CURSED BY LOVE

CHAPTER 3 - Fire And Desire

"Are we still going?" Evara asked Lyra.

"No, babe, we're not," Lyra replied. "I'm exhausted and I have some work to do."

"Work?" Evara asked, narrowing her eyes suspiciously.

"Ugh, there's this deal my dad is working on, and he wants me to help and learn from him," Lyra said, sounding bored.

"Hmm, I'll let it slide this time," Evara said, as Lyra bowed before her.

"Thank you, princess," Lyra said, still bowing.

"Queen," Evara corrected.

"Yes, my queen," Lyra echoed.

"You may rise now," Evara commanded regally. Lyra stood up and immediately started massaging her back with her fists.

"My back is killing me, ugh," she groaned.

"You're such an old lady," Evara teased.

"Shut up, you brat," Lyra shot back, flipping her off as she hobbled towards her car.

"I'll see you tomorrow!" Evara shouted.

Lyra waved over her shoulder, her back still facing Evara.

Evara glanced around and spotted her car. As she walked towards it, a figure stepped out. He was impeccably dressed in a perfectly ironed black suit, his hair slicked back neatly, luxurious shoes shining, and cuffs that screamed royalty. His stern gaze could make anyone tremble. There stood Renard Winslow, the chairman of Winslow Corp.

Evara shivered under his stern gaze.

"Ugh, what did I do now?" she muttered. "Did he find out I snuck out last night? Or that I stole his coffee cake? Oh no, maybe it's the picture I posted on his phone after giving him that fabulous makeup... No way, I was a stealthy ninja with that one," she thought, smirking briefly. "What if he figured out I accidentally spit bubble gum on his new Gucci shirt? Crap, what is it?" She groaned, mentally scrolling through her extensive list of mischiefs like she was checking off a grocery list.

"H-hey," Evara stuttered, glancing down.

Lyra, sitting in the car with her window rolled down, mimicked Evara's tone. "He's my brother, he'll totally get me," she said, putting on her glasses for effect. She snapped a quick photo of Evara and Renard, but when Renard glanced over at her car, she instantly ducked down and rolled up the window.

"Fuck, drive fast please," she said to the driver who instantly started the car.

"I'm gonna tease the hell out of you," Lyra laughed deviously looking at the photo she clicked of Evara and Ren.

"Evara," Ren said in a stern tone and she looked up with her best pouty lips and puppy eyes.

"Did you do something? Why are you giving me that dog face?" Ren asked, his brows furrowing in suspicion.

"Um, n-no," Evara stammered, avoiding eye contact.

"Alright, get inside," Ren said, and she let out a sigh of relief.

They both climbed into the backseat, and the drive home began.

"Why didn't you tell me your classes were finished?" Ren asked, his expression serious.

"I-I forgot," Evara stammered, nervously fiddling with her pearl locket. It was the rarest of the rare-a unique blue pearl that only she possessed.

"If Iliana hadn't mentioned it, I wouldn't have found out," Ren said with a sigh.

"I'm sorry," Evara said, looking at him earnestly.

"It's okay, just make sure it doesn't happen again," Ren said firmly but gently.