Forty-five

Forty-five
Eve

Sitting in the midst of the Herman family was like walking barefoot through the middle of a minefield.

Every glance was full of inhumane hatred and intent so dark that it scared me to think what it is.

Finn's eyes were still piercing into mine… dark, dangerous, terrifying. It was as though I were a helpless prey staring into the vicious, hungry eyes of its predator.

I hurriedly pulled my eyes away from him and rested them on my food, my heart pounding against my chest.

Charles, you conniving devil! You never told me everyone in your family hates each other! How can that even be?

“Of course, Charles told me about her and the fact that she would be joining us for dinner,” Emma finally spoke, her hard, glaring eye full of immense hatred not leaving Charles, brows pulled in a deep frown as she aggressively cut his steak.

I had this feeling in my stomach that she's imagining Charles is the one she's cutting.

And Charles…

The look on his face told me he was enjoying every little bit of this moment. Like some sadistic moron.

And Finn…

I don't want it see those eyes ever again.

I don't know what's happening in this family, but I certainly don't wanna be a part of this.

“Then why didn't you tell me?” Adam enquired.

Emma, albeit downplaying it, aggressively dug her fork into her steak, picked it up and put it into her mouth. She chewed on it for some seconds, then turned to Adam and smiled at him.

“Sorry, it slipped my mind, Honey.” She replied in a sweet, melodic voice. Quite a contrast to what she was feeling inside. “I'm sorry.”

Adam nodded, turning to give me another look.

I gulped, feeling anything but comfortable.

Emma turned to me, and I couldn't help but jump out of my skin. She gave me a bright smile, I could already tell it was insincere, “So, sweetheart… I'm sorry about earlier. What did you say your name was, again?”

I inhaled, “Eve. My name is Eve.”

“Aw, such a lovely name for a lovely girl.” She complimented.

Compliments are supposed to be sweet and make you feel better, right? But why wasn't I feeling better?

“You haven't ever touched your food.” Emma pointed on, “Or isn't it to your liking?”

I glanced down at the food in front of me. As scrumptious as it seems and smells, I don't think I want to eat right now.

“Oh, of course not.” I forced out a smile, picking up the cutlery.

“What is your father and what does he do?” Adam asked amidst a mouthful. Judging from the way he looked at me, I had a feeling he didn't like me.

Charles had told me to be truthful about my background and not make any stories up, but now… I'm not so sure that's a good idea.

I glanced at him out of the corner of my eyes only to see that he was perfectly relaxed as he ate his food.

I swallowed.

Here goes…

“My father's name is Liam Dawson, and he and my mother, Rae, run a small restaurant shop in town,” I answered, taking in their shock, before adding, “Their soup is the best.”

Finn, Adam and Emma all gaped at me… visibly stunned. Ian was the only one amongst them whose eyes sparkled with curiosity. And Charles… he kept eating just food in silence.

Obviously enjoying this!

I don't get why they're all so shocked.

“Y-you… you mean your parents are cooks?” Adam asked, still shocked by my revelation.

“Not professional cooks or anything, but… yeah.”

“Wow! Incredible!” Ian exclaimed, “That's wonderful, Eve. Really. I really should come and try your parents’ soup one day.”

I smiled at him, “Yeah, you really should. I guarantee you'll come back for more.”

Ian chuckled, “Then I guess I'd have to take your word for it.”

I think Ian is the only sane person in this weird fucked up family.

I still don't get why Charles wants to impress him, though.

The air around suddenly felt oppressive as the whole weird Herman family stared at me, as though they had just seen a ghost.

What's so shocking that my parents run a small restaurant?

I sprang to my feet, “Where's the restroom, please?” I asked no one in particular.

A maid was sent for, and she led me upstairs to the bathroom.

There, I splashed some water on my face and could finally breathe a little. My mind had thousands of questions.

I have no idea what’s going on, but from what I've seen, Charles is clearly using me to get to not only his big brother, but also his father and mother.

And from the way they all exchange glances, they obviously hate him… as though he's some kind of stranger who they don't want in their family but have no choice but to accept.

Why do they all look so shocked when I said my parents run a small restaurant shop? Why the fuck is going on?

I want out.

Just in the middle of my panic mode, a knock came through the door, startling me.

“W-who is it?” I asked, but was met with silence, “Anyone there?”

Still met with silence.

Maybe I heard wrong.

Shrugging it off, I pulled out my phone to send Charles a text for him to come and explain what the actual fudge is going on with his family, but then the knock came again.

Now curious, or rather frustrated, I walked towards the door and opened it.

I gave a little jump as my eyes landed on Finn leaning against the doorway, looking as deadly as a beast.

God knows how much I tried not to tremble, but I just couldn't.

“Hello.” He spoke, the sound of his voice as deadly as he looked.

I opened my mouth to say something, but there was nothing I could say.

“What, you are not going to say hello back?” He asked, standing straight, either hand in pocket, eyes glinting with mischief and danger.

Not getting a response from me, he began to take steps forward, “We've met before, haven't we?”

He remembers?

“No!” I managed to say, taking steps back as he came closer, “We haven't. This is our first time meeting.”

He tilted his head to the side, “Hmm, no I don't think so. We've definitely met, but I just can't figure it out yet. Someone as daring as you is impossible to forget.”

My back bumped against the wall. There was nowhere else to go.

“S-same as you,” I quavered, “I-I mean… I’m pretty sure I would remember if I came in contact with someone like you.”

He snapped his fingers, “I remember now.”

I swallowed the lump in my throat, heart racing, breath ragged, throat dehydrating.

He leaned forward, I shuddered under his hot breath, shutting my eyes, “You are that nasty little daring bitch that threw her shoes at me. I still have your shoes in my room. You are lucky I was drunk that day, else…” He let it hang, then went on, “You made such a grave mistake getting tangled up with Charles. From now on… your life with be hell.”

“Enough with the stupid cliche speeches and step away from my girlfriend or I'll make you.” Charles' door came from the door.

Oh, thank God in heaven!

Getting my courage back, I shoved Finn out of the way and ran to Charles, clutching him by his arm as I hid behind him.

“I was just leaving,” Finn stated, smirked, his eyes drifting from me to Charles, then walked away.

As he walked away, tears rolled down my cheeks.

Charles turned to me, staring down at me with the same cold, distant eyes.

As I stared at him, I began to wonder what I even saw in him that made me develop a crush on him.

His good looks? Or what? This manipulative, conniving bastard!

How dare he string me into the mess of his weird fucked up family?!

“Are you oka…”

Filled with emotions, I swung my hand and struck him hard across the cheeks, cutting off his words. Before he could recover, I struck him again, and again, and again.

He stared at me with the same impassive expression… not shocked, nor angry. Point blank.

“Did that make you feel good?” He asked, his voice dripping with unstifled amused jeer.

This son of a bitch! How dare he?

Biting on my lower lip, I swung my hand again, but he caught it mid-air.

“That's enough.”