Chapter 16

SILVANA

"Err...which one is it then?" She gave out a confused smirk which I returned, and turned to James with raised brows. He ignored me and faced her.

"I'm her boyfriend, and Reed isn't that of a big deal, he is a jerk." James smiled at her.

"That's true." She smiled back and turned to me. "Congratulations anyways, see you some other time."

I nodded and she walked away. I turned my head back to James who was supposedly focused on his food.

"What was that about?"

"What do you mean?" He questioned without looking at me.

I scoffed, looking away before turning back to him. "Calling me your girlfriend."

"I didn't say that." He finally looked and I scoffed. "You didn't?"

"Yeah, I only said I was your boyfriend."

"Aren't we saying the same thing!" I banged on the table. Is he taking me for a joke or something?

"It isn't, the word boyfriend and girlfriend is quite dif..."

The glare on my face made him stop and he chuckled, an unsettled one.

"Fine, I'm sorry, I just couldn't watch her talk about you like that. Reed is the dumb one for leaving you because of his ex."

I was about to eat, but I stopped, looking up at him.

"Why are you staring at me like that?"

"How come you know he left me for his ex?" I asked back. I watched as his mouth hangs open, before he slowly closed it with a chuckle.

"Well... He has been going out with her a lot, so.."

"That's enough." I didn't want to hear it anymore, so I just went back to my food. He has been going out with her a lot? Something he never did with me. He always hid me at home and never took me to any events. I had thought I was the problem. Maybe I wasn't beautiful enough, so I made it a routine to maintain my weight, making sure to always look pretty, but still, I was ignored by him, and now, he is flaunting his bitch everywhere? What a sneaky bastard.

I suddenly lost my appetite, so I dropped the spoon and looked up only to see James staring intently at me.

"Why...are you staring?"

"Nothing, you just look cute while you eat." This brought a frown to my face, I took the tissue paper, wiped it with my mouth, dropped it loudly before facing him.

"What are you trying to do, James?" The way he talked and stared at me, it seemed like he was trying to get on my good side, and I surely didn't like it. It felt like he was hoping for something which I obviously won't give to him.

"I don't seem to understand you, Avery. Elaborate." I scoffed at the confused look on his face. Is he playing with me?

"Are you hitting on me?" I asked straight

"What?"

"If that is it, then I want you to stop. And about calling yourself my boyfriend, I really don't like it, okay? So please, don't think of taking advantage of me because you're helping me."

"Take advantage of you? What are you saying, Avery. I would never do that."

"Nobody says they are." I said bluntly.

"Avery, you need to..."

"I'm leaving." I cut in, and took my bag, standing up. I walked out of the restaurant and went to the roadside to wait for a cab because my car was at James's company and I needed to get it.

"Where are you going?" James' voice came from the back, but I didn't look back.

"Your car is not at the company." I turned back this time. "I don't understand."

"I asked a driver to take it to your house." He said and my face etched into a frown.

"Why would you do that?!"

"We came to the restaurant together and your car couldn't be left there, so I asked a driver to take it home since I could just drive you home."

"Drive me home? For what reason? I didn't ask you to?"

"You didn't, but...I'm sorry, okay? I'm sorry for calling myself your boyfriend and I'm sorry if I made you uncomfortable, but I really don't expect anything from you, and I surely don't want our relationship to get..."

"We have no relationship." I cut in.

"At least we are business partners." I said nothing. He was right, I wanted no romantic relationship with him, but we were business partners. I can not afford to destroy that relationship.

"Fine, but I need to go home." I spoke up.

"I would drive you home."

"No, I..."

"If it's about what happened the last time, it won't happen again. It's not gonna rain and I won't have to stay. I'm just gonna drop you off, then...I'm gone."

I said nothing and only stared at him. He was right, I was resistant to let him take me home, because I don't want what happened the last time to reoccur. I really don't want any distractions.

"Come on. It's just for a few minutes." He motioned at his car. I sighed loudly and walked to his car without saying anything. I got in and he did the same. In the next minute, we were out of the restaurant.

My eyes remained on the window as he drove. As I stared out, I suddenly felt like I overreacted back at the restaurant. I shouldn't have said all that. I was just...maybe frustrated? But it was all true. I really don't want to have anything to do with him aside from work, which was my priority. I just want to get back up on my feet with no distractions, none.

I sighed loudly and closed my eyes, the sound of the moving vehicle whizzing in my ear. It was so comforting that it almost drove me to sleep, but James had already gotten to my house.

I took my head away from the headrest before facing him. He was facing the front, but nevertheless, I said a 'thank you' and came out of the car. He drove off immediately and a pout formed on my lips, but I shrugged it off and went into the house.