I just went to catch hold of Lisa.” Eva nodded, disappointed to hear him. Of course, he had gone to see his sister. How silly of her to ask?
“Oh, did you meet her? She didn’t come here.” Alexander nodded, wondering what reason to give her to explain his surprise visit.
“Yes, I met her and your entire group. I just came here to check up on you.” Eva didn’t prod further since it was obvious he came here only out of curiosity.
The space beside her looked so inviting that Alexander couldn’t resist the temptation to sit with her. Eva’s eyes widened when he joined her on the sofa, his legs almost brushing with hers as he occupied the entire space beside her. His presence filled up the room, the scent of his cologne playing havoc with her senses.
“Were you crying, Eva?” His sudden question took her by surprise and when he picked her hand up in his large rough one, Eva’s young heart melted into a puddle. She could only shake her head as her throat felt too choked to utter a single word. Why was he being nice to her? He reached out and caught her chin, turning her to face him. His eyes searched hers, taking in her swollen eyes and red nose minutely. “I’m sorry!”
Eva nodded and tried to turn away, afraid that his piercing eyes might read her soul. She didn’t want him to know her feelings. However, his grip was too strong, and it compelled her to look up at him. With his eyes fixed upon her upturned face, her breath hitched, his nearness affecting her in more ways than one. Would he kiss her? She could feel her heart racing inside her ribcage as she drowned in his blue-gray eyes that darkened like a turbulent ocean.
The doorbell rang, and Alexander released her abruptly, coming to his senses. He couldn’t believe that he was almost on the verge of kissing her! There was an inexplicable attraction between them that made him forget himself and drown in her sweetness. He knew he needed to control himself around her and chided himself for the disaster that was about to happen. He opened the door and received their order, carrying the food to the coffee table.
“Open up,” he urged, picking up a slice and feeding her the first bite. Eva smiled, her skipping a beat at the slight brush of his thumb on her lips. A shot of an electric current ran down her body at the touch. She could feel his unwavering gaze take in her reaction to him.
“Thank you,” she said shyly. This was the best day of her life and she wanted to dance with joy!
Alexander wanted her to feed him as well and waited, but she never did. He was about to remind her when his phone buzzed with an incoming call from his dad.
“Yes, dad.”
“Where are you? Desmond and I are waiting outside your apartment.” Alexander jumped up with nervousness, wondering what they were doing there.
“Oh, I’ll be there in ten minutes,” he said, disconnecting the call.
“I have to go. Enjoy your dinner, Eva.” Eva nodded, her heart sinking with disappointment as he hurried out of her tiny apartment as abruptly as he had appeared. She packed the rest of the pizza and stored it away in the refrigerator before retiring to her room.
Alexander rushed out of the elevator and saw his dad and uncle Desmond waiting for him in the corridor. “Sorry to keep you waiting. Why didn’t you call before coming here, dad?” he asked his father.
“It was a sudden decision, Alex. You need to accompany Desmond to Athens right now. A serious issue has come up, and he needs your support.”
“I’m not feeling well to handle this alone. Trixie isn’t at all interested to go.” So Alexander packed up and left with Desmond Rotterdam suddenly, without a message or a call.
Unaware of Alexander’s sudden plans, Eva visited her best friend’s apartment, hoping to catch a glimpse of Alexander. However, throughout the time she was there, Alexander didn’t visit his sister even once. Alyssa kept on updating her about the disastrous prom night, but Eva wasn’t at all interested.
“I’ll go home, Alyssa. We need to go to college tomorrow to complete some formalities.”
Alyssa nodded, but didn’t tell her that soon she would go back to California, where she had already taken admission before arriving here. Eva left with a heavy heart and couldn’t help but ask at the security desk for Alexander.
“No ma’am. Mr. Van Every has left last night,” informed the guard. Eva was surprised, but the guard did not know about Alexander’s whereabouts and therefore she went home dejected.
Over the next two weeks, Eva and Sienna were busy with their new college, while Alyssa had a major fight with her parents. She wanted to cool off, so dragged her to a shopping mall where they were joined by the rest of the girls.
“My college is starting tomorrow. I’m so excited,” said Hayley, jumping with joy.
“You’re excited to meet the cute guys in your class, right?” asked Skylar, looking jealous.
“Nope. I have eyes for only one.”
“But I think he has a girlfriend already, Hayls.” Hayley was upset at the news and didn’t utter a single word after that. They went up to the food court to eat when their eyes popped out at seeing Alexander with Beatrix entering one of the grandest five-star restaurants in the area. Eva’s face paled considerably as she sat shocked at the roots of her hair.
“God! Don’t tell me they’re together now?” said Hayley with disgust. Eva turned to look at her friend, the color draining from her face.
“Who is she? Does Alexander have a girlfriend?” she asked laboriously, as if the very thought had killed her soul. Hayley glanced at Alyssa for help. She hadn’t meant to say anything to Eva, but it had just slipped out of her tongue.
“She is Beatrix Rotterdam, only daughter, and heir to the Rotterdam Empire. Alexander is training under her dad to take over the business soon,” said Alyssa with a sigh. Eva felt tears prick in her eyes. It was obvious that there was a catch here. So would he marry Beatrix now?
“Oh.” She tried her best not to break down in front of her friends.
“Your parents are planning to get them engaged. Right?” asked Sienna with a sigh. Alyssa nodded absent-mindedly, since there was nothing she could do to help her friend.
“Yes. Maybe next month. Forget him, Eva. He’s not the one for you,” she said. Eva smiled through her tears and tried her best not to show the actual state of her heart. She had mastered the art of hiding her true feelings! Afterward, she went home to lock herself in her room and just let it all out. Years of hope, sleepless nights, and unfulfilled dreams all went down the drain. She realized Alexander had no feelings for her. He was money-minded, and materialistic and could do anything to achieve his goals. Why did he visit her then? Why did he order pizza for her? Maybe out of guilt!
Eva didn’t see Alexander after that. Alyssa came over to visit her to announce that she would leave New York for further studies. It was another shocking news for her and she lost her love and her best friend in just a matter of a week. After Alyssa left, nothing was the same for Eva.
She went to college and focused on her studies. With the other girls busy with their lives, they met occasionally. Sienna was her only companion throughout. The newspapers and media updated her daily about Alexander’s life, since he was the new CEO of Rotterdam and its worldwide operations. They publicized even his grand engagement to Beatrix for days!
The last hope Eva had crumbled into dust and she went into a shell, hardly talking to anyone. Sienna’s dad was unwell, and she concentrated on him, leaving her no time to meet her friends. Georgia left New York to go to her hometown, leaving only Robin and Brianna behind. Eva wasn’t very close to them and, therefore, was lonelier than ever.
Months passed into years and she lost interest in everything else apart from her career. She loved to nurse the sick and found an internship at Bellevue, a reputed hospital in New York. Drowning herself in work and studies, Eva had no time to think of anything else. She and Sienna graduated with flying colors from their college and both were inducted into Bellevue as trainees. It was an enormous opportunity, and they met their friends after months to treat them.
“Congrats, both of you,” said Hayley, who had started looking into her father’s business.
“I think I’m the most unproductive amongst us,” said Skylar with a pout. She hadn’t found an internship anywhere and her grandparents were already planning to get her married!
“You’re wrong! I’m the most unproductive!” said Alyssa as she approached their table, making Eva’s jaws drop at the sight of her. Was she back now?