Chapter 160 - 158: Do I Like You?
Based on what Mia Grant knew of Simon Adler, a man like him would almost certainly scoff at her words.
Sure enough, Simon Adler froze for a moment. Then, as if waking from a dream, a mocking smirk touched his lips. "I was just looking at the drool on your face."
"I can’t figure out what Silas Grant sees in someone as unkempt as you."
Mia’s face flushed with embarrassment as she frantically fumbled in her bag for a mirror to check.
’Did I really drool?’
’No way, right?!’
In the mirror, she saw her just-woken face. Her cheeks were flushed and her lips were moist, but there didn’t seem to be any strange marks.
Realizing he was teasing her, Mia slammed the mirror down and turned her head to see he had already opened the car door and gotten in.
A very polite distance separated the two seats in the back of the executive car.
The car door closed automatically, cutting off the cold wind that had been rushing to pour inside.
"Where’s the thing my brother sent for me?"
Mia didn’t want to waste her breath on him.
Simon Adler didn’t even glance at her. He was probably exhausted. He leaned back into the seat, adjusted himself into a comfortable position, and slowly closed his eyes.
Mia urged him, but it was a long while before he finally spoke to the person in front. "Simon, give her the item."
Sean Cole, who had just settled into the passenger seat, froze when he heard that. ’What item?’ he thought. ’He didn’t tell me about this ahead of time.’
But that was fine.
’A good assistant has to make his boss feel his million-dollar annual salary is worth every penny!’
He quickly ran through the list of things they had brought from Portia...
’There were a few gifts, which they had just given to Simon Adler’s professor.’
’Then there was Simon Adler’s luggage.’
’The man had very high standards for his clothes.’
’Unlike Silas Grant, he wasn’t overly concerned with social etiquette, but he was incredibly particular about his personal style. He was so meticulous that even the colors and lines of the smallest details had to pass his inspection before he would wear them.’
After racking his brain, Sean Cole remembered the box of Portuguese egg tarts they’d brought with them that morning.
He didn’t know who had bought them; they had just suddenly appeared on the plane. Simon Adler had simply told him to grab them on their way out.
Simon found the box of Portuguese egg tarts and passed it over from the front seat, smiling. "Miss Grant, this is for you."
"Unfortunately, we were in such a rush that they’ve gotten a bit cold. You’ll have to heat them up when you get back."
Mia took it, her lips twitching slightly. "Are you sure this is what my brother had you bring?"
"What else? You think I bought them for you?" Simon Adler retorted.
Mia opened the insulated bag and paused when she saw the logo on the box inside.
She no longer doubted Simon Adler and closed the bag.
’This bakery was so popular that only Silas Grant and Hayes Hughes would tirelessly wait in line to buy them for her.’
’Besides, other than those two, no one else knew she loved the Portuguese egg tarts from this place.’
"My brother... did he say anything?" This time, when Mia Grant looked at Simon Adler, her gaze was much more sincere, no longer filled with her previous wariness and hostility.
"No."
Mia frowned and instinctively started to ask another question, but she stopped, feeling embarrassed as the words reached her lips.
After a pause, she changed the subject. "Has my brother been busy lately? Is he doing okay?"
"What do you think?" Simon Adler opened his eyes and shot her a look, his tone flat. "If he could squeeze out even a little bit of time, he would’ve come to give you a hard time long ago. Do you think you’d be this carefree?"
Mia could hear the resentment in his words, as if they were laced with thorns.
But it was understandable.
As Silas Grant’s friend, it was only normal for Simon Adler to feel indignant on his behalf. It was forgivable.
Mia didn’t hold it against him.
"When you go back, tell my brother that my engagement is just to temporarily placate the old gentleman and, while I’m at it, leave the Grant Family. That’s all."
"Tell him not to worry about it."
"In your eyes, he seems to be quite the magnanimous person."
Mia was at a loss for words. "But it’s all fake."
"Mm," Simon Adler nodded. "Sure. It’s one thing to fool others, but don’t fool yourself in the process."
Mia took a deep breath, telling herself not to get angry.
"My brother will believe me. I know exactly what I’m doing and what I’m saying. You don’t need to worry about the rest."
"Mind your own business..." she couldn’t help but mutter. "Has anyone ever told you that you’re really detestable?"
...
The atmosphere quietly froze over, but Mia didn’t seem to notice.
She mumbled a few more words. When he still didn’t say anything, she decided to change the subject.
"Have you thought about what I asked you last time?"
"I helped you find Kian Keller. As an exchange, you should be able to agree to my request now, right?"
"All you have to do is visit the old gentleman and casually mention that I’m getting engaged to the Sinclair Family. You don’t have to do anything else."
"That shouldn’t be too much trouble, right?"
"Not much trouble," he shot back. "Since you’re not the one going, of course you don’t think it’s much trouble."
Mia reached the end of her rope. She raised her hand and poked his arm forcefully. "Did you eat gunpowder for breakfast?"
"Anyone who didn’t know better would think you have a secret crush on me. Why are you getting so worked up about my engagement?"
Simon Adler’s eyes snapped open, meeting her gaze.
"I’m not saying you..." Their eyes met unexpectedly, and Mia’s voice died in her throat.
She froze, rendered speechless by his cold, intense gaze.
Gradually, she realized the atmosphere felt a little off.
He didn’t speak.
He just stared at her with those deep, dark eyes, like an abyss ready to swallow her whole.
’That look was somehow familiar.’
’Hadn’t she just seen it in a dream not too long ago?’
Mia swallowed nervously and silently sat up straight.
"What kind of reaction is that?"
"Can we even have a normal conversation anymore?"
"Don’t look at me like that. It’s weird."
"I was just joking. I know I’m not your type, and you’re not the kind of scumbag who would go after his friend’s girl."
"There’s no need to make such a big deal out of it, is there?"
"Forget it, forget it. Just pretend I never said it."
The man’s gaze didn’t change despite her words. After a long moment of staring, he finally retracted his intensely oppressive gaze.
Mia breathed a sigh of relief. The next second, she heard him ask:
"Do you like Silas Grant?"
"?" Mia looked confused. After a moment’s thought, she replied, "Does that question even need an answer?"
"Different question. Do you like Yates Donovan?"
...
"Is this question also too difficult to answer?"
She wasn’t sure if it was her imagination, but Simon Adler seemed to be smiling, though it was heavy with mockery.
It was an uncomfortable sight.
"Let’s try another one. Do you like Felix Sinclair?"
Silence.
Still silence.
"It seems all three questions are hard to answer."
Mia came back to her senses. Her brow furrowed for a moment before relaxing.
She raised a nonchalant smile, no longer as passive as she had been moments before.
She propped her chin on one hand, her eyes knowing and laced with a hint of disdain. "No, it’s not hard to answer."
"The answer to all three questions is the same."
"They’re all great, so of course I like them all."
Meeting his unreadable gaze, Mia blinked. "Do you have a fourth question? Need me to ask it for you? For instance—"
"Do I like you?"