Euonia

Eva Calderon. 31. Philanthropist.

[evacalderon]

joaquin-aleman​:

Joaquín wasn’t particularly surprised whenever she didn’t say much. It was a lot of information to take in. She’d been in the dark for seven years. Maybe now she’d finally understand why he wanted to keep his distance. They weren’t compatible. Things had escalated between the both of them in recent months, but Joaquín had every intention of cutting things off as cleanly as possible. Only Eva was adamant, and she demanded answers – so Joaquín gave them to her. 

“Take your time.”

Joaquín dug into his coat pocket, pulling out a cigarette and a lighter. Might as well smoke while he waited for… whatever happened next. A breakdown. Anger. Yelling. He didn’t know, and that was fine. He wasn’t going to tell her more, though. Not until she was ready, not until she asked for more. That was enough to start with.

So Joaquín popped the cigarette in between his lips, lighting it in the opposite direction of Eva.

Process. She needed to process what information had been given only after months of questions. Questions asked after long hours spent in the dark. Never a straight answer from him until confronted for what would be the last time. Would she regret wanting answers from him? Regret the bare minimum of knowledge she now possessed? She had wanted all of him but all of him was dark and she strove towards the light. 

Eva walked away from Joaquín. Distance between them providing some relief to her constructed lungs and throat that burned from holding everything in. She couldn’t yell at him. Couldn’t be angry at him for doing exactly what she asked of him. Eva had wanted an answer for why he said one thing and did the opposite. Why there was had been more than just a physical distance between the two of them. 

How many? How long? Could she handle the answers to the questions her mind tried so hard to wrap itself around. She had seen the good he was capable of. The acts of charity his family accomplished. . . But the more she looked back on it all the more she questioned if all of it was just for show. Did Joaquín truly care about those things? If not, then he couldn’t care about her too. Not when her line of work was in direct opposition to his’.   

“Do you ever mean any of it?” Eva’s back to him as she stared up at the distance, dark night with her arms tightly wrapped around her. “The good deeds, the kind words, the compassion and charity that you give? Is one version of you a front for the other or is enjoyment found in this duality? Seven fucking years of feelings and I cannot even say for certain if you ever even cared about me.”  

[evacalderon]

noah-sinclair​:

“Eva,” Noah repeated, holding up his own shot glass as if to toast for her. “I’m Noah,” he said. Eva seemed like a good time. She was gorgeous, and Noah would be an idiot if he didn’t try sticking close to her for the rest of the night. 

He knocked back the shot, waiting for the server to pass by again to replace his empty glass with a fresh one. In the mean time, he’d focus on Eva. 

“Are you friends with the birthday girl?” 

It was his own way of asking if she was affiliated with the Costellos. The last thing that he needed was to get fucked up by Costello security again, but she was gorgeous – he wasn’t sure that it’d even matter if she was.

.

“Nice to meet you, Noah.” A smile on her lips as she raised her shot in the air and then proceeded to down it. The straight liquored burned as it went down but it wouldn’t be enough to stop her from taking another if she got her hands on one. 

Tonight was about not thinking but feeling and the one driving feeling she had was to dance once more. Eva slowly started to ease back into what she had been doing before Noah showed up. Not that she minded his presence in the slightest. He could stay the entire time and she would not mind. 

“Me? No, no.” Eva replied. “I mean, we socialized once before but that is it. Still not entirely sure how I got invited unless I made a lasting impression.” Eva was not about to ask Chanel today of all days. There were more individuals here who knew her better and could occupy her time. “What about you, Noah?” His name not sounding bad on her lips. “Are you friends with the woman of the hour?”

[evacalderon]

joaquin-aleman​:

There was no right way to phrase anything, and there was no backing out of things now. Joaquín had made the decision to tell her everything, and he had to follow through. 

“Gabriel and I didn’t have the best life growing up. There was never enough money. We had to find different ways to survive,” he began, knowing there was no way of easing into things. It didn’t matter – there was no justifying everything they’d done to get to where they are. “He built an empire. Trafficking drugs, weapons – we expanded into California. And we came to Chicago to take what the Costellos and Sinclairs have.”

