Loving The Temperamental Adonis
Chapter 54: Job offer

Chapter 54: Job offer

Mia could feel his rising anger from behind the glass, she swallowed hard. Defensively, she replied, "The other room was locked so I thought you meant this room."

Neil, visibly irritated, spoke with a cold, tempered tone, "I hate people invading my personal space, Harrison." He said through clenched teeth, even though deep down he didn’t completely hate her presence in his bathroom and the idea of her using his things. He was still mad. He had lived with the principle of not having anyone into his space or into his life, and that principle wasn’t going to die because she was his childhood friend_who he was curious to know about her past and even invited her into his home.

Without revealing his emotions, he said, "Finish up and get the fuck out of my bathroom!" Saying that, he turned on his heels and slammed the door behind him.

Mia slightly jumped as the door slammed with a bang sound. She didn’t move from her position even after the door had been slammed. She stood frozen behind the curtain, her heart sinking at his cold voice. He might possess the eyes of her dream man, but he had the opposite temperament that always surprised her instead of scaring her away. He gave off an ’i don’t give a fuck’ attitude, but something about him made her think that he was a lonely depressed person, with no sense of fun in life: and his gloomy ways of living proved that.

Slowly, she reached out and wrapped the towel around her body, remembering the intensity in his eyes that made her feel as though she had committed a grave offense by using his things. Though she wanted to get mad and feel insulted, but remembering how he had stood up for her in school, she couldn’t find it in her heart to get mad. It was her fault for not going back to confirm which room he had pointed at earlier. The only thing she was feeling embarrassed about, was the fact that he’d seen her naked and even looked his fill, yet got mad about her being in his bathroom!

Pursing her lips and huffing, Mia decided not to let his bad temper ruin her already somber mood. "I should better worry about what to do next if I end up losing my scholarship," she thought to herself while thinking of how she would even find it in her heart to tell her mother, who was already in huge debt. She hadn’t been able to find a part-time job, and now she had to deal with this if Diane should report to her father about what had happened in school today.

The Foster family was not a force to be reckoned with, and someone like Mia would be easily defeated. It was common knowledge that Diane was her parents’ beloved and cherished daughter, and her father held significant influence in Zen. If his daughter asked, he could ensure that Mia would never be able to attend another university in the City. That was the primary reason why Mia had reluctantly accepted defeat when Diane stole her story.

Mia walked out of the bathroom, relieved to find it empty. Thank goodness he wasn’t in the room, she didn’t know how she would face him after he had seen her naked minutes ago. However, now that she was out of the bathroom with a towel, she had no idea on what else to wear so she could leave his house in one piece. The fabric of her dress had stuck together with the creamy milkshake, she couldn’t wear it back after she’d already taken a shower.

As Mia contemplated on what to do, Neil walked into the bedroom wearing a robe, towel in hand, wiping his damp hair. It seemed he had taken a shower in the other room.

Mia subconsciously shrank backward as Neil’s gray eyes swept towards her. He noticed how small she looked in his towel, it stopped below her knees due to their height difference. And her long hair damply poured down her shoulders framing her pale face. As his eyes wondered down to her barefoot and smooth milky legs, her naked image involuntarily flashed to his mind and he quickly shook off the image and returned his gaze to her face.

Feeling self-conscious under his intense gaze, Mia pulled the towel properly around her body and then said, "Um, i...I mean will you please drop me to the nearest bus station now that I’ve cleaned up?" She asked politely just so he wouldn’t get angry at her again for being in his space. She would rather wear back her ruined dress and go home than be subjected to another embarrassment by this aloof person.

Neil, however, strode into his walk-in-closet while nonchalantly saying, "Not yet."

Confused, Mia asked, "Why? I have to return home." She had to go back home and think of a way out of this before she would go to school tomorrow and get the bad news.

Neil walked out of the walk-in-closet dressed up in casually black tank top and a home jogger pants. He looked even more handsome and less intimidating in a casual attire. Mia thought as she took in his appearance, and when his gray eyes swept back to her, she felt her heart skip a beat.

"I heard you were looking for a part-time job the other day. I have an offer for you if you’re interested." He remarked, shoving his hands into his pocket and leaning back against the wall while his eyes lazily scanned her face. But when her hand moved to her chest to adjust the towel, his eyes followed her action.

Noticing his eyes swept to her chest, Mia, who was still digesting his words and wondering what sort of a job he was going to offer her, quickly misinterpreted his intentions. She immediately crossed her arms around her upper body, saying, "I’m not selling my body for money, and if you think I’m going to give in because you’re rich or because you got me an expensive guitar_ that has now become a huge burden to me_ you’re wrong," she declared firmly, "I am not that kind of girl, and if that’s what you intended to do by bringing me to your house, then you must be high on water. By the way, I will also return your guitar to you, I don’t want to be indebted to a Casanova!"

Taken aback by her words, Neil wondered what gave her the impression that he was interested in her body. For the first time in a long time, he threw his head back and laughed, the sound rich and deep, startling Mia, who almost lost her balance from the rich amused laughter that roared out of his throat. But the laughter died as quickly and as sudden as it came before she could even wonder what was so funny.

With a hint of amusement still dancing in his eyes, Neil slowly began to approach her, causing Mia to instinctively begin to back away. She soon found herself backed against the wall with him towering over her, leaving her with no room to escape. Although she didn’t know what kind of job he was referring to, she was not willing to give her body to a man she didn’t love or even know.

"Stay away from me. I won’t sell my body for money. Find a prostitute who is willing to fulfill your needs. I am..."

Mia’s words caught in her throat as she saw the amazement in Neil’s eyes fade, replaced by his usual hardened expression. She instinctively closed her eyes as she saw him raise his hand up, expecting him to strike her, but to her surprise, she felt his gentle finger tracing the wound on her forehead. Then, she heard his deep, smooth voice whisper softly.

"It seems like you’re looking for an opportunity to return your guitar to me, Harrison. I never take back something I’ve given. Don’t ever bring up returning it again. And just so you know, young lady, I have no interest in your body, nor is there anything for me to be interested in. I’m offering you a legitimate job."