The Supreme Soldier in the City-Chapter 184: True Commitment

Gina Lopez nodded and said, "Since you’ve made a condition to me, I must set a condition too."

"You’re pursuing me and still setting conditions?" James Brown leisurely sipped his red wine, smiling as he looked at Gina Lopez.

Gina Lopez smiled faintly. By this time, she had entered a particular state, the same attitude she maintained at work. To her, James Brown was now a challenging project to conquer. She would display her full capabilities to secure this project. In this state, whether Gina Lopez spoke or moved, she did so with composed and graceful ease, without a hint of awkwardness or unnaturalness. She asked, "So, are you scared of me?"

James Brown smiled back, "I’m not scared of you. However, I’d rather you think it’s too difficult and give up. If we don’t talk about this, whether we’re colleagues or you’re my boss, at the very least, we could still be friends. But with what you’re saying now, I’m afraid we might not even remain friends."

"Okay, it seems I really am facing quite some difficulties ahead. But I’m not someone who gives up easily. If I can’t truly prove myself, I won’t be satisfied."

Seeing Gina Lopez drop her conditions and maintaining such a state worried James Brown slightly. In the time he had known her, he was aware that Gina Lopez in this state was her most formidable.

"Gina, why can’t we just stay good friends?" James Brown frowned, looking at Gina Lopez earnestly.

Gina Lopez pursed her lips in a smile, took a gentle sip of her red wine, then slowly swirled the wine glass in her hand. The red liquid shimmered slightly. Looking through her glass at James Brown, she said, "Don’t worry, I, Gina Lopez, won’t resort to any clingy or desperate tactics. I certainly won’t stoop low enough to sabotage anything between you and your girlfriend, nor would I try anything underhanded just to succeed or fail at this – isn’t this acceptable?"

James Brown stared at Gina Lopez, making sure she meant what she said. This could have been a relatively relaxed situation, but he couldn’t shake the feeling that this matter wasn’t so simple.

"Alright, it’s time for work. As a man, shouldn’t you be paying the bill now?"

James Brown shook his head and said, "I’m a poor man; it’d be more appropriate if you, the boss, treated me."

Gina Lopez rolled her eyes at James Brown and said, "You really have a thick face. Other men try to puff themselves up in front of women, but you just act shamelessly."

James Brown chuckled and replied, "That’s just being a poor man with limited aspirations."

"That’s more genuine."

James Brown felt Gina Lopez was eerily calm, which unsettled him even more. Of all the women he’d known over the years, Gina Lopez was proving to be a particularly hot potato.

After paying the bill, James Brown drove back to the office with Gina Lopez, who didn’t mention anything personal but rather discussed matters pertaining to the company during the drive.

At the office, James Brown called Emily Lopez. It took a while before Emily answered her phone.

"Emily, weren’t you supposed to join me for a western lunch today?"

Emily let out a loud "Ah!" and said, "Is it time already? I just fell asleep. I’m on my way now."

"Sweat drops. Why bother coming now? Look at the time."

"Ah, it’s one o’clock already. Brother-in-law, why didn’t you call me sooner? Did you not want to have lunch with me?" Emily immediately started complaining.

"I did want to have lunch with you, but your sister pretended to be you and went to lunch with me instead. I thought she was you until I realized who she was."

"No way, she pretended to be me? That’s just too despicable!"

James Brown found it both funny and sad, saying, "I now really admire both of you."

Emily was still fuming as she said, "Even if I pretended to be her, it would just be a joke between us. But for her to use my name to build a rapport with you, that’s just so despicable and shameless! Brother-in-law, what did she say to you?"

"Emily, can we not associate me with being despicable and shameless?"

Emily paused for a moment, then giggled, "That’s true. I’ll be careful next time. How could my brother-in-law possibly be despicable or shameless? In my heart, you are the best man."

"Brother-in-law, I should think of some kind of secret signal for us, so if Gina tries to impersonate me and you can’t recognize her, it would be too easy for her to take advantage of the situation."

James Brown was instantly sweating. Though there wasn’t much between him and Emily Lopez, getting a secret signal wasn’t a bad idea. At the very least, it would prevent him from confusing the two sisters too often—mixing them up was already headache-inducing, and with their strained relationship, upsetting one was all too easy without adding confusion.

"Brother-in-law, you didn’t treat me to lunch today, so you owe me a dinner. Come to my house tonight, okay? I’m going grocery shopping right now to prepare. Talk to you later!"

With that, Emily hung up before James Brown could respond.

