Page 91 of Surrendering to the Obsession

Mia looked up at him again with those disappointed eyes and murmured in a low, hurt voice, “Mr. Graves…”

Alexander’s expression tightened. His body went tense as he grabbed her shoulders and looked her over. “What the hell happened?! Are you hurt? Did you fall?” His eyes scanned her for injuries, but there were none. Then his gaze snapped to her eyes. “What happened?”

Mia answered in a low voice, “It was James.”

Alexander’s body went rigid, his chest stilling as shock and anger flashed together. “James?” he repeated, voice dropping dark. “What the hell was he doing here?”

Mia answered honestly, eyes lowering, fingers tightening on the ruined flowers. “Mr. Graves, when we were in the restaurant, he texted me. But I didn’t reply. I also cut his call because I didn’t want to talk to him. I don’t even know how he got my number. He got angry, and somehow he found out I was here. He started talking about getting together again and taking me with him. He tried to pull me with him. And just because I didn’t reply, he was angry.” she glanced toward the broke phone.

Alexander looked like he was about to destroy something. His rage was barely under control as he listened to her in complete silence. His jaw flexed hard, his breathing deepening with anger he was forcing down.

He looked straight into her eyes. “Why didn’t you tell me when you got his text?”

Mia hesitated, her fingers tightening around the flowers as she answered, “I already cut his call and blocked him. I didn’t think he would show up at the restaurant.”

Alexander took a slow, heavy breath, trying to keep his rage contained. His eyes softened just slightly when he looked at her, giving her a silent reassurance.

“Don’t worry. I’ll take care of him,” he said, voice low and deadly calm. His jaw tightened even more, an angry snap forming as he muttered, “All the trouble his company is in right now… I guess it’s not enough to keep him occupied. Then I’ll give him more. I’ll make sure he doesn’t have time to eventhinkabout you again!”

Mia trembled slightly at the expression on his face—this was a side of Alexander she had never seen before. It was sharp, dangerous, a mixture of rage and raw, protective instinct that made her chest tighten.

His eyes flicked back to hers, dark and focused. His voice dropped low, cold and commanding. “If you ever come across him again… or if he tries to contact you, you tell me. Immediately.”

Mia nodded quickly. “Yes, Mr. Graves. I promise. If I ever come across him or if he tries to contact me again, I will tell you. But I doubt I’ll come across him again.”

Alexander gave a curt nod and looked straight into her eyes. “Did he hurt you?”

Mia shook her head in denial.

The displeased look on his face did not fade. His eyes dropped to the flowers in her hand. He reached out, took them from her, and tossed them aside.

Mia stared at him in surprise. “Mr. Graves, what are you doing? I wanted to keep those!”

But Alexander’s face stayed hard. His voice was tight, vibrating with barely contained anger. “I’ll get you new ones. I don’t want anything he touched to be in your hands.”

Mia saw the look in his eyes and stayed silent. She realized then just how furious he was. His face was set in a deep, hard line. She had never seen him this angry. His eyes burned with a rage he was clearly controlling just for her.

Alexander bent down, picked up the broken pieces of her phone, and slipped them into his pocket. When he straightened, his eyes landed on her face again.

Then his eyes lifted to her face—and before she could even blink, Alexander bent down and swept her into his arms. Mia gasped, hands flying to his neck as he lifted her effortlessly.

“Mr. Graves… I’m not hurt,” she said, breathless, her voice small against his shoulder.

Alexander didn’t react. His hold only tightened. His steps were firm, almost urgent, carrying her past the restaurant entrance. But instead of heading toward the car, he turned down the side path, moving into the dim, quiet back area behind the building.

The moment they were alone, he shifted her weight, setting her down gently—only to press her back against the wall with his body closing in around her. His arms came up on either side of her, caging her in.

His eyes burned into hers.

“Did he touch you?”

Mia froze, her breath catching. She opened her mouth, but before she could speak, his voice dropped lower, darker.

“Did hekissyou?”

Her heartbeat stumbled. She was scared… yet something in his intensity pulled her closer, made her chest tighten in a way she didn’t expect.

Chapter 16 Erase His Trace