Chapter 8 They Meet again

Mia’s heart swells with a mixture of indescribable feeling, shock, incredulity, and most of all, happiness. Although these feelings render her tongue-tied, she could tell a smile is forming on her face. She stares at Chris’s ocean-blue eyes, witnessing a flash of surprise, and maybe joy (is it joy?) on his face. But Chris quickly regains composure.

“Mia, I never thought we would meet again,” Chris calls her name in a low, husky voice.

Mia shivers at his voice. She has difficulty controlling her body when being around Chris.

“It is nice to meet you again, Mr. Wayne.” Mia is glad she finds her composure too.

“Call me Chris. Please have a seat.” Chris walks towards Mia in his long legs and leads her to the leather sofa, touching her small of back, sending shivers down her spine.

Trying to cover her reaction, Mia immediately reaches for her tote bag after sitting down and takes out a delicately packaged invitation card.

“Your father, uh, Mr. Powell’s birthday party will be held in the Powell Mansion on May 25th.”

Chris takes the invitation card from her hand and carelessly sets it on the desk.

“How did you know my father?” Chris looks at her with questioning in his eyes.

In a day, she has been asked this question twice. She knows there is something more in the question but she couldn’t figure it out.

Mia debates whether to tell Chris the truth. It is Chris. Mia knows she could trust him. But knowing now that he is Mr. Powell’s son, and knowing that he doesn’t appear on the photo wall in the Powell mansion, Mia also knows she has to tread the water carefully in order to survive in this world of rich people. Furthermore, telling Chris how she knew Mr. Powell would be spreading her past out for him to see. She is not ready for it.

“I met him during the interview.” Mia lies. And she could tell Chris doesn’t believe her words. But he doesn’t pursue the question further.

“Will you go to the party?”

“Yes, I’m assigned to take care of a few important guests at the day. ”

There is a knock on the door. Chris’s secretary pops her head, “Sorry to interrupt you, sir. The meeting is to start in 5 minutes.”

“I’ll leave you be.” Mia stands up.

“Then see you there at the party.”

Mia nods at Chris and walks towards the door. Before she reaches the door, her arm is gently caught by Chris’s hand. Mia turns and looks at Chris.

“Are you free for dinner tonight?” Chris’s blue eyes look at her intensely. Is he asking her for dinner? Is it a date?

“Yes.” Mia cannot wait to know what he will say next.

“Great. I’ll text you the place and time later. See you then.”

“See you then.” Mia could barely hide her grin.

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Christian couldn’t concentrate on the man’s speech in the meeting room. His mind keeps wandering to Mia. When she walks into his office, he realizes how much he misses her, how much he wants her.

She looks different now, but beautiful and stunning as last time. She wears light makeup, her brown curls frame her perfect face. The gray business suit she wears gives her an aura of a professional woman, very different from her causal looks last time. The gray pencil skirt shows off her perfect legs. She is breathtaking.

Christian is also taken aback by the fact that Mia is the new assistant to his father. He left Mia in Germany without saying goodbye to leave her out of his complicated world. Yet here she is, is this a joke from fate?

Christian knows immediately Mia is lying when she says she met his father during the interview. He knows his father. Given the betrayals his former assistants have done to him, it is very suspicious the old man hires Mia so quickly. Does the old man have something on Mia? If it is the case, then what is it?

Then there is an imminent question. How can he protect Mia from predatory Anthony and Lily? How can he make sure Mia walks out of the war between him and his father unharmed?

Most importantly, will she still say yes to his dinner invitation when she discovers who he really is, how dark he is, what agenda he has?

“Mr. Wayne, we believe this campaign will help establish Wayne Technology’s brand in the mind of consumers for generations to come." The man is looking at him expectantly.

"Mr. Goodwill, we will take about the details of our cooperation after the meeting." Jack interposes.

"A penny for your thought?" After everyone leaves the room, Jason Wayne, Christian's uncle, asks.

"Nothing."

"Clearly not nothing. Something is going on in your mind. I heard the old man's assistant visited your office before the meeting. Any news?"

"Nothing you don't already know."

"I could imagine Anthony's smug face if he is announced to be the next CEO of the Pinnacle group. God, I wish I could punch his face."

"If he is to take the group in the future, we all know he will ruin it. I'm okay with him ruining Pinnacle. But I will not allow my mother's hard work and assets to go to waste, even if it means declaring war against my father." Christian grits his teeth.

"Do you think we can use the new assistant to our advantage?"

"No, no one touches her. She is not to be involved in the ugly family business." Christian's decisive tone startles his uncle.

"You know it is impossible for her not to be involved. She is the old man's assistant. Anthony and his god damn mother will get to her no matter what. They got to Lindsey. All we have to do is to be discreet."

"No, I said no one touches her. " Christian reaffirms. Jason could see his eyes go cold at the proposition.

"Okay, she is off-limits." Jason raises his palms in the air.

"Is there something going on between you and the ?"

"Nothing."

"Chris, you will not fool me. I'm your uncle. I've been like a father to you since my sister passed away. Are you sleeping with her?"

"No, you are overthinking."

"Then why are you so protective of her?"

"You are in love with her! Aren't you?"

"You have a wild imagination, uncle," Christian says in annoyance and stands up to leave the meeting room before his uncle could question him further.

Does he love her? No, he denies this possibility. He doesn't fall into love easily. No matter he likes it or not, he has his father's genes. He doesn't want to hurt a woman devastatingly as his father had done to his mother. Yes, he is physically attracted to Mia, but it is only physical. And it is better if he keeps it physical.