Twenty three

EVE'S POV 

When Morgan didn't seem to pay attention to my plea, I grasped his arm and pushed it away. I was clearly only going to get out of this by having to.

"Just a sec" he said, his voice gentle. 

I went still as he reached up and touched my forehead, then wiped his palm over my skin.

 "You've got a bit of sweat here."

"Oh" I mumbled, my face going hot. 

Was that it? He just wanted to wipe my forehead? He should have said so earlier. And here I was, getting wild ideas.

MORGAN'S POV 

I could barely keep my lips from splitting into a wide grin. So maybe I enjoyed seeing her frazzled by my proximity a little too much. And I was also guilty of enjoying having her trapped in my arm a lot. But I couldn't help it, she was just too adorable.

I half-expected her to keep pushing against me after I said I was wiping her sweat, but she didn't. Instead, she stilled and let me go ahead, her struggle gone. 

What had she thought I was going to do?.

"Are you done?" she asked after a few seconds, giving me a quick look and then glancing away.

Her look wasn't hostile or suspicious in any way, infact she looked totally okay with me wiping off her sweat. It made me Wonder whether she was always this trusting.

"Almost", Isaid, moving my attention to her nose. 

When I brushed my finger on her nose, her eyes shot back to me again, and this time, she extricated herself from my hold and stepped away. It looked like that was where she drew the line.

"I'm good, thanks. You didn't have to do that" she said, passing her hand over her nose. 

Walking away, she asked.

 "So, when can we move in?".

**********************************************

When the weekend came along, I went to see Sarah in the hospital. It had been a while since I had seen her and I couldn't wait to spend some time with her.

I was always happy to see her, but now, seeing her lying in bed with IV lines hooked to her arm, I only felt heaviness in her heart. 

The frustration that I still couldn't pay the medical bill bothered me on a daily basis. But now, sitting beside her bed, it hit me even harder.

Sarah was trying to be cheerful, but I could see that the disease was taking its toll on her. And if she doesn’t start her dialysis sessions soon, she would get even worse.

The most I could do now, was to ensure that Sarhis getting the best care while awaiting dialysis. 

The hospital she currently was in wasn't exactly the best, and I feared that she wasn't getting optimum care. From what I had observed, the hospital was understaffed. It would only help if Sarah was in a place where she could receive more personalised care.

"I want to move you to a better hospital" , I told her.

"I want you to be in the best hands until you can start your treatment."

Sarah shook her head and waved a hand in dismissal.

 "You worry too much, Eve. I'm totally fine here. They have kept me alive until now, haven't they?", she asked lightly, smiling weakly.

"You're not going anywhere, okay" I muttered, reaching forward and taking her hand between mine.

 "And I've seen what the food they serve here looks like. If they put that much effort in everything else, it worries me alot."

She just chuckled. 

"Hospital food is not meant to look or even taste good. Trust me, it's not all that bad. Besides, I can afford to stay here."

"You don't have to worry about the money" I told her.

 "If there's something you don't like about here, you should tell me. I have a new job now, I can cover whatever extra amount you'll need to pay."

She shook her head instantly. 

"No, dear. I'm okay. Do not think of using your first salary to move me to a posh hospital, I won't take it. I'm really doing alright here."

"But-"

"Shh,”, she silenced me.

 "Let's talk about your new job instead. The Edward Group, huh? You always wanted to work there”.

I smiled, giving in to her insistence to stop talking about hospitals.

 "Yes, I did" 

Sarah was one of the few people who ever got to hear of my dreams to become a designer and the companies I wanted to work for.

First, it was because she was my caregiver at the orphanage, and was the closest person to me. Second, even after the Lucianos adopted me, it became quickly clear that my new mother and sister were not as interested in my personal life. At the end of the day, it was Sarah who listened to my dreams and hopes.

"ls it any good?" She asked.

"It's amazing" I replied, getting excited.

"I've just been there for a week, and l'm already loving it so much”

“I always knew you would achieve your dreams my dear," she said with a smile. 

"Remember when you would make bracelets for the other kids back then? They would even fight over whose turn it was to receive one from you" She paused and laughed weakly. 

"You have a gift, Eve. I hope it will keep opening the right doors for you”,

I nodded, squeezing her hand lightly. Every time I spend time with Sarah, she always said things that reached deep into my heart and remained there. 

Whenever I was going through a hard time, she was always the first person I think of, because I knew that no matter how tough things seemed, Sarah would make it all seem better.

Now, it was my turn to make things better for her, and I wasn't going to give up, no matter what obstacle I come across. And when I find enough money, it would be easier to convince Sarah to accept my help.

