Chapter 33: CHAPTER THIRTY THREE: BELLA’S PLAN.

Bella and Jamie had gotten blessings from my parents after weeks of dinner with us. I couldn’t just put my head around the fact that they were just put to play my parents and use their emotions on them. 

Jamie didn’t see the need to speak to me after that day. He made sure not a word came out of his mouth whenever I was present. Bella had forced him to converse with me sometimes, but I cared less about her. 

My mind screamed, “Talk to him,” whenever he wasn’t with Bella, but I didn’t have the courage to. I felt I had pushed him into Bella’s plot, and I was feeling rather guilty for it. 

Knock, knock, the door announced. I rose up from the chair, opening the door for the unexpected guest. 

“Jamie!” I let out. 

I gazed at his corporate black suit and his million-dollar shoes that made him look more handsome than usual. I could tell he was here to see Bella as he had a bouquet of lilies in his hands. 

“Hey, Artemis.” He flashed a smile, lowering his head after. 

“Bella left quite early to work today. You can come back when she’s around.” I walked back, about to close the doors. 

“Artemis, wait.” He let out. 

“What is it, Jamie?” I tilted my head to the side, staring at his eyes. 

He didn’t respond, bringing the flowers before me. He built up some courage, holding out the flower. “I got this for you.”

He was joking. He hadn't said a single word to me in weeks, and here he stood pleading with a bouquet in his hands. He really saw me as nothing but a toy he could just bring in at any time. 

“You’re sorry? You didn’t do anything.” I faked a smile. 

“I know that you don’t really care about Bella. She’s your arch nemesis, and I went into a relationship with her.” He said with a plain face. 

“What are you talking about?” I forced a chuckle. “She’s my sister, dammit. Sisters fight all the time, but they are there for each other. You must be mistaken, Jamie, just like always.”

“This is for you, Artemis. I know you are angry with me, but I’d really like it if you accepted one last gift before cutting me off.” His tone was sad and lonely.

I could tell from his facial expressions that he meant it. He wasn’t talking from his head but his heart; I had to make the decision. 

“Fine, I accept your gift.” I stretched my hands forth, ready to accept the bouquet he had gotten me. 

As our hands met, the bouquet fell, and I was holding hands with Jamie. He let out a brief smile, pulling me in for a hug. I tried to stop it, but my body failed me. I wanted it: to feel the warmth of his body once again, to be his for some seconds once more. 

“Get off me!” I pushed him off.

He gazed at his hands, holding it up like a child who had mistakenly murdered someone he loved. “I’m sorry.”

“I’m not falling for it again.” I kicked the bouquet, watching the flowers crumble. 

“Artemis!” He called out. 

I slammed the door, watching him fall to his knees as he grabbed the knob. “Artemis.” His voice faded slowly. 

“I didn’t mean to… I just couldn’t help myself.” 

“Bella’s yours. We can never ever be together, Jamie.” Tears rolled down my cheeks. 

“Goodbye, Artemis.” He said softly. His footsteps slowly fading from the door. 

I felt horrible, my heart aching as his words echoed in my ears. I clutched my chest, enduring the pain that came with it. 

“What happened to Miss Artemis?” Catherine said as she ran towards me. She dropped the tray in her hand, kneeling before me. 

“Why does this always happen?” I asked myself. “Am I a bad person, Catherine?”

“I have no idea what happened to you, Miss Artemis, but you aren’t a bad person. You’re the best thing that has ever happened to this household, and we all love you for it.” She consoled.

“Even though I’m just a maid in this house, I can still vouch for you wherever you are. You’re the best of them all, and this right here”—she” placed her hand on my chest, indicating my heart. “This is what makes you, you.”

I wiped the tears off my face, rising to my feet. “Thanks, Catherine.”

“You’re welcome.”

Work showed more improvement than my personal life. The workers had all gotten an increment in their salary as they had earned crazy amounts of profit for the company. The executives had started to respect me, and they had changed their line of thought on a female ruling. 

As for Kate, she had become so engrossed in her relationship with the director that she had begun to skip work. She only came when she remembered I had appointments, and this had a drastic effect in the managerial sector. I had no choice but to send her off. 

“Sir Alexander requested to see you after work hours today.” Kate explained to me. 

“When did that happen?” I gazed up at her. 

“He called the office. He said you had cut off the connection between the both of you for some unknown reason and he needed to see you.”

Cut off?

I grabbed my phone, searching for his number through my contact list. To my surprise, he had been blocked off in all aspects, which meant he was right. I hadn’t blocked him; I could never. 

“Bella!” I said unconsciously. 

I had left my phone unlocked on the dining table the two nights before, and she had gotten a hold of it before I could get back from my room. She must have blocked his number, that bitch!

“He also said he left several messages, but they were all on hold. I could only tell him that you were busy and I was with your phone.”

“Thanks.” I swiped up, searching for his SMS. 

My jaw dropped upon seeing his last SMS. 

“You could have just said you and Jamie were back together.”