When her turn finally comes, Evie begins the introduction of Paganini’s God Save The King. Everyone was extremely surprised by that choice, as this song was considered one of the most difficult to play. Only someone with great skill, was able to do it with mastery.
And Evangeline was that person. When she started playing, there was not one person in that theater who wasn’t hooked with the performance. Even Felippa, who hated classical music and had spent the entire recital facing Alec. Evie played that song with her eyes closed the whole time. It was her way of feeling it. And the moment she finished her presentation, all the people who were there stood up and applauded her fervently. She couldn’t hide her happiness. Alec subtly applauded her as she carried a beautiful smile. Felippa screamed hallucinately.
The five people destined to judge those individual presentations already had their verdict. Marylin walked sensually before them and took the envelope from the last person in that row. She climbs to the stage smiling, making her heels echo through the wooden floor.
"Here in this envelope, we have the name of the winner tonight." Jude says, getting the envelope from her secretary. "So without further ado... " he made a suspense, leading some people to roll their eyes. "Evangeline Atkins.”
Evie almost sat down, as she was sure it was not her name that would be announced. As soon as the words came out of Jude’s mouth, Evangeline widened her eyes and looked directly at her best friend. Felippa screamed twice as much as before and applauded hard. Alec also applauded her, with a proud smile on his face.
Jude approached her and handed her a small trophy, along with a check worth $1,000. Evangeline could not contain her smile, which grew even more, with the phrase that Jude released next.
"In addition to this award, you won one year of free tuition. In this case, another year of your scholarship. Congratulations, Evie.”
Evangeline held the cry she wanted to leave and just shook her head, whispering a thank you. The curtains close and all the students prepare to leave. After the congratulations she received, Evie goes to meet Felippa.
"You were amazing, friend!" she says, still smiling. Felippa spared no praise for Evangeline. "The one who made the whole theater stay awake. Wow... perfect.”
"Oh, Felps... not so much.”
"Of course it is. Even that monument was impacted by his presentation. I swear, friend. He was hooked!”
Before answering that, Evie notes that the matter at hand is heading her way.
"He’s coming." she murmurs.
Felippa holds her friend’s hand and turns, just as Alec stops in front of them. He puts his hands in his pockets and smiles at Evangeline.
“You can’t imagine the size of the surprise I had, seeing you on that stage." he says, trying to look subtle. "You were brilliant, Evangeline. You earned first place.”
"Thank you, Alec.”
"Do you want to go celebrate?" Alec notices the strange look Felippa gave. "You mean, go out to eat something. I imagine you’re hungry.”
"I did not...”
"We are!" Felippa replies, pulling Evangeline’s hand. She never refused a free mouth. Even less when it was offered by a handsome man full of money. "Where will you take us?”
Evangeline was ready to deny that request, when her friend accepted it. Alec stared at them both and let out a low laugh.
"It has a restaurant in...”
"Oh, no!" Felippa interrupts him, already pulling Evangeline. "Come with us. I know where we will go.”
Alec disliked the idea of having an intruder in his attempt at seduction, but had already realized how Felippa protected his friend. And if he really was willing to conquer Evangeline, he would have to do the same with Felippa.
"Are you leaving?" Marylin enters in front of Alec, preventing him from leaving the theater. "The party for investors will start upstairs. I can escort you there.”
Evangeline and Felippa had stopped walking when they saw that Alec was not accompanying her. They stared at Alec’s conversation with Marylin, quite curious.
"I don’t think it will be possible." he replies, looking in the direction of the friends. "I have an appointment now. But...”
Alec takes his wallet out of his pocket and from there the checkbook. He puts the checkbook against the wall, writes quickly and hands it to Marylin.
"I hope that this contribution will be more than enough. Good evening.”
He then turns his back on the astonished woman, who faced the check in the amount of three hundred thousand dollars. It was obvious that soon someone would ask questions because Alec had spent so much money and so quickly, but he would think of something.
"All right?" Evangeline asks, when he approaches them.
