the phone.

"You can't do a simple job. How could you lie to me, Johny? That bitch is alive and gracefully walking in front of my eyes. You confidently told me that she was dead by your brutal attacks then whom I am seeing, her ghost?" She screamed at I think Johny, one of the goons.

My head begun to spin.

It wasn't my hallucination or dream.

The events actually happened.

I took rebirth.

Life had given me another chance.