Fifty-two

Fifty-two
Eve

Two weeks.

Charles said in two weeks, everything will return to normal and I won't have to worry about my safety anymore.

And that's what I'm trying to do here… not being worried. Oh, God, I hope two weeks come faster.

“Hey,” A familiar voice called, making me glance up from my laptop.

Cameron stood right there in front of me with a broad smile on his face.

“Hi,” I responded.

“Can I sit?”

I hesitated for a while. Being around Cameron still makes me feel awkward. I know he's trying to get us back as friends but I don't really see us getting there.

“Yeah, sure.”

He sat down, a smile playing on the side of his lips as he stared at me.

“What?”

He shook his head, “Nothing.”

“It's not nothing. Go on, spill.”

“Alright, it's just… every girl you see on campus is sad and obsessing about this new dickhead Econ professor that just quit after teaching for two months.”

Oh, God, he's talking about Charles.

“And… you're obsessing about him. Which is… not surprising.”

“Why is it not surprising?” I enquired in curiosity, straightening up.

“Because I know you're not shallow and superficial like the rest of them.” He uttered, “Every girl on campus was throwing themselves at him, wanting to get into his pants because they think he's charming...”

Well, Charles is charming. He has this irresistible, extraordinary magnetic pull that draws you to him. Oh, and his eyes… they're the type of eyes you'd want to drown in.

But he's a manipulative psychopath who thinks about no one else but himself. Ugh, now he makes me sick, and I want nothing to do with him.

“... except for you.” Cameron was saying. “I didn't see you throw yourself at him. Not even once. Eve… you're... you're special… and different. Look, I fucked things up, and I will never forgive myself for that.”

I paused and stared at him, my heart pounding against my chest. He reached out and touched my hand on the table, his eyes piercing into mine.

Oh, God, no!

I withdrew my hand instantly.

“Look, Cameron, I think I know what you're trying to say but I don't think I wanna hear…”

“Eve, I want us to get ba…”

“Excuse me, gentleman.”

I jumped out of my skin on hearing that creepy baritone voice that I would recognize even in my sleep.

“If you don't mind, I’d like to have a word with Eve.”

I slowly turned my head, my breath ragged, my already racing heartbeat intensifying.

There he was, Finn creepy Herman, standing tall and terrifying in his dark blue suit and black tie. His hair was done smoothly and parted at the corner, giving him the look of a refined gentleman.

From the way students whispered to themselves as they stared at him, I could tell they probably recognized him as the son of the founder of the school.

He tilted his head to the side, “Eve, shall we?”

“Eve, do you know this guy?” Cameron enquired sharply, probably noticing my discomfort.

“Yes, she does,” Finn answered.

“I’m not talking to you, I'm talking to Eve.” Cameron snarled viciously at Finn.

“Oh?” Finn looked amused.

“Yes.” Cameron stated, “And Eve can damn well speak.”

No, Cameron, don't cross him.

“Yes, I know him,” I answered hurriedly.

“What?” His voice was faint with bafflement, his skeptical and disapproving eyes flickering from me to Finn, “How did you know him?”

“He's my…” I paused, glancing at Finn.

God, who do I describe him as?

“I'm her boyfriend's brother,” Finn answered.

“W-wat?”

“Yes, Cameron.”

My eyes widened. How in the world does he know Cameron's name? He ran a background check on him too, didn't he?

“Wait, how do you know my name?”

I scrambled to my feet and stuffed my things into my backpack.

“Let's go.”

“Eve, where are you going?” Cameron asked as I followed Finn out of the school cafe. He looked so confused and worried.

“I'll be back.”

Finn walked down the school grounds to the parking lot while I kept following him behind like a goddamn dummy.

People kept staring at us, some even tried to exchange words of greetings with him, but he acted as though they weren't even there.

When we reached the car park, a man dressed in a suit opened the door for us.

“Get in.”

“What?”

“I said get in.”

“You’re not trying to kidnap me, are you?” I asked, trembling.

“If I tell you to get in one more time, I might as well do.”

The look in his creepy eyes told me he can do it.

I gulped. Oh, God.

