Soon Alyssa was joined by Eva who too had to start packing up to leave. They both grumbled having missed the delicious cake that they had been eyeing since the beginning of the party. “Why did he flare up suddenly?” asked Eva, looking clueless. She had been busy with granny and hardly noticed Nicholas’s antics. “Nicholas forced me to dance with him.” Alyssa rolled her eyes but Eva grinned knowingly. “He challenges Alex all the time. I must say he really likes you!” she observed but Alyssa shook her head vehemently. “No, this has nothing to do with liking. Everything is a challenge for him,” shrugged Alyssa but her cheeks colored a little and it didn’t skip Eva’s attention. “And you love challenges!” she winked at her friend whose mouth hung open hearing her. “Yes, I do but not Nicholas, for God’s sake! He’s the enemy.” Alyssa quickly dumped her stuff into her suitcase, her ears flushed hot with the topic of discussion but Eva wasn’t letting this go so easily. “Not yours. Then wh
The bright afternoon sun shimmered over the surface of the water and Alyssa stared at Preston Island as their ferry surged forward towards Alexandria Bay. She just couldn’t drive thoughts of Nicholas and the hug she shared with him out of her mind. Why did he beg her for a hug when they both weren’t even friends? Why did the hug feel so good? Confused she stared blankly at nothing in particular, wondering why she felt so numb as if she had left her heart behind on the island. “Boo!” said Hayley, coming up behind her, startling her out of her mind. “What’s the matter? Don’t tell me you’re missing him already?” Eva too joined them and they chuckled at their own joke while Alyssa glared at both. “I’m not. I was just missing Sienna’s reception party. Skye’s so lucky that she can stay as long as she wants to.” Alyssa released a deep sigh and glanced back at the island. It was good that she had been able to thank Nicholas with a hug for saving her all the time. At least she wouldn’t feel
Alyssa opened the door to find Eva at her doorstep. “I forgot my charger,” said Eva apologetically but she scoffed and stomped away angrily inside, still angry with her friend. Eva sighed and followed her in to get her charger. She knew her best friend was upset and felt guilty for abandoning her but she was helpless. Alyssa dejected walked towards the kitchen to make something for herself since it didn’t look like Eva would make any dinner. She hated cooking and it was Eva who always prepared their meals. Picking up a packet of pasta, she was about to start when the door clicked open and Alexander stormed into the apartment. “What the hell is wrong with you, Lisa? Dad waited the whole day for you and here you are making dinner? I’m sure Eva can manage that. Get ready in five minutes. I’ll take you to meet dad. He’s furious with you,” he scolded her, making the packet of pasta drop from her hands onto the counter out of fear. Eva dashed out of the room with her charger to escape th
Alyssa had no idea what might have happened between Eva and her brother since she didn’t return to her apartment in the next two days. Alyssa was bored and at Hayley’s insistence went to spend the night at her house. “Eva has done the right thing in moving out. Her self-respect was at stake. We should support her by buying her groceries and food items regularly. At least she wouldn’t go hungry that way,” suggested Hayley as they sat on her balcony, sipping coke and devouring the delicious pizza they had ordered. They missed Eva who declined their offer of dinner and a stayover since her duty would be over late. Skylar had returned to California with Christian and Sienna was too busy with Lucas to even consider spending the night with them. “You’re right but I want her to live with me. She will be struggling there to make ends meet with her low salary,” sighed Alyssa. “We can drop by at her place tomorrow and talk to her.” The decision gave them a little peace and they finished thei
Her eyes met with Nicholas’s ocean blue ones for a split second before she turned towards aunt Claudia and smiled, totally ignoring him. He deserved it since he had insulted her the same way last night. “Hello, Aunt Claudia!” she greeted, going forward and giving her a warm hug. “Do you always shop here?” asked a clueless aunt Claudia, releasing her and looking at her shopping trolley with interest. Although Alyssa was aware of Nicholas’s gaze upon her, she didn’t bother to acknowledge his existence or greet him. “No, no, I just came to spend the night with Hayley. Her mom needed some essentials, so I’ll just hand them over to her and leave.” Aunt Claudia seemed to appreciate it very much and smiled at her warmly. “Why don’t you come home to meet granny? She’ll be thrilled to see you, dear.” Alyssa wanted to decline as she was in a hurry to go home before Alexander started searching for her. However, she couldn’t and simply agreed to go. “Have you finished? I'll go to the bil
Alyssa fumed seeing the photographs of the gorgeous girls on aunt Claudia’s mobile phone. Each of them was accomplished and beautiful and would make a wonderful wife to Nicholas. It was very difficult to choose one of them. What irked Alyssa most was that they were all career-oriented and settled in their own fields. One of them was a jewelry designer while another was in her final year of engineering and so on. “Nicholas likes career-oriented girls and all of them are doing well. So, which one do you like the most?” his mom whispered while Alyssa’s face paled. She didn’t want any of them for Nicholas but she couldn’t tell them that. Could she? Aunt Claudia’s words rang in her ears like a broken record upsetting her further.Nicholas likes career-oriented girls! “Mom, shouldn’t you take my opinion first?” asked Nicholas, looking amused by their topic of discussion. He got up and sat down beside his mom and snatched the mobile phone from her hands. “Wow! They’re really good. It’s dif
Alyssa stared hard at her brother, her whole body stiff with anger hearing his insinuations. Was he stalking her? “I didn’t go to meet Nicholas and neither did I go to his mom’s house of my own free will. Aunt Claudia’s requested me to visit her and granny when I met her while returning home. What could I do? Could I tell her that my brother doesn’t want me to meet them? You should be minding your own business instead of wasting your time stalking me, Alex. It would have been different if I were underage but at twenty-two, I don’t think I’m answerable to you for every little thing I do.” Alexander looked furious at her speech but Alyssa was past caring and glared back at him, refusing to be intimidated by him. “I wasn’t stalking you for your information. Dave saw you and informed me. I always mind my business but I can’t see you wasting your life away. Why can’t you concentrate on a career and do something worthwhile with your life?” he scolded her. Alyssa knew Dave was his employee
Alyssa stared at the gigantic twin towers of the commercial complex in front of her with awe. How did she get an opportunity at such a place with no experience at all? She went straight up the elevator to the seventeenth floor where Cygnus Financial Services spanned the entire area. She loved the extensive and grand office where she would be working if selected. She just prayed that the CEO would choose her! The receptionist directed her towards the lobby in front of the CEO's office and she waited patiently noting that she was the only one there. Did he not summon anyone else for the interview? Alyssa felt nervous being the only one to be interviewed. Did Lucas give in a recommendation for her? The sound of heels clicking towards her made her look up to see a scowling middle-aged woman, elegantly dressed in a pantsuit walking towards her. “Ms. Alyssa Van Every?” she asked in a haughty tone making her cringe and wonder what the woman had against her!“Yes,” she answered, calming her