SEVEN

EVELYN STRODE down the busy Los Angeles sidewalk under the scorching afternoon sun, humming along with the song she was listening to through her AirPods. 

    Despite the cacophony of noise that seemed to come from every direction, cars, buses, taxi cabs, bikes, and people pushing and maneuvering around one another nothing could stop her from being in a good mood.

    Every member of her family had asked her what the occasion was that morning during breakfast because she was rarely in a good mood. She'd just smiled and said nothing. She was still skeptical about telling them what she had up her sleeves.

    Yesterday had been a terrible day for her, but today? Today was the day she took the very first step to accomplishing her seven-year-long plan.

    She'd filled Doris in on the details when they had taken off to the hospital café yesterday evening after her discharge.

    The plan was to live with Jason for at least six months and within that six months, she'd try to find any clue relating to her sister's death. She also asked Doris to get closer to his friend, Brad, using her injury as an excuse to get any sort of information from him. 

    Evelyn had been quite shocked at her expletive-laden reply to that request and had to ask her to lower her voice.

    "No freaking way, Evy! He has a daughter. And for all we know, he could be married." Doris had muttered under her breath.

    "Not every man with a daughter is married and besides, I'm not asking you to sleep with him. I'm just asking you to get a little close. Close enough to get any info out of him."

    "He's a lawyer, Evy. That would be really difficult."

    "I know. But we gotta try."

    She'd succeeded at getting Doris into the plan and even suggested she lived at her house with her family till she gets better.

    Six long and strenuous months living under the same roof with Jason Lyndon would feel like an eternity but she had to do it anyway. 

    No pain. No gain. Right? 

    She had just about six months before she leaves the country with Doris to Paris and start her own design line and Doris, her modeling agency. That had been their dream since childhood and they had planned and saved up for it. 

    But Evelyn knew deep down that she won't be able to focus or be inspired if she didn't find out who murdered Clarissa.

    It was going to take all of her strength and willpower to survive the next six months.

    Just as she had survived when her world came crumbling seven years ago when her sister had died.

    Starting right now.

    Head back, chin up, Evelyn stopped outside the regal facade of Jason's house and glanced up at the imposing mansion.

    Blowing out hard, she took off her Airpods, rolled back her shoulders, and tried to think positive thoughts. A flutter of nervous apprehension winged across her stomach.

    This was entirely ridiculous.

    She was here to put her plan in progress. That was all. Why was she nervous? If anyone should be nervous it should be the man living in this house. Not her.

    She took two long breaths, ran her hands down the front of her sleeveless white cotton turtleneck she'd tucked neatly into her form-fitting jean pants, and lifted her chin. Stretching her hand out, she rang the buzzer.

    Look out, Jason. Here I come.

The moment he heard the buzzer, Jason knew, for sure, it was her. The lady he had just gotten to meet a day ago that had gotten into his life, flipped his world upside down and turned him into a nervous wreck.

    Brad had called him yesterday and had informed him that he'd gotten a call from her and she was going to come over to his house today. 

    He paced the tiled floor of his living room as he waited for the housekeeper to go answer the door.

    "Wait a damn minute." He muttered to himself. "Why am I nervous?"

    Every lady her age wanted the exact thing from rich hot celebrities like him. 

    Money. And sex.

    He had more than enough of both to give her. Anytime. Any day. So what was the problem?

    Jason exhaled slowly. He knew deep down that there was something dreadfully different about this lady. 

    And, weirdly enough, there was something about her that seemed oddly familiar. Both facially and attitude. He felt like they'd crossed paths once or twice but he couldn't seem to recollect.

    But that wasn't his problem right now. This lady wasn't like every normal LA girl. The fact that she was still a virgin up until yesterday was proof enough that she wasn't the conventional city girl.

    Funny. Even though he still hasn't any recollection of what happened that night, he still found himself guilt-stricken throughout the whole day. And he still felt a pang of that feeling now. Maybe that was why he was so nervous.

    He was doomed!

    Jason dropped his shoulders and rubbed his hands together calming himself down. He's been through worse situations than this. He can handle this.

    He watched as she strode in behind the housekeeper with confidence and poise. 

    He hadn't been in the right state of mind yesterday to notice how striking she was. Her blue eyes were electric, somewhere between royal and aquamarine. Her hair made as much of an impact as her eyes. The smooth, silky fall was the black of a raven's wing shot through with blue in the sunlight.

    He tried not to imagine what it would feel like to wrap his hand in all that thick, glorious hair.

    He scratched out that thought as immediately as it came. 

    He was in this mess because of his libidinal impulses. He needed to get a grip and focus on the matter at hand.

    But it was really difficult to focus with this stunning woman around. What was wrong with him?

    Jason cleared his throat. "You're here early? I was expecting you in the evening." He managed, stretching his hand towards a couch behind her. "Have a seat."

    Jason regard her from over the rim of his mug as she grab the mug of steaming decaf coffee the housekeeper had placed right in front of her. 

    Evelyn placed the mug on top of the coffee table with a slight thud. "We are both busy people." She said. "I guess, I have to get to the point."

    "By all means..." He said with a wave of his hand.

    She paused and took another sip of the coffee. "I just want one thing, Jason Lyndon."

    He raised an eyebrow. "And that is?" He drawled.

    "To live under the same roof with you."

Jason choked on his coffee coughing non-stop as Evelyn sat back on the couch, arms folded and smiling diabolically, relishing in the disturbed look on his face. 

    "Are you out of your mind?!" He spat out after recovering from his coughing fit. "There's no way in hell I'm letting you live under the same roof with me!"

