Hello again, friends and fans! Here is the next chapter of my Tintin and Eve story. In this one, we get to see how Eve ends up in Brussels and met the famous Tintin! Read and Enjoy!xxxooo

Manhattan, New York USA, 3rd August 1950

The sound of an alarm clock ran throughout the bedroom. It's ringing prompted a tired groan of the young woman lying face down in her bed. The young woman was Eve Maywood, now at the age of eighteen and living alone in a small apartment in New York City. You might be wondering why she moved here from New Jersey and why her mother isn't with her, but we'll get to that later. Eve slowly opened her left eye to see the face on the still ringing clock told her that it was a quarter to eight in the morning. She groaned, part of her wanted to stay in bed like this all day but she knew she couldn't, for today was Sunday, the one day off a week she had to visit her mother and grandmother in New Jersey and she knew that if she didn't turn up, her mother would most likely call her and give her a ten minute lecture about skipping her weekly visit and about ''If she or her grandmother died and she wasn't around during their final moments, how could she sleep at night after that!''.

Come to think of it. The only thing Eve wanted to do after what happened five years ago was nothing but sleep...But unfortunately for her, doing so won't pay the bills. So, with little effort, she slammed her palm gently on the bell and rose up on her bed to a sitting position with a yawn/stretch.

She then got out of bed and walked over to the window and opened the curtains to briefly gaze at the towering buildings and the busy roads beneath her as the people and automobiles pass by, going about their daily routines without a care in the world. She sighed at the scenery ''Another beautiful day in the NYC'' she smiled lightly before walking over to the door to her bathroom ''I'd better take a bath'' she said.

About fifteen minutes later, after her relaxing bath and a short comb of her hair before tying it back into a bun like her mother used to do when she was still happy, Eve came out of the bathroom, dressing in a nice velvet robe and decided to make herself some breakfast. But before she wandered into her little kitchen, she smiled as she made a little detour to her record player, got out one of her favorite records and turned it on before she got ready to make herself some hotcakes and scrambled eggs as the song on her record began to play her favorite song from Eddie Cantor.

''Every time I hear that dear old wedding march
I feel rather glad I have a broken arch.
I have heard a lot of people talk
And I know that marriage is a long long walk.

To most people weddings mean romance
But I prefer a picnic or a dance.''

Eve hummed in time with the lyrics and swayed her hips from side to side as she turned on the gas to her stove and put a lit match inside to start the fire up.

''Another bride,
Another groom,
Another sunny honeymoon,
Another season,
Another reason
For making whoopee.

The chorus sings, "Here comes the bride."
Another victim is by her side.
He's lost his reason cause it's the season
For making whoopee.''

Eve was now mouthing the words to the song while she beat the eggs, flour, and condensed milk together in a mixing bowl to make the batter for her hotcakes before she set it down into four individual parts in her frying pan that was already on the stove.

''Down through the countless ages
You'll find it everywhere.
Somebody makes good wages.
Somebody wants her share.

She calls him 'Toodles' and rolls her eyes.
She makes him strudels and bakes him pies.
What is it all for?
It's so he'll fall for making whoopee whoopee whoopee whoopee''

Eve was just about to crack two eggs on a separate pan just as the record started acting up. She groaned ''Not this again'' she shook her head while the record kept playing that word again and again until she fixed the scratch ''Quit it!''

''Another year or maybe less
What's this I hear?
Well, can't you guess?
She feels neglected so he's suspected
Of making whoopee''

She smiled again before she went back to finishing her breakfast.

''She sits alone most every night.
He doesn't phone or even write.
He says he's busy.
But she says, "Is he?"
He's making whoopee.''

The hotcakes were now beautifully cooked golden brown and her scrambled eggs were now done. She got out a plate from the cupboard and set the food neatly on her plate just when the kettle whistled in the corner ''Oh heavens, the coffee!'' she ran over to the kettle and carefully poured the hot water inside the cup of coffee beans just as the last chorus of the song started.

''He doesn't make much money:
five thousand dollars per.
Some judge who thinks he's funny
Says, "You'll pay six to her."

