Eva opened her mouth to greet the new client but found herself momentarily speechless when she saw who was standing before her. Quickly regaining her composure, she reminded herself that she was a bank employee and needed to remain polite with every client.
“Welcome, Denys Maksymovych, to our bank. You’ve made the right choice by selecting us…”
“So, Eva Oleksandrivna, not bald after all,” Denys said, his gaze appraising as it swept over her.
“I’m sorry… Could you repeat that? I didn’t quite catch it,” Eva replied, striving to maintain her confidence.
“Because of you, Eva Oleksandrivna, I’m stuck sweating in this jacket, and because of you, I lost the thief who tried to steal my car,” Denys said, taking a seat across from her at the desk.
“And because of you, Denys Maksymovych, I missed out on enjoying my morning coffee and sitting in the quiet of the park. Now, let’s get to business. Please hand over your documents so we can proceed. We shouldn’t keep other clients waiting in line…”
“Unlike me,” Denys finished for her, passing over the papers. “To each their own. If you’re expecting an apology from me, Eva Oleksandrivna, you won’t get one. It’s you who should be apologizing to me for the harm you’ve caused to my well-being.”
“You’re the one at fault, running without looking where you’re going. Please sign here,” Eva said, efficiently handling her tasks, “and here as well.”
“I always look where I’m going,” Denys said as he signed the papers. “I had no desire to see you again, Eva Oleksandrivna. Yet here I am, not only seeing you but having to talk to you. What a lousy morning. I hope there won’t be any issues with opening the account and setting up the deposit.”
“There won’t be any issues. You’ve brought all the necessary documents, which is a good start,” Eva assured him, continuing to input data into the system. “I also had no desire to see or hear from you, since you’re clearly an ill-mannered person who doesn’t know the meaning of polite words. I feel sorry for you—your rudeness tarnishes your reputation as a successful businessman. Could you please provide your phone number? It’s for the database.”
“Of course, for the database. I’d never suggest exchanging numbers for personal reasons. How could a rude guy like me ever measure up to a lady like you?” Denys said sarcastically, looking up at Eva again. “You’ve got a sharp tongue, Eva Oleksandrivna, and you’re not as timid as I first thought.”
“Your compliments just keep boosting my mood. But honestly, Denys Maksymovych, you’re not great at reading people, so I’m surprised you manage to run such a big company. Let’s not dwell on that, though,” Eva said, printing out more papers. “Just a couple more signatures, and we can say goodbye for good. I hope next time you visit our bank, you won’t feel the urge to sit at my desk and will choose another specialist instead.”
“You’re right, I won’t sit at your desk again. But I’ll be endlessly grateful to Nina Volodymyrivna for recommending such a competent specialist. Your speed and knowledge of your job have impressed me. Beyond that, nothing else. So, if that’s all,” Denys stood up.
“That’s all. Don’t forget your things, and have a good day.”
“You too, have a good day.”
Eva watched him walk toward the exit, leaning back in her chair. You wouldn’t guess from his appearance that he could be so rude. Tall, broad-shouldered. And those abs she’d noticed in the park when he’d taken off his shirt—wow. No doubt he works out, takes care of himself, probably indulges in massages and saunas. His short-cropped hair nicely framed his handsome features, complemented by striking green eyes. Women must fall for guys like him, Eva thought. But looks can be deceiving—she’d learned that the hard way with Mykyta. A good-looking athlete who didn’t hesitate to raise a hand to women. After his beatings, she thought she might not survive… But she’d overcome it, and now she didn’t trust men. To her, they were all uncivilized brutes. And this Denys… Maksymovych was no exception, showering her with such hurtful words. Back then, she’d thought he was just some nobody, but turns out he’s the owner of a big company. You’d think someone like that would know how to speak politely and stay calm under any circumstances, as a leader should. But no…
“Man, you got lucky serving such a hottie,” Lesya said, approaching Eva with some paperwork. “Is he married?”
“I didn’t ask him personal questions like that, but I didn’t notice a ring on his finger,” Eva replied.
“Wouldn’t mind ending up in bed with a guy like that,” Lesya sighed dramatically.
“Better to steer clear of guys like him. So don’t sigh over him and be glad he’s gone,” Eva said, getting back to work as another client approached her desk.
After her shift, Eva went home to change before heading to the nightclub at nine. She wasn’t a fan of places like that, but she couldn’t refuse to support her friend. She didn’t put much thought into her outfit, opting for jeans and a sky-blue sweater with a round neckline. She decided to leave her hair down.
“Getting ready for a date?” her mom, Kateryna Borysivna, asked as she entered Eva’s room.
“No. Just going to a nightclub with a friend,” Eva answered honestly. “Tomorrow’s a day off, so…”
“So you can stay out till morning,” Kateryna Borysivna said, sitting on her daughter’s bed. “Maybe you could apologize to Vasyl. He’s trying to make things right with you.”