Heaving a deep sigh, I stepped into the car, and he joined me. Even though there was air conditioning inside the car, I couldn't help but break out in a cold sweat. The air was tight, and I felt like I could die from suffocation.

“I just wanted to make sure of something.” He spoke calmly. “That bitch, Katy Johnson, paid you to go on the date in her, didn't she?”

A gasp escaped my lips.

He knows about that? I thought Katy…

“So, she did.”

“No, I didn't say th…”

“And she dared lie to me.” He let out a low chuckle. “That bitch got some nerves.”

“She didn't pay me anything,” I said slowly.

He turned his head and gazed deeply into my eyes. I could feel my soul leaving my body.

“Mind repeating that?” He asked, leaning forward.

I cowered back in terror, my mouth pressed in a thin line.

God, he scares the hell outta me.

“Now, answer my damn fucking question!” He roared, “Did the bitch pay you or not?”

“She did!” I yelled in terror, my eyes shut tightly, my back against the door of the car as I trembled, “She paid me to attend the blind date, you happy now?”

“Not yet. What of Charles?”

I whipped my eyes open, “What?”

“Did he pay you, too? To fake date him?”

I swallowed the lump in my throat. God, I feel so sick right now.

“No, he didn't.”

He grabbed my chin and pushed it upwards so that our eyes met. “Tell me the truth!” He growled, “Did he pay you to fake date him or not?”

I said nothing. I just stared into his terrifying eyes as I trembled from head to toe.

“You know, I can make your parents suffer.” He stated, eyes hardening, his sharp fingers digging into my skin, “That little shitty restaurant of theirs, I can take it all away in a twinkling of an eye… and I can make them wretched, and miserable. I can make sure that they won't get another building to sell their shitty food.” He paused, then went on, “I also know about your brother's little start-up… I can crumble it so it never sees the day of light. You don't want that, right?”

I quickly shook my head, tears rolling down my face.

“Good.” He released me, “Now start talking.”

“If I tell you everything… you won't approach me again, right?” I asked in a quavering voice.

He smirked, “Sure.”

I'm sorry, Charles. But I can't keep doing this.

“Yes, he paid me to fake date him.” I began.

“Uh uh. Start from afresh.” He commanded, “You said you would tell me everything. I want everything. The blind date… that's where you two met… right?”

I nodded, “Yes. It all started with the blind date.”

Without wasting any time, I told him everything… from his Katy bribed me into going to the blind date on her stead where Charles and I first met, to how he showed up at the campus and manipulated me into signing a relationship contract with him, to how we went to the fake dates, to how he wanted to impress his uncle… everything. Everything!

Hey, don't blame me, I'm scared for my life here. He sat in silence, his facial expression impassive as he listened.

“He told me this morning that everything will be over in two weeks,” I concluded.

“In two weeks?” He enquired.

“Yes.”

He looked thoughtful for a second.

“The gala!” He exclaimed, a smirk materializing on the side of his lips, “The gala. Of course, the gala. That motherfucking bastard! Hmm! Is that all you know?”

“Yes!” I answered sharply. “I swear. I swear on my life.”

“You'll need to tell everything you just told me to my uncle tonight.”

“W-what? But you said you'd let me go after…”

“I will do that.” He interjected, “After you tell him what you just told me. Now get the fuck outta here and don't you dare say a word of this to Charles, you understand?”

I nodded repeatedly.

“If you do… well, you better don't. You know what I can do. Now get the fuck out.”

Just as I reached the door, his phone began ringing. I stepped down from the car and I couldn't feel my legs. I felt a little dizzy, and all I needed right now was to hug my bed.

“What?!” He screamed from inside the car. He sounded shocked. “What the fuck do you mean that Charles got into an accident?!”

I instantly froze.

W-what?

“Is he dead?” He asked whoever it was on the other side, “Sean, get your pussy ass in here and get me the fuck outta here?!”

I slowly turned and caught the suited man rushing into the car.

I stood rooted to the ground and watched the car drive off, slowly absorbing e news. My knees buckled beneath me, and I slumped to the ground.

Charles got into an accident? Is he… is he dead? Oh, God, which one of his family members did it?

Could it be… could it be his mother? Oh, sweet baby Jesus!