Chapter 36: A Trouble Magnet

Chapter 36: A Trouble Magnet

“Ah! Don’t give me that look.” Eve yelped and jumped down from his lap. “It– It isn’t something serious, anyways.” She laughed nervously and was about to walk away.

“Come back.” Ethan grabbed her hand and she fell back onto his lap. “Tell me how you sustained this injury, Eve. I want the truth.”

Eve grimaced and she cowered. She didn’t like this look on his face.

“A–Aren’t you supposed to be all over me now, anxious and asking how I feel? Why do you look like you’re going to skin me alive?”

“Tell me. Now!” Ethan snapped and she flinched.

Would telling him be a great idea? What if he got madder? But Ethan was super mad as it is. She could swear he was at the brink of his anger.

“Come on, Honey.” She ran her hands on his necktie and slowly undid it. “I didn’t even get hit by the taxi, someone came in time to save me.”

“A taxi?” Ethan caught her hands in his.

“Yeah.” Eve wriggled her hands free and placed them on his chest. “So it is not something to worry about. It is just a tiny bruise and it’s healing already.”

“You almost got hit by a taxi?” Now, he looked confused.

Eve nodded. “I wanted to stop one when I left the convenience store, but the driver lost control and almost hit me.”

“Where is your car, Eve?” Ethan caught her hands again and held them in place.

“What car?” Eve squinted her eyes.

“Didn’t you take one of my cars? Why would you take a taxi?”

“Oh.” Eve’s eyes widened in realization. “I didn’t take any of your cars, Ethan. How can I when I can’t even drive?”

“Evelyn!?” Ethan erupted and she shuddered.

“W–What is it? Stop scaring me. I told you it’s only a tiny bruise, see? It has even—”

The look he gave her made her stop speaking and she bit her lips, wondering what she’d said wrong.

“Don’t tell me you’ve been taking a taxi to travel around, Eve.” Ethan gripped her waist. “Tell me you were joking.”

“Ah! Leave me alone!” Eve wriggled herself free and she left his lap then ran to a corner.

“What is wrong with taking a taxi? I told you I can’t drive, did you expect me to trek?”

Ethan stood up and followed her. Then he caged her between the wall. “Why are you so troublesome? Don’t you know how dangerous it is?”

“Of course I do.” Eve held his gaze. “That’s why I wore a mask. I swear no one recognized me.”

Ethan ran a hand through his hair and cursed out loud.

“I know you care about my safety, Ethan. But stop acting like this, you’re creeping me out. I was being cautious that’s why I wore a mask. No one recognized me, I promise.”

“If you think I’m lying, check my bag. You’ll see a face mask inside. You can even investigate the incident. No one can attest to seeing me there.”

“I know you, Eve. You’re a trouble magnet. You could offend someone.”

“Argh! Don’t call me that. Leave me alone already.” Eve pushed him away. “If you don’t stop acting like this, Ethan. I swear I’m going to be mad too. And I won’t take your stupid money this time.”

“Evelyn–”

“And don’t even think about locking me away or asking me never to go out anymore. I’m a free bird and I deserve to fly around freely.” Eve went to the couch and sat down, grumbling.

“Ethan.” She glanced at him and sighed. “I won’t beg you not to be mad at me. You didn’t even care about my wound but the fact that people might recognize me. If you don’t apologize to me now, I’ll be very mad.”

Silence descended in the office. Eve sat on the couch while Ethan stood by the wall, glaring at her and she glared back.

“Evelyn.” Ethan moved forward and sat on the couch’s armrest… “I don’t only care about your identity.”

“Then apologize to me.”

Ethan reached for his pants pocket and brought out his phone.

“Hey, Ethan. It is just a simple apology. Don’t you dare send me any money.” Eve gave him a warning look.

Ethan ignored her and tapped into his phone. Then he placed it on his ear moments later and spoke out some instructions.

“Get a staff from the OHS department to my office. Come with a first-aid kit.”

After dropping his phone back into his pocket, Ethan brought his eyes to her and said, “You can’t act recklessly around, Eve. I’ll get someone to teach you how to drive. Or even better, I’ll get you your personal driver.”

A personal driver?

Eve frowned before shaking her head. She’d rather go with the first option. “I don’t want a personal driver. Just teach me how to drive.”

“I changed my mind.” Ethan stood up.

“What!?” Eve shot to her feet. “How could you change your mind? You just proposed it yourself.”

“Getting you a personal driver is the best option.”

“Urgh! I don’t want that.” Eve followed him to his desk. “I know what you’re thinking Ethan. You want to appoint someone that will keep eyes on me and be breathing down my neck all the time, right?”

“You always act recklessly, Eve.” Ethan sat on his chair and looked up. “And you’re a trouble magnet.”

“I told you to stop calling me that!” Eve dropped both hands on her waist. “Let’s both agree on teaching me how to drive, Ethan. And let’s not argue further. Because even if you beg me, I’ll never take a personal driver. And if you dare bring me one, the poor man will have to run back to wherever he comes from with a broken head.”

“Eve!”

“That is settled. I’m learning how to drive.”

Eve dusted her hands, smiling. Then she snickered and walked back to the couch.

She opened one of the bags and brought some fresh fruit out of it. “I have peaches and strawberries. Would you like to have some, my dear husband?”

Ethan flipped through the document in front of him, narrowing his gaze at the paper.

“Argh! Answer me, Ethan!” Eve threw an orange at him. “I’m your wife for goodness sake. You can’t just ignore me all the time.”