Chapter 4

Elliot's POV

My heart swells with pride fitting these people into my servant rack. 

Honestly I was expecting them to reject my deal. But guess what, they didn't. 

I turn to my assistant, blushing so wide. Eva smirks, a bit disappointed. 

She's been listening to the call. She turns on the couch, facing me who's lying on the sofa with my phone in hand.

"How are you sure this woman is going to deliver?”  

“Why do you think so?”  I frown. 

“You know she's been on the leading front of hating you ever since she got married to Edward?”  

“Yes true, but have you forgotten she's a business woman? Who will reject a deal scaling into millions?” I ask Eva and she can't answer. 

She retains that skeptical face of hers. 

Just like me, Eva has never liked my stepbrother and his wife for once, for her past three years of being my assistant. 

Hearing how Edward's mom, the mistress, seduced my dad outside and coming in to chase my mom out of her matrimonial home is one thing I can't easily forgive and won't forget. 

Eva takes it to her heart, that at times I wonder if we're siblings. 

As if this daylight theft wasn't enough, her son grew up broadcasting to people that my mom and I are trying to kill them even after chasing them off his father's property. He won't tell the truth. 

So now I'm officially taking over as the CEO of GRUX MOTORS, I'm playing it to his face. 

It will be held right there in Las Vegas where he resides. Straight to his face. 

I can't just wait to see how he will keep that face of his. 

My stomach knots with excited bubbles.

Eva chimes in. “If it's me, I'd choose some better planner but still hold it in Las Vegas. They might use this chance to foil your plans. Who knows.” 

“That's what I'm even waiting for. Looking for a chance to display my power over them.” 

Eva sucks in a deep breath. She doesn't understand my plan, that's why. 

If only she does. 

Going with her idea, it will only prove Edward's claim that we hate him, that's why we're giving his wife's job to someone else. 

To me, giving Luna this is absolutely the best way to get back at him and he'd still look bad in the eyes of people. 

Currently, I'm waiting for Luna to message so we can finalize the deal. Don't know what's keeping her. 

I throw my phone to the desk, about to lay down and have some rest when a notification chimes in. 

I glare. It's an unsaved number.  Tapping on the message, it's her. My eyes lit with a glow. 

“Finally!” 

“Hi, Mr. Elliot, it's me. Luna. Edward's wife." I read out, laughing. 

“Look how respectful she is on my dm.” I show it to Eva but she doesn't seem really amused. Rather jealous. 

I sigh, drifting focus back on my phone screen. 

"Yes, good to see your message. May we proceed with the deal?" I texted.

"Can we talk on call please? I have a baby in my arms.” 

“Baby? Since when?” 

So far I know this is their third year of being together and last time I privately trailed them a while ago, she was still actively doing her business. 

Now, a baby. 

She senses my confusion and clears her throat. 

“I recently gave birth. Six days ago." 

I'm not even thinking of the idea of her giving birth but my worry is another little being who will grow up hating me. 

Edward is definitely going to spoil this child's mind when it grows up. 

"Wow. Congratulations." I manage to say. 

But Eva senses the anxiety on my face. She rises up and walks over to my side, draping her hand over my shoulder. Then peep over my phone.

"What's it?" I tease her, jokingly squeezing my face.

"What's she saying?" She asked. 

"She just gave birth." I respond. 

Wrinkles of concern appear over her forehead. “What's that?” I whisper. 

"Are you sure she's going to deliver your job as a new mother?”  Eva knits her brow. 

But this isn't anxiety. This is clear jealousy as I run an indepth scan over her, coupled with her reasons. 

Always giving excuses of why Luna won't be able to deliver when she herself isn't complaining. 

First, it was her enmity with my brother. 

Second, because of the baby. 

“The event will be in six months. Isn't that enough time for a new mother to get back to work?” I ask. “Or she'll be at home forever?” 

But she can't answer. 

“I'm sorry,” she stammers next, possibly admitting her fault. 

My focus drifts back to Luna. I ask, "A son or a daughter?” Only to regret right after. 

She will think I care. The truth is, I don't give a damn and at the same time, I don't want to act like I don't give a damn. 

I look for something else to balance up. 

"Maybe, I can come visit?" But the moment these words leave my mouth, I'm almost regretting it. 

It's me now praying she rejects me only to hear her say, “You're highly welcome." 

I read this and I'm palming my chest, gawking in utmost shock. 

I don't know how to respond. 

"I don't think I can." I manage to send after almost a minute of staying dormant. 

She doesn't reply, making the suspense even worse. I stare into the screen with a racing heart before the three dots begin to sway again. 

"You know…… I was just kidding." She says. 

