Chapter 22

Julia "Why do you seem so nervous?" Jimmy asks while watching me run my fingers through my now curly hair. It was taking too much out of me to having to straighten it every day not to mention it was damaging.

I can't believe I let one pathetic bitch shift the opinion that I have of myself so much that I cut and flat iron my beautiful and unique hair. Even Gina gives me shit about it and later after watching her wear rollers so much, I realize that she was just jealous. She wished her hair was like mine.

"You're not meeting my mother Julia, just relax." Jimmy chuckles before opening the door and letting me enter before him.

As I walk through the door a delicious aroma greets me.

A woman walks out of another room and beam at me. She was taller than I am by a few inches, maybe it was because she was wearing heels and I only wore my best pair of converse. Her dark hair was combed neatly in a low ponytail, her Chestnut skin was so flawless that it made me a bit insecure. Her eyes were light brown, and she was just so beautiful.

"You must be Julia." Before I had the chance to get the words from my mouth, she was already hugging the life out of me. She pulls away and look at me, "You're so pretty."

"Thank you Melanie and you're gorgeous," I say honestly.

"Girl please, it's nothing compared to you."

"I—"

"Julia if you give her another compliment, this will go on forever. She's already convinced that every other woman is more beautiful than she is, of course not in my eyes though," Jimmy says.

Melanie smiles, before walking over to him.

She pecks his lips. "Hi honey, how was your day?"

"Same old, same old," Was Jim reply.

Melanie pout and caress his cheek, before turning to look at me.

"Is that for me?" She points at the two disposable baking tray I had in my hand. One had lasagna and the other had a small red velvet cake.

"It is."

She walks over to me and took the one on top before glaring at her husband, “You made her carried them by herself, I thought I raised you better than that."

I chuckle at her words and the way Jimmy eyes widen.

"Actually, that's on me, he made many attempts, but I refused to let him carry any."

"Oh, you're looking lucky Mister. Why don't you go and get ready Julia and I will be in the kitchen, you don't mind helping me set the table do you?"

"Of course not, I would feel bad if I let you do it on your own."

This sweet and sour chicken taste amazing, I thought Jim said Melanie wasn't the best cook. There was also baked fish, mash potatoes, vegetables and rice and peas on the table and I was willing to try everything.

"This is really delicious Melanie."

"All thanks to Google," she says before raising her glass of fruit juice to her lips. She refuses to drink the wine her husband offered her which made me wonder why. He even mentioned it was her favorite.

I smile while remembering all the times Google helped me out.

"So, tell me about yourself Julia? Any siblings, boyfriend, girlfriend?"

My smile went away, and I shook my head no. "I'm an only child." Thankfully, I think to myself, who knows what my poor siblings would have had to endure if he or she existed, "And I'm very much single."

"Not for long," Jim says gaining Melanie and I attention.

"What do you mean honey?"

"Boss has a thing for her," he smirks.

I blush at his words, "No he doesn't." If he did, he wouldn't have kissed me then left me alone in his bed for six days now.

"Interesting," Melanie says intrigued.

"He does, believe me, he's just too stubborn to admit it but he'll come around."

Jimmy dimmed my mood. I wanted to forget about Rome tonight, but he had to go and mention him and so what if he has feelings for me, I don't actually believe that he it's true I can't say I feel the same way.

Rome After texting Jimmy asking if he knew the whereabouts of Julia and he replied that she was having dinner with him and his wife, I sat in the living room waiting for him to drop her back here.

Josh managed to knock some sense in my head, and I wanted to apologize to her for leaving her without explanation and not answering or returning her calls.

Some minutes later I heard the front door opening. I switch the television off and remained seated. Julia entered, but she was busy searching the inside of her bag. Her hair looked really good; it was back to its natural curly state. She wore a blue off the shoulder dress and converse.

I clear my throat causing her to look in my direction. She stood there staring at me for a few seconds before turning away and leaving the room.

"Julia!" I call following after her.

She continues to ignore me and make her way upstairs.

"Julia just stop and listen to me."

"Just leave me alone Rome, I don't want to listen to you, and I'll be out of here soon so don't you worry."

I caught up with her at the top of the stairs and grab her shoulders turning her around to face me.

"What do you mean you'll be out of here soon?"

She looks up at me with her pretty hazel eyes before casting them downwards. "I'll be leaving soon just like we initially planned. You hired me, I'm back on my feet now it's time to leave."

I took her hand and pull her in the direction of my room. I allowed her to enter first before closing the door behind me.

"I'm sorry Julia," I took her bag from her hand and toss it on my bed, before cupping her cheeks, "I'm sorry for walking out on you and ignoring your calls. I just needed some time to think."

"Think about what? You kissed me and we shared something special or maybe I just read too much into it, but it still hurt when you left me here and refuse to answer my calls. I thought we were actually friends Rome."

"That's why I left; I didn't want to hurt you."

"But you did when you left!" She yells and push my hands away.

"I don't mean like that Julia, what if I hurt you far worst?"

"What are you talking about Rome, you've known most of what I've been through. Despite of you being a cold-hearted asshole most times, you treated me better than anyone else has these past months so what's worst that you are capable of?!"

I run my hands over my face in frustration. Taking her hand in mine I walk over to my bed and pull her on my lap.

She stared at me with wide eyes but remained silent.

"I'm going to tell you something Julia, I hope it will help you to see things from my point of view."

"I'm listening," she says.

I sigh unable to start. There's so much crap that happened that I'm not even sure where to start from. A few minutes of contemplating I decided to summarize the very beginning for her.

"Things took a turn for the worst when my mother had an affair."