Eva's POV

This week has been a whirlwind of stress, nerves and so much more. From the first round of testing to a string of mishaps-and, of course, my dreaded encounter with Mr. Lane-I was mentally drained. Thankfully, I haven't had to face him again.

Now it's Friday night and I desperately need a break, I go to the one place that'll help me unwind. I haven't been to the bar, 'Blackout Coven' where Carmen works at since the last incident. Chills go down my spine as I remember that cursed night.

Bracing myself against the icy winter air, I push the door open, instantly greeted by warmth and the hum of chatter. I shed my coat and gloves and take a seat at a table.

I instantly spot Carmen and wave at him from my table at the back, he sighs dramatically before walking towards me. "Why did you hastily leave last time? Was it because if the offer I made?"

I wince, I forgot since then I also haven't seen or spoken to Carmen. "It's not what you think. I remembered I had work left undone and I was scared of what Mr. Lane would do."

He's worried expression softens then he made himself comfortable in the seat opposite mine. "Oh, okay. But why did you say Mr. Lane? Not the devil? Has there been progress?" The he wiggled his brows suggestively.

I rolled my eyes, after seeing Mr. Lane's miserable state I couldn't find it in my heart to still call him the devil. Plus he forgave me for that embarrassing incident, on a normal day I would have already been job-hunting.

"No it's just I think it's time to stop judging people by their exterior, after all you never know what anyone is going through." I say.

Carmen nods his head thoughtfully.

"Shouldn't you be at the bar counter?"
I gesture towards the busy bar, Carmen just looks at then back to me and shrugs. "Don't you have customers to serve?"

"My boss is chill, Not that you'd be able to relate or understand." He shoots.

So he wants to do it like that, sure we'll do it like that. "Oh really, that's how you want to play it?"

He nods with a smirk.

"Stultus puer, I guess you wouldn't understand what I just said." (Foolish boy) Then I grin with a smirk.

He scoffs. I knew it irritated him when someone spoke in a language he couldn't understand and he doesn't understand Latin so he's irritated.

I laugh at his annoyed expression while he glares at me but he doesn't know he looks like a puppy that's sulking because it just got kicked, making it all the more funnier. I couldn't do it anymore I burst out in loud obnoxious laughter until tears prickled my eyes .

As I try to regain my breath, Carmen stands up. In-between shaky breaths I ask, "Where are you going?"

He glares at me again and I can barely hold back my second round of laughter. "Someone's at the bar and I have to attend to him."

I murmur an okay. He gives me one last look that tells me 'If you laugh again I'll shove my shoe down your throat' so I muffle my laughter.

Barely a few seconds passed before I wander to the counter.

While Carmen is pouring the drink I steal a peek at the man but I can barely believe my eyes, covering my mouth in shock I whisper, "M-Mr. Lane."

I didn't think he'd hear me but it turns out he did 'cause he turned to look at me.

Recognition flashes in his eyes, "Hi. Melinda, right?" He says with a little smile.

I'm so confused, "I'm sorry I think you've confused me with someone else." I say. Like who the hell's Melinda?

He's features morph in confusion. "Wait I'm sorry if I'm mistaken. But aren't you my employee? Or you aren't the group leader of group 2 at my software development department?"

"I am your employee and I am the group leader of group 2 but my name's not Melinda." I say with a polite smile but inside I am beyond angry, like seriously how could he call me Melinda? I look nothing like a Melinda.

He chuckles. "Ah I'm sorry, your name's Melissa." He says with that same little smile.

I shake my head aggressively, "It's not."

All this while it turns out Carmen's been watching our little exchange, "Here's your drink sir. Mind if I ask a question?" Carmen says in a polite tone, like why can't he ever talk to my that?

"Thanks, go ahead." Mr. Lane responds.

"So what's your relation with my older cousin? A one night stand I'm not informed about?" Carmen says and wiggles his brows. I cringe internally.

Simultaneously both Mr. Lane and I say, "Her boss." "His employee."

Carmen nods in understanding, "Figures, she could never bag a guy like you, but a girl can dream, can't she?"