What a lie! 

I know she's saying to hide face but her second message drops. 

“How can I invite you to your enemy's house?” She couples up with another lie. 

“Am I not your enemy too? Why accept it in the first place?”  I challenge her. 

“Who in the world will decline such a business deal over personal feud?” A smirking emoji follows. 

I turn to show Eva. “She's sounding a bit odd. What do you think?”

"It's nothing deep.” Eva says nonchalantly. “Maybe some couple feud or she's trying to lure you. Either of these.” She says with a shrug, barely looking at me. 

“Hmm.” I sigh and turn back to Luna, going straight to the matter of the day. 

"Are you ready to get the details now?" 

"Can we call?" She says. 

"Of course." I reply. 

It's no big deal. 

"Let's hear what she'll say," I say, placing my phone on speaker so that Eva wouldn't have to lean over my neck. 

The call notification pops on the screen. 

Video call?

My suspicions spike up. 

I want to reject this. I look at Eva for a clue but she gives nothing. It's now left for me to decide whether to pick it or not. 

After a rocky debate inside of me, I decide to take the risk. 

I slide to the right, accepting the call only for my phone to slip through my fingers, dropping to the ground. 

“Whoosh!” 

“What's that?” Eva jumps in, arching an eyebrow. She picks up the phone to stare only to watch her eyes go bloodshot within seconds. 

"What's the meaning of this, Luna?” Her voice rumbles loud. 

I try to grab the phone off her hand but she dodges.

My face swings low, my voice grunts in regret. How I wish I listened to my inner voice, not to pick this. 

“Didn't I tell you she's accepting this deal merely to set you up?” Eva barks at me for the very first time and I can't even bring myself to warn her. 

I'm still here, sitting still and staring between her and the empty air. 

What do I do now?

Each time I want to rise, get the phone and end the call, the image refreshes before me. 

Her big, plumpy boob out, dripping with milk as her baby is about to suck on it. 

I exhale hard. Not knowing what to do. The video is still in Eva’s hand.

“Sticking your full breast out before your brother's wife? Trying to set him up? Urgh, Mrs. Luna?” 

“It's okay, Eva.” I groan. “Let this not escalate.” 

“You mean you're going to just sit here and let her assault you like this? This is sexual assault, you know.” Eva talks like she wants me getting Luna arrested. 

A light chuckle escapes my throat. I correct her. “No, it's not. It's seduction rather.” 

Newborn mothers are permitted to breastfeed their babies anywhere just that they ought to have a sense of modesty in everything. 

“We can just end the call without making a big deal over it.” I stretch my hand at her but she dodges again. 

That's when anger flashes across my eyes. “What are you trying to do, Eva?” I growl, voice low and cold. 

What's her intention here? 

I know how dangerous a jealous woman is and if I don't do something she's gonna complicate this for me. 

I lunge at her, grabbing her wrist and forcefully snatching the phone off her hand. I proceed to end the call but Luna's frightened voice catches me halfway. 

"Wait please!" 

My fingers pause midair. 

“I'm covered up now, please. I was thinking you won't mind.” She says with a dull voice. 

I look at her. Her breasts are now covered with a piece of cloth she probably had on the bed. 

I scoff. 

Didn't she know she had to do this from the very beginning? 

I strike a serious face, giving no chance for any mishap. 

“If we have to continue with this call, you've got to behave. You're my brother’s wife.” 

She nods hastily. Her eyes lingers. I know she wants to say something. 

I pause, waiting on her. 

"Who sexualizes a breastfeeding mother?" Her question drops, hitting like a hammer. 

“What….what did you just say? Shifting the blame on me. Urgh?” 

She freezes and jerks back. 

“Are you out of your senses to know you don't stick out your boobs everywhere but to your husband alone?”

But on the mention of ‘husband,’ her eyes furrow. 

I pause, examining her, thinking deeply. 

It's quite possible my brother has betrayed her. This becomes my first thought. I want to laugh so hard but it's not yet confirmed. 

When Edward was inciting her to hate me, she thought she was with the best husband. Now he's most likely playing the same game with her, she's hurt. 

I chuckle. 

I want to confirm, so I drop another stunt, closely watching.

"You're a married woman for goodness  sake.”  I fake disappointment. “Even though I hate your husband to the death, I still have some morals." 

"Since you got one, why not view me otherwise?”  

I drop my back to the couch, speechless. 

“View you as?”  I sneer. 

“As nothing other than a woman breastfeeding her infant?" 

Gosh!

My resolve to bombard her with scolds crumbles. 

Where's this woman heading to? I begin to wonder. Why is she still insisting?