Chapter 182

Words : 1726 Updated : Sep 21st, 2025

Chapter 182: 182James Brown was looking into Gina Lopez’s eyes with deep affection and said in that seductive voice, "Gina, thank you!" At that moment, Gina, who had been in a daze, suddenly seemed to relax, and her face even showed a hint of shyness. Meeting James’s gaze, she whispered softly, "Sister Sunny is still here. Can’t you pay a little more attention?" James didn’t even spare a glance at Sunny Nguyen, saying, "In my eyes, there’s only you right now. Even if a fairy were beside me, I wouldn’t give her a second look." Upon hearing this, Sunny actually felt a bit stifled. After all, she had spent several nights of pleasure with James, and this guy could actually say such a thing—it was maddening. A blush crept over Gina’s face, and with eyes like shimmering pools, she shyly said, "You really know how to lay it on thick. You know I’m not usually gentle. Can you really put up with me?" "I believe I can get used to you, but I have my flaws too. You have to be understanding of me, okay?" "That won’t do. I am a woman, and as a man, you should be accommodating me in every way. Otherwise, you’re not sincere." "Of course, I’m sincere. Love is indeed supposed to be about thinking unconditionally of the other person, but it also needs to be nurtured. So I hope you can be forgiving of me too." "You’re right, love does need to be nurtured. Let’s nurture it together." At this point, James and Gina were both playing a game of wits, each trying to outmaneuver the other. Having been with Gina for some time now, James believed this strategy was undoubtedly foolproof, but Gina was set on holding her ground. As a business executive, she was exceptionally astute at the negotiating table and an excellent actress in those moments. Now, she brought that same level of professionalism to her contest with James, not giving an inch. Seeing this, James was somewhat annoyed that he hadn’t managed to outwit Gina. He had to pull out all the stops, suddenly sliding his hands down and wrapping them around Gina’s waist, then pulling her into his embrace with a little force. He didn’t believe that Gina, with her character, would go so far as to give up her body as well. But he miscalculated once again. Although Gina’s body stiffened slightly, she allowed him to embrace her and even hugged him back, burying her head in his shoulder. "James," she called out softly, her cheek gently brushing against his shoulder. Suddenly baffled, James wondered if Gina was for real. Could it be that Gina truly had feelings, and it wasn’t an act? Could it be that spending time together had led to real emotions? This was turning into a real fire. However, Gina then released James, tapping lightly on his chest and said, "Alright, you should go back now. We’ll have dinner together tonight. We should be a bit more cautious at the office to avoid idle talk from the employees. And remember, no thinking about hiring a pretty secretary." Just as James was about to say something, a knock on the door sounded. He had to let go of Gina, who returned to her usual cool demeanor and sat back behind her desk. "I’ll go first then." James turned to leave, but not before he shot a glance at Sunny. He saw a sour expression on her face, which made him think that Sunny hadn’t been aware of Gina’s actions. Could it mean that their encounter could indeed be genuine? After Gina finished her work, Sunny looked at her and chuckled, "Gina, you really are something. The way you acted just now, you seemed like a woman truly in love." A blush swept across Gina’s usually stern face. Despite being a company boss, capable of hiding her emotions, the mention of what had just happened revealed her girlish charm. "It wasn’t like that, I just had no choice because of that guy." Sunny chuckled lightly, "Is that so? But then, as Ms. Lopez, you were the one who hugged him first. Didn’t you get the worse end of the deal?" Gina hurried to explain, "I’ve pretended to be his girlfriend before; of course, I’ve had to go through those motions, so it’s not really a big deal." Sunny nodded repeatedly, "That makes sense. You’ve already been to bed together; there won’t be any pressure for that in the future." Gina sat down beside Sunny, looped an arm around her shoulders and chuckled, "Sister Sunny, why do I detect the smell of vinegar here?" This time it was Sunny’s turn to be embarrassed. She protested quickly, "Why would I be jealous? I’m just warning you not to get too involved. I’m afraid you won’t be able to back out when the time comes." "There’s nothing I can’t back out from. If and when it comes to going to bed, you can take my place. After all, you’re willing too," teased Gina with a smile. Sunny flipped her hair proudly and said, "I’ve changed my mind. I’m not helping you; you’re on your own." "If you make me do it alone, I’ll definitely drag you