Episode 14
~ Eva ~ (Surprise surprise! 😉 )
Why is she coming?
Why do I care?
But last time….. Arghhhh! Stop it Eva. Why do you care? But seriously, is there something going on between them. I mean last time when we met during Adam’s birthday party, she was pretty close to Aaron, oops AK! Or saying close would be an understatement, she was literally clinging on to him like a ‘chewing gum to hair’ all the time. Even when I left from there he didn’t notice. And when he called, you know what he said, “Eva! Me, Adam and Riles are going to club, so Mr. Moore will drive you home”, and I was like, he didn’t even know that I left and was already home. But why would he care? And why do I care? It’s not like we are really a couple or what! But he should respect the agreement or contract or whatever it is. If he already like someone, why to force me? He should have married her!
“Eva, what are doing up? Come on!”, Aaron’s voice broke the chain of my thoughts and I realised I was still on the same spot since I started thinking.
“If you really enjoy my back view, you could have just ask! No need to stand there and drool”, This idi0t Adam!
“Shut up!”, I scowled and walked past them.
****____****
“Pass me the pepper please”, Chloe asked and I nodded before passing it. We were having Maldivian cuisine that Kavya, caretaker of this beach house prepared for us.
Let me tell you, Maldivian food is damn good!!
We were having Bis keemiya, it’s like an Indian Samosa, or something like that. I don’t remember much. But she said that its quite similar to an Indian snack. Then there was Boshi mashuni, it’s a banana flower salad. Garudhiya, a fragrant fish soup. Huni roshi, it’s a chapati bread. And last for dessert was saagu bondibai, it’s a pudding like thing. She said that, Indian, Sri Lankan and Maldivian cuisine are quite similar.
“You are already so hot and spicy, why do you need pepper?”, Adam smirked and we all sighed. He really is a stubborn a$s!
“Your flat face and bland personality has lessen it, so to spice it up”, Chloe shot back with smirk and we all snickered while Adam scoffed.
“You really don’t know how to take compliments, right?”, He glared.
“Not when they are from wrong person”, she replied while shoving next spoonful of soup in her mouth.
“Why do you hate me so much?”, He asked. Damn! This conversation is getting heated. He has a very serious posture right now.
“Don’t get me started”, she gritted.
“Ohh please do the honour, I really want to know “, what the hell is going on? It started with a joke, but it really is going out of control.
Chloe stole one glance at Liza and I understood that she will be unable to keep her mouth shut if this continues.
“Okay okay, calm down guys. We are not here to have world war 3, right? So let’s finish dinner and head back to our rooms. What say?”, I butted in and Chloe sighed before backing out and continuing her dinner.
Adam shot her last glare and continued eating. After finishing dinner, we bidded nights’ and went to our rooms.
“Uhh huh!”, I stared confusingly at Aaron as he was staring at bed.
“What?”, I questioned.
“There is no couch or anything that I can sleep on. No worries, I will sleep on the floor, you take the bed.”, He said and strolled past me towards cupboards.
I got under covers when he switched off lights. I really can’t sleep so easily in new place, and warm climate is making it more impossible. Aaron was continuosly tossing and turning, seeming uncomfortable.
“What happened?”, He asked when I switched on lights.
“You seem uncomfortable”, I commented and he smiled little.
“It’s fine, I am good.”, How can he be? He is a billionaire, habitual of sleeping on soft and large beds.
“No you are not. Come up. Join me.”, I said and his eyes widened in surprise.
“Really?”, Is it that unbelievable?
“Yeah, we will create a pillow wall between us. So you sleep on your side, I will be on mine”, I clarified and he grinned showing off his adorable dimples.
“Thanks, it was really uncomfortable here”, he said and sprinted on bed. I took three pillows and kept them between us.
“Good night, sweet dreams”, I said while switching off lights.
“Huh?”, He voiced with confused face.
“Ohh sorry. I mean, bad night, sweet nightmares”, I rectified and he chuckled lightly before repeating the same.
Late night, 1:15 AM
Stop staring like an owl and sleep Eva! You were jet lagged for god’s sake!
It’s been two hours, and my brain is still sleep deprived. While on the other side, Aaron’s even breathing and his peaceful sleeping form is burning me with jealousy.
