Chapter 10 Pervert Who Stole Flowers
Kylie’s left cheek was swollen and discolored, a deep bruise spreading near her jaw. Her arm hung in a sling—clearly dislocated or fractured.
“Kylie…? What the hell happened to you?” Tara gasped.
Kylie reached for a glass of whiskey on the table and took a slow sip, only to wince immediately as pain shot through her mouth. Setting the glass down, she rubbed her lips and looked away bitterly.
“I was beaten up a few days ago,” she muttered, her tone low and rough. “Their faces were covered, so I didn’t see who it was.”
Tara’s mouth fell open.
“I had three shops in Max Mall,” Kylie continued, her voice trembling with rage. “They were all shut down too. Everything I owned was thrown out onto the street. I’ve never been humiliated so fucking badly.”
“What?” Tara’s jaw dropped. “Weren’t those the shops you got from your sugar daddies in France?”
“Keep your voice down, for fuck’s sake,” Kylie hissed, glancing around to make sure no one overheard.
Taking a deep breath, she grabbed another glass, downing a mouthful of whiskey despite the burn. Her chest rose and fell sharply, her jaw tight with anger.
Tara exhaled, leaning back. “Sorry. But seriously, Kylie, what the hell did you do? Max Mall doesn’t just throw people out like that. It’s one of the most luxurious places in the country. What could you possibly have done to make them that angry? You must’ve pissed someone off very badly.”
“I don’t know!” Kylie snapped, slamming the glass down on the table. Her voice trembled with fury as she took another shaky breath. “I just don’t know.”
Tara hid her smile behind the rim of her glass, swirling her drink lazily before taking another slow sip.
The corner of her lips curled with secret satisfaction as she watched Kylie rant.
‘This bitch is always so smug… always acting high and mighty. She was getting such a huge chunk of money out of those shops. I was so damn jealous!’
Tara’s next sip tasted sweeter, the whiskey sliding down her throat like victory. ‘I’m so happy. She deserves this. I hope she gets even poorer.’
Setting her glass down with a quiet clink, she crossed one leg over the other and leaned back, feigning casual interest. “What about James?” she asked, her tone airy but her eyes sharp. “By now, you must’ve hooked up with him already, right?”
“The hell I have!” Kylie snapped, irritation flashing across her bruised face.
She slammed her glass on the table, the sound sharp against the low hum of club music.
“That damn man refuses every single time I try to meet him alone. I managed to run into him at the club when he was with his friends, but every time I try to talk to him privately, he just walks away. I don’t understand what his problem is.
Even that stupid wife of his is out of the picture now! Wasn’t that what he was waiting for?”
“Wife?” Tara’s posture straightened instantly, curiosity lighting her expression. “You mean Mia?”
Kylie nodded, scowling. “They’re divorced. I saw her yesterday at Max Mall.” Her voice dripped with disdain, her face tight with irritation. “And she had a gold fucking card. A gold card, Tara. Do you know how rare that is?”
“Holy shit,” Tara muttered, eyebrows shooting up. “Did James give it to her as part of the divorce settlement?”
“What else could it be?” Kylie scoffed. “That poor bitch’s family went bankrupt. Do you really think she could own a gold card on her own? But she kept denying it! She said it wasn’t from James.”
Tara smirked, twirling her straw slowly between her fingers. “Maybe she borrowed someone’s card just to show off in front of you. She must’ve known about you and James and appeared there just to spite you.”
Kylie frowned deeply. Taking a quick sip of her drink, she reached into her bag and pulled out her phone. “Look, she came with this man.”
She turned the phone toward Tara, showing a photo she had taken at the mall. In it, Mia was handing over a gold card to a store assistant, while Allen stood behind her.
Tara squinted at the screen, studying the man’s face.
“Wait a second…” she murmured, her brow furrowing in thought.
“I recognize him. He’s a secretary to some big shot.
” Her eyes suddenly lit with recognition.
“Yes, I’ve seen him at parties. People practically worship him!
Even the city’s top businessmen turn into obedient dogs the moment he walks in. ”
Kylie scoffed. “A secretary? You’re kidding me.” She tossed the phone back onto the table with a disgusted huff and leaned back in her chair. “What the hell. She’s dating a secretary after leaving James?”
Tara’s attention shifted to the picture again. Her gaze dropped to the transparent shopping bag in Mia’s hand, her eyes narrowing as she spotted the logo. “Veridia,” she muttered.
