After Kenji left, Juno guided Mimi to the elevator to the top floor. They were going to Tobias's office.
"Are you all right, Ms. Mimi?" Juno's eyes behind his glasses were full of concern.
Mimi looked up at him and giggled. "I'm fine, thanks to you."
Juno coughed into his fist and glanced away. "It's Mr. Itou you need to thank. He was the one who ordered me to help you."
Mimi raised an eyebrow with amusement. "Oh? So are you saying had Mr. Itou not advised you to help me, you would have ignored me?"
Juno's eyes widened with alarm. In an instant, he shook his head.
"Ms. Mimi, that's not what I—"
Mimi suddenly burst out into laughter. "You're so amusing to tease, Juno."
"Ms. Mimi…" Juno sighed heavily.
Giggling, Mimi looked up to see the doors opening and stepped out of the elevator. Juno stared at her back with a complicated expression. Once more, he sighed and followed behind her to Tobias's office.
Without knocking, Mimi entered the office only to be immediately embraced by a pair of strong and warm arms. Slightly surprised, she recovered her senses and bound her arms tightly around his back with a content expression.
He was like a big and giant bear!
"Are you okay?" She heard his deep voice ask above her head.
By now, Juno had already closed the office door, leaving the two alone. Mimi raised her head, pulling away slightly from his embrace but still wrapping her arms by his side.
"I'm fine now." She snuggled her face into his chest.
"Are you sure?" Tobias asked with his deep, calm tone.
Mimi laughed softly and looked into the man's dark eyes. "What reason would I have for lying to you?"
He stared down at her with a quiet gaze for a long time, his hand rubbing her back in a gentle motion.
"Does seeing him not make you upset?"
After hearing about her past and the treatment she received from the family, Tobias thought seeing Kenji would bring back those unpleasant memories. Looking back at the times she encountered the family before; her reaction had always been damaging.
However, right now, she seemed unaffected.
Mimi could predict his thoughts a little and couldn't help but let the warm smile on her lips slip.
"It used to, but not anymore." She placed a hand on his chest and drew gentle circles around his heart.
"Can you guess why?" Mimi whispered in a sweet voice.
Something seemed to flash within the man's deep gaze as he stared at her. She saw his eyes visibly darken and his nostrils flare a little. After a while, he let out a sigh and tightened his hold on her, unable to respond to her honeyed words.
Mimi could sense his frustration and just giggled into his chest. A thought suddenly came to her and she lifted her head once again.
"By the way, how did you know to send Juno to me?"
Without any change in his expression, Tobias replied, "I was watching you on the security cameras."
Mimi was dumbfounded for a bit. She was unable to retort to such an insane explanation.
Did that mean whenever she was working, he was watching her?
She looked at him with a mixed expression of infatuation and concern. Every so often she questioned the sanity of this man. However, her heart felt soft knowing his attention was always on her.
Mimi smiled before raising her feet to kiss his chin.
"Stalker."
Tobias chuckled and encircled his strong arms tighter around her waist, his eyes only filled with the image of her.
"Yes, I'm your biggest stalker. Or admirer. Or…" He kissed her cheek. "Pervert."
A smile curled on her lips. "Oh? So you're a pervert now?"
Tobias hummed a low sound against the top of her head and inhaled her scent. The two stood there for another moment, basking in the other's warmth.
Inwardly, Mimi sighed.
She couldn't wait to be an adult soon.
…
As the days carried on, the incident with Kenji seemed to fade. As for the Hirogori company, it very quickly regained its previous glory, and business began flourishing as usual.
With this information, Mimi knew it was time to go in for another attack.
A few days ago, Shen Jue approached her after almost a week of absence. His attitude had been the same as when she last saw him; as if she didn't accuse him of possibly killing her sister, and the fact that she may have cheated on him.
But Mimi wasn't surprised by this reaction. After that accidental kiss, Shen Jue had a pattern to act as if nothing ever happened. Mimi also wanted to forget that moment.
However, this time Mimi felt a little awkward. After confirming with Alec that her sister did have an affair with another man and even tried to elope with him, she felt Shen Jue was somewhat pitiful.
And that was something Mimi never thought she would say about him.
In the warehouse, Mimi and Shen Jue gathered the most recent information on the Hirogori family.
In the midst of devising a plan, Shen Jue suddenly said: "I forgot to mention, your father invited me to partake in trade between him and someone from the underworld today."
Mimi, who was on her laptop, froze. Her eyes flickered to the smiling man. She blinked. Then she blinked again. Her expression went noticeably dark.
"How can you forget to tell me something like that?"
Shen Jue laughed and scratched the back of his head. "A lot was going on. I suppose I didn't think to mention it."
Mimi sighed and closed her laptop. "So, what's the plan? Are you going?"
Everyone knew all business involving the underworld was illegal, not to mention dangerous.
Shen Jue nodded. "It would be suspicious if I declined. However, I also think Kenji might be onto us."
Hearing his words, Mimi's expression couldn't help but turn grim. Kenji seemed to be on their tail a lot lately. If this were to continue, their plans would be ruined.
As if reading her thoughts, Shen Jue said, "I think we need to advance our plans. That's why when your father invites me, I'll record the conversation and have you listen in so you can record a second file."
Mimi's brows furrowed. "Isn't that risky?"
Shen Jue turned his attention to her for a moment and then laughed lightly.
"Maybe, but if it can complete our task and avenge Emily, it's a risk I'm willing to take."
Instantly, Mimi's eyes widened. Amazed and confused by his words, she looked back at Shen Jue with a complicated gaze.
"Shen Jue…"
The sound of his phone ringing quickly interrupted her words. Mimi clamped her lips closely together into a thin line as Shen Jue answered his phone.
"Is it time?" He stood up from his seat, one hand in his pocket. When his eyes glanced back at her, his lips curled. "All right. I'll be there."
Ending the call, he looked at Mimi with his usual smiles.
"Time to get ready."
Mimi quietly stared at the man for a moment. After a while, her lips finally curved into a slow smile.
"All right."