Chapter 5

Eva

I groaned as I entered the empty house. There were no cries of children, none of the usual screaming, nothing. I didn't know how much I missed it until moments like these.

Entering my room I swiped through my phone. I couldn't call them now, considering that they were likely asleep, so I settled on calling someone else.

The phone rang for seconds before it clicked. Contentment filled me as Jon's face came into view.

“Hello my love.” he drawled out in his deep sexy voice, making heat rise to my cheeks.

“Still such a flirt even when you're cities away.” I scoffed playfully, making him smile wider.

“Who can blame me when I'm with someone like you.” My heart grew soft under his praises. Even though he'd been doing this since he showed interest in me years ago I still wasn't used to it.

I stroked his face on the screen 

“How are you doing?” I asked.

“Good, which isn't surprising because it's me.” He wiggled his eyebrows immediately after.

“But overall I'm mostly worried about it. How are you? And how's everything holding up with the merger? Did you meet them?” he asked.

 I instantly tensed at the reminder of who they were. All the warmth and happiness instantly sucked out of me. 

Of all the jobs, this one was certainly to be the most taxing. 

It wasn't Jon's fault. He didn't know who Viktor was or that he was the one who hurt me and abandoned me in the past. I told him everything but l I didn't dare say his name, omitting it from my stories the same way I did from my life.

But that meant that he wouldn't know what he'd given me. He didn't know that because of him, I was forced to see the faces of the people of my past who I never wanted to see again.

And he wouldn't. Not now at least.

I forced a smile and nodded, “Yes, the deal seems simple enough.”

“And I'm sure you'll do perfect in this.” Hee quickly complimented. 

“You flatter me a bit too much Jon.” I said shakily, remembering my instant panic and Viktor’s threat. How was I supposed to work when the first thing I did was nearly have a panic attack.

“Because I know you.” He said, “You've done a hundred deals like this before. I have no doubt that you'll do well in this one.”  He smiled.

His words brought a new breath to my thoughts. The way he sounded, filled with so much faith was a stab to my heart.

He was right. It was another job and nothing more. Why was I overthinking things?

I didn't need to be worried about Viktor or that snake of a fiance when I wasn't going to be there. I was going to do my job and then we'd go our separate ways. I would never have to see him again after that.

“I’ll do my best.” I breathed out, gratefulness filling me. I was thankful that I had him by my side, an man who supported me like he did.

“Now go to bed. I can't stand my life being cranky.”

…

The next day my zeal was completely rejuvenated, all the doubts from before were gone as I bravely drove through aiming for one destination.

Reynolds Corps Headquarters.

I stopped by my office already, carrying the documents I needed.

The deal was simple, something our company tended to specialise in. We usually aimed at suffering companies and offered merger and partnership deals to aid in their company, helping in restructuring in return for a part of the shares. It might have seemed like a Trojan horse at face value, but in the end overall it was an overall fair deal. The company survived, the shareholders and workers remained and there was cooperation and goodwill all round. Simple and succinct.

In the same way, I was going to have to discuss the restructuring plans that we were going to do with Reynolds Corps. Because of this I pushed back all the heaps of work I still had to do.

The moment I entered, showing my identity, they let me inside instantly. 

My chest tightened as I looked around.

I had only been here a few times back when things were good with Viktor. He'd brought me here while I was still in college and he was in his finals showing me the office he'd work in. The other time I was here I was called in by his father who threatened me to break up with him stating that I wasn't worth anything. 

The last time I was here I brought lunch for him, trying to rejuvenate our relationship and bridge the sudden distance between us. I remembered waiting for hours in his office when his secretary told me he had a meeting. When he finally arrived there was alcohol on his breath and he threw the food on the wall nearly missing me and screamed at me.

“Who told you to enter my office? What makes you think you have the right? I don't need your meals. Get the hell out of my office.” he'd said.

I ran out of his office with tears in my eyes, not missing the pitiful gaze of his secretary. I never came after that. It was in that same month that I found out I was pregnant and everything fell apart.

I inhaled deeply, trying to ground myself. The past was the past, there was no use looking towards it. I was a completely different person now and here for a different goal.

I walked with renewed determination towards his office.

The secretary was different, an impassive looking redhead who wore clothes that bordered on indecent. Rather than doing any work she was occupied with her phone which irked me even more. I bit the inside of my cheek. She looked up at me but offered no greeting.

“I'm here to see Mr Reynolds.” I said 

“You can't see him without an appointment.” she replied, not even batting an eye.

Irritation gathered in me from her attitude.

“Check then. I'm representing SCorps.” 

Her eyebrows rose a fraction before she moved to her laptop. Seconds passed before she snorted to my surprise.

“Mr Reynolds instructed me to tell anyone representing S Corps that he's not in a good condition today and is at his family home recovering. If you still insist on meeting him you would have to go there.”she said 

Her words made me rear back. I had only seen him yesterday. What kind of joke was this?

“Is that so?” I bit out with gritted teeth.

The woman shrugged, “Those were my instructions, ma'am.”

She emphasised that word, looking over me like I was a nuisance. I was too occupied with seething in rage from his actions.

There was no doubt that it was aimed at me, considering that he only pulled this stunt knowing that I was the one in charge. He was trying to bait me to enter his presence. Most of all, he wanted to bring me to chase after him like a dog begging for scraps. 

The thought disgusted me. I ground my teeth from the insult.

I lifted my chin, eyeing the woman and matching her glare with mine.

“Very well then.” I turned around and walked away.

Fury and annoyance pumped through every step as I stormed out of the company, but I wasn't aiming for going back but towards the Reynolds family mansion.

He wanted to play a game? So be it.

I wouldn't be played easily.