By now, everyone was staring openly, whispering without restraint, absolutely certain something was going on between them.
The dishes arrived soon after.
Mia tried to focus on her plate, avoiding Alexander as much as possible but he made it impossible.
His gaze followed her every movement. If she paused, he noticed. If she finished a dish, he reached over and added something else to her plate without asking.
Her plate was never empty.
Not for even a moment.
The rest of the table pretended to eat and talk, but everyone could see it clearly now—Alexander was paying attention to Mia, and not in a casual way.
Irvin noticed too.
And instead of backing off, his confidence grew.
His eyes lingered on Mia far longer than appropriate. He grabbed a bottle of wine, uncorked it loudly, poured himself a glass and then filled hers generously.
“Mia, drink,” he said with an overly eager smile. “Relax a little. Enjoy the evening.”
Mia forced a polite smile and lifted the glass. Refusing would only draw more attention. She drank it down, her throat burning slightly.
The moment she set the empty glass down—
Irvin refilled it.
Then he glanced at Alexander with a knowing, suggestive smirk.
“Mr. Graves, don’t worry,” he said, his tone carrying obvious implications. “I’ll take good care of her. I hope you’re enjoying your evening with us.” He chuckled softly. “I’m sure you’ll have a very good night.”
He turned back to Mia. “Go on. Drink.”
Mia, completely oblivious to the meaning behind his words, lifted the glass again. She’d already had two drinks, and the alcohol was beginning to blur the edges of her thoughts. Her head felt light. Her body slightly unsteady.
Just as she raised the third glass—
Alexander’s hand shot out.
He snatched the glass from her fingers and slammed it down on the table.
The sharp crack echoed through the room.
Without a word, Alexander grabbed Mia’s wrist, pulled her to her feet, and turned away from the table, dragging her with him.
Most people were too busy talking to notice them leaving.
Only Irvin noticed.
And misunderstanding everything completely, he leaned back in his chair, smiling smugly—convinced his “help” had earned him favor.
Outside, Alexander didn’t slow down.
He pulled Mia along the corridor until they reached a quiet area near the washroom. He shoved the door open, dragged her inside, shut it firmly, and locked it.
The space was empty.
He pressed her back against the door, his body blocking her in completely. Then, he looked down at her, fury blazing in his eyes.
