Maria moved her body in a light, dancing rhythm as she attended to the teenagers who were pouring toward their stand to buy more pudding.
The DJ turned up pop music, filling the air with an infectious beat that blended with the arena's excited noise.
Miles' strategy with Jake had worked.
A few teenagers had started patronizing their stand when the games reached their peak.
After that, the numbers grew.
The pudding was delicious—and affordable—which easily made their stand the busiest in the entire arena.
"I promise I'll buy more if you take it off," the teenage girl standing in front of Miles whined.
Miles scoffed from where he sat with his arms folded, monitoring the teenagers gathered around the cart.
Maria fought the urge to laugh. Miles was already visibly stressed from the entire event.
At some point, she had noticed and insisted that he rest while she attended to the teenagers herself.
It was obvious he wasn't used to the company's field jobs.
Or perhaps this was his first?
"Fine," the girl said. "I'll give you five hundred. This isn't even my school."
Miles ignored her.
His eyes shifted to Maria, who continued acting oblivious as she served the last teenager standing in front of her.
The sunlight was gradually softening into shades of orange as the event neared its end.
Around the arena, teenagers lingered in noisy groups—some laughing with the winners, others teasing the losers.
When Maria finished serving the last kid, she realized the batch of pudding she had replaced in the cooling box on the counter had already run out.
"There's no more," Miles said, keeping his frustration under control.
The teen girl still leaned against the counter, her perfectly styled black hair falling in smooth waves around her shoulders.
Her legs moved subtly from side to side, clearly hoping to draw Miles' attention to her thighs beneath the black mini-skirt she wore.
"Oh, okay," Maria said, subconsciously relaxing into her chair.
"You?" The girl called.
"Me?" Maria asked, surprised.
The girl scoffed and rolled her eyes. "Yes, you. Talk to your colleague. Don't you guys need the money? Five hundred is a lot."
Maria glanced back at Miles, still suppressing her amusement.
Miles held her gaze.
He didn't look like he had anything polite to say to the girl either, but the look he gave Maria clearly asked her to deal with the problem—especially since she had been the one who suggested keeping things simple.
"Uhm…" Maria began.
Before she could continue, the host's voice burst through the speakers, interrupting their conversation.
"Scholarship slips are distributed! Minchstone is taking in five lucky students this session.
Graduation classes can apply too!"
Maria immediately thought of Grace. Perhaps Grace could try for the scholarship.
Minchstone would definitely provide all the subjects that Grace's current school couldn't offer.
Just then, she noticed Jake approaching.
He was shirtless, laughing freely as he separated from a group of boys before stopping before Maria and leaning casually against the counter.
"I'll take four puddings, please," he said with boyish charm.
"We're out, dear," Maria replied almost triumphantly.
Before Jake's disappointment could register, his attention snapped toward the girl posing in front of Miles.
The girl looked at Miles, then at Jake.
She didn't hesitate before moving closer to Jake, suddenly staring at him with flirty eyes.
"I guess a win is a win," she said with a smile.
Jake answered with a smirk.
"Go introduce her to your friends, Jake," Miles suggested quickly, seizing the opportunity.
"Sure," Jake replied, maintaining eye contact with the girl who was already an inch away from running her hand across his chest.
Maria nearly scrunched her face before Jake led the girl away.
Miles sighed in relief as he stood.
"Mr. Miles," Maria called softly.
"Yes Maria," he replied while scrolling through his phone. "Today was a job well done. No more puddings to sell. The men will be here soon to pack this up."
Maria snickered inwardly at the way he refused to admit his exhaustion.
"I have to go to the stage of the arena sir," she said casually.
He lifted his face from the phone, as though his relief had just been interrupted.
"I have to get proper information about something," Maria explained, lowering her gaze slightly.
She purposely held back on being specific, almost as though she anticipated a reaction from him.
"How long will you take?" Miles asked, glancing between her and the arena.
"Oh it's fine," Maria said with a small smile. "You don't have to wait for me.
But I'll definitely be back before the men start packing up."
**
"No,"
Miles had meant the word as a thought, but it came out loud as a response to Maria.
"I'll call Jake back," he continued, returning to his phone as he monitored his schedule. "Tell him what you need and he'll help you with it."
"I need to go by myself," Maria replied.
Miles turned to her.
She didn't meet his eyes. Instead, she kept her gaze lowered to the side, subtly fiddling with her fingers.
The sun had begun to set.
Dusk cast a dim light over the arena while the artificial lights slowly brightened.
Teenagers were leaving, though several still lingered in groups.
Other treat stands had already begun packing up.
"I insist on Jake's help," Miles said again, this time deliberately.
Maria met his gaze.
She slid down her chair, her eyes flickering. "But it has nothing to do with the project."
"I'm not repeating myself, Maria," Miles replied, returning his attention to his phone, already texting Jake to come over.
He was exhausted, and the last thing on his mind was Maria wandering into the arena after he had successfully protected her from disrespectful teenage boys all afternoon.
Miles heard the pushcart door click open before he could look up.
"I'll be right back, sir," Maria called to him with a wave and smile as she stepped outside the cart and began strutting toward the stage.
The full curves of her backside jiggled with each step—especially now that she wasn't trying to be cautious.
A boy walking past her nearly snapped his neck to look.
Miles clenched his jaw.
She had ignored him?
His phone rang out almost immediately.
His mother.
Miles debated answering it or going after Maria.
Eventually, he sighed, reminding himself that she was, after all, a grown adult.
