48. Chapter 43
Enemies & Allies: The Sides Are Chosen
Evin
T he afternoon sun cast warm golden hues inside the café. It was one of those places that was always packed with students, especially after school. The air buzzed with conversations and laughter.
Evin, Bas, Milka, and Bellamy sat in the corner at one of the larger tables, their plates and cups nearly empty.
“How exactly is the event going to go down on Friday?” Bellamy asked casually, absentmindedly mashing the remains of his hot brownie with his spoon. “Will everything be ready in time?”
Milka rested her chin on her hand and sighed dramatically. “It would be a lot easier if the damn fairy lights didn’t keep breaking. Or if someone else besides me would climb the ladder for once.”
“I did say I’d do it,” Bas replied with a lopsided grin. “But you were afraid I’d bring down half the stage.”
“Because you would,” Milka shot back dryly, raising an eyebrow. “You have t he fine motor skills of a bulldozer.”
Evin chuckled softly, her hands wrapped around her warm cup. “Maybe we should send Bell up instead. He’s always so calm and collected.”
Bellamy raised a hand as if to defend himself. “I look calm because I don’t climb ladders.” He waved his greasy spoon in the air. “Too many potential hazards.”
Milka rolled her eyes. “Says the guy who plays football.”
Laughter erupted around the table, and for a moment, the world felt light and uncomplicated. It was one of those rare moments where stress and tension faded into the background.
Evin took a sip of her hot chocolate and glanced at Bas. His deep, hearty laugh and carefree demeanor were things rarely seen in public, and she savored every second of it.
Then the door of the café swung open, letting in a gust of cool air. Conversations momentarily died down as all four of them instinctively looked toward the entrance.
Cat walked in with two of her friends. As always, she looked flawless—her jacket matched her jeans perfectly, and the designer handbag on her arm swung in rhythm with her confident steps.
Her gaze swept across the room before settling on their table.
Cat smiled—just barely, almost too casually—before making her way toward a table nearby. On the way, she paused briefly by their group.
“Oh, hello,” she said, her voice soft but laced with an undertone that was hard to place. “You guys? Now this is an interesting group.”
Bell looked up, his expression calm but piercing. “After you had us working like slaves for hours, we’re finally enjoying the afternoon.”
“Of course,” Cat replied, her small smile more directed at him than anyone else. Then, shifting her gaze, she added, “Evin, you look good. The stress of the event suits you.”
Evin blinked, caught off guard, but said nothing.
Cat continued smoothly. “Bas. Thanks for keeping things running. Sergej has really done a great job. I knew he’d be the perfect choice.”
The name froze the air.
Evi n’s cup clinked softly as she set it down, and Bas’ jaw visibly tightened.
“Sergej?” he asked, his voice low but razor-sharp.
Cat gave a small nod. “Yeah, I connected him with the agency. They were short-staffed, and he seemed… competent. Why?”
Evin’s face had lost its color, but her eyes burned.
“You recommended him? For this event?” Her voice carried a sharp edge of sarcasm. “Well, that explains a lot.”
Cat shrugged innocently. “I didn’t think it would be an issue. I figured we were all mature enough to keep things professional. We needed caterers, and his family is well-known for their food.”
Bas slowly straightened, his gaze locked onto Cat. “Of course you got him the job. Why hire someone actually useful when you can just hire a disaster instead?”
Cat met his eyes, but her smile faded. “Maybe. But if there is a problem, you should deal with it quickly. Wouldn’t want the event to suffer because of personal drama.”
What the hell was she playing at?
Evin wasn’t surprised by Cat’s behavior—but what was Sergej’s endgame?
Did he seriously think he still had a chance?
Damn it... Maybe Bas was right after all.
Milka was the first to break the tension. “How convenient. You bring the catastrophe and the perfect excuse to act like it’s no big deal.” She grabbed her jacket deliberately. “I think that’s our cue to leave. We were going to head out anyway.”
Evin nodded slowly, her gaze never leaving Cat. “Yeah.”
Cat took a step back, her eyes lingering on Bas for a second before she turned to her friends. “See you at school.”
The group sat in silence for a moment before Milka cleared her throat.
“So… He’s going to be at the event too.”
And with that, Bas turned to Evin with an icy glare.
The kind of look that said I told you so .
And just like that, the weight of the entire situation settled onto her shoulders.
“The devil himself,” Bellamy muttered, picking up his phone.
Evin fell into deep thought as they made their way toward the exit. But inside, a storm of anger and determination brewed.
I just hope she doesn’t have more surprises planned.
__________
Sebastian
H is SUV's tires squealed softly against the sandy-colored driveway stones, a brief echo ringing out as Bas turned off the engine. The vehicle fell silent, and he stayed in his seat for a moment, clutching the steering wheel with a tense grip.
His gaze was fixed on the villa ahead, its large windows reflecting the warm, golden light of the setting sun.
Inside, however, he was a storm of emotions, a stark contrast to the calm exterior.
He took a deep breath, the tension in the air palpable, and leaned his head back against the plush seat, trying to untangle the knot of anxiety in his chest.
The last few hours had drained him. And that name—Sergej—left a bitter taste in his mouth every time he thought of it.
Bas grabbed his phone, scrolling through his messages until he found his chat with Ben.
He stared at the empty text field for a second before typing:
Bas
Hey, just wanted to say thanks. You tried to help. Respect for that. And sorry for my tone earlier.
He hit send, tossed the phone aside, and got out. The cold air hit him, but he barely noticed.
He needed to work off his frustration.
Maybe an hour on the treadmill, then weights—something, anything to get rid of the pressure in his chest.
The mansion was silent, as always—immaculate, untouched, lifeless.
The emptiness of the house had long become familiar to him, almost comforting.
In his room, he tossed his jacket over his chair, pulled off his shirt, and changed into workout gear.
The basement gym was dimly lit.
The steady hum of the treadmill was the only sound as Bas started to run.
With every step, he felt the frustration drain from his body—pushed out through his legs, through the sweat running down his back.
Sergej. Cat. Evin.
No matter how fast he ran, the thoughts wouldn’t leave him.
Why did everything have to be so goddamn complicated?
After an hour, he was exhausted.
But the anger inside him was more controlled now—not gone, but manageable.
He grabbed his phone from the bench and saw Ben’s reply:
Ben
No worries. I get why you were pissed. What you and Evin have—I’m not getting in the middle of that.
Bas let out a breath, a hint of a smirk playing at his lips.
Maybe this was the start of something he never would have allowed before Evin.
Bas
Good to hear. I respect how you treat her.
Ben ’s response came quickly:
Ben
She deserves the best. If that’s you, then I’m backing it. No drama from me.
Bas stared at the message, then leaned back, staring at the ceiling.
For the first time in days, a weight lifted off his chest.
Ben wasn’t his friend.
But in that moment, he was an ally. And that was more than he had expected.