The CEO's Dirty Little Secret

Chapter 6

Eve looked behind her with a frown. She’d had this feeling all day that someone was watching her. Her first thought was that Roman had taken time out of his precious day to find her, but she squashed that ridiculous idea.

It had been two weeks since she last saw him and a week since she left that note. By now, that man would have found somebody else to replace her since one hole would be as good as the other. There was nothing special about her.

She shrugged and carried on window shopping. Her mother’s birthday was coming up, and she wanted to buy her something nice to give her when she finally visited. She also needed to reconnect with some of her old university friends. They would all be starting their last year at university soon, as she would have if she hadn’t dropped everything for a man.

Looking back, she could call herself a stupid t**t for doing that. Roman had not given up anything for her; she should never have sacrificed so much for him.

She went into a handbag shop and started wandering through the aisles. Her mother never bought herself any new bags; she kept the same one until it was ratty and falling to bits. Years of pinching every penny had done that to her.

She supposed her upbringing had done the same to her. She hadn’t spent any of the money Roman had given her except to send some to her parents every month, so she had savings for the first time in her life. She could afford to buy her mother something nice, move them out of the estate she had grown up on, and still have enough to support herself once she returned to university. There would be no need to look for another job; she would get by on the grants and what she would make doing the hospital placements as a student nurse.

Her phone rang just as she paid for a large, sturdy bag, and she answered immediately.

“I’m just around the corner. Order a large burger and fries for me. I’m starving,” she said as she left the shop.

“Hurry up,” Brendan said. “The others aren’t coming; they’ll meet us for drinks tonight.”

She had always been closer to Brendan than any of her other friends, so he was the first she reached out to. She weaved through the busy London foot traffic until she rounded the corner and saw him sitting outside the restaurant, looking down at his phone.

Before meeting Roman, Brendan had been the most handsome man she had ever spoken to. There might even have been a few drunken stolen kisses here and there, but it hadn’t gone any further. She didn’t see it going further now. After being with Roman, who could compare?

“I’m here,” she said, putting her shopping bags down and kissing his cheek before sitting down.

“Wow,” Brendan said with a smile.

“What?”

“Is that make-up?”

She had got so used to applying the light makeup that she hadn’t thought much about it when she had been getting ready to meet him.

“You look amazing,” Brendan continued. “This fancy job you had must have been something else if they managed to make you wear make-up.”

Her cheeks coloured. One of the last honest conversations she’d had with Brendan was when she had walked into Ashfield Construction. They had called her back for a second interview; she’d been ecstatic. But it turned out she’d gone in for a part-time typing job and come out a w***e.

“Well, that’s over now,” she said as a waitress brought the food he had ordered. “Tell me what’s new with you.”

Anything to steer the conversation away from her supposed job with England's most prominent property developer.

“Nothing much. Doing the placements on top of classes was killing me; I’m not looking forward to the new semester.”

She listened to him talk as she ate her meal but found her mind constantly wandering away to Roman. How had he reacted when he had gone to the house and seen her note? Had he accepted it with a shrug and moved on? Her heart hurt just imagining how easily he would move on while she would be stuck trying to get over him for a while. But it was for the best.

“Eve!”

She brought her attention back to Brandan.

“I’m sorry, I have a lot on my mind. There’s a lot to organise so I can return for the next semester, and I have to find accommodation,” she lied. “I didn’t mean to drift away.”

“I have a spare room,” Brendan offered casually.

But she could tell that it wasn’t a casual invitation. Though she had fooled around with Brendan, he was still younger than her. Being with a more mature man made her realise she wanted that for her next relationship.

Even thinking that hurt. Next relationship. How was she supposed to move on from Roman?

“I wouldn’t want to cramp your style,” she chuckled as her phone dinged.

She’d had to get herself a new one after she had left the one Roman had given her. She swiped it open and saw a message from an unknown but familiar number.

‘Come to my car, Evelyn.’

She put the phone down and didn’t dare look around. She had no idea how Roman found her brand new number, but what could he possibly want with her?

She squashed the stupid excitement she always felt when he was near and tried to concentrate on her conversation. Her phone dinged again.

‘Now, Evelyn, before I come over and drag you back myself.’

He wouldn’t dare. His whole life was about keeping his s**t private. He would never make a scene.

“Something wrong?” Brendan asked.

“No,” she lied. “Where are we going for drinks?”

Another ding.

‘We have legal matters to discuss. Come to my car or wait for my lawyers to contact you. Your choice.’

She sighed as she finally looked around. A sleek black car with tinted windows was parked not too far from her, and Roman’s driver stood ready to open the door.

“I’m sorry, Brendan,” she interrupted him sadly. “I have to go. I have some unfinished business. Text me the details for tonight.”

She didn’t wait for his reply as she pulled some notes out of her purse to cover their meals. It was the least she could do for abandoning him when she had been the one to invite him out. Then she picked up all her bags before kissing Brendan’s cheek and walking towards the car.

The driver took her shopping bags when she reached him and opened the door for her. Roman had some paperwork on his lap, and his slim laptop was open on the seat next to him when she settled herself across from him. As always, the sight of him took her breath away. He was larger than life and seemed to fill the whole space, and his handsome face was as serious as usual. It was easy to believe the rumours about him.

“Boyfriend?” he questioned without even looking at her.

What?

She reeled back in the seat and regarded him from the corner of her eye. Roman never asked any personal questions. What he knew about her he’d discovered from an intensive background check rather than any conversations they’d had the past year.

“Um... Why am I here?” she asked.

Roman put the papers away and closed his laptop before his gaze finally landed on her. His eyes were colder than she had ever seen, sending a shiver down her spine.

“You’ve had your little holiday. Time to get back to work,” he said smoothly.

“I... I can’t do that anymore. I left you a note,” she said as the car started moving.

“Unfortunately, little notes like that don’t get you out of contracts,” Roman said with a cold smile. “You are still my little w***e, Evelyn.”