Chapter 23- A Good Del

"Eve, meet Richard! He is our friend who wants to give you a car." Introduction by Sir Nathan.
"Hi, Sir Richard!" I greeted him well.
"You are more lovely in person." He said.
I smiled.
"Ehemmm..." Nikolai choked.
"By the way, I am very much willing to give you the car." Sir Richard went back to the topic.
"Why are you going to give me a car that cost more than a million pesos?" I question directly.
"Endorsement! When people see that you are using a Starex, for sure, they will be comfortable too. They will decide to buy one for them." He clarified.
"If I agreed, what will you ask me in return?" I begged again.
"No replacement, Eve!" Nikolai answered.
I glanced at him. I glared at him as if to say "I can manage".
He shrugged.
"Let us make a good deal, Sir Richard," I announced.
"Are you obtaining the car?" Sir Nathan asked and smiled.
"Yes!" I answered promptly.
And I saw both Sir Nathan and Nikolai sloped deeply.
Was it a sense of relief? Why?
"But, I am not getting it for free. I will compensate for it.
Just give me a reasonable discount." Sir Richard was the one I addressed.
They did nothing but agree with my suggestion.
I do not want to enter into a deal that I might regret later.
Furthermore, I will pay it on an installment basis.
I can do it. I need it too. So that I do not bother Luigi anymore.
Their Point-of-Views
"She is so gorgeous!" Said, Richard.
"Hey! Dude, stop it! You are married." Nikolai's sudden rebuke.
"I just admire her, Dude! What are we going to do next?" He implored.
"Just give her the car and I will pay in cash. I will take care of what she drops." Nikolai instructed.
One day, Ella met some people.
"Ms. Ella, we are from Urassaya Clothing! Our products are lingerie, underwear, brassiere.
We would like to get Ms. Eve as our endorser for our new designs." Explained Annie, from Urassaya Clothing.
"That is nice to know but I have to talk to Ms. Eve first regarding this matter.
I will call you right away once we can agreed on it. She is still engaged in taping." Ella clarified.
They got along easily so their conversation ended immediately.
Then Annie bid goodbye and left.
"Ella, is it another endorsement for Eve?" Nathan asked when he saw people come out of the office.
"Good morning, Sir Nathan. Oh, good morning, Sir Nikolai." When Ella saw the two together.
"Yes! They are from Urassaya Clothing!" Ella answered promptly.
"Urassaya Clothing?" Nikolai begged.
"As far as I know, their products are more on lingerie." Nathan rationalized.
"Yes! Underwear, brassiere, and the like." Ella added to Nathan's explanation.
"Ella, please send Eve to my office once they finish taping." Order of Nikolai.
"Yes, Sir!" Ella replied.
Just after the taping, the CEO called me right away. What could be the reason?
I want to avert him. I do not want to fall head over heels in love with him forever!
"Do not accept Urassaya Clothing's offer!" Introduction by Nikolai.
"Which offer? Urassaya Clothing? Does Urassaya Clothing have an offer for me?" When I remembered the brand name.
"Are you ready to reveal your physique?" He asked with irritated emotion.
Why would he ask for it?
"Why not? Perhaps, they learned that I have an opportunity in showing my physique." I thought of teasing him.
"You are kidding me! Eve, when you pose like that, men will look at you differently.
From admiration, they will look at you with lust, desire!
They will crave for you every time they see your almost naked body." Nikolai's tone was high.
"I do not think every man will feel that way." I still moaned.
"Turn down that endorsement." He said authoritatively.
"Why? When you see me wearing lingerie, will you yearn for me?" And abruptly I covered my mouth.
What am I saying to the CEO of TvN8 Station?
Get organized, Everlee! You are talking to the CEO! I scolded myself.
"What I am trying to say is, I am just protecting your image. I am just preserving your show. My television network.
Imagine, they have known you for being simple in Love Hotline.
After posting with the cover, they can visualize you are naked while on the screen. That is disgusting. Do you want that?" His voice became soft as if pleading with me.
"I will think about it! I need money. Because I have to pay for a car that cost a million pesos?
I need to talk to my manager regarding this first." I bid goodbye.
"Eve! Turn that down!" he repeated.
I shrugged and turned away. I want to thank him.
I never had a father to tell me to be careful with my clothes so that I would not be overlooked.
I also did not have a boyfriend who would remind me of things that would protect me as a woman.
I could feel his concern for me. I should not rejoice! He is just protecting the show. His company.
Anyway, whatever the reason, he made still be delighted! I feel that he is my guardian angel who is ready to save me from the looming dangers.
"I know you will not accept that!" Said Ella.
"Such things are not beyond my powers. I cannot even pose with only a bra and panties on.
No man has ever seen my body yet." I fondled myself.
"There is a selfish man who would want to hide your wonderful body for his eyes only." Ella blinked.
"Who are you referring to?" I laughed at the question.
"Obviously,y Sir Nikolai likes you too.
Only a boyfriend will be that protective to his girlfriend, to the woman he loves." she teased.
Thinking that Nikolai likes me too gives me shivers and excitement! It furthermore gives me apprehension.
How if he discovers about Nicks? He believes that I am a wonderful woman.
People close to me think I am almost perfect. I have a lovely face. Smooth skin. Sensual physique.
Perhaps, many women will dream to have my life. But I have a child. I carried a child in my womb for nine months and gave birth to her.
I will not settle for someone who will not accept my child.
Only presently am I terrified like this again.
I do not want to prolong my feelings for Nikolai because all the people I love are leaving me.
Nicks only stayed in my life.
One day...
I left my shoes in the car. Even though I have come a long way, I am still not in the habit of ordering things from other people.
I opened the car. I went inside first to find my shoes.
"Where is it?" When I talked to myself.
Suddenly someone leaned on the car.
I peeked at that person. It is Kisses!
She could not see me through the tinted window.
"Hello! Yes, I know, you just feel sorry for her. Do not worry, Dear, it is fine with me. I understand. For as long as you love me.
I will not be jealous of that woman. She is just trying too hard." Kisses said while talking to her phone.
"Dear? Does she already have a boyfriend?" I whispered.
"I am already here in the parking lot," she added.
Will they meet her? After a while Kisses walked away smiling.
Who could be her boyfriend?
I slowly peeked at the front of the car. I smiled at the thought that she had a boyfriend.
But suddenly the agony replaced my smile!
Her boyfriend is Nikolai! Nikolai is whom she addressed Love!
Then she wrapped his hand around Nikolai's neck.
They went to Nikolai's car. I sat on the floor of the car. I turned around.
Why did I sob? And why the pain in my heart is unbearable?
Does her boyfriend just feel sorry for her? Is it for me?
Is that why Nikolai does all of those concerns to me? Because he feels sorry for me?
He thinks I am pathetic and needs assistance from him. I had the right impression of him.
He only fiddles with women. He can make them love him. He could leave them in an instant.
Am I not one of those women? Am I special to him?
Of course not, I am not special to him. He wants me to refuse the offer probably because of his girlfriend, Kisses.
He told me not to take it for her girlfriend to have a chance for the offer.
And most likely, when Nikolai gets what he wants from me, Kisses and he will crack up at me together.
It hurts!
I wiped away my tears and took a deep breath.
At least, I have found out the truth about Nikolai.
I will never fall for his charm again!
I am still Eve Lopez at the end of the day - a fighter! A bold woman!