A day full of arguments

The tension in the room was so thick that it could be cut with a knife. The meeting proceeded smoothly but it wasn’t pleasing for her as she could feel heated glares on her body the whole time. And she knew very well to whom it belonged. But still, she carried on by underscoring the prominent features of the project. Xander had his staff accompany him, they were highly impressed by Evelyn’s business knacks and eloquence.

“I know this hotel chain will bring troubles for the inhabitants that’s why I have decided to provide them the land of the exact square yards they had purchased without any cost or going under the legal formalities. The entire procedure will be taken care of by Maria Estates as I believe it is incumbent on us. We won’t be working like other businessmen who snatched people’s lands without providing them the compensation. Also, a massive number of trees will be cut down during the construction so we will be planting double the number of samplings in return. Maria Estates had prepared the agreement listing the prior stated points but it requires your approval before finalizing it. I believe that our motto shouldn’t be only focused on increasing profits. Instead, we should make sure that this project will provide effective and commendable service to the people by keeping the welfare of society and the environment in mind.” Evelyn spoke with a subtle smile on her face.

Nodding, she then gestured to Sara to proceed who then headed to discuss the outlay of the project. The employees were engrossed in noting down the details trying their best to get brownie points from their CEO. But they failed to notice the discomfort that her new partner was giving her with his stares.

Masking her annoyance with a blank look, Evelyn shifted in her chair. She would sometimes fiddle with the pen, scribble in her notepad, or would stare at the screen in front of her. Something which could hint to the man that he was making her uncomfortable. But no matter what she did, the man continued boring holes in her face.

He was none other than Xander Knight.

Everyone had their eyes fixated on the screen but Xander had his eyes fixed on Evelyn. He wasn’t a bit ashamed and was staring at her since the meeting began. Peeved, Evelyn shot a squint eye at him but he was unfazed. His red-rimmed eyes, clenched jaw, throbbing veins, and dark face were enough for one to run for hills.

Evelyn didn’t know that Xander was the businessman with whom she was going to collaborate for this billion-dollar deal otherwise she would have canceled the project beforehand. Brandon had already returned making her remember every stage of her past and now Xander. Their unprecedented arrivals left her terrified for her future. What if Dylan also one day barges into her peaceful life and completes the triangle of her misery in which she was trapped two years before?

Swallowing her rage, Evelyn quickly broke eye contact and looked away. But she failed to notice the yearning and sadness hidden behind his counterfeit anger.

Soon the meeting ended. Evelyn after going through all the details and doing the complete analysis finally decided to give her decision.

“This project will definitely bring revolution in the market as firstly it’s novel, secondly it will fulfill the flaws of the infrastructure sector that had always been a concern for the engineers and the businessmen and thirdly, it will give rise to a new relationship of the two most powerful companies. It will be our first agreement on paper. Am I right Mr. Knight?” Evelyn chirped and looked at Xander for an answer only to earn a deadly silence.

Her employees shared a worried and confused look. Giselle, Xander’s secretary gave Evelyn an apologetic look before nudging his elbow. Her action even caught Evelyn off guard but she remained unbothered. Getting no response, Giselle again leaned towards him but froze after earning a death glare from him.

Xander then shifted his eyes back to Evelyn who was staring at him with a scowl.

“Relationship? What do you even know about them, Ms. Clarke?”

The words wiped the smile off her face. His reply stunned everyone present in the room except Evelyn who continued watching him emotionlessly. She knew where this was heading and if she argues, it will only result in a nasty fight. If he was hurt so was she. If he had one list of complaints she had uncountable loaded boxes. But this was not the place to iron out old-rusted issues.

So, Evelyn simply sat back and let him unleash his wrath. Xander was surprised by her silence. But eventually, his anger took control over him. Scoffing, he grabbed the file from the table and stood up. Sara flinched when he tossed the project file on the floor and shot a glare at Evelyn.

“Breaking old ties just to establish new ones is your thing, not mine.”

Evelyn didn’t express but his words were no less than daggers that pierced her heart. Looking at the file for which she had worked so hard lying on the floor like trash, she exhaled a short breath and then shifted her eyes back at Xander.

Her lips twisted in a smirk. Shaking her head, she spoke, “Sorry to say Mr. Knight but I think Mr. Smith had already discussed the initials of the project before. Nothing was hidden from you and the meeting was fixed after your consent. There was no compulsion, no request from our side. So, I don’t think you have any right to show tantrums to us.”

The bitterness didn’t go unnoticed by Xander. He scoffed and glowered at her.

“So, all you care about is the project huh? After all these years that’s what matters to you the most?”

Evelyn clenched her fist. He was deliberately trying to push her to the edge. But she was determined not to let anyone become her weakness. The past is long forgotten and no matter what one does, she wouldn’t waver from her stand.

