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“What? What was he saying?” Mia immediately asked as soon as I ended the call with Alex.
“He wants to meet me at noon. It’s going to be morning soon. You can leave now. I can drop you at home,” I said to Mia, taking her hand and rubbing it slightly. She nodded her head, and I kissed her hand.
I could sense the tension in the air, and Mia’s expression was a mix of worry and confusion. I couldn’t blame her. Alex’s sudden call and request to meet were unexpected, and the fact that he was willing to provide information about my case only added to the mystery. At that moment, it seemed strange how Alex got information about this case, but incidents that happened later revealed everything.
The storm that had been raging earlier had finally ceased, leaving behind a crisp, cool air. The city lights illuminated the skyline, casting a mesmerizing glow that enveloped everything in sight. As we approached Mia’s old flat area, she requested that I drop her off at a certain distance. I pulled over to the side of the road, watching her move away from me. The old buildings in the area stood tall, their walls telling stories of the city’s past. The streets were lined with palm trees, their leaves rustling in the wind.
As I stepped into the cozy Café, the aroma of freshly brewed coffee filled my senses. The warm ambiance of the place and the soothing jazz music playing in the background instantly put me at ease. I scanned the room and spotted Alex, sitting at the far corner table. I walked towards him with a sense of unease, unsure of what to expect from our meeting.
As I approached, Alex’s cold demeanor was evident. His stern expression sent shivers down my spine. Without skipping a beat, he began with an accusation, “Hope you are staying away from Mia like I warned,” his voice laced with a hint of anger.
I couldn’t deny my fear as my face turned pale. I quickly responded, “Yes, I have been staying away from her.” But before I could say anything further, I inquired about the important information he mentioned over the phone.
Alex’s unexpected revelation left me surprised and intrigued. “Well, that Freelancer whom you are chasing is innocent in this case?” he asked, his tone casual yet confident. My mind raced with questions as I looked at him in disbelief. “How… how can you say that the Freelancer is innocent?” I stammered, struggling to make sense of his words. Alex’s demeanor was cold and unyielding as he spoke, refusing to divulge any further information. “It’s none of your business,” he stated firmly. I persisted, trying to understand his reasoning. “How do you know that?” I asked, my curiosity piqued. “I can assure you that the Freelancer is innocent. You are just wasting your time by chasing and following that Freelancer,” he said, his words ringing in my ears.
I recounted to Alex our long-standing suspicion that the Freelancer we had been tracking was not involved in the case. “We could not gather any evidence of suspicious activity from him, despite having followed him for a considerable period of time,” I explained. Alex regarded me intensely and stated, “So, you need to start your investigation from scratch.”
“I cannot start everything from the beginning, as we are already pursuing leads with other suspects,” I replied confidently. Alex then fixed his gaze on me and queried, “Do you have any other leads in this case?”
“Yes, I do,” I replied with conviction. “And I am hopeful that we will capture the corporate espionage culprit, and they will be brought to justice,” I continued. “Sure,” Alex nodded in agreement.
Alex’s revelation about the Freelancer’s innocence in the case left me dumbfounded. Despite having no discernible business relationship with Mr. Joe, Alex seemed to know a lot about the case. I couldn’t help but wonder how he came about this information. Could it be Mia had spilled the beans about our investigation? This was a highly confidential matter that we had kept under wraps. My mind raced with possibilities, and I considered the idea that perhaps Mia had told her brother, Alex, out of a desire for revenge or excitement about our progress in the case. However, as I thought about Mia’s changed demeanor, it became clear to me that she was not capable of such unprofessional behavior.
After our last encounter, a shift occurred in my emotions towards her. My heart began to yearn for her, and her beauty seemed to captivate me in a new way. My previous impressions and feelings towards her had transformed.
As my emotions for Mia intensified, so did Alex’s warnings. Despite being my closest confidant, he seemed to be concerned that I would treat her as a mere object of pleasure, given my past track record with women. His fear was palpable, and he was determined to keep me at bay from his sister.
However, I knew that this time was different. I felt a sense of transformation within me, and I was no longer content with the fleeting pleasures of casual flings. I longed for something more meaningful.
