Chapter 312

Chapter 312

Diana POV

As he walked past, the breeze carried a faint scent of mint aromatherapy—like the one in his office.

I asked, "Did you pull an all-nighter at the office?"

James said, "Yeah."

I felt frustrated. "But yesterday you said we didn't need to work overtime."

He'd even gone out of his way to take me home.

James had already reached the bathroom door. Hearing this, he glanced back at me. "You couldn't have helped much anyway. Might as well let you get some rest."

I went quiet.

Fine. I shouldn't have asked.

But I knew very well that even if I couldn't help, he didn't have to drive me home from the office only to turn around and go back to work overtime.

All that back and forth...

Something inside me stirred, like a string being gently plucked.

It took considerable effort to suppress that flutter in my chest.

James came out of the bathroom and walked into the wardrobe. He saw I'd laid out a suit for him.

He didn't touch it. Instead, he pulled out a robe. "I'm not going to the office this morning."

"What about me? Should I still go?"

I asked.

I was his assistant. I should follow his schedule.

But yesterday he'd said to be at the office at nine.

I wasn't sure what I was supposed to do.

James was about to change into the robe when he looked up and met my confused gaze at the doorway.

He said helplessly, "Could you maybe wait until I've changed before asking that question?"

I quickly closed the door for him.

James changed into the robe and came out of the wardrobe to find me standing obediently nearby.

He said, "You probably didn't rest well last night either. You can rest here for a bit."

I was about to refuse.

James cut me off. "I don't know when I'll wake up, but I'll want food when I do. You want to make me wait on an empty stomach while you run back and forth?"

I fell silent.

Fine. He was the boss. His call.

I resigned myself and asked, "What would you like for lunch?"

James rattled off several dishes.

I made a mental note.

After that, James went back to his room to rest. He didn't close the door.

I watched quietly for a few seconds before finally going over to close his bedroom door.

Then I checked the time on my phone. It wasn't even six-thirty yet.

I didn't know how long he'd sleep. All I could do was sit on the sofa and wait.

James POV

Inside the room.

Shortly after lying down, I noticed how quiet it was outside. I took out my phone and pulled up the security feed.

On the screen, Diana sat on the sofa, hands braced on either side of her, head lowered, completely still. I couldn't tell what she was thinking.

I suddenly remembered how she used to be as a child—always sweaty and rushing around energetically.

I'd be reading in my room when she'd burst in and grab my arm. "James, stop reading. Let's go play..."

Back then, she couldn't sit still for a minute. Her head was always full of wild ideas.

How did she grow up to be so quiet?

I couldn't help but smile.

Diana POV

Outside in the living room.

I sat on the sofa, not really thinking about anything. My mind was just a bit foggy.

Before long, drowsiness washed over me.

I fell asleep right there on the sofa.

I slept straight through until nine o'clock.

When I opened my eyes, I saw an unfamiliar ceiling.

I sat up abruptly and checked my watch. It was already 9:10.

I'd fallen into a deep sleep on the sofa?

And there was a small blanket covering me...

Had James covered me with it?

Was he already awake?

In the quiet space, I heard clattering sounds—like someone chopping vegetables.

Coming from the kitchen.

I got up, folded the blanket, and walked toward the kitchen.

What I found was James wearing an apron, cutting vegetables in the kitchen.

Hearing my footsteps, he glanced back. "You're awake?"

His low voice carried a gentle warmth. His usual sharp edges had softened, replaced by something more approachable and charming—a sense of domesticity.

I suddenly felt disoriented.

Seeing James like this made me feel like I was dreaming.

It felt so unreal.

James didn't get a response from me. Seeing my dazed expression, he walked over to me. His cool hand touched my forehead, then he flicked my brow lightly. "Still half asleep?"

I snapped back to reality and laughed awkwardly. "No."

"Really?"

James bent down slightly, bringing his eyes level with mine.

I unexpectedly found myself caught in his deep gaze, suddenly feeling like he could see right through me.

I instinctively looked away.

James straightened up, his tone casual. "Good. If you caught a cold sleeping here and couldn't go on your blind date, Jane would never let me hear the end of it."

That one sentence yanked me back to reality.

"Did Jane call me?"

As I spoke, I reached into my pocket for my phone.

Sure enough, there was a call from Jane—and it showed as answered.

James must have heard it ringing and picked up for me.

James returned to the stove and continued cooking.

I stared at my phone for a few seconds before taking it and heading outside.

I walked out to the second-floor corridor. Once I was sure James couldn't hear me, I called Jane back.

Jane sounded like she'd just woken up, her voice carrying a husky, sensual rasp. "Diana, what's up?"

Having been through my share of experiences, I immediately picked up on something off in her tone.

There must be someone with Jane. Something must have happened last night.

I asked quietly, "Jane, did I interrupt something?"

"Since you already know, make it quick."

I hesitated for a few seconds before finally saying, "I don't want to meet Jacob anymore. He... doesn't give me a good feeling."

Jane didn't respond right away.

I heard a sharp smack from her end of the line, like someone getting hit.

More than ten seconds passed before Jane's voice came back.

This time, her tone was much cooler. "You're not interested in Jacob?"

I felt a bit guilty.

First Larry, now Jacob. I wasn't interested in either of them.

Would Jane think I was being difficult?

But if marriage went smoothly—if there was no divorce—it would last decades.

I didn't want to spend those years miserable.