Chapter 8

Eva Brooks

~~~

"I've been honest with you, Maddison. Ethan doesn't like his secretary coming late to work or fumbling at business meetings. You know that Owen Groups has many businesses, so he is very busy. Also, he hates when his secretary gawps at him. His rules are much like I heard, but it's good for me. He hasn't cheated since we started dating. It's our family who set up our engagement, so I consider myself lucky to have a man like him," Freya said happily, and I nearly coughed out my lungs hearing that Ethan hadn't cheated on Freya.

Wasn't he the same man who plastered me with hickeys all over my body? Well, I thought I was the one who rushed to meet him, so maybe he might not have cheated on Freya truly.

"Mmm, that sounds nice. But my husband's sister is a hooker. She broke up with her ex-boyfriend to sleep with a man for money, so I will advise you to keep your man in check before she snatches him," Maddison said, her voice stern as she glared at me.

Freya laughed it off. "Forget about how beautiful she is or if she is a hooker or not. Ethan will not cheat on me with her. She's wasting her time. Moreover, Ethan and I will be getting married soon, so why bother about the secretary that will soon get fired for failing at her job?" Freya said, and I felt sad in my heart to hear that Ethan was in a relationship with her, and yet, he was offering me a high-paying job and also asking me to be his woman.

"Alright, I just decided to give you a heads up. You know that you're my best friend, and I want the best for you," Maddison said, and Freya laughed.

"I know, Maddi. Once my wedding invitation comes out, you will be my number one guest. Also, Ethan's sister, Angelina, is hosting a birthday at Owen's Hotel next weekend. Has she invited you?" Freya asked, her voice bubbling with excitement, and Maddison smiled. "Of course. I saw her two days ago at the tech gathering. She is a genius. I will be there at her party."

"Sure. Take care, Maddi, and don't bother worrying about your husband's sister. She is not a problem at all," Freya said, her voice confident, and Maddison smirked at me.

"Alright, girlfriend. Take care," she smiled and put her phone back in her pocket.

"Do you hear that, slut? Ethan is in a relationship with my best friend, so if you are going to work for him, be ready to lose your job, as he won't spare you a glance at all in his office. Coupled with your scandal at his hotel and your breakup with your fiancé, I am sure Ethan will fire you upon arrival," Maddison smirked, and I couldn't find words to refute her claims.

I was still shaken by the fact that Ethan had a fiancée, and yet, he agreed and slept with me. His words rang in my mind, "If I hadn't slept with you, who knows what the drug would have done to damage your body? So you owe me compensation?"

"Eva, Eva!" Cruz called my name after his wife had carried their chubby son and walked away.

"Eva, are you alright?" Cruz asked me softly, and I nodded and wiped off the tears that had slipped down my cheeks. I didn't know that I was crying, like I didn't even cry when Jacob Stone, my boyfriend of five years, broke up with me. But here I was crying to hear that Ethan was already in a relationship.

Maybe I felt guilty that I had a relationship with another woman's man. I didn't envision myself as a woman to sleep with another person's fiancé. It was all Layla's fault, to make me break up with Jacob. If I had known that Layla was jealous of me, I wouldn't have attended her 24th birthday bash at Owen's five-star hotel. Now, I lost my chastity, and also, my fiancé caught me red-handed with another man.

Even after using the back of my palm to wipe off my tears, more tears flowed down my cheeks, and I couldn't stop the guilt that I was feeling.

"Eva, don't let Maddison's words get to you. If you are truly employed by Ethan Owen, I think it's best that you focus on your job there and not try to lust after him or break his rules, alright?" Cruz gave me hope, as he saw my sad look.

"It's fine. Thank you," I said, but the sound of police sirens arriving at our home caught my attention.

"What's going on?" I asked, looking up at my brother's face, and his brows furrowed.

"Let me find out," he said, and I was nervous why the police had arrived at his house. Were they here to arrest me?

I paced about the corridor but was unable to satiate my curiosity. I walked out of the corridor and stepped out to see Jacob Stone standing there in a black shirt and trousers, his expression frosty as he arrived with the police officer.

"Officer, that's the woman who cheated on me and made away with my money," he said, his voice firm, and I gasped, "What? Which money? Officer, this is all a misunderstanding."

"Madam, you have every right to remain silent and follow us to the police station for questions. Anything you say or do shall be used against you in the court of law. Now, come with us," the policeman in black uniform ordered me.

Cruz tried to speak to Jacob, as he knew him. They were once university friends.

"Jacob, you cannot have my sister arrested. Please, Eva didn't mean to cheat on you. You are taking this too far," Cruz tried to speak up for me, as the policemen handcuffed me like I was a criminal.

Jacob turned to face my older brother, his expression cold. "You don't expect me to let your sister go just like that. She cheated on me, after everything I did for her. I need my compensation, unless she will rot in jail. She never let me touch her, and yet, she slept with another man, forgetting that she is mine!…" Jacob looked furious as the policemen led me into the black car, and I was taken away.

"Jacob, you're making a mistake. You should arrest Layla. She set Eva up. You cannot do this to my sister!" Cruz cried, chasing after us, and I saw his wife standing there at the porch and recording us.

"That's not my business. Your sister will compensate me for wasting my time with her," Jacob insisted, while the police car drove out of the house.

I heard Maddison screaming, "Babe, don't waste your time on Eva. Let her pay the price for her crime."

The rest of her words cut off as the police car drove off and headed for the police station. I sat with unease, wondering if this was how I would rot in jail.