"Where are you heading to, dear?"
Theo threw a query over the sight of his daughter walking down in new clothes. She had already done her makeup which meant she was going somewhere. "I have something important to do, dad. I don't think I can have breakfast with you" Mia pouted and approached near to him.
She spread her arms, giving a tight hug to Theo. "Okay, something is up for sure. What is with this behavior, Mia?" Breaking the embrace with a tightened scowl displayed across his face, Theo questioned in doubt. Suspicion flickering in his eyes. "Nothing is going on, dad"
The young woman assured. Lying through her teeth with a beam. How could she say to him about the stalker? Her parents were already busy. She should not give them more headache when she could handle the issue by herself. "Dear, don't forget to open up to me"
Wearing a disappointed expression along with a slight glare, Theo reminded his daughter. It was obvious how he wanted to know what was going through the young woman's mind. But Mia was not willing to disclose. "Yes, dad. I will tell everything if there is something occurring"
The young woman grinned.
Melting the man's heart. "Alright. You should get going now. I understand the life of a businesswoman. Your mom is in the tight schedule too. But make sure to spare time for family" Theo patted his daughter's head gently. Earning a nod back from Mia as response.
"See you!" Like that the young woman walked out of the villa. Meeting Lorcan who had been waiting for her. "Let's head to the Lyssa" Mia voiced. Without any words, Lorcan nodded and opened the car door for her. They then left to the store. "Can you do me a favor?"
Furrowing her brows, Mia requested. Attracting the man's attention fully. He lifted his right brow after taking a glance at the young woman through rear mirror. Although he did not say anything, the way he raised his brow meant he was listening. "Collect information about George"
Mia stated. Only to quiet down the man. He stopped the car due to red light. He then turned to look at the young woman who had a frown upon her face. "Mia, why are you interested in him all of the sudden?" Lorcan queried when he noticed the oddness in the atmosphere.
It hushed down the young woman.
"Actually.." she sighed out loud. Retaking the urge to open up. "It is nothing serious. I just wanted to make sure he can't harm me" Mia flashed a smile. But of course, the man was not buying this lie. He tilted his head. For a few seconds, he gazed her quietly.
Causing the young woman to swallow. Did he find out? Anxiety ran through the young woman. "I will gather every news about him. You can rest assured" Lorcan turned back to the front with a serene expression. Relieving Mia finally. It seemed he did not find things suspicious.
"Thanks" Mia expressed gratitude. A few hours passed as the young woman pressed herself in the piles of work at her own shop. The income had increased in a few weeks along with new customers. The publicity was wide too. In short, the shop was running really well.
"Where did Lorcan go?" Mia muttered to herself with a frown. He literally was outside her office an hour ago. Now he was nowhere to be found. "June, have you seen Lorcan?" The young woman asked the girl at the counter. "Oh, he left about an hour ago, Miss"
June responded with a beam.
Perplexing the young woman. "Did he perhaps leave a message for me?" Ria scowled. It was when June gasped as if she just recalled something. "He said I shouldn't disturb you while you were working, Miss. That's why I forgot to inform you. He sent you a message in chat box"
June notified. It was the moment Mia took her phone out of the purse quickly. Shit. There was a message from the man. She was into work so that she forgot to unmute the phone. "Thank you" Mia beamed as the girl bowed her head. The young woman opened the chat box.
'I will be out to gather the news you require. Call me when you are done.' The text that was dry and straightforward tickled Mia. She chuckled. Why did he act so awkward in the text even? The fact that she could see him struggling to type the words out was amusing for her truly.
"I should grab some coffee then" Mia murmured to herself along with a sigh escaping between her lips. She decided to get some coffee near the shop. Believing there would be no problems since the cafe was really close from her Lyssa shop. And so she headed out to there.
"Welcome, Miss"
The cashier flashed a bright smile to the young woman as Mia ordered. "Please wait for a few minutes at the table 2, Miss. We will deliver it to your table once it is done" The cashier notified. Earning a nod back from Mia. She followed the instructions. Waiting at table 2.
"Miss, I think someone wants to talk to you" A girl who was sitting at another table beside the young woman, reported to Mia. Capturing her attention fully. She lifted her brows while gazing at the girl. "There" And the kid pointed at the glass window located beside Mia.
It was when the young woman turned around, only to meet the man staring at her from the other side of the street. That man, the stalker! Mia's eyes widened in surprise as she gripped tightly on the phone. She recognized him so well. He had hoodie and mask on as usual.
