The next morning, I informed Helen that I was already leaving for the hospital because Liam just called me on the phone and that he was waiting outside the gate. I actually told him not to come into the house because I knew that he was definitely gonna cause trouble with his father.

    Speaking of his father, Mr. Maya... I met him in the living room when I climbed down the stairs.

       "How is your father?" Mr. Maya smiled as he spoke to me. It's obviously a very wicked smile.

    I didn't want to speak with him, instead, I looked at him with hatred and disgust.

  "C'mon Eve, Why did I then give you a job if you don't wanna cater for your family by yourself. I still kept my promise after all" He came closer to me and put his hands on my shoulder which I slowly took them off and spoke coldly;

    "Mr. Maya, I'm in no mood for jokes... I'm visiting my father today" I told him. 

  "Oh yeah, you need to do that quickly, get back to your usual self then we can have some time for ourselves tonight" He said grinning his teeth and I felt like smacking him right on the face.

    I just had to control myself; I didn't say anything. I only bow my head a little.

    "I'll take my leave" I told him then went out of the house.

 "Hey Eve, I heard about what happened to your father" Andrew said...opening the car door.

  "I won't be taking the car. Which means that you won't be driving me" I said to him as I passed by him and headed to the gate which Robert opened for me. 

    *

    "I brought some fruits and beverages for your father" Liam said.

    "Oh My God, Liam. Thank you so much"

    "It's nothing... It's part of the little I can help. So what did my father say?"

    "Nothing, no sign of remorse" I shook my head.

    Liam sighed and said "It's Okay" then he started to drive.  We didn't really say anything throughout the journey to the hospital, although I was sort of watching him through the corner of my eyes.

    ***

    " Eve dear, you refused to go to work today just because of me. I told you I'm good...can't you see it" My Dad struggled to sit upright when we came in.

    I smiled and quickly helped him up as I gave him a gentle hug. 

    "You are indeed hale and healthy. You just need to fully recover" I said.

  "Eve was so worried that you might need a heart transpiration. We are so glad you are fine now"  Liam added and I shot him a stare, how did he know that was what I was worried about?

 "That's right, you both can go back to your workplace. Eve, happy your husband happy, and don't forget to reach out to me and send me money"  My Dad said, I chucked anyways... "I will" I assured him.

    "Here" Liam dropped the basket of fruits on the bedside table.

"Father, Liam bought....I... I mean... Mr. Maya and his son, Liam got you this" I lied because I figured out that Dad is always excited at the mention of Mr. Maya. He really thinks he is the good man he claimed to be when he came asking for my hand in marriage.

    Liam looked at me because of the lie I just told again, so I stylishly blinked my eyes at him, so that he would act along too.

    And he did, he also smiled...

"Uhmm..my father is very busy at the office, so he can't come down here to see you. That's why he sent both of us. I'm very sure that he would be glad to know how well you are doing now" Liam told my Dad, who kept smiling widely.

 Just then, the doctor came in, with some nurses and some medical pieces of stuff... And he told Liam and me to leave the ward while he attend to my father.

    So instead of waiting at the reception or taking seats outside the ward, we began to pace slowly from the ward wall to the opposite wall. When I'm at the ward wall, he'll be at the opposite wall and vice versa... not until we bumped into each other. We were supposed to say 'sorry' but we giggled instead. Maybe I'm just too happy and he noticed it.

   We stopped pacing around as we faced each other properly.

    "I'm glad, you are so happy" Liam said.

  "And thanks to you too. I don't ever want to imagine what would have happened to my father assuming you didn't come through for me" I told him.

    "Uhm... My father is not human...I mean a human being with no human feelings. You can't be with him forever" He said and I didn't know when I nodded.

"Okay so what will you do?" He syllabized the words.

   "Nothing" I answered.

"No Eve, you are gonna do something. Or are you planning to abscond? "  He got it right.

    "Huh...Errr" I blinked nervously. I shouldn't deny it, didn't he promise to keep all of my secrets?

    "Yes" I responded coldly; not looking at his face but I didn't get any word from him..so I glared at his face.

