The Supreme Soldier in the City
Chapter 213: Determination

Chapter 213: Chapter 213: Determination

Emily Lopez’s phone call came through once again, and James Brown had no choice but to answer.

"Brother-in-law, shall we go out and have fun tonight?"

James Brown turned his head to look at Gina Lopez. Gina was sitting there nonchalantly, seemingly totally unconcerned about what James might say.

"Tonight... I’m still with your sister at the moment. Who knows, she might even ask me to work overtime."

"What? You’re still with my sister? She’s really something, making you work all day long, that’s so cruel! Brother-in-law, let’s ignore her, come out with me tonight."

With the car being sealed up, Gina could clearly hear Emily’s voice over the phone’s speaker. Immediately, she snatched the phone and said, "Emily Lopez, could you stop thinking about playing all day? It’s fine if you don’t work, but you can’t expect James to go crazy with you. That’s absolutely not okay."

"Ah, Gina, what do you mean by that? You’re so despicable, knowing that I like my brother-in-law but hogging him all day long, not letting him spend time with me. What kind of sister are you?" Emily yelled indignantly, but if there were someone nearby, they would have seen her grinning mischievously.

"Emily, you call him brother-in-law too, so you should understand that he’s mine. Why are you still clinging to him?"

"Humph, you don’t really like my brother-in-law at all. You just don’t want me to be with him. Do you think I don’t know? Gina, it’s despicable to hog... my brother-in-law without loving him. Do you think this is fair to him?" Emily almost said that Gina was like someone occupying a toilet without using it, but feeling that it would be an insult to James Brown, she quickly stopped herself and stuck out her tongue.

"Who says I don’t... love him? That was before, now I..." Gina began, glancing at James Brown, but she couldn’t bring herself to finish those two words. Watching TV and such, she always thought that saying "I love you" was so easy. But when it was her turn, she realized it wasn’t something to say lightly. At least right now, her mouth was open but no sound came out.

"What about you? See, you can’t even say ’I love him.’ You talk about love? You’re clearly just targeting me. You’re so despicable," Emily accused Gina with strong anger, sensing that there had been no progress between Gina and James these days. She intended to give Gina a strong dose of medicine and continue to provoke her.

Though it was only a phone call, Gina’s face turned red with what Emily had said. Clenching her teeth and speaking fiercely, she retorted, "Who says I can’t say it? I’ll let you hear it right now, James Brown, I love you!"

James Brown immediately shivered, and the steering wheel veered off course, almost hitting the curb on the side of the road. He quickly adjusted the direction to resume normal driving, yet he couldn’t help feeling disheartened. When other people said those three words, it was with sweet affection, but when Gina said them, James couldn’t help but feel a chill down his spine.

On the other end, Emily burst into laughter. Gina angrily demanded, "What’s so funny?"

Suppressing her laughter, Emily replied teasingly, "I’m saying, Gina, you managed to make ’I Love You’ sound so bitterly vindictive. In this world, there’s only one like you. Don’t you admit that you don’t really love my brother-in-law?"

Gina’s breathing hitched and she snorted, saying, "It’s because you aggravated me. You wanted to hear it, right? Then let me say it again for you." Turning her head, she looked at James Brown.

James Brown instantly shivered, his face turning deathly pale, and he stammered, "Mr. Lopez, don’t... don’t be rash."

Initially feeling embarrassed and shy, because, after all, those three words were really too hard to say, Gina noticed James’s terrified expression as if he were faced with the most terrifying thing. This bolstered Gina’s anger. Could it be that she was that frightening? Even if this guy didn’t like her, was there any need to look like a dead man walking?

Feeling annoyed yet softening her expression with a sweet smile, Gina gently said to James Brown, "James, I... love... you!"

"Screech!" The ear-piercing sound of a sudden brake resounded. Gina’s body lunged forward violently; if she hadn’t been wearing a seatbelt, her head would have hit the windshield.

"Ah!" Gina screamed in alarm.

"Sis! Are you okay? What’s wrong? Say something!" Upon hearing Gina actually say such words in that tone, Emily was excited. But then she heard the screeching brakes and Gina’s scream, and she turned pale with fright, calling out loudly.

"It’s... nothing!" Gina finally regained her composure and quickly reassured Emily.

"Really? Are you sure you’re okay?"

"Really, it’s nothing. Your brother-in-law just braked suddenly."

"Sis, you better not be hiding anything from me." At this point, Emily was really panicking; the scream she heard earlier was truly frightening.