I gasp in mock offense, shoving his shoulder. To my surprise, Mr. Lane laughs-a genuine, hearty laugh. I freeze. The devil is laughing?

I turn in shock and open my eyes wide ingraining this moment in my memory because I'm not sure if I'll ever see him laugh again. I atleast want to be able to boast of seeing the devil laugh before I die.

I look at Carmen and he's grinning before narrowing his eyes and blurts, "Doesn't he look like the guy from that night?"

At the same time, Mr. Lane and I ask, "Which guy?" "Which night?"

I've lived many nights and seen many guys so how should I know who he's talking about?

"I'm talking about the guy who got dumped here a few weeks ago." He clarifies.

My eyes go wide in realization and I start signaling him to stop and my eyes are pleading but he doesn't seem to notice as he's too engrossed in the narrating the events of that night to Mr. Lane.

I'm sure Mr. Lane has gradually realized he's talking about him.

After Carmen finishes his story he finally notices me giving him a death glare but he doesn't seem fazed.

"If you'll excuse me I'd like to have a moment with your cousin in regards to work stuff." Mr. Lane suddenly says.

Carmen nods.

But I say, "But it's the weekend."

He chuckles, "And I'm your boss." He replies before grabbing my wrist and leading me outside.

Immediately I step out the bar it's like I'm drenched in icy water. There's a stark difference between the inside of the bar and the streets of New York and I get to experience it due to my coatlessness.

"You were there, so you know, you've known everything." He says breaking the silence.

I avoid his gaze.

And I let my silence answer him. He turns to me, "Why?" Is all he says. Does he expect me to read his mind, why? Why what?

"Why didn't you speak out? If you wanted you could have let the whole world know, you could have sold information like that to the paparazzi, gossips, made a lot of money but you didn't, you still haven't. Why?"

It's my turn to chuckle, "Not everything in life's about money. That day I saw a broken, pitiable man, a man who'd been betrayed. I couldn't do that to him, to you. That'd be inhumane. I know I wouldn't like people invading my privacy and personal life, so why do that to you? I won't lie I disliked you so much for such a long time–I had just seen you as an entitled boss, distant and self-absorbed, but that day, I saw a different person, he was vulnerable, sad, delicate. I might have zero exp when it comes to love or romance but even found that heartbreaking and I made a vow I was going to silently watch over you." Then I turned to him as I stroked my arms the cold was terrible, my turtle neck was only keeping my neck warm.

Then he drapes the coat over my shoulders, "Take this." Was all he said.

After a while he spoke out, "You know, thanks." I gasped did the devil just say thanks? Incredible, many things were happening today, I'm getting to see so many sides of the devil.

"That day, no, even now, I still feel so pathetic." I gave him a look. "No I have to say it, it's the truth, I probably looked desperate and miserable but a man in love is a fool."

I gave him a look of sympathy, "Don't look at me like that. I don't like it, I saw it in your cousin's eyes too, though he didn't mince his words. That was why I didn't tell Holden or anybody, I didn't want that pity."

I stopped looking at him like that. "You know May, you are a really good person, I know I'm not the best boss but you are definitely the best employee."

I just looked at him, why did he have to spoil the mood?

He turned to me and frowned, "What happened? You're pouting."

I shaked my head, "You got my name wrong again. It isn't May it's Eva."

"Oh, I'm so sorry Helen." He apologized.

He was further away from getting my name right soI just blinked rapidly hoping it would take away my anger.

After the anger faded away, he says, "Drinks are on me tonight."

In the moment I slung my arm over his shoulder forgetting he's my boss, he gave me the side eye then slowly removed my arm from his shoulder. "We haven't reached that stage yet Riley."

I was so sure he was just saying random names to piss me off, "It's Eva."

He just looked at me and smirked, "We haven't reached that stage, Eva."

I knew it. He knows, I swear. I gape.

---

That's the end of chapter six people, deal with it.

Please don't mind the grammatical errors.

I'm not editing this chapter I'm too lazy.