Chapter Thirty Five & Thirty Six

Yoona kept clearing her throat as she helped Evelyn in the kitchen with the dishes. Yes, there were many maids in the palace but they were the ones that volunteered to do it so they let them be.

"What the hell is wrong with your throat?", Eve asked as she eyed her from the corner of her eyes.

"Nothing", She said quickly. She was doing that because she knew Eve would still ask her a thousand questions since they were the only ones in the kitchen.

"That's good because you'd need your voice to answer my questions", She said and Yoona nodded.

"So, what happened? I thought you said you are done with him forever?", Eve looked to her.

"Eve", Yoona paused to heave a sigh. "It just happened, okay? I walked in after work to see one ugly bitch on the bed"

"He was sleeping with her, wasn't he?", Eve gasped and she nodded.

"Then?", Eve asked because she wanted to know

"He also fucked me and asked me out after then", Yoona said in embarrassment. Eve kept quiet and Yoona was thinking about many things in her head. What does Eve now think of her?

"Why are you not saying anything?", Yoona asked Eve who sighed.

"You know, I'm happy that you finally got that idiot under your grasp", Eve rolled her eyes.

"Really?", Yoona's eyes beamed with excitement.

"Yeah. You know he's been off and on with his life. But did you visit him or how did you see that?", Eve asked with interest.

"Guess", Yoona smirked.

"I can't guess", Eve said.

"Then, you don't wanna know. What about you? I heard you saw that Prince again", Yoona smirked and Eve rolled her eyes.

"Since you're so curious to know, nothing happened between us? Nothing can ever happen between us again", Eve hissed angrily.

"Why are you so worked up? Did he do something to make you angry?", Yoona asked.

"You know their father is responsible for the death of Tim's mom", Eve said and Yoona nodded. She knows that Eve told her that when she brought Tim home door the first time and took the decision of raising Tim.

"What?!!", Yoona stopped what she saw doing and faced Eve in shock. She wanted to know everything…like how?

"Yes. I know that because I found out he was the one behind it. Have I mentioned it to you before that their father is one greedy man?", Eve asked and she nodded.

"Raphael told me about his greediness too", Yoona confirmed.

"She found out about his evil plot so he killed her to cover up his tracks. Did I also tell you about Mandy's death? It's Caro that caused that too", Eve gritted her teeth in anger.

Yoona was surprised by her anger and asked her if she had not forgiven them especially Caro since she was not the one that really killed Mandy.

"I saw your mother-in-law today", Eve said and Yoona glared at her.

"Nothing can ever make me to like that witch", Yoona said.

"You know, there was a thing we thought we saw the good in her", Eve said but Alexis interrupted her.

"You mean you", He said with a laugh.

"Remember Alexis. She bought a lot of things for us then and she wasn't nagging or anything. She allowed us to do what we wanted for some time-"

"But she stopped", Alexis cut in.

"Mandy said she had nothing good in her", Eve said and no one spoke after that.

"We're gonna go greet her tomorrow", Alexis said and Eve nodded.

It was then she remembered that Lex asked if he could come along with her. She wanted to ask them for permission but Yoona was the first person she looked at so she buried the question.

"Where's Tim?", Eve asked Alexis.

"With your mom. She's reading him a bedtime story or something like that", Alexis said and she nodded.

"What about Raphael", She further asked.

"Talking to his girlfriend", Alexis rolled his eyes and the two ladies exchanged glances.

"No, Raphael doesn't-"

"H-how can you two be so dumb?", Alexis asked and they ran after him with two big spoons in their hands.

"I'm gonna kill Raphael", Eve said and dashed to his room while Yoona followed Alexis with the spoon in her hand.

**********

Eve ran to the meeting room with her files in her hand. She had pains in her stomach throughout the night and had ignored it. She should have known that the red master was on its way.

She saw the blotch in her pants as soon as she woke up that morning. She hates getting stained so much that it irks her so badly.

She got Tim ready for school and went to the school a little late. As soon as she was in school, a text came into her phone from Marta to make her way to the third meeting room on the fifth floor.

She dropped Tim in his class quickly and ran to the meeting room. She barged into the room and regretted her actions immediately. Some strange faces stared at her as she walked into the room.

"What got you held up, Miss Centrion?", The principal asked her.

She stared at the man that stared at her hard and she got nervous immediately.

'What the hell is he doing here?', She asked herself and remained standing.

"Mr. Lex, this is one of our staff, Miss Evelyn Centrion. Pardon her lateness, she's not usually like this", The principal spoke on her behalf and waved his hand for her to seat.

As Eve made to sit, Lex cleared his throat and spoke, "Remain standing"

Eve looked at him and rolled her eyes. She folded her arms under her breasts and stood like that till the end of the meeting. From the conclusion of the meeting, Lex was going to invest in the school.

He came with his people - just three of them. A woman and two men. They sat by him throughout the meeting.

