Eve's POV
     He walked me into his house, and I stared around..admiring the place. Although, it wasn't as big as his father's mansion but this building could still be referred to as a rich man's house.
    "If only looks could destroy... The house would have collapsed by now" He literally brought me back to reality.
    "Your place is so beautiful" I commented smiling. 
  "My pleasure. Welcome to my humble abode" He bowed a little, demonstrating like a prince which made me.
    "Here" I handed over the bag to him; he received it and dropped it aside.
    "Have a seat" He gestured to me.
 "I didn't tell anyone that I was coming to your place" I muttered.
  "Did..did you then steal the food?"
"Steal? No way. Don't use the word steal... you asked me to bring you food, didn't you?" I asked him jokingly.
    "I did...yeah" He giggled.
 "Then I'll take my leave now" I said.
    "What... My refrigerator is stuck with wines, what can I offer you?" He asked; making me to sit.
    "Nothing... I don't drink wine" I retorted.
  "It's not alcoholic; c'mon it's fruity" He said; I watched him walk to the fridge which I could see from where I sat. He took out two glasses and the fruity wine then he came back to meet me.
    "I'll eat later, let's drink first," He said and poured me some wine into the glass cup and some for himself.
    "Thank you" I told him.
    
  " Would you come to the office tomorrow?" I asked him.
  "Of course I'm hale and healthy now" He dropped his glass cup and showed me his muscle.
    "C'mon" I giggled.
    "Do you have any problem with the work?" He picked up his drink again and crossed his leg.
    "Not really. I am actually trying to cope and uhm.. thank you for employing me" I told him and he smiled as he drank his wine slowly.
    
   "I can't believe you are a graduate" I said.
    "Why? I don't look it?"
    "Oh no... Of course you do... I am just surprised" I said..." I can't wait to be one too" I added nervously.
  "Hmmn, It is not late you know. All things are very much possible if you work towards it" He said and I nodded... Yeah, I am literally working towards absconding as soon as I am financially okay.
    Then there was an awkward silence between us, I sipped my wine. I was sort of nervous, I don't know why.
    "Is my dad aware of how badly you wanna go to college?" He asked me.
   "I didn't tell him. It's..ermm something I can handle myself....hard work you know" I uttered.
    "But..."
  "Please Liam, forget that I ever made mention of furthering my education" I interrupted him and he kept mute, then after a while... He said "Okay"
    
    "Your dad has finally given me the marriage papers to sign" I told him.
  "Have you signed them?" He asked.
  "No, and I don't know if or when to sign them. Liam you know what it means if I sign those papers"
    "Sign them right away" He said.
    "What?"
 "What do you want people to think you are doing with the old man if you do not an evidence that you are legally married to him?" He explained.
   "Yeah... I... I am keeping it a secret from most people, even the people at work. I don't your father can bring himself to tell people that he is married to me" I told him.
    "People have crazy assumptions in their head. You won't know what's going on until it becomes a rumor" Liam said.
   "I... I am confused" I dropped the drink on the small circular table that was in front of me.
 "My father can be very cunny; so go ahead and those papers before he'll turn blind eyes to you later"
   "Liam you are not looking at the other way around, it literally means he has...every... right...to..to..touch..me whenever he wants" I stammered.
  "Have you forgotten my advice?" He asked after staring at me for a while.
  "No, I've not" I mumbled...
    "You can do this Eve"
  I suddenly remembered what Madam Theresa said! 'I can even make him sleep off when he asks for s*x.!
    "I'll sign the paper" I uttered willingly.
    "A sudden change of mind to do so? What made you stop hesitating?"
    "Nevermind.... I'll sign it anyway" I said.
    "Okay stepmom" He responded...
    "That.."
   "What?"
    "Stop calling me your stepmom" I finally told him.
 "Why?"
    "I don't like it; even if you are you tryna tease me with it. I don't feel comfortable when you call me your stepmom. You know you are older than me?"
    "It doesn't matter. That's how we are related. Stepmom - stepson"
    "No please Liam. See it more like we are just friends and colleagues and you are my boss" I said.
   "Hmmn. I'll go with a friend" He said.
    "Better"
 "I actually do see my stepmother as a friend" He said.
    "Liam!"
    He laughed but I gave him a stern look.
    "C'mon I am just kidding around" He said but I playful rolled my eyes.
    
    "No one stays in this house aside from you?" I asked him.
 "Yeah, I am not a fan of house help, security or something" 
    "I am not a fan of them too" I agreed with him.
    "They are little chores I can handle. Except cooking though.."
   "You must really be a bad cook" I made fun of him.
    "I am not even a cook, damn! I can't cook anything... I have spent some time here before and throughout the days I stayed here, I ate out" He said and I laughed.
 "I believe eating out shouldn't be often...  I prefer restaurants meal when it comes to dates, or probably if at all, it's urgent and I'm way far from home. Aside from all that, I prefer home food... Damn! i'mma munch this meal very soon" He said and I smiled.
    
    "I need to leave now Liam" I stood up to announce after glaring at the clock.
"You didn't even finish up your drink" He said...
    "I'm okay. I'm actually not a fan of wine. I told you earlier; be it acholic or non"
    "If you insist you are leaving, I'll see you off then" He stood up also.
    
    Just then, we heard a knock on the door.
    "Liam, are you in?" That was Mark's voice.
    "It's Mark" He mouthed.
 "Oh no. I don't want anyone to know that I came here" I mouthed back.
    "Uhh...The back door. There is a door at the back" He held my hand and quickly led me to the backdoor.
    When we got there, he said: " See you in the office tomorrow" and I nodded then quickly left his house.
    
    ***
    
    "Liam" Mark called his name again.
    "Yeah, I'm home. Give me a minute please" Liam said rushing to get to the door.
    He opened the door and Mark came in, after embracing his brother, he scrutinized everywhere then he said; "You had a visitor"
  "Huh... No" Liam lied; not realizing it was very obvious...
    
    Mark came closer than he sat on a couch comfortably.
   "Two glass cups" Mark pointed.
    "Oh, that...I..." Liam said racking his head for a lie... He didn't say anything when no lie could hit him at that moment.
He returned the two glass cups and the wine to the kitchen...which was somewhat connected to his living room.
    
   "...and this bag!" Mark said.
    "What is with the bag?" I asked when I returned to him.
  "I have seen it somewhere, I don't remember where I saw it" Mark responded.
 "What are you talking about? C'mon Mark, let's change the topic of discussion. I know that's definitely not why you are here. As you can see; I am doing very fine" Liam said... "How are you too Mark?"
    
 "Yeah, I think I saw that bag in Eve's room" Mark said instead.
    "Mark!"
    "Did Eve come here?" He asked me.
Liam kept quiet for a moment.
   "Yes, she did" Liam finally retorted.
  "Hmmmn" Mark hummed.
    "Don't get any wrong idea Mark. I asked her to bring me food. You know I don't like eating out besides; I can't come home too" Liam briefly explained to him.
    
  But Mark kept looking at him suspiciously.
"That is it, and that's the bag she put the food in..." Liam said bringing out the flask from the bag.
    "And what?"
 "What do you mean by 'and what?" Liam asked him but Mark gave a funny look.
    "And she came to check up on me too" Liam said.
   "You know she won't have done that if you two weren't on good terms" Mark responded.
    "Yeah I know. I feel really good that I have settled my differences with everyone" He said.."Let's eat" He invited his brother...also trying to change the topic stylishly since his brother kept asking him questions about Eve.
    
  "No, you don't have to worry about me. Eat all you want, you asked for it" Mark replied.
 "Okay! I am not gonna ask you twice" Liam said laughing...
    
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