Alyssa’s words rang in her ears as they waited for the rest of them. Hayley and Ashton joined them and so did Alexander and Beatrix. “Can we order? Or are there more people to come in?” asked Beatrix.
“We will order now,” said Alexander as they settled down in their seats. The lounge offered a panoramic view of the iconic Manhattan landmarks through floor-to-ceiling windows and from the expansive rooftop terrace adjoining the dining room. However, Eva couldn’t enjoy the views or the conversation going on. Instead, she felt acutely conscious of Alexander’s hawk-like gaze upon her. With Beatrix sitting close to him, it was weird that he should look at her instead of at his fiancee. There was something amiss between them. They didn’t exactly look like a couple in love. Everything about them was fake, artificial, and clinical, and she didn’t miss the permanent scowl on Alexander’s face as he listened to her. Their topics were mainly work-related, and it was strange indeed!
“Here comes the special cake for the birthday girl!” announced Ashton as their server brought in an exotic red velvet tower cake to their table. It was Alyssa’s favorite, and she gasped with delight. They sang the birthday song as she cut the cake and fed everyone at their table. Alexander opened a bottle of champagne afterwards and as they sipped, the food arrived. There was Steak Tartare, Steak Frites, Grilled filet mignon, Red wine-braised beef, and mushroom ravioli all served with plenty of roasted or grilled vegetables on the side. Beatrix criticized the food, which failed to impress her much.
“Why did we come here, Alex? You should have tried the food at Hudson Skyview. The food is to die for. It’s a hot favorite amongst all celebrities. You won’t believe it, the famous actor Tom Duncan wanted to purchase the place. I was present when he made the offer,” laughed Beatrix, but no one seemed to be interested in her talks.
“We are no celebrities. So this is fine for us. I actually love the food here,” said Alyssa with a fake smile.
“I understand,” said Beatrix, giving her a sympathetic look. Eva refrained from saying much since even this place was way out of her league. “So, Eva, you’re a nurse, right? I’m sure you’ve never seen a place such as this in your life.”
“Yes, I’m a nurse. Saving lives, and nurturing people to health, is my priority in life, Beatrix. So to answer your question, no, I’ve never been here or to your celebrity place. I’m neck-deep in work. Today, I assisted our head pediatric surgeon in the OT to save the life of a critical two-year-old baby girl.”
“Amazing!” murmured Alexander, and Eva’s heart skipped a beat at his appreciation.
“It’s no big deal. All nurses do this since it’s their job. That’s what they’re paid for,” snickered Beatrix.
“It’s not always about pay, you know. I didn’t charge any overtime for working for 2 hours extra,” said Eva, and Beatrix looked ill at ease with all the appreciation pouring in at her admission. Eva never openly told everyone about her work, but tonight she felt trampled upon by Beatrix and was forced to stand up for herself.
“I’m proud of you, Eva. It doesn’t matter whether you visit expensive restaurants splurging on someone else’s hard-earned money. What matters is what you have accomplished on your own merit!” said Ashton.
Beatrix steered clear of Eva and fidgeted with her food with disinterest. Eva excused herself to go to the washroom after her meal, while the others finished whatever was left of the birthday cake. After freshening up, she washed her hands and was about to go back to their table when she came nose-to-nose with Beatrix. It was something she had been expecting for a long time. The negative vibes she had been receiving from Beatrix couldn’t be a figment of her imagination.
“Stop acting innocent, bitch! You can fool Alex, but not me. Your saintly ways will not get you anywhere near him. He needs me to make him a complete man. He’s mine and will be forever! So stay away from him or I’ll finish your nursing career for good,” she hissed, placing her well-manicured hand over her chest and shoving her backward.
Eva caught her hand and twisted it behind her, making her wince in pain. She had been fending for herself for the last nine years with no help from anyone. She might be a reserved and soft-spoken girl, but she wasn’t helpless or weak.
“If you are so confident of your relationship with Alexander, why do you feel threatened by me? I don’t need to fool Alexander or anyone. I am married to my career. Did you see me trying to get near Alexander? I really pity you, Beatrix. Despite your tall claims, you are nothing but a hateful bitch yourself whom nobody loves, not even your own fiance,” said Eva with a calm and serene smile.
