Chained to You (Dark Billionaires 5)

James's and my food arrived then, and I heartily consumed mine with enjoyment while Aria happily recited her adventure at Fantasyland. Or mostly without Sophie from what I'd heard since her name wasn't included in most of the tale.

I wondered if it would have been better if I were to have gone to Fantasyland with Aria instead, because I sure as hell would have done everything with Aria even if the adventure was meant for children. We'd have lots of fun together, like earlier this morning; that was for sure.

"So what do you want to ride next?" I asked Aria once I'd finished eating my wonderful meal.

Aria took a sip of her juice and shrugged her shoulder. After she'd swallowed the sweet liquid, she asked me instead, "What about you? What do you want to ride next?"

I shook my head. "Sorry, sweetheart, I think I've had enough for the day. The California Screamin' was a bit too much for me," I unashamedly admitted.

Aria chuckled. "Yeah, it looks scary. It's too high."

James asked, "Don't you want to give it a go when you're a bit older, Aria?"

Aria shook her head. "No thank you, Daddy. Mia looks so sick it's funny. I don't want to look pale and funny like her." She laughed good-naturedly.

I chuckled. Well, yes, I thought it was a tad bit funny as well. Couldn't be helped. It had been okay starting that California Screamin' ride. But by the time the coaster car had gotten up to its highest point and about to descend and then ascend again, I had freaked out and nearly fainted. When it had started to do a nosedive, I had clung to James for dear life as I screamed my head off. I couldn't help myself.

James being James, he'd been completely composed, as if the ride didn't affect him one way or another, which I secretly envied.

God, I wished I had the stamina and the stomach to handle such a crazy roller coaster.

Aria turned her attention to Sophie then and asked, "Sophie, you're not going to take any rides?"

Sophie smiled pleasantly at the little girl and shook her head. "Not today, Aria. I'm here to look after you. It's my responsibility as your nanny, and I certainly don't want to make a fool of myself, behaving like some street rat."

The moment she finished speaking, I knew her words were meant for me. So I was a street rat now, was I?

I cleared my throat and said, "That's too bad. The rides are so much fun. Right, Aria?"

Aria nodded in agreement. "Yeah. They are. That's too bad, Sophie. I wish you weren't my nanny so you could have fun too." The little girl even gave her a cute smile.

I nearly spilled my coffee trying not to laugh at Aria's innocent words. For the second time today, I wanted to give her a high-five. On my right, I noticed James was doing his damn hardest to keep his face straight also, and I secretly felt elated that he found the situation amusing.

Sophie looked pissed, which didn't surprise me. And why wouldn't she be? It served her right for behaving as if she were above everyone else. Well, especially me.

"What about Pirates of the Caribbean?" Aria suggested to Sophie.

Pirates of the Caribbean, eh? That sounded not too crazy of an adventure ride yet fun and exciting. I smiled and eagerly opted in, my previous sickness from the dreadful daredevil of a ride conveniently forgotten.

"Let's do it," I said, pushing my chair back, pumped and ready for another ride.

James chuckled and said, "Come on then."

Aria held my hand as we started heading away, all the while expressing how excited she was. Behind us, Sophie reluctantly followed.

Chapter 7

Mia

I watched James pick up his daughter and carry her to the door. Poor Aria, I thought, smiling with adoration. She must have been exhausted after a full day out at Disneyland. And now after we'd arrived home some two hours ago, showered and changed, she had fallen asleep at the dinner table.

With the room suddenly turned uncomfortably silent, I flicked my eyes to Sophie, who was sitting opposite me. I noted her gaze was glued on James the entire time as he was leaving the room. There was that something in the expression on her face that nagged at me--the way she smiled, the brightness of her eyes, and her flushed cheeks. What is it? I was sure it meant something personal... something deep.

Then it hit me. Oh. My. Gosh. Sophie is in love with James!

Instantly I felt sick to my stomach and my head began to swim. The delicious dinner I'd just had moments ago protested in my tummy, churning and threatening to come back out.

Oh God! What? Really?

I leaned forward and rested my forehead against my hand, my mind racing with the possibilities.

How had it not occurred to me before today that Sophie was in love with James? That she had the hots for him? That she was doing her best pining for him?

If my suspicion was correct, then it would certainly explain a lot of things, such as her behavior toward me. I had assumed she considered me her competitor. No! More like her rival, especially where James's affection and heart were concerned.

"If you're going to be sick, make sure you do it in your bathroom. Not here in the dining hall." Sophie's disapproving voice came my way. She sounded so high-and-mighty, per usual, as if she were a headmaster lecturing a naughty five-year-old schoolgirl.

Her condescending tone pissed me off. I raised my head with the intention to challenge her words. The moment I did so, I felt even dizzier. Shit!

"I'm not sick," I said, my eyes intense on her. More lowly and to myself, I murmured, "Just shocked."

So. Damn. Shocked.

God, the room was spinning too fast for my liking. I needed to calm down. I needed to breathe deeply and slowly.

Sophie snorted and said sarcastically, perhaps seeing how pale I was suddenly, "If you know you can't handle those adventure rides, you shouldn't pretend you can handle the height or the speed just so you can be with Mr. Maxwell or to please him. To me, you just look pathetic, desperate, and like a fucking doormat."

I narrowed my eyes at her harsh words. "Doormat? I'm not a doormat," I said firmly. Nor was I desperate. Not where James was concerned. At least I didn't think so.

I continued. "And FYI, I handled the rides just fine, thank you very much, and I thoroughly enjoyed them too."

Unlike her, holding back most of the time when those rides were offered on a golden platter. Well, that couldn't be helped since her dress was way too expensive and revealing, which was inappropriate for any of those rides. If the high speed didn't happen to haphazardly blow her skirt awry and expose her undoubtedly exquisite undergarments for the world to enjoy, which I was certain would excruciatingly embarrass her, then the fall from those extremely high coasters would.

She leaned back against her seat and said, "Really? Well th

en, congratulations." Her tone was mocking. "I applaud you for doing pretty well, considering it's your first time to Disneyland. I guess you've never been to any place like that before, so it's only natural you'd act like a child who's been given some candies for the first time."

There, I'd been right. She did think my behavior at Disneyland was indeed juvenile.

Her words hurt. Yes, today had been my first time to Disneyland, and yes, I had acted like an excited child with Aria. But I couldn't help myself. Aria's enthusiasm had been infectious, and I had gotten caught up with her. I personally had thought we'd had a great day together. Well, maybe with the exception of Sophie, especially when she'd been wearing such a sour expression on her beautiful face during the majority of the wonderful day.

Suddenly I wondered if she was jealous Aria was having so much fun with James and me and the fact that the child seemed to prefer me over her.

I closed my eyes and calmed myself, dismissing her hurtful words from my mind. Once I was composed, I rose from my seat and walked away from the table.

Sophie snorted and said loudly so I could hear her, "Can't even talk back. So fucking lame."

That got on my nerves. Really, the woman didn't know when to stop, did she?

At the door, I halted and said over my shoulder, "There's no point in talking back to you, Sophie, because you're condescending and think you're better than everyone else. You're annoying, especially with your ongoing barks of insult that feel like a broken radio. And you're a bitch, and I don't want to stoop to your level of jealousy and insecurity."

I gave her a pleasant, fake smile before exiting the room completely.

As I headed along the corridor, I could feel her hot glare on my back. Any moment now, she'd hunt me down and murder me in rage. The dark thought made me want to look over my shoulder just in case the woman would really do that. After all, it would certainly be very unpleasant if I were to be attacked by Sophie. The woman would show me no mercy and would make sure I knew my place, which, according to her, I didn't.