Eva rushed to open the door and found a beaming Alyssa outside.
“What’s wrong? Who were you fighting with?” asked Alyssa, coming inside, but froze at seeing her brother standing in the middle of the living room. How did he find them? How did he know their address?
“What are you doing here, Alex?” she demanded angrily.
“I’ve come here to take you both home,” he said gruffly.
“I’ve bought this apartment and I’m not going anywhere with you. This is my home,” said Eva pointedly. It made Alexander angrier, and he glared menacingly at her. After that clarification earlier, he had expected Eva to give up her grudge and return home with him.
“What was the need to suddenly buy an apartment?” he demanded gruffly, angry with the two of them.
“I’m tired of living in other people’s houses and being trampled upon like trash. I refuse to be addressed as a beggar girl. Tell your dad that I have an apartment of mine now,” she spat back, taking Alexander by surprise. He had completely forgotten about that, but it seemed to have affected Eva more than he had expected.
“Ah, so now I understand what this is all about? Look, dad didn’t mean it that way. He was just upset with Alyssa.” Eva scoffed at his lame excuse.
“Being upset doesn’t give him the right to insult me, Alexander. Whatever! Even you’re no better, since you didn’t correct his misconception about me. I share the food bills, electricity bills, and all expenses equally with Alyssa, in contrast to what your father hinted at,” fought back Eva, taking out all her pent-up frustration on him. Alexander gazed back at her, taken by surprise, while she stomped away to the bedroom and locked herself in. He sighed and turned his attention to his sister.
“Dad wants you to return home, Alyssa. You won’t be able to survive here for long without money, anyway. You might have already figured out that he has frozen your bank account,” said Alexander, but Alyssa seemed unaffected by his speech.
“Let him. I’ve found a job and I can survive here all by myself, without his money. I’m not going back. Goodbye, Alexander. Find yourself someone else to bully,” she said, opening the door wide for him to leave.
Alexander sighed and walked away since there was no way he could reach out to Eva now in Alyssa’s presence. He unlocked his new home and went for a shower. It was a 600 sq. feet apartment, which was as big as his bedroom in his penthouse, but with Eva next door, this was home for him now. He couldn’t stay far away from her. What if she went into a depression and fell sick? He could never be able to forgive himself.
Thankfully, Ashton had the place cleaned and stocked up, and ready for him. He quickly showered and went over to his penthouse to get himself adequate stuff to last him at least a week in his new home. He had no wish to go to his parents’ house and announce his return. Let them think he was still in London. At least he would have some peace for a few days!
Alyssa opened the door to their bedroom and found Eva sitting at the window with tears in her eyes.
“What happened? What’s there to feel upset over him? You know how impossible he is,” said Alyssa, but the tears fell incessantly from Eva’s cheeks. She couldn’t tell her about the confrontation with Alexander earlier. She knew he was telling her the truth and felt helpless with the circumstances they were in. It was true Alexander really cared about her and came all the way here to explain himself to her, but why couldn’t he end his marriage with Beatrix if he cared so much about her? Surely there was a way!
“Why does he torture me always? Why can’t he admit to his parents he needs me and not Beatrix?” she cried out, her voice cracking with the effort to speak. She told her friend about Beatrix’s new move, and Alyssa gaped at her in disbelief.
“He cares about you in his own twisted way. I don’t understand why he is so stuck up with that bi*ch. She has gained so much power because of my stepdad and mom’s support. I don’t understand what they see in her. Can’t they just throw her out?” said Alyssa.
Eva nodded but didn’t tell her about the danger she and Alexander would face if he broke of with Beatrix.
“Anyway, I’ve got the job,” said Alyssa, while Eva gaped at her in disbelief. She wiped her eyes and smiled at her with relief.
“That’s the best news I’ve heard all morning,” she said appreciatively. “So, who’s your new boss? Some hot hunk who would whisk you away from under Nicholas’s nose?”
Alyssa rolled her eyes at her friend’s impossible wish! “No, it’s Nicholas himself!” she groaned while Eva sat with her jaws dropped to the floor, all her grief completely forgotten.
“I don’t believe this! How did you accept his job offer? I thought you didn’t want to work for him.” Alyssa sighed, her shoulders drooping as she gave her friend a lost look.
“I couldn’t access my account to draw my salary. Can you believe dad has frozen my account because I moved out of his apartment without his permission? He thinks he can compel me to return and do to his bidding.” Eva gaped at her as words failed her. If she couldn’t withdraw her salary, how would they run for the next fifteen days?
“How will we survive till I get my salary?” she asked with a pale face.
“Don’t worry, I’ve asked for an advance and Nicholas has agreed. So we won’t have any problem at all.” Eva smiled and got up to get ready.
“That’s great news. So when are you joining?”
“Tomorrow,” said Alyssa. They ate the food she had prepared and then Eva left for her duty. Although she was busy, she could help but think of Alexander. Would he come all the way to her apartment to see her again?
She sat down in the nursing station for a while in between work when she overheard two nurses discussing Sean Fairfield.
“He’s so hot. I heard he is having problems in his married life!” said the nurse. Eva’s ears were immediately on high alert.
“They all do when they gain fame and money. His wife, Michelle Garner Fairfield, is involved with actor Will Atkinson. Didn’t you see today’s issue of Bold & Famous?” asked another nurse. Eva knew the most popular celebrity magazine in the country and wanted to check it out, too.
“Sean Fairfield is no saint. He’s involved with the owner of Rotterdams. She is the biggest bit*h around. I just hate the sight of her!” said the other. As they discussed Beatrix, Eva left the room. She just hoped that Sean Fairfield would somehow divorce his wife and marry Beatrix. It would solve her own problems and free Alexander for life.
She returned home to find a bored Alyssa lazing around. “Guess what? Maxwell has canceled his plans of coming over with dinner since his dad called and he had to rush over to his parents’ house.”
“Oh, was he supposed to come over?” asked Eva, having completely forgotten about Maxwell.
Alyssa groaned at seeing the clueless look on her face. “So much for the moving-on lecture I gave you.”
“I’m not moving on with him, anyway. So thank God, he canceled it. I didn’t want him to come here again. Alexander has spies everywhere and would have again arrived here tomorrow morning to warn me off, Maxwell.”
“Why do you care? He can’t dictate you, around? You don’t owe him any explanation, Eva.” Eva shook her head, not agreeing at all with her.
“I love him, Alyssa. I can’t ignore him or hurt him,” she whispered. Alyssa sighed and pulled her close for a hug.
“I know. You’re such a pure soul. He doesn’t deserve your love.”
They sat on the small balcony and talked without knowing that someone had rented the apartment next to theirs and was listening to their conversation with utmost interest. They went inside to have dinner and hit the bed, as both had duty the next morning.
Alexander sighed, all the pent-up jealousy inside him melting away at Eva’s admission. Still, he felt confused. Why did she agree to go out with Maxwell in the first place if she didn’t want to move on with him? Those pictures Maxwell sent him couldn’t be fake. He listened intently, but there were no noises coming from their apartment. Maybe they had gone to sleep, but he couldn’t. He needed to know what was going on between Eva and Maxwell. Did he come over every night for dinner? Didn’t he know he was an unwanted guest here? Eva would never love Maxwell because she loved only him and no other!
He lay down to sleep, but swore to find all the answers to his questions the next day when Alyssa left for work. He had to catch Eva alone!