Evangeline sat inside the arcade with her friends playing happily around. Her eyes were closed, and though it was chaotic with everyone laughing and fighting, her mind was quiet.
It was as if anything around her didn't bother her. Her mind was bothered with one thing, and it was the only thing she thinks about 24/7.
"Hey! Wendy! You are cheating! You can't strike it like that. It's a foul!" Aaron shouted angrily.
"Nothing that she does is foul," Liam said, and Aaron glared at his friend.
"You are such a lost cause. Ethan, at least you say something. The girl's team is definitely cheating. What has gotten into you guys?" Aaron felt wronged.
If he had known his friends are going to be like this, he wouldn't have agreed to play with them. How can they turn a blind eye to everything that was happening in front of them? Aaron scowled and looked at Justin and his elder brother, who was playing table tennis on the left side before walking to them.
"Woah? What happened? Why do you look so down? Aren't you enjoying it?" Justin asked as he hit the ball, and Aaron scoffed.
"What enjoying? They are just trying to impress their girls. The girls are cheating in front of them, but it's nothing. When they do it, it's not a foul, but when I do it, it's two fouls? What kind of gameplay is that?" Aaron rambled, and Justin chuckled before shaking his head.
"Why don't you go and play with her?" Justin nodded toward Evangeline, who was sitting there with her eyes closed. He remembered what Ethan told him about Aaron crushing over her.
According to Aaron, he lost his chance because Justin knew her first, but he could go now and try. Justin doesn't know about himself, but from how much he has seen her, Aaron was definitely not her type.
"Dude, I want to invite her to play too, but just look at her. After how she managed Tina's case, I am getting cold vibes from her. Though she is nothing special, the way she carries herself is, how should I say, dominant?" Aaron whispered, as if afraid she would hear him.
"Play with him then," Alexander caught the ball in his hands and handed over his racket and ball to Aaron.
He turned to the girl, sitting on the couch with closed eyes and no expression on her face whatsoever.
It was hard to know if she was asleep or just deep in thought, but more than that, she was hard to figure out.
Just what kind of personality does she really have? Is her jolly personality her reality? Her dominance her reality? Or the pain he saw in her eyes when she was outside half an hour ago her reality?
He walked to the couches and sat on the adjacent sofa.
Evangeline on the other hand was busy thinking about her past. Her dreams and nightmares were bad when she was in Italy, but ever since she returned, it feels like they have turned worse.
Now even when she closes her eyes, the image of her lying on the cold cemented floor with blood gushing out of her nose and mouth as she was beaten black and blue appears in front of her eyes.
The way those goons laughed at her, and shook her with their legs to see if she was alive or not. The way their psychotic eyes looked at her before they threw her in the water and she -
"Beep!" The sound of a car's horn echoed.
Gasp! Evangeline widened her eyes as she came out of her thoughts.
Alexander, who had been busy on his phone, immediately looked at her from the corner of his eyes. She looked scared and startled.
Evangeline looked around to see if someone saw her like this, and Alexander quickly averted his gaze. He didn't want to look like he caught her gasping for air.
He saw her hands reaching out for the jug, but there was no water in it.
With a sigh, he stood from his place as his secretary called him.
"Hello? No. I won't be attending that meeting. Reason? Tell them we want a detailed description of the project. We are not some kids who will become happy with their illustrations. Where is the written record?" Alexander talked to his secretary before walking back to the couch.
"Here," he bent near Evangeline, making her look up, surprised.
Their eyes met briefly, and his manly scent wafted her nostrils once again, making her gulp as she looked at the glass of juice in front of her.
"This -"
"I am not drinking it. You can," Alexander said, and Evangeline looked at the fresh glass of juice that looked like it wasn't even touched and nodded before taking the glass in her hand.
"You haven't poisoned it, have you?" She asked, and he rolled his eyes.
"If I want to kill you, I won't have to touch you myself," he answered, and Evangeline nodded in understanding before gulping the entire juice in one single go.
"No, I am not talking to you. Your life isn't in danger," Alexander said before he sat back in the seat once she was done.
"Thank you," Evangeline murmured.
"You have been saying thank you a lot today. Do you think it's enough to repay me?" Alexander leaned backward, and Evangeline narrowed her eyes.
Repay him? Her mind went wild with all kinds of thoughts, and her gaze shifted to his lips for a second before shifting to his muscular chest.
"What are you thinking?" Alexander looked at her, and she looked back at him, startled.
"Huh?"
"I need a partner to attend a meeting. Come with me," Alexander said, and Evangeline narrowed her eyes.
"Why me? Is it because you want to keep me away from your brother? Are you trying to woo me? Seduce me? Are you seriously going to that length to keep me away? Heck, I am not even interested in him," Evangeline said one after the other, panicking a bit. This wasn't in the plan!!!
Alexander knitted his brows before leaning forward and grabbing her jaws in his hand.
"Aren't you being a bit too talkative? I just need a partner. You are the only bearable girl in sight," Alexander scoffed.
"Bearable? Are you sure you are using the right word?" Evangeline asked with wide eyes, truly amazed by his change in opinion, and Alexander looked at her from the corner of his eyes before rolling his eyes.
"Don't get ahead of yourself. It's because I would rather bear a hooligan than someone with an annoying phony voice who doesn't eat or is a people pleaser," Alexander said.
"But I have an interview schedule today,"
"It is next week," Alexander said.
"There are so many days. Why can't you find another one? Someone bearable?" Evangeline asked.
"Do you think I go around meeting girls and have no work to do? I took a day off probably after four months," Alexander said thoughtfully, and Evangeline hummed.
"For someone who has a day off after such a long time, you are quite boring. Want to pick ice cream with me?" Evangeline asked, and Alexander smirked.
"Take it as my thank you treat. I don't like owing people," Evangeline added, and he hummed before standing.
"Where are you going?" She looked at him.
"To pick ice cream. Or do you think the shop will come to you?"
"Oh, right. I thought you would do it later," Evangeline stood hurriedly.
"Guys, does anyone want ice cream? Mr. Alexander is paying," Evangeline announced, and everyone looked at him thankfully before saying their favorites.
Alexander - "..." What the hell was this? Wasn't she going to treat him?
"You said you are treating me," Alexander said.
"No. No. No. You got it wrong. I asked will you pick ice cream with me? I never said I will pay for it. I am looking for a part-time job. Do you think I am rich like you? Don't be so petty," Evangeline moved her index finger sideways to deny and beamed at him innocently, and he rolled his eyes.
He should've known. She is cunning.