Chapter 20 Intresting shopping
Eva got ready for the mall visit halfheartedly. She was not interested in this shopping trip but the devil has given her no choice so at the present moment she was now sitting with Rose, and they were moving towards the famous mall
Rose was the most excited one, as she loves shopping.
And when her complete family is going along with her,.
it means lots of enjoyment is waiting for her.
All the way, she kept chatting with Eva about the new trends and some new stores that she was going to explore today.
Eva just kept nodding her head during her talks.
William was feeling bad for Eva as the poor girl is bearing all the torture of his wife, which he has to bear for years whenever they go out shopping.
That’s why William started avoiding going out shopping with Rose.
To Eva’s relief, the torture got ended as they reached the mall.
When they entered the mall, it surprised them to spot Robert, who was waiting for someone.
William smiled at him and wished him warmly.
Stephen and Steve knew their father. It must have been his idea to invite Robert here so he could get an escape from upcoming torturous hours named shopping.
William was acting surprised, and Robert was playing along. Soon they made an excuse for some important discussion about upcoming projects and left for the restaurant
Rise also knew this act, but she didn’t mind as she didn’t want to trouble William
Rosa and Eva got inside a famous designer boutique, whereas Steve and Stephen went shopping for their stuff in some other store
Rose asked for a party dress, and soon the staff at the boutique started guiding her. Soon she selected a beautiful gown and gave some measurements to alter it after trying it on her.
Then she ordered the staff to help Eva with a dress. Eva was not expecting this, as she already noticed the price tags around her and was sure that even a simple dress from this store would cost a fortune.
Eva smiled at the staff and then whispered, “Why for me? I mean, don’t mind, Rose but I need nothing."
“You do. You know we are here to shop for a special upcoming event. “
"What event?”
.
“The elite business circle of LA coordinates a party every year to raise some funds for charity. And this year you are also joining us.
So a good appropriate dress is a need.”
Eva wanted to refuse to attend this party, but she knew Rose would never agree, so she attended thisand later she could return the dress to Rose.
After an hour of discussion, rose got settled for a maroon-colored evening gown; she made Eva try it and then she asked for needed alterations
But Rose didn’t stop on this. Sheher checked some more casual dresses for herself. Eva was sitting beside her, just liking the dresses and giving her feedback about the dresses that Rose was picking up for herself.
Eva felt a tap on her shoulder. She turned around and found Steve, who was giving a smile to her
“Eva, come with me. “
“Where?”
“Steve, dear, are you done with your suit?”
"No, mom, I selected some but I am confused now so I am taking Eva with me to help in this."
“ Hmmm me, sorry but I know nothing about men’s fashion, “Eva answers in surprise tone
“Eva, which color is this?”
“Blue “
“And that?”
“Pastel green."
“Great, so you know the colors. Trust me, this is more than enough Come on now."
“But...”
“Yes, Eva, go with him. Stephen doesn’t need help ever, but this boy is always like this, confused. And that’s the reason he couldn’t settle down on one perfect girlfriend yet."
Listening to Rose, the staff also chuckled, and Eva smiled, whereas Steve just shrugged his shoulders
Steve held Eva's hand and started for the next floor. After reaching the second floor, he dragged Eva inside a men’s clothing store and, as expected, it was also an expensive designer store
Eva was hesitant to be present in a store where she could mostly sight men around who were busy in their shopping, as though she could spot some other girls who were helping their partners in the selection. Steve took Eva inside an elevator, and they reached the other floor inside the store.
Eva was noticing something like this for the first time in a private elevator inside the store. She fit it as soon as it was a floor for VIP customers.
Steve didn’t waste more time and ordered the salesman who was helping him till now.
The salesman reached near them with clothes that were hanging on hangers.
Steve showed Eva some clothes selected by him, and Eva chose a few suits
“Try this. It will look good on you."
