The Pretend Wife (on hold)

Chapter 14

"What has gotten into you today?" Alastair asked as he put the documents into the table, looking at the expressionless man in front of him with a raised eyebrow.

Leon didn't answer. He didn't even glance in his way. His eyes occasionally trained to the phone on his side.

Alastair snorted as he tried to purposely get closer to Leon's desk. Leon was a step ahead, snatching his phone away from Alastair, his assistant's prying eyes. "Hmmph, you can't even let me take a peek."

Alastair was older by a few years. The capable and mature person he had encountered on one of his business trips. Alastair himself had the potential in business, which even sometimes surprised Leon himself. So, he decided to extend his invitation to him after a few years of getting to know each other.

Leon hadn't led the company back then when he first met him. Basically, the two's relationship was that of friendship and business partner. Due to their good looks, one would often mistake them for brothers when they stood beside each other.

"That's not something you should concern yourself with." There was a momentary frown on Leon's forehead. In a neutral tone, yet mocking words, he told Alastair. "Your new girlfriend is waiting for you outside. Why don't you meet with her?"

Alastair froze for a moment. He sighed, putting his hands up in surrender while heading to the door. "Alright, alright. I am out of here now. Look."

It was a threat that Leon would call one of his flings. They'd certainly make a ruckus, pestering him incessantly. If Leon had called more than one, he'd be doomed to witness women's frightening way of fighting; the endless arguments and shouting.

Once Alastair was out of sight, Leon barely managed to hide his smile. He had sent a simple message ordering Mia to come to the office. The woman readily agreed. Now, what was left was waiting for her to show up.

There had been a rumor about Leon getting married a few years ago. He rarely brought Mia out when they still had a contract six years ago. So, those words only stayed as rumors; Leon neither denied nor approved of them.

Those rumors also proved efficient enough to ward off a few persistent women. Facing his cold and indifferent attitude coupled with the rumors about him getting married, even if they were persistent enough, this was just a difficult task to move his heart.

His employees were also naturally curious about who this woman was, yet none dared directly ask him. Only Alastair knew about the truth. Despite so, as much as a player he was, he remained tight-lipped. Even around the women, he had a relationship with.

Surely, they wouldn't have known that she was also an employee just like them a few years ago.

Leon found himself checking the phone every few minutes or so, slightly distracting his work. He was impatient, but there was nothing he could do. Mia wouldn't like it if he tried to pick her up.

He could tell it from her slight lapse of expression she'd subconsciously made sometimes. She seemed to be wary of something, and her guard was always up.

The sudden lit of the phone surprised Leon. It has been around an hour since Mia contacted her. He wasted no time to open the message.

"I have arrived at your office." It said.

Leon blinked. His eyes moved to the door, imagining it opened to show Mia's figure. He kept on staring at it almost unblinkingly.

After a while, he was impatient that Mia hadn't shown up at all. She couldn't possibly be playing with him, right? He mulled over that thought, then shaking his head over this foolish notion.

She was always serious that sometimes she misunderstood a joke.

He checked his phone once again. There was another message by Mia. He furrowed his brows at the content that made him extremely displeased.

Leon got up and immediately headed to where she was.

***

Mia looked around while sighing inwardly. That man had her waiting for almost ten minutes, and she had yet to see his face. The receptionist had intercepted her because she didn't have a prior scheduled meeting with Leon, causing her to wait in this hallway now.

Looking around, she couldn't help but be struck by a sense of nostalgia. Reminiscing the past, she remembered that she had worked here for two years before Leon unexpectedly approached her with that ridiculous offer.

It was ridiculous, but she still accepted because of the circumstances. Now, she was stuck again in this place. The difference was that, a few years ago, Leon simply hadn't publicized their relationship and only pretended in front of his mother to avoid being forced into a marriage.

The madam, Leon's mother was said to have bad eyesight. Thus, the pretend the marriage was successful enough. Even more when she and Leon had only met her briefly on a few occasions. She could tell that Leon had tried hard for them not to meet too often, much to the dismay of Leon's mother.

She had brought food, as he had requested before. Mia knew that he was a picky eater. She guessed that he wouldn't eat this spicy food she had made. After all, this all was just for show, right? It was a show for his mother so that she'd be convinced of their relationship.

Aiden liked spicy things. He inherited some of Leon's traits. It might be different when it came to tastebud. She was in a hurry that she just picked whatever the food in the kitchen.

Mia frowned slightly, couldn't help but finding something was odd. No matter how she thought about it...

The sound of the slammed door being opened caught her attention. Mia caught the sight of Leon walking to her in large strides, carrying that confident aura tinged with slight arrogancy.

Mia looked on awkwardly. What she should do? It was hard for the two of them to pretend they were in a relationship with their similar personality; she, the clumsy one, and he was an indifferent person.

Mia pondered. What words used by the married couple when they meet again?

Leon was getting closer. It took no time for him to arrive by Mia's side. He coughed lightly, instantly catching the attention of the employees nearby. Including the previous receptionist who had frozen to see that her boss was coming down to greet this lady.

The receptionist had thought that Mia could be one of those persistent women chasing after her boss. She was about to confirm it with Leon, yet he didn't even bother answering her call. Instead, he came in person.

Mia gave a small awkward smile, returning Leon's gaze, who had been fixed on her since earlier, making her very self-conscious. She could also felt several pairs of eyes staring at her.

Taking a deep breath, Mia began, "I have brou--"

"Wife." One word instantly cut off Mia's sentence. Mia froze on her seat as if she had been struck by lighting.

Holy crap! Could this man not be so direct!?