Chapter 9 Jealous
“Mr. Graves?” she said, stunned. “What are you doing here? Did you come for a meeting?”
Alexander didn’t answer.
He leaned down slightly and pressed a kiss to her cheek.
Then he pulled back, a faint smile playing on his lips.
“What do you think?” he said.
Mia sucked in a sharp breath, her eyes widening. She took two quick steps backward, her heel scraping softly against the floor.
“Mr. Graves!” she hissed, horror flashing across her face. “This is an office! How can you—”
She cut herself off and spun her head around, eyes darting down the hallway. Her shoulders stiffened when she realized no one was nearby.
Her jaw tightened.
“I am here to work,” she snapped, turning her face away from him sharply. Without giving him another look, she straightened her back and walked briskly toward the office at the far end of the corridor, her steps quick and firm.
She reached the door and lifted her hand, knocking twice.
“Come in,” a voice sounded from inside.
Mia pushed the door open and stepped in.
The room was quiet and orderly. An older man sat behind a desk positioned in the center, several chairs neatly arranged around it. He looked up at her, rose to his feet, and gestured toward the empty chair across from him.
“Please take a seat, Miss Bennett. I am Sam Peralta.”
Mia offered a polite smile and walked over, pulling the chair back before sitting down carefully.
“Your documents?” the man asked.
She reached into her bag and handed over the file. It felt thin in her hands. She clasped her fingers together on her lap as he opened it, her thumbs rubbing against each other unconsciously. She watched his face closely, tension tightening her shoulders.
Sam flipped through the pages once, then set the file aside and picked up another sheet.
He looked up and gave her a small, reassuring smile. “Please wait here. I’ll be back.”
He stood, walked around the desk, and left the room, the door closing softly behind him.
Mia sat alone. Her hands remained clasped, her back stiff against the chair as the silence stretched. Her breathing grew shallow with every passing second.
Sam walked straight down the hallway and stopped in front of the CEO’s office. He raised his hand and knocked once.
“Come inside,” came a voice from within.
Sam opened the door and stepped in.
“Mr. Graves, Mrs. Graves is in my office right now,” he said with a slight smile. “She seems fine. Just a little nervous.”
Alexander gave a brief nod, his expression unreadable. “Get it done.”
“Yes, Mr. Graves,” Sam replied immediately.
He turned, exited the office, and headed back down the hallway.