“Yes, my lady, come stand here. I will just try this one by one and then you can tell which one should I go
Eva nodded at him and stood near the changing section of the store. In the meantime, she started checking on her mobile
Suddenly, she felt that someone was standing in front of her.
She looked up, and the sight made her stomach drop as it was Stephen who was standing in an expensive piece of designer suit.
Looking handsome..no hot! No, what not? Eva was at a loss for words, her mouth agape.
It was the first time how handsome he was.
Well, that’s another fact that he is a devil too, but she cannot deny the truth, no matter how much she dislikes him.
Stephen Smith belongs to the most handsome species of men on this planet.
Stephen noticed her gaze. He smirked as it was the first time she was checking him out without even blinking her eyes. He wanted to stand like this some more time but he was also aware of the surroundings so he broke her trance
“So how is it?”
Eva wanted to answer and tried to find her vocal abilities, but her tongue froze. Her mouth was dry. She gulped the lump formed in her throat and was going to say something, but a voice from behind startled her.
"Handsome, my love."
Eva turned around to notice the owner of the voice. It was Richard who was giving a warm smile to them.
Eva gave a small smile at him; it embarrassed her by the way she was behaving some minutes ago
Richard got near Stephen and put his hands on Stephen's shoulder
“You are looking so hot, my love” as Richard loves to tease Stephen
Stephen gave a death glare at Richard, whereas Eva was feeling uncomfortable. Again, she recalled the rumors of them being in a relationship.
At the same moment, Steve comes out in one suit.
He posed like a model in front of Eva, which made Eva giggle.
“So, dear, how is this?”
“Good, really looking nice on you, just a minute.” She reaches near him and adjusts his collar.
Stephen glared at them, whereas Richard was adoring their bond. “See, how is she behaving with him? Didn’t I tell you Steve is a genius of this love game? I can also predict that soon he is going to propose to Eva. “
Stephen was so furious listening to Richard” s nonsense that he snapped at him
“Shut up, you moron.”
Richard looked at him in shock, whereas two cheerful people shrieked at his outburst. Eva gave a disappointing look at them and then whispered to Steve,
“ What is his problem? I always notice that Richard, sir, is the one who used to pamper him in their relationship.
Steve was listening to her murmuring; he was interested to know which relationship she was referring to. Before he could ask her, Stephen’s loud voice reached his ears
“Come, we should leave for the restaurant. Dad is waiting for us to join them for lunch. Steve, you pick mom from the boutique for the restaurant and you come with us. ”
Stephen pointed at Eva. She had no option except to move quietly toward the escalator since Richard was also present with him, making her uninterested in following him. To her relief, they soon reach the restaurant on the top floor.
. Rose was also over with her shopping, so she and Steve joined William and Robert in the restaurant.
When they reached the restaurant, they spotted William and Robert, who were busy chatting while enjoying their drinks.
Stephen shook his head and teased them a little
“So dad, are you done with your discussion?”
William didn’t bother to answer him and gave a warm smile at rose
"So, love, are you done with your shopping?
"Yes, I think so, but I will visit again if I miss something this time."
William chuckled at his wife’s words, as no matter how much she used to shop, even so, she is all ready for more
All of them got settled for lunch. Steve got settled before Eva, whereas Richard and Stephen were sitting in front of them.
Richard enjoyed teasing Stephen, so he again started annoying him by gossiping about Steve and Eva. And as expected, Stephen again scolded him
Eva scrunched her nose and murmured again “poor Richard, sir, how much he adjust with him?"
Hmm, what exactly are you talking about? And what relationship did you refer to earlier? “Steve inquired to Eva in a slow tone
“I mean... don’t take me wrong, but Stephen should not treat Richard sir like that. I mean, mutual respect is a necessity in a relationship... even though they were dating each other., but the way Stephen
“Wait, you mean to say that Stephen and Richard are a couple ?
“Hmm, aren’t they?”
Steve’s eyes got wide in shock, but shortly he started laughing hard, which made Steve the center of attraction.
