Chapter 8

Laila

I’m smiling inwardly, wondering why James has been so persistent about trying to chat with me. There are many girls that keep on glancing at him now and then. He should go to any of them. I keep on hinting to him that I’m not interested in him nor in having a conversation. It’s not easy as he is very persistent and his presence makes me feel..funky? He does look very appealing in this dark blue tuxedo. And he has styled his hair with gel which gives him an out-of-cover look. Something tugs at my heart. Maybe I wish that circumstances were different. Maybe I could have a fling with him. Oh, well, it doesn't matter… Right?

Usually, I’m very kind and open to any conversation, but this hot, rich peace is making me rather… I can’t even put a name to this feeling. Maybe edgy? Yes, something like that! I’m not properly grasping if it is a good or bad edginess. So, I am trying to observe the situation and be more distant with him. My guard is high up. I’m not making this easy for him at all. One of his comments was such a cheesy line. And way too much if you ask me.

On the other hand, I do feel flattered that, instead of pursuing other women, he is spending time with me. Though he said he knows everyone here. An idea pops into my head. Could he…Has he dated…Jeez, I’m stuttering in my own thoughts. I mean, could it be that he has f*cked every girl in this room? So, was he bored? But was I a fresh piece of meat for him?  Could it be? I looked around. I didn’t want to start to count how many girls were present. Okay, some were married or had boyfriends, some were old, but the majority… My guts twisted and I felt nauseated. Okay, I don’t know and I don’t want to think about it.

Since he stood next to me, my skin went on high drive with goosebumps. How is that even possible by just mere presence? That is bad news, right? Totally bad news. I need to get rid of him.

- Did your mom tell you to babysit me or something?

I ask this time. He shrugs with a bright smile. Mm, what a lovely sight. I smiled inwardly. Jeez, brace yourself girl! I scolded myself next. Not falling for this. I shook my head in my mind. No, no, no.

- Don’t worry about me. I’m used to being by myself in a crowd of strangers. I don’t feel lonely, and I can entertain myself. I like to observe. So don’t feel bound to me. You probably need to be the lovely host of the event and pay attention to all your guests.

I said to him, pointing out the other guests again. This is the most I have said to him tonight. I chuckled at myself. Poor guy. As I said to him previously, I had a chatty and easy-going personality. But with him tonight I was polite, but short in my replies.

- Like which guests?

I think he asked rhetorically. But I know that many girls are looking in his direction. I saw it before already.

- Well, for a starter I can see… - I looked around the room and slightly nodded several times – 5 girls that are licking you with their eyes.

I scratched my nose.

- Rather gross.

I added with a mumble. I will never understand why girls get pathetic in front of a handsome guy. They drool over and jump on a guy. Don’t they have self-esteem and self-respect? Let the guy come to you! And even if he does, you create some struggle for him. Test him. Push him away a little bit. Make him sweat. See if he will stick around longer than 3 hours. And never ever jump straight into his lap. Are those girls really that delusional to think that after one f*ck the guy will be so blown away that he will become addicted to the girl? And never ever let her go? Common, that only happens in weird novels. I’m not a guy and I don’t have a d*ck, but even I understand the principle: easy come, easy go. But whatever – it’s not my life.

But the player he most probably is, he should have gone to chase one of them tonight instead of me. I’m the wrong choice for him. I glanced at him with a small smile. Silly guy.

-  Are you jealous?

He smirked. My face drops in annoyance.

- Are you arrogant?

I shot right back with irritation in my voice and on my face. My amused smile has long gone. He is getting head over heels here. Arrogance is one thing I hate in people. And, of course, this rich handsome dude thinks that all the girls are fanning over him. Well, guess what, I’m not. I will die before I let this guy know that I am the least bit attracted to him.

I need to push him away more. I should hit his ego. Hard. That scares all the guys away, right? I might be assuming the wrong things, but let’s see, maybe I hit spot on.

- Have you ever thought that maybe girls are using you?

I say with a mean undertone. He frowns.

- What do you mean?

He asks confused.

- Well, that you are nothing more than a good f*ck? No other good reason to stick around you longer than one night?

His jaw drops open. Then he closes it and clenches his jaw. He is taking in what I said. He is getting angry. And upset. And there is pain for sure. Good. Maybe now he will back off.

I started to feel bad, of course. I’m a nice girl. I usually don’t hurt other people. But he is pulling my strings. There are some types of people that I can fight until blood. Figuratively speaking. I have rarely had to, though. But he, with his arrogant behavior, is getting there.

- You think I’m stupid or something?

He asked with a frown.

-  Well, you don’t need to be a genius to conclude that.

I answered with pointed eyebrows.

- You don’t know me!

He exclaimed with frustration in his voice.

-  And I don’t want to!

I replied with annoyance in my tone. I can see pain in his eyes. But then he clenches his jaw again. Maybe I should have been nicer to him. He is partly my client after all. I inwardly duck my head. Sh*t. Me and my bratty mouth.

- I will prove you wrong!

He says with determination in his voice. Why? Why is he ignoring everything I have said? Why is he not leaving me alone? Why is he not going to hit on another girl? Did I send any signal that I was interested in him? No. I didn’t. I was very, very careful exactly not to do it. I was polite, but distant. I didn’t even properly smile at him. I avoided him. Jeez, what is this dude’s deal? And even now, after directly hitting his ego hard, he is still persistent about… Yes, about what exactly? About talking with me? Or hitting on me?

