~Eve.
“Happy anniversary, darling.” The small box was just one of the many gifts littered all over the living room, but the box was my favorite amongst all. It was our anniversary today and in as much as I single handedly selected all other gifts, I specially got the box custom-made for Sinclair, my husband and the love of my life. It was a small, beautiful box made from Mahogany and rosewood with intricate carvings of flowers all over its body. It was an antique box, just like Sinclair liked his things. Sinclair hurried into the living room, picked his daily cup of coffee from the center table and turned to the mirror without sparing me a glance. “What's with the gifts? What's the occasion?” Did he forget? Again? Five years in a row I've remembered every occasion; birthday, engagement anniversary, wedding anniversary, business launch anniversary and I have tried my best to celebrate all of them and five years in a row, he keeps forgetting every single one of them. The bright smile I have been wearing since the second I woke up faded, “It's our anniversary. Did you…did you forget?” “Huh,” Sinclair said, checking himself out in the mirror -an act I'm certain he had done plenty of times in his room. He was so obsessed with keeping a good public image that he wouldn't let anything on his suit. “Guess I forgot. I would have stopped on my way to buy you a gift but I have a meeting and I can't afford to be late.” He checked his watch and drowned his coffee in one go. “Oh, I didn't…I wasn't.” His thought to buy me a gift shocked me more than him putting his meeting before me. That was a norm, the latter, not so much. For years, I've been the one giving and he has been, well, neglecting. “It's fine if you don't get me a gift, I already got enough for the both of us.” He looked around the living room and nodded. And heavens, I just hoped he would turn to me for just a second. “But before you go, I'd like you to have this. Please.” My heart skipped a beat, my airflow cut off. For the first time in two years my husband turned to me. To look at me. His eyes were still the shade of gray I knew, the tiny scar just below his left eye was still there, his lips were still full, his face was still…still perfect, just like I knew. “What is that?” One hand held his briefcase, the other, tucked in his pocket and he scrutinized the box as though it was a ticking time bomb. “It's a gift. For you. I got it customized specially. I'd like you to have it.” With a sigh, he dropped the briefcase at his feet and took the box, scanning it carefully. “It's locked,” I said when he tried to open it. “There is something inside for you but you can only get the key during dinner this evening.” “Dinner?” He looked up at me with creased brows as though the idea was the least sane thing he has ever heard. “What for?” “It's our anniversary, Sinclair, I just want us to be together as a normal couple just for tonight. I booked us a reservation at Kairos, we'll be having all of their specials and your favorite dishes. Just for tonight.” Another deep sigh, “okay.” “Okay?” My eyes lit up with excitement. I had been expecting him to turn me down with the usual ‘I can't make it today, maybe next time?’ talk. Maybe Sinclair was changing, Maybe my husband was coming back to me! “Yes, I'll be back in time for dinner. Kairos, right? I'll meet you there.” He placed the box back in my hand and made to leave. “No! Uhm… why don't you come back here and we can go there together. Just the two of us, I can drive if you want me to.” Sinclair looked down at his watch and nodded. I could tell he was already getting tired of this conversation and was ready to leave. “Fine. I will come back here first.” “Really?” He raised a brow, “is that a new habit? Questioning me?” “No. I- uhm. It's just… I was surprised. I- never mind. I will see you when you get back.” “Yeah. See you then.” I waited for the scent of the familiar cologne that would waft through my nose when he walked past me but it never came. He was still standing in front of me. With his forefinger, he lifted my chin till my gaze met his. For the first time in three years, I had skin contact with my husband. “Your lips looks pale, Evie.” He said as his thumb grazed softly over my lips. The butterflies I thought were dead began fluttering in my stomach, my heartbeat doubled. He was going to kiss me. My husband was going to kiss me! My legs turned weak but I willed myself to be strong. I wasn't going to miss a chance of my truelove's kiss. Not after this whole time apart. “Perhaps a new shade of lipstick would make it better. I would have Anastasia pick a perfect one for you.” Just as it came, his hands vanished from my lips and he breezed past me and walked out the door, shutting the door with a soft click. I kept standing in that spot long after Sinclair left letting reality wash over me thoroughly. What had I been thinking? That a simple gift would make him come back to me? A dinner reservation? Those were stupid and cliché gifts that wouldn't bring my husband back to me. But he had almost kissed me. A stray tear ran down my cheek and I swiped it off immediately as pain, anger and hurt blossomed in my chest. It wasn't supposed to be like this. Sinclair and I were supposed to be a thing. A good thing. Not his work, not my money. Me! Another stray tear ran down my cheek and before I could swipe it off again, the dam broke in my eyes and my tears began flowing. My legs gave out. I was weak and there was no one here for me to give the