Chapter 8: My lips in his

Margaret Hale rushed into the dimly lit room, shutting the door hastily behind her. She stopped before the middle-aged man, whose back was to her as he lit a cigarette.

“How could you show your face here, Michael?!” She shrieked, the veins clearly visible on her forehead. “Didn't we agree never to cross paths again?”

Michael turned round and came face-to-face with Margaret. “After so many years, this is the first thing you say to me?”

“Quit it, Michael. You know we were never supposed to see each other again.”

Michael chuckled. “We did agree never to see each other again, but your son did not.”

Margaret's eyes widened. “What are you talking about?”

“There's no one else here, Margaret. No need to play dumb.” Michael replied as he drew in another huff of smoke.

“Damien is my only son.” She said firmly.

“I did try to tell you this years ago, Margaret, but you constantly rejected my every means to reach you.”

“We agreed never to cross paths.” She repeated. “Why would you try to reach me again?”

Michael laughed inwardly as he walked to the middle of the room, one hand in pocket, the other clutching the cigarette.

“The boy you abandoned became too smart and vicious to hide away.” He paused and added. “As he grew he became adamant and wanted to know why his parents abandoned him.”

Margaret angrily closed the distance between them, her hand tightening around her gown. “I told you to end his life if he proves too difficult to handle. You know what it took for me to give him up. There's no way I could let a mistake cost me everything I have worked so hard for.”

“A mistake?” Michael scoffed. “That's our flesh and blood, Margaret.”

“No. You knew he was never supposed to happen. We never wanted him.”

Michael paused as his countenance immediately became serious. “I did want him, just like I wanted you.”

He held her gaze. “But you rejected us. You chose a life of luxury and abandoned us. You lied to us and stabbed us in the back.”

“I didn't lie to you, Michael! I did choose a life of luxury because you had nothing to offer me and I was done living a life of poverty. You knew I was getting married to Richard, still you had me drunk that night and the result was that boy.” Her voice broke as she was close to tears.

Michael ran his hands through his hair, a smirk playing on his lips.

“And so? You confessed that I was the only one you loved and you were only marrying Richard to make a name for yourself. Didn't you promise to come back to us once you had done that?”

He stepped up to her, his tall frame looming over her. “That was twenty-one years ago, Margaret. Twenty-one years and you haven't returned despite getting what you wanted.”

Margaret wiped her tears. “That is the past, Michael, and I have moved on. Life forces us to make such painful decisions.”

“Why are you here?” Her expression was stone-cold, yet the look in her eyes gave her away.

“I came to let you know that your son has decided to make a name for himself, just like you decided to years ago.”

“He is not my son, and I don't care what he does.”

Michael shook his head. “You're going to learn a really hard lesson, Margaret.”

He added. “You never intended on coming back and now that I have confirmed that you have tossed us out of your life completely, I will also do the same to you.”

He held her gaze and said, “Make the girl downstairs a major stakeholder of the Hale group.”

Margaret blinked twice. “What girl? What the fuck are you talking about, Michael?!”

“I want Eva Hartley as the major stakeholder of the Hale group.”

Margaret's eyes widened. She grabbed the nearest furniture to steady her balance.

“Have you lost your damn mind?!” She screamed when she regained her stance. “I cannot do that! She is a thief!”

“You and I both know that is not true.” Michael returned. “You have cut all ties with your son yet fate keeps bringing you together.”

“What the fuck does that mean?”

Michael chuckled. “You framed that girl, Margaret. You thought you were saving yourself, but you forced Enzo out by harming the love of his life.”

Margaret's face turned cold. It was crystal clear she was confused but Michael had no intention of clarifying anything.

Instead, he concluded. “Make her the stakeholder, or I will visit your husband tomorrow and reveal the truth to him.”

“Didn't you say you cannot let a mistake cost you everything you have worked so hard for?” Michael gave a condescending laughter before he walked out of the room, leaving Margaret Hale in a state of confusion.

….

Eva's POV

We returned to the party just when everyone was ushered into the dancing hall.

Everyone seemed to have moved on from the drama of minutes ago, even though my name was already all over the internet.

I etched by a table, drinking calmly as I watched Damien and Maya open the dance floor.

I looked away and poured more of the wine into the glass.

“No need to be worried about going back to prison.” Enzo spoke softly, his eyes glistened as they locked on mine.

He added. “I have everything under control.”

“Are you related to the man who walked in earlier?” I asked.

He nodded.

“I'm curious, what's he gonna do to make Margaret rescind her charges?”

“You don't have to be worried about anything, Eva. I wasn't kidding when I said together, we'll bring the Hales to their knees.”

I smiled, sipped my wine and returned my gaze to the dancing couple.

Damien had not changed much over the years. His appearance remained compelling and alluring. My gaze locked on his hand on Maya's open back, instinctively drawing me to how soft and caring his touch was on my naked body.

God, no…

I filled up my glass again and finished the content.

Enzo must have noticed my countenance because he held my hand and said, “Let's celebrate your release from jail properly.”

He pulled me towards the floor, just when Damien and Maya were exiting.

Enzo placed my hand on his shoulder and held my waist, pressing my thin frame to his body.

Together, we moved to the rhythm of the music.

“I didn't get to properly thank you for helping me, Enzo.” I smiled. “I'd still be in there rotting, and thinking of ending my life if you hadn't come along.”

He twirled me around, and held my back just as he lowered me behind, grabbing my bare thighs from the slit of my dress and tracing his fingers upwards.

Everyone giggled and cheered.

His emerald green eyes brightened even more beneath the glowing chandelier.

The music slowly came to an end but Enzo wasn't done yet.

He whispered, “You gave me permission back in the restroom, Eva.”

Before I could make sense of anything, he pulled me into his arms and took my lips in his right in front of everyone