Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Eidos University is one of the top universities in the world.  Eidos is known for pushing out the best in every field.  Lawyers, doctors, CEOs, you name it, and the best have gone there.  Unfortunately, not everyone can get in.  Eidos is so exclusive only the rich can afford to attend. If you can’t afford the tuition, you better have the best academics, test scores, and extracurricular activities to get an entire ride. 

But let's be honest: If anyone thinks getting is hard, they are mistaken. Eidos can be ruthless, and that is not based on academics alone. Status matters there. Of course, there is a hierarchy based on our social and economic status. But don’t think that stops the students.  Some try and even succeed in getting into the top circles.  It’s all about getting to the top at Eidos University.

Speaking of the top, as already mentioned, those of high status and money attend. And nobody is at the highest than Adam Marks. Technically, Raphael Marks, but he likes to go by Adam. His family owns the top mega-companies in the world, including this university.  He is the face of this university, and it’s not just because of his familial ties.  Adam is the top student at this university. His grades and extracurriculars make him stand out from the rest of the top students.   Most would say he is preparing to be the next head of the family business.

He’s not only the face of the university but the most desirable man.  As the top student from the most prominent family, many tend to flock toward Adam.  With his status and wealth, people gravitate with the hopes of a chance to reap the benefits, especially the woman.  Besides status and wealth, it helps that Adam is quite handsome.  The perfect catch, some would say.  As many women flocked towards him, and as eager as Adam wanted companionship, he would not go for just anyone.

As many people find it hard to believe, Adam is not as superficial as he appears.  Of course, he admires a beautiful woman, but he wants more.  As much as he doesn’t like to show it, Adam is a kind and compassionate person.   And he wants someone to represent those qualities as well.  Someone who looks beyond his wealth and status. Someone who loves Adam, not Raphael Marks.  And let's be honest, most women here want Raphael Marks. 

That is where Raven comes in.  Raven Kang was another student at the university.  She and Adam met during sophomore year at a school event.  She came from a well-off family, with her father being a well-known lawyer and a significant donor to the university.  She wanted to follow in her father’s footsteps and become a lawyer.  She was on the right track.  Raven had the top grades.  Not to mention, she did a lot of extracurriculars, including setting up and hosting huge events at the university.  Especially donor events.  She can thank her father’s connections.

When they first met, there was a huge attraction.  Raven was one of the most attractive girls at the university—her curvy body, long black, and piercing greyish-blue eyes.  Most people would say they were the most aesthetically pleasing couples.  But it was more than that. They enjoyed each other’s company.  When they weren’t talking about academics or attending functions, they would hang out and talk about their dreams, what they wanted for their futures, and how they were trying to live up to their family's expectations of them.  For Adam, it was nice being with someone he felt could relate to him on another level.  It also helped that their families were close due to their business ties.  Even at certain events, their families would even bring up marriage.  It just seemed that Adam and Raven were the perfect couple.

Or so that is what everyone thought.  Over time, their relationship started to deteriorate.  The first few months were great.  They seemed to have this instant connection.  Adam felt that he could talk to Raven about anything, but over time, it appeared that when Adam spoke, it would go through one ear and out the other.  Her listening skills were horrible.  When he first talked to her, it seemed that she was listening.  She would look at him, piercing eyes staring straight at him as she nodded in agreement.  But over time, he soon realized she was pretending she was listening.  Nothing was being retained.  The only time she would hear was when the discussion was about her.  She wanted to give the façade that she was this compassionate person, but she was self-absorbed.  And when Adam tried to speak about how he felt, Raven would just shut him down by belittling his feelings. 

Raven was prone to belittling.  She always had to be the most intelligent person in the room, and when she felt threatened by that stance, she would make some snarky comment to make the other feel bad.  One could say that was part of her anger issues.  Sometimes, the interactions would turn into arguments.  And these weren’t just mild arguments; they became heated because she would go from zero to a hundred and bring up things that she knew would hurt him. 

It was as if Raven had another persona.  This was an act to get him, and once she got him, she became her true self, a self-centered, angry person. Of course, she did not want others to see that side of her.  So, she would always keep her façade up.  She wanted more of the image of being a great person and having a happy relationship than having one.

There were times when Adam wanted to end things, but when he talked to his family about it, they told him to try to work it out.  For some reason, they seemed to like Raven.  He assumes it was more of the image of Raven they liked than Raven herself.  They may not have seen the Raven Adam knew, but whenever he would voice his concerns, people would brush his feelings aside and tell him how “relationships are hard work” and “you can’t give up.”   It seemed that others around him cared more about image as well.

As much as Adam felt this, he still stayed.  Even though he was frustrated, some of him still became complacent in the relationship.  As frustrated as he was in the relationship, it seemed it would be more trouble to leave Raven than stay.  They were almost three years in.  It was his longest relationship; part of him felt he wouldn’t find anyone else.  His and Raven’s parents didn’t have the happiest marriages, but they seemed to make it work.  So, if they can, why can’t he?

Today was going to be a big day for the university.  They were doing first-year orientation, and Adam was giving the opening speech.  He had done this a few times.  He’d make some generic speech welcoming the freshman, listen to the other speeches, then go over and talk to some of them and leave after that. It was always a predictable event.  As usual, Adam would get there early to prepare for his speech. 

On his way to the auditorium, he notices a woman wandering around.  She looked confused as if she was lost.  Adam, the polite person he was, decided to approach her.  He had time anyway. And the way that she looked, he could tell that she was probably new, probably there for the first-year orientation.  The closer he walked toward her, the better he could check her out.  She seemed of average height, with long black hair and bangs.  She wore a nice collar bodycon dress with a nice set of pumps, which helped show off her curvy figure. 

“You look lost, heading anywhere important?” Adam asked her.

She did a little jump and turned to him.  “You startled me.  But yes, I am a little lost.  Do you know where the auditorium for the first-year orientation is?”  she asked him.

Adam was glad he came over.  She was beautiful.  From what Adam could see, she had two moles on her face and a few freckles around her nose and cheeks.  But what caught his attention was her chocolate brown eyes.  They attracted him the way Raven’s did.  But with hers, he felt a calmness when looking at them.

“Yeah, I’m heading there right now.  If you come with me, I can take you there?” he asked.   She nodded, and they started walking towards the auditorium together. 

While walking, Adam wondered why she was wandering the university by herself.  Usually, the freshmen all meet at the main building.  The welcome committee of older students waits for them to walk them to orientation. 

“Out of curiosity, may I ask why you were wandering by alone? I ask because normally, the new students meet with the welcome committee to take them to orientation.”

“Not at all.  I was meeting with a friend there.  Her name is Tachy.  I hadn’t seen her in a while and wanted to catch up.  I was told meeting with the committee was not mandatory, so I figured it would be okay.  Guess I should have joined them since I got lost.” She chuckled. “I appreciate you walking me there.  I know this is probably an inconvenience to you.”

“Not at all.  Don’t tell anyone this; you aren’t missing much from the committee.  Don’t get me wrong, they’re great, but I would rather hang out with my friend.”  She smiled at him and gave another chuckle.  She had the prettiest smile he had ever seen.  Even cuter than Raven’s.

“Since I’m walking you over, may I ask your name?”

“Eve, Eve Ha.  And you?”

“Adam, Adam Marks.  Nice to meet you.”

“Nice to meet you as well. I appreciate this. I’m sure you have other things to do than walk a new student around, especially when the new student should have followed protocol and met with the other new students.”

“No trouble at all.  While walking, we might as well get to know each other a little.  May I ask your major?”  Adam asked.  He wanted to get to know her a little more.

“Political science.  I’m hoping to attend the law school here.” Eve told him.

Political science.  Just like Raven.  How ironic.

“May I ask your major, Adam?”

“Biomedical Engineering.  I’m in the graduate program.”

“Wow, that must be intense.  You must be smart.”

“I would like to think so,” Adam said.  Eve gave a slight chuckle. 

“Since you’re in the graduate program, I guess it’s safe to assume you aren’t a freshman. Also, to state the obvious fact, you know your way around. May I ask your reason for attending the first-year orientation?” Eve asked as she smiled.

With the questions she asked, it was probably safe to assume she had no idea who he was.  It was like a breath of fresh air that he was around someone who didn’t know him.  Instead of trying to impress him, she was being her authentic self.

“I’m one of the speeches.”

“Like a ‘I’m a graduate student here, and this is my experience’ type of speech?” Eve asked.

“Yeah, you can say that.”  She had no clue.  Adam figured she would find out who he was anyway, so why say anything now?  Plus, he enjoyed the nature of the conversation.

“Well, I guess you have done this before.  You don’t seem nervous at all.”

“Yeah, I’ve done this once or twice before.  Once you make one speech, your nerves tend to go away.  At least for me.”

“That makes sense.”

Once they got to the auditorium, they saw a woman standing near the entrance. She was also pretty, with a curvy figure and shoulder-length black hair. Once she saw them, she started waving at them.

“Eve” she yelled out waving back and forth.

“Hey, Tachy!” Eve yelled out. She ran towards her, and they hugged.

“I take it you got lost.”

“Yeah, it's not a shock, I guess. But luckily, Adam here found me and was kind enough to walk me here,” Eve said while pointing to Adam.

Adam waved hello at Tachy, and the moment she looked at him, her expression changed from a smile to a stunned look. At that point, Adam knew she knew who he was.

“Adam, as in Adam Marks? Thee Adam Marks.” Tachy said while still looking stunned.

“Yeah, do you know each other?”

“Eve, Adam here is part of the Marks family.  They own the top companies in the world, including this university.  There’s a bio about them in your freshman packet.  It even states that Adam is attending this school.”

“The only Marks mentioned is the son, Raphael.  Plus, there are no pictures of the family.  And I figured I would see them at the school, so I didn’t think to Google them.”  Eve rambled with the look of embarrassment.

“If it makes you feel better, I prefer going by Adam.  I'm a junior, so I like to have a little distinguishment between my father and me.  And normally, there would be a family photo in the packet, but it sounds like whoever was in charge must have forgotten.”  He reassured her.  “I’m not going to lie. Being around someone who didn’t know who I was at first was nice.  I figured you found out during orientation, and I liked our conversation.”

“Well, isn’t this my luck? I get lost trying to with, and I don’t recognize that I’m in the company of the biggest name of this school.  I’m off to a great start.”

“To piggyback on what he said, most new people find out he likes to go by Adam from the orientation,” Tachy said, trying to reassure Eve.  “At least that’s how I found out.”

“Now, come to think of it, I feel like I’ve seen you before.  I am not talking about orientation but another event.  Are you a political science major by chance?” Adam asked Tachy.

“Yeah, I’m in my 3^rd year in the undergraduate program for political science here.”

“By chance, did you attend a function hosted by Professor Petrov recently?”

