Chapter 14 Clean Freak
"Little Coco? What's that?" Micah crouched down to meet her eye level, his tone gentle.
"It's my little parrot," Mia replied, her voice trembling. She felt a knot of fear in her stomach; this man looked fierce. Could he be a bad person? "I heard it calling, but I can't find it."
"Don't worry, I'll help you find it," Micah said, scanning the area around the cars. His commanding presence seemed to work like a charm as Little Coco emerged from beneath a nearby car and fluttered onto his shoulder, squawking excitedly, "Mia, Mia!"
"Come here!" Mia called out sternly, reaching forward. "If you don't behave, I'll get angry!" But before she could grab the bird, Micah, quicker than her small hands, caught Little Coco.
Startled, Little Coco flapped its wings wildly, shedding feathers and pooping right on Micah's pristine jacket.
"Uh," Andrew mumbled, his face freezing with shock.
The bodyguards paled instantly. Everyone knew about Micah's a clean freak. This bird was in serious trouble!
Micah's grip tightened momentarily, causing Little Coco to shriek and thrash about even more desperately. "Mia, Mia!" it screeched in obvious distress.
"Let go of my Little Coco!" Mia's voice trembled with fear as she lunged forward, trying to free her parrot. Her small hands clawed at Micah's wrist, eyes brimming with tears. "You can't treat it like this!" she cried, even daring to hit him in desperation.
Micah was taken aback. He hadn't expected such a reaction. Seeing Mia's teary eyes, a pang of guilt hit him, and his grip involuntarily loosened.
"You hurt it!" she accused, shaking her head vigorously, tears streaming down her cheeks. Finally free, Little Coco fluttered back to her shoulder, chirping as if in gratitude.
Micah watched in silence as Mia tenderly stroked Little Coco. Her eyes were still filled with anger toward him. Then, without another word, she hugged her parrot tightly and bolted.
"Follow her and make sure she finds her parents safely," Andrew ordered one of the bodyguards.
"Yes, sir!" the bodyguard answered.
Micah remained unreadable, but Andrew knew him well enough to sense his implicit approval. As they began driving away, Micah meticulously wiped his hands with a wet wipe, lost in thought about Mia's clear, beautiful eyes.
"Such a cute little girl. I wish she were my child," Andrew joked, trying to lighten the mood.
Micah shot him a piercing glare. For some reason, the realization that someone else desired what he'd unwittingly started to covet unsettled him. Andrew quickly shut his mouth. He mused, 'Wasn't Micah pleased a moment ago? What triggers his sudden displeasure?'
Meanwhile, Mia, despite her short legs, darted up the escalator and back to the amusement park where Sadie and Brenda were searching for her.
Spotting Sadie, Mia sprinted toward her, clutching Little Coco, and flung herself into her arms, nearly knocking Sadie over.
Sadie's heart, which had been pounding in her throat, finally settled. She hugged Mia tightly. "Mia, are you hurt? Did you meet any bad people? I was scared to death! Don't ever run off again, okay?" Sadie's voice was a mix of relief and reprimand.
"Got it!" Mia wrapped her small arms around Sadie's neck, pressing her cheek against her mom's, hoping her cuteness could fend off any scolding.
'Bad person?' Mia pondered silently. 'That man looks imposing, but he lets Little Coco go. Maybe he isn't so bad after all.'
From a distance, Micah's bodyguard observed as Mia embraced Sadie, calling her "Mom" and seeking solace in her arms. Due to the distance and the angle, he only noted Sadie's back and her worn denim jacket.
Had he seen her face, he might have recognized her as the audacious woman who had once burst into Micah's private room at the bar.
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