Submitting to My Best Friend's Dad by Scarlett Rossi
Chapter 59 -

James.

Since Becca left, all I did was fill myself with work. Over and over again, I made sure I was busy. So busy I wasn't able to think, let alone sleep. I was tired but every time I closed my eyes, I saw her face. Her voice called to me to replace her, and yet I knew it wasn't possible.

"James, what are you doing?" Tony, my project supervisor, asked me as I stood on the docks staring off at the shipping containers being unloaded.

"Nothing, I was just thinking about something," I replied as I looked back down at the clipboard in my hand.

Many times over, I have had moments of feeling completely out of place, but it wasn't something I could share with anyone else. I had to take the initiative to sort it all out myself.

"Yo, Valentino!" a voice yelled from behind me causing Tony and I both to turn and look at the gorgeous woman standing behind us.

"Allegra?" I said as I furrowed my brow in confusion watching as she walked towards me. "What are you doing here?"

I hadn't seen or spoken to Allegra since the night Becca left, and seeing her now at my place of work was more than confusing. The extent of our relationship as friends before usually extended to meeting at Club Velvet. However, since Becca had been in my life, I had seen her more.

"You don't answer your phone?" She cocked a brow and placed her hands upon her hips. Nothing but irritation in her posture.

"Excuse me?" I said with confusion. "I didn't hear it go off. Why are you here, Allegra?"

"I'm here because we need to talk. About Becca."

Hearing her say we needed to talk about Becca stuck a nerve with me. I was trying to let it all go, and here was Allegra reopening old wounds. Letting out a heavy sigh, I looked to Tony and nodded for him to go.

Tony had been with me for years and knew me better than most when it came to business. As his eyes lingered between Allegra and I, he nodded and turned walking off.

"What is it you want? I don't have time to do this today," I sighed when Tony was gone.

"I'm here to talk to you about Becca, and you don't have time?" she scoffed with irritation. "You really are moving on quickly, aren't you? Maybe I made a mistake in coming."

"F*ck you, Allegra," I snapped with a death grip on my clipboard. "Never assume anything when it comes to how I feel about Becca."

Crossing her arms over her chest, she stood staring at me defensively. "Then you need to shut up and listen to me."

Pinching the bridge of my nose, I sighed and gestured for her to continue. Allison was a pain in my ass, but Allegra was a whole entirely different level. She didn't annoy me, but she scared me to a degree. Something I would never tell her. "Listening."

"Becca is in love with you, James. Even with distance that isn't changing, and you have a chance to fix everything. Are you seriously going to let her go, or are you going to suck up your shit and go after her?"

For a moment, I contemplated laughing. After all, it was absurd she could love me. She had made it clear on the phone yesterday she was done, or, at least, that is how she made it seem. So why would I go after her? Shaking my head, I stared at Allegra for a moment. "She doesn't want me."

"That's bullshit. Yes, she does."

"No, it isn't bullshit. I talked to her yesterday and she made it clear that I don't need to worry about her. She was pissed that I was even calling."

Allegra stood speechless as she stared at me. Uncrossing her arms, she pulled out her phone and sent a text message. "I'm texting you Neal's number. I was going to tell you what he told me, but I think it's better you hear it from him. So please call him."

My phone dinged with her message, and slowly, I pulled out my phone from my pocket, staring at the number. Neal was the last person I wanted to speak to.

No one had to say he liked her for me to already know. The fact she was staying with him painted a variety of pictures as to how their relationship was more or less going.

"No, I'm done with this Allegra. I have work to do."

I turned to leave, but she grabbed my arm, stopping me in my tracks. "Stop being an arrogant asshole for once, and just f*cking call him. Please, James. If you don't, you will lose her forever. Call him."

I wasn't sure why she was so adamant to have me call him, but it slightly intrigued me. I nodded my head, and she released me, backing up from where I was before turning and walking away. I was pleased she was gone, however, my mind kept reeling

What was it Neal would have to tell me that would cause Allegra to come all the way down to the docks? It didn't make sense, but the way she seemed so adamant to have me call him was beyond strange.

Groaning in irritation, I dialed the number she'd sent me and listened to it ring.

"James Valentino," Neal said on the other end of the phone. "I didn't expect you to call."

"Yes, well, your sister made a scene at my business and told me to call you so here I am calling you."

"I see," he replied after a moment of hesitation. "So, I take it she didn't tell you?"

"No. She didn't tell me anything," I said with frustration. "Perhaps you can enlighten me to what your sister needed to tell me. She said I had to call you."

"Well, something happened last night..."

"Did something happen to Becca? Is she okay?" I replied with concern.

"Yeah, she is fine. She misses you, James."

"So everyone keeps telling me," I sighed. "Let me explain just as I told Allegra. I spoke with her yesterday morning, and she made it clear she wasn't interested in me."

Neal's laughter came from the other end of the line, causing me to grit my teeth wondering what he found so f*cking amusing. "Neal..."

"Sorry, I'm not laughing at you. Just at the fact she tried to make you believe that. I can tell you right now, James, it was a lie. She had the chance to be with another man. She had a chance to move on and have everything she deserves, but she refused."

Hearing that another man made a move on Becca infuriated me. As much as I knew she wasn't mine, a part of me was still very possessive over her, and I knew very well the man he was referring to was himself.

"You tried to have relations with her," I stated coldly as I gripped my phone.

"James-" he said with hesitation, "you turned her away.... You can't blame me for wanting her. She's perfect in every way."

"What did you do to her, Neal?" I all but yelled through the phone as I paced around the area. "Did you f*ck her?"

"No, but honestly, that's not of your concern anyway," he scoffed. "Look, she wants you, okay. So what happened between her and I is irrelevant."

"So, you wanted me to f*cking call you just to tell me you f*cked around with her, you piece of shit? What kind of sadistic f*ck are you?!"

"Hey!" he yelled at me. "Don't you dare f*cking speak to me like that. I'm over here trying to f*cking help you, because I'm in f*cking love with her. However, she doesn't f*cking want me, and seeing her happy is all that matters to me." Neal's admission of love shocked me. He barely knew her, and yet he was in love with her. "I don't f*cking get you.."

"You're not meant to, James. So, just shut the f*ck up and listen," Neal snapped. "This weekend, there is a conference going on at the Paramount building. Show up to it, and win her back. I don't think you deserve her, but she loves you, and I won't stop that."

Everything slowly made sense, and it all confused me. He wanted her and had every chance to have her and keep me away.

Instead, he called Allegra to have her convince me to call him for the sole purpose of him convincing me to come to New York for her. All of it was a clusterf*ck of chaos and confusion, but one thing stood out to me above it all. Becca loved me and only wanted me.

Even when she had the opportunity to have someone else, she didn't do it. She couldn't let go of the feelings she had for me, and that alone made my heart swell more.

"Fine. Send me the information," I said before hanging up the phone.

There was a time and a place for conflict, but now wasn't it. The only thing that made sense was to do what Allegra and Neal were telling me to do.

Go after her.

Moving towards my car, I broke into a jog, quickening my steps.

If I was going to be going to New York, I had a lot I needed to get prepared. It was already Wednesday, and if the event was this weekend, I was going to need to prepare to travel.