Filed to story: Mia Bowen and Timothy Barrett Novel
Indeed, none of the bodyguards were privy to Timothy’s background. All they knew was that he had seemingly emerged out of nowhere, projecting an indifferent attitude toward everyone. The complexity of his relationship with Mia only added to the mystery surrounding him.
With a cryptic tone, Peyton cautioned, “Some matters are best left unquestioned.”
After all, Mia had explicitly instructed Peyton to keep Timothy’s identity under wraps. Nonetheless, Peyton wasn’t foolish enough to risk provoking Timothy into a confrontation.
As Peyton glanced toward the car ahead, he quietly commended himself for choosing to sit in the other car. He imagined the scene unfolding in the front car would be nothing short of a battlefield! Meanwhile, Mia felt a chill emanating from the passenger seat. Sensing the tension, Dylan swiftly redirected the conversation toward recent events in the entertainment industry, effectively diffusing the somber atmosphere inside the car.
As Mia listened to Dylan, her face brightened with a continuous smile. After all, Dylan always had a wealth of juicy gossip to share whenever he visited.
Seated in the passenger seat, Timothy couldn’t help but notice the laughter and animated chatter emanating from the back seat.
His expression darkened as he observed how effortlessly Dylan seemed to lift Mia’s spirits.
Upon catching sight of Mia’s cheerful expression in the rearview mirror, a wave of emotions stirred within Timothy. He couldn’t believe how happily she was chatting with Dylan!
Suddenly, a twinge of jealousy gnawed at Timothy’s heart.
The tension hung thick in the air, so tangible that even the driver beside him seemed to shrink into his seat. If he hadn’t been the one behind the wheel, he might have preferred to be in the other car instead.
Despite the tense atmosphere, Mia decided to brush it aside and carry on her conversation with Dylan as if nothing was amiss.
Meanwhile, Dylan remained oblivious to Timothy in the passenger seat. With his extensive experience in the entertainment industry, Dylan knew that lacking the foresight and determination to seize opportunities could hinder his advancement.
Indeed, some opportunities were meant to be fought for.
An hour later, they arrived at the restaurant.
Dylan kindly held the door open for Mia, remarking, “Mia, this restaurant has recently added some incredibly tasty new dishes to their menu. You’ll see what I mean once you try them later.”
As Mia stepped out of the car, she caught sight of Timothy exiting from the passenger seat. Sensing the tension radiating from him, Mia pretended not to notice and continued walking toward the restaurant with Dylan.
After all, she was now single and had every right to dine with whomever she pleased.
As they strolled along, sharing laughter and conversation, Mia and Dylan couldn’t shake off the unsettling feeling of being watched from behind.
Lowering his voice, Dylan remarked, “Mia, what’s the deal with your bodyguard? There’s something about the way he looks at us that gives off a strange vibe, almost as if he’s intensely possessive. Could those media rumors be true?”
Mia replied calmly, “All those rumors in the media are baseless. You know how it goes with entertainment news—it’s all just gossip and speculation.”
“Why do I get the feeling that this bodyguard has a thing for you?” After all, men often had a knack for picking up on other men’s intentions. Mia was surprised. “You think he’s into me?”
“Yeah, the jealousy written all over his face was pretty obvious.”
But Mia shook her head. “No, it’s not what you think. You’re misunderstanding him. His expression wasn’t fueled by jealousy or any interest in me.”
Dylan looked puzzled. “Then what was it?”
Mia responded calmly, “It’s because he’s being pathetic.”
After all, Timothy had abandoned his prestigious CEO position in Bern City to become a mere bodyguard in Nord City. If that wasn’t pathetic, then what was?
Upon hearing Mia’s words, Dylan fell silent for a moment, a hint of contemplation in his eyes. From Mia’s tone, he could tell that her relationship with this bodyguard was far from straightforward.
Having known Mia for two years, Dylan had never witnessed her behavior around any other man like this.
It was becoming evident that Mia treated this bodyguard differently.
As Timothy trailed behind, he observed Mia and Dylan entering the private lounge. With a stern expression, he followed suit, stepping into the room as well.
After they settled in and placed their orders, Dylan shifted his attention to the stern-faced Timothy standing by the door. “Mia, since it’s just the two of us dining, we don’t really need your bodyguard here. It’s a bit awkward.”
Dylan had intentionally said this, wanting Timothy out of the picture. After all, he had to be ruthless when dealing with adversaries.
Clearing her throat, Mia proposed, “Maybe you could dine elsewhere for the time being.”
However, Timothy remained firm, his demeanor cold as he asserted, “As your bodyguard, ensuring your safety is my duty.”
Timothy wasn’t comfortable leaving Mia alone in a room with another man.
Observing Timothy’s reluctance to depart, Mia decided not to push the matter any further. If Timothy insisted on being stubborn, she didn’t feel it was her responsibility to persuade him otherwise.
Watching the scene unfold, Dylan reluctantly acquiesced. Soon after, their dishes were served.
Dylan smiled as he introduced the dishes, saying, “Mia, you should give this one a try. It’s really delicious. I’ve heard it’s a modified version of a specialty dish from Bern City.”
