CHAPTER 118: BAIT
"Aren't you coming to bed?" she asked softly. "You should get some rest," she murmured, her voice filled with a mixture of love and concern.
"I will," James replied, looking up at her. "I just had some work to finish." He hesitated for a moment before continuing, "Diana, can you... not go to work for a few days?"
"Why?" Diana asked, suddenly alert.
"What if I told you it wasn't safe?" he suggested cautiously.
"James, you'll have to give me more than that. Besides, I can't miss work. I have important projects coming up, a lot of things to handle and oversee," Diana reasoned.
"Then work from home," James insisted.
"No, I can't. I need to be there with my team, communicating regularly. And don't suggest video calls—it's just not feasible to run everything remotely. I need to be on the ground to manage things efficiently and dish out orders comfortably without a screen coming between me and the people i'm to be working with," she explained.
James sighed, frustration tightening his chest. "Okay, then at least let me know who's visiting you, placing orders, and everything else."
"You know we have client confidentiality agreements in place. Violating that could lead to lawsuits," Diana reminded him gently.
"Who am I going to tell?" he protested.
"Does it matter if you tell anyone or not?" she countered.
James let out a defeated breath. "Can you do it just because I'm asking? Because I'm concerned?"
"That's not fair, hubby. At least tell me what's going on," she pleaded.
"I don't have all the details yet, Diana, which is why I can't say much. But I think my aunts are planning something, and it might involve you."
"So, you want me to stop going to work over something you're not even sure about?" Diana asked skeptically. Her tone made James feel as if she thought he was being unreasonable and selfish for even suggesting. There was a hint of judgment in her voice.
"Let's just go to bed," he said quietly, reaching for her hand and making to stand up.
"Treasure," she murmured, standing up with him and holding onto his hand. "I know you're doing this for my safety, but if you think there's a plan against me, how will you uncover it if I don't go to work? You need to let them try so we can see what they're up to."
"So, you want to use yourself as bait?" James asked, incredulous.
"Well, that's the only way to expose whatever they're scheming so it can be stopped, right? People who make plans like this rarely back down. Sometimes, you have to make them believe they're winning before you turn the tables."
"Diana, I can't take that risk with you. You're pregnant. If anything happens, how will I face your parents?" he said, his voice tight with worry.
Diana's face fell. *So that's what matters?* she thought bitterly. *Not me, but how he'll explain himself to my parents if something happens?*
Diana's sudden shift in mood caught James off guard.
She withdrew her hand from his and turned to leave, then paused, turning to face him. "I'm not stopping work," she declared, her voice filled with defiance. "You'll have to deal with it." With that, she stormed off, leaving him standing there, stunned.
James watched her leave, confusion etched on his face. Had he said something wrong?
He made his way to the bedroom and found her curled up in bed. Quietly, he lay beside her, wanting to pull her into his arms, but she shoved him away firmly.
Sighing, James turned his back to her, deciding to give her space. Maybe she'd be calmer by morning. But he had no idea what awaited him next. He was in for more surprises.