“Yeah, the one for his new scholarship students.  I was there because I am one.  As Professor Petrov would put it, Eve was there as well as a new ‘Petrov Scholar.” Tachy giggled.

“Oh wow, you're one of Professor Petrov’s scholarship students, Eve?” 

The Petrov Scholarship Program was a rigorous program to get into.  It was one of the most demanding programs to get into.  Not only did some have to have the best grades and tons of extracurriculars, but they also had to go through interviews and submit a massive essay.  The acceptance rate was at 1%, if not lower.  Students in that program were guaranteed to get into the law school here.  Professor Petrov is a well-respected law professor at the law school.  He was a little out there but a brilliant man who takes pride in his students, particularly his scholarship students.

“Not just one, but the top student.  She was the first pick amongst the ten students picked this year.  She impressed the professor the most.  She was also there.”

“Oh damn, I was only there for a little bit. I had a small emergency.”

“That also explains why you and Eve didn’t recognize each other.  I think I saw you there, weren’t you with Raven Kang?”  Tachy asked Adam.

Once he heard Raven’s name, it was as if he got punched in the gut.  He did not want to talk about Raven, especially before Eve.

“Now I do know who that is.  She helped host alongside Professor Petrov.  She gave the welcome speech.”  Eve stated.

“Yeah, she works closely with the professor, not as a scholar student, because her family is a major program donor,” he said.

“Unfortunately, I didn’t get a chance to talk to her.  I take it.  Are you close to her?”  Eve asked him. 

“Yeah, we’re pretty close.”  Adam hesitated momentarily but decided it was best to come out with it.  “She’s my girlfriend.”

“Oh wow, I power couple,” Eve stated.

Raven would be proud of that.  Raven worked hard to give the image that they were an upstanding couple. 

“I don’t know how well you know her, Tachy, but if you like, I can talk to Raven about meeting with you ladies.  She works with Professor Petrov a lot outside the program you both are in.  The program is very time-consuming, but more exposure to other activities will help you in the long run.”

Even though this gesture seemed generous, some of Adam did it for his benefit. He hoped Eve would accept this offer so he could be around her more.

“That’s so nice of you, Adam.  I would love to take you up on that.  What about you, Tachy?”  Eve asked Tachy.  Adam could see the excitement in Eve’s face.  But when looking at Tachy’s, he could see her hesitation. 

“It sounds nice; it does. However, I’m unsure if I will have the time with my already busy schedule.”

“Don’t think of it as a commitment.  If anything, let me set up a meeting, and you can have a one-on-one conversation, not surrounded by others, and go from there.  It never hurts to make connections.”

Adam knew the way to get Eve on board was to get Tachy as well.  This didn’t need to be an entirely selfish act.  He would be helping two undergrad students with connections.  Raven's helping these girls would make her look good on her resume.  And he can spend time with Eve.  It sounds terrible, but some of him wanted to get to know Eve more and figured this was the key.

“How about this?  I know we need to go in soon for orientation.  Let’s exchange numbers. And you both can let me know if you are interested.” Adam stated.  Hopefully, they would accept his offer by giving them a little time to think.

“I’m open to that,” Eve said.

“Me too.”

They all exchanged phone numbers and walked into the auditorium.  As Adam prepared for his speech, he couldn’t help but be excited.  He had just met and talked to Eve for almost an hour, but something about her made him want to know more.  There was some guilt knowing what he was doing was wrong because of Raven, but he couldn’t help himself.  But as he thought this, he told himself it doesn’t hurt to get to know new people.  After today, he was excited about what would come this year.

Chapter Text

As Eve and Tachy entered the auditorium, Eve could not help but be excited—not for the orientation but also for meeting Adam. Who would have thought she would be meeting the son of one of the prestigious families at this school, not to mention the owners?  He was nice enough to help her when lost and connect her with Raven Kang. 

Everyone in the program knew that Raven and her family were essential figures because they ran one of the prestigious law firms and were prominent donors.  She was always with Professor Petrov for the program’s events.  Sometimes, her family would attend.  They were always there to present themselves and give speeches.  Sometimes, they would mingle with the other scholars, but Eve never found the courage to go up and talk to them, even if Professor Petrov would encourage her to.

“What I thought would be a bad day ended okay after all.  What do you think, Tachy?”  Eve asked her.

“I guess.  I mean, it’s not every day you would run into the Adam Marks.  I see him around at events but never spoke to him.”

“Guess it’s good I got lost so I can meet him.  It was nice of him to want to set up a meeting between us and Raven Kang.  I say we take him up on his offer,” Eve stated.

“I’m not sure about that. It's a great offer, but with schoolwork, the program, and other extracurricular activities, I’m not sure I can commit.” Tachy said to Eve.  Eve could tell by her voice that she was hesitating to say what else was on her mind. 

“Is the commitment all that you're worried about, Tachy?”

Tachy started to stiffen. It looked like she was trying not to say what was on her mind, but she decided to express it after a few seconds.

“Don’t you think it’s a little odd that he just met us, and suddenly, he wants to ‘help’ us with our academic careers?”

“Maybe he just wants to help.  We are scholarship students in this prestigious program, but ultimately, we don’t have the connections he does.  Raven Kang is a significant figure in our program because of her family.  If we were to connect with her, it would help us in our future law careers.”

“I think you are getting ahead of yourself.  It’s just a meeting, not a job opportunity.  And he just met us, especially you.  He doesn’t know what we’re like.  I told him you are the top student, but he doesn’t know anything else about you. And absolutely nothing about me.”  Tachy took a deep breath before continuing the rest of her statement.   “Also, I find it interesting that he just met you, and suddenly, he wants to set up important meetings for you.”

“You mean us, Tachy?”

“No, I mean you, Eve.  I know you think he is nice, but I would watch out if I were you.”

“What are you talking about, Tachy?

“He just seemed a little too friendly to me.”

“Too friendly, how?”

“Look, I’m sure Adam meets people all the time, and I’m sure he’s not offering meetings to all of them.  And I’m positive he wouldn’t have made the offer if it was just me.” Tachy said to Eve. 

Tachy didn’t want to tell Eve that many people here have ulterior motives.  Motives could range from anything.  From trying to get in certain social circles or get someone to do your work.  In this case, flirting with pretty girls was one of them.  A lot of the men here were flirts.  Whether they had girlfriends or not, that didn’t stop them, especially for men with high social and economic standing.  And girls like Eve were prime prey for these guys.

As beautiful and intelligent as Eve is, she is also naïve. Tachy has known her since they were kids. Eve always believed in the good in people, never believing that anyone could have bad intentions. She might have gotten away with that before, but she’ll get eaten alive at Eidos University.  People will try and take advantage, including these men.  Sure, Tachy has heard nothing but good things about Adam, but he's still a man at the end of the day.  That’s why Tachy didn’t hesitate to mention Raven’s name.  She wanted him to know that she not only knows of his girlfriend, but he’s not getting one over on her friend.

“Listen, I know you are skeptical about everything and everyone, but it wouldn’t hurt to give this a shot.  Besides, think of it as networking.  It wouldn’t hurt to network a little, especially for me being a first-year.”  Eve told Tachy.

Eve had a point.  In this world, it’s about who you know more than what you know.  Of course, the program would help her, but getting a one-on-one chance with someone linked to a prestigious law firm would help her in her career.

“Let’s give this a chance.  See how it goes.  Then we can go from there.”

“Fine, I will agree to a meeting and go from there.” Tachy sighed in defeat.

Technically, Eve didn’t need her approval, but she knew Eve wanted to do this with her since Adam offered this to them both.

“See, that wasn’t so bad.  I’ll text him after orientation to let him know we will accept his offer.”

Eve was happy that Tachy decided to take Adam up on his offer. She wouldn’t feel right taking Adam up on his offer without Tachy, so she figured it would be an opportunity for both.

Once they finished their conversation, they went to their seats to prepare for the orientation. Once this was over, Eve would text Adam on behalf of her and Tachy. A part of Eve was excited about this new opportunity.

Orientation went well, as usual, for Adam.  He gave his speech, listened to the others, and spoke to a few people.  Part of him hoped he would talk to Eve, but he saw she was busy talking to Tachy and what looked like other first-year students.  He didn’t want to interrupt, so he didn’t approach her.  He felt excitement when he thought about Eve.  He knew it was wrong since he was with Raven, but he couldn’t help it.  There was something about Eve that gave him a feeling that he never had, not even with Raven.  It probably didn’t help that he was waiting by his phone, hoping she would reach out to him about his offer.

Adam was sitting in his apartment working when he heard the door open.  It had to be Raven.  They didn’t officially live together, but she sometimes came over and spent the night.  Lately, she hadn’t been coming over as often, but tonight, she probably came over to talk about the planned event she’s helping with and how she will need Adam to attend with her.

“Hey, I wasn’t expecting you tonight,” Adam said to Raven nonchalantly. 

“Well, hello to you too.  At least pretend to be excited to me.” Raven told him as she kissed him on the cheek. 

“I came over to ask how to ask how orientation went?”  Raven said to him. 

Raven is interested in how Adam's orientation went.  That was new.

“It went normal as usual.  Thanks for asking.”

“Of course.”

‘’How was our day?  Did you meet up with Ripley and Aniss about the upcoming event?”  Adam asked.

“Went fine.  Normal stuff.”

“That’s good.  Is this the event for Professor Petrov’s program?”

“Yep.”

“The one to try and get more donors?”

“Yeah.  With the success rate continually going up, Professor Petrov wants to expand the program.  And to do that, he needs more funds.”

“Will there be any students from the program attending?” Adam asked.  He might be able to use this to his advantage.

“Past students.  To help prove the success of the program.  You have a lot of questions today.  Nice to know you take interest.”

“I’ve always been interested in what you do, Raven.”

“Well, I’m glad I also came tonight because not only am I representing the largest donor, my family, but it would be beneficial to have the son of the wealthiest families, especially the school's owners.”

There it was.  Adam knew there was a reason for this visit.  But he might be able to use this to his advantage.

“I guess it wouldn’t hurt for me to attend.  Out of curiosity, does it have to be past students?  Could current students go?”  This could benefit Adam to get Eve and Tachy to accept his offer.

“Why?”

“Today, I met two ladies who are in the program.  Tachy and Eve.  They are both in the program, and I mentioned you and said if they wanted, I could set up a meeting with the three of you.  They haven’t acknowledged it yet, but would you be open to it if they were?” 

As Adam asked, he could sense the annoyance targeted in his direction from Raven.  He figured as much.  She probably views this as an inconvenience, but if he played his cards right, he might be able to convince her to agree to the meeting.

“So let me get this straight.  You just met two women. I had a brief conversation with them.  I found out they are in the program.  And now you want to help them?”

