Chapter 254: Night One: An Evening to Remember

Ambryan fell on his side.

He propped an elbow on the pillows, angling his body towards Eve. The skirt of her ballgown laid under his legs. He shrugged off the jacket for additional comfort. A soft sigh escaped his lips. It seemed like his previous intentions would have to wait.

Despite his relaxed demeanor, Eve stared at him with horrified eyes. She sat halfway up and waited for him to respond. Bits of her hair came loose from the braids and stuck out in different directions. 

"Do you really think I'm a fool?" Ambryan asked, raising an eyebrow. "How could I not recognize my own secretary? You specifically mentioned not to bring her anywhere you'd be."

Eve didn't buy it. She scoffed and said, "Last time I checked, Sir Hathaway, you had the impression that Mikael was my boyfriend. It even came to the point where it caused a little riff between us."

Her arm mimicked his position. "Now, if that was your idea of getting me to confess then, that was really mean. Were you feeling narcissistic at the time that you wanted to hear me say it was you who I was dating?"

A wide grin spread across Ambryan's face. (A/N: No, he's just pleased to hear you say that now and that you stayed loyal to him even when you couldn't admit who your boyfriend was. Very narcissistic of him, indeed. *munches popcorn*)

"So it was that!" Eve accused him. She slammed her hand onto the duvet.

"Of course not," he objected, shaking his head. "I found out a little later than that."

The realization came when he least expected it. 

It started off as a passing thought. Then, slowly the pieces connected themselves in his head. Who else could his mother mean? Why wasn't he allowed to investigate her? And why did she believe he could figure it out? 

"And?" Eve uttered when he didn't say anything else. 

She was dying to know how it happened! Not even Avery told her anything! Did the madam even know? How about Cale? Was she purposely left in the dark?

Her voice broke him out of his reverie. "And what?"

"How did you find out?" She exclaimed. "Was it something I said? Something I did? Did you overhear me? What? Come on, tell me! What gave it away?"

"You weren't there when it happened so you didn't slip." Ambryan frowned after hearing his own words. "Which I should be worried now that I think about it. You did a good job keeping yourself from being found out. I wonder how many secrets you have."

"What secrets?" Eve snorted, Jane lingering in the back of her mind. She pushed the thought away and refused to let it ruin their time. Her eyebrows scrunched out of the blue. "That would explain your sudden interest in my lunch."

Ambryan tucked a loose hair strand behind her ear. He somehow felt lighter now that this had been cleared up. "Did I overwork you that much that you'd eat in the middle of working?"

"I eat in the middle of working because it's less awkward than going to the cafeteria," Eve reasoned. She did know other employees to eat with but their schedules didn't always match. Depending on the urgency, she would end up spending her break on her desk in the end. 

It naturally just became that way. 

At least, this arrangement allowed her to render less overtime. Or, if she was lucky, none at all.

"Again. Did I overwork you that much?" Ambryan repeated. He had once witnessed her lunch box still almost full despite how she only had 15 minutes left of her break. She only took one bite before being buried in her work.

Eve showed him a lopsided smile. "What do you think?"

He shook his head in return. Clearing his throat, Ambryan played with the beadings on the skirt and traced them with his fingers. The dress suited her well like he predicted. They had shown him countless designs but this one had the right splendor he wanted.

"Is that it?" Eve spoke after a while. "You have nothing else to say?"

"What should I say?"

"That I lied to you? Or that I went behind your back and accepted a deal with your mother?" She cited as examples. It couldn't be this easy. The guilt and worry had been eating her up for weeks! There should be more to this.

Ambryan scowled. He looked up from the skirt and met her gaze. His eyes softened when he saw the distress in them. He pulled her close and wrapped her in his arms. His fingers brushed against the zipper. The tips made contact with her skin, causing her to shiver. 

There was the response he had been looking for.

"It's my mother we're talking about. She would have her way if she truly wanted it," he told her, caressing her hair and kissing the top of her head. "Since I met your sisters and heard about your family situation, I can understand how she persuaded you. I'm also in a similar boat where I have my own bargain with her."

