FATE - can a person in one lifetime fall in love with the same person twice?

Chapter 14

"How's your team leader," here she goes again "Any development between you two?" 
Ava asked with a mischievous smile.

It was the dinner night I promised to Ava and James, I took them to a restaurant after work it was not that expensive but it was one of the best restaurants in town. Three of us were dining when she started this topic.

"Why on earth are you so desperate to ship us together." I chewed on my beef.

"Because you two look good together," she winked. "Tell me, any romantic incidents?"

"No, never, not in a million years," I narrowed my eyes. "He's so arrogant, acts like he owns the company. I know he's the nephew of the CEO, but he acts like the company belongs to him..."

"Yes, it's his company," I was interrupted by James.

"What?" I choked.

"The company belongs to him," he clarified, taking a bite of his food.

"Why?... I mean how?" I was so confused.

"That company belongs to his father, who was the founder of that company" he said.

"But, why does his uncle own it now?" My curiosity was at its peak.

"It's a long story," he began. "As I told you. Mikal Miller, his father, was the founder of the company. He worked day and night to build it up. But as soon as the company became one of the best, he died suddenly."

"What?" I never heard this story "I want to know the whole story."

"Okay," he started again. "It was the day when Mikal and his wife Lily was coming from one party, it was a stormy night and it was dark night for Eden, their car ran off the bridge and they both died at that night, Eden was 14-year-old at that time, he was not in the car, he was at home. I don't know if it was luck that he didn't go with them to the party.

I gasped. I never knew he had lost his parents at such a young age. It must have damaged him completely.

"After that, Eden's custody was given to his uncle Grey, who took over the company. His uncle's company is managed by his wife, Olivia," James continued. "His uncle already told him he's not going to inherit the company for free. In order to take that company, Eden had to work very hard as his father did - He had to work hard to prove himself worthy. He joined the company as an employee, and now he's the Team Leader. Soon, he'll be the CEO, possibly by the end of this year."

"Oh...!" I downed a whole glass of water in one go, trying to process it all. It was a lot to take in.

"How do you know so much about him?" I inquired.

"He's my childhood friend," James replied casually.

"What?" I turned to Ava. "You knew?"

"Yes!" she smiled.

"You never told me?" I glared

"You never asked?," she laughed.

"But why does he live in that apartment when he owns the company?" I turned to James again.

"That's also orders from his uncle. His uncle is very strict with him, always telling him to focus on work before enjoying luxury. So, Eden lives in that apartment," James explained. "His uncle made it clear that Eden would only inherit the company if he worked hard for it. That's why Eden was always serious about his studies."

"That is also orders from his uncle. His uncle is very strict towards him, always telling him to focus on work - then only he will be able to enjoy the luxury, this is the reason." James explained. "His uncle made it clear that Eden would only inherit the company if he worked hard for it. That's why Eden was always serious about his studies back in the high school and his college. He had to work day and night in order to prove himself, since he was promoted as the team leader, we are only able to meet occasionally."

"Wait! What apartment?" Ava asked after he was done talking.

"He lives next door to me." I replied.

"You never told me that," she pouted.

"You never asked," I smirked.

"And you, why haven't you told me?" she was shooting glares at James.

"It wasn't that important information darling," he tried to explain her.

"It was," she crossed her arm and pouted again.

"You should have told us." I agreed with her.

"Sorry! Girls," He raised his hand in surrender. "I beg your apologies."

"So, how did you know about the apartment you suggested to me?" I shot him with another question which was bugging me.

"He was the one who told me when I asked if there was any good apartment near your workplace," he shrugged.

"Oh!" I said, I was still confused about what was happening.

After that, Ava argued with James for not telling her such important news until he got a call and excused himself.

"So, how's David?" she turnef to me, raising her both brows.

"I don't know; he's been avoiding me since I rejected him." I replied.

"Oh, come on, Azalea. Are you going to be single all your life?" she asked with a serious face this time. "Did something happen in the past that makes you avoid love and you can't love somebody? Maybe a teenage love?"

"I don't know. I just don't want to be in love. And speaking of teenage love, I never had a teenage lover," I shrugged. "Just some crushes, that's all."

"Okay, whatever. Maybe it's a childhood love you don't remember?" she inquired.

"Maybe," I laughed. "I've always been like this since before my teens, and I don't remember much of my childhood."

"Speaking of which," she gave me a wicked smile, "tell me about your one and only kiss?"

"I don't remember it either," I said casually, it's true I don't remember properly.

"Oh, come on, just a little," she pleaded with puppy-dog eyes.

"Umm..Well..." I tried to recall. "He was a relative, but I don't know who. He came to my home, and we were playing, and that's when it happened. I was eleven, or maybe ten, I think."

"How was it?" she asked eagerly. There she goes.

"I don't remember," I sighed, trying to make her understand.

Before she could say something, James came and gave her a kiss on the cheek, and we continued to dine.

"How's your book writing going on?" Ava asked.

"Book writing?" James raised a brow.

"Yes, she's thinking of writing one. She's good at it, so she's giving it a try," Ava explained.

"Oh!" James said "what Genre?"

"Dark Romance," Ava jumped in before I could answer.

"Shut up!" I glared at her. "It's nothing like that."

"It's a thriller," I concentrated on James.

"Intresting," he remarked in a praising tone. "Let me know once you complete it. If the story is unique, I'll help you publish it."

"Seriously?" I was amazed. James works in a publishing company, it is one of the best companies. All the famous books were published by his company, and he was soon to be the CEO.

"Yes, I'm serious." He confirmed.

I thanked him and we continued our dinner with chit chats and giggles, he speaks so naturally with. I was the one who was not comfortable around him, but now I think I'm starting to feel easy around him. He is not a player I could tell this from his way of talking.

I think he knows it that I'm uncomfortable around him(Ava might have told him) that the reason he always try to talk and make me comfortable around him.
James and I were becoming friends, he is very polite. I had misjudged him. I could see in his eyes that he loved Ava very much.