Chapter 106
Chapter Title: Unspoken Tension
As if sensing Myra’s gaze, Tony flinched just slightly while holding the golf club. He handed it off to an employee before nodding at the middle-aged man beside him and making his way toward Myra.
But Myra’s eyes weren’t just on Tony. They lingered on the woman standing beside him, a warm towel in her hands. It didn’t take long for her to recognize the woman—Belle Bridgers, the daughter of Director Bridgers, the man Tony had been conversing with. Belle had just returned from studying abroad in the United States, and Myra could see it in the way Belle’s eyes sparkled whenever Tony glanced at her. The admiration was so evident, it almost made Myra uncomfortable to watch.
Before Myra could gather her thoughts, Tony stood before her. She hesitated for a moment, then asked quietly, “Am I… interrupting something?”
Tony’s gaze was steady, unyielding. He had seen the look in her eyes when she left his office earlier that morning—hurt, confused, and desperate. He knew she was here for a reason, and it had nothing to do with pleasantries.
“Since you’re already here, it’s pointless to say all that, Miss Stark,” he replied, his tone unreadable.
Myra’s stomach churned as she processed his words. She had hoped he would be more receptive, but there was no mistaking the formality in his voice. In the few minutes it took her to get here, she had wondered if asking for his help would be as simple as making a polite request, but it felt like she was already failing before even speaking.
“Director Hart, I need your help with something. I received a call earlier from Hart Group—” Myra began, but she didn’t even get to finish her sentence before Tony cut her off.
“Myra—” His voice was sharp, but it carried an odd tenderness that she couldn’t quite place.
She froze, startled by the way he said her name. His eyes narrowed, and the look in them made her feel exposed, though he said nothing further.
Noticing the stunned silence between them, Tony raised an eyebrow. “You know, sometimes you can be quite boring, don’t you think?”
Myra blinked. His words hit her like an unexpected blow, leaving her tongue-tied. She glanced at Belle from the corner of her eye, the woman still watching Tony with wide-eyed admiration. Myra forced a small smile, even though a sharp pang of discomfort tugged at her chest.
“I guess… I really am interrupting something,” she muttered, turning to leave. The stubbornness on her face couldn’t hide the wave of unease that washed over her.
But then Tony’s voice stopped her. “Can you play golf?”
Myra turned back, startled by the sudden question. She looked into his eyes and saw something—something dark, almost unreadable, before he reverted to his usual, easygoing demeanor.
“Can you play golf?” he asked again, more insistently this time.
Myra shook her head. The resentment she felt toward Cameron, stemming from years of childhood rivalry, had turned her off from every hobby he loved, golf included. She never saw the point of learning.
Tony shoved his hands in his pockets, his expression neutral, but there was something magnetic about the way he stood in the sunlight, his presence demanding attention. “Join me for a round of golf, then we’ll talk later,” he said casually.
“But…” Myra hesitated, glancing at Belle, whose impatience was beginning to show. “I can’t play…”
“In that case, you’ll have to learn,” Tony said with a teasing grin. He began to walk toward the course without waiting for her response. “Isn’t it only fair that I get to boost my mood before hearing what you have to say?”
Myra stood rooted to the spot, clenching her teeth in frustration. But then, as always, her impulsive nature took over. No one could accuse her of not being direct enough.
A moment later, an employee appeared, ushering her toward the changing rooms.
When Myra emerged from the locker room, dressed in a set of sporty, youthful attire, the change in her appearance was striking. Gone was the professional office attire, replaced by something more relaxed—something that made her look like a college student rather than a senior designer. Her hair, now fallen loose from the tight ponytail, framed her face, softening her features. The natural flush in her cheeks made her look more approachable, less guarded.
Tony’s gaze lingered on her for a moment, a flicker of warmth crossing his features before he turned back to Director Bridgers.
“Director Bridgers,” Tony greeted, his voice low but respectful. “I hope you don’t mind if my friend joins us for a bit of golf.”
Director Bridgers, who had been engaged in quiet conversation with Belle, glanced at Myra, trying to place her. When he did, his expression softened. “Ah, Miss Stark. I see now. I’ve heard quite a lot about you. My daughter, Belle, could certainly learn a thing or two from you.”
Belle, still standing beside her father, shot Myra a wary look before her attention returned to Tony, who was standing with a quiet grace beside her. Myra knew she wasn’t particularly welcome, but she plastered on a polite smile.
“You’re too kind, Director Bridgers,” she said with a slight bow of her head.
Noticing her discomfort, Tony patted her gently on the shoulder. “You should go talk to the instructor. I need to speak with Director Bridgers for a while, but I’ll join you soon.”
Myra nodded, relief flooding through her as she left the group behind and headed for the instructor.
As she walked away, Tony watched her, the faintest smile playing at his lips. Even though he had been careful to keep a distance, Director Bridgers—ever the keen observer—had noticed the subtle