Evan

 

 

 

 

We received the best news today. Krystal is cancer free! She'll need regular check-ups over the next five years, but she's going to be okay!

My baby is going to be okay.

She cried for a full hour after the doctor gave us the news. I'd be a liar if I said I didn't shed a tear or two. The relief was overwhelming.

When we got home, my parents, Ed and Casey, Paula and Oliver, and my sister, Sammie, were all waiting at my parent's house for us to return. We walked in the living room where they were all waiting. They saw how red and puffy Krystal's eyes were, and each person burst out crying, they thought the worst. I guess they would have seeing her like that.

I put them out of their misery instantly and told them she'd been given the all-clear. A massive party followed the screams of joy. A party that lasted hours and well into the night.

Now she's lying beside me in bed, a huge smile on her face. “I'm going to be okay, Evan.”

“I know.” I stroke her beautiful face with my fingertips. “I was so scared, Krystal.”

“I know, sweetheart. But everything is going to be okay. I'm getting new boobs!” She laughs.

Yes, she is. It's going to take a couple months because she needs therapies and such to manipulate the muscles and skin on the chest in order for her to have breasts that look natural. She won't have feeling in them like she once had, but she doesn't care, she just wants to look like she once did.

“You're beautiful just the way you are, baby. But I do understand why you want this. I'm going to be here for you all the way.”

“You have been, Evan. And I am so grateful to have you in my life.” I pull her against me, her head on my chest. She is everything to me. I thank God for letting me keep her, for not taking her from me. I know in my heart that I wouldn't've survived losing her. It would have killed me.

I kiss her head softly. “You are my world, and I love you so much.”

“I love you, too.” She tells me sleepily. Just a few short months and she'll be back to the way she once was. All of this will be behind us and we can move on with our lives and plan for our wedding.

 

 

* * *

 

 

I rarely come into work these days. I'm always with Krystal, taking care of her and everything she needs. But now she's cancer-free, she's adamant that she doesn't need any help. She wants to get her life back on track. And that includes going back to work!

I'm not happy about that at all. She's not well enough to be working. But I don't get a say in it, apparently. According to Krystal, she'd already spoken to Ed and he'd welcomed her back to work whole-heartedly. But I needn't worry because she'll only be working three hours a day.

How am I supposed to not worry? She's been ill for months. Months!

Maybe I'm overreacting. I don't know. But I'm getting nothing done today because I can't keep my mind on anything other than Krystal. I know she told me she'd only be doing paperwork, but I'm worried in case she has to stretch for anything, lift anything. She can't do any of those things for a good while. Even with the breast reconstruction, which is happening real soon, she won't be able to lift or stretch. She's going to have to be really careful.

Why am I acting crazy? I can't expect her to stay home looking at four walls because I'm worried. She has to move on with her life. Isn't that what I've been saying for weeks?

I'd be a liar if I didn't tell you that she's looking better. She's put weight on because she has her appetite back, her hair is growing back slowly, and there's a glow about her that makes me smile every time I look at her.

“Hey, stranger.”

I roll my eyes without looking up from my laptop. I'm too busy with these figures to bother with Judith Ames right now. Yeah, she's beautiful. Tall, sexy, curves in all the right places. Long blonde hair, big blue eyes, and a mouth that could suck the sperm from your balls like a damn vacuum. But once bitten, twice shy and all that.

Judith is a damn devil of a woman. I work for my mother, as you know. She doesn't allow inter-office relations. Never stopped me. What she doesn't know won't hurt her and all that. Not that I ever went around and slept with every woman in the place, just one or two... Or four. Judith being one of them.

One damn night two years ago, one hot night, but one massive mistake. She followed me around for weeks after, telling anyone who'd listen that we were together. We've never been together, not in the way she wanted. My mother almost strung me up when she found out!

It took me months to shake this woman off me. She was like a fucking piece of sticky tape that won't come off your finger no matter how much you shake your hand.

She got the hint when she found me in bed with another woman for the third time. How the hell she got into my house in the first place was beyond me. Until I found a copy of my apartment key in her desk drawer. Talk about crazy!

