(Mia's Pov)
I was so engrossed in my banter with Ben, my now ex, that I failed to recognize that a third party was standing there all the while. Not until he came to my side.
"I thought you were celebrating your birthday today. But it doesn't look like you are having a good time."
Samuel appeared behind me, wearing a black jean and a black turtleneck, with a coffee leather jacket right on the turtleneck to create a matching effect, his hands in his pockets. His cologne brushed through the tip of my nostrils, and I caught a fresh scent of lavender oil and honey. He looked stunning as ever, just as I had always known him to be. I won't deny the fact that I liked the way he usually styles his hair. Samuel really has a keen eye for fashion.
My now ex, Ben, glared at the man talking to me.
"Who is this?"
"Samuel," I said, looking up to meet Samuel's soft gaze, which was fixed on me " Shanaiah's step- brother "
With that, Samuel moved closer to me. I tried to ignore how warm he felt, or how protective his body angle made me feel.
"Why is he standing so close to you like that?" my ex asked me accusingly, as if I was the one cheating on him.
"Might want to watch your tone," my best friend's stepbrother said.
"You have a problem with my tone?" my ex asked sarcastically.
"That's right, nobody talks to my girl with disrespect. Not if you want to leave here under your own power."
I was stunned by the way Samuel confidently referred to me as "my girl," like he really meant it. I didn't see a flicker of doubt in his eyes when he said that.
Samuel and I have known each other for six years now and haven't had any kind of romantic relationship except for the fact that he was my best friend's stepbrother, and I had always seen him as a big brother figure, probably because he was Shanaiah's older brother, nothing more. Not until he referred to me as "my girl.
"Your girl?" Ben asked in bewilderment as my best friend's stepbrother crossed his hands over my shoulder.
"I'm claiming her, since you're obviously stupid enough not to recognize her value."
"I don't see any value In her, I only see a girl who can't make anything out of life, she's so reckless and can't even act lady-like."
My heart ripped open at what Ben said, and my feet almost gave me away. Three years together and Ben never saw me as someone worthy of him, just a stand-in waiting for the perfect woman. I've been living on lies and pretenses for three solid years.
It's not like I didn't get the signs earlier. There were signs, but I ignored them, thinking Ben was the best for me. One time I had read his chat with another girl where he denied being in a relationship; he said it was nothing, that he was just trying to help a friend of his communicate with her. Another time, he had me unpinned on his chat wall. I confronted him, and he said it was a mistake.
Too many mistakes had happened, but I had ignored them all. I was a fool to have trusted Ben this much. My head kept spinning, but I refused to drop my composure; I stood still, my focus on Ben.
"I can't believe you acted all mad and shit when you've been cheating on me with this guy," my ex says indignantly.
I scoffed.
"Cheat?I'd never do that to Samuel," I said. I said
I smirked at how Ben turned red with the way I threw his words back at him. But suddenly he starts to grin smugly.
"You know what? You're right. You are not the kind of girl who can pull off cheating. And I doubt you were entertaining an offer behind my back," Ben said.
Ben gave a smirk, knowing there weren't any offers. I realized with sudden dismay that he knows I'm lying.
He continued, "You aren't the kind of girl that a guy like your best friend's stepbrother would ask out.
Now I believe the saying that "The eyes know who holds the most power." On the basis of status, Ben is far beneath Samuel, and since I'm getting dumped by him - a third-class rich guy, I'd be no better than Ben.
Samuel didn't respond immediately; he just pressed a kiss on my temple. Surprising me. And said "She's coming home with me, hope you don't have a problem with that?"
Ben turned red with fury and anger. I could see how hard his heart pounded against his chest.
"Coming home with you?" Ben asked.
"Yes"
"Haha," Ben scoffed. What do you two think you're getting at with the show you're putting on here?"
Before he could say another word, the server came to our side.
"You're disturbing the serenity of the other guests," she said.
I turned to look around the restaurant, and was met with several eyes staring at us. I could hear a clicking sound come from the side. I turned to see someone video recording us. This was such a mess.