Mia’s surprise was evident upon learning about the dish’s origin. “This is from Bern City?” she inquired.
“That’s correct,” Dylan confirmed. “I’ve heard that the chef who prepared this dish had previously worked for the prestigious Barrett family in Bern City.
“This particular dish was known to be a favorite of that picky aristocrat from Bern City.”
Upon hearing this statement, Mia’s appetite immediately waned, prompting her to set down her cutlery.
She peered at the dish before her and questioned, “Are you certain that this chef worked for the esteemed Barrett family in Bern City, and that this dish was Mr. Barrett’s favorite?”
Wasn’t that too much of a coincidence?
Mia couldn’t believe the serendipity of encountering a chef who had worked at Timothy’s household just as they casually went out for a meal.
“This information is straight from the chef’s mouth. Rumor has it that the CEO of the esteemed Barrett Group in Bern City has an exceptionally discriminating palate and is notoriously demanding. “However, these signature dishes prepared by the chef seem to be quite popular.”
Upon hearing these absurd rumors, Mia suppressed a smile and pressed on, “Besides mentioning Mr. Barrett’s discerning and hard-to- please taste, what else did the chef reveal?”
She was eager to learn more!
As soon as Mia finished speaking, she felt Timothy’s subtle gaze on her.
“He didn’t mention much else, only that Mr. Barrett has a very selective palate and is difficult to please.
“The Barrett family changes chefs frequently, and he stayed there for quite some time before eventually quitting.
“However, the chef’s culinary skills remain commendable. I’ve sampled these dishes, and they’re quite impressive.”
Upon hearing this, Mia exchanged a meaningful glance with Timothy, who stood at the door. “I never imagined Mr. Barrett would have such a negative reputation outside.”
Glancing at the dishes on the table, Timothy replied coldly, “It’s all unfounded.”
After all, Timothy’s culinary preferences had always been inconsistent; he was content with mild flavors and had no fixed preferences for specific dishes. Therefore, the chef’s claim was clearly untrue. Perhaps this chef had never actually worked at the Barrett residence. Dylan’s displeasure was evident upon hearing this. “You’re just a bodyguard, what do you know? How can you be so certain that the chef is lying? After all, he has previously worked for the Barrett family. While his claims might be somewhat exaggerated, they’re unlikely to be entirely baseless.”
Upon hearing Dylan’s defense, Mia suppressed a smile and nodded. “You make a valid point. There must be some truth to it. After all, rumors often contain a kernel of truth.
“If this supposed Mr. Barrett was easy to please, the chef wouldn’t be criticizing him behind his back.”
Dylan chimed in, “Besides, we all know that wealthy individuals are notoriously hard to please.”
“Exactly,” Mia agreed.
Timothy’s expression hardened. “If you don’t believe me, there’s nothing more I can do.”
Dylan found Timothy’s response somewhat odd. He spoke with a tone reminiscent of the “Mr. Barrett” himself, which struck Dylan as overly arrogant.
Dylan swiftly changed the topic and offered Mia some food, saying, “Let’s move on from this, Mia. We should probably eat before the dishes get cold.”
Observing Dylan’s sudden attentiveness to Mia, Timothy’s expression turned cold. “Hey, you might want to think twice about using that fork to serve her. It’s been in your mouth, so it’s definitely contaminated with your saliva.”
Mia’s already waning appetite vanished upon hearing this remark. Feeling embarrassed, Dylan quickly apologized, “Mia, I’m sorry, I wasn’t paying attention.”
However, Mia didn’t dwell on it. She understood that Timothy was deliberately trying to disgust her and spoil her appetite.
After indulging in a few bites of dessert, she gently placed her cup down and declared, “Excuse me, I need to use the restroom.”
She felt the urge to step outside for some fresh air.
After Mia departed, the atmosphere in the private lounge immediately grew tense.
Dylan’s gentle smile vanished instantly, replaced by a vigilant expression as he fixed his gaze on Timothy by the door.
“As a bodyguard, you should know your boundaries and refrain from desiring what isn’t yours. Ms. Lane is the heiress of the Lane family, and though she may find you somewhat interesting for now, she won’t end up with you.”
Leaning against the wall, Timothy regarded Dylan with disdain. “I’m not like you.”
“What sets us apart? To Ms. Lane, we’re essentially the same,” Dylan countered.
“My connection with her is far more intricate than you realize,” Timothy asserted, a touch of arrogance in his tone.
This statement intrigued Dylan. “What exactly is your relationship with Ms. Lane?”
“I don’t have to disclose that to you,” Timothy replied firmly, shooting Dylan a piercing stare. “It would be wise for you to maintain your distance from her. Otherwise, you’ll come to regret it.”
Despite being in Nord City, taking down a lowly actor like Dylan would be considered child’s play for Timothy.
Dylan responded with a mocking expression, “Do you really think you can scare me off? I was just trying to give you a friendly heads-up that Mia isn’t someone you can chase after. If it’s money you’re after, just name your price.”
Upon hearing this, Timothy removed his sunglasses, revealing his sharp and arrogant eyes. “You might be daring, but my rate is out of your league.”