13

"What do you have to say Daddy?" Liam asked him rudely.




"We have heard Eve's side of the story. She is not to be blamed at all" Mark added and Liam scorned him.




"Errm" Mr Maya sighed and rubbed his face; looks like his son's presence at the mansion this time is a big burden upon him. They've always been having issues but this time around, the issue has extended because of his young wife.




    




"So guys, as I said earlier I married Eve because..." 




"We no longer care about why you married Eve. In fact we don't care about whoever you choose to spend the rest of your life with. Looks like you have found your soulmate, you are happy and she is too, oh yes! she's not sad at all neither does she see anything bad about it. I can see the two of you were made for each other notwithstanding the age difference... And Uhm... I'm happy for you...Ugh yes I'm happy you found the love of your life Eve, same to you Daddy...at least after so many years" Liam said sarcastically..He clapped his hands and faked a smile.




Eve knew Liam was making a jest of her. Her eyes became clouded with tears instantly but she sniffed to clear them off. She was determined never to weep anymore even if the issue extends to the worst.




"Liam I don't think you making things easy" Mark whispered into his brother's ear and he sniggered.




"Continue with what you were saying Dad but don't mention why you are married to her. Like I said earlier, we are now cool with that. We have now accepted Ms. Eve Maya as our stepmom " Liam was only hurting Eve more and more with his sarcastic statements.




"Liam..." His brother mentioned his name.




"Ohh" Liam smiled mischievously.




    




"Go ahead Dad" Mark told his father and Mr May huffed again.




"Eve I'm sorry you can't work as the managing director in my company," Mr. Maya resumed..




Eve didn't say anything, she only nodded but then, his sons were staring at her waiting for a response from her.




"I..I.. errm..it..it's fine" she stuttered.




"Oh, Good" Liam commented.




"The company is for the Maya's family. And my sons will inherit all of it as soon as I resign" Mr. Maya continued and it was then it drawn to her that; she is not bearing the last name yet. Mr. Maya is only using her; no wedding, even the marriage contract/ form or whatever he promised to give her to sign as a shred of evidence that they are married has not been offered to her yet. Mr. Maya is only playing games with her... Mark might be right, she might lose to Mr. Maya if she's not smart as well.




    




Eve looked at the stupid ring, Mr. Maya had slid into her finger. Just anyone can put on a ring, it doesn't symbolize that you are married. In fact, she doesn't want a legal bond between her and Mr. Maya, all she wants from him is the fulfillment of the promises he gave her and her father. She only needs the legal marriage evidence so that people will not mistake her as Mr. Maya's slut.




" Okay Dad, just go straight to the point already" Liam said.




"I'm sorry Eve, although there are some vacant positions in the company but I do not think you can work in my company" Mr. Maya finalized.




Eves couldn't believe her ears, No, this is not the deal they concluded on before she agreed to be with him.




"But I promise to..uhm.. provide you whatever you need..just mention anything at all. But don't say a job, you know you are young and you are not qualified Eve" Mr Maya added.




    




(Eve's POV)




    




"Oh really? Mr. Maya?" I mumbled.




"You don't have to worry Eve, I would compensate you for that" He assured me but how would I believe that when he couldn't even keep his first promise.




Oh now that he won't let me handle his company, my determination to earn a lot of money and abscond may not be possible, it might even take longer than I have expected.




I couldn't hold the tears anymore, they were beginning to roll down my cheeks.




"Okay" I hid my face, so they won't see me crying but it was obvious because I couldn't hide the whimpering sounds too. So I stood up to return to my room.




    




"What about the secretarial position?" Liam asked; I didn't think he was talking to me, so I just continue heading to the staircase.




"I can't believe someone with no college certificate is rejecting that offer" Liam added and I stopped walking.




"Eve. You don't want the secretarial position?" Mark asked me.




"I do" I exclaimed then rush back to meet Liam.




"I...I do" I told him.




"Seriously" Liam smugged.




"Then resume tomorrow; any slight non-challant attitude can make me have a change of mind" He said.




"I will Liam. I... I promise I won't do anything that might make you change your mind" I pleaded with him and he continue to smug in a pompous way.




"What company is that?" Mark asked Liam.




"The fourth one of course" Liam replied him.




"Same place you would be at?"




"Oh yes. Let's monitor what a high school certificate holder can do"Liam said. I know right, still insulting me indirectly.




    




" Now Dad, this is the way to do things properly, you don't just do things without a second thought" Liam said.




"No Liam, be careful of what you say in Eve's presence. You are literally making her feel I am not a good person"




"Uugh. Discomforting yourself in order to comfort another person yet indirectly trying to please yourself, does that make you a good person?" Liam said and I tried to figure out what that simply means.




"Alright!" Mr. Maya stood up.




"Night Night" He said and walked away.




Liam rolled his eyes and turned to his brother...




"What about you Mark?" He asked him.




"What about me, what?"




"The company of course"




"I thought I told you I'm not interested. I just wanna work on my own, start my own firm myself"




" Ugh, I can't believe you are rejecting your father's inheritance " Liam shook his head.




"No, I'm not. That may be a side-work later in the future but right now, I just wanna start my own firm. I'm interested in medicines, I'm interested in home, health and privacy related matters, I'm interested in arts... I'm interested in everything aside from just sitting in an office" Mark said and Liam giggled.




"Just sitting in an office? " He giggled. "It's fine. I know, I know. You have a general endeavor ahead of you and I wish you success,, you know" Liam said patting his shoulder.




"Thank you" Mark said.




Liam noticed my presence and looked at me.




"Why are you still here?" He asked me.




"Uhh..oh I'm sorry" I apologized and rushed up to my room.




"Jeez, I really hope I won't regret employing her in the company especially when I'm there" Liam told his brother.




"Uhm well, Eve is not bad at all"




"Are you falling for your stepmom?" Liam queried.




"Uggh, what... Disgusting! I'm not"




"I know right. I was only pulling your legs" Liam laughed.




"Okay seriously Liam, Eve is quite good, I think she is being sincere but she is only choiceless, I feel sorry for her " Mark said.




"Uhmm... Whatever" Liam remarked."So Mark, how about we play or see a movie together before going to bed?" 




"I'm in" Mark accepted.




"Yes!"




"Knowing fully well that you will fall asleep along the line" Mark added and he laughed because it's true.






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