LOGINThey got back to the company shortly after, pulling into the parking space as another car left. The moment Mia moved to get out, Daniil stopped her with a light grip on her wrist. She blinked down at it, then slowly looked back at him. She already knew what he wanted to say. That look gave it away instantly. "I'm sorry." Just as she thought. "No, don't be." She smiled a little. "Seriously, it's fine." Daniil didn't look convinced in the slightest. "It isn't fine," he muttered. "I should’ve gotten you back sooner." She blinked at him. Why was he apologizing like this? It wasn't as if he'd forced her to stay out longer. If she'd checked her phone earlier instead of enjoying herself so much, she would've known the client had arrived already. Mia exhaled softly, then gently took his hand off her wrist and held it between both of hers instead. "We’ll figure this out later. Right now, I need to survive whatever mood your boss is in." She let out a nervous laugh.
Mia still found it hard to believe she was outside the office with Daniil of all people, standing at a place called Fritzzy Scoop with cups of ice cream in their hands. And somehow… she was actually having fun. The cold weather should’ve made the ice cream a terrible idea, but Daniil’s jacket kept her warm, and the vanilla flavor he’d picked for her was annoyingly perfect. When was the last time she had even done something like this with someone? She took another spoonful and sighed happily. "Okay, this is amazing." Daniil smirked. "I do have excellent taste." "In ice cream?" "In general." She rolled her eyes. "This place might actually become my new favorite spot." "And here I was thinking I’d be your favorite part of the experience." "Oh, your ego is alive and thriving, I see." "My ego?" He pointed at himself innocently. "I’m just naturally charming." "Only when you’re quiet." He gasped dramatically, pressing a hand to his chest. "Mia, you wound me."
"Get that through your empty skull and stay the hell away from her." Daniil didn’t look affected in the slightest. His expression never cracked. "Unless she says no herself, I don’t see the problem." With a faint smirk, he looked back at Mia, still holding the jacket out for her. The man seriously needed to stop looking at people like that. One second too long and it felt like he could read her thoughts. It didn’t help that his eyes were ridiculously pretty either... clear like the sky and weirdly reminiscent of Damien. Damien liked flirting with her too, sometimes just to get a reaction out of her. Come to think of it, she hadn’t even spoken to Damien since arriving here. He probably thought she’d forgotten all about him, and honestly, that wasn’t exactly great-friend behavior. Meanwhile, Daniil was over here offering her a jacket, and she was refusing despite practically freezing to death. And with an entire workday still ahead of her, stubbornness suddenly didn’t seem ve
In the conference room, Mia stood beside Axel like a statue… except her pen kept moving awkwardly across her notepad while the woman spoke, mostly because she was absolutely freezing. Somehow, everyone else looked perfectly comfortable, which honestly made her suspicious. It was like they all had hidden heaters under the table. Thankfully though, the meeting was being conducted in English. Right before sitting down, Axel had coldly stated, "All discussions will be conducted in English." Not for her sake, obviously. He simply couldn’t afford having a temporary PA who understood absolutely nothing while important discussions were going on. The woman eventually sat down, and Mia immediately started feeling bad for the next man who stood to present. The nervousness on his face was painfully obvious. And honestly? She understood why. Axel was intense. The poor man looked like a student forced to present in front of the entire school. "Uhm…" He glanced at the papers trembl
In the conference room, Mia stood beside Axel like a statue… except her pen kept moving awkwardly across her notepad while the woman spoke, mostly because she was absolutely freezing. Somehow, everyone else looked perfectly comfortable, which honestly made her suspicious. It was like they all had hidden heaters under the table. Thankfully though, the meeting was being conducted in English. Right before sitting down, Axel had coldly stated, "All discussions will be conducted in English." Not for her sake, obviously. He simply couldn’t afford having a temporary PA who understood absolutely nothing while important discussions were going on. The woman eventually sat down, and Mia immediately started feeling bad for the next man who stood to present. The nervousness on his face was painfully obvious. And honestly? She understood why. Axel was intense. The poor man looked like a student forced to present in front of the entire school. "Uhm…" He glanced at the papers trembl
The meeting ended soon after, and the executives began filing out one after the other. A few couldn’t help glancing at Mia… because well, she was his new PA for now, and she hadn’t exactly made a strong first impression. From across the table, Daniil gave her a quick look before leaving, but she missed it entirely. Her attention was locked on Axel. He was on his phone now, scrolling with calm focus. From what she could tell, it could’ve been contracts… or just emails… and not, hopefully, a detailed report on why she should be replaced on her first day! Either way, her stupid heart picked up speed as the room emptied, every exit bringing her dangerously closer to being alone with him. And then she saw it. Andrew… packing. Her own Andrew. Her supposed backup plan. The moment he picked up his laptop, he glanced over and froze when he caught Mia’s expression. But he smiled. He actually smiled. "I’ll be off now." The traitor. He snuck one last glance at Axel who was
Later that evening, Luis decided to visit Axel at his mansion. He hadn't expected him to return to his parents' house, so he'd relied on the news to figure out where Axel was currently staying. His car rolled to a stop in front of the gate, and this time, he arrived without the excessive entourag
The reporters wouldn't stop swarming Axel with questions, so many that he couldn't even get through the crowd. His guards tried their best to push them back, but... well, reporters would always be reporters. Axel simply stood there, calm, one hand tucked into his trench coat pocket, letting his
The thought refused to leave Mia’s mind, even as she made her way out of the kitchen. The woman had walked away afterward, leaving her with more questions than answers. She was creepy, yes, but in a mysterious way that made Mia feel she ought to heed her warning. Yet, she didn’t have the mon
A Few Weeks Later**It had been weeks since Rogers’ death, yet Luis still hadn’t uncovered the missing organs, nor did he have any idea who Rogers might have sold the recording to.The most unsettling part was the silence. Nothing had leaked to the public. The fact that whoever stole the organs h