Evelyn scrapped her chair back before standing up. She glanced at the employees whose gazes kept flitting between her and Xander, curiosity was dripping from their faces. Suddenly her eyes fell on Sara who was looking at Xander with keen interest. She was so focused that she failed to notice Evelyn and Sara talking through their eyes.

Sara knew that Sara was mentally making notes of everything for her new Boss. It was no longer hidden that she was in cahoots with someone who was definitely not Evelyn’s friend.

He slightly nodded at Evelyn. She had one traitor in the company so it was highly required for her to act wisely and not on impulse.

Taking a deep breath, she turned her face to Xander and smiled, “All right. If you have made up your mind then I guess nothing can’t be done anymore. But as the bridle of this project was handed to Park Corporation so I will leave the decision for the board of directors.” She then averted her gaze and looked at Jonathan who avoided eye contact with her. She smirked at his long face as he was the one who judged her and proudly called Xander for the offer only to be left disappointed. So, clearly, she wasn’t at fault, not this time.

Evelyn then collected her stuff and cell phone from the table before looking at others.

“The meeting is dismissed.” She simply addressed her employees who also nodded and stood up to support their Boss. Her posture was confident and her expression was calm. Without sparing another glance at Xander, Evelyn exited the conference hall while he eyed her back with furious eyes.

*****

Stella took a furtive glance at Maria who seemed spaced out. She looked weak and upset because, for the first time, she spent a day without hearing Evelyn’s voice. She couldn’t believe that Evelyn got ready, skipped lunch, and went to the office without even informing her. Neither she had breakfast nor bothered to call her for once. Maria on the other hand called her nonstop but she didn’t pick it up. Her hands were aching badly, and stubborn knots had formed in her fingers due to constant typing but that didn’t restrict her from dropping messages and leaving voicemails for her daughter.

Stella felt bad because she had nothing against Maria. She also had a daughter so she could understand her pain better. But she refrained from expressing concern or her secret would be out. She hadn’t revealed her personal life either to Evelyn or Maria. According to them, she was a widow with no child.

Evelyn didn’t know that her daughter was Sara.

A heavy sigh escaped her lips. She felt guilty for betraying the mother-daughter duo but she had her reasons.

Maria lifted her head hearing the clicking sound of heels. Her expression immediately turned sour when Evelyn entered the hall and without even greeting her, started heading to her room.

“So, this is how it’s going to be?”

Evelyn stopped in her tracks. She turned behind and found Maria standing near the staircase with a scowl on her face.

She sighed heavily, “I am tired Mom. We’ll talk about this later.” Saying that she immediately wheeled around and started leaving.

“NO, WE WON’T!!” Maria cut her off with a growl and hurriedly climbed up the stairs. Evelyn watched her with narrowed eyes as she blocked her path.

“Mom-”

“NO!! Don’t Mom me.” She snapped, “I have been waiting for you since morning and you don’t even drop me a message.”

Evelyn huffed and clenched her fists, “Why should I? You also left with Brandon without even informing me. There was no sign of him for the last two years and one day he just show up out of nowhere and you melted in a second, forgetting everything he and his fined had put me through. He also become important to you in a day that you took his side and even scolded me in front of him-OW!!” She shrieked when Maria pulled her left ear.

“You are arguing with me. Am I your mother or you are mine? Your temper wouldn’t work with me, young lady. When you enter home, drop that damn crown of CEO in your spaceship and then talk to me. Now go, freshen up, and come downstairs.” She berated her and gazed down at her. Evelyn opened her mouth to defy but instantly clammed up after earning a death glare.

“Fine.” She gritted and stomped her heels like an angry kid before storming to her room.

*****

“Arguing? Who am I to argue? What right do I have to argue?”

Throwing her suit, Evelyn kicked her heels away and started removing her watch while muttering to herself angrily.

“Everyone loves bossing me. Just see the audacity of those jerks, one got inside my house the other showed up in my company. And on top of that they are the ones to question me, unbelievable? As if I kicked them out of my life purposely?”

Sneering, she collected her night suit from the closet and entered the bathroom. Stripping herself, she turned on the shower and stood under it.

The chilled water soaked her brown locks as Evelyn breathed out a loud sigh. She threaded her fingers in her hair and massaged her scalp, her eyes closed as she let herself calm down. She abandoned all her tensions, and her worries and silently stayed like this for a few minutes. Once her temper cooled, she reached for the shelf to pick up the shampoo bottle.

Squeezing some in her palm, she started washing her hair irrespective of the mini camera that was fitted on the shelf on the same spot from where she had grabbed the shampoo earlier.

Evelyn continued cleaning herself completely unaware of the lust-filled eyes that were raking over her naked body glistening under the water.