WHEN LOVE FINDS YOU

Chapter 11- "It's Alex"

Mia’s morning began with a hum of excitement as she arrived at Luxe Atelier, her new title as head of the Luxe Streetwear Division still settling in her mind. She stepped into the bustling office, greeted by colleagues who were finally seeing her in a new light – not just as Emma’s assistant but as someone shaping the future of the company.

As she made her way to her desk, Emma approached her with an enthusiastic smile.

“Good morning, Mia! Are you ready for our meeting with Alexander Grey?”

Mia’s heart skipped. She was still adjusting to this new role, and meetings with Alexander always seemed to throw her off guard. But she nodded, forcing a confident smile. “Absolutely. I’ve reviewed all the updates, and I think we’re set.”

Emma’s grin widened. “Perfect. Let’s make it a great one.”

Soon, they were in the conference room, waiting for Alexander to arrive. Mia busied herself with the documents in front of her, determined to keep her composure. She wasn’t sure why, but every interaction with him stirred something she couldn’t quite nam.

The door opened, and Alex entered with his usual confident stride. He was dressed sharply in a blue shirt and black suit and of course a black pants but today, something about him seemed more relaxed. As he took his seat, his eyes met Mia’s briefly, and he gave her a small, almost imperceptible nod of acknowledgment.

Emma began the meeting, outlining the progress of Luxe Atelier’s latest projects, including the new streetwear line. Mia felt his gaze shift to her whenever she presented an update, and it made her pulse quicken. Alex seemed unusually focused, and she couldn’t shake the feeling that he was studying her.

As the meeting wrapped up, Alex leaned back, his expression thoughtful. “Everything looks promising. I must say, I’m impressed by how quickly Luxe Atelier has evolved since our first collaboration. And I’m sure that’s largely thanks to you, Mia.”

Caught off guard, Mia managed a small smile. “Thank you. It’s a team effort.”

Emma glanced between them, a knowing smile on her face. “Mia has been an invaluable asset. I couldn’t ask for a better partner in this.”

There was a brief silence before Alex cleared his throat. “Mia, would you mind staying behind for a few minutes? I’d like to discuss some additional ideas with you.”

Emma gave her an encouraging nod and left the room, leaving Mia alone with Alex. Her heart pounded as he leaned forward, his gaze intent.

“Congratulations on your new role,” he said, a genuine warmth in his tone. “I think it suits you perfectly.”

Mia’s cheeks flushed slightly. “Thank you. It’s a big step for me, but I’m excited.”

He nodded, a hint of a smile on his lips. “I can tell. Your passion for the work is obvious. It’s… refreshing.”

For a moment, silence hung between them. She felt her defenses waver under his gaze, his eyes so intent on hers. She was tempted to look away, but something in his expression held her captive.

“Tell me,” he continued, his voice softer, “what made you choose fashion? I mean, you could be doing anything, yet here you are.”

Mia’s breath caught, his question catching her off guard. “Well… I have loved fashion since I could remember, my parents had their fashion company and I have wanted to follow in their footsteps, but life happened and I lost the company after their death." She paused for a bit, she felt like she had said too much.

"Fashion has this way of transforming people, you know? It gives them confidence, makes them feel like they can take on the world. I think… that’s what drew me in.”

Alex’s expression softened, and for a brief moment, she saw a flicker of admiration in his eyes. “That’s… a beautiful way to put it. I think you’re right. Clothes have a certain power.”

Mia nodded, feeling herself relax slightly. “And what about you? You have so many things you're into, I can't count, I don't know which one you're really interested in.”

“Family legacy... I also started this fashion business for my late brother, I’ve always felt a responsibility to continue his vision. But there’s also a thrill in building something from the ground up, in creating something lasting.”

She smiled, finding herself captivated by his honesty. “That makes sense. I can see why you’d be drawn to that.”

Another silence settled between them, but this time, it felt comfortable. They were both in their own worlds, connected by the mutual understanding that came from hard work and ambition.

Finally, Alex straightened, his gaze breaking away. “Well, I don’t want to keep you. I’m sure you have a busy day ahead.”

Mia nodded, feeling a strange disappointment as their conversation ended. “Thank you again, Mr. Grey.”

He gave her a small smile. “It’s Alex.”

“Right… Alex.” She gave him a quick nod, gathering her things and heading for the door. But as she reached it, she hesitated, glancing back at him. He was watching her, his gaze steady.

She quickly opened the door and left.

Alex smiled.

---

Later that evening, Mia returned home to find Mickel buried in his scholarship application, a determined look on his face. She watched him from the doorway, pride swelling within her. She couldn’t believe how much he’d grown, how much responsibility he’d taken upon himself. It was almost as if he was trying to repay her for all the years she’d spent caring for him.

“Mickel,” she called softly, stepping into the room.

He looked up, giving her a warm smile. “Hey, how was work?”

She sat beside him, running a hand over her tired face. “Exhausting but rewarding. I had another meeting with Alex Grey. He… wanted to talk about some ideas for the new line.”

Mickel raised an eyebrow. “Really? That guy seems way too interested in you, Mia.”

She chuckled, shaking her head. “He’s not interested in me, Mickel. He’s a client. A very important one. It’s just business.”

Mickel smirked, a mischievous glint in his eyes. “Sure, sure. Just business.”

Rolling her eyes, she nudged him playfully. “Focus on your application. And stop imagining things.”

He laughed, turning back to his laptop. But his words lingered in her mind long after they’d fallen silent. There was a part of her, however small, that couldn’t deny the connection she’d felt during her conversation with Alex earlier. It was absurd, of course, and she had no intention of letting herself get swept away by it. Still, the thought lingered, filling her with a mix of excitement and caution.

---

Across town, Alex sat in his apartment, his mind replaying his conversation with Mia over and over. He wondered what happened to her parents and how she lost the company, he was so eager to find out but he didn't want to use his private investigators, he wanted to find out himself. He admired her resilience, her dedication to her work.

He found himself smiling as he thought about her. Was this love?

A knock on his door pulled him out of his thoughts, and he opened it to find Sophia standing there, a sad look on her face.

“Hi, Alex,” she greeted softly, stepping inside.

He closed the door behind her, sensing the tension in the air.

“Is everything okay, Sophia?” he asked, his tone gentle but guarded.

She looked away, her expression a mixture of sadness and frustration. “I'm not fine, I haven't been myself since the break up, I need you Alex.”

He sighed, running a hand through his hair. “Sophia, we both agreed to this arrangement. It was never supposed to be anything more and I didn't want to make it weird for both of us. I can't give you what you want, you'd find someone who loves you and would be with you forever but I'm not that person.”

Her gaze dropped, and for a moment, he felt a twinge of regret and pity. But he knew it wouldn’t be fair to lead her on, to pretend that he felt something he didn’t.

“I’m sorry, Sophia. I never meant to hurt you,” he said softly.

She nodded, her voice barely above a whisper. “I know. I just… wish things were different.”

With a sad smile, she turned and left, leaving Alex alone with his thoughts. He sat in the quiet of his apartment, his mind once again drifting to Mia. He knew it was foolish, that whatever he felt was probably one-sided and fleeting. But as he closed his eyes, her face lingered in his mind, filling him with a longing he couldn’t quite explain.