He says, "Now judge, suppose I fail?"
The judge says, "Budge right into jail."
You better keep her.
You'll find it's cheaper
(With Eve) Than making whoopee.''

The record stopped just as Eve set her breakfast down on the table ''Whew, that was a close shave there!'' she laughed to herself about the coffee as she poured the tin of maple syrup over her hotcakes ''Almost burned the place down'' she added while rubbing her hands together before she started eating.

She'd only just finished her silent eating before;

'Ring ring!''

Her home phone started ringing.

Eve just huffed and got up to answer.

''Hello?'' she asked while holding the phone to her ear.

''Hello yes, Mrs. Maywood'' a calm voice of a woman replied on the other end.

''Oh, Mrs. Harper'' Eve smiled ''How's everything? I've just finished breakfast''

''We'll it's coming along fine Mrs Maywood'' Harper replied ''I've just called to inform you that Mr Green wants you to come by the office today at nine''

Eve frowned slightly ''Today? But it's Sunday, my one day off a week when I usually go to see my mother back in New Jersey'' she reminded her. Harper sighed on the other end ''I know girl, but Mr Green said that he wants to discuss something very important with you now that cannot wait! You've gotta come to the office today. Not for the whole day but just to hear what he has to say, for maybe an hour or two at most''

''Okay fine'' Eve nodded ''Tell Mr Green I'll be there in a jiffy''

''Great'' Harper said ''Oh, and he said also said to bring along that little old camera of yours with you, I don't know why but he said so can you please do that?''

''Okay, I'll bring it right over. Okay? Goodbye,'' Eve hung up and breathed in and out ''Well, time to head out to work. I can do the dishes later'' she said before she went back into her bedroom to change.

Eve worked for the Metro News as a journalist and photographer. Of course, being a woman in these times, her position didn't really pay that well in comparison to most of the male employees in her office but with the money she did make along with the money her deceased father left for her, she could say she's done well for herself. In fact, the only reason she got the job in the first place was that her boss, Vincent Green was the father of her childhood friend Patrick and took her on out of pity over her family losing their home in New Jersey.

Five years ago, after the second world war ended, a strange man came to her and her mother's house trying to convince her to sell the land to him claiming there was a large amount of oil underneath the house and the surrounding area that could help America pay off the national debt the country accumulated during the war.

Her mother refused of course, stating that the land was sacred to her ancestors. The man then offered to relocate them to a nicer house in Philadelphia but her mother threatened to call the police on him if he ever turned up again. A few days later, he did turn up again. However, this time he brought the police with him! He showed her an official court order that the land belongs to him and so they were literally forced out of their home! Before they left to live with her grandparents in Middletown, Eve took the man's picture and then asked for his name. He asked why and she replied so that she could find him one day. He just laughed and told her the name;

Ivan Sakharine.

When Eve told Patrick about this, he swore that he'd convince his father to let her work for him in New York and even offered to pay for the first year of board and room for her which she accepted out of good faith. However, in the last few months, she noticed that he's been making advances on her since she came of matrimonial age. Not that she'd be at all surprised, she had to admit to even herself whenever she looked in the mirror that she had grown into an attractive woman over the years and turned the heads of several men. Still, she didn't really seem interested in being tied down by marriage. She thought that it would distract her from her career.

She was soon all dressed in her usual attire for her job. A simple brown two-piece suit with a badge on her left side that said the word 'Press' in black on it, a white blouse and black shoes. She looked into the mirror one last time to fix and problems with her suit and pushed a few strains of her hair back. She nodded with a smile before she grabbed her keys and wallet and left her apartment. As she walked down the hall, she reached into her inner suit pocket to bring out her wallet, where she kept the black and white picture of a bespectacled man with a stylish beard and dressed in a fancy coat and three-piece suit. This man was Ivan Sakharine, the man who ruined her family's life. Eve recalled his eyes being an emerald green, a slightly darker shade than her own. And that smug expression on his face, as if he owned the very ground he walked upon. She frowned at the image.

''One day'' she whispered ''One day, I'll find a way to make you pay'' she added while she called for the elevator down to the ground floor. The landlord looked up at her from his paperwork and waved to her as she passed by his desk ''Good morning Mrs Maywood'' he smiled cheerily ''So, where are you heading today?''

