“Why later?” Freddie teased with a chuckle. He quickly pulled out his phone and swiped to a picture, holding it up in front of her. “This place just opened. Looks good, right? Do you like Italian food? I’ve been wanting to try it for ages. Come on—my treat. We can talk, get to know each other.”
Mia hesitated again.
She hadn’t made any friends since joining the company, and rejecting a kind colleague again felt awkward. After a moment, she let out a small breath and finally forced a polite smile.
“All right…” she said. “Then let’s go.”
Freddie’s face lit up instantly. “Great!”
The two walked side by side toward the main road. But the moment Mia lifted her eyes—
She froze.
Across the road, leaning beside a sleek black car, Alexander stood waiting. His posture was relaxed, one hand resting casually by his side, but his gaze was locked onto her with frightening precision—as if he had been watching the entire time.
Mia’s heart skipped violently.
She immediately turned, trying to walk in the opposite direction. But it was too late.
Freddie had already noticed Alexander.
His eyes widened, and without thinking, he jogged toward Alexander, excitement clear in his voice.
“Mr. Graves!” Freddie called out. “Did you want to talk to our boss?” He laughed lightly, completely unaware of the tension. “I didn’t realize you had a meeting today. Maybe I should stay back.”
Alexander’s eyes slid slowly from Freddie to Mia.
Mia tightened her grip on her bag, her fingers trembling. She took a deep breath, steadying herself, before forcing her feet to move. She had no choice but to walk over and stop beside Freddie, her body stiff and helpless.
Alexander reached up, removed his glasses, and tossed them carelessly into the passenger seat of his car. The small action felt deliberate—dangerously so. Then he turned fully toward them, slipping his hands into his pockets as his gaze flickered between their faces, sharp and assessing.
“Where are you going?” he asked.
His voice was calm—but heavy.
“Just dinner,” Freddie replied cheerfully, completely oblivious. “There’s a new restaurant nearby. Mia joined recently, so we thought we’d try it out together.”
Alexander’s eyes hardened instantly.
They lingered on Mia for a brief moment—dark, warning—before shifting back to Freddie. His face was void of any smile, his presence suddenly overwhelming.
Freddie’s voice faltered slightly under the pressure.
Alexander tilted his head, eyes narrowing as he asked flatly, “Are you married?”
Freddie froze, stunned by the sudden question. His eyes darted between Alexander and Mia before he answered honestly.
“No, Mr. Graves. I’m still single.”
The change in Alexander’s expression was immediate.
His jaw clenched. The air around him turned cold.
He looked back at Mia, the warning in his eyes deepening, sharp and unmistakable.
Mia stared back at him, confused and unsettled. She didn’t understand what he wanted—only that the way he was looking at her made her chest tighten.
Alexander turned back to Freddie.
