It's safe to say that I'm too stunned to react or even smile at her in response because I'm still processing her words. She's his assistant, she's the one who picked out the dresses for me, and her name is Amy? It seems too much of a coincidence but I really hope it's not the same Amy who's Chloe's friend and who I'm assuming her to be.

Like she can read my thoughts, Chloe speaks up, "Oh, consider me hurt. You're also my friend." She pouts at Amy.

Holy shit. James had a fling with his assistant. The assistant who picked out this dress I'm wearing. Suddenly I feel uncomfortable in my clothes and feel the need to burn whatever part of my wardrobe was picked out by her. She's his assistant.

The entire situation is so unpleasant that it leaves me pissed off with a bitter taste in my mouth. When he said that things were over between Amy and him, I assumed that he wouldn't be in contact with her anymore. Instead they see each other everyday, spend almost the entire day together while I see him, for what, half an hour in a day?

I don't know where these thoughts are coming from, but I don't like them. Why should I care if he had a fling with his assistant? It's his issue to deal with. Repeating that mantra in my head, I take deep breaths as slowly as I can without drawing attention to myself.

"Ignore her please. I just want you to know it's really nice to meet you since we couldn't meet at the wedding." She smiles at me but it's the same sweet smile Chloe is wearing, so I don't buy it for a second.

"Likewise." I nod at her, trying to muster up a small smile. "I'm Lillian, by the way. His wife, like you would know."

I don't know where the possessive tone came from but it's very evident even though I'm the one who said it. I normally would've been embarrassed for being so upfront because my confidence level has often at times dwindled in social situations but the anger I'm feeling doesn't let it intervene as I pass a fake smile to her.

She looks surprised only for a second before quickly covering up her face with a sweet smile as her eyes roam back onto James. I suddenly feel the need to pull him away to a place where she cannot even lay her eyes on him but I know how stupid that sounds.

"You haven't said a word, Jim. Are you okay?" Chloe asks, looking at him with what looks like genuine concern.

"Yes, I'm good. It's nice to see you guys." He nods at them.

"You said we could discuss tomorrow's plan when we meet here. So tell me what time do you want to leave?" Amy asks him, making me scowl in confusion because I have absolutely no idea what they are talking about.

"Tomorrow?" I ask, looking at James with an arched eyebrow. His jaw twitches at my question but before he can respond, Amy speaks up.

"You forgot to tell her?" She feigns surprise, "Forgive him, he's extremely bad in remembering details. Always have to remind him of the things twice." She rolls her eyes before continuing, "We have a meeting out of town for an estate deal. This one still hasn't told me when he wants to leave since it's a weekend not just regular working hours."

I gulp at the thought of James leaving out of town with her, business or not. Hundred torturing scenarios run in my head, making me squirm in his grasp as he loosens his arm around me a little, probably sensing my discomfort. She mentioned that it's for a business deal so I tell myself that it's just work related and nothing else. However it doesn't calm down my nerves.

My eyes look for Jeremy but he's nowhere in sight so I step out of James's arms, turning to them, "You guys should discuss the details. I'll be right back."

Before any of them can reply, I make my way through the crowd in search for a familiar face either of my parents or of Jeremy but when no one comes into my sight, I move to the bar to get myself a glass of water to calm down a little. I don't like how I'm so affected by something that's related to James. I don't have feelings for him, I would go out and say that yes I am attracted to him, but as soon as we start speaking, that goes out of the window too because our conversations always get me riled up. So I don't understand why I care about him being in touch, or constantly in presence of someone he used to sleep with.

I ask for a glass of water and just am sipping on it when I feel a presence behind me but it's not a familiar presence. I turn around to come face to face with gray eyes and a smirk. Richard Lucas. This man seems to drive me to some another level of discomfort and just the energy around him seems to scream negative.

"Mrs. Clark." He gives me a lop sided smile with a champagne glass in his hands.

I purse my lips into a thin line as I stare at him, "Mr. Lucas."

"Oh, please. Like I said, call me Richard." He says, his eyes subtly roaming from the top of my head to my toe, making me want to run far away from him but I know he's an important person in business so I stay stuck, "Don't you look breathtaking."

"Thanks." I smile at him, as best as I can muster up.

"Where's your husband? Haven't seen him around." He says, his eyes roaming behind me and then set back on my face, "Should warn him about not letting you roam dressed like that."

His words send a cold shiver down my back because these are not the words of compliment. I don't like the lust dripping his tone as he keeps on ogling at me. I seem to have tied up my tongue in my mouth as no words come out.

