Chapter 98 Ex-boyfriend
ISABEL'S POV
I made sure that my eyes were fixed on Anna as I walked through the guests, with my hand entangled in James' hand. It didn't matter if the rest of the guests identified him or not. My public image was the last thing that I cared about at that point.
The only thing that mattered to me was the pain that was about to show on Anna's face.
There was pure shock written all over her. But it was nothing compared to the look of shock that my parents had. It was slightly easier since Dan was nowhere to be found.
“Isabel,” my mom whispered. Somehow, it was loud enough for me to hear from where I was standing.
“This is my boyfriend, mom,” I said, with a wide smile on my lips. “James Reed.”
James smirked, extending his hand towards my dad for a handshake. My dad's hands slowly curled into fists at his side. But he wouldn't touch me. I knew that much. He was just angry. And if he was touching anybody, it was going to be James.
James smartly stuffed his hands back into his pocket.
“What are you doing?” My dad asked, and I bit my lower lip to stop myself from laughing. Their reactions were priceless. I looked around, trying to see if the rest of the guests were paying attention.
They were.
“I'm just introducing my partner to you all. Are we not welcome here?” I asked, trying to keep a straight face.
“You know exactly what this man did to your sister. And you still dare to bring him home with you?”
I clicked my tongue. “She's not my sister. You've got it all wrong there. She's just your daughter. And I would appreciate it if things were being kept that way.” I looked at Anna for extra effect. “You don't have a problem with it, do you?”
She blinked hard. For a second, I hoped to see tears drop. But as she opened her eyes, they were dry as fuck.
“You heard everything about me before we came back to the States, right?” She asked, and I looked away. She smiled, like she had gotten the answer that she wanted. “Then I'm sure that you know exactly what James is capable of. If this is an act, or this is what you really want, then I genuinely wish you luck with it.”
“What's going on?” Ryan asked, as he stepped forward. I had barely even noticed when he came.
“I'm just introducing them to my partner. Turns out they're not happy for me. They took my childhood from me, getting me ready for a position that I never got to take over.”
Ryan was about to say something when his eyes landed on James. He narrowed his eyes immediately. “Isn't he the ex boyfriend?”
Anna gave him a slow nod.
“It’s not my fault that I fell in love with another Quinn,” James said, turning to look at Anna.
Anna clicked her tongue. “If you didn't do everything you did, then I won't be with my family. So thank you, James. Send my thanks to Melissa as well.”
I slowly took a step back. Nothing was happening the way it was supposed to. James looked like he was going to beg her any second. He still needed to antidote for the drug. I was a manager, and not a pharmacist. I could barely help him.
James took a step towards Anna. Ryan stood in front of her immediately. Tears were pricking my eyes. He would have never done something like that for me.
“Get out of the way,” James said, but Ryan wasn't budging.
Anna walked towards James either way, giving Ryan a small nod like she was asking him to relax. He did. I watched him as he told a step back. It was almost like he was turning to her dog.”
“You took everything from me, James. And I would really advice you not to provoke me into releasing the amount of information that I have against you.”
James seemed to deflate. He was obvious working his brain, trying to figure out what evidence Anna had against him. Even Dan hadn't mentioned anything to just yet, if he knew.
“You can't do anything, Anna,” I spat. “All you know how to do is make drugs. So why don't you sit on your little office and do that?”
James held my hand like he was trying to get me to shut up. I quickly shrugged his hand away. He needed her help. Not me.
She scoffed, looking away. That was when my mom walked towards me, calmly. Her eyes were pretty damp. It made me swallow hard. It was the second time that I was making her cry within a short period of time.
“What are you doing, Isabel?” She asked, calmly. A shudder ran through my spine at her calmness.
I hadn't even achieved the one thing I wanted from doing this whole thing. I wanted Anna to break.
And she hadn't.
“Is this what the plan was?” Someone else screamed like a banshee, walking towards the both of us. James roled his eyes at the sight of Melissa.
What is she doing here?” I asked.
“I forgot to tell her where I'll be.”
I pressed my hands to my temples. I was already having it with my family. The last thing I needed was another angry bird chewing my ears off because her husband was invited to my party as my boyfriend.
“You can just calm down, Melissa,” James said as he walked towards her placing a hand on her shoulder. A hand that she shrugged off with ease.
She continued walking over to Anna.
“Haven't you had enough? You want to take him back? Don't you have any shame?”
Anna blinked. Her face was calm. Unnaturally so.
She just her chin my direction. “You should be asking her.
Melissa turned around like she was just noticing that I was in the room well. She looked between me and James.
You bitch!” She screamed, holding out her long fingers nails like she was going to scratch my eyes out. James held her back just in time. “Is that why you wanted his number? You go around taking other people’s men. How about you try winning yours over first?”
Rage was flooding through my veins, but I wasn't ready to show it just yet. I was barely known for being violent.
“It’s not my fault that I ended up falling in love with him,” I said calmly. “You all know how crazy I get when I fall in love. There's nothing I can do to change that. Even if he isn't exactly my usual taste.” I said, not missing how James flinched.
“There's something else you guys should see.” Daniel called out, and I felt myself stiffen.