by P. A. Jones
"Hmm, that's nice of you. I'm fine with that," she said plainly.
"Wouldn't you miss me, babe?"
"I am already missing you. But your dream, I know how important it is for you."
I held her hand. "The sad news is that I have to leave today. I need to go and pack."
"I’ll help you." She sounded low.
***
Eva
My heart twitched when he said that he was going away for two weeks. The longer I knew him, the more I was getting attached to him. As the days passed, I loved him more and more. He was the Alpha male for me. His touch played music in my body, his eyes saw through to my soul, his roughness evoked so many emotions inside me. I started missing him from the moment he told me that he was going away. My heart wanted to say no and stop him. But he was on his path to his dream. I knew his business was in a dire position, but his hobby, his dream was on the peak. And he could get the match he wanted.
I went back to his apartment and helped him pack. It broke my heart to see him going away for two weeks, but it was essential for him. When we were done packing, I hugged him tightly. I didn't want him to leave my arms.
"I will call you once I get there." Nathan tried to console me with his soft voice.
"The moment you land there, call me." I took the promise from him and then left him.
Chapter 21
Offer
Eva
I waved good bye to Nathan. I called Chloe on the way back home.
"Hi." Chloe replied to the call with a plain, boring 'hi'.
"What happened?"
"Nothing, just chilling in the dorm."
"Why? Where is Martin? I thought you were out with him."
"I don't think it is working Eva. It's just complicated," she replied in a very low voice, like she had just finished crying.
"Were you crying?"
"May be, but not because of Martin. I am hopeless. I don't know what to do with my life anymore."
"Calm down.. I will come to meet you in the evening. Is that fine? We can talk once we meet."
"Hmm." She hung up. She had changed a lot since I left the dorm. I felt sad for her. I was somehow responsible for her condition. If I was living with her in the dorm, things might have been different with her. Instantly, I started feeling sad. Nathan was gone and Chloe was not herself lately.
Continuing to think about Chloe, I walked out of the elevator and opened my room. I had nothing to do for the whole afternoon. Nathan took away my happiness with him. I missed him more than anything. My college had a few things planned for next week, but I had little energy left to participate or attend any event.
"Hey, Eva, why are you sitting alone? Don't you have classes today?" my mom called out to me. I gazed at her; she was standing outside my room. Why was she there? She walked towards me and shook my shoulder. "What happened, sweetheart?"
"Oh, nothing." I was snapped out of my thoughts. "When did you come in?"
"Just now. You seem to be lost in thought." She sat beside me and touched my shoulders. "Don't you have college today?"
"I don't feel like going, Mom," I replied.
"What happened? Is it anything to do with Nathan?"
"Nothing like that. My life is looking boring and dull right now." I told her half the truth.
"Oh, my poor child. You should come join me in our business, sweetheart. It's a new challenge every day. Only today, we received a deal from a major retailer in Canada. I'm thinking of flying out to Canada in two weeks."
"That's nice. How big is the deal?"
"We are buying the retailer in one billion cash, and a half billion in share value."
"That's a huge amount, Mom." I tried to sound excited.
"It is. But sometimes I feel that I'm standing on the pile of billions of dollars and I have nobody to stand there with me. "
"Why don't you take my brother along with you? After all, he will have to manage everything one day."
"I doubt that. He is happy in our first store."
"He loves L.A. too much." My brother always had been reluctant to leave L.A. He never wanted to travel outside of it.
"And you hated it."
"It's better here, Mom and it smells of freedom."
"Freedom from me?" she replied in hasty voice.
"Nothing like that. Don't take me wrong. I was fed up with the cars and the pretentious, high class society. I feel free here," I replied with honesty. I had seen it all, I had been with the high society people and their drama. But I liked to be away from that all. Here, nobody other than Chloe, Mrs. Cooper and Nathan knows that I'm the daughter of Mrs. Clark. Everybody treats me like a normal person. And thanks to Mom's influence, even the media is away from me. "And I don't want that media attention."
