Touch Me, Honey

Chapter 12 - Let Me Take Your Place

Several peaceful days followed and Bella began to relax and enjoy life once again. That was, until one day later that week, Bella was sitting in class when suddenly she felt her phone vibrating in her pocket. Taking it out, she saw it was James calling!

“It’s only been a few days, why is he calling again?” Bella complained.

Eve stole a glance at Bella’s phone and instantly remembered the name, James. She felt a deep longing to see him again.

“Hello?” Bella answered the phone.

“Where are you?” James said gruffly.

Eve sat right beside Bella, so close that she could hear what James was saying on the phone.

“I am in class!” Bella replied indignantly. After all, they had agreed that James would not bother her when she had classes.

In truth, James didn’t have anything important to say to Bella. He just had a lot going on and felt restless. And he couldn’t help missing Bella, simply wanting to hear her voice.

James continued speaking for a while, a few trivial questions but nothing specific. Bella replied coldly and indifferently to James’ chitchat but without realizing it, a smile slowly spread across her face.

Eve observed all of this and a cunning idea began to form in her mind. She made sure to give no clue of what she was thinking, or even that knew who had called. “Bella, who called you so early in the morning?” she asked.

“It was my elder brother’s patient,” Bella replied casually. This wasn’t entirely a lie as James had originally requested her brother’s help with his ‘personal problem’.

Eve didn’t believe her and probed further, “Why did your brother’s patient call you?”

Bella looked at the ceiling. She did this whenever she told a lie; it was her not-so-subtle tell. She racked her brain and made up another excuse, “My brother gave him the wrong number by accident.”

Eve suddenly became serious, “Bella, did you get a boyfriend? Tell me the truth.”

Bella was astonished and couldn’t understand why Eve had asked this, a boyfriend? The face of James appeared in her mind. She immediately shivered and shook her head to expel his handsome, yet hateful face from her thoughts.

No way. She wanted to be safe, to live a long, happy life. How could she possibly date James Parker?

Eve decided Bella’s silence was a confirmation of her theory. “What kind of person is your boyfriend? Was he the one waiting for you at the school gate that time?” Eve asked.

“No!” Bella replied loosely with a forced laugh, “How could it be him? He has a fian… …” Bella stopped herself. “Who wants to be his girlfriend?” she finished.

Thinking of James’ fiancée, Bella somehow felt a little depressed.

Eve looked seriously at Bella. Tears suddenly filled her eyes.

Bella was immediately in a panic. She didn’t know why her gentle roommate was crying. She hated to see her upset and hurriedly said, “Eve, what’s wrong with you? Don’t cry…”

“You’ve been ignoring me ever since you got a boyfriend!” Eve’s eyes turned red and she seemed very angry, “You didn’t tell me you have a boyfriend? Do you even think of me as your best friend?”

With that, she turned around angrily and refused to talk anymore with Bella.

Bella tried her best to make Eve happy. But she still wouldn’t respond.

Bella scratched her head and finally decided to tell Eve everything.

“He is not my boyfriend.” Bella thought for a while but didn’t know how exactly to describe her relationship with James.

She hesitated for a long time and eventually said, “You could say that he is my patient.”

Hearing Bella’s explanation, Eve burst out laughing and her tears disappeared. She turned around to listen to Bella.

Bella saw Eve’s pained expression and decided she had to tell her. It wasn’t a big deal after all. What’s more, Eve didn’t know James.

“Patient?” Eve was curious about this. She thought of the handsome, rich man with a mixed feelings of sweetness and depression. She was glad Bella hadn’t seized the opportunity to be with this guy. But what kind of disease did he have?

Bella nodded. She was feeling quite emotional and her ears turned a deep shade of red, exposing perhaps how she truly felt about James.

“Well, what happened was…” Bella said with sadness, “You know my brother’s job… He originally thought I was my brother and asked me to treat him.”

Eve had seen her elder brother, Charles Green, before. They were almost identical to each other. Although Charles was taller and more mature than Bella, it was normal for strangers to mistake their identities. But when thinking of Charles Green’s profession, Eve was astonished; “He consulted your brother about his illness. Does he...is he...?”

Bella nodded seriously, “He is...”

She sighed, “James Parker is president of P&T Group Ltd. Born into privilege and God’s gift to women. No one would ever think that he is….”

Bella burst out laughing. James had been so rude to her on the phone, so cold and distant. So she decided to take her anger out on him in the only way she could, by hurting his reputation.

Eve’s facial expression suddenly changed. Now she had a dilemma. Bella hadn’t been explicit, but Eve had worked out what the problem was. Still, she couldn’t help thinking it wasn’t such a big deal, bearing in mind James’ wealth, status, and handsome face.

Eve looked at Bella with worry, “Bella, have you been upset because of him recently?”

Bella was moved by Eve’s thoughtfulness. She nodded her head, “I am in big trouble.”

“What’s wrong?” Eve asked with concern.

Bella was visibly upset. “He forced me to sign an agreement to cure him. And he requires that I should be available any time that he wants me. What’s worse, he has a fiancée but kissed me, without my consent!"

Eve was astonished. She knew well that Bella was an innocent girl who knew little about love. And James Parker was such an amazing guy! Although he was impotent, he was handsome and rich. A lot of women wanted him.

However, it was obvious that this bachelor was interested in Bella. Although it may not have been obvious to Bella, it was quite clear to Eve that this was the case.

But Bella was a tomboy and not ‘conventionally pretty’. Eve certainly thought that she was far more beautiful than Bella. How had Bella ended up with this wonderful man?

Eve was feeling rather jealous of Bella and said to herself, “Bella cannot be his girlfriend!” Thinking of this, Eve said comfortingly: “Bella, cheer up. If you don’t want to do what he wants, you can just leave.”

“No, I can’t.” Bella shook her head with a worried look, “I am not able to afford the compensation.”

“Or let me…” Eve changed her mind, “Or you can tell your parents and ask them to help you?”

“My parents are on vacation now.” Bella rejected this suggestion gloomily. “They are enjoying themselves abroad. I don’t want to bother them.”

There was a curious smile in Eve’s eyes. Though this went unseen by Bella, who still had her head in her hands.

“Let’s do it this way,” Eve said magnanimously. “I’ll help you cure James Parker. My graduation thesis is on this area of men’s health. It makes no difference who goes to treat him.”

“You?” Bella raised her head in surprise. She hesitated, surprisingly feeling a bit uneasy at the idea of Eve spending time with James in her place. “Are you sure, Eve?”

“Yes.” Noticing her emotion, Eve continued pretending to be a helpful friend. “You have been a little down recently. If you are unhappy about all this, I can help you. Then you will be able to prepare for your studies. You cannot fail any more exams.”

“Eve…”Bella was touched by her consideration.

But James was trouble and so hard to escape from!

Bella herself was a clear example. She’d fallen into James’ trap. Now she was facing threats to her life, plus the choice between an impossible task and an impossible sum of money!

She had learned the truth about James the hard way. There was no way she would put Eve in that same danger. What’s more, Eve was being so kind to her. Her conscience simply wouldn’t allow it.

For her friend’s sake, Bella shook her head firmly; “Thank you for your kindness. You are so considerate. How could I let you get involved in this terrible situation? Don’t worry, I am okay!”