Destined

Destined. .

Chapter 1.

Through teary eyes Eva watched the sun falling behind the horizon, painting the sky shades of red and pink, and she thanked God that this day had come and gone. All the pain she had suffered. All the hurt she had felt. Everything. Gone. though only for a day. Another day would come with another sets of problems.

She sighed, another failure, the sixth failure to be precise. How brutally they had asked her to leave. She had been giving interviews since she had shifted to Bristol, but nobody was ready to give her a chance. All she wanted was a chance.

Eva still remembered those days, the last days of her happiness, when she still dreamt of most ridiculous things, when life was easy.

But that one day, changed everything.

***

"Eva, wake up, it's already eight in the morning. Evaaaa!"

Isn't that my Mum?

"Indeed. There is no doubt that I am your Mum. Today is your campus placement interview, and here you are still in the bed."

She sat up, rubbing her eyes, with the heel of her palm, "Huhh! Such a beautiful dream it was, but you had to ruin, you could have waited a bit!"

Ella rolled her eyes saying "First be there on time, then only you can fulfill your dreams. It's already eight, and look at you, sleeping like a baby, no worries at all."

"Hmmm." Still not satisfied with her fragmentary dream, Eva asked, "Where is Papa, by the way! Is he coming with me or not?"

"Of course I am coming! My princess is going to get a job. I have to see that on my own eyes! " said Robert. "Come on, freshen up and have breakfast, I am waiting for you outside."

Eva sighed thinking, again the car might have broken down! But as stubborn as her Papa was, he was never going to give up on this car!

"Got all your credentials beta?" Her over worried Mum Ella asked for the umpteenth time, to which Eva sighed, and nodded again.

She never liked it whenever she had to sit at the backseat of the car, but this time she was not alone there, her Dad made her Mum sit there too. "Papa, you know how much I hate to sit here, you didn't even let Mum to sit beside you. Seriously Papa, you had to put that stupid bouquet there." She whined.

"Don't be a crybaby, This is for my princess, what, you don't expect me to congratulate my daughter empty handed."

Papa and his antics!

She rolled her eyes, "But Papa. . ." She wanted to argue more and that's when a huge truck rammed into the back of the car, before she could understand, her little car rolled over several time, breaking glasses, crushing-squeezing from all sides, only thing Eva could feel was silence, an extreme piercing silence. She wanted to scream, she wanted to fight, but the smell of fuel leaking didn't help her much, unable to take it anymore she closed her eyes, as if someone pushed her into a deep sleep.

A single lone tear rolled down her cheeks. It had been three months, but still it felt like yesterday. She wanted to cry, she wanted to thrash everything, around her. But life never waited for anyone. Eva had to shift to Bristol with her maternal grandDad, as there was nobody to take care of her.

Her granpa Victor Jose was a clerk at a bank. The money he had saved for his old age was enough for a lonely man like him. But now that Eva moved in his house, he had to take care of certain expenses.

She needed a job in any case. But she had lost her credentials in the accident. As though she had requested to her university for the duplicates, but it would take some time to get those in her hands.

***

The next day, and another interview. Eva knew she would hear the same answer again, but still she wanted to try. She got up, and got ready.

At the breakfast table, two experienced eyes met with her. "You are pushing this very far Eva." Her grandDad said softly. "Just wait for the mark sheets to arrive. Then you can hunt down every job available in this city." He laughed at his own joke.

Eva looked at him, "I just want to. . . Grandpa, please don't fret over this. . ."

"You just want to help your old man here. I understand Eva, but still I would suggest to wait for another month." His eyes crinkled at its corners, "and I am sure, you are not going to listen to me. Fine. All the best then."

"Thanks grandpa." She mumbled, she wanted to listen to him, he the only family she had. But sitting idle at home was simply killing her. She wanted to get busy. Eva wanted to get away from this lonely man, how badly he was trying to stay happy for her when he had lost his only son and daughter in law. He didn't deserve this. Not at this age.

***

"No Ms. Jose you have to show us the original credentials of yours. As you said, these are only print out of the soft copies you have saved in your computer." said one of the interviewers.

" But, sir, as I told you I have lost my certificates and marksheets at an accident! It will take just a month to get the originals. I have already applied for the duplicates."

"Sorry Ms Jose, rules are rules."

She came out of that cabin with teary eyes, and sat on one of the chairs that had been provided for the candidates, at the Wright n Sons. Though she was sure that they would reject her, but still again she had hoped she would get this job.

A light tap on her right shoulder, wiping up those tears, she saw a beautiful lady, was smiling at her.

"What happened?" she asked softly.

There was something in her voice, that for a moment, Eva felt her Mum was standing there. She stood up and hugged that lady saying, "Everything is getting out of my hand...I...I don't know what to do!"

"You can tell me, And first stop crying." Eva sighed and let go of her, she felt she should say everything, and she did.

"Hmmm. . . These are certain rules we have to maintain, nothing can be done!"

"So I have to wait for another month to get a job?"

"Unfortunately yes. But..." She paused as if contemplating something, "I don't know how will you react, I have a job for you."

Eva gawked at her saying "But may I know who am I talking to?"

