The Challenge
Harriett retouched her makeup in the restroom and took a deep breath, reminding herself that she had no business caring about who Damien was with.
“I see you’re still not over Damien.” The overly familiar voice of Evelyn boomed through the walls and Harriett rolled her eyes as soon as she saw her standing by the door.
Deciding to be the mature one, Harriett remained quiet and continued with her business.
Evelyn clenched her fists and walked closer to her until she was sure Harriett could no longer ignore her.
“Damien doesn’t love you, Harriett. He never did and he never will. I hope this sinks into your stupid brain.” Evelyn continued and Harriett couldn’t help the chuckle that escaped her lips as she put her lip gloss into her purse and turned her full attention to her.
“Is that your insecurity speaking?” She smiled sweetly but her eyes were filled with terror.
“You know so well that I have made no approach on Damien since I returned. Instead, he has been the one running after me. Don’t you think he’s the one you should be saying this to? Keep your boyfriend on a fucking leash.” She spat and Evelyn felt the air being sucked out of her as she was being slapped with the truth.
She couldn’t even deny that fact as she had personally witnessed Damien run after Harriett three times in less than two hours.
“What? Cat got your tongue?” Harriett laughed and her eyes travelled down to Evelyn’s finger and when she saw that there was no wedding or engagement ring on it, her laughter increased so much that Evelyn wondered what was making her so excited.
“Hasn’t it been Seven years since you started manipulating Damien against me just so you could become Mrs Daniels?” She asked and Evelyn’s brows creased, wondering where she was going with this.
“I don't like you but I must say, you’ve got some serious patience in you." She clapped, purposefully mocking her.
“Then, it was because he was married to me that he couldn’t make you his wife. I leave for four whole years and you still haven’t been able to secure that spot. Not even an engagement ring? Damn girl, I pray you don’t turn into a grandma before you come to your senses and realize that Damien has no plans on making you his wife.” Harriett finished and the look on Evelyn’s face was enough to put Harriett six feet under if looks could kill.
“Shut up, Bitch. That’s not true.” Evelyn screamed with rage and raised her hand to give Harriett a slap on the face but she was to slow as Harriett caught her hand before it could land on her face and gripped it tightly.
“I don’t know how you managed to escape being caught when you framed those pictures of I and Adrian but I promise you, the truth always has a way of coming out. I’d call Damien the fool because he didn’t know that the enemy was right beside him.” Harriett snapped at her, her blood boiling with rage.
She couldn’t understand how Evelyn had still not been caught if Damien really found out that it was fabricated. Her investigator didn’t even have to dig deep before he found out who was behind it but for some reason, even after four years Damien has been unable to catch the culprit.
‘Did he even try or was he once again manipulated by Evelyn into letting the matter slide?’ Harriett thought and decided to go with the latter. Knowing how gullible Damien was then, it would only take one sentence from Evelyn to get him to let the whole matter slide.
Yes, he was a simp for Evelyn then.
A smirk suddenly spread across Evelyn’s face and she pulled her arm out of Harriett’s grip.
“You see, Harriett. I am in full control of Damien. Why do you think I’m still by his side after all this years? He is blind to every bad thing I do because he loves me. It is only because of those two oldies we haven’t gotten married yet so don’t get your hopes up.” She replied, her face rumpling as she remembered how his parents made a vow to never accept her into their family.
“Tsk, They have to be joking. They’d never let me get married to their son as long as they are alive? That makes my work easier. They just don’t have to be alive then.” Was what she told herself when Damien’s parents threw her out of his house when she tried moving in after his divorce.
Harriett was being tempted into playing with her mind so she said. “Alright then, Harriett. Why don’t we see who Damien’s heart belongs to? I’ll get him on his knees in one week, begging me to come back to him. Stop that from happening… if you can.” She threatened and walked out of the toilet, swaying her hips from side to side.
As soon as Harriett was out of sight, Evelyn screamed loudly, scaring the lady who walked into the restroom to retouch her lipstick.
“What the fuck are you looking at, Bitch?!” Evelyn snapped but the lady rolled her eyes, shook her head and continued with what she was doing.
Deep down, Evelyn knew that Damien had changed since the divorce and now, she was scared that he would actually go back to Harriett.
“Over my dead fucking body. I can’t let me seven years of waiting go in vain. I’m going to get you out of Damien’s life forever, Harriett. I promise you.” She gritted her teeth and stormed back outside to meet Damien.
“Can we leave?” She said as soon as she got back, picking up her Chanel purse. Damien pursed his lips and shook his head in confusion, looking around to make sure no one was looking at them.
“Why? We just got here, Evelyn. Weren’t you the one who had been disturbing me to have dinner with you? What’s with this attitude now?” Damien asked in a low voice, his gaze traveling to Harriett’s seat every two seconds.
Evelyn saw this and it fueled her anger even more.
“That is why!” She gestured to where Harriett sat.
“You can’t keep your eyes off your ex even after breaking her heard four years ago! You’re on a date with me for Christ sake, Damien. Can’t you just pretend like you still care about me for just thirty minutes?” She started shedding fake tears as a way of blackmailing him properly.
Damien’s expression softened as he realized that his obsession with his ex-wife has been noticed by Evelyn who was obviously not okay with it.
Not that they were dating but he knew how she felt about him and it would be inhumane to push her to the side or ignore her.
She was his friend after all. Or so he thought.
If you were to give Damien a mic and asked him to explain his situation with Evelyn, he would stutter and end up saying nothing.
Evelyn loved him without a doubt and wanted to marry him, they all knew this. He once loved Evelyn too and thought that he would be happier with her and not Harriett but since the divorce, he realized that he was just being stupid and what he felt for Evelyn was far from a romantic love.
Evelyn was more like a sister to him as he wanted to look after her and protect her. When she moved from England to New York, she had no one and had to rely on him.
She still relies on him so he could never bring himself to push her away.
“I’m really sorry, Evelyn. Please sit.” He apologized, standing up to pull her chair out for her so she could sit.
Evelyn took the opportunity to grab his arm and lean on him, doing it in a way that it would be impossible for anyone to miss, especially Harriett.
“I just want you to be here for me, Damien.” She cried and Damien nodded, feeling uncomfortable that she was so close to him. The fact that Harriett was in the same space with the made him feel worse.
He quickly pulled her away from his body and made her sit down. When he was done, he turned to look at Harriet to see if she had seen all that happened and thankfully, she didn’t.
He didn’t know if he was to be happy that she didn’t see his awkward position with Harriett or sad that she didn’t care about his actions.
As Evelyn sat down, an evil smirk crawled up her lip and her eyes traveled to Harriett who was now staring in her direction with her brows raised.
Of course, Harriett saw everything.
“Just watch, I’ll do everything I couldn’t do during those four years in just a few months and make Damien mine. You did the right thing by returning, Harriett. Now I have a real competition to keep me on my toes.” She flipped her hair and smiled at Harriett.
