UNDER THE SPOTLIGHT Chapter 36

The CEO’s brat struggled to his feet, clutching his nose, and snarled:

“Just you wait! My dad’s the CEO—I’ve got plenty of ways to make you pay!”

I glared at him, knuckles popping as I clenched my fists.

“You’d better pray Alexis doesn’t show up, or you won’t even have a place to cry.”

Twenty minutes later, Alexis pushed the door open, flanked by two bodyguards in black suits.

She wore a sleek, fitted black suit that hugged her curves, her presence sweeping in like a queen descending.

Her gaze swept the room and landed on Mia, a flicker of sorrow crossing her eyes before she turned an icy stare on the CEO’s son.

“Brandon, you’ve got nerve—laying a hand on my people?”

Brandon went sheet-white when he saw her, stammering,

“Ms. Reed, this… this is a misunderstanding! I was just joking with her…”

“A joke?”

Alexis let out a cold laugh, her tone sharp as a blade. “I can show your father some respect. But you touched Mia. This won’t be swept under the rug.”

She turned to me, voice steady. “Ethan, take Mia home. I’ll handle this.”

I nodded and guided Mia out of the executive suite.

She was still trembling, curled into me like a frightened bird.

“It’s okay,” I murmured. “We’re going home.”

Leaving the studio, the cool night air cleared my head a little.

Alexis’s silhouette vanished down the corridor, and Brandon’s curses were smothered by the bodyguards.

Holding Mia, anger and guilt twisted inside me, a blaze so hot it stole my breath.

I took Mia back to her apartment. She sat on the edge of the bed, head bowed in silence, tears still shining in her eyes. I crouched in front of her and said softly, “Mia, I’m sorry. I failed to protect you today.”

She shook her head, voice choked. “Ethan, it’s not your fault… You saved me… thank you…”

Her fingers closed around mine, the warmth of her palm making my heart jolt.

The apartment was dim and still, carrying the faint, clean scent of her lemon perfume.

I stood, ready to leave, a weight pressing on my chest, my mind replaying her tear-streaked face and that desperate cry for help.

My hand was on the doorknob when quick footsteps rushed up behind me. Mia threw her arms around me from behind, clinging so hard it felt like she wanted to melt into me.

Her arms cinched my waist; her cheek pressed to my back; her warm breath bled through my shirt and made my heartbeat hitch.

“Ethan… don’t go…”

Her voice shook, thick with fear and hurt. Her chest pressed against my back, that soft contact through my T-shirt making my throat go dry.

I froze and turned, meaning to gently ease her away, but her arms tightened. Through shimmering tears she looked up at me, pleading.

“Ethan, I can’t… I really can’t keep it together… If you hadn’t been there today, that bastard would have…”

Her words broke off. Tears slid down her cheeks and fell onto my arm, scorching my heart.

“Mia, don’t… don’t do this…” I tried to calm her, hands on her shoulders, forcing myself to stay rational.

But she rose on her toes and kissed me—urgent and unpracticed—tasting of salt and aching sweetness.

Her lips were soft as cotton candy. Her tongue slipped into my mouth, clumsy yet fervent, like she was pouring out all her despair.

After the Spotlight