[ Evangeline ]
"Eve, wake up."
"Sir, I think we should call medical service."
"Evangeline, please wake up. You're scaring the shit out of me."
"Sir, we shouldn't waste time. Miss Parker has passed out for quite a long time and no one has noticed her."
Why do I hear Dominic's panicked voice mixed with some strangers'?
I feel a gentle pat on my cheeks which forces me to open my eyes. Dominic's worried face is the one that came in my view.
But how can I see him?
I was dead, right?
"Eve, Oh My God! Can you hear me?" A relief washed over his face but still I can't understand what he's doing in the heaven or hell or whatever place I am at?
"Dom..Domi..nic." I coughed as I tried to speak through my dried throat.
I feel my body being lifted from the ground and then my eyes widened in shock.
I was in the backyard garden of the hotel where I met Colton and Evanca. They gave me a death threat and then....some goons stabbed me to death in a deserted alley on the order of Colton.
But how can it be possible?
If I was dead, I wouldn't be here. It means my death was just a dream.
Someone handed me a glass of water and I drank it in a go while trying to process the events which seems like a nightmare or hallucination of my subconscious mind.
"Thank God! You scared the shit out of me, Eve." Dominic sighed in relief and it forced me to run my eyes on many curious face launching at me.
"Ma'am you ran away from here after your argument with a couple. I didn't see their face but I saw you leaving in a hurry but when did you come back and fainted in here, at the same place?" The same waiter who asked me of my reason of crying when I rushed in the garden after my encounter with Evanca in the party.
His question left me bewildered.
It means I wasn't dreaming. The chain of events actually happened but why do I not remember coming back here?
I touched my belly and the places where those goons stabbed me. I felt slight pain but not a fatal wound's signs.
"Let's go back to home, Eve." Dominic's gentle voice brought me out of my conflicting thoughts.
He helped me to stand on my feet but my numb feet gave up as soon as I transferred my body weight on them.
"Ahh!" I buckled up and about to fall back on the grassed ground when Dominic held me in his arms.
I stared at his face. For the first time, I saw a different man in him other than a best friend I've known for years. He looked surprised, disappointed, sad and somewhere behind these emotions, a little angered but he masked it brilliantly by a neutral face which smiles continuously at me.
"You okay? Do you want me to lift you?" He asked me in a deep husky voice.
"No, I am fine." My body wanted to say yes but my heart and mind chose otherwise. I slowly removed myself from his hold and tried to stand straight on my own feet. I had enough of drama in a single night and many confusing questions running through my mind.
"Pardon me for causing you trouble." I smiled apologetically at the hotel staff who are still staring at me with confusion and wonder.
"It's our duty, Ma'am. Please enjoy the party as the bidding is going to start soon." The same young man replied in their behalf.
"I'll take you home." Dominic insisted and turned to take the direction of exit but my feet refused to follow him.
I had many unanswered questions and I have to find them.
I clearly remember praying the God to give me another chance to rectify my mistakes.
Does it mean that I'm reborn and the God has given me another chance for payback to the conspiracies and torture that I had been and would be gone through.
"Eve? Why are you not coming?" Dominic frowned at me as I kept rooted on my spot.
"I think we should go back inside the participate in the bidding. Remember, we came here to be a part of a good deed and to make new allies. Let's focus on the charity and the business." I said in my professional attitude.
His frown deepens more, he wanted to say something but he chose the alternate option.
"If you say so but I strongly advise you to return home and take some rest. I am your friend first and as a friend, I want you to stop stressing yourself when you don't feel good." He said but I don't Why but I couldn't connect to his words.
What am I missing here?
"I was talking to Mrs. Ricardo when I met an annoying trude who made me feel sick." I started narrating him about my little conversation about business with Mrs. Ricardo.
His eyes lightens up immediately upon listening to my words.
"Really? What did you two talk about?" He asked me impatiently as we made our way through guests to our table.
"Mr. Ricardo is very impressed by our quarterly growth in the first trimester of this financial year. So, he's planning to give us the next project. In fact, we can negotiate on having an equal partnership. I just hope, Colton won't create any trouble for us." I heaved a sigh.
"He won't do anything. I will make sure of it and if he will try to mend in my business, I'll snatch something very precious from him." He gritted his teeth.
And how would I share my dilemma with anyone? Dominic, Kate or anyone else will laugh at me if I share my reborn theory with them but I think it actually happened to me. I died and took rebirth just before a life changing event to divert the course of my present and future.
We sat back on our table. For some odd reason, I feel constant stare on me. I don't want to look at that direction but it filled my heart with uneasiness.
"Eve, I don't think you're fine." Dominic whispered in my ear thus bringing my attention on him and the anchor who is conducting the bidding.
"I am good, Dom. You should buy the item on the display. Just look at the rare beauty of the pendant. You can purchase it for your Mom. She's fond of ruby and pearls." I pointed my finger on a 18th century necklace for which rich folks are competing and price was going higher by each bidder.
"It will cost me a fortune." He shook his head in a disinterested manner.
