CEO'S SECRET CRUSH

Chapter 4 new friends

DANIELS POV

I decided to make us all drinks while Mia was on the phone.

"Hey Where's Mia?" asked Leah

"Oh she is, out on the balcony talking with her dad" I say.

"That's good, I overheard Mia saying she won't be going home until her dad flies home, back with her mum. So I think we shouldn't leave Mia alone until she goes home what do you think?" Leah asks me.

"Yeah, I totally agree with you, I'm happy for you both to stay here until then if your happy with that also?" I reply.

"Sounds good to me, but Friday I need to spend the day with my friend Julie, it's her birthday. What should we do then, I can't just take Mia along she is grieving for her mum, but I don't want to leave her alone as well Leah" says looking torn trying to figure it out.

"I can take the day off work, don't worry about that you spend the day with your friend Leah" I say not wanting to see my sister upset and torn over such things after all she is helping me help Mia.

"Thanks. I will talk Mia into staying here for a few days, While your out for your meeting we can go grab some of Mia's clothes Leah" says looking like she is on a Misson in helping Mia herself. I can't help but be proud and smile at how caring my sister is.

"Sounds like we have a plan made" I say to Leah while handing her a cuppa tea.

I'm glad Leah suggested it, I like having Mia around despite it under sad circumstances. I'm finding small things out about Mia that I like even more about her. She had such a sweet personality and loves the same ice cream as me. I can't wait to get to know her more, I think to myself.

I take mine and Mia's coffee to the coffee table and sit down on the sofa while smiling at my thoughts.

"Daniel what time is your meeting?" Leah asks.

"It's at 2pm and should only take an hour. I will be leaving here at 1:20pm" I inform my sister.

"Okay, you still have a few hours yet, so I will make lunch for 12:30 unless you want it earlier?" Leah asks me.

"No, 12:30 is good with me" I say. It's only 11:15am now and already my sister is thinking of food! I can't help laughing at her.

I hear the door open and in walks Mia. Furthermore, I can tell she had been crying again.

"Are you okay? I've made you a coffee it's here" I say.

Mia takes a seat next to Leah and starts crying again. I'm running out of ways to say it's okay, I think to myself feeling hopeless.

"Mia it's alright" says Leah hugging Mia at the same time.

A few minutes later Mia manages to calm down wiping her tears away.

"That was my dad he said he will be home Saturday as there flying my mum back then" Mia says which explains why she is so emotional again, hearing that bit of news.

"I bet you can't wait until there home" I say

"No I can't, I want to see my mum, but most off all I just want to hug my dad. He says he arrives at the home around 8pm, so I told him I will aim to get hone for 5pm" Mia says.

"Well until then your staying here with me and Daniel" says Leah

"Oh, I couldn't do that, I've imposed too much already" says Mia

"No, you're not imposing" I say, "so don't think that because your not", I quickly add on.

"Yeah and trust me I'm not letting you say no, you're grieving for your mum right now. I can't imagine how that feels but if it was me I'd want someone to be there for me. Therefore, I'm going to make sure your okay and your staying here until you go home Saturday no arguing" says Leah says with a stern no nonsense voice but wears a kind comforting smile to her face.

Mia looks at me not knowing what to say and looking like she wants me to help her out, however I'm not doing that I agree with my sister, plus I enjoy having Mia around. I give her a sorry looking look before I speak.

"Mia trust me there's no use arguing with Leah. You can stay here for as long as you like" I say.

"Okay thank you, but I have to grab some clothes and a few bits today from mine though if that's okay?" Mia says giving up trying to argue.

"Oh, I already planned that" says Leah.

"You did?" Mia asks with a shocked face.

"Yeah she did trust me, we just spoke about it. While I'm in my meeting Leah is going to go with you to yours, so you can grab some things", I say bring Mia up to date with the plan me and Leah just made.

"Thank you, your both so kind I don't know how I'd be coping if you both were not here for me" Mia says looking grateful.

"Where do you live anyway?" Leah asks Mia.

"Not far from the company it takes me 15 minutes to walk to work I rented a little one-bedroom flat since it's only me there. Talking of which what day is it?" Mia says.

