“Maybe out of humanity! We’re flatmates, after all!” Alexander said, his eyes glinting with amusement while Eva groaned in frustration. Couldn’t he simply admit that he liked her?
“Thank you so much. I’m honored that you did so much just for a mere flatmate. Beatrix is lucky to have you as her fiance.” She concentrated on her food with a small smile of satisfaction on her lips, since she knew he did no such thing for his fiancee.
“I’m unlucky to have her as my fiancee. Don’t mention her name, or she’ll miraculously land up here,” he said with a groan. Eva chuckled, but she too dreaded the appearance of two people in his penthouse, Beatrix and his dad. She still didn’t know what she would do if they arrived here.
“So, how was your day without my coffee?” He didn’t need to answer that question, since his expression told her just how dismal his day went.
“It was disgusting, but a good thing came of it, though. There was a board meeting today and the board members supported me for the first time instead of Beatrix.”
“Then it wasn’t so bad after all!”
“No, it was still bad. I’ve bought a new coffeemaker, so we wouldn’t need to repeat today’s scene.” They finished dinner while discussing the critical surgeries she assisted earlier.
“I have night duty tomorrow, so the whole day I’m free.”
“I have a hectic day tomorrow and maybe a trip to Frankfurt coming up in a few days. I wish I could take the day off. We could have gone out,” he said with a sigh, remembering their road trip.
“You could wrap it all up and come home early,” she suggested, hesitating a little.
“Fine. I’ll come home early and we’ll go out for dinner. Be ready.” Eva’s heart skipped a beat, and she looked forward to her outing with Alexander. He was an engaged man, so could she call it a date? Maybe not! It was just flatmates going out to dinner to avoid cooking!
After dinner, Alexander got busy with his mobile phone that he suddenly switched on to find plenty of calls and messages he missed. Eva cleared their dinner and retired to bed, feeling a little disappointed that she couldn’t spend more time with Alexander. He had kept his word and had made no move towards her. He hadn’t even kissed her! She lay awake on her bed listening to him arguing with someone over the phone. He didn’t sound happy at all!
The next morning, by the time Eva woke up, Alexander had already left. She spent the day with Alyssa, helping her look for jobs. She gave Alyssa her resume to help her create one for herself.
It was six o’clock, and she quickly went back to Alexander’s apartment to get ready for dinner. Her duty was at 8 o’clock and she just had two hours at hand to enjoy with Alexander. Quickly getting ready, she waited for forty-five minutes for Alexander, but he didn’t come home. She tried calling him but he didn’t accept her call! Eva felt angry that he forgot their outing when she’d been looking forward to it the whole day!
The doorbell rang, and she ran to open the door. Why didn’t Alexander use his own keys to open the door? She opened it wide to give him a piece of her mind, but surprisingly, it was a food delivery boy.
“How much do I need to pay you?” she asked, accepting the food packets when her phone vibrated with an incoming message from Alexander.
“It’s paid for, ma’am.” He left and Eva closed the door and took the food to the dining table. Taking her phone out to check the message, she read it with a sigh.
I’m sorry I couldn’t make it tonight. I’m still busy. Sending dinner. Don’t wait for me, I’ll eat and return late.Alexander.
Eva grimaced at his message and replied.
Thanks, but I’ll take you up on your promise another time.Eva.
Sure. All good?Alexander.
Yes, but only for now.Eva.
Can I make it up to you with a kiss?Alexander.
No Eva.
I’ll consider that as a yesAlexander.
Eva rolled her eyes, her cheeks coloring at his last remark. Deep in her heart, she wanted him to kiss her, but she would never admit that to anyone. She ate the dinner Alexander sent her and stored the leftovers in the refrigerator. Later on, she left for her duty with a silly grin on her face as Alexander’s message echoed in her head.
Alexander stared at his parents in disbelief. “No, I haven’t yet given permission to set the date for the wedding, mom. You shouldn’t have done it without consulting me first. Please cancel it immediately,” he said with horror. His mom and Beatrix had landed up at his office and forcefully brought him home, announcing that his dad was unwell and wanted to see him. On arriving at his parent’s house, he realized that his dad just had a mild fever, and it was nothing serious at all. It was just a ploy to get him here and announce that they had booked the prestigious and historical St. Patrick’s Cathedral for their wedding.
“We cannot postpone it. I used all my connections to get a date four months later. Usually, you need to wait a year to get a date,” grumbled Beatrix.
“Four months isn’t enough, mom,” grumbled Alexander, feeling like his life had ended. Four months would go by in a jiffy and he would end up married to Beatrix! No, that couldn’t happen at all. He had to ask for more time.
“It’s true four months isn’t enough with so much to do. First, I need to go to Paris for my wedding shopping! Then, I have to book the Royal Plaza Hotel for the reception and invite all my friends. I’m sure you won’t make any effort to help me with the preparations!” said Beatrix with a sneer. Alexander’s jaws dropped at the grandeur of the wedding! Although he was a billionaire, he preferred a simple church wedding. Why did she need the most expensive celebrity hotel in the entire world?
“You’re right. I wouldn’t have. Since you haven’t consulted me for anything, you might as well do what you want. And yes, grab a celebrity and marry him in place of me,” said Alexander, getting up to leave while Beatrix burst into fake sobs for sympathy in front of his parents.
“You’re hurting me, Alex. Why are you so against marrying me? I have changed myself totally for you. I’m trying my level best to please you but you don’t spend time with me, or take me out. Is this how an engaged couple should be? I’m moving in with you tonight.”
Alexander froze at her announcement. No, she shouldn’t land up at his apartment at all. If she found out about Eva, she could destroy her career, her life, with her innumerable contacts.
“The day you move in with me, I’ll disappear from your lives altogether. Mark my words, Beatrix.”
“That’s not the way to talk to your fiancee, son. You should learn to cherish the woman you marry,” scolded his dad.
“I’ll keep that in mind, dad. Take care of your health. I’ll head home now,” he sighed, picking up his suit.
“You can’t leave without having dinner with us,” said his mom, while Beatrix scoffed at his escapist attitude.
“Leave him, aunt Jodie. It’s no use discussing the wedding with him. I might as well do as I like,” said Beatrix with a grimace.
“Yeah, that should keep you busy for the next four months. Good, I don’t have to tolerate you at the office.” He turned and strode out of the house, leaving all three of them gaping after him. From the front yard, he could hear Beatrix’s mad howling! What a drama queen! His Eva was an angel compared to this vamp! Chuckling at his joke, he drove away towards his penthouse. It was just 7:30 and if he hurried, he could meet Eva before she left for the night. He groaned at the thought. Why did she have to have night duty? He could do with a kiss right now! Beatrix and his mom had dampened his mood.
However, after being stuck in heavy traffic for half an hour, he reached home late. Eva had already left by then and he warmed the food he had ordered and ate it up, wondering what his sister was up to.
However, after an hour, his doorbell rang, and he went to open the door. Maybe Alyssa was here to give him company! He didn’t even check and swung the door open to welcome his sister. “Lisa, I don’t have any dinner to share.” He chuckled but froze with horror at seeing Beatrix standing at his doorstep. The smile on his face vanished, and he scowled at her angrily.
“What the fu*k are you doing here?” he demanded, his face flushed with mad fury.
“I’m here to spend the night with you. What’s there to get so worked up? We’re engaged, and I have every right to be here. We belong to one another, and I want you tonight.”