impression that I wasn't. I let myself fall to the floor and allowed the tears to flow. :> :> He wasn't coming. I perched on the edge of a couch in the living room, nervously checking my phone and the door waiting for Sinclair to walk in or for my phone to at least ring. It was just a few minutes to nine, we were supposed to have left for the restaurant two hours ago, I was supposed to have shown him the contents of the box and we were supposed to be on our way back here to make love. For him to touch me and make love to me like it was our last night on earth. All my calls had gone straight to voicemail mail and the messages I sent him remained unread . We were supposed to have had a perfect night but yet again he had gone and ruined it. Perhaps it was me. Maybe I chased him away with the excessive gifts. The gifts… I looked around the living room and saw them still standing where I kept them, unshaken and untouched. Perhaps I was not doing enough. Perhaps I was pushing him away with so much affection instead of calling him back gently. Sinclair was once a man who loved me, whom I believe still does. All he did was stray from the path and just needed a reminder. Sinclair could be a bit forgetful. All he needed was just a little reminder, I needed to remind him of the most important things in his life. Me. Not his work, or career or whatever thing he was chasing but me, our marriage and our future together. “Hello there, Jimmy on the line, who is calling?” The deep male voice answered on the second ring. “I am calling about Sinclair Stone.”~EveI woke up with a blocked nose, a sore throat and an unfamiliar ache all over my body. I hadn't cried myself to sleep last night, I felt numb. After I saw the press release last night, I had good enough reason to shed my tears but they refused to come so I let the harsh tingles of the cold accompany through the night.Getting up from the bed, I took the duvet, wrapped myself in it and headed for the kitchen. It doesn't matter what I saw last night, it doesn't matter that he didn't keep his promise, I still had to make him his daily cup of coffee. “Fucking insane,” I heard him mutter a few minutes later as he matched down the stairs. He was pissed, I knew, his reputation was being dragged through the mud and he didn't find it settling.I hurried out of the kitchen the moment he stepped into the living room and handed him his cup of coffee. “I'm sorry I didn't bring this on time, I was feeling a bit uhm-” I sniffled as he took the cup from me. I couldn't see my nose and ears but I
~ Sinclair It's been almost a week since the rumor about me and Clara Evans was published and though there were still a few crazy journalists camped at my gate, the rumor was beginning to die off. Since the rumor started, I developed a habit of sneaking out the back gate in the early hours of the morning and having my secretary get my daily coffee from a nearby café. Work has been more hectic, trying to convince the board and investors that I was clear of all allegations. These days, I stayed at the office far into the night and sneaking back home in the morning. My suitcase felt light as I descended the stairs and upon taking a closer look, I figured it wasn't the suitcase I needed for the day. A sigh escaped my lips as I stopped midway and went back up to my room. The sound of the shower running had me narrowing my brows. The water turned off then turned on immediately, straightening, I walked to the bathroom. “Mmh,” a moan escaped her lips. The bathroom door was wide open
~SinclairI took a day off work today. It was the first time I've done that since the day I began my career and even though I don't want to admit it, it was the doing of the woman whose cheeks were pressed against the window and her manicured fingers tapping rhythmically against the window.I don't why but ever since I fucked my hand -fucked my hand to the image of her- I've found myself wanting to be closer to her. I formerly thought it was because I needed a physical release but I don't feel this attraction for Eve for another lady. Especially with another lady. It was confusing, how I moved from not barely looking at Eve to wanting to being with her. Ever since she accompanied me to the Declan party I… I am yet to figure it out.“So you're really staying home.” My eyes were on her but she wouldn't meet my gaze and I wondered if she was still shy about the incident a few days back or if it was something else.“Why? You don't want me staying home?” Her eyes widened as she lifted her
~Eve. Sinclair has been around the house more often, a strange adjustment which I was still trying to get used to. It isn't that I don't want him in the house, because I do, but his presence everyday reminds me of all we couldn't have and the time spent apart. If we had done something five years ago, we would have had little Eve and Sinclair running around the house. Something to remind me that I wasn't really all alone. I pressed my pillow flush against my body and snuggled under the blanket, my eyes fixed steadily on Sinclair. My husband was handsome, that was an undebatable fact but he has lost his touch since Clara visited our home. “The tea has gone cold.” He placed the cup back on the table and turned to me, bags under his eyes. “I can make you another one if you like.” He sighed and shook his head, “No, it's fine. I don't need anymore.” He picked his phone and I knew immediately he was obsessing again. “Clara does not have the nerves to say anything to the media.”