"Finally, I thought you are never going to ask! Hello...I am Mrs Michelle Wright, one of the board members of this company."

Eva gasped! All this while she had been telling her story to one of the board members. Embarrassment crept all over her body, making her blush profusely.

"You didn't answer me. Are you interested?"

"What kind of a job if I may ask?"

"Of course you may. You can say it is a post of a personal assistant." Michelle explained.

"For you?" Eva sounded hopeful. She was already liking this lady.

"No, for my son, Kevin Wright."

Chapter 2.

"For your son!" Okay not so bad, Eva thought. Wait didn't she just tell her that for any kind of job she would have to show the original credentials! Then why was she offering this job?

"But mam you just said that without my... " cutting in middle of her sentence Michelle said, "I am OK if you provide me your marks sheets after three months." Seeing hesitation in Eva's eyes, Michelle stated, "Your salary will be ￡80, 000 per month and of course with that, normal perks, like travel allowances, daily allowances, will be given to you as well."

Eva was literally shocked. Was it a kind of joke? She had an idea how much a personal assistant could earn. She was about to ask all her queries, when Michelle said, as if she could read her mind, "You must be wondering why am I giving you this much of remuneration!" She sighed as Eva didn't answer. "You will get to know eventually. It's just that, it's not easy to work with my son. You have to be very patient. Yes patience that's the key word."

"You know mam your words are quite frightening! But still I'll give it a try. So I have to give an interview? Which one is his cabin? But what if he rejects me?" Eva asked worriedly. She really needed the job. She was no more capable of being a burden on her grandfather, the only person who loved her unconditionally after her parents.

"No not in this office. Kevin works from home. So you have to come to my home everyday!" explained Michelle.

Weird.

"So from when are you willing to start?" asked Michelle.

"May be from tomorrow. Actually I have to ask my grandpa before accepting your job." Eva said, as she was still finding the job a bit weird, as if she was missing something.

"Sure sure. I'll wait for your call. This is my card. Call me when you decide. " both of them stood up and Eva was about to leave, that very moment Michelle said "I really wish that your decision will be in this job's favor! I'll be waiting." then she left, leaving Eva more curious.

As expected her grandpa was not very happy, but again he said yes, just because he saw the happiness on Eva's face after a long time. Eva had already called Michelle, and she was ready to face that not so easy to work with Mr Kevin Wright.

***

"Good Morning, Eva, it's so nice to see you again." beamed Michelle.

"William, this is Eva, the girl I was talking about last night "

"Oh yes, it's really nice meeting you Eva! I am Kevin's father William Wright." Eva shook his hand and said "Pleasure is all mine sir".

"Michelle I think you should take her inside" he paused "and let her meet Kevin."

" Hmm. . ." sighed Michelle.

"Kevin. . ." Michelle called when they got near of a closed door. "He is getting dressed" a voice came from inside. A woman's voice, his wife, Eva thought. To her astonishment an aged woman came out of the room. "He is ready now. . .You can go inside." she said, looking at Eva sympathetically, "He is not in a good mood today."

"Hmmm, Kevin, may we come in?" Michelle asked really politely, which made Eva thinking, how her Mumused to barge in her room, and how she never bothered to knock even.

" If I say no, Will you listen mother? No right? So why are you even asking ?" a deep husky baritone that made Eva almost jump. Irritation in his voice was very much audible.

Hmmm.

She went inside with Michelle who introduced her to the owner of that baritone.

"Kevin, this is Eva Jose. From today she will be your personal assistant and he is Kevin Wright my son and your boss." Michelle sounded as much nervous as Eva. Though Eva couldn't understand for what reason a Mumcould be so nervous of her own son.

"And who gets to decide that Mum you?"

"Kevin!"

Eva didn't hear a single word after that. The man Kevin Wright was something to look at. He was truly handsome. Even when he had disheveled hair, unkempt beard which really needed to shave. And his eyes. . .That light brown eyes, He just got the killer eyes in true sense. He was tall even when he was sitting... sitting on a...on a... wheelchair!

"What? Are you checking me out? Or should I lose my shirt, that shall give you a better view!" Kevin smirked.

Eva's eyes popped out and blood started pooling to her cheeks. She wanted to say something but couldn't find a word to deliver.

"Kevin, stop it! I'll be happy if you can behave like a gentleman at least with Eva!" Michelle 's voice was an octave higher.

"I am on my best behaviour today mother, but is she mute? Can't she talk? And she is standing there like a dumb! Are you sure that she is capable of being an assistant! You know right, how much I hate dumb people! " Kevin said staring straight at Eva.

"This is it" Eva mumbled, this Kevin Wright was literally getting on her nerves. "You know Mr Wright there is a proverb which I am sure you haven't heard of! 'Empty vessels make more noise'! I am standing here quietly that doesn't imply that I am dumb. May be I am much wiser to answer to your stupid rants." fumed Eva. "And just because you are on wheelchair, that doesn't make me sympathetic towards you. So I would request you to behave properly with me and maintain the decorum of the relationship between a boss and a personal assistant."

"You've got a bit temper, isn't it?" Kevin was clearly amused.

"I don't like people who are such a know it all."

