Chapter 18 Punishment
Richard’s words started ringing in Stephen’s mind. Now he was looking at Steve, who was dancing on the floor with Eva, as his biggest hurdle in the way of his love life
Whereas Eva was enjoying every moment of dancing on the floor with Steve, who was entertaining her with his silly jokes. Steve was busy sharing his humorous experiences on the dance floor with his previous girlfriends. His way of narrating was so funny that Eva couldn’t hold her laugh.
Richard was observing how Eva got mingled in the Smith family. No one should believe that she met them just a month before, as she wrapped the whole family around her finger.
Shortly, a guard came near Stephen and whispered something to him, listening to which Stephen ordered the guards to keep alert for Steve and Eva.
He left The Club in long strides, and Richard followed him as he thought something was off.
When Stephen reached his car, he found one of his managers standing there with a file.
Stephen gave him a glare, which made him shudder. “Sorry, sir, but I have to email this now only, so I had to come here for your signature."
Stephen asked for the file and quickly signed it. After giving him some instructions, he turned around to enter the club but found Richard behind him
“What the hell are you doing here? “
“I thought something was wrong, so I told you that maybe you need my help."
Stephen gritted his teeth. right, “your help Seriously, do you forget how I had saved you many times from getting beaten up? And you think I need your help
Richard gave a thought to his words, and he was right, so he just shrugged his shoulders and entered the club again.
First, they look for Steve and Eva, and to their surprise, they are not on the dance floor. Stephen gave a questioning look to the guards, who pointed toward the bar
When they reached the bar counter, they found Steve and Eva involved in drinking some mocktail shots. It was looking more like a competition. Where the bartender was counting their glasses to decide the winner
Eva was done with 9 shorts, and Steve was reaching 7 as he didn’t like this weird taste of shots. The Moment the bartender noticed Stephen, he declared Eva the winner in hurry and rush out of the spot
“Yeah, I won... I won.”
Steve clapped for her, Stephen, and Richard noticed Eva’s appearance, and she was looking tipsy.
Richard smelled the shot glass and signaled to Stephen that it was not a mocktail; it smelled like strong alcohol.
Stephen counted some curses under his breath.
Now he understood why the bartender ran for his life, as he must have done something with their drinks.
Steve was still clapping, which made Stephen bothered, as Steve used to drink casually and if this drink was having this kind of effect on him, then what about Eva?
He looked at Eva, who was standing on the chair, holding the wine bottle in one hand as a trophy and was already started her acknowledgment speech
“I want to thank my dad for sending me to LA, then I will thank my friends who made me agree to stay with the Smith family (hiccup)... A special thanks to this man who is still clapping for me, Steve Smith who made this clubbing plan (hiccup.)
And challenged me to taste this drink. It was not delightful at first, but his constant motivation helped me, and then I like it too (hiccup), so this trophy belongs to him too.”
Eva bent forward to pass that bottle to Steve, but she lost her balance in the chair, and before she could touch the floor, Richard moved towards her and caught her in his arms. Eva shrieked at first, but when she saw Richard holding her in a bridal style, she giggled and blushed.
“Richard sir (hiccup)"; you are so sweet and kind (hiccup)... You know you are my men... “
"Mentor," “Stephen completed the word with gritted teeth before Richard could misunderstand her.
Richard gave a smile at her, but she would not stop. “Yes, that too, and also my in... in...
“Infatuation. “ Steve also interferes in between
“No inspiration... she means inspiration." Stephen again corrected her
"Hmm, how did this man know so much about me? You know he always scared me? Arrogant man, heartless too, “Eva started pointing at Stephen
Richard chuckled at her words, whereas Stephen glared at Eva, who was still sticking close to Richard
“Copy that. “ Steve showed his thumbs up
Stephen had enough, so they left. He reached near Richard to take hold of Eva. Richard passed her in his arms as she was a package
“ You take Steve with you to your place, and I will take Eva home. “
“But why should I take him to my place?”
“Because if dad caught him like this and came to know about his careless behavior, then he will not think twice to throw him out of his house."
"Ok, but what if your dad saw Eva like this?”
“Don’t worry, I will tell them that’s she got drunk by mistake.'
“Oh, ok. ‘Richard reached toward Steve and started dragging him out of the club
While Stephen reached into his car, holding her close to him. He signaled the chauffeur to start home
During the journey, Eva kept blabbering about her friends and how much she missed them, and then she started praising Rose and William.
Stephen was listening to her silently. He was still trying to handle her drunken state.
Soon they reached the Smith mansion; Stephen got down first and then opened the door for Eva.
He held her hand in a firm grip and started walking towards the door, but Eva had another plan: she pulled her hand from his grip and made a run towards the poolside.
Stephen ran behind her; he knew that she could fall into the pool.
And the exact thing happened when she stumbled on the wet floor of the poolside, but Stephen held her by her waist and pulled her close to him.
Eva stood at her place, glaring at Stephen. She tried to push him and struggled to make a run again. But this time Stephen held her in firm grip
“Leave me! “ Eva shouted at Stephen
“No way, and don’t you try anything stupid, dear, as you don’t know who I am?”
“I know who you are. You are Stephen Smith, the elder son of Rose and William. and you love to scare people around you. You want everything around you in your control. Such an insensitive man you are.