They all stood up from the meeting was over. Marta looked at Eve and mouthed the words, 'I'm sorry' to her. Eve nodded and waved it off.

As she was about to leave, she heard Lex calling for her but she ignored his call and walked out of the room with Marta that was chatting away happily.

"Miss Evelyn", The principal yelled and Evelyn stopped walking with Marta.

"I said Miss Evelyn. Are you now a Centrion, Miss Marta?", The principal asked and Marta ran out of the room in embarrassment.

"You must have not heard Mr Lex call for you", The principal said and took his leave.

Eve cursed him in her mind and gave Lex a fake smile.

"What do you want?", She asked him with a stern voice.

"I just wanted to talk", Lex said and she rolled her eyes.

"What do you have to say? I have ears", Eve said and he scoffed.

"My father didn't kill your friend", Lex said and she laughed.

"My late friend", Eve corrected him and he nodded.

"Then who killed her? Don't tell me Lady Elizabeth because Josephine had nothing to do with the death of that bastard that came back to life", Eve said.

"It's Mr Salvatore that killed her", Lex said and Eve looked at him to see the lie that she could find. He kept a straight face so she had to believe him but how?

"How do you know that? Why should I believe anything that comes out of your mouth?", Eve asked.

"Because I was there when he killed her", Lex said and she gasped.

"Y-you were there and you di-didn't rescue her?!", Eve yelled at him. She was angry so much that she wanted to burst out. She doesn't know what she would say to him out of anger so she just squeezed her fists and kept quiet.

"Lady Elizabeth was there with him but he was the one that killed her. I couldn't go out to fight them because I was affected by Collins. You should know that he's a demon. It turned out that he's working with them", Lex said and she gasped.

"That's not true", Eve blurted out.

"Why? Because you kissed him?", He asked and she glared at him.

"Why are you still emphasizing on that?", Eve asked him angrily.

"It's all in the past", Eve said.

"Is it?", He leaned closer to her and she pushed him away.

"You looked beautiful at the party", He complimented her and she hissed.

"Is that what you called me back to say? What are you really doing here?", She asked him.

"Investing", He replied. "Don't worry. You'll be seeing more of this handsome face", He added and he scoffed.

"Whoever told you that you're handsome must be pretty blind", Eve replied and he laughed.

"Continue what you were saying about Josephine. How did Collins poison you? What do you do to him?", Eve was curious.

"I won't be wrong to say you were the cause. Well, after a week, he found out that I was the reason behind your departure so he infected me with his deadly venom and I became infected", He told her.

"Then?", She asked impatiently.

"Chill baby. I'll get there", He touched her hair and she slapped his hand away.

"Don't touch me, Lex", She fumed.

"Josephine found out that he was the one embezzling the money my dad sent for the improvement of Hawaii. He has been body shaming a lot of students and raping them without their consent. She found out about all of his works and threatened to kill expose him", Lex narrated.

"Lady Elizabeth was with him then and I could only watch as he separated her head from her body from a corner. I swear I was weak, Eve. I was paralyzed so I couldn't do anything. My eyes were so heavy that I forced myself to capture the scene well before my body gave way", Lex said.

"It's—I'm just-you know", Eve couldn't think straight and collapsed on the chair.

"So, where's Collins now?", Evelyn asked and he smirked evilly.

"Where do you think the bastard might be?", He asked.

"How should I know that?", She asked.

"Well, I placed him to rest two weeks after that incident. I never knew she was pregnant though. How did she give birth then?", Lex was confused because he never saw a bulge then.

"That's none of your business but since you're now a parrot that wants to know, I'll tell you. A friend of hers found her and put the baby in her till she gave birth to Tim", Eve told him.

"How the hell is that possible?", Lex asked.

"Be a witch next time since you're so curious", Eve said and stood up.

"That reminds me. Please set a meeting with your mother for me. I'd love to meet her one of these days", Evelyn begged him.

"Why? You want to discuss our wedding plans?", He asked and she scoffed.

"Just tell her it's urgent…asshole", She muttered the last part under her breath but he heard her.

"Asshole?", He raised his brow but she ran out of the room before he carried out any action that could get her fired from the school.

********

Penny furrowed her brow and held her makeup kits in her bag when she saw her boss running towards the elevator.

"He's late again", She muttered and watched him run with his briefcase in his hand.

"Hold the elevator, Penelope!!", He yelled but she pretended not to hear and continued to watch him as the elevator began to close slowly.

He suddenly tripped and his trouser got ripped up from the zip. The elevator stopped and Penny gasped when she saw the tear.

He quickly covered the front of his trouser with his briefcase and appreciated her help.

"It's no big deal", Penny replied and wanted to laugh.

"Uhm…do you have a needle?", He asked and she shook her head.

"You should go to the clothing department to get that in good shape", She suggested and he nodded.

