Chapter 2

She turned around. Only to find no one staring at her except the bustling and happy exterior people surrounding the area.

Shaking off the thought, Miranda thinks she was just imagining things around her, she extends her pace heading toward her destination.

Not a few seconds the feeling allured her again. This time-specific more intense and succinct she felt it again, she's been watched.

Miranda slow down and glance at the space separating the close by cafe shop she took another routine to the dark alley without a second thought.

Thud, thud, thud.

A vivid sound of footsteps coming after the lady standing in the middle of the alley gradually slows down, as she stands still encountered, only her back could be detected.

Lazily, a hand grab the lady's shoulder inchmeal. Miranda stiff feeling the stranger breathe lingering slowly to her ears, her body subconscious halt hearing the individual chuckles.

"Candy love!"

A polite and orotund whisper through, sending waves of shock to her heart, she opens her closed shaken eyes.

"What?" Confuse Miranda's utter, hoist her head.

"Sorry aren't you candy love?"

Gazing at the young man totally in disbelief Miranda try opening her mouth, but the voice interrupted "Did I blunder, aren't you the boring traditional family!"

Exclaiming what the man says looking omission, Miranda's gaze deepens processing the man's word 'Traditional', this word only one person says to her.

"Little Mil..." She mumbles.

With that the man let go of her shoulder, stepping back a little, yet Miranda kept her gaze straight at the man who Is only gently smiling.

"Follow me!"

Uttering only those phrases he moves ahead.

Miranda still eyeing the silhouette back stranding far from her, with hesitation her voice yells out "Wait!"

"Hmm..." Was the only word the person say pausing.

"Mr were you the one scaring me just now?" She query.

"Scaring you" He mumbled, swivelling his body he tilt slightly with a genuine grin.

"Not at all, this fellow was just patiently waiting for his thank you, but then unspecified saw the lady changing her direction"

"...I see" quiet for a second she retorted.

Anticipated with Miranda satisfied with his reply he turn again "Looks like your behaviour for changing your direction was simply a stranger terrifying you, candy love!"

"Yeah!" ensuing behind the man's stride Miranda unhurriedly voiced.

"And also the name is Miranda Sean"

She conveyed that the moment the man opens the door, hearing her bring up her name his hand paused, gazing with confusion at the lady "Little Mil said you prefer to be called... candy love"

Miranda looks sideways embarrassed she softly concedes "Not truly the name was specified by someone important"

"Oh...I see" with that he pushed the doorknob leading her to the last table.

The shop was bright-lit, literally with many customers seated around.

A staff hurriedly walks to their table bending his head respectfully with a business smile, he greets "Welcome back Mr Austin, should I get you your usual?"

Mr Austin "Yes"

"And for the lady?" The staff swivel to face her.

"One latte please"

The coffee was suddenly served. Miranda picked up her cup, taking a little sip, perceiving with the pleasing aroma and milk taste melting through her truly made her mind and body relax.

"Can you tell me your crime?"

Miranda was about to take another sip of her cup when unexpectedly, Mr Austin's voice reputed a question that made her body stagnant.

"What do you mean?"

Questioning him, silence flows between them. Only the chatter of those customers not far away from their table could be heard.

Both eyes stare deep into each, it assumes to be both eyes are seeking their unrequited inquiry and an answer.

Mr Austin raised his eyebrow in surprise at Miranda's frowned mood.

"I'm just worried about the little miss who seems to be followed"

Miranda "..."

"Is the miss pretending to forget someone was following her a while, to tell you the truth..."

Mr Austin lean forward "You're still been watch"

"No need to worry Mr Austin, I can take care of my problem"

Austin Scott looks at the lady who was calm and confident voicing out her remark while she sips her coffee.

Austin Scott "Looks I'm truly worried for no reason" *Chuckle*

Miranda raises her head, scrutinizing the man who is only stirring his coffee with a satisfying grin.

He wore a grey wool overcoat, with the classic suit accommodating his slender shape. It was modest and made his countenance suave and cordial.

