Chapter 183: Tit for Tat

Words : 1564 Updated : Sep 21st, 2025

Chapter 183: Chapter 183: Tit for Tat"Looks like it’s almost time to get off work at noon," James thought about heading out, but outside came the respectful voices of the four employees in unison, "Hello, Mr. Lopez!" Searᴄh the Nôvel(F)ire.ηet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Giggles... I’m not your Mr. Lopez, I’m his sister." Then came Emily Lopez’s crisp laughter. James hurried out and saw Emily dressed in casual attire, her hair styled in big waves just like her sister Gina’s. She was cheerfully greeting the four employees. "Emily, what brings you to the office?" James asked with a smile. "I came to see you about something. Let’s talk outside," Emily said, blinking. "Uh, yeah, let’s go then." Fortunately, Emily hadn’t called him brother-in-law inside the company, which greatly relieved James. Those four employees looked somewhat bemused. During their interview yesterday, they were deeply impressed by Gina Lopez, the boss, and now her sister, who looked exactly like her, was a total surprise. As they walked out, many people greeted Emily, all new employees. Seeing Gina, the company’s top manager, who wouldn’t be respectful? Emily didn’t explain herself either but stealthily smiled at James, and the two then exited the company building. Getting into James’s car, he laughed and said, "Aren’t you afraid your sister will scold you for running into the office?" "If she scolds, let her scold. I’m not afraid of her," Emily retorted with a dismissive pout. James shook his head. The two sisters, indeed, never backed down from each other. Arriving at the Western restaurant, they ordered their meals and began to eat. However, James felt Emily was quieter than usual and couldn’t help but ask, "Emily, is something on your mind today? Why are you so quiet?" Emily softly replied, "This is a Western restaurant. It’s not good to be noisy here, so I’m being quieter." That made sense. Talking loudly here wasn’t really appropriate. No wonder Emily was so quiet today. After sipping some red wine, James, looking at Emily, said, "Emily, you said your sister intentionally got involved with me to keep you away from me. But yesterday, your sister..." "What happened to my sister?" Emily’s eyes immediately widened. "Ah..." James sighed, recounted yesterday’s events, and then said, "I was just trying to scare her off, but unexpectedly, she climbed up along the vine, and now I’m the one trapped. It feels like she’s serious now." Emily elegantly cut a piece of steak and asked, "So what do you think?" Before taking a gentle bite. James shook his head, "What can I think? I told you, I just wanted to scare her." Emily took a sip of the cocktail James had made for her, squinted her eyes to savor it, and then asked, "Then let me ask you, what do you really think of my sister?" James bluntly replied, "I have absolutely no interest in your sister." Emily frowned slightly, "Are you saying my sister isn’t good?" "It’s not that she isn’t good. She’s beautiful and capable, and now a boss, so surely many men like her. But her temper is too strong, and she’s too competitive, which I really don’t like. Besides, whether your sister is good or not, I simply have no interest. I already have a girlfriend." A strange light flickered in Emily’s eyes, "You have a girlfriend, so can you be with me?" James apologetically said, "Emily, I’m sorry. You are a very sweet girl, but I, James Brown, am not someone who abandons relationships. I’ve already committed to my girlfriend, and I will focus my affection on her. We’re good as friends, no pressure, don’t you think?" Emily stared at James, "Are you seriously telling the truth?" James nodded, "Of course, Emily..." As he said that, James suddenly met Emily’s gaze, then frowned and said with a wry smile, "Mr. Lopez, you too can play this game." Emily... no! It should actually be Gina now, looked at James somewhat surprised, "How did you realize it wasn’t Emily?" "I hadn’t noticed at first, but the way you were looking at me just now was so intense, something Emily doesn’t do. Also, I made a mistake. Emily always calls me brother-in-law, but you never did. I just realized, well, that just shows I’m slow." Gina nodded, "It seems I still haven’t achieved perfection." James Brown suddenly had a stern look, and said, "Mr. Lopez, Sandra playing you was already enough to give me a headache, and now you are pretending to be Sandra. Are you even letting me