I too want to sleep!
Picking up my phone I opened Instagram but the d@mn internet is on snail’s speed!
Frustrated, I slammed back my phone and turned on my side.
He is really very handsome.
His dark brown bed hair messed up on his forehead looks damn inviting for me to brush my hand through them. Thick eyebrows, dark and long eyelashes unmoving and stable. His plump pink lips in small smile, making him so adorable that one could squish him and keep in pocket to protect his innocence from this world.
But God knows he is not at all innocent when he is awake. He is a live example of confidence and c0ckiness. And damn when he is in his businessman mode, he is like an incarnation of Greek god. That attitude, s*xy voice and intimidating personality can hypnotise you in such a way that you will be a nodding robot infront of him. Accepting his every demand, every offer.
My only confusion is that he is nothing like that infront of me. He is completely a different person. A man who plays with world, sometimes I feel like I have the power to play with him, he is that obliging towards me. It confuses me to core, the way he looks at me sometimes, it’s like he is touching me without any physical contact. His eyes do all the job, not in a perverted or dirty way, it’s like he is drinking my littlest feature through his eyes. Like he is saving me in his mind permanently.
It scares me, scares me to think like that about him. I don’t love him, and I am sure about that. Cause I don’t feel my heart beat fasten in his presence unlike Liam. But he makes me feel beautiful, the most precious.
Why he do that? Does he like me? But he hates me, and that’s the reason he married me. Then why so understanding, why so obliging, why so respecting? You confuse me, Mr. Aaron King. You really do!
And that Riley Davis, she is a sticky gum! Always clinging on to him like an another body part. I am not jealous, but it’s just an uneven feeling in the pit of my stomach whenever I see them together. And it’s because, he forget about me when she is around. And I don’t like that! Call me an attention seeking b!tch but I want all his attention on me.
‘And when he do that?’, My subconscious mind asked.
I run away!
Yeah I literally run, I mean it makes me uncomfortable. Cause he talks, or behave with me like I am a porcelain doll that can break if handled carelessly.
Can’t he be normal around me? The way he behaves with Liza or Chloe or Adam! Can’t he be like that?
My confusion is, why am I so confused that I can’t even think normally without being confused! Arghhhh!
****___****
Morning 8:00 AM
The grip on my waist tightened and I nuzzled further in my enthrallingly scenty mattress.
Mmmmm…. This feels so good!
Wait a minute! My mattress have abs? Maldivian mattresses have abs? D@mn! I am so sleepy that I can’t even open my eyes. I brushed my hand on to the abs like thing only to earn a groan.
“Stop!”, Maldivian mattresses talk?
Sh!t! It’s not a mattress! The fudge! What the hell am I doing in Aaron’s arms?
‘Cuddling, duh!’, my subconscious mind answered. My eyes snapped open only to find myself scooped in Aaron’s arms.
My face was nuzzled in his neck, one hand was down my side and another freaking was under his shirt tracing his abdomen. My both legs were tangled with his, while he had a tight grip with his arm on my waist from under it.
And the most horrifying part was, he was sleeping on his back, on his side perfectly. It was me who trespassed the pillow boundary and was clinging onto him like a desperate b!tch!
Kill me!
Now what? Now what? Now what? NOW WHAT?
‘First withdraw your hand that is still devouring his abs you thirsty girl!’, My subconscious mind said and I obliged immediately being embarassed of myself.
Okay calm down! Calm down and then think! Plan A, Try to sneak out as silently as possible without him knowing.
That’s great!
Yeah I know, by the way I am Bond, James Bond!
Shut up, Eva!
Stopping my blabbering self, I took a breath and started my mission. So here goes….. Nothing!
Urghh! This is difficult than I thought. This man has a power of elephant. He freaking doesn’t even budge.
Help me! Hello 911, untangle me from this unmoving sleeping pig!
911 in Maldives? Seriously?
What now? Yeah, Plan B!
What is plan B?
It is yet to be planned.
Freaking genius!
Ohh shut u- HE MOVED! He is groaning lowly. What now? What? Ohh my god! I don’t want to be embarrassed! He will tease me with this for lifetime!
Sleep!
And I did! I closed my eyes and pretended to be asleep. Soon I felt his arm that was under my waist moving slightly. I gulped and squeezed my eyes shut.
