Chapter 9 Kylie #2
“Mr. Graves,” Allen said quietly, “Miss Bennett was mistreated by Mr. Sinclair’s friend, Kylie Brown.”
Alexander’s jaw tightened, his eyes flashing.
Allen continued carefully, “As you instructed, I didn’t startle Mrs. Graves and brought her home safely, without any confrontation. Ms. Brown claimed she owns a few shops in the mall. I’ve already ordered them shut and all her belongings thrown out. It should be done by now.”
Alexander’s glare sharpened. “Just thrown her out?”
Allen shifted nervously. "I’m sorry, Mr. Graves. I’ll take care of it."
Alexander’s hands clenched, his fury barely contained. “That fucker let even his friends make fun of my Mia?”
Seeing Alexander go dangerously silent, Allen quickly pulled out his phone and brought up a video. “I thought you might want to see this,” he said, showing Alexander the footage from the mall. The clip played the moment Allen had asked, “Miss Bennett, have you never bought gifts for a man before?”
And Mia’s soft reply followed, “I haven’t. My ex-husband never allowed me to buy anything for him.”
A satisfied smile spread across Alexander’s face.
Allen exhaled in relief, finally allowing himself a moment to breathe.
Alexander turned sharply, his long strides carrying him straight toward Mia. She had just handed a shopping bag to Anita when she felt his presence.
"Mia, you didn’t bring anything for me?" he asked, eyes alight with expectation.
Her eyes widened. "Of course I did!" she said, smiling. "How could I forget you, Mr. Graves?"
Alexander’s eyes lit up. Mia handed him the last bag. "Here," she said.
He pulled out the contents, revealing a suit. Happiness shone on his face. "I love this," he said, meeting her gaze earnestly. “Whatever you buy for me, I’ll always love it.”
Mia’s cheeks flushed slightly.
He grabbed her hand and led her toward the group of people standing with trays in their hands. He led her straight to one woman standing with a tray filled with small, elegant boxes—each holding expensive rings. The woman lowered her head respectfully as Alexander approached.
Alexander slipped an arm around Mia’s waist and drew her closer, his deep voice brushing against her ear. “Choose our rings.”
Mia’s gaze swept over the tray. Rows of dazzling rings sparkled under the soft golden lights—diamonds in every color, nestled on gold, platinum, and silver bands.
She hesitated, her fingers brushing over the velvet boxes before she picked one up.
Inside lay a pair of rings, each adorned with a light blue diamond set delicately on a platinum band.
“This one looks nice,” she murmured, glancing up at him for approval.
At once, he took the box from her hand and passed it to an assistant standing nearby. “We’ll use these as our wedding rings. Keep everything else in Mrs. Graves’s closet.”
“Yes, Mr. Graves,” the assistant replied promptly, and the staff began to disperse, carrying the trays and boxes toward Mia’s room.
Mia’s head snapped toward Alexander, her eyes wide. “Everything in my closet?” she repeated, disbelief lacing her tone.
Alexander’s grip on her waist tightened slightly. “You’ll need these after our marriage. Do you need anything else?”
Mia hesitated for a brief moment, her lips curving into a small, uncertain smile. “I’ve always wanted to wear a backless wedding dress. Can I wear that when I marry you?”
His eyes softened instantly, and he nodded. “Of course.”
Encouraged, Mia added shyly, “And… I want a choker-style necklace. I saw one at a store when I was walking past. It’s not real—it’s fake jewelry—but something like that would go perfectly with the dress.”
Alexander looked at her with quiet amusement. Then he lifted his hand and cupped her face in his palm, his thumb brushing against her cheek. “I’ll take that fake one from you,” he said gently, “and have it made into a real diamond piece for our wedding.”
Her eyes widened slightly, excitement flickering across her face.
“You can have anything you want for our marriage,” he continued, staring at her with affection in his eyes. “Everything will be exactly the way you want it.”
“Can I really?” she asked softly, almost uncertain.
“Of course,” he said at once. “Everything will be as you want.”
For a moment, Mia’s heart stilled. Her thoughts drifted back, memories of her first marriage flashing like ghosts.
She remembered James. How cold his voice had been when she had timidly asked to invite her friends to the wedding.
“This marriage is for business,” he had said sharply. “The guests will be the ones I choose—top businessmen, politicians, VIPs. Do you really think I’d waste seats on your friends? Don’t embarrass me.”
Back then, she had swallowed her wishes, her dreams crushed quietly under his arrogance.
But now… Alexander’s words were different. They were gentle, filled with consideration she wasn’t used to. Gratitude swelled in her chest. She smiled. “Then I’ll get that fake necklace and give it to you tomorrow, Mr. Graves.”
Alexander nodded affectionately, his arm tightening around her waist as he pulled her closer to him.
***
The Sunset club was alive with flashing lights and pulsing music. The air was thick with the smell of alcohol, perfume, and sweat. Bodies moved in rhythm with the beat, laughter echoing through the dimly lit room.
Kylie adjusted the black mask on her face, pulling it down to cover more of her bruised cheek, and slipped quietly inside. Her heels clicked softly on the floor as she weaved through the crowd, keeping her head low.
She headed straight toward the private sitting area, her sharp gaze sweeping across the tables until it landed on a familiar woman. Tara—her large, surgically enhanced chest on full display, a deep side part in her hair, and a dangerously revealing dress that barely covered her cleavage.
Without her usual confident sway, Kylie hurried over, moving through the tables quickly and quietly. Normally, she would have paused, scanning the men, picking out someone rich or entertaining to spend the night with. But tonight, she wanted to disappear.
Reaching Tara’s table, Kylie dropped into the seat beside her.
Tara flinched back instantly, glaring. “What the fuck? Who are you?”
With a heavy sigh, Kylie reached up, unhooked the mask from her ear, and pulled it off.
Tara froze, her eyes going wide.