Kylie glanced over, following her gaze.
“That’s a Veridia suit,” Tara said, her tone low with surprise. “You know how impossible it is to buy anything from them unless you have powerful connections? Even getting approved to purchase a tie requires a strong background and purchase history. Only the truly elite shop there.”
Kylie’s eyes narrowed as she recognized what was inside the bag. “That’s a suit,” she said through clenched teeth.
“Doesn’t James wear that brand?” Tara asked slyly. “I’ve seen him in it more than once.”
Kylie’s eyes darkened, anger flashing across her face. “That bitch is buying stuff for James even after the divorce?” she hissed. “That means he’s still in her head. She’s probably trying to win him back.”
Tara clicked her tongue and smirked mockingly. “Girl, that woman was his obedient bitch for five years. Did you really think she’d let go that easily? She’s definitely trying to get his attention again.”
Kylie’s fury deepened, her grip tightening on the glass. Her eyes hardened with determination. “That’s not going to happen. Not while I’m here. It took me too long to get close to him. I’m not letting her crawl back into his life.”
***
Mia stood outside Alexander’s room and knocked softly. Her room was right next to his—usually, he was the one who came to fetch her in the mornings so they could go down together. But today, she had decided to come to him instead.
The door was slightly open. At the sound of her knock, Alexander looked up from adjusting his cufflinks. His expression stilled for a moment, surprise flickering in his eyes when he saw her standing there.
“Come in,” he said immediately. “Why are you standing at the door?”
Mia smiled faintly and stepped inside, her steps quiet on the polished floor. When he reached out his hand to her, she instinctively placed hers in his.
“Will you please help me with these?” he asked, twisting his arm slightly to show her the unbuttoned cuffs of his shirt. “I need to leave for the office soon.”
“Of course,” Mia said, stepping closer. Her fingers brushed against his wrist as she carefully fastened each button.
As she worked, her gaze drifted up. That was when she noticed—the suit he was wearing. Her heart gave a small leap.
He was wearing the suit she had gifted him. For a moment, warmth flooded her chest. ‘So Mr. Graves really wasn’t pretending when he said he liked it. He actually loves this suit. He’s even wearing it already.’
Her smile deepened unconsciously as she moved to the second cuff. But before she could finish, Alexander bent down slightly so that their faces were level, his presence suddenly overwhelming her senses.
“Did you buy a suit like this for James too?” he asked suddenly, his tone quiet but his eyes intense.
Mia froze, startled by his nearness. His scent—clean, subtle, with a trace of aftershave—wrapped around her, making her pulse skip. She blinked up at him. “No, I didn’t,” she said truthfully, her brows knitting slightly in confusion.
“Then how come you knew exactly what to buy for me?” he asked, his gaze still fixed on her. “You seem to know what men like.”
Mia hesitated, thinking for a moment. Then she smiled faintly, her voice low and honest. “Research,” she said. “I wanted to buy things for James before, but… he never liked my interference in his life. So, I never really bought him anything.”
Alexander straightened slightly, his expression tightening as his thoughts spiraled.
‘I can’t believe I’m still jealous that she did so much for someone else.
’ He drew in a deep breath, forcing his face to stay calm so she wouldn’t notice.
‘But fine… in the end, I’m the first man wearing my Mia’s choices, not him.
’ His jaw clenched. ‘Fuck that bastard!’
His eyes softened when they returned to her face. Almost without thinking, he reached out to caress her cheek. His thumb brushed gently across her skin, his touch lingering like he was memorizing the feel of her.
Alexander’s head began to lower, inch by inch. His breath ghosted over her lips, sending a shiver down her spine. Her fingers went still against his wrist, her heartbeat quickening uncontrollably. Just a breath more—and then—
The door burst open.
“Mr. Graves, your car is here,” Allen announced, stepping into the room.
Alexander’s eyes snapped toward him, his eyes flashing in irritation. The room’s air grew heavy in an instant.
Mia instinctively took a step back, startled by how close they had been.
Her cheeks burned, a fierce heat rising through her chest. Her hands trembled slightly as she clasped them together.
‘What’s wrong with me?’ she scolded herself silently, flustered.
‘This madness of getting drawn to every handsome man is going to drive me crazy!’
Alexander exhaled sharply, forcing his irritation down. Turning his attention back to her, he grabbed her gently by the arms and guided her to sit on the edge of the bed. Then he sat down beside her, close enough that she could still feel his warmth.