I am doomed!
Few seconds later I felt his stare on me. Stop staring at me and leave Aaron! Please! Don’t tease me with this. It was not on purpose, I swear.
“Such an angel”, he whispered and my breathing stopped. The intensity in his voice made the hair on my body to stand straight. I felt him moved and soon his knuckles were caressing my cheek.
Is that my heart racing? It feels like, it will burst out of my chest and run for hundreds of miles without even stopping. Why?
It must be nervousness or fear??
His touch is a fire, his finger traced my eyebrows, my eyes, trailing down my nose onto my lips, then it stopped. His thumb then rubbed my bottom lip creating havoc of senses in my body. There are no butterflies, it feels like whole Amazon Jungle is partying inside.
“You can’t pretend sleeping, can you?”, He chuckled. Shit! He knows? “Your eyeballs under your eyelids are moving, Eva”, he said and I squeezed my eyes shut tightly.
Busted!
Sucking my bottom lip under my teeth, I heaved a sigh and opened my eyes only to find Aaron staring at me adoration filled eyes. Blank! That’s what I am now!
His eyes, they are so beautiful. So unique, so hypnotizing. It’s like a combination of dense forest and large ocean. The glint of greenness makes them exceptionally eccentric.
His finger trailed down my chin, towards my throat and I felt myself sighing at this igniting contact. I didn’t even realise that now he was on top of me, and I was beneath him. He was supporting himself with his elbows to prevent me from crushing under his muscular body. Slowly he leaned down but without breaking eye contact and dipped his head in the crook of my neck, the moment he sniffed deeply I gasped. He was now not even touching me and my body was already on fire.
Suddenly he jumped off bed leaving my insides groaning in displeasure.
“Uhhh, that was awkward.”, He sighed while rubbing his back of neck and I felt my heart clenching. I did it again! I let my guards down again! What the fuck is wrong with me? “I will go and get fresh in Adam’s room, you can use this bathroom”, with that he rushed out with his towel and backpack.
What is this feeling? Why I get so weak on his touches? It’s all because of his eyes! They are the ones to blame! These two months all was good and now again!
Groaning, I stood up and stormed inside bathroom. I took my time and then came out wrapping myself in towel. Getting a sundress from my suitcase, I wore it and left my hair down.
Grabbing sunglasses and my phone I came out and walked downstairs. “Where is everyone?”, I asked myself when noticed dining table empty.
“They already went on beach, Ma’am. Took breakfast with them”, Kavya answered and I nodded before thanking her and rushed out.
Adam was resting on beach chair under a huge umbrella, he was wearing a black swimming shorts leaving his upper body naked.
Chloe was wearing a swimsuit that was complimenting her perfect curvy body. Her hair were tied in a messy bun, she is like a Greek goddess.
Liza was wearing white strapped sleeveless top and denim shorts underneath accompanying with a net cardigan.
They both were playing in sand, competing against eachother on who could build better sand castle.
My kids! Note the sarcasm.
Glancing once more around, my eyes found Aaron. He was strolling near sea, hands inside his shorts pockets and eyes mindlessly staring at an endless sea. The blue shirt clinging to his body, wavering slightly due to wind. He is a man of charms!
“Stop drooling on my friend, Eva”, Adam!
“Stop drooling on my cousin, Adam!”, I retorted. Yeah, I noticed his dreamy stare on Chloe. I am not stupid.
“I was not”, he denied and I scoffed.
“I too was not”, I shot back and he sighed.
“Fine, you win”, he sighed and concentrated front.
I sat down on nearby chair and Adam passed me the basket of sandwiches and juice which I gladly took and devoured.
****____****
“Sissy! Come on! Don’t be a spoil sport!”, Liza yelled, trying her fourth attempt to drag my lazy ass in water.
I am in no mood to wet myself girl!
“I am good”, I yelled back and she sighed. I saw her whispering something in Aaron’s ear and he looked at me before strolling towards me. Not to forget his c0cky smirk!
Uhh huh, I don’t get good vibes, listening to my mind, I sprinted down the chair and before my legs can step forward, I was picked up and throwed over Aaron’s shoulder like a potato sack!
