Mia walked over to David... "Are you okay?" Mia asked nicely.

    "Am I? Am I?! You were about to murder me and you're asking if I'm okay?!" David said to Mia. 

    "Don't push the blame to me! If you didn't try to knock me off my feet then I would never have touched you." Mia frowned at him.

     "How is it my fault you're crazy?! You could have killed me! Are you insane? What if you broke something?!" He yelled at her.

    "Now I'm wishing I broke something!" Mia yelled back at him.

     "Enough!" Ryan's voice echoed around the room. Mia and David instantly turned to Ryan. "Stop behaving like kids."

    David and Mia glanced at each other.

     "I think it would be best if you leave." He looked at David.

     "I'm out of here." David walked out of the empty room.

    Mia looked anywhere but Ryan's direction...

    "Are you that hard to work with?" Ryan asked her.

     "It's only a misunderstanding, David and I are gonna be fine." She told him, finally looking at him.

     "How about the others? What if you can't work with them, what should I do then?"

     "Nick and Carlos, are they perverts too? Because if they are then we're gonna have a serious problem." Mia said to him.

    "What's with you and perverts? Is every guy in the world a pervert to you?" Ryan frowned at her.

     "I can't take it if I'm not safe around the people I work with. I tend to lose my mind if I feel I'm being assaulted or harassed sexually." Mia was straight to the point.

     Ryan was silent for a while... He sighed... "You don't have to worry, I'm right here. I won't let any person near you. I'll make sure you're safe." He told her.

    "How can I be sure when you're a pervert yourself?" She raised her brow.

    "Fine." He nodded... "Once you feel that you're not safe with me, then you can quit. I won't hold you back, I won't take back the money, I'll let your company keep it." Ryan knew that he was risking everything. But what was the point if Mia didn't even trust him.

    Mia gazed at him... "A-are you serious?" She was actually surprised.

    "It's a deal." Ryan told her.

   "I love the deal." Mia smirked.

  "I'm sure you do. All you have to do is promise not to try to kill anyone here, okay?" Ryan shook his head. "I won't tolerate that kind of barbaric attitude." Ryan was strict and firm with his words.

    "Are you saying I'm a barbarian?" Mia glared at him.

    "I didn't say that Mia. I just —"

   "You've made your point. My stupid mistake, I'm sorry." Mia said to him coldly. She walked out angrily.

    Mia was fuming mad. He called her a barbarian?!

    "Fool." Mia said out loud while walking along a pavement. The place was already glowing with lights as the sky darkened.

     "Mia!" A female voice called out to her. Mia turned and sighted Olivia. "I haven't seen you since you got here. What have you been up to?" Olivia smiled at her.

    "I've been around." Mia nodded. "I haven't had time to tour." Mia said walking along side with Olivia.

     "Really? Fiona said she saw you with David earlier." Olivia told her.

    "Yeah but we didn't have time to go around." Mia said to her.

    "So how are things coming up? Do you need help?" Olivia offered.

    "A lot! Since you know so much about highly sophisticated people, you should know their taste pretty well." Mia said to her. 

   Olivia blushed... "I'm not really that broad but I can offer a little help. I know someone you could strike a deal with when it comes to furniture and ornaments. He's world class." Olivia told her. 
   
    "David actually had big ideas with ornaments and antiques. Can you imagine, he was talking about getting an original Victorian styled furniture? He was talking about asking a friend from Buckingham Palace and he actually sounded serious." Mia said to Olivia.

    "Oh! You should let him talk to Prince Harry, My boss would be very honored to have originals here in California!" Olivia was excited.

    "Prince Harry? No no. I said a friend not a prince." Mia corrected her.

    "I know! Prince Harry and David are close friends, didn't he tell you?" Olivia asked her.

    "What?! Close friends? David is friends with the Prince of England?! What!!! Are you serious?" Mia was very much in shock.

     "Yeah? It's not a new thing that the Prince of Monaco and the Prince of England are great friends." Olivia said to her.

    "Prince of Monawhat?" Mia was getting lost. She stopped walking.

     "David is a real life Prince." Olivia grinned.

     "Prince? David a Prince? A Prince?" Mia fluttered her eyes.

     "He is." Olivia narrowed her eyes. "He didn't tell you?" Mia shook her head. "Are you serious? I thought you guys were hitting it together, I assumed you knew." Olivia said to her.

    "David and I hitting? Hell no!" Mia almost laughed. "David is in his box and I'm in mine. He just helps out a lot." Mia said to her.

    "Oh. I didn't know. Fiona said she saw you both in the ongoing construction, getting too familiar." Olivia smiled.

     "Fiona says a lot of things. David and I are not even considered as friends yet, we just met." Mia shook her head.

    "That Fiona, she really is something isn't she? I'm pretty sure she told you that David and I were in a relationship before." Olivia said.

  Mia smiled... "She did."

    "I knew it! One advice, never let Fiona know your secret or it will be an open secret." Olivia said to Mia.

    Mia laughed... "Noted."

