Chapter 8 EVAN

CHAPTER 7

A week after Ellen Valdez's burial, Evan received a call from Doctor Tom, and he passed on a very strange message. "What did you just say?" Evangeline sat up straight in her chair at once.

Though the burial had been a private event. The Swiss were all invited by the woman's relatives who were partners with the Swiss company. After the final rite, everyone waited in line to greet the widow. Jason was stone-faced, responding only with a nod.

When it was Adriana and Evangeline's turn, her sister had greeted the man casually. Instead of walking away, she lightly tapped the man, "I'm sorry," she said, then turned to leave. Jason managed a faint smile. A smile that her sister, and her mother had caught.

"I didn't know you knew the man." Adriana asked her sister in hushed tone as they walked out. Mrs Swiss looked at both women coldly. The cold stare made Adriana and Evan to chuckle. They were still in church and everyone was looking at them as if they had committed a crime.

"Must be the way the black dress accentuates your curves. It's a sin to look sexy inside this old pew," her sister teased. Evangeline sighed and pushed through the crowd. Ones out, she gulped in the cool air in rapid succession. Her sister took her bag and walked to the car.

Evangeline was about going after her when Doctor Tom sighted her. "It's been a while Doctor." She greeted. Then the doctor told her he would love to contact her about something so she had walked him to the car to retrieve her card.

"Afternoon Doc." Adriana greeted.

She handed Doctor Tom her card, and he went his way.

"What did he want?" Her sister asked the instant she was in the car.

"I don't know."

Apparently now, she had a good idea what he wanted. She had left Miami and was back at her office. There had been so much to do that she had ignored her calls all morning. The good doctor had called the office line when she didn't pick up after several missed calls. "Why would you even think of me in that way?" She asked in shock.

"Because Mrs Valdez asked me to." He explained.

All through the day, Evangeline was confused. She went about her work half-heartedly. Even Audrey knew something was wrong with the boss.

"I made another mistake, right. Didn't I now!" She blurted out when her PA came in with the same file she had treated twice today. It wasn't easy not being distracted after getting such a call. She wondered what Jason thought about all these.

"Yes ma'am." Audrey replied. "Do you want me to get the Accountant to work on it?' she asked, a deep frown edged on her forehead.

"I think you should. I'll like to check when he's done though."

"Okay ma'am. Then Zoe is here." Audrey informed her boss, who was already heading out.

"Send her in."

The PA left and, in few minutes, her friend walked in. "Can we go out? I'm feeling stuffed in here." She asked her friend, her bag was packed already.

"Hey you too." Zoe eyed her viciously. "Where?"

"I want to be distracted." She said and began to walk towards the exit.

"I know just the place."

As they stepped out, Evangeline watched Logan coming out of his car with bouquet of flowers. Eyeing her friend suspiciously she asked, "Did you do this?"

"I didn't come with him, I promise."

"I don't want to talk, Logan. Can we do this some other time? Now isn't a good time." She started to walk past him.

"Do you even care to know what really happened?" he asked trying desperately not to show he was angry at the casual way she was dismissing him, "You've been shutting me out. It's really not what you think."

Evangeline stopped and turned to face him. "You keep saying it isn't what I think. Didn't you sleep with her?" She flared. Logan looked down in shame.

Zoe bristled angrily. "Oh boy." She said in hushed tone, then left the couple to handle their private matter. She collected Evan's car keys and went to wait in the car.

"Make it snappy." She said, as she walked away.

The two moved towards the other end and sat down on the couch by the security man's office. Turning to Logan, she said to him "So, you have two minutes. Let me know what I don't understand."

Logan didn't bother trying to defend himself, "Not this way. You're too upset to__"

"I'm not upset Logan." She cut him short. "I'll help you with one important question. Who posted the picture? Answer that and you will know why I think it's best we part ways." She started to leave. "Your two minutes is up."

