Part 3

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I was looking at him when I saw Robert approached him. They were talking with each other or no.. actually they were arguing.

Then James stormed out from there and Robert was smirking. His eyes travelled to mine and he started to jog towards me.

"Hey! Are you alright? Did he say something to you? I am really sorry that I left you alone with that a** sorry I mean that... Beast." He Finished his sentence then took a long breath.

"He is a looser." He said again.

"Umm.. you don't have to apologize. We should go now." I said.

"Yeah. Sure."

We went to his car while Cloe started to drive.

My mind travelled to where i met him.

You will come back soon...

I should not be getting scared by his words...because he is not a monster or a serial killer...

Neither he could...have me anymore nor he could make me work for him anymore...

But..damn this heart... Why is it too weak? Why I am getting scared by his words?

Because he gets what he want..

Have you forgot that he wanted you and he was succeeded..

Shut up!  I don't want to remember that night.. I don't want to remember the last twelve months which I spent working for him...

I don't want to remember him..

"So..he didn't tell you anything?"

But why...why did Robert have to meet him today..and when he knew it then why didn't he informed me?

I heard someone cough.

I turned my head to look at Robert.

"I asked you something." He said raising his brows.

"Oh..I am sorry..but I didn't hear it." I said while fidgeting with my purse.

"Well... I asked you if he has said something to you or.."

"Why?"

"I was just...umm..concerned about..my assistant?" He was not sure of what he was telling.

"Umm..thanks.."

He care for you Liz..

He has never insulted you..

And because of you he could be ruined...

Why James? What is your problem? You had me...but now what do you want?

You have broken me from inside...now what else you want to do?

Do you want me to kill myself to end this whole sh*t?

I was unaware that I was crying until Robert extended his handkerchief towards me.

I looked at it suspiciously.

"Believe me it is totally clean." He said earning a little smile from me.

"Thanks.." I said and he started counting something on his fingers.

I gave him a puzzled look.

"What are you doing?"

"Counting your 'thanks'." He shrugged.

A smile spread on my lips.

"Shut up." I said.

"Umm.. I should not be nosy..but I really want to help..i mean if you need a friend to share your problem?" He said looking at me.

I looked at him.

I can't..because I know you are his rival.. I am not sure if you are genuine or you are using me against James..

As for James I am quite sure he never used me...I mean professionally..

"Umm..he told me to re-sign or else he will ruin you." I said the truth.

I can't share anything else with him..and of course about personal..things.. after all Stella is his sister.

He started laughing suddenly.

"Oh God! And you must have believed him. Right?" He asked while stilling laughing.

I nodded my head in agreement.

"Liza you don't have to be scared of his threat. He cannot ruin me. Never. Yes he can do anything to get that company but he cannot harm my own company where you are working now. Please don't take his words seriously. He cannot do a single damage to my company and even you are safe with me." He said sincerely and put his hand on mine to assured.

"Hmm..tha..." I stopped from completing the word and he gave a small laugh.

I think he is not a bad person ..

He is quite mature and easy going than...

Stop!

I felt relieved after Robert assured me that James couldn't do anything to his company.

But what about... You will be back to me soon..

I shivered by remembering his words.

Did he still....want..me?

I started sweating only by that mere thought.

Why...me..

He never texted me in these four months..

He didn't care for me if I was alive or not...

Then how could he behave like this after four months?

Or his brain stopped working after he saw me today?

Or..when he saw you with Robert?

No..

Why would he?

Stop it! Liza just stop.

I arrived at my apartment.

"See you tomorrow. Take care." Robert smiled at me.

"You too." I said and exited his car.

I unlocked my door and entered.

I sat on the couch and rested my head on it.

You need to be strong...

You need to behave with him normally like you behave with others...

Like you will behave with an arrogant person ...

You were not like this before..you were strong..but now...

I am still strong but...but..when it comes to him..I don't know why I started behaving weak.

*******

It was Sunday and I was glad that I didn't have to face him the whole week. And I hope I didn't have to see him in the future.

I was shopping alone in a super market when someone patted on my shoulder. I turned around to look at the person.

"Hey! How are you?" Mrs. Ashton asked me while giving a warm smile.

"Umm..hi! I am well..how are you?" I asked while looking at the lady who was with Mrs. Ashton.

I have seen her before...

Oops! She is Robert's mother.

"Hi! Mrs. Williams." I extended my hand.

"Are you shopping alone?" She asked looking around me.

"Umm..yeah. Actually I don't know anyone here. And this is the closest market to my apartment." I said looking between the two ladies.

"Oh yes! I forgot you have changed your apartment and now you are working for my son."

"What? That is good to hear..." Mrs. Ashton trailed off. "Liza..if you don't mind can we have a chat...I mean in private?" She asked me.

Oh...

I looked at Mrs. Williams.

"Fine then you both can have a chat. I will see you later. But you don't have a car right now." Mrs. Williams said to Mrs. Ashton.

"I will hired a cab. Thank you." She said and Mrs. Williams went out from there.

What does she want to talk?

"Umm..I need to keep these things in my apartment." I told her while gesturing towards the groceries.

"Sure. We can talk in your apartment." She smiled.

Whoa!!

I was thinking to excuse for sometime before the talk.

"Umm..yeah. sure." I said while going towards the cash counter.

My apartment will be a huge mess right now...

God! What will she think of me when she will see the scattered clothes which I have taken out to wash.

I sat with her in a cab and told my address to the driver.

We arrived there after ten minutes.