Stephen’s eyes got red in anger as she had the guts to talk to him like this. He pulled her more close and grabbed her jaw in tight grip
"Shut up not a word more; trust me, dear, you don’t have the slightest idea what I can do, so just come with me without making a noise, or else you have to bear some consequences, and trust me, you are too fragile to bear that. Am I clear to you? “
Eva got tears in her eyes. It was the first time someone behaved with her like this
“Answer me."
“Yes, yes.“
Good. “ Stephen patted her cheek and then started walking towards the door, almost dragging Eva with him
Eva kept shedding silent tears, cursing him in her mind. The alcohol effect was already making her vision Blurr
Soon they reach her room, and Stephen enters the room behind her.
“Now just go to sleep, as we have discussed many things tomorrow morning."
Eva was standing there still in thoughts and the effect of alcohol was playing with her mind so she shouted at him in high pitch , between her sobs
"I hate you. You are a terrible man, and I know you ate my cupcakes too. Poor Steve has to bear the scolding because of you, ‘Eva said with bitterness in her voice
Stephen stopped in his tracks, hearing to her words, He turned around and gave a challenging look at Eva
"Really sweetheart! then why didn’t you tell this to mom? Hmm. I tell you why because you have no evidence against me, so dear, don’t utter nonsense if you are not sure about something Now sleep or you want me to stay here with you tonight."
Eva got so scared of his words that she quickly got inside the covers. Her dizziness was not helping her state, either.
Stephen left her room after seeing her inside the covers.
When he reached his room, he dialed a no. first
“Did you find that man?’
"No, actually, he was filing for some other man.
“You mean no information about him?"
"Yes, sir," the security head completed the sentence with hesitation .And as expected, Stephen started in an icy voice .
to me carefully. Appoint all your men to track the man I want in front of me as soon as possible. Someone tried to mess with my family, and I will not leave him.”
“Sir, I am on it. “his security head tried to handle the matter
Stephen hangs up the call , but the next moment he receives a call from Richard
What now? Don’t tell me you cannot handle Steve
"Well, he has given me a real hard time this time, but somehow I put him to sleep. Anyway, call you to know about Eva. How is she doing?"
"She is fine now; all the time she kept cursing me until she got to sleep.”
‘ Hmm, I can understand that, Stephen. I don’t think they had only alcohol; it was more like someone drugged them with some high dose."
Stephen's eyes got wide listening to him
“And how could you interpret this?”
“Come on now, we know Steve is habitual of hard drinks and has a great tolerance level too. Did you notice he took little today, even though he conducted like this?”
Stephen was already having a doubt on this, as Eva will never, in her dreams, behave with him like she acted today. The matter is not as simple as they were concluding to be.
Stephen was glad that he accompanied them, or else what terrible must have happened with them.
The next morning, Stephen was sitting in front of his dad in his study room
He narrates all the happenings of last night, and soon Steve also arrives home. Stephen messages him to reach the study room first, where his dad has summoned him.
Steve knew that a lot of scoldings were waiting for him so he started his explanation first
Dad, I am really sorry for yesterday, but trust me, I still can’t figure out how we get drunk so much with some drinks
Did you order alcohol for Eva too? “
“No. Why would I?? She ordered some light mocktails. Richard told me how weird she acted last night. I hope she is fine now.”
“She is fine, and thanks to Stephen for this.
I am really relieved that Stephen didn’t allow that innocent girl to go alone with you.
Such a careless man you are, Steve. When will you learn to be a mature man?
You know what must happen with you both ,especially with Eva.
Thank your stars that your mom does not know about this, or else she must have tossed you out of the house. "
“Sorry dad.. But trust me, I never wanted to drag Eva in any danger. “
William took a deep breath to calm his anger.
Stephen was listening to his dad and his brother silently as they both got finished with their discussions.
“Dad I thought a way to make Steve responsible and also he can prove himself “
"What way?”
“Steve you know the Australia project I was working on “
“ What do you mean you are still working on it”
“ No. Not anymore than I decided you are going to Australia next week and going to stay there for some months."
.”What no... I mean no way. Why would I stay there for months, and it’s your project you are working on? It from months, then how I landed in this."
“It’s very simple. As I am working hard on many projects single-handedly now and this project needed undivided attention.. It’s not possible for me to stay there to supervise this project. So it would be better if you could stay there only.”
“Sorry Brother but I am not interested."
“I am not asking you. I'm just informing you that all arrangements have been made. You are leaving next week." Stephen used his bitter tone
“ But."
"No if, no but , your brother is right. We hope this responsibility will give you some sense of maturity. So start with your packing and do goodbye to all your flings. “
Steve has nothing left for argument as he knows Stephen’s words are like final verdict, so he left the study room, closing the door behind him with a bang
Listening to the loud noise, Richard took a sigh in defeat
“I don’t know. When will he grow up?”
“. He will, dad, don’t worry.'
Stephen replied to console his dad and then left the study room. She left the study with a wicked smile playing on his lips as he just killed two birds with one stone.
He punished him and also sent Steve away from Eva for some months And Stephen was sure that in these months he will take advantage of Steve’s absence and will win Eva’s heart
Now there will be Eva and him, only him