My heart cries seeing you in tears

“Ahh, I am tired.”

Evelyn exhaled a loud sigh before leaning on the chair. Throwing her head back, she closed her eyes for a while to take a breather.

One week passed in a blur and her relationship with Xander was deteriorating with every passing day. Though he gave his consent to work on her dream project, his cooperation was zero. Xander always arrived late at the office and tried to skip the meetings. He used to pass taunts to whip up Evelyn but she avoided him a plague. She tried to stay professional as much as possible but he was hell-bent on making her blow her top.

The day they had to go for site inspection, Evelyn stepped down her pride and personally messaged him the location and time. But Xander as expected didn’t show up. Evelyn nearly lost that day but she didn’t want to let all her hard work go down the drain so, she put all the blame on Jonathan as Xander was his choice. She finalized the site and her employees voted in her favor which compelled Jonathan to give a green flag. Defeated, he approached Xander with the matter but to his surprise, he approved of it but demanded for the report to be submitted in a week.

“Coffee”

Her brows puckered hearing that voice. She opened her eyes only to see Xander standing beside her. She further dropped her gaze to his hands only to find him holding a cup of black coffee.

“What you don’t like it? Fine.” He asked her with raised brows before retreating his hand and taking a sip of the coffee.

Evelyn narrowed her eyes into thin slits, “Didn’t I tell you that I am still working and will send you the report as soon as I complete it?” She hated his guts. He was misusing his powers and in turn, piling up the hatred in her heart.

Xander nodded while he continued taking small sips of the hot drink, “Mm but we have a bit of a change of plans. I want to inspect the site first.”

Evelyn jerked forward and grabbed the armrest tightly, “But we have already inspected the site. Jonathan said that you have approved it too and want the details to be submitted by this week.” She shouted, dropping her cold façade as she was completely fed up with his games.

Xander smirked at her angry face, “Well that’s why I said, ‘change of plans’.” He drawled while doing the air quotes.

Now that was enough.

Evelyn sprang from the chair before throwing it back harshly which ended up with the chair colliding with the wall, “So you’re planning on ruining all my hard work?” She spat, her eyes shooting lasers.

“Not yet” Xander raised his index finger to her face. Evelyn looked at him puzzled but a scream escaped her mouth when he abruptly tilted the cup down, pouring the coffee on the papers she was working on. Soiling all her hard work.

“WHAT THE HELL!!”

“Now they’re ruined.”

Chuckling, he tossed the empty cup on the floor and looked at her.

Her vision turned blurry. Evelyn sealed her lips into a thin line and curled her fingers into a ball, digging her nails into her palms. She had been working on this report for the past two days but he just spoiled all her efforts in a blink of an eye.

Her mind clouded with fury. Xander waited for her to swear at him or worse slap him but nothing happened as such. Instead, he was left stunned when Evelyn collected all the drenched sheets and whizzed past him. She threw everything in the trash can and then returned to her desk. Xander stared at her with furrowed brows as she grabbed the project file and shot him a glare.

“Here,” she said while handing him the file.

Xander threw her a muddled look, “Why are you giving me this?”

“I am canceling the deal.” She dropped the bomb on him.

Xander froze, his eyes turned to the size of saucers, “What?? No way, you can’t do this.” He spoke sternly and moved back from her as if he was afraid that she would shove the file in his face.

“Why? So that you can humiliate me?” Evelyn retorted and smirked at him.

Xander heaved a low growl. Dipping his right hand in the pocket of his pants, he walked towards her with heavy steps, “Just because I didn’t like your work, you will show tantrums like a kid? This is how you behave professionally with your clients. Creating ruckus if they show a bit objection.” He again derided her.

Evelyn let out a plain chuckle, “You’re a pain in the ass, Mr. Knight. I was a fool to agree to all your conditions knowing very well what you were trying to do.”

Dropping the smile, she then walked closer to him, her eyes trained on his bewildered state, “You approached me with an intention. You have no interest in this project, it was just an excuse, or should I say a temporary pass for staying in Maria Estates until you solve the mystery of those two murders.”

Halting in front of him, she continued, “You are looking for an opportunity; a piece of solid evidence where you can drag me down. Because according to your theory, those two murders are ’related to me’.” Evelyn spoke in the same manner and did air quotes.

His gaze darkened. Xander felt a pang in his heart after hearing her words. He also didn’t know her coldness hurt him, perhaps he didn’t like the way Evelyn was thinking of him so evil. He was in turmoil, there’s no doubt about that but for some reason, he wanted Evelyn to clear the thoughts she had of him. And that was ironic when he was getting under her skin in the first place.

“And what makes you think that I will still pull you down even when you wouldn’t be at fault?” Xander spoke in his deep baritone.

Evelyn looked at him in disbelief, “You announced me guilty on my face when your investigation was posited on lies. You do not cooperate for which you are here and keep barking orders. Act like a King in my company and force me to be at your beck and call. And what’s the reason behind it? Because your investment is the lifeline of my company. The mighty Xander Knight is responsible for keeping the wolf out of my door.”

She mocked him but deep inside her heart was crying. Evelyn was deeply hurt by his cruel behavior. She couldn’t understand why Xander was even blaming her when she had no hand in it. He also lacked shreds of evidence then on what basis was he declaring her as a criminal?

Her words pierced his skin like needles. Grabbing her hand, he pulled her closer to his chest and bellowed.

“You’re damn right. Neither I would pull out my shares nor would abandon the project. Think whatever you want to but I wouldn’t let you live in peace after snatching mine. I know you wouldn’t leave Maria Estates and I, wouldn’t leave you. So do us a favor and cooperate.”

Evelyn made him fly into a rage. Xander kept shouting on her face but words got stuck in his mouth when her brown eyes slowly filled with heavy tears. His jaw ticked when a tear slid down her left eye and rolled down her cheek.

‘I didn’t mean to make her cry.’

The voices in his head echoed turning his gaze rueful. But despite being guilt-ridden, not a single word slipped through his lips. He wanted to console her and apologize to her for being a dick but he remained rooted on the spot, gazing at her with his dark, icy eyes.

Evelyn harshly wiped the tear with the back of her palm and took a step back, “Of course. What can I even expect from you all?”

Her voice turned heavy; she was on the verge of breaking down.

Xander’s eyes softened. He opened his mouth to say something but Evelyn snatched that chance from his hands. She took the file, grabbed her purse from the table, and exited the room.

He remained standing in silence for a while, staring at the mahogany door from where she had left a few minutes before. Sighing heavily, he raked a hand through his bouncy locks, combing them with his fingers.

“Damn it.”

Xander was regretting but his hands were tied. To accomplish his goal, he must continue the act even if it projects him as the bad guy.

Fishing out his phone from the pocket of his pants, he then dialed a number.

“Giselle, get the car. We will be leaving for the site inspection.”

*****