CHAPTER FIVE

I watched as she displayed her affection towards James, rubbing his arm and placing a kiss to his cheek before making her way towards the table that the other women were occupying.

"Hey María" James greeted with a genuine smile. All it took was that simple greeting to turn each of the three women’s heads to our direction, not even one of them trying to hide the fact that they were watching and listening.

I rolled my eyes at them, pouring myself a glass of the apple juice I had taken from the refrigerator. I was over it. What could I do? It was the same thing every day, day in and day out! Maybe one day it wouldn’t bother me as much as I let it now.

"Let me guess, you will be my bodyguard for the meeting?" I bemused, but my voice was my betrayal as I really was not pleased with the idea. Don’t get me wrong James was actually a really nice guy, but to have someone follow you around against your will or theirs for that matter wasn’t something I particularly enjoyed.

"Yes Mam" He chuckled seeing my response to the news.

 "So, who sent you this time?" I questioned, finding out who had given the order was probably the only InSite I would ever get as to who James actually worked for. So far, it’s between Lucien and Diego but my bets are on Lucien.

"Actually, this time it was all four of… as you would say ‘men in your life’ " He smirked pinching a slice of my toast and taking a bite of it.

“You did not just steal my food” I shook my head unable to hold the soft laugh that passed my lips at his mischievous grin. This is one thing I like about James. He's not overly serious, his company was one I had always enjoyed, he's playful and honestly someone I would call a friend. 

 “I could kill you for this you know, you are aware I still carry a pistol, are you not?” I asked in amusement.

“Yeah, but then you would be stuck with the likes of Jaxon to protect you” he kissed his teeth playfully.

I visibly shivered at the thought. Jaxon was one man I would not trust with my life; he gave me the creeps.

“Yeah, that’s what I thought, ill be outside the door if you need me” he winked, turning around and waltzing out the door.

I smiled turning my attention back on my now half eaten piece of toast. Now that James was gone, I could hear the conversations of the four women. The kitchen was large so their table was a distance away, but even with that distance I could still hear every word they had not so subtly whispered.

"What an actual bitch, she knows that's your man" the woman with curly red hair exclaimed, the topic of me and James.

"Do you remember Nicolas? I had heard that she forced him to fuck her when she was still dating Lucien, do you remember? Lucien found out and beat him to an inch of his life" the girl with short black hair gossiped. I squeezed my eyes shut, inhaling a sharp breath at the lies.

"she's a disgusting whore, how could she do that? Nicolas was a sweet man" the red-haired woman encouraged.

Usually, their words wouldn’t hurt to the point I actually felt it in my heart. I knew that what they were talking about was the last time I had seen Nicolas. Lucien did beat him to an inch of his life, but that was not because of their twisted spin on the tale.

I was outraged, becoming so aggressively agitated at their words, I had no control over the need to put them in their place.

"What the fuck was your problem?" I spat; the anger evidently laced within my words as I stormed my way towards them.

"Are you not aware of who I am? Because I want to know who the fuck you think you are to have my name in your dirty fucking mouth?" I cussed trying to not follow through with the image of punching each of them square in the face.

I drifted my gaze from one woman to the other, one seemingly unfazed and giggling in response, that woman being the women James had entered with. And just in time to save this bitches nose from breaking James bolted in with a panic, the look of confusion as he darted his eyes between all of us.

"Is there a problem here ladies?" He questioned his eyes still flicking between me and the other women. I was tempted to swing even with his presence, but I was better than that, I was not that type of person and although I had lost my cool for that split minute, I was going to be an adult about this situation. 

"No" I confirmed, smoothing my skirt out with the palms of my hands.

"Everything's fine. Come now, we have things to do and places to be" I said firmly as I moved past him towards the door. 

I didn't miss the evil glares I received on our way out. I couldn't care, I was all too pissed at their conclusions of what they had assumed had occurred between me and Nicolas and if I was to stay in that room any longer, I would do something I know full well I would feel guilt for. 

My feet practically stomped to the ground as I stormed my way down the hall. My heart hurt from their words. When I was with Nicolas, I was single and so was he. I swallowed harshly in an attempt to rid the lump in my throat, I wanted to cry but I refuse to. James tugged at my elbow and pulled me around the corner, out of the sight of prying eyes.

I released an exaggerated breath as I tilted my head back against the wall to keep my brimming tears from spilling.

"Are you alright" He asked in concern, and I lowered my head to see a small worry crease between his brows.

I took a moment to observe him, he was a handsome man with a young look about him. I'm not going to lie, Most of the men in this place where genetically blessed. They all had a dangerous look and vibe to them that seemed to have me drawn in. I wasn’t a woman who liked the idea of danger but there was something about looking into the eyes of a dangerous man. A man capable of unspeakable things. Maybe it had something to do with curiosity or maybe it was as simple as unknown daddy issues, who knows maybe I’ll never find out.

James was dark skinned, with hazel-coloured eyes and soft looking lips that I had never wanted to kiss before until now. it was strange how emotions will have you thinking or doing something so out of character.

James placed his right hand, palm down against the wall beside my head.

slowly raising his left hand, he caught my tear with his knuckle.

I hated that he had seen this side of me, I hated that it was his girlfriend to be the one that forced me to feel so broken.

His gaze fell to my lips and before I could realize what he was thinking, He pressed his soft lips against mine and I froze, sucking in a breath of shock at his action. It felt wrong, almost like betrayal to myself in allowing someone to kiss me when that someone was not Lucien.

I swiftly turned my head, His lips falling from my own. I didn't want that to happen, it was wrong. As far as I am aware he has a girlfriend and me? I was so deeply in love with another man.

He took a step back creating space for me to breath again. His eyebrows were scrunched together almost in confusion as to why I had denied his kiss.

"Sorry i-i" He stuttered as he began to defend his actions. 

I cut him off before things got awkward, lord I could not deal with it if our future encounters were filled with awkward tension.

"No, don't worry no harm was done so let's just go to the meeting, yes?" I said calmly but if he could feel how rapidly my heart was beating right now, he would be fully aware of how much his actions had affected me. 

With a gentle nod of his head, he motioned for me to take the lead and so I did throwing everything to the back of my mind.

We reached our destination and I thanked him as he held the conference room door open for me, before continuing to follow close behind me.