“Aaron! Put me down! I swear you will see hell if you- No no no no! Aaron n-“, And ladies and gentlemen I was thrown in water mercilessly.
“Ahh, ahhh…. Oh my god, I am drowning! Save me! I am gonna die! Here I come Jesus! Punish these sinners for my death once I come to you in heaven”, I gasped and cried hysterically.
“Oh my goodness, you dramatic bitch shut up! The water barely reaches till your knees!”, Chloe snapped and I pouted. Everyone laughed.
Getting a palmful of water I splashed it on her and she gasped in surprise and our water fight started. We played for half hour and then came out.
“Sissy, come here. Come on, tell us whose castle is best”, she said and I looked down. Aaron and Adam competed against Liza and Chloe one hour ago, it was Adam’s idea to irritate Chloe. There were two castles or should I say one cause another one was like something weird.
“Whose one is this?”, I asked pointing at the weird one.
“Our!”, Adam beamed proudly while swinging his arm around Aaron’s neck. I snickered.
“You want my honest judgement?”, I asked and Aaron nodded.
“Okay”, I bit my lip to stop myself from laughing. “Yours one literally look like a toilet seat, I mean I am sorry but it-“, before I could finish Liza and Chloe burst out laughing.
“Well, our castle needed a washroom anyway. Good job Adam!”, Chloe gave him a thumb up and this time even I couldn’t stop myself.
When I stopped, Aaron was staring at me intently. For first few seconds I did the same but then gave up. Averting my gaze, I found Adam staring at Chloe with adoration while she was laughing like there is no tomorrow.
They will be a great couple. Only the problem is, she hates him and he is a player. I don’t want Chloe to be heartbroken.
Eventually they both stopped and I cleared my throat. “Liza, come on. Let’s get changed”, I said but she shooked her head.
“No I am good, you go”, she said and I agreed before turning and heading inside.
I got changed into white off-shoulder sundress and bounced downstairs. Glancing at the wall clock I noticed it was 2:00 PM already.
“Kavya, is lunch ready?”, I asked and she nodded.
“How was your flight?”, I heard someone asked and noticed Adam entering living room with two suitcases in his hand.
“Good, where is AK?”, Ohh I know that voice! Riley Davis. “Hey, Eva”, she greeted.
“Hi”, I forced a smile.
“He is on the beach, you get fresh first”, Adam suggested and she denied.
“I want to meet AK first, where is he?”, She asked chirpily and I stopped myself from rolling my eyes.
“Eva, take her to Aaron. I will be back after keeping her stuff in her room”, he said and I nodded stiffly with an uncomfortable smile.
She has her own room here?
“Come on”, I said and walked past her. She followed me and the moment she spotted Aaron, she ran towards him. His back was facing her so he couldn’t see her. The next moment she was on Aaron’s back and he was laughing while twirling her by supporting her weight with his hands under her knees. Her legs were wrapped around his torso, and anyone who see them will think that they are some newly wed couple, can’t get enough of each other.
“Unclench your fist, Eva”, I dazedly looked at the source of voice.
“Huh?”
Chloe nodded downwards and I saw my hand tightly fisted. Realising my indecipherable behaviour, I released my fist.
“It’s so warm here, uhhh, my hands are sweaty… So I clamped them.”, I cleared my throat and focused front.
“Who is that b!tch!”, Liza hissed and I throwed her a sharp glare.
“Language, Liza!”, I scolded and she sighed.
“Sorry, but she is sticking to him like a glue!”, She said and I sighed.
“She is Adam’s sister”, I said and she nodded but still a bitter expression on her face.
“Ughh, I should go before I lost my appetite due this over cheesiness!”, She said and I felt myself chuckling little.
When I saw front, both were talking animatedly. She was laughing, giggling and punching his arm playfully while he was grinning continuously. His both hands were on her waist while her’s on his shoulders. They were shamelessly fl!rting in open!
“When their fl!rting is done, call them inside”, Chloe chuckled and she too went inside.
“Aa-Aaron!”, I shouted shoving off the bitter feeling aside, he glanced at me.
“What?”, He yelled back.
“Lunch is ready”, With that I too turned and walked off from there.