''Work'' Eve replied without looking at him as she made it to the door, the bell ringing after she closed it behind her.

''On a Sunday?'' he asked with a raised eyebrow and an accompanying shrug before he went back to his paperwork.

''Taxi!'' Eve waved to a passing yellow cab automobile on the road, it slowed down to allow her to enter.

''Where to ma'am?'' asked the driver ''East 85 street, Yorkville Manhatten please'' Eve replied

''Alright ma'am'' The driver smiled before he pulled out to the main road. Eve spent most of the journey looking at the many sights out her window of the city. She still found it captivating to this day that someone like her, a simple country girl brought up in the outskirts of a small town was now living here in one of the biggest cities in the world!

''Well here we are ma'am, East 85th Manhatten'' the driver stopped the car a small distance away from the Metro News office building. Eve then paid the driver the fair of 2 dollars and fifteen cents, got out the car and walked inside the building doors to the reception area. The inside was vast and empty, as it normally was on a Sunday. The only two people who work here on this particular day were Vincent Green himself, Mrs Jane Harper; his secretary and James, the janitor.

''Oh, good mornin' Mrs Maywood'' the dark-skinned janitor greeted her with a friendly wave as she passed by while he was mopping the marble floor ''So whatta doing here on a Sunday?''

''Mr Green called me in. Urgent business'' she replied through a smile, entering the elevator and pressing the button for the top floor. The elevator stopped on the 40th floor, where the main offices where. On any other day of the week, this room would be filled with the sounds of typewriters being used, paper being shuffled and the male clerks chatting away to each other about whatever men normally would talk about; baseball, women they liked or the weather. But today, the only sound that could be heard was the sound of a single typewriter coming from the other side of the room, Eve walked up to the middle-aged woman with long blonde hair and brown eyes wearing a yellow blouse and blue skirt using the typewriter on the desk right outside Green's office. Eve coughed to gain her attention, the woman then looked up to her with a kind smile ''Mrs Maywood, so glad you could come!''

''Wouldn't miss this for the world Mrs Harper'' Eve replied, sarcasm leaking out her tone.

''I'll go tell Mr Green your here'' Jane began to stand up when they heard the voice of a man call from the office door behind her ''Send her straight in, Mrs Harper''

Jane shot her head back to Eve ''Go right ahead'' she motioned her head back to the office door. Eve only nodded and walked up to the door that said on the window;

Vincent .P. Green

Regional executive manager

She sighed before she opened the door to the office, where Vincent was waiting for her by his desk with an eager smile and both his elbows on the desktop and smoking a cigarette. Vincent had ocean blue eyes and a short brown mop of hair on his head, his face slightly wrinkled with age. He also wore a three-piece black suit and tie with brass cufflinks.

''You wanted to see me today, Mr Green?'' Eve asked.

''Off course Eve, please come in and shut the door'' he gestured for her to come in. Eve closed the door behind her as she walked into clear view ''Sit, please'' he pointed to the chair in front of her. She silently accepted the offer and waited to hear what her boss had to say. Vincent then opened one of his drawers and pulled out a pack of cigarettes, opening it and placing one in his mouth.

''Would you like a Cigarette?'' he offered.

''Mr Green, you've known me for years. I don't smoke'' Eve shook her head.

''Your loss'' Vincent shrugged, placing the pack on the desk and taking a small puff from his own, leaning back in his chair.

''Mrs Maywood tell me, how long have you been working for the paper?'' he asked her.

''Umm... two years, this September time sir'' Eve answered, slightly nervous about where everything was going. Vincent then got up from his seat and walked over to the window overlooking the city one Eves left side.

''Ya know, I started working for the Metro news thirty years ago'' he started ''Build this little empire of mine with only my two bare hands...Now, you may think that I was born sucking on a diamond pacifier, but I'll let ya in on a little secret...I wasn't'' he turned to Eve with a proud smile ''See my father there'' he briefly pointed up to a picture of an older man on his wall which Eve looked to see for herself ''He tried to enlist during the first world war, didn't make the cut. So he worked his entire life in a shoe factory in Phili...Right up until that flu epidemic got him'' he paused with a sad look in his eyes.

