Chapter 7 A Plan
Mia drew in a steadying breath, heart hammering in her chest. “Yes. I’m sorry. I really don’t want to trouble you anymore.” Her gaze dropped, unwilling to meet his. The intensity in his dark eyes made her nervous, almost paralyzed.
Alexander didn’t move. He stayed right in her space, close enough that she could feel the warmth radiating from his body, smell the faint, masculine scent of him lingering in the air. Her breaths came shallow and rapid; every inhale seemed to burn, every exhale too heavy.
“Where are you going to go?” His eyes held hers. There was no distance between them — his feet planted firmly, his body leaning slightly forward, cutting off every escape. The closeness was overwhelming, a suffocating intimacy she had never experienced before.
“I haven’t thought about that yet. I guess I’ll figure it out.” she admitted, worry flickering in her eyes. “I’m definitely not going back to the Sinclair house.”
Alexander’s brows knitted in concern. “Miss Bennett, I’m not troubled at all by you being here. I’m actually very happy.”
Her eyes flickered at him, uncertainty mixing with anxiety. “But I don’t think—”
He cut her off with a sharp, frustrated sigh.
His hand slammed onto the couch with a loud thud, making her jump.
He straightened, a trace of disappointment tightening his posture.
“I know why you are insisting on leaving. I’ve heard the rumors,” he said, voice tense, a flicker of hurt in his dark eyes.
“People say I’m arrogant, rude, dangerous… ”
His eyes lifted to meet hers again, sadness softening his features. “Everyone seems so scared of me that no one wants to even share a meal with me.”
He let out a shattering breath, as though the weight of his loneliness was physical. His gaze softened, looking down at her. “I must have done something very wrong in my life to deserve being hated by everyone and left alone.”
He closed his eyes briefly, the shadow of pain and sadness flickering across his face before he released the back of the couch and straightened once more.
Mia’s heart twisted at the sight. Panic flashed across her face. “That’s not true, Mr. Graves!” she exclaimed quickly, voice anxious. Her gaze softened, and she stepped slightly closer. “It’s not because of you.”
Alexander’s eyes opened, the sad look on his face melting almost instantly into the same intense gaze Mia had seen before. He stared at her, the faintest hint of a smile threatening to break across his lips, but he held it back.
Mia’s fingers tightened, brows knitting, lips pressing into a thin line.
She scolded herself internally. ‘Just divorced one man… and here I am, melting at another man’s sad face in seconds.
When will I fix this brain of mine that falls for handsome men so easily?
’ She bit her lip, eyes tightening with tension and exasperation.
But… Mr. Graves has helped me so much. He’s nothing like the rumors.
Maybe I misjudged him. The fault is mine for letting gossip shape my thoughts. ’
Finally, she looked up and answered at once, “All right, Mr. Graves. I’ll have breakfast with you.”
Alexander’s eyes lit up with subtle satisfaction, though he quickly masked it behind a controlled expression.
But Mia still carried a hint of embarrassment, her anxious gaze flicking toward him. “I really feel embarrassed eating at your house,” she admitted softly. “After bothering you last night… after all the trouble, and you still had to bring me here and now feed me… I just feel ashamed.”
Alexander’s lips twitched, threatening to break into a full smile. ‘How is she so naive? So easy to Influence?’ he thought, amused.
“You’re right, Miss Bennett,” he said lightly, amusement hidden in his tone. “It really is a burden—staying and eating at someone else’s house, especially when you’ve never even met them before.”
Mia nodded, biting her lip in agreement.
Alexander’s gaze softened, though a glint of mischief remained. “Then how about you help me in return?”
Before she could respond, Alexander stepped closer, placing his hand once more on her waist. She blinked in surprise. The next second, that same hand moved beneath her knees as he lifted her effortlessly into his arms.
Mia gasped lightly as he rounded the couch and set her down gently, seating her comfortably while he stood in front of her.
Startled, she blinked up at him. “What do you mean, Mr. Graves? How can I help you?”
Alexander leaned casually against the smaller couch beside her. He pulled a gold card from his pocket and offered it to her. “You know I own and operate the Max Mall, right?”
Mia nodded, curiosity flickering in her eyes. Everyone knew the Graves family owned the mall, but she hadn’t realized Alexander personally managed operations.
