A Trip to Paris

“There’s no way I am letting you go alone with him,” Xander raged, glaring at the woman who ignored him and continued packing up her clothes.

Zipping her suitcase, Evelyn finally gave him attention, “It’s for business purposes, Xander. Don’t you trust me?”

“Of course, I trust you,” Xander asserted as he plopped on the bed beside her. Grabbing her hands, he looked deeply into her eyes, “But it’s a whole damn week, Eve. You saw what happened when you went to New York with him all alone? He wreaked havoc in a day. How can you be so cool with all this when I am literally on the edge? Every time I see you with him, my fear increases ten folds.” He rumbled.

“Yeah, but he is been with us for two weeks. Did anything happen? No. I am the project head yet Dylan allowed you to accompany him for inspecting the site. You have multiple times prevented us from meeting and Dylan showed no objection. And Xander, leave him out of it, it’s for the company. Yes, I am going with him to Paris but my schedule will be so busy and you know how strictly I follow it. I will be attending so many meetings, parties, and press conferences. I won’t even have time to breathe so wasting my time over such rubbish is out of the box. It’s such a big opportunity Xander since Dylan has alliances with some big guns of the corporate world. It will come as a great opportunity for me to socialize with these people and open the doors for new tie-ups. Be optimistic,” Evelyn stated as she squeezed his hands. But Xander was still uptight.

“I know and I trust you Eve but the thing is that I don’t have an ounce of trust in that bloody manipulator. You shouldn’t lower your guards just because he was successful in maintaining his ‘I don’t care about you’ image so beautifully. It’s a sham and I am telling you that you would be ensnared if you keep obeying his every word. Trust me, Eve, I know him better than you. You had only spent three years with him while I have been his best friend since childhood. I know him inside out.” Xander pleaded with an undertone of frustration.

But he didn’t realize that his concern only scratched her old wounds.

Evelyn chuckled bitterly, “You haven’t been deceived by someone to whom you had devoted your heart. Years of friendship can’t compare with the power of true love, Xander.”

A rueful smile crept across her lips as her eyes turned gloomy. Xander stilled, he didn’t expect that coming.

“I fell in love with him when I didn’t even know the true meaning of love. I have cooped up myself with studies and building my career when Dylan rapped on my door like the first breeze of spring. It was refreshing, calming, and rhapsodic. I can’t tell you what I felt for him. I didn’t know his true face and by the time the veil was lifted, I had fallen so deep into the pit that it was almost impossible to pull myself out of it. At one point in time, I felt I won’t be able to recover but you and Brandon saved me. And I will always be beholden to you two but I don’t appreciate you underestimating me Xander.”

Her voice turned hard as she snatched her hands startling him.

“I am not a child so just back out. It may occur a fallacy to you but I know him better than all of you.” She seethed, fury settled over her features.

Xander felt a pang in his chest. He felt a twitch in his heart when Evelyn explained her feelings about Dylan but he knew he has no right to question them. Dylan was indeed her first love and that’s why her pain neither can’t be understood nor can be measured.

“I didn’t mean that Eve. You’re misunderstanding.”

“I know what I am doing Xander,” Evelyn rebuffed him and scooted back much to her dismay.

“Stop dictating to me. I know what’s good for me. I respect your feelings and I know that you are only concerned for me but this time I want you to trust me. I can handle him and you, prying into my matters would only turn me into a standing joke. I was the one who came up with this proposal, not Dylan. I initiated that we don’t drag our rivalry or past relationship at work and he agreed to it. But ever since we signed this contract, I have always been messing up, and keep losing my grip over my feelings. But if it prolongs then I will lose and my company has to bear the consequences. You know I can go out on a limb if it is for my company.”

Xander turned speechless. His shoulders slowly slouched in defeat and he lowered his head. His concern was genuine, and his fear was justified but at the same time, Evelyn was also right.

“Okay,” he said with a heavy heart. Evelyn smiled widely.

“That’s what I hoped from you.”

Xander sighed heavily and grabbed her suitcase before putting it down on the floor. He looked at her with a broken expression. Evelyn hugged him in response.

“I will be fine, seriously.”

Xander also coiled his arms around her shoulders and buried his face in her hair, “Do call me if he does something, okay?”

Evelyn nodded and they both soon parted from the hug.

“Come I will drop you.”

They both then left for the airport.

*****

Evelyn sighed as she looked at Xander who was continuously throwing daggers at Dylan. She was caught in the middle as Dylan was waiting patiently for Xander to leave her hand but it looks like he had no intention of doing that.

“If you want, you can tag along.” Dylan shot and telegraphed his derision with a smirk.

“No, there’s no need. Xander,” Evelyn tiptoed and gritted under her breath. Xander released her grudgingly. Tearing his gaze, he turned to Evelyn. His brooding expression was reduced to a soft, worried look as he cupped her left cheek in his palm.

“Stay safe. And don’t forget to call me every day. Or leave it, I will call you daily. You have to pick it up immediately or I will pay you a visit.”

Hunter rolled his eyes.

“He makes me squeamish.” He muttered and looked at Dylan only to find him glaring at the duo with predatory eyes. His jaw was twitched and the vein on his forehead throbbed rigorously.

Dylan clenched his fists, his nails carving bloody crescent-shaped moons when Evelyn smiled and pulled his palm away before enveloping them with her small hands.

“Stop worrying about me, I will be fine.” Saying that she hugged him tight which Xander returned gladly. The sight was adorable but it only scalded the Mafia to no extent.

Not able to witness it anymore, he turned around and headed to board the flight. Hunter stared at his retreating figure, the hurt in his eyes did go unnoticed by him.

*****