He senses the irritation in her voice.  He should have should have known this would be her reaction.  Raven was only eager to help someone else if it would benefit her.

“It wasn’t a brief conversation.  One of the ladies, Eve, was lost trying to meet her friend, Tachy, for the orientation when I met her.  We had a nice conversation, and they mentioned the program in the middle.  I didn’t get Tachy’s last name, but Eve’s last name is Ha.  You might have heard about her because she is one of the top students in the program.”

There was a sudden shift in Raven’s demeanor.  It went from annoyance to intrigue.

“Eve Ha.  I’ve heard that name before.  Professor Petrov talks non-stop about her.  She is indeed the top student in this year's group.  But I have yet to meet her.”

“Would you be willing to?  They seemed so nice I figured it would be nice to help her and her friend out.”

“Is this your savior complex coming rearing its ugly head?  You know I have a lot on my plate, and now you want to add more?”  Raven asked with a hint of irritation. 

“A meeting is not adding more Raven. I figured they were in the program, and since you always work with Professor Petrov, it would be networking. Besides, it wouldn’t kill you to have a conversation with the students in the program.”

Adam pointed out that Raven was not approachable to the scholars. Sure, she would host events, help raise funds, and make speeches, but she only tried to converse with the students if she was with Professor Petrov. 

“You know I have a lot on my plate.  You only have one of their last names, and you expect me to make time for a meeting?”

“Or I can invite them to the event, where you can meet them. Professor Petrov will be there, and he can introduce them then.”

“Why are you so adamant about me meeting them anyway?  You’ve never tried this much for me to meet another student.”

“Just trying to be nice.”

“To two women you just met, Adam?”

“Yep”

Raven looked in disbelief.  Something had to be up.  Why would her boyfriend want her to meet with two women he had just met?  It made no sense, mainly because he knew she was busy already. 

But there was a part of her being interested in meeting Eve Ha.  Professor Petrov would go on and on about her.  She said she was the program's top student and that he was looking forward to her future accomplishments.  He talked to about her so much that it started to annoy Raven.  How could one freshman be that great?  She hadn’t even started yet, and Professor Petrov was already bragging about her to others in and out of the program, including her family.

“As annoyed as I am right now, it’s only fair that I do this favor for you since you are going with me.  You can invite them, and I will meet with them there.” Raven told Adam.

“Thank you, Raven.  I appreciate this.”

“Oh, no problem.  I’m also curious about Eve.  Professor Petrov brags non-stop about her.  I want to meet her to assess her being worth the hype.”

Adam was starting to think this might be a bad idea.  He knows how Raven is and should have thought about that before he mentioned anything to Eve.  But his desire to get closer to her closed his eyes to that fact.  He should have known how jealous and competitive Raven is, but there was a small part interested in how Eve would handle herself.  And if she was worth the hype, how would Raven react?

“I guess you’ll find out soon enough, Raven.  I’ll let Eve and Tachy know about the event.”

“And after that, I figured we’d go out for dinner and discuss more about this event,” Raven said as she squeezed Adams’s shoulders.  It was her way of making sure he remembered the favor he was doing for her.

“Fine.  Let me text them and get ready.”

It was getting late, so he figured that he wouldn’t get a response right away.  But figured they would respond the next day.  Plus, it lets them know he’s true to his word, and hopefully, this will not backfire on him.  He was already curious about Eve, but the fact that even Raven mentioned how Professor Petrov always talked about her made him even more interested.  Either way, hopefully, they would respond to him the next day so he could learn more about her. 

It had been a long day for Eve. After orientation, she went to her dorms to unpack. She was getting excited for the new year. She was excited about the new people she would meet and the opportunities she would experience, especially the most prominent person in the university, Adam. 

It was embarrassing that she didn’t recognize him at first, but at least he didn’t make her feel bad.  He seemed so lovely, and the fact he was willing to help her by meeting her up with Raven was so thoughtful.  She could understand how Tachy could have slight reservations about this, but at the end of the day, what ulterior motive could he have connecting her and Tachy with Raven? 

“Hey, Eve, your phone is vibrating,” Lily Everett told her. Lily Everett was Eve’s new roommate. She was an engineering student in a prestigious program. They had just met in their dorm after orientation and hit it off. 

“Thanks,” Eve said as she grabbed her phone. She wondered who was contacting her this late. 

The message read, “Hey Ladies, this is Adam from orientation.  I hope you are having a good night.  I know it’s late, but before I forget, I wanted to let you know I did talk to Raven, and she is inviting both of you to an event where she is helping with Professor Petrov for the program.  Let me know if you are both still interested.  I can give out the details later.”

That was nice of Adam.  Hopefully, this opportunity will help Eve and Tachy with connections.  

“Who is texting you this late, Eve?” asked Lily.

“Adam Marks.”

“Thee Adam Marks.”

“Yes, nice man.  He helped me when I got lost trying to meet my friend for orientation.  He offered both of us to meet his girlfriend, Raven Kang since she is a big part of our program.”

“Lucky you. You met Adam Marks for the first time and are already making more connections than most fourth-year students,” said Lily.

“Yeah, I guess I got lucky.”

“Don’t you think it’s interesting that he just met you and is willing to stick his neck out?” Lily asked. 

“You sound like my friend Tachy.  I want to take this opportunity.  Networking will help me get farther along, and if someone is offering to help, why not take it?  Especially from a Marks.”

“Guess I can’t blame you.  I probably do the same.”

Eve nodded as she sent Adam a quick text that she was interested.  She was excited to take this opportunity.  It would help her advance with networking and, hopefully, her career.  But there was a small part of her thinking about what Tachy and Lily said about Adam.  It seemed suspicious that he would want to help her after meeting her once.  She understood where they were coming from.  However, the fact that she was willing to introduce her and Tachy to his girlfriend didn’t make her think there could be an ulterior motive.  Regardless, this was an opportunity she couldn’t pass up.  Hopefully, everything will run smoothly.

Chapter Text

The next day, Adam met Eve at a campus coffee shop to discuss the event in more detail. It was supposed to be both Eve and Tachy, but something came up for Tachy, so it was just Eve. He wanted to give her a heads-up about this function and Raven. Even though Raven agreed to this, he knew she wasn’t happy about it. Sure, he should have thought about this before opening his mouth, but he figured this was his way to try and get to know Eve more.

Once he saw Eve walk in, he waved at her, “Hey, over here,” he yelled to get her attention. She turned around once she heard him, smiled, and started walking towards him.

“Hello. Thanks for meeting me. Sorry Tachy couldn’t make it.” She said as she sat down.

“It's all good. I got you a coffee,” Adam said as he handed her the drink. I wasn’t sure what flavors you liked, so I wanted to be neutral.”

“Thank you so much,” Eve said as she took the drink. “I really appreciate what you are doing for Tachy and me. I know you are sticking your neck, and I greatly appreciate it.”

“Of course. I just want to help.”

“It’s greatly appreciated, Adam.” She said with a small smile.

“Since we are here, let’s discuss the function. So, it’s going to be at the main dining hall in the Altess Levoire section of the campus. Someone will check people in before they enter to ensure you are on the list. You will be under Professor Petrov. Raven had him add you both. I’ll text you both the invite. Once you are both in, you can look for me, and I will introduce both of you to Raven. I’ll be close to the entrance because I’ll be greeting people.” Adam said.

As he talked, Eve nodded her head. She was both excited and nervous. She was excited because this would give her a chance to network, but she was nervous because this was a fundraiser for new donors, which meant she would be networking with not just Raven but also very prominent figures.

“I know this might be intimidating, but don’t worry. I am sure you and Tachy will be fine. When I spoke to Professor Petrov about you two, he had nothing but great things to say. Especially you, Eve.”

“That’s nice to hear. Professor Petrov has been a great mentor to me since I was in the program. And knowing he has stuck his neck out for Tachy and other students has boosted my confidence in him.”

“He’s a good man. He cares a lot about his students. I’m sure you will do fine at the event. Both you and Tachy.” Adam said, trying to reassure her. He could sense her nervousness when she spoke.

“I’m not worried about Tachy. She’s great at this type of thing, especially back in school. I tend to get nervous in these situations.”

“You will be fine. I have faith in you.”

“I appreciate you, Adam. All of this. Setting up a meeting with Raven and getting us invited to this event, I’m sure, wasn’t easy.”

Hearing Eve mention Raven’s name made the hairs on the back of Adam’s neck stand up. He started getting flashbacks when he first mentioned Eve to Raven. He knew that by setting this up, he would learn more about Eve, but he is starting to get worried about Raven’s reaction toward her.

“About Raven, I know she agreed to meet you, and she has great connections that can benefit you in this program. But she can be a little standoffish when meeting people. So, when I introduce you, she may come across as unapproachable.” Adam warned her. He didn’t want to scare her, but he didn’t want her to be shocked by Raven’s demeanor.

“Oh, okay. Thanks for the heads up. I’ll let Tachy know. May I ask why she would be standoffish?” Eve asked. Especially since she agreed to this and got them invited.

“That’s just Raven at times. I think it’s part of the barrier she puts up.” Adam said.
He knew Raven had trust issues with people. But he also knew that most of her behavior came from wanting to feel better than others. But Adam wasn’t going to say that. Hopefully, with this event, even if Raven decides not to help Eve, Eve will have met enough people there who will help her instead.

“Makes sense, I guess. Especially for someone of her caliber, I’m sure it’s hard to trust people.”

“Right.”

“But I met you, and you're not even close to being standoffish.” She told him with a smile on her face.

A small smile started forming on Adam’s face. “Thanks.”

“Regardless of my nerves or the people, I’m excited and grateful.”

“You’ll do great. I believe in you”

It was the night of the event, and Eve and Tachy had just arrived, walking toward the dining hall. Since this was a formal event for donors, Eve was worried about an outfit, but luckily, Tachy had a friend who was kind enough to lend them dresses. Eve really wanted to make a great impression.

“I can sense you’re nervous, Eve. Don’t be. You’ll be fine.” Tachy assured her.

“I know, but I can’t help it. I just want to make a great impression.”

“You will. Professor Petrov will be there, and he is in your corner. So that should help with your nerves.”

“Yeah, I suppose.”

Even though Tachy was trying to calm Eve’s nerves, she also had her own worries. When Eve spoke to her about her meeting with Adam, it made her wary of both him and Raven. It didn’t shock her what Adam said about Raven being standoffish because Tachy heard rumors about Raven not being nice behind closed doors. Mostly with the other students. Which was interesting because she’s been positioned as the face of the program.

Knowing this made Tachy wary of Adam because if he knew this about his girlfriend, why was he so willing for Eve to meet Raven? It just made no sense.

Once they got through security, Eve spotted Adam right away. As he had said, he would greet people at the entrance. Once he saw Eve and Tachy, he immediately waved as he walked toward them. As he walked toward them, Tachy noticed he looked eager to come over.

