Chapter 4 Four

So, I'm not Robert," he said again. There was this urge in me to shout at him and ask him to leave my office but I honestly maintained my cool and just glared at him. He didn't look disturbed by my facial expression.

"I'm James Robert, his son." He completed with a curt nod and a mischievous grin. He could have just gone ahead and said that he was representing his father in the first place. I let out a relieved sigh as my eyes traveled back to the opened file in front of me.

"But I thought you were..." I was taking my time to say the word as if it could burn my mouth if I said it out loud.

"A chef?" He completed and raised a knowing brow.

I nodded my head "yes, that"

"Well, I love to cook but that's not what I actually do for a leaving" then he lowered his eyes to the file in-between my hands "as you can see"

"Ohh, in that case shall we continue?" I asked him.

He nodded his head. That grin still masked boldly on his face as his eyes started traveling all over my body. They moved from my hands to my lips, to my hair and my forehead then rested on my lips

"I like that I'm seeing you again. And I love that you are my...our lawyer" he paused and rubbed his left arm with his right hand. "I'd love it if we can meet in a nicer way or place. I mean, I'm really hoping we do" he said, looking serious. No smile. No grin. Just his face and his eyes piercing into my soul.

There was this temptation to smile fervently and say "yes I want that too, when?" But it took a deep breath and partly everything in me to not say that considering that he was my client and he could possibly be a few years younger than I was. Plus, I didn't come to Fort Myers to go on dates with guys looking nearly half my age or actually half my age.

"Are you asking your lawyer out in her office while she's at work? Is that what you do?" I asked him. I meant to sound serious and maybe rude but I don't know if I did justice to that because all I heard was a low laugh from him like I was a clown or someone entertaining him well. He took my words for a tease.

And that laugh should have just been a mere laugh to my ears but it didn't sound like that. It made me suddenly want all of him on all of me.

"Do you prefer I do it in your home?" his gaze lingered on my face. Those words made my inside burn with this stupid desire.

The thought of him being in my house towering over me in my kitchen, making dinner while I watched him do it. I couldn't explain what it was but whatever it was, that made me have that weird thought, I had to stop it before it got really out of hand for me.

Like a shot, I started to think of a polite way to say no to him.

"I mean, you could take your time" he said before I was even done thinking and just like that, the grin was back on his face. "Now, I'm ready". He threw his right leg over the left, sat up straight and rested both hands on his laps. He was really ready for business–which was weirdly disappointing.

I couldn't wait to get the meeting over with, even though I loved that he dragged the conversation longer than planned because I liked his voice. I could hear this man's voice all day without getting tired or even hungry. Not that I was exaggerating or anything.

"You shouldn't like his voice Bili" my inner voice sounded the reminder. Wasn't a problem though. I wasn't planning on liking him any further.

I blinked and exhaled before looking up to him to begin. "Mr Ja..."

"Um, sorry. James is fine. Just James" he implied with his fingers in the air.

And he loves to interrupt people a lot when they are talking. How nice!

I glimpsed at him before letting out a sigh.

"I asked you a question earlier Mr. James" I reminded him. I still had to call him Mister. I wasn't trying to be stubborn. I just wanted to maintain a very professional ground to not mix up things for myself especially since he was now asking me out on a date.

He didn't look displeased or upset. Instead he looked fascinated. He coughed a laugh.

"Yeah. Right." It took him a while to respond. "The bank was there when we started the company years ago. There was an agreement between the founder and my grandfather which ended up in an amount of shares for the bank from us" he paused and adjusted his sitting position.

I hope I grasp what he's saying. His voice is a whole distraction.

I watched the way his lips curled up as he spoke.

"So, now that the founder is no more, they are asking for more shares from us. But my father, I mean we want all the shares back. We are not interested in business with them again. They are refusing. They are being stubborn. They sued us, can you imagine?" he asked with a raise of his right brow.

"I can imagine" I replied even when I couldn't and didn't Imagine anything. Because it was my job to make my clients rest assured that I understood them very well then, make research later. Like if they wanted me to totally believe them, that I'll do. If they wanted a friend to listen, I had to be the one.

He tilted his head to the side and narrowed his eyes at me "you are not taking notes" he said.

Of course I was aware. "I have ears and I have a very retentive memory. I'll make my notes when you are gone"

His gaze played around before he smiled and said "I trust you. I don't even have a choice not to"

"Right. But I assure you that I heard everything you've said and I've picked my points too" I told him. He finally looked convinced after narrowing his eyes at me.