I understood Alex’s concerns, but I was confident that my intentions towards Mia were genuine and sincere. In time, I hoped to demonstrate to him that my feelings for her ran deeper than just a passing fancy. Until then, I knew we needed to tread carefully, mindful of his reservations.
Over the weekend, I had to attend to my other businesses, especially my development company, which needed my attention as my focus had been solely on the current case, leaving me with limited time to give proper attention to my other ventures. Upon arriving at the office on Monday morning, I immediately summoned Mia to my office. Despite the significant changes in our relationship, I sensed that Mia was still keeping a distance from me, which was surprising as during our recent night together
As memories from our previous night stand flooded my mind, I felt a surge of worry. Was Mia still holding a grudge against me, thinking that I had used her as a mere plaything? It was frustrating to think that she might still be harboring such thoughts, despite the clear shift in my demeanor towards her. “How could she even think that?” I seethed to myself, the frustration evident in my voice. “I made it clear that she wasn’t just a fling to me.”
“I must reiterate, Mia, that despite my past night's activities with various women, you are in no way similar to them. I have no intention of treating you as a mere object of pleasure,” I said to Mia when she arrived in my office with a tinge of frustration and dominance in my tone. Typically, I did not feel the need to provide explanations to women, but for the first time in my life, I found myself compelled to make it clear that Mia held a special place in my heart. It was frustrating that things had changed so abruptly between us, and I couldn’t fathom why. Frankly speaking, I didn’t enjoy having to explain myself to her at all.
In a calm and composed tone, I asked Mia what her concerns were. She hesitated for a moment before admitting that she was worried about the age difference between us. “You mean that I’m about forty and you’re just twenty two, then what?” I interrupted her, trying to assure her that age was not a factor that I cared about. “First of all, I don’t care for other people, and I have no problem with your age,” I said with conviction, hoping to put her worries to rest.
Despite my reassurances, she remained uncertain. “At this age, you may not like such a young girl with you, and it wouldn’t be acceptable for other people,” she said, her voice filled with apprehension.
I smiled and told her that I was not one to be swayed by public opinion. “You being an intern and so much younger than me, cannot change my feelings for you,” I assured her. Finally, she smiled in relief, and I was glad to have eased her doubts.
I hoped that she would trust my words and actions and see that my feelings for her were genuine.
10
MIA
As soon asI stepped inside the Coffee Shop, Sarah’s eyes widened in recognition and delight. “Mia, it’s you! What a pleasant surprise!” she exclaimed, rushing forward to give me a warm hug. The other workers gathered around, equally thrilled to see me again. A new girl was also present, busily cleaning the counter. Later, Sarah informed me that she had joined the staff after I had left my job. I had decided to pay a visit to my old workplace after taking the day off from the office. It had been a long time since I had last spoken to Sarah, and I was truly missing her. The ambiance of the coffee shop brought back fond memories, and I could feel a sense of nostalgia as I relished in the moment.
After a long, emotionally-draining argument with Ethan, I found myself feeling deeply depressed and in need of some support. I knew that confiding in Sarah would help alleviate my mental burden, so I sought her out. Unfortunately, Ethan had left me with the impression that I was on my own to figure things out, insisting that he would not be explaining anything to me. I couldn’t help but feel frustrated with his attitude, especially when it came to personal matters. While he may have been my boss, I firmly believed that he had no right to rule over me in such matters. “So, how is your new job going?” she asked, offering me a steaming cup of coffee. I took a sip before answering, “Well, it’s going both good and bad, actually.” Sarah’s eyebrows raised in curiosity as she leaned in, “Oh, really?How can a job be good and bad at the same time?” Her eyes sparkled with interest.
I continued, “Well, it’s good because my salary is three times higher than what I earned at the coffee shop. It’s also good because I don’t tire myself out as much, and I can indulge in my passion for art every night. It’s good in every possible way. Sometimes, I had to work long hours and go out of the office for some investigation of cases, but it’s all enjoyable because it’s my dream to work as a spy or investigator.”
I paused and let out a brief sigh. Sarah’s face lit up with joy, “That’s amazing! I’m very happy for you. You’re enjoying a job that fulfills your aspirations with all the perks of a highly paid job. I’m glad you have enough free time to pursue your passion and achieve your dream of becoming an artist.”
Sarah’s smile faltered as she asked, “But then, how could such an amazing job be bad?”
