CHAPTER 16: FIRST QUARREL VII
Well if he didn't talk to her now she was going to run head between her legs out of the room. Luckily for her, James spoke before things got too awkward. ''Diana, what do you want?"
Diana swallowed and walked closer to seat beside him on the sofa.
Diana sat beside James, anxiety gnawing at her insides. "Tomorrow is the weekend," she began, her voice barely a whisper, "and my parents asked if I could visit with you."
James's reply came quick and sharp, devoid of warmth. "I'll be busy tomorrow. Tell them that when you see them."
Diana's heart plummeted. Did he even consider her feelings? She put her hand inside the pocket of her nightie and brought out a beautiful gold wrist watch that had the engravings of JDA inside and handed it to him.
''Here, my apology gift slash wedding present. Just take it as one of many wedding present to come''.
James looked at the girl giving him a gift, he wanted to throw the gift away but he held his anger in and took it. ''Thanks", he said mildly and threw the watch atop the center table in the room.
Diana was happy at first when he had received the gift, but when she saw the way he threw it at the table her heart sank.
Undeterred, she pressed on. "Can you please come back to the room with me? You're obviously tired, and lying on the sofa isn't good for you."
James's voice was harsh. "Diana, I'm good." James rejected her outrightly.
''Okay, how about if i promise to behave properly in bed and not sleep anyhow, will you change your mind then? In fact if it means tying myself to the bed i will".
James roared impatiently. "Diana, i said I'm good".
Frustration bubbled up inside her. "Why? Where is all this anger coming from?"
A tense silence stretched between them. Finally, James spoke, his voice filled with a bitterness that chilled her to the core. "It started this morning. You showed me exactly who you are, and I hate you for it. From now on, pretend you don't know me. I don't want anything to do with you."
With each word, a thousand knives seemed to pierce Diana's heart. Just when she had started to really like him, he decided to act like this.
Tears streamed down her face as she turned and ran from the room. Diana ran into Jared on her way out of the room, without paying much attention to him, she subtly apologized with reddened eyes and continued back to her room.
Jared, who had been standing outside, witnessed the entire exchange. His gaze hardened as he walked into the room and faced his brother. James looked at his brother and sighed, "not you too Jared". Jared ignored him and spoke directly.
"I'm going to say this whether you like it or not, whether you choose to punish me, beat me or fire me. I had already signed my fate before coming in here".
James cocked his brows arrogantly at him but Jared did not back down.
"You know," he said, his voice firm, "You're pushing away the best thing that could ever happen to you."
James scoffed, but Jared continued, his voice rising in intensity. "Bro i Know you're not blind. Merely looking at her, you knew immediately that she was different, i knew too. And that stupid reason you gave her i Personally know its a blatant lie. You're scared to let her get close, afraid she'll hurt you like the others. You're creating a self-fulfilling prophecy, pushing her away in the hope that she'll leave and your life can go back to normal".
"Well, What's so wrong with that?" James sneered.
"Everything is wrong with it brother can't you see?" Jared half shouted at his brother. Sometimes he wondered why someone who was so smart and powerful as his brother could still be so stupid. ''You are using your hands to dig your own grave when you're not even dead yet. You gave me, Angelo and your other four friends the benefit of a doubt and it worked, why can't you do the same for her?"
"Because she's the f***ing opposite gender Jared. Its very easy for them to leave".
"Well not her Jared retorted, refusing to back down".
Jared's words hung in the air, heavy with truth. James stared at his brother, his mind reeling. Jared was right. He was digging his own grave, pushing away the woman who could bring him happiness.
"When you showed her a bit of yourself tonight," Jared continued, "you expected her to run. But she didn't. And it scared you. Why? Because everything she does exceeds your expectations, and you can't handle it."
James couldn't argue. Jared had laid it bare.
When Jared saw he kept quiet he knew he had hit the nail on the head.
"Instead of focusing on when she's going to leave," Jared said, his voice softer now, "why not focus on what you have now? What do you have to lose?"
"And what if I fall in love with her?" James asked, obviously still pissed. "We've been married for Four days, and it's already like this."
"Then i guess you have a choice to make brother, its all up to you". Jared said his piece and left.
James looked at the departing figure of his brother, the weight of his decision settling upon him. He knew Jared was right. He had a choice to make.
He could cling to his fear and push Diana away, or he could embrace what they had and see where it led.
As he finally reached a decision, a wave of peace washed over him. He knew what he had to do. And only then was he able to finally sleep.