    "Well, I remember clearly you asked what I wanted? This is what I want?"

    Jason flamed up. "I thought you were going to ask for money as everyone else does!"

    Evelyn unfolded her arms. "I thought I made it clear that I don't want your money..."

    "Five hundred thousand bucks!" Jason cut in. 

    Evelyn shook her head. "Nope," she said with a sigh.

    "I'll double the money. No. Triple."

    "Still no."

    "I see what's happening here. I'm a celebrity and you have some sort of obsession with me. I guess, you like me or have a crush on me..."

    "Yes, if that makes you feel better." Evelyn cut in still doing her devilish smirking thing.

    " ...but I love my personal space and I hate it when anyone tries to invade it." He slid forward and rested both hands on the coffee table so that his whole body pointed towards her. "If you have nowhere to stay, I'd gladly buy you a house. You can't stay here and that is non-negotiable."

    Now it was Evelyn's turn to lean towards the coffee table. "I don't think you understand the situation you're in," she said. "Last I checked you've been accused of dating a minor and any other slight scandal about you now, mistake or not, won't only raise the people's suspicion but would confirm it. You may win in court with all your money but before then your career would be chilling in the mud. I have absolutely nothing to lose. So," She paused and sat back on the sofa. "What's it gonna be superstar?"

    He opened his mouth to reply but was halted by a sudden outburst from a young woman who looked like she was within her late 20s. She barged in breathing frantically as if she'd been running a marathon.

    "Boss! Brenda's Fine Furnitures called. They are determined to rescind their Ad deal with us in the next two days and they're demanding compensation of ten million dollars for tarnishing their brand's name." 

    Jason stood up abruptly. "What the heck, Julia?!" He snarled aggressively. "You said you'd find a means to rectify this? Have you always been this incompetent or have I been nice with you lately?"

    Julia's eyes brimmed with tears. "I tried but..."

    "You didn't try enough, okay?!" Jason barked. "Because if you did we won't be facing this right now. I'm not paying you to be my PA to be completely useless or are you tired of keeping your job? Because I can think of several people who would kill to take your place."

    Evelyn slid in between Jason and his assistant. "Whoa! Whoa! Whoa! Chill bro!" She said, putting up both hands in front of him. "That's no way to speak to people even if you PAY them to work for you. Do your fans even know you're this much of a jerk? You're being really disrespectful right now."

    "Stay out of this. This has absolutely nothing to do with you. Get out of my face!"

    "Yeah. It has nothing to do with me but you're going way out of line right now." Evelyn crossed her arms. She was ready for battle. "And if you were sensible enough you would realize that. But I guess being sensible is not a thing for you. Which, believe me, I don't blame you. You're so used to having everyone jump when you click your fingers and not complain in the process that you've forgotten people have feelings. For God's sake, Jason Lyndon. The whole damn world doesn't revolve around you. The earlier you realize that the better!"

    Jason scoffed, then he stepped forward, covering the space between them with each stride, totally invading her space until they were just about five centimeters apart from each other and she could practically feel his breath on her cheek. "You act like you've got me all figured out, Evelyn. But you know NOTHING, absolutely nothing about me or my life. So you have no right to say that to me," he spat furiously.

    Evelyn stood her ground. His voice came from the depths of his chest and was no doubt intended to intimidate lesser mortals who got in his way. There was no way she was going to let this man bully her. 

    Any lesser mortal would have backed off. Not her. Not EVER!

    She raised a brow. "Pained much? Now you realize how exactly this woman felt when you bombarded her with all those contemptuous remarks of yours." She spread out her hands and added in a calmer tone. "Now we've gotten all that out of our system, I think you need to understand why the living together suggestion is quite a good idea at the moment."

    Jason furrowed his brows failing to understand the woman that stood in front of him. One moment she's on and the next she's off. He had no idea what was going on in her head. She was one unpredictable woman.

    "Think about it," Evelyn explained further. "We can live together and tell the press that we are a couple. Six months is enough to deceive the media."

    "What?!" Jason blurted in disbelief.

    "Listen up. I once worked part-time in this broadcast station and the major deal is to go for the juiciest news. Once the news of the FOREVER SINGLE Jason Lyndon has a girlfriend is out there, believe me, the scandal of you dating a minor will begin to die down gradually." She flashed him a half smile. "Plus, fortunate for you, you have a rattling strong, and loyal fandom. They'd find a way to convince the people there's no way you'd date a minor when you're in a relationship."

    Jason didn't move an inch. "You aren't going to let this go, are you?"

    "Nope. I'm not." She grinned widely. "I have every intention of sticking around and persuading you till you agree."

    "You know I could pick you up one-handed and fling you outside. You know that, right?"

    "Definitely." She reached out with her right hand and poke his rock-hard biceps and then her gaze locked onto his eyes. "But then I would call on all of my media friends to interview me right outside your house. Just think of the TV crews and reporters who would be in your hair day and night. Wouldn't that be hella entertaining?"

    "Why are you so bent on living with me?" He waved a hand. "You could literally walk out here a millionaire if you accept the money."

    "Like I said and I'm repeating, I don't want your money."

    Jason cursed under his breath as Evelyn walked back to the sofa and grabbed her handbag. "Think about it very smartly and very quickly, Superstar. You don't have much time to waste." Then she grabbed his PA hands. "I'm going to be leaving with this woman to prevent you from chewing her out when I'm gone."

    With that, she left him behind pulling the other woman gingerly who was willingly walking alongside her delighted to be away from her nasty boss.