"Let's break up, Evie."
Her blue eyes narrowed in disbelief, heart pounding as she absorbed the message.
Cold and unforgiving.
Break up?
How could this possibly be happening?
****
It was a typical morning in Evie's workspace, the clock striking ten as she sat confidently at her desk, video call in progress with a client. The woman on the screen wiped away tears furiously, and Evie maintained her composure, giving her the space she needed.
The woman blew her nose loudly into a tissue, and Evie pressed her lips into a firm line.
"I'm sorry—I'm just so heartbroken right now," the client said, her tear-streaked face reflecting a mix of despair and vulnerability.
Evie met her gaze and replied, her voice steady, "I understand. Take a moment, but know that we're going to do this together."
The woman nodded gratefully, grabbing another tissue to dry her eyes. Once she regained some control, Evie leaned in, her tone encouraging, "Are you ready to discuss what's going on?"
"Yes, I am," the woman replied, taking a deep breath.
"I have a boyfriend, Ryan. He's sweet, caring, attentive—everything I thought I wanted"
*We've been together for two years, and I thought he respected my boundaries, but then I decided to leap for my birthday and we were intimate. It was great"
"Suddenly, he started pulling away. He's been too busy for me, avoiding my calls, making excuses. It feels like he's just turned cold"
"What happened, Evie? Did he only want me to lower my guard?" Panic washed over her, and more tears spilled down her cheeks.
Evie's expression softened, but her demeanor remained assertive. "Listen to me. Take a deep breath. I can feel how heavy this is for you. It's tough when someone withdraws after you finally allow yourself to be vulnerable. But hear me clearly: you've done nothing wrong by showing care. That's simply part of being human."
The woman nodded, still holding onto some doubt.
Evie continued, her voice firm, "But here's what we're not going to do: we're not begging him or questioning your worth. We're stepping back."
"Sometimes, men pull away to test if you'll chase after them. A queen like yourself doesn't chase; she stands strong, glows with confidence, and allows him to feel the weight of his loss. You give him silence, not anger. And if he comes back, great. If not, you've made room for someone truly worthy. Understand?"
The woman took a deep breath, a glimmer of realization crossing her face. Evie pressed on, sensing the shift. "Now, get some water, fix up your makeup, and walk like you've already moved on. Remember, you are the prize. Never forget that."
"You're right, Evie. He's the one who messed up. He should be the one begging, not me," she affirmed.
"Yes, that's the spirit!" Evie responded with a proud smile.
"Thank you, Evie. This session has truly opened my eyes. Reaching out to you was the best move I could make. You're the best relationship coach ever," the woman said, a smile finally breaking through.
Evie chuckled, "Thank you! I'll always be here for you and all the women who seek to empower themselves. Keep what we discussed in mind. I know he's going to feel your absence and come crawling back for forgiveness."
"Thank you so much, Evie," the woman said, her smile glowing with newfound confidence.
"You're welcome. Just remember to keep me updated on your progress," Evie winked as the call ended.
As the screen reverted to her usual wallpaper, Evie took a deep breath, reflecting on yet another successful session. As a relationship coach and social media influencer, she took pride in lifting women.
But beneath that façade, she silently wrestled with her relationship struggles.
Just as she was lost in thought, the chime on her phone caught her attention, causing her heart to skip a beat.
"Let's break up," the message read.
Her heart raced, and disbelief washed over her. Break up?
She leaned in to confirm the sender, and her heart dropped to her stomach. It was from her boyfriend, Derek.
What did he mean? Evie grabbed her phone from the table, scanning her surroundings with her panicked blue eyes, ensuring no one witnessed what she had just seen.
She stood up abruptly, the chair screeching against the floor, startling her best friend Ruby, who was busy in the corner with her camera.
"Evie?" Ruby looked up, concern etched on her features. "Are you alright?"
Evie forced a nod despite the chaos swirling within her. "I'm fine," she lied, her smile tight.
