Julia made her way downstairs at the sound of the doorbell ringing. After she had returned yesterday, she'd barely slept. Her dreams had been haunted by memories of the past, so instead she'd buried herself in work, going through every piece of information she could get on the company. James had sent her every detail he could find on the shareholders, leaving no stone unturned.
Today was the day the meeting was supposed to hold.
Opening the door, she saw James standing outside, dressed in a suit. He somehow looked more like a bodyguard than a personal assistant. Her lips tugged into a small smile at the thought.
"Come in," she said, stepping aside.
"You didn't sleep well last night," James observed, his eyes briefly flicking to the faint shadows beneath hers.
"Hm…" Julia hummed, stifling a yawn. "Couldn't."
James headed straight for the kitchen, already moving like he belonged there.
"How do you want your coffee?" he asked.
"Latte for mornings, mocha for evenings, espresso for work," Julia replied absently as she headed back upstairs.
James froze.
His hand tightened slightly at his side as his heart skipped. Slowly, he turned to look at her retreating figure.
Such a coincidence, he muttered inwardly.
His mind drifted back to the second day he'd met Tina.
She'd been seated in the library, thick glasses perched on her nose, buried in a book. When he'd stood up to get coffee, he'd paused.
"I'm getting coffee. What do you like?" he'd asked—his first words to the girl he'd admired quietly for weeks.
She'd looked startled, then smiled softly. "Since it's evening, mocha."
"You take different coffee at different times?" he'd asked, genuinely surprised.
She'd nodded. "Latte for mornings, mocha for evenings, espresso for work."
And somehow, he'd never forgotten.
The doorbell rang again, snapping James out of his thoughts. He turned off the coffee machine and moved to open the door.
"Julia, I can't believe you changed your password—"
The voice cut off abruptly.
Leo's mouth fell open as he stared at the man standing before him in a suit, blocking the entrance. For a split second, confusion crossed his face. Had Julia moved out? That didn't make sense.
James, on the other hand, took in the man calmly—the flowers in his hand, the irritation in his eyes. He didn't like the look of him, but this was Julia's house, not his place to assume.
"Who are you looking for?" James asked evenly.
Leo frowned, peering past him into the house. "This is Julia's place. I should be asking that question. Who are you, and why are you in my girlfriend's house?"
Before James could respond, Leo shoved past him.
James stumbled back, catching himself against the wall. His jaw tightened.
That was the moment restraint snapped.
He stepped forward and landed a clean punch, sending Leo crashing to the floor.
Leo scrambled up, furious, grabbing James by the collar.
"Who the hell do you think you are? What the hell are you doing in my girlfriend's house?"
"Leo—let him go. Now."
Julia's voice cut through the chaos.
She rushed downstairs in her bathrobe, eyes blazing. Leo hesitated, then released James, still breathing hard.
"Julia, I can't believe you're cheating on me with this," he spat, pointing at James.
Julia laughed, sharp and humorless. "Cheating? We're not together anymore. So where exactly is the cheating?"
Leo froze. This wasn't how he'd imagined this going. He'd pictured apologies, flowers, reconciliation—he'd even come prepared.
"How many ways do you want me to spell it out?" Julia continued coolly.
"We are done. Completely. And I've already called the police. I reported assault and battery."
"You'll regret this," Leo snarled.
Before he could leave, police sirens sounded outside.
Officers surrounded him moments later and dragged him away, still shouting.
James finally exhaled.
Relief washed through him—not just because Leo was gone, but because Julia had made it clear. Still, a quiet unease lingered. He wondered if he'd crossed a line.
"When did you call the police?" he asked as Julia gently cleaned the bruise on his lip.
"When I heard the noise downstairs," she replied calmly. "I knew something was wrong."
She paused, meeting his eyes. "Next time, avoid confronting someone like that. Stall if you have to. You're a PA, not a bodyguard."
James gave a faint, rueful smile.
"What's the difference?"
"Hm?" she asked, not catching it.
"Nothing," he said, standing up. "I don't mind standing in if needed."
"We'll be late for the meeting if we don't leave now," he added, already slipping back into work mode.
"Okay. Let me get ready."
James watched her climb the stairs, something heavy settling in his chest.
It wasn't fair—to Julia, or to Tina.
Tina was gone. And he couldn't let himself turn Julia into a substitute, no matter how familiar she felt.