Guilty
924 Words
Chapter two
“I was drunk. I’m not usually like that,” I stammered, my voice trembling. “Look here, I know you recognize me. I’m your brother’s fiancée but you still went on with it. May I ask why?”
James tilted his head, that smug smile never leaving his lips. “Playing the victim now, are we? Well, who would ever say no to such a beautiful, sexy—”
“Stop!” I snapped back to reality, pushing him away as anger and shame burned through me. “Are you mad? Or don’t you recognize me? I’m Anna—your brother’s fiancée!”
He just shrugged, his tone casual. “And so? You can just break up. It’s no big deal.”
My jaw dropped. “You must be insane. Why would I break up with my boyfriend over a mistake?”
He stopped smiling. For the first time, I saw something flicker across his face—an unreadable, almost sorrowful expression.
“You think that was a mistake?” he asked quietly.
“If it wasn’t, then what was it?” I shot back, my heart racing.
James looked at me for a long moment, his gaze heavy and unreadable.
“Yes, what we did was wrong,” I said softly, trying to steady my voice. “I’m so sorry, but to me, it was a mistake. Mr. James, I don’t know why you’re acting like this, but let me make this clear—I will not break up with my boyfriend just because I cheated on him. Please, just forget everything and act like nothing ever happened between us. I’m sorry once again.”
Before he could reply, I turned and rushed out of the room, panic choking me like smoke. My mind screamed at me to run, and I did—out of his house, down the street, until I could finally breathe again.
When I arrived at work, my heart was still pounding. I marched straight into my office, locked the door behind me, and reached for my anxiety pills. The cool water I used to swallow them did little to calm my nerves.
I shouldn’t have come in today. My hands wouldn’t stop shaking, and every time I closed my eyes, I saw James’s face—his unreadable eyes, his quiet voice asking if it was a mistake.
I tried to distract myself with work, replying to emails, pretending to care about floor plans and construction budgets. My coworkers greeted me as usual, chatting about clients and deadlines, and I forced a smile, acting like everything was fine.
But I wasn’t fine. I could still feel his gaze on me, haunting and heavy.
Why did he look at me like that? I’d only met James three times before that night—at family dinners, casual gatherings, nothing more. He had always been polite, distant, quiet. So why did his expression today feel… hurt?
I shook my head. It didn’t matter. I had to move on.
That resolve lasted until the door burst open and Jennifer, my colleague and best friend at work, came running in, grinning from ear to ear.
“Anna!” she squealed. “Our company just got acquired by an eye candy! Oh my gosh, he’s everything. You have to see him—tall, rich, perfect jawline—ugh!”
“Jen, I’m really not in the mood—”
“No, no, you have to come! Mr. Ethan just announced it. He said everyone in the architectural department is being summoned by the new owner, Mr. James.”
I froze.
For a moment, everything around me went quiet—the sounds of typing, the hum of the air conditioner, even my heartbeat.
“W-what did you just say?” I whispered.
“Mr. James,” she repeated, still smiling. “He’s our new boss. Isn’t that exciting?”
Exciting? My blood ran cold.
My brain screamed no, but my legs felt rooted to the floor. I wanted to hide, to disappear, but there was no escaping it. My name was on the attendance list. I had to go.
Jennifer tugged at my arm. “Come on, Anna, don’t keep him waiting!”
My body felt numb as I followed her out of the office. Each step toward the conference room felt heavier than the last.
When we entered, the room was already filled with people whispering excitedly. Then the door at the far end opened, and the man himself walked in.
James Edward.
He wore a black suit that fit him like a glove, his tie loosened just enough to look effortlessly confident. His dark eyes swept over the room, sharp and commanding—until they landed on me.
I froze again.
He smirked, just slightly. A knowing, dangerous smirk.
“Good morning, everyone,” he said, his voice deep and calm. “I’m James Edward, the new owner of this company. I look forward to working closely with all of you.”
I couldn’t breathe.
Jennifer leaned close to whisper, “Isn’t he gorgeous?”
But I couldn’t respond. My stomach twisted painfully as James’s gaze lingered on me for a moment too long—long enough for me to know this wasn’t over.
He looked away, but I could still feel his eyes on me, burning into my skin.
And right then, I realized something that made my heart sink
This wasn't a coincidence fate or maybe punishment had tied me to the very man I was trying to forget
- Writer
