Eva’s POV

When I opened my eyes, the first thing I saw was a white ceiling. The light was very bright and my eyes were hurting. I blinked several times, trying to understand where I was.

My head felt heavy and my mouth was completely dry. My whole body ached. I tried to sit up, but a wave of dizziness hit me. I fell back against the pillow.

A man in a neat, expensive suit was standing near the door. He was looking at something on a tablet. His face was calm and professional. For a moment, I didn't know where I was or who he was.

"Oh, you're awake." His voice was calm and gentle.

I blinked again. My throat felt like sandpaper. "Where am I?" My voice came out as a whisper.

"A private clinic," he answered, walking closer to the bed. "You passed out last night. After you... vomited on the CEO."

The words hit me like cold water. My eyes went wide. "The CEO?" My voice was weak and confused. "What CEO?"

He raised an eyebrow, looking a little surprised. "You don't know? The President of Cole Enterprises. Mr. Vian Cole."

My mind instantly became cold and clear. The fog in my head disappeared. Vian Cole. I knew that name. I had heard of him in business magazines and newspapers. He was one of the most powerful men in the entire city. Every company wanted to work with him. Every businessman wanted his approval.

He was also the man my fiancé Daniel has desperately been trying to get to work with. The man whose investment could make or break Daniel's entire business project.

And I had vomited on him.

"Oh my God," I whispered, pressing both hands to my face. Heat flooded my cheeks. Shame washed over me in waves. "I am so sorry. I didn't know. I was so sick, I-"

The secretary spoke softly, his tone kind. "It's okay, miss. You are safe now. My boss made sure you were brought here and taken care of properly."

I sat up quickly, too quickly. The room spun for a second. "I have to pay for this. The hospital bill the treatment how much do I owe?"

"It's already paid," he interrupted gently. "He told me to take care of everything. You don't owe anything."

My chest felt tight with shame and guilt. "He did? He paid for me?" I couldn't believe it. After what I did to him, after ruining his expensive suit, he still made sure I was taken care of. "Thank you. Please, please tell him I was very sick. I never meant to cause any trouble. I am so sorry."

The secretary gave me a small, polite smile. "I will pass along your message."

I tried to think of what else to say, how to apologize properly, when the door suddenly opened.

He walked in.

The man from last night. The man whose suit I had ruined.

He was tall, very tall, with broad shoulders. His jaw was strong and sharp. His dark eyes were cold and calculating. He wore another expensive suit, this one perfectly tailored, probably worth more than six months of my rent. Everything about him screamed power and control.

He was Vian Cole. The President of Cole Enterprises. One of the most powerful men in the country.

My heart started beating very fast. My mouth went dry again.

"You're awake," he said. His voice was flat and emotionless as he closed the door behind him. He didn't smile. He didn't show any warmth.

I struggled to find the right words. My tongue felt heavy. "I…yes. I am so, so sorry about last night. I was very ill. I didn't mean to…I will pay for the suit. I promise. However much it costs, I will find a way to pay you back."

He looked at me without showing any emotion. His face was like stone. "How much will you pay me?" His tone was challenging. "Do you even know what that suit costs?"

My cheeks flushed with heat. Embarrassment burned through me. "I... I don't know exactly. But I will work something out. I will pay in installments if I have to. I am just very sorry."

The corner of his mouth moved slightly. It wasn't quite a smile, but it wasn't completely cold either. "Don't worry about it. I won't send you an invoice."

I let out a shaky breath. Relief flooded through me, but it was quickly followed by another feeling. A desperate, urgent feeling.

This is the chance. Daniel's words came rushing back to me. His voice in my head. If i could perhaps find a way to land a business contract for him with Mr Cole maybe I can finally get the chance to leave once and for all.

I took a deep breath, trying to steady my nerves. "Actually, there is something I wanted to ask you about." My voice was shaky. "My fiancé…he is working on a very important project. A revolutionary business plan. If you could just take a moment to look at the proposal, just a few minutes of your time-"

His eyes instantly became sharp. Like a switch had been flipped. His expression turned completely cold, colder than ice. All the slight warmth that had been there a second ago vanished completely.