"Then how about going away to Canada for a month?" She sounded excited.
"Canada?"
"I just told you. We are buying a retail business in Canada. Buying is easy, but I want somebody to go there and travel across all the stores of that chain and identify our future actions."
"Why me?" I was surprised by her offer.
"Because you are family. And you are bored here. You will have a nice change and get to know many aspects of our business."
"No mom. I've classes to attend and many other things."
"College? Don't worry about it. I can take care of things with the help of Mrs. Cooper. She has been taking help from me for a long time. Now it's time for her to pay back." She stressed on the word long.
"What?"
"Nothing of your concern. A business deal between friends." She smiled. I knew she had some sort of deal with Mrs. Cooper, but I didn't want to know about it.
"Still, no Mom. I've many things in place here."
"I know about Nathan, Eva." Finally she spoke it.
I took a deep breath. A moment of truth was coming for me. "It's good that you know it."
"I even know his financial condition."
"What? But how?"
"I have eyes on you, dear."
"Did you spy on him?" I shouted.
"No, don't get angry. I have friends in many places and they provide me information without asking. And I have to make sure that no harm comes your way." She hugged me tightly. "I'm just making sure that you are fine."
"I'm sorry." I felt sad for shouting at her.
"And I can give him good business in New York. You know that. We are planning to overhaul our internal system and that's why I am here."
"Still, Mom. No from me." Leaving Nathan was a big no for me. "Are you going somewhere? Because I'm going to take a bath." I went to the bathroom without waiting for her reply. I was going to soak in the bathtub for at least one hour. Nathan was not going to call for two hours and I had plenty of time until then.
***
Nathan
My flight landed before the scheduled time. I glanced at my watch. I was half an hour early. Perfect time to surprise Eva. I dialed her number. She didn't pick up the first time. I dialed again, and this time she picked up, but she sounded like an old woman.
"Who's this?"
"Mrs. Clark here."
"Okay, is Eva around, ma'am." I tried to be decent with her. I didn't like her, but she was Eva's mother and I was going to respect her for that.
"No, why don't you talk with me."
"We have nothing to talk about, Mrs. Clark."
"Did you think over my offer?" she asked.
"I said no to you. I'm not going away from Eva," I replied in firm voice.
"Then I will make her leave your life."
"I think you are already trying that. Never in my dreams did I think you would use Samantha for your dirty work. I must admit, nicely played." I appreciated that old lady.
"I can do wonders with my money, Nathan. You are too young to play these games. I can destroy you in blink of an eye."
"You will destroy your daughter as well. She loves me more than you think."
"You are her seasonal boyfriend and will go awa
y like the others did." She laughed.
"Then why are you worrying? Sit there and enjoy it. If I am seasonal, then you don't need to try these cheap tricks on me." I chuckled.
"I will destroy you, Mr. Brown," she replied in anger.
"I don't want to waste my time. Just give the phone to Eva." My temper was rising.
"You won't get her, Nathan. I won't let you get her. And not her money."
"Who told you that I'm after her money?" That lady sounded sick. I never thought of Eva's money. I hadn't even known that she was that rich.
"I know your kind. I know why you are after her."
"You don't know anything about me. And I don't expect an old hag to know about me. Stop trying to manipulate her and let her life her life peacefully."
"Go to hell." The phone got disconnected. I tried calling her again and again, but it always went to voicemail. What did the old lady do with the phone this time? I walked towards the taxi stand. I was frustrated by her attitude already.
***
Eva
"Mom, what are you doing with my phone?" When I got out of the bathroom, my mom was talking on my phone.
"Nothing." She look panicked and in some hesitation she dropped my phone in a glass of water.
"Mom," I shouted and ran to get it out of the water. I couldn't believe what she had done with my phone. "Why did you do that?" I took the phone out of the water and removed its battery.
