Page 12 of Surrendering to the Obsession

“Stop it!” Mia laughed, pulling away gently.

Savannah flopped her head onto her desk with a sigh.

“I’m currently fighting for your honor in that stupid group chat. They’re all losing their minds over you. Don’t worry—I’ll protect you!” She said it with a ridiculous, heroic expression that made Mia laugh again.

***

Meanwhile, Allen checked his watch and made a call.

“Mr. Graves, Mrs. Graves had lunch in the cafeteria today. Everything was fine. She seemed happy.”

Alexander, adjusting his watch, asked quietly, “Did she eat properly?”

“I believe so,” Allen replied. “She was chatting and laughing. I recorded the cafeteria feed for you.”

Allen forwarded the video.

When Alexander opened it, he watched Mia at the table—smiling—then saw the man leaning in to ask for her number.

Alexander’s expression darkened instantly. His grip on his phone tightened.

“I have already transferred him to another location, Mr. Graves,” Allen said on the line, as if anticipating his thoughts. “By the time you return from your meeting with the Tanners in an hour, he will be gone.”

Alexander’s jaw eased, the sharp edge of his anger dimming.

The next video began to play—Mia at her desk after lunch, legs tucked under her chair, quietly eating chips and playing a game while the other girls leaned in close to her.

The tension in Alexander’s expression melted completely.

A slow smile formed.

‘Mom was right to send her to the office. Now I can see her all day.’

He leaned back in his chair—soft, satisfied, utterly in love.

***

James sat in his office, slumped back in his chair, his eyes dull and heavy with exhaustion. The blinds were half-closed, letting in only slivers of afternoon light that settled across the room like dust. Papers lay untouched on the desk—he hadn’t worked properly in days.

William entered softly, closing the door behind him, a worried crease between his brows.

“Mr. Sinclair,” William said quietly, “you haven’t slept for days. You should rest. Even a short nap—”

James let out a tired exhale, long and hollow, leaning back in his chair. His fingers pressed against his forehead as if trying to push away a headache that never left.

“I don’t want to go home,” he whispered hoarsely. “The house is filled with her. Everywhere I look… Mia is there.” His voice cracked, eyes drifting unfocused toward the window. “I don’t want to go back. It keeps haunting me.” His fingers curled into a fist. “Still no news about her?”

William lowered his gaze. “We’ve searched everywhere. High and low. There’s still no trace of her. I tried contacting Mr. Stark again, but he refused to cooperate.”

James leaned forward, his spine stiffening as his expression hardened, then rose from his seat with tense movements.

“Make sure my mother and Ezra never step into my house again. Without my permission, no one is allowed to enter my house anymore.” His voice trembled but stayed firm. “And Mia’s bedroom, only Mrs. Maisel will clean it. No one else is allowed to enter her room.”

His voice softened painfully at the mention of the room, but he continued:

“Also… arrange a personal shopping assistant for her. After she comes back home, let her buy whatever she wants. No need for my permission. Also, inform everyone at the office that whenever my wife comes, no one is allowed to stop her. No matter what time—even if a meeting is in progress—let her walk straight in.”

His composure trembled. He leaned both hands against the edge of the table, his head lowering and his breathing becoming uneven. “What else…” he muttered, voice broken, as though his thoughts were slipping apart. “What else…”