"Sure. So what? Come on? I’m starving, too.”
[...]
Felippa devoured a huge burger and ketchup dripped down her fingers. She was comically watched by Evangeline and Alec, who occupied another table.
"She’s fun." Alec murmurs, turning to Evangeline.
"Yeah. Felippa is the best thing in my life.”
"And from the way she stared at me all through the recital, you talked about me.”
Evangeline’s cheeks burned with that phrase. Maybe she used the word beautiful several times while telling about her meeting with Alec.
"I spoke." she confesses, biting a potato. "It’s not every day that I come home with five hundred dollars in my hand.”
"You didn’t tell her about that room. Did you?”
"No. No. I promised I wouldn’t tell and I didn’t.”
"Thank you." Alec smiles and picks up the plastic cup, filled with soda. "Hmm... I don’t mean to sound snobbish, but I haven’t had soda since childhood.”
"I imagine. I also imagine that this should be the last place you thought of putting your feet.”
Alec lets out a genuine laugh, which surprises Evangeline. She didn’t expect that reaction.
"Place doesn’t matter. Just the company.”
"Oh... I... I...”
"Do not be embarrassed." he asks, even if this has already happened. "Can I confess something?”
"Of course.” Evangeline narrows her gaze to Felippa, who was now delighted with a huge chocolate milkshake. "I couldn’t stop thinking about you yesterday." she faces Alec. "After you left, that party lost even the grace. I tried to sleep and only his face came to mind.” "Alec, I, uh...” "So I decided to go out and abstract my head. I entered that theater by chance and..." he lets out a low laugh, trying to make that excuse fall well. "It was as if a force greater, had made me enter there. Then I saw you and heard, and everything made sense.” Alec stretched out his arm and touched Evangeline’s hand on the table. She stared at his hands and then looked at Alec. "You’re confusing things." she says, pulling her hand gently. "Sorry, Alec, but... I... I like someone else.” Alec blinks a few times. He had seen the photos that Howard had brought several times and in none of them appeared a supposed boyfriend. But that shouldn’t be a hindrance to him. "It doesn’t change my will." he
"Hi, Evie. The teachers are going on strike.” "Really?" she asks with sadness in her voice and drops the books on a table. "Why?” "The city has not paid their salary, so it is not fair that they continue teaching, without receiving. Is not it?” "Of course not. What can I do for you?” They spent all morning preparing posters, banners, flags and everything that was needed to start the strike on Monday. And despite the reasons for being there, not being the best of all, Ruby and Evangeline were just smiles to each other. As they were leaving the university with the other people, Evie decided to put her will into practice. "Hey, Ruby..." she touches his arm. " I was thinking... it’s...” Ruby was a bit shy, but she always liked Evangeline. Her polite, simple and clever way of doing it enchanted him at first. But the fact that he found her quite beautiful, made him think she couldn’t feel the same way about him. Until that moment. "Do you want to have lunch with me?" he asks at onc
As Evangeline approaches, the unknown man looks at her. He leaves William talking to himself and walks away to talk to another unknown person. "Uncle, what did he say?" Evie asks. "Oh, Evie... he came up with a story that this field was from city hall and someone bought it today.” "So what?” "Apparently the new owner wants that place empty today to start building work tomorrow.” "But that’s absurd!" Evangeline looks around, trying to find someone to complain about. "They can’t do that. They can’t!” And in the middle of that hole, Evangeline’s phone starts ringing. She ignores it, without even seeing who it is. Her biggest problem at the time was trying to better understand what was going on and where she was going to sleep that night. But after the phone starts ringing for the fifth time, she decides to answer the private number call. "What is it? Who are you?” "Go somewhere far from all those people.” She didn’t have to ask who it was for the second time. As has b
