"Eve, just what the hell are you planning?" Zander asks in alarm as she hands him his phone.

"I have a dinner date with him and whatsisname, the mafia boss here. Peter, be a dear and pack up my laptop for me while I get ready. If I know Dave, he'll be here early and not very happy.

"Zander help me find my nicest business suit. We'll be going to the snotty restaurant here and I'll need to wear my nicest clothes." Eve walks with little hesitation from this room. She has more or less already memorized it.

Zander follows in her wake helplessly caught in her pull. He just doesn't see anything good happening tonight.

"Oh, by the way, Dave says if whatsisname kills him then I'll be in charge. So you'll be able to relax."

"Shit, Eve you won't be happy until we're all killed." Zander says and then he takes a look at her face and wishes he'd never said those words.

"Is that what you think? Really? I'm going to this meeting to stop the worm attack and to save Dave's ass. Again. Granted this time it's my fault that it's on the line, but I have always done my best to keep casualties low, always."

"That's not what I meant and I'm sorry, Eve. That was far out of line and I know it. If it weren't for you many of us would be dead, including myself, I know that. I'm," Zander sighs knowing that he can't unsay those words. "I'm sorry."

"I know, but it doesn't make the pain any less. Now check my outfit is it okay or does it need to be ironed?"

Zander looks at the outfit in his hand critically, "It looks fine to me, but you know Dave won't stop looking at you if you wear this. Neither will Sergio, which might just make Dave pissed as hell. It will be like throwing alcohol on a fire."

"Then I'll put out the flames myself, with force if necessary." Eve says and her face is set with determination.

"I don't know who to feel sorrier for, Dave or Sergio. Either one won't know what hit them by the time you're done with them." Zander says shaking his head at their imagined reactions.

A wicked smile comes onto Eve's face, "Oh, Dave will know and be prepared. It's Sergio that needs to be worried."

Zander shakes his head once more. "You are one very wicked woman, you know that?"

Her smile turns to one of delight, "You actually think so?"

Zander starts laughing deep hardy laughs, "Oh, yes, my wicked mistress. You already destroyed the Italian mafia. You have Dave on his knees and now you are about to bring Sergio's mafia to it's knees. I wish I could be there."

"Do you have a laptop?" Eve questions.

"Yeah?"

"Go get it, hurry, I'll make it so you will be able to see and hear everything." Eve laughs at how fast Zander takes off out of the room and it doesn't take long for her to hear the door slam behind him.

"Eve, what the hell did you say to Zander to make him leave like that?"

"I'm going to set it up so you two can watch the meeting between Sergio, Dave and myself. I just need his laptop. Will you get Maria? I'll need her help if I'm to get ready in time and still have time to set things up for you guys."

"Sure thing," Peter leaves no less rapid than Zander and then runs to answer the door when Zander knocks impatiently on it.

Maria comes in and makes sure that the outfit is presentable. She then helps Eve with her hair and makeup. "Do I look alright, Maria?"

"You look absolutely beautiful, Eve. No matter if you aren't in the fancy attire, they wouldn't dare deny you entrance looking like you do."

Eve snorts, "They won't deny me entrance because the owner himself will be escorting me in. Will you hand me my small hand bag, my key card and phone?" Eve asks her softly a wicked smile playing about her lips.

"Oh, I know that look. A man is going to wish he never met you tonight. Good, have fun." Maria says delightedly.

"Not one, two men, Maria. Two very powerful men are going to be trying to figure out which way is up after tonight."

"Oh, that is very good, Eve. It never does a man good if he becomes complacent about the woman he has. If he does, then he thinks that he can do whatever he wants and she'll stay with him."

"One of the men is my ex. He cheated on me."

Maria stops her fussing, "He dared to cheat on you?" Maria asks disbelief evident. Even in the short time Maria has known Eve she knows that she isn't someone to mess with lightly.

"Yes, after I saved his life, too." Eve is angered that tears once more fill her eyes.