"I'm so sorry, it was the wrong number. You came out and I dropped it."
"Oh, Mom. I was expecting a call from someone."
"Don't worry I will buy you a new phone later. Better than this,, and waterproof." She walked away from the room. I thought she was smiling.
Damn, now how the hell I am going to tell this to Nathan. Chloe, she was the answer. She had Nathan's number saved and I could use her phone to call him. I just needed to get ready and visit her.
Chapter 22
Eva
I took a cab from my hotel. When I reached the dorm, I saw Chloe leaving. I shouted her name from the cab. She turned around with a surprised look on her face.
"I didn't expect you this early," she said.
"My mother, she dropped my phone in water. I need yours to call Nathan."
"Hmm, but why? Where is he?" She peered into my eyes with a surprised look.
"He is out of town. Can I please use your phone?" I spoke very fast. My mind was racing ahead of me and was already talking with Nathan.
"Please." She handed me her phone.
I grabbed it and walked away from her. With her present boyfriend issues, her listening to my love talk wasn't a good idea. I knew it would kill her inside. She wasn't doing well with Martin. Nathan picked up the phone. "Hey, babe, it's Eva."
"God, where are you? What happened to your phone? I was talking to your mom and then it just off, just like that." Nathan spoke very fast. It felt good because he cared for me and he was worried about me.
"Calm down. My mom accidentally dropped my phone in the water. But she said it was a wrong number." He remained silent. "What happened? What did you say with her."
"Nothing, I was just asking her for you. Maybe she didn't recognize me. Are you with Chloe?"
"Maybe she didn't. Yes, I'm at Chloe’s. I came here to speak with you. When did you get in?"
"Half an hour early."
"When you called me, I was taking a long bath. Don't worry. I will get my number working by the evening."
"Good. Listen, I have to go now. I have a practice match scheduled. Can you call me in two or three hours?"
"Sure, best of luck and don't get hurt. Okay?"
"I will try." He hung up the phone. I turned back to face Chloe. She was standing in the front of door, looking at the horizon. She looked older than she was. The tension she was going through must have been taking a toll on her body.
I touched her shoulder and she jumped like somebody had attacked her. "What happened?"
"Oh, it's you." She relaxed after seeing me.
"Chloe, are you all right? I have been here for the last ten minutes. I asked for your phone and used it."
"Hmm, sorry I forgot." She looked sad.
"Let's go inside. I want to talk with you." I opened the door and pulled her along with me. I helped her to sit on her bed. "Now tell me what's going on between you and Martin?"
Her face saddened. She started sobbing. Tears flowed through her eyes. In a minute, her face was covered in tears. I pulled her in my arms. "Calm down, baby. I'm here. Don't worry."
"It's so hard, Eva." She couldn't say anything. She kept crying for few minutes. "Day by day he is going away. He isn't breaking up with me, but he doesn't love me anymore. I can't live like this." I wiped her tears.
"Do you feel like giving up?"
"Yes, I want to give up everything. But he is not ready to break the tie." My eyes filled with tears. I saw the whole of her relationship, from the start to the end. And she was crying for the release, she wasn't able to withstand all the pressure of a breaking relationship.
"Are you sure you can't take it anymore?"
"Yes, I can't take it anymore."
"Then please break it off. Don't over-stretch things." I pitied her myself; I was giving her break-up advice. Two years back, she was the one who gave me break-up advice. The cycle had completed its circle. Will this circle turn on me as well? I didn't have the answer.
"I can't. I have to try once more." She was saying exact opposite to her last statement.
"Don't be a fool. He doesn't deserve you."
"Or maybe I don't deserve him." She started crying again. I pulled her in my arms again.
"Then promise me that you will try for the last time." I wiped her tears.
"Yes, this will be the last time. I will try for the last time. Then I will finish it." I felt like I was breaking up with someone myself. Her feelings and sadness radiated in my body as well.
