Chapter 78

SILVANA

My eyelids fluttered open at the sound of running water. Yawning slightly, my gaze went to the bathroom and at that moment, James walked out. I choked on my spit when I saw his naked chest. He only had a towel hanging dangerously around his waist. His bare chest glistening with water and looking tempting.

"Are you done checking me out?" James spoke up with a smile tugging at his lips.

I quickly looked away, clearing my throat loudly. "I was not staring."

"Should I believe that?" His voice came out teasingly and I glared at him.

He let out a chuckle, coming closer to me.

"Good morning, my little sunshine." He pecked my forehead and I giggled. "Good morning." I replied, swiftly looking up. "I'm not little though." I mumbled, but he shrugged looking unconcerned. "You are to me."

I rolled my eyes, playfully shoving him towards the closet, and his laughter echoed through the room, filling my ears softly.

In few hours, he was all ready for work and I was currently seeing him off to the door when he suddenly turned. My brows furrowed when I saw his lips, which were pursed slightly.

"What's up?"

"Do I really have to go."

I giggled softly, opening the door and pushing him out. "You are already dressed up, so just go on."

"Can you go with me then? Don't worry, I will take care of you."

"Just go." I said, stifling a laughter as I tried to shut the door, but he grabbed my hand.

"See you later and don't overwork."

"I nodded and finally released my hand, bading him goodbye as he went into his car. I watched as he drove off before going in.

I called Mr Greg to send some works I could attend to including a laptop and about an hour later, someone from the company brought it to the house.

I sent her off before going upstairs, to the room. I settled on the bed, beginning work immediately.


While still working, I suddenly heard voices from outside. I peered through the window, but I saw nothing, fueling my curiousness. I slowly made my way out of the bed, leaving the room.

As I went downstairs, the voices became more and more louder. My face scrunched up in a confused frown as I opened the door, going out.

"What's going on – " I paused when I set my eyes on Kyra. My face slowly warped into a frown. "What are you doing here again?"

Kyra pulled out from the hold of the guard and Mrs Claire who were actually trying to stop her. She came forward to me.

"So it's true, you are actually staying with James." She muttered.

"Yeah, what about it?" I questioned and she chuckled. "I thought I warned you to stay away from James."

"And I also thought that I warned you not to approach me." I countered, stepping closer to her. "Did you take it for granted?"

"James is mine." She said making me scoff, "Is James a property that you can claim or something?"

"What's it to you? He is mine so stay away from him."

"No, you stay away from him, because he is my boyfriend." I refuted.

"Really? I guess I have to go through the hard way then. You will pay for this. Oh," she placed her hand on her mouth like she was in shock. "I've started already, with your friend."

I frowned. "What do you mean?" I asked and she just shrugged. "See ya!"

"Seriously? Well, I suppose I'll have to take the difficult route then. You'll regret this, mark my words. Oh," she gasped, her hand flying to her mouth in feigned astonishment. "I've already begun, with your dear friend."

My brow furrowed in concern. "What do you mean by that?" I demanded, but she simply shrugged nonchalantly. "Until next time, then!" she said with a sly smile, and went into her car, driving out.

"I'm so sorry for disturbing you, Mr James already told us not to let her in, so we were trying to send her out." Mrs Claire explained, but I just waved it off. Kyra's words were in my mind as I went inside.

When I went to my room, I called Kyra's number and she picked at the third ring.

"Yo baby! What's up?" Her cheerful voice calmed me down. I sighed in relief, but still wanted to confirm.

"Are you okay?"

"Yeah, why?"

"Err – I just wanted to check up on you. Nothing happened, right?" I asked with caution.

"Is something wrong?"

"No, it's nothing. See you." I said onto the phone before ending the call.

I sighed loudly and dropped my phone before going back to working. I took a few breaks in between.
___________

"Vana!" I looked up from my laptop as the door opened, my brows furrowing in surprise when I saw James.

"How come you're back?" I said, checking the time but I was surprised when I saw the time was past five.

"It's already this late?" Mumbling, I took my gaze to James who no had a frown on.

"Don't tell me you overworked yourself to the extent that you didn't keep track of time?" He asked, and I quickly shook my head raising my hands in surrender. "I took some breaks."

"You expect me to believe that?"

"Yes, it's truth." I replied, nodding innocently. James let out a sigh before sitting beside me.


"Have you had your lunch and taken your medication?" he asked, his hand reaching for my laptop, but I swiftly intervened, holding it out of his reach. "I still have a ton of work to finish," I protested, trying to reason with him, but James was too distracted to listen.

With a dismissive gesture, he snapped my laptop shut and flung it onto the bedside table. "That's enough for today," he stated.

I opened my mouth to object, but his lips silenced mine, his kiss leaving me breathless. My eyes widened in surprise, but as his lips continued to coax mine, my resistance melted away, and I found myself kissing him back. I wrapped my arms around his neck, pulling him closer then he suddenly bit my lips, causing a gasp to erupt from my mouth.

By the time we pulled out, I was already breathless and as I tried to regain my breath, my eyes locked on his. He wrapped his arms around my body and my lips curved into a smile.

Kyra's display came into my mind and I slowly pulled out of the hug, meeting his gaze.

"About Kyra," I began, my eyes searching his face for any reaction but there was none. "Why did you guys break up?" I continued and his brows knitted together.

"Why... do you want to know?" He hesitated, so I decided to dismiss it. "You don't have to tell me."

"No, it's fine." He said abruptly, and my eyes sparkled with curiosity.

He was silent for some seconds. Those seconds felt like minute and increased my curiousness, but I didn't want to be too forward.

"She was too busy." He finally talked. "We had little discussions and saw each other for only a brief moment. She would go over to different countries for her shoots, and I was okay with it. But then, she travelled to Italy for a long term schedule. She spent months there and in the beginning of those months, there was no problem. We still communicated even though briefly, but it changed, she wouldn't pick my calls nor reply my messages and when she did, she claimed she was too busy. I even traveled to Italy to see her, but it was impossible. She was still too busy to see me even for a brief moment. I still handle it but almost a year passed and we didn't communicate, so I decided to end it. There was no reason to continue dating when we can't even communicate."

My jaw dropped on disbelief as he finished speaking, my mind reeling with outrage. Kyra's audacity made me angry. How could she claim James as her boyfriend when she didn't even treat him as one when they were still dating. a determination ignited in me. I would make sure to thwart her manipulative plans and ensure that James remained mine, away from her toxic grasp.

"Why do you ask though?"

"Well," I hesitated to tell him about Kyra's coming here today, but he seemed to have already figured it out. "Did she perhaps come to you."

"Err – she came here today."

James gave darkened with rage, but I hastily intervened. "Don't worry, I handled her well."

His expression only grew more fiercer. "I remember telling them to keep her out." He growled, lowly.

"They were trying to send her out when I head them so I decided to check it out." I mumbled.

James released a deep sigh, his softening into a look of regret but I simply smiled, caressing his face. "Don't worry and also inform me if she comes to see you again, I will handle her."

James let out a light chuckle. "Can you do that?"

"Yep." I nodded immediately. "So make sure to inform me."

"Yeah yeah, I will." I smiled and hugged him.