Joaquín let the admission hang in the air for a few moments. He braced himself for whatever reaction she might’ve had. It was a big risk, telling Eva. She could’ve gone to the police, made this especially difficult for Joaquín, who loved her.

“I do bad things to people, Eva. I’ve killed before. I’ll have to kill again. That’s the kind of life I’ve been keeping from you.”

Eva had some inclination of his life through what the press had written about them over the years. Their life, like so many others, was not stacks of cash, yachts and expensive things. Survival was normal; Eva rationalized that in her head. She didn’t know what to expect but it certainly was not what came next. 

Trafficking drugs, weapons. The realization began to sink in any rationalization she could have made was gone. Too tongue tied to speak -her head and her heart tripping and fighting one another- she silently listened and let the images long absorbed through years of a twisted media known as film and television implanted images her head of the life that he led. 

To take what the other two families had meant that they two lived a double life. One photogenic and the other hidden away. There was more in this city, more than she’d have ever thought possible. A life like this was more fiction than reality. The age of mobs and mafias, which is what this all sounded like to her, was no longer at its height. Eva had never thought herself as naive but maybe she was. The harsh reality of cartels was one she knew of through second hand stories but it was never her reality. Until now.

She needed to sit. No. She needed to pace back and forth over this. No. Her feet were rooted to the spot where she stood. This wasn’t happening. Eva had spent a lifetime fighting against this. . . Someone like him. While it never made up the bulk of her causes it was always there. A shadow that lingered on anyone or anything that knew of the brutality that followed a cartel, a mob or whatever name they gave to this. 

Her entire world, the one she had built with the Aleman family, with him was crumbling around her. The drug trafficking had her stomach churning. The weapons trafficking had her head spinning. Joaquín’s admission, ‘I do bad things to people, Eva. I’ve killed before. I’ll have to kill again’, left her empty and cold. 

Out of all the things she could have said after his confession -which is what that was, a confession of doing bad things to people. She expressed what she needed. What her body thought it could not have after the blow dealt. “I need some air.” An odd thing to say considering they were standing outside under the night sky but for Eva she felt the strong and consuming grip of the weight of his words around her throat. Joaquín has killed and he’ll have to do it again. 

[evacalderon]

tristan-sullivan​:

Had Tristan ever seen Eva this wasted? Probably not. He watched as she stumbled over towards his table, almost spilling her drink. She took a seat, demanding that he let her try some cake. He raised a brow, shoveled some more into his mouth. He was … debating. He really loved this cake, and sharing it would mean that there’d be less for him. 

“Don’t know what kinda cake this is, but it’s amazin’,” Tristan declared, smiling happily as he stared down at the three slices. “I also don’t know if I can share. It’s special. It’s mine. I worked hard for it.”

Tristan sighed. He slid her a plate. 

“You owe me. ‘Cause I was gonna eat the shit out of that.”

.

“But we’re friendss. Friendsies share cake.” Eva cheered as the cake was slid towards her. 

“Thank you! You’re the best!” She leaned in then and placed a kiss upon Tristan’s cheek. The cake was everything and more that she had hoped it would be. Decadent, moist, chocolate the dominant flavor that melted on her mouth. “I think they’re right.” The fork in her hand spinning in the air close to her. “This is better than sex.” 

It was better than what she was getting which was zip zero. “You’re sooo kind, Tristy.” Another forkful of the cake shoved into her mouth. Eva was so content she relaxed more into her seat and closed her eyes until she finished that bite. “You’re a man, Tristy.” She wagged her finger at him. “Tell me why men are idiots. You’re not an idiot.” A fit of laughter. “You’re not an idiot but you’re funny. You’re my Jolly Green Giant.” Eva was rambling and to combat that she shoved more cake in her mouth. Eva could eat the entire cake this slice came from and it would do little to absorb the alcohol in her system. It might have just made things worse. Sugar high could be added on to the state she was in. 

“I hate men but I love one of them. Idiot. Big grumpy idiot.” 

