Chapter 4 - And yes, My World Keeps Getting Smaller and Smaller…

-Eve-

I arrived home smiling as I remembered what had happened that day. 

“Is that you Eve?” my grandmother called out from the kitchen. 

“Yes, Nana,” I replied as I hurriedly walked toward the kitchen to give her a hug and kiss. 

My parents died while I was still young and all I have was my Nana. Everything I had been working hard for was all for her. I wanted to make sure that she could stop selling at the market and just enjoy some time with her friends instead. 

“Set the table dear,” she replied as turned off the stove. 

I helped her bring everything she had cooked to the table and was surprised at the amount of food she had cooked.

“Why did you cook a lot, Nana?” I asked as I took the seat in front of her and was ready to dig in when Nana’s question surprised me. 

“It’s your first day of your internship, isn’t Stephen joining us?” Her question was so innocent that I couldn’t help but feel guilty that I hadn’t told her what Stephen did to me. 

“No, he won’t I replied,” as I started to dig in. 

“Oh,” she said in surprise. “I thought he was coming to propose to you.” 

“What do you mean?” I asked in confusion.

“I just thought that since you are now working and at the right age, the two of you would finally tie the knot,” Nana explained smiling.

“Nana,” I started to say, not sure how to break the news to her. All I told her was that I was given the opportunity to work in a very nice company. That I was hand-picked. Not to mention the real reason why I was really going to work there.

“It would really make me happy, my dear child, to see you walk that aisle, and to have someone to take care of you,” she looked down at her plate as she continued, “I am not getting any younger and it is my wish to see you all settled down.” 

“Nana…”

Suddenly our doorbell rang, confusing me as I was not expecting anyone. 

Nana was about to stand up but I stopped her and checked who it was. As I view the monitor of our doorbell I found the person I never want to see again. 

“Nana,” I shouted as I prepared to get out, “finish eating, I’ll just buy some ice cream.”

“You haven’t finished eating yet,” Nana shouted back. 

“I am a bit full because we had a company dinner,” I lied. “Just finish eating and I will clean everything once I am back.” 

I didn’t wait for her reply as I rushed outside and opened the gate of the house. 

“What the hell are you doing here, Stephen?” I asked as I pulled him away from my house and led him to the playground where we used to meet up.

“Can’t you help me out, Evie?” I cringe hearing the nickname he gave me. 

“Seriously, Stephen, you ask me for a favor after cheating on me?”

“I did it for us, Evie,” he replied. “None of it was real. I was just using her. I needed her connection so that I could create a better future for us.”

“You wanted to create a better future by marrying my best friend and making a fool out of me? Wow, Stephen, just wow. Can’t you make a better excuse?”

“I was planning to divorce her once I got what I wanted,” he replied as he fell to his knees in front of me. “Please, Evie. All I wanted was a better life for us.”

“Divorce? Better life? Are you fucking serious right now, Stephen?” I can’t believe what he was saying and how can he think that all of these words are making me feel better? 

“You need to believe me, Evie,” he continued to say with a slur, “It’s for us.” 

“No, Stephen,” I replied. “None of it is for us, because the moment that you married my best friend there was no us.” 

I started to walk away and leave him at the sandbox when he pulled my hand and started crying as he begged me to stay. 

“Evie, please,” he begged and I almost gave him another chance until I heard what he said. “It was Stella’s fault, she tempted me.”

I turned to face him and pulled my hand from his. 

“You asshole,” I shouted, “Man up! Stop putting the blame on everyone around you just because you can’t handle your shit.”

“Really, Evie? Are you saying this is all my fault when you won’t even have sex with me?!”

“I was saving it after our marriage you jackass!” 

“Who the hell does that?!” He shouted back.

“This conversation isn’t going anywhere,” I said, “Don’t ever show your face at my house and at the company I work at or I’ll make your life a living hell.” 

“Evie,” Stephen pleaded. 

“Go home Stephen,” I replied tiredly. “Go home to your wife.” 

I didn’t wait for him to respond and just left him there. I was almost at my front door when my phone rang. 

“Miss Anderson?” A man's voice asked. 

“Yes, who’s this?” I asked. 

“This is Carl,” he replied. “The CEO’s driver and bodyguard.”

“Carl?” I asked.

“I was the guy who came by to stop the commotion earlier at the office,” he replied. 

“Oh,” that guy’s name was Carl. “What can I do for you?”

“I will send one of our CEO’s other drivers, he needs some materials for tomorrow's meeting but I can’t bring them to him, and no one else other than me and those that he allows could go inside his house. Since you are the new EA can you bring those documents to him, please? I will make sure that you will be paid handsomely for this trouble.” 

I looked at the time and watched as my grandmother’s light turned off signaling that she was about to sleep. 

“Okay,” I replied as the beating of my heart sped up. “How soon will the driver come?” 

“10 minutes,” Carl replied. “I will call you again once the car is outside of your house.” 

“You know where I live?” I asked, alarmed making Carl chuckle.

“Of course,” he replied, “It’s on your resume.” 

At exactly 10 minutes the car Carl said was outside. It was the first time I cleaned the dishes, took a shower, and changed clothes that fast. 

Once inside, as Carl instructed, I signed a non-disclosure agreement that surprised me but did not complain.

Our CEO’s house was on the richest subdivision in the country and was on top of the hill. I was surprised that he lives in a subdivision instead of a penthouse suite but who am I to judge?

The driver stopped in front of the gate but didn’t go inside. I pressed the doorbell and the gate unlocked. The front door was also unlocked and then I found the box in which Carl asked me to leave the NDA folder. 

Carl specifically instructed that I go to the second floor of the house and deliver the document to no one else but our CEO. Just then, I realized that I didn’t even know our CEO’s name.

I remember the article I read about the company but all it stated was the main chairman of the company, Mrs. Alicia Stevenson. The CEO was never mentioned. Maybe the CEO was just appointed? 

As I reached the second room, I found that all the doors were closed except for the one at the end of the doorway.

“Hello?” I called out, as I approached the slightly opened door. 

“Is anyone home?” I called again before I opened the door wider. I froze at the scene before me. The envelope in my hand fell on the floor I found a naked man standing with his back to me while a naked woman was on his bed.

The man slowly turned and I thought that seeing a naked man standing in front of me was the most surprising thing to see, I never thought that knowing who the naked man was would surprise me more.

“Hello, Eve,” He said with a smile on his face as he stood naked in front of me. 

“Glad to see you again,” he added.

I took a deep breath as I realized how my small world became smaller after finding out who was my boss.