Chapter 33

**James POV**

James is in a bad mood. Not that it's anything new. Even though Brittany has returned with haste, he couldn't stop being mad at everyone. It may have to do with the fact that a certain red-haired girl has not replied to his emails. She is ghosting him. HIM. People fall in line for a glimpse from him and she has not even replied to his mail. It's been 2 days now. Where are you hiding my little red?

"Brittany, in my office now, “James said, his mind unsettled.

Brittany took her notes and went into the office where James stood at his usual position, looking outside the glass pane. Undeterred, Brittany started relating the happenings and the calls he got in his absence. After uttering about the necessary office calls, Brittany paused not knowing how to approach this matter.
"Yes? “James asked, sensing her reluctance.

"You got a call from London sir", Brittany said carefully, knowing the impact that call has on him.

Other than his clenched fist, James didn't show any outward emotion. If she didn't know him better, she too wouldn't be able to guess the effect this particular call has on him.

Brittany waited patiently for James to say something. In the many years she worked under him, she has seen these silent outbursts after that London call many times. And like always she felt helpless unable to help but watch him suffer silently.

"Still how much longer, Brittany? This has tied my hands in chains for so many years. I can feel its metal seeping into my bones. Making me cold as these chains. I feel their burden in every step I take. They are pulling me down, Brittany...draining my energy like leeches, slowly. I fear I may get used to these chains. I fear I may lose myself fighting this. I want to be free of them, Brittany. I want to throw them in the ocean's bottom", James raged his innermost thoughts.

Brittany stood there stunned at his words. In all her years as his secretary, she never saw him so affected or voicing his displeasure so ardently. What must have changed for him to think past his obligation and desire something for himself? This is not good. Not at all good. Not at this stage.

"Mr. McKenzie...sir...James, you shouldn't. These thoughts... are dangerous if heard by someone. If THEY learned about your plans...about what's going on in your mind-", Brittany said, stressing the importance of this delicate matter.
"That's the problem, Brittany. It's not mine until this matter settles. It will remain theirs till then. I'm nothing...nothing but a mere slave to them", James voiced out his limits.

"You shouldn't talk like that. Everything will settle. Sooner than we hope”, said Brittany, ever the optimistic.

"I know Brittany. Any news from Luke?", James diverted the topic, not wanting to linger on his emotions and his helplessness.

Brittany doesn't want to upset him further, but there is no sideline for this question. "No Mr. McKenzie. He said he needed some more time. It's almost there".

James threw the nearby lamp on his table across the room. The sound that came from that glass breaking is so loud in the ensuing silence, Brittany feared for herself. Brittany stifled the gasp that was threatening to break free from her. Not because he may do her bodily harm, no, James will never lay a hand on a woman, but he may say something he may regret.

"I want Brittany's results, Brittany. Not some cock-and-bull story. He better does his job faster or he may have to look somewhere else for it. What else does he have to do? Is he waiting for them to know about it? He better gets it done before anyone knows. Remind him who is paying his salary", James said. For some, he may sound cold-hearted if they heard this but he has his reasons.

"Of course, Mr. McKenzie. Anything else?", Brittany said ready to note down his orders.

"Yes", James rummaged through the papers on his desk, picked one, and said as he gave it to her, "I want all the details on Bella-Rose James".

Brittany was petrified. So, this is the reason for his change in course? How could he think of involving someone at this stage? She voiced the very thought to him.

"James...if anyone learns anything about this...about her, it might cause a problem. The hard work you have accumulated all these years may turn into dust with one gossip. Please don't get involved with anyone until things are finalized. You may lose everything you earned. Is she worth it?"

James didn't take the time to tell his opinion. "Yes...yes, she is worth it and more".

"Mr. McKenzie, you are not thinking this through properly. I'm not saying to stop but be more cautious. You can have it all within a short amount of time. Why risk it with this now?", Brittany's argument was rather convoluted but it has to be made.

"She is worth the risk Brittany. For the first time in my life, I felt alive. This girl...I never saw her face nor her eyes, yet she is in my blood. I crave her with every drop of blood. I feel like I can move mountains if she is with me. We never talked face-to-face, yet there is this weird connection...you won't understand Brittany. Words are not enough to describe what I feel for her", James poured his heart out.

Brittany's sharp intake made him realise what he has said and he quickly changed the topic by saying, "open an account with the details you collect. Hire a PI if needed. I don't have to say it must be done with none the wiser. I want-", James uttered a figure that's ridiculous for some, "that amount of money to be transferred into this from my personal account. No one should know about it. I'm trusting you can handle it?", James enquired.

Brittany coming out of her scrutiny said, "yes, of course. But please think-"

James cut her off as fed up with her warnings, "I pay you to do my work Brittany. Not to question my decisions. See that it's done".

James regretted it immediately when he saw the clean mask on her face.

"Brittany-"

"I will get back to it, Mr. McKenzie. After all, we don't want your hard-earned money to go waste", Brittany said with a bite.

James felt he deserved that rebuke. Two days without contact from his little red and he became a pain in the ass to work with. He wished it wouldn't be any longer than this or else he may fire everyone in this building by then.