"We just met," he said, his voice cutting like a knife. "We barely know each other. And you are already asking me for a favor? For business? What kind of person are you?" He paused, his eyes drilling into me. "A gold digger?"

The accusation hit me like a slap. It hurt deeply, more than I expected. "No! No, it's not like that at all. I only wanted to explain-"

"Stop." His tone made it absolutely clear the conversation was over. . He looked away from me to his secretary. "The bill?"

"Already settled, sir," the secretary confirmed quickly.

Vian gave a brief, sharp nod. He looked at me one last time. His eyes were cold and dismissive. "Since you are well enough to discuss business, you are clearly well enough to leave." His voice was final.

He turned and walked out without another word. The door closed behind him with a soft click. The secretary gave me an apologetic look, then followed his boss quickly.

I sat there on the hospital bed, completely stunned. My hands were shaking. The room felt suddenly very cold and empty. He must think i’m yet another woman desperate for money.

……………………………..

Hours later, when I finally reached the apartment, exhaustion weighed down every step. My body was still weak from being sick. My head still throbbed with a dull ache.

But when I opened the door, I inhaled it immediately. The scent of cheap perfume. Strong and sickly sweet. It hung in the air like a cloud.

My stomach turned. Not again.

I walked slowly down the hallway, each step feeling heavier than the last. I pushed open the bedroom door and stopped in the doorway.

Another woman was in the bed. Our bed. She was pulling on her clothes, her hair messy. She looked at me and smirked before grabbing her purse and walking past me without a word.

Daniel was awake. He was standing by the dresser, pulling on his shirt. His face was red with anger. His eyes were blazing.

"Where the hell were you all night?" he shouted immediately. His voice was loud and sharp. "You think you can just disappear? What were you doing? Out sleeping with other men? Is that it?"

My exhaustion turned into anger. "I was not!" I shouted back, my voice cracking. "I drank too much at the business meeting. I got sick. Very sick. I passed out, and I woke up in a private clinic this morning. That's where I was."

He laughed. The sound was harsh and cruel. "Spare me the excuses, Eva. You've already embarrassed me enough. Do you have any idea how useless you are? You can't even do one simple thing right."

My hands clenched into fists at my sides. "I tried. I was sick. What was I supposed to do?"

"I don't care about your excuses," he snapped. He pulled on his jacket and turned to face me fully. His expression was cold and calculating. "Now you will make yourself useful for once. I need to close a deal with an investor. A very important investor. He wants a woman as part of the agreement." He paused, letting the words sink in. "You will go to him."

The room seemed to tilt. I stared at him, my heart pounding against my ribs. "What?" My voice was barely a whisper.

"You heard me," he said impatiently. "You will go to his hotel room tonight. You will do whatever he asks. And you will make sure he signs the contract."

My blood ran cold. "You want me to..." I couldn't even finish the sentence. "You want me to sleep with another man? For a business contract?"

"I am not asking you," he corrected sharply, his voice like steel. "I am telling you. You belong to me. You will do what I say. Don't forget who provides for you. Who gives you a place to live. Who puts food on the table."

My hands began to shake. My whole body trembled with a mix of rage and disgust. "I can't. I won't do that. Not this time. Not again."

His face darkened. He took a step toward me, his presence threatening. "You do not have a choice, Eva. You never had a choice. You will go tonight, and you will do what needs to be done. That's final."

My throat felt tight. Tears burned behind my eyes, but I refused to let them fall. I refused to give him the satisfaction of seeing me cry.

I turned away from him, biting the inside of my cheek hard to stop myself from breaking down. The taste of blood filled my mouth.

A single thought formed in my mind. Perfectly clear. Perfectly simple.

After this, I am finished. I don't care what happens to me. I don't care where I end up. I am done with him. I am done with this life.

Tonight, I will do what he asks one last time. And then I will find a way out. Even if I have to disappear. Even if I have to start over with nothing.

I would rather have nothing than stay here one more day.