He picked up the call.
"Hi mom."
"Darling!" Mrs. Genova cooed through the phone. "It's so noisy where you are."
"I'm working," Miles said, trying to hide his lack of enthusiasm.
"It's so late already," she pressed.
"Mom. What is it?" Miles said, rubbing the faint throb in his temple.
"You sound so stressed, darling. A little break through Tuesday wouldn't be such a bad idea at all. The Hays are having a relaxing…"
"I'm not coming," Miles said bluntly.
He planned to sleep through tomorrow.
He hadn't expected field work to be this uncomfortable.
"It's Monday and it's a relaxation party."
"It'll have to be another time," Miles replied, feeling the evening wind cool against his skin.
Then his ear caught the sound of yelling coming from inside the arena.
"Oh well," Mrs. Genova sighed. "Jenny is going to be super disappointed. She was looking forward to seeing you there."
The shouting inside the arena grew louder.
A group of teenagers seemed to be cheering wildly near the front.
"Mom, I have to go now."
"Okay, sweetheart. Come by soon if you can."
"Goodnight mom."
Miles ended the call.
"Good evening, sir," one of the men from the fleet team said from behind him.
They were ready to pack up.
No sign of Maria.
The lights in the arena had grown brighter.
The shouting inside became clearer.
"Fight! Fight! Fight!"
Miles frowned.
What the hell was going on in there?
Then he heard a familiar voice shouting desperately, trying to be firm.
"No fighting! Stop."
Maria.
Miles cursed and hurried toward the arena. The fleet workers looked equally concerned as he passed them.
"Start clearing the spot," he told them without stopping.
Maria screamed briefly.
Miles quickened his pace.
Pushing through the small crowd of teenagers, he reached the center of the chaos and saw Jake punching a bigger boy who sat on top of him on the floor, trying to land a punch of his own despite his position.
Maria stood nearby with both hands pressed to her face, her legs trembling in panic.
Miles stepped forward, grabbing the larger boy and pulling him off Jake who had already broken the boy's nose.
"That's enough," Miles hissed.
Jake climbed to his feet with a smirk, looking at the other boy whose fury was due to obvious loss.
The cheering teenagers began losing interest, slowly drifting away.
"Bloody creep," Jake spat toward the boy who was still struggling lightly even as Miles held him back.
"Let's see how you fight outside Minchstone, Jake," the boy said with an unsettling grin as blood trickled down his nose.
"I said enough," Miles snapped, shoving him farther away from Jake.
"He tried to harass her," Jake said. "Him and those dirty friends of his."
Miles returned his gaze toward Maria.
Her head was lowered.
Clearly ashamed of the whole situation.
Then he looked back at the boy retreating toward his group of friends.
The boy visibly flinched under Miles' cold stare.
If Jake hadn't already broken his nose, Miles might have given him something far worse.
"No more fighting," Miles said calmly, his headache was getting worse. "We wouldn't want the juvenile authorities involved. Would we?"
The boy shook his head and left with his friends.
Only Miles, Maria, Jake, and a few lingering teens remained.
Miles continued watching Maria as she fidgeted nervously, her hips shifting while she clasped her hands behind her back.
The same girl from earlier suddenly wrapped herself around Jake, running her hands across his bare chest.
"I like a man who can fight," she purred.
Jake smirked.
Miles rolled his eyes.
"Let's go, Maria."
Maria nodded and walked past him, still avoiding his gaze.
"You should head home, buddy," Miles told Jake over his shoulder.
"You're welcome," Jake called back.
As Maria walked ahead of him, Miles tried to keep his eyes forward.
But it was nearly impossible.
Her body kept drawing his gaze despite his efforts.
**
Daniel sipped the drink in front of him as he watched the crowd from his seat in the VIP section of the bar.
Blinking lights flickered across the dim space while music pulsed steadily in the background.
Men and women melted into the shadows—some dancing, others lounging lazily.
It was Saturday night.
Daniel had hoped to be out with Miles, but of course, Maria's ridiculous project had pulled him away again.
He had missed Miles.
Even before he came to Mapla.
They had once been inseparable—back before Miles left for Jellas.
Before Miles became the CEO.
Deep down, Daniel hated that they were grown now.
Hated that Miles was no longer the same.
"Hey sugar,"
Daniel turned toward the voice.
A slim brunette stood beside him wearing a glittery pink dress.
His eyes travelled slowly over her body as he smirked.
The alcohol in his system only sharpened his appetite.
She was exactly his type.
His gaze was invitation enough.
She slid into his lap.
Daniel inhaled sharply as her buttocks settled against his erection.
"You're new?" he asked.
She bit her lip and shifted deliberately, stirring him further.
"Yeah," she whispered, leaning closer. "I'm Malia."
Daniel's hand drifted to her thighs, slowly caressing the line between them as he repeated her name.
"Malia."
But Maria briefly flashed through his mind.
If Miles wanted to fuck her, he could simply do it without pretending it had anything to do with the project.
Daniel sighed and downed his drink alongside his confusion, pushing away the thought while focusing on the woman in his lap.
Malia's fruity perfume surrounded him as she whispered sweet nothings into his ears.
His hand slid higher along her thighs as he willingly allowed himself to get lost in the moment.
Perhaps he could fire Maria after the project ended.
Sabotaging the project seemed impossible—especially with the way Miles had been guarding it.
Malia lifted her face toward his.
Their lips hovered inches apart.
"Cheers to the weekend," Daniel murmured before Malia's lips sealed onto his.