Seventeen

EVE'S POV

I came to my feet when Dickson got to our table, and so did Daniel beside me.

"Good afternoon. Ms Luciano" he greeted.

 "How is your first day going?"

"Good afternoon, Mr Dickson Mateo. My day has been good" I replied, smiling at him. 

"Are you having any problems? I mean, Is anyone givingyou a hard time?", he asked, a serious look on his face.

His serious expression and firm words surprised me a little. Sure,he had been so helpful during the interview process, so it shouldn't be a surprise, but he sounded very concerned. 

His manner implied that he was concerned in me not just because I was an employee, but almost as if he had a personal investment in me.

Before I could assure him that I wasn't having any trouble at all, Daniel spoke to him. 

"You don't need to worry about that, Mr Mateo. If Ms Luciano runs into any problems, I'll help her through”, Daniel said.

DICKSON POV

I turned to Daniel and noticed how he hovered over Eve, as though being overprotective.

I cleared my throat and looked between the two of them.

“Do you two know each other?”, I asked curiously.

Daniel nodded. 

"Yes. We were friends in college."

"Oh" I muttered. 

I figured that was good, the fact that Eve had a senior employee who she was familiar with. It also helped that this time round, it was someone who had good intentions unlike Ella.

"Daniel has been showing me around", Eve informed me, looking up at Daniel with a soft smile.

"I think with him around, I will get used to the company quickly" She added as she looked back at me.

"Thank you for your concern, sir", she said.

"Of course. I'm relieved that you're settling in well. I got to get going now. I'll see you two around", I replied and they both nodded as I took my leave.

As I left and walked away from the two, I couldn't help but take a single glance back. The way Daniel hovered over her, the way he insisted on looking out for her, the way he looked at her.. It was so clear that the man was besotted with her. Not only that, but he was already getting close to her. 

I couldnt help but wonder what the CEO would think of this situation. It was the CEO who had instructed me to take care of Eve and to help her through any problems she might encounter. Hell no. He was the only one who had personally brought up the issue about Ella's malpractice, and had ordered me to investigate thoroughly. 

There was no doubt in my mind that Mr Caruso was personally interested in Ms Luciano. Surely, he wouldn't be happy to hear about the close relationship between the two.

MORGAN'S POV

"Is there anything else?", I asked, my eyes fixed on the entrance of the company building ahead.

 My car was parked at the corner of the street, and from there, I could see people who walked in and out of the building. I had just come from a meeting with Dickson, who was sitting with me in the backseat of my car.

Before Dickson could answer, my eyes landed on a couple of people coming out of the building. I recognised Eve right away, but what really caught my eyes was the man beside her.

 She was smiling brightly at him as they talked. After taking a few steps, they came to a stop and carried on their conversation.

Who on earth was that? Why was he standing so close to her?.

"That is Daniel Sean" Dickson said from beside me. He must have followed my gaze.

Finally, I drew my gaze from the two. 

"What?"

“I'm talking of the man with Ms Luciano. His name is Daniel Sean, and he is the head designer of team one” he began 

“Apparently, they used to go to college together. I met them this morning and assured Ms Luciano to come to me in case of any trouble, but Daniel said that he would look after her."

Look after her? I fumed as my eyes went back to the two-who were still talking and smiling at each other! Who was he to look after her? An ex-boyfriend?

“I got the feeling that Daniel is pursuing her. Thought you would like to know that", Dickson continued.

Quickly, I turned back to Dickson and clenched my jaw.

"Why would I?".

Dickson looked uncertain for a second, but he proceeded.

"Well, since you asked me to look out for her, I thought that you were interested in her, and-"

"My personal affairs are none of your business," I warned him, feeling myself get angrier by the second. 

"Just do what you're told. Do not meddle"

"Yes, sir. I apologise”.

Reaching for the door, I opened it and stepped out of the car. My eyes immediately soughting out Eve. 

I saw that she had separated with her coworkers and was now walking away from the building. 

Taking long determined strides, I went after her.

EVE'S POV

After saying goodbye to Daniel, I headed towards the alley next to the building to avoid the busy street and get to the bus stop faster. 

The day had been a success, and I had a strong feeling that I was going to enjoy working at the Edwards Group a lot. It helped to have Daniel around-

"Honey?".

I jumped and clutched my chest with my hand when out of nowhere someone patted my back and whispered the word to my ear. 

Before I could scream in terror or run away, I realised it was Morgan who had approached me from behind.

My initial scare was replaced by embarrassment when I recalled the word he had just used to address me, and the way he had touched me.

Looking around to make sure no one had witnessed that, I whispered.

 "Why did you call me that? We are in public".

"Can't I call you 'honey'?" he asked, an infuriating smirk taking up his lower face.

 "Youre my wife, aren't you?", he added.

I was too stunned to reply.

"Besides, you do remember that we are supposed to act like a real couple in public, right?" he reminded me.

He suddenly reached out for my bag, and took my hand in his, before I could even protest.

"I can carry that by myself;" I told him, trying to reach for my bag.

"What kind of husband would I be if I let my wife carry her bag?" His eyebrows drew together and he leaned in, getting so close to my face.

My breath caught in my throat at his sudden move. I wasn't even over the shock of him showing up out of nowhere, and now he was being unpredictable.

"Why are you looking at me like that? Am I ruining your plans with that man you were talking to?" He tilted his head. 

"Maybe you were planning on going to the bar with him?"

I blinked. What? What was he… ohh.., Daniel. He must had seen me talking to Daniel outside the company building. But why was he suddenly making such accusations?

Angered, I snatched my hand out of his grip forcefully.

 "What?", he said as he leaned back, his face adopting a stern look.

 "| saw you two looking all comfy with each other. Who is he...your lover?"

His condescending tone and the way he was looking at me made my anger boil over, and i didn't think twice before pulling my leg back and kicking him in the shin. 

"He is not. And no, I don't have any plans to go anywhere with him!"

What was with him and accusing me of being promiscuous? He had done it on our wedding night, and now he was doing it again! Was talking to another man such an improper thing in his eyes? Or did he think so lowly of me that he imagined I readily slept with any man I was close to?.

"That man was Daniel Sean" I explained, fighting the urge to walk away and leave him to whatever thoughts he was having of me. 

"He was my senior in college, and I found out today that he works at the Edwards Group too. We used to be friends and he was kind enough to show me around and introduce me to my new coworkers. That's all there is to our relationship."

His eyes narrowed at me.

 "ls that so?"

"Yes" I insisted. 

"I also think he is the one who helped me with the interview. Since he knew me in college, he must have known about Ella's grudge against me. If it wasn't for him, I wouldn't have gotten this job", I argued as I folded my arms across my chest and gave him a stubborn glare. 

"Next time, think twice before making baseless accusations”.