TEN DAYS IN PARADISE

CUTTING TIES

Luckily for Evangeline , Ash already booked her travel tickets and paid for her accommodation and every other thing that needed to be taken care of . All she needed to do was to get new clothes , she was still picking some dresses  online when Ash came in with shopping bags .

" I hope it's not what I am thinking ?."

" it is baby , they are all yours  ." Ash said as she threw the bags on the bed 

" oh vey , are you kidding me ." 

Evangeline stood up in surprise , her eyes shinning with admiration as she hugged Ash dearly " I love you honey .But you really didn't have to do this ." 

" You deserve more sweetie , so all you need to do is relax before your week starts tomorrow , I will pack your bags ." 

" I will be back I need to see Smith ." 

Ash pecked her before she left the room.

Evangeline got to where she was supposed to snap pictures quite early so she could edit them and send them over to Smith. She went to her office to submit them and then relaxed for a while .

It was getting late but she managed to finish up just in time . She relaxed on her chair comfortably but in a seconds she saw Smith standing at the front of her door . She didn't lock the door so he had easy access inside .

" I was just thinking we could grab dinner , but since you seem to be busy ....." 

" sure we can ." she responded sharply 

Evangeline was hungry and tired and so she decided to give it a chance . After all she promised him all this while she would go out on a date with him  today . She cleared her table and carried her bag lazily .

" sure ." 

As they walked along, Smith asked her questions about herself but Evangeline was guarded, giving only the vaguest of details and trying to deflect the questions back into him. She didn’t want to talk about her past. Nor does she want to remember anything hurting her .

 They reached the restaurant and he led the way inside, requesting a quiet table

“You’re going to thank me for choosing this place .”

They were shown to a  opened space  table near the back, in a more secluded location.  He ordered Champagne. She wondered what was so important that he had to bring her here .

She told herself she was reading too much into it; although she was single and if he was too then they were doing nothing wrong. But though he was gorgeous and seemed to be a genuinely nice guy, she didn’t feel drawn to him when all she could think about was the journey ahead of her . 

Smith kept the conversation light, talking more about the different characters in the office, entertaining her with humorous anecdotes about them, funny stories about things that had happened in the office over the last couple of days, things that she missed out on shut away in her office. Talk inevitably turned to work as they waited for their food. Perhaps he had picked up on her reticence to talk on a more personal level. 

“You always work so late Evangeline.” 

“So do you!” she laughed. 

“Yeah,” he smiled ruefully, “that’s true!”

" so I heard you took permission to be away for some days .Are you sick or something .''

" I am perfect I just need a break ." 

She wasn't sure but she knew that Smith wanted to say something else . Something she wished he would not say . There was no way she was ever going to forgive herself if she didn't think of something to avoid it .

" But I just wanted you to know that I like you Eva , I want you to give me a chance please ." 

" Smith I really have to go right now , I will see you some other time . I forgot I needed to do something very important this evening ." she stood up quickly dragging her bag after her .

She got into the cab, relieved that he had not suggested sharing the cab, or suggested seeing her home himself. She felt slightly uncomfortable about the evening. She was  going away for the weekend and did not want to become involved with him. Hot though he was, she was not drawn to him like she was to Daniel,she couldn’t be honest with him about herself, she didn’t do office relationships, and more than anything else, she could not take her mind off what she had done to Drake and what Daniel  had done to her. 

Getting home Drake was waiting right in front of her door and just then she realized she didn't show up at where she promised to have dinner with him.

" I am very sorry Drake , I totally forgot we had to meet ."

"It is fine ,but I want us to talk." 

She opened the door quickly and Drake followed her from behind .

" I am sorry Drake but.."

" I just need you to tell me everything I need to know, I believe you are avoiding me and I don't understand why you are doing this to me ."

" Drake please calm down .I am sorry, I know I have not been so relative with you but I need you to calm down first ." Evangeline pointed at the sofa while she sat directly opposite the sofa .

" okay ." Drake said after he sat down " I am listening. "

"I did not get my book signed ..." She looked up at him and to her surprise he wasn't giving her a bit of that surprise look .

" so what about last night? That was definitely not enough reason to .."

" Drake I just met you and getting married is not something I want to deal right now ." she exclaimed before she could hold back the anger .

" first you lied to me and now you treat me like some joke hunn." 

" I just said I didn't get my book signed and all you care about is yourself. "

Drake laughs hysterically before he responded " if there is anyone who doesn't care about the other Eva , that is definitely you and you know that for sure ." 

" I am not having this conversation with you ." Evangeline walked towards the door quickly

Drake pulled her back angrily " you lost the privilege to walk out on me Eva , You lied to me about the book , toyed with my feelings and now you think you can walk out on me ."

" you need to leave right now Drake ." Evangeline opened the door quickly stepping away from it .

"Fine I will leave ,but I will make sure you regret this ." 

Drake slammed the door angrily after he walked out ,Evangeline's heart almost popped out .This was the first time in years she will encounter something so tensed.

For sure she knows she needs the break Ash had suggested and if not for her book at least for her mental health as she seems to be mentally stressed right now.