  "Errrm... It's... It is the best thing for you...and your father" He stuttered and I nodded coldly; "  But..but there are people who don't want you to just suddenly disappear especially after they have gotten used to you. I just wanna let you know that there are some people who like you and they do not want you to just leave like that most especially without saying goodbye... Imagine if...if I come to the office every day and I didn't see you around" Liam rushed his words and I noticed that he was trying really hard not to stutter again

 My heart beat faster, I hope he was tryna insinuate something and I hope it was what I want from him; nevertheless, I summoned up the courage to continue staring into his eyes and asked him; "Do you like me?"

    "Sure" He replied almost immediately. That response sounds normal and general.

I asked further;  "I... I mean not that kind of like; Like... Like Like..." He was looking at me like he didn't understand what I meant and I was also avoiding making use of the word 'Love'. I also didn't want to be the first to open up about my feelings for him. 

   So I just said... " No, don't worry, Just Forget it" I told him nervously.

    "Yeah, I like you" He repeated.

    "Yeah I get" I replied coldly. 

    "That like like...Like, the one you are talking about" He said smiling.

    "Uhn?" My eyes almost bulged out of the socket and my heart almost jumped out also...

"What...what..are you saying?" I stammered.

  "I don't know if I'm just realizing it or I have been the one trying not to believe that I do... that I like you regarding the...the kind of...uhm.. plight you found yourself into"He said stammering.

    I understood what he was talking about. 

    The stepmother and stepson stuff. 

  The truth is, I was also trying to kill my feelings for him right from the time I started liking him even the day I knew I might like him... It's absurd yet the feeling wasn't ready to die especially when he kissed me...

    ******

    ****

Eve's POV

The doctor assured us that my father will be well taken care of and he told us to leave since there's something we needed to attend to ~ like work. He promised to inform me whenever it's time to discharged my Dad, nevertheless; we could still check up on him. Which I'm definitely gonna do.

    Liam drove the two of us to the office and he wouldn't stop smiling while I was nervous about what's gonna happen to us ~ regarding the stepmom and son stuff..

   "Yes, I like you too and I'll let it remain like that " I said; yeah the least we can do is to let it remain at the point of 'Like', we can also lie to ourselves that the feelings we are having is a mere family bond.

"Wanna know why I am so happy?" He asked me instead..

    "Why?" I murmured.

 "Because I fell in love again shortly after Clara left me" He responded.

    What? Love?

  I cleared my throat nervously and rested my head on the car window.

    "I know what you're thinking" He said, I sighed and looked at him.

  "Yes, you do" I muttered..

 "Listen Even, you had no choice than to marry my father but you do not like him not even one bit but here we are, we like eachother" He said, I sat properly and looked at him.

    "Let...let it remain like that, as time goes on..the feelings will..errrm fade away" I told him.

    "Nahh it won't, I love really hard Eve even when I'm supposed to learn from what Clara did to me" He glimpsed at me and smiled then he returned his glance at where he was driving too.

"Everything is going to be fine, you don't have to worry at all He said, then he held my hand and it sent a very cold shiver down my vein.

  "We have to be worried Liam. This is...forbidden" I uttered, looking at him and taking my hands off slowly. He glimpsed at me again but he stopped smiling this time.

 "You said it yourself that you didn't want to accept the fact that you may have feelings for me regarding our related family relationship" I continued..

    "Yeah... I... To be honest, I don't know what to do" He finally said, I continued looking at him worriedly, he didn't say anything else. Obviously, we were both nervous.

    ***

     We arrived at the office just after the recess period was over. Everyone greeted Liam and paid their usual respect. I also waved at my three closest colleagues before moving to our place of work but  I don't know why all eyes were on us. When we were out of their sights, Liam tried to hold my hand while we were walking, I glared at him but he smiled. I shook my head and released my hand from his, I'm sure he understands what my cold gestured means. We can't start anything or not just yet. 

    He cleared his throat awkwardly when we got to my own office;

  "It's good to be back here" He said and I nodded.

   "I see we gotta lot of works to do, we might eventually need a P.A" He added.

Yeah, there was so many files on my table..when I'm done with it, i'ld submit it to him for sorting as usual.

