Twenty

EVE'S POV

"What is going on?" I asked when Morgan didn't offer any explanation about the sudden change in our means of transport. 

"Whose car is this?", I added.

He shifted in his seat to look at me. 

"Since it's your first day at work, I wanted to do something special for you. So I hired this car to pick you up”.

I didn't know what to say at first. Of course, the only way he could pick me up with such an expensive car was if he rented one. But why would he go to such an extent? We weren't even a real couple. 

Still, it warmed my heart that he wanted to do something special for me on my first day at work.

“Thanks" I said to him.

 "It's a nice ride", I added.

It was better than nice. It was the kind of car only the very wealthy drove, and I knew that meant the renting f*e had to be quite high. While it was nice that he thought to do this for me, I couldn't ignore the financial implication. I was out of cash and he was making money on a part-time job. We just couldn't afford to splurge on unnecessary luxuries, no matter how much I loved the idea of how shocked Cindy must have been when the car showed up.

"I'm glad you like it" he told me.

"But you shouldn't spend so much money on something like this. Since we are cash strapped at the moment" I said.

"Of course" he agreed.

 "I just wanted to do something to celebrate your new job”.

MORGAN'S POV

It was interesting to listen to Eve being all practical about our finances. I had never had to think twice before spending my own money, because I always had enough to buy whatever I wanted.

Her reaction to my story about hiring the car told me one thing, which was that this was probably not her first time running out of cash. It was as if she was used to it, and knew how to use money sparingly until her next payday. It wasn't a skill I would have expected a wealthy heiress to have. And once again, I couldn't help but think that maybe her money issues were tied to the fight with her family.

EVE'S POV 

The next morning, I took a bus to work. The company was far away from where we lived, and by the time I got to the company, I felt exhausted. It was the complete opposite of the previous evening on the way home. Riding the Maybach had been pleasant and comfortable, and I had felt completely relaxed by the time we got home.

 I thought back to the experience fondly and wished I could enjoy such a relaxing ride after a long day at work. But I guess it could only be a wish, neither I nor Morgan had the money to travel like that daily.

The bus ride wouldn't be so tiring if our house was near the company, but that was something else I couldn't do anything about at the moment.

 Moving closer to the city would cost a lot of money, and I couldn't afford that at the moment. So I would have to make do with the bus and the subway for now.

When I got to the company, I found out that the department director, Mr Gray, wanted to meet me.

 Mr Gray supervised all the designers in my department and made important decisions concerning projects.

When I walked into his office, he stood up from his desk and came around to shake my I'mhand.

"Good morning, Ms Luciano. Welcome to the Edwards Group. How are you liking it so far?".

I gave him my hand in greeting and a smile.

 "Thank you, sir. I'm settling in well, thanks”.

I expected him to let go of my hand soon after, but he didn't. Instead, he gripped my hand tightly in his and ran his eyes over me, from head to toe.

There was nothing casual or professional about his probing gaze, he was checking me out blatantly. 

"That's good to hear" he said.

"I'm happy to have you in my department. I hope we will work well together”.

"Yes, sir" I agreed, and tried to free my hand. 

It wasn't even half a minute since I met him and yet he was already making my skin crawl.  

When his eyes lifted back to my face, the look in them made me want to throw up. They were leery, and I knew right away I would have to do well to avoid contact with him. If I could though, after all he was the department head.

Well, nothing much happened at work today and as nature may have it, it was the end of my work for the day.

Another long bus ride in the evening after work left me wishing for a shower and to head straight to bed.

 That desire multiplied when I thought of the next day, how i would have to go through the same routine. I could do with all the rest I could get.

Morgan was already in the house when I got back, sitting on the couch. Taking off my shoes when I walked over and took a seat next to him. Not actually taking a seat, I fell back onto the sofa. Then closed my eyes, planning to rest for a while before taking a shower.

"Are you okay?" Morgan's voice interrupted the silence.

"Yeah. Just tired”, I replied. 

“Work?”, he asked 

"The commute" I said. 

Work had been okay, if I just ignored the early morning interaction with Mr Gray. 

"It's a long ride”. I added.

"Oh. In that case, we can rent a house near the city company", he offered.

MORGAN'S POV

I hadn't planned on making such an offer, but then again, I hadn't expected her to look so weary after work. I could only imagine how tired she was, making the long commute to and from work. I had helped her get the job...so I could as well do this too.

It wasn't part of the plan, though. The only reason I had found the house we were currently living in was to put her off. If we were to move closer to the company, it would be somewhere around the city centre, and the houses there were modern and expensive. Of course, if Iwas to find such a house for her and still wish to keep my true identity concealed, I would have to find a good excuse.

She opened her eyes and turned her head to look at me. 

"The rent in the city centre is very high. We can't afford it”.

"It's only your second day at work and look how weary you already are," I said. 

"If you're tired like this every day, it might affect your performance at work. Don't worry, I'll look hard for a house with a reasonable rent that's closer to the company". 

"Even if you can find one, I don't think I will be able to pay for it with my current situation," she pointed out.

"I'll look for a way around that too" I assured her.

"I know a lot of people who can help me find a good house and make an arrangement for rent".

"You're quite resourceful, aren't you?" She asked, smiling at me.

 "If you could really find an affordable house near the company, I'Il be really grateful”. She said 

EVE'S POV 

As I settled back on the sofa, I felt a bit relieved. Morgan sounded like he was serious about looking for another house. But even better, he sounded confident about finding one.

 Just the idea that I wouldn't have to put up with the long commute for much longer was enough to make me feel a bit less tired.