Filed to story: Mia Bowen and Timothy Barrett Novel
As Timothy and Mia stepped out of the store, a group of people approached them.
The middle-aged woman at the head of the group fixed Mia with a stern gaze and stated, “You’re Mia Lane, aren’t you?”
Pausing, Mia responded calmly, “Yes, that’s correct. May I ask who you are?”
It was evident that the woman harbored no good intentions.
“Ms. Lane, I’m here to talk about my son, Chuck. A few days ago, during your dinner party, he and another young woman got carried away and acted inappropriately.
“However, it seems that you’ve exaggerated this into a criminal issue. That’s why I’ve come today to address this matter with you.”
It appeared that the woman in question was Agatha Sinclair, the mother of Chuck Jones, who had recently returned from abroad.
Mia’s expression grew cold as she replied calmly, “You should take this up with Harper Martinez, not me. I’m not directly involved.”
“If that’s your stance, Ms. Lane, then perhaps this conversation won’t be productive. We’ve already reached out to Harper and her family, and they’ve agreed to a resolution.
“However, it seems that your lawyer has been encouraging her to press charges against Chuck. That’s why I’ve come to speak with you, Ms. Lane, to understand what issues you have with Chuck that warrant such drastic actions.”
Mia had an inkling of why Agatha had approached her, but she hadn’t anticipated that Harper and her parents were already willing to settle the matter.
With resolve, Mia asserted, “The lawyer I sent was to assist Harper. The ultimate decision lies with her. If she opts not to pursue legal action and prefers to reconcile with you, I won’t interfere.”
“Very well. In that case, please retract your lawyer, Ms. Lane. From here on out, the issue is between us and Harper. Please refrain from any further involvement.”
“As I mentioned before, if Harper no longer requires legal representation, my lawyer will gracefully step aside.”
Agatha’s expression shifted abruptly as she countered, “Ms. Lane, that’s not what you assured us earlier. You mentioned you wouldn’t intervene in this situation.
“So, why did you arrange for a lawyer to represent Harper? It seems you’re deliberately provoking a conflict with the Jones family.”
Mia began to grasp the situation. It appeared that Harper probably wasn’t interested in reconciliation, which prompted the Bowens to reach out to Mia.
Mia’s tone grew cold as she replied, “Considering Chuck’s behavior at my business banquet, it’s clear he also has grievances with the Lane family. In all fairness, he was the one who initiated the conflict.” Agatha’s expression hardened as she confronted Mia. “Mia, don’t overstep your authority. The Jones family is close to forming a partnership with the Barrett family. Once that happens, the Lane family won’t have the upper hand for much longer.”
Upon hearing Agatha’s words, Mia found herself at a loss for where to begin her critique!
It appeared that the Jones family had a close relationship with the Bowen family, evident from Lewis’ prior approach to Mia regarding the Jones family’s affairs.
However, Mia hadn’t anticipated the Jones family leveraging their partnership with the Barrett family to intimidate her.
The Bowens often boasted about the Barretts’ prominence in Bern City, unaware that Timothy Barrett, the CEO of the Barrett group, was currently serving as Mia’s bodyguard.
Despite this, Timothy had never acknowledged any collaboration with the Bowen family.
Mia couldn’t comprehend where the Bowen and Jones families derived their confidence to behave so arrogantly.
Upon seeing Mia’s continued silence, Agatha assumed she was intimidated and pressed on triumphantly, “Ms. Lane, we are both esteemed figures in Nord City’s high society. There’s no need to strain our relationship over a commoner woman, wouldn’t you agree?” Unfazed, Mia smirked and responded, “I’ll say it again. If Harper chooses not to pursue charges and decides to reconcile, my lawyer can return at any moment. Instead of wasting time with me, you should focus on earning Harper’s forgiveness.”
Mia was familiar with the behavior of the Jones family.
After all, those in positions of power often use their authority to oppress others. If Harper were genuinely interested in reconciling, the Jones family wouldn’t have approached Mia in the first place.
Nevertheless, Mia was determined not to yield to their pressure. Agatha’s expression shifted abruptly as she taunted, “Mia, are you really looking to get on the wrong side of both the Jones and the Bowen families?”
Raising an eyebrow, Mia retorted, “Let’s be real, do the Jones family and the Bowen family even have the stature to be enemies with the Lane family?”
Mia couldn’t help but marvel at their audacity.
With that, she turned on her heel and exited, refusing to waste any more time on them.
Observing Timothy nearby, Agatha couldn’t help but recognize him. She swiftly exclaimed, “Mia, it’s obvious there’s something going on between you and this bodyguard.
“Be cautious; clarifying this scandal to the Bowen family won’t be a walk in the park. They won’t exactly welcome a woman of questionable morals marrying into their family!”
“Does the Bowen family even deserve to be associated with the Lane family? Considering the rumors they’ve been spreading, I’ll have my lawyer send them a letter soon, demanding a formal clarification and apology.”
Mia was determined to take action. If left unattended, many might truly believe that the Lane family was about to formalize a marriage pact with the Bowen family.
Their persistent pestering was truly nauseating.