"So I'll be waiting for you in my office" He smiled again. I watched him walk into his office before taking my seat.

  Yet, I couldn't bring myself to start working immediately. I placed my head on the table thinking about everything. Although I was glad that our feelings were mutual but what are we gonna do to it since I'm married to his father?  What about the people aware of my marriage, what will they say when they find out that Liam loves me and I do too? What about Mr Maya himself?

    I sighed heavily then I tried to put aside the distressing thoughts. One thing I know, if it's meant to be; it will be. 

 I switched on my computer and began to work. 

 When I was done with typing and formatting as usual, I stood up to go give him the files.

    "Come on in Eve" He said before I could even knock on the door.

I walked in; only to see him at the small parlor part of the office, and he was holding two cups. He looked at me and smiled; I tried to avoid looking into his eyes, so i walked to his official seat to drop the file on the desk.

    "I made coffee for us" He offered raising the two cups up.

   "Liam" I muttered his name as I came to meet him.

 "Come on, you've been so stressed lately. Don't try to turn me down just because we have butterflies in our belly" He said.

   "Butterflies in our belly?" I chuckled a little. 

 "Have it" He stretched his hand and handed it over to me.

    "Thank you" I told him as I received it and turned to go.

  "It's coffee and talk not, coffee and leave" He said, then sat on a armchair. He tapped his side..beckoning me to come sit next to him.

    I rolled my eyes a little before going to sit beside him anyways, then I sipped the coffee slowly..

  "He doesn't have to know" He spoke.

    "What?" I stopped sipping and looked at him.

 "He doesn't have to know about us" He responded..then continued; "When two opposite svx confessed their feelings to each other, do you know what they do?" He asked.

    I was short of words..so I just had to call out his name softly; "Liam"

  He smiled as he tucked the fallen strands on my hair to the back of my ear.

    "You are not cheating on him, you are only following your heart. Besides, didn't you say you wanna run away from him as soon as you have the chance to. You can just divorce him instead, he is no good for you; he has never been" He said, I was only gazing at him.. "You might have noticed it, I've been overreacting during the times I quarreled my father, it's because I just can't bare the way he treats you"

    "Divorce" I muttered as I took another nervous sip "I wanna do that but it's not as easy as you just mentioned it and it might as well bounce back on me..." He interrupted me

  "No it won't. Even the financial assistance you married my father because of, he has quitted and he literally showed you his true colours. What are you still waiting for? Anytime you may need help, I promise that i'll always be there" He said with his hand on the left side of his chest.

 "Yet I can't just file a divorce or not just yet. Mr Maya is not even gonna sign it" I told him..

  "Gosh I made you sign those stupid marriage contract paper" He regretted as he dropped his coffee on the table and sighed.

    "Okay.." I said slowly, he glanced at me. "We won't let him know" I agreed and he put on a smile.

 "Let's see how it goes, my father might even be the one to send youoff but mind you, I got your back always and you are mind" He said and I blushed secretly.

    I allowed him to hold and fondled my hand then he moved closer to me, I wasn't really nervous anymore instead I was happy that we are risking this lovey dovey decision.

  We couldn't stop staring at each other, he was still smiling at me and my cheeks redden. He gazed at my lips then leaned forward to..to kiss me? We have forgotten about the coffee in my hand, so when he leaned over, it spilled on his shirt and distracted us.

    "Oh My God" I exclaimed and dropped the coffee on the table.

   "Don't worry, I have my suitcase here" He chuckled and coughed awkwardly.

    "Oh.. Okay" I smiled in a shy manner and stood up to leave.  "I'll go to my office now" I told him.  I've only taken a step away from him when he gently pulled me back ~ making me fall on him, he reached for my lips and kissed me. Although, it was sort of sudden yet I reciprocated so passionately and then he took over.

    ****

    ***

    Eve's POV

    During the closing hour, Liam wanted to drop me off at home as usual but I told him that I needed to call on my driver since that's why he was employed; and lately he hasn't been picking me up from work.

    We were together and we hugged passionately for some moment,  he let go of me only when the driver came. 

    I was unusually so excited, indeed being with someone you truly love makes you happy. Oh My God! I have a boyfriend!

