HIS POSSESSION

Eve

The next day.

Lance Interiors.

The elevator doors to the executive floor slid open, and Eve stepped out.

She walked into the reception area like she belonged there, her heels clicking softly against the polished floor as she adjusted the sunglasses resting on top of her head. She was dressed too elegantly for an ordinary visit, her fitted dress and long coat making her look less like someone coming to discuss business and more like someone who had accidentally wandered in from a red carpet.

She had barely taken three stepswhen the assistant behind the reception desk hurried after her.

"Excuse me, ma'am."

Eve stopped and turned.

The young woman hesitated for a second, clearly recognizing her but trying not to show it. "Do you have an appointment with Mr Lance?"

"No."

"Oh." The assistant glanced toward the hallway leading to the executive offices. "I'm sorry, but Mr. Lance isn't taking any meetings today. He specifically said he doesn't want to entertain anyone."

Eve smiled, "Tell him Eve Galler is here." The assistant blinked. Eve's smile didn't change."Go on."

The woman looked uncertain. "I... I'm not sure if I should... " She trailed off when she saw her boss.

Eve followed her gaze.

A man had stepped out of one of the offices at the end of the hallway, apparently on his way somewhere. He stopped the moment he saw her. His entire face broke into a smile.

"Eve." He called sweetly, already walking toward her. "What are you doing here?" he asked, sounding genuinely pleased as he reached her.

Eve smiled and slipped her sunglasses from her head. "Is that how you greet your friends?"

"You could've called."

"And missed that look on your face?" Eve asked. "Never."

Lance laughed.

The assistant stood there awkwardly, looking between them as Eve hooked her arm through Lance's.

"Come on," Lance said, guiding her toward his office. "Before my assistant starts wondering why you're the only person in this building allowed to ignore my instructions." He whispered and Eve chuckled.

Eve glanced back at the woman and smiled. The assistant looked away, cursing under her breath before returning behind her desk.

Lance closed the door behind them when they got to his office. Eve walked farther into his office and looked around, though there was nothing there she hadn't seen before. She had been there enough times for the place to feel familiar, and Lance had never made much effort to hide how happy he was whenever she showed up.

He liked her. Everyone around them knew it. Eve knew it too but she had simply never given him a reason to believe he had a chance. It didn't stop him from trying though.

Lance was always eager to impress her, always finding an excuse to send flowers after one of her premieres or congratulate her on a new role. Whenever she mentioned wanting something, he somehow found a way to make it happen before she could ask twice. Eve had never promised him anything in return. She didn't have to.

"Sit," Lance said, moving toward his desk.

Eve ignored the chair and sat on the edge of his desk instead. Lance's eyes followed her. Eve crossed one leg over the other and smiled.

"I need a favour." She went straight to the point of why she was there.

"Done." Lance didn't even pretend to think about it because she usually didn't ask for anything, so this was a good opportunity for him.

She laughed softly. "You don't even know what it is."

"It doesn't matter." He chuckled while clearing some files from his desk.

Eve studied him for a moment, amused by how easy he was. "There is someone in your company I need you to take care of."

That got his attention. Lance leaned back in his chair. "Take care of how?"

"I don't know, fire her, denote her, just anything."

"Who?"

"Her name is Emma, I don't know her surname but I know she works here." Eve gave him the name.

Lance smiled, "You're sure she works for me? This branch?"

"Yes. I'm sure she's in one of the offices here as we speak. Demote her. I think her name's Emma Kroner..." Eve trailed like she wasn't sure of the name, but she was.

"Just that?" Lance asked

Eve's smile widened. "Just that."

"I'll handle it."

"You will?"

"Eve." He leaned forward. "I'd do a lot more than that if you asked me to. You know that."

"I know." She held his gaze for a second before smiling again. That was exactly why she had come to him. Lance's expression softened. Eve slid off the desk and smoothed her dress.

"Thank you." She said but he feigned a frown.

"That's all I get?"

She glanced over her shoulder, "What else do you want?"

"Dinner."

Eve laughed, "You're still trying? You know I'm not willing to see anyone at the moment."

"Maybe it's the night I changed your mind. Who knows?" He shrugged.

She walked toward him and bent slightly, placing a hand on his shoulder. "Not tonight."

"Tomorrow then?" Lance looked up at her.

Eve smiled and patted his shoulder, "Goodbye, Lance."

He watched her walk away, and sighed to himself after. Eve left his office with the same calm smile she had walked in with. By the time she stepped back into the elevator, however, the smile was gone.

A few days ago, she had discovered something that had ruined her mood completely. Matteo, her close friend, was interested in someone.

Emma. Emma Kroner, who worked at the head office of Lance Interiors. She had done her little research about her after she discovered Matteo was interested in her.

Eve had known Matteo for years. She knew him better than most people did, perhaps even better than the people who had known him longer. They were close friends, the kind who could disappear from each other's lives for weeks because of work and pick up a conversation without effort when they saw each other again.

Somewhere along the line of friendship, Eve had fallen in love with him but she had never said it because Matteo, like she knew, harboured no interest in topics such as love. And all of a sudden, he's interested in Emma. It drove her crazy when she found out few days ago.

No other man had ever held her attention long enough to matter because, in one way or another, they were all competing with Matteo. Some were more handsome. Some were kinder. But they weren't him.

So she had waited.

Patiently, quietly, convincing herself that one day Matteo would look at her and finally see what had always been standing in front of him.

Then Emma appeared and suddenly Matteo was doing things he didn't do for anyone.

Cancelling their meet ups so he could show up at her workplace and sign a deal because of her; sending expensive wine to her apartment.

Eve didn't know everything yet but she knew enough. The elevator doors opened and Eve stepped out. She smiled as she walked away. Emma had no idea who she was dealing with. And if Matteo wanted to play in her life, then fine.

Eve would let him.

But Emma?

Emma was about to become the one thing standing between Eve and the man she had wanted for far too long and Eve had already decided that she was going to make her regret it.