At that moment, Gina, somewhat annoyed, said to James Brown, "What’s gotten into you? Why did you brake so suddenly?"

James Brown gave an awkward laugh and replied, "Mr. Lopez, who made you say such terrifying words. My heart really couldn’t take it."

Emily Lopez laughed heartily upon hearing James Brown’s words, finally at ease, and said, "Look at you, Gina Lopez, talking about being with my brother-in-law. Just uttering those three words scared him like this. It just shows you’ve never been good to him. And you talk about love? You’d better step aside and let me be with him; at least he won’t be scared like this by you."

Gina Lopez was feeling extremely frustrated and glared at James Brown, shouting at Emily Lopez, "Don’t even think about it. I’m telling you, I can give you everything else, but you’ll never get James Brown from me!"

Emily Lopez said disdainfully, "It’s not about whether you’ll give him up or not. He was never yours to begin with. He doesn’t like you, and he’s even nicer to me than to you. How shameless can you get?"

Taking a deep breath, Gina Lopez spoke slowly, yet with unwavering determination, "He will like me, definitely!"

"Really? Then I’ll just have to see whether he likes you or me more." Emily Lopez felt secretly delighted. She knew Gina Lopez too well. If her sister was talking this way, it meant she was really determined.

And to make it happen between Gina Lopez and James Brown, Emily knew she needed to stimulate Gina’s resolve—even more obviously successful this time.

"Just you wait and see; I’ll prove it to you," Gina Lopez huffed and hung up the phone.

Turning around, she saw the unpleasant expression on James Brown’s face and felt stifled again. After taking another deep breath, Gina Lopez smiled gently and said, "You don’t have to feel pressured because of what I said. You don’t have to take it to heart, and we’ll just continue as we were. You can still treat me like a colleague."

James Brown twitched the corner of his mouth, asking, "So, are you just sparring with Sandra?"

Gina Lopez’s smile became even brighter as she responded, "I’m not just sparring. I’m serious. But I want you to slowly discover my good qualities, to genuinely like me from your heart, not because I’m forcing you."

"That’s good to hear," James Brown sighed in relief. He didn’t want Gina Lopez to get tough with him—that would be no fun, and he wouldn’t even dare to show his face around her in the future.

Gina Lopez felt uncomfortable again. James Brown’s reaction had made it clear that he didn’t like her at all. Could she really be that unlikable? For James Brown to like her would be a long and arduous task, certainly not an easy one.

It was still early when they returned to the company. James Brown stopped the car but didn’t walk with Gina Lopez, instead slipping away first. This infuriated Gina Lopez, finding him too demoralizing.

As soon as it was time to leave work, James Brown disappeared from the company. Seeing Gina Lopez so determined, all he thought about was avoiding her.

At the entrance of the residential complex, James Brown saw Emily Jenkins, the flight attendant, still in uniform, clearly just off a flight returning home. In her uniform, Emily Jenkins looked extremely attractive, the kind that could arouse a man’s desire. She also spotted James Brown and called out excitedly, "Big Brother Brown, what a coincidence."

James Brown went up to meet her and took her suitcase, smiling, "Just flew back?"

"Yeah, I haven’t seen you for days; I’ve been missing the food you make."

"Haha, seems like you’re missing my cooking, not me, right?"

"Giggle, I miss both!" Emily Jenkins playfully stuck out her tongue, not denying it at all. Her honesty was what made James Brown feel at ease. Talking to her didn’t require any effort at all.

They went upstairs, and Emily Jenkins stopped right at James Brown’s door, seemingly with no intention of going home. James Brown teased, "You’re in such a hurry you’re not even going home first?"

Embarrassed, Emily Jenkins admitted, "I lost my keys, so I need to get the spare from your place. Besides, I brought a gift for you, and I need to give it to you first."

James Brown laughed and opened the door, saying, "Lucky you didn’t lose yourself too. I guess feeding you wasn’t in vain."

As he opened the door, a shadow rushed towards him and threw itself at James Brown, who immediately recognized it as Sarah Grandy. He caught her in an instant.

"Uncle, I’ve missed you so much." Sarah Grandy clung to James Brown, legs wrapped around his waist, and spoke with a cheerful smile.

At that moment, Emily Jenkins couldn’t help but burst into laughter at the sight of them, teasing, "Big Brother Brown, hiding a beauty in the golden house again?"

James Brown patted Sarah Grandy’s backside and put her down, saying, "Hiding what beauty? She’s just a crazy little girl."

Only then did Sarah Grandy notice Emily Jenkins and her expression soured immediately, pouting and glaring at Emily Jenkins.