Chapter 4

It's been two months since Eva and Jack met. And it's been two months since Giselle started to be so overprotective of Eva. They've had arguments a few times because of Eva's association with Jack. No matter how many times Eva tried to say that Jack is trying to change for her, Giselle would never believe it.

"You've been going out with Jack too often." Giselle coldly said behind Eva while she fixes the bouquet of red roses that Jack gave her earlier. It's been a regular occurrence that would pick her up to take her home or to work.

"Giselle, please, you have to stop this." Eva held the vase where she put those beautiful roses and placed them on a table near the window. Being an operation manager, Eva got her private workspace.

"I'm trying to protect you. Don't you see that?" Giselle said, almost begging. "He's not the man for you, Eva. He's a womanizer. He's living a scandalous life." Giselle explained.

"You have to relax, best friend. I haven't even said yes to him." Eva answered with a smile. "Don't you trust me?'

Giselle chose not to answer anymore. It's evident that no matter what she says, Eva is already attached to Jack. The only thing she can do now is to look out for her. She has to protect her no matter what.

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Eva shook her head when Giselle left. She understands that her best friend is just trying to look out for her. But she's old enough, and she can take care of her own. Besides, Jack has been nothing but a gentleman to her. She can see his efforts in trying to keep her out of the limelight and his honesty. She can feel how he honestly cares for her.

"Hello?" Eva's thoughts were interrupted when she received a call.

[Hi, is this Ms. Eva Vergara?] Said that man on the other line.

"Yes, speaking. Who is this?"

To Eva's surprise, the man started singing. His voice was so beautiful but what caught her attention was the song. It was the same song that Jack plays on his phone every time that they are together. It was the song of Jim Brickman, The Gift. Eva can't help but smile. She already knew who's behind this surprise.

[Jack says hello, and don't forget to eat your lunch.] The guy on the other line. Eva laughed softly.

Then her eyes found the flowers he gave. They were so beautiful, and they made her feel special. She smelled for the nth time and smiled. She's not deaf or blind. She knows how scandalous Jack's life is. But he's trying his best to change for her. Who is she to refuse him of a chance to prove himself?

She was no one, and yet, her mom loved her so much. So why can't she do it for someone? It's not that hard to give a chance. If she gets hurt, at least she'll learn. What's important is, she took the opportunity?

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Jack was smiling while walking towards his office when his eyes caught a very sexy and tall woman sitting in the lounge area. His smile immediately disappeared. He was contemplating if he would walk forward or will hide until the lady leaves. But he knew how persistent she is. She wouldn't go until she sees him. So Jack decided to walk forward.

"Jack, sweetheart." The woman seductively greeted him.

"What are you doing here?" Jack asked coldly.

"Visiting you, of course!" She answered, obviously hurt by Jack's coldness.

"Didn't I tell you that I don't want to see you anymore?" Jack stared at her face blankly. "Leave." With that, Jack left the dumbfounded woman.

Jack sighed when he entered his office. If only he could make all the women from his past disappear.

"That was harsh," Marcus said as he entered Jack's office. Marcus and Jack have been friends since fourth-year college.

"I've been nice to her, man. I can't do that anymore." Jack replied sincerely.

"Why? Because of this Eva chick?" Marcus teased. "You haven't been out with anyone lately, bro."

"Yeah, you're right. And I guess it is because of Eva." Jack admitted. "There's something in her that makes me think about my future."

"Oh, no. That's bad." Marcus continued to tease him. "That's really bad." They both laughed.

"But seriously, bro, if she's the one? Don't waste any more time." Marcus looked at him in the eye. "You don't want to waste a great woman because of doubt."

After saying those words, Marcus taps his shoulder and left. He was left thinking about what his friend told him. It was the first time that Marcus ever spoke about his romantic life. And what he said got engraved on his mind. He's right. He shouldn't waste any more time. Eva is a very wonderful woman, and the man she would fall in love with will be the luckiest man alive.

For the longest time, his life has been different women every night. Partying, flirting, one-night stand. He's even lucky he hasn't got any sexually transmitted disease. He never thought about the feeling of a serious relationship. About giving his time and attention to only one woman. Before, it was a fantasy for him. A waste of time. Why not enjoy it while you're young?

Then he met Eva and something inside him that made him think about having a future. Of having a family. She made him wonder what his children would look like. Of what school is best for kids. Or what kind of neighborhood would be perfect for keeping a family safe. Jack laughed inwardly, remembering those days when he teased one of his friends who got married. Without knowing that not long after that, he will meet a woman like Eva.

And Jack came up with the idea that he knows will her fall in love with him. Not wasting any minute, Jack picked up the phone and dialed.