[evacalderon]

noah-sinclair​:

A hot blonde dressed like… Shakira? Well. Noah was off to a good start. He had a few drinks in his system, and he’d never been shy about dancing, anyway. Although the style of music was certainly outdated, it was manageable. He danced along with the blonde, but the floor was crowded, and he was shoved a few steps closer to her than intended. He stared down at her, smirking somewhat apologetically.

“I’d say I was sorry, but –”

Still, Noah kept his hands to himself. He wasn’t a creep. There was a server making her rounds through the crowd of people. He pulled two shots off the tray.

“We can trade. A shot for your name?” He said, offering her the glass.

.

Bumper cars more accurately described the space that the two inhabited. One minute Eva had room to freely move and the next she was doing her best not to stumble into someone else. At least she wasn’t wearing heels.

Finding herself closer to him she resisted the urge to break eye contact and out more space between them. "But you’re not.” Eva finished for him. "I wouldn’t call that fair. You get my name but I don’t get yours.” Better to have this one’s name on her mind than that of another. 

Eva felt bold tonight, self assured. She took a half step closer to him and let her fingers lingering on his hand before she wrapped them around the shot glass. “It’s Eva.“ A smirk on her lips as she gently pried the shot glass offered from his hand. “I wont drink the shot till I learn yours.”

[evacalderon]

sofixcostello​:

“Oh, Chanel works for my family,” Sofia said. “She’s the best. Honestly a life savior; or, I guess a reputation savior?” she giggled, thinking of all the work the blonde did to keep her family’s reputation clean. The Costellos certainly didn’t make her job easy.

“She’s basically like another sister at this point,” she added. “If you’re planning on working with her, you’re in luck. She’s very dedicated.”

“You’re a Costello then.” It had been staring her right in the face and she still didn’t see it. She was two for two on not recognizing a Costello family member off the bat. It could have been four for four if her and Mia had not had a conversation after her donation at the charity event and if Luca Costello’s face had bot been printed in every major newspaper and tabloid following his wife’s disappearance. 

“I am sure Chanel is flattered to be thought of so highly by you. Her portfolio was impressive when I had the opportunity to view it. I shall have to see if I have the opportunity to work with her. I am currently running the Aleman Family’s charity and helping with a-” Eva’s fingers snapped together before she placed the palm of her hand on her forehead. 

“Sofia Costello.  Alondra, one member of the Aleman family I work for and alongside, and I are working on something that she thought of you for. I’ll let her approach you and give you the details if she has not already done so but wow, I can’t believe it took me this long to put two and two together.” It was the copious amounts of alcohol in her system that prevented her from doing so. 

[rogerdeakinsdp]

Ana de Armas behind the scenes of Orishas’ “Everyday”

[evacalderon]

sofixcostello​:

Sofia didn’t recognize the blonde she offered alcohol to, but if she was in attendance, she was probably someone friendly to the family. Might as well share. It’s caring, right? Sofia handed the woman the bottle and smiled.

“I’m Sofia, by the way. It’s nice to meet you; how do you know Chanel?”

.

Eva took a swig from the bottle that had been handed to her. A smile on her lips followed by a thank you before she handed it back. Sofia, Sofia, Sofia. She internally recited the young woman’s name so she would not forget it come morning. “I’m Eva. How do I know Chanel?” It is not as if the two were best friends. More like business acquaintances? Kind of sort of? “Work.” Eva went with the simplest explanation as to not cause her brain to think too much on how well she did but did not know Chanel. “I was helping, or going to possibly help, her with some events in the future.” That was what that meeting was about, right? The more alcohol she consumed the more fuzzy memories became. 

“How about?” Eva asked not recognizing or knowing most in attendance due to a number of factors. The top three being the costumes, alcohol and not venturing out as much as she should have since arriving in Chicago.

[evacalderon]

tristan-sullivan​:

Tristan was pretty drunk – drowning his sorrows and all that. His friends, like everyone else at the party, were on the dance floor, going absolutely insane every time another iconic song played. Tristan didn’t feel like dancing. He felt like wallowing in his own sadness, which he didn’t like. But he had a solution to that problem. Cake. He snuck three platefuls away from a table. There was a lot of it, anyway, and no one would miss an extra slice or two that he’d taken! 