"But Colton seems interested in the necklace. He has surpassed all the bidders. Don't you think that you should challenge him and crush his pride." I attempted to trigger him and I found it working.
"120,000$." He raised his hand.
A loud gasp waved through the hall.
"Alright, so, Mr. Rodriguez has gone upto 120,000$. Is there anyone who wants to challenge him?" The auctioneer said over the microphone.
"130,000$" Colton's deep voice resonated in the hall. His eyes found Dominic and a sly smirk played on his lips.
His face scratched the fresh wounds. He was the one to hire the goons to kill me and he succeeded in his vicious plan.
"150,000$." Dominic glared at him whereas I enjoyed the show.
"175,000$" Colton's voice rang in the silenced air.
"200,000$"
Dominic rose from his chair.
This time I also gasped at his length of competition against his step-brother.
"Well..if there's anyone who wants to bid higher than this biggest amount tonight?" The auctioneer asked after coming out of her own shocked state.
"Dominic, what the hell is this? We came here to gain more profit but you lost a fortune." I whispered to him and even regretted my stupidity but he ignored me.
"230,000$" Colton roared.
"Dom, you have Chase's swear. Please stop this foolishness and let him have this piece of jewelry. I know your Mom wouldn't be happy if she finds out the price you spent on a mere necklace." I begged him.
"Does anyone want to bid more?" The auctioneer asked.
But silence answered her question and I heaved a sigh of relief. At least, Dominic respected his godson's swear.
"Congratulations to Mr. Colton Black, this beautiful and rare necklace goes to him for 230,000$. Please give a huge round of applause to him for donating this huge amount for the welfare of orphan and needy children." The woman grinned widely and as soon as she turned off the mic, the hall roared with claps.
Colton and Evanca walked upto the high podium. His head held high with pride as he smirked down at Dominic who had a very calm expression. Which confused me.
"You're not angry?" I asked.
"No, why would I? I made him pay 230,000 for a 60,000$ worth necklace. I can always buy more expensive and more rare jewelry for Mom but Colton has left a negative impact on many rational minded businessmen over here who now think that he takes decisions on impulsiveness rather than using brain." He smirked cunningly.
"You're unpredictable, Dom." I shook my head in disbelief and looked at the front but the sight sliced my heart.
Colton was helping Evanca to wear the necklace with a huge smile on his handsome face while my greedy sister grinned ear to ear as if she got her favorite candy.
He never bought anything for me during one of the many auctions we attended. He simply used to give them cheaques.
"Let's get have our dinner then we can leave. Tonight, you have done excellent job by gaining new possible investors for us." Dominic smiled at me.
"Thank you, Boss and please let's eat something. I am famished." I said but my main agenda is to meet Colton or Evanca to confirm my doubts.
We headed to the buffet and I served myself a small portion of food. My appetite was long dead, I'm hungry only for seeking my answers but much to my dismay, I didn't see them.
Disappointment filled my heart. It was the for us to take our departure.
"I'll be back in a minute. I need to use the washroom before we leave." I excused myself from Dominic who seemed lost in his own thoughts and made my way in the direction of toilet.
The area was deserted and it refreshed my memory of the alley where I might be stabbed. I took steady steps. I was about to enter in a toilet when a familiar voice halted me in my track.
It was Evanca lashing out on someone over the phone.
"You can't do a simple job. How could you lie to me, Johny? That bitch is alive and gracefully walking in front of my eyes. You confidently told me that she was dead by your brutal attacks then whom I am seeing, her ghost?" She screamed at I think Johny, one of the goons.
My head begun to spin.
It wasn't my hallucination or dream.
The events actually happened.
I took rebirth.
Life had given me another chance.