"Thanks door holding the elevator", He said again and she nodded.

"Actually, this has been resting on your table since yesterday but I don't think you saw it. It should be the promotion you've been dreaming of for months", Penny said purposely because she has gone through the content of the letter.

"Oh yes. The management has finally seen my hardwork and compet-", He stopped talking and read the letter again from the beginning.

His back hit the back of the elevator and he slid down to the floor with his legs spread out in dispair.

"Penny", He called out and loosened his tie. "I'm gone", He said and began to laugh hysterically.

"How dare they fire me?!!", He continued to laugh as tears filled his eyes.

The elevator dinged and some ladies stood by the entrance. They were about to enter and gasped, "What the hell?"

Penny's boss has forgotten that he was supposed to be covering his zipper with his briefcase till his zipper was fine.

"What's wrong with him?", They whispered to themselves.

"Aren't you Penny Bellingham from Food production J?", One of the girls asked and Penny nodded in affirmation.

"Didn't you hear?", Another girl chirped in.

"Hear what?", Penny asked and looked at them in surprise.

"Congratulations Penny", They said one after the other and shook her hand.

"You were promoted yesterday to a manager. We'll be working with you on the 'Bugrito' project with your team in courtesy of Mr. Lex", The first girl said.

Penny still couldn't process all she was hearing because she was looking from one girl to another.

"But the strategy has not yet been upgraded?", Penny complained.

"It has. Mr. Lex upgraded it the last time he came. I think he bought it for fifty million dollars or so. How come you're not hearing any of this?", The third girl asked and Penny scratched her head.

"I told you that you would make it one day, Penelope", Her boss was now on his feet.

"What are you still doing here, Mr Hendrick?", The second girl asked and the elevator dinged.

She called for the nearest security to drag him out of the company since it was against the company's rule.

"You'll make it one day, Mr. Hendrick", Penny said and waved at him.

Mr. Hendrick walked out of the elevator in embarrassment and held his briefcase to his trouser while two security guards followed him from a distance.

He turned around and watched the elevator close slowly. It was Penny's face that he saw last as the elevator fully closed.

"Hmm", He moaned out and walked out of the company.

CLOSING HOURS

"I can't believe that the giant Mr. Lex wants to collaborate with us", Miss Purity smiled.

"What do you mean by giant? You're exaggerating, Purity. My husband is just like him", Another teacher boasted. She's fond of boasting too much.

"If your husband was like him, Miss Sandra, you won't be working in a place like this. In fact, you would be a full house wife because anything you would carry would be feather weight", Miss Purity replied and Miss Sandra kept shut.

"That's true. He became a billionaire this year. I'm so proud of him. I wish my boyfriend can be like him", Miss Nina said and the teachers laughed.

"In your dreams", Miss Sandra said.

"What got you late, Miss Eve? What if you didn't see him?", Miss Sandra asked.

"I wish I didn't see him", Eve said subconsciously and they gasped as if she had said a taboo.

"What Miss Eve was trying to say was that she wished she had come earlier to see him", Marta said and they all laughed and nodded their heads.

"Do you know him before?", They asked Eve who stared at them. She doesn't know if she should lie to them or not. What if she says 'yes' and they began to gossip about her behind her back?

"How can someone like her know him?", Miss Zee asked. Miss Zee was famous for always boasting of her beauty and body. Some of the male teachers are into her because of most of them are young.

Don't judge their capabilities. They're all brains and good looking but they like her because of her physique and beauty. And that's because Evelyn has boldly not shown interest in any of them no matter how far they go to please her to stay interested in them.

"Do you girls know that he smiled at me back then? I think he likes me", Miss Zee added and they nodded even though some didn't believe her.

"When was that?", Miss Sandra asked her. The two were famous for being the school's 'Tom and Jerry'. They were always the one bickering and fighting every now and then.

"You know, when the principal told Evelyn to work with him for the investment. He looked in my direction and smiled a little bit", She answered and they just heard with their ears.

"Oh! Is that so?", Sandra said because she saw Lex smile too.

But it was only Evelyn that knew why he smiled then. He had kept a stern face from the beginning when the meeting began.

Eve's seat was beside Sandra but she didn't sit throughout the meeting. When the principal had asked her to help Lex with the collaboration, she had twisted her face and rolled her eyes.

Lex had looked at her and kept her gaze for three seconds before smiling a little bit.

That was what happened.

The ladies heard a honk and looked towards the sport car they heard the sound from. They gasped and began to touch up their makeup immediately and smiled widely at the man that came out of his car and rested on it.

They swallowed their spit and opened their mouth when the man took off his sunshades and waved at them. They began to wave back at him and shrieked in pure excitement.

It was only one lady that looked at him with anger and disgust. Of course, it was Evelyn Centrion.

She got into her car and sped off leaving them there with her not-to-be-husband.

"Screw you, Lex!!", Eve muttered.