Chapter 6

Ava didn’t bother knocking on James’ office door before opening the door and walking in. James lifted his head from his computer to look at who had disrespectfully barged into his office.

When he saw it was Ava, he heaved a sigh. ‘Only she can do such a silly thing.’

“Hi, James.” She smiled softly and approached his desk. “What do you want, Ava? I told you I don’t like disturbance at the office.” He shifted his gaze back to his computer and kept working.

“I’m sorry, okay? You have been ignoring me, so I decided to pay you a visit.” She walked past the chairs and headed to where he sat.

She touched his face with her right hand, and he looked at her. “Stop it, Ava.” He moved her hand away from his face.

“Why? Don’t you love me anymore?” She asked, and he scoffed. “Love you? When have I ever said I love you, Ava?” He looked at her unbelievably.

“What? But, we…” “We had one night of pleasure and that is all, Ava. No feelings attached. I made that clear before we kicked off, didn’t I?” He asked, and Ava gulped hard.

“Yes, but I don’t want to be just a one night stand. I want us to start going out.” She wanted to reach for his face but he moved his face away.

“Don’t touch me, Ava, and stop dreaming. We are never going to happen. I don’t date, and I don’t court. I f**k you and move on.”

Ava felt her heart burst inside of her when she heard the words that proceeded out of James’ mouth. She had always dreamed of them being a couple, but he kept pushing her away.

Her eyes heated up, and she moved away from his desk.

She reached for her tissue paper in her pink large bag and tore some. She cleaned her eyes neatly so that she wouldn’t ruin her mascara.

She looked at James again and saw he paid her no attention. She turned her back and walked to the door.

‘I’m not going to give up on you, James. I promise I am going to have you to myself alone. No one is going to have you except me!’

*

Amelia got home and tiredly crashed on her bed. She exhaled loudly and closed her eyes. She replayed the scenes at James’ office again.

As she thought about it, she could perceive his cologne full her nostrils again. She creased her brows and opened her eyes, staring at the ceiling. ‘How am I still perceiving him?’

She suddenly heard a loud knock on her door, and she raised her head and looked at the door.

“Who is it?” She asked, resting her elbows on the bed and raising her lower body.

“Open up, Amelia.” She heard Hudson’s disembodied voice. She shut her eyes tight and stood up from the bed.

She hopped to the door and opened it. Hudson leaned on the door frame and when she opened the door, he leaned forward that their heads almost touched.

Amelia moved back very fast, and he walked into her room. “What do you want, Hudson?” She asked, and he smirked.

He looked around her room and then at her. “Why would you ask me that question in my house?” He asked, and she bounced her head slowly. “Sorry,” She mumbled.

He tucked his arms on his chest, still watching her. “My room needs cleaning. I need you to come and take care of it,” He said, and Amelia couldn’t help but knit her eyebrows.

“Your room? But, the maids are…” She stopped talking when Hudson spoke up again.

“And what are you? Don’t tell me you see yourself as one of us.” He let out a little laugh of mockery, and she clenched her jaw. She felt embarrassed.

“Can I please rest a little? I promise to clean your room when I wake up.” She lowered her head, and Hudson arched his eyebrow.

“Rest a little? You haven’t done anything today. What are you resting for?”

He made his hands fall from his chest, and when she saw this, her heart started thumping against her chest. She could think of nothing but him hitting her for what she had said.

“I went to see Mr. James today, and I am very exhausted because of the injury on my leg. But I promise, once I’m awake, I’ll do exactly what you want me to do.”

She lowered her head and prayed silently that he allowed her rest. “Injury? When did you sustain an injury? Let me see it.” He threw his head forward after speaking.

Amelia nodded and reached for the left leg of her pants. She pulled it up and when it was above the wounded spot, she stopped.

She could see some traces of blood on the bandage. “What happened to you? How did you get injured?” He asked, and Amelia raised her head to look at him.

‘Why is he asking so many questions? Does he care about me now? But if I tell him it’s Ava, won’t he do something bad to me?’

“I…”

“Ava did it right?” He butted in, and Amelia nodded slowly.

‘How did he know?’

He clasped his lips, and she saw a smile light up his face. Immediately, he burst into a loud laughter.

“God, Ava is something else! She told me she broke your leg but I was too shocked to believe. So it’s true.”

He kept laughing, and Amelia bowed her head. Tears hurriedly heated her eyes, and that streamed out without hindrances.

‘Was that supposed to be funny?’ She questioned herself inwardly as she sobbed.