[ Colton ] I couldn't take my mind off my ex-wife since the night of the gala. I saw her after long five year's gap but the time did a number on her beauty, she looks more prettier than earlier with the maturity of a woman, her thin curves are now wider, her long wavy hairs are longer now. But what intrigued me more was her confidence, the way she carried herself among the top business people of the country without any trace of fear or nervousness. I can still remember her timid self whenver she used to go public with me, I had to tag her behind me to save her from embarrassment. My world has no place for someone shy, introvert and cowards but fearless, cunning and ambitious ones. She has changed completely except her innocent beauty. Her eyes are still the same, filled with only tenderness. I noticed the way men eye raped her throughout the night and the fucker Dominic had his hand all over her body, it put my heart on fire but why do I feel bothered by all the attention she's get
[ Evangeline ] They says time heals all wounds but they don't know the pain of the wounds being reopened is far worse than the fresh ones. They don't know how it feels when someone breaks your heart into million of pieces you thought wound never hurt you. They would break you the way you have never imagined. My worst fear came true. The man from whom I had been running to hide my little secret when he abandoned me(us) mercilessly but at the end, he came face to face after years and even attempted to kill me. I clutched my myself crying silently over the incident that showered me with the same insults and character assassination by Evanca. No matter how much I tried to erase the incidents from the gala night, they come back like a flood of nightmares, the stabs piercing my skin, the evil laughters of those goons and how Evanca warned me through her eyes to stay away from her husband and the agony is that I can't share it with anyone, they'd think that I have gone crazy. Who takes re
[ Evangeline ]"Marry me, Evangeline and let me be the father of Chase."I couldn't blink my eyes for a moment after I heard him, same happened to Kate but by looking at his grave expression, it was clearly evident that he actually came up with the absurd suggestion."Wha..what are you saying?" I stuttered with my question when the shock wore off from my brain.He shook his head,"I am not asking you to marry me like a real couple and a real marriage in Church but on papers, Eve. Just think about the possibilities of Colton finding out about Chase which he would eventually do and if he challenges you in the court, I hate to say but there are high chances that he may win the custody, even I can't interfere in legal matters if it goes into the court. Colton is the biological father and you're still single means no father for Chase."I remained silent and speechless. He was right and it killed me more from inside that I can't do anything to stop Colton if he want to take my child away fr
[ Colton ]"Mr. Black, here is the file of all the possible information that I found about Miss Parker and her life in the last five years including her son." My personal assistant, Harry placed a folder on my desk."Thanks, Harry, you may take your leave now and ensure that Mrs. Black won't find out about it, do you get it?" I warn him through my cold eyes though I know, he wouldn't dare to defy me."Don't worry, Sir. It will remain between you and I." He nodded his head positively before taking his exit from my office.I stared at the closed folder which may change everything for good or for worse. After meeting the little boy, Chase and his striking resemblance with me, I couldn't stay quite nor my heart found any peace.Something had been triggering me to dig deeper in the excellently clean life of Evangeline and here's my answer waiting for me to find out whether she lied to me about the baby or I was never the father of him.The latter sounded disturbing to me as I felt immedia
[ Evangeline ] "You don't have to go through all this,you know I am with you, Mr. Rodriguez is here with you." Kate said giving me a sympathetic look. I cried all the night after receiving the text from Colton, yes, it had to be him only as Evanca already knew about my son. How could I tell him the truth? Next morning after sending Chase to school, I called in my office and took a day off. I wasn't in a state to focus on my work. Kate phoned me to check upon when I told her the last night's incident. Her reaction was odd for my amazement. She landed at my house in no time. "What am I going to do, Kate? He knows Chase is his son and he promised that he will soon come back to take my son away with him." I sobbed on her shoulder. "Did he really say this to you?" She narrowed her eyes at me. I shook my head negatively,"I know him, Kate. I spent three years under his cold ruthlessness, he loves to keep his enemies closer." She kept rubbing my back to soothe me but how much I tried t
[ Evangeline ]"Let's pretend that he isn't here, Eve." Dominic whispered in my ear as we walked in the annual conclave of corporate world. Most of the businessmen, big or small, local or multinational company owners, from large scale to small scale, they all were going to attend the meeting where the agenda for the next five year's GDP and economic growth in the secondary sector of economy were happened to be discussed under sustainable development.Being, one of the top manufacturers of the country, Colton and Dominic were also attending this summit and it's my first time to be there as one of the team members selected by Dominic himself.I would be the happiest person on the planet if Colton wasn't in the picture because his presence around me for whole twelve hours would be challenging for me."I can't see him anywhere. I just hope that he won't show his face today or I don't know what I'm going to do with him." I heard him muttering under his breath."Just relax, Dom. We are here
[ Colton ]I walked too and fro in my living room while my lawyer Mr. Harrison was busy going through legal procedure and Brandon, my cousin being a total child was busy playing game in his phone."Are you sure you still want to do it?" Mr. Harrison gave me a questioning look.I marched towards him."What do you think Mr. Harrison?"I nodded my head curtly, the man shook his head and forwarded the papers to me.I read each provision in detail giving my solo attention on those papers which were going to decide my future."Everything looks good, Mr. Harrison still I have doubt, will it work?" I asked him for final confirmation."I am working for Blacks since your father's time,you know very well that I don't leave a loop hole, Mr.Black." He replied in his professional manner. He was right, since my father's time he had been handling all the legal matters of Black family and the company."Thank you Mr. Harrison for coming here on a very short notice. I appreciate your efforts and please
[ Evangeline ]I closed the file I was reading, I decided to come to office because it would be no help to stay at home and sulk, at least, work keeps me busy for the most of the day. I glanced at the digital clock placed on my desk."Two more hours. What should I do?"I murmured to myself. There was not much work for me as I had already prepared my monthly report and other marketing survey. I just have to show them to Dominic who was busy lately in a meeting with someone. I leaned on my chair and closed my eyes to give a relax to my brain and eyes.My mind drifted back to Chase. The boy is everything for me, my only family. It pained me I can't give him what he needs the most, a father.I can definitely raise my son alone but at the same time I can't play the role of both parents sooner or later he will demand to know about his father and that moment I have to reveal him the whole truth.He will question me more than I hate to admit, perhaps, he will leave me and choose Colton for hid