Upon getting into the car, Mia promptly dialed Jason’s number. “Hi, Jason. The Bowen family has been spreading rumors about an engagement between our families. It’s causing quite a stir.
“I want our legal team to draft a formal letter to the Bowen family, demanding a public retraction and apology.”
“I’ve been informed of the situation. Rest assured, I’ll promptly reach out to the Bowen family. They’re delusional if they think they stand a chance of marrying into our family.”
“Jason, there’s another matter. Earlier today, Chuck Bowen paid me an unwelcome visit. Things got heated, and he ended up losing a couple of teeth, all thanks to my bodyguard. Needless to say, the Bowen family won’t take this lightly.”
Mia proceeded to recount the incident involving Chuck from the recent banquet. She felt it necessary to provide Jason with all the details before instructing him to send a lawyer’s letter.
Otherwise, there was a risk of Jason being misled by the Bowen family’s legal representatives.
“Mia, I understand the situation. You don’t need to worry about the Bowen family. I’ll handle it.”
“Thank you, Jason.”
With Jason’s law firm involved, Mia wouldn’t have to worry about a thing.
Although she could have managed the situation independently, having Jason intervene would underscore the Lane family’s stance, making it clear that they didn’t entertain the notion of Mia’s engagement with the Bowen family.
As Mia was about to end the call, Jason unexpectedly asked, “By the way, Mia, I heard a rumor recently about you having an affair with your bodyguard. Is that true?”
Upon hearing Jason’s inquiry, Mia hurried to explain, her tone betraying a hint of nervousness. “Oh, that rumor? It’s merely media exaggeration. “I had a minor slip, and my bodyguard assisted me. I suspect the Bowen family is behind this, attempting to smear my reputation.”
“I see. Rest assured, I’ll handle it.”
Mia felt a wave of relief as Jason seemed to accept her explanation without any hint of suspicion. Yet, she knew she couldn’t conceal Timothy’s presence indefinitely.
Beside Mia, Timothy overheard her conversation with Jason. Her tone and demeanor were noticeably different; it was evident that Mia shared a close relationship with her family.
Turning to him, Mia asked, “If I arrange for you to visit Ginger in the hospital, will you agree to leave Nord City?”
Timothy’s gaze narrowed slightly as he responded, “Certainly. As long as Ginger is healthy, everything is open for discussion.”
However, Timothy’s reply merely hinted at the possibility of negotiation; he didn’t outright promise to leave Nord City.
The following morning, Mia received a report from Peyton.
Someone had intentionally leaked information online, alleging illicit dealings behind the promotional webpage of her movie, thereby implicating an innocent woman in the process.
The news spread rapidly, tarnishing the positive image of Mia’s inspirational film.
Mia didn’t need to speculate; she was certain that someone from the Bowen family was behind the smear campaign.
Turning to Peyton, Mia instructed, “Dispatch someone from the PR department to address this issue immediately.
“Also, what’s Harper’s final decision? Is she opting for a settlement or proceeding with a lawsuit against the Jones family?”
“Harper has chosen to pursue legal action against the Jones family.” “That’s excellent news.”
Mia was aware of the Jones family’s recent attempts to intimidate and bribe Harper. Fortunately, Harper remained steadfast and refused to compromise.
Glancing at Peyton beside her, Mia stated firmly, “We’ll offer Harper our full support as long as she stands firm.”
Observing Mia, Timothy remarked with surprise, “I’m surprised to see you being so generous to a stranger.”
“Firstly, there’s an unspoken pact of mutual support among women, something you may not fully grasp. Secondly, the Jones family is using the Bowen family’s support to intentionally sabotage my project.
“If I were to overlook this, it would signal weakness from the Lane family to the Bowen family. From any standpoint, I cannot afford to leave these issues unresolved.”
Peyton then added, “Ms. Mia, there’s a promotional event for the movie this afternoon. Would you like to attend?”
“Absolutely. Please ensure the media is briefed beforehand to keep their questions in check. We can’t risk anyone intentionally disrupting the event.”
After all, the Bowen family was certainly capable of such tactics.
This marked Mia’s debut in the entertainment industry, underscoring the importance of her making a confident entrance. Hence, she insisted on being involved in every step of the process.
In the afternoon, Mia slipped into her selected attire before settling into the car and heading toward the event venue.
As Mia glanced out at the gathered media reporters, she took a deep breath. Public opinion was the most unpredictable factor, and she knew she was in for a tough battle.
Timothy glanced at her and suggested, “Let me go down first and hold off those reporters for you.”
Mia nodded gratefully. Having a bodyguard by her side at this moment was undoubtedly reassuring.
She remembered how Timothy had dealt with reporters last time, even resorting to smashing their microphones and cameras. It was likely that journalists would be more cautious in his presence this time.
Swinging open the car door, Timothy gracefully stepped out, his steely gaze sweeping over the nearby reporters.
Just as he moved to the other side to open the door for Mia, a man in a suit with a leather-trimmed collar swiftly approached from the side.
The man preempted Timothy, taking the initiative to open the car door for Mia.