Authors: Evan Kelsey
When she
sits in front of my desk I start, "I need the house in Morocco
ready for us by the end of the week. I need to get Eva out of here,
the pregnancy will get leaked to the media soon and I don't want
her here when it does."
"If
that's the case, I'd leave sooner then that." She replies, picking
up my television remote and changing the station from CNN to E. I
notice a picture of us right away and the word, 'pregnant' right
next to Eva and I. The caption underneath, saying, "Pregnant and
dumped by sexy billionaire." I don't bother turning up the
volume.
"How did
they get that so fast? Only a handful of people know." I say,
glaring angrily at the television.
"No idea.
Maybe the doctors office where she went. I'm sure someone
recognised her."
"How bad
is the media out front?"
"Bad,
I've got security on it but no ones budging. Do you want to issue a
statement?"
This is
the last thing I need to worry about dealing with statements to the
media. "When did it get leaked?"
"Only an
hour ago." She replies.
I growl
irritated. "Tell the media that we would appreciate our privacy at
this time."
"That's
not what they want to hear." She states, shaking her
head.
"I don't
give a shit what they want to hear. I haven't even told my family."
I reply, trying not to lose my temper.
"Call
your family and tell them. Confirm the pregnancy and assure them of
your impending nuptials. Make a joke out of them. They're full of
speculation. Guilt trip them about leaking the information before
you got to tell your family and for thinking you dumped
her."
I know
she's right, I just don't want to give them anything. "Okay,
release this in the next half hour. 'I'm happy to confirm that Eva
and I are indeed expecting. I wish I could have told my family the
news before it was speculated on in the media. However, we're
excited about our upcoming marriage and child. Please, let us enjoy
this time with our family and Friends.'"
"Perfect.
I'll get it out in thirty minutes." She replies,
readily.
I look at
the clock, its 10:20 a.m. "Ready my plane to fly to Morocco anytime
after two o'clock this afternoon."
She looks
up from her note book, hesitating briefly. "Are you sure? If she's
not feeling well the last thing she's going to want to do is
fly."
"Do you
have a better suggestion?"
"Go to
your parents home. They have security and its close enough that
you'll still be able to commute to work. Plus, Eva won't feel
overwhelmed with having to leave the country just to get away from
the media."
"Get her
out of the city." I nod, agreeing with Julia's logic. She hates the
city, this is where she's bombarded and followed. Why didn't I
think about this before? "Start looking for a Realtor, someone
trustworthy and can close on a house fast."
"You're
moving out of the city? Permanently?" She questions,
shocked.
Still
thinking out loud I continue, "Yes, this will get Eva away from the
spotlight and give our kids a chance at a somewhat normal
childhood."
"I'll
start looking right away." She nods, standing up.
Moving
Eva to a rural community won't stop the attention, but it will
help. No reporter wants to follow a target so far out of the city
and get nothing from them. Eva haven't spoken to them or encouraged
their behavior. All the hype will die out and she'll have the
normal everyday life she wants with our kids, its perfect. I watch
her sleeping and so badly want to wake her up and tell her the
plan. I know she'll be happy to have a house outside of the city. I
start to pull up listings and look for a style I think she'd
like.
After I
find a couple of houses and save them, I pick up the phone and dial
my mothers number. "Hello?" She answers.
"Mother-"
I start.
She
gasps. "Is it true, Ruxin? I just turned the channel and they
sai-"
"Yes, its
true." I confirm.
She
squeals loudly in my ear, making me wince. "A baby!"
I can't
help but smile. "Yes, but we need to get out of the
city-"
"Come
here! I'll get a room ready." She interrupts excitedly.
"Thanks,
that's what I was calling about. We'll be on our way right after
the doctors appointment."
"When did
you find out? Why am I finding out over the news Ruxin?" She
scolds, her happier attitude replaced by disappointment and
anger.
"I just
found out yesterday. We wanted to tell everyone after gynecologist
appointment. It got leaked, probably from the doctors office Eva
went to yesterday."
"So she
had a suspicion she was pregnant?" She inquires,
curiously.
"No, she
thought is was just stress making her sick. Turns out it was severe
morning sickness." I explain.
"And how
are you two?" She questions, fishing for information but still
scolding at the same time. Obviously she's thinking the tag line is
true and Eva is single and pregnant.
"The news
didn't get that part right. I'm not giving up on her and our child.
We're still getting married as soon as possible. You didn't cancel
anything did you?" I question, knowing she wouldn't have cancelled
things unless I specifically told her too. Which, I never did. What
I though I was going to do with a planned wedding is beyond me. I
just didn't want to think of not marrying Eva.
She
scoffs. "Since when has my son failed to get exactly what he wants?
Everything is still planned and ready to go. I'll run everything by
her when she's here and you two can both decide on things
together."
"Thanks,
mom. I know I haven't been the best son and I'm sorry you had to
find out like this."
"That's
the life you live Ruxin. Things like this happen, I feel worse for
Eva." She replies, sadly.
"She's
not going to be happy when she finds out. However, I'm moving us
out of the city. Away from all this. It will mean a longer trip
into work, but I don't want to raise our child in the city hounded
by paparazzi."
"Look for
something close to us." She practically begs.
Hell no,
I want to say. "We're looking." I say instead.
"I didn't
mean down the road, Ruxin. Just close." She clarifies, knowing
exactly what I'm thinking. My mother definitely knows me just as
well as Eva does.
