“It’s not good to have dinner alone,” he said evenly. His tone was calm, but the darkness behind it was unmistakable. “Why don’t you invite everyone from your department? I’ll treat everyone tonight.”
“Mr. Graves, that’s wonderful!” Freddie nearly shouted in excitement. “You’re so busy, yet you want to have dinner with us? Our boss will go crazy when he hears this—I’ll call everyone right now!”
“There’s no need,” Alexander replied coolly. “Why don’t you go inside and tell them personally?” He flicked his chin toward the building.
Freddie blinked, confused, but nodded quickly. “Sure, Mr. Graves.” Then he turned to Mia. “Let’s go. You can inform the—”
“Mia is going with me.”
Alexander cut him off sharply.
“I’m taking her to the restaurant first,” he continued, his eyes never leaving Mia. “You can come later with the rest.”
Before Freddie could process what he had just heard, Alexander moved.
His hand shot out and closed around Mia’s arm. She stumbled a step as he pulled her toward the passenger side of his car. He opened the door, retrieved the glasses he had tossed earlier, and without giving her time to protest, pressed a light hand against her shoulder, guiding her down into the seat.
Mia had no choice but to sit.
The door shut with a solid thud.
Freddie stood frozen on the sidewalk, staring at the scene with a baffled expression, his mouth slightly open. He looked like he wanted to say something—anything—but the oppressive aura around Alexander silenced him completely.
Alexander didn’t spare him another glance.
He walked around the car, got into the driver’s seat, and the moment the door closed, the engine roared to life. Before Freddie could even blink, the car surged forward and disappeared down the road.
Inside the car, Mia turned sharply toward Alexander.
“How can you do that?” she snapped. “What is Freddie going to think of me?!”
Alexander’s eyes flicked briefly from the road to her face. His grip on the steering wheel tightened, knuckles whitening.
“Do you really care,” he growled, “about what thisFreddiethinks of you?”
Mia immediately caught the meaning behind his words. Her anger rose even higher.
Before she could retort, the car suddenly turned. Alexander steered into a quiet, empty street and brought the car to a sharp stop where no one was around.
Mia glanced around the empty street in confusion, her brows knitting together. “What are you—”
She never finished the sentence. Alexander suddenly leaned forward.
His hand braced against the seat as he closed the distance in one swift movement and crushed his lips against hers. The kiss was hard and sudden, stealing her breath before she could react. His mouth moved against hers with raw urgency.
Mia gasped.
The shock snapped into fury instantly. She shoved against his chest with both hands, forcing him back, breaking the kiss as she pulled away roughly. Her breath came fast and uneven as she twisted her body toward the door, fingers scrambling blindly for the handle.
Her hand caught it.
She yanked, managing to crack the door open just a little—
Click.
The sound was sharp.
The lock slid down under Alexander’s thumb, sealing the door shut again.
