Filed to story: Mia Bowen and Timothy Barrett Novel
Yet, Mia later discovered that the golf course had been developed after all.
She recalled overhearing Timothy discuss certain issues related to that specific piece of land.
“Ms. Bowen, I have no concerns with these design drafts¨Cthey all look promising to me,” Keegan remarked.
“Let’s shift gears for a moment. What do you enjoy doing in your free time? What are your interests?” he continued.
Upon hearing this, Mia sensed something was amiss.
She stood up and said, “Mr. Stewart, if you haven’t settled on the design yet, let’s discuss it when you’ve made your decision.”
After concluding her words and attempting to leave, she discovered the door to the villa unexpectedly closed. Taking a deep breath, Mia paused briefly before turning to confront Keegan. “What’s this supposed to mean?” “Well, Ms. Bowen, I understand women like you often have their price¨Cvarying for each, of course. Given your talents, you could command a substantial sum.
“I pride myself on generosity, and as long as you meet expectations and ensure my satisfaction, we’ll get along just fine. 1
“After all, time isn’t on my side, and there’s only so much money I can spend,” Keegan stated.
Mia’s expression hardened instantly. “I’m not interested,” she retorted coldly.
“Ms. Bowen, you’re already here. Why play hard to get? Patience isn’t exactly my strong suit,” Keegan warned.
As Roberto approached her, Mia instinctively stepped back.
She quickly pulled out her phone, declaring, “If you come any closer, I’ll call the police.”
In an instant, Roberto snatched the phone from Mia’s grasp.
Keegan’s eyes narrowed coldly. “Take her upstairs and make sure her hands and feet are tied,” he instructed.
Taking a deep breath, Mia suddenly inquired, “Mr. Stewart, you’re acquainted with Timothy, aren’t you?”
Keegan raised his gaze, inquiring, “What about him?”
“Well,” Mia began, “about a year ago, your son approached Timothy regarding an investment in a golf course. project.
“Unfortunately, it didn’t go through due to concerns about the water quality at the proposed location. The land had a history of heavy industrial use and wasn’t suitable for a resort transformation.”
After Mia concluded her statement. Keegan motioned toward Roberto and remarked, “Ms. Bowen seems to be well¨Cinformed.”
Turning his attention back to Mia, Keegan inquired, “What’s your connection with Timothy? Have you engaged in any previous dealings with him?”
“My relationship with Timothy isn’t the focus here. What’s cruciat is that the land has been developed into a resort, and it’s been showing considerable success lately.
“Should any issues surface, Keystone Construction might encounter serious problems, potentially leading to legal challenges for your son.
*Furthermore, given the financial difficulties your company has been facing since last year, the repercussions of a project failure could be…”
Mia left her sentence unfinished, attempting to channel Timothy’s negotiating tone while grappling with an underlying anxiety.
After all, her knowledge of Keystone Construction’s financial troubles was speculative, drawn from Timothy’s remarks.
Sometimes, blending truth with fiction might be the most effective approach.
The atmosphere in the room suddenly became tense.
Summoning her resolve, Mia straightened her back and locked eyes with Keegan.
Breaking the silence, he finally asked. “Spill it. What’s your relationship with Timothy?”
A faint smirk graced the corner of Mia’s mouth as she replied, “Well, Timothy specifically instructed me not to disclose our relationship, so I’m bound to keep that confidential.
“However, if you wish, you could contact him directly. I have his number saved in my phone.”
Mia’s composed demeanor stirred a in Keegan.
Without delay, Roberto took Mia’s phone and commanded, “Unlock it.”
Mia readily complied, unlocking her phone.
Following this, Keegan provided Timothy’s phone number, which Roberto dialed directly from Mia’s phone. In no time, her phone screen lit up with a contact name: “Scumbag.”
Observing the display, Mia cleared her throat lightly. “It’s an inside joke between us,” she remarked.
Roberto immediately hung up the phone, and Keegan’s demeanor grew serious. “Pass her the phone,” he
Instructed.
After retrieving her phone, Mia felt a sense of relief as the lingering anxiety lifted. Had she successfully passed the test?
The recent ordeal had genuinely terrified her.
Nonetheless, could she confidently assume she was now in the clear?
Confronted with a moment of urgency. Mia found herself compelled to resort to bluffing.
Once again, Mia’s phone buzzed, and Timothy’s name lit up on the caller ID.
Mia’s eyelid twitched in annoyance. Why was Timothy calling again? Didn’t he have work to attend to?
Keegan glanced over and calmly remarked, “Aren’t you going to pick up?”
Reluctantly, Mia answered the call, deliberately clearing her throat before saying. “Hello, dear. I apologize for the confusion earlier. I accidentally dialed the wrong number.”
Timothy’s brows furrowed on the other end. “Mia, can’t you communicate like a normal person?”
“What’s that? You’re asking where I am? I’m at work. A client needed me to come over and present some design plans. I’m at Oakwood Villa. I’ll come over once I’m finished.” Mia quickly.conveyed.
Timothy’s eyes narrowed as he sensed a shift in the conversation. “Mia, what’s going on?”
“Sweetheart, I have to go for now. Sending you kisses.”
After Mia finished speaking, she abruptly hung up the phone and calmly faced Keegan. “I’m sorry, but I think I need to leave now.”
“Wait.” Keegan interjected.
Mia tensed briefly before she redirected her attention to Keegan. “Is there anything else?” she inquired.
Keegan retrieved the design plans Mia had meticulously prepared, his tone adopting a more conciliatory note. Ms. Bowen, your designs are truly excellent. Let’s proceed with this plan.
“What occurred earlier was simply a misunderstanding. Considering Mr. Barrett’s demanding schedule, any additional complications wouldn’t be in your best interest.
“Let’s agree to treat this incident as if it never happened.”
“Alright, after all the fewer complications, the better,” Mia agreed easily.
Clutching her design plans, Mia swiftly left the villa.
Once she stepped out into the open air, Mia was enveloped by the embrace of sunlight, and a soothing warmth gradually embraced her.
As she wiped the sweat from her forehead, Mia couldn’t help but reflect on how narrowly she had escaped a potentially dangerous situation.
The encounter with Keegan had caught her off guard.
Stepping outside the villa, Mia was accompanied by a lingering unease. Promptly, she sought solace on a nearby bench, seeking a moment of respite.
As her hand gently rested on her belly. Mia contemplated whether the baby might have been startled, too.
“Well, at least your seemingly useless father still holds some value,” she mused.
While regaining her composure, a sleek black luxury car suddenly pulled up in front of Mia. The license plate seemed vaguely familiar.
As the car door opened, Timothy emerged, his voice tinged with surprise. “Mia!”
Startled by the unexpected arrival, Mia looked up to see Timothy, prompting her to inquire, “What brings you here?”
Approaching her, Timothy cast a condescending glance at Mia. “Weren’t you the one who called me for help.
claiming to be in Oakwood Villa?”
Pausing for a moment, Mia was surprised by Timothy’s understanding of her earlier implications.
or out.
What astonished her even more was that Timothy had genuinely sought her
In reality, Mia had strategically used that phone call as a precautionary measure.
Unexpectedly, Keegan became apprehensive about Timothy, prompting him to withhold any actions against
Mia.
With everything settled, Mia took a moment to ponder before responding. “To be honest, I didn’t need your assistance. I simply lost a dare with a friend and ended up having to make a random call.”
*A dare to make a random call?” Timothy exclaimed, yanking at his tie in frustration.