“Hey ladies, I’m so happy you both showed up. Hopefully, you didn’t have any issues getting here?” He asked.

“Not at all. Thanks again for inviting us, Adam.” Eve said.

“You’re welcome. I'm just glad you both accepted. You both look nice.”

“Thanks, Tachy’s friend, Aurélie, was kind enough to lend us these dresses.”

“Well, you both are great. Can I at least get you ladies a beverage before I bring you over and introduce you both to Raven?”

“I’m good for now. What about you, Tachy?”

“I’m good, thanks.”
As Adam walked them toward Raven, they could see she was in a deep conversation with Professor Petrov. She looked pleasant when talking to the professor, but that still didn’t help with Eve’s nerves. She really wanted to make a good impression and not say the wrong thing. Especially after what Adam said about her. Hopefully, this meeting with Professor Petrov will go smoothly.

“Sorry to interrupt you both, but I wanted to introduce Raven to—”

“Tachy, Eve, I’m glad you made it,” Professor Petrov said with excitement.

Professor Dmitri Petrov is a nice-looking, tall man in his early to mid-60s. He was never one to have a poker face, so everyone, especially Raven, saw the excitement in his eyes when he saw Tachy and Eve come over.

“I’m grateful to have been invited to such a prestigious event,” Eve said to the professor before turning towards Raven. “I’m Eve Ha. One of Professor Petrov’s scholars. I’m incredibly thankful for extending the invite to Tachy and me.”

Eve held her hand out to shake Raven’s. By the look on Raven’s face, you can tell she was taken aback by Eve. There was no denying that Eve was beautiful, but the fact the professor was extremely excited to see her added to her curiosity.

“Of course. Raven Kang. Nice you meet you,” said Raven as she shook Eve’s hand.

“And this is my friend, Tachy Kim,” Eve said, nudging her head towards Tachy.

“Thank you very much for extending an invitation to us both,” Tachy said. She started feeling a sense of discomfort. There was something about Raven she wasn’t getting a good feeling about.

“Tachy was at our recent welcome event. I wanted to introduce you, Raven, but I believe we were in a deep conversation with your father, " the professor said. Adam could only imagine what those two were discussing.

“I must admit, Raven, when you asked me to extend the invite, I was excited because I’ve wanted to introduce you to them for some time. Tachy is one of the top students, and Eve is one of our newest scholars who has managed to impress everyone in the program. As you can tell, I talk a lot about you both.”

“He sure does, non-stop,” Raven said as she took a sip of her wine.

Adam could sense the annoyance in her tone. He hoped no one else could. Raven wasn’t one to care to hear the compliments of others. He was just hoping she would be on her best behavior because she was around the professor.
“Professor has been a great mentor to me. I greatly appreciate him,” Eve said, smiling at the professor.

“He really is. There have been times I wanted to give up, but Professor Petrov has been there to encourage me,” Tachy said. Tachy was starting to feel more discomfort around this conversation. She was getting bad vibes from Raven.

“I’m so happy you both are here because I’ve been wanting to ask you both. I have a meeting with a potential donor, and I am trying to come up with a presentation to get him on board. I know Raven and Adam are helping with this, but I was thinking, why not have some current scholars be part of this as well? I figured current scholars would speak well about the benefits of the program. When I thought of this, I automatically thought of you both.”

This was huge for the professor. Normally, he would create the presentation and have Raven or a past scholar help. Adam would occasionally join to represent the school. It was surprising that Professor Petrov wanted to include a current scholar, especially a first-year student.

Adam looked over at Raven and could see she was fuming. Adam could see there was a slight eye twitch. Most people wouldn’t catch it, except for Adam. When he looked at Tachy and Eve, he noticed that Tachy had caught it as well because he could sense her discomfort.

“This is a huge opportunity, professor; normal current students don’t attend these meetings,” Tachy said.

Part of her wanted to take this because it would be very beneficial but knowing that she would be working with Raven and Adam on this made her uncomfortable.

“Which is why I want to ask. I figure why not bring current scholars? They can talk about their experiences in the present day. Plus, I figure it would be more beneficial for networking purposes.”

“Actually, that sounds like a great idea. Why not have current students involved in these presentations,” Adam added in.

It was a great idea. Professor Petrov and Raven usually give the presentation. Even though they are important figures in the program, potential donors would probably be more inclined to donate if they heard from an actual student.

Adam could sense that Raven was getting angrier and angrier. Probably based on the quick glare she was giving him. Raven wasn’t expecting this. She only agreed to this because of Adam. She just thought this would be some small introduction. She didn’t know that Professor Petrov would be asking them to join on a donor presentation. Normally, she oversaw the donor presentations. This was her territory, and Raven didn’t like others coming into her territory.
“This is a good idea, but don’t you think this is sudden? I mean, Eve just started. I’m sure she’s just getting settled. Tachy is in her third year, and I’m sure she already has a lot on her plate. Maybe we should revisit this another presentation, Professor. Besides, I’ve already planned out this presentation,” Raven said.

Tachy was getting the sense that Raven didn’t want them involved. What was the point of this meeting? Tachy was getting the vibe that Raven didn’t want to talk to them or be involved with Professor Petrov’s opportunities.

“As honored as I am, I do agree with Raven about me being a first year. I’m just starting. Are you sure you would want me involved? I understand asking Tachy, but I’m still fresh in the program,” Eve said to the professor.

She was excited about this event because it offered her the opportunity to network, and she knew the professor’s offer could help her. But something in her mind was making her doubt herself.

“Which is why I want you both involved. You both can give different perspectives as current scholars. Tachy, being a third year. And Eve, just joining as a first year. I want you both to be a part of this. What do you think, Adam?” Professor Petrov asked Adam.

Adam felt put on the spot. Part of him wanted to agree with Raven to appease her so he wouldn’t have to hear about it later. But there was another part of him that agreed with this. It was a great opportunity; it would help Tachy and Eve. And a benefit was he would be around Eve more. Part of the reason for setting this meeting with Raven and getting them invited was to get to know Eve more. He knew this was wrong, but it was the truth.

“I think it’s a great opportunity. You will get to work more with the professor and Raven. And like the professor said, it would be great for networking and hopefully career prospects.” Adam said. He knew he would pay for this later, but they were already here, so there was no point in returning.

“When you both put it that way. I guess I can’t refuse. What about you, Tachy?” Eve asked her.

As much as Tachy was feeling discomfort, she knew this was an opportunity she couldn’t refuse.

“I guess I can’t refuse either,” she said.
“This is great. I’m glad you are both on board. Since Raven has been in charge, I will leave it up to her to put together time for everyone to work together.”

“Of course. I will let you both know when I am free, and we can plan a date to meet and talk about this,” Raven said. This is not what she thought was going to happen. And she was not happy. And the fact that Adam co-signed on this infuriated her more.

“Raven and I will plan a time, and I can text both of you. Does that sound okay?” Adam asks the ladies.

“That sounds great. Thank you all for this opportunity,” Eve said with a huge smile.

Adam couldn’t help but smile back. A smile that Tachy could not help but catch.

Something was off about this situation. She got the vibe that Raven didn’t want to talk to them. When the professor and Adam would say anything in Eve’s and her favor, she gave these slight glares. Glares that she believed no one was catching.

But what also caught her attention was how Adam was acting. He seemed very attentive whenever Eve would talk. To the point of coming off lustful to Tachy. For Tachy, it seemed he was adamant about her and Eve taking this offer. But it seemed more geared towards Eve. The only person with pure intentions Tachy believed to be Professor Petrov.

As questionable as this was to her, this was still a great opportunity she couldn’t miss. Hopefully, the benefit of helping with this presentation would outweigh her discomfort.

The rest of the event went great after. After accepting Professor Petrov’s offer to be part of the presentation, Tachy and Eve were able to network with the other guests. It was nice to mingle and get their names out there. While mingling, Tachy noticed that when Eve talked to other people, she would see Adam sneak glances when those around him weren’t looking. Tachy already knew this was a recipe for disaster.

Chapter Text

The day after the event, Tachy and Eve decided to meet in Eve’s dorm room to discuss the presentation. They wanted to gather ideas to give to Raven and Adam. Tachy could tell by how Eve was acting she was excited to work on this, but after last night, Tachy had concerns she wanted to voice.

“Sounds like you both had a great time,” Lily said after hearing Eve discussing their evening.

“It was great. Not only did I get to meet Raven Kang, but now I can work on this presentation, which can help me in the future,” Eve went on about.

“Were you able to network with other people at the event?” Lily asked.

“Yeah, I was able to talk to a few other guests.”

“Some I question their intentions,” Tachy added. Most of the guests were nice, but there were some who had other intentions when talking to them. Especially Eve.

“I mean, most were nice. Some even gave us their business cards.”

“Eve, come on. Some of those guys weren’t just networking for business purposes. They were straight up hitting on you.”

“Not all, but some it was clear what their intentions were.”

“Were any of them cute?” Lily asked. “There was nothing wrong with making a romantic connection.”

“I highly doubt with those men. Some were old enough to be her father,” Tachy said.

“Does age really matter when it comes to love?”

“In this case, yes.”

“You know I can speak for myself. And yes, some were cute. But they weren’t my type,” Eve stated.

“Well, what is your type, Eve? I’m sure it’s not hard for you to find a man.”

“Not sure yet. I’ve never thought about it. That’s never been a focus of mine.”

“Well, they might end up being. You aren’t going to have a shortage of guys trying to approach you.”
“Thanks, Lily,” Eve said with a smile on her face.

“Speaking of guys, what did you think about Adam last night?” Tachy asked. She wanted to get Eve’s thoughts on him. She had concerns she wanted to share, but she wanted to see what Eve thought.

“What do you mean, Tachy?”

“What’s your opinion of him? I mean, it was the 3rd time you had a conversation with him. Plus, this time, you were around him with his girlfriend.”

“He seemed okay. It was nice that he had our backs when it came to being a part of this presentation.”

“That’s true. But did you also get the vibe Raven wasn’t very friendly?”

“Yeah, but Adam did warn us about her.”

“Yeah, but it seemed more than a little standoffish. She genuinely didn’t want to talk to us. And it seemed that every time Adam or Professor Petrov would give either of us a compliment, she would have an angered look on her face.”

“I didn’t notice the looks, but what does this have to do with Adam, Tachy?”

“I’m sure how she was acting wasn’t new to him. I just find it odd that a guy would have a girlfriend like that and still want to introduce her.”

“Well, she does have connections.”

“I just don’t have a good feeling about her, which makes me not have a good feeling about him.”

“I think you are just overacting Tachy. She might be standoffish, but he’s been so nice.”

“He just seems a little too nice. Especially towards you. Don’t you think Eve?”

