Chapter 15 A Cheater #3
James didn’t react. His fingers slipped into Mia’s hair, playing with the strands while he listened. “You can take care of it. I’m not attending any more meetings for a while.” His fingers continued moving through her hair. “I’m going to be busy.”
There was a brief pause before William spoke cautiously. “For how long, Mr. Sinclair?”
James didn’t lift his gaze, fingers still tangled in Mia’s hair, tracing absent patterns. “A month,” he said simply. “Avoid anything that needs my personal attention—projects, meetings… everything. I’m going to get remarried.”
Mia froze, her head snapping up as she stared at him in shock.
William’s voice tensed on the line. “Right… Mr. Sinclair, but for this one meeting, you need to be present. I’ve already discussed everything with them. I’ve been chasing this for three months. We really cannot afford to miss it. Can you please come?”
James’s face hardened, his expression settling into a deep, displeased line. He exhaled sharply, muttered a quiet, clipped “Fine,” and hung up the phone.
He slipped the phone back into his pocket and leaned forward again, placing a soft kiss on Mia’s forehead. Mia stayed frozen under his touch, her breath stuck in her throat. He pulled back and spoke in a quiet voice she had never heard from him before.
“There’s something wrong at the company. I need to leave for now and take care of it.”
His tone startled her. James never talked to her like this. He had always spoken to her the way he spoke to his employees, always distant and cold. But now his voice was gentle and soft, almost affectionate. It sounded like he was asking her for understanding, not giving her orders.
He continued speaking, still in that quiet tone. “I need to leave now, but I’ll pick you up for dinner tomorrow. And I don’t want to hear a no or find out you’re avoiding me again.” His eyes searched her face, and the last part came out firmer than the rest.
Mia gave a small, quiet smile and nodded. “Sure,” she whispered.
Hearing her, James allowed the faintest smile to cross his face. He glanced down at her broken phone on the ground. “I’ll buy a new one for you. I’ll bring it tomorrow. Don’t ignore my messages again.”
Mia only nodded again, wordless, her eyes soft but thoughtful.
James took a deep breath, relief flashing across his face, then stepped back. Without another word, he walked away.
Mia stood frozen, rigid, her eyes following his retreating figure until he disappeared from sight.
Only then did she exhale, her chest tightening with frustration and disbelief.
“You don’t even know where I live or what I do…
how are you going to find me to take me out for dinner, genius? ” she mumbled.
Her gaze fell to the broken phone at her feet. Clenching her teeth, she slammed her foot down in anger and disappointment. Then, her eyes flicked to the flowers Alexander had given her. A wave of sadness swept across her face.
Kneeling, she picked them up, brushing off the dust with her hand, holding them close to her chest with a defeated expression.
“I don’t know what he wants from me this time,” she muttered in a low voice, anger creeping back in. “We’re already divorced. Now he’s going crazy, acting like we were the most loving couple in the world for the past five years. What is wrong with him now?” She let out a frustrated, angry cry.
Just as she was talking to herself, a figure came to a stop right in front of her.
At first, she stiffened, startled by the sudden shadow falling over her, thinking James had come back. But when her eyes snapped up, surprise flickered across her face.
It was Alexander.
Her expression softened immediately. Her lips trembled, her brows dipped, and her shoulders sagged helplessly as her gaze drifted to the shattered pieces around her.
Alexander’s eyes followed hers—landing on the broken phone scattered on the ground and the flowers in her hand, now crushed and dust-covered.
Mia looked up at him again with those disappointed eyes and murmured in a low, hurt voice, “Mr. Graves…”
Alexander’s expression tightened. His body went tense as he grabbed her shoulders and looked her over. “What the hell happened?! Are you hurt? Did you fall?” His eyes scanned her for injuries, but there were none. Then his gaze snapped to her eyes. “What happened?”
Mia answered in a low voice, “It was James.”
Alexander’s body went rigid, his chest stilling as shock and anger flashed together. “James?” he repeated, voice dropping dark. “What the hell was he doing here?”
Mia answered honestly, eyes lowering, fingers tightening on the ruined flowers.
“Mr. Graves, when we were in the restaurant, he texted me. But I didn’t reply.
I also cut his call because I didn’t want to talk to him.
I don’t even know how he got my number. He got angry, and somehow he found out I was here.
He started talking about getting together again and taking me with him.
He tried to pull me with him. And just because I didn’t reply, he was angry. ” she glanced toward the broke phone.
Alexander looked like he was about to destroy something. His rage was barely under control as he listened to her in complete silence. His jaw flexed hard, his breathing deepening with anger he was forcing down.
He looked straight into her eyes. “Why didn’t you tell me when you got his text?”
Mia hesitated, her fingers tightening around the flowers as she answered, “I already cut his call and blocked him. I didn’t think he would show up at the restaurant.”
Alexander took a slow, heavy breath, trying to keep his rage contained. His eyes softened just slightly when he looked at her, giving her a silent reassurance.
“Don’t worry. I’ll take care of him,” he said, voice low and deadly calm.
His jaw tightened even more, an angry snap forming as he muttered, “All the trouble his company is in right now… I guess it’s not enough to keep him occupied.
Then I’ll give him more. I’ll make sure he doesn’t have time to even think about you again! ”
Mia trembled slightly at the expression on his face—this was a side of Alexander she had never seen before. It was sharp, dangerous, a mixture of rage and raw, protective instinct that made her chest tighten.
His eyes flicked back to hers, dark and focused. His voice dropped low, cold and commanding. “If you ever come across him again… or if he tries to contact you, you tell me. Immediately.”
Mia nodded quickly. “Yes, Mr. Graves. I promise. If I ever come across him or if he tries to contact me again, I will tell you. But I doubt I’ll come across him again.”
Alexander gave a curt nod and looked straight into her eyes. “Did he hurt you?”
Mia shook her head in denial.
The displeased look on his face did not fade. His eyes dropped to the flowers in her hand. He reached out, took them from her, and tossed them aside.
Mia stared at him in surprise. “Mr. Graves, what are you doing? I wanted to keep those!”
But Alexander’s face stayed hard. His voice was tight, vibrating with barely contained anger. “I’ll get you new ones. I don’t want anything he touched to be in your hands.”
Mia saw the look in his eyes and stayed silent. She realized then just how furious he was. His face was set in a deep, hard line. She had never seen him this angry. His eyes burned with a rage he was clearly controlling just for her.
Alexander bent down, picked up the broken pieces of her phone, and slipped them into his pocket. When he straightened, his eyes landed on her face again.
Then his eyes lifted to her face—and before she could even blink, Alexander bent down and swept her into his arms. Mia gasped, hands flying to his neck as he lifted her effortlessly.
“Mr. Graves… I’m not hurt,” she said, breathless, her voice small against his shoulder.
Alexander didn’t react. His hold only tightened. His steps were firm, almost urgent, carrying her past the restaurant entrance. But instead of heading toward the car, he turned down the side path, moving into the dim, quiet back area behind the building.
The moment they were alone, he shifted her weight, setting her down gently—only to press her back against the wall with his body closing in around her. His arms came up on either side of her, caging her in.
His eyes burned into hers.
“Did he touch you?”
Mia froze, her breath catching. She opened her mouth, but before she could speak, his voice dropped lower, darker.
“Did he kiss you?”
Her heartbeat stumbled. She was scared… yet something in his intensity pulled her closer, made her chest tighten in a way she didn’t expect.