EVE
I stirred on the bed, lying on my back and my eyes rested on the ceiling.
"If I find out that you are here for some negative reasons and to deceive my son, I will skin your pretty self alive."
A scoff of disbelief left my lips.
Why do they think I have some negative reasons?
I am not deceiving their son.
God, I wish I had someone else or another family member out there.
But I have none. My parents don't have any close relatives.
Well, they do, but they all live in California.
I can't even reach Imogen. She must be very worried about me and trying my number.
Or maybe she must have heard what happened.
I really wish I had some other help somewhere else. I wish I had an aunt or uncle. Or even cousins so I can leave this place.
What am I saying?
The Don said a tracking device was on my pendant and those men were shooting at us, remember?
Whoever they are, they were sent by my parents' killers. They wanted to kill me too.
Nana must be the one who sent them.
Why am I even calling her that? She has lost the privilege.
Annamarie wants me dead. She is evil, and it is not safe for me out there.
Like the Don said, they can't come into this mansion. They won't dare.
He must be very powerful to be feared like that.
Well, he looks powerful. His voice places me on the edge all the time.
Don't forget the way he used that huge gun and killed those men without blinking.
Honestly, it was hot.
He is hot.
The hottest man I have ever seen.
Scratch that.
The hottest and most gorgeous man I have ever seen.
And he hates me.
He and his wife do.
My heart tightened a bit at my thoughts.
The fact that both of them think I am here with an ulterior motive and to deceive their son is unfair and hurtful.
Especially the Don.
I don't have any motive. I am just in a terrible state and Mario is just an angel sent by God to help me.
I am really grateful to him.
Thanks to him, I am safe.
It is dark already, and I haven't seen him since. I guess he is really busy.
Like his father said, he would be the boss soon.
God, Evelyn. Can you stop thinking about his father for a second?
I let out a sigh as I stirred to the side.
A knock came on my door.
I looked in that direction.
The knock came again.
I moved the covers off me and got out of bed. I walked towards the door and opened it.
A brunet girl dressed in the familiar ash-colored maids' uniform stood in front of me and a bright smile formed on her lips.
"Good evening, ma'am," she greeted.
"Good evening,"
"I am Lilliana, one of the maids, I came to call you for dinner." She said pleasantly.
This is nice. Finally, some as nice as Mario and Mimi.
"Oh, Um...I am not hungry," I said.
Her smile fell slightly.
"I already ate some snacks," I lied. Mario is not back yet, and I can't stay in the same space with his parents without him.
His mother will surely murder me with her eyes.
"Okay, ma'am. I also came to clean your room." She said. "I wanted to do it while you are away for dinner but if you don't mind, I can do it while you are in there." She said with a tiny smile.
I nodded. "Sure,"
"Thank you, ma'am," she said, walking into my room after I moved aside for her.
"Please call me, Evelyn." I said, closing the door.
"Evelyn. That's a very pretty name," she complimented with a smile.
I gave a tiny smile.
She walked towards the tiny door, opened it and took out the cleaning equipment there.
Geez. I never knew they were in there.
"As pretty as it sounds, I can't call you by your name. It is not professional. We can't call our bosses by their name." She said.
"Well, um....I am not one of the bosses." I said, walking towards the bed.
"Of course you are. You are the boss' girlfriend," she said.
"I am just his friend." I corrected, taking a seat on the bed.
"Oh. My bad." She said, chuckling as she began to clean.
"Anyway, you are still a boss here. And pardon my too much talk, I think you are really pretty." She said.
She is not only nice but kinda social and welcoming.
"I doubt that," I said.
"Why? You are pretty. In fact, you are gorgeous," she said.
I shrugged slightly. "Thank you. You are the first to say that. Two people here already called me ugly." I said, looking away as I recalled what that first maid said and what Mario's mother said.
"Really? Who?" She asked.
I shook my head. "Nevermind. You are pretty too. And nice as well."
She smiled again. "Thank you. I don't....."
A knock on the door interrupted, and the door opened, revealing Mario. He is still dressed in his attire from this morning.
I felt a tiny excitement in my heart.