There was a part of Tachy that wanted to just grab Eve and tell her that Adam’s intentions weren’t as pure as she thought.

“I understand your concern, Tachy, but I highly doubt he has any ill intentions. Especially around his girlfriend.”

“You should never underestimate a man’s intentions, Eve.”

There was an awkward pause for a moment until Lily decided to speak.
“Speaking of Adam, when are you planning on meeting up with him and Raven about the presentation?” Lily asked. She wanted to break the awkwardness. Sure, it was weird to still bring them up, but she figured they would get off the subject of Adam if she brought the presentation.

“He texted us earlier to meet up tomorrow. I’m going to meet them, but Tachy can’t make it.”

“This is why we are meeting today, so Eve can bring up my ideas.”

It was true that Tachy had other plans. She was meeting up with a study group and couldn’t reschedule. She wanted to go not only for the presentation but also to keep an eye out for Adam. It was clear that Raven didn’t want them involved, but she didn’t trust Adam’s intentions with Eve.

“Well, I have to go, but I wish you both luck with idea planning,” Lily said as she headed out.

“Thanks, and bye, Lily,” said Eve.

Once Lily left, they worked on the presentation ideas. They didn’t want to overstep since Raven had this already planned. Eve was hoping, if anything, they could add to what she had. Hopefully, their ideas will be good enough and impress not only Raven and Adam but also the professor and potential donor.

It was the next day, and Eve was waiting for Adam and Raven. They were meeting at the same coffee shop she had with Adam about the event. She had arrived a little early to prepare. She and Tachy had come up with some good ideas, and Eve was hopeful they liked them. She also wanted to make a good impression on the potential donor. Because who knew there could be a potential career opportunity?

Right on time, she saw Adam and Raven arrive, and Raven did not look like she wanted to be there. Eve had an inkling Raven wouldn’t want to be here, but she still wanted this meeting to go smoothly.

“Thank you for meeting me,” she said as they approached her. They all sat down at Eve's table. She had already set out her laptop and notes and was ready to share.

“Of course. Too bad Tachy couldn’t come. I know it was last minute, but this was the only time Raven and I had free at the same time.”

“We’re both very busy. In fact, I have another engagement after this, so I won’t be able to stay long.” Raven said with a hint of annoyance that even Eve could sense.

“I understand. I don’t want to take more of your time. Tachy and I worked all day on ideas to add to this presentation. We know you already had everything planned out, so we didn’t want to overstep. We came up with a basic concept of presenting the point of view of the student trying to get into the program and current students. I can show you what we have currently, but I thought it would be good to know more about this potential donor. So, I can incorporate more of their core values into our part to try and relate to them,” Eve said.

She felt the more she talked, the more Raven would stare, but it wasn’t an attentive stare. Eve felt that she wasn’t retaining what she was saying. On the other hand, Adam looked laser-focused on her, making her feel good. It was nice to know someone was paying attention.

“Sounds good to me. This potential donor runs a massive international firm that focuses on finance. They have predominately high-end clients.” Adam said.

“We could focus on the benefits of investing in the program because current scholars could potentially be employees. Incorporate how they would invest in the program and gain relationships with the students that could end up as a potential lawyer,” Eve said.

As she and Adam discussed ideas, she noticed that Raven was sitting quietly. She didn’t say anything. Adam must have sensed that she noticed Raven’s quietness because they tried to get her to talk.

“Raven, you know this better than either of us. What do you think of what we came up with?” He asked her. He knew she didn’t want to be there, but she still had to contribute to the conversation, especially since Professor Petrov had left her in charge.

“Huh. It’s fine. Like what I planned to talk about anyway.”

“That’s good to hear. I know you’ve already been working on this, so Tachy and I didn’t want to overstep.”

“Oh, trust and believe I wouldn’t let that happen. I understand the professor wanted you and your friend involved, but I’ve already been working on this. Why don’t you let me send you what I have? I will give you and Tachy parts to present,” said Raven.

Eve could tell she was getting more annoyed. During the event, she did come off as a little standoffish, but she was still professional. Today, she was coming off as rude. She blatantly lets her and Adam know she didn’t want to be there.

“I understand you have been working on this, but I want to contribute, especially since the professor wanted Tachy and me involved.”

“Last minute. Look, I do these things all the time. I’m a pro at this. Just follow my lead, and this will go smoothly. You’ll still be able to network. And besides, you should focus on schoolwork since the term is starting,” Raven said with a condescending tone.

Adam knew this was her way of appeasing the professor and not having to work with Eve and Tachy.

“Honey, I understand that you have been working on this for a while now, but you should listen to their ideas. It could be beneficial.”

“It could be beneficial,” she said mockingly. “Listen, I have other things I need to do. This was a last-minute thing we put together for a presentation I was already working on. We don’t have a lot of time to play with, so we might as well use what I have; Eve and Tachy can present parts of what I have.”

Eve was starting to get the bad vibes Tachy was talking about. Now, she wondered why Adam wanted them to meet. She truly believed this was a bother; what was the point?

“Raven, don’t be rude. Listen to her; she has great ideas. Plus, it’s okay not to always be in control.”

“Fine, you know what? I am not doing this today with you. I need to leave for my other engagement. Why don’t you both work on this? Can you just tell me what you’ve both come up with? I can go from there. I will hear from you later, okay? Eve,” Raven said as she gathered her belongings.

After she said bye, she got up and started walking towards the exit. Adam followed right after her. Even though they were far away, Eve could see them talking. Their expressions suggested they were having an argument.

When she finally left, Adam came back to the table with an annoyed facial expression.

“Maybe we should table this and work on it another time?” She asked him.

When Eve looked at Adam, she felt bad for him. She could see on his face that he was tired, like he had had enough, and she could see why.

“Yeah, I suppose so. And next time, Tachy can join us for her input.”

“And I take it that Raven won’t be joining us?”

“Probably not. Which might be a good thing,” Adam said. There was a long pause before he continued talking.

“Sorry about what just happened. Normally, she doesn’t act like that in front of others. As you already know, Raven is not the friendliest person. But even I’m shocked about what just happened.”
“I guess it safe to say she didn’t even want to be here in the first place? Or even meet me in general?”

“She was fine meeting you. I believe that when Professor Petrov asked you and Tachy to join in the presentation, it set her off. She likes to be in control, and at that moment, she probably felt like she had lost it.”

“Perhaps she’s right, and I should follow her lead. I wanted to add my input, but I guess I can understand that if she has already worked on something, she doesn’t want to change anything.”

Typical Raven. Now she has Eve second-guessing herself. It was bad enough that she did that to Adam.

“I think you should follow your ideas. I thought they were great. And Professor Petrov thought any different about you; he wouldn’t have extended this opportunity to you and Tachy.”

She smiled at him as a thank you. There was another awkward pause between them. Then Eve broke the ice and asked him about his relationship with Raven.

“I don’t want to pyre too much, but I get the feeling this isn’t the first time she’s talked to you like that?”

It was already bad enough that Raven performed in front of Eve, but now Eve realized that what had happened was a regular occurrence for them.

“Raven is the type of person who doesn’t shy away from how she feels. Even if it’s at the detriment of someone’s feelings.”

“I hope you don’t get offended, but you don’t seem very happy,” Eve said. She really didn’t want to pyre, but it was obvious that he was unhappy. What is the point of being in a relationship if it makes you unhappy?

Adam took a deep breath. It was nice to have someone on the outside see that not everything was good. To the public, everyone thought he and Raven had a perfect relationship, but his close friends and family knew more behind closed doors.

“I would be lying if I said I was. It wasn’t always like this. Or at least she wasn’t always like this. But over time, the nature of our relationship changed.”

“If you’re unhappy, why still be with her?”

Good question. Normal people would just break up. But Adam felt inclined to stay.

“Our families are very close. And comfortability is part of it as well.”
Both were true. With his family, they loved him and Raven because of the benefits. She’s beautiful, and her family is wealthy with a lot of influence. Especially at the university. It was the image they loved the most, not Raven.

But it was also true about comfortability. Part of him didn’t want to leave because he was attached to their life together. As his mother always told him, “Sometimes it’s easier to stay than to leave.” This was true. He did benefit from being with her, though. In addition to their relationship, they worked together, especially for university funding. Having her around would help him with business.

“But doesn’t it get tiring? I know I don’t know you that well, but what just happened reminds me of my parents. They didn’t have a great marriage. They fought a lot. To the point, it was unbearable to be in the same room with them.”

The first part of Eve’s childhood wasn’t the happiest. She felt that her mother held resentment towards her father because she felt she had to put her dreams on hold to support and be a great wife to him. Especially because her father had a huge gambling addiction that almost caused them to lose everything. Her father resented her mother because of her resentment towards him and the shame of his shortcomings, so he would start arguments. Eve always wondered when they would separate until a few years ago, her mother filed for divorce. Just seeing how at peace they were once they divorced taught Eve that she would rather be alone than be with someone who caused her grief.

“They divorced a few years ago, and they are much better people away from each other.”

“Makes sense. But my family is a little different. We tend to do what’s expected of us. Which is being with partners that benefit not only us as individuals but also our family.”

Adam grew up with parents who didn’t love or even like each other. He and Raven both came from prominent families with parents who married because it was expected of them. They stayed together all these years because it was easier to stay together than to separate.

“Well, I know that everyone’s family is different, but I just know from what I went through in my childhood I learned to value my happiness and peace of mind. Even if it meant being alone. Only you will know what’s best for you.”

She did have a point. He would have peace of mind if he ended his relationship with Raven, but he also knew that a lot they had invested in each other would be lost if they went their separate ways.

Even though he had only talked to Eve a handful of times, it felt nice to open up like this. It was nice to know that his feelings about his relationship were validated, especially from someone on the outside.

“I appreciate you listening to me. It’s nice to be able to open up about this, " he said.

“Anytime. It’s the least I can do for everything you have done for me.”

“Listen, I still want to help you with this presentation. How about we meet another time and work on getting you and Tachy’s ideas together? I will talk to Raven and figure out a way to get her to agree with both of your contributions.”

“I would like that. I’ll let Tachy know next time she can meet with us.”

They both gave each other a smile and decided to stay a little longer. They didn’t talk about the presentation but got to know each other better. It was nice learning more about the other. Even after they left, there was still a burning desire to learn more about the other. Some might say they were crossing boundaries. But to them, they just want to learn more about each other. What could possibly go wrong with that?

Chapter Text

Three months have passed since the start of the school year, and everything has been going great for Eve. The presentation went better than expected. She, Adam, and Tachy worked together, and Adam was able to convince Raven to accept their input. To Raven’s dismay, the donors loved their part of the presentation, especially Eve’s. She impressed them so much that they wanted her to meet their colleagues. It is great for boosting her network. Tachy was even able to gain an internship out of this.