Concealing his identity. His eyes were forming into the shape of moon crescent, he smiled at her innocently as if he was not chasing after a young woman illegally. "Shit..." In hurry, Mia broke the eye contact with the man. She had to consider. Think of a way to escape and capture him.
One stone with two birds.
Not knowing what to do, the young woman focused on the phone. She made it seem like she was not panicking. "Miss, he is waving at you with the knife" Clueless girl who was waiting for her mother to come back from restroom, informed Mia since she was curious.
It quieted down the young woman entirely. Her eyes shifted, meeting the perplexed gaze of the girl. "Little girl, do you want to have some cake? I will buy whatever you want in this store" Mia attempted to distract the girl's attention. She could not let the girl got involved.
"Oh! No, thank you, Miss. Mom lectured me to never accept the offer from strangers" the girl beamed. Causing the young woman to let out a chuckle for a second. "Miss, did you fight with your boyfriend? He seems upset" The girl questioned with a slight frown upon her face.
"He is not my boyfriend. He is just a freak on the street who stares at pretty girls. He is the type of man you should avoid at all cost" Mia stated. Earning a nod back from the girl. "Oh, he is heading here. You should hide, Miss!" The girl raised her tone in panic as she peered at outside.
Hearing the words, Mia gulped.
Fuck. He could not harm her in this damn crowd, right? She should remain serene and find a way to escape instead of panicking. "Where is your guardian?" The young woman raised her right brow. Trying to soothe the girl who was frightened. "Mom went to the bathroom"
She responded. "Ah... do you want to play some games? I have some interesting games on my phone" Mia flashed a smile and unlocked her phone. On the inside, she was praying to be safe. Meanwhile, the girl's eyes never looked away from the sight of the man approaching.
"Is she your niece?" Out of the blue, a familiar voice echoed between the two. Stunning the young woman totally. She lifted her head in hurry, only to witness Dean smiling down at her. "Henry?" Losing her mind over the sudden encounter, Mia accidentally called out.
Hushing down the man. His smile dropped in an instant. Just gazing down into the surprised eyes of the young woman. "You always mess with my mind" Shaking his head with a beam, Dean shrugged the matter off later. His serious cold face disappeared in a blink.
It was when Mia gasped.
Shit, she called the wrong name since her brain only proceeded to see Dean as Henry due to the fact that they both had same faces. "What are you doing here?" Mia queried as he settled down across her. "I was searching for cafe nearby your shop" Dean explained in short.
Earning a nod back from the young woman. She turned around. Meeting the girl who was staring at Dean in deep silence. "Little girl, don't worry. We are safe now" Mia whispered. "Miss, are we actually safe?" The girl furrowed her brows. "Yes, he is adorable but he seems intimidating"
Mia persuaded the girl to soothe the panic. It was the moment the mother of the girl rushed up near to the table. "Suzy, I told you to never disturb someone" The mother scolded right away as soon as she arrived to the table. Capturing the three attention fully. "Mom, I wasn't"
The girl named Suzy defended herself. "I was the one who started the conversation with her, Ma'am. She reminds me of my little sister who I lost. Please don't scold her" Lying through her teeth, Mia protected the girl. It was only when the woman gasped in understanding.
"I am so sorry for your loss, dear"
She expressed sorrow while Dean frowned in confusion to hear the words of the young woman. Wasn't she an only child? "May you have a wonderful day. It was nice chat, little girl" Mia sent a wink to the girl, causing Suzy to beam in delight. "Bye! Be careful!" The girl waved.
They bid farewell after. Making Mia sighed out loud. "I thought you were an only child" Dean disclosed his puzzlement. "It was just a white lie to shield the girl from lecture" the young woman detailed as her eyes took a glance to the outside. He was nowhere to be found.
The stalker was gone. "Who are you looking for?" Noticing the unstable gaze, Dean threw a query. "Oh, no one" Mia shook her head with a smile. It quieted down the man. Lie. "Are you here to buy some shirts from Lyssa?" The young woman causally changed the topic.
"No. I was walking around the street to get some food and decided to enter this cafe" Dean answered. "Don't you want some shirts though? I got discounts for you only, you know" Mia waggled her brows which tickled the man so that Dean let out a chuckle in amusement.
The atmosphere was easy to fit in.
The two enjoyed the conversation.