All Chapters of Wine Stained Lips: Chapter 81 - Chapter 90

James' POV It was the Saturday before Halt official opening in New York. I was still in London with Vinora and Gus. We are dinner together. Gus was pretty excited to go back to L.A and he kept going on and on about the new things he'd love to try when he gets back. I wasn't sure I was ready to step back there. Don't get me wrong,I love L.A but I always felt like something was missing where I was there,like I didn't fit in. I decided to book a flight to New York instead of using my father's private jet. Even though he left it for me and my sister. I just didn't want any of my carbon footprint destroying the ozone layer more than it already is and most of all I didn't want to associate myself with anything that belonged to my father. I was out to set my own name and honestly I was already doing a pretty damn good job at It. I had my own show ready that'd premiere by the third quarter of the year. I said I was going to do it and I did. Without my father. It was my thing. My own credi

James' POV The following day after Halt's official opening I returned to L.A for the final editing of Gus's and I new show. It was also the official resumption from the holidays. When I walked into the apartment,the smell of burnt cake filled my nose as Gus sat there with remains of whatever is left in the pan chucking it down with an oddly big fork I had never seen."Oh hey." he said with a mouth full of bunt cake."Hey?" I said questioningly."I was gonna bake you a cake." He said.I would say what a grand gesture that was,even though it was one that failed but Gus was one to put on a grand gesture. He was random and spontaneous-- definitely not the planning type.Gus stood up straight, picked up the burnt cake pan and walked over to the kitchen with it while I followed behind him. He hung a hand towel on his left shoulder and he kept touching it on an unsettling manner like he was about to confuse a secret or something."So...you might wanna sit down for this one..." He said in

James' POV My minds been worked up, just thinking about how I slowed down things for Gus and I. The call back was probably gonna be by the end of February because the protest outside of Ranault wine head quarters had seized but the wondering tension about the continuation of the company and succession was the a daily topic tabloids on local blogs site.After spending the entire time at home since I got back from Paris,I was becoming unproductive and unfulfilled. Gus was usually out and about on some new adventure. I didn't want to be idle but I'm not sure I wanted to go to the club like Gus. It was loud there and I wanted to maintain a low profile after everything that had happened with my family's reputation.I woke up on the thirteen day to a voice mail from my therapist. She called to see if I was okay. I hadn't spoken to her since last year December. I remember that day clear as day. It was two days after my father died. I was zoning out from reality and I thought writing in my

James' POV (FOUR MONTHS LATER)The 29th of June became a significant date ingrained in my head since last year. It was the day Calla's mum,Mrs Hannah Grayson passed away. I remember rushing back to Boston because I felt something shift in the universe after she took her last breath. I remember seeing her around in the faces of passerbys. I remember picking up the phone call from Julie that day and clawing my chest with my palm,like I wanted to stop the sudden rushed of ache and guilt I felt from keeping the secret of her cancer being terminal.Today,and a year later, I was back in Boston with the same bitter taste in my mouth. Though,I was free from carrying all that weight of guilt,I couldn't help but carry the weight of Calla's burdened heart of missing her mother. I missed her too.Aunty Kathy had made an organization for her sister's one year remembrance and art donations. Family and friends were gathered in Calla's house and the clouds in the sky darkened, threatening to pour do

James' POV (THE FOLLOWING YEAR)It was Mid April when I matched into the jewelry store and bought a ring. I stood in front of the glass the counter starting at different beautiful diamond rings. I was going to marry her and non was comparable enough.Then my eyes caught a marquise diamond ring. It was perfect. I was going to ask her to marry me with it.Best believe,I've thought about it. In fact,the first time I thought about it was the first time she slept in my apartment. It was two years ago right after her mother passed. We had talked that night till she fell asleep. And when I woke up the next morning. She was still fast asleep in my pajamas with her hair fallen all over her face. That was when I knew I wanted to wake up beside her forever. Even though I was scared of marriage because I never saw my parents happy in their. Calla changed my view of how beautiful two people can be. I wanted it to be her.The first time I knew I had fellen in love with her was at the rooftop of