Chapter 8

"You don't look like someone who just came back from Paris," Shawn teased, leaning against the kitchen counter the next morning to watch Eva awkwardly trying to make coffee.

Eva smiled weakly, concentrating on not messing up the task. "And what does a person returning from Paris look like, exactly?"

"Relaxed, glowing, still floating on air of romance," he said, demonstrating with his hands. "Instead, you look like you are carrying the weight of the world upon your shoulders."

"I'm just readjusting to being back," she replied-her voice light, though her mind weighted down with secrets.

Shawn leaned in, his fingers curling over her chin to tilt it upwards. His touch was warm, his eyes soft. "Yeah, you have a new home now.” His expression was replaced by a smirk, “And you have to get used to seeing this handsome face everyday.”

Eva burst out laughing, “You flatter yourself too much.”

Shawn joined in the laughter. “Well, if you want to put it that way.” He shrugged. “But anyways, welcome back to reality, Mrs Darlington. I'm sure there's going to be piles of work waiting on our desk.”

Eva's smile dropped. The realization that she has to resume work as Ava, weighed on her heavily.

“Oohh, look at that face.” Shawn teased her, snaking his hands around her waist “You don't want to go back to work, right? Should we just elope?

He buried his face in her neck, sucking on it softly “Then we won't have to worry about work. Just me and you being in bed all day, having fun till you lose your voice?” His hands move slowly up her inner thighs.

“Hmmm,” Eva let out a soft moan.

Shawn let out a chuckle as he trailed the kisses down to the top of her breast and lifted her to place her on the counter.

Standing between her legs. “What do you say, Mrs Darlington?” he winked, meeting her gaze.

Eva quickly recovered and pushed him away. “Stop it. Or else we'll both be late for work.” She jumped down from the counter and walked away from him.

“At least, it will be worth it. Don't you think so?” He said louder from behind.

Eva couldn't control the blush forming on her face. “Get ready for work, Shawn.” She responded in the same tone without turning back to look at him.

***********

Later that morning, Eva stood outside Ava's office; hers now, and took a deep breath. She hardly came to the building, she was always working from home with her sister; this responsibility, full to the brim with faking herself as Ava, weighed heavy upon her shoulders.

She flung the door open and stepped inside. It was screaming Ava, sleek, elegant, and immaculately arranged. Presents and cards of congratulations sat on the desk and on some of the shelves, the remnants of the wedding celebration everybody had thought Ava had.

"Ms. Wadsley…I mean, Mrs Darlington." Claire, one of the assistants burst in, lighting up with a smile. "Congratulations on your wedding! The whole team is so thrilled for you."

"Thank you, Claire," Eva said with a well-behaved smile.

She had worked non-stop for the next few hours, her fingers flying across the keyboard as she reviewed designs, typed out emails, and scanned through proposals. Of course, all this could have been akin to familiar territory: she was the silent mover behind Ava's success for the better part of three years, every bestseller design, every brilliant campaign idea born out of their late-night brainstorming sessions.

Eva allowed herself a moment of pride. At least in this area of her life, she didn't have to fake it.

About midday, her father Richard Wadsley walked through the door. His presence was commanding, as always, but his expression held a softness unusual in him.

"Working hard already, I see," he said, further entering the room.

"Some things never change," Eva replied, laying down the papers she had been going through.

He nodded in approval. "I knew you'd step into the role without missing a beat. You've always had a way of handling things efficiently."

"I'm doing my best," she said simply.

Richard sat across from her, studying her closely. "Have you heard from your sister?”

It felt like a punch to the gut. Eva kept her face impassive, though her pulse racing. "No. Why?"

"I have been trying to reach her since the wedding," he replied, his brow furrowing. "Her number's been disconnected."

Eva took a moment to consider the very short message Ava had sent from an unknown number during her honeymoon. "I haven't heard from her either," she lied smoothly.

Richard's face fell as he said, "I just can't believe she'd do this. After all, why would she date Shawn, take the proposal, then disappear on the wedding day.”

She bit her lip as her mind raced further on. How would she explain that Ava never liked Shawn, that the whole relationship was a pre-calculated move of furthering the business connections? Most of all, how would she confess that it wasn't Ava but she who had actually fallen for him and accepted the proposal?

"People make mistakes," she finally brought herself to utter in an extremely soft tone.

“Mistakes?" Richard cut in, his voice edge-sharp with frustration, "Ava? Since when does she make terrible mistakes like this? If this gets out, Do you know how this reflects on our family?”

Eva's conscience pricked but kept her mind clear. "Dad, I'm sure she had her reasons."

"Reasons," he muttered, shaking his head. "Well, whatever they were, they were selfish and she's left us to clean up the mess.”

Eva looked down; his disappointment standing in on her. "She'll come back," she whispered. "She just needs time."

"I hope so," Richard said in a heavy tone of voice.

But Eva didn't mean it, she didn't want her to come back. Her sister's return would cost her heavily.

Their conversation was interrupted by a knock at the door, and Samantha came in holding a clipboard, Ava's best friend and the company's project manager.

"Mr Wadsley, Ava," she said, flashing them a bright smile. "The board meeting is starting soon."

"Thank you, Samantha," Richard said, rising to his feet. "I'll be right there. I have to make a call."

He tapped Eva's shoulder as he left, leaving her alone with Samantha.

As they walked out of the office together, towards the boardroom.

Samantha cast Eva a sidelong. She noticed it, but kept walking with Samantha, her chest coiling with tension.

Samantha turned and suddenly belted her on the shoulder, insistent, but playful. "Ava. You're really not going to say anything? What the hell happened with your phone? I've been trying to reach you since after your wedding. Of course, the one you didn't tell me about. What's going on?" Samantha stared deep into her with concern and curiosity written all over her face.

Ava turned into an iceberg. Her brain was racing, and she was avoiding Samantha's eyes while fumbling for the words.