When The Rules Are Broken ✔️

Chapter Eight

She hadn't slept with him! The thought had lifted the heavy pressure from James' chest in the coming days.

The idea of Amelia with another guy had felt like a sharp stab in his guts whenever his thoughts had strayed to the dangerous waters. It had been a week since the breakup. He had decided to give her the space that she needed.

A lot had happened. He recalled the crushed look on her face when she had stumbled on Gabriella, mauling him. The pesky woman had tracked him down to entice him, much to his infuriation. Then Matthew had walked out of Amelia's life.

James wished he could do something to make her feel whole again. Matthew was wrong for her like Tiffany had been wrong for him, but Amelia needed time to mourn over the loss.

As James entered his building, he was confronted with an unwelcome sight. His steps faltered. Detective Connor waited for him in the seating area of the lobby. His features contorted into a grimace.

"James, just the man I want to talk to today," Aiden greeted him, all amiable as he gained his feet. His sharp eyes skewered him, missing nothing.

"I can't say I feel the same," James retorted. What did the asshole want from him now? Surely, he wasn't still hung up on the trumped-up allegation.

"It's a pity." Aiden lifted his shoulder, least bothered. "Shall we talk somewhere more private? You don't want people to hear what I have to say, do you?"

Stiffening, he inclined his head and headed to the bank of the elevators. The ride to his apartment was fraught with frigid silence, though he could feel Connor burning holes in his back.

"What a neat place you got," the detective said, letting out a whistle as he stepped inside the living room. "How much does it cost to live like this?"

Pivoting around, James blustered at the unwanted guest. "Why are you here? Didn't my lawyers explain that you have no grounds for a case against me?"

"You were once heavily invested in V-Zone, weren't you?" Aiden asked innocuously, which belied the gravity behind the question. "It dealt with technological connectivity."

James paused. Whatever he had expected Connor to spout from his mouth, it wasn't this. "Why?"

"Were you or were you not?" Aiden drawled with a smirk, a note of steel crept into his voice upon noticing James' discomfort.

"I don't discuss my affairs with just about anyone and certainly not shady cops." He kept his tone unaffected; however, a sense of foreboding climbed his spine.

"Okay, have it your way. The anonymous source has brought it to our attention that you bought a large stake in this company and coincidently sold all your shares a day before it tanked," the detective said, staring at him for any telltale signs of guilt.

James schooled his expression to neutral. "I have many business dealings. Do you expect me to know every detail?" It was the truth. Plus, he never had a major stake in now an almost defunct company. But when had WEC washed its hands of V-Zone? He tried to recall but couldn't remember.

"My source claims you were privy to the non-public information. I have talked to the founder of V-Zone who denied the allegation—"

"Are you still accusing me of insider trading?" James snapped, his demeanour changing. "Detective, you are treading very dangerous ground."

"As I was saying, Wallace Watson denied it but remains unsure if he had let slip his financial woes to you or someone close to you. So, I am here to hear your side of the story." Undeterred by the violence of James' emotion, the detective shot him a curious look.