    Olivia and Mia strolled around for a while talking about different things, family, work, hobbies. Mia found Olivia very interesting and lively, they both had a lot in common.
✴✴✴✴✴

      Mia stood in front of David's door and in her hand was a plate of wrapped strawberries. The door opened and David looked at her.

    "Strawberries?" She held out the strawberries in his face.

   He glanced at the place and looked back at her. "What are you doing here?" He frowned at her.

   It was obvious he was still mad at her... "I came with a peace offering. See, strawberries?" Mia grinned at him.

    David sighed... "Thank you but I'm not interested." He was about to close the door when Mia stopped him.

    "Wait!" She held the door with a hand. Mia sighed sadly. "I'm sorry." She shook her head... "How's your neck? Does it still hurt?" Mia looked at his neck.

    "Like hell." David still didn't smile.

    Mia chuckled... "Do you recognize that it was your fault? You shouldn't have tripped me over or kissed my nose. Honestly, I did not find it funny and so I had to teach you that it's very wrong. So I hit you. Can you blame me?" Mia shook her head. "But I'm sorry."

    David has never seen a girl who is so fierce yet soft. He was silent, monitoring her.

    "Strawberries?" David eyed her.

    "Oh yes! Olivia told me they are your favorites." Mia gave him a warm smile.

    David smirked... "So you are trying to seduce me now?"

   Mia laughed... "With strawberries? I said it's a peace offering."

    David smiled... "About earlier, I'm sorry too. I don't usually ask for permissions to kiss a lady so you're gonna be the first. Since I know you're a pro in martial arts, I won't want to get on your bad side." He touched his neck. "This is gonna be a reminder that a girl almost made me dumb." He teased her.

   "Peace sign." She waved her fingers in his face, showing the peace sign.

    "You're the first girl to actually hit me." David pouted.

   "For real?" Mia laughed.

     "No one ever dared hit me." David said proudly.

     "Because you're the Prince of Monaco?" Mia smirked.

  David looked fluttered. He wasn't expecting her to find out, he didn't want her to know. At least not yet.

     "Why didn't you tell me?!" Mia said to him.

      "Because when people find out they tend to treat me differently." David shook his head. "Who told you? Ryan or Olivia?"

     "Olivia. I was really surprised to know that you're actually a prince charming."

     "Charming?" David laughed.

  "Yep! Just so you know, you being a prince doesn't mean I would not give insults when you're being annoying." Mia tried putting a straight face.

     "And you. Just because I can't kiss you doesn't mean I can't compliment God's creation? Don't stop me because that just how I am." David told her.

    "That's your problem. As long as you can keep your hands to yourself." She wagged a finger at him.

      "You know, I'm beginning to like you more." David tapped his chin.

   Mia grinned... "I'm very likable. Here. My peace offering." She handed the plate of strawberries to him.

     "Wanna come in?" He offered.

    "Nah. Enjoy the rest of the evening and I'll see you tomorrow. Okay?" Mia stepped back.

   "Thanks. For the strawberries." David thanked her.

  "It's nothing." Mia smiled. "Bye." Mia gave a short wave before leaving.

    "Bye." He smiled, watching her leave.
......................................................

    Next day.....

    It was a sunny Friday afternoon, Mia, Fiona and David sat together around a table.

    "I can help you talk to the Harry and also get a ship to transport the furniture." David said to Mia.

    "That would be helpful, thanks a lot. I already asked my boss from Van's Events to help me out with some antiques. I did a few browsing and I have some reputable places I could check out for some interior decor too." Mia told them while tapping on her laptop.

   "That's a good idea. How about paintings or exotic portraits?" Fiona asked her.

   "About that, I found out that Ry— I mean Mr Webster has a foundation. The kids there paint and draw, so I was thinking, why don't we showcase their works in the suites?" Mia suggested. "I saw a lot of wonderful paintings by those kids at the last annual charity event Mr Webster hosted, I couldn't believe kids actually made the paintings. Another thing, it will save cost." Mia said to David and Fiona. 

     "Are you sure that's a good idea? Mr Webster loves historical paintings, paintings that have worth and value." Fiona said, turning to David. "Or what do you think?"

    "It's not a bad idea, but I think Fiona is right. I know Ryan, he is in love with perfection, he wouldn't want amateur paintings hung in his presidential suites. If you go through the list of the paintings he acquired, you would know what I'm talking about." David told Mia.

    "What if I talk to him? I am the interior designer after all." Mia said.

     "Ryan doesn't care about cost, as long as he's top in everything." David said to her.

    "Okay. We'll look for other options." Mia shrugged...

     "I'll be with Nick and Carlos, we're heading to Malibu tomorrow. Will you be okay on your own?" Fiona asked her.

    "Who said she'll be alone? I'm gonna keep her company." David threw his arm around Mia's shoulders.

    Fiona smirked... "Ooh. That's nice. Tell you what, I can keep a secret. Are you both together?" Fiona kept a keen eye on them. 

     "He wishes." Mia swatted away his arms from her shoulder.

    Fiona giggled... "You both look cute together."

     "We're not compatible. You can have him." Mia concentrated on her laptop.