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Giselle was in a foul mood the whole day. She's not used to having frequent arguments with her best friend. They never fought about anything ever since they met. Eva and Giselle choose to talk about their issues all the time. But this is different. Giselle sees Eva as being manipulated. She thinks her best friend is being led to a well-calculated lie. But her heart is telling her to let Eva with her decisions in life.

"What should I do?" Giselle asked herself loudly out of frustration.

"Maybe you'd start by calming down?" Giselle was shocked when she heard talk behind her.

"Oh, hi. I'm sorry." Giselle said apologetically.

"Something wrong?" The guys asked. "Lindon, by the way." He then introduced himself.

"Lindon? You're a part of the workforce. Those peeps who fix our schedules." Giselle replied, smiling. "Giselle."

"So, what's wrong?" Lindon asked curiously.

"I don't know, I just—I don't want my best friend to get hurt." Giselle's smile faded. "I think she's getting too attached to someone who would on my hurt him in the end."

"How did you know?" Lindon asked in a serious tone. "Do you have the powers to see the future?"

"Uh—no." Giselle was about to explain herself, but she immediately understood what Lindon was trying to say. "So I should let her with her decisions? Even if they would hurt her in the end?"

"You can't change the past any more than you can control the future." Lindon smiled at her. He's handsome. A friendly smile, pretty eyes, and cute dimples. "If Eva will get hurt, she will get hurt. You can't do anything but be there for her. Let her fall, then be there to help her stand. It's like when your child started walking. You don't have to hold their hand all the time. You just to be there to catch them when they fall." Wise man, Giselle thought.

"Thanks for the advice, Lindon." Giselle smiled sweetly. "I think you're right. I should let her do what she thinks is best for her. I'm her best friend, not her mother. I can't tell her what to do with her life."

"Why don't we grab a coffee at the pantry?" Lindon asked Giselle.

"Sure, I'd like that," Giselle answered.

When they left their production floor, Giselle and Lindon heard some people talking about something being set up outside their building. They heard about something cute and nice happening outside. They both wondered what it was, but they both decided to go straight to the pantry.

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Everyone was staring at the guys who were setting up a small stage outside AstraServe. We were all wondering what the scene was for. There were red roses all over the stage. White and red balloons were decorated around the platform. And then they saw men arrived riding a motorcycle while holding a bouquet of red roses. They realize that the setup was for a woman.

"Is everything set already?" Jack asked those guys he paid for to set up his surprise for Eva.

"Yes, sir, everything is set." One of the guys answered. "We're just waiting for her to come out of the office.

Jack looked at his watch and realized that you only have 15 minutes left before Eva is off duty. His palms are sweaty, and his heart is racing. This is the first time that he did something like this for a woman. He never realized it was this scary. He is afraid that Eva would say no to him. That she doesn't like him. He's abnormally anxious and, at the same time, conscious about his looks.

When he saw the employees of AstraServe coming out of the building, he hid. Jack waited to see Eva walking out of the building before giving the signal.

"Eva," every single person walking outside AstraServe's building stopped and looked at the small platform. They heard someone talk, but no one is on the platform yet. "Did someone ever told you that your smile could melt the devil's heart?" Eva was frozen in place. The decoration of the platform was so beautiful. But what stunned her is the voice on the speakers. "Do you know that your laughter can wipe away all kinds of pain?" Little by little, a smile formed on Eva's face. "Because I know." Then a song started playing. Tears began to show in Eva's eyes, yet she felt undeniably happy.

As the song progressed, people started walking up to Eva. Each of them gave her a stem of rose with a message stapled on it. Jack is singing Thanks To You by Tyler Collins. He slowly walked towards Eva, with tears in his eyes. He's not a singer; he doesn't have a beautiful voice. But Eva cried because of so much happiness.

"I hope you're not crying because of how bad my voice is," Jack said jokingly, which made Eva laughed.

"A friend told me that if I think you're the one, I should not waste any more time contemplating. He said that I need to do what I have to do before my chance passed. " Jack said after his song. "It made me realized how short life is. How fast things can change. I don't want to see you in another man's arms because I am a coward and an idiot. I don't want to see you get hurt because of my stupidity. I want to take care of you. I don't want to spend another day of life without in it, Eva." Jack kneeled before her. "Will you please, please, be my girl? Give me a chance to show you how you're supposed to be loved."

Eva's tears are now unstoppable. She feels like she's the happiest woman on earth, but she can't stop crying. Aside from her mom and Giselle, no one ever showed her that she deserved to be loved. She's is being overwhelmed by emotions but there one thing that she is sure of.

"Yes, Jack. I want to be your girl."