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As long as he can do it…
Vivian almost blurted out her request, but the words caught in her throat, and she hesitated. It was a fleeting moment, but it felt like a mountain pressing against her chest. She swallowed the words back with a pang of self-doubt. Now was not the time to ask him for that. Not with so much uncertainty lingering in the air between them.
She exhaled slowly, forcing her mind to refocus. She shifted the conversation to safer ground, her tone soft and neutral. “I haven’t had a chance to visit Grandma Blackwood since I returned. Is it alright if I go see her in a few days?”
Adrian’s response came almost immediately, but there was a sharpness in his voice. His brow furrowed as he spoke, his concern for his grandmother evident. “Wait a little longer, Vivian. I’m not sure it’s a good idea yet. It might affect her condition.”
Vivian’s smile faltered. The hesitation in his voice stung, and she couldn’t help but feel the familiar ache in her chest. Granny Blackwood had always been polite to her, even warm at times, but it was clear that the older woman’s affections leaned more toward Eva than to her. It wasn’t as if Granny Blackwood disliked her—no, it was more like a polite distance, as if she viewed her more as a necessary presence than someone truly beloved.
But Eva, on the other hand… Vivian couldn’t deny the warmth in Granny’s eyes whenever she was around. The thought twisted in her gut, but she pushed it down, forcing her smile to return.
“Alright. I’ll wait,” she said, though the words were more resigned than anything else.
Adrian nodded, his eyes softer now. “Thank you for understanding.”
Vivian left his office quietly, the weight of their exchange lingering in her chest like a distant storm cloud. She couldn’t shake the feeling that her place in this family was precarious at best.
Later, Eva had returned to work after her brief vacation, only to find herself drowning in the mess left behind by an incompetent colleague. The tasks piled up quickly, and though she had diligently prepared everything for her absence, it was clear the handover had been less than smooth.
She sighed as she looked over the mountain of paperwork, wondering when she would finally have a moment to breathe. She hadn’t even noticed the time until Jenny came in, offering her the usual cup of coffee. But when the bitter taste hit her mouth, a wave of discomfort washed over her, and she immediately put the cup down, her face twisting slightly in distaste.
Jenny returned moments later with a fresh cup, but Eva had already made up her mind. “Jenny, from now on, just bring me plain water. No more coffee.”
Jenny blinked, confusion crossing her features. “But… Why, Eva? Isn’t coffee what keeps you going?”
Eva gave a small, tired smile, her voice quiet. “I’ve had enough. Water’s better.”
Jenny looked like she wanted to argue but thought better of it, quietly nodding. “Alright, Sister Eva. Plain water it is.”
Eva appreciated Jenny’s concern, but it was difficult to explain. The truth was, the coffee, the caffeine—it was just another distraction from the weight of everything on her shoulders. She couldn’t keep pretending like she had everything under control when, in reality, she was barely keeping it together.
The phone rang, breaking the silence of Eva’s office. She glanced at the screen: Adrian.
A small sigh escaped her lips as she picked up, her voice more distant than usual. “What is it, Adrian? If it’s business, you can use the company’s internal line.”
There was a slight pause on the other end of the line, then a clipped voice responded. “It’s not business. Have you eaten yet? If not, come over.”
The sudden change in tone caught Eva off guard. She felt her heart flutter, but she quickly steadied herself, her voice cold as she replied, “No need to wait for me. I still have work to do.”
But just as she was about to hang up, she heard another voice, softer and more familiar. “Eva, I made you lunch. Please come over. We’ll wait for you.”
Eva’s expression hardened, her eyes narrowing slightly. She wasn’t imagining it—she knew that voice. Vivian. A tight knot formed in her stomach.
“No. Go ahead and eat without me,” she muttered, ending the call swiftly.
As she sat there, staring at her phone, the bitterness she felt towards Vivian simmered beneath her calm exterior. But Eva refused to let it control her.
Moments later, Jenny appeared, ready for lunch. Eva, despite everything, put on a smile and stood up. “Jenny, are you going to eat? I’ll join you.”
Jenny’s eyes brightened at the prospect of sharing a meal with Eva. She was always eager for any opportunity to get closer to her. “Yes, Sister Eva. Let’s go together.”
As they walked to the company canteen, Jenny chatted excitedly, trying to engage Eva in conversation. “Sister Eva, do you come to the cafeteria often? If you don’t like it here, we could go somewhere else.”
Eva shook her head. “No, this is fine. It’s close and convenient for getting back to work.”
Jenny seemed relieved at the answer, but then guilt flashed across her face. “I’m sorry, Sister Eva. If I were better at my job, you wouldn’t have to deal with all this work.”
Eva glanced at her, not comforting her as she usually would. Instead, she simply said, “If you want to make up for it, work harder this afternoon. We’ll fix this.”
Jenny nodded vigorously, clearly feeling the weight of her own guilt. “I will, I promise.”
Once they arrived at the cafeteria, whispers and sideways glances followed them. People had always talked about Eva, but now, with her position uncertain, their words felt sharper, colder.
“Did you see that? The president’s wife eating here with everyone. Does she think she’s one of us now?” someone murmured loudly.
“No way. She’s the secretary now, not Mrs. Blackwood. The real future president’s wife is in Mr. Blackwood’s office, remember?”
Eva clenched her jaw, the familiar sting of their words sinking in. But what hurt more was the truth of what they were saying. Her family’s fall from grace had put her in a position where she had nothing to offer Adrian. Nothing that would ever make her truly equal to Vivian or to the Blackwoods.
The final comment hit too close to home. “She’s nothing, just some secretary trying to use Mr. Blackwood’s name to get ahead.”
Eva didn’t respond, but inside, she felt a quiet, painful agreement with their words.
Jenny slammed her fork onto the table, her voice sharp. “That’s too much! I’m going to say something to them!”
Eva’s hand reached out, stopping her. “Sit down, Jenny. Don’t waste your energy on them.”