“Mom, I don’t just dislike your new husband—I can’t stand him. He’s always getting on my nerves. But that doesn’t matter. What’s important is that you’re happy with him. I’m not apologizing to him, though. He’s the one who should apologize for his thoughtless words. Who does he think he is, telling me what to do? I’m twenty-eight, perfectly capable of making my own decisions, and I don’t need anyone hovering over me. He has no right to do that. I’m going to start looking for an apartment soon so I can move out by March. I don’t want to live with you two anymore,” Eva said, finishing brushing her hair.
“But this isn’t just my home—it’s yours too. Yes, Vasyl lives here now, and you two can’t get along, but that’s no reason to run away from your own house. When your father bought it, he was thinking of you first. He said we needed a big, spacious place so you’d have room to run around. You loved running as a kid. Eva, sweetheart, don’t be upset with me for bringing a new man into our home. But trust me, it’s temporary. Once Vasyl buys his own place, I’ll move in with him, and you can stay here. Just be patient a little longer. Come sit with me.”
Eva sat beside her mother and hugged her.
“Fine. But I’m pretty sure your Vasyl has no intention of buying a house. He’s perfectly comfortable living here. He doesn’t seem to want anything for himself, just sits on our backs and tries to set rules. But if you love him… I’ll try to ignore him. All I care about is that you’re happy. Just tell him to stop bossing me around.”
“Thank you, sweetheart, for understanding. I just want you to be happy too. I want you to find your prince charming, to love and be loved like I am,” Kateryna Borysivna said, running her hand through her daughter’s hair. “You’re beautiful, smart. Maybe you’d consider letting Vasyl introduce you to his nephew. We could invite him over for dinner. I’ve seen his pictures, and let me tell you, he’s handsome. Maybe take a look and see if you’d be interested.”
“No. I don’t want to be set up with anyone. I’m not interested, and I won’t do it,” Eva said, getting upset. “Please don’t push this again.”
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to upset you. It just breaks my heart to see you like this. After what happened to you, you’ve shut yourself off from guys, from love. But Eva, not all men are like… I don’t even want to say his name. I’m just glad you’re going to the club tonight. Maybe you’ll meet someone there,” Kateryna Borysivna said, standing to leave. “Thank you for staying in our home and for trying to get along with Vasyl. It means a lot to me.”
“I’ll try, but only for you,” Eva said, putting on her puffer jacket. “I’ve got to go now—my cab’s waiting.”
“Have a great evening, sweetheart,” Kateryna Borysivna said, kissing her daughter and letting her pass, then following her out and closing the bedroom door behind them.
Eva hurried down from the second floor and stepped outside. Just as she was about to get into the cab, she heard her stepfather’s voice behind her.
“Where are you headed this late at night?” Vasyl Ivanovych asked sternly.
“That’s none of your business. I’m not answering any of your questions, so don’t bother asking,” Eva said, sliding into the cab and reaching to slam the door, but her stepfather caught it before she could.
“Slava’s coming to the city in a few days to look for a job here. He’ll be staying with us. So be ready to meet my nephew,” Vasyl Ivanovych announced.
“First of all, this house isn’t yours and never will be. It belongs to me and my mom. Second, I couldn’t care less about your nephew. I won’t even say hi to him,” Eva said, finally slamming the door and signaling the driver to go.
He irritated her to no end, always getting under her skin with his arrogant behavior. He thought that just because he married her mom, he could order her around. Every chance he got, he tried to push his nephew Slava on her, probably just to secure a comfortable spot for him in the city. What a caring uncle, looking out for his little nephew, making sure he had a place to stay and someone to mooch off of. It was a shame her mom had fallen for a guy like him. But she seemed to bloom around him, looking genuinely happy, and for that reason alone, Eva was willing to suppress her annoyance when dealing with Vasyl Ivanovych. Still, under no circumstances would she meet his nephew. She needed to come up with something fast. But what? Find an apartment and move out, even though her mom had convinced her to stay? She could crash at a friend’s place for a few days. Not a bad idea, but she’d eventually have to come back home. Or she could find a guy—that would completely shield her from an unwanted introduction to her stepfather’s nephew. If only it were that easy…
On the way to the nightclub, Lesya hopped into the cab with Eva, since her house was on the way in the same neighborhood.
“Hey,” Lesya said, dressed far more provocatively than Eva, so much so that even the cab driver kept sneaking glances at her in the rearview mirror. “How do I look?”
“Honestly, a bit too revealing. Maybe you shouldn’t have worn such a short dress with such a deep neckline? Yevhen might just want to drag you to bed without even talking first,” Eva said, trying to be upfront with her friend.
“If this guy is as hot as he looks, I’m totally down to jump into bed with him right away. You get me, Eva, right away,” Lesya said, fixing her hair and visibly starting to get nervous. “Do you think he’ll like me?”
“I’m more than sure he will. But still, Lesya, don’t lose your head. Be sensible so you don’t end up with some creep.”
“I’ll be sensible, and you keep a close eye on things. If I touch my left ear, everything’s fine. If I touch my right ear, come rescue me immediately. We’re finally here.”
“Just don’t mix up your ears under pressure,” Eva said, climbing out of the cab after Lesya.