Chapter 3

Inside his room, Killian couldn't focus on his work, ever since Eveline left in a fit of rage. Killian no longer even looked at his laptop and work files that were still open on the table. Killian sat back in his chair, and looked at the open window of his office.

“I shouldn't have said such a demeaning thing to Eveline. After all, she is an employee of this company. She is my employee. I should have respected her as an employee of this company.”

Killian raised both hands and rested them on his forehead as he closed his eyelids. “Huh... how stupid of me. I shouldn't have said that. Eveline must still feel upset and angry with me. What if she decides to resign because of what I said earlier? Furthermore, compared to the employees who are more senior than her, Eveline's work is much better. I should go see her and apologize to her.”

Killian opened his eyelids and sighed once more. “And I'm getting dumber, because I can never lose my perspective on women. I've misunderstood Eveline. And d*mn it, why do I still feel the prestige to apologize. But I need to apologize, before Eveline misunderstands everything I said to her earlier. Yes, I should apologize to her.”

Killian turned his chair around and looked at the clock on the wall in front of him. It was late afternoon, and it was already time to leave work. Killian closes his laptop and the files on his desk and puts them into his briefcase.

“I need to find Eveline immediately and apologize to her. Don't let her go home now.” He muttered, hastily stuffing all his belongings into his bag.

Knock

Knock

“Yes? Just go in.” Killian said without shifting his focus to the activity he was doing now. The door opened slowly, then closed again. Killian turned his head towards the person who entered his room, and fell silent instantly. Realizing that it was Eveline who entered his room now. Killian immediately stood up straight.

“Eveline?” Killian cleared his throat. “Eveline, I have something to talk to you about. I...”

“I accept it.” Eveline instantly cut off Killian's unfinished speech there. Eveline stood in front of Killian's desk very stiffly. Her hands were interlocked in front of her body, with her eyes looking straight ahead. Eveline did not even look at Killian who was silent looking at her.

“Wait. What do you mean?” Killian asked as he walked closer to Eveline. Killian stood right beside Eveline, while looking at Eveline's expression that looked nervous there. Eveline's body trembled, and she tried to hide it.

“I accept your offer, Mr. Killian.” Eveline said once again.

Killian widened his eyes in disbelief. “Eveline, I...”

“But I have some conditions too.” Cut Eveline off.

Killian fell silent instantly. The previously shocked look on her face changed to one of restrained anger. Killian's forehead creased deeply, and averted his eyes. “What are your conditions?” Killian replied, though he was holding back from shouting.

Eveline swallowed her saliva with difficulty. She adjusted her breathing several times so that she no longer felt as claustrophobic and nervous as she did now. But it seemed like a useless thing to do. “My condition is that this matter will remain between us. After the night is over, we will never discuss this ever again. This matter will have no effect on my work or my job in this company.” Eveline fell silent and paused her words.

Eveline slightly glanced at Killian who was still averting his eyes from her. “Just for one night only. After that, there is no second night or any night. This affair will only end on that night.”

Killian was getting more and more incredulous with all the things Eveline was saying now. “Okay. When then?”

“Tonight.” Eveline replied briefly.

Killian turned his gaze back, and looked at Eveline who was still not taking her eyes off of him. “Anything else?”

Eveline's body was trembling even more. Both of her legs felt very weak, and her whole body, which was covered in cold sweat now, felt even worse. “At the end of this night, I want all the money.”

Eveline sighed with a pained feeling. Her whole body even felt very cold now. “I need all the money as soon as the night is over between us.”

Killian's face looked even more flushed, as the anger, and distrust inside him grew. "Alright. Tonight. You will receive the money after the business between us is over. I already told you that I will give you the money in cash. At the end of the night, you will have all your money."

They both fell silent, lost in their own thoughts. Until the next second, without saying anything else, Eveline turned around and walked out of Killian's room, slightly running. Eveline couldn't stand being around Killian with the emotional pressure she was feeling right now. Eveline's departure, instantly made Killian pull her hair hard with both hands.

"Aaarrrggghhh!!! D*mn you, Eveline! D*mn you!" Said Killian who immediately dropped all the objects on his desk. He needed to vent the anger he had been feeling. Killian's breathing was irregular, and he clenched his palms tightly again.

"I was wrong. You're just like any other woman. The women who will always be willing to do anything for money. You're just like all of them, Eveline! You're just like that woman!"