    "Boy I'm hungry, how about you girls?" David asked.

    "I am." Fiona answered.

   "You guys can go on, I'll catch up with you later." Mia was on her laptop, searching the Internet.

    "Are you sure you don't want to come with us?" David asked her.

    "I'm good. Go ahead. I'm still very busy." Mia told him.

     "Okay." He stood up. "I'll see you later." David and Fiona leave together.
✴✴✴✴

   Ryan sat in an armchair of his elegant penthouse reading a book when Olivia entered...

     "Sir, I have the complied file on what you asked for." Olivia said to him with a small file in her hand.

     Ryan looked at her with a raised brow.

     "The one of Mia Simpsons." Olivia stated.

     Ryan nodded slowly. "Give it here." He said to her. Olivia handed over the file to him.

     "You have a meeting in thirty minutes, the helicopter is waiting." She informed him.

    "I'll join you soon. Where's Mia?" Ryan asked her.

   "Last time I saw her, she was with David." Olivia answered. "Should I send for her?"

    "No. No need for that. You can go." Ryan dismissed her. Olivia nodded, leaving his sight.

    Ryan opened the file immediately. He scanned the paper...

   Full name: Mia Bernadette Simpsons.

   Age: 29

       "29!" His eyes widened. Ryan was quite surprised. "That girl barely looks 20." Ryan frowned at the thought of Mia being five years older than he was. Five fucking years?!

       "29? I don't believe that." There was no way Mia was 29. He would bet his new Mercedes that she wasn't even close to 22. She looked so small and fragile and young. Ryan waved off the thought and continued reading.

     Residence: Based in Milan, Italy. Presently staying in New York, USA.

     Academic background: Graduated from st Louis school Milan private school as a valedictorian, set 2***/ 2***
Studied pharmacy at the university of Milan.

    Mia had won a lot of academic awards during the past years and she graduated from a very prestigious international school in Italy. Ryan knew st Louis, most of his clients in Italy took their kids there. Mia was even a black belter in karate to?! 

    So many facts about Mia left Ryan stunned to the core.

    Parent: Karen Simpsons. Single mom. 

   Status: Single.

    Siblings: Only child.

Ryan skimmed through the rest of the file, he was no longer interested as the rest talked about her achievements.

   Ryan closed the file, placing it on a small corner table. "Who are you really Mia Bernadette?" He had a lot of questions to ask her.

   A pharmacist but yet an event planner?

   St Louis an exclusive private school?

   So many academic excellence awards?

    A black belter?

    Ryan sighed, standing up to leave.
......................................................
   Back in New York...

   "Alex, how about a play date?" Bee smacked her lips.

     "Buzzy Bee I said no okay?" Alex pulled her cheek. "Now where's Dony?" Alex asked her.

    "At The Webster Foundation, trying to win her man over. She'll meet us at home." Bee said to him. 

    They were walking down the pavement of the street with Lucas and two other bodyguards behind them. Alex had reluctantly followed Bee to the mall for shopping.

    "Are we done for today? I can't babysit you twenty four seven." Alex took out his phone, he tapped on the screen before placing it over his ear. "What's up man." It was Ryan.

    "Your cousin is killing me." Alex whined. "You fucking owe me. Yeah? Fine... Agreed." He passed the phone to Bee. "For you."

    "Hello cuz!" Bee said immediately after placing the phone over her ear. "I've been a good girl don't you worry.... Dony? She's at The Webster Foundation... Relax, she's safe." She entered the black car which was parked along the road. "I'll call you when I get home. Kisses, Muah!" Bee hung up.

     "You're gonna spend the rest of the day in the house right?" Alex asked her as the car drove off.

    "I'm going to the movies with a friend." Bee answered.

    "Movies? Did you tell Ryan about it?" Alex asked her again.

     "Not exactly." Bee smirked.

   "Not exactly? What does that mean?" Alex frowned.

    "I didn't tell him so what?! I'm just gonna watch a movie with a friend, that's all. Besides I'm taking Dony along with me." Bee said to him.

    Alex sighed... "Fine. Lucas goes with you." Alex said to her.

    "What! No! I don't want Lucas there with —"

   "Either that or nothing." Alex told her.

   Bee glared at him... "You're so lucky I have a huge crush on you otherwise, I would have plucked out your eyes." Bee looked away.
✴✴✴✴

    Mia walked into her verandah dressed in an oversized sweatshirt, showing off her legs. She stood admiring the view of the resort. It was always very beautiful at night.

      "Hey sexy."

   She heard David's voice and turned to her side. David was shirtless wearing only shorts. He too was standing his verandah, facing her. 

    "I thought you were asleep already?" Mia walked over to the corner of her big verandah for a closer communication as they were only a few feet away from each other.

     "Couldn't sleep. You?" David rested against the railings.

    "I'm still busy trying to sort out a few things." Mia answered him.

    "If you stress yourself you're gonna grow old quicker." David advised her.

     Mia chuckled... "Don't worry, I think I'm immune to wrinkles for now."

     "How's that?" David asked.

       Mia shrugged at the question.