Tristan shoveled another forkful of icing into his mouth. He closed both eyes, smiled in a drunken, endearing way. Sweet, delicious, creamy – maybe the best icing he’d ever had in his life! He felt someone approach, but he didn’t look up. 

“Hold on,” he slurred. “Havin’ a moment. This might be the best thing I’ve ever had in my life.”

Eva had not stopped moving since she arrived at the event. Breaks were not a thing nor was providing her body with what she needed and should be having. Water. The once drink of choice thrown out the window in exchange for anything she could get her hands on that would stop the hamster on the wheel known as her mind from spinning out of control. 

Her hand swiped the last drink on the tray that passed her. “I’ll take that.” She said with a smile. There was a sway to her step and unfortunately it was not the music that had her off kilter. “Oops.” A giggle as she nearly spilt her drink on the passed out individual on the floor. That should have sent up red flags but instead she stepped over them and wished them sweet dreams. 

“Is that the Better Than Sex cake that everyone has been raving about!” Eva excitedly pointed at the cake before she tried to sit down with some grace but instead landed hard on the seat. “Come on JOLLY GREEN GIANT-” Eva’s voice obnoxiously loud for her. “-you have to let me try it! It keeps vanishing every time I go to the table where it lives.”

[evacalderon]

noah-sinclair​:

Noah wasn’t exactly sure why he’d shown up at Chanel’s birthday party (or how he was invited, honestly), but he wasn’t going to pass up the opportunity to have some fun. Maybe cause some trouble, if he felt like it. Somehow, he’d been roped into listening to some poor bastard rant on and on about his love life, and how his girlfriend of three years had just left him. Noah empathized, he really did, but he was there to have a good time. And this was really depressing. 

“Dude, yeah, I feel ya. It sucks. Hey, I’m gonna grab us some more drinks, you hang tight.”

Noah had no intention of making his way back. He walked away from the man, buried himself in a crowd of people, and looked for a better source of entertainment for the night.

.

Eva watched as some guy made his way through the crowd of people whose bodies had pressed closer together as the music was turned louder. Did he not realize what crowd he had gotten himself into? No would be the answer as he seemed to stand still while everyone else almost perfectly synced together and in rhythmic time with the music. “You know that you’ve just walked into the middle of the dancing zone.” Eva strained her voice to be heard over the music as she approached him. “Unless you want to be crushed by moving bodies I suggest you start moving your hips.”

[evacalderon]

joaquin-aleman​:

Walking away seemed like the easiest thing to do, but Joaquín knew that wasn’t the case. Being cold to her wasn’t easy by any means, but neither was discussing all of this out in the open. While the streets remained relatively empty, Joaquín still felt out of his element. She was right – he didn’t have a right to dictate how this played out. She had a say in it, too, and the least that Joaquín could do was hear her out. 

“I’m just not any good at things like this,” he began, balling his hand into a fist. “I wouldn’t know how to be good for you.” 

I wouldn’t know how to love you the right way. 

If she knew the truth – would she be able to handle it? She might walk away. And maybe that’d be for the best. It’d certainly make things easier for Joaquín, no matter how badly it might’ve hurt. However, this was a conversation that needed to happen somewhere else. 

“We should talk privately.”

She had every option to decline, but she didn’t. Joaquín led them both across the street, to his vehicle, and once he started driving, he drove towards his new home – it was unfurnished for the most part, unfinished, and isolated. But there was a garden in the back – it was quiet there, and it felt far enough away from the rest of the world. Joaquín didn’t say anything the entire drive over. She was probably used to that by now. He was gathering his thoughts rather than avoiding her intentionally.

Joaquín parked his vehicle in the driveway, helping Eva out of the passenger’s seat. Instead of going inside, he led the way to the gate on the side. The lighting from the driveway tore through the openings in the fence. 