Brak

Killian hit his desk very hard. He was trying to vent his anger and frustration right now. He did not even feel any pain. "I was just trying to change my mind, my perspective on women. But, you proved me so wrong, Eveline. Women are the same as other women. Women will forever act and do anything just to get money. And I almost easily believed that you might be a different woman. But as it turns out, you are just like that woman. You brought back the darkness in my mind about women, Eveline Mason. The darkness that seems to have spread everywhere inside me. And you're drowning me in that darkness even more."

Killian was breathing heavily, with his eyes reddened. He looked full of anger and hatred now. “You are the darkness, Eveline Mason.”

***

On the other hand, after Eveline walked out of Killian's room, she quickly grabbed her bag, and took the elevator to get home from the office. Inside the elevator, her whole body was still trembling, and her eyes were even wet from the tears that had been welling up. This was the only way she had now. Eveline felt helpless with the difficult situation she was facing now.

Eveline let out a small sob. She raised her right palm, and covered her lips, in order to stifle the sound of her own sobs now. She felt stupid and helpless. "It's okay, Eveline. It's okay." Eveline murmured in the end. With rough movements, she wiped away the remaining tears on her face. Several times, causing her face to look slightly reddish, with her face puffy.

"It's not a big deal. It's only for one night. After that, you can rest easy, because mom will be fine after that. It's no problem. I'm fine." Eveline continued to mutter in order to strengthen herself now.

Ting

The elevator doors opened slowly, and Eveline walked out slowly. Eveline walked out of the company area, heading for the nearest bus stop there. It had become her habit to travel to and from work by bus. Eveline stood silently with a sad look in her eyes. She didn't know what else should be on her mind right now. To her, time seemed to pass very quickly.

When the bus arrived, Eveline let out her breath slowly, and walked into the bus. She chose to sit at the very back, right by the window. She slowly opened the window, and tried to enjoy the afternoon air that had always been unique to her. Even so, a few times, her tears still fell down her cheeks. But quickly, Eveline wiped the tears away.

Without Eveline realizing it, Killian saw her from inside the car. Both of Killian's hands were clenched. "Let's prove it once again, Eveline. Are you really the same as other women or not. Now it's up to you. I still have a little hope that my thoughts about you are wrong, Eveline." Murmured Killian who slowly reached for his cell phone inside his coat pocket. Quickly, he typed a message that he would send to Eveline's number.

'I will be waiting for you at Lux Hotel tonight, at nine o'clock.'

That was the only sentence Killian typed, and sent it immediately. After that, Killian put his cell phone back into his pocket, and left the company in his car. On the other hand, Eveline felt a vibration on her cell phone, and she immediately opened it. It was a message sent by Killian. Eveline's breath caught in her throat as she read the message Killian had sent her. Eveline's grip on her cell phone tightened. Eveline closed her eyelids very tightly, and tried to look strong.

Eveline had no intention of replying to the message, and ignored it. Eveline switched to dialing Doctor Leo's cell phone number. She slowly brought the phone to her right ear, and waited for the call to be picked up by Doctor Leo. After a few seconds of waiting, the call was finally picked up.

“Yes, Eveline?” Doctor Leo said.

“Doctor, I'll bring the money tomorrow.” Eveline muttered slowly. Her face looked flat, and pale. But it could still be seen clearly, if there was any resilience in those eyes now.

"That's good, Eveline! I'm glad to hear that. Then, call me tomorrow, when you will bring the money, okay? After that, I will take care of everything for your mother's surgery. And yes, don't worry, your mother has already eaten and is resting this afternoon. So tomorrow, after you bring the money, I will also directly contact the specialized doctor from the hospital in London. If your mother has the operation, then you can breathe a little easier, Eveline. Everything will definitely be fine." Doctor Leo sounded pleased.

Eveline thinned her lips, and nodded her head with a faint movement. "Of course, Doctor. Thank you. I'll call you again tomorrow."

"Of course, Eveline. I'll close up first, I have to take care of the other patients."

Eveline responded with a small dejection. Then after that, Doctor Leo disconnected the phone call. Eveline lowered the cell phone from her ear, and looked at it. Eveline turned off her cell phone for a moment. But Eveline's mind went back to the message sent by Killian.

“Nine o'clock tonight.” She muttered.

Eveline leaned her body against the bus bench and sighed loudly. "Everything will be fine. After mom's surgery, mom will be healthy. And be able to move around like before again. After that, I'll go back to working hard, to pay back the money."

'This matter is just for one night.'

'At the end of the night, you will have all your money.'