A Deadly Party

“Welcome, Ms. Clarke”

Steve, Ryan’s P.A. greeted Evelyn with a wide smile on his face. Evelyn smiled at him back and shook hands with him. Steve then led her inside and headed to Ryan who had his back facing them as he was engrossed in conversing with his friends.

Evelyn watched how his shoulders tensed when Ryan whispered something in his ears, probably informing him about her arrival.

She sucked a deep breath when he turned around and their eyes clashed.

“Oh my, what a surprise, Ms. Clarke.” He spoke and stepped closer. Evelyn shot him a cold look but then her eyes dropped to his right palm he extended for her to take. Feigning a smile, she put her palm on his.

“Thanks for inviting me here, Mr. Wills. I am sure my presence must have fulfilled all your conditions for signing the deal.” She jeered.

His eyes darkened. Giving her a tight-lipped smile, he engulfed her small hand in his large one and brought it closer to his lips.

“Indeed Ms. Clarke. Your presence graced my party and my eyes as well.” He spoke huskily and planted a kiss on the back of her palm. Repulsed, Evelyn tried to snatch her hand from his hold but he deliberately lingered his lips there for a long time before releasing it.

Ryan licked his lips as he sized up the beautiful lady that was looking no less than a temptress. Evelyn was wearing a shimmery royal navy-blue sleeveless gown provided with an illusion neckline. The gown had a small slit near her left thigh and fitted her figure perfectly, bringing out her curves and dips. She had put up minimal makeup ’cause her diamond studs and necklace did the rest to enhance her flawless beauty.

Ryan then escorted Evelyn to the main hall and introduced her to his business partners, friends, and shareholders. Evelyn greeted them all politely but she could see the way their eyes kept roaming all around her body. Some blatantly checked her from head to toe while some would pass her envious stares.

Sara who was standing beside Evelyn started feeling something off in the air. She noticed how Ryan was purposely touching Evelyn every now and then. He would sometimes grab her shoulders or lean closer to her making her uncomfortable. Evelyn also noticed that but she didn’t want to make a scene so she simply would scoot away from him. But that jerk continued annoying her.

Her trusted employees were also present at the party. They were watching everything with sealed lips and helpless eyes as Evelyn had strictly warned them not to interfere unless she gives the signal.

Evelyn was aware that Ryan was purposely making her uncomfortable as the moment she stepped in, she hogged the limelight. From prominent business figures to some renowned celebrities, media, and elites, all eyes were noticing every single detail of her. And the thousands of cameras present at every corner of the humongous hall were recording every single detail. Like hungry wolves, everyone was waiting to elicit some excellent reaction or shot a picture that would set the city on fire.

Also, she knew Ryan well. Her rejection had drilled a large hole in his male pride. That’s why he intentionally organized the inaugural ceremony of his new hotel after signing the deal with Maria Estates, send her an invitation, and forced her to attend or he’ll call it off.

Ryan was more powerful so even if he backed off from this project it wouldn’t impact his company much but for her, it would be a big loss. And on top of that, she won’t be able to denounce his actions as Ryan had just agreed to collaborate with her not wrote it in black or white.

But things were now getting out of her hand. He was taking advantage of her silence. Evelyn was showing subtle resistance and to her consternation, his friends also noticed her discomfort but they made no move to stop him. She could see them passing encouraging smirks or winking at him. It was all a trap.

Her patience was hanging on the thread. She was close to lashing out at him when her phone pinged, grabbing her attention. Excusing herself, Evelyn weaseled out of that disgusting crowd and headed to a quiet place before checking her phone.

Her brows furrowed. It was a message from Maria.

“Evie, I am not feeling well. Come home quickly.”

Her heart nearly stopped.

Without thinking twice, Evelyn immediately called Joseph and skittered to a dark and silent corner.

“Escort me out of this damn place right now and tell Leo to bring the car to the backside.”

“All right Boss.”

*****

Ryan was busy gossiping with his friends but his eyes kept drifting to the corner where Evelyn was standing previously. He thought maybe she went to the restroom or in the hallway to attend to a call but what was taking her so long?

When he couldn’t control his anxiety any longer, he dashed outside while his friends kept calling him from behind.

The women screamed when suddenly the door of the restroom was opened harshly revealing a furious Ryan.

“Evelyn!!”

He screamed and barged inside making them gape in shock.

Ryan began checking out every bathroom stall like a maniac. His anger soared when he didn’t find her there.

Growling, Ryan stormed out of there and headed to the exit when he collided with Sara on the way. She was also taken by surprise but quickly schooled her expression and bowed to him.

“Where’s Evelyn?”, he shot straightforwardly.

Sara saw the raw anger swirling in his eyes but she kept her calm and answered, “Apologies Mr. Wills but Ma’am had to leave the party in the middle because of an emergency. She is deeply sorry and to make it up, she has invited you to discuss the meeting in her hotel, Pearl Lodge.”

His jaw ticked. Ryan opened his mouth to speak when Sara quickly fished out a box from her back.

“Also, she had sent a gift for you.”

His burning eyes dropped to her hands which were holding a square-shaped box wrapped in glittery golden paper. Watching him standing idly, Sara smiled and shoved the box in his hands startling him.

“You-“

“We’ll send the car sharp at 7 pm to pick you up, Mr. Wills. Have a great evening.” Smirking, she scurried away leaving him fuming.

“FUCK!!!”

Ryan roared and kicked the wall in frustration. Sara’s last words were like a tight slap on his face.

Evelyn once again succeeded in making this rodomontade a standing joke.

“What the hell does she think of herself? That I would let her go this easily?”

A devilish glint entered his eyes. The empty walls shook with his dark, menacing chuckles as he glared in the direction from where Sara left a few minutes before.

“You made a big mistake Evelyn by catching my eyes. I gave you two fucking chances to give in easily but seems like you love being a bitch. But baby by ditching me, Ryan fucking Wills, you dug your own grave.” He sneered and then glowered at the gift in his hand.

“This night would mark the end of your so-called self-esteem, bloody bitch. You love being on the front pages of newspapers, right? But this time your company would be the one making the headlines. News flash: Maria Estates went bankrupt in a day.”

Snarling, Ryan burst into laughter and started tearing off the wrapper of the gift.

“And this wouldn’t end here Clarke. I would make sure no one would work with you again. Depressed and bogged with debt, you’ll commit suicide. But I wouldn’t let you die this easily. After all, it would be a crime if I put you in a coffin without tasting you.”

Chuckling at his sadistic thoughts, he unwrapped the gift only to find a red box. He then opened it and found a small card that was tucked into a black velvet cloth.

His lips curved in an amusing smile.

“Huh? A love letter?”

He tried to pull the card out but it was stuck to the cloth. So, he simply clutched the box with his left hand and opened the card using his right index finger.

White hot anger coursed through his veins as soon as his eyes read the letters scribbled on it.

“Happy Hell, pathetic bastard.”

“THAT WHORE!!”

He let out an animalistic growl and gripped that card between his fingers, crumbling it in the process.

“That’s it. She had tested me enough. Now it’s payback time. I will make sure she will shed tears of blood.”

Blinded with rage, Ryan gripped the box tightly between his fingers and yanked the card from the box, pulling away the black cloth too.

“What’s this?”

He froze when something shiny dangling in the air caught his eye.

“A key? Why the hell there’s a key there-“

Words died in his mouth as his body paled in shock. His hands that were holding the box started shivering like a leaf.

A stream of cold sweat trickled down his temple. Ryan shifted his wide terrified eyes to the box only to shudder in horror.

It was stuffed with bombs.