That name, the same name only he and his family addresses me as rolling off his tongue, made fury burn through my veins like molten lava. I hate the name; I grew a hate towards it thanks to them because all it brings are bad memories. The moment it rolled off his tongue, I snapped out of the trance I was in, instantly pulling my hand out of his.
“What do you think you’re doing?” My voice surprisingly came out calm, though my eyes were narrowed at him. I retracted my hand away, pinning my cold eyes on him.
James blinked, then released a sigh as his face contorted into that of relief. “It really is you.” His lips slanted into a small grin, making his eyes crinkle in the process. Now looking at him, he seems like a much older version of the man I knew. Sporting a full beard, seems more manly even, but older at the same time. Looking down at his two-piece suit, he seems to have gain a bit more weight as well.
I lifted my eyes to meet his again, keeping my lips sealed as I waited for him to say whatever it is he wants to say so I can carry on with my task at hand. “Can I help you?”
He chuckled lightly, slipping one of his hands into the pocket of his pants. “Isa, it’s me, James.” He stated, as if I’m unable to recognize him.
I hummed. “So it appears.” My tone was dry, because I really want to be anywhere but here. Blinking, my eyes remained fixed on his. “Do you want anything, Mr. Donnelly?”
His smile fell slightly, no doubt from me addressing him by his last name instead of the first. But, why should I? We’re practically strangers now. He recovered from the shock though, plastering another uneasy smile. “I’ve been trying to reach out to you, I even tried going to your company but reception won’t allow me to go in.” He then added a light chuckle. “I guess they don’t know who I am to you.”
“Unimportant people aren’t allowed in the company.” I responded almost immediately before he could get any ideas. “My workers know who is who. If you so badly want to talk about business, book an appointment. You’ll be directed to whoever aligns with your level. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have things to do.” Offering him a curt nod, I turned around to walk away.
However, I couldn’t even take another step as his hand wrapped around my wrist yet again, halting me. I rolled my eyes, then turned around to pin my glare on him. However, he beats me to speaking. “Isa, baby…I missed you.”
I tried, I swear, I tried to keep it in but I couldn’t. My glare fell, as I found myself throwing my head back and laughing at his words like it’s the funniest thing ever because it really is, to me. I didn’t care if I was surrounded by people, and the action had some of them turning around to look at us. James looked uncomfortable by the sudden attention.
When it died down, I reached out to wipe the single tear in the corner of my eyes-tell me I’m not the only weird one that ends up crying whenever I laugh hard.
“That’s a good one.” I stated, my grin dying down as I met his gaze again. “Now, try that again for me, why don’t you?”
***
Isabella Montague.
“Mom misses you, we all do, really.”
Oh God, I think I’m about to become the joker with how bad I’ve been laughing this night. James is just on a roll with his statements. Bringing my hand up to cover my mouth, I let out another laugh, truly amused by the words rolling off his mouth.
His brows were cinched, his lips slanted downwards into a deep frown while his eyes, they softened, and shone with faux regret because there’s no way I’m believing that’s real. Still, despite my laugh, he continued.
“Isa…” He called out again, and I was honestly so close to asking him to stop calling me that. Only, there’s now a certain someone that calls me ‘Isabella’ and to hear the name from another man, especially if that man is James, doesn’t sit right with me. “…the house hasn’t been the same without you.”
“Because you now have actual maid, huh?” I quirked a brow, mortified by the mere remembrance that I lowered myself to that level because of them. “You missed having someone do all the work and take all the insults you throw at her?” They missed having someone to vent their anger on-specifically, his father.
I shook my head to rid it of those thoughts, for it did nothing but made my skin crawl and unease fill me up entirely. Memories flashed before my eyes that had my stomach in knots and my feet cold, but I masked it away, despite it being the biggest issue I have at the moment-that video that was sent to me.
He shook his head almost immediately, “No, Isa, God no…it’s not like that.” He ran a hand through his brown hair, roughing it. “Letting you go was a mistake I deeply regret.”
I hummed, wordlessly asking ‘Oh really now?’.
He carried on regardless. “I had no choice then, okay?” He sighed, his shoulders slumping as his voice became low. “The company was failing and it was all so messy I didn’t want you to be part of it.” Honestly, this man is just surprising me up and down. If I didn’t know him as well as I do, then I would’ve fallen for that pity look he was holding up.
I pressed my lips together, wanting to hear the extent of his lies, at least so I’d have something to laugh over later on.
James took a step closer to me, his hand carefully reaching out to take mine. I wanted to yank it away almost instantly, but I didn’t, my eyes pinning him. I saw his shoulders slag, as if relieved I didn’t pull away. He must’ve though he was getting through to me.
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.