The meeting finished successfully. All I saw was a very intelligent young man in front of me.

~~~

"I hope you told him you'll sue him if he broke into your apartment again?" my sister questioned on her end of the call. I sighed.

"Gigi, I told you he's my client. There's no way in hell I would have told him that. Remember, I'm trying to make partner at the firm" I responded. My sister of all people should have known that making partner was currently the most important thing on my list even if it meant entertaining a stranger in my space. I didn't mind at all.

I sunk into the sofa with the bowl of popcorn in one hand and my phone held close to my ear with my other hand.

"I'm just saying. You never can tell who this guy is." She said and let out a sigh. "To think you are even defending him. Wait, you want him close to you"

"No!" I defended myself. It was crazy how my sister made up her conclusions with so much confidence tied to it. She wasn't even anything close to the psychology department in any way.

"See. I'm not here to start dating again. I don't have any plans for that now. So..." I was sure that I sounded very convincing but knowing my sister, she doesn't take no for an answer.

"I know you Bili. Something in me tells me you even like him" she affirmed boldly.

I almost choked on the popcorn in my mouth. "Jesus Christ! Gigi? How did that even cross your mind?" I'd solely admit that the man was fine but I didn't think liking him was something I'd accept was happening. I just liked to appreciate God's creation. There was nothing wrong with that. Or was there?

"I don't like him. I'll give you three convincing reasons" I told her and started counting my fingers. "One, he looks very much younger than I am. Two, I came here to work not to date. Three, I'm not available or interested" I finished with a click of my tongue.

"Says the one who doesn't look anything like her age. You think that guy knows how old you are? You are whatever age you wish to be" she said. I knew my sister. Always finding a way to try to convince me to like any male that got closer to me since my breakup with Fred.

She and mom think having a man would make me happy but that was on them not me. I didn't need a man anymore. All I wanted was just to be me and nothing more to that.

"Thank you counselor." I replied "but I'd rather just be on my own. Okay?"

I heard her chuckle and call my name at the same time. "You'll just have to move on eventually because Fred has..."

Of course, I didn't need a reminder for that.

"And I have" I fired back.

"Okay, if you say so" she played defeat as she let out a sigh.

"I need to go now, I'll call you back" I said. I wasn't going to call her back. Not anytime soon and she knew it. I heard her sigh before the call finally came to an end.

I dumped the phone into my handbag and walked into the store. I was almost done picking out what I needed when someone snapped up from behind me.

"Hey there" she pitched. I hastily turned around to see a blonde slim tall (though not very tall) woman who looked like we could be in the same age grade. Spectacles bigger than her face, hair tied up in a messy bun and jogging track. There was this excitement on her face. She kept smiling from ear to ear as if I was a crush of hers or something of that nature.

She held onto her shopping trolley with one hand the other hand buried into the pocket on her sweat jacket.

"Hi" I responded and looked around me and behind me. Just to make sure I was actually the one she was talking to.

"It's you, silly" she scoffed and chuckled. Before I could even open my mouth to say anything, she was already talking again.

'oh great' I exhaled to myself.

"I thought that was you and I am right. It is you" then she laughed out loud and continued while I listened to her. "I saw you drive into your apartment the other day. I've been meaning to talk to you since then but I haven't been able to until now" a wide smile spread on her face.

"I know you just moved in," she whispered to my surprise. Why was she whispering? I was standing right in front of her. "I'll keep your secret," she added, using her palm to make a barrier close to her mouth.

"Welcome to our town" she said and just like that, she moved closer and hugged me. A hug I wouldn't accept if she'd just offered it.

"Ooh!" I exclaimed with my hands still to myself. She hugged me too tight for a stranger. She hugged me like she knew me from another life and now, she was happy to see me.

When she stopped hugging me, I forced a smile as she took two steps back away from me.

"Thank you" I responded and turned to leave. She followed me behind.

"You know, soon enough you'll realize that this city suits you best and then you'll finally begin to blend in," she said.

I didn't respond, I just kept walking.

"By the way I live in the next building on the left from yours just in case..."

"I'm fine. Thank you" I fake grinned at her after interrupting her speech. She didn't seem offended. She just continued talking as if nothing happened.

"I was thinking, maybe you should join our club. It's filled with lots of lovely people and I think you are a likable person. They'll love you and you'll like it there" she proposed and next thing she was in front of me. "Please, join our club" she tried to look adorable and she was.

I breathed out and smiled before saying "Okay. But I'm not promising." If I thought she was excited before, right now she was extremely happy as she threw her hands in the air. Next thing I know, she was on me.

"Thank you! Thank you! Thank you..." she kept exclaiming. I don't know how many times she said thank you. When she released me, she moved back and extended her hand to me.

"I'm Ellen" she introduced. That smile never left her face. For a second I thought of what name to introduce myself with. Bili or Kambili.

In the end I just said "Bili" because it was shorter and slowly took her extended hand in mine.