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Eva stood there, her expression unfazed despite the growing tension in the room. Kris’s smirk only seemed to deepen, as if amused by her directness, but she wasn’t about to back down. The smell of cigarettes and alcohol was already starting to make her feel nauseous, and the noise from the other guests was adding to her unease.
She crossed her arms, feeling the weight of the situation settle in her chest. I’m not here to play games, she reminded herself. This wasn’t just a casual meeting—this was business, and Kris needed to understand that.
“Mr. Myers,” Eva said, her tone remaining calm but firm, “This is a business discussion, and I’d appreciate a more suitable environment to conduct it.”
Kris raised an eyebrow at her persistence, clearly not used to being challenged. He exchanged a quick glance with his friends, who seemed to be waiting for his reaction. The room was tense for a moment, but then Kris chuckled, his voice smooth but with an edge to it.
“Ms. Hansen, you’re certainly bold,” he said, slowly releasing the woman from his arms as he stepped toward her. “I didn’t realize you’d be so… demanding. But, fine. If you’re not comfortable, we’ll find somewhere else.”
Eva didn’t show any sign of relief. She remained perfectly still, watching Kris carefully as he gestured toward the door.
“Let’s go,” Kris said, the playful tone in his voice no longer masking the underlying irritation.
Eva turned on her heel, ready to follow him out, but Jenny’s nervous voice stopped her.
“Eva, are you sure this is okay? Shouldn’t we just—”
“Don’t worry,” Eva interrupted, her voice quiet but resolute. “If Kris wants to do business, he’ll need to follow the rules of professionalism.”
As they walked out of the private room, Eva couldn’t shake the feeling that there was more at play here than just a simple misunderstanding. She knew Kris’s reputation in the industry—a wealthy heir with connections, but also someone who didn’t always take business matters seriously. Tonight’s behavior confirmed that he saw people like Eva and Jenny as mere pawns in his social games.
They stepped into the hallway, and Kris led them to another, quieter area of the venue. This one was still far from ideal, but at least it was a little more appropriate for a conversation. Eva took a seat across from Kris, keeping her posture straight and her expression focused.
“I’ll get straight to the point,” Eva said, not wasting any time. “We’re here to discuss business, not to play games. So, if you want this deal to move forward, I suggest we keep it professional.”
Kris’s expression flickered briefly before he recovered his usual smirk. “You don’t pull punches, do you, Ms. Hansen?”
Eva wasn’t here to entertain his flirtations or banter. “I don’t have time for small talk, Mr. Myers. Let’s talk about the details of this cooperation.”
Jenny, sitting beside Eva, was unusually quiet. Eva could tell she was still uncomfortable, but it was clear she was grateful for Eva’s strength in handling the situation.
Kris eventually sighed and leaned back in his chair, looking at Eva with a more calculating expression. “Fine,” he said, his voice smoother now, “I didn’t expect you to be so… blunt. But if you insist, let’s get down to business.”
As the meeting continued, Eva couldn’t help but feel a growing sense of unease. Kris might have relented for now, but there was something off about him—something that made her question his intentions. Was this really about business, or was it another attempt to manipulate her, to get her to bend to his will?
Her thoughts flickered back to the encounter with Lucas earlier that day. Could the two be connected somehow? The feeling of being watched, the strange sense of being manipulated—it was all starting to feel like more than coincidence.
As the meeting dragged on, Eva’s resolve only grew stronger. She wasn’t going to let Kris, or anyone else for that matter, dictate the terms of her life and her career. She was done with games, done with pretending that everything was fine when clearly, it wasn’t.
But there was still something lurking beneath the surface—something she couldn’t quite place. And as she stared at Kris, trying to ignore the unease that gnawed at her, she knew that the next few days were going to be anything but ordinary.
