When The Wrong One Loves You Right

Evelyn Rodriguez sat up abruptly, squinting her eyes protecting them from the blinding daylight sun. She looked around scanning the room in confusion trying to identify anything familiar.

She had no recollection of where she was. Last she remembered was being at a bar, celebrating her BFF's birthday, now she was in a king-size bed in God knows where.

She held her head with both hands wincing as the hangover pain pierced through her head. "Where the hell am I?" She muttered under her breath.

Evelyn mentally tried to recollect the events of last night and how she ended up here but her eyes instinctively fell upon her duvet-clad body. She peeped underneath the cover and was shocked to her bone marrow to see herself naked under the cover. Gasping for air, she looked up abruptly, and then she looked down again, this time looking way below, between her thighs. There were splatters of blood here and there and even on the mattress too.

"No, no, no! This can't be happening." She whimpered, squeezing the duvet tightly to her chest. "This couldn't be happening to me". She hadn't possibly lost her 25-year-long virginity over a nightstand with God knows who.

Evelyn was perplexed still trying to process her current situation got distracted from her thought by a groan that came from the left side of the bed. She was too busy trying to get a grip on herself to notice that anyone else was sleeping right beside her.

She slowly turned her head toward the direction the sound came from. Whoever it was was covered by the duvet from head to toe and was responsible for violating her body. With utmost rage, she jerks the duvet off of him revealing his hunky body.

He groaned again, placing the back of his hand on his face, blocking the sunlight from getting into his eyes.

The reflections of the sun kissed his deeply tanned muscled body and illuminated his whole frame. The veins in his arms looked like they were about to pop right out of his skin.

His finely chiseled nose stood firm, straight, and pointed, and just on the tip of it was a tiny dot freckle.

His square jaw was so taut it might have been sculpted. But it was his mouth that knocked the air out of her lungs. Plump lips twitched in a sensual manner above his light beard.

This man, whoever he was, was built like a Greek God.

His pecs gave a slight flex as he rose to a sitting position and he ran the fingers of his right hand back through his ruffled black hair from forehead to neck in a single natural motion. "Who are you?" He muttered under his breath, blinking his gray eyes that were still struggling to get used to the brightness of the room.

Evelyn stared at him in complete bewilderment. Jason Lyndon?! World sensational musician, Jason Lyndon! He who had caused her only sister's death! Was in bed with her?!

TWO DAYS EARLIER...

"Evy, You know we have just today to prep for my birthday? I want everything to be perfect!" Doris, Evelyn's childhood best friend spoke from the other end of the phone. "This is gonna be the best birthday of my life."

Evelyn struggling between carrying brimful grocery bags and making her way out of the crowded store chuckled at her friend's enthusiasm. "How could I possibly forget when you remind me of every little chance you get?" She stopped and got into the Uber she had called earlier. "You have nothing to worry about. Everything is PERFECTLY in order, Ma'am. Tomorrow is gonna be a blast."

Doris Evans, a 25-year-old model and social media influencer with about 20 million followers, has always been one to care about her birthdays, but this year's birthday seems to be super special to her. She had somehow overheard her boyfriend, Jeff, on the phone with one of his friends, talking about surprising his girlfriend with a gift that'll take her breath away and just a week ago she saw him buying an engagement ring from the jewelry store. And of course, she's told her 20 million followers to expect something breathtaking on her birthday.

Jeff Blake was also a model and a social media influencer too with about 22 million followers. So, you could say they were the 'Power Couple'.

"I've always imagined how my proposal was gonna be like ever since we were kids, you know that right? and I've waited three long years for this. To be called Mrs. Blake." Doris shrill excitedly. "I can't wait!"

Evelyn sough aloud. "I'm so jealous." She changed the tone of her voice, feigning annoyance. "Can you please stop rubbing it in? You're speaking to a woman who hasn't dated anyone ever."

Doris giggled. "So-o-ry!" She singsong. Then added. "By the way, how are things going on between you and Matt?"

Matt Johnson graduated from the same university as Evelyn and Doris. They started as friends -greatly to her relief and on their graduation night after-party, he confessed his feelings to her. Even though Evelyn didn't accept dating him, he still decided to wait till she was ready to feel the way he felt for her. Recently, she'd have to admit she felt some little spark when she was around him.

"Nothing is going on between me and Matt."

"Oh C'mon! How long are you going to keep denying the fact you like-like him as much as he does?"

Evelyn rolled her eyes. "I don't like-like him. Okay, maybe I had butterflies once or twice doesn't mean I like him."

