Building love
578 Words
“You’re fired.”
The words hit before she even saw his face.
“You didn’t knock before entering.”
Juliet froze—then bolted out of the room like she’d been burned.
A second later, a knock.
Soft. Careful.
She stepped in again.
“Ah-ah…” James’ voice cut through the air, sharp as glass. “Did I say you should enter?”
She flinched.
Back outside.
This time the knock came harder—louder, her knuckles stinging against the wood.
“Come in!” James snapped. “I don’t want you breaking my door.”
Juliet pushed the door open slowly, like it might explode.
“Good morning, sir.”
A pause.
“Good morning.”
The silence that followed felt deliberate… heavy.
“I—I came to return this book. The Monitress.”
James’ eyes narrowed.
“What?”
The single word carried weight.
“You took a book from my room?”
Juliet swallowed. “I’m sorry, sir. I forgot to tell you. I took it yesterday afternoon—you were at the office. I’ve read it before, I just… wanted to read it again.”
He stared at her longer than necessary.
Too long.
Then—
“Okay. Fine.”
Just like that.
The tension didn’t leave.
Juliet let out a breath she didn’t realize she was holding. A small smile slipped through.
James leaned forward slightly.
“Do you have a crush on me?”
The question dropped like a stone.
“Cru—crush? No—no, sir—”
Her voice betrayed her, stumbling over itself.
“I’ll… I’ll take my leave.”
She didn’t wait for permission.
—
By the time James wheeled himself into the sitting room, Collins was already there, watching him.
“James,” Collins said slowly, “you’re smiling.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“I mean the caregiver.”
“Drop it.”
But Collins didn’t.
Before he could reply, Juliet appeared again.
James’ mother looked up. “Where are you going?”
“Ma, I want to see my sister.”
There was a brief pause—measured, assessing.
Then she handed Juliet some money. “Give her this.”
Juliet hesitated just a second before taking it.
“Thank you, ma.”
“Hi, boss.”
Juliet turned.
James’ gaze swept over her, slow and unapologetic.
“The dress is short,” he said. “And your body shape—”
A beat.
“—you look like a woman who has given birth.”
The air tightened.
Juliet blinked, then let out a small, sharp laugh.
“That’s a very rude way to compliment me.”
She held his gaze.
“But I’ll take it—from you alone.”
Another beat.
“I’m going to see my sister… so don’t fire me before I come back.”
Collins chuckled under his breath, watching both of them like a spectator at a match.
—
Juliet stepped out of the house, the tension still clinging to her skin.
“Let me take you,” the driver said, already opening the door.
“I’ve booked a ride—”
“No,” he interrupted gently. “The boss said I should take you anywhere you’re going.”
Juliet hesitated.
Then got in.
As the car pulled away, she didn’t look back.
But inside the house, James was still staring at the door long after it had closed.
- Writer
