As if reading her mind once again, "you can go about your daily life--as long as you do nothing that'll affect me. I'll assign a driver to you, to take you to and from school. Or anywhere you wish to go."

As long as she didn't do anything that'd affect him... what could she possibly do in this life that'd affect this formidable man? Mia wondered. 

'...' Hold up.

Her brows knitted together as she was lost deep in thought. She didn't need a driver--she didn't want one. No, no, no. What would the kids at school start to say...? She already didn't have a good image in school... 

She'd have to reject him. 

Mia looked up at the man who sat elegantly before him. He definitely wasn't one to take no for an answer. She gulped. 

What was she to do now? 

"Just give me money instead." Before she could think twice, she blurted out. 

But that was better, wasn't it? By asking for money... she didn't turn him down. 

But how she'd said it... did that not make her seem like...

"I mean... for transport. Don't bother yourself assigning a driver to me. I'm not worth it." She laughed nervously, rephrasing her sentence in a more logical manner. 

That sounded better. 

Shawn's eyes narrowed on her. He didn't say a word. The girl had already begun to show her true colors. Look at her straight up asking for money...

What was wrong with getting her a personal driver?--absolutely nothing. She simply wanted to squander his money--that was what she was after, afterall.

 And to think that, in order to not make him suspicious of her, she'd said: 'I'm not worth it.' at the end of her request.

Hell yeah, she wasn't worth it. She was not even worth sitting in his house right now. Should he just kick her out? He pondered in silence.

Then his mind trailed off to his grandfather...

The CEO clicked his tongue irritably, his jaw tightening. He took out his wallet from his pocket and brought out a platinum card which he handed over to Mia. 

The girl's mouth flung open ajar the moment she sighted the midnight black card. As she stretched out her hands to collect it, they trembled. NO, she couldn't use just a hand to receive such priceless-- I mean, she only saw that card on the internet... 

Not in her wildest imagination had she ever thought of actually seeing it in real life... talk more of touching it. She was wowed to the core. 

"Erm... I-What...?" She stuttered. 

"It's yours now." 

Those three simple words almost made her lose her senses. What?! She was going to possess a platinum card?!!! Even her father didn't have one. He only had a gold debit card... 

The girl admired the card in her hands with widened eyes. 

Shawn watched the girl with full skepticism, under his long thick eyelashes. Covetousness. It was written all over her face... 

He might have to kill her later.

"But, can't I continue staying in the dorm?" Mia asked poutily. 

"No." 

In order to make the old champ happy, he'd have to live under the same roof with her. This way, Grandpa Mandez wouldn't suspect anything amiss, and he'd be deeply convinced that his grandson was happily married. 

Shawn stood up on his feet at once. "The maids will show you to your room. The basic things you'll be needing have already been provided."He pursed his thin lips, "if you want anything, ask. Don't steal from me." He warned sternly.

He then loosened the tie around his neck. "The maids can also help you out with anything."

Having said his piece, he began to head towards the classy spiral stairway. But he suddenly stopped midway.

He turned, "You can move your important belongings to your room--only important things."

He wouldn't like it if the girl turned his house into a dumping refuse, filling it up with filthy things. 

He turned back around and ascended the staircases without saying any more words.

Mia's eyes were planted on his broad back until he'd completely vanished from sight.

But what was that about stealing from him? She wasn't a thief though. Phew. Now that he was no longer in the living room, she heaved a sigh of relief. 

Now, she could take her time to let her eyes roam around all of this beauty. A sight to behold.

But...

"Come with me, madam." An old woman approached her from the side.

She should be around Madam Grace's age. Her uniform was different from the rest of the maids' uniforms... Was she the head of the maids? Mia pondered.

Her shoulders fell dejectedly when she realized she wouldn't be able to take in the living room, but she stood up anyway. She'd do the sight-seeing tomorrow.

Mia limped behind the old woman as she led her up the same spiral stairs she'd seen the icy cold man go up. Two maids followed behind them.

They walked down a magnanimous hallway and soon stopped in front of a beautiful looking door. 

You know what,-- everything in here was beautiful!

She couldn't wait to see the inside of the room. When the door opened and they stepped into the room, Mia was met with a gorgeous sight to behold. The room was too beautiful... so perfect! Too perfect to be true. It was like she was in the dreamland. 

"Thi-this is the room I-I'll be staying in?" She asked with widened eyes. 

"Yes, madam." Madam Susan smiled politely.

Unbelievable! Mia was in awe. 

"Where's the medicine?" The old woman asked, and one of the maids that followed them quickly stepped forward and handed the balm in her hand over to Madam Susan. 

All this while, Mia continued to ogle at everything her eyes fell on. The gigantic bed, the dressing table and mirror... the closet... a walk-in closet-- the bathroom door was also open, so she could see inside too--beautiful.

Madam Susan had to clear her throat in order to gain the girl's attention. 

Then, she asked, "should I apply it for you, madam?"

"Errr... no, thank you." Mia rejected the offer politely. 

Madam Susan nodded her head. "Alright then. Here you go," She handed the balm over to Mia.

"Good night, madam." She bobbed politely and led the maids out of the room.

Mia also bowed her head until the door had closed behind them. 

After making sure they'd really left, Mia giggled and rushed to the bed at once. She scampered up on it and started jumping continuously, on one leg.

She squealed like a happy rabbit. She couldn't wait to tell Martha about this beautiful place! She immediately reached for her pocket, but she felt emptiness. She realized she hadn't brought her phone along with her since she'd left the room in a hurry.

Shit. Martha would be worried sick about her by now. Huff. Well, first thing tomorrow morning, she'd rush to school and tell Martha and Vivian about this gracious--

Hold up. Hell no! That was not going to be possible. It wasn't a good idea at all. Who would she say that the gracious mansion belonged to?... Her husband? Ewww. Mia cringed at the thought of this. HUSBAND... That word, gross. 

Her lips pursed; wait a minute. Just like that, she was married? Realization suddenly dawned on her.