- Oh, James, please, I’m begging you to prove me wrong.

I mocked him sarcastically. In my thoughts I am begging him to leave me alone. I turned away from him and sipped my drink.

Awkward silence stretched between us. His presence made my hair on my body stand up. What the hell? What was with these strange body reactions? I didn’t even know how to properly translate these signals.

- I don’t see most of the females. I only have my eyes on one woman tonight. A very special one.

He suddenly said with a low, even sad tone. I took my eyes off the crowd as I wanted to see where he was looking at. Maybe there is his girlfriend in the crowd. Could he have a wife? No. Maybe?

As I turned, I saw him looking down at me. My heart skipped a beat. Is he for real? I frown, but a confused smile pulls up on my lips too.

- Jeez, you are a nonstop cheesy flirt!

He smirks at me. I shake my head, but the smile doesn’t leave my face. He knows how to make a woman feel special. He knows how words can play tricks on the female mind. But I shouldn’t fall for it. No. I will not.

- So, when your mom told you to babysit me, did she include flirting in your duties?

With a displeased tone in my voice, I raised one eyebrow at him, though my smile didn't leave my face.

- No. For that I happily volunteered myself!

He wiggles his eyebrows suggestively. I am so annoyed by his cocky behavior. I despise bratty, cocky, arrogant men. But in a weird way, it suits him. And the character and vibe I get from him is light and cheerful. Despite my mental kicks, he gets back up and keeps on bouncing on his legs. I guess I could admire that.

- So, are these your pick- up line or something?

I try to sound annoyed, but I think I'm failing.

- The real question is – is it working?

He wiggles his eyebrows again. I move my eyes back to the crowd as I sip my juice.

- I’m rather unimpressed.

I'm really trying hard to push him away. I looked back at him to see pain flash in his eyes again. He can’t have that small ego to be hurt by what I just said, right? I feel bad for him, but I should push him further away. I looked straight into his eyes.

- And slightly repulsed as I have a feeling that you are trying to get me in your bed.

James

This far I have heard so much sh*t from my mate. Her comment about me being an easy f*ck to girls was something. She is bold and brave, but mean. Though on the other hand, my previous self would probably retort that if girls were using me, I wouldn't mind at all. They could use me as much as they wanted and as long as they wanted. But now things have changed. I just want this one stubborn lady named Laila. But she has rejected me so many times in the last 10 minutes. Her words are hurting me. A lot. My wolf is howling in pain as well. I don’t know where my own stubbornness is coming from, but I’m still determined to win her over. Maybe it is my gut feeling that she is pushing me away on a purpose, not because she is not interested in me. I don’t know why, but there is something more to the story. Maybe it is just my stupidity that I think that all the girls want me. Those who say they don’t, are just lying to themselves. Besides, she is my mate. She just doesn’t know that I’m the One for her.

Her last bold statement takes me back a little bit. I have a clear picture of her on my bed on my head. Oh, you have no idea. If I could have it my way, I would have pulled you to the closest bathroom and f*cked you hard while bending you over the sink. We wouldn’t even get to bed. I feel that my d*ck grows hard because of these vivid images in my head. But I can’t have these thoughts now if I don’t want to have an embarrassing tent in my pants.

Oh, man, I had so many wet dreams about my mate all week long. I have been jerk*ng off in the shower more than back in my teenage years. And it is all because of this gorgeous woman in front of me who turns out to have a nasty character and who is trying hard to get rid of me. Rejected. Again. Me. One of the most popular guys among she-wolves and human females. But I try again.

- You are our guest in this country. You don’t know anyone here, so I’m compelled to entertain you tonight and keep you company.

I replied sincerely.

- I think the previous silence told me everything about what kind of “entertainment” is in your mind.

She air-quoted the word “entertainment”. Her voice was clearly displeased again. She shook her head. She is right but I can’t tell her that. Yet.

- Maybe I should prove you wrong!

I said with the same determination as previously.

- Maybe you should leave me alone?

She snaps back with a hint of anger in her voice. Why does she keep on pushing me away? Does she have a boyfriend? Pain and jealousy tug into my heart just thinking about it. Does she not like me? Not even the slightest bit? It looks as if she hates my guts and doesn’t even want to talk to me. Or be in my presence. I was upset. This sucks. I whined in my head like a child. I was starting to feel desperate… I hung my head low. I kicked the floor with my shoe as if there was some rock lying. I wanted to kick something for real. Or someone. This constant pressure and rejection upset me in more ways than one. I needed to get rid of this dreadful feeling. I started to itch to have a run. But my mate was here. How could I leave her?

- Okay, I’m sorry. Maybe your intentions are innocent. I don’t know anyone here except you and your mom.

She surprised me by this statement. It is like our previous exchange made her all worked up, but now she relaxed and even apologized. That’s… interesting. And good. I hope. My previous conclusions about making progress were quickly shattered by her mean comments, so I didn’t want to get too confident.

-  Come, I’ll introduce you to my younger sisters. They are lovely girls.

As this conversation didn’t go anywhere good, I needed some action. And distraction. My family could be it.

- Hey, girls! So, this is Laila. My… our home re-decorator and designer.