Chapter 49


    “You know, kiddo, your patience could use a bit of work,” James sald with a hint of an exasperated


    sigh, like a light breeze whispering through the leaves, faint and fleeting.


    Mirabe’s eyes narrowed slightly, her finger hovering over the end call button before she shifted it


    away, asking again with a bit of grit, “So, are you going to help or what?”


    The corner of James‘ mouth lifted in a half–smile. “In a hurry, are we?”


    “Not particrly, but it’d be great if you were free today.” Mirabe replied after a brief moment of


    thought.


    “Alright, shoot me your address and I’ll send someone to


    “Okay, I’ll drop you a pin. Thanks.”


    Pick it up.”


    With that, Mirabe hung up and quickly opened her Messenger. Without hesitation, she found James‘


    new chat and sent him the location of her apartmentplex.


    James received the pin on Messenger and shot back a quick [OK] Then, he looked up at his crew


    standing a short distance away, each with a look of shock in their eyes.


    His eyes narrowed as his mild manner on the phone vanished, “That’s enough for today. Dismissed,”


    he said, his voice cold and detached.


    The team jolted to attention, hastily averting their eyes and scurrying out without a word.


    Wyatt was thest to leave, and he was the one who got called back. “Wyatt, I need you to pick


    something up.”


    Belonging ? N?velDram/a.Org.


    Wyatt halted, turned around, and looked at his boss. After a few seconds of silence, he asked softly.


    “For Mirabe?”


    James absently twirled his phone in his hand and hummed in affirmation.


    Wyatt’s expression grewplicated. Despite his intense curiosity, he knew better than to pry. He


    nodded in understanding and made his way out. Just as he was about to step out, James, who’d been


    loungingzily in his chair, stood up. “Never mind, I’ll go myself.”


    Wyatt, taken aback, could only think, “Is this really the boss I know?


    I


    Twenty minutester, the car pulled up outside Mirabe’s apartment building. James sent a quick


    message to Mirabe via Messenger. Soon after, a slender young woman emerged from the weathered


    iron gate.


    As the car window slid down James turned to look at Mirabe, his cool demeanor tinged with a touch


    of curiosity. “It’s the weekend. Why aren’t you dropping this off at your grandma’s yourself?”


    Mirabe handed him a wooden box, her beautiful face showing no particr emotion. She simply said,


    “It’s inconvenient for me.”


    James nced at the wooden box before looking back at Mirabe, his lips quirking. “Is it that


    stepmother of yours giving you trouble again?”


    Mirabe gave him a side nce filled withplex emotions. After a moment, she joked, “Anyone


    would think bugged me with all you know.”


    nk you’ve


    James chuckled and shook his head. “The issues with your stepmother’s family aren’t hard to guess.”


    Mirabe gave a mock salute. “Then I entrust my package to you. I’ll treat you to dinner another day.”


    James raised an eyebrow, half in jest. “You trust me just like that?”


    Mirabe had already turned to leave, but at his question, she paused and turned back halfway. The


    breeze caught her hair, brushing it against her cheek. She casually tucked a strand behind her ear, her


    gaze casuallynding on James‘ face, her smile ambiguous, “It’s nothing of value anyway.”


    Chapter 49


    With those words, she walked away, her posture proud and unbothered.