Chapter 2

After Four Years

" You seem oblivious of the attention you are in? " a sudden voice from behind me made the smile on my lips curved up. I knew who it was. How could I not know?

Samara Will. The person I had been looking for a long time to work with. Turning behind to look at her hazel gaze staring at me with the eagerness to speak her mind out. I know her. Her outrageous attitude in our high school and being the popular girl with her bossy and perky behaviour towards each of the juniors back then. Says me to not roll my eyes at every second she speaks. Unfortunately, she was my cousin I somehow did not mind calling as family.

" Guess I am, " I said blaming the people who keep coming to engage in a small salutation but stop when they see the women beside me. She is well known. The woman with arrogance and pride by her side.

She is famous. Hell was it real?

" Congratulations on the fourth anniversary of your company, tagging the crown on the list," she said even though I can see the glare she keep allotting toward me. Well to win over her was an achievement. To be honest I was more of basking in the win against her. And I know even how much she speak shit about in the news she didn't feel like a proud mom to me. She loved it. Competition.

And was letting it happen. Not for her but me. I have been always determined the way she has always been the first in every field not that I lacked behind but I wanted to be better than her.

" C'mon are you planning to be like the business rivals, Rhea? We are subordinates as per what I remembered " she said and I couldn't laugh at her mockery. True. I can imagine her eyes rolling if I deny it nonetheless.

" I am pleased to win against you " It was true. I was even more than pleased, to be honest. Her smile widen letting me know she was into it loving how I never spare her a chance. The company she manages had been the top one for what seemed like seven years by now. And to make it fall from first to second wasn't easy though.

Samara was my senior in high school. And I was glad to compete with her knowing how good she is in this field. Not to forget my cousin is too opposite to me.

" So are you planning to get laid tonight? " she asked. " Celebrating of course " Her brows raised to look at me with a teasing glimpse in her gaze. She would never change. And even though the answer to her question was obvious to her.

Samara was a dominant woman as far as I remember. Even though rumours say she is unsustainably good in the business arena but was too popular in scandals. None that matters as her scandals might have never affected her business in any way. Not that I had ever seen though.

" No. I am good alone " I said sipping the glass of my red wine feeling the rich taste on my taste bud. Before staring at her with a look that said I wasn't kidding and far it wasn't my thing. And however, I had no schedule for provoking such scandals around me.

As far as I remember relationship was the least I was interested in. Not that I never felt lonely or there wasn't time like I was jealous of couples being all giddy with each other near me. And I think by the spend my life alone with decency.

" Are you sure? " My brows grimaced heeding her question. Sure about what? relationship? boyfriend? well then yes. I give her a quick nod peeking at her from the side of my gaze before shifting it towards my half-finished glass. Samara let out a chuckle contemplating my grim expression.

" People who mostly are not interested be the ones marrying first " she whispered as if she had been growing up watching shit like that happen. My expression twisted into a sour cover. Hell, I am not on that list I was sure.

" That's maybe the case for others, not me," I uttered quickly not wanting to talk about it anymore and entertain her with this topic at least.

A smirk crossed on her lips painted red lips curling up, into a smile I know which tell let's see. And I can't help myself but roll my eyes at her.

" Perhaps but how come you never introduced to that man," she said pointing towards someone making me raise my brows at her. Who?

That's when I noticed whom she was referring and I felt a sudden urge to throw up the drink I was drinking right over her. Restraining I guess that pretty feeling inside me.

" That's James, Samara you---- "

" Your boyfriend right? I know I am always right " she said with a proud smile on her face. I won't lie her question didn't take me off guard. But it made me laugh understanding the way she thinks. Being left out without a man in my life I would be lonely or the only man who is with me twenty-four by seven might be the guy I might be with. But no. It wasn't.

" Well, you are wrong this time " my voice laced with humour. Her amazed face slowly turned towards me with a look that said if I was even serious. Her eyes were wide open with shit I know she would be thinking. A gaze I was so used to.

" He is my butler, James Ronald " I utter. My eyes slowly darted to the man standing tall at six feet four. A black suit and a white shirt tugged underneath with a black bow on his collar placed right. The intense gaze, watching the people around him. As if suspicious if anyone was even from the world it doesn't belong. I sighed. If not for my order to go and talk with people he might still be behind me. Tagging all around. Like a damn bodyguard. He isn't though even though that's how it seems to others.

It made me sigh. It wasn't her fault but maybe this wasn't the first time I have heard things like that. He is my secret boyfriend or something. The news had always been hyped in the entertainment world. Searching for anything or anyone to get any spicy topics about the woman with cold and stern personalities working her head off like some kind of a loner to finally fall for somebody. But slowly it turned down I guess.

" Damn he's hot with that built " she whispered eyes ogling him like he was someone kind of meat and she was hungry for days. I laughed. " Stop. People might get scared " I say.

" Are you both like boss and employee kind of relation? Girl if it were me I ---- "

" Yeah. Yeah I know don't speak " I cut her off somehow not liking the idea of him around her and knowing absolutely the way my cousin is around people she thinks are hot or have a good damn face.

" No I am serious! " she stated as if wasn't buying her words. And didn't say the way other girls in the place keep staring at him or sometimes try to talk with him.

" It's irritating " I whispered watching a blonde walk near him. Her dress is short. Hair ruffled into a thick layer while gazing at him with that flirty look which kind of piss me.

" She might get his--- "

" No! " I yelled but composed myself thinking that people are not so around us and we are barely alone on the east side of the counter.

I could feel the look she might be giving by now at my sudden outburst making me run my hand over my face before shifting my gaze towards her already gained attention on me.

" See I have seen him get awkward and then run away from people he wasn't used to seeing " I try to clarify but I was sounding more like feeding myself with the opinion than her. What the hell? Usually, I didn't feel this stirred up and finding my gaze was automatically take a peek towards the man I had known for years now.

Four years.

It should be enough to know someone.

Right?

" Guess you're right..he's coming here by the way," she tells me making me shoot my gaze up meeting the dark orbs and gazing at me with that cold look he had fired the day I took him in.

How cliche?

" Why are you here? should be with the guest, don't you? " I heard a scoff from Samara. Turning my gaze towards her throwing a glare to shut up. She acts like she didn't just try to make me embarrassed.

" What? carry on with the talks, he's here and not there " she said and I mentally note to kick her after we are gone off this party.

" Are you exhausted? should I drive you home? " he mutters with a look unexpected and insensitive to any emotions. Before I could have denied it and said to stay some more minutes.

Samara chimes in.

" You should get going. You look exhausted with those bags under your eyes " she grinned. Her hand resting on the back of my spine pushed a little as if it wasn't my company party but hers and she was not kicking me out.

" Yeah. Please do brace her in your arms, James " she said with a smirk. My eyes were open hearing her spout nonsense. " You know she is just too worn out staring at, peoples " she exaggerated eyeing down his appearance near so close. Licking her lips just so often.

What the hell.