Eva couldn't help but hold her breath as she felt Cameron's lingering touch from her waist down to her hips, tracing her bodyline.
He whispered with a seductive raspy voice, "You kissed me not because you like me. Tell me I'm wrong."
She nearly felt his lips brush against her right ear, exhaling heavily in return and creating a circular fog on the window pane in front of her face.
"Is it Aiden? Are you interested in someone else's lover?" he continued.
As those words are being said, Eva recalled one of the most striking events that took place that night, the first time she had ever drank.
[Flashback] The night still is young. The place was completely luminous and had an euphoric ambience. The "about to graduate in university" Eva could only watch as the music blared loudly and young people wasted away.
She was there; still seated in the same spot at the bar of the nightclub ever since she arrived there, and simply trying to avoid the impulsive environment that was a hindrance to her solitary life.
Despite the fact that she had not placed an order, a somewhat attractive bartender gave her this drink nevertheless, saying it was on the house.
Chergausan Rouge.
The bartender made that statement in reference to the two-ounce glass of wine.
It tasted bittersweet as Eva took a sip.
She didn't like it, which is why she gently moved the glass away from her before looking around the overcrowded scene.
Her hands went searching for her favorite chocolate from her purse and ate a piece of it to take away the nasty flavor of the wine.
However, the two different flavors were so tempting as it mixed in her tongue, and it was as though her taste buds were pleading with her for more.
'Will I get drunk?', she thought.
Even with the convincing of her friend Mara, who is accustomed to nightlife unlike her, Eva shouldn't have gone along if she had known this would occur. A movie night with her aunt Eloise wouldn't hurt, right?
"Are you alone?"
A tall and skinny guy—who looks like he is about to die instantly if he smokes one more stick of cigarette—had sat to her left. He ordered a drink from the bartender and caught a glimpse of Eva's drink.
"It's my first time to see someone actually order a glass of red wine in a bar," the guy mocked.
Eva couldn't help but furrow her eyebrows just as her snooty attitude was about to smack the shit out of him.
"It's still an alcoholic drink," she answered, grabbing the glass and gulping down the liquor.
That was the moment when Eva realized the fascinating and addicting flavor of that certain red wine once combined with her favorite chocolate will never leave her senses.
"Do you want me to buy you a real drink?" The guy smirked and asked as he tried to get a little closer to her.
"No."
"Come on. Think of the reason why would a beautiful girl like you be alone?" he said.
"Did I say I'm alone?" As her resting bitch face finally appeared, Eva's left brow was raised. "And you cannot do anything if I wanted to be."
"Why would you want that?" he continued asking.
'God! He's fucking stubborn', Eva thought as she struggled badly to restrain herself from hitting such an irritating person.
"You sure have a lot of questions," she said calmly although the sound of gritting her teeth can be heard.
"Hey, you should just at least accept the company I'm offering to you." While joking with her, the man abruptly squeezed her right upper arm.
Eva suddenly got up and slapped the guy before taking a little step back. She was so overwhelmed with being touched without her consent.
"What the hell?!" the guy angrily shouted at her. "Why the fuck did you slapped me?!"
Without hesitation, Eva quickly walked away and went into the crowded dance floor to find Mara. Even worse, the guy chased her down and aggressively grabbed her hand, inflicting pain on her.
"Let go of me!" The loud music would prevent her from being heard calling for help even if she raised her voice.
"Don't try to pretend that you're innocent! You came here because you wanted to fuck random guys just like how a fuckin' slut—"
Another guy abruptly smacked the guy in the face as he was about to finish his sentence.
"Do not fuckin' touch my girlfriend, you heard me?!"
Eva looked at the man who had just arrived in her rescue. It was Cameron Larsen, who she was not yet familiar with at that time.
In the end, the two decided to leave the bar. Cameron advised her to alert the bartender if ever she feels threatened by something or someone, and mostly if she's by herself in a bar.
He also observed that Eva was almost drifting off as they exited the place because she was already intoxicated. She was merely attempting to fight it out.
"I should get you a taxi—"
When Eva grabbed his hands, he was a little taken aback and confused. Then, they stared at each other's eyes as if they knew each other very well.
"Was it you?" she asked him. "Or not?"
"Me?"
Eva nodded at him and leaving her head turned down, her body slightly swaying in balance. Then, she eventually leaned on the top of her head against Cameron's chest.
"I missed you so much…" She raised her head and smiled at him before closing her eyes, whispering, "Aiden."
She slowly reached out to him and for his lips which Cameron failed to resist in the end, kissing her under the moonlight. [End of Flashback]
"Why would you be so interested to know?"
"I just got intrigued by the way you stare at him," he replied. "And the way he stares at—"
She turned around when she had a chance before holding Cameron's chin and pulled his face closer towards her, their faces were centimetres apart.
The air hovers between the two.
"I'm not into men." Eva's natural resting bitch face was accompanied by her breathtaking whispers which caught Cameron off-guard. "I would rather fuck your bitches."
After all, from what he had seen of her, he hadn't anticipated that type of response. She was giving out a natural woman's scent that made him feel things, but now she's claiming she's not into men.
It confused him so much.
"President Larsen, it has truly been a great evening and a delightful party. But tonight, I can't waste all of my time," Eva informed him as she slowly moved away from him.
She elegantly made her way to the door and got half-way out, giving Cameron one last look and said, "I'll see you in the company. Good night."
On the other hand, Mara was occupied by herself while checking the buffet table's varied selection of food. Despite owning a modest diner, it was nirvana for a foodie like her.
Apparently, she has already forgotten about Eva's intention to leave the party as quickly as possible, and she is no longer concerned about being left at Cameron's mansion.
"Ms. Astrid?" When a familiar voice spoke, she instinctively looked up to see Edward approaching her. "I knew it's you."
"Oh, hi!" Mara exclaimed happily in English. "Edward, right?"
"Yes, that's me."
"It's nice to see you again," she said as they exchanged hugs, breaking it off after. "I'm so glad to be at this party."
"Were you invited?" Edward asked out of interest.
Mara's response caused her smile to turn into an embarrassed one, "Well, Eva invited me, so I guess… yeah."
She looked away from him in embarrassment as the secretary nodded at her.
"Would you like to join me for a drink?" Edward followed another question.
"Huh? But, what about Eva?"
"Actually, I just left Eva in the board of directors' exclusive meeting room," he replied.
"Okay, then. Sure."