The Pretend Wife (on hold)

Chapter 7

Mia looked away, pretending as if she hadn't seen any of them. She hurriedly urged her feet to walk faster. She knew if that man decided to do something, that only spelled trouble for her.

Mia regretted that she should walk past them to get to the street. She made sure that there were some meters in the distance and walked along with a group of pedestrians. She acted as if she was so busy that she could ignore both of them.

However, that act was utterly destroyed when someone beat it and called her.

"Mia?"

She whipped her head to the side, stopping reluctantly to face both of them. It was Alex who had called her. Inwardly, she scolded Alex a hundred times in her heart for inviting her to walk together in front of a tiger.

"Yes?" Mia put on the usual expressionless face, but the tone of her word had stated that she was asking for an explanation from Alex.

"Why are you in such a hurry? Did something happen at home? I could drive you there if you want."

Mia hurriedly shook her head. Then, she realized that she must've answered too swiftly. She quickly explained with words. "Nothing urgent. I just want to go home more early today."

Mia didn't even glance at Leon the entire time. She just hoped that he wouldn't pick any clues from her expression, whatever it was.

"Really?" Alex sounded unsure. He realized something, then he looked at Leon who had an indifferent look on his face. However, only Mia knew that under that look there was slight amusement hidden. She had been observing this man for years to know of that. 

Their contract did only last for a year, but she had been a normal employee at his company before. So, she had some chances of seeing him on some occasions.

"Ah, I want to introduce you to Mr. Kingston. Mr. Kingston, this is Mia. She works at my cafe." Alex explained, "Mia, this is Mr. Kingston, he will--"

His words were cut off by Leon's small gesture of waving his hands. He looked at Alex with an apologetic look, then he turned his attention to Mia.

"Miss Ford." His lips curved up slightly. He looked like a gentleman as he spoke the next words. "We meet again."

Alex seemed to have an understanding look on his face. Mia noticed that, but she knew better that whatever Alex was thinking right now was probably only his wrong conjecture.

Mia gave a thin smile, though it looked cold. "Mr. Kingston."

"Just as Mr. Jonas said, did something happen that makes you in such a hurry? There's no need to be polite to say it." Leon put on a concerned look.

What a snake, Mia thought.

"Nothing happens, Sir. You can rest assured. Thank you for your concern." Mia replied.

She had a feeling that something wasn't right at the moment. Looking at Alex, Mia couldn't help but worry. His words had been cut off by Leon as if he just wanted to stop someone from saying anything further since he had known her. Yet, she had a feeling that it was more than that.

Alex's eyes brightened at the two people's interaction in front of her. He chuckled slightly. "I don't know that the two of you have already known each other. It's good then."

"Since you are in no hurry. Do you mind if you join us for a meal, Miss Ford?"

Mia's body froze slightly. She looked up to meet his cunning eyes and couldn't help but curse him. It had been a trap so that she couldn't have any reason to refuse him after she said that she didn't have anything urgent.

"Mia, that's right. You've been a good employee to me. So, just let this old man treat you this time." Mia's words stuck in her throat as soon as Alex said those words. She already prepared thousands of reasons to reject the invitation if it was only Leon inviting her. Yet, now Alex had joined in as well.

Alex had added those words and it would seem rude if she was to refuse, right? However, no matter what, she should just go home sooner than later.

Aiden was at home alone and she couldn't bear to let her kid be lonely for a longer time. The more time she spent here, the lonely Aiden would become. Although she would feel bad that she had been rejecting Alex's offer, she would still pick Aiden over anything, anytime.

Mia put on an apologetic look. "I am sorry."

She looked at Alex, then at Leon. "Alex, Mr. Kingston. Although I don't have anything urgent, some relatives planned to visit me tonight. I want to prepare things as best as possible since they rarely come from afar like this. I hope that you will understand."

Alex looked at her then just nodded. Meanwhile, Leon had one of his eyebrows raised, as if he didn't buy Mia's explanation at all.

Mia gritted her teeth inwardly after she noticed that Leon hadn't responded to her. Alex also turned to gaze at Leon with confusion. He seemed like he wanted to explain something, but in the end, he just couldn't say anything.

"Mr. Kingston. I hope that you don't mind. I apologize if I am being rude by rejecting your kind request." Mia smiled broadly. Though it was fake, none would notice it if they didn't know Mia well enough.

"Ah, no. Don't misunderstand, Miss Mia." Leon responded politely, with an apologetic look that seemed just as fake as Mia's smile. "I doze off just now that I don't realize you are interpreting my silence in the wrong way. For that, I may seem rude and I want to apologize, Miss Ford."

Mia's heart thumped slightly after she heard his words. She looked at him in suspicion. Her instinct told her that she should just hurry up and walked away from here right now.

However, when she was about to excuse herself, he had beaten her to speak. "To sincerely express my apology, do you mind if I treat you for a meal tomorrow, Miss Ford?"

Mia coldly looked at him. With Alex here, she could seem to be rude if she rejected his offer. Even more, his acting had actually fooled a lot of people before. His business partners mostly who had fallen into his glib-tongue.

"Ah, I am sorry, I don't have time if it's tomorrow, Sir," Mia said. She knew that this man was busy as hell. He managed to find a time tomorrow, which meant that he probably wouldn't have free time for another week.

"Really? When you have free time, you can contact me then. Miss Ford surely wouldn't have forgotten to give a little bit of time for me, right?"

Hidden underneath those words, it was clear that it was a reminder for her.