Since Eve did such a great job, Professor Petrov wanted her to work more with him, Adam, and Raven in hosting events and presentations. There were even instances when Eve would present without Raven’s involvement.

Not only was Eve making a name for herself through the program, but she was able to keep up with her schoolwork. She was more than likely going to graduate with first-class honors.
Everyone was happy for Eve and her success, except for Raven. It seemed that the professor relied on her less and more on Eve. Certain projects that she would have taken over were given to Eve. Raven felt she was losing control of her position.

But what really started to piss Raven off was how much time she and Adam were spending together. Eve and Adam were working together on many events and becoming close. They would spend time working on presentations together, and Professor Petrov and Adam would take with them to important university functions. At one point, she was introduced to Adam’s family at one of the functions, and the fact that Adam’s parents liked her pissed her off even more. They loved how hard she worked in the program and her career ambitions. The fact that Eve managed to gain a genuine connection with others, which Raven was unable to do, angered her. People were able to relate to her more. She has compassion, which Raven lacks, which she knows she lacks but is unwilling to change.

Instead of looking into herself, Raven would take her frustrations out on Adam. They would fight more about small things. Whether Adam would pick a place for a date Raven didn’t like. Or wear an outfit she didn’t approve of. Or even hang out with his friends. It was the little shit that would tick her off. It was to the point that they would take breaks from seeing each other. She was coming over less and less to Adam’s. They went on fewer dates. Most of the time, they would see each other at university events.

The less time they spent together, the happier Adam was. He was getting comfortable with the idea of being separated from her. In the back of his mind, he always thought about what Eve said about happiness. It may be time to start thinking more about his happiness.

Eve and Adam decided to meet up to plan another event. The coffee shop had become their default meeting spot. They had gotten closer in the past three months. Eve would talk about school and the new people she met. Adam would talk about his relationship. They opened up more to each other and gave advice. Some might say they were getting too close, but to Eve and Adam, it was nice having someone to talk to.

“Do you have any plans for the weekend?” Eve asked him. After finishing up, they decided to stay talk.

“Raven and I are going to my family for dinner.”

“And how are things going between you two?”

“Still not well. I’ve been avoiding her as much as possible. This weekend, we will be the first time we hung out on a non-business level in a few weeks,” Adam said.

“That’s not normal to avoid your girlfriend, Adam.”

“I know, but I have to admit that it has been nice.”

Adam knew what Eve was probably thinking. What was the point of still being with her if he was so comfortable not being around her? They were technically separated at this point, so he should just rip off the band-aid and break up with her. But there was still part of him that was scared to. He knew his family wouldn’t be happy about it. It would be awkward when they still had to work together. So, he just figured at this point he would treat their relationship the way his parents treat theirs. By not being around each other.

“Well, at the end of the day, you have to do what’s best for you.”

“What about you? Do you have any plans for the weekend?” he asked her.

He was hoping she was doing something fun. One thing he learned about Eve is that she works non-stop. Either she was working on something for the program, regular schoolwork, or another school activity she was a part of. She rarely mentioned her social life.

“I’m going to hang out with Tachy, but other than that, I’m probably going to do schoolwork and do this presentation,” said Eve.

“Are you at least doing anything fun with Tachy?”

“Probably going to have lunch. I guess I should work on my social life, right? Maybe Lily will want to hang out.”

“I just want you to have some fun. You work so hard it’s okay to let loose sometimes.”

“You’re right; I should relax more.”

“I just want you to have fun.”

They both smiled at each other and continued talking. Adam enjoyed talking to Eve. It was nice being around someone that he felt comfortable opening to. She never judged or belittled him. She was kind and even gave him great advice.

Part of him felt guilty about their relationship because, deep down, he knew he was starting to like Eve. It was hard not to. She’s beautiful, smart, and kind. She was easy to be around. He felt that he could be himself around her. He didn’t get the uneasy feeling he gets when he’s with Raven. Adam knew he needed to figure out his situation with Raven because he knew he couldn’t live like this anymore. Maybe dinner with his parents would help him decide.

It was a nice day for lunch. Eve and Tachy decided to have lunch at a park near campus. It was nice being able to catch up. They both have been busy with school, the program, Tachy’s internship, and her new relationship.

“I can’t wait for the school year to be done. I could use a break,” said Tachy.

“I’m sure it’s a balancing act with your internship, schoolwork, the program, and then Bradley,” Eve said with a playful tone as Tachy blushed.

Bradley was a graduate student that Tachy met at a school event. He was in the Eidos MBA program. He was everything Tachy wanted in a man. He was tall, handsome, smart, and, as a bonus, had tattoos. Bradley and Tachy had only been dating for a few months but were a nice couple. One thing for certain was that they did not have a dynamic like Adam and Raven. He treated Tachy well and made her happy, and that was what was important to Eve.

“I must admit he’s probably the main reason I’m still sane with everything going on.”

“I know it’s only been a few months, but I really like him for you. I’ve never seen you this happy,” Eve said.

Tachy always has her guard up, so it was nice that she was able to let it down with someone she really cares about.

“He’s a good guy. Especially a good guy with good guy friends,” Tachy said while giving Eve a playful nudge.

Eve knew where this was going. Tachy wanted to set her up with one of his friends. Bradley had a friend who expressed interest in Eve, and Tachy had been trying to set them up. The guy was nice, but Eve just wasn’t interested.

“If you are talking about Theo, I already said I’m not interested.”
“I know, but you haven’t even given him a chance. You won’t even agree to a double date.”

“He seems like a nice guy, but I’m just not interested.”

“I wish you would be more open to dating Eve.”

“It’s just never been a focus of mine.”

It was true. Growing up, Eve never focused on boys. Of course, boys were interested in Eve, but she was always focused on her studies. She never had a real relationship. She had been on one or two dates with one guy, but it never went further than that.

“Would another reason that you don’t want to go on a date with Theo is because of a certain someone?” she asked. Eve already knew where this was going.

“Adam doesn’t have anything to do with my decision not to go on a date with Theo, Tachy.”

“I bring him up because I know you have been spending a lot of time together.”

“We are working together, Tachy. You know you should be more grateful to him. We wouldn’t be part of that donor presentation if it wasn't for him. And being part of that presentation did help you get your internship.”

“I understand and appreciate him for that. But I can still be weary of him. Isn’t he still with Raven?”

“Technically is, but they are still not in a good place,” Eve said.

“I’m surprised they’ve been together for this long. I don’t think I could be with her for 2 minutes, let alone years.”

“That’s their prerogative, I guess. All I can do is encourage him to do what’s best for himself.”

“Don’t you think it’s weird that he feels comfortable sharing details of his relationship? I understand talking to his guy friends. But his single female friend?”

“There is nothing wrong with venting to a friend, no matter the sex. I just feel bad for the man. I think he's so focused on pleasing others that he forgets about his own happiness.”

“You’re probably right, Eve. I still think it’s odd that he shares all of this with you.”

“I understand how it can be strange to others, but I think he talks to me because I listen. I don’t think many people truly listen to him, which can make someone lonely. I wish you would give him a chance, Tachy.”
“I don’t hate the guy. I just think he has intentions that aren’t that friendly.”

“Friendly?” Eve asked. What was Tacy getting at?

“He likes you. That’s what I mean. And you know what, I’m beginning to think you like him too,” Tachy blurted out.

It was hard to keep her feelings quiet. She already knew from the moment she met Adam he liked Eve. He was so quick to help in the program. He introduced her to a lot of influential people at the university. And just by the way he looks at her. He looks at her like he should look at Raven with desire.

The more Eve discussed Adam, the more Tachy could tell Eve was starting to fall for the guy. When she talked about him, there was a certain beam of excitement. She would talk about how great a listener he was. And how he also gave her advice as well. Such as wanting her to have more fun. She loved to boast about what a great guy he was and felt bad about his situation with Raven. Tachy could tell that when he was around them at events, Eve gave him a look of adoration. To Tachy, this was a recipe for disaster.

“What a ridiculous thing to say. Especially about a man that’s in a relationship,” Eve told her with sternness in her tone.

“A relationship he clearly hates and loves to share with you whenever he gets the chance,” Tachy said to her. There was no denying there was an attraction between the two. Other than Adam, she was worried about Raven.

“He’s just venting. And it’s not like I am encouraging him to leave her. I just tell him to do what he believes is right for him.”

“Which can be interpreted as you trying to talk him into leaving her. Or at least I can see Raven believing that.”

“I’ve never said anything negative about her to him. I only listen to him and give advice. It’s not my character to try and break up a relationship, especially theirs.”

“Eve, I know you're not that type of person. But it’s not uncommon to like someone who is around a lot. I just want you to be careful with your emotions. I just don’t want you getting hurt.”

“By Adam?”

“By Raven,” Tachy said. If Tachy was feeling this, she knew Raven had, too. Understanding the type of person she is through Adam, she will not take lightly someone else who captures her man's affection.
“I try to keep my distance from her as much as possible. Even if she wasn’t with Adam, I would still avoid her. She’s just mean.”

“Which is why you need to be careful. She seems like the vindictive type. I want you to be happy, don’t get me wrong. I just don’t want you to get entangled in some weird rich people love triangle,” Tachy said as Eve gave a slight chuckle.

“Listen, I will not get into some crazy situation. I can handle myself.”

Tachy believed her. She thought of Eve as a little sister and still had a need to want to protect her. But deep down, she knew Eve was a grown woman who could make her own decisions and handle herself.

Chapter Text

Adam and Raven were at his parents' estate for dinner. It wasn’t for a big occasion; his mother, Karina, wanted to get together and connect. This would be Adam's first time spending quality time with Raven in a while. He was hoping she would be on her best behavior since they would be around his parents. But with their current dynamic, who knew what mindset Raven would be in?

“We had a good turnout for the last fundraiser. Professor Petrov was able to raise enough funds to increase the number of applicants,” said Raven.

They were currently discussing the university, specifically the program. Adam’s father, Raphael, also called Senior, was asking many questions.

“That’s great to know. Good to know Dmitri is putting his skills to work,” Senior said.

“Professor Petrov’s program has greatly benefited Eidos,” Raven said.

Adam could tell that she was putting on an act. She always put on a façade with his family. Trying to make sure she sounds professional and polite when behind closed doors, Adam knows that’s not who Raven is.

“Of course. I know Dmitri has been hard at work trying to expand the program. To the point of having other students assist him, like your friend Eve Adam.” When Senior mentioned Eve's name, Raven almost choked on her glass of wine.

“Yes, Eve has been a great help,” said Adam.

“I’m sure she is,” Raven said in a condescending tone while taking another sip.

Adam just ignored her. He was hoping she would stick to her phony front and not act out. Hoping the mention of Eve wouldn’t cause her to act out.

