“Good morning, Grandpa.”
Mia stood the moment Charles Cornell stepped onto the terrace. His face was bright, as though he’d been up for hours. He was simply dressed in straight pants and a button-down shirt, with his sleeves neatly folded to his elbows.
“Oh, Mia, please, sit,” he said, motioning toward the chair beside him. “Come inside, or are you comfortable out here?”
“This is fine,” she assured him.
“Actually, this is my favorite spot.” Charles sat with a satisfied nod. “How long have you been waiting?”
“Not too long,” Mia said lightly.
The Chief of Staff, standing nearby, bowed slightly. “She has actually been here for over an hour, sir. She was standing by the gate.”
Charles’s expression shifted instantly. “What?” His voice carried a quiet authority. “And they didn’t let her
