“I like jokes and you like jokes too. That's perfect, right?
“You're lucky I have no time and this is not my party. I'll let you off the hook this time. When next you gossip about someone, make sure that they are not around.”She gave the girls a last look before walking away and out of the powder room. From outside, she could hear their sighs and yells as they blamed each other for the situation they fell into a moment ago. They made a mental note to always avoid her when they see her next time. Her whole appearance screamed trouble.Eve shook her head as she came out of the powder room. She straightened her dress and started making her way back to the hall where the ball was being held. She knew her way around every corner of the mansion and did not need anyone to show her the way.Reminiscing her past in this house, Eve didn't know when her legs took her to the other side of the mansion where her room used to be located.Everything here seems the same. The mansion that she had decorated a year ago. The only thing that changed in this place was the flowers. They were all changed from the flowers that she used to like to something else. She wondered who was responsible for this.In her momentum of looking around, she failed to look where she was going and as she turned, her head collided with something hard and she groaned.“Ouch. What the hell?”She raised her head to see what or who she just ran into.“You..you.”She felt as if everything stopped existing for a minute and all she could see was the man who was standing in front of her. He was all that she could see at the moment.“What are you doing here?”She blinked, breaking away from the moment of froze at the deep voice of the man in front of her. She felt goosebumps on her skin as she looked into his eyes. No… She can't be thinking that right now. This was not what she came here for.Realizing what she was doing, she immediately broke her gaze away from him and wrapped her hands under her chest as she stared at him with cold eyes. Yes! That's the spirit. That's what she's supposed to be doing instead.“I was just looking around.”“I didn’t ask that. I asked what you’re doing showing your face in this house, Eve? We ended a year ago.”“Pfft,” she laughed. She was sure that if there was water in her mouth, she would have spat it off because of his words. Like… Come on, what gave him that confidence?“What makes you think that I came back here to have anything to do with you? Maybe you didn’t get it back then in the hall, Mr. Hank. I guess I should spell it out.” She moved closer to him until there was just a bit of distance between them.“I don’t want to have anything to do with you.”“What’s your motive?”“What?”“Why do you suddenly appear in our lives after a year? What do you want, Eve? Tell me. Is it money? Do you want some money because you’re so pained that I didn’t give you any after our divorce? You just have to ask if that’s what you want.“Oh, you make me laugh, Mr Hank. Money? I thought that you know that money is the least of my worries right now. I have the ‘Gray’ name as my surname. I don’t need some filthy cash from you when I can simply get it all, right?”That’s what she wants. She isn’t here to take some money from him. Considering her current position as the daughter of the Gray family, some of his money would be too small for her. She isn’t here to take some money from him. She was here to take it all.She is here to take all of his money, connection, and power in this country and throw him and his family in the streets just like they did to her. They were going to have a taste of their own medicine. That’s her vow.“The Gray family name. It’s shocking. How did you convince Mr. Gray to make you his daughter for today? I bet all they say about you is true. You crawled up to an old man’s bed so he could give you a bit of money and fame, right?”*Slap*Eve clenched her fist resisting her urge to give him another dirty slap to reset his brain. That was what she would not take from him. Him questioning her character. How dare he talk to her in such a manner. That she crawled up to the old man’s bed?That was what he really thinks of her?She ignored his burning and angry eyes and proceeded to continue what she was saying.“One more word about my character and you won’t like what is going to happen, Hank. I can take every insult from you and your undeserving family but don’t you dare question my values. I was brought up decently unlike someone standing here.”Flipping her dark brown hair to the side, she continued.“If you so much doubt my relations with my father, why don’t you check the internet? My father has posted the DNA results that prove that we are in fact blood-related. Check it and stop spewing nonsense that you don’t know. Mind your tongue if you want to keep the deal between you and my father.”“How do you know about that?”