Doris let out an elaborate sigh. "Evy. I know you've been through a lot but sometimes you just need to bury some ugly memories and let someone love you. You deserve someone to look after you. To be protected. You just have to open your heart and let love in."

Evelyn listened to her friend as the cab pulled in front of her driveway. She chuckled as she got out of the cab and made her way toward her apartment. "You sound just like my Abuela right now." She said trying to balance her phone between her left shoulder and her ear as she held her groceries with both hands. "And I think I'm ready to give Matt a chance."

"Did you just say you're ready to give me a chance?" A familiar voice spoke from behind her.

Grinning, Evelyn turned around to see Matt walking toward her. His eyes twinkled. "Speak of the devil." She mumbled under her breath.

She could hear Doris whooping from the other end of the phone as she has succeeded at her mission. "Okay, I'm gonna leave you two love birds alone to do your thing. See ya!" And with that, she hung up.

"Hi, there! Thank you!" Evelyn cried as Matt reached out to carry her grocery bag for her. "What are you doing here this early, it's barely 9 am. Shouldn't you be at the hospital, Doctor Johnson?"

"Oh! It's my day off today and I was in the neighborhood so I thought I'd drop by." He said with a shrug and then he shook his head. "Don't try to change the subject, Evy. I clearly heard you say you'd give me a chance. Are you being for real?"

"We-e-ll..." She looked at him with squinty eyes drawing the 'well'. Then shrugged her shoulders. "Yeah. I guess."

"I'm holding you at your words. You can't change your mind later, okay?"

Evelyn laughed softly. "Okay!" She said. "Hey. You should stay for breakfast."

"Can I?"

"Of course. Mamá and Abuela would love that. I think Livvie even has a crush on you." Evelyn whispered the last part as she opened the door for him. They could hear Livvie dancing and singing along, at the top of her voice, to Jason Lyndon's music video being played on TV.

"I doubt that. The only person Livvie has a crush on is Jason Lyndon." He said with certainty and a little laugh.

Evelyn's countenance scrunched up with utter disdain. There were two people she hated the most in her life. First, her father, who'd always come back home drunk in a stupor. He would beat her, her sister, and Mom and lock them up in the cold basement till morning when he was sober again. It was a vicious circle. That was their family's routine. And then one day, when she was just ten and her sister fifteen he'd left–much to their relief– and never returned. And the second person was, Jason Lyndon, who was probably responsible for her sister's death.

Seven years Olivia-Livvie Rodriguez was Evelyn's niece. Evelyn's big sister, Clarissa Rodriguez, had come back home one day with an adorable baby and a few months after that she died in a fire outbreak in her apartment. At first, the news claimed it was an accident due to some household inflammable but she and the rest of her family weren't buying it. They suspected foul play, knowing Clarissa for one to be extremely careful to a fault and would nag anyone for a day straight if they don't put things in where they were meant to be kept.

Jason Lyndon's fans, who'd hated the friendship between an upcoming artiste and their fave artiste, started spreading rumors that she'd committed suicide due to the black lash she'd gotten for having an affair with Jason's father. Back then, just after she made her debut, there were horrible rumors in circulation that Clarissa was in a relationship with Jason's Dad, Case Lyndon, who was the President of Lyndon Group one of the largest Gadgetry companies, and a man also known for his being a Casanova in his prime.

According to the rumors, she'd befriended Jason to get close enough to seduce his father-who had a thing for younger women- to get her career sponsored by him.

Clarissa had been stronger than anyone Evelyn knew and she had been through a lot to take her own life over something like that. Not right when she was so close to achieving her dreams and so not after haven become a mom.

Yes, Clarissa had sometimes been the reckless member of the family, especially when it came to boys. She'd had a one-night stand with God knows who and had fallen pregnant. Clarissa had wanted to raise her baby alone, in seclusion, far away from all the toxicity and rumors spreading about her.

She'd gone through the pains of having her child all by herself without anyone's knowledge. Not even her family members knew what she was going through, in fact, the world didn't know she was pregnant, she did a good job hiding it.

Until she couldn't deal with the stress of raising her kid and pursuing what's left of her dreams all alone, she'd come back home. Though she was completely tight-lipped about who the father of her baby was, the Paparazzi took up the news, and the rumor that Livvie was Case Lyndon's daughter, spread the nation like wide fire.

After investigations and forensics, they found the trace of an unclear footprint of someone else's in the apartment, who was probably with her and probably had set the fire at her apartment, the case was now changed to a homicide.

