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Chapter 5

My feet hurt when I get out of the shower after almost half an hour walking around the garden talking to Amy, trying to calm her down before the interview, which helped a lot in hiding from her that her father had convinced me to leave the room.

I search for a suitable clothing piece in the suitcase, but all I find is a long black dress that my mother had urged me to wear to Amy's party. I didn't even look at it that night, but now it didn't seem so bad considering the long sleeves and basic appearance. I put it on and analyze myself in the huge bathroom mirror, but my waist looks too marked, revealing my undefined belly, just like Marc, my ex-boyfriend, always criticized every time he saw me in clothes like these.

"Bad idea, Mia." I say to myself, pulling down the dress straps.

"Do you always run late like this?" Adam's rough voice, who had just leaned on the door, makes me turn towards him immediately. Damn, I completely forgot about the time.

"You need to knock before entering." I deflect from his monochromatic jacket that fits his body so well, to his eyes that rise from my bare shoulder to stare at me too.

"I did knock... several times."

"I just need a few more minutes."

He approaches, and I take a few steps back until I'm pressed against the sink, with my breathing uneven.

"It's a shame you didn't like it, you look beautiful in that dress." He speaks softly, analyzing the fabric more closely.

"I'll be in the garden when I'm done." He whispers near my mouth.

"You can stay if you want." I whisper back, before he leaves, feeling my heart rate accelerate with each passing second."

"Do you want me to stay, Mia?" His minty breath hits me, as does his perfume.

"Yes." I answer. I look down at his mouth, remembering the dream.

His hands intertwine around my waist, and with a quick movement, he puts me on the sink. I feel a good pulse between my legs.

We're just a few inches away from each other and I almost let myself go; if Adam didn't lift my chin and stare, now gloomy, into my eyes.

"I'll be out there." He says and steps away, running his hands through his messy hair.

------♡------

I leave nervous and awkward, after all, I had just flirted with my best friend's father who had dumped me. I take one last look at my dress, since I didn't have enough time to choose another outfit. The low heel of the sandal, which perfectly matched my outfit, felt like it would trip me at any moment, reminding me how uncomfortable they were.

Adam is still there, but in front of the neighboring cabin, talking to a tall, blonde woman who laughs and touches him too much, while some staff members run around. She is beautiful, very beautiful. Adam probably hears my steps when he finally stops talking and examines me completely.

"So you're the..." He smiles at me, trying to remember my name.

"Mia." I answer for her.

"Yes, Adam's daughter's best friend. Well, we can walk together there, it would be nice to keep talking to you Adam. Do you mind, Mia?"

"No, no problem." I smile weakly, lying blatantly.

While we follow some signs, she chatters about her life, while he just grunts a few words. I feel his hands on my back, caressing it a little, asking to apologizing.

When we spotted the grand restaurant door, Adam no longer touches me, and she finally decides to say goodbye, waving to her friend who would be her companion.

"Don't run away, I'll message you." She smiled, kissing her cheek too close to her mouth, while Adam simply smiles back.

She was flirting, and I wonder if Adam was interested.

"Adam Davis and Mia Clark." He announces us to the hostess, touching my back again without looking at me.

The lights inside reflected the gold and red of most of the decoration. Most people held glasses and toasted each other while laughing and talking across tables above the huge chandelier, decorated with fresh roses, and the upholstery seems too comfortable.

"Good evening, sir! Your table is reserved exactly where you requested." One of the waiters accompanies us.

As we walk, everyone else seems to be aware of every step, as if fulfilling Adam's satisfaction was a requirement to keep their jobs.

We didn't exchange a word as he led me to the secluded table, keeping me away from all those people, as he had told me.

There is a bottle of expensive champagne on it, so the waiter promptly serves us in glasses, without Adam even asking.

"Don't worry about our table, please inform your boss." He orders, dismissing him. Damn, he definitely knew the power he had over people, which made me think he was the most attractive guy I had met in years.

I wasn't the type to enjoy alcoholic drinks, but I grab the glass and down the liquid all at once, feeling my throat burn and my body relax a little, as if I needed the alcohol to continue the night.

Some journalists enter the room, taking pictures of the other guests. They ignore Adam, who oddly never appeared in magazines.

"Why do they not photograph you?" I ask.

"I don't like my personal life becoming news. I pay for reporters to focus only on my businesses."

I fill my glass again, drinking a little more, trying to pay attention to what he's saying without remembering his hands on my waist.

"You shouldn't drink like that." He says, looking at me.

"I'll be fine." I drink a little more.

"You need to eat."

"I don't need to, I'm not hungry."

"Do you like lobster, Mia?"

"Why do you care?" I ask, feeling the effects of the alcohol.

"That's what Amy would do if she was here. Tell me why I wouldn't care about my daughter's best friend?"

Another glass. I was just that, his daughter's best friend, while for the first time, I would like to be simply Mia.

"Lobster, then?" I finally ask.

"Two plates of Lobster Thermidor." He gestures and orders from the waiter, still not taking his eyes off me.

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