“Well, I’m so sorry for not giving a f**k about your leg. I want you in my room now.” He headed to where she was standing and stood right in front of her. He was so close that his breath touched her forehead.

Amelia swallowed hard and clasped her eyes when she felt him very close to her.

He raised his hand and ran his finger on her silky hair. He moved his nose to hair and sniffed it deeply, his eyes fell shut.

Amelia moved back after he sniffed her hair. She didn’t know what he was doing, but she didn’t like any of it. “I’ll clean your room now,” She muttered, looking at his face.

He had a weird, unexplainable look on his face and this made Amelia very uncomfortable.

He began to approach her slowly, and she began to move back. Before her back hit the door, a knock was heard again.

Hudson lifted his gaze from her and made it fall on the door. Amelia let out a sigh of relief as she believed whoever it was had saved her from Hudson and his weird attitude.

“Amelia, are you home?” They heard Freddie say from outside her room.

“Yes, Uncle. I’m back.” She said, keeping her eyes on Hudson.

“What are you waiting for? Open the door,” He said, folding his arms again. Amelia grabbed the door knob and pulled the door to herself.

She put on a fake smile as she looked at Freddie. “Welcome back, Uncle.” Freddie nodded and looked up to see Hudson inside her room.

He narrowed his gaze at him and walked in. “Hi, Dad.” Hudson smiled widely.

“What are you doing here?” Freddie asked, also smiling. “I came here to see Amelia. I heard she has an injury, so I came to greet her.” Freddie smiled with great emotions and said, “That is so nice of you, Son. I appreciate your care towards Amelia.”

Hudson nodded and looked at Amelia who just watched them blankly. “I’ll excuse you both,” Hudson said, and he approached the door.

He got to where Amelia was and rubbed her hair, just like how a dog owner rubs her dog’s head.

He leaned closer and whispered in her ear, “Consider yourself lucky today. Next time, he won’t be around to save you.”

Amelia fearfully smiled and looked at his face. “Thank you for your care.” She responded.

Hudson walked out of her room and as soon as she was out, she turned her head to look at Freddie. He sat on the bed and tapped the space next to him.

“Let’s talk about your visit to James’ office.” He said, and she nodded.

“I apologized to him, but he has yet to forgive me. He told me I have to find what he loves the most and do it for him.” She sat next to Freddie, and he stared at her with confusion written all over him.

“What does he love the most?” He asked, and she shook her head.

“I don’t know, uncle. I asked him but he asked me to find that out myself. I don’t know what to do, Uncle,” Amelia said, and Freddie exhaled.

Without uttering any words, he pulled out his phone from the pockets of his trousers and searched his call log.

Amelia furrowed her eyebrows as she watched him. She wondered what he wanted to do but she kept mute. Soon, Freddie put his phone on his ear and waited some seconds before talking.

“Charles,” He uttered, and Amelia’s eyes widened.

‘Mr. Charles? James’ father?’

“Freddie. How is it going?” Charles asked from the other end of the phone.

“Your son asked her to look for what he loves the most and do it for him. Do you have any idea what it could be?” Freddie asked, and Amelia nodded as she listened to him.

“I’m sorry, Freddie. I have no idea. What James loves the most is best known by him. She would have to know him well before she can figure it out.” Freddie looked at Amelia sadly after he heard Charles’ response.

Amelia’s heart skipped when she saw the look on Freddie’s face. She knew something was wrong.

“Thank you, Charles. I’ll hang up now.” Freddie hung up the call and heaved a loud sigh.

“What did he say, uncle?” Amelia asked.

“According to Charles, You will have to know James pretty well before you can know what he loves,” Freddie answered.

“But, how do I do that? He hates me, Uncle,” She said with great worry.

“If you want to know him, I think the best thing you can do is stay close to him and watch him closely. And the only way you can do that is only if you work with him.”

Amelia narrowed her gaze as she tried to understand what her uncle was proposing. “What are you trying to say, uncle?” She asked.

“What I’m saying is that, you have to apply for a job in his company. This is the first step to earning his forgiveness,” He said, and her eyes popped open.

“But uncle, he is kind of…” She swallowed her words and bowed.

“Kind of scary, right?” He asked, and she hurriedly bounced her head and looked at him. ‘Thank God I am not the only one that feels that way.’

“You will have to get used to him then. There is no other way. You have to get close to him. Make him like you, and boom! He forgives you and then, I can do business with their family again.”

“Okay.” She slowly nodded and divulged a faint smile. ‘Why do I find myself in trouble all the time!’ She screamed in her head.