Chapter 10 I DON'T TRUST MIA MEYER, BUT I TRUST YOU

Chapter 10

Stefan nodded, motioning for the man to place the case on the desk. Mr. Daniel, one of the finest jewelers in New York, carefully opened it, revealing rows of engagement rings, each one more dazzling than the last.

Stefan stared at the rings, his expression unreadable. He picked one up, turning it over in his hand. It was delicate, almost timid. Setting it back down, he reached for another, then another, frustration building. None of them felt right. None of them suited 'her'.

"Mose," he said, his tone sharp but quiet, "why isn't there anything worth buying here?"

Mose didn't respond immediately. He knew Stefan well enough to let him think. Stefan scanned the tray again, his jaw tightening slightly, until his gaze landed on one ring. It was bold, unapologetically striking, and elegant in a way that demanded attention. He reached for it slowly, turning it over in his hand. This one felt different. This one reminded him of her,confident, daring, unyielding.

"This one," Stefan said finally, placing the ring in front of him. "This is the one."

Mose nodded, a small flicker of approval in his otherwise composed expression. Mr. Daniel smiled politely, gathering the rest of the rings. "An excellent choice, sir," he said.

Stefan didn't respond. His thoughts lingered on Mia as he watched the ring catch the light. She had walked into his life with fire and steel, and while they didn't love each other, he couldn't deny the intrigue.

Stefan watched as Mr. Daniel and Mose left the room, the ring still sitting in front of him on the desk. The office fell silent again, but his thoughts were anything but quiet. He leaned back in his chair, his fingers drumming lightly against the armrest.

He smirked faintly at the memory of her proposition the night before. She hadn't flinched, hadn't hesitated, but that doesn't mean he didn't notice the way her hands were trembling behind her. And he had agreed. Why wouldn't he? It was smart, and it benefited both of them.

His phone buzzed on the desk, pulling him out of his thoughts. He picked it up, glancing at the screen. It was a message from Mose "Mr. Daniel has left. Shall I schedule the next meeting?"

Stefan typed a quick reply. "Tomorrow morning. I'm done for today."

He set the phone back down and picked up the ring again, turning it over between his fingers. It was bold and unapologetic.

The sound of footsteps outside the office door made him glance up. Mose walked back in, his expression calm as always. "Is there anything else you need, sir?" he asked.

Stefan shook his head. "No. Just make sure the next shipment from the D Enterprise warehouse goes out smoothly. I don't want any delays."

"Yes, sir," Mose replied, then hesitated briefly. "Will you be heading home tonight?"

Home. Stefan smirked faintly. He had never seen his penthouse as a home before, maybe a place he just laid his head. But how, for some strange reasons, it doesn't feel weird. With Mia in the picture, it wasn't just his resting space anymore.Though they weren't living together yet, but the knowledge of their marriage already made the space feel... shared. He didn't answer Mose's question, instead waving him off with a brief nod.

Stefan felt Mose's eyes on him, steady and knowing, the kind of look only someone who had been by his side for years could give. Mose had seen him at his worst, his lowest, and through every triumph. There was no need for words between them; Mose already knew what was running through Stefan's mind.

Their connection was one born out of circumstance but solidified by loyalty. It had been nearly a decade since Stefan had found Mose that night, lying lifeless on the street. Stefan hadn't thought twice about helping him. He'd pulled over, carried Mose to the car, and driven him to the hospital, ignoring the sting of alcohol and exhaustion coursing through his system. Stefan hadn't known who Mose was or why he was there, but something about that moment had felt urgent, undeniable.

Mose had been quiet at first, refusing to speak about what had led him to that street or what he had been running from. But his gratitude spoke volumes. Even after he recovered, he never left Stefan's side. It was unspoken between them, but Mose had made up his mind. He owed Stefan his life, and he intended to prove it every day by standing with him. Over time, their bond grew, not just as employer and employee but as confidants.

That was when Mose opened up to the event of that night, someone wanted him dead. Someone they both know, but kept it hidden.

Stefan didn't need to ask what was on Mose's mind; he already knew, just from the way Mose had been staring at him since the contract preparation for his marriage to Mia began. It was a look Stefan had seen many times over the years, a mix of doubt and unspoken warning. But today, it held something heavier, a mistrust he couldn't ignore.

"What's on your mind?" Stefan asked finally, his tone calm but edged with curiosity. He set the pen he had been holding down on the desk and leaned back in his chair, meeting Mose's gaze with quiet intensity.

Mose didn't answer right away, his jaw tightening as he shifted his weight. Finally, he spoke, his voice low but sharp. "Are you sure about this? Why would she come to you out of nowhere? What if she and her dad planned this?"

Stefan exhaled slowly, his posture remaining steady even as the weight of Mose's words settled in the room. "I know how you feel," he said, his voice even. "But Mia isn't Samuel."

The mention of Samuel, left a sour tension that hung in the air like a shadow. Stefan's calm demeanor didn't waver, but Mose's doubt was tangible.

"I'm sorry for questioning your decision, but I don't trust her." Mose said bluntly, his arms crossed as he watched Stefan closely. "But I trust you." He continued with a defeated look. He trusts Stefan, and would stand by him , even though he doesn't support his decision.

Stefan's eyes softened, just slightly, at the admission. Mose's loyalty had never been blind, and Stefan valued that more than anything. But before he could respond, the sharp beep of a notification pierced through the room.

Mose's phone vibrated against the table, drawing his attention. He picked it up without hesitation, his brow furrowing as his thumb slid across the screen. Stefan watched as Mose's expression froze, his body stiffening like a statue.