“How dare you insult me? Now wait till I ruin you,” she threatened, wrenching her arm free from her hold and pushing Eva roughly away. She lost her balance and fell over the vanity unit, hurting her rib. A sharp pain shot up her body and she winced in pain. “Serves you right, bitch. I hope that was enough to teach you a lesson to seal your smart-ass mouth the next time you see me. If not, I have other ways to destroy you.” She laughed and walked out of the washroom while Eva breathed deeply to ease the pain. Definitely, she didn’t want to mess with Beatrix but was forced to stand up for herself. She knew Beatrix could destroy her career with her power. Maybe it would be best that she never met the evil woman again.
“Are you okay?” asked a woman who had been watching them.
“Yes,” breathed Eva.
“Here, you can drink some water.” The woman offered her some water, which Eva drank gratefully. She made her sit on a chair nearby and gently massaged her till the pain eased away.
“I’m better now. Thank you so much. I’m Eva,” she said, holding her hand out for a shake.
“Hi, I’m Roberta. I am a physiotherapist.”
“Wow, which hospital? I’m a nurse at Bellevue,” said Eva.
“I was attached to Newport Hospital, but now I’m looking for work.”
“Why don’t you apply in our hospital?” asked Eva, and they talked for a while, exchanging numbers. Afterwards, they went back to their tables. Roberta was here to celebrate the fiftieth birthday of a patient whom she had treated.
“What took you so long?” asked Hayley, but Eva shrugged, sensing Beatrix’s eyes upon her, ready to pounce the moment she complained.
“I just met a colleague,” said Eva, and Hayley stopped prodding further. She wanted to ask her why she moved away, but maybe this wasn’t the perfect time to talk. “Are we ready to leave? Eva, you haven’t eaten your slice of the cake,” said Alexander, and Eva looked at her plate with surprise. He was right. She had completely forgotten about the cake.
“Can we get it packed up? I can’t eat anything more,” pleaded Eva and Alexander smiled. He knew she couldn’t eat much in one go.
“I have asked them to pack some for you already. They can add that slice as well,” he said, summoning the server. Beatrix scoffed and got up to leave, but Alexander didn’t follow her out as she had expected him to. He waited till the server packed up the slice along with the rest of the cake and handed it over to Alyssa.
“Yay! We can eat it tomorrow,” said Alyssa with a giggle. Eva, too, chuckled, and they left the restaurant, feeling elated.
“When did you become so cheap, Alexander? Packing up leftovers. Seriously? It was so embarrassing!” she snickered.
“What’s there to feel embarrassed about? We packed up the birthday cake, not leftovers. Anyway, we shouldn’t waste food. There are so many people all over the world who can’t afford to buy a single square meal in a day,” said Alexander, leading them towards the elevator.
“Yes. No one knows that better than I do,” admitted Ashton, while Beatrix gaped at him with disgust.
“How? Were you homeless?” she asked, eyeing Alexander for an answer. Ashton shrugged but didn’t answer her question while Hayley glared at Beatrix, ready to box her ears.
“Everyone goes through a difficult phase in life. We shouldn’t judge them for it,” said Alexander. Eva’s heart swelled with pride at his way of thinking. They matched with her own. The elevator went down and Eva winced in pain.
“What happened Eva? Are you feeling unwell?” asked Alexander with concern, while Beatrix scoffed.
“I am the one feeling sick. Can you drive us to your place already? My car is there,” she said, to steer his attention towards her. Eva opted to go in Ashton’s car, but Alexander was adamant.
“No, you’re coming with me, Eva. Get in,” he ordered.
“Let her do what she wants, baby,” purred Beatrix but immediately stopped after a glare from Alexander. He drove on with a grim look on his face, which was enough to silence Beatrix. The moment they reached the parking lot of their building, Alyssa and Eva made a dash towards their apartment, eager to get away as fast as possible.
“Oh, my gosh! I left my mobile phone in Alexander’s car. I’ll just go down and get it,” she said in a state of panic.
“Go up to his penthouse. I heard the elevator go up,” said Alyssa. Eva took a deep breath and went out of the apartment to go to Alexander’s penthouse.