Whereas Eva got startled by his reaction, and his laughs implied that whatever her friends assumed and fed her mind with was justrumors .
Now Eva was terrified. What if Steve discloses her stupid thoughts to the family?
Everyone present at the table was giving a puzzled look at Steve. Rose couldn’t hold her curiosity and was the first one to interrogate
“What’s the matter, Steve?”
Steve was going to answer, but Eva held his palm. Steve looked at her and she pleaded with his eyes. He felt awful looking at her fearful eyes.
"Nothing, mom Eva just shared a joke with me.” “
Stephen, who was noticing all the moments shared between Eva and Steve, got more anxious listening to Steve’s answer
Richard also started. ‘ That’s bad, Eva dear; don’t you share the joke with all of us?"
Eva, who was already nervous about the situation, blurted out without thinking much
“It’s not a joke but an embarrassing incident so... I don’t think it will be a good choice to share it with you all."
"Hmmm, ok," Richard replied smilingly
But then he murmured, "Well, now they are sharing memories too. Don’t you think this boy is going fast?"
Stephen’s grip on the fork got more firm. He wanted to punch Steve for getting so close to his girl but now it was not the right time. so he just gulped his anger and continued with his dinner
Eva was so frightened by her blunder that, in tension, she spilt some juice on her dress.
She excused herself to the washroom to clean herself.
When she reached the washroom, she cursed herself for letting her thoughts out and for believing her friends’ useless gossip.
It was nice of Steve that ego didn’t spill her words in front of the family.
Otherwise, what must Richard think of her and what about Stephen?
She doesn’t want to even imagine his outburst. In all these thoughts, she completed her cleaning session and left the washroom.
When she reached the lobby, she was so busy in her thoughts that she crashed into someone and lost her balance, but the person held her by her waist. When Eva noticed the person, her face paled as if it were none other than Harry Hudson.
After a moment, Eva noticed their position as she was in his arms. Eva composed herself and quickly stood on her feet.
Harry chuckled at her nervousness, whereas Eva was tensed, as William will not appreciate harry‘s presence around her
“Sorry... “
“It’s ok, dear, just be careful."
"Hmm, ok, bye."
“Wait, why are you always in so much hurry?”
“Harry, I am getting late, I will talk to you in the class, ok?"
"Yeah, I mean, ok."
Eva reached the table, got settled in her seat, and gave a fake smile at the family. She was trying to behave normally, but her sweating face was telling some other story. The others didn’t notice it much, but Stephen noticed her discomfort.
That night, when Steve was resting in his room, Stephen called him and asked him to reach his study room. It shocked Steve as Stephen didn’t call him in his study without a reason, but anyhow he reached the study.
Stephen was sitting on the couch, enjoying the drink. He signaled Steve to take a seat beside him
Steve felt perplexed because Stephen had never interacted with him so casually before. He was eager to know the reason for this unexpected meeting.
Eva was busy scolding her friends. Eva gave a detailed description of her shopping outing and also about the blunder she did. Sara, Joey, and Madison were listening to her carefully and quietly, as she was very furious with them and was lecturing them nonstop.
“Thanks to Steve that he didn’t tell about my thoughts to his family and Richard. You know, because of you people, I was going to face the embarrassment of a lifetime.”
Sara coughed first and then started, “Sorry for that, babe, but you cannot blame us for our assumption as we were just gossiping or, better say, having fun. How could we know you are so serious about this...
“Hmm, ok, I am at fault too."
“All the girls smiled at their cute friend and returned to the major topic
“So you are going for the event. God, I am so jealous of you, girl, now that you befriended Steve. Good going, baby. well don’t mind us but at this type of party they only allow couples, right? “joey asked in excitement
“Hmm,sure. not sure. “Eva shrugged her shoulders
“But what if you have to go like that? I mean, with whom you will go. “
“Of course, Steve. But I don’t think there is some rule like this, so don’t start making assumptions again in your stupid brain."