Skip to content
Novel Catalog
Chapter_13
Micah froze for a moment, the tiny dropping hitting his jacket with an almost comical precision. He stared at it, then looked back at the bird perched on his shoulder. His lips twitched as if he were about to make a remark, but the oddness of the situation held him in check.
Mia, meanwhile, felt her heart race. “Coco! Get off him!” she shouted, though there was a mix of urgency and a tinge of laughter in her voice. Her protective instincts kicked in as she stretched her hands toward the bird, but Coco seemed to have taken a liking to Micah, unwilling to leave his shoulder.
Micah’s eyes softened ever so slightly as he looked down at Mia. He hadn’t expected such a direct interaction with a child—especially one as bold as this. Most people would be intimidated by his presence, but Mia was different. There was no fear in her eyes, only determination and concern for her pet.
“Is this little bird of yours always this troublesome?” Micah asked, his tone surprisingly light for someone who was usually as cold and calculating as a CEO.
Mia tilted her head, her brows furrowed in thought. “He’s not troublesome, but he likes to do his own thing. Sometimes he gets distracted… like now!” She reached up again, her small hands almost touching Coco’s tail feathers.
Micah finally relented, gently coaxing the bird off his shoulder with a calm hand. “Alright, alright, you win,” he murmured, handing Coco back to Mia. “Seems like he’s got a mind of his own.”
Mia took Coco back with a triumphant smile. “See? I told you!” She grinned, clearly proud of her victory.
The car was silent for a moment as Micah watched her with a strange expression on his face. His earlier coldness had melted away entirely in the presence of this tiny whirlwind of energy. The odd sense of connection tugged at him, something he couldn’t quite explain. It was rare for him to be disarmed, but this little girl had done just that.
Andrew, sensing the change in the air, cleared his throat and shifted uncomfortably in the front seat. “Mr. Clemens, we should get going.”
Micah nodded, but his eyes lingered on Mia a little longer before he turned away. “Of course,” he said, his voice returning to its usual commanding tone. “Let’s get back to business.”
As the car pulled away, Mia sat quietly in the back seat with Coco nestled in her arms. She glanced up at Micah one last time, a flicker of curiosity in her bright eyes. She had sensed something unusual about him—something that made her wonder what kind of person he really was beyond the intimidating exterior.
Back at the mall, Sadie had just finished her shopping when she received a text from Micah. She glanced down at her phone, feeling a twinge of unease. She wasn’t sure if she liked the way he seemed to always be one step ahead of her.
Micah: [I’ll be seeing you soon. Don’t get too comfortable.]
Sadie narrowed her eyes, biting her lip. What game was he playing now?
