CHAPTER TWENTY ONE

EVA'S POV

I didn’t sleep.

Not even for a second.

The email replayed in my head all night…the words private executive meeting and conflict of interest stabbing me repeatedly until dawn finally came.

By morning, my eyes were tired, my heart uneasy, and my stomach felt like it had been tied into a thousand knots.

I dressed slowly, forcing myself to breathe.

Forcing myself to stay calm.

Clark had texted once during the night:

“We’ll handle this…Don’t panic…I’m on your side.”

But what did that mean?

How would we “handle” something we didn’t even understand?

I walked into the conference floor feeling like I was walking into an execution chamber.

People were already whispering.

Glancing..judging.

Rachel stood beside Clark, holding his arm like she was welded to it.

She wore a bright red dress…loud, flashy, and almost offensive this early in the morning.

Her hair curled perfectly.

Her smile was too wide and too fake.

Clark looked exhausted.

His tie was loose, and his eyes looked like he hadn’t slept either.

When he saw me, he straightened slightly.

Not obviously.

Just a little….like my presence pulled him upright without his permission.

I quickly looked away.

But Rachel didn’t.

“Oh, Eva!” she said loudly, waving me over.

“I saved you a seat.”

The last thing I wanted was to sit anywhere near her.

Before I could answer, someone in a black suit approached me.

“Ms. Eva Mendes? They’re ready for you.”

My throat went dry.

Clark turned immediately.

“Do you want me to come with you?”

The man shook his head.

“Only the subject may enter.”

Subject.

Like I was a case study or a problem.

Rachel smirked.

I followed the man down a quiet hallway to a room with frosted glass.

Inside, three executives sat behind a long table…stern faces, formal clothes, zero warmth.

“Take a seat, Miss Mendes,” one of them said.

My legs felt weak as I sat.

The woman in the middle opened a file.

“Do you know why you’re here?”

“No, ma’am.”

She slid a paper toward me.

“This is an anonymous report stating that during this trip, you engaged in unprofessional closeness with Mr. Clark Hawthorne that could destabilize business decisions.”

My heart dropped.

Anonymous…of course.

I had a strong feeling it was Rachel.

“It also states that you and Mr. Anderson were seen together late nights and behaving in ways that imply a personal relationship.”

My palms began to sweat.

“We are not in a relationship,” I said firmly.

“Nothing inappropriate happened.”

They all watched me, faces blank, eyes sharp.

“Have you interacted with Mr. Anderson more than necessary for work?” the man on the left asked.

I hesitated.

Because the truth was… yes.

Not romantically but yes.

“I… we work closely,” I said carefully. “I handle his meetings…I have been around him often because of work, not personal reasons and majorly because his assistant is on maternity leave.”

The woman leaned forward.

“Did he ever come to your room?”

My breath hitched.

Images rushed through my mind..Clark at my door.

Clark kissing me.

Clark hiding under the bed.

“No,” I lied.

“Not for personal reasons.”

“Personal or work?” she pressed.

“Work.” I whispered.

The lie tasted bitter as they exchanged looks.

“Very well,” the woman said.

“You may leave. Mr. Anderson will now be questioned.”

I stood, legs shaky, chest tight.

The hallway outside felt colder than before.

I leaned on the wall, breathing hard.

Moments later, Clark walked toward the room, but he paused when he saw my face.

“Are you okay?” he whispered.

I shook my head.

He stepped closer, lowering his voice.

“They can’t do anything to you, Eva. Don’t worry…I’ll fix this.”

“How?” I asked, voice cracking.

He didn’t answer.

He only touched my arm lightly..so light, it felt like a ghost passing through my skin.

Then he entered the room.

I waited.

Minutes felt like hours.

I paced,sat,stood again, Fiddled with my fingers, checked the time.

Repeated.

Finally, after what felt like forever, the door opened.

Clark and Rachel walked out together.

She was smiling like a cat who had just eaten a full bowl of cream.

He looked calm… too calm.

A dangerous calm.

I swallowed as he walked straight up to me.

“It’s fixed,” he said quietly.

“They won’t ask further questions.”

I blinked, confused.

“How?”

Rachel tugged his arm playfully.

“Tell her, babe.”

Clark’s jaw tightened.

Then he looked at me.

“I told them the report was a misunderstanding…That the person who wrote it must have misread things.”

Rachel nodded proudly.

“And he told them we’re together..publicly…That he proposed to me months ago and that we’re planning to settle together after the trip.”

My chest tightened painfully.

He did what?

I stared at Clark, my heart sinking fast.

“You used… your engagement to fix this?”

His eyes softened slightly, almost apologetic.

“It was the only clean way, Eva. If I denied her, they would think I was hiding something.”

He didn’t look proud.

He looked frustrated like this wasn’t what he wanted either.

Rachel giggled and leaned her head on his shoulder.

“And they believed him completely. I mean… look at us. We look perfect together.”

I felt something twist deep inside me.

Something sharp…something ugly.

“Good.” I said, forcing a smile.

“I’m glad it’s settled.”

Clark watched me too long.

Too intensely.

Rachel noticed as her smile dropped.

She grabbed his arm tighter.

“Clark, aren’t we late for our breakfast?”

He blinked, eyes still on me.

Then he turned away.

But just as he walked past me, he whispered quietly so Rachel wouldn’t hear:

“I didn’t want to use her but I had no choice.”

I swallowed the lump in my throat.

“This is your life, Clark. I shouldn’t be part of your choices.”

He stopped walking.

For a second, he almost turned back.

Almost.

But Rachel tugged him away.

And he let her.

The rest of the day passed like a blur.

Travel arrangements.

Silent rides.

Avoided eye contact.

Forced professionalism.

Rachel acted like she won something.

Clark acted like he lost something.

And I acted like I didn’t feel anything at all.

By evening, we were at the airport and by night, we had returned to our city.

I entered my apartment feeling drained, empty, and oddly relieved the trip was over.

I dropped my bags on the floor and collapsed onto the couch, covering my face with my hands.

I needed sleep, I needed distance…I needed….

A knock on my door cut through the silence.

I frowned.

Who would come here at this time?

I stood slowly and walked to the door.

When I opened it…

My heart stopped.

Standing there was the last person I expected to ever see again.

“Eva…”

His voice shook.

“I’ve made a terrible mistake.”

My ex-boyfriend.

Daniel.

He looked broken.

Desperate.

Eyes red.

Hair messy.

Clothes wrinkled.

He took a slow step forward.

“Please… I need you back.”

My breath froze.

No..not now.

Not after everything.

Not when my heart was already a battlefield.

“Eva.” he whispered again, his voice cracking.

“I still love you.”