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Chapter 2

POV: Mia

The Saturday morning light hits Amy's eyes just before I sit at the foot of the bed to say good morning. Amy and I met two years ago at the beginning of our college studies when we accidentally ended up in the same dorm, which made it easier for her since she lived far from campus. I had no friends at Forland University, so during the week I kept busy with schoolwork while the weekends were reserved for going to my parents' house in the neighboring city. She was very sociable and we hardly saw each other due to our different majors and her nights out with her classmates. After a few months, I found her on the bed crying, looking at a photo of her as a child with her mother, which made me realize she wasn't just a rich and snobbish girl. I instinctively hugged her under the covers, unable to imagine my life without my parents. That night, when I didn't leave her side, we became best friends and started taking care of each other like sisters, promising that nothing would ever ruin our friendship, especially not any boy.

"Good morning." She smile, still feeling sleepy.

"You left the party early yesterday." She looks at me suspiciously.

"I spilled a drink on my shirt and had to change, so I ended up staying here." I try to persuade her, but my voice trembles.

"You're a terrible liar, Mia," She sits on the bed.

"I heard that you ran out of the party. When I found out, I came running here, but you were sleeping. What happened?"

"Don't worry." I squeeze her hand, showing her that everything was fine.

"I just got nervous without my jacket."

"You looked beautiful without it."

"No, I don't know. Anyway, we should be talking about you. Honestly, you shouldn't have come. That boy who was with you was a hottie. Tell me at least you enjoyed that body."

"Maybe I pulled him into the bathroom." She smile a bit more mischievously.

"Oh my god, Amy, you..."

"Yes, we had sex in the bathroom. You should try it, it must be boring to spend your days reading books."

Amy was wrong. Me and books are one and the same, that's why i chose to study literature and love spending my time writing or reading romance novels, dreaming of the day I would be able to fall in love again, after my first and only boyfriend.

"Forget it, I'm fine like this, boys are too complicated... but I'm really glad you had fun, after all it's not every day you celebrate with a party like that."

"Especially when your father is Adam Davis." She adds, spinning the colorful bracelet with some small stones I gave her as a gift the night before.

"Thank you for agreeing to spend the weekend at the lodge to inaugurate the new restaurant. I can't wait to introduce you to my dad."

"I saw him last night, when I came here."

"Oh my god, tell me he treated you well."

"Come on, he's... nice." I wanted to add "and very handsome", but instead I changed the subject.

"You need a shower urgently, so I'll leave now."

"Fuck you, Mia." She throws a pillow at me, laughing.

"See you in a bit!"

I take advantage of the moment to try to carry down my suitcase, with enough clothes to last more than five days there. I hold onto the top handle to carry it down the stairs without damaging it. I feel like it's too heavy, even though one of the security guards did it with ease yesterday. I trudge on despite the pain. When I place the object on the ground, a Golden Retriever enters through the large wooden gate that leads to the garden.

"Thot, come back here!" Shortly after, I hear Adam's deep voice.

I can't concentrate on the furry animal twirling around my body and sniffing every inch. I only noticed his abdomen without any clothes and his sweaty, sunburnt skin. I'm distracted enough to lose balance when Thot jumps in front of my feet, causing my whole body to tilt backwards.

"Mia!" I hear him say, rushing over as quickly as possible.

I feel Adam's strong hand grip my wrist and pull me forward, hitting against a wall of muscle. He steps back far enough to look at me as if he could read my thoughts, too close to his lips.

"Thank you for helping me again." Say first, after several seconds.

"I'm sorry about Thot." He releases me roughly, diverting his gaze to the dog sitting next to him.

"No treats for you today." He pets him quickly, and he goes out to the backyard without the same joy as before.

"The table is set as you requested, Mr. Adam." The housekeeper announces, entering the room with a bouquet of sunflowers, Amy's favorite flowers.

"Thank you, Olga." He moves away with his muscles still tense.

"Leave the bouquet at my daughter's door and then ask one of the security guards to put the suitcase in the car, we'll be leaving soon."

"As you wish." She replies, but he can no longer hear her.

"Enjoy your breakfast, miss." She made space for me to enter.

------♡------

Amy joined me later, charming me with her happiness about the bouquet and the note: "Hope you enjoyed the party, happy 20th birthday". I really liked seeing her happy.

Adam appeared last, when we were waiting for the driver to adjust the carry-on bags in the car. His hair was completely wet and the expensive perfume was exuding throughout the garage.

"Dad! The party was wonderful, thank you for the gifts! I don't know what I would do without you." She ran to hug his body.

"Definitely nothing," He replied, returning the hug and smiling for the first time, almost as if a weight had been lifted off her shoulders.

They let go when her phone started buzzing, quickly scrolling through the screen.

"Oh my god! Elizabeth Jones, the top fashion designer in the city, finally responded to one of my internship emails. She agreed to look at some of my sketches in a virtual chat tonight."

Unlike me, Amy loved fashion and its trends. She had been trying to work with one of the most influential women in the industry for months without her father's help, who would do anything to make her happy.

"That's fantastic, Amy! I'm sure she'll love them." I cheered.

"I'm so proud of you, dear."

"Hey, Mia. Do you mind going ahead with my dad? I left my folder in the dorm."

"No, of course not." I replied, feeling Adam's gaze on me.

"Okay." she typed a few times.

"My car is nearby. See you at the airport, Dad."

"Roman, please take us to the airport." Adam asked, not taking his eyes off me as he opened the back door.

"Miss," he pointed for me to enter.

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