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.
The room was huge, there were probably around fifty to seventy members already inside, but we could possibly fit another hundred or so men in here.The tables and chairs were pushed to the sides as the men gathered directly in the centre of the room. I say men because I was literally the only female in this room right now. Roaming my eyes over the crowd I searched the room for any sign of the Garcia’s or my brothers. I strained my neck and leaned forward on the tips of my toes, it was extremely hard for a woman of a petite size like mine to see past the sea of many tall men but eventually My eyes landed on Lucien’s, a smile flicking at the corners of his lips. Relief washed over me at the site of him, he was unknowingly my comfort blanket and if there was any time that I had needed one it would be now. I made my way over to him, James clearing and guiding me through the crowd of men, I was not ashamed to admit that I would never suc
“Now take a fucking seat” I ground through my teeth. This time she didn't disobey quickly placing her ass to the chair with a whimper. This whole time James just looked dazed at the situation that was playing out in front of him, and I’m sure he was thinking of me as the crazy bitch he hates to protect. That thought wiped from my mind as I watched a small smirk tug at the corner of his lips and now, I was the one wondering if he was crazy. I turned my gun on him, the smirk dropping from his face as he covered it with a bite to his bottom lip. "You" I spoke as seductively as I could possibly muster up with the bucket of nerves I was beginning to feel. “Come here" I demanded Sitting down behind my desk and motioning for him to come to me. He bit his cheek in what looked to be an attempt in hiding his smile, I don’t know why but he was enjoying this way more than he should.
"Yo you alright man?" Diego asked patting my shoulder to snap me out of my thoughts.Throughout the meeting María looked sad, Distracted even.
María pull at her arm, trying to pull it from my tight hold.With no success it angered her as I watched her screw her face up
María's pov-I slid my back down the wall, my knees collapsing beneath me, My tears uncontrollably streaming down my face.
I was thankful that no one was allowed on this floor with the exception of me and the four guys.I didn't want to be around people right now, I couldn't muster up the ability to fake a smile.I sat myself on the sofa, my head resting against the arm.Diego put Netflix on flicking through the tv shows.After a ten minute debate about watching the originals I obviously lost but we finally came to a mutual agreement on watching Dexter.I relaxed into the sofa, Diego covering me with a blanket and Shortly after, I had drifted off into a deep sleep.I woke up to the sound of a door slamming and the lights being turned on.I blinked my eyes rapidly in an attempt at adjusting to the sudden light.Feeling a soft pillow and sheets beneath me I quickly realised I was now in my room. Die
My door flew open almost ripping off of its hinges as Diego barged his way in"WTF ARE YOU DOING" he blew up, Narrowing his eyes at his closest friend.
Clenching my fists, in an attempt to freeze my anger, I made my way to Lucien's room.This is completely insane! what the fuck is he thinking?How could he do this to a woman, María of all people.I was angry.Lorenzo is going to flip his lid when he finds out about this.I knew Lucien was possessive of María but jeez he's fucking nuts.When he said everyone would know she was his by the end of the night, I had assumed he had meant by making it official with her again, You know be a couple?. I never could have imagined this outcome.Coming out of my thoughts as I approached his bedroom door.Without a knock I walked into the room.He wasn't there. The only other place I could think he would be was the bar on the rooftop or the gym.