Chapter 162: What Identity Are You Using to Warn Me?
Mia and her group came out and ran into Benjamin at the entrance, who "just happened" to be here for business tonight too.
Seeing them figuring out how to get home - too many people, not enough cars, one person short - they were discussing who should take a taxi.
Benjamin walked over, glanced at everyone, and asked casually, "Who's on my way?"
More than just Mia lived in his direction, but when the others saw it was Benjamin.
The moment he finished speaking, everyone instinctively took half a step back, afraid of being volunteered.
Only Mia and the colleague supporting her remained.
The colleague was completely speechless.
Her grip on Mia's arm clearly tightened.
She was nervous.
Mia wasn't drunk, just had a bit too much to drink. Her head was spinning and she couldn't stand steady on her own.
From the corner of her eye, she noticed her colleagues' obvious moves. They were all pretty scared of Benjamin.
No wonder - at the company, Benjamin really was like a devil.
Completely different from his private self.
"I'm on your way. Thanks, Mr. Davis."
She spoke up on her own.
The colleague supporting Mia visibly relaxed, looking at her gratefully and saying quietly, "I won't forget this kindness. You've got a friend for life. Next time dinner's on me, you pick the place."
Benjamin's car pulled up just then. The colleague helped her into the car.
After closing the door and greeting Benjamin, she quickly jumped into a colleague's car.
The cars soon drove away from Midnight Oasis.
Inside the car, with her colleague rushing to leave, she'd been pushed into the car. The dizziness made Mia close her eyes uncomfortably.
Benjamin opened the door and got in. Seeing how uncomfortable Mia looked, he rolled down the window a bit to let some air in.
Without the others around, Benjamin complained, "Can't handle alcohol but still drink?"
Mia relaxed too, leaning softly against the seat back, saying quietly, "I was just happy."
One word - happy - but unclear whether she meant happy about the divorce, or happy about tonight's first time eating, drinking, and having fun with colleagues.
His lips parted, but in the end he didn't ask.
Benjamin was about to drive when he noticed Mia hadn't buckled up. He didn't say anything, just leaned over to help her with it.
As he approached, Mia, who was very conscious of personal space, sensed a shadow looming over her. Startled, she quickly opened her eyes, full of wariness.
Her hand grabbed his shoulder, making a pushing motion.
Their eyes met.
Mia realized she'd misunderstood and quickly pulled her hand back.
The car fell into an awkward silence.
This scene was caught entirely by James, who'd come to pick up Mia.
From his angle, it looked like Benjamin was pinning Mia against the passenger seat, kissing her.
And she wasn't resisting.
James's pupils shook violently, his mind went blank, all reason gone.
His eyes turned red with anger. Before his car even stopped, he pushed open the door and stormed over furiously.
He yanked open the passenger door, grabbed Mia's wrist, and pulled her into his arms - not exactly gently, driven by jealousy.
Mia was already dizzy, and this yank made her face crash into his hard chest, making her even more dizzy.
Her whole face darkened.
James didn't notice. His hand wrapped tightly around Mia's waist like a claim of ownership, his gaze falling coldly on Benjamin, who'd also gotten out of the car.
Looking at each other across the car, he warned, "Stay away from my wife."
His tone was matter-of-fact and harsh!
He hadn't adjusted to or accepted deep down that he and Mia were divorced.
In his subconscious, Mia was still his wife, and she could only be his.
This belief was deeply rooted.
He couldn't stand other men getting close to Mia, especially excellent men like Benjamin.
Mia pushed down the dizziness, raised her hand to push him away, and said in a voice only the two of them could hear.
"James, we got divorced this morning!"
She was no longer his wife!
Those words were like a bucket of cold water poured over his head, chilling him to the bone.
James's hand, raised halfway, froze in mid-air.
Mia got into Benjamin's car. James stood there, watching the car drive away.
After just a few seconds of being stunned, he immediately turned around, got in his car, floored the gas pedal, and followed.
A man and woman alone, and Mia had been drinking - how could he feel at ease?
……
Half an hour later, the car stopped downstairs at Luxe Haven.
Benjamin got out to open the door for Mia.
"Thanks."
Mia said.
"Need me to see you up?"
Seeing Mia's unsteady steps, Benjamin asked politely, also testing her attitude.
"No need, I can manage."
Mia didn't read too much into it, just instinctively declined.
Although she was single now and didn't need to deliberately keep distance from men.
But it was too late, and she'd been drinking - it wasn't appropriate to let a man see her upstairs.
"Take care."
Benjamin didn't insist. After a word of concern, he leaned against the car, watching Mia slowly walk inside.
He looked up slightly, and only after seeing the lights turn on in her floor did he turn to open his car door.
Just as his hand touched the door, a bright light hit him.
When Benjamin looked over, James turned off the high beams and pushed open his car door to get out.
It was clearly April, the temperature pleasant, but James stood there surrounded by a cold aura.
This coldness had no effect on Benjamin.
"Mr. White, I remember you once said you and Mia were just boss and employee."
If that was true, what was he doing just now?
He was a man. He'd seen clearly.
When Benjamin leaned close to Mia, the way he looked at her - that was how a man looks at a woman he wants to possess.
"That was true then."
Even if his heart had stirred before, he'd held back because she was married.
But now, she was divorced.
An unmarried man, an unmarried woman.
Anything was possible.
They were both smart men.
Benjamin's words were an admission - he had designs on Mia!
James's expression changed instantly, his gaze turning cold. "Benjamin, I'm warning you, stay away from Mia!"
He couldn't tolerate other men coveting Mia.
"And what position are you using to warn me? Ex-husband?"
That casual mention of "ex-husband" made James's face look even worse.
How did he know?
Just now when Mia reminded him they were divorced, her voice was very quiet. Benjamin couldn't have heard.
Which meant Mia must have told him herself.
Why would Mia tell Benjamin that she'd divorced him?
……
Mia got home. The alcohol was still affecting her, her head fuzzy. She just wanted to shower and get a good night's sleep.
She changed her shoes and went straight to the downstairs bathroom, stripping off her clothes to shower.
James had already moved out. Now she was alone at home.
She had no concerns. After showering, she walked out wrapped only in a towel.
Walking while drying her short hair with another towel.
About to go upstairs, she heard a sound at the door.
Her body visibly stiffened. She instinctively turned to look.
The door opened, and James strode in.
His eyes, full of coldness and anger, caught sight of the blood-pumping scene before him. His breathing hitched, his gaze instantly turning dark and intense...