“I’m his daughter so of course I know. That deal is at stake here.”How did she come to be the daughter of a billionaire and heir to a multi-billion company and many more from being the street girl who had to work as a waitress to take care of herself and her grandmother? That was a whole long story.A long story that even she doesn't want to tell. Well, how about keeping it for another day? It would be a story for another day.“Genevieve?” Someone called from behind.She turned to see it was her friend Liam and he walked to her.“You’re here. I was only speaking to Mr Hank. Why did you come here?”“I didn’t see you coming so I had to come check what was keeping you. Someone said they saw you come his way.”“Oh.”“Nice meeting you, Mr Hank.”The two men shook hands and from the side, Eve could see the glaring eyes of Noah. She doesn’t care. He can glare to death.“Nice chatting with you, Hank. How about we call it a day? Don’t forget the deal between you and my father. We’ll see again.” She added that part to at least let him know that they weren’t done.It is to let him know that from today, they will be seeing each other more often than he desires. She was going to haunt him with her presence and her words that he is going to find it hard to sleep at night.She turned her back to him and holding the hands of Liam, she made her way out.“Oh my goodness. Look at her, Noah. I can’t believe this.”Melissa suddenly snuck up behind Noah. She has been listening to their conversation from the side and can now come out as she is gone.“Were you eavesdropping?” He asked coldly.“Of.. of course not. I wasn’t eavesdropping.”“What do you want?”“Noah, she’s back. I’m so scared. How dare she show her face here again after what she did to me? You have to do something about this, Noah. I’m so scared. Remember what she did to me right, she put me in this condition that I’m afraid to go out. I won’t be able to walk well for the rest of my life all because of her.Think about that, Noah. She has done so much harm to me. We should get rid of her before she causes more harm to me. I… I feel like she came back solely for me. She… she wants to end my life. She doesn’t want me to be with you. Please do something. I’m scared. I’m… I’m going to die.”She burst out in silent tears and looked at Noah waiting for him to at least say something.”He simply looked at her and without saying anything, walked away. Why so cold? She wanted him to reassure her that all was going to be okay and he was going to deal with Eve who was the cause of why she couldn't concentrate right now. “Where are you going? I'm saying something.”“Go attend to the guests, Melissa. I don't have anything to say to you.”“Really? That's all you can say. You know why I'm in this condition. It's all because of her. She caused me pain and right now, I still feel the pain, the trauma, I can hear her voice in my head. She's going to come back at me. She's going to kill me this time.” she rushed to him and held his hand. “Look at my condition, Noah. I know you don't have any sisters and you're an only child but look at me. What if it was your sister in this position? What if it was your sister that would not be able to walk straight again?”“Isn't that why I'm getting married to you? Because you claim no one was going to marry you in this state? Isn't that t
~Two Days Later~“I can't believe father is this outdated. Look at his office. I feel like I just entered the office of the King from 1888,” Genevieve laughed as she entered the office. Behind her was Ella and a staff member who showed her around. This was her first time coming to the Gray’s corporation. Due to the sudden illness of her father, she had no choice but to come here and represent him till he was good enough to stand on his feet again. See? She has always told him to take his medications daily but he would keep insisting that he was fine. That man! Thinking of him, her heart softened a bit. It has only been a year that she knew him but it felt like she has known him her entire life. It was just like that. “Right? Your father is known to like historical stuff. We can't blame him. They look good in his eyes.”“That man. Since I'm here in the meantime, shouldn't I have some things changed? These creepy images make me feel uncomfortable and also the curtains should be draw
“Let him in.”Olivia bowed her head and left the office after being told what to do. Ella who was standing at the other side of Eve’s table in front of her quickly leaned forward and whispered. “Are you sure you’ll be fine?”“Why do you ask?”“I mean… we both know your past with Mr Hank. Are you sure you’ll be able to handle him in the same room?”Eve burst out laughing. “I thought that you knew me enough, Ella. Now that I think about it, you don’t know me at all because come on. I didn’t take this position to do child’s play. This is all business, understood?”“I hope that’s just the case. I don’t trust that man one bit.”“I’m not sure anyone does. Maybe except from his plotting mother and wife-to-be.”Before Ella could say anything, the door of the office slid open and footsteps could be heard stepping forward. The click click of his shoe made the environment tense and the only thing that could be heard was them. “Good day, Mr Gray. How is it going?” Due to Ella blocking his view
