Drifting apart

Busy legs paced the room back and forth. The strands of her beautiful brunette were stuck together because of sweat as the girl never stopped for once. The untoward circumstances turned more bitter by the unexpected arrival of her ex who snatched the sleep from her eyes. Her state was disheveled while her face was painted with worry and a bone-chilling dread.

Evelyn was behind the eight ball because the past which she had left behind to start a new leaf, was always chasing her like a shadow. After abandoning Dylan, she burned her bridges because she had no intention of going back into the hell from which she managed to escape after so long. But once again, Dylan beat her to it. He came back stronger, more powerful, and oofy than he already was and the feather in his cap was his criminal badge.

Evelyn had never thought of Dylan becoming a Mafia and the worse part was that he wasn’t a simple gangster but the Mafia Lord of America. She was aware of the Night Stalkers. They were the most deadly and cynical criminal gangs but what was more terrifying was their leader. Each and every soul in America was cognizant of how ruthless and cunning he was.

Some of his traits that were popular amongst the denizens were his fetish for black attire. He dresses in black from head to toe and was famous for killing his enemies in cold blood. And the reason why people even shivered by his name was that if his commands weren’t obeyed or if his wishes weren’t fulfilled, the man goes on a killing spree.

The psychotic Boss was considered a bloodthirsty monster. His black clothes and dark personality earned him the title of ‘The Black’. And ironically, his surname was also Black, Dylan Black.

“What would I do? God, why did you bring him again into my life? Why? Just why he came back when things started to fall in the right place?” Evelyn complained to no one while tears of agony filled her eyes.

When her legs gave up, she leaned on the wall and hugged herself. She could still feel his touches all over her body. The way Dylan molested her in the car and touched her inappropriately, that fool didn’t realize that he only ended up piling the layers of hatred in her heart.

“I hate him. I hate him to my core.” Evelyn continued scraping her skin while angry tears gushed down her eyes.

“Evelyn!!!”

She jumped in shock hearing a loud bang on the door and the next moment, a pissed-off Xander barged into her cabin. The person whom she doesn’t want to face at the moment.

Startled, she immediately turned her back on him and hurriedly wiped her tears with the back of her palms so that he won’t notice.

Evelyn was busy collecting her emotions which were all over the place when a file was tossed on the floor near her feet.

“Is this what you call a report?” Xander hollered and stormed towards her, “You sent me a blank copy. Where are the details I told you to mention; the information about the plot area, cost, and project details? WHERE ARE THEY??”

Evelyn scrunched her brows in confusion unable to catch his words but then it hit her. She mentally slapped her forehead for being so clumsy. She was so consumed by Dylan’s thoughts that she ended up giving the wrong file to Sara.

Heaving a sigh, Evelyn lowered her head and apologized humbly.

“I am really sorry. I will give you the report tomorrow-”

“Well before that I think you need to learn some manners on how to talk to a person,” Xander rudely cut her off. She clammed up, her jaw tightening.

‘Why was he being so harsh on her?’

She didn’t say anything but jump when he again shouted.

“Turn around. I am fucking talking to you, Ms. Clarke.”

Xander was fuming but deep down he felt odd. Evelyn wasn’t facing him or perhaps she was avoiding him? That thought instantly fuelled his anger more.

Stomping his heels, he grabbed her hand and forcefully tried to turn her around when Evelyn snatched it back.

“Don’t touch me.” She shrieked and recoiled in fear.

Xander was startled by her horror-stricken face. Her skin had turned so white as if she had seen a ghost.

“What’s the matter with you?”

Evelyn remained silent and took a few steps back to maintain some distance between them.

“I-I don’t like when- I mean I hate when someone t-touch me- I..“, she blabbered as she couldn’t muster up the courage to tell him the truth.

Dylan and Miller had induced severe trauma inside her making her fear men. But can she confide her secrets in a man who was behaving like a stranger? The man who had no compassion for her?

But the question arises was why?

‘Wasn’t he the one who took me to the hospital when I had a panic attack then what’s up with him today? Why is he behaving as if he doesn’t give a damn about me?’

Evelyn continued staring at him trying to find the reason behind his indifference toward her. Xander on the other hand gave her a muddled look, trying to decode her ambiguous words. His gaze softened for a while as the thought of comforting her came across his mind.

Taking a step closer, he opened his mouth to speak but what she said next left him enraged.

“Just don’t touch me. Stay within your limits.”

Evelyn spoke without even realizing it and when she did, the ship has already sailed by then.

Shit.

Panicked, she looked at Xander who was bristling with rage. All his concern for her vanished away and got replaced with sheer rage.

“I also don’t like touching you alright? You’re not even gorgeous that every man in the world would want you.” He spoke in an acerbic tone.

Evelyn was stunned.

‘How dare he?’

Anger loomed up on her face too as she shot back.

“What’s the matter with you? Why did you care for me and took me to the hospital when you hate me that much?” Tears welled up in her eyes as his cold behavior was slicing her heart.

“When did I take you to the hospital?” Xander snapped.

Evelyn stared at him in disbelief, but unlike her Xander was completely clueless. His eyes were devoid of any emotion as they just stare at her blankly.

She walked closer to him, “Yesterday. We went to inspect the site and then I had a panic attack and you-”

“What nonsense!” Xander cut her off midway, “I didn’t even come to the office yesterday. I was with Brandon. Stop making stories to cover your mistakes.” His pitch soared while he looked at her with contempt.

“I AM NOT LYING!!” Evelyn screamed. She couldn’t believe that Xander had no idea about whatever happened yesterday and was even getting disgusted by her.

She grabbed his collar and looked at him with desperate eyes, “Xander, you took me to the hospital, and then I-” she spoke while staring at him desperately but then it clicked her.

“What?” Xander looked at her askance as she paused in between.

‘Dylan drugged him. He deliberately made him forget everything to escape suspicion.’

Her grip loosened.

Helplessness washed over her. Xander saw how her hands fell sideways lifelessly as she dropped her gaze to the floor.

“Yeah, I am sorry. I will submit you the report by today.”

Sadness was evident in her tone. Xander noticed it.

Something was bothering her.

Concern spawned in his chest. Keeping his anger aside, he crouched to her face level and tried to look into her eyes, trying to uncover the secrets they were holding.

“No, you’re hiding something from me. What is it?“, he spoke gently this time but nothing added to her comfort. He only ended up frightening her.

Xander noticed the way her pupils dilated in fear.

“N-No. What are you saying? It’s nothing.” Evelyn said and let out a nervous smile. A violent tremor glided through her spine when Xander gripped her chin and forced her to look at him.

“No something is bothering you. Tell me.” He growled and leaned closer to her face.

Evelyn froze. Her heart skipped a beat watching his lips dangerously close to hers.

She quickly grabbed his fingers and tried prying them, “No there’s nothing.”

“Tell me.”

“Why do you care huh?”

His nonstop interrogation finally succeeded in exploding her volcano.