"Lil." I hear my name and immediately turn to see Jeremy standing behind as he scowls at Richard. "Jeremy Vince." He extends his hand which is met by equal confidence and a smirk.

"It was nice to see you, Lil." Richard smirks before stepping forward, my breath hitching in my throat as he leans down to place a peck on my cheeks. He winks at me before disappearing in the crowd.

I've never felt this dirty by being in someone's presence. I feel like rushing back home in my childhood room and hiding myself under the blankets. Jeremy comes to stand in front of me as he stares at me.

"Are you okay? You look so fucking pale." He speaks, breaking me out my thoughts and I nod, mindlessly.

"Yeah, I'm good. Sorry." I say before gulping down the entire glass of water.

"Who was he? Why was he staring at you like that?" His frown is so deep and his voice is laced with worry.

I don't know how today's turning into a complete shit show. I mean, my entire life has turned shit show since the day I got married, but today especially seems to stand out.

"He's a client of James. It's fine. Don't overthink." I tell him, my words more for myself than him.

"You need to tell James, you know? That creepy shit needs to know his place." He huffs and I smile at him a little.

"It's fine, Jer. If he makes a move, I can handle it."

That's a lie. I won't be able to handle it all. The thought itself leaves me with a cold shiver, but I don't want to tell my brother and worry him further. I engage him in a conversation that's different than the topic and tell him about Ashley and college. He's always been a good listener, always asking me the right questions and giving the right reactions.

"You should come meet her sometime. She has mentioned that she misses your annoying ass." I tell him and he laughs, shaking her head.

"As if one sister wasn't enough to tolerate. What about the Max guy?" He asks and I shrug.

"He's cool. They are roommates, so I have a feeling sooner or later things are going to happen. Whatever they say right now."

He seems to nod at my words as we move through people in search of our parents but they seem to be engaged in a deep conversation with three people so we let them be.

My eyes set on two people, immediately making me frown as I look at James and Amy. He seems to be frowning at her as she continues to talk with hand gestures, her hands moving in the air as she seems to be pissed at him.

"What's that about?" Jeremy asks me, studying my features as he looks at the scene and then back at me.

"She's the assistant."

This seems to amuse my brother a little as he glances at them again, "And you're jealous."

"Huh?"

His words take me completely by surprise as I scrunch up my nose at the thought of being jealous where James is concerned. I am not jealous. This is not jealousy.

"Oh c'mon, it's written all over your face. Only a completely oblivious person wouldn't be able to tell that." He starts laughing to himself.

I don't understand what's so funny about watching Amy rubbing her palm up and down James's arm. Can I break her hand? Woah. That's a dark thought right there. I mentally scold myself because I'm not a violent person but this woman seems to bring out something else inside me. She's so gorgeous and James had a thing with her, making me question why did he ever chose to marry me and not her? All he had to do was get married for his position. It didn't matter who.

James's eyes seem to catch mine mid-sentence as he's speaking to her and he immediately leaves her on spot before making his way towards me. He looks pissed, like as pissed as he did when he thought I was flirting with the waiter in our suite. But when he comes closer and notices Jeremy by my side, his face softens a little.

"Don't disappear again." He tells me before moving his hand to hold mine. I almost pull away from his touch because I'm so pissed at this entire Amy situation but I don't want to create a scene in public.

Amy strolls behind him, giving me a tight lipped smile as she glares at James, a glare very similar to mine which makes me question who gave her the right to glare at my husband?

Holy shit. Jeremy's right. I am jealous.

The realisation is bitter but I don't ponder upon it as Amy speaks up, "We weren't done, Jim." She looks at him and I bite my tongue to stop myself from speaking something.

"Yes, we were." He says with a finality in his tone, "I'll see you in the morning at eleven, directly at the meeting."

She opens her mouth to argue but one look from James and she shuts up before leaving us alone. I almost feel bad for her, for having feelings for someone who's so emotionally shut down and stubborn but then I remember that she has hots for my husband which makes me grit my teeth. I open my hand in his a little, making him look down at it, frowning because it may look like I'm pulling away but I just intertwine our fingers together, holding his hand tighter, and the familiar warmth engulfs me.

I'm just glad that he's not going to drive out of town with her or see her before the meeting. I know it could all be a ploy for me to witness but something tells me it isn't. James looks extremely surprised by my actions and my brother only looks amused.

"Not jealous, my ass." He whispers.