The rumors surrounding Clarissa died down right after the news of her death were likely due to murder being released.

Evelyn strongly believed that Jason had something to do with her sister's death or he was even responsible for her death.

Clarissa had told her on the day she died that she was finally going to meet up with Jason to clear up the rumors about her dating his father.

She'd tried meeting up with him so many times but Jason was pissed about the rumors and had refused to see her.

How exactly did she end up in her apartment 30 minutes later in the middle of an inferno?

After Evelyn had told the detective about how her sister had planned to meet up with Jason, The Lyndons were called in for questioning as suspects, due to the rumors and Evelyn's statement.

Both father and son denied the allegations and there wasn't any solid proof to pin it on them either.

Clarissa's body and every other thing in her apartment were burnt beyond recognition and worst of all, the CCTV camera of her apartment was destroyed, probably by the perpetrator, a day before the murder. There was no way of finding out who was in her apartment with her. Due to lack of evidence the case was closed.

And just like that, every news of The Lyndons' involvement was taken down and Clarissa's murder case was forgotten like it never happened in the first place.

"Mami, why do always play those horrible songs?'' Evelyn said calmly, trying to curb her temper. She wasn't angry at her cute niece but her all-time fave musician. Livvie was still ignorant of Jason's involvement in her Mom's death and they intend to keep it that way.

Livvie turned slowly from the TV to her aunt. "Horrible?! Horrible?!" She exclaimed wide-eyed. "Of all adjectives to qualify my Jason's music, you choose... Breathe Livvie, breathe." She added, dramatically making hand gestures across her face and taking a long breath. "You should be seriously lucky I love you, Tía Evy. I would have dragged you to the mud. Do you know who Jason Lyndon is? World's hottest artiste with zero scandal. Have any of his songs ever flopped? No! If he isn't the definition of perfection then I don't know what is. I still can't believe you called his songs horrible."

Matt exchanged greetings with Evelyn's Mom and Grandma as Evelyn's mom takes the groceries away from him. Then he turned to Evelyn and laughed at the look on her face. "I don't think Jason's music is that bad," he said to her. "I listen to it sometimes."

"Thank you, Matt," Livvie let out with a smile. Then she blew him a kiss. "I can't love you less."

Evelyn turned her murderous look towards him. "Don't encourage her!"

Matt shrugged and made a zipper sign across his lips. As Livvie went back to dancing to the music video on TV, a piece of breaking news interrupted the show. 'Jason Lyndon is rumored to be in a relationship with a minor'.

"33-year-old Sensational musician, Jason Lyndon, known as the 'forever single celeb' who has never been in any sort of serious relationship has been spotted at the lobby of The Royal Hotels on what seems to be a romantic date with the 17-year-old actress, Kelly Davis, who just made her acting debut last year at her award winning movie, 'Marianne'..." The celeb gossip newscaster announced in her usual smooth tone.

Some pictures of Jason and Kelly-wearing face caps and sunshades- smiling in each other's arms at the hotel's lobby were attached to the news broadcast.

"What?!" Livvie shrieked horror-stricken. "This can't be true. Someone is trying to frame my Jason."

Evelyn gave her a devilish smirk. "I told you he wasn't so perfect."

"He is!" Livvie differed obnoxiously. "And I and every loyal member of our fandom are gonna prove it. You just wait!"

Evelyn watched in utter dismay, as her niece stormed off, tapping her phone violently.

"WHAT EXACTLY is your work here?!" Jason Lyndon yelled at his PA, Julia Anderson, whose face was downhearted. "Do I pay you to slack off at your work and let such a stupid rumor like this spread?"

"Calm down, Jason." Brad Bruce, Jason's best friend, placed a hand on his shoulder. "I'm sure she's trying to find a way to solve this problem. Chill out, okay? You're scaring her."

Jason took a long deep breath. Then turned to Julia, pointing a long finger at her face. "I don't care how you're gonna do it but fix this!" He said firmly with clenched teeth. Then he took a breath and added calmly. "Please."

"Yes! Boss." Julia said fidgety. Just as she was about to leave, her phone rang. She excused herself and took the call. After a moment later she returned with the phone. "It's your father, Boss. He wants to have a word with you at The Lyndon's Manor."

"Tell him I'm busy."

"He said he has a solution to your problems."

Jason's brow pleated with frowns line as he fixed an angry stare at her. Julia lowered her eyes in submission like a Chihuahua who had come face on with an aggressive Pitbull.

