Under the Spotlight : The Obsession

"See you guys later. Once again, thank you for your help."

Victor's eyes remained fixed on Mia as the car started to move slowly. Mia was still waving at him outside the car, smiling sweetly, while Enzo could only put on a gloomy face. Enzo's two subordinates had expressions that were not too different. Even throughout the dinner, only Mia actively talked to Victor and Leon, while the others seemed to be pretending just so that Mia would not suspect their background.

Victor didn't know why Enzo was reluctant to tell Mia about their background. But with Mia, who considered Victor as Enzo's 'friend', Victor had more opportunities to get to know Mia better.

"Boss, why did you accept that invitation? With that tense atmosphere, I found it difficult to digest my food."

After their car had left the parking lot, Leon, who had been silent all the time, finally took the time to ask Victor. Victor answered Leon's question by raising his eyebrows as if asking the man what he meant by his question.

"You know nothing good will happen if we bother Enzo's people, right? I thought that you would reject the offer. But in reality, you even gave Mia your business card. You should have seen how bad Enzo's expression was when he saw that, Boss."

Victor fell silent as he also pondered the true meaning of his unexpected action. All Victor thought about when dinner was over was how he could meet Mia again before they parted ways. Victor didn't expect that just listening to someone talk would be enough to lift his previously ruined mood. Mia's eyes had a cute sparkle. Her voice was so melodious that Victor unconsciously wanted to be with the girl longer when Mia started chatting with him for the first time.

Unlike Mia's first impression, which seemed spoiled and naive, Mia unexpectedly could create a conversation that was enjoyable for both parties. She was not like other girls who only talked about themselves. Mia did not match Victor's previous expectations. The girl was full of surprises and fun to talk to.

It had been a long time since someone had been able to talk so freely with Victor without being afraid of his cold gaze. Aside from Victor's former lover, Mia was the first girl who had managed to have a long conversation with a boring guy like Victor.

To be honest, Victor also missed such casual chats. In his dangerous world, being able to talk like a normal person was very difficult for Victor. Victor had almost forgotten what it felt like to talk without having to be wary of each other. People usually always wanted something from him. But Mia seemed to remind him that there were still people who didn't like to take advantage of the people they talked to.

"I won't hurt her."

"But-"

"I know what I'm doing, Leon."

Victor cut Leon off coldly when the man wanted to protest once more. Leon could only grumble quietly, as he knew Victor in his no-refusal mode would be very annoying to respond to.

Leon drove in silence after that, while Victor secretly smiled a little as he remembered his second meeting with Mia.

***

"Don't soak in the bathtub for too long, Mia. It's already late. You should get some rest soon."

"Okay..."

Enzo took a deep breath when Mia answered him from inside the bathroom. Meanwhile, his hands were diligently tidying up Mia's scattered dirty clothes with his hands.

He continued to do that habit since Mia was taken care of by him when she was little. Enzo refused help from the maid, who tried to replace his duties. Enzo would not allow someone to replace him in taking care of Mia. Taking care of Mia had been his job since he was a teenager. Enzo loved the little job and had no intention of stopping anytime soon.

For him, Mia was still a little girl that he needed to protect from the world. Enzo had to do everything carefully, or Mia would disappear from his life like his parents.

Enzo's eyes darkened when he found a black business card with gold embroidery with Victor's name on Mia's clothes. Enzo cruelly crumpled the business card. He left the room to burn the crumpled paper in the ashtray without asking Mia's permission.

In the reflection of the glass wall, Enzo's cold face was staring at the paper until everything had turned to ashes. Enzo would never let anyone who had the potential to hurt Mia get close to his cousin. That day's meeting would be the last time Enzo held back from letting Mia get that close to Victor. There would never be a second time. Enzo would make sure of it with his own hands.

"Enzo, what are you doing there?"

Enzo's cold expression was immediately replaced by a warm expression when he heard Mia's voice. Mia seemed to have just finished her shower. Her white skin was only wrapped in a black bathrobe. Her beautiful wavy hair was drooping and still wet. It was a habit for Mia to dry her hair carelessly like that.

"I'm smoking. Come in. I'll help you dry your hair," Enzo said softly. Mia just obeyed when Enzo brought her back into the room. Enzo sat her on the thick, soft carpet while Enzo sat on Mia's big bed with the hair dryer that the man had just finished preparing.

When the hair dryer was turned on, Mia quietly enjoyed the warm breeze coming out of the machine while Enzo began to look focused on doing his job. It didn't take long before Mia's hair was dry. Enzo turned off the device, his hands helping Mia stand back up before pointing to the pajama set that the man kept at the other end of Mia's bed.

"Now change your clothes, okay? Don't sleep in just your bathrobe like last time," Enzo told her. Mia nodded obediently again as her hands took the pajamas her cousin had prepared while Enzo took the initiative to leave the room first.