“There’s so much in my mall just sitting unused,” he continued. “Jewelry, clothes, bags… As long as you’re staying here at my house, I want you to go through everything and get whatever you like with this card. Wear them for me.”
She frowned, puzzled. “Wear them? But… how would that help? Wouldn’t that just waste your resources?”
“All those things just sit on the shelves, unused. I want you to wear them outside, show them to people. It’s like free advertising for my mall.
The items only shine when someone wears them.
Otherwise, they lose their value. Understand?
” He tapped the card gently against her nose, emphasizing his point. “Wouldn’t that be helping me?”
Mia paused, thinking. She had never dealt with business operations or marketing before, but Alexander handled such a large business.
He was a man of precision, intelligence, and influence.
He wouldn’t ask without reason. A small, proud smile curved her lips.
“Everything you’re saying… it makes sense, Mr. Graves. I understand.”
From the corner of the living room, one of the maids stared in shock. She murmured under her breath to the woman beside her, “Here we go. Mr. Graves is back to his evil ways.”
The maid beside her met her eyes and let out a long sigh. “Poor Miss Mia. She doesn’t know what she’s just gotten herself into.”
The first maid’s shock lingered. “Miss Mia really is a perfect match for Mr. Graves. Is she really this gullible? She fell for his words that easily?”
The other woman glanced at her and whispered back, “Seems like it. Miss Mia actually believed that the mall—which makes millions every year—would need her to wear the products to advertise.”
The two maids exchanged looks and shook their heads in exasperation.
Mia, oblivious to their whispers, looked up at Alexander, her eyes sparkling with determination. “Mr. Graves, I’ll do my best to help you.”
Alexander’s smile deepened, approval in his gaze. “Good. I need you to get at least fifty items every day from the mall. Use this card.” He handed a gold card to her.
Mia took it, staring at its shine. Even the card looked like it was made of real gold.
She held it carefully in her hand, awe and a hint of tension flickering in her eyes.
‘How am I going to pick fifty items every day? I don’t even buy that much in an entire year.
What should I choose to help him the most? ’
Just then, Allen appeared silently beside Alexander, his polished shoes barely making a sound on the marble floor. “Mr. Graves,” he said, lowering his voice, “there’s some news about Mr. Sinclair.”
Both Alexander and Mia turned toward him.
Mia’s voice trembled slightly, soft yet wary. “You mean… James Sinclair?”
Allen glanced at Alexander for confirmation. A subtle nod from Alexander was enough, and Allen’s voice carried a measured certainty. “Yes, Miss Bennett.”
Alexander turned to Mia. “It’s just business. I need to keep an eye on my competitors,” he lied smoothly. Someone like James wasn’t even worth a second glance—but for Mia, he made sure to keep track of everything related to him.
“Oh,” Mia said, nodding.
Allen continued, “Mr. Graves, Mr. Sinclair has just announced on a live broadcast that he will be acquiring the land on the south side of Gamble City.”
Alexander’s long fingers wrapped around the remote on the glass-topped table.
He pressed the power button with a decisive click.
The TV flickered to life, the glow illuminating the room, and instantly James’s composed, icy face appeared.
He was sitting confidently in an interview, as if nothing had ever troubled him.
James spoke smoothly, voice precise, carrying that unmistakable air of arrogance. “Yes, we’ve signed the contract to acquire the land behind Max Mall. We plan to open several commercial shops there, bringing more entertainment to the city.”
The interviewer leaned in, curiosity bright in her eyes. “There are also rumors that you’re opening a restaurant for your rumored college sweetheart, Miss Kylie Brown. Is that true?”
Mia’s grip tightened on the gold card in her hand.
For a brief moment, a hard glint flashed in James’s eyes, but it disappeared almost instantly, replaced by the same cold, detached composure as he said, “We haven’t decided on the winner of the auction yet. If Miss Brown wins the bid for the restaurant, it will be given to her.”
Mia’s heart sank. She stared at the TV, frozen. Nothing had changed in him—no remorse, no flicker of regret. ‘Maybe he’s even happy I left… happy I’m no longer a burden to him.’ she thought bitterly. A pang of unease gnawed at her chest, making her swallow hard.
Alexander’s dark eyes cut to hers. He noticed the hurt, the vulnerability barely masked behind her composed exterior.
He draped a hand over her shoulder and looked down at her. “Mia, do you want revenge on him for what he put you through all these years?” he asked.