We had lunch and then everyone was moping around. I was trying to prepare Maldivian food with the help of Kavya, Liza was watching TV, Chloe had some important office work to complete, Adam was playing Video Game and the couple was strolling around the beach.
“Ma’am, wrap it around your three fingers and then put the gravy inside”, she said umpteenth time and I did but failed again.
“I can’t”, I gave up and kept the dough aside.
“You can, but you aren’t concentrating. Your mind is somewhere else”, she said and I laughed nervously.
“No, it’s just I am tired. I will be okay after a short nap”, I reasoned out and washed my hands in sink.
I walked upstairs and noticed Chloe concentrated on her laptop in her room. “Your work done?”, I raised my eyebrows and she looked up from the glowing screen.
“Almost”, she smiled and went back to her laptop. Not wanting to disturb her anymore, I walked towards window and my heart constricted inside my chest.
Aaron was holding her by her waist, her back was facing him and he was twirling her around while she was giggling uncontrollably. “Caught ya!!”, He yelled enough for me to hear.
He love to twirl her!
But I can’t deny the fact that they look perfect. Perfect for each other. She a top model, and he a rich businessman.
“What are you thinking?”, Chloe’s voice snapped me out of my thoughts.
“Nothing”, I replied.
“Tell me”, she insisted and I sighed.
“Aren’t they perfect? I mean they should have married each other. Perfect couple, completing each other’s perfectness”, I tried to compliment but it came out bitter than I thought.
“Is that jealousy I sense?”, She said and I shot turned towards her.
“What?”, I scoffed. “Why would I be jealous? I don’t even like him. What I meant to say is, instead of forcing me, he should have married her”, I said and she nodded.
“Accept it, you like him”, she said.
“No I don’t. I love Liam, how can I like someone else?”, I gritted.
“I didn’t said you love Aaron. What I said is like! It might be physical, after all you are v!rgin and he is a hot man, that too a v!rgin. You definitely felt a pull towards him”, She said and I gulped.
“I don’t think he is a v!rgin. Just look at them, they might have did it long back!”, I rolled my eyes.
“You want him all for yourself”, she commented and I stared at her with disbelief.
“Are you serious?”, I shouted.
“Raising your voice will not bury the truth. You want his all attention towards you. You want him to follow you like a puppy. And when he comes to you, you push him off. You are nothing but being selfish here! If you love Liam, why to give him high hopes? You and I both know that Aaron has something for you from even before marriage. Still, still you use it against him. Examine his behaviour, Eva! He is like a lion infront of world, but a lost puppy infront of you. And you know it! You know your power. Unknowingly, that man has kept his control strings in your hands and you are pulling them the way you want! I know it was me who first said to break his heart, but that time I thought of him nothing but an arrogant a$shole but god knows he is nothing like that, not atleast around us”, She said everything in one go leaving me shocked to core.
“And whatever happened today morning, you felt little bit guilt, but more than that it was REJECTION! You felt rejected! You were under his control and you hated that! That is the reason of your mood swings today. Knowing that he is only comfortable around you, and then entrance of Riley in the picture made you insecure. Leave him, Eva. You know he likes you-”
I left out a sarcastic chuckle over that. Looking at both of them, it doesn’t seem so. And about how she knows what happened today morning, she knows it. She knows about the incident that happened 2 months ago too. I never hide anything from her.
“Don’t deny, you know it! You were supposed to hate him, Eva. But your carefree behaviour around him, acting like a wife, caring for him-”
“I don’t”, I denied stubbornly.
“You do! Then what is reason behind daily lunch boxes, if he doesn’t come home you take dinner for him to office to let him know that he have a caring wife!-”
“That is humanity!”, I cut her off.
“Oh really? Stop it Eva! Who are you fooling? Me! No, you can’t! I know you. Remember, Jason?”, She said and I gasped lowly.
“The most handsome boy of University who had crush on you. What you did? Knowing that he likes you, you still accepted his friendship. Even when he confessed, you still kept him hanging! The whole matter was closed when Liam punched him!”, She said, her voice rising at the end.
“I was a teen! I was-”
“Oh please! Stop blaming on others! You too know why you did that! Because you never had any man except Liam behind you, and Jason’s crush on you overwhelmed you”, she said and every word felt like a stab to me.