"Evans? Please." Logan watched irritated as the woman she had lost walked away from him. If only he could honestly answer what had happened that night, he wouldn't have been in this mess. But she had a point. He had been so busy getting his team to take down the pictures online and threatening bloggers running the story with lawsuit.

He had ignored the most important question. He watched Evans drive off, then picked out his phone and called his team leader "James, I need to know who posted those pictures ASAP." He told him.

Zoe directed Evangeline to the newly opened bar. They opened during the week and were running promo which made the place exceptionally packed to the brim. After getting a good parking spot, the ladies got down and walked to the far end of the bar. The loud music was deafening.

"Just what I needed," Evans yelled to Zoe above the blasting song. "Told you I know just the place," She mouthed, not bothering to speak. They were at the bar then. Each grabbed a seat and ordered drinks. And they were sipping when a tall, dark-skinned guy came to ask them to dance. Evans ignored his outstretched hand, but Zoe, up for the game, took it. Leaving her friend with a bottle of bourbon, she excused herself.

For a while, she danced excited and must have danced for what seemed like ages. Zoe had even changed partners somewhere on the dance floor. And the guy who had asked her to dance was nowhere in sight.

Zoe bristled, he had a good physique. She had been hoping to get him down later tonight. So sad, she thought and started to make her way to the bar. All the while, Evangeline had been drinking. She had finished the bourbon and was on her fourth bottle when Zoe came back and found her wasted.

"I hate when you do this." She said and grabbed her. They both staggered about of the bar. Pushing her gently into the back seat, Zoe tucked Evan in and locked the door. She managed to get them in one piece. Dragging her into her apartment was a tug of war. After several pulls and tugs, they were at her entrance. She punched in the code twice before it dawned on her that her friend had changed her passcode.

"Code please." She screamed in utter frustration.

"You know it." Evans slurred.

Zoe sighed in annoyance, "You changed it."

"Ladies." Jason greeted seeing both women arguing on the door way. He had come to see Evans and met her door locked. Though he knew where she was, he stayed outside her apartment waiting for her to come.

When Doctor Tom had told him Evans had been somewhat irritated when he called her earlier, he felt obliged to explain things himself. Perhaps if he explained, she would understand.

He had called his pilot and was here before thinking things through. It was a whole lot to dump on someone. Now, he wasn't sure he made the right call. Ellen! The things you make me do. He had been on call with the doctor when he saw them stumble in. At least they would have ample time to settle down before he made himself seen, he thought. "Need help?"

"Who are you?" Zoe asked.

Evangeline looked at him and drawled, "Oh, it is the hostile Valdez."

"You know him?"

She nodded in her wasted state and started to swirl around. Zoe quickly hold her, "Yes, from Miami."

"What's going on with the door?"

Helplessly, Zoe replied him, "She's too drunk to give me the pass code."

"I think I can help with that." He brought out his phone and moved the screen to the door. Zoe who had been about to make a sarcastic comment kept quiet as the door opened instantly.

"I'm a Tech Guy." He explained and helped them inside. They settled Evangeline into the couch and got her water. It didn't take a gulp to have her throw up immediately. Resigned to the work she had indirectly brought on herself, Zoe started cleaning the place. When her phone began ringing, she passed the mop stick to the man she was yet to understand his mission. Jason took over to allow her pick up.

Some minutes later, she was back and very surprised to see Evangeline had been safely tucked in the couch and was sleeping soundly.

"You managed that pretty fast." She complimented.

"I've had help." He replied mysteriously.

Looking desperate, she asked him to sit "It's urgent." She told him worriedly, "Can I trust you with her?"

"I'll be a perfect gentleman."

"When are you leaving?"

"That I'm not sure about." He looked at the sleeping lady, "I came to talk, but it seems none of that would happen tonight. Tomorrow then."

"Good, I'll keep in touch. Thank you." Zoe said, rushing out as the phone started ringing again.

"Bye." she called from the door.