"It's Wednesday" I say

"Ahh, no looks like my bedroom isn't getting painted today then" says Mia

"Bedroom painted?" I ask

"Yeah I can't paint to save my life, therefore I hired some decorators to come paint my bedroom today. I was meant to let them in before I started work, but with everything that's happened it completely slipped my mind". Mia says.

"Well it might be worth having it done in a few weeks from now" says Leah

"Yeah that makes sense" Mia agrees.

"Right, I'm going to make a start on sorting lunch. I'm having a bacon and egg sandwich what would you two like?" asks Leah

"I will have the same with extra bacon please" I say.

"Just a cheese sandwich for me please, if that's okay?" says Mia

"one cheese sandwich coming up" Leah says.

"Mia how are you getting to Bournemouth Saturday?" I ask Mia while Leah gets up to make lunch.

"I told my dad, I would be catching a train, although I can drive I don't think it's worth risking driving in case I start crying on the motorway" Mia replies.

"I can take you, if you want saves getting the train and crying in front of strangers plus I'm free Saturday". I say giving a small smile to Mia.

"Are you sure? Because I don't mind getting the train" she says with a thinking face.

"I'm sure, let me take you" I say

"Okay thank you, I really appreciate it and everything else" Mia says looking very grateful.

MIA'S POV

After lunch Daniel insisted on driving me and Leah to mine before going off for his meeting.

Leah came up with me to my little flat.

"Sorry it's not very grand, I've only been here 5 months. I know It's not much, but there's a little kitchen bathroom sitting room and a bedroom all I need for just me" I hurriedly say feeling embrassed how small my little flat is all of a sudden.

"No, it's very lovely, and it's got a nice little homely vibe to it. Plus I love the kitchen" she yells while making a cup of tea, while I'm grabbing a few bits from the bathroom.

"Really? I hate the yellow walls they were like that when I moved in" I say

"Yeah, but I think it's cute with the pink kettle and toaster you have" she yells back.

Half an hour later I've got everything packed, and we are sitting on my brown sofa.

"Leah I can't believe how lucky I am to have such a nice boss. Your brother is really nice and so are you, Not many bosses would do all this for there employees they would just pack them off in a taxi" I say.

"I know what you mean, I hate the big balls and events we have to go to, there full of stuck up rich people who only think of themselves! But me and Daniel, we ain't like that. We like to see everyone as equal in this world. When Daniel rang me yesterday saying what happened, I knew you would need a friend, and therefore I couldn't live with myself and wouldn't of forgiven Daniel if he let you go home alone" Leah says.

"When I come back from Bournemouth please let me buy you dinner or cook for you both to say thank you it's the least I can do" I say insisting.

"Mia we don't expect anything back but if you want to do anything then I only ask that we can have lunch dates, go shopping, clubbing and just be good friends. I now we met in sad circumstances, but I quite like you. I know you have no friends here yet, but you now have me. When you come back I can introduce you to some of my friends here as well what do you say?" Leah says with pleading eyes.

"I'd really love that thank you, You remind me of Rosie my best friend back home. She would like you to when she comes to visit me here next I will have to introduce you to her also" I say.

"I'd like that. Didn't you say she is about to have a baby girl?" She asks.

"Yes that's the one, I'm so excited I love babies" I say.

"Me to there so cute" Leah says.

RING RING RING RIN it's Leah's phone ringing.

"Hi Daniel" say Leah

"Oh hang on she says next to me" I hear Leah say.

"Mia Daniel said he has finished his meeting do we need picking up? Are you ready to go?" Leah says passing on Daniels questions to me.

"Give me 10 minutes to clear the fridge and clean the cups then I will be ready" I say

"Okay I will tell him" Leah says then starts to repeat what I've said to Daniel.

I stand up and take the cups with me to clean them. The last thing I hate is mess. So I'm making sure it's all sorted before I leave.

Leah comes and helps me pack the stuff from the fridge into a bag once she is off the phone with Daniel.

"What are you going to do with the food? There's not enough room in Daniels fridge it's basically full" she says.

"I will go give it to the old lady next door. She struggles to get out, so I often buy her milk ECT from the shop when I go shopping for myself" I say.

"Your so kind and thoughtful How about I take your bags on down while you take the food to your nabouir?" Leah asks.