“Okay, I accept I was a attention seeking b!tch that time! But I am changed now! And you too know that. No one is perfect, I am too not. Every one has flaws, I too have! So stop! Just stop! I don’t like Aaron! I don’t”, I was sobbing mess until end.
“Stop crying, Aaron is staring here”, she said and I glanced to find his worried gaze on me. The moment our eyes met, he left Riley there and rushed towards beach house.
“Don’t break his heart, Eva. Your attraction for him might be temporary, but what if his is not? I know it’s not your fault, you are human and mistakes are ought to happen. But repeating the same thing and expecting different output is pure idiocy, don’t you think?”, She said.
She is right! How can I be so selfish! I know I don’t have any emotional feelings towards Aaron, still I am playing with his strings. This physical attraction might go away after sometime, if Liam comes back I will not leave a second to jump in his arms then why am I doing this? Why I am giving him hopes? I myself once scolded Chloe that heartbreak is not a game, and involuntarily I am playing the same game since beginning.
“Eva!?”, Aaron’s worrisome voice pulled my attention and I saw him panting heavily at the doorstep of room. “Hey Little Warrior, why are you crying?”, He asked using his endearment that he calls me when he is worried for me.
Walking towards me, he cupped my cheeks and wiped my tears.
“I will come later”, Chloe excused herself and went out.
“Nothing”, I answered with a forced smile.
“Something is definitely wrong. Tell me”, He asked and I averted his caring gaze by turning towards window. Riley was still there, staring at us with pained expression. I don’t know what came up but I hugged him tight. Burying myself in his arms, don’t know whether to feel safe or to show someone. But it felt right. His embrace feel right. His cologne pulled me and I nuzzled myself more.
“Are you okay, Little Warrior? You are worrying me, Eva”, he said while caressing my head and I sighed in satisfaction. Riley was gone the moment I hugged him.
“I am fine, I was just missing someone”, I lied and his grip on my waist tightened.
“Who?”, His voice was cold, emotionless.
“My parents”, and his hold loosened, he heaved a sigh and continued caressing my head.
“Don’t cry, they will not be happy seeing you cry”, he consoled and I nodded over his shoulder.
“Let’s have dinner”, he said and we released our hold, walking down I noticed everyone in dining room already. Riley was first one to turn, her eyes were blazing with anger but she hided them behind a forced smile.
After dinner we planned to watch horror movie. “No, not horror. Riley don’t like them”, Aaron said and she smiled shly at all of us but for me it was somewhat sly.
“Ohh I don’t want to be a spoil sport! Please, we all will watch horror movie as decided”, she said and I rolled my eyes.
Conjuring 2 was selected and all the time whenever that black and white, excessive talc plastered nun used to appear, Riley will jumped in Aaron’s arm and scream. Aaron will caress her back and mutter some sweet nothings in her ear.
Bloody dramatic b!tch!
Calm down, Eva! Remember Chloe’s words! Push him away! Just push him away! It’s for your and his own good. If he can be happy with Riley, let him be. Don’t be so selfish.
Once the movie finished we walked back to our own rooms. “You will sleep on the floor today”, I said and he stared at me with disbelief.
“If this is about morning, I am sorry. But you too know I can’t sleep on floor”, he said.
“I don’t care, just sleep on the floor!”, I said harshly and pulled duvet over my shoulder.
“I will sleep in living room”, I heard him mumbling and the next moment door was slammed shut. I winced.
15 minutes past, I kept tossing and turning on my spot.
It’s his house! His room! Who are you to tell him where to sleep?
Feeling guilty I stood up and tiptoed. Opening door slowly not to disturb anyone, I peeked out. There was Aaron standing in passage, his hands on the railing and you know who was beside him! Riley Davis! Rubbing his arm and whispering something lowly. I heard him sigh and both walked towards Riley’s room. He entered first and then she entered closing door after her.
“Bloody womanizer! Liar! Go to hell!”, I mumbled frustratingly and slammed door shut not caring about anyone’s comfort.
He could have gone to Adam’s room! But no! He needs that Riles! God knows what they are doing inside?
Arghhhh! My head. This unknown agony is burning me from inside. I freaking hate it! Cursing some profanities, I turned down lights and went under duvet, in an attempt to stop this torture.
________
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