into it. I can’t let that vinegar jar of yours spill." "No way, you’re actually up for a threesome? Mr. Lopez, you really are something." "I’m just an observer, haha..." No one would have expected a company president or a director to speak so freely, but when it comes to women’s private conversations, there truly are no inhibitions. When they talk about men, they can be even more forthcoming than the men themselves. If you visit some villages, you’ll often find groups of middle-aged women teasing the young folks until their faces turn red and they flee in disarray. After the joking, Sunny Nguyen said, "Gina, you’re having dinner with James Brown tonight. Have you figured out how to handle it?" Gina Lopez chuckled and replied, "I’m inviting him out tonight, but with so many people in the company busy, it’s only natural that I extend an invitation to them as well." Sunny also laughed, saying, "So you’ve had a plan all along. But as the saying goes, you can hide for a day but not forever. If you want to be his girlfriend, you have to act the part. Otherwise, he’ll definitely see through you." "Don’t worry. If Gina Lopez sets out to do something, she will do it. I’m not going to let him see through me." Sunny sighed inwardly as she watched Gina brimming with confidence. It’s all well and good for women to play and to jest, but one should never toy with feelings lightly—especially for a serious woman like Gina; if she starts playing with emotions, she may truly get hurt unless it leads to a perfect ending. However, Sunny just opened her mouth and then closed it again without saying a word. On the one hand, Gina wouldn’t listen at this moment, and on the other, Sunny had her own selfish reasons. If Gina really started a relationship with James, and if Gina truly sought her help, Sunny wouldn’t want to end her acquaintanceship with James. Having tasted the sweetness, the few times she spent with James had let her understand the joy of being a woman. Even if she didn’t want to spend her life with James, she was content with the occasional romantic encounters. Since many at the company were working overtime that evening, Gina invited everyone to dine together, avoiding a private dinner with James. This gave James a moment of relief, as he felt tremendous pressure being with Gina. The next day, the notified employees had already arrived at work, while at James Brown’s department, there were only four people—including not a single delightful secretary—and the ongoing concerns about Gina, which left James feeling utterly dejected. Seeing their manager’s gloomy face, the four subordinates felt uneasy; it’s most difficult to work when the boss is in a foul mood. They treaded carefully. But work must continue, and James delegated the upcoming recruitment tasks to the four, then retreated to his office. Now that he had subordinates, he certainly couldn’t do everything himself. At eleven o’clock, James received a call from Emily Lopez. "Brother-in-law, treat me to lunch," Emily opened with the familiar pet name she had used for so long without a change. James, accustomed to the nickname, laughed and asked, "Sure, where do you want to eat?" "I want to eat your cooking." "It’s already midday; there’s not enough time to cook, and I have to go back to work in the afternoon." "Then how about you cook for me tonight? Can I come over to your place? I’ve never been to your house." James hesitated for a moment before saying, "I’m not sure how late I’ll be working tonight. Your sister is really driving us hard with overtime these days." "Hmph, she’s such a workaholic; it’s really annoying. Alright then, after you finish overtime with my sister tonight, come over to our place together, and you can cook for us." In the past, James wouldn’t have minded. He got along well with Emily and was somewhat friends with Gina, so cooking a meal was no big deal. But now, James was a bit apprehensive about spending time with the two sisters, especially with Gina Lopez as the boss—the pressure was immense. Therefore, James evasively replied, "Emily, I can’t commit to tonight. I do have some time at noon. What do you feel like eating?" "Okay, let’s have Western food. Mix me a drink." "Alright, Western food it is." James readily agreed, planning to use the occasion to ask Emily some questions. Just as he hung up, his phone rang again, causing him a headache. It was Gina Lopez on the line. Reluctantly, he answered, "Mr. Lopez, what’s up?" Sёarch* The Nôvelƒire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "We’re going out to lunch today." "I’ve already promised someone else." "I don’t care who you’ve promised. I’m going to have lunch with you." "Gina, can you give me some personal space, please?" There was a pause on the other end before Gina responded, "Alright then, go on your own."

Chapter 182

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