The first two times she caught me with someone else, she told me that she'd forgive me, it was her fault for not being attentive enough. Crazy bitch. I'd slept with her once and she was planning our damn wedding. No joke.

Took me sleeping with her cousin in my office to make her realize I wasn't worth the shit she was putting herself through. I laughed in her face, she slapped me, I laughed some more. Did I feel guilty that she broke down in tears because I'd hurt her? No. I didn't give a shit about her.

Hey, I was a bastard, I won't deny that.

My mother kept her working here but moved her departments. I told her just to fire the girl, my mother refused. She told that it was all my fault that Judith acted the way she did. If I hadn't chased her, slept with her, made her think I had feelings for her – which I didn't do – then she wouldn't have done what she did.

Bullshit.

The girl is just crazy. She saw her chance to try and get in with Evan Harrington and took it. I'm a billionaire for Christ's sake, a playboy, every girl's fantasy. Why the hell wouldn't she try and get me?

Playboy.

I'm no longer that. The whole country knows I'm engaged to Krystal. The press has played our story out to be some kind of romantic movie type bullshit. The loss of our son, my breakdown, Krystal's cancer, our engagement. At least they're not questioning my loyalty to Krystal this time. They've done that in the past.

Plus, we've heard nothing from Krystal's parents. I sent them a message to let them know Krystal is cancer free, but they never responded. Paula is now married, Krystal is engaged and they haven't been in contact. Everyone knows Paula married Oliver Macklin, he's a world-famous fashion designer, their marriage was in the magazines, wedding photos on the front cover of most. They have to have seen it.

But whatever, they don't need them. They both have a huge family now, a family that loves them.

“Not talking to me?”

“What do you want, Judith?” I sense her take a seat on the other side of my desk. I look up at her and remove my glasses. I only wear them for writing, I hate them, but needs must.

She's wearing her usual work attire, skirt, blouse, jacket. Her skirt is so short that it's riding up her thighs. She might be sitting like a lady, legs together to the side of the chair, but I can see way too much leg. Her jacket is also open, the first three buttons of her blouse also, showing off her cleavage. I can even see the lace of her white bra sticking out of the blouse.

Okay. I will say this. She's hot. Very much so. She's every man's fantasy come true. But what she makes up for in looks, she lacks in personality. She's a complete bitch. Knows what she wants and doesn't stop until she makes it hers.

That's not a bad thing per se, but she's my every nightmare come true.

“To give you one more chance to change your mind.”

“About?”

“Us, Evan.”

“There is no “us”, Judith. I thought you were over this shit.” I'm too tired to deal with her bullshit right now. I'm worried about Krystal. I usually call her around this time to make sure she's okay. I can't very well do that with psycho bitch in my office.

“I will never be over it, Evan. You are my man! I forgave you for cheating on me all those times,” I roll my eyes visibly. Here we go again. “But I won't forgive you for getting engaged to that cancer-riddled bitch!”

I'm out of my seat with my hands slammed down on my desk so fast she jumps back in her seat, eyes wide. “Don't you dare speak about Krystal like that!”

“You're only with her because you feel sorry for her.”

“I'm with her because I love her. She is everything I have ever wanted and more.”

“How can she be, Evan? She doesn't even have breasts!”

I don't condone hitting women. It's the lowest thing a man could do, among other things. But I'm beginning to understand why some men do it because this bitch is about to push me too far!

“We're good together, Evan. We're picture perfect. Look at us.”

What the fuck about us? Yeah, we're a handsome pair. But Krystal is the epitome of beauty. She's a fucking angel sent from even by God himself. He sent her here to save me, and she has, more than she will ever know. Never again will another woman turn my head. I will never hurt Krystal again for as long as I live.

I used to laugh at my friends, even my brother when they'd tell me how they'd fallen in love. How the woman they were with was everything they'd ever dreamed of. I no longer laugh. I'm one of them.

“You need to get it through your thick skull that we will never be together, Judith. I love Krystal. She is everything to me. Nothing you do will ever make me leave her for you!”

