Chapter 128

8- Won’t Give Up On us (Book 2)

Questions started racing through my mind. What the hell was he doing here? Did he know I would be here? Was he still angry with me for leaving without saying anything? Not even a goodbye?

I took a deep breath and tried to compose myself, but my nerves were getting the best of me. I couldn’t face Adonis, not after everything that had happened between us that night. After I left him without any explanation.

Slowly, I got up from the table and turned to face him. He was wearing a suit! A damn black suit and looked hotter than ever.

“Y…you people know each other?” I heard Justin’s confused voice slicing through the air.

Before I could answer him, Adonis spoke up measuring me with a challenging smirk, “Very well. Right, Ms. Evelyne?”

My eyes snapped up to his face when I heard my name escaping his mouth. He was smiling but that smile didn’t reach his eyes. It didn’t belong to the man who used to be friendly and easygoing with me.

This one had this icy touch that was enough to chill my bones. Now again, what was he doing here? How did he know my name? How did he know Justin?

Ashley told me that the dinner was for Justin’s business associate. Was it Adonis?

Now fate! Fuc*king fate, man!

Why it had to be him?

I swallowed hard when I felt several pairs of eyes on me. Aniya, Ashley, and Justin. They were looking at me … at us… while I had zoned out.

I cleared my throat and tried to bring a small smile to my face, “I… yes… We … have met!” I felt my cheeks heat up when I witnessed him clenching his jaw, “B… but not that well.”Top of Form

Adonis raised a brow and kept looking at me while his eyes were shouting, ‘ Really? Not that well? We spent the night together! Without a shred of clothing!’

Gosh! That was an awkward situation.

Justin offered Adonis to sit beside him. Right in front of me. I could not avoid looking at him. I could not keep myself hidden from his eyes.

There was still some time in serving the dinner. The conversation flowed smoothly among Ashley, Justin, and Aniya. I was relieved that Adonis had not said another word about our past, but I couldn’t help feeling his gaze on me from time to time.

After a few minutes when the dishes were served, Adonis spoke up,” Evelyne, I remember you once mentioned how much you love seafood. You should try this dish, it’s excellent.”

Fu*cker. He was referring to the seafood pasta I last ate with him.

I thanked him politely for the suggestion and couldn’t help but wonder if there was a hidden meaning behind his mentioning seafood. Was he trying to remind me of our romantic night?

I wanted to run away. I wanted to leave. But that only meant that my friends will not only follow me but will also grill me with questions.

They did have an idea that there was a man who I called Adonis. But they never asked me questions. I had a suspicion that my friends were privy to the cause of the recent bout of depression.

“So, Ms. Evelyne.” Adonis called me from across the table, ‘Tell me. Do you love to kayak?”

The question made me choke on the chicken piece in my mouth. Aniya sitting beside me started patting my back, “Are you alright?” she asked me with concern, and then her next remark was enough to bring me down on the earth, “It’s been more than a week and she is still feeling weak from the illness.”

My poor friend tried to protect me without knowing that she was sharing my details with the man who I wanted to stay away from.

“Oh,” the concern flashed in his eyes, “What happened?” “A few days back on a weekend, she came home with a high fever. She couldn’t go to her salon. You know, she owns it?” She asked him excitedly.

Urgh! I wanted to kill her. Sometimes she was an annoying chatterbox who didn’t know how to control her tongue.

“So how are you feeling now, Ms. Long… I mean… Ms. Evelyne.”

I nodded my head weakly and stretched my jaw for a forced smile, “I am good. Thanks.” I could not afford to take his name.

Elijah was not possible. And calling him Adonis would certainly ring bells in my friends’ heads. I was stuck.

God! I was stuck!

dinner, Adonis continued making subtle references to our history of seafood and kayaking, but I tried to

Adonis leaned forward and whispered, “You know, Evelyne, I still have that necklace you left at my

what I thought he meant? Or was

both knew there was NO necklace in the equation. My friends knew that I never wore a

to brush it off, ’Oh, that old thing? I’m

a dog,

his eyes locked on mine, ‘Are you sure about that, Evelyne? It

the double meaning behind his words. I tried my best to keep my composure and

know where my salon is.” I said while playing with my food. There was no more appetite left

you were not coming. They won’t tell me your address. I wanted to return it to you myself.” He

of responding to that double meaning remark, I nodded politely and started forcing the food down my throat. If he thought, he could squeeze

message that he did visit the salon while

and schools. The funniest ones were from Ashley and Aniya, who used to prank everyone in the orphanage. Justin used to

his glass and proposed a

heart skip a beat. Was he referring

I too raised my own glass, trying to keep my voice steady, “To

me with questioning looks. “Who is he?” Ashley asked, her eyes scanning my face for any hints, “Like I know he is Justin’s business friend.

’It’s nothing, Ash. Just an old friend.

weren’t buying it. I could see it in

feeling a bit uncomfortable under their scrutiny. “What

voice low. ’Don’t play dumb with us, love. You and Elijah seem to know each other really

I tried to compose myself. “We’ve just

on, spill the tea,” Aniya

head. “I really don’t

annoyed. “Fine, be mysterious. But we’re

weakly, hoping to diffuse the tension.

friends, but I also didn’t want to reveal too much about my past with Adonis. “Listen. He’s just someone I used to know,” I said carefully, “Nothing else.

to know? So, you’re not

how to answer. ‘We…haven’t really kept in touch, no. It’s been … a …

“Come on, Eve, there’s something more to this. You two

“It’s complicated, guys,”

weren’t satisfied. “Complicated how?” Aniya

was backed into a corner. “Look, I don’t really want

annoyed. “So, I guess we’ll just have to use our

tried to ignore the sinking feeling in my stomach as they continued to speculate about

to lose interest in the topic and the conversation turned to other things. But I couldn’t shake the feeling that my devil friends had suspected that there was more to the story than I was letting

***

Ashley came up with the

to visit the salon tomorrow, Ash. I can’t. Maybe on the weekend?” “You are joining the salon tomorrow?” Aniya turned

trying to appear convincing, “I am feeling much better, Aniya. Besides it’s just a quick visit. It

keep running away from Adonis. Sooner or later, I had to face him. Just

if, you’re sure. But you know you’re always welcome here if you need a place to

nodded gratefully, grateful that she didn’t seem too upset.

she seemed to accept my explanation.” Okay,

moving on. As I chatted with my friends, I couldn’t help but feel a twinge of guilt for not being entirely honest with them. But I knew I had my reasons for not wanting to stay over,

something when I saw Justin coming towards us along with Adonis. I wanted to divert my attention but

his jacket off and was now in a simple white shirt with its two buttons opened at the collar. He had rolled off his

leave, kitten,” Justin told his wife and we all stood up to see off

hand for a handshake. After shaking Ashley’s and Aniya’s hands he came towards me,

see where I live. I knew it was silly of me but not now.

have got my car,” I said giving him a tightlipped smile. He nodded and gestured

dark. So, I can drop you both. Justin can send your car tomorrow with a driver.” Crap. He had

Justin said with

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