The Disguised Rich James

Chapter 15

James shrugged his shoulders, "Me? Say something? No, I didn't," He lied, shaking his head, "or did you hear me say anything?"

Leonard stared at him, his eyes blasting. He knew he heard this fool say something. Without uttering a word, he stormed out of the kitchen.

With a huffed, frustrating sigh, James began to cut the onions and added the ingredients to the pot.

Soon, James finished cooking and he dished out the meal into bowls, heading to the dining room. As he got to the living room, he noticed that all the family members were in the room.

Leonard and Grandma Aurora were engrossed in a conversation that he seemed to have no clue about.

Olivia, his wife, was still busy working with her laptop, which made him slightly shake his head, having sympathy for her. She had been working without any rest.

Right after James finished placing the tray of dishes on the table, he announced, his voice low, "Everyone's food is ready. Come and eat."

Leonard and Grandma Aurora immediately got up from their seats to the dining room. Not long after, Evelyn, Amelia,, and Caleb came downstairs and joined in as they began to eat.

James glanced at Olivia, who was still busy typing something on her laptop. He got closer to her and said with a worried and concerned voice, "Olivia, you've been working all day, at least go and have something to eat."

Olivia looked from her laptop but she didn't respond to him. She didn't even look at him.

James continued, vividly showing concern, "You can always continue with your work after you're done eating. Just go, and if there's any way I can help, please let me know. I'll be glad to." He offered, generously.

Olivia waved her hand, dismissively, "There's no point. I'll do the work myself, thanks." She politely declined, shutting down her laptop. She also joined the family members and began to eat.

"Why are you standing there? Please, come and join us." Evelyn gestured to James to come and have lunch with them on the table.

But James shook his head and rejected with a 'thank you.' "Don't worry, Mom. I'm not hungry yet and I got something to attend to in my room." He replied.

Evelyn stared at him with a look that depicted, 'Are you serious you don't want to join us? Or you are just afraid of Grandma?' She then sighed and focused back on consuming her food.

"Better, he declined." Grandma Aurora uttered under a clenched lip.

Without any further words, James walked upstairs to his room, leaving the family to enjoy the delicious meal that he had made.

Getting into his room, James closed the door behind him and sat on the bed. His mind now clearly displays the warm moment when he met his father.

The black card given to him by his father is also displayed vividly in his mind. He stared at the floor, deep in thought, before finally retrieving his phone from his pocket.

He scrolled through his contact list, wanting to reach out to his father, but he remembered he didn't collect his phone number as he was in a haste that day.

He rubbed his hand in his hair in frustration, about to throw his phone on the bed but then, he remembered something—the lady who called her the previous day before he made up his mind to meet his father.

"Yes. She'll have his contact," he said, pressing the 'send button' after he located the number. The call rang and after ringing twice, it was finally answered.

"Hello, young master Thomas," a calm yet professional female voice was heard from the other end of the call, "what can I do for you today?" She asked, still maintaining her professionalism.

"Can you please hand over the phone to my Dad? I want to speak with him." James replied.

The lady said, "I'm sorry, but your Dad is currently not in his office. He's gone home, preparing to go somewhere like he told me earlier," she explained before adding, "but I can forward his number to you if you don't mind."

James nodded, even though she didn't see him, "Yes, please do," he replied, and before ending the call, he instructed, "And please, don't address me as 'young master Thomas' next time, okay?"

There was a brief hesitation from the other end. "....okay, master…. sorry," she quickly apologized, "but what should I call you?"

"Just my name, 'James'. It's okay by me." James said intending to keep his identity confidential.

Hmm! "Alright, Jam….uh…James." She finally had the confidence to call him by his name. How on earth will an ordinary worker like her address the only son of a prominent man in the whole town by his name! Never possible!

But since he insisted, there's no problem. Perhaps, he had his reason for saying so.

"Alright. I'll forward the number right away, but don't you feel like I should add 'Sir' before your name? I feel uncomfortable calling you by your name." She requested, her voice shaking.

James smiled, "Don't worry, you'll get used to it. It's no big deal. Just do it for the time being. And for the number, I'll be waiting." He abruptly ended the call.

Not up to one minute after the call ended, James' phone buzzed up for a message. He opened it and it was a message from the lady with his father's phone number boldly and visibly written in the box.

Instantly without delay, he sent the number through, and it began to ring, and it didn't take long as it connected.

"Hello, son, how're you doing?" Thomas' voice came out first before James could even speak.

James hesitated, his face filled with puzzle as he asked, "Dad, how do you know I'm the one calling?"

"That's because I have your contact stored on my phone," Thomas replied, "where are you now? Can we meet?"

"Yes, Dad. At where?" James didn't hesitate to ask.