Eva's POV
The skies outside turned pitch black before the director finally let me leave.
"Eva," he called as I was on my way to the door.
I turned, only to see him standing right behind me. He took out a business card and held it to me.
A divorce lawyer.
Ah. So much for trying to retain my dignity.
"Thank you, sir." I said and took the card, fighting the bitter smile that wormed its way to my lips.
"The videos have been taken care of. You have nothing to fear."
I thanked him again, then walked out of his office.
Outside, leaning against the wall to the right, was Alexander.
"Good evening," he greeted once his eyes fell on me.
"You've been waiting for me? Why would you do that? You're injured and should be in bed resting till—"
I don't get to finish my sentence. He quickly closed the space between us and grabbed hold of my hands.
"You were injured, I saw it." He said, staring at my hands covered in bandaids.
"I'm fine," I drew my hands back, shoving them into the pockets of my scrubs before he could snatch them again. "What are you doing here?"
"I'll drive you home."
"Why?"
"I want to."
"Why?"
He hesitated, sharp eyes scanning my face. "I want to." He said, placing sharp emphasis on every word as if to say "don't ask again"
I'm fucking exhausted. All I want right now is to sleep for twenty eight straight hours. And what's with the way he talks?! Is he a colonel or something?
I ran my fingers through my tangled and utterly messy hair. I had the feeling then that it was pointless arguing with him. Fuck, I need a shower. And a bubble bath.
"You didn't have to wait for me," I mumbled. "But since you did, fine. I'll let you drive me home. And we need to talk anyway."
He nodded. "Come."
My left eye twitched. Who does he think he's ordering around?!
Huffing to myself, I followed him. After picking up my bag and saying goodbye to my coworkers (and also deftly ignoring any questions about both Alexander and Ethan), I finally walked out of the hospital and into the night.
For a second, I looked back.
WU Hospital. This place has been my safe space, the one place where I could be exceptional. I was good at my job. I fucking loved my job. No matter the stress, no matter how long my shifts were, I was happy.
Now Ethan has ruined my memory of this place.
Just as he ruined my life.
My fists clenched and anger rose in my heart again like a volcano about to explode.
That fucking bitch. He's going to pay. I have no idea how, I don't have money or any sort of dangerous connections, but I will make Ethan pay.
"Evangeline,"
I whipped around and glared at Alexander. "Eva. My name is Eva. Don't call me by my full name, you don't have that right."
"I'm sorry. Eva, you'll catch a cold."
I blinked, shocked.
He took it that easily? Who is this man?
I turned away from the hospital and headed over to him. At the back of mind, a small alarm bell rang. I was following a stranger to his car…I was about to let him drive me home.
Isn't this how serial killer documentaries start?
A tinge of fear wormed into my heart. On one hand, he's Ethan's uncle. So he won't harm me? And on the other hand…well, I'm a nurse. I know the vital points of a human body. If he tries anything, I'll knock him out.
We got to his car and he held the door open. Look at that, Ethan. Something you've never once done for me!
Maybe I should stop thinking of Ethan. But how can I?!
Alexander got in and started the engine. The car filled with warmth, making me relax and sigh softly. I'd barely settled in before my phone rang.
Speak of the devil and he shall call you.
"What?" I snapped into the speaker.
"Where are you?"
"None of your business. How's Emilia?"
"Now's not the time to be a bitch, Eva. Where the fuck are you?"
I glanced at Alexander. His eyes were pinned on the road, but his hands gripped the steering wheel so hard that his knuckles turned white.
A smirk made its way into my lips.
"I found someone. I'm heading home with him now."
The car lurched forward. I gasped, my heart flying into my mouth. "Hey! Careful please!"
"The fuck do you mean you've found someone?!" Ethan barked.
"I mean what I said. You gave me the bet, didn't you? I'm simply doing what you asked."
Ethan went quiet. Then he laughed. "That was faster than I expected, Eva. Congratulations. Really, I didn't think it was humanely possible for a man to look at you and feel his cock stir."
I grit my teeth hard. "Fuck you."
He laughed again. "Here's what. I'll send you a little motivation, okay? You still think this is all a funny little joke."
My phone dinged with a text. I pulled it off my ear to read what it said.
It was a picture.
All the blood in my body solidified.
"A lovely image, don't you think?" Ethan's voice through the speakers was filled with malice. "Fail our bet and not only do you remain stuck with me, this picture goes live. In addition to the videos of you assaulting a person, just imagine the blow your reputation will take? Tick tock, Eva. You have six days left. Good luck."
The line clicked dead.
I sat there, staring at my phone, my heart racing, the image blurring in and out of focus, my eyes quickly filling with tears.
What?
What the actual fuck?
He had a picture of me? How did he get this? When did he get this?! How the fuck does Ethan have a naked picture of me?!
"Eva?"
He knew I was lying.
He knew I hadn't found anyone yet. Ethan knew all these, and he's having a fucking field day with this!
"Eva? Are you okay?"
"Stop the car."
Immediately, he swerved off the road, parking to the side. I threw the door open and jumped out. The cold air whipped my face, shocking back the nausea that gathered in my throat. I inhaled large gulps of air, my chest and eyes burning.
Footsteps came from behind me. A bottle of water extended over my shoulder. Mumbling a thanks, I took it and drank half of it.
Only then was I able to calm down.
"You're Ethan's uncle?" I asked as I faced Alexander.
He nodded.
Truthfully, I didn't know much about him.
Ethan rarely talked about his family, not even his father who he was really close with. I'd heard about Alexander a couple of times at dinner. Ethan spoke about him the way you speak about a blue moon, barely even there.
Six days.
I have six days left before my life becomes worse than a dumpster fire.
"Were you the man I met at the bar yesterday?"
"Yes."
I bit my lip hard.
This isn't me. I shouldn't even be entertaining this idea right now. This man before screams danger. I shouldn't interact with him. I shouldn't even say what I'm about to say.
But I have to.
It's better if it's him, at least he's in the family somehow. Better than blurting this out to a total stranger.
I took a step closer, batting my lashes at him in my best attempt at flirtation. My toes curled in my flats from sheer embarrassment!
"Mr Reed, can I ask you a small question?" I asked, trying to make my voice low and sultry, instead I sounded like a squeaky rat. My face flushed and I cleared my throat, as if doing so would undo the abomination that just came out of my mouth.
Alexander looked down at me with those cold eyes. Eyes that I couldn't for the life of me guess the emotion behind them.
"Go ahead," he said.
I exhaled through my mouth, subtly wiping my sweaty palms on my scrubs.
Just do it Eva! Best to suffer this small shame now than to have your body all over the internet in six days!
"Do you find me attractive?" I asked.
For two seconds, silence. Five seconds more, there was even more silence. Ten seconds. Fifteen.
I stood there, my breath tight in my chest, my hands grabbing the fabric of my scrubs, my heart and mind racing with a million thoughts.
Nothing happened. The look in his eyes didn't change. He didn't say anything.
I wanted to jump into traffic and erase that stupid question off my mind.
Then, he moved. His lips parted like he was about to say something.
He didn't.
Blood trickled down his nose instead.
I blinked, completely out of it, wondering what the fuck had just happened. Then it hit me.
He's having a nosebleed!