    Even when I got home, Robert and Helen could notice that something was wrong. Though, I tried to hide it, just say Hi and go to my room but it didn't work on Helen.

  "You are smiling " She asked. I thought I just hid..so I forced myself to stop smiling and frown instead.

    "No, I didn't say you shouldn't smile. What is the good news? I'm all ears She asked me.

  "Uhmm..err" I scratched my hair.. searching for a lie she'll buy.

 "My father has recovered"I told her. At least, it's also part of the reasons why I'm happy. And the love confession stuff started when Liam and I were still at the hospital.

    " Oh wow... You are just returning from the hospital right?" She asked...

  "Uhm no, he insisted Liam and I should leave just like he said yesterday. So we head straight to the office but I'm so glad that he has recovered now," I told her and she smiled. I smiled again.

  "Eve, what is that spark?" She came closer scrutinizing my face. Spark? I was only smiling. This girl is she a love human detector.

  "What spark?" I blinked my eyes several times then moved backward.

 "You seemed to be very happy"

  "But I just told you the reason, Why father.." She cut in...

    " You must be a daddy's pet" she said.

 "Yeah I am...hahaha" I gave a weird laugh as I started back-climbing the stairs before she'll notice another thing about my facial expression.

    Just then... we began to hear some s*xual moans...

 "What's that?" I asked her.

    "Shii" She put her finger on her lips.

 "From Mr. Maya's room?" I mouthed and pointed at the door.

 "He has a visitor, or should I say a whore is here?'

    "He brings them into the house?" I asked.

  "Yeah but he stopped after you came, looks like he has continued again. He only returned from the office a few hours ago and he came home with this one" She said...

    Just then the lady and Mr. Maya came out of the office, this whore doesn't look young. She should even be a mother yet what she dressed almost half nakedly.

    We didn't say anything as they passed in front of us but Mr. Maya grinned at me and placed his hand over the slut's shoulder.

    "That Maniac!" I snarled after they have left the house.

  "Their moans filled the whole house"

  "Eww eww. I don't wanna hear about it" I said running upstairs.

  My phone rang just after I changed into a simple dress. I looked at the phone screen, only to see that it was Liam. Well, I was expecting his call because he promised. I smiled, remembering everything between us. Gosh! I love love him.

   I picked up the phone...

   ~  "Hello love" He said.

 ~  "Love?" I asked, rolling my eyes and blushing as if he could see me.

 ~"Oh! Do you want me to say Hello Like? "He said giggling.." Remember the day you were asking me if I like like like you" He said and I laughed.

~ "Oh please stop it Liam, don't make me feel like I confessed my feeling to you first" I said and he giggled...

~ "How are you dear?" He asked me.

 ~"I'm good. like we didn't just see each other an hour ago" I sneered and he laughed.

 ~"You know... I'm regretting why I didn't let you come with me"

 ~ "To your place again?"

~"Yeah to my place. Yet I'm seeing your faces around me but I can't get myself something to eat" He said.

~ "Oh food...Damn! I need to teach you how to cook, or will you call on Helen?"

   ~"No Eve" He spoke like a baby and I chuckled.

~ "But you are hungry right?"

   ~ "I ordered a meal already," He said; "So what are you up to?" He changed the topic.

 ~   "I just had a cold shower, I might have to hang around with Helen" I told him. "What about you?"

~  "Me and my laptop... There are some things for me to review. Being a CEO is not that easy" He said.

 ~ "Oh Liam, you need to go rest" I told him.

  ~  "There you go again, you panic a lot" He said and I giggled...

    We didn't say anything for a while, yet we didn't the hung call. We were only hearing each other's breath. But I was smiling because I knew we just wanted to hear each other's voices. Oops! This feeling is too much.

  ~ "Is there anything you wanna let me know?" He asked me.

~   "Uhm, not at all" I responded.

~    "Okay? See you tomorrow babe " He said.

  ~  "I love you Liam" I blurted.

   ~"Did you say that word?" He asked and I didn't say anything. Instead, I hummed; "What did you just say Eve?"

  ~ "You heard me Liam" I mumbled and he laughed.