“I can’t be selfish with you because there are a lot of things that you don’t know about me. Or my brother. I’m gonna tell you. And everything’s gonna be different.”

.

If this was all a matter of him not knowing how to be good for her and not being good at these things he should have spoken sooner. She would have squelched the hesitation and his doubts from their beginning. If they even have a beginning. “Joaquín.” His name tender on her lips as she tries to find the right words to say to him. The words she searched for were left in the recess of her mind at his next words. 

What could be more private than this? She wanted to ask him as she thought he was once more trying to avoid the subject at hand. One quick glance around reminded her that though they were alone on a street it was not private. Not when any of their colleagues, those in attendance or even the staff of the orphanage could walk out for a break and listen to their conversation. 

Eva agreed to go somewhere else to talk and let him take her to where ever he intended without uttering another word. She was use to his silence while her’s was out of character. She hoped for answers rather than excuses when the two arrived to a home with no life to it except for the flowers that fought to bloom in the dark. They were so much like her. 

She stood there wondering, letting the isolation of this place take root as she continued waiting to hear what Joaquín finally had to say to her. “Your brother? You?” Her brow quirked at his cryptic phrase. “Of course there is a lot I don’t know about you or him. You are not the most forth coming with information, even basic knowledge that most people have about each other.” Eva took in a deep breath and bit her tongue from saying how he could possibly know things were going to be different. There he goes again trying to dictate how things play out. 

A deep breath in instead of letting out the sigh that remark deserved she would say her final words before she listened to him, “Okay. Why will everything be different once you tell me what I don’t know about you and your brother?”

[evacalderon]

sofixcostello​:

Sofia loved her outfit; being one of Chanel’s Spice Girls for the evening was a blast. Especially because Sofia was Baby. Feeling cute and bubbly in her hand-made replica outfit and pigtails, she downed liquor like it was water. Though, as a birthday present for the woman of honour, Sofia was sure she wouldn’t get into too much trouble for the woman to deal with come morning.

No kissing Sinclairs. That was a promise.

She was drinking from the bottle when she felt an energy approach. Startled, Sofia pulled the bottle from her lips and laughed with a shrug. “Want some?”

.

Sapphire was more enjoyable than she gave the place credit for. Maybe it was because its normal patrons were gone, the security was handling those who were getting out of hand better than last time or she wasn’t falling into the lap of someone she still could not get out of her head.

Eva had not stopped dancing -what a surprise- since she arrived and her newly dyed blonde hair allowed her the freedom she had not realized she had been restricting herself from feeling since she moved to Chicago. Blondes did have more fun, a little too much if her past experience as one showed her. 

Eva brushed her curly, long locks of hair out of face as caught her breath after leaving the dance floor. “Oh, you are asking me?” Her gaze looked towards the young woman dressed as Baby Spice then to the bar and back again to her. Caution was definitely thrown out the wind tonight as she accepted the other’s offer. “Why not. Saves me from having to push through the crowd that has remained at the bar since this event started.” 

[evacalderon]

Eva Calderon attends as Shakira to Chanel Albright’s 29th Birthday 90s/00s Costume Party hosted by Mia Costello at Sapphire August 1, 2020. 

[evacalderon]

joaquin-aleman​:

Seeing Eva explode like that was a first. Joaquín had pushed her over the edge. The scolding was well deserved. Still, it didn’t stop his face from burning hot, fiery red. Joaquín was reserved, private, and discussing things like this so openly – in front of so many – it was uncomfortable. He clenched his jaw, tightening a hand into a fist as he just stood there and took it. He didn’t dare look away from Eva, didn’t dare eye the people who had obviously been staring, despite their best attempts to be casual about what was going on. Joaquín did his best to process things as Eva walked away from him, storming out onto the street. He cleared his throat, adjusted his tie, before walking out of the building without a glance at anyone else. 

He had already funneled an obscene amount of money into this place. They could do without him for the rest of the evening. 

His heart was pounding, his chest riddled with anxiety and… something else. Finally, he caught up to Eva, gently grabbed her arm, turning her to face him. He didn’t say anything for a moment – and the look on his face could very well be misconstrued for pure anger. But there was something else simmering beneath the surface, evident in his eyes. She’d recognize it.