Futile enough to close a restaurant just for him. That’s what Evie thinks and it was almost true. The restaurant belonged to the Castellos, but served as a front for what was happening in the back. An illegal casino. Alec occupied a table right in the center of the restaurant. He had chosen the chair facing the door because he wanted to delight in the entrance to Evangeline. He knew it was coming armed, just did not expect to see her in slippers. Alec leaned on the table and put a hand on his lips, partially hiding the smile he had. Without saying a word, Evie pulls up the chair making a shrill noise and sitting down anyway. He still stares at her for a few seconds before dropping a low laugh. "I expected a certain reluctance, but this" Alec points to her clothes. "surprised me.” "Well, I figured since you wanted me here at all costs, you wouldn’t mind the clothes I wore.” "And I don’t care." He makes a sign, so that a waiter approaches. "You look beautiful.” Evie snorts
That word came out like a whisper in the wind. Evie never knew where her father was or what had made him leave. I knew his name, but I had no idea what his face looked like. Evangeline believed the story that Leah maintained, about him dropping them off in that field alone and being driven around the world. Seeing those envelopes, Evie thought that maybe that wasn’t true. She takes the envelope that was still sealed and opens it. There was some $50 bills and a brief letter. Evie read it carefully. Dear Evangeline, I can imagine why you didn’t answer my letters. Actually, I’m sure. Leah isn’t passing them to you. I should have guessed so you didn’t answer the first, twelve years ago. I hope at least she used the money I sent, to try to meet some need of yours. Anyway, I still expect an answer and the certainty that you are willing to hear my version of my departure. God knows what madness Leah has spread. Evie big, I love you. I miss you so much. I hope one day we can see each
Evie looks in the direction of the voice and is surprised when she sees Alec. In addition to the white tank top, which showed off his white arms, with some random tattoos, Alec also wore fine knit shorts and slippers. That vision almost led her to let out a sigh, but Evangeline quickly came to and nodded. "I want to talk to you.” "Of course.” Alec signals to the doorman, who promptly opens the huge iron gates. Evie does not move, as she was still thinking about giving up on it. "Do you want to come in or do you want to talk from here?” Evangeline closes her eyes and takes a deep breath, remembering her mother and her father’s stolen letters. She then takes a few steps and soon after walks behind Alec, into the mansion. He takes her to the room where she was before and Muta the television. "Football?" Evie murmurs, looking at the empty beer bottles on the coffee table. "My favorite sport." Alec points to the couch. "You can sit.” He noticed the backpack on Evangeline
There was also a weapons room underground, but Alec didn’t want to scare her. He still wondered how she was able not to know about them being mobsters, since Leah has been working there for a few years. When they returned to the house, they saw the figure of Cedric at the top of the stairs. Evangeline had no idea who he was, but no one who was in the room she broke into was able to forget the girl with the red hair. "Can you wait for me on the porch?" Alec asks Evangeline, as soon as they approach Cedric. "I’ll be right there.” She states with her head and gives a simple smile to Cedric, before going to the balcony. Alec hopes she’s far enough away to confront her new partner. "What are you doing here?” "When you said you had solved that matter," Cedric points with his head, in the direction of Evangeline. "everyone believed. Imagine what your father and the other investors will say when they find out what’s going on here.” "You don’t know what’s going on here, to want
"Forever?” "No! Well..." Evie wiggles her shaggy hair. "I don’t know. First I need to find out what really happened and only then will I be able to know what to do.” "I understood..." Felippa gets up and goes to his room, keeping the money in his jewelry box. "You said that were two favors.” "Ruby asked me out!” Without Evie seeing, Felippa grimaces, but looking at her friend, she smiles falsely. “Finally. Where are you going? What are you going to wear?” "I don’t know. He sent me this." Evie gives her cell phone to her friend. "Is it a home address, or is it just me?” "Well... yeah. It’s at Trixie’s house. She went to high school with us, remember?” Evangeline takes a deep breath and shakes her head in the affirmative. She hated remembering high school. Felippa remembered this a few seconds later. "I’m not going there!" Evie pulls the phone out of her friend’s hand and starts typing a message to Ruby. "I’m not going anyway.” "Hey, stop! It’s been