"Calm down." She continued sobbing for few more minutes. "Tell me, where were you going?"
"I don't remember. I was going out to meet someone. I was going out to meet your boyfriend, Jacob."
"What?" I shouted. "Whom were you going to meet?"
"Your boyfriend, Jacob."
I shook her violently. "Chloe please come out of this. Jacob and I broke up two years back. Nathan is my boyfriend now."
"Ohh, sorry. I forgot that. This is happening with me again and again. I'm forgetting many things." Her condition was serious. She needed some help. I didn't know what to do? I dialed Nathan's number. I needed to talk with him. He could do something. But he was unreachable. I tried again and again and then I realized he was out for a match. His cell must be in the locker room.
"Chloe, you there?" The familiar sound of Jacob struck my ears. He was outside the door, pounding on it. I feared the worst.
"I'm so sorry, Eva." Chloe looked panicked. "I just forgot that he is no longer your boyfriend. He called me to ask about you. He said you both fought and he wanted to meet me. I said yes. I didn't know what to do." She started crying heavily.
I thought of every person I could call. Mom, I can call Mom. I dialed her number.
"Mom, Jacob is outside of the dorm. Can you please help me?" The moment she picked up the call, I screamed in the receiver.
"Calm down. I will arrange something. Don't go out. I will be there as soon as possible." She hung up the phone.
"Eva, are you there?" Jacob again shouted from outside."I know you are in there. Please open the door. I wanna talk to you. Please, Eva. Please," he begged from outside.
I walked to the door. "Jacob, please go away or else I will call the police." I threatened him.
"Fuck you, bitch. I just got out from there. And this time I'm going to kill you for what you did to me. You mother fucker, you put me in jail and you think that you can save yourself. I will kill you and your fucking boyfriend."
I covered my ears with my hands. I couldn't hear it anymore. Two years ago, I had had enough of his assaults.
I had put him in jail for my own good. I put him in jail again, but now he was going to haunt me over and over. My knees weakened.
I had never reacted strongly to the threats. That was one of the reasons that I was his girlfriend for so many years, in spite of his physical abuse. I remembered the horrible things he did with me. I wasn't ready for another round. I was over that and I was going to fight against him until my last breath. But with whom I was fighting? I needed Nathan with me, but he wasn't there.
My fear turned into anger. I couldn't take that bastard anymore. I took a stick laying nearby in my hands and opened the door. Jacob was standing there shouting abusive words. My nightmare was standing in front of me. I started hitting him with the stick, again and again. He tried to protect himself with his hands.
My mom came in between us and stopped me. I dashed forward to hit him again, but a lady officer pulled me away. "Let me hit him, Mom, let me finish this bastard once and all." Tears splashed from my eyes. All my frustration was coming out. I put my head on my mother's chest and cried, cried from the depths of my soul.
"Calm down, he won't hurt you again. I will make sure. He’ll spend his next few years in jail."
The officers took Jacob out away. I walked inside the dorm with my mom."Thanks, Mom, thanks for coming for me." I hugged her again.
"Don't worry. I'm always there for you. I warned you few years ago, this bastard is not good for you."
"I'm sorry, Mom." I felt sad for her. I doubted my choice again.
Chapter 23
Loan
Nathan
I punched him again and again. I wanted to take him out of the ring, but he was stubborn and always came up with a new idea to surprise me.
"Nathan..." Mason shouted from behind.
I lost my concentration and the rookie hit me hard on my face. I fell on the ground, eating dust. "Fuck...fuck."
"Are you all right, dude?" The rookie boxer gave me his hand. He smelled of sweat. Even my body was bathed in sweat. I wiped the dust out of my face.
"Yeah, I'm fine," I replied to him. I looked back at Mason. "What the fuck, man. Why did you disturb me."
He waved my cell in his hand. "Call from your mother-in-law."
"What? Who?" What the hell was he trying to say?