Eve nodded, understanding what he meant. Relief washed over her. She clutched onto his dress shirt and buried her face against his chest. She took a moment to let it sink in. Ambryan had known! He had discovered the truth and still wanted to be with her. 

What had she done to deserve this kind of happiness?

It sounded like a dream.

Ambryan traced her spine while she composed herself. Everything about her enraptured his senses: her scent and her touch in particular.  He closed his eyes and only focused on her in his arms. All these years they stayed about a meter away from each other.

Oh, how they wasted time.

Eve tilted her head up. "Were you really going to buy the roller skating rink?"

"You still remember that?" He teased, grinning like an idiot.

She snorted at his amused face. "How could I not remember such a ridiculous idea?"

"I'm still considering it."

"No."

"Not even as an anniversary present?"

"Absolutely not."

"How about for your birthday?"

"Ambee!" Eve slapped his arm lightly. 

He nuzzled his nose against her shoulder. "If I had known you were this cute when you get riled up, I should have done it more often over the years."

Eve rolled her eyes. "Allow me to express that I have different views on that."

At some point, she had wondered if things would be awkward once the truth came out. It seemed like that was also something she shouldn't worry about. If she thought about it carefully, the lines had blurred slightly during her last days at work.

Maybe it was a good thing he kept his discovery a secret.

Heavens knew she'd blab her mouth in defending herself if he confronted her head on.

"So…" Ambryan traced a path from her neck up to her jawline. His mind already wandered in another place. The much needed talk had finally happened. There should be nothing else to block him tonight.

Eve gulped, goosebumps rising from her skin. "S-So?"

"Is there anything else to talk about?" He asked, pressing his cheek against hers. His lips touched her ear. "Because if not, I'd love to resume where we left off before this discussion."

"Ambee, I—" Eve closed her eyes and hitched a breath. He had targeted a sensitive spot. It was cheating! She hadn't even said anything yet!

Ambryan came up to kiss her forehead. 

"We don't have to go all the way," he reminded her while taking her hand. He pressed his lips on the back of her fingers. "But you have to understand. Because of that secret, you kept your distance from me no matter how close you were. Then, you decided to quit your job and I thought you left but you picked up the phone. There's only one you now and I'm not about to let you keep this wall up between us."

Eve knew what he meant. It must have been hard whenever she tried to widen the distance between them. Had he experienced doubts like she did? Every time she refused him, did he think she'd leave once this over? That her feelings might not be true?

Her hazel eyes drooping at the corners, she ran a hand through the side of his hair. 

Ambryan seized his chance and pulled the zipper down further. 

"At least, let me be the one to undress you," he said.

"Hey!"

His hand met bare skin underneath. "No bra, huh?"

"How shameless!" Eve reddened at the ears, averting her gaze. Breathing proved to be difficult under the circumstances."I-If you wanted to wear one, I'd get one in your size."

The temperature rose significantly and her skin lit up on fire. She could feel a bead of sweat trickle down her scalp. Her awareness of him heightened further. Anywhere he touched burned a mark. He had created a map on her skin—places he considered as his territory. 

"Hm," Ambryan hummed. He slipped the zipper until it reached her lower back. "You do know you're the one who had been snuggling her face on my bare chest? Do you have any idea what that does to a man?"

"They suddenly want to shave their chest hair?" The words escaped Eve's lips before she could process them. The cringe made her flinch. She shouldn't have attempted to joke at all.

Ambryan moved his lips against hers. 

Eve gradually melted into it. This kiss now became different in her eyes. They are no longer for Evangeline Reed—but for Everlee Hart, instead. That reality fuelled her desires for more. 

She placed her hand behind his neck and pulled him closer. Ambryan reached the end of the line with the zipper. Both of his hands stroked her bare back. She gasped onto his lips. With the bodice loose, the fabric detached from her skin.

Cold air grazed the top of her breasts. 

Ambryan kissed the corner of her lips.

Then, her jaw.

Then, her neck.

Until his lips trailed down her chest.