Chapter 8

The Promise of a Pathological Liar.

Eva threw her eyes open only to shut them back because of the bright lights in the room.

She heard the sizzling sound and lowered her head. Through the bangs on her forehead, she peeked to know where the sound was coming from. Standing shirtless in the kitchen was Alex's tall figure, flipping bacon.

Unconsciously, her mouth fell open as she ogled at him. His muscles were toned and firm. His skin was bronzed and his chest hair look golden in the morning light.

The sweat on his upperbody made his body glisten and Eva almost squealed in delight. She noticed the tattoos on his hands and tried to read what it said when his eyes snapped at hers.

Clearing her throat, she looked away.

Alex stifled a chuckle. "Morning."

"Morning." Eva muttered. All of a sudden, the room felt so hot.

"Is it hot in here?" She said as she fanned her face.

"It's not. By the way, have you awaken from your nightmare?" He asked as he walked to the kitchen table.

Eva's cheeks turn beet red as he leaned near.

"Oh my. Her heart's beating pretty fast, Alex. Slow down, tiger. Let her take it all in." Max grinned.

Alex smiled when she was too stunned to speak. He put the fork in her hand. "Bonne appetit."

Eva realised she was almost drooling and pursed her lips. When he walked away laughing, she yelled. "Hey, go put some clothes on. There are kids in here."

"Oh really? I don't see any." He winked at her.

"You." Eva clenched the fork around her fist.

When he left, she put the fork to her lips. "Well, damn. He's hot."

*****

Philip went down the steps in hope of meeting Eva at the breakfast table.

"Good morning, Mr. Philip." One of the maids greets as she dusted the paintings on the walls.

"Morning." He spoke in a hurry, each step barely touching the floor. Figuratively speaking, he ran.

He hears a female laugh and his troubled heart settles. With a smile on his face, he clasped his hands behind his back. However, his smile did not last long.

The laugh wasn't his daughter's. It was Ender's.

She looked up from her phone with a smile. "Oh. Good morning, Philip."

Philip pulled back the chair at the head of the table and sat slowly. "Morning."

"Are you okay?" She asked, reaching for a coffee mug.

Philip holds up his hand to stop the maid from picking scones for him. "No. Eva is not here?"

Ender set down the mug. "I don't think so but she will probably be at school."

"Who is this friend she's staying over with?" He asked with concern.

"I believe his name is Tyler." Ender replied.

"Tyler? He's a boy!"

"He's harmless. Don't worry, Philip. I'll give him a call right now."

"You should mind the kind of kids that roll with mine. I don't want to end up having any funny ideas."

Ender chuckled as she put the phone to her ears. It didn't take long till Tyler answer.

"Morning, Ender." Tyler replied.

"Morning, kiddo. Are you at school?" Ender puts the call on speaker.

"I'm on my way. Why'd you ask?"

"Nothing really important. Give the phone to Eva. Her dad wants to speak with her."

"Eva? She's not here. She's not at home?"

Philip has a dreadful look on his face.

Ender continues the call, barely keeping it together. "B - but wait, we've called all her friends. They say she's with you."

Tyler replied. "Eva isn't here. I haven't seen since she left school yesterday."

"Left school? Did she leave alone?" Philip asked now, no longer at ease.

"No. Ginny told me her driver took her."

"Driver? Wait. Now that you mentioned it. Greg did say Eva texted him about coming home alone!"

Tyler gasped. "Oh shit!"

"What! "

"Ginny told me the man that came to pick Eva claimed he was the new driver."

"The new driver doesn't start work till today. Oh Jesus. Eva's been - - " Philip cupped his hand over his mouth.

"Did you see what he looks like? This driver?" The journalist in Ender surfaced.

"No. But Ginny and her other friend saw. They were the ones with her. I was in the gym." Tyler replied.

"It's okay, Tyler. You did good. Never breath a word of this to anyone." Ender ends the call and looks at Philip.

Philip feared the worst when she said, "I believe this ia a kidnapping."

*****

His eyes watched her as she chewed and swallowed.

Alex didn't take his eyes off his prisoner. A smile cracked on his stern lips the moment she squealed when bacon fell from her fork to the floor.

Her blonde curly hair looked disheveled. She was still in her uniform and needed a wash. But underneath that stubborn princess was a pretty woman.

"Checking your mate, aren't you?" Max chuckled.

"Shut your face." Alex muttered to his wolf.

Eva pushed back the plate. "Breakfast isn't what I'm used to but thank you for not starving me to death."

She looked down at her white shirt. "I need a bath. I reek."

When Alex doesn't respond, she scoffed.

"I feel kidnapped and not saved, Mr. Fake Xavier." Eva rolled her eyes.

Alex feels his heart skip a beat when she said his name. Deep down he wanted her to say it again. Even Max wanted to hear it but it would be too awkward.

"Fine. You can go take a shower." Alex leans back in his seat.

"A little help?" She looked down at the rope holding her in place.

Alex exhales softly. "Here we go."

While loosening the rope, Alex tried to make sure their fingers never touched. He hated the feeling of the electric buzz running through his body and how it reminded him of Anna. But deep down, he actually liked it.

He was done loosening the rope and stepped back.

"Oh my God." Eva stretched as she took to her feet.

"The bathroom's just straight to your left. There are some clothes in the room up ahead." Alex told her as he went to do the dishes.

"Great. Got any spare toothbrush? Breakfast has a weird aftertaste now." Eva takes off her blazer.

"Sure. It's in the bathroom." Alex doesn't look up at her.

"Toodles." Eva giggled as she walked down the hall.

It took Alex a few minutes to realise what she had just done. His phone was on the couch and now, it's missing.

"That little - " he ran to find her.

"Eva! Get back here!" He yelled.

"No! Do I look 5? You actually thought I'd believe you when you said my dad sent you? Well, you're so wrong. This isn't the first time I've been kidnapped!" Eva called in the bathroom.

"Shit!" Alex banged in the door, "I fell for her charms."

"But it was worth the fall, right?" Max asked.

Alex clenched his fists and Max doesn't respond.

"911, what's your energency?" A first responder's voice echo from the bathroom.

"Help me! I've been kidnapped!" Eva screamed.

"Eva!" Alex banged on the door.

"Help! He wants to hurt me!" Eva screamed again.

"Fuck it!" Alex growled. His onyx eyes glowed and became slits, and his arms grew large and hairy. Sharp fingernails potruded from his fingers and he sank them into the door, clawing it ooen.

Eva screamed again.

The anomalies disappeared by the time he ripped the door off it's hinges.

"Stay back!" Eva grabbed a toothbrush and pointed it at him.

"Give me the phone, Eva." Alex held out his hand

She shook her head. "No! You'll hurt me, you pathological liar!"

"Believe me the promise of a pathological lie goes beyond that of someone who speaks the truth. Now, give it to me." His voice took a softer tone.

Eva swallowed her nonexistent saliva and inched forward. Just as she placed the phone in his open palm, she ran. However, Alex was quick to catch her.

Both of them tumbled to the floor. To make sure she wouldn't get hurt from the fall, Alex wrapped his hands around her, taking all the damages he could get.

Now, they're both on the floor with Eva on top of him. Her eyes widen in shock but his held a different message.

Alex knew his hand was on her waist but it felt right putting it there. She was his, wasn't she?