CHAPTER SIXTEEN

CLARK’S POV

The moment the staff's trembling voice said my name, I knew something was wrong.

But when he whispered the words “video” and “Miss Eva,” I didn’t think

I reacted.

“Where is the phone?” I snapped.

He handed it to me like it was explosive.

I unlocked it immediately.

There was no real video.

Just a stupid edited clip someone made online a blurry hallway angle that vaguely looked like us.

A gossip page added captions:

“Billionaire CEO Clark Anderson caught in secret affair??

“Who is the mystery girl??”

It was ridiculous, pointless and a deliberate attempt to drag me into clickbait.

But my heart still hammered with a violent force.

For a whole second, I imagined the alternative.

A real video of even a real scandal.

And all I saw in my mind was Eva Shaking, broken and ruined.

Because of me.

I exhaled sharply and handed the phone back.

“It’s fake,” I said, voice tight.

“Should I delete it, sir?” the staff asked.

“No…. I’ll handle it.”

I turned to Eva.

She stood frozen near the pool, water dripping from her toes, the sunset painting her skin gold and the panic in her eyes destroying me.

For a moment, I forgot about the fake video.

I forgot about the staff hovering beside us.

I forgot about the world.

I saw only her.

And the fear reflected in her face because of something she didn’t deserve.

“Eva,” I said quietly.

She swallowed.

“Is it bad?”

“No…someone is bored online… That’s all.”

“But…”

“It’s not about you,” I said firmly.

“It’s about me….They try this kind of nonsense every few months.”

Her shoulders loosened a little.

“Still,” she breathed,

“for a moment I thought….”

“I know.” I whispered.

I did too.

More than I should have.

The moment the staff walked away, I checked the damage properly.

Less than three thousand views.

Already mostly debunked in the comments.

No major accounts reposted it.

It was nothing.

But the timing…

The timing made me furious because it exposed something I was working hard to bury.

I cared too much, too early, too deeply and too damn fast.

I pocketed the phone and forced myself to be calm.

“We need to pack,” I said.

“We leave tonight.”

Her brows shot up.

“Tonight? You said tomorrow.”

“I changed the schedule.”

“Why?”

Because I almost kissed you again.

Because my self-control is thinning.

Because staying in this house with you is turning into slow torture.

But I simply said,

“Work.”

She didn’t look convinced.

She never was.

Three hours later, we were in the backseat of the black Mercedes, heading to the airport. She sat beside me, staring out the window, earbuds in, silent.

I tried to read documents on my iPad, but my eyes kept drifting to her reflection in the glass.

Her hair pulled into a loose ponytail.

Her lips softly parted as she focused on the passing lights.

Her fingers tapped lightly on her thigh to the rhythm of whatever song she was listening to.

She looked peaceful…unaware of the chaos she caused in me.

I shut my screen and leaned back.

I should have distanced myself more, I should have avoided sitting next to her and I should have created space.

Instead, I found myself watching her breathe.

Pathetic.

At the airport, we boarded the company jet.

The moment Eva stepped inside, her eyes widened.

“Oh my God…” she whispered, spinning slowly.

“This is…wow. Clark, this is a whole house in the sky.”

I fought a smile.

Her excitement was too real, too innocent.

“It’s just a jet, Eva.”

“It has a bed,” she whispered dramatically.

“A jet can have a bed.”

“It has a shower.”

“A jet can also have a….”

She grabbed my sleeve.

And my entire body tensed at the contact.

“Clark….This thing has a kitchen.”

I cleared my throat.

“Yes.”

“And couches and lights that dim and…”

“Eva,” I cut in quietly,

“If you continue being this adorable, I’m going to regret bringing you.” I said as she froze.

Her hand slowly slipped off my sleeve.

Her eyes lifted to mine big, curious, dangerous.

Oh no.

I had said too much.

I walked past her, pretending not to notice the way her breath changed.

During the flight, she fell asleep on the couch across from me, curled up like she was trying to make herself small.

Soft blanket pulled to her chin and head resting on a pillow.

She looked like peace while I looked like chaos.

At some point, her blanket slipped off her shoulder.

I hesitated…then stood and gently pulled the blanket back over her.

My fingers brushed her arm by mistake.

My chest tightened painfully.

I was a grown man.

A disciplined man.

A man who prided himself on restraint but with her…

Restraint felt like a rope getting thinner every minute.

We landed in Italy close to midnight.

The air was cold, tasting like sea salt and marble dust.

Our driver took us to the hotel..one of the most exclusive in the city and I checked us in.

“Two rooms,” I told the receptionist immediately.

Eva blinked at me.

“Two?”

“Yes.”

“Oh.”

Her voice deflated.

And that did something to me too.

We took the elevator up.

The hallway was quiet, dimly lit, golden.

Her room was across from mine.

I stopped in front of her door and handed her keycard.

“Goodnight, Eva.”

She looked at me strangely.

“Goodnight,” she whispered.

She turned the handle but I called her name before she could step inside.

“Eva.”

She turned back.

And this time, I didn’t hide anything in my eyes.

“I handled the rumors,” I said.

“They won’t spread.”

“I know.”

“And I want you to understand something…” I continued, voice low, steady.

“If anything like that ever does happen, it won’t be your fault.”

“Okay,” she said.

“And I will always protect you from it.”

“Why?” she whispered.

Because I’m already in trouble with you.....because you’ve gotten under my skin....because I want you in ways I shouldn’t.

But I simply said:

“Because you are my soon to be sister in law…It’s my responsibility.”

A lie that almost tasted bitter.

She looked at me like she knew it was a lie… but decided not to push.

“Goodnight, Clark,” she whispered as she stepped into her room.

I stepped into mine.

And for a moment, I thought I would sleep.

But an hour later, after pacing, showering, pacing again I heard a soft sound right on my door.

I froze.

I reached for the handle, opened it and saw Eva standing there.

She was barefooted, hair messy and her eyes wide and nervous.

Wearing a hotel robe that swallowed her whole.

“Clark…” she whispered, voice trembling.

“I…I can’t sleep.”