Mike's jaw tightened, but he forced himself to nod. "I understand. I'll be nearby if you need anything."
Lawrence's expression softened, just a fraction. "Thank you, Mr. Robinson. We appreciate your concern, even if we remain...cautious about your intentions."
With that, Lawrence slipped back into the room, leaving Mike alone in the hallway. The billionaire let out a frustrated sigh, running a hand through his hair as he paced the corridor.
He knew he should heed the Davises' warnings and keep his distance. After all, his relationship with Kiara was nothing more than a carefully crafted business arrangement, a means to an end for his father's ambitions. He had no real attachment to her, no genuine feelings beyond a fleeting physical attraction.
And yet, the thought of Kiara facing the trauma of her ordeal without any real support tugged at something deep within him. He couldn't shake the memory of the vulnerability he'd seen in her eyes, the fragility that had shattered his preconceptions of her.
Mike paused, leaning against the wall as he wrestled with his conflicting emotions. He couldn't afford to get invested, couldn't allow himself to care. Kiara was nothing more than a pawn in his father's game, a means to an end. Anything more would only complicate matters, put his own future at risk.
But as the muffled sound of Kiara's distressed voice filtered through the door, Mike felt his resolve crumbling. With a resigned sigh, he settled into one of the uncomfortable waiting room chairs, resigning himself to a long and uncertain vigil.
Perhaps, just this once, he could allow himself to be the ally Kiara needed, even if it went against every instinct he possessed. After all, what harm could it do?
Little did Mike know, his decision to stay would set in motion a chain of events that would irrevocably alter the course of his life, and Kiara's, forever.
As Mike sat in the waiting room, his mind raced with conflicting thoughts and emotions. On one hand, he knew he should heed the Davises' warnings and keep his distance from Kiara - after all, she was nothing more than a pawn in his father's elaborate schemes, a means to an end. Allowing himself to get invested, to genuinely care, would only complicate matters and jeopardize his own carefully laid plans.
Yet, the memory of Kiara's vulnerability, the haunted look in her eyes, refused to leave him. He couldn't shake the unwelcome stirrings of empathy, the desire to provide her with the support and comfort she so desperately needed in the wake of her traumatic ordeal.
Mike let out a frustrated sigh, running a hand through his hair as he grappled with this unexpected dilemma. Caring, true caring, was a luxury he couldn't afford. His father's ambitions, his own future, depended on him maintaining a cool, detached distance from Kiara and the Davis family.
And yet, the thought of Kiara facing the police interrogation alone, of having to relive the horrors she had witnessed, made his chest tighten with an unfamiliar protectiveness. She didn't deserve this, didn't deserve to be caught up in the twisted machinations of his family's legacy.
Mike glanced towards the closed door, his jaw clenching as he heard the muffled sound of Kiara's distressed voice. Before he could stop himself, he was on his feet, striding towards the entrance. He paused, his hand hovering on the doorknob, warring with the instinct to barge in and shield her from the interrogation.
But then, Lawrence's stern warning echoed in his mind, a stark reminder of the fragile trust he had managed to build. Slowly, Mike's hand fell back to his side, and he forced himself to turn away, sinking back into the uncomfortable waiting room chair.
He would have to play the part, to maintain the facade of indifference and distance. For now, at least. But the next time Kiara needed him, he vowed, he wouldn't hesitate. He would be there, a silent guardian in the shadows, ready to offer whatever support she required.
After all, what harm could it do? A little harmless compassion, a small act of kindness, couldn't possibly jeopardize his father's grand plans. It was simply the right thing to do, the human thing to do.
Mike settled back, his gaze fixed on the closed door, his heart heavy with the weight of his divided loyalties. He knew he was treading a dangerous line, risking the wrath of his father and the carefully constructed future that had been laid out for him.
But as the muffled sounds of Kiara's distress continued to filter through, Mike found that he couldn't bring himself to care. In that moment, his own ambitions, his father's demands, paled in comparison to the need to protect this woman who had so unexpectedly captured his attention.
Whatever the cost, he would be there for her. Even if it meant defying his father, even if it meant putting his own future at risk. Kiara deserved that much, at the very least.
As Mike sat in the waiting room, his mind continued to wrestle with the conflicting emotions swirling within him. On one hand, he knew he should heed the Davises' warnings and maintain a safe distance from Kiara. She was, after all, nothing more than a pawn in his father's elaborate schemes - a means to an end that threatened to jeopardize Mike's own carefully constructed future.
Yet, the memory of Kiara's vulnerability, the haunted look in her eyes, refused to leave him. It had awakened an unfamiliar protectiveness within him, a desire to shield her from the trauma she had endured. And try as he might, he couldn't ignore the way his heart had clenched at the sound of her distressed voice filtering through the closed door.
Mike ran a hand through his hair, letting out a frustrated sigh. Caring, true caring, was a luxury he simply couldn't afford. His father's ambitions, his own future, depended on him maintaining a cool, detached distance from Kiara and the Davis family. Anything more would only complicate matters, putting everything he had worked for at risk.
And yet, as he listened to the muffled sounds of Kiara's interrogation, Mike found his resolve wavering. He couldn't bear the thought of her facing this ordeal alone, of having to relive the horrors she had witnessed without any genuine support or comfort.
Slowly, Mike rose from his chair, his gaze fixed on the closed door. He knew he was treading a dangerous line, risking the wrath of his father and the carefully constructed future that had been laid out for him. But in that moment, his own ambitions, his father's demands, paled in comparison to the need to protect this woman who had so unexpectedly captured his attention.
With a deep breath, Mike reached for the doorknob, pausing only briefly as Lawrence's stern warning echoed in his mind. But then, the sound of Kiara's distressed voice reached his ears, and any lingering hesitation vanished. He had to be there for her, even if it meant defying his father and jeopardizing his own future.
Steeling his resolve, Mike pushed open the door, his gaze immediately locking onto Kiara's tear-stained face. The police officers turned towards him, their expressions wary, but Mike paid them no mind. His focus was solely on the woman before him, the woman who had somehow managed to breach the carefully constructed walls he had built around his heart.
"Kiara," he said softly, his voice laced with a tenderness that surprised even him. "I'm here. You don't have to face this alone."
Kiara's eyes widened, a flicker of hope igniting in their depths. And in that moment, Mike knew that no matter the cost, he would do whatever it took to protect her, to be the ally she so desperately needed.
The consequences of his actions, the wrath of his father, no longer mattered. All that mattered was Kiara, and ensuring that she emerged from this ordeal whole and unbroken. Whatever it took, he would be there for her, even if it meant defying the very foundations of his family's legacy.