Singing along to the lyrics of the music playing, Genevieve drove along the busy road. It was five pm already and she just closed from work. It has been a long day and for her first day, she did her best. She should go see her father and report to him all that happened today. She smiled thinking of his face when he heard that she attended all the meetings. He would be so proud of her. The road was a bit busy due to people rushing home after a long day at work so she knew that she would get there not sooner. “Welcome, Miss Gray.”“Welcome, Miss Gray.”“Welcome.”The servants in the mansion all gathered and bowed their heads to her as she slowly walked past them.“Ma’am, welcome.”“Thanks, Lisa. Where’s father?”“Your father is in the garden. He insisted on taking some fresh air outside.”“Why did you let him leave? We all know that his health is not good right now and he should not be anywhere cold. Did you forget it's winter?”“I know, ma'am. I told your father the same but he didn'
“Boss? Boss.” Bangs and calls from the door woke Noah up from his sleep.“What the fuck?” He cursed as the light from outside the window got to his eyes. Why didn't he close the damn windows last night and who the fuck it was that was banging on his door this early in the morning. “Boss?” He heard the call again and groaned in anger. He was never a morning person and waking up this early in the morning might give him a headache.“What the hell you want?”“Boss, it's urgent.”“It better be or kiss your ass goodbye,” he yelled as he slowly got out of bed and started making his way to the door. “Do you have a death wish?” Noah exclaimed as he opened the door to find his secretary with his head down. He better pray that this was as urgent as it sounds because if it's not, he's going to hear from him for making him wake up this early. “Boss, bad news.”Noah sighed. “What is it this time?”“Th…the media…. Rumor..”“What is it? Say it.”The secretary brought out his phone from his pocket
“This?” Ella handed a dress to Eve as they strode through the clothes section in the big mall. It was one of the biggest malls in the city or let’s say that it was the biggest mall as that was where the members of the elite society bought their dresses. “No. Not expensive enough,” Eve replied as she looked at the price tag on the dress Ella just handed her. It wasn’t expensive enough, not just that. It just wasn’t her type of dress at all. Maybe this would fit Ella but not her. Moreover, she doesn’t like the color black at all. It stopped being her favorite color a long while ago. “Right? I thought as much. Considering that you have to look your best on that day.”“Hmm. We have our biggest execution. Check this.”The dress that she handed Ella was a blue tux gown. She noticed that it was going to fit her a lot. “I guess I’m taking this then. Come, let’s go this way. We’ll see more clothes for you.”They both made their way to the other side of the mall where there were also clothes
“Noah, you promised to be available at my birthday party. Where you at?” Melissa complained on the phone to Noah. He promised to be with her on her birthday and now, the birthday party already started an hour ago but he was nowhere to be found. It was almost time to cut her birthday cake and she wanted them to cut it together. What was she going to tell her friends now that he wasn't showing up? She already made it known to them that Noah would be all over her especially because she looked so good. Come on, she has never felt this pretty in a long while. “Commence without me.”“The party already started an hour ago. Noahh.”“I'm busy right now Melissa. Can we talk later?”“Talk later? What are you even doing? This is my birthday.”“I'll be there before your party ends, okay?”“I dressed up this pretty for you. I'm too good-looking right now for you not to see me. Please come.”“I will. Now go back to the party and continue without me.”“Fine.”She ended the call and placed it on her
Gasps and murmurs followed at the sight of the next pictures and videos that were revealed. The smiling Melissa frowned, wondering what it was that made everyone start murmuring. Her eyes almost popped out of their socket when she turned and saw what was making everyone murmur.“Really? So she has been deceiving everyone?”“I can't believe this.”“This is evil. How dare her deceive us all these while.” Their murmurs increased with each passing second and immediately, she stood up and rushed to the projector. “Turn this off. Someone turn this off,” she yelled.”“Who did this? Didn't you hear what I said? Turn it off immediately.”Like a mad person, Melissa held the remote control of the projector and tried turning it off but it was to no avail as the videos kept playing. “What is that, Melissa? Are these true?” She felt Mrs. Hank’s questioning voice behind her and she turned slowly to shake her head. “Mother, these are fake. Someone faked these.”“They don't look fake to me. Tell m