''My grandpa died of that flu'' Eve revealed to him sadly ''Grandmother got it too but she pulled through''

''Yes'' Vincent nodded then shook his head ''Anywho, afterwards it was just me and my momma and we came to New York with only a twenty-dollar bill in our pocket...Not enough to buy a decent house or anything fancy lookin', no. So I had to quit schooling and start working for the Metro as a paperboy'' Vincent then sat back down at his desk ''And that's where I started. A paperboy...And after thirty years of hard work, dedication and three decades worth of Sundays; here I am'' he leaned back with his arms stretched out ''Regional manager. The highest position you can climb up to in any news agency office'' he then looked deep into Eves's eyes ''That can be you one day, Miss Maywood. Yes, you could be sitting in this very spot someday, with your own fleet of journalists, photographers and publishers...with you at the helm'' he said with a point at her chest.

''Me?'' Eve pointed to herself with a look of disbelief ''Oh no boss. I don't think some dame like me could ever be in your spot''

''But I do Miss Maywood'' Vincent smiled ''After all, all the greats started off as small-timers like you. Take Walt Disney for example, he started off as a paperboy and now look where he is!'' he pointed out the window ''One of the most successful businessmen in America''

''Indeed'' Eve nodded in agreement ''Ya know, he's planning to build some kind of amusement park somewhen in the next few years. Been buying up a lot of land in California recently.

''Yes, I'd love to see how that turns out'' Vincent chuckled slightly.

''Pardon me sir, but have you just called me here to give some kind of pretty speech about success?'' Eve questioned impatiently ''Because if you're done then I could be off to my mother's place right about now''

Vincent suddenly shook his head ''Oh no, no. Not that Mrs Maywood'' He assured her ''I wouldn't call you here on your day off just for that kind of hogwash, no. This is a very serious business matter''

''Okay'' Eve said with an uneasy smile ''So what's the big deal then boss?''

Vincent then looked at her with a serious business type of face ''I, I'm just gonna cut to the chase here kid. It's about our recent paper sales...they're not good'' he started.

''No?'' Eve raised an eyebrow.

''No. Not at all. Let me show you'' Vincent shook his head before getting up once more off his desk and pulling down a chart showing its arrow going upwards ''See this chart?'' he asked while pointing to it ''This was our newspaper sales in the U.S during the years 1944 to 45, a pretty successful year'' he explained before he showed her another chart with its arrow slowly going down ''And this here is our sales rate from 1949 to today. See that, the arrow's sloooooowwwly going down to the bottom'' he finished.

''So that means-'' Eve started but was interrupted by Vincent ''Our popularity in this country is dying out!'' he shouted as he paced back and forth behind his desk ''Our papers just aren't selling as good here as they once were. Why? Because there are not enough good stories to keep the people engaged and buying our papers to see any updates, comparing to our branches in Europe, which is steady at best. Here, they all wanna by the Sun or the Times or, or...bah!'' he threw his arms up in the air in frustration before he sat back down with his hand holding the bridge of his nose ''If this keeps up, I'll have to start cutting peoples wages''

Eve looked at him a little confusingly ''But boss, what does this have to do with me?'' she asked, then she suddenly frowned ''You're not sayin' that it's because of me is it?''

Vincent shot his head up immediately ''No! No, not at all!'' he assured her with his hand out towards her ''Quite the contrary, in fact. You're work on journalism's been the only thing that's kept this firm from collapsing!''

''Oh, well thank you sir I-'' she started to say before being interrupted again.

''Which is why I've decided to have you transferred to our Belgian branch in Antwerp'' Vincent revealed with a toothy smile.

Eve's face suddenly dropped harder than a housewife dropping a whole pile of china. She blinked rapidly ''I, I'm sorry, say that again, please'' she placed her hand by her ear and leaned forward to make sure she didn't mishear him.

''You're being transferred to the Metro branch office in Belgium. You're to continue your work there until we get our sales back up here. A, A temporary transfer, if ya wanna call it that'' Vincent repeated with a smiling nod.

