Chapter 4: Born Filthy

Eve tossed her phone on the table as she leaned on her CEO's chair, staring emptily at the beautiful and spacious office she had. 

Her office was quite cozy, as she put many of her personal belongings to make sure she would feel at home because she believed this was her real home.

After all, she spent most of her time in this office, burying herself with work. There were times when she felt like it was too much and almost gave up, but she persisted. Slowly, her hard work paid off, and she felt like she could take on any challenge in her life.

Yet she felt like her personal life was currently crumbling down.

Now that her life had taken a turn for the worst, this office was nothing more than just a farce of a success that she had. 

It looked cool from the outside, but it was also proof that she truly had nobody to rely on in this world. 

Eve remembered one sentence from Pierre that stung so badly—it made her want to cry right then and there.

Someone like you is meant to be a rotten pussy, and die as a bitter old woman. 

"Why did you have to say that, Pierre? You know I had such a terrible home growing up," Eve covered her face with her palms as she didn't want to be seen crying.

There was nobody in this office except her for now, but she couldn't feel at ease. It felt like this CEO's office was laughing at her for her failure. 

And now, her mother finally came back to her life. All she could remember was that one sentence that her mother once told her when she was only fourteen years old.

You know, you should start young. You're pretty, like me, of course. If you can get pregnant early, you might become the young mistress of a rich man. That's the only way for you to become rich, Evelyn. You are born filthy. 

Evelyn told herself that she could change her fate as long as she worked hard, and she did, by running away from home when she was sixteen. 

"And now everything crumbles down. My career, my love life, everything I worked hard for was destroyed by my mother…" Evelyn murmured. "Do I have no right to be happy in my life just because I was born filthy?" 

Unfortunately, Evelyn didn't have time to lament, because the door was knocked from outside.

"Miss Carpenter…"

Evelyn heard Andrea's voice. She quickly wiped her tears and checked the mirror to see if her tears ruined her makeup.

After making sure that she looked just fine, she cleared her throat and responded, "What is it, Andrea?"

"Uhm, we have a guest here. I told him you're very busy right now, but he insisted on meeting you," Andrea paused for a moment and said, "He said he wants to talk about business."

"Who is he?"

Again, Andrea paused for a moment, and stuttered her answer, "M-Mr. A-Alexander Langford, Miss…"

Evelyn couldn't help rolling her eyes, "Tell him to scram. I'm not in the mood to see his smug face."

Click.

Alex didn't wait for Andrea to open the door anymore. He took a long stride and opened the CEO's door by himself.

Andrea panicked, but before she could say anything, Alex quickly closed the door behind him and leaned on it, trapping himself with Eve inside. 

Evelyn didn't budge from her chair. She just stared at Alex with her chilly gaze and said, "I haven't permitted you to enter my office. I thought Mr. Billionaire surely knew that much etiquette."

Alex didn't react to Eve's satirical banter. 

All he did was observe her eyes, and his gaze grew increasingly darker, "Tell me what happened, Eve."

"Nothing happened."

"Don't lie. You cried just now."

"N-no, I'm not!" Eve denied. She glanced at the mirror on her desk. She already made sure she didn't look like a mess, so how could this bastard find out that she cried just now? 

"Evelyn, we lived together for three years. Your under eyes will get slightly puffy after a cry, and your cheeks will turn rosy red too," Alex pointed out. "Most importantly, you will look tense after crying, because I know you don't like shedding your tears."

"OKAY, SHUT UP!" Eve snapped as once again, she got angry at this bastard who lied to her during their entire relationship, and then acted as if he knew everything about her. "So what if I cried? It's none of your business. You need to leave my office right now, or I will call the security guards!"

"Oh, but it is my business, Evelyn," Alex walked towards Eve and put his hand on the CEO's desk. He leaned forward, staring at Evelyn with his cold blue eyes. He looked strikingly handsome up close as he was an actor before, but the only thing Eve remembered from this handsome face was how he would smile at her so lovingly while telling lies after lies about his life.

"Someone made you cry, so I have to be involved. Now tell me what happened, and I'll handle it."