“You have every right to be upset with me.”

Joaquín didn’t feel any less nervous away from the crowd. Eva had that effect on him. Somehow, facing her was more frightening than an entire group of people. Loving someone did that to him – made him weak. 

“I meant everything that I said to you, but – there’s a lot that you don’t know. I can’t be selfish with you. I wanted to end things before you got hurt.” 

Clearly, that backfired, because now she was angry and hurting, and it was all his fault. 

“I shouldn’t have started anything,” Joaquín admitted, finally letting go of her arm. “It’s better this way. You can hate me.”

Fire still ran through her veins as she met the night’s cool breeze. He made her so angry with how he always stood and acted like a statue. Cold with every detail expertly chiseled into the stone but without life and feeling. Her fingers found the bridge of her nose and pinched away the words that threatened to ring out into the street. 

A gentle hand on her arm had her turning back towards the building and the man she stormed out on. Though the silence between did more damage than his words the fire inside was slowly extinguishing inside of her. Her arms rose and hands bawled into fists as one last attempt to hold onto whatever fight she had left inside of her. Eva could not hold onto it, not with his last words to her.  

“Don’t. Don’t tell me I have the right to feel this way. If you meant what you said then why all of this back and forth? Changing your words and mind? Of course there is a lot I don’t know. You have never communicated anything to me that wasn’t work related. Seven years I have known you and the past few months is the most personal information I have ever gotten out of you. You learned more about me in those years than I did of you and you said you loved me during all of that time. You fell in love with what you saw, heard and learned. I fell in love with a cranky ass whose silent showed me more of him then your words now do.” Her arms fell down at her sides like deflated balloons. 

“You don’t want to be selfish with me? What does that even mean, Joaquín? You are being selfish by thinking only of yourself and dictating how this, whatever it is, plays out. This isn’t a game of chess to calculate.” Her hands pressed against her chest. “This is your heart and mine you are playing with.” 

She wanted to pound her fists against his chest for putting her through this. For putting himself through this. How cruel can be to their own heart to no longer acknowledge its existence? No matter how much she wanted to strike him or yell at him once more she could not. If she gave into the fire again she’d burn herself first before she ever burned him. 

“That’s the thing, Joaquín, I cannot hate you no matter how hard I could try to. Love and hate may go hand in hand but love is the only hand I choose to hold.”  Arms crossed against her chest she looks down at the ground and no longer meets his eye. 

“I wish you would be honest with me. What is stopping you from not fully acting upon what you have just confirmed you meant and is true? I should know what is breaking both of our hearts.”

[evacalderon]

alondraxaleman​:

“Perfect,” Alondra replied, beckoning over the head chef to put in an order. With their food being prepared, Alondra guided Eva to a seat at a table in the bar area so they could have a more formal chat about work. “I’ve been thinking of a fashion show fundraiser,” she said. “Bring in local talents like Sofia Costello with Rose Couture.” Alondra smirked, cogs spinning in her pretty little head. “What do you think about that?”

Eva could picture what the show would like, aside from the designers and what they chose to show, everything else fell into place in her mind. She became silent as the ideas and endless possibilities in her head took off like that of a train barreling down its tracks. When ideas struck she grew silent and reached into her bag for the leather bound notebook she kept in there for occasions such as these. 

Eva wrote fast, jotting down what came to her mind before she gave her thoughts on the fundraiser to Alondra. Advertising the fundraiser would be easy, the Aleman name had started to carry its own weight in Chicago now. Reaching out to a local garment group, if the city had one, and universities that gave fashion design, technology and merchandising as a degree  there would be a slew of local talent who would jump at the opportunity to showcase there work. . . And if there wasn’t a garment group then this fundraiser could also by a tie in to a Chicago garment group, name can change, that the Aleman family, specifically Alondra, could head. 