"Fine! Tell him I'd meet with him!" Jason puffed as he walked past her with his friend right behind him, leaving Julia, who was now talking as collected as possible to Jason's father at the other end of the phone.

"Are you really going to see him?!" Brad queried. "Haven't it been like four years since you last met up with him?"

"I don't wanna meet him, but he seems to have a solution to my problems, so I guess I've gotta swallow my pride and just meet up with him." He shrugged his shoulders dismissively. "Even though I hate his guts."

"I'm one hundred percent sure there's a catch," Brad said with certainty. "Your father never gives anything free of charge. You should keep that in mind."

They both strode towards their Ferraris parked at Jason's mansions driveway. Jason loathed everything about his Dad. He'd always been a control freak trying to Lord everyone and making choices for them that only benefited him. He was a vile dictator.

First, with his mom, he'd turned a popular balladeer into a mere housewife who only did as he says. He crushed her career and caged her. He never let her out and when he does he monitored all her movements. She'd bottled up all those pain and torment until one day he drove her to the edge and she disappeared.

Jason's father had gone berserk looking for her. He swept the entire country looking for her but he couldn't find her. It was as if she disappeared in thin air. There was absolutely no trace of her. She must have planned her escape for a rattling long time. After she left, Jason's father turned his aggression right on his 10-year-old son and blamed him for literally everything. Whenever he was in a bad mood, he'd take it out on him. He got himself into drinking, bringing all sorts of women home. Some of his women had even made advances on him.

Jason cringed with disgust as he recalled a moment when he was 14 and one of his Father's women had stripped right in front of him and began to touch herself.

She'd dressed up and left the moment he threatened her with calling the cops if she didn't leave.

He'd been extremely relieved at that time but he paid for the consequences of his actions the moment his father arrived. The vixen must have twisted the story to favor her.

He had been so close to running away from home but he had been a minor and couldn't fend for himself. So he just put up with the torture till he was capable of making his own money. He officially left home at 17, after high school, and pursued his musical career.

His father had always been strongly against his musical career. He'd wanted him to study engineering to be able to take over his company when he retired.

But Jason wasn't having any of that. He'd slapped the offer right on his face and hightailed it.

Jason hated his father for all he'd done to him but he hated his mother more. She knew the kind of man his father was and didn't have the decency of taking him with her. She'd left her vulnerable 10-year-old son at the mercy of a totally mad man.

Just before they each got into their car's driver's seat. Brad motioned with his hands. "Hey! Don't forget we're attending Jeff's engagement party tomorrow."

Jason frowned his brows, confused. "Who's Jeff?"

"Jeff. My cousin." He sighed, glaring at his friend's still confused face. "The one dating your rich-ass die-hard fan. The one you promised to sing at their engagement party if they ever get to that stage."

"Oh!" Jason replied casually.

Jason recollected meeting the billionaire hotelier's daughter, Ashley Shawn, on a get-together with his close friends few months ago when Jeff had introduced her to everyone as his girlfriend.

Most of the guys were jealous of his trophy girlfriend but he wasn't the slightest bit. He knew she was just another rich spoiled brat.

Clinging on to him, She had fluttered her lashes and told him she loved him and was his die-fan. And tipsily, he'd made a toast to sing at their engagement if the ever got there.

"Seriously, your brain is like a sieve."

"What time is it?"

"Eleven-ish."

"I'll be there."

"See ya..." Brad called getting into his car. He folded the top of his convertible and pulled up just a little close to his friend's car, who was already in his driver's seat. He added with sincerity. "Good luck with your Dad."

With that, he drove off. Jason watched his car disappear in the distance as he turned the engine on. Brad was a friend anyone could ever ask for. He was the only one who encouraged and supported his dream. He'd even let him crash at his house for years when he'd left home before he could get his own apartment. He'd been there when no one else was. He wasn't just a friend to him. He was his brother.

Jason swerved in the other direction leading to his family's mansion. He hadn't been there for like ages. He had had lots of nightmares living in that house and still bore painful memories which he wished he could erase. And, most importantly, he wanted absolutely nothing to do with his father. EVER!

But here he was, driving into the one place he swore never to return and about to receive help from the one man he abhorred. Jason contemplated leaving there and just deal with his problems by himself, but his case was way beyond him. At the rate at which the rumor was circulating, he could be prosecuted anytime and would lose his hard-earned career and fame.