“Nice girl, I like her. I admire her ambition. We need more students like her,” Senior continued to say.

Adam just wanted him to stop talking. He could see that Raven was seething the more his father talked about her.

“In fact, Dmitri said he was inviting her and some other students to the end of the year fundraiser,” Senior went on about.

The end-of-the-year fundraiser was a huge social networking event for the university. Many of the top students were invited, and they had the potential to meet influential people. Usually, only third-year students and those above get invited. This would be a first for a first-year to receive an invitation.

“How thoughtful of the professor,” Karina chimed in. She usually stays quiet during these types of discussions, so it shocked Adam when she was added to the conversation.

“How interesting, the Professor didn’t mention he was bringing her to the fundraiser. Normally, he tells me these things,” Raven said. Adam could tell she was not happy when she turned to him and asked, “Did he mention anything to you?”

“No, nothing at all,” Adam told her. He was telling the truth. The professor normally didn’t talk to Adam about these matters. Normally, Raven would be the first to hear.

“How interesting. Very interesting,” she muttered to herself.

“It’s nice to see there are still students like her,” Senior said.

“Yes, Eve is a very remarkable student. I’ve never met a student like her. Especially one that has captured the eye of the professor,” Raven said with a one that Adam could tell was sinister.

“Yeah, I guess you can say that,” Adam said while trying to figure out where Raven was going with this.

“She has become the professor’s favorite student. Always attending events with him and assisting with the program. Hell, even to the point of taking some of my duties,” she said as she was having another glass of wine. Adam could tell the wine was starting to kick in by the way she chuckled between sips. “They do spend a lot of time together. To the point that fit makes you wonder.”

Adam was starting to understand what Raven was implying. What was her end game? He understood that she wanted to destroy Eve’s reputation, but now she wanted to destroy the professor’s. He was starting to think the wine was getting to Raven’s head.

“What I’m currently wondering is the wine is starting to get to your head, honey,” Adam said to her. He could tell that she hit a nerve because she gave him an instant stare while chuckling at him.

“Oh, come on, sweetheart. You don’t think it’s odd how much the professor has taken to Eve. He has been around hundreds of students, and this is the one he’s focused on.”

It was obvious that Raven was trying to imply that Eve and the professor were having an inappropriate relationship. It would make sense in her head why Professor Petrov was giving her more opportunities, especially while taking away from Raven. However, the fact that she was disparaging not just Eve but also the professor was low for Raven. Especially in front of Adam’s parents.

“I don’t think it’s odd at all. Eve is a promising student that he wants to help. I don’t think there is any reason to assume that there is some inappropriate going on between them.”

“Of course, you would think that of the golden child of Eidos University. It’s fascinating that she is a first-year student and has managed to grab everyone's attention. Especially you, Senior. You’re such a busy man who has come across many people, but the fact is that out of all the students at this university, let alone the program, she’s the one who made an impression on you. A first-year student. I mean, who would have thought that Adam, when helping a lost student going to orientation, would have found the next golden child of this university,” ranted Raven. It was clear that the wine was getting to her head. Normally, she wouldn’t act like this in front of Adam’s parents, but now she’s going on a full rant about Eve.

“This is not the time or the place to act like this, Raven.”

“And why not? All everyone wants to do is discuss how great Eve is. She doesn’t walk on water, Adam. Then again, to you, she probably does.” Adam could sense her jealousy overcoming her. For her, it was bad enough the professor raved about, but the fact that his father was even giving Eve praises pissed her off more.

“Maybe we should change the subject,” Karina said. She could tell an argument was brewing and wanted to avoid conflict.

“Not to be rude, Mrs. Marks, I would very much not want to change this subject. You see, this is the only time I will be able to talk to Adam. He has been avoiding me for a while, avoiding me but hanging out with Eve, the golden child,” Raven ranted on.

“Because there is nothing better than being berated and yelled at by you all the time,” Adam said with a hint of anger.

“Be honest with yourself, Adam. Why don’t you be a man and have a conversation? In fact, I take back what I said about the professor because if Eve has an inappropriate relationship with anyone, it’s YOU.”

“ENOUGH, both of you,” Karina said as she slammed her hand on the table. “I just wanted to have a nice dinner. You two clearly have issues you need to talk through, but not tonight.”

She was right. It was one thing to have fights between them, but arguing in front of his parents was an all-time low. He was glad his mother cut them off when she did because he wasn’t sure he was going to stay composed and not stoop to Raven’s level.

The rest of the dinner was quiet. There was some small talk, but in others, it stayed awkward. Raven did apologize to his parents and decided it would be best to leave early. Adam was hanging out in the backyard smoking a cigarette. He needed something to calm his nerves. He knew Raven was steaming about Eve, but the fact that she would cause a scene in front of his parents was low even for her. He would never act that way in front of her family.

“I thought you quit smoking?” Karina asked him. She shocked him as she snuck up behind him.

“I need something to help distress. Especially after that scene.”

“Yeah, that was bad. I know you both are going through a rough patch; maybe you both need to sit down and have a conversation. Without an audience.”

“That would be a great idea if I wanted to have a conversation with her. Honestly, Mother, I’m over this.”

“Over what? Raven?”

“Yes, Raven. You know we haven’t been in a good for a while now, and it keeps getting worse. You saw what happened in there.”

“Relationships are work, Adam. Look at your father and me. We don’t always get along, but we have managed to make this work.”

“I’m not you or father. I’m getting tired of being unhappy.”

“Are you feeling more unhappy because of a certain girl?” Karina asked.

“What are you getting at?”

“I know Raven was intoxicated, but I know what she was hinting at. I get it; Eve is a lovely girl. But sometimes, when we’re unhappy, anyone can look good to us.”

“It’s not like that.”

“If not, then why did you approach her that day?”

“Because she was lost mother.”

“So, it had nothing to do with her being attractive?”

“Mother, please?”

“I think when people are unhappy, they have a tendency to look elsewhere.”
As much as Adam didn’t want to admit it, his mother was right. His initial attraction to Eve was based on his unhappiness with Raven. But the more their friendship grew, the more he developed genuine feelings for Eve.

“If this is your way of telling me to stay with Raven—”

“I’m not trying to convince you of anything. I understand that your father and I haven’t provided the best model for a marriage. I want you to be happy I do. But I want you to be smart. I know you and Raven haven’t been happy for a long time. It’s obvious. And you can’t avoid her forever. I don’t want you jumping into something and then realizing it’s not what you expected,” she said.

Adam knew his mother had his best interest at heart. If this were a conversation with his father, he would be telling him to work on his relationship with Raven and suck it up.

“Let us just pretend Eve wasn’t in the picture. Would you still have this burning desire to leave?”

“I know I’ve been frustrated for a long time.”

“Yeah, but you tend to be complacent because you’re a people pleaser. You don’t like letting people down, especially your father. You are content with spending less time with Raven but still staying with her because it pleases him. And now that you are spending more time with someone else, I feel that you are wondering what it would be like without Raven.”

“To be honest, I don’t know what I’m going to do.”

“I don’t want to tell you what to do because you’re a grown man. But I will tell you to do what’s best for you. I still want you to be smart in your decision, but I also want you to be happy. Make a decision that will benefit you long-term.”

His mother went back inside, leaving Adam with his thoughts. Part of him wanted to break up with Raven and start a relationship with Eve. But what if that was a mistake and would be proving his mother’s point? He had a lot to think about, but what was most important was figuring out a decision about Raven.

Adam was at the coffee shop doing classwork. The dinner was still on his mind, from the argument with Raven to his conversation with his mother. He was still trying to figure out what he wanted to do. He wanted to break up with Raven, but he thought about what his mother had said about his wanting to get out of the relationship because of Eve. He didn’t want to prove her point by jumping into something, and it was not what he expected.

As he was in his thoughts, he saw Eve enter the shop. She was by herself with her laptop. Knowing her, she was probably working on classwork or event stuff. He waved to get her attention. Once she saw him, she smiled and walked towards him.
“Fancy seeing you here,” he said as he pulled a chair for her to sit.

“Thanks. I like coming here to do work,” Eve said as she sat down.

“How was your weekend? Did you do anything fun?”

“I hung out with Tachy, went to a movie with Lily, and then had dinner with some other students from the program.”

“Sounds fun. Glad you had a good weekend.”

“I took your advice and had fun. Now I am back to work. How did your weekend go? How was the dinner?” Eve asked.

“It was eventful, let’s just say that.” Eventful wasn’t the right word, but he kept thinking about what his mother said.

“Eventful? Should I take that as good or bad?”

“Not great. We got into an argument,” Adam told Eve. He didn’t want to go into details about the argument, or the conversation with his mother. He figured it was best not to tell her everything.

“That’s not good. I’m sorry to hear that.”

“It’s fine. I’m not surprised it happened. I'm just shocked she would start one in front of my parents.”

“Oh my. What are they thinking, if you don’t mind me asking?”

“My mother did get upset; my father didn’t really show any emotions.”

“Sorry, that happened. How are you feeling about it?”

“Not sure. The funny thing about it is she apologized to my parents but not me. But then again, I am not surprised.”

Eve started thinking about her conversation with Tachy about not getting entangled in their relationship. She just felt bad for the guy. She could tell he was conflicted and wanted to help, but she also didn’t want to overstep.

“You sound tired.”

“I am. I’ve been thinking about how I want to navigate this relationship. Do I brush it under the rug like I normally do? Or am I ready to cut ties? I’m not sure yet,” said Adam.
“I know you probably don’t want to hear this, but I think you should do what’s best for you. Are you willing to stay in a relationship you’re unhappy in? Or are you ready to move on? That’s up to you.”

She was right. Adam needed to figure out what he was going to do. He was tired of living like this. But he was still thinking about what his mother told him about being smart with his decision.

“Separation is not always a bad thing. My parents separated, and they have never been happier. I understand that you don’t want to disappoint people. But at the end of the day, it’s your life. And you must be happy about the situation you’re in.”

She was right again. Like his mother said, he wants to please people, even when it’s at the cost of his happiness. But as his mother stated, he needed to make a smart decision. And for that, he needed to think about how he wanted to go about this.

“You’re right. I have a lot of thinking to do. But I think it’s time to do what’s best for me.”

Chapter Text

After talking with his mother and Eve, Adam decided about his relationship with Raven. His mother was right. He had to decide not based on infatuation, and Eve was also right that if he’s unhappy, he needs to do something about it. He had no doubt in his mind about his feelings for Eve. But even if Eve weren’t in the picture, he would still be unhappy with Raven. He had these feelings for a long time, and being around Eve made him realize even more how unhappy he was; he still felt like his decision was not based on her alone.

Adam called Raven over to his place so they could talk and try to amicably end things. He figured they would do this over dinner, and even though he was anticipating this wasn’t going to go well, he knew it was time to rip off the band-aid.

