[22]

“I've finished my tasks,” Miya said with a half-frustrated sigh. She felt like cursing Victor for having so many assignments. Miya realized that she was a final-year student, but what she had to do made no sense. It was as if Victor was deliberately adding to her burden while living in this luxurious mansion.

Not to mention, there was a supervisor who from today oversaw supervising and giving direction regarding her lessons that had been left behind some time ago.

“I'll check first.” Lidia smiled slightly, adjusted her square glasses slightly, and quickly picked up the assignment Miya had been working on. “Tomorrow, macroeconomics please restudy because your grades over the past few semesters have not been good enough.”

Miya scowled. “Can you tell me honestly? If those grades are only enough for graduation because I realize the subject is very boring.”

Lidia chuckled. “You'll have to repeat the lesson, Miss Miya. I'll reschedule for grade taking.”

Miya was in no position to refuse, right? All she could do was nod even though she was not excited. Glancing at the clock on her phone, it was nearing lunchtime. There was nothing exciting to do on her phone. The search page which is usually filled with lots of news ranging from muraha gossip, economics, business, or even the political world in this country cannot be accessed by Miya.

The blonde girl is only allowed to play one social media account. It was also limited to who could contact her and how long she spent there. Oh my. All things related to the outside world are really limited by Damian. It was just like what was stated in their contract, but it didn't matter. Miya was already very grateful to be able to communicate with her best friend, Tessa Monroe.

"Did Miss Lidia actually lecture at Hillarious? I've never seen you during college or different faculties?” Miya looked at Lidia intently. The glasses woman's face looked simply both in appearance and demeanor. It indicated that Lidia was not a woman with a lot of behavior.

An awkward smile appeared on Lidia's face. “I didn't actually teach there,” She adjusted her glasses. “But I graduated from Hillarious University. I received a full scholarship from Mr. Victor Wyatt,” she replied. “I now work at Tomoya Corp under the administration division. For now, I've been specially asked by Mr. Victor to teach you the final semester materials.”

Miya stared at Lidia with an amazed look. “Tomoya Group is no ordinary company, Miss Lidia. It's great that you can work there.”

Lidia could only smile awkwardly. “It's all thanks to Mr. Victor and the opportunity Mr. Damian Sawyer gave me regarding the scholarship.”

Miya's brow furrowed deeply. “What does that have to do with Damian?”

Although Lidia gave Miya an astonished look especially when Miya casually mentioned the name of her highest boss in the office, Lidia still answered Miya's curiosity. “He is the CEO of the Tomoya Group.”

Miya's mouth opened wide. “But... as far as I know the Tomoya Group is headed by Mr. Paula Greek. I've met that man before during a business meeting a few years ago.”

Lidia could tell that the blonde-haired girl in front of her was no ordinary girl. Aside from her appearance, there was a different aura from the moment they spoke together about the lesson. It was confirmed by Miya's knowledge of the former leader of the Tomoya Group.

“Mr. Damian acquisitions the company because it was in danger of bankruptcy at the time, Miss Miya.”

“Ah, that's right." Miya rubbed her chin. “But I haven't been able to digest how those two people are considerate enough in the field of education."

“Does Miss Miya not know that the original owner of Hillarious is Mr. Damian? He often gives scholarships especially to outstanding students and wants to support them when they graduate. Aka willing to work under Mr. Damian's control in several bonafide companies spread across the country."

Miya was silent. She was quite surprised by this information.

“But if you don't know about it, that's normal because Mr. Damian doesn't like excessive publicity. Most matters concerning Hillarious are overseen by Mr. Victor."

“I still don't understand the concept that after graduating from Hillarious, the scholarship recipients have to work at their own pace. I think... that's not quite right.”

Lidia smiled slightly. “For us, going to college with such facilities and the company we're applying to is a difficult company to get into for applicants who don't have connections, is a great blessing. Although the pressure of working at the Tomoya Group was great and the competition among employees was high, I didn't give up easily. Because there are many out there who would like to trade places with me, Miss Miya.”

Miya nodded slowly, trying to understand. Miya's situation was not much different from Lidia's. She needed the support of others to sustain life especially after the incident she had experienced. That's also why she accepted Damian's offer, right?

Lidia ended their conversation and meeting today. “I think that's enough for today. I will be back tomorrow to discuss Macroeconomics further, Ms. Miya. Please prepare yourself well.”

Miya could only nod resignedly.

“I'll take my leave,” Lidia said as she hurriedly left the reading room, the room where they studied together. Not far from the doorway, there was Desi who was always faithfully waiting for Miya and her activities.

“The head chef has just prepared lunch,” she informed. “I hope you won't delay lunch today.”

Miya resigned herself, following Desi's lead into the dining room. “By the way, Desi. Is Damian returning?” she asked absentmindedly. It was only when Desi turned her head and gave her an astonished look that Miya realized there was something wrong with her question. “Forget it, Desi.” She looked down with a noticeable blush on her face.

“Mr. Damian is still not going home, Miss Miya. He had some very urgent business since morning. Didn't I tell you this during your breakfast?”

Miya chuckled at that. “That's why I said forget it. I forgot if you already told me.”

