CHAPTER FIVE

Evelina's POV

I stared at the photo on my phone. Then, at the hospital payment reminder.

After a few more minutes of staring at the screen like it might magically solve my problems, I shoved my phone into my pocket and stood up. My mind was made up.

The first thing I did was make sure Caleb had absolutely no idea what I was planning.

That man was already dramatic enough. Before heading there, I stopped by the hospital.

The familiar smell of disinfectant greeted me the moment I stepped into mother's room. My mother looked up from her book and smiled.

"There she is. How're you doing, my Tiger?"

I smiled back. "Still alive, Mum."

"That's reassuring."

I sat beside her bed.

For a few minutes, we talked about everything and nothing. The weather. Hospital food. A ridiculous television show she had become obsessed with. It felt almost normal, then her eyes narrowed.

"What?" I frowned.

"You look exhausted."

"I'm fine, Mum."

"Evelina, you have bags under your eyes."

"Ughh… I've just been busy."

She studied me for a long moment. The worst thing about mothers was that they could see straight through your soul.

"You've not been getting enough sleep."

"I have… "

She raised an eyebrow. "I'm serious, Eve."

I looked away. "I'm okay."

It wasn't entirely a lie… I wasn't okay. But I wasn't falling apart either.

Eventually, mum let it go, thankfully. Because if she found out I was considering working inside the creepiest estate in the city, she'd probably chain me to a hospital bed herself.

An hour later, I found myself riding toward Nightfall Estate. Again. I was beginning to question every life decision I'd ever made. The estate looked exactly the same.

The deeper I went, the more uncomfortable I felt. There were no children playing outside. No cars moving. Just expensive houses and silence. The massive mansion eventually came into view. I parked my motorcycle and climbed off.

Immediately, I looked towards the place where I'd seen the advertisement yesterday. My stomach dropped. It was gone. I walked close to the place before checking the photo on my phone.

"What the hell?"

Maybe someone removed it or did someone else beat me to it? That was the only reasonable explanation. I approached the intercom and pressed the button.

A few seconds later, the gate opened slightly. And the giant bodyguard stood there. The same bodyguard from yesterday. His expression immediately soured.

"What do you want?"

"Good afternoon to you too." I held up my phone. "There was a job advertisement here yesterday."

His face remained blank. “No advertisement.“

I blinked. "...No?" I showed him the photo. "I literally have a picture."

He glanced at it, then at me. Finally, he looked annoyed. “You took a picture of a blank board.“

This man was unbelievable. "Are you serious right now?"

His eyes narrowed. “Listen here, little twat. This is not the place for little girls like you.“

My eye twitched. "What did you just call me?"

"If you don't leave this property immediately, you're going to regret it."

I laughed, and the bodyguard looked offended.

"You think I'm joking?"

"No." I folded my arms. "I just think it's adorable that you're threatening me because you forgot how advertisements work."

His face darkened. The man's jaw clenched so hard I thought his teeth might crack.

"Oh, this is ridiculous." I turned away dramatically.

At that exact moment, someone slammed directly into my shoulder. The impact nearly knocked me off balance.

"What the-"

A young woman brushed past me. Beautiful didn't even begin to cover it. She had pale skin, strawberry-blonde hair and striking silver-grey eyes.

The kind of woman magazines would probably start wars over. Unfortunately, her personality seemed terrible.

"Watch it, lowly human." She hissed.

The young woman didn't even slow down. She kept walking while I stared after her. Finally, I snapped.

"WHAT THE FUCK IS WRONG WITH EVERYONE HERE?!"

The words echoed through the estate. Birds scattered from nearby trees. The young woman stopped as if to answer but then she kept walking.

The bodyguard stepped forward but I stood my ground. He reached toward me, then suddenly stopped. His entire posture changed like a soldier standing at attention.

My irritation faded as though something had changed. The air itself felt different. Then I slowly turned around.

A man stood a few feet away. I recognized those green eyes. It was the creep from the club. Just great...

The same unsettling feeling returned, the one I'd felt the night he watched me outside Sin & Silk. His gaze settled on me. How could someone look so attractive and so terrifying at the same time? I hated it.

His attention shifted briefly toward the bodyguard.

"What's the ruckus about?" His voice was smooth, like velvet wrapped around a blade.

Nobody answered. The bodyguard looked uncomfortable. I was busy trying not to stare because staring would be embarrassing. And because his stupid eyes were doing very strange things to my body.

The corner of his mouth twitched. Almost like he knew exactly what I was thinking. Then I summoned the courage to tell him about the maid ad I saw the previous day.

"Ahem!" I cleared my throat. "I actually saw this maid advertisement yesterday when I made a delivery here." I showed him the photo on my phone. " But someone was stupid enough to take it down and pretend like it was never there."

He looked amused. "That would be me."