“I think this is a brilliant idea, Alondra.” Eva followed her statement with a broad grin. “You could tie this fashion show into a nonprofit based around the very concept. Hear me out on this, what if along with fashion show you create a haven or hub for designers where guest lecturers, speakers and a full time staff mentor and work with designers as they either begin their journey of creating/conceptualizing a brand to life or help designers who have a brand make it marketable to buyers for department stores and boutiques as well as help assist with their brand development, business plans, pitches and so much more. The fashion show could become an annual fundraiser where the designers a part of the nonprofit group showcase their work. What do you say to that? Your name attached to this that provides education and opportunities for Chicago's fashion community and cut & sew manufacturers of all industries.”

[evacalderon]

You're Invited to Chanel Albright's 90s/00s Themed Birthday Extravaganza!

August 1, 2020. 7:00PM. Sapphire. Come dressed as the VIP pass says or you will not be admitted to the event nor permitted anywhere near Sapphire. 

xx

Mia 

[evacalderon]

joaquin-aleman​:

If Eva knew what was good for her – she’d just let him walk away. He was already heading towards the exit whenever he heard her call out his name. He clenched a fist, turned around to face her. There were people around – this wasn’t an appropriate time for a discussion like this. And she deserved an explanation, whether Joaquín felt like giving her one or not. Eva was… Eva, and she was good and kind and she’d done a lot for his family. 

This was somewhat of a defining moment for Joaquín. He could be cold, harsh – insist that it’d all been meaningless. A mistake. Or he could give in, tell her how he felt… 

“I don’t think this is an appropriate setting to discuss all of this.” 

He could blow her off. Yeah, that seemed easier. Still, his voice was calm, polite – a little too formal. 

“We’re both here for work. Let’s keep it that way.”

Joaquín sighed, glanced at the exit once more. He didn’t want to burn bridges, but he didn’t want to encourage anything, either. Eva had to let him go – there was too much that she didn’t know. About him. About what he did for a living. It’d only complicate things further, no matter how badly he loved her. No matter how badly he wanted to indulge in his own feelings.

But, no matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t quite be as firm as he wanted to be. Pathetic. At the end of the day, he cared about her – more than he’d ever cared for another woman before. They’d been going back and forth for months now, and it was time this was resolved. Joaquín had to try to end things before they escalated. He’d find a way to let her down gently. 

“I shouldn’t have kissed you,” he finally said, voice soft, his eyes focusing on hers. The guests moved around the pair, entirely unaware of what was being said. “I shouldn’t have done anything. It wasn’t fair to you.”

That was all that he could give her – for now. He eyed a known associate, giving them a polite nod, before he focused his gaze on Eva once more. 

Her fists clenched against her sides before her hand raised between the two of them. It was once more a case of deja vu. How many times had they done this; had he done this? Say one thing but mean another. And mean another but say one thing. An endless maze she was left to navigate. A broken record that skipped and cooed until a hand moved the pin from the scratched disc. 

A smile forced smile formed on her lips as she heard steps near them and looked at Joaquín. It was then that she decided that she was bulldozing her way out of the labyrinth, the loop and the record. 

“Bullshit.” Her vexed voice carried across the room where the two stood. “Bullshit, bullshit, bullshit.” She squared up to him as the same curse continued to be repeated. “You are so full of shit, Joaquín.”  She thrust her index finger at him.“This is not an appropriate setting then? Where is? Is it my home? Is it your home?” Her voice rose in octave. “It is certainly not work where you refuse to acknowledge my existence outside of a professional level and any chance I may have to try and talk to you like civilized adults is brushed off in a no nonsense manner or I get this shit from you.” 

This mother fucking- Eva could scream over this. She had tried to broach the subject in a calm manner, a pleasant manner but here she was left once more feeling whiplash over is incapability to be honest with her and himself from what she was gathering. He is a piece of - this was the most amount of curses that had both been thought by her in a single exchange and spoken aloud. 

“You want an appropriate setting to talk then fucking follow me-” Eva pushed past him and had her hand on the door as she whipped her head around to look at him. “-or don’t . Because no matter what you seem to say you mean something else entirely.” With a forceful shove she opened the exit and walked out of the building.