live?" Gina Lopez smiled proudly and said, "Call me by my name. Don’t forget, you’ve already confessed to me, and I’ve accepted, so I’m now your girlfriend." "Mr. Lopez, what are you trying to do here? You heard what I said earlier—I really have nothing going on with Sandra!" "You may not, but Sandra definitely won’t give up, and neither will I. Once I, Gina Lopez, say I’ll be your girlfriend, then it’s settled. I don’t care if you don’t have any other girlfriends." "You’ve got to be kidding me. I already told you, I was just trying to scare you, it wasn’t serious. Plus, I don’t even feel that way about Sandra. Why do you still have to be like this?" Gina Lopez narrowed her eyes at James Brown and said, "You’re wrong. My desire to be your girlfriend is my own idea. We’ve been living together for a while, and even though nothing has happened, I’ve gotten used to having you around in my house. I definitely couldn’t accept another man... Also, I think you’re really quite decent. Even though you’ve been involved in messy stuff before, the way you treat your current girlfriend shows you won’t treat me badly in the future. So, let me make it clear to you now, I intend to fight for you." James Brown looked at Gina Lopez dumbfoundedly, swallowing hard before finally managing to say, "Are you... are you serious?" Gina Lopez nodded firmly and replied, "Yes, I am." James Brown rolled his eyes and retorted, "Then let me be blunt too—I don’t agree." Gina’s eyes widened immediately, and James matched her defiant gaze. The two stared at each other as if they were fighting cocks for a whole minute. In the company, no subordinate dared to meet her fierce gaze, yet James Brown was holding up against it. "Good, I’m discovering more and more good qualities about you. You have a real manly spirit, and I like that," Gina Lopez finally broke the gaze, but added that comment. James Brown almost fell over and said with a wry smile, "Then you tell me, what exactly about me caught your eye? Can’t I change that?" Gina tried to suppress her irritation. The audacity of his "What exactly about me caught your eye? Can’t I change that?" was infuriating, but she casually replied, "It’s the fact that you’re a man. Try changing that." "Ah!" James Brown was speechless. Change that? Wouldn’t that mean becoming a butler, a drag queen, or a trans person—none of which can be changed? Seeing James’s flustered look, Gina Lopez felt extremely pleased and slowly said, "So just resign yourself to it. Spend this life content as my boyfriend, Gina Lopez." James Brown sweated more and protested, "When I hear that, why does it sound like a bandit kidnapping a village girl?" "You’re right. I am that bandit, so just give in," Gina Lopez laughed heartily after saying this, but realizing they were in a western restaurant, she quickly covered her mouth and giggled softly, her body trembling with charm. For the first time, James Brown saw Gina Lopez in such a flirtatious mood. He was stunned for a moment but then quickly shook his head and said, "Gina, can we not play anymore? I give up. Please let me go." Gina’s laughter stopped, and she glared at him, saying, "Don’t even think about it. I’ve set my sights on you, and you’re not escaping." James Brown grinned, leaning back in his chair, and said, "Well, I don’t like you, so what else can you do?" Gina Lopez, full of fighting spirit, declared, "You’ll fall for me sooner or later." "Then keep waiting because I am not playing along. Love is not something you can force." Gina Lopez, now appearing confident, smiled slightly and said, "I’m not forcing you; I just want to make it clear to you that I’m serious." "Well, I don’t get it. I don’t agree, so what are you going to do? Surely you won’t force me?" As their verbal sparring continued, Gina could not take it anymore and snorted, "Regardless, I have my ways to make you fall for me." Seeing Gina Lopez was dead serious, James Brown got somewhat worried. He quickly said, "Let’s make it clear beforehand, you can’t harm my girlfriend." With her head held high, Gina Lopez assured, "Don’t worry. I, Gina Lopez, act with integrity. I wouldn’t stoop so low. If I’m to win, it’ll be fair and square." "Fine! I want to see how you’re going to make me fall for you." James Brown found this rather amusing by now. He truly couldn’t believe that, having no feelings for Gina Lopez, he would eventually fall for this beautiful boss.

Chapter 183: Tit for Tat

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