"What did you just say?" He cut her off so suddenly that Mia shrank backwards thinking she had said something to offend him somehow.
"I said I worked hard on my project, and you can't_" before she even finish speaking, he cut her off again.
"Damnit, I said what did you mean by Miss Foster stealing your work?" He asked coldly.
Mia pursed her lips as she met his murderous glare. She had let those words slip out of her mouth out of anger, but meeting his gaze, she could tell he wouldn't tolerate any nonsense. He must have also believed that Diane had been the one to get the information and she was just an irresponsible student claiming another person's work. However, even if he were to get angry and accuse her of being a thief, she would confidently stand by her work.
"What I mean is that Miss Diane Foster is nothing more than a thief and a liar. The information she presented as her own was actually mine. Whether you believe me or not, I was the one who obtained that information about the syndicate."
Neil had known that Miss Foster, the beauty without brains, had stolen the information she used for her project, but he had not expected that she had stolen it from this girl. However, he wouldn't believe either of them until he had personally confirmed it.
"And how did you acquire that information?" he asked, leaning back in his chair and propping up his long legs on the table, observing her with his predatory gray eyes that sent a shiver down her spine.
Before Mia could begin to explain how she had gotten that information, his phone went off on the table. He reached out his hand and took the phone, when he glanced at the caller, he cursed under his breath and picked up the call.
"What?" He growled at the other person on the call. Mia watched as his expression turned ugly as he listened to what the caller was saying, and before she knew it, he jumped out of his chair.
"I'm on my way." He said before hanging up the phone call and picking up his keys. He was about to storm out of the office without saying anything to her, but she stood up and called out, "Mr. Bennett, what about my assignment?"
He opened the door and spoke over his shoulder, "Your assignment can wait until I'm back. I won't be coming to the school in three or more days, but when I'm back I want the full explanation on how you got the information about the syndicate. One more thing, don't publish that crap you've got there." He gestured to the papers on his desk. Then, before Mia could reply, he closed the door and hurried down the hallway.
She rushed out to ask him why he didn't want her to publish it but unfortunately, he'd ran off. With those long legs of his, it was no surprise he would run that fast. However, what the hell was she supposed to do now that he hadn't given her any marks, not to mention he had said he wouldn't be coming to school in a few days.
No doubt Mr. Bennett would be the cause of her failed project.
Three days passed by in a flash and in those days, Mr. Bennett didn't show up in school and Mia was left wondering if he would ever show up. He called people irresponsible but he was the biggest irresponsible man to neglect his duty at the school for whatever he was up to.
Though he looked a bit panicked when he picked up that call the other day, she couldn't help but wonder what could be so serious that got Mr. Ice cube to panic.
Mia sat in their small living room munching on the potato salad she'd made for herself while browsing through the news channel to find something interesting. She had a lot of things bothering her and to make matters worst, she had no guitar to play it off on. Life without her guitar was like a life in hell. She yearned for her guitar and yearned to play her favorite song.
As she was browsing through the news channel, she suddenly stopped on channel eleven as something the reporter was saying caught her attention. On the screen of their small television, were children being carried out of a humongous private school in Lumoria, a neighboring country.
"All thanks to Neil Wayner the innocent children were safe from the bomb." The reporter continued to talk about how Neil Wayner had defused a time bomb from a primary school in Lumoria. However, he was out of there before the reporters got to know of the news. The reporter also talked about how generous the soldier was and how grateful the president of Lumoria was.
Neil Wayner the hero of humanity. A living proof of generosity. The parents of the students were showing him with praises on the television.
Mia listened to the news in wonderment. Lumoria was a country filled with terrorists who plant bombs in public places to harm innocent people. And the military were doing their best to put an end to such cruelty.
Neil Wayner, Mia thought, was a hero to many people. However, the fact that he remained mysterious to the world only made him more interesting to everyone. He had done remarkable things from his young age, but yet he still remained a mystery no one knew about. Nobody knew what he looked like or where he lived. She couldn't help but think any news agencies that succeeded in exposing who he was would climb up the top in the country.
Since last year, she had been using her skills in research to try to find out more about this mysterious man, she had even succeeded in getting his private number, however, her search had come to an end when the number always falls on voicemail. If only she could get to speak to him and ask him a few questions.
Thinking about this, Mia decided to try to contact him again. But this time, she would only send him a message, perhaps he was introverted and didn't like the spotlight he would receive from the paparazzi and the Media. However, it would be best if she approached him like a normal person than to let him know she was trying to interview him.
There was no harm in trying her best, besides, now that Mr. Ice cube had left her assignment on pending, she needed another alternative if he wouldn't mark that project. Getting Neil Wayner's interview would be like getting a hidden gold treasure.
She typed a few messages and kept deleting them as she thought it sounded cheesy. She tried to put herself In the shoes of an introverted soldier. Then wrote the only honest thing that came to her mind.
'I saw what you did today, Neil Wayner saving those children and teachers lives. You're a hero, you know? I just want you to know that you deserve to be recognized for your heroic actions and you deserve more than you give yourself credit.'
After sending it, she dropped her phone when it showed the delivered mark. However, never in a million years did she expect Neil Wayner to reply to her message a few minutes after sending it. His reply was short and simple; 'I don't need any recognition. I just did what anyone would do.'
What a generous man, Mia thought as she began to type another message to him.