Chapter 71

**Bella-Rose POV**

She looks like one of those people who asks for a lady’s menu in a restaurant. Her countenance doesn't encourage friendly conversation especially when she put her hands on her hips. she is beautiful, there is no doubt about it even while giving haughty air.

My gut clenched in warning at the way she stood in her heels as if she has lived here for a long time. Her shoes alone must have cost me 3 months’ salary. If that's the case I don't want to think about the amount her entire ensemble bills up to.

Till now I was never faced with our social differences when I was with James. Though I thought about it. But looking at her made me perceive that we came from two different worlds if this is the example of a person James surrounds himself with. I have to acknowledge this fact and adapt to it to be with him. Can I change myself, my personality, my nature for him? Will James ask that of me? I don't think James is the kind of a man who likes people to blindly to follow him or respect the person for doing things because he said so. Still... there is no harm in trying to blend into his lifestyle for him.

"James said something about the painting", I trailed away suddenly feeling self-conscious and embarrassed that I'm explaining things she has not asked me about as I shuffled my feet in discomfort.

The woman waved her hand dismissively and gave a cheery fake smile that didn't reach her eyes as if I had said something funny to her. My brows drew together in confusion. What humorous thing have I said?

"Oh, James is like that. He brings people all the time to show the painting. He is so proud of it", she said with a Cheshire cat smile that doesn't match with her words.
The icy feeling that is hovering in the middle since I entered the main hall, dispersed all over my body intensifying the feel of impending doom.

"What am I thinking! You must be uncomfortable standing there. Why don't you have a seat?", she smirked as she pointed to a wooden chair that is different from the set of couches in the main hall.

Though if she might have asked nicely, I would have chosen that one so as not to wet the velvety couches. But she has to point out the wooden one specifically to take note of my slightly wet clothes or is she being purposefully discourteous?

If I was vindictive, I would have sat beside her on the couch just to spite her. However, this is James's home and at the end of the day, she may be his guest.

So, with great reluctance, I shuffled to the chair and landed my ass on it. She then sauntered to the other end of the couch, her heels making click-clack noise as she sat at the edge of it. Not sprawling as I do in my home. Nope. This lady is all about elegance and grandeur.

Even though she gestured to me to sit, I got the feeling that she wants to be as far away from me as possible considering the choice of her sitting place.

She then gave a deep glance at my dress and wrinkled her nose. I suddenly got the urge to blow raspberries at her to see how she will react. No doubt she will have a mini panic attack.

However, I curbed that desire. Before I could point out her facial contortions, she relaxed her face and crossed her legs.

"How do you know James?" she asked with a cheery smile that didn't diminish the glint in her eyes. What does she think we are, bosom buddies?
"Umm..." I trailed off thinking of what to say as I wrung my hands, darting my eyes at the mouth of the main hall.

"Oh, silly of me to not offer you anything", she ringed the bell that was on the table beside a couch. A bell! I thought it was extinct.

A woman in her late 40's came into the main hall with a dour face. However, she quickly masked it into a neutral unimpressed expression before the haughty woman can lay eyes upon her.

"Laura, bring some refreshments to our guest here. Don't forget to add hot chocolate", the woman ordered as she scrutinized my waist for 2 minutes.
"You seem to be one of those women who like to eat carbs", she said as a way of explanation.

My eyes got big at her audacity. How dare she? She thought of making me look small before her. Alas, she doesn't know the fact that the Old Pen has made my armor strong. Before Old Pen's verbal stamina, hers looked like a child's play.

However, she has crossed the line of rudeness. Just because I'm keeping mum doesn't mean I will tolerate her snarky remarks on my body.

"It's called eating food. Unlike some twigs who starve themselves in the name of fashion", I retorted pointedly looking at her stick-thin waistline. However, I restrained myself from adding "you should try sometime instead of pushing your persecution complex on others" which was at the tip of my tongue. That would have lit the fire under her.

A red color blushed her cheeks as she narrowed her gaze at me. Within the next second, the corners of her mouth turned up, giving me a close tight-lipped smile.

A frown marred between my eyes at her sudden change in demeanor. Why do I feel like she is playing with me? Where the hell is James? Has he forgotten about me?
"Of course. You are not what you look outside. Hmm. Interesting. You have a fire inside you. Good. It wouldn't be as exciting otherwise. You know, I love to put out the fire, especially when I stomp them under my heel", she gave an evil smirk as she checked her nails for any dirt.

A muscle in my jaw twitched at her open rebuttal. I snapped my mouth shut as I said harshly, "excuse me?"

She was saying such ambiguous phrases that it's hard to interpret her meaning.

Just then Laura came back with a tray dispersing the tension in the room. Maybe she meant to say in a funny way. A weird one...but who knows? She looks like she may have a twisted sense of humor.

I took the hot chocolate from the tray, just to spite the woman in front of me. She tried hard to cover her scrunched-up face alas it slipped when I blew lightly over the hot chocolate.

Laura then placed a cookie plate on the table right in front of me before leaving to our devices. I wanted to beg her, "no, don't leave me alone with this evil woman. Come back".

However, I held myself back from doing such a thing. I gave a polite smile to the woman before slurping the drink loud enough to wake a sleeping bear from my cup. The woman pressed her mouth in a hard line at my antics, giving a sniff in a deprecating way.

I had a hard time controlling my tongue. But I have to...for James. I fidgeted in my seat as I checked the entrance for any sign of James. Where is he? Doesn't he know this woman is also in his home and it would be awkward to leave me here alone with her?

"Why is he not coming inside?" I unconsciously thought out loud which caught her attention as she sat straighter in her seat

"That's always the case with James. Work comes first no matter what", she snickered as she said that with a familiarity. I got the feeling that she is trying to make an impression that she has known him for a while and cognizant of his behavior.

"How long have you known James?" I asked her at point-blank not liking her game.

Instead of bothering with a reply she gave a one-sided shoulder shrug and asked me, "Oh you call him James?", covering her mouth, feigning surprise.

"Of course," I gave a shrug. What's the big deal in it? Oh...she might not know our relationship but still what's so wrong with calling him by his name?
She slapped her hand on her forehead lightly as she gave a gasp and said,

"Look how forgetful I'm. You came here to see the painting. And here I'm chewing your ear off. You must be in a hurry to return home. After all, the storm is almost upon us", she peered outside from the nearby window and continued with a sigh, "The talk of James always makes me forgetful".

"Why?" I questioned her as I gritted my teeth at her riddles, not liking her tone.

"The man himself is an enigma. Don't you think?" She asked as she leaned forward, her hand under her chin as if she was sharing her confidences with me.
"Yes...but why will his name make you forgetful?" I asked my eyebrows scrunched up

She waved her hand as if to swat a fly and said, "you are not looking at the painting. I think James will be disappointed if he learns about it. Here allow me to show you".

She stood and sauntered towards me and carefully took the cup and placed it on the table. She then lifted me up by putting her hands on my arms and slowly turned me in a clockwise direction.
My breath hitched at what I saw as she bends and slowly whispered in my ear,

"He likes it so much that if I let him, he might even exhibit it in an art gallery"

However, my body didn't notice her mocking tone...didn't notice her hands leaving my body...or my stopping heartbeat. What I noticed is the painting before me. The painting of James and this woman...attired in their wedding dresses.