"Mr Austin is attractive"

"Attractive?"

Mr Austin looks at her with a subtle shock Marinda realises his expression and smiles jokingly.

"Don't tell me Mr Austin has never been called attractive?"

"Well..." Thinking about it Mr Austin looks away avoiding Marinda's gaze then stares back at her.

"Usually am acclaim with gentle and obedient, for attractive the cute girl is the first"

Taking aback Marinda mortify Mr Austin's smiling enhanced even more the girl's mortified expression.

"You...You're taking revenge, aren't you?"

"Not at all"

"I'm just enjoying the view"

"What do you want?" Marinda's query was out of a sudden.

"Huh?"

"I know the reason you help me escape wasn't that simple, you won't just help me because just because I'm just sister-friend right?"

"...Correct!"

"I did help someone like you just because of her"

Hearing that Marinda lower her eyes, the word 'Someone like her' struck in her heart bitterly.

"...." She hesitates, unsure of what to say in disappointment.

Not responding to him, the man gave a soft sigh "I might look bad but I'm also not wrong a lady without anything except her surname is nothing to me"

Lifting her eyes she results "Your reason for helping me was because of the fact Sean is my surname"

"Yes," He quickly concedes.

"Miranda Sean I need you"

"If you help me because of my talent then I think Mr Austin is truly a fool"

"Yes, I'm!"

'What?'

"I know what you did and how everyone is looking low at you but then does little miss has a way to survive?"

Marinda "....."

"You can take my invitation as a way of your survival, the world isn't a place you can crawl without a plan of how to survive at all"

"But—"

"I don't care why you did such a thing and the fact either you did it or not won't change anything for now"

Austin pushes his name card onto the table and Miranda only stares at the card without picking it.

"Come to me when you think about it, I will wait for you"

Spoke out he stood up walking out.

"....." throughout Miranda was completely dazed.

'The fact that Mr Austin wasn't wrong at all and the fact that he still wants to use her talent for his selfish reason and for her to crawl out of her deepest anxiety'

With that thought, Miranda grasp the name card and paced outside she look right and left in distress.

As soon as she turns her front she spots the formidable man trying to cross the road.

"Hey!"

He turns around and looked back at the girl, she strode with all her energy toward him her eyes shone with confidence.

"...Little miss—?!"

Abruptly, Austin's eyes pop open subconsciously his word was interrupted by the woman's action, his coat was haul as his face leaned close to hers.

Their breaths enclose the insignificant distance separating the two faces from colliding, causing the chill around them to specify a warm whiff to their bodies.

Before Austin could say a word, Miranda tighten her hold her eyes were burning with no hesitation.

"Not little miss but Miranda"

"Sure" Puzzle Austin replies.

"I'm willing to work for you" Voicing out she let go of him.

Austin straightens himself up with him waking back to reality.

"You sure about that, you can think again"

"No, you're correct with my current situation, I won't be able to crawl out of my own without life survival"

"Oh, as expected of lady Sean"

Austin helplessly smiles at her, he stretches out his hand and took off the scarf on his neck.

He leans toward spacing inquisitive at her, he wraps the scarf around her neck and with unbelievable surprise, Marinda's eyes were asking what are you doing.

"Don't be surprised, this was supposed to be a date"

Marinda's impression screams confusion 'What?'

Austin stood firmly "Little Mil told me you found interest in me and would love to date me"

Austin put his hand to his chin thoughtful "But from your behaviour looks like the sneaky girl's plan was to matchmake us a partner"

'Emily Scott, she seriously wanna die!'

Miranda scold in mind.

"Yes, then I will take my leave first"

She revolves stepping away from him.

"Little miss"

"Mr it's Miranda" she turns back.

"Sure, when will you call me by my name?"

She purses her lips, thinking "When the Mr stops acting strange"

Startled Austin let out a chortling laugh, while Miranda turn further away.

The man stood tall and rigorous his eyes spacing nowhere but to the already disappearing silhouette back, the smile frame on him quickly turn odd.

His eyes darken burn steady with a grim and uncongenial appearance.