Chapter 243 Pinned Down
After James hung up the phone, Harmony was already standing in front of him, staring at him expressionlessly without saying a word.
Unfazed by scrutiny, James remained indifferent to stares. But the situation was different. Harmony was standing very close. What was worse, she was getting closer and closer, to the point where her breath was blowing on his face.
"What are you doing? Why are you standing so close? Dr. Wheeler and the others are waiting for me to join them for dinner," James said seriously, trying to sidestep Harmony.
But as soon as he moved, Harmony placed her hand on his shoulder and pushed him roughly against the wall.
James was taken aback.
'What is she thinking?' he thought.
"What are you playing at?" he snapped, frowning down at her.
Harmony remained silent, her gaze fixed and unreadable. An unnerving chill seemed to emanate from her, making James inexplicably uneasy.
He racked his brain, trying to remember if he'd done anything to offend her. He'd even saved her the night before – why was she acting like this now? It didn't make sense.
To make matters worse, they weren't completely alone. Though secluded, people occasionally passed by. If someone saw them like this, it wouldn't be good.
"Look, if you don't need anything, I'm leaving," James said, attempting to sidestep her.
But Harmony seemed determined to block him. The moment he moved, she shoved him back against the wall, her hands bracing against the bricks on either side of him. She leaned in close, her gaze unwavering.
Harmony was half a head shorter than James, making their postures in such close proximity even more awkward. She had to tilt her head up to maintain eye contact, her face just inches from his. James was trapped, unable to move without brushing against her.
He froze, afraid that even the slightest touch would be misconstrued. This was ridiculous. Just as frustration was about to boil over, Harmony finally spoke.
"Apologize," she said, her voice low and demanding.
James was dumbfounded, thinking, 'Apologize? What for?'
"What?" he asked, his frown deepening.
"You discriminated against me!" Harmony spat, her eyes blazing with anger.
"Discriminated? When?" James was utterly confused. Was this some kind of bizarre joke? He glanced at her again, searching for any telltale sign. He thought, 'Maybe she has just had a bad day? But no, her complexion seems perfectly normal.'
A sudden, ridiculous thought crossed his mind, and his face flushed.
Harmony, oblivious to his internal turmoil, mistook his flustered expression for guilt. A surge of satisfaction coursed through her. No matter how impressive he was on stage, he was still under her thumb.
"Still playing innocent?" she pressed on, her voice dripping with accusation. "You practically ran away when you saw me! How is that not discrimination?"
James was speechless. He thought, 'Run away? Is she serious?'
"Ms. Brown, you're being ridiculous. Why would I discriminate against you? Honestly, I'm more afraid of you than anything," he said, forcing a chuckle. His tone turned serious. "Look, I'm not kidding around. Dr. Wheeler and the others are waiting for me. They're older. I can't keep them waiting – it's disrespectful."
His words only seemed to fuel Harmony's anger. Her expression darkened, and she grabbed his collar, pulling him closer. "Liar! I just saw Dr. Wheeler – they already left!"
James's mind raced. 'What is going on? Dr. Wheeler had specifically said they'd wait. Why has they left?' As he met Harmony's gaze, he caught a flicker of cunning in her eyes. It hit him like a bolt of lightning – she was lying!
"Ms. Brown," he said, his voice laced with disdain, "if you're going to lie, at least make it believable. Your acting is atrocious."
Harmony froze, caught off guard. He saw through her? Her acting was usually flawless, fooling even the most perceptive individuals.
Just then, two figures strolled into view in the distance. James, acutely aware of their presence, quickly turned his head away.
"Move," he hissed, his voice low. "Someone saw us."
Harmony, startled, instinctively followed his gaze. Her initial panic subsided when she realized the couple was too far away to make out their faces.
The dense foliage cast long shadows, obscuring their features. Still, it would have been problematic if they'd been recognized.
Straightening up, she saw James shifting, clearly ready to bolt at the first opportunity. With a swift movement, she pressed him back against the wall, her body a little too close for comfort.
James felt a surge of anger. This was too much. Did she really think he wouldn't retaliate?
"Enough," he growled, his patience wearing thin. "I'm not someone you can push around."
But Harmony remained undeterred. She knew he wouldn't lay a finger on her, and a part of her almost wished he would. It was exhilarating, pushing him to the edge.
"Oh, I'm terrified," she scoffed, leaning in even closer, a challenging glint in her eyes.
James stared at her, completely exasperated.
'How had I gotten myself into this mess? This woman was a walking disaster.' he felt upset.
He tried a different tactic, letting a sliver of his true power seep into his voice. "Don't test me, Harmony. My patience has limits. Step away, or I won't be held responsible for what happens next."
The sudden shift in his demeanor, the subtle aura of danger, gave Harmony a momentary pause. But she quickly recovered, her defiance burning brighter. The thought of him losing control, even a little, sent a thrill through her.
"Oh, I'd love to see you try," she taunted, her voice laced with a mixture of challenge and… anticipation.
James was at his wit's end.
'This woman was infuriating. He glared at her,' his anger simmering just below the surface. Harmony met his gaze, her expression a mixture of defiance and something else he couldn't quite place.
"You asked for it!" he roared, rolling up his sleeves, ready to put an end to this ridiculous charade.
He wouldn't actually hit her, of course. He just needed to scare some sense into her. But her unwavering confidence threw him off balance. Just as he was about to back down, to try reasoning with her one last time, Harmony's expression crumpled. A gasp escaped her lips, and her eyes widened in pain. Her legs buckled, and she collapsed against him, her weight pulling him down with her.
James stared down at her, utterly bewildered.
'What in the world just happened?' he exclaimed inwardly.
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