Chapter 8 Eight

STELLA

"I'm sorry, ma'am, but what do you mean by dangerous? I've been with James for a while now and I've not noticed anything strange or dangerous." I said softly, but I suddenly remembered how strange he acted after he got that message, and my eyes narrowed in suspicion.

Was he really dangerous? What was he hiding from me?

"You know nothing Stella. James is my son and I know everything about him. His dark past and secrets will haunt you and bring you down. I just want to warn you to be careful." Mrs Hawthorne warned, and my brows furrowed more in confusion after hearing her words, and I couldn't help the fear that took over me.

What secrets? What past? Did I just make the biggest mistake of my life?

"I would be really grateful if you could shed more light on these secrets, ma'am. What do you mean by his secrets could haunt me and bring me down?" I asked in confusion and I waited for her answer, but she simply sighed in response.

"That's all I can tell you. Don't say I didn't warn you." She uttered lastly before ending the call and I just stared at my phone screen with a dumbfounded expression.

She refused to tell me anything more than that but was warning me to stay away from her son. Was this a new trick to have me leave James so that she could get him married to the girl of her choice?

That must be it. I would be damned if that trick worked on me. Hell, now I'm gonna stay by his side for a long time to prove her wrong.

How annoying. She had me panicking for no reason just now. I should have known that she wouldn't approve of both of us being together ever since she slapped me hard after hearing the news.

I decided to return to my office and get back to work just to relax my head. Everything was making my head spin at this point.

Fake relationships, media trouble, James' past, his mother's rejection, everything was making me go insane at this point. A vacation would be needed at this point just to get rid of the million thoughts running through my head.

I got to work and had no idea when time passed until it was time for a lunch break. I stretched long and hard as I got up and headed for the door but the moment I opened it, I was startled when I saw James standing outside with his hands raised like he was about to knock.

"I just wanted to check up on you." He said softly as he rubbed his neck gently and I raised a brow at him in suspicion while crossing my arms over my chest.

"After leaving me hanging like that, now you want to check up on me? How hilarious." I said in a sarcastic tone as I moved to walk past him but he held his hand over the door, making it impossible for me to walk away.

"I already dealt with it, why are you so mad about it?" He asked with an amused expression on his face and I could tell that he was enjoying whatever this was. He wanted to tease me and enjoy every bit of it.

But I won't give him that chance.

"I'm not mad, Mr James. I'm just telling you to not drag me into your personal issues if you're going to be so quiet and cold about it. It's your life, so do whatever you want with it." I replied as I tried to move past him again but he suddenly took a step forward, causing me to step backward.

We repeated that back and forth action until my back was against the wall and he had trapped me between his arms. I tried not to act flustered but I couldn't help it. He smelled so freaking good.

"You really want me to do whatever I want? What if you're number one on the list of things I need to do?" He asked slowly, his voice dropping to a seductive tone, and I found myself gulping at the way he stared at me like I was some delicious snack.

"I said do whatever you want with your life. Don't get it twisted." I managed to mutter without stuttering and he grinned in response as he leaned closer to my ear, causing me to shudder in response.

"You're a part of my life now. Doesn't that count?" He asked as he suddenly tugged on my earlobe with his teeth and a sharp breath escaped my lips at his action.

"James, you're breaking the damn rule. We're not supposed to do this in private." I whispered as I shut my eyes in pleasure when he didn't stop but instead moved to place a soft kiss on the spot below my ear.

"You think we're doing this in private? Don't you see people watching us?" He whispered back, and my eyes shot open as I glanced at that door, and to my horror, workers were standing there, watching us with their phones pointed at us.

When they noticed me staring at them, they immediately rushed away from the door while I pushed James away from me in embarrassment and he smirked in response.

"You knew we were being watched and yet you did that?" I asked in horror and he simply shrugged like it meant nothing to him while I burned in embarrassment.

"Think about it. If they share those clips they took, our relationship will be proven to be real, right?" He asked and I suddenly realized that he was right.

I hated that he was always right.

"Stella."

"Hm?"

"Move in with me to my penthouse." He mumbled softly, and I raised my head to look at him to see if he was kidding, but the expression on his face told me he wasn't.