They all squealed with delight at seeing their friend after years. “How did you know we’re meeting up here?” asked Skylar, as she sprang up from her seat to embrace her friend.
“Sienna informed me and here I am,” said Alyssa, as they all hugged her one by one. Eva stood quietly with tears of pure happiness in her eyes as she stared at her friend in disbelief. Was she really here for good? Alyssa at last turned towards her, opening her arms out for a hug. “Aren’t you gonna give me a hug, Eva?” Eva smiled through her tears and went forward, wrapping her best friend in her arms.
“I’m so glad to see you, Alyssa.” Alyssa could feel the pain in her voice, although she tried her best to look happy. For the last four years, the few times they had interacted over the phone, Eva had been very secretive about her true feelings. Alyssa had called her the day her brother got engaged, and Eva hadn’t accepted her call for a month. She found out from Sienna that she had stopped taking care of herself as well. Too broken, she had stopped eating and even was hospitalized for a few days! It was when Sienna’s dad expired, did she come out of her grief and helped Sienna in her time of need.
“So are you back for good or are you planning to return?” asked Hayley when they had settled down.
“I’m not going back!” swore Alyssa, and they cheered her decision without even wanting to know the reason behind it. Eva smiled with relief, but didn’t get involved in their plans of a get-together at Alyssa’s apartment. She had no wish to go there!
“Eva, you have to come over! I’m not taking no for an answer,” said Alyssa stubbornly.
“I can’t promise. I have to check my schedule at the hospital.”
“You can’t hide forever, Eva. Learn to face him. Show him how unaffected you are. If I would be you, I would have made a boyfriend already,” scolded Skylar.
“Sky is right. You need to move on, Eva. Why would you stop living because of him?” said Alyssa.
“He doesn’t affect me at all. I’ve moved on with my career,” she said, her face devoid of any emotions. She would rather die than show how much Alexander had hurt her!
“Good! Then come over to my get-together,” insisted Alyssa.
“I told you I’ll first check my schedule. If I’m free, I’ll surely drop by.”
They didn’t prod her any further and Eva did not attend the get-together as they had expected. After the get-together, Sienna dropped by her apartment to talk to her. Eva was quite surprised to see her friend at her house instead of at Alyssa’s.
“Is anything the matter, Sien? Why didn’t you go home?” asked a worried Eva, wondering if something bad had happened at the party.
“I can’t stay there anymore. Dad has fixed my marriage with Roman and recently he has been disturbing me at odd hours.” Eva’s mouth hung open, and she led her friend inside. She knew about Sienna’s fiance, Roman Drexler, who was an orthodox, creepy, and rude man with access to all the shares of Sienna’s father’s company after his death. As such, she couldn’t anger him in case he confiscated the business. She hated the sight of the man and could do anything to avoid him.
“So, what will you do now? You can move in with me? Both my flatmates have moved out,” offered Eva. “I don’t think he will drop in here often.”
“Thanks, Eva. I’ll pack up some essentials and move in after work tomorrow. And we will share the expenses,” said Sienna, and Eva smiled at her friend, agreeing immediately. She was now excited to be living with someone. She had been too lonely the last few months, ever since her flatmates had moved out.
The next two days were quite hectic as Sienna moved in with her and the entire gang came over to settle her down as well as celebrate. “You guys are so lucky. I wish I could stay with you,” said Hayley with jealousy. Belonging to a renowned aristocratic family, she didn’t have that sort of privilege at all. At a young age, she was inducted into the family business as the sole heir to her family’s wealth. She was born a multi-billionairess yet didn’t have any airs about her, remaining the same fun-loving and sensitive girl as before.
“You can’t, so let’s enjoy life, now that we are free of studies!” said Skylar excitedly.
“Totally. This time, we would just whisk Eva along,” suggested Alyssa. Therefore, Eva couldn’t stay unaffected for long and joined in the fun. They checked her schedule and planned their outings accordingly, not giving her any opportunity to opt out. They went out to the movies, to the mall, to eat out, and to each other’s houses for stayovers.
“Tomorrow you have to come over to my place, Eva. Everyone is coming over. We will plan Sienna’s birthday celebration.” Eva nodded while her heart sank with dread. She didn’t have any option to opt out and agreed reluctantly.
The next day, when it was time to visit Alyssa’s house in the evening, the possibility of meeting Alexander filled her mind with apprehension. Yet she bravely drove over to her apartment and parked her car. It was the first time she had driven to Alyssa’s house in her new Nissan Rogue, her first car. Going up the elevator, she just prayed that she didn’t meet Alexander!
Alyssa’s door was open when she reached her apartment and she just walked inside, her heart thumping in her chest. Was Alexander there too? “Hey, Eva! So nice to see you finally here!” exclaimed her best friend, coming over to give her a welcome hug. Eva smiled nervously, looking around her. It was the same as before. Nothing had changed in her best friend’s apartment, not even the room she had slept in the last time she was here.
“Where are the others? No one’s here yet?” she asked, not seeing the rest of the gang.
“I know, right? These girls are the limit! I had asked them to come over an hour early so that we could plan Sienna’s birthday before she arrived,” said Alyssa, shaking her head, disappointed with Skylar and Hayley.
“I’m sure they’ll come over in a few minutes.” She went to the refrigerator to get herself a bottle of water, totally exhausted after a hectic day at the hospital. “I came directly from the hospital.”
“I guessed at much. Do you need to change? You can check my closet and wear whatever you want to.”
“No, I’m good.” Who would see her anyway? Her old jeans and black top were fine for a get-together with friends. She would just get this over and done with and head home.
“Lisa, we’re leaving! Are you sure you don’t want to order anything from Rotterdam’s for Sienna’s birthday?” said a booming voice from the door, causing Eva’s heart to skip a beat. Of course, she knew who it was! Even after so many years, his voice still sent goosebumps all over her body. She stood in the kitchen like a statue, unable to move or speak. The urge to peer out and see him was tremendous, yet she controlled herself.
“I’m sure. We won’t celebrate it here. We might go to a nightclub!” said Alyssa, and Eva’s eyes popped out at her best friend’s announcement. Was she thinking of going to a nightclub to celebrate? She knew the reaction her brother would have now, and it proved true. Alexander stormed inside the apartment angrily and scowled at his sister.
“Why do you need to go to a f*cking nightclub?” he growled at her. The clicking of heels on the floor, followed by a stranger’s voice, filled the air.
“Calm down, Alex. We too could accompany them,” purred the female voice and Eva stilled, realizing who it was. It was Beatrix, Alexander’s fiancee.
“No, I won’t go with you,” spat Alyssa at the woman, who gasped and sputtered melodramatically. “I’ll go with my own friends.”
“I’m coming along. Why don’t you celebrate at the Phoenix if you have to go to a nightclub? I have a membership there and it’s safer than the others,” suggested Alexander, calming down a little. Eva sputtered and coughed at the way he agreed so readily to Alyssa’s plans. Alexander looked up and frowned at his sister.
“Who else is there with you?” he asked, walking slowly towards the kitchen. Eva’s heart thumped wildly as she looked around for a place to hide. There wasn’t any! She took a deep breath and took a sip of the water to calm her senses, determined not to show how affected she was by his presence. She would never show her true feelings to him.
She could sense Alexander standing at the door of the kitchen, watching her with surprise. She drank another sip and slowly turned her head to look into his emotionless eyes. They were gray and cold!