"Okay, I'd appreciate it" I say as we start to gather the things together to leave.

DANIELS POV

I arrive in the car park to where Mia lives. As I pull up I see Leah coming out with a suitcase and handheld bag but no Mia.

I get out the car to take the bags from Leah.

"Leah Where's Mia?" I ask looking and feeling confused by luggage but no Mia.

"She is taking the contents of her fridge to her elderly nabouir, so they don't go to waste, don't worry she won't be long" Leah says while smiling.

"That's a kind thing to do" I say more to myself not realising Leah heard at first until she starts to respond.

"Yeah, she said she buys her milk and bread ECT whenever she buys her own as the old lady struggles to get out" my sister says.

That women clearly has a heart of gold I think to myself while putting the suitcases into the boot.

"Leah did you get the door number of the old lady's home?" I ask.

"Yeah it's number 13 why?" Leah asks me confused.

"Because Mia won't be here for while, as she will be attending her mums' funeral, so I will arrange someone to drop some shopping into the old lady" I simply reply.

"Good idea, I'm surprised you thought of it before me" Leah says acting shocked, pulling a surprised face while putting her hands to her face to add the dramatic effect.

I just laugh at Leah, and she starts laughing back as I start locking her shocked face by pulling my own one.

Then we see Mia coming out so Leah and me stops messing around, while I mentally still laugh at how childish we can be at moments in adulthood.

"Ready to go?" I ask Mia as she approaches the car.

"Yes but could we pretty please stop by a shop?" She responds

"Of course what do you need?" asks Leah

"A lot of dairy milk chocolate bars the big ones" say's Mia

"Okay, let's go get chocolate" I say as we get into the car.

10 minutes later we pull up to the supermarket.

"So do you need anything?" Mia asks me and Leah.

"I can come with you" I say

"If your going in as well Daniel, grab me some toffee popcorn please" says Leah.

"Okay will do" I reply.

I and Mia hop out of the car and walk in to the supermarket.

"Was everyone talking about me at work?" asks Mia suddenly.

"I don't think so, but I didn't go to the advertising department, Jenny asked how you are though. In fact, she told me to give you her personal number and if you need anything you can call her" I say.

"I bet everyone in my department thought I went crazy" says Mia Says

"Michelle knows what happened, and she won't let anyone bad mouth you or spread rumours. Don't worry about it. And if anyone gives you any problems just come find me okay?" I say meaning every word.

"Okay thanks" Mia says.

We reach the sweets section and Mia clears the lot of the dairy milk bars, I'm sure my eyes nearly popped out of my head.

"You sure you got enough?" I ask, Trying not to laugh.

"My guilty pleasure and I'm going to need it all to get through the next few weeks, I can just tell" she says.

"Good point, we can go take out the rest of the supermarkets to if you want just to be sure" I say while giving Mia a wink.

Mia laughs and says "no I better leave some for the rest of London".

"That's true, you don't want an army of angry women on your case because you got all the chocolate" I simply reply, Then we go find the toffee popcorn for Leah.

"Daniel what did you need?" asks Mia

"Oh yeah, I nearly forgot I wanted to buy fresh pizzas for dinner tonight" I say feeling grateful that Mia reminded me of my own shopping list.

"Do you like pizza?" I add to make sure in case Mia doesn't like pizza we could find something else instead.

"Yeah I like pizza", Mia says

We find the fresh pizzas and I pick up pepperoni for myself.

Cheese for Leah as she Only likes cheese pizzas.

"What one would you like?" I ask Mia

"Ham and pineapple please" Mia replies.

So I pick that up with some garlic breads as well.

Then we head to the self-checkout.

"Why are all the cues so long" asks Mia.

"If you want I can pay for everything, and you can go wait with Leah? I don't mind" I say.

"No it's not that I need to use the bathroom, I wish the lines would hurry up, so I can pay for this and then use the bathroom" she says, while going a little red in the face probably feeling shy. How cute I think to myself.

"Okay give me your basket. You go? I insist!" I say

"Are you sure?" She asks.

"Yes" I say holding my hand out as an indication for Mia to give over her basket.

She gives me the basket throws her bank card into the basket saying "its contact less" then runs off to the bathroom before I can even reply.