"Hmmm, Follow me then."

Kevin's POV:

Sleep invaded me long time ago and all I could do was just to stare at everything and doing nothing. It's five in the morning, birds were chirping outside and I didn't know whether it should make me happy or not. Another day of my life was going to start. Again Rosemary would come and help me to do my morning deeds, Would help me to get dressed. It's funny that I couldn't even get out of this bed without someone's help.

Though I had improved a lot. At least I could move my left hand and left feet, a little bit. Physiotherapy was doing good actually. It had been 6 months. God knew how many more days. . .months going to go like this. How much more I would suffer with my left side paralysed body.

Today, another new girl, my new personal assistant would come as informed by my Mum last night. "Don't know, from where she finds them!" I murmured. "But she loves you, and you know that." Rosemary had always defended Mum. "I know, Rosemary, but it's just some computer work, I can do that with my good arm, I don't need an assistant for that." Right side of my body was absolutely fine.

I was really tired of all this. Again someone would come, show me pity and would make me angry, that would make me shout and she would be gone. Didn't know why this anger had not left me after that day, I sighed.

"May we come in, ?" Mum asked from outside of my room's closed door. As if she was not going to come if I said no! Again irritation caught me "If I say no, will you listen Mother? No! So why are you even asking!"

Mum entered into the room with that girl. "Kevin, this is Eva Jose. From today she will be your personal assistant and he is Kevin Wright my son and your boss." Mum said this in one breath. I was about to chuckle and that's when I saw her, Eva Jose.

Very first thing I noticed, was her height. She was quiet tall. Then a pair of wide, chocolate-brown eyes set in a pale, heart-shaped face. This girl looked a bit embarrassed for some reason which I didn't know. I could clearly see that it was a strain for her to make conversation with a stranger, to be the center of attention. I could sense her shyness from the way she held her frail-looking shoulders, slightly hunched, as if she wanted to hide herself from the world.

She was checking me out and it felt nice. But suddenly those chocolate brown eyes slided to my leg. . .and wheelchair! Of course it irritated me.

"What? Are you checking me out? Or should I lose my shirt, that'll give you a better view!" I snapped. Warm red stained her cheeks as she looked down, away from the embarrassing gaffe of getting caught staring at me.

Mum shouted at me. But somehow I was enjoying this girl's reaction. "I am on my best behaviour today Mum, but is she mute? Can't she talk? And she is standing there like a dumb! Are you sure that she is capable of being an assistant. You know na how much I hate dumb people! " I knew it would infuriate her, I just wanted to hear her voice!

There was a faint crease between her eyebrows that she seemed unaware of. She glared at me saying in her wind chime voice, "You know Mr Wright there is a proverb which I am sure you haven't heard of, Empty vessels make more noise. I am standing here quietly that doesn't imply that I am dumb! May be I am much wiser to answer to your stupid rants. And just because you are on wheelchair, that doesn't make me sympathetic towards you. So I would request you to behave properly with me and maintain the decorum of the relationship between a boss and a P.A."

WOW

Her cheeks were flushed with anger this time. Even irritated as I was, it was impossible not to find her anger a bit entertaining.

I could see Mum was utterly happy, as Eva answered me back aptly. She left without saying a word.

"You've got a bit temper, isn't it?"

"I don't like people who are such a know it all."

"hmmm, Follow me then. "

"It's your bedroom!" she was clearly uncomfortable!

"Don't worry your virtue is pretty much protected. I can't even move without anybody's help." I smirked.

"Are you always like this, or today is a special day?" She was royally irritated.

I smiled, thankfully I wasn't facing her so she could not see my smile. I didn't want her to be more angry than she already was.

I turned my wheelchair around to say something which I immediately forgot. She was engrossed in a built-in shelf unit, upon which sat around twenty framed photographs of me, well a better me. I noticed she stooped to get a better view of me in which I was in my ski goggles! "Switzerland, one and the half years ago!"

"I am sorry, I was just... " she blushed! But I could clearly see the sympathy, pity in her eyes, "You were just looking at my photographs. wondering how awful it must be to live like that and then turn into something like this! Right?" I just couldn't take that anymore. I just turned around my wheelchair and with a low hum it took me out from that girl's gaze.

The morning sagged and decided to last for several years. I was quite used to people's pitiful eyes, sympathy. But somehow I didn't want her to be one of those. So to make her busy I gave her as many work as possible in one day.

She seemed happy with that and started working on it. But I wanted to hear her voice. "So you are from Yorkshire?" holding her curriculum vitae in my hand. She just nodded. "And you are an MBA! Wow, a gold medalist, then why didn't you go for a better job? Or nobody trusted you enough to give you a job?" I laughed at my own joke.

This time she looked at me, shooting daggers with those dark brown eyes! "How does it matter sir, as long as your Mother trusted me enough to give me this job. Now will you mind if I proceed with my work!" she snapped.

HMMM.

She was different from other girls I had encountered. She was entirely other. I kept mum and my eyes shot up-to a framed photograph. Me with Alisha. The only girl I had loved. The girl because of whom I got into this wheelchair, the girl who left me because I was in this wheelchair.