Chapter 44

JAMES

I sighed for the umpteenth time, my eyes fixed on Vana's number on my phone. The silence from her call last night lingered in my mind. I was not sure if she was alright or not, but I was certainly disturbed that she hung up without saying a thing.

"Boss?" Vince's voice brought me out of my thoughts, and I looked up to see my team members staring at me. My brows furrowed that's when I realized I was in a meeting. Clearing my throat, I pushed myself forward. "What were we discussing?"

"We were updating you on the status of our current projects." One of them spoke, and I nodded, urging them to go on. Vince passed me a concerned look, but I just smiled and faced the rest, pushing the thoughts of Vana at the back of my mind in order to focus.

"Boss, are you okay?."

After the meeting ended, Vince rushed over to me as I left the meeting room. I halted in my steps to face him.

"Yes, why?"

"You don't seem yourself. You seemed absentminded during the meeting"

"I was?" I asked, chuckling nervously at his words and he nodded.

"I'm fine, you don't need to worry." I said and turned to go, but I stopped and turned to him.

"About Vana, has the online attack against her reduced?" I asked.

"Yes, your statement did a good job to reduce it. They will be gone in no time." He replied and a sigh of relief escaped my lips. I had been worried about the online attacks against here which seemed to affect her company. I had also wanted to ignore it, but they were just too much so I released a statement. It's a relief that it's working well.

I nodded at Vince before heading to my office. I had pending issues to attend to so I began working, but I lost focus after some minutes. Exhaling loudly, I dropped my pen and took my phone to call Chad. He picked at the second ring.

"Yo bro! What's up?" His voice came up.

"Are you free? Mind drinking with me?" I asked, but tegre was silence. I was about speaking up again when I heard him talk.

"Is that James talking?" He asked and I frowned. "What are you talking about? Of course, it's me."

"Are you sure? Cause the James I know won't ask me out for a drink. I'm the one in charge of that."

I chuckled and rolled my eyes. "Are you going or not?"

"Of course, I am! The almighty James is asking me out for a drink, I shall not refuse." He replied swiftly and I shook my head. "Let's meet at the lounge." Saying, I hung up and stood from my chair.

As I opened the door, Vince appeared. My brows furrowed.

"You need to attend to this file." He said, raising up a black file.

"Drop it on my desk. I will get to it later." I told him and walked out before he could say anything else.

I left my company and in few minutes, I was already at the lounge. I made my way in and looked around for Chad, but he was not there. So, I found a space instead, and ordered drinks as I waited for him. The bartender had just arrived with my order when I saw Chad walk in through the door. I waved at him, and he strode to me.

"Man." We did our bro shake before he sat down.

"So what's the problem." Chad asked, his eyes narrowing as he sipped from his glass of vodka. He turned to me.

I raised my eyebrow, playing it cool. "Nothing,just needed a drink." But Chad knew me to well. "You and I know that you won't just call me out without a reason. Something is surely bothering you."

He replied and I smiled. He sure does know me well. His brows furrowed but I shook my head, and said nothing, sipping from my drink instead.

"Are you not going to answer me?" His brows creased, and he shrugged, "I have something to ask you though." A sly smile appeared on his lips.

"Regarding the news about you and Silvana, are you guys really dating?"

I coughed, taken aback. "I don't understand."

"Oh, please. Tell me the truth and stop beating around." He rolled his eyes, suddenly leaning closer. "Are you guys dating?"

"No."

"Then do you like her." He pressed, his eyes sparking with mischief.

"Do I look like I do?"

"Of course, you even released a statement even though you were not affected by the article." He said, and I swallowed nothing, chuckling nervously. "I don't really like her."

"I know you do. That look in your eyes... have seen it before. When you were dating Kyra."

I rolled my eyes, feeling a pang of irritation at he mention of Kyra. "Don't talk about her with me."

"Why? You don't like her anymore, do you?"

"Of course, I don't! Like you said, I like Vana." My eyes widened realizing what I just blurted out. I shook my head at Chad's teasing eyes. "I really don't like her."

"Yeah, you don't, but you just said it yourself." He chuckled, and I sighed, knowing I can't deny anymore. Chad won't let me rest until I accept it.

"So, now that you've admitted it, why aren't you at making any move." He asked and I sighed. Like I haven't.

"She doesn't like me and I don't wanna force it."

"Oh, really? I never knew you were that considerate."

I side-eyed him, feeling a twinge of frustration and he chuckled. "It's true bro. You never let go of things you want. Remember it took a lot of effort before you could break up with Kyra."

"Don't talk about her please! And Vana is different."

"What's with you and Kyra anyways? You seem angry?" Chad eyed me skeptically and I sighed, finally speaking up. "She is back."

"Really? Since when?"

"I don't know and I don't want to know!" I snapped and Chad gave me a look. "What happened between you to?"

"She insists I didn't break up with her and keeps bugging me."

"But you did."

"Right. But she insists on not accepting it. Even after a year."

"Woah, that's wide."

I heaved and gulped down my whole drink, dropping it on the table with a loud bang after. "I'm so frustrated right now."

"Sorry bro, but you know Kyra, she is not gonna back down."

I sighed at his words, which were completely true. Kyra was like a dog with a bone, and I was stuck in her crosshairs. Why did I even get involved with her in the first place?