Finally done speaking to Sarah at the hospital, I left the hospital and found myself on a bus leading to my adoptive parents' home.

I hadn't planned on going back there after what happened the last time, but I felt that I didn't have many options.

I was ready to beg and do whatever it took to have them change their minds and honour their promise. With Sarah's situation, I couldn't afford to focus on their betrayal and hate towards me.

I was ready to sacrifice every last ounce of pride I had, to get whatever funds I could.

It was late afternoon when I got to the house. One of the servants came to the door and let me in. After the warm welcome, however, I learned from the servant that the entire family had gone on a vacation abroad.

"When will they be back?" I asked, ignoring the negative feeling rising in my throat. 

How could they be on vacation when not long ago they had claimed to be cash-strapped?

"I'm not sure about that" the servant replied.

Well, wasn't that convenient, I thought. Were they even truly overseas? 

I knew that Morgana was capable of asking the servants to lie about their whereabouts in case I appeared. But at the end, I didn't have a choice but to leave. 

I took the bus back to the city, feeling down. Now that I was sure my parents' help was not an option, it was time to seriously look elsewhere.

I considered taking a loan from a bank, but I knew that would be hard given I had just started my new job and wasn't a permanent employee.

 If ai wanted to borrow money, I would have to look for one of those informal lenders. 

I shivered at the idea of what would happen if I was unable to pay them back. No, there had to be a better way.

I sighed and leaned back in my seat, getting ready to relax the rest of the way to the city. That was when my eyes fell on the sticker plastered to the side of the bus.

It was an advertisement from a pharmaceutical company looking for volunteers for a drug trial.

The sticker stated that one could earn up to two thousand dollars and would get compensation in case the drug affected their health negatively.

I sat up quickly and took out my phone. Going online, I searched for directions to the company. An hour later, I was at the pharmaceutical company, signing a registration form. 

They told me that I could take the drug next week, and I felt like luck was finally smiling upon me. It seemed that Sarah wouldn't have to wait much longer.

****MORGAN'S POV******

When I came back home that evening, I was drawn to the sounds of Eve cooking in our new kitchen. I smiled and headed towards the kitchen, meaning to ask her if it was to her taste.

Eve was waltzing behind the counter at the stoves, humming happily as she cooked. My smile grew even wider at the sight. 

Even had the kitchen not been to her taste, she was definitely happy enough.

She turned around with a pot held between her hands just then, and placed it on the counter. Her eyes lifted to me and she smiled in recognition.

"Good evening."

My plan was to answer her greeting right away, but the moment she had turned towards me, my brain had short-circuited.

 Were aprons supposed to be this sexy? 

The apron she wore accentuated her figure, outlining her bust and slender waist before flaring at her hips.

I cleared my throat and brought my eyes back to her face. I tried hard to arrange my expression to not give away the instant attraction I was having to her.

 "Good evening to you too," I replied, and then cleared my throat again.

Eve, being the absolute adorable angel that she was, leaned towards me, her brow crowding. 

"Are you okay?",

"Yeah, uh, yes," I replied, taking a quick step back. A much needed step away from her nice fragrance that seeked to draw me to her.

She gestured to her face. 

"It's just that you look a little-” 

"I'm okay" I interrupted her and gestured towards the door.

 "l will go wash up and join you for dinner”, I excused myself.

"Oh, okay”, she replied, still looking at me with a little concern.

I walked away, cursing up a storm in my head. Great, how was I going to play husband and wife to a woman I was attracted to, when I couldn't even hide the attraction?.

When did my grand plan to divorce her as quickly as possible get so far off the track?

When I reappeared to have dinner, I was more composed. Eve was setting the last of the cutlery on the dining table, and I made a point to not stare at her as I took my seat.

"Sorry, let me get that”, she said, suddenly turning to me. 

I looked to see what she was talking about and noticed a paper lying on the dinner table.

I picked it up, meaning to pass it along, but the writing at the top caught my attention. 

A drug trial?

 My eyes quickly perused the paper and I realised that Eve had filled in her information. My fingers tightened around the paper as I looked up at her. 

"What is this?",

She twisted her hands together, berating herself for leaving the registration form in the open.

I shook the paper as I continued looking at her. 

"A drug trial? Why would you do that?"

"It's safe!”, she defended.

"l wouldn't have applied for it if it wasn't", she added.

"How do you know that?" I questioned, my brow creasing into a frown. 

"Do you think these greedy pharmaceutical companies would be honest about the side effects?", 

I tossed the form back to the table. 

"Do not do it. It's a big risk.”