Chapter 27

Loud gasps erupted from every corner of the hall. Even James looked surprised, but it soon turned into a smile. He started walking towards me, and when he got to me, he grabbed my waist, pulling me closer. A light gasp escaped my lips as a result.

"Are you really her boyfriend?"

James turned to face Esham. "I am, so apologize to her. You bumped into her and also spilled wine on her dress, yet you still find it difficult to say sorry? And what? She doesn't fit in? Then do you?" James looked from Esham to Reed, his eyes narrowing.

"What are you trying to say?" Reed asked through clenched teeth.

"I mean, what's the ranking of your company in the top businesses of this country? Nowhere to be found."

"What? How dare you?!" Reed stepped forward, but Esham held him, motioning at the crowd. She leaned in, whispering something to his ear.

I looked at James who had a smirk on as he stared at them.

"Apologize now, will you?"

"I don't see a reason to?" Esham countered.

My face twisted into a frown and I made to talk, but James beat me to it.

"You don't see a reason? Right, at least everyone now knows who you are. An egoistic lady with zero brains and nothing to offer."

"What! Who do you think you are..."

"Apologize." James turned to Esham, his gaze intense.

With gritted teeth, she finally said the word. "I'm sorry."

A smile appeared on James' face as he turned to me. "Do you accept her apology?"

"I do." I nodded and he nodded, placing his hand on the small of my back. He led me out of the hall and I could feel eyes on us as he did.

"You wanna leave?" James asked when we got outside, in a quieter place. I kept my head down in embarrassment. Though he saved me from embarrassment, I was now more embarrassed in front of him.

"Hey, look at me." I didn't heed to his words and just kept my head down, but soon, I felt his cold fingertip graze my jaw. He lifted my jaw up and my eyes met with his.

"Should we leave?"

"I'm sorry." I blurted out, but James' brows furrowed in annoyance.

"For what?"

"I..you..I called you my boyfriend when I shouldn't have...I just didn't want them to..." I paused when he pulled off his jacket, draping it over my shoulders.

"You are cold." He gestured at my hand. I took my gaze to it. My hand was shaking slightly.

"Thank you." Mumbling, I pulled the jacket properly on my body, and looked at him.

"I–"

"You don't need to say sorry or anything. I'm glad to help you, so if you have troubles with anything, just tell me, I will be there for you." My heart skipped a beat at his words, and tears pricked at the corners of my eyes as I stared at him. He looked so sincere that my heart started to race.

"Shall we go now?"

"What about my car?"

"I came with my driver. I'm just gonna call him to bring my car and drive yourself home." He replied, operating his phone.

He talked with his driver for a while and in the next few minutes, the man showed up.

"Your key?" He stretched his hand forward and I took my car key from my purse before placing it in his hand. He handed it over to the driver and grabbed my hand, his hand brushing against mine as he did so.

He opened his car, and gently pushed me in before going to the driver's seat. In the next minute, we were out of the area.

I leaned back in my seat, closing my eyes and letting the cool breeze wash over my face.

The sound of the car screeching to a halt made me open my eyes. I looked at James.

"Why did you stop?"

"Come out for a bit?"

"Why?" Instead of answering my question, he leaned close. My breath hitched as our eyes met.

"Wh–at are you doing?" I asked in a stutter as he leaned close, but he didn't reply, just kept coming closer, making my heart race. Is he trying to kiss me?

I was about to push him off when I felt the seatbelt around me loosen.

"I helped you lose your seatbelt." I swallowed nothing as I stared at him. He moved away from me and got out of the car.

Swallowing once again, I slowly pushed myself off the seat and came out of the car. He had stopped in a clothing store.

Raising my brows, I faced him, but he grabbed my hand, pulling me in.

The attendants welcomed us and James asked for casual dress for me. I was given a short black down and was shown the dressing room to put it on.

While in the dressing room, I took off the turquoise green dress I was putting on, put the black dress on before leaving the dressing room.

"It fits your girlfriend perfectly." The attendant said as I came out, and I was about to correct her that I'm not his girlfriend when James spoke up.

"I know, right? It fits her perfectly."

I looked at him surprisedly, but he shrugged.

"Could you help to trash the dress." He pointed at the dress in my hand and one of the attendants collected it from me before walking away.

James also left with the lady to pay for the dress. Soon, he came back.

"You..."

"I agreed with her cause it's going to seem weird if I don't." James spoke up before I could even speak, like he knew what I was going to say.

"For the dress– send your account details, I will send the money to you."

"No need, let's go."

"But..." He was already out before I could speak. Pouting, I went after him. He was already in the car when I got in, so I went in too. He started the car, driving away.

______

"Thanks for today." I said when we got to my house, but he raised his brows.

"I thought I said not to thank me or apologize?"

"I know. But I still have to. You helped me greatly today, and I don't want to be ungrateful." I said and he smiled. "You don't have to. Just go in and have a goodnight rest."

I nodded and made to leave the car when he called me. Turning back to face him, he cleared his throat.

"About today, articles are going to be published about it even though it's fake."

Ooh. I didn't think about it, but we can get rid of the articles, right?

I was about to tell him that when he spoke up, it shocked me to my bones.

"Should we just date for real?”