Chapter 8 Just A Mistress

Noticing the sudden change in Julie, Shelly became worried. Nervously, she asked, "Sister-in-law, what's wrong with you? Did I spoil your mood? I should never have mentioned Bella. In fact, I never wanted to either. My stomach churns at the very thought of her. Trust me, I'm also equally upset. My brother might be good in everything, but when it comes to women, he is definitely a poor judge. Bella was just a bad influence that would have sent him down the drains. However, my poor brother regards her as a treasure. You are so kind to him, yet he doesn't understand your value."

Shelly lowered her voice further, "Although some people speak ill of you behind your back, I have seen you gently help a lost little girl to find her mother. I trust you to be a good person. And, I will always consider you as my sister-in-law. I for one, have never believed in the rumors. You aren't the kind of person who will ask reporters to hype up the news and force my brother to marry you. Please don't be upset. The day is near when my brother will see the goodness in you, trust me."

Julie pursed her lips to suppress an outbreak of despair within her. Gathering herself, she looked up and shook her head with a smile. "Shelly, I am not upset. I just think about the company's affairs. To tell you the truth, I never expected acceptance from you out of all the people. I'm so glad and at the same time, grateful. . And Shelly, before I forget this, you should visit your mother once in a while. She really misses you."

Shelly muttered, "I will never believe that! My mother has always been very strict with me. For every achievement she always compared me with my brother. Who in this world is an equal to him? In fact, my brother is just a cold robot."

As she spoke, her attention was drawn by a small commotion. Shelly suddenly found that some people in the coffee shop too were looking out of the window. Shelly wondered loudly, "What is there to look at? Could it be some celebrity?"

Her eyes opened wide as she caught sight of the reason for all this attention. She exclaimed, "No wonder people found this more interesting. It's my brother out there."

Julie sighed helplessly. As expected, there was another woman with James. Yet, she couldn't help noticing that he looked all the more handsome in his black suit. The woman was pretty. While in conversation, she kept smiling at him. Both were attractive. As they stood together, unaware of their surrounds, they easily captured all the attention, even though they weren't stars.

Julie was sure the woman was besotted with James. She had met a lot of women who was interested in James after they were together. She could tell what they wanted by only one glance.

James was handsome, rich and successful. For some, this was the best combination of a perfect husband. It was a well-known fact that James was a married man, yet that didn't deter women from falling in love with him.

She couldn't help laughing at herself. She wasn't any different from them. But, she knew, there was no place in his heart for her. James hated her with a vehemence. Just because he believed, that she had called the reporters to announce to the world of her sexual relation with him thus forcing marriage, finding a way to become a member of the Leng family.

Yet she didn't believe what she saw. Julie stopped looking out, instead shook her head, "She might be working for him."

But before she could complete the sentence, she saw the woman had reached out to straighten James' tie.

Shelly couldn't contain herself any longer. Quickly getting up, she corrected Julie. "This for once doesn't look like any ordinary relationship between someone and his employee."

Shelly was out of the coffee shop before Julie could even react. Reaching the duo, Shelly glared at James. She then turned to the woman and shouted, "How dare you seduce my brother? Don't you know that he is a married man? Or are you shameless enough to be his mistress even though it's immoral?"

Julie sighed and walked towards them. She took hold of Shelly's hand and calmly said, "Come, let's go."

Shelly frowned, "There's nothing to be afraid of. You're my sister-in-law, and I'm here to help you. My brother must understand that it is not at all reasonable to get involved when he is married. Marriage must make him more responsible as a husband to you."

Frowning, James said in a low voice, "What are you talking about, Shelly? She is just my assistant."

He then squinted at Julie, "Why are you with Shelly? What have you told my sister that she's become so unreasonable?"

People had gathered around and for a moment, everyone's attention was on her. She decided not to make this a public spectacle. So, quietly but firmly, she said, "Let's stop talking here. I'd prefer to not be in the headline of tomorrow's news."

Angrily glancing at both Julie and Shelly, James ordered, "Get in the car, Shelly!"

Shelly was not yet done talking. But one look at James' expression made her meekly get into the car.

The assistant too wanted to get into the car. James was quick to stop her. Angrily, he said, "Before you joined the company, I had warned you. Who gave you permission to straighten my tie? You are fired."

Stunned, the woman tried in vain to explain. James raised his hand and said. "You better not say another word!"

Once in the car, James saw Julie standing still, "Do you have second thoughts to bag a good spot in tomorrow's news? Otherwise, you better get in the car as soon as possible."

Julie took a deep breath and got into the car. James started the car. After a while, he parked the car at a quiet corner. He then turned around to speak, "Shelly, why did you suddenly come back? Why didn't you let me know? How could you be so impulsive? When will you grow up? And on what basis do you blame me if you don't know anything? "

Sitting in the back seat, Shelly whispered, "I, I didn't really mean it. But why do you hire such a beautiful woman as your assistant? Anyone would have misunderstood you."

James turned to look at Julie and coldly remarked, "You never called me. So I thought you had given up on the honeymoon trip. But now you want Shelly to speak for you?"

Julie took a deep breath. She neither had the energy to explain herself, nor the strength to face his distrust. Not now. Not today. Bella! That name rang through her head! She now realized, all this while, she was treated as a mere substitute. She felt drained of the ability to bring any change.

James was a little surprised at Julie's silence. Shelly immediately reiterated, "I'm here for my sister-in-law. What honeymoon trip are you talking about? Are you unwilling to go on a honeymoon trip? My sister-in-law never spoke to me about this so, don't blame her. You've brought this up, so, I would want to know what exactly happened?"

Shelly would have continued if she hadn't glanced up to see James' cold stare. She froze, her words in midair, as she shrunk to a corner.