“You're waiting for him?” she asked with a pointed look. “If I did, I would have told Mr. Damian immediately.”

“No!!!”

Desi blinked in disbelief but soon nodded in understanding of what Miya had just said. “Alright, we're waiting in the dining room.”

Miya nodded with a big smile in response to Desi's words. As Desi took another step, Miya's smile simply disappeared from the corners of her lips. Damian promised to be home in the morning for breakfast. Miya shouldn't have expected much from the man, but somehow there was a hint of resentment when that promise proved to be nothing more than empty talk. Damian was a man who never really kept his word apparently.

“Have a seat, Miss Miya,” Desi said, inviting Miya to sit in the chair she now often sat in when eating in the dining room. “Waiters, serve Miss Miya's lunch,” Desi orders the few waiters who are always on standby.

But the calm soon turned into a chaotic scene due to the arrival of two uninvited guests. One of them caught Miya's attention because the man's appearance was quite striking-black and gray hair and bright yellow eyes as if he had infinite energy.

Actually Miya had met this man but only briefly and only today she saw clearly what the man named Marcus looked like.

“Are we interrupting you, Desi?” asked Marcus casually sitting next to Miya. “Um... what is this delicious flavor?”

“You're rude, Marcus. Look at Miya looking scared.” This time it was Victor who spoke while casting a nosy glance at Miya who seemed to be fidgeting in her seat.

“Really, Miya-miya?” asked Marcus with a surprised look. “I didn't scare you; you know~”

“Who are you calling Miya-miya?” Miya scowled in displeasure.

“You.” Marcus grinned slightly. “Desi, make lunch for us too. We're hungry.”

Desi could only smile slightly and then asked the waiter to prepare additional portions. She also did not expect the arrival of two men who were beyond her expectations. But she couldn't do anything about it because the two men were Damian Sawyer's trusted right-hand men. Whatever they ordered was a must for the workers under Damian's control.

Ignoring the waiters and Desi who seemed to be busy, Miya gave the man sitting next to her a look of dislike. Moreover, the call just now was really annoying to her ears. “Sorry, I'm not that friendly with you to call me Miya-miya.”

Victor chuckled; Marcus scowled. “You're no fun, Miya-miya.”

Miya chose to focus on her lunch. The delicious-looking Beef Stroganoff with pasta was already taking her mind off the arrival of two men who were just as annoying as Damian.

“How was your lesson today, Miya?”

Victor's question made the mouthful that should have gone into Miya's mouth, stop dead in its tracks. She stared at the man sitting in front of her with an annoyed look. “You ask things like that at the dinner table?”

“What's wrong with that?” Victor chose to enjoy the piece of fruit first rather than the dish that was already in front of him. “Um... you should eat more fruit, Miya. It helps your brain absorb the lessons.”

Miya snorted in displeasure. “Why don't your words reflect the owner of a foundation as big as Hillarious?”

Marcus laughed so hard that the man wiped the corners of his watery eyes several times. “Oh my! This is the first time someone has said something so obvious to my face! I'm with you, Miya-miya. Victor does not deserve to be the head of the Foundation.”

Victor gave Marcus a sardonic look as well as Miya. “If you say anything I don't like again, whatever you put in my warehouse, then it's all mine.”

Marcus was wide-eyed in disbelief. “You asshole!”

The brown-haired man ignored Marcus's words and continued speaking and his gaze didn't move anywhere but Miya. “And you, Miya. If you repeat your lessons and I get a report from Lidia that you've been slacking off while studying at home, I'm taking your cell phone back."

Miya choked until Desi helped her get a drink. Received a gentle stroke on her back from Desi and thanked her sincerely for her help. Feeling at ease, she replied to Victor's words casually. “You can't do that to me, Mr. Victor. My permission to use the phone came from Mr. Damian. And only Mr. Damian can ask for my cell phone back regardless of my poor grades.”

Victor was stunned by Miya's reply.

At the same time, the figure whose name Miya had just mentioned entered the dining room. Making several waiters and even Desi bow respectfully to welcome Damian's arrival but the man as usual, did not pay too much attention to what his workers were doing. If they worked well and didn't anger Damian, Damian didn't bother too much about how they behaved.

“You won't be able to argue with Mr. Damian's orders, will you, Mr. Victor? For once, I win!” Miya stuck out her tongue. Teasing Victor without realizing that the man she called his name, who she had been waiting for to arrive since morning, was standing behind her.

Staring at Miya with quite a lot of wrinkles on his forehead. Still wearing a mask and his curls are a bit messy but really... no matter how messy Damian looks, that figure still has good looks that no one else can deny.

“So you'd better think of another threat for me, Mr. Victor.” Miya said in a winning tone.

“What threat did Victor say to you, Miya?”

The voice made Miya wince in surprise, so much so that she jumped out of her chair. When she turned around, Damian was beside her. Staring at Miya with a flat gaze.

“You're... back?” she asked after trying to normalize herself.

“This is my house.” Damian pulled the chair next to Miya. Asking Marcus to move away from Miya's side which was immediately responded with a scowl of dislike. Even so Marcus still did what Damian told him to do. Damian took off his mask and said again, “Is there a problem if I go back?”