“How nice of you to invite me over. I figured you were still mad at me about your parents. But I take it because that night is why you don’t have any wine,” Raven said while eating.

“I wanted to have a serious discussion, and I didn’t want either of our minds clouded with alcohol,” said Adam.

“Of course, Adam. Anyway, I don’t know why you are still upset if this is about the dinner. I apologized to your parents already.”

“But what about me? Where’s my apology? You did embarrass me in front of my parents, Raven.” Adam could tell by the way she was slowly chewing her food that she knew he was right. Her behavior was unacceptable that night, and she should have apologized to all parties.

“You’re right. I’m sorry, Adam. It wasn’t right for me to act like that in front of your family.”

“Would you have acted like that if my parents weren’t around?” Asked Adam. He knew she would have, but he was curious what she was s going to say.

“I’m sorry, Adam. I’m sorry, okay. Is this the reason why you invited me over? To bring this up?”

“You still haven’t answered my question.”

“I don’t know. It depends on how the topic was brought up, I guess.”

“By topic, you mean Eve?”

“Listen, what is the point of this? Because if this continues, I’m going to leave,” Raven said with annoyance in her tone.

“I’m not going to lie; the dinner is part of the conversation I wanted to have. But Raven, the main topic I want to discuss is us.”
“What about us?”

There was a long pause after her question. Adam knew he had to rip off the band-aid but was still nervous when trying to do so.

“You and I have not been happy for some time now. I think it’s time we ended—”

“Are you fucking kidding me right now, Adam? Are you seriously doing this right now?” Raven asked as she interrupted him. Adam knew this wasn’t going to be easy.

“Raven, you and I both know this should have happened sooner. And before you say anything, this was not triggered by the dinner. I’m doing this because of all the issues we have.”

“What issues, Adam?”

“That’s exactly my point. You don’t see that we have issues because you don’t care to notice. You want to know why I asked you would have caused that scene if we were alone because I know you would have. You only care about what makes you happy. And you are willing to put others down to benefit yourself. The way you spoke didn’t surprise me because it’s how you always talk to me. Being nasty and belittling,” Adam went on. He could see the shock on Raven’s face. But he could tell it was more of a shock that he was ending the relationship and not about what he was telling her.

“Are you sure it has to do with me or your new friend, Eve?” she asked with a hateful tone. It wasn’t a surprise that Raven would bring up Eve. She would do anything to deflect from her faults.

“Raven, please, this is not about Eve. This is about us.”

“I’m not stupid, Adam. I see the way you look at her, how your eyes sparkle when she talks. You’ve never done that with me. And the fact that you hang out with her under the guise of ‘work.’ I should have known better to accept the offer to help her and her friend. I should have known there was another meaning for why you wanted to help them so bad,” Raven ranted. She was not going down without getting her feelings across.

“Before Eve even came into the picture, we were still having problems.”

“So, what’s your game plan after tonight? We break up, and then what? You and Eve start dating each other? I hate to break it to you, but people will talk. They will talk about breaking up. And adding Eve to that won’t help either of your reputations. They’ll start to speculate when you both started dating, and they will put two-and-two together. It’s probably what the little skank is hoping for.”

“Seriously, Raven. Who gives a shit what others think. I want to be happy, and right now, this is not happiness.”

“You know what, Adam, you win for now, but this is not over. I know you will be back. Whether you like it or not, you care about what others think. And others, including your father, will not be happy about this,” Raven said as she got up to get her things to leave.

As much as Adam was trying to avoid this conversation, he knew this was a long time coming. His conversations with Eve and his mother helped assure him this was the best decision. The worst-case scenario would have been him marrying Raven, and they both would have been miserable. And he was going to prove her wrong about him caring about what others thought because he was going to start worrying about his own happiness, not others.

Just as Raven was about to leave, Adam wanted to say one last thing to her. “Honestly, Raven, I’m okay with that. I’m tired of pretending that everything is okay when it’s not. Because at the end of the day, it’s time for me to worry about my happiness. And not others at the expense of mine.”

The summer term had come quickly. It had been a few months since Adam’s and Raven’s breakup. People were shocked he ended the relationship, especially his father. His mother wasn’t surprised since they had their talk. Senior, at first, was trying to get Adam and Raven back together, especially because of the ties they had with her family. But once he saw that Adam was going back, he gave up on his efforts.

Adam wanted to focus on his professional and personal life. He was still working on duties for the university. He still helped with the program with Eve and Raven. But he was also making time for himself. He had more free time to hang out with his friends. Since he was single, he went out on a few dates, but they never evolved into anything serious. It's probably because he still thinks about Eve.

He didn’t automatically ask Eve out because he wanted to see if what he felt wasn’t infatuation, especially since his mother warned him about breaking up with Raven based on that. He knew if he went straight to Eve, Raven would have a field day.

Speaking of Raven, she was not taking their breakup well. Even though they still worked together and stayed professional, there were times she took jabs at him. This was funny because she made a snarky comment one moment, but then she reached out to him in private, trying to get back together. Raven was all about keeping up the façade, and the fact that Adam essentially ruined it by breaking up with her made her angry. Especially because Adam wasn’t crawling back to her like she thought. But to Adam, none of that was his concern. For once, he felt like he could breathe better.

For once in his life, Adam was focused on himself, and part of that was coming to terms with his feelings. He decided to text Eve so they could meet and catch up. They have been so focused on work that they didn’t talk that much about personal, to the point that it had become slightly awkward between them. She already knew they weren’t together, but as far as that, they didn’t have the conversations they used to. Adam wanted to catch up and hopefully address the elephant in the room.

Adam and Eve decided to meet at the coffee shop. It had become their work spot, so they thought it would be easy to meet up there.

When he arrived, he saw that Eve was already waiting for him. When she saw him come in, she smiled and waved him in her direction.

“Thanks for meeting at such short notice,” Adam said as Eve handed him a cup of coffee.

“No problem, I’m glad you texted me to hang out,” said Eve.

“Yeah, I figured the only times we’ve hung out was program-based. I thought it would be nice to catch up and talk like we used to.”

“How nice of you. There is nothing new with me. As you probably already know, I am still focused on school and the program. How about you?”

“Nothing much. Just focused on school and work.”

“You sound just as eventful as me,” Eve said with a chuckle.

“Yeah, I guess you can say that. Just trying to stay busy after the breakup.”

“I’ve figured as much. Glad you are putting yourself first.”

“I’m glad to.” There was a small moment of silence. Adam wanted to clear the air and have a serious talk with Eve. “Listen, Eve, I really appreciate the talks we’ve had. Hell, they even inspired me. I know I haven’t been fair to you since.”

“What are you talking about?”

“I know we don’t talk like how we used to. I don’t want you to think that I was trauma-dumping on you, and then once everything changed, I was done. I guess you can say I needed time to think.”

“Think about what?” she asked.

“Just time to think about how I want to move forward.”

“Well, I figured you were moving forward already.”

Eve was alluding to Adam dating around. He could sense a sarcastic tone when she mentioned it.

“Yeah, figured I would go out and try to keep my mind off of things.”

“By things, do you mean Raven? I ask because she has been talking to others in the program about the two of you.”

“Yeah, she hasn’t taken the breakup,” Adam said with slight dismay.

“So, I’ve heard. I also heard she wants to work it out with you.”

“That’s not happening at all.”

“That’s good to hear. You do seem much happier,” Eve said, smiling at him.

Adam’s nerves were starting to come up. He wanted to tell her how he felt, hoping she wouldn’t reject or be upset with him based on how he had been handling their friendship. He wanted some distance to see if his feelings were real or an infatuation. He wasn’t trying to hurt Eve on purpose.

“I am thanks to you.” There was another awkward pause until Adam decided to break the silence. “I did ask you to come meet me here for a reason. Not only to catch up.”

“I had a feeling there was something more for this meeting.”

“I mentioned how things changed between us once I broke up with Raven. There was a reason for that. Since we had been working together, we got close. And I’ve told you about my relationship with Raven to the point that it was probably inappropriate. But part of me did that because I enjoyed talking and hanging out with you. I’m not going to lie. At first, I thought it might be an infatuation, especially because I was in a bad place, Raven. I am trying to say that I like you more than a friend, Eve.

Adam could tell on Eve’s face it was a lot to take in. He figured Eve wasn’t expecting a confession from him. He didn’t want to freak her out but wanted to get this off his chest.

“If you like me, why were you going on dates?”

“I figured once I broke up with Raven, I would test myself to see if my feelings were real. And they are. None of those girls compare to you. I know this might sound corny, but there is a connection between us that I’ve never had with anyone else. Hell, I even felt it the moment I met you.”

“Which is why you offered to help me in the first place. Even introducing me to Raven?” Eve asked.

“Yes, it probably sounds sleazy, but my feelings grew stronger once we hung out more, working together. I know it’s a lot to take in. And I understand if you are not happy with me—”

“I’m not unhappy. I’m quite the opposite.”

“Really? You mean you—”

“I like you too. A lot. To the point that Tachy noticed, but I never wanted to admit anything out of respect for Raven. That’s why I don’t blame you for the distance; I was also keeping mine. I still wanted to respect Raven, even though she wasn’t kind to me. However, as a woman, I didn’t want to go straight for her ex the moment you both broke up.”

This was putting Adam at ease. It was nice to know that his feelings were reciprocated.

“I thought you were all about doing what makes you happy?” Adam asked her.

“Yeah, but like you, I care about what others think, and in this case, it was Raven.”

“Even after our talks and your advice?”

“That’s different. I was encouraging you to do what’s best for you. It just wouldn’t look right that I would go for you once you broke up with her, knowing I gave you advice that aided in the breakup of your relationship with her.”

“Well, we have been broken up for a few months now. What’s stopping us from giving this a try? Let’s forget the noise and focus on what makes us happy.”

“You are corny,” Eve said with a chuckle. He was right, though. She needed to practice what she told him. People need to do what makes them happy, and acting on her feelings for Adam makes her happy. Why not?

“I know. But in all seriousness, I would like to see how this goes. So how about this? Why don’t I take you out this weekend for dinner? Let’s just see where this takes us?” Adam asked Eve.

“On a date?” Eve asked with slight hesitation.

“Yes, silly. On a date. Maybe I should ask in a better way. Eve, would you like to have dinner with me this weekend?”

There was a small moment of silence. Ever wanted to take this all in? He was right, though; they should do what makes them happy and not worry about what others will think. She needed to practice what she preached to Adam.

“I would like that very much,” she said with a smile.

They both smiled and continued to catch up. There was a sense of relief for both to admit their feelings for each other. Of course, they were going to take this slow and not rush into anything, and they didn’t know what was in store for them. But they were both excited for what was next to come in their relationship.