Chapter 15
Austin had sent one of his guys to CP Stitch Studio under the pretense of getting some clothes altered.
When the man walked in, he spotted Nadia carrying a tea tray. Her expression was tense with frustration, like she’d just been scolded. He took note of the scene before reporting back to Austin.
“Serving tea now?” Jason muttered after hearing from Austin, flicking his pen across the desk. It clattered to a stop as his eyes. narrowed, dark with disdain.
“She gave up the life of a pampered wife just to play assistant? I must’ve given her too much freedom, so she’d forgotten what it means to struggle,” he sneered.
Austin stayed silent. He’d learned better than to add fuel to Jason’s temper.
‘The more he talks, the more he sounds like a bitter ex with a god complex,‘ Austin thought. ‘Keep barking, man. It just makes you look pathetic.
When Jason was away on business trips, Nadia often called to check on the local weather, his accommodations, or how the negotiations were going.
Jason found her calls irritating, so he had Austin handle them instead, offering polite excuses about being busy and subtly hinting that she should call less. After that, Nadia stopped reaching out altogether.
Austin couldn’t help but respect her. Most women with a husband who handed out allowances and rarely came home would have either cheated or cracked under the isolation by now.
Nadia was picking out silk threads in the stockroom when Ash slipped in through the half–open door.
“What is it?” Nadia asked, turning to look at Ash.
There’s a cute guy outside,” Ash left a gap in the door so Nadia could peek. “The one in the suit.”
Nadia followed her line of sight and spotted a man poking his head around, clearly sneaking peeks.
“At first, I thought he was a fan of Abby Pauley, but when she came out, he didn’t even look at her.” Ash smiled at Nadia. “He’s here for you. If you’re interested, I’ll help you out. If not, I’ll chase him away.”
Nadia stared at her, caught off guard by the excitement. Then her gaze shifted to the man, and she noticed a staff pass peeking from his pocket. He was with the Black Group.
‘So Jason sent someone to keep an eye on Abby?” she thought, arching a brow. “Or was it to make sure I don’t lay a finger on his precious girl?”
“That guy’s not bad–looking, but he’s not bold enough,” Ash said, her eyes gleaming with mischief. “Let’s see if he’s sincere. I’ll be tough on you and see if he steps in.”
They agreed on the plan and walked out of the stockroom together.
“The clothes we fixed yesterday are ready. Go deliver them,” Ash snapped. “You’re so clumsy. If you can’t even deliver clothes right, just go home.”
“Got it,” Nadia replied, grabbing the package and heading out.
She saw the man slip into the stairwell from the corner of her eye. She then took the elevator to the ground floor to keep up the act.
As she approached the road, a woman’s anxious voice called out behind her. “Thief! Stop him!”
A middle–aged woman was panting heavily as she chased after a tall, strikingly handsome young man. With looks like his, why would he be stealing? But I guess looks could be deceiving, Nadia thought.
Nadia placed the clothes in her car, then turned around just in time to see the man rushing toward her. Without thinking, she
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swung her bag, landing a solid hit.
Caught off guard, the man stumbled to a halt, and Nadia quickly followed up with a sharp stomp on his feet as she grabbed his arm tightly. “Hand it over!” she demanded.
The man blinked in surprise, then flashed her a sheepish smile. “You’ve got it wrong,” he said, his tone apologetic.
Nadia ignored him and shouted, “Ma’am! I’ve got him! Call the police!”
The woman finally caught up, breathless and wide–eyed. She pointed at the man, shaking her head. “H–He was helping me…”
Nadia froze, her face flushing with embarrassment. ‘Oh my goodness, that’s awkward, she thought, panic bubbling inside her.
‘What should I do now? Should I apologize? But how?‘ Her mind raced, words failing her as she struggled to figure out how to undo her hasty actions.
ailing.
As she scrambled for a way to salvage her impulsive blunder, the man spoke first, his tone warm. “People like you who step in for others are rare. That was brave of you.”
Relieved, Nadia quickly bowed her head. “Sorry, I misunderstood. You should probably go catch up.”
Just then, the middle–aged woman hurled another curse over her shoulder. “You little brat, don’t come home or I’ll break your legs!” The woman stormed off after a teenager who stuck his tongue out and dashed around the corner.
Nadia and the man exchanged looks. He gave a sheepish smile. “It looks like I was mistaken, too.” He rubbed the back of his neck with a slight frown.
