MIMI

Holding her hand, Tobias walked out of the mall and into the parking lot . Stopping on the side, he pulls out his phone and dials a number .

"Bring the car over . "

A voice could be heard on the other end before he hung up and stood silently waiting . The only sound that could be heard was the people walking by exiting and entering the mall . Tobias glanced down at the girl beside him .

Her head was lowered, letting the silk strands of hair fall in front of her face - her eyes continuing to stare off into s.p.a.ce .

Tobias"s hold on her hand tightened . Finally, the car showed up and Tobias entered, helping Mimi in . Once seated and the doors closed, he leaned back into the seat and sighed .

"Mimi . "

As expected, she didn"t respond . The aching sensation in his heart grew .

"Mimi, look at me . " His voice coaxed her like a warm caress .

Mimi, who was in a trance, suddenly overheard his voice, "Huh?"

Her eyes blinked . Elevating her head, she nearly yelped when she saw how close the man was to her face .

"Toby?"

Finally hearing her voice, Tobias sighed in relief, the anxiety in his heart fading away . Tobias leaned over and gently knocked his head with hers .

Mimi felt his forehead against hers and curiously raised her eyes only to be startled when his dark, empty eyes met hers . Mimi had noticed something off about his gaze but didn"t put too much thought into it .

Tobias continued staring at her . When he spoke, she could feel his warm, clear breath on her face, "I have to disagree with what you said earlier . "

"What?"

Advertis.e.m.e.nt"I don"t think of us as strangers . "

Oh, that . Mimi"s lips pursed and her eyes slowly averted his . Tobias continued to stare at her and he spoke up in a low tone .

"I think of us as best friends . "

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Mimi was a little surprised . Was he mimicking the words she"s said previously?

She lifted her head and saw Tobias pull back slightly, putting distance between them . He leaned back in his seat and looked back at her quietly .

Mimi laughed hoa.r.s.ely . "Even though we don"t know a lot about each other?"

His expression continued to be patient and a faint smile bloomed on his face . "We have all the time to learn more about one another . "

His words surprised Mimi and she stared at Tobias as if he were an unknown species . Sure enough, this man was an idiot . Though Mimi herself had claimed them as best friends, it had only been for her advantage toward the situations .

As the genius man he was, Mimi was sure he was aware of that . However, who would have thought he could have been dense about it the whole time .

Unless he meant it .

Helplessly sighing, Mimi grinned crookedly .

"You"re weird, you know that Toby?"

Tobias smiled back at her without speaking and looked out the car window once more . For the majority of the ride, the two sat in silence until Tobias"s dark voice spoke up .

"You don"t have to come to work tomorrow . "

"Eh, why?"

Tobias didn"t respond nor did he look at her as he gazed out the window . Recalling all the events that happened just now, Tobias felt only deep uncertainty and frustration .

For one, he witnessed an employee from his company conversing with another companies CEO and a joined partner with Hiro Corps .

After witnessing that, he immediately messaged Juno to investigate the matter . As for the incident with Mimi, he wasn"t an idiot . Tobias could tell she knew Shen Jue would be there and had connections with Senior Su .

The only question was, how did she know Shen Jue and why did she react so negatively?

He wanted to ask but felt as if it was overstepping his boundaries . But most of all, he was afraid . He was afraid to see that soulless expression on her face . An expression only one would show as if they had been through all the h.e.l.ls in the world but were forced to live .

He knew it too well and wouldn"t wish it upon anyone . He didn"t want her to go back to her dark place, he wanted her to stay here with him and smile brightly .

The more he thought about, the darker his expression became . Mimi, who sat across from him, blinked innocently in confusion . Seeing as how his mood was sour, she decided to drop the matter .

Again, the two sat in silence both immersed in their deep thoughts .

…

After twenty minutes, they arrived in front of Mimi"s apartment . Before Mimi could thank him and hop out, her hand was caught by Tobias . The corner of Mimi"s lips twitched .

This felt like déjà vu .

"Toby?"

"You may not know it or want to know it, but I care about you, Mimi . "

As he expected, Mimi"s expression fell into a blank daze before contorting into one of confusion, as if the girl didn"t understand the meaning of his words . Not pulling back, the grip on her arm tightened and he continued speaking in a soft tone .

"Because I care about you, I always want to see you happy and healthy . When you"re not I"m hurting too . "

Mimi"s expression changed . She pressed her lips together and stared at him quietly . He was hurting because of her? Knowing this, Mimi felt a bit unsettled .

"Tobias, you shouldn"t have to hurt because of how I feel . "

Tobias smiled and chuckled freely . "If I could control it, I would . But I can"t because I care for you, Mimi . "

Mimi"s brows drew together . As much as she wanted to say for him to stop caring for her to relieve his pain, she knew Tobias would reject the idea immediately . And she too would feel slightly troubled if he did .

As if guessing the unspoken words she thought to say, a shadow pa.s.sed over Tobias"s eyes, his grip on her hand unconsciously squeezing .

"I want you to take care of yourself . If not for your sake then for mine . "

Mimi snorted . "You don"t play fair do you?"

"No . And if that still doesn"t convince you, then as your boss I order for you to rest and take care of yourself . " Tobias kept his eyes firmly on Mimi"s face .

Seeing how serious he was, Mimi sighed . "Well then, I guess I have no choice, do I?"

"No . "

Mimi smirked at his words and lifted her head to stare at the handsome man in a teasing manner .

"My, my, Tobias I never knew you were so possessive of a little employee like me! It makes me wonder what your motives are . "

Tobias"s expression contorted back into his usual poker face and he sighed .

"You can leave now . "

Mimi pouted . "Oh my, you put my maidenhood in danger, now you want to kick me out? Be a man Toby and take responsibility!"

"Out . "

Mimi laughed out loud and hopped out of his car . Tobias watched her figure slowly disappear in the distance and waited until she entered her apartment before ordering for the driver to move forward .

Taking out his phone, Tobias calls his secretary .

"Have you found anything yet?"

"No sir, not yet . But I"m certain by the end of the day I"ll find something . "

"Mm, keep looking into it . "

Tobias paused before speaking again, his voice darkening . "Look into Shen Jue more and his history with the Hirogori"s . "

Juno on the other end was surprised but immediately answered, "Yes, Mr . Itou . "

With that, Tobias hung up and rested his face in his palm .

Shen Jue .

He didn"t know him personally, but being in the business industry for so long, he knew who he was on various accounts .

His father had competed with his company many times until he retired . Now run by Shen Jue, the company slowly regained its prior success . Like everyone else, he has also known Shen Jue from the previous news on his engagement to the Hirogori"s only daughter, Emily Hirogori .

After her death, his name quickly faded from the industry for seven years, until he came back abroad to run his father"s company .

How did Mimi know him? Was it from the media or was it personal? Either way, Tobias already felt resentful emotions toward Shen Jue .

To make her show such an expression just when seeing him . . .

Tobias"s jaw clenched and his eyes dimmed . He never wanted to see such an expression on Mimi"s face ever again .