Chapter 3

Enzo's POV

I just wanted to get this afternoon over with. This week had been so difficult and the deadlines seemed impossible. But I just needed to get my head down and focus. A part of me couldn't focus completely though, because I was busy worrying. Worrying about someone who wasn't really my problem, until I made her the problem.

As I focused on the information in front of me, I was distracted by a notification on my phone. Taking a look at what was crying for my attention, I noticed it was from the security.

"She's gone again. We couldn't stop her, she snuck out. We followed her to a bar but they aren't letting us inside to retrieve her,"

"Mia," I groaned "For fucks sake, why can't you just do as you're told!"

I packed up my work and pushed the documents into my bag "I guess I'll be doing work at home again tonight,"

Mia was the bane of my life right now. I had promised James I would take care of Mia, treat her like family and look out for her while she was over in Paris, but she was troublesome. Mia was becoming too much of a distraction to me, and I was worrying it was beginning to affect my work.

"I should pack your bags and send you back to America," I grumbled to myself.

James had warned me that Mia had been experiencing trouble with her ex, and that was part of why James begged me to keep an eye on her. In case this Matt fellow followed her out to Paris. No one deserved that, not even the most annoying woman on the Planet.

I tidied my desk, always wanting to leave it nice for when I returned back to it, and I found myself thinking about Mia, specifically the time she had been jogging in Central Park, evaded the security I had assigned to her and lost them.

I had gone straight to Mia's apartment, fired up with my French fiery blood. My knuckles slammed on the door violently, shaking the wall as I did.

"Calm down Enzo!" Mia said as she answered the door "What's your beef? Or should I say, boeuf?"

"You are not funny Mia Hayes!" I said, pushing myself through the door. I tried to distract myself from the fact Mia was wearing incredibly tight work out clothing, which shaped her figure amazingly. Her chest glistened with sweat, and I had to blink to focus on her eyes "I warned you a thousand times not to leave the security team when you are out!"

"You're hot when you're angry," Mia was trying to stifle a laugh.

I chose to ignore her immature comment "You call me on the first sense of danger, okay?" I felt myself relax somewhat as my anger calmed down "I will see you in the office tomorrow,"

As I left Mia's apartment, I had no idea why I really cared so much. If she was being so insolent and not taking her safety seriously, then perhaps I should just let her fend for herself in a strange new country.

And now, Mia has done the exact same thing again. The one thing I asked this arrogant little girl not to do. She had disobeyed me again, after everything I had gone out of my way to do for her.

I felt the same anger rise inside me once more. I had decided that I would go to the bar and tell Mia my deal with James was off. I would no longer be there to aid her in a job, or her safety. I wouldn't bail her out when she needed money, or food or...anything!

As I got to the bar, my security was still waiting outside. I told them to let me go in alone for now, as no doubt Mia would react badly to the security team ratting her out.

"Mia!" I called her name, spotting the blonde sitting at a booth table alone. I took the seat opposite and my eyes seared into hers "What the hell are you doing? Why are you like this?"

Mia shrugged it off casually as she sipped her drink through a pink straw "I'm just enjoying life, you should try it sometime Enzie,"

"Please don't call me Enzie, you know I hate that," I said, seething as I spoke through my teeth.

As I studied Mia, even her body language had changed. She appeared more confident and secure in herself. Which was also making me feel something else for her, I looked upon Mia again and I found her quite attractive.

"When you've finished that I am taking you home," I said, refusing to back down from her, despite how she was making me question my feelings for her.

"Sure thing boss," Mia said, finishing her drink quickly "Ready when you are,"

In the car back, I could feel the anger still searing inside me. I was torn between how insolent Mia was, and how she was making me feel. We had not spoken much, but I was becoming slightly enthralled by the smell of her sweet perfume on my senses.

"You need to be more careful Mia," I said, my voice more calming as the anger seemed to disappear slowly "I can't be there all the time for you, and the security team are just there to look out for you when I can't,"

"Mhmmm," was all Mia responded with, and as I glanced at her, I caught her eyes looking at me too. Her cheeks flushed with embarrassment a little, and she reminded me of that 19 year old girl again.

Another pang of guilt waved through me. That 19 year old girl I was so cruel to when I rejected her offer at James' party. The way she had looked at me, as though I was the most handsome man she had ever seen. Mia had doted on me even back then, I was no doubt a crush she had. I must have made her feel so inferior, knocking her confidence with my knee jerk reaction.

I had matured since then, and I knew how I reacted was terrible. I wanted to apologise, but I feared that in doing so right now, it would make Mia more smug and insolent than she already was.

I just let it stew inside my head for the time being and remained silent until I got Mia back safely to her apartment.