“Did I hurt you?” Nadia asked, rising on her toes to check his arm.
“No, I just haven’t exercised in ages. Did some chest stretches earlier, and my arms are already sore.” He gave a lazy stretch, then looked at her curiously. “You’re really brave. Have you always been like this?”
Nadia usually didn’t care to have small talk with strangers, but something about his calm voice and modest manner put her at
ease.
“I got mugged once. My exam admission slip was in my bag,” Nadia said, voice steady. “My little brother chased the guy in his wheelchair, and he almost got hit by a car. Since then, I don’t hesitate when I see something shady.”
Fred Hancock let out a low whistle. “Your brother’s gutsy. Most people would’ve been traumatized by that kind of thing. But you? You turned fear into a fight. That’s impressive.”
He wasn’t just praising her, but acknowledged her brother, too. It was a rare kind of compliment, and it naturally lifted her spirits.
She was about to reply when her phone buzzed. Ash had just called to say she’d chased that man away and that she could
return.
“Thanks again,” Nadia said with a nod.
“Take care. Fred watched her walk away, his smile slowly widening.
When Fred returned to the gym, Paul was getting wrecked under his trainer’s supervision, grunting his way through squats. “Where’s the water you said you were getting?” he huffed. “Are you trying to kill me so you can steal my spot?”
Fred sat across from him on a machine, casually knocking out a set of crunches. “If you died mid–workout, it’d probably make national news.”
Speechless, Paul collapsed onto the mat, catching his breath. “Seriously, what’s with the creepy grin?”
Fred was always calm and composed, never the type to forget his purpose, so seeing that smug grin on his face was rare and almost unsettling.
Did a good deed today.” Fred said simply.
“You?” Paul looked doubtful.
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Chapter 15
Fred nodded. “Saw a woman chasing after a kid. Thought he stole something, so I jumped in. Turns out he was her son. Then a girl thought I was the thief.”
Paul raised an eyebrow, wiping sweat with his towel. “Let me guess. That’s not what’s got you smiling. It’s the girl, isn’t it? You look dumb.”
Fred didn’t deny it. If anything, he smiled even more.
Paul raised an eyebrow at Fred’s reaction, his curiosity kicking in.
Fred was Leland Hancock’s cousin, and he’d grown up alongside Paul and Jason. The Hancock family had once rivaled the Blacks, but internal conflicts had dragged them down. Now, their standing was even lower than the Green family’s.
After Leland went abroad, Fred withdrew to more remote areas to focus on painting. He deeply appreciated medieval oil paintings, particularly those featuring Susanna and the Elders. Yet, in real life, he barely spared a glance at any woman. Seeing how he was grinning like a creep over some woman he met on the street, Paul was dying to know the details. “What’s she like?” Paul asked.
Fred paused mid–crunch, picturing her. ‘I remember she had a loose bun, a few wisps falling around her pale neck. Fair skin, delicate features, and her eyes curled like crescent moons when she smiled!
“She glows,” Fred said simply, thinking of the image in his mind.
“She glows? What kind of cheesy nonsense is that?” Paul scoffed, grinning. “Okay, dreamboat, where’s she from?”
“No idea,” Fred said, sitting up and pulling his shirt down over his abs. “She had a work badge on, so she might be from around here. I didn’t get a close look.”
Paul rolled his eyes. “Dude, this is a commercial complex. You know how many people work in these buildings? You’ll never find her.”
Right then, Jason’s video call came through.
“What got you to the gym?” he asked Paul, eyebrow raised.
“Somebody told me I’m aging poorly and ruining our ‘boyband‘ vibe,” Paul grunted, rolling his eyes as he wiped the sweat from his forehead with a towel.
Jason smirked. “Fred’s hack, huh?”
Paul handed his phone to Fred. “You’re not in black or gray. What’s with the sudden fashion reboot? A striped tie? Really?” Fred teased.
Jason’s face darkened as he adjusted his tie, clearly uncomfortable. “I thought you’d become a monk or something.”
“Almost, Fred said with a shrug. “But looking back now, I’m glad I didn’t.”
“Don’t get ahead of yourself,” Paul muttered, sitting up. “A marriage with no common ground is doomed. Someone is going to be single really soon.”
Fred blinked, “Wait, you’re getting divorced?”