"Don't cry, you'll ruin your make up. You still love him. Forgive him, but that doesn't mean you need to take him back. Make him squirm and grovel before you decide if he's worth taking back or not. Then once you decide stick with the decision even if it's to walk away. Don't waste any more time with him. It will take time to heal and get over him, but you will be wiser." Maria tells her and for the first time since her mother's death Eve has a females advice. She decides to take it.

"So I should make him grovel?" Eve says more to herself than Maria but Maria answers anyway.

"Oh, yes. Make him squirm too. If he doesn't squirm and grovel then he never loved you and you need to cut your losses and move on. That is always the hardest part of things. Once you've decided to cut your losses. You start thinking about how much time you've invested and that maybe you shouldn't be so quick to leave. But the truth honey, you should never second guess yourself like that. When a relationship turns toxic it's time to get out because it's not going to get better, just worse. The sooner you get out the better."

"But how do I know if it's toxic or not?" Eve wants to know.

"When his actions only cause you harm. When he never does anything to make you happy. When it's always your fault things go wrong. Any time it's all about him it's become toxic. And of course the reverse could be said as well. If it all becomes about you and he can never do anything to satisfy you then it's just as toxic. But usually when it gets like that it wouldn't be a problem to walk away and find someone new."

"I see, thank you Maria. Sorry for interrupting your time off."

Maria waves her off, "Nonsense, that's what I'm here for. Now if you'd let me answer the door when he comes for you I'd consider that more than enough thanks. I've heard that he's very good looking and never thought to see for myself."

Eve gives an honest laugh, "Of course. Now I need to hurry to get the laptop set up for Zander and Peter. You won't need to worry about them though, they can take care of themselves."

"They will be watching over you?" Maria asks anxiously.

"Yes, through the laptop."

"Good," Maria says then helps her to the sitting room.

Eve sets her handbag next to her laptop and goes to work. Zander has his laptop on and tells her when he's patched into the camera feeds.

"The audio will be heard when the meeting begins." Eve tells them then hurriedly repacks her laptop when she hears the knock at the door.

"Dave's here," Eve says trying not to panic.

"He's not going to hurt you, Eve. Calm down and show them both just who the hell you are." Peter says to her softly and her breathing evens out and the smile reappears.

"You're damn right." Eve says then stands up.

"Eve, you look stunning," Dave says as she turns to face him. His voice sounds like he's been stunned himself.

Eve gives him a small smile, "Thank you. I'm ready if you are?"

Dave catches sight of his flowers, "You accepted my gift?"

"I didn't have the heart to throw the flowers away." Eve says remembering Maria's words.

"Of course," Dave says abashed. He goes to her and helps her after he opens the door he takes her computer from her and lets the maid close the door behind them.

"You think it will really be necessary to do this at dinner?"

"I already ate. And yes, it will be necessary unless he doesn't want to open for business for several days.

"Shit, Eve, I'm just glad you didn't do this to me." Dave escorts her into the elevator and pushes the button for the restaurant.

"I thought about it, but didn't have my computer with me until long after my ire had cooled." Eve says nonchalantly and Dave lets out a breath of relief.

"We need to talk, Eve." Dave says urgently as he escorts her to the doors of the restaurant. Eve can smell the food and although she's not hungry it still makes her mouth water.

"After dinner if we are both still alive." Eve says finally after the maitre d' escorts them to the table Dave had reserved earlier.

"Very well," Dave replies amused at the looks they are getting as Eve sets up her laptop on the dinner table.

Fortunately not many people are in this part of the restaurant and the few that are, are finishing up their food and getting ready to leave. Dave had already had that section closed off earlier.

"Would you like to dance while we wait?" Dave whispers into her ear.

"You know I don't like to dance, Dave. I look ridiculous and I hurt people.

"True, but slow dances are different," Dave desperately wants to nuzzle her neck but he'd seen her place her knife in her clutch and doesn't want it pulled on him. Maybe on Sergio, but not him.