"Within
twenty minutes. Nothing closer." I give in.
"Fine,
but no amount of space will keep me from my grandbaby." She
warns.
After
hanging up with my mother its time for my meeting with William. I
leave the office quietly, meeting William in a conference room
close to his office.
"I'll be
back shortly. Dave, watch my office. Eva, it's still sleeping." I
state, watching him fill his coffee cup.
Turning
to Julia I say, "Hold all calls, I don't want anything disturbing
her."
"Yes,
sir." She replies.
I walk to
the elevators and motion towards Ronan and Robert, to come with me.
They stand up and enter the elevator. When the doors close I tell
them, "I'm firing William Prescott. I want the both of you to
escort him to his office afterwards and make sure he leaves with no
sensitive material."
"Is Eva
okay with that?" Ronan questions nervously.
I growl
low in my throat. "Yes, she's okay with it." It seems all my men
are wrapped around Eva's finger.
Ronan
wisely stays quiet the rest of the ride in the elevator. The doors
open and we walk to the conference room, William is already sitting
and waiting patiently. He stands when I come into the room.
"Ruxin."
"William." I say sitting across from him.
"Are you?
Or are you not, trying to find a way into Sterling Corp?" I ask,
slowly.
I see by
his facial change, this was not what he expected.
"What?"
"Tell
me." I order.
"No, why
do you ask?"
"It was
brought to my attention that you wish to get into a VP position
with Xavier Sterling."
"I never
talked to him about any of this. He's lying." He states
adamantly.
"I know
you didn't go to him. You wanted to get Eva and him together so she
could sleep your way to the top. Such a caring and attentive father
you've turned out to be." I say, mockingly.
"Who told
you this?"
"A
reliable source." I reply, simply.
"My
wife." He mutters distastefully. "That meddling bitch."
"You're
fired." I say, uncaring.
His eyes
narrow on mine. "Are you sure you want to do that? Eva won't like
that you fired her loving father." He asks, with a condescending
tone.
I smirk
at his threatening attitude. "My fiancee knows all about her
father's deception. She knows I'm firing you and she doesn't give a
shit about it. After what you did to her mother, I think she'd like
nothing better to see you buried in a mountain of past due bills
and working pay check to pay check. Which I'll try to hard to
achieve single handedly. You see, you'll never work in this city
again, or work for another reputable company again."
"Are you
threatening to destroy me?"
"No,
there's no threat. It's a promise, as long as I live I'll work to
destroy you as you did Eva's mother. You're a pathetic excuse for a
man and an even worse father." I stand up, not wanting to look at
the man who's made my Angels life even harder then it should've
been. "Take him to his office and escort him out of the building.
Tell security to refuse him any future access." I tell Robert and
Ronan.
"Yes, sir."
They both reply simultaneously. I don't look back, I simply walk to
the elevator, itching to get back to my Angel.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Eva Thorpe
FLashback
-Two months
Ago-
My cell phone starts to ring, waking me up from a sound
sleep. I look towards Ruxin's desk, noting he's not there. I
scramble to sit up and reach for my purse laying on the coffee
table and take out my phone. Without looking at the ID I answer.
"Hello?"
"Eva, Its your father." He replies, sounding angry. I hear
talking in the background and wait for him to say more. "You know
that son of a bitch fired me! Me!"
"William, I know-"
"I'm your father if you had any sense of
loyalty you'd do something about this." He accuses.
"I'm sorry. I wont get involved in this. You were shopping
for a position with Sterling Corp. and Ruxin found out about it, I
cant do anything for you."
"He's threatening me, Eva." He whispers, sounding frightened
suddenly.
Confused, but not falling for his sudden change of tone I
ask, "What did he say?"
"That he'll destroy me and I'll never work in the city
again." He replies, defeated.
I roll my eyes. "He's hardly threatening you,
William."
"He is!" He shouts back, his anger showing yet again. I can
tell he's trying to get me to empathize with him. Unfortunately,
for him there's no love lost between the two of us. As it is I
doubt I could stomach his presence.
Thinking of my mother and his attempt at trying to manipulate
me just as he did her, I snap. "Good! I hope it terrifies you! I
hope you get striped of every dollar you've ever made. I hope you
know the insecurities of living pay check to pay check. It is
exactly what you did to my mother. You made sure she was alone her
whole life and I detest you for it. Rot in hell you greedy
bastard." I hang up the phone, with a shaking hand. My anger only
intensifying after talking to him. How dare he act like the
victim.
I can't believe I fell for his, "I want to be a father and
make up for lost time act." I hate him with all my heart, forgiving
him will never happen. I wish I would have stayed away from him,
exactly like my mother wanted me to do. If she would've known about
his interference in her life even after the affair, she would have
done something. She would have told me more about his vindictive
behavior, she would have never died still loving him. That's what
breaks my heart, she still loved him and he didn't deserve
it.
The office doors open and Ruxin walks in quietly until he
notices I'm awake. He and rushes to my side. "What's wrong? Why are
you crying." He asks, alarmed.
I wipe at my tears not even aware that I'm crying. "William
called." I state for an explanation.
"What did he say?"
"Nothing bad he was just concerned about his job and his
financial security after you threatened to make sure he'd never
work in the city again." I reply, looking back at him.
"That's not true."