We took the elevator to the seventh floor where i was living.

What will she ask me?

Is it related with...him?

I opened the door to my apartment and let her entered.

She looked around and I hurriedly went to pick up my clothes.

"Umm..I was about to wash the clothes but then I decided to go to the market first.. please have a seat. " I picked all the clothes and stuffed them in a bucket then wash my hands and went back to the hall room.

"Do you want coffee..or drink.. No..sorry I don't have any drink. But..if you say I could order it." I was blabbering and suddenly starting to feel nervous.

"Coffee will do." She smiled but I think she was amused by my behaviour.

I came back to the hall room with two cups of coffee in a small tray. I put the tray on the table and then gave a cup to her.

I sat down on the same couch as there was only one seating arrangement.

She was silent. I was silent too.

Only the sipping of our coffee could be heard.

"Why did you leave the job?" She asked.

Sh*t! Does she know?

No..she can't..

"Umm..I.. " sh*t..I don't know what to say... "Actually I got an offer from Robert..and he was ready to pay me more than what I was getting there."

It was acceptable...right?

"So..you mean to say that you left the job for more money?" She said raising her brows.

God! Now I am feeling cheap.

"Umm..no not only money but..."

But what?

"...umm..Robert is very friendly.." I sipped my coffee while looking at the ground.

"Oh..so you mean to say my son was not?" She asked seriously.

Sh*t!

What should I say now?

It is the truth Liz! You don't have to feel bad for his mother.

"Yes. He is not." I replied.

"But.. you know no one has ever re-signed from our company. I was shocked when I came to know about you. You were handling him...I mean you were handling the position very well. Now see there is no one to lessen his burden. He is doing all by himself and making himself ill." She explained.

"Why? Didn't his father..I mean Mr. Ashton hire someone for the position of the assistant?"

"Yes he wanted to but James was too stubborn to let him hire someone." She said thoughtfully.

Oh... 'you will be back to me soon'

"Hmm.." I took the empty cups. "I am coming in a few seconds" I said and went to the kitchen.

Why didn't he?

Was he serious of wanting me back?

No...

I heard footsteps coming towards me and I hurriedly maintained my posture.

"Nice kitchen." She said looking around.

"Thanks."

"Liza..I don't know if I should ask you this or not but..I want to know if there is something between you two?" My eyes widen.

"Please don't mind if there is nothing..but I was curious.."

"Umm..there is nothing between us.." and there will be nothing between us..

"Oh..then there is someone else.." she said scrunching her brows.

"What do you mean?"

"Actually he was behaving weird since few months and once I saw lipstick stain on his coat but you know that time Stella was out of town. And then once he bought a dress from my boutique and said it was for Stella...but when I asked her about the dress she was clueless.. he never had bought a single thing for a girl in his whole life. And I was beyond shocked when he came to my boutique that day...and yes you too came there on the same day with your mother...or maybe the day before that day...I forget."

"What was the dress like?" I spoke up without thinking.

"It was a simple steel coloured dress."

Oh..the one he brought for me on my birthday...

"Hmm..." Should I tell her?

Suddenly a phone started ringing.

"I think it is mine."she said while moving towards the hall room.

Thank God! I am saved.

I followed her outside of the kitchen.

She looked at the screen and her eyebrows scrunched together.

"Hello?"

"I am with a... Friend."

"Yes. But she had some work so she went back to her home."

"Why are you asking so much questions?"

I could see she was getting irritated.

"Okay fine. I am with Liza. Now happy?"

"God! I can come alone you know."

"Okay. Fine."

She extended her phone towards me.

What will I do with it?

"Please tell him the address."

"Who?"

"James." She was looking at me like she was trying to observe something.

I hurriedly changed my expression from a shocked one to blank.

I put the phone in my ear.

"Hmm.. Mr. Ashton?"

I was trying to behave normal as I knew Mrs. Ashton was looking at me constantly.

"Tell me your address." My eyes widen at that.

No...you shouldn't give him your address... It will be unsafe...

But.. what will her mother think that why I was not giving him my address...

"Are you there Miss Liza Miller?" He asked in a hard tone.

"Why?" I asked and averted my eyes from his mother and started looking at the ground.

"Because...you know I can't leave my old mother to travel alone when she is having high blood pressure." He said seriously.

You can send Mason..or Dave...

I didn't say it loud because his mother would suspect.

"It is..............." I gave him my address.

"Thank you for that Miss Liza Miller." I could say he was smirking.

I ended the call and gave it back to Mrs. Ashton.

"He is a very caring person." She said smiling.

Really?

Bulls***

I only nodded at her.

"Why are you nervous?"

"What? No.. I mean I am not nervous." I said but I myself don't know why I was feeling nervous.

I received a text on my phone which was kept on the table.

I swiped it and looked at the screen.

What are you filling to my mother's brain?

It was from him. I ignored the text.

"Okay dear. Why don't you spent your Sundays with your friends who are working at Ashton's?"

"Umm.. I have left to go to that side of the city." I said.

There was another text.

I am coming.

I rolled my eyes at that.

Of course I know you are coming.

I again ignored it.

"Oh God! I forget to tell you. There is a party next week and you are invited. I have already invited your parents." She smiled again.

Is James adopted? Because he is nowhere like his mother.

"May I know the reason behind this party?"

Because I don't think I could go to one where he would be present.

"Umm..actually..."

My phone again buzzed.

"I think you should give a reply to the person. I will not mind." She said.

Re-signed from the William's.

This time I replied.

Go to hell.

*******

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