Chapter 197: Bathrooms? Bathrooms

Eve shivered the moment her feet touched the bathroom floor.

'That's cold. Really cold,' she chanted in her head. Not a moment to waste, she dashed for a cubicle in order to lift up her feet. She placed the clutch on a shelf provided above the toilet. It shuddered against the wood when an incoming call rang silently.

"Hello? Mrs. Hathaway?" Eve answered as she flushed the toilet, stepping out. It seemed that she was the only person around—not unless someone decided to hide their presence.

Just to be sure, she checked each cubicle. 

The doors were all open and empty.

She breathed a sigh of relief. Had she read too much that restrooms now paranoid her? She couldn't even begin to count how many disasters sparked from this place. 

"Where are you?" Avery asked, bringing her back to reality.

"I went to the bathroom on the rightmost hallway of the ballroom. I kind of got lost."

"Got it. I also have your shoes. Wait for me."

"Okay. Thank you."

Eve washed her hands and dried them with a paper towel. Then, she hoisted herself up so her feet dangled over the sink counter. While waiting, she browsed her phone. Posts from her hometown filled up her private account's feed. A small smile curled on her lips from the familiar streets.

The news kept coming. Schoolmates from her high school had been engaged, married and/or even given birth. The babies were so adorable. She couldn't help but coo over them. Their photos reminded her of her own sisters when they were toddlers.

Oh, how they grew up so fast…what would her child look like?

An image of violet eyes with scarlet hair came to her mind.

The phone began to slip from her hands.

"Ah!" She snatched it midair before it could fall. Her heart raced from the close call. A boisterous laughter rang in her ears. It belonged to Andie's like she knew the reason behind her clumsy episode.

Eve closed her eyes and tightened her grip around the phone.

She had enough of blushing. 

So why was it fond of her?

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Ambryan stood up from his seat.

He pinched the bridge of his nose and held still. More people had come to join him and Stuart. They had also brought more bottles of wine. It seemed that his favorable opinion of the last one had caught their attention.

Now, they all wanted to impress.

"Please excuse me," he said and left without another word. 

The floor felt uneven under his feet. Still, he followed his instincts and kept his spine straight. People greeted him as he passed by. He waved his hand in return—only to avoid misunderstandings. These were his guests. 

His mother would scold him if he was impolite.

Speaking of her…, Ambryan paused from walking. He twisted his neck from side to side in search of two women. Then, he glanced at his watch. The time made him scowl. If he was correct, Evangeline had left almost 20 minutes ago.

What could be taking them so long?

His drowsiness vanished at the thought of her. He shook his head. Nothing good came out from being disoriented. His hand clenched and unclenched, making him uneasy. He had a bad feeling about this.

Ambryan made a wild guess and headed for the nearest bathroom. 

A janitor stepped out of the restroom. He held his hand up to ask a question. "Are there two women inside by any chance?"

"Uh, no… the last one left about two minutes ago."

"Thank you." Ambryan turned around, heading for the other hallway. 

"Yan!" A familiar voice exclaimed.

He turned his head in its direction.

Avery ran towards him with her skirt lifted up. She stumbled once she reached him, a pair of black of shoes in her hand. Her arms spread out to regain her balance. A sigh of relief escaped her lips once her posture steadied.

Ambryan scowled at the sight of the heels. 

"Mother, where's Evan?" He demanded, seizing the shoes.

His mother groaned in frustration. "Ugh, Mrs. Marlowe talks too much. She wouldn't shut up enough for me to get a word in! Then, she dragged me around to meet her new companions. Her old ones probably got sick of her and left."

"That sounds familiar."

"Hush, you!" She glared at him.

"Where's Evan?" Ambryan asked again. His head whirled towards the other restroom.

"Rightmost hallway. Since you're on the way, maybe you can comfort her feet," Avery suggested. She handed him the bag of ointment and bandages. Mischief twinkled in her eyes. "I'll pretend that I don't know where neither of you two are so take all the time you need in there."

For unknown reasons, Ambryan heard through her lines. He gave her a deadpan expression. "How old are you again, mother? You sound like Richard."

But she wasn't fazed. Instead, she snorted and searched for the person of topic. He was usually one of the first people to greet her. How could she not notice his absence? "Oh, yeah. I haven't seen him."

"He's overseas. I'll go see Evan now."

Ambryan carried the heels in one hand, his fingers hooked on the back straps. 

The crowd slowly dispersed as he reached the edge of it. It seemed that everyone preferred to mingle. There weren't any lone attendees at this part of the ballroom. After all, it was only a corner that led to the restrooms.

Voices echoed out of the hallway up ahead.

Sharpening his hearing, Ambryan slowed down on instinct. Red started to cloud his vision.

"Sir, I'm alright. I assure you. I need to go back now." Eve said in a rush. She bolted for the end of the hallway. Goosebumps crawled up her skin. She knew this man. And it would cause a great deal of trouble if she crossed him.

The best course of action was to escape.

"What's the hurry, dearie?" The man taunted, catching up to her and grabbing her forearm. He mustered all his strength to yank her back. "Afraid someone would find out?"

Eve yelped when he also trapped her other arm. She stepped back and jerked them free, failing to succeed. His grip only tightened. Panic alarmed her head and broke her train of thought. He laughed under his breath, enjoying her attempts. "I'm a powerful man, you know. No one can touch you if you're with me."

Then, he leaned down for a kiss.

"Oh, would you look at the time!" She gasped, pulling her head back. No way would she let his lips touch her. He smelled like beer! And tobacco! If she didn't need air, she would have stopped breathing. "I really have to go or I'll be left behind so please release me."

"That's what you are thinking about?" He cackled, moving his arm to her back. "I can have my driver drop you off. Come on now. Just let me have a taste."

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'Ah, fu** it,' Eve decided. Raising her leg she kicked the man in his shin. Oh, if only she had her heels. That stiletto would have driven a hole into his shoe and broken his bones. She would have stabbed both feet too while she was at it.

Once his hold loosened, she sprinted away from him. The hallway seemed to stretch before her eyes. The closer she got to the exit, the longer it became to reach it. Her lungs gasped for air. Just how much further was she?

'Help! Help! Anyone! Please!' Her dry throat cried. The words came out as mere wheezes.

"WHY YOU—" She heard him roar. 

Her feet thundered against the floor. She glanced over her shoulder. The man had daggers for eyes. He hadn't given up and pursued her—like a true predator. He charged towards her and closed the gap. Eve couldn't explain it. Much like the hallway, he seemed to grow bigger.

Cold fear surged in her veins and her heart leaped out of her chest. She turned her head back and picked up the pace. Closing her eyes, tears formed at the corners.

Then, she bumped into a solid wall.

A warm arm wrapped around her shoulders. 

Eve opened her eyes. Her risen panic slowly dissipated, calming her down. Air passed through her lungs like rain in the middle of a drought. Her surroundings became clearer. The end of the hallway was just inches away.

The tears trickled down to her cheeks.

She had been so close. 

"Just what do you think you're doing?" The man said. Eve clung to the black jacket and buried her head against the familiar scent. Her shoulders shook from the adrenaline. The corridor was long. She didn't know if she could make it. 

"I saw her first. She's mine!" The man spoke once again. 

Where Eve found warmth, she found air. BAM! The sound of a fist smashing against flesh and bone reached her ears. She snapped her head in towards it. The man had fallen to the ground, cradling the side of his jaw. 

"No," Ambryan threatened, dropping on one knee. The shadows darkened his gaze further. It took all his willpower not to give in to his rage. "She's mine."