Chapter 16. Marina, his little sister.

"The place is perfect," Eva walked around the apartment with a big smile on her face. "I want it."

"The price is ten million," Asher replied with a bored face as he wrote on his notes. Then handed her a contract. There were not many procedures when it came to special beings. It was one of the policies of the company.

Eva nodded. The place was worth what it cost. "I also want to furnish and redecorate it. Do you know someone who can do it for me quickly?"

"Yes, a company affiliated with us can help you. They will have it ready for you in three or four days at the most, of course, if you pay them something extra it would be less time."

"So fast?"

Asher shrugged. "That's how it's always been."

Eve sighed and nodded. "Okay, I agree to it, meanwhile I want a place where I can stay. Do you have something in mind?"

"Crimson Hotel, it's the best place around this area," Asher replied without thinking much. "Do you want me to give you the number? I can take you there if you want."

Eva looked at him in surprise, the man was very efficient. "Asher, would you like to work for me? I can pay you a lot more than what you make at your current job."

The man looked at her with interest, his gray eyes finally focusing on her, but to answer her proposal, he only shook his head from side to side. "Sorry, I promised my wife that I would work in the company for a while, but I can recommend someone to you."

"Too bad," Eva said, but she somehow knew it would be that way. The man didn't seem easy to convince. "But tell me, can I trust that person?"

Asher frowned for a bit, thinking carefully. "Yes, he is someone trustworthy. His name is Seth Keagan and he is my wife's younger brother."

"Fine, send him to the hotel, I need him to do several things for me this week."

Asher shrugged and proceeded to send a message to his brother-in-law. He had a good feeling that Seth would finally meet his match with Eva Reed. 

***

At the hospital, Kian woke up after a couple of hours with a slight headache. He didn't know what had happened that time. After smelling that familiar aroma, he began to hear the screams of that woman again. It was terrifying, but at the same time, he had an indisputable desire to see her.

"Sir, are you alright?" Emiliano asked with a little anxiousness in his voice. He had never seen his boss like that. For the past few years he had worked with him, that man had never been ill or tired. He was a machine. 

Kian's eyes struggled with the soft light coming through the open window and nodded. "I'm fine, let's go back to the office."

"But..." the doctor had prescribed a day off to rest. 

Perhaps due to the exhaustion of the last few weeks of intense work, Kian's body had finally collapsed. Perhaps he had a silent illness he had never spoken about. Emiliano was trembling in fear at the thought of a severe illness like Kian's sister. They had run several tests and Kian seemed perfect, there could be something else. 

Kian didn't seem to care though. He was already used to the excessive workload, and he knew very well that it wasn't stress that had caused him to faint. He didn't have to be there.

"I'll call the doctor," Emiliano said without wasting time. Kian was already removing the IV on his own. As the dutiful Personal Assistant of the CEO of Hart Enterprises, he couldn't allow that precious blood to spill on the floor.

Kian remained seated for a moment; he felt a little dizzy. The strange emotion, heavy and painful still lingered in his chest. 

At that moment, his phone rang. It was hard to focus on the name on the screen as he touched it. Only after a few more rings, he could see the name of his little sister, Marina.

"Brother?" the soft sweet voice of a young girl filled his heart with tenderness. It was what he needed to make that dull feeling in his heart fade away for a bit. "Are you there, brother?"

"Yes," Kian replied, leaning back on the bed. "What is it? What do you want now?"

"That… Can't I call my brother just for the sake of it? I am not a spoiled little girl who…"

Kian smiled. "What did you do, now? Mom scolded you again?"

A silence fell on the other side, and Kian smiled.

"It's not that, but… It's Samantha's birthday next week, I just wanted to go say congratulations, but mom says I can't go, I have to stay home to rest. Brother, can you tell her to let me go? Or… can you come with me? We can even take Eva with us."

Kian's eyes narrowed in disgust upon hearing the name. Little Marina has been dazzled by Eva's charm ever since she met her two years ago at the hospital.

But if he told her the truth about that woman, he would scare her away and disappoint her forever. He couldn't allow that to happen, her heart and her health wouldn't take it.

"I'm sorry, Marina, but the party will be for older people... I don't think it's convenient for you to go."

"But Samantha sent me an invitation... I..."

"I know," Kian sighed wearily, "she was just being courteous anyway, you better not go. Just send her your congratulations some other time."

"But... you will go with Eva, right?"

Kian gripped the phone. Of course, he wouldn't go anywhere with that woman. He just hoped that this woman would disappear from his life forever.

"I don't know, I have to ask her if she's free," Kian answered without intending to speak to that woman ever. 

"I'll ask her for you," Marina said enthusiastically. "I'll call you later."

She didn't give him time to retort when Marina had already hung up. That girl always got her way, even now, she would surely call that woman to invite her to the party as a pretext just to talk to her.

Kian didn't understand why Marina was so infatuated with Eva when she wasn't a big deal. She was a careless and scheming woman, just a bit smart and with good computer skills, nothing more.

Although the first time he saw her and met her, he didn't think that way, and it was hard for him to accept it. 

It was over a year ago, in Marina's hospital room, the two girls were chatting happily. They laughed at something on the computer.

Marina had always liked computer games and she aspired to be like Eva, an expert. Given her health condition, she could only see the world through the screen, and Eva taught her how.

Kian was grateful to Eva for a long time, and he initially thought that she was a sweet and beautiful woman. He couldn't get enough of looking at her. She was like a sun, shiny, adorable, and warm. It was hard not to like her. In fact, he thought he was developing feelings for her, but not many days later that woman showed her true colors.

She used his vulnerability to take advantage of him. In the end, they married and any good feeling he had for her faded. 

The doctor entered the room that moment, followed by two nurses and Emiliano. 

"Mr. Hart, how are you feeling?"

"Perfect," he motioned for the drip to be removed immediately. 

"Sir, I advise you to rest at least for this day. If you have another episode..."

"No need, it won't happen again," he signaled Emiliano to give him his coat. "We need to leave now!" 

"Sir?" Emiliano was surprised. Something must have infuriated his boss. 

"Call that woman. Do it now."

Emiliano sighed heavily. He knew very well who his boss was referring to.