There's something behind her eyes. She's planning something. I see the cogs turning in her eyes. Nothing she can do will break Krystal and me. We've been through too much for anything to break us. We have trust. After everything, we have that.

She gets out of her seat, sly smirk on her face. She smooths down her skirt with her hands, and I stand back with my arms folded across my chest. “You'll be sorry you said that. Trust me on that. You might want to call that girl. You never know what she's heard.” She smirks again and walks out of my office.

I sink back into my chair and grab the phone. Something has to be done about her, once and for all.

 

 

* * *

 

 

“I'm done, Mom. She cannot continue to work here. I won't have her harassing me like this!”

“I'll deal with it, Evan.”

I'm in my mother's office. I couldn't get her on the phone, so I made my way to her office two floors up. She was in a meeting, which she cut short to see me. I told her what happened with Judith while pacing her floor. I'm just so damn tired of dealing with this. I honestly thought it was over with. It's been over six months since she did anything like this. Why the hell wouldn't I think it was over?

“It's not enough to just deal with it, Mom. I can't have her starting this shit all over again. Krystal has been through enough.”

“I know, sweetheart. Trust me, I know. Judith won't get away with this. And I'll make sure she stays away from you.”

It's not down to my mother to deal with this. But in the workplace, she's the boss. Only she can fire Judith. And she does need to fire her. Outside of this place, I can deal with it. I can make sure she never comes near me or Krystal.

Christ, the shit I get myself into.

I leave my mom and take myself back to my office to call Krystal. She doesn't answer, which makes me panic. I can't stay here worrying. I have to find out for myself if she's okay.

I make it over to my brothers building in no time. The elevator takes a damn age to get to the floor I need, and my stomach is turning over so fast I feel sick!

Logically, I know Ed would have called me if anything had happened, but I can't seem to make myself believe it.

I rush toward her cubicle, but I stop a few feet away when I see her chatting happily with three girls I assume work with her. I step behind the wall that divides the cubicles from the offices and listen to them talking.

“You are so lucky, Krys.” I hear one of the girls say. I can't see them from where I'm hiding, but I can hear then clear as crystal. No pun intended.

“I really am.” My girl says. “I can't believe he's actually going to be my husband!”

“I can,” A different girl says. “I've seen the way he looks at you when he meets you for lunch. You're all he sees.”

“The great Evan Harrington finally tamed.” One girl laughs.

I suppose it is funny to these girls, not like I have a very good track record when it comes to women. Most think I'll stray. A lot don't believe our wedding will even happen. It'll happen, there is nothing I want more in this world than to marry Krystal. I don't deserve her, I know that. But she's mine, and nothing in this world will ever change that.

“So, when's the big day?”

“We haven't set a date yet, Sally.”

“Have you even talked about it?”

“Not really. But we will.”

“I would have thought he couldn't wait to marry you. You know? Kinda do what his brother did with Casey. Whisk you off somewhere and just marry you.”

What is it with women? Why have they always got to put doubts in other women's heads?

We've talked endlessly about our wedding, where we'll hold it, who we'll invite. The only thing we haven't agreed on is the date. Krystal couldn't make her mind up if she wanted a winter wedding or a summer one. We agreed on summer because her new breasts will be well on the way to healing by then. Fuck me, all we need to do is pick a damn date!

These bitches are putting doubts in my girls head when they don't need to be there!

“We don't want to just take off and get married. Ed and Casey did what they had to do in order to be together. Evan and I want to get married with our family there to see us. I plan on only ever having one wedding day and I want it to be amazing. I want the world to see me in my dress, married to the man of my dreams.” She giggles, and I smile to myself. She didn't let them put any doubts in her head.

“We know that we're getting married in the summer, after my operation, we just haven't pinpointed an exact date yet. But we will.” I hear the joy in her voice and it makes my heart burst with love for her.

I didn't need to rush over here, Krystal is just fine, having fun with her workmates. I need to let go a little. Might take me a while, but I'll settle down soon. I'm a man in love. A man who worries about his sick fianceé. But she's getting better every day, I just need to remember that.