Sinclair Five men clad in suit and four women seated around the conference table in the conference room. There were the ones responsible for keeping my companies afloat. My board members who were at the verge of chasing me away from my company. The stress I revealed off my shoulders yesterday evening with Eve had been quick to return when I opened my laptop this morning and saw my name in the news headlines with billions of notifications blowing off my laptop and phone. Apparently, Clara had followed up with her threat. “...five investors. Top five investors are willing to invest in us and you are behaving like this, Mr. Stone. Do you not value this company?” One of the ladies, Lady Mathilda Duncan, the lead independent officer said, her brows furrowed and her lips tightened. She gained the right time fill in the role seven months ago after her husband passed. Apparently, she has been the one making decisions for her husband and despite her being more whinny than her puppet hu
Eve I wasn't planning on making any enemies today, I in fact, wanted quite the opposite. After four years of careful calculation and planning, I was finally where I wanted to be and I wasn't going let myself fail even before trying.I was doing well. I could tell from the smile on Sinclair's face, I have always wanted to make an impression on this day and I guess I've made it.“My apologies, Mrs. Duncan, it wasn't my intention to be rude, but I suppose neither of us would sit back and watch anybody disrespect us. I would like us to be friends given that only our friendship will make this company grow. I say we try this first impression thing again, shall we?”I knew that by now all eyes were on me but I knew specifically that Richard Reynolds eyes were fixed on me. I turned my eyes to him and saw him staring at me, upon noticing my eyes on him, he swallowed thickly and looked away.“Uhm,” he cleared his throat as he rubbed his palms down his tie and potbelly, “I don't think we have
Eve.(The French translations in this chapter may not be standard as French is not my first language. Please, pardon any shortcomings. Thank you!)Our reservation at Kairos may be two months late but I'm still glad it got to happen. The drive to the restaurant was a quiet one but I wasn't expecting it to be a chatty one either. Sinclair hummed a song and drummed against the steering throughout the drive. Since I asked him out on a date, his mood skyrocketed to perfectly happy and it got me thinking I should have asked him out sonner.The late night New York breeze bit against my skin as I got down from the car. It was oddly harsh and soothing at the same time calming my nerves for whatever we were going to face at the dinner table.Goosebumps broke out on my skin and I shuddered visibly.“Are you cold?” Sinclair asked, pulling off his coat to hang around my shoulders. He wore a blue three piece suit from Thom Browne while I had on a creamy silk strapless dress that clung to my body l
Sinclair.The tension throughout our ride home was so high it could be cut through with a knife. I didn't know when those words slipped through my lips during dinner but once they started, I couldn't get them to stop. I was fucking glad they didn't. Eve punished me so hard and it was only fair I did too.Eve stared out the window during the ride home and quickly made her way up the stairs as we got to the house.“Where are you headed?” I unintentionally banged the door close to my surprise. I guess that was how much energy was charging through me.“To my room. I have to wash up before going to bed.” “There are many things we'd be doing in bed tonight, Mon chéri, and that does not involve sleeping.” I cocked a finger and motioned her to come off the stairs. I took her purse from her and dropped it on the table when she did, took a comfortable position on the couch, spread my legs wide apart and draped my hands on the arms.“Strip.”Her eyes flung open. “What?”“You said I should ask