Warning

Am I hallucinating?

I swear I saw Andreis in the mirror. No—no, that couldn't be. I lightly slapped my cheek and shook my head, trying to erase the thought. From the rearview mirror, I noticed Kenny glance at me, startled by my sudden action. We locked eyes, and I forced a small smile to reassure him I was fine. He nodded in response, accepting the gesture without question.

The entire ride home, I stared blankly out the window, lost in thought about what had just happened. No. Impossible. I must just be sleep-deprived. That's all. My imagination was running wild. I yawned and leaned back against the seat, fatigue finally catching up with me. Today was tiring—but I had to admit, it was also incredibly fun.

When we arrived home, I found Mom at the dining table, helping KC arrange the plates for dinner. I walked straight to her and wrapped my arms around her in a hug.

"How was your first day, sweetheart?" she asked with a warm smile.

"I'm super happy, Mom. A little tired, but I really enjoyed it," I replied as I took a seat at the table. I looked around curiously. "Mom, where's Dad and Marco?"

"They had to attend an important meeting," she answered. "Looks like it's just you and me for dinner tonight."

I didn't reply. It must've been something really important. And Louis—Mr. Lavigne—was probably still at the office.

We finished eating, and I shared a bit about my day, even mentioning how Marco had surprised me with lunch. Mom chuckled, shaking her head in amusement.

After dinner, I headed out to the garden to unwind. I inhaled deeply, letting the fresh countryside air calm my senses. The air here always felt different—soothing in a way city air never could be.

Eventually, I decided it was time to go in and prepare for bed. On my way inside, I bumped into Marco.

"Mia," he said simply.

He looked like he'd just gotten home, his bag slung over one shoulder as he headed to the kitchen for a glass of water.

"What?" I replied, pausing.

He turned slightly. "Don't ever go anywhere or trust anyone—except Louis, Lara and Dad at the office. Got it?"

I looked at him, confused. His words were heavy, and yet I could tell he didn't want a discussion. I simply nodded. I was too tired to argue anyway.

*****

Okay... I guess my outfit is decent enough for the office. A simple blouse tucked into slacks, minimal jewelry, hair neatly brushed. As usual, no makeup—just a dab of lipstick for color.

I rode to work with Marco this time. Dad had apparently left early for some other errand. We were silent the whole drive. For once, I didn't feel like joking around with him.

When we arrived, I stepped out of the car and headed inside the building. I glanced behind me—Marco had already disappeared. He was right behind me a second ago. How could he vanish so fast?

I shook my head and forced a smile, greeting the people I passed with a soft "Good morning." Then I made my way straight to Mr. Lavigne's office.

Just as I was about to sit down at my desk, his office door opened and he stepped out, sharp and composed as ever.

"Mia, get ready in five. You're coming with me to a breakfast meeting," he said before turning back into his office without even a proper greeting.

I was still full from Mom's breakfast—french toast, golden brown and crispy on the edges, lightly dusted with powdered sugar, and served with a drizzle of honey. Just thinking about it made me hungry all over again.

I grabbed my notebook and pen, then followed Mr. Lavigne as he headed to the parking lot. He drove a sleek black Audi R8—just like Mom's, only darker and meaner-looking. For a moment, I was reminded of Angelo, and that strange first encounter in the city. I shook my head, forcing the memory away.

He walked to the passenger side and opened the door for me. I gave him a grateful smile and slid in. As he passed in front of me, I caught the clean, magnetic scent of his cologne—warm cedarwood with a hint of spice. The kind of scent that lingered. The kind that could drive someone insane. He was the very picture of the hot, mysterious boss—sharp jawline, pressed suit, that cool but commanding aura that filled every room he entered. I shook my head and smiled a little with the thought.

I placed my notebook on my lap. Better to be prepared in case he needed me to take notes.

As he got in, he glanced at the notebook and smiled.

"Just in case," I said quickly, almost defensively. "You might need me to write something down."

He nodded and started driving. The ride was quiet. Short—only five minutes, actually. I kind of wished we had walked instead. The area was scenic and would've been a nice distraction. I spent the entire ride staring out the window, taking in the view. But I couldn't shake the nervous pounding in my chest.

Soon, we arrived at the breakfast location—a high-end hotel café with elegant white chairs, gleaming marble tables, and soft classical music playing in the background. I took my seat beside Mr. Lavigne, my eyes still roaming in awe of the place. I still couldn't believe I was allowed to be here—no one was forbidding me, no one was watching my every move. I was free.

"Coffee?" Mr. Lavigne's voice caught me off guard.

I turned to him and nodded, smiling. A waitress stood beside him, notepad ready.

"Two coffees. Thank you," he told her politely.

Just then, an older man arrived—his presence imposing. He had ocean-blue eyes, eerily similar to those of Dad, Marco, Andreis… and Mr. Lavigne. There was something unnerving about him, something cold that sat just behind his warm smile.

Mr. Lavigne stood up, and I quickly followed suit, unsure of who this man was but sensing his importance.

"Mr. Adams, thank you for coming," Mr. Lavigne greeted him, extending a hand.

Mr. Adams looked at me—and froze, as though he'd seen a ghost. Then he broke into a wide smile.

"You're the one and only daughter of Bill Andrews!" he exclaimed with joy, as if seeing a long-lost treasure.

I forced a polite smile, confused and caught off guard. How did he know my father? And me?

I glanced at Mr. Lavigne. His expression was tight, clearly annoyed by the old man's comment.

"Shall we sit?" he said, redirecting the energy.

We all took our seats. Mr. Adams sat across from the two of us.

"You've grown so much. Time flies. Tell your father I said hello," Mr. Adams said to me kindly.

I nodded, still stunned, while feeling Mr. Lavigne's gaze on me—watching my every reaction.

"Let's talk business," Mr. Lavigne cut in quickly, clearly wanting to move on.

"Yes, I will send over the employees as agreed," Mr. Adams replied.

Wait—should I even be hearing this?

Mr. Lavigne glanced at me. "Mia, can you go ask the waitress to bring one more coffee for Mr. Adams?"

I nodded, understanding immediately that he was asking me to step away.

I approached the waitress.

"Just one more coffee, right?" she confirmed with a smile.

I nodded again, and before heading back, I glanced toward the table. They seemed deep in conversation. I decided it was safe to return.

But as I neared, I caught part of their exchange.

"She shouldn't know. That's not your burden—it's Mr. Andrews' problem now. Stay out of it," Mr. Lavigne said sharply to Mr. Adams.

My heart skipped. What shouldn't I know? What burden? What secret?

Mr. Adams turned to me as I reached them, surprised that I was back so soon. He smiled again, but it didn't reach his eyes.

Mr. Lavigne glanced at me too, his brows drawn.

"S-Sorry… thought you might need something," I said nervously.

"No. Let's go," he replied curtly, still visibly tense. He turned to Mr. Adams. "We better go."

I gave Mr. Adams a small bow as a silent farewell, then followed Mr. Lavigne out toward the car.

What was that? Another mystery. Another weight added to the pile of unanswered questions sitting heavily on my chest.

Why won't the confusion stop?