After what happened at noon, James Brown was truly intimidated by the two sisters and really wanted to find an excuse to refuse, but Emily Lopez hung up too quickly, not giving him a chance. When he tried calling back, Emily Lopez had turned off her phone, which was rather abrupt.

Before leaving work, Gina Lopez and Sunny Nguyen came straight to James Brown’s office and said, "Emily said you’re coming to cook dinner at our place tonight, let’s go together."

"Emily told you?" James Brown was a bit surprised.

"Exactly!" Gina Lopez said with a slight smile.

James Brown shook his head and said, "You must have called Emily to find out."

"No matter how I found out, I still really like the food you cook, and Sister Sunny likes it too. You don’t mind cooking an extra portion for us two, do you?"

"Not at all, let’s go eat since it’s you two sisters treating."

This time, James Brown answered rather cheerfully. With Gina Lopez and Sunny Nguyen around, it felt like three priests together with none having water to drink, which made him a bit more relaxed.

In the car, Gina Lopez didn’t talk to James Brown about any private matters but discussed work with Sunny Nguyen. Even when talking to James Brown, they only discussed work-related topics.

Moreover, Gina Lopez’s attitude towards James Brown was very normal and natural, just like it always was in the office. Perhaps one difference was that she and Sunny Nguyen discussed issues without avoiding James Brown and even sought his opinion from time to time.

This might seem like Gina Lopez had no special feelings for James Brown, but he always felt that this genuine Gina Lopez was not just joking around like before.

Upon opening the door, Emily Lopez came forward to greet them, sweetly calling out "Brother-in-law," and then said to Gina Lopez with a bit of displeasure, "You usually work overtime; why didn’t you today?"

While taking off her shoes, Gina Lopez said, "If you really like me working overtime, I don’t mind dragging James Brown and Sister Sunny back to continue working."

Emily Lopez snorted and said, "What’s so great about being a manager? Brother-in-law is a CEO, even more senior than you, and he doesn’t have to listen to you."

Gina Lopez glanced at James Brown and said meaningfully, "If a certain someone really becomes a CEO, I would certainly cooperate well with that person’s work."

James Brown rolled his eyes and said, "Enough with that, I better get cooking."

"Brother-in-law, I’ll help you." Emily Lopez glared at Gina Lopez, then followed James Brown into the kitchen.

Gina Lopez didn’t make any further gestures, greeted Sunny Nguyen, and directly went to sit in the living room. She leaned back on the sofa, looking calm and composed, as if everything was under her control.

Seeing Gina like this, Sunny Nguyen praised, "Gina, what I admire most about you is your confidence and certainty. No matter how tough the challenges are, you always face them calmly."

Gina Lopez smiled slightly and said, "Sister Sunny, you’re praising me. But if I were to lose my composure and self, then I would be at others’ mercy."

"Hehe, it’s not that dramatic. It’s just a competition in affections, not something else. Aren’t you going to help James Brown?"

"No need, that’s not my strength. If I go, I might just make things worse. I need to play to my strengths, not compare my weaknesses to others’ strengths, or I’d only find myself at a disadvantage."

In the kitchen, Emily Lopez stood close to James Brown, smiling and asking, "Brother-in-law, what can I help with?"

James Brown chuckled, "What can you do?"

"I really can’t do much. In the past, it was always my mom who cooked, and I never even lifted a finger. But I’ve heard that the most loving time for couples is when they cook together, you cooking with me hugging you from behind, or me cooking with you hugging me from behind."

"Is that so? I didn’t know that. I only know that having you here just keeps me very busy."

"Giggle, don’t say that, Brother-in-law. I’m not making trouble. You do your thing; just watching you is a happy thing for me."

Emily’s voice was not low, and Gina Lopez and Sunny Nguyen in the living room could hear everything. It seemed Emily was also deliberately speaking for Gina Lopez to hear.

"Just watch then, better stay a bit further back." James Brown tied his apron and started preparing dinner. Emily Lopez had bought many delicious ingredients, and he would be busy tonight. As someone who enjoyed cooking, having access to such ingredients naturally made him want to cook them all.

Emily Lopez was indeed well-behaved, just watching James Brown from behind, and even refraining from speaking too much, which allowed James Brown to become even more engrossed in his cooking. Soon, he had prepared all the dishes and started stir-frying them.

As he was busy cooking, Emily Lopez pressed her soft body against him from behind, wrapping her arms around his waist. Their clothes were both very thin, especially Emily, who wore only a pajama set, allowing James Brown to feel the fullness and softness at her chest. That feeling was truly intoxicating and soul-corroding, immersing him completely.