Is this woman crazy? I'm not doing two different transactions. And I'm a billionaire the chocolate isn't going to break my bank balance I think to myself.

2 minutes later I'm at the self check-outs, I quickly scan everything through. And make sure I get Mia's bankcard before waiting by the exit for Mia to come out from the restroom.

Mia comes back out not long afterwards.

"Thanks for that" Mia says while approaching me.

"No problem here's your chocolate and bank card" I say while handing the bag of shopping over with the bank card over to Mia.

Then we head back to the car. While chatting about the new advert we have on the radio stations atm for the company.

"Leah we have pizza for dinner. Don't worry I got you cheese one" I say as I open the car door.

"Okay, But Jane just rang me some asshole just robbed the coffee shop I'm going to have to go down and sort it all out! Could you drop me off, and I will come back afterwards" says Leah looking pretty angry and pissed off?

"What is your staff okay?" I say at the same time Mia say… "No one is hurt are they?".

"No there all fine. There's been a few robberies in the area lately, so I already called a staff meeting and told everyone if anything like that was to happen. Just hand over the cash, I'd rather my staff be safe and lose money" Leah says.

"That's awful" says Mia

"Mia you don't mind if Daniel drops me off first, do you? I will be back later I promise" asks Leah.

"No its fine I understand make sure everyone is okay" Mia insists.

"What's your coffee shop called?" Mia then asks after a minute silent.

"Love bean" Leah responds.

"Oh I've been there, they have amazing chocolate cakes" says Mia

"There freshly made daily by the Baker and I agree all her cakes are mouth watering" Leah responds with a smile at the handy work of her Baker. Leah is always proud of her staff.

"Leah if you let me know when you're ready to be picked up, I can come and get you" I say.

"No, no you stay with Mia. I can grab a taxi back. Oh, and Daniel if you cook my pizza up I will eat it cold later. I don't know how long things will take so you two can go ahead and eat" Leah says.

"Alright, but let me know if you need anything" I say feeling worried about my sister getting home as well as her pride and joy coffee shop.

"Could you sort the insurance side of things for me, you know I hate dealing with paperwork and stuff" Leah asks with a pleading look.

"Yeah I can sort that tomorrow for you, don't fret about that" I say.

MIA'S POV

How could people do something so cruel. And to such a lovely person as well, I couldn't believe what I just heard.

I felt bad for Leah, there is she taking care of me and someone goes and robs her coffee shop! And even then she was still thinking of me, such a caring person she is I think to myself.

It wasn't long before we arrived at the coffee shop.

"Mia come in with me a second" says Leah.

"Oh okay" I say getting out the car.

"What's up?" I ask? Wondering if she needed my help for anything, if so I help out anyway I can.

"Nothing I figured while we are here I will pack some cakes up for pudding to send back with you and Daniel" Leah says.

"Oh I see", I say while walking into the coffee shop with Leah.

She asks a member of staff to pack up 2 of each cake, then comes back to me with a bag full of boxed cakes.

"Here you go Mia, take This's back. If you need anything my number is in your phone under Leah Wicks just give me a call. I will try to be as quick as I can though" Leah says sounding worried.

"I will be okay to take as long as you need make sure all your staff are okay" I say.

Then Leah gives me a hug before I leave her to get thing sorted.

I sit in the passengers seat as I get back into the car.

"Daniel Leah sends us gifts" I say

"A lot of gifts I'm guessing by the size of that bag" Daniel laughs.

"Yes 2 of each cake" I say while putting my seatbelt on.

"I'm sure my sister wants to make me fat" he says with a smile.

"Don't worry if she turns you fat we can be gym buddies, I will need to hit the gym by the time I've finished all my chocolate" I say.

"No you won't, you look just fine as you are even if you gained a couple of pounds you would still look good" Daniel says

"Then it looks like your be hitting the gym by yourself then" I say.

"I didn't say you couldn't join me at the gym, I'd quite like a gym buddies actually" says Daniel while he starts to drive back.

"Do you go to the gym regularly?" I ask trying to make the conversation flow.

"Once a week" Daniel says with pride of himself

"I'm always self-conscious of going alone" I say

"Well if you really want to join a gym let me know we can go together" he says

"Okay I will think about it and let you know once I'm back" I say.