  ~  "Say it again"

   ~  "Bye?" I said instead.

  ~  " Wait Even, there is something about the word, that makes you feel somehow. I can even sense it from here" Liam said.

 He's right, He is my first boyfriend..that's why.

    I didn't say anything...

   ~ "I love you?" He said..and I blushed and summon up the courage to reply back.

~ "I love you too, I love you very much " I responded...

   ~ "Oh whoa!"

    I hung up the call immediately, placing the phone on my chest but my cheeks redden excessively.

    "Who do you love very much?" Helen opened the door.

   "Were you eavesdropping? How long have you been at the door?" I asked instead.

    "I was just got here now and I heard you say ' I love you very much. See you are blushing, now answer my question" She said.

   " I was talking to someone" I muttered.

  "I have always known that you have a boyfriend Eve! Why are you hiding him?" She scolded.

  "No, I do not have a boyfriend or..I..." I was mute for a while but she folded her hands, waiting for me to speak. "I just found someone I love very much" I told her.

    "Oh My God, I'm so happy for you. Who is he?"

  "Uhm Helen, that. I can't tell you yet" I said.

    "But why?"

 I only shook my head and she sneered and said;  "It's not like Mark didn't hear you"

    "What Mark? Is he at home?"   And he has been staying in Liam's room lately which means I must have heard me. But I didn't raise my voice.

 "He went down the stairs just now" She said.

"Nah he didn't hear me, Mark is not the kind of person that eavesdrops on someone else's call"

  "Oh you mean, I'm that kind of person" She asked.

    "I didn't say that" I shook my head. "But why don't you just believe that the person I may be saying ' I love you to might be a girlfriend or my Dad, or someone general not a boyfriend" I said.

 "You didn't mention that. Besides, I can see it in your eyes. See your cheeks are red"

    "Well.." I touch my cheeks with my palm.

  "You are in love Eve, no doubt and it's either you've been dating this guy before you moved here or you met him at your workplace..because that's the only place you go to"

    "Uhm" I rolled my eyes and moved away from her.

 "Robert knows that I am a pretty good guesser. So mark my words" She said. "And if you met this lucky guy at your office, Liam will know the person which means that; sooner or later, it gotta get to my own ears. I'mma ask him if you are not gonna tell me yourself" She said. She stood akimbo, with her hands still folded, acting like my mother...so I must definitely confide in her about my love life.

    "I will let you know Helen... not just yet" I mumbled.

  "Eve" Mr. Maya's voice and he was already close to my room.

    "Jeez, he is back" Helen whispered...

   Mr Maya opened the door and came in.

    "Helen, can you please excuse my wife and I?" He told her.

    "I was gonna leave anyway," Helen said, sort of brusque, then she left my room. I winked at her to keep the door opened widely which she did but Mr Maya shut it after she left.

    "What is it?" I asked him.

 "I was horny, I couldn't wait till you get back"

   "I am not mad, after all you have satisfied the urges" I replied back.

 "Well, you permitted me remember?" He said.

  "Why are you here Mr. Maya?" I asked him and he grinned.

"Today, I felt like I was active again, after a very long time" He said as he came closer to me.

  "What...what do you mean?" I mumbled.

 "I am absolutely not aware of whenever we have s*x" He challenged me and I scoffed then changed my tone to a weak one as I put up with an disappointed act.

    "Are you denying the fact that you disvirgined me?" 

 "No, it only seemed like we usually have s*x in my dream not in real life" He said. I wanted to burst into laughter but I controlled myself. "Is it like that to you, do you ever dream of us making out in the dream?" He asked me.

   "That's nonsense. It's no dream Maya" I said..but he came closer me.

  I moved backward a little.

   "What do you want Mr. Maya because I'm so stressed out right now, you didn't even ask after my father or work or something"

  "We have a bedroom appointment this night" He cut in sharply then he turned and walked to the door.

    "Shameless man. You think you'ld have your way to turn me into your own s*x toy" I caused him under my breath.

    Anyways, there is always a way out. The pills!  I'll never let you have me in your bed and I'll continue doing this till I finally get away from you.

    *****

       *****