Chapter 8 Miss Summers

• This was not the first time Eve had interviewed a wealthy businessman, but somehow, since this afternoon, her heart had been beating faster and faster as she set foot in a magnificent skyscraper in the center of Withia, the capital of Servaxia.
• She couldn’t even hide her nervousness and almost fell as she stepped into the elevator. Grinning and rubbing her ankle, she watched the floor number on the elevator as it continued to move up, taking her to the fortieth floor.
• The elevator doors opened and a woman was sitting behind a large, minimalist acrylic desk. The woman stood up and greeted her with a friendly smile.
• “Miss Summers?”
• Eve reached out her hand, and the woman shook it. “Yes. I’m Genieve Summers from Voice of Freedom Media.”
• “Welcome to the office of Lucas Enterprises. This is the first time Mister Lucas has agreed to be interviewed after a long time without a journalist setting foot here.” Then the woman added, “My name is Sarah.”
• “Hello, Sarah. Nice to meet you.” Sarah’s friendly attitude towards her made Eve calm down a little.
• After finishing shaking hands, Sarah pointed to the elevator door opposite the elevator Eve had just taken. “Mister Lucas will be here in a moment. You can wait for him in his room.”
• Then Sarah asked Eve to follow her.
• Sarah tapped a card she brought into the scanner next to the elevator doors. The doors slid open and she let Eve in first. The elevator took them up one more floor.
• When they arrived at the destined floor, Eve found a hallway led to a double door of frosted glass. It was the only door on that floor.
• Sarah tapped her card into the scanner next to the door. And when the door swung open, what was behind it stunned Eve.
• It was the biggest and most beautiful workspace Eve had ever seen.
• Half of the walls of the room were made of glass, revealing the night view of Withia city full of lights, spread out like a star-filled night sky.
• Eve walked over to the glass wall to get a closer look at the stunning view. “Beautiful,” she sighed.
• “It is,” Sarah replied with a tone of approval.
• Eve spun on her heel and looked at Sarah with a smile. “You must be used to seeing this view.”
• Sarah’s smile grew wider. “You’re right. But it still looks beautiful every time I see it.” She walked towards the door. “I’ll leave you here. Please take a look at the scenery while you wait for Mister Lucas’ arrival.”
• “Thank you.”
• Sarah closed the door and Eve went back to observing the beauty of Withia.
• From high above, she saw the clear river flowing through the center of the city, twisting like a snake and splitting the city into two halves. Over it were bridges with railings decorated with colorful lights. Cars passed by, and everything seemed orderly and calm.
• It seemed like people’s lives were so relaxed here, unlike back home, where everyone was always in a hurry as if something was chasing them and would kill them if they didn’t rush.
• She pressed her hand against the glass and brought her face closer to it until she could faintly see her reflection.
• There was a small part of her that begged her to leave her past behind and start a new life here. This country seemed to be calling her and she felt like she was made for this place. This was the first time she felt like that.
• She was too lost in her reverie to notice that someone was now standing behind her.
• The person placed a hand next to hers and said in a low voice, “Like what you see, Miss Summers?”
• Eve gasped and snapped her head to look back. How surprised she was to find a man standing behind her. And she was even more surprised when she realized she recognized that face.
• “Luke?” she hissed, half confused, half thrilled. “What are you doing here?”
• Luke took a step back so Eve could observe him from head to toe. He was wearing a suit that Eve knew cost the same as her three months’ salary. Not to mention the branded watch on his left wrist.
• Luke just silently observed her. There was no explanation, but Eve quickly came to a conclusion.
• “Are you... Lucas Atwood?” Eve smothered her mouth. “But... how?”
• One corner of Luke’s, aka Lucas’, lips moved up. It was only brief but could give off a cold and haughty impression that was completely different from his friendly image when they were on the tourist island.
• “Some people call me Luke,” he said.
• “You didn’t tell me you were Lucas!” Eve accused. “I told you I was going to interview him—interview you!”
• “Why should I tell you and ruin the fun?” he retorted.
• He walked over and made Eve take a step back until her back hit the glass wall. She gasped and looked up, having no choice but to stare into his eyes which radiated a powerful aura.
• “You’re coming here to interview me, aren’t you?” he said in a voice that was almost a whisper, which immediately brought Eve’s mind to their brief memories on the roof of the villa.
• Something between her thighs throbbed, and she drew her legs together. “Yes.”
• “Then, do it now, Miss Summers.”
• Eve could smell his expensive perfume from this distance. Her legs wobbled at his piercing gaze. She felt naked just by the way he stared at her.
• “How about we do it sitting down?” Eve suggested, glancing toward the couch in the center of the room.
• Lucas never took his eyes off her. “Oh, right,” he muttered. “You like to do it on the couch.”
• Her eyes bulged. “Please, stop it, Mister Atwood. Or I’ll sue you for harassment while I’m at work.”
• Lucas didn’t seem the least bit afraid of Eve’s threat. Instead, he tilted his head and smirked. “Harassment? Interesting.” He reached into his pocket and pulled out a piece of paper. “Then what’s the proper term for someone who walks out on their date after getting what they want?”
• Eve gasped as she realized what paper was now pinched between his fingers. It was the note she had left for him at the villa before she ran away.
• “I didn’t mean to leave you,” Eve defended herself. But her defense was so weak that she wasn’t sure what she was saying.
• “But it looks that way to me,” Lucas replied. He glanced at the paper. “Would you like me to read it to you? It has very interesting words in it.”
• “No!” Eve tried to grab the paper, but Lucas was faster. He held his hand up so Eve couldn’t reach it. Her legs wobbled as she tried to jump and she almost fell if Lucas didn’t catch her.
• “No woman has ever left me after making love to me, Miss Summers.” Lucas’ voice echoed in her chest. The way he said her name made her heart race.
• Eve jerked back, but she was trapped in his arms. His hands were wrapped tightly around her waist. She looked up, about to ask him to let her go, but instead found his irises now glowing an electric blue.
• He blinked, and the color disappeared.
• Had she just been hallucinating?
• “You’ve hurt my pride,” Lucas growled. “And I can’t just let you walk away after doing that to me.”