Jason was well aware of the connections his father has, he was capable of making his situation disappear like it never existed by just pulling one or two strings. But as Brad had said earlier, he never gives anything for free. Not to anyone. Not even his son.

"WELCOME, YOUNG SIR." The old butler saluted Jason in his usual British accent. "It's been ages."

Jason gave him a small smile. He still called him 'Young sir'? After all these years? "Yeah! Thank you." He was surprised that the old man was still alive. He's been old for as long as he could remember. His father had never shown any form of respect to the old man yet he'd remained loyal to him. The fact he still works with his father after all these years baffled him. "Where's Father?"

"In his study waiting for you." He answered courteously. He made a hand gesture. "This way."

Jason followed him to his father's study. His father was seated behind a computer, tapping away and smoking a Cigar. He quenched the cigar bar in an ashtray by his side the moment the butler informed him his son had arrived.

He moved from his computer seat to a sofa and made a hand gesture, pointing towards the couch by his side. "Have a seat."

Jason ignored him, standing still as he said firmly. "What is it that you want this time?"

"I think you've gotten this whole scenario wrong. You're the one who needs my help."

"Which I don't recall asking for."

Case Lyndon sighed softly. "Can we not fight each other whenever we meet?"

"And you think that's my fault?!" Jason retorted with a lifted brow.

Case annoyed with his son's attitude, flared up. "I never said..." He breathed deeply, calming himself down. Then he added in a softer tone. "Can we please not fight? Not today?"

Jason sat down slowly at the seat he was offered earlier. He was stunned by his father's restraints. He was never like this. Ever. They would have gone on and on arguing for about an hour. Was he seeing a therapist or something? What's with the rapid change in attitude?

Jason wanted to ask him all that but he swallowed his curiosity, focusing on what was at stake. "Why did you call me over? You said you have a solution to my problems. So, let's hear it."

"Tea?" Case asked him with a smile.

Jason grimaced. "Seriously."

"Okay. Fine. Straight to the point" He threw his hands up in defeat. "I'll make the scandalous rumors about you and the teenage actress go away. Disappear like they never happened. You're my son and probably my successor there's no way I'd let you go down this way."

"Okay? So what's the catch? What's in it for you?"

"What makes you think there is any?"

Jason wasn't buying it one bit. "Father. I'm 33, not 13. I've known you for a very long time. I know there's always something you want in return. What is it? I'm a very busy man."

"Fine. All I want is for you to marry The Smithson's daughter, Diane. That's all." He shrugged off. "I mean it won't be that difficult, would it? You've been friends with each other since you were teenagers and probably even had feelings for each other once. And from the looks of it, I think she has a thing for you."

Jason shook his head. He wasn't the least bit surprised. He would have been even more surprised if his father was being considerate of him. But for a moment there, a very slight moment, he'd almost convinced himself that his father was changed.

Jason changed to an upright sitting position, linking his fingers together. " You want me to marry Diana and you'll help me out?" His father nodded in agreement. Jason unlinks his fingers, spreading them out. "Why? I'm sure you don't give a rat ass about my love life, so why exactly do you want me to marry Diane? At least, I have a right to know why I'm getting into this marriage."

"Well... Nothing much." Jason gave him the I'm-not-buying-that look. Then he added. "Okay, I'm going to spare you the whole boring business stuff. The bottom line is, that Jared Smithson has finally agreed to my proposal of a merger agreement, but his only condition is a marriage between you and his only daughter, Diane. The Smithsons are the only ones close enough to be my adversary in this business and you know what they say; Keep your friends close and your enemy closer. If everything goes smoothly son, Lyndon Group will be even greater.

"So you want me in a marriage of convenience just to feed your greed and ego?"

Case scowled. "I'm not just doing this for me, Son. I'm doing this for you too. I'm trying to broaden our company and leave behind a legacy for you and your future kids to carry on so when you finally realize you've been wasting your time on that silly hubby of yours and decide to make your life useful, you'd have something to fall back on. How can you not see I'm doing all this for you?"

Jason snickered. "You're so twisted, you know that right? You're not doing this for me, father. You're doing this for yourself. I've never been interested in your stupid company from the start and I'll never be. So stop acting like you care about me and my future kids, 'cause the both of us know you don't." He rose from his seat and spoke with gutsiness. "I'm not getting married to Diane Smithson. And about my scandal, I'll fix it myself."

With that, he walked away. When he was just about to leave the door, his father spat out angrily behind him. "You're just like your mother. You're both ungrateful."

Jason banged the door behind him storming off furiously unaware of the butler's farewell.