"I just need to use the toilet. I'll be right back." She insisted, and Ruby hesitated but gave her a go-ahead nod, though her skeptical gaze lingered on Evie as she made her way to the bathroom on shaky legs, clutching her phone tightly. Evie's emotions were transparent, and Ruby could sense something was off, but she chose not to press further.
Once inside the restroom, Evie locked the door and reopened the message. "This can't be real. Last night, he still said he loved me. Was it all a lie?" She fought against her growing anxiety before attempting to call him.
After three rings without an answer, panic set in. Her eyebrows knitted together in worry as she bit her lower lip, hoping for a response.
But the silence was broken by another message: "I told you to break up. Why are you calling me again?"
"Why?" she typed, then quickly deleted it. "What did I do?" she tried again, only to erase that too.
"Don't bother texting, Evie. Hoping I'll change my mind. We're done." His words were icy, sending a chill down her spine.
Evie took a breath, her fingers hovering over the screen. "Let's meet up."
"What for?" His response was sharp.
"Please, Derek... Let me see you. This can't happen. I'm sorry, alright? Just please." She sent the plea, desperation creeping in.
After what felt like an eternity, he agreed to meet her. Evie exhaled, steeling herself as she unlocked the bathroom door and rushed out.
"Are you going somewhere? You have a session with a client soon," Ruby called as Evie hurried to grab her purse.
"I'll handle it. I'll be back shortly." Evie shouted back, not looking back.
Moments later, she stepped out of the cab in front of an unfamiliar building. She didn't understand why Derek chose this location, and uncertainty gnawed at her, but the thought of their breakup frightened her more. The street was deserted.
Evie was still taking a look at her surroundings when she heard Derek's voice as he emerged from the building in his school uniform, clearly having skipped school again.
"Shibal," he muttered under his breath upon spotting her. "I made myself clear, old woman. Why do you want to meet?" he demanded, closing the distance.
"You wanted to break up with me... Why?" Her voice wavered.
"Isn't it obvious? I'm done with your nonsense and want out," he stated bluntly.
"How can you just end things like this? Just yesterday, you said you loved me," she reminded him, reaching out to hold his fingers, tears pooling in her eyes.
He slapped her hands away.
Derek looked at her with disdain. "I guess I got tired overnight"
And added, "I don't care what you've come here to do or say. Just go and don't text me again." He then turned to leave.
Evie could have walked away—she often advised her clients to do just that—but instead, she dropped to her knees. "Don't go, please! I'll do anything," she pleaded, tears streaming down her face.
He wasn't surprised. Turning to face her, he smirked. "Anything?" he challenged.
She nodded fervently, and he laughed, stepping closer and cupping her cheeks roughly. "You don't need to do more; you've done enough," he said pointedly.
Confusion creased her brow as he continued. "What do you think people will say when they see Almighty Evie on her knees begging a man after all the wisdom she preaches?" he taunted, arching an eyebrow.
Evie's lips parted, her heart racing. "That's exactly what I want. Seeing you preach one thing while doing the opposite in secret irritates me more than anything. I'd do anything to expose that," he replied through clenched teeth.
She shook her head, resolute.
"No," she asserted, already feeling the pressure of being cornered.
"No? I've got proof, and just think about me sending this to the public. Your career would be over," he taunted, his glare fixed menacingly on her. Then his eyes shifted to the building nearby, landing on a figure holding a camera. Evie's heart raced as she recognized the threat.
"Derek, stop. Why are you doing this?" she asked, her heart aching and fear coursing through her.
"Isn't it clear? I despise you and I want to ruin you," he spat through gritted teeth.
Evie took a deep breath, "Please, don't do this. You'll destroy everything I've worked for. I'm asking you to reconsider—I'll do whatever it takes."
"Bring me cash tomorrow," he replied coldly, "and we can pretend this never happened. We can even forget about breaking up." A sinister smile crept across his face.
Her voice quivered as she looked up with teary eyes, "How much?"
"$100,000,000. If you can't deliver it here by six tomorrow, you'll find yourself paying a far worse price," he declared, his tone unwavering.