Date The CEO.com

Chapter 159: I Won't Let Her Go

"If you can, please contact Evangeline as well."

Eve swallowed back her previous words. Her hands hovered about the keyboard. Even the screen paused from activity. No notifications or new emails popped up. Seconds ticked by as the instruction sank in her mind.

Her feet kicked the floor, rolling her closer to the telephone. She picked up the handset and said, "I'm sorry, Sir Hathaway did you mean Ms. Evangeline Reed?"

"Yes."

Something snapped behind her ear. 

"I-I" she stammered. Questions flooded her head. Did he want her to visit the office? Why did he need her along with his mother and the PR Team? Couldn't it wait until later? Could she ask him about it right now?

More importantly, would he insist despite their agreement about working hours?

"Is there a problem?" He asked after a while, noticing the call was still on.

"I-I don't have her contact number," Eve managed to say. "Do you? By any chance, I mean."

She already knew the answer.

"It's a little complicated." Ambryan thought of a quick solution. "Tell my mother to contact her."

"Understood."

Eve ended the call. She sat with her eyes dazed for a moment.

Then, she sprang into action.

She opened a web browser window and typed out 'Evangeline Reed' in the search bar. Sure enough, new articles had been published minutes ago. She clicked the first five in new tabs when her phone vibrated relentlessly.

Andie's name and photo flashed on the screen.

"Hello?"

"About time you answered!" Andie yelled from the other line. "Did you read my messages? Some guy has the audacity to claim himself as your ex-boyfriend! This is insane! Who is this delusional guy? Have you ever met him?"

Eve changed tabs, reading the first article.

A photo of a billboard came up. 

```

Standing high up along the main road of Maize City is a billboard full of affection! As shown in the photo, one side of it has been dominated by Ms. Evangeline Reed's picture from the internet. Her dazzling smile blesses any passersby a wonderful day!

Beside it has to be one of the cheesiest things we've ever read!

'To Evangeline Reed,

Like the weeds among the grass

And the endless turns of an hourglass,

My love for you burns strong and vast

I yearn for you even when we are apart,

Even when you have torn my heart

You will always be my favorite work of art

Yours truly,

Your ex-boyfriend.'

People have put on their detective caps and dissected this poem! Any theories you want to share? Comment them down below!

```

Eve rubbed her eyes. She had to reread the caption again just to be sure. The article got one thing right. It was one of the cheesiest things she'd ever read. It was a flashy confession. No wonder Ambryan suddenly wanted help from the PR Team and his mother.

She exhaled sharply through her nose. "Do you have a photo of him or something?"

Andie was quick to reply. Cars honked behind her as she brisk walked to the bakery. Her head turned in the direction of the billboard on instinct. "No, but I think the press is trying to hunt him down."

'Ambryan must be thinking of the same thing,' Eve commented in her head. That had to be why Ambryan wanted to contact Evangeline right away. Did that mean he didn't need her presence? Just an answer about the ex-boyfriend?

"Could he be a psychotic fan?" Andie theorized. 

Eve shook her head, trying to think of her own game plan. "I don't know. I don't really have the time. Ambryan might make a move though."

"Are you going to stop him?"

"Not this time."

"Good," Andie agreed. She suppressed her rising panic. This was another level compared to the speculation done by haters online. "I'll try to keep an eye out on social media while at work. Take care of yourself!"

"You too."

Eve contacted the PR Team first, expressing Ambryan's wish to talk to them. 

"Is Ambryan free?" Avery asked as soon as she exited the elevator. Her voice boomed around the room. She marched right over towards Eve. For today, she wore a pantsuit in pink linen. Her hair was up in her favorite ponytail.

It reminded Eve of the movie she saw with Ambryan.

Avery slammed her hands on the desk and gave the secretary a pointed look. "Did you already hear about the news? Tell me, do you know who could be behind this? We need it for damage control."

"I say it with utmost honesty that I don't know, Mrs. Hathaway," Eve said, staring directly to a pair of violet eyes. "Ambryan also wants to speak with Evangeline right now. It's probably from our deal that she should be present in any situation that involved her."

She paused for breath. "Do you mind if you'll be her proxy? She doesn't have a recorded past like an ex-boyfriend and we both know it."

Avery straightened her spine. She dragged her hands off the desk and placed a hand on her hip. Her neck twisted towards the CEO's office door. "I'll try my best but he might still try to contact her. Do you want to stay out here or join us inside?"

Eve bit her bottom lip. Her gaze also went to the door. "I think it would be up to Ambryan's decision. I'm usually not directly involved in these scandals. Just follow instructions."

"Thought so." The madam sighed.

A phone started ringing.

Eve picked it up, glancing on the screen. "It seems like Sir Hathaway is now free."

Purple colored the top of her screen. It showed the DTC app's initials and handset icon. On the left side, bunny ears stood out in Ambryan's profile picture along with his aviator sunglasses. 

For a second, Eve wondered if they could ever change their photos.

"Take it in the bathroom," Avery said. "I'll go inside and distract him while you do. If he asks anything, just say you're out of town for training with Cale. Make sure to contact Cale too after you finish the call."

The madam headed for the CEO office right away while Eve half-ran for the restroom. She double checked if the door was locked and even peeked out the small window near the ceiling. 

Clearing her throat, she changed the pitch of her voice. "Hello?"

Avery's voice came through the speaker instead of Ambryan's. She talked loudly about the latest scandal, repeating points and bringing up new ones. Eve could almost see the madam pacing back and forth. 

"..."

"Ambee?" Eve coaxed. "Is this about the billboard by any chance? I swear to you that I don't know who is behind this. I also won't break our agreement just because of it. I heard your mom is on her way. I'll help you guys out once I'm done training out of town."

She hung up before Ambryan could say anything.

He tossed the phone on his desk. It clattered against the hardwood, sliding across the surface. The bottom hung over the edge. A little more force and it would have fallen to the ground. 

He wouldn't have seen it though.

His gaze had locked on a naked spot on the wall.

"Woah, okay" Avery remarked, taking a seat. That was the first reaction she witnessed since she came. Was he pissed that Evangeline couldn't show up? Should she message Eve to change? She could cover for the secretary quite easily since she was in the building.

"Mind telling me what's bothering you?" 

"How did you convince Evangeline to join the website again?" Ambryan asked. His voice came out sharp and blunt at the same time. His facial muscles stiffenedand the same could be said about his body. His legs were crossed and his head leaned sideways, touching the fingertips from his raised hand. 

It wasn't the impassive expression Avery was used to.

She took a deep breath and clutched the armrests. "That's not up for disclosure."

"I had talked to her once," he began to say. The frown lines above the bridge of his nose seemed sculpted from concrete. His cheeks managed to firm as his lips moved. "She mentioned a first love that she missed and couldn't go back to."

"She did?" Avery blinked. Eve hadn't mentioned anything to her about it she put the thought out of her head. It still didn't change the fact that they have. "As far as I know, she doesn't have an ex-boyfriend though."

"That doesn't mean she doesn't hold anyone precious to her heart."

Avery slowly raised her eyebrows. The person behind the billboard could be anyone. The person who had rented the space didn't leave a name. There was no reason to be this alarmed early on. The tables could still be turned efficiently.

For all everyone knew, it could be the same people from the uproar last time. 

Did Ambryan actually consider the ex-boyfriend as a threat?

Was her son "Are you planning to let her go then?"

"No." Ambryan replied without hesitation. His violet eyes crystallized like gemstones. They stared off into space as his blood sung with desire. "I still remember our deal, mother. I won't let her go unless it's her that leaves."