Chapter 107
Chapter Title: Unwanted Attention
Myra thought she had saved Tony from an awkward situation when she deflected Director Bridgers’ comment about his daughter. But Tony’s eyes betrayed him for just a moment. For a split second, irritation flashed across his gaze when Belle referred to Myra as his “groveling employee.” Myra didn’t notice, but Tony certainly did, and he wasn’t exactly pleased by the implication.
Director Bridgers, oblivious to the tension, beamed at Tony, his intentions laid bare. “Tony, let’s stop beating around the bush. Our families are a good match. My daughter here is a woman unlike any other, if I may say so myself,” he said, his voice full of pride. “Shall we sit and talk about this?”
Belle, her face turning beet red at her father’s words, fidgeted nervously. “What are you saying, Dad?! How can you say that straight to his face?” she exclaimed, stamping her foot in embarrassment.
With that, she scurried away toward the lounging area, leaving her father to chuckle at her reaction. Director Bridgers smiled at Tony, his eyes softening as he watched his daughter retreat. “She’s a little sensitive about these things,” he explained. “Even after living in the U.S. for years, she’s still easily embarrassed. What a kind and gentle girl she is. I wonder who will have the honor of marrying her in the future.”
He glanced at Tony with an expectant grin, clearly waiting for some kind of response.
Tony, however, wasn’t listening. His gaze had drifted away from Director Bridgers and now rested on Myra, who was not too far off in the distance. Clad in all-white sports attire, Myra looked out of place and slightly clumsy as she tried to follow the instructor’s golf lessons. She swung at the ball, but instead of hitting it, the golf club flew out of her hands, soaring several feet through the air.
Flustered, Myra scrambled across the grass, her face burning with embarrassment as she hurried to retrieve the club. She looked around, hoping no one had witnessed her failure, and sighed in relief when she thought the coast was clear. But as she looked up, she locked eyes with Tony, who was watching her intently, a teasing glint in his gaze. Her face turned scarlet, and she quickly turned away, trying to shake off the feeling of humiliation.
Her subsequent attempts didn’t fare much better. She either stuck the club deep into the ground or sent the ball flying in the wrong direction entirely. The instructor, trying to remain patient, continued to correct her form with increasing effort and thoroughness.
Throughout all of this, Myra felt as if she was being watched, her every move under scrutiny. The persistent gaze on her back made it almost impossible to concentrate, and she became more and more distracted by the thought that someone was judging her every misstep.
“Miss Stark? Are you there?” the instructor asked, waving his hand in front of her face.
“Huh?” Myra snapped back to reality, her confusion evident.
The instructor sighed, looking at her with a mix of disbelief and frustration. Just then, a deep voice broke through the tension.
“I’ll do it,” Tony said, stepping forward.
The instructor was momentarily stunned but quickly stepped aside, relief flooding his expression as Tony took the golf club from his hands. With a quick bow, the instructor walked off to assist other students.
Myra, surprised by Tony’s sudden appearance, glanced toward the area where he had been standing earlier with Director Bridgers and Belle. But now, the space was empty.
“So… Are you done talking with Director Bridgers?” Myra asked cautiously, genuinely surprised at how quickly their conversation had ended. She had expected it to take much longer.
“It wasn’t business affairs, so it didn’t take much time,” Tony replied smoothly. Myra couldn’t help but notice the faintest smile tugging at the corner of his lips, though it quickly faded back into his usual impassive expression.
She hesitated for a moment, recalling the moments of humiliation earlier. Her face reddened again as she thought of how he had seen it all. “It wasn’t business affairs, huh…” she said stiffly, her discomfort palpable.
Tony’s expression turned playful as he squinted at her. “Do you want to know what we talked about?” he teased, his voice low.
Myra, taken off guard, shook her head hastily. “No, I… I don’t want to know.”
Tony’s smile faded, but he didn’t seem bothered. Instead, he looked down at the golf club in his hands, speaking casually. “Old Bridgers wants me to date his daughter. That’s why we met today.”
His tone was flat, and Myra couldn’t tell if he was pleased or displeased with the arrangement. Based on Belle’s behavior earlier, Myra assumed that the woman would have thrown herself at Tony if they hadn’t been in such a public setting. The thought of it made Myra uneasy, and her face involuntarily scrunched up in discomfort.
Tony, noticing the shift in her mood, softened his expression. Not wanting to dwell on the awkwardness, he decided to shift the conversation. Holding up the golf club, he smiled at her again. “Since no instructor wants you as a student, looks like I’ll have to teach you myself.”
Myra, who had been trying to gather her thoughts, rubbed the back of her neck sheepishly. “I really tried… I just don’t know why I can’t get the hang of it. It’s like the ball’s going against me.”
Tony couldn’t help but smile at her clumsy excuses, finding them endearing. “You’re quite adorable when you make excuses like that.” He handed her the golf club and positioned himself behind her. “Let’s see your swing.”
Myra stood in position, adjusting her feet for balance, but Tony immediately shook his head. “No, your feet need to be farther apart,” he corrected her.
She complied, shifting her stance and looking back at him for confirmation. “Like this?”
As she turned to face him, a strand of hair fell loose from her ponytail and brushed her cheek. The soft glow of the sun seemed to highlight her natural beauty, making her look even younger than she was. Tony’s heart skipped a beat as he caught sight of her delicate features.
His gaze softened, and without thinking, he gently nudged her ankle with his foot. “More,” he said softly.
Myra adjusted her position again, now feeling more self-conscious under his watchful eyes. Just as she was about to swing, Tony’s hands moved from behind her, lightly touching hers on the club. “Don’t grip it like that,” he said, his deep voice coming from just above her head. “You won’t be able to keep your balance.”
His hands, warm and firm, guided hers as he repositioned her grip. For a brief moment, Myra felt completely enveloped in his presence. His body was close to hers, and she could feel the steady rhythm of his breath, which only made her heart race faster.
“Also,” he murmured, “your legs. Stop being so stiff. Just stand naturally.”
Myra, dazed by the proximity and the touch, instinctively lowered her head to avoid his gaze, her cheeks blazing with embarrassment.
With Tony’s guidance, Myra finally managed to swing the club properly. From a distance, an employee waved to signal that the ball had gone into the hole.
“See? It’s not that hard,” Tony said, his voice calm, but his arms still wrapped around her. Myra was aware of every inch of his presence, and she couldn’t help but feel uneasy about the intimacy of the moment. Had he done this on purpose to get closer to her, or was it all for the sake of teaching her?
Before she could gather her thoughts, Tony spoke again. “Practice the moves I just taught you. I’m heading over there for a minute.”
Myra nodded, feeling a mix of relief and confusion as he pulled away.