Eve widened her eyes and her mouth feel on a gap ''B, but sir'' she studdered ''I, I ,I can't leave New York! I, I can't leave America!...For Belgium?!''

''Yes you can'' Vincent said ''And you will. I received a letter this morning from the Antwerp regional manager saying he's already accepted your application along with a one-way ticket for tomorrow's ship to Antwerp. So you better start packing!''

Eve grabbed the ticket and gazed it ''But why me? Why not any of the other journalists here?''

''You're one of our best'' Vincent replied ''Why send gold when we have a shiny giant diamond here with us? If this branch goes under, you could lose your job like everyone else here! You're too valuable to this company to lose! You need to get out there and find your magnum opus!'' Vincent finished.

''My magnum whatsis?'' Eve raised an eyebrow.

''Eve'' Vincent got up and wrapped his hand around her shoulder ''Your work is exemplary, both in terms of journalism and photography. You yourself said a long time ago that a photographer is like an artist; your camera is your paint and brush and the world is your canvas'' he walked her to the window ''I did say that'' eve nodded before Vincent continued ''But every artist has a masterpiece that stands out from all his other work. Micheal Angelo with 'The birth of man', D'Vinchi with 'The Monalisa'...Something to be remembered by for generations to come, something people will talk about for centuries, something you can look back on with a proud smile when your old and retired and say 'Yes, I did that...That is my, magnum, opus'' Vincent patted her shoulder in time with those last words before he let go of her ''That's what I want from you Miss Maywood, to find your magnum opus...But you won't find it in America. The war has ended...For the first time ever, in human history,...World peace is within our grasp'' he finished with a clutch of his hands.

''My daddy died for this peace'' eve reminded him with a small frown. Vincent nodded solemnly ''I know. But I'm sure he's up there now smiling down at you from heaven''

An awkward silence followed the next few minutes until Eve spoke again ''Fine, I'll do it''

Vincent smiled widely ''Wonderful! I knew I could count on you!'' he said as he vigorously shook her hand ''Oh, before you go I have something for you'' he said with a finger up as he reached underneath his desk and pulled out a new polaroid camera ''I splurged a little this week and got ahold of these new little beauties. A little parting gift from me to you''

''A camera?'' Eve asked while holding her own up ''But I already have a camera''

''Oh yes but this here's not just any old camera Mrs Maywood'' Vincent handed her the new camera which she slowly took ''Here, take one of me'' he instructed while striking a smile and a thumbs up pose.

Eve just shrugged and took it anyway. Vincent blinked rapidly after the flash while Eve saw a little piece of paper slide out from underneath the device. She took it out only to see it was blank.

''Well ya gotta shake it'' Vincent instructed. Eve did as was told and sure enough, an image of Vincent showed up on the paper. Eve's eyes widened in amazement ''Wow! That's just incredible! This means I won't have to go by the store for the prints anymore!''

''That's the beauty of it'' Vincent said ''State of the art. That'll be all then. Now, get back home and start packing, you leave for Belgium tomorrow'' he ordered.

''Okay, well, goodbye boss'' Eve nodded ''Tell the other boys I'll be seeing them'' she added as she backed away from the door.

''Will do'' Vincent sat back down at his desk and started writing down on some paperwork ''Good luck in Belgium. Oh, and one last thing before you go?''

''Yes?'' Eve asked as she was about to leave.

''That camera I gave you cost me a lotta dough. If you lose or break it, it'll come outta your paycheck'' Vincent warned her calmly. Eve gulped before nodding ''Understood sir. Again, it's been real swell working here with you. Farewell sir'' she slammed the door behind her, leaving Vincent in peace.

''Well, goodbye Jane'' Eve gave her a light hug on the way out, leaving her very confused ''Goodbye? Wait, where ya going?'' she asked her with only a small wave as she entered the elevator as the door closed as a reply.

''Oh'' Jane sighed as she went back to her typewriter, thinking that Eve's been fired.

And that's the end of chapter 2. Hope you've enjoyed it and I'll be back with chapter three very soon! Until Next time; cheerio and stay safe!xxxooo