Lucas left Eva off close to her apartment building as promised. She shot inside without looking back, firmly closing the door behind her. Healthy. Or as safe as she could be, following last night.
Leaning against the door, her heart hammered in her chest. "What ought I to have done? I sought a one-night stand, not... whatever that was. I never drink anything once more.
She removed last night's clothing and discovered her underwear disappeared. She was burning fresh waves of heat on her cheeks. That man of a beast had cut them off as though they were nothing. She shook her head and battled herself to concentrate. Her class started in five minutes. Not time to muck about things she couldn't influence.
She hurried out the door, threw on fresh clothes, ran a brush through her messy hair after a brief shower. Cassidy wasn't waiting for her, which made sense—her friend had an early class today. If she had been here, she would've demanded answers before Eva even had a chance to breathe.
The day dragged on, each lecture stretching into eternity. Her muscles protested with every move, a sharp reminder of last night. Worse, an unwelcome sensation tingled between her legs each time she shifted in her seat. She tightened her fists and pushed through it.
By the time she made it back home, Cassidy was there, waiting like a storm ready to hit.
"What the hell, Eva? Where were you?" Cassidy's voice was harsh, tinged with worry. "I was freaking out! Do you have any idea who that dude was? Don't tell me you—" She cut herself off, then groaned. "Oh my God, you did, didn't you? You lost your virginity last night. And you didn't even call me? I asked around at The Crimson Lounge. Do you know how hard it was to get anything out of those guys? I found out his name, but none of his acquaintances would give me his address. So spill! Has he damaged you? What happened?
One after another, without space to breathe, the questions flew at her like bullets.
Weary, Eva fell onto the couch. " Cassidy, inhale."
Cassidy sat next her waiting, crossing her arms.
One could not flee from it. Eva sighed deeply and then told her everything, almost exactly. She omitted the more intimate specifics.
Cassidy only stared after she was done.
" Cass, you are terrifying me. Speak now.
Cassidy's face contorted with concern. "Eva, you—God, you encouraged him into sleeping with you? You did not even know his name. And he indeed did. Are you sincere?"
"I—".
Cassidy shook her head, mumbled to herself. "A potent man like that? He faced the task, of course. Men like him go for that. They never yield.
Eva wrinkled her eyebrows. "Powerful?" What do you intend?
Cassidy turned to look at her. "You failed to find it? He is not only some businessman, Eva. It is clear from his manner and the way others treat him. He's hazardous.
In Eva's stomach a cold knot developed. He seemed to her simply another rich man. Sure and confident, but nothing unusual. Except from...
She gave last night some thought. Their eyes locked as he seemed to be owning her second. The way the air seemed to change about him, as though people were naturally moving beside him. Not even her father, a man of great influence, ever demanded that type of authority.
Cassidy lacked completion. Her voice dropped, almost as though she were speaking to herself. " His name is Zane Carter. And he's a friend of your brother-in-law, Lucas."
Eva's breath hitched. Heart pounding, she turned gradually toward Cassidy. "What did you just say, Cass?"
Cassidy released a breath. "He hangs out with Lucas."
Eva's spine started to turn over with great dread.
"How sure are you?" Her voice hardly got beyond her lips.
"Pretty darn sure," Cassidy grimly said. "Last night Lucas was scheduled to visit The Crimson Lounge. In the VIP part three of his friends were waiting for him. One among them was Zane. Inquiring around, I evidently found that this is their thing. Once a month they go there to—"
Eva wasn't listening anymore. Her vision blurred. Her fingers clenched into the couch fabric. This was bad. So much worse than she ever could have imagined.
Tears welled in her eyes. "If my father finds out... He'll kill me. And Lillian—she'll never let me hear the end of this. Ryan will use this against me to do whatever the hell he wants after we're married. I just made everything worse."
Cassidy placed a firm hand on Eva's shoulder. "Hey, let's not jump to the worst-case scenario. If he doesn't know who you are, then he can't connect the dots."
Eva shook her head. "It won't matter. The Gala Engagement Event is next month. Lillian and Lucas are getting engaged the same day. He'll be there. He'll see me. And once he does, he'll tell Lucas. And then Lillian. And then..."
She didn't need to continue that sentence. They both knew what would happen next. The ire of her father. Lillian's constant suffering. Ryan's haughty, self-serving smile as he turned this against her.
Cassidy scowled, her countenance hardening. Thus, "what do we do?"
" I'm not sure."
Cassidy sighed as she leaned back. " alright. worst case: he tells Lucas you are recognized. Tell Lillian, Lucas says. Lillian reports back to your dad. Perhaps, though—just maybe—he won't care enough to say anything."
Eva shot her a flat glance. " Cassidy. Men like him function differently, as you and I both know.
Groaning, Cassidy ran a hand through her hair. "OK. Then we work out before the Gala Engagement Event. We will formulate a strategy. We'll—
" Hide?" Eva let out a sour laugh. "That won's not work."
"Then we work on damage control. We figure out how to foreshadow this before it explodes in your life.
Eva doubted that could be done. But she felt a flutter of optimism as she gazed at her best friend—loyal, tenacious, and ready to battle for her.
Cassidy refused to let her walk through this by herself. And perhaps, just perhaps, they might be able to sort out this mess.
Prior to it being too late.