He gave me a smile as he walked in.
"Mario," I called, getting on my feet.
"Good evening, sir," Lilliana greeted.
"Yeah," he said to her, but without looking at her as he walked closer to me.
"Hey," he said.
"Hey," I said as he wrapped me in a hug.
I felt Lilliana's eyes on us.
Mario unwrapped me but held my hand.
"How are you?" He asked, reaching for my hair and caressed it.
"Better. Now that you are here," I said.
He smiled. "That's good to hear,"
I smiled too.
He looked towards Lilliana. I looked at her too. She is focused on cleaning the floor.
"Can you excuse us, Lilliana?" He asked.
"Of course," she said, picking up the cleaning equipment and walked back to the tiny door. She placed the things there and closed the door.
"Excuse me, sir," she said while walking out of the room, leaving Mario and I alone.
"I missed you today," he said, making us sit on the bed. His hand rested on my lap.
I smiled slightly. "Me too."
Your parents have been nothing but mean to me since you left.
"I guess you have been bored here alone." He said, looking around a bit.
"You have no idea," I said.
He chuckled, but his smile was replaced with a worried look as he took my hand.
"Evie," he called.
"Yeah?"
He looked at me. His blue eyes carried a lot of worry, but he looked calm.
"My dad told me you guys were ambushed by some bastards on your way to your place."
I nodded.
"We found out who they are," he said.
I furrowed my brows slightly. "Really?"
He nodded. "A person called De'vora. He sent them."
I felt shivers running down my spine. The name sounds scary and dangerous.
"This same person is responsible for your parents' death."
My heart picked up.
He nodded.
"How.....how did you find out about him? Why did he....why did he kill my parents?" I stuttered, feeling tears approaching.
He held my other hand as well.
"Calm down, please," he said, rubbing my shoulder slightly.
Tears rolled down my eyes as I lowered my gaze.
"I can't tell why he killed your parents, but what we know is he is after you too. You need to stay here for your safety."
I sniffled, my heart clenching painfully.
He shifted closer and wrapped me in a hug.
I let out sobs as I thought about my parents.
"Listen, Evie, as long as you are here with me, I am not going to let anything happen to you," he said, caressing my hair.
He unwrapped me and raised my chin with his fingers.
I looked at him with tears-filled eyes.
"I promise you, baby. I am not going to let anything happen to you. You are in the right and safe hands. As long as you are with us, they can't do anything to you. You just have to trust me."
I nodded.
"Come here," he said, wrapping me in a hug.
I held him too as more tears flowed.
Not long later, he unwrapped me and I lowered my gaze.
"Let's go down for dinner," he said, making me look at him.
I shook my head slightly. "I am not hungry."
"Why is that?" He asked worriedly.
"Nothing. I just....i am already ate."
"Really?"
"Yeah. Your dad got snacks for me after shopping." I lied.
I really don't want to go anywhere for now. I just want to stay in bed.
"Will that be enough for you? You might wake up hungry later in the night."
I nodded. "I am full. I doubt if I will wake up hungry."
"Okay. If you say so, I need to go. I am pretty hungry myself." He said, chuckling a bit.
I gave a very tiny smile and lowered my gaze.
I sensed him move closer, and he placed a kiss on my temples.
"See you later,"
I nodded.
He got on his feet and headed out of my room.
I lay on my bed and more tears flowed out of my eyes.
My heart tightened, making me place my hand on my chest. I sobbed bitterly as I recalled the way our house was set ablaze.
It was terrible.
Really terrible.
Who is this De'vora? Why did he kill my parents?
Why?!
***********
HOURS LATER.....
"Evelyn,"
I opened my eyes.
"Princess,"
My heart picked up as I quickly sat up.
I looked ahead, and I saw my dad tied to a chair and someone wearing a black mask was behind him and holding a dagger close to my dad's throat.
My heart sank into my belly. My eyes moved to the masked man.
He had a familiar name written on his mask.
De'vora.
Terror washed me.
The masked man gestured at me to come over.
My legs weakened as I shifted on the bed.
"Dad...."
Next, he slit my dad's throat instantly.
"No!!!!!!!"