Claimed By The Arrogant Billionaire

CHAPTER 2

EVA'S POV:

“Are you serious?” I asked Ethan, stunned, and he nodded, his lips curling into a smile.

“Yeah. How much do you want me to pay you? But you must abide by my rules and work as my secretary only,” he said, and I swallowed hard.

“I haven’t been a secretary before. I just graduated with a degree in software engineering, and I want to be a software developer. I applied at Almond Tech, and they offered for me to start work on Monday,” I explained, and his brows furrowed.

“I’ll pay you two million. If you accept, you can come to work at my company by Monday. Failure to show up, then you lose, as I’m in need of a new secretary,” he said. I swallowed hard and accepted his blue card.

“Fine. What about the medicine you wanted me to take?” I asked, and he glanced down, as if he’d nearly forgotten the contraceptive pill bottle in his hand.

“Oh, here it is.” Ethan handed me the bottle, and I took two pills, gulping them down with the bottle of water he gave me.

“Don’t forget. By Monday. If you fail to show up, I’ll find a replacement. I’ll be expecting you. What’s your name?” Ethan asked, pausing as he turned to walk away.

Lowering my head and avoiding his green eyes, I replied, “Eva Brooks.”

“Alright, Eva. I’ll look forward to meeting you again. Take your things and leave. The hotel service staff will be here to clean the room.” With that, Ethan turned and walked out.

My gaze fell on the red blood stain marring his pristine white bedsheet.

I stared at the blue card in my hand, shook my head, and reached for my black handbag. I slipped the card inside and pulled out my phone. Four missed calls from my mother flashed on the screen.

“Hello, Mom,” I answered, and she erupted.

“Eva, what did you do to provoke Jacob Stone? He’s canceled his partnership with your father's company and called off your wedding engagement. How could you cheat on him at a time like this, when he’s planning to marry you? What came over you?” Mom yelled, and guilt washed over me.

“Mom, I’m sorry. Layla set me up,” I tried to explain, but Mom cut me off.

“Shut up. Layla didn’t set you up. You went to that man and cheated on Jacob. How could you do this to us? We disown you as our daughter. Don’t bring your shameful self home to us again.” Before I could respond, the call ended.

I stood in the hotel room, shaking my head, and sighed.

Gripping my phone, I tried calling Jacob one last time to explain it was all a mistake, that I would never cheat on him. The phone rang, and he ended the call. When I tried again, I heard, “Sorry, the number you are trying to call does not exist.”

“What?” My brows furrowed. Jacob had blocked me. Did five years of our relationship mean nothing to him? I knew Jacob had always wanted to sleep with me, but I stopped him, telling him we should wait until marriage. Now, I had cheated.

I wiped my tears, put on my black bra and panties, then reached for my green dress and slipped it on. I stepped into my black low-heel shoes and adjusted my long blonde hair to cascade down my back, before taking a final glance around the room to make sure I hadn’t forgotten anything.

I walked out of the hotel room while the hotel staff waiting outside went in to clean. I made my way to the elevator and rode down to the ground floor.

When I stepped out, I felt eyes on me, but no one stopped me. The impressive luxury hotel buzzed with different kinds of people coming and going. I made my way out of the building and exited the premises, remembering I never would have come here if not for Layla’s insistence.

I hailed a taxi and headed home, even though my mother had warned me not to return. I knew I had nowhere else to go. Jacob had broken up with me, and I couldn’t go to his place. Not only that, my relatives would be furious—Jacob’s support had helped my father’s small loan company rise. Now Jacob had withdrawn that support and demanded I repay him for every cent he’d spent on me. I knew none of my family members would want to help me now.

When I arrived home and paid the cab, I walked nervously to the huge black gate of the bungalow where my parents lived. My father had bought this house after Jacob and I started dating.

I reached the gate and knocked, and the security man, Tom Howard, pulled it open.

“Miss Eva, you are not allowed into the house,” Tom said, and my brows furrowed.

“Why? This is my father’s house. I want to see him and explain,” I begged Tom, but he shook his head.

“Your mother said if I let you in, I’ll lose my job. I don’t want to lose my job, madam.” Tom went back inside and locked the gate on me.

“Wait, Tom!” I knocked again, but he wouldn’t answer.

I paced outside the gate, thinking about what to do. I couldn’t believe my family would abandon me at a time like this. 'Was this how people fell from top to bottom?'

I tried calling my mother, but the number she’d used to call me earlier wouldn’t connect. I dialed my older brother, Cruz, and he demanded, “Eva, how could you cheat on Jacob at a time like this, when we’re all looking forward to you two getting married?”

“Cruz, I was set up. I didn’t mean to cheat on Jacob. Believe me, Layla set me up,” I said, and my brother sighed.

“I warned you to stay away from Layla. That girl is a snitch, and you didn’t listen. She’s not from our world, and her parents are richer than ours,” Cruz fumed, and I sobbed.

“I’m sorry. I should have listened to you,” I said, and he sighed.

“It’s fine. Where are you now? Mom and Dad are furious, and they don’t want to see you. Jacob is also demanding compensation and saying you never let him touch you, so you did nothing for him in the five years you dated,” Cruz said, frustration heavy in his voice.

“Cruz, can I come over to your place?” I asked, knowing he had just gotten married.

“Mm. Sure, but you know Maddison and you don’t get along. Don’t worry, I’ll talk to her and make her understand,” Cruz said. I exhaled, relief washing over me that I could rely on him.

Layla’s betrayal still stung, and I couldn’t bring myself to call any of my other female friends.

I went back to the road, hailed another cab, and headed to my older brother’s house.