Chapter 154
My mind was in complete chaos, and I didn't know how to explain.
The elevator reached the 26th floor.
The elevator doors opened, and I quickly walked out. He followed.
The hallway was long, and my room was at the end.
"Mr. Smith, please stop following me." I stopped at my door and turned to face him. "Don't you think it's really rude to follow a woman around late at night?"
James stopped, looking at me with a complicated expression. "I just want to understand why... why every time I see you, it hurts here."
He pointed to his chest.
My throat felt blocked.
"Then you should see a doctor, not bother a stranger," I answered calmly, then swiped my keycard. "Good night, Mr. Smith."
I quickly slipped inside. Just before closing the door, I heard him say, "You're not a stranger, Sophia. I know you're not."
The door closed.
I leaned against the door and slowly slid down to the floor, covering my face with my hands.
In my belly, the baby moved gently, as if comforting me.
"It's okay," I whispered, not sure if I was telling the baby or myself. "Mommy's okay."
That night, I slept terribly.
My dreams were full of James, asking me why I wouldn't tell him who I was, did I hate him that much?
In the morning, my phone woke me up.
It was Briar, my studio assistant. "Sophia, the Smith Group sent word that they've changed the project contact person. The new contact wants to meet this morning to discuss details."
A bad feeling washed over me. "Who's the new contact?"
"It seems to be the client company's partner."
I sighed.
Sure enough, he found out something.
"Sophia?"
"What?"
"You just sighed. Is something wrong?" Briar asked nervously.
"No, you did great." After reassuring Briar and telling her to focus on her work, I hung up.
At ten in the morning, I went downstairs, getting ready to go to the Smith Group.
James was coming down too.
"Ms. Brown, what a coincidence."
The soundproofing in this hotel was pretty good, but I really wondered if he was listening to my every move from next door.
I forced a distant smile. "Mr. Smith, you're just getting to work now?"
He smiled. "People need to be lazy sometimes."
"Won't people at the Smith Group have something to say about that?"
"The Smith Group doesn't fall apart without me. If it did, what would I need those people for?"
He had a point. I couldn't argue with that.
Downstairs, I was about to get a taxi when James caught up. "Ms. Brown is going to the Smith Group, too? Why don't you come with me? It's on the way."
I hesitated.
If James invited me to ride in his car, he'd definitely ask me things during the ride. But if I refused, he'd definitely get suspicious and press me with questions.
"Is Ms. Brown afraid to ride in the same car with me because you've done something wrong and feel guilty?"
I smiled. "Mr. Smith, what are you talking about? We don't even know each other. How could I have done anything wrong to you?"
"In that case, Ms. Brown, please."
This was a trap I had to walk into, whether I wanted to or not.
I gritted my teeth and got into James's car.
James and I arrived together at the Smith Group entrance.
The receptionist saw me and called out, "Mrs. Smith."
James immediately zeroed in on her. "What did you just call her?"
The receptionist looked confused, then suddenly seemed to remember something. Her face went pale. "Mr. Smith, I... I..."
"I'm sorry, Mr. Smith. I mistook her for someone else." The receptionist stammered.
James narrowed his eyes, clearly not believing her. "Do you know something?"
"Mr. Smith, I'm just a receptionist. What would I know? I don't know anything." The receptionist's evasive attitude made James even more suspicious.
My heart jumped. I quickly changed the subject. "Mr. Smith, we should go up for the meeting."
James gave the receptionist a long look. She lowered her head, trembling.
We went upstairs together and entered the conference room.
After waiting a while, no one came in. It was just James and me in the conference room.
"Isn't it meeting time? Why hasn't anyone from the Smith Group come?"
James said, "The project isn't that difficult. I can handle it alone."
"I'm a bit surprised that Mr. Smith is personally handling this project." I opened my laptop. "I thought it would be your design director."
James leaned back in his chair, hands folded on the table. "I'm very interested in this project, especially Ms. Brown's design concept, so I thought about it and decided to follow it personally."
His reason was too weak. I knew what he was really after.
"That's my honor," I said in a businesslike tone. "Shall we start now? About the jewelry series theme 'Rebirth,' I'd like to first explain my design approach..."
"No rush." James interrupted me. "Before we talk about work, I want to ask Ms. Brown a few personal questions."
I looked up. "Mr. Smith, I don't want to discuss personal matters during work."
"If you don't want to discuss work with me, then I'll just go back today."
"Ms. Brown, wait. I was just chatting to get closer and improve our relationship."
I took a deep breath. "Fine. Now that we've chatted, can we talk about work?"
He nodded. "But to avoid affecting the project progress, I need to ask some questions."
"You are pregnant. How many months? How's your physical condition? Will it affect the work schedule later? I need to know in advance."
The question was reasonable, but coming from him, it definitely wasn't simple.
"Don't worry, Mr. Smith. I've already arranged everything. If the project isn't finished by the time I give birth, my partner will take over."
"But my due date is in September, and it's April now. That's enough time to complete the initial and final designs." My answer was airtight.
"September," James repeated, looking thoughtful. "So you're in the second trimester now, five or six months?"
"Yes."
He was silent for a few seconds, then suddenly asked, "What about the baby's father? Didn't he come back to the country with you?"
This question crossed the line.
I frowned. "Mr. Smith, that doesn't seem related to work."
"Sorry, I just think letting your pregnant wife travel for work alone seems pretty irresponsible of your husband." As James said this, he kept looking into my eyes.
I saw some strange emotion in those eyes.
I avoided his gaze. "I don't think there's anything to understand about that. Let's talk about work."
"Okay." James smoothly switched topics. "This 'Rebirth' theme—how does Ms. Brown understand it?"
I breathed a sigh of relief and began explaining the design concept.
During the project discussion, James listened carefully, occasionally asking professional questions that hit the mark.
I had to admit, even though he'd lost his memory, his business and aesthetic sense were still sharp.
An hour later, the meeting ended.
"Ms. Brown's design concept really moved me," James said, finally. "I'd like to see more detailed design sketches."
"To better understand this theme, I suggest Ms. Brown take me to see the inspiration source—that old district building complex you mentioned in your proposal."