Chapter 52.Mixed Feeling
Logan’s POV.
After returning from the business trip, Mia’s demeanor had changed; she appeared distant, her usual warmth and charm replaced with a guarded facade. Afte the meeting ended Mia was the first one to be in hurry to run out of the room or away from me.
“Mia, wait. I need to talk to you,” I implored, my desperate eyes searching for answers in her troubled blue ones. She hesitated but finally remained in the room after everyone else had left.
“What’s wrong, baby girl? Talk to me. Why are you avoiding me?” I questioned, my voice trying to hold on to its usual commanding tone, but a hint of vulnerability seeped through.
“Nothing is wrong, Mr. Mancini. I just… I just came back to my senses,” Mia replied animatedly, trying to keep up a brave front.
I shook my head, confusion evident on my face. “What do you mean?”
“I mean… listen… I need this job, but I can’t be your play toy. I have feelings, and I don’t want to get hurt in the end. Please, Mr. Mancini, I want whatever is between us to end. I don’t want to proceed with this kind of relationship any further,” Mia finally voiced her inner turmoil.
“Hell! You’ve got it all wrong, baby girl. You’ve misunderstood everything,” I tried to explain, my voice tinged with exasperation and desperation.
“Yes, Mr. Mancini. I got it all wrong. I was living in a fake world, but now I’ve awakened to reality. I don’t want this. I want to live a peaceful and respectful life. Please forget about everything that has ever happened. And if you want, I can… I can resign,” Mia’s voice trembled, revealing the emotions she was trying to suppress.
Seeing her struggling, I realized it was not the right time to talk to her further. Perhaps she needed time to process her feelings. “You don’t need to resign, Mia. It’s okay if you don’t want this relationship. We will keep it purely professional if that makes you happy. Alright?”
With tears shimmering in her eyes, she silently left the room, leaving me to grapple with the unexpected rejection.Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDrâ/ma.O(r)g!
As I stood there, confusion swirling in my mind, I couldn’t help but wonder, “What’s wrong with her? Why is she behaving like this? Did anyone say anything about me?”
The truth was, I had started to feel a deep attraction for Mia, something beyond just business or physical desire. I had planned to take our relationship to the next level and ask her to be my girlfriend, but now it seemed like she was not interested in me, which was a new and unsettling experience for me.
My phone broke my thoughts, ringing insistently. I knew it was my father, and he wouldn’t call without a valid reason. “Dad! What happened?” I answered, hoping to find a distraction from the emotional turmoil inside me.
“That was rude, Logan Mancini. Have you forgotten your manners?” My father’s voice scolded me over the phone, his tone filled with disapproval.
“Dad, please, I’m a little bit packed. If you can, please hurry,” I replied in a bored voice, clearly not in the mood for a lecture.
“Come home tonight. Have dinner with us. It’s been a long time since you’ve spent time with your family,” he urged, attempting to bridge the gap between us.
“What’s the occasion, Dad?” I asked, sensing that there must be a significant reason behind this sudden invitation.
“Nothing special, but Logan, we have something very important to discuss with you. You better come on time. Your grandparents will also be there,” he informed me, leaving a hint of mystery in his words.
“So, it’s going to be a family get-together,” I mused, frowning slightly. I knew from experience that when my whole family came together, it usually meant they were conspiring against me in some way. As the sole heir of the Mancini group, I had taken over and managed all our businesses and properties.
“Yes, Logan, after a long time, we’ll all be having a meal together. We’ll be waiting for you,” my father confirmed, emphasizing the significance of the gathering.
“Okay, dad, I’ll be there,” I said, resigning myself to the inevitable confrontation.
As the evening fell, I found myself sitting at the dining table with my family, enjoying dinner while waiting for them to reveal the news that prompted this gathering.
“So, what’s the matter? Spill the news. I can’t wait anymore,” I finally broke the tense silence, eager to get it over with.
“Listen, Logan, you’re turning 27, and according to your great-grandfather’s will, you should be married before you turn 27,” my grandfather warned, his tone serious and stern.
“Come on, Grandpa, you know that I’m not interested in marriage. I want to enjoy my freedom, and I’m content living alone. I don’t want any kind of trouble in my life, and marriage is the beginning of so many problems,” I shrugged, trying to defend my position.
“You have to understand, Logan. Your affair with your secretary is all over the media. Taking her outdoors has become big gossip. Your Casanova image is not good for our business and family. We can’t afford to lose our clients because of your playboy image. They don’t trust someone who is not serious in his life,” Grandpa scowled, expressing concerns of the family’s reputation.
“Come on, Grandpa, you’re being overly dramatic. How can they relate my personal life and business together? Personal and professional lives are two different things, and it doesn’t make any sense. They should understand that my commitment has never faltered in any professional deal,” I argued, trying to make them see my point of view.
“Everything does not work according to you, Logan, and we have already selected a girl for you. She comes from a very rich and reputed family. Your marriage with her will not only strengthen our family ties but also be beneficial for our business,” my father disclosed, his voice carrying a sense of finality.
“What the hell, Dad? How can you decide something so significant without even asking me?” I retorted, my annoyance evident in my tone.
“Language, Logan! You can’t speak in front of your elders like that,” my grandfather interjected sternly, disapproving of my outburst.
“I’m sorry, Grandpa, but I can’t marry someone I don’t even know,” I replied, managing to regain my composure and keep my voice level.
“Listen, Logan, you have to marry a girl either chosen by us, or you can choose a girl yourself. But you must get married before you turn 27; otherwise, you will lose all rights to the family’s property and businesses,” my grandfather revealed, his words carrying a weight of tradition and obligation.
Damn it! I was trapped with no escape. I felt cornered, with my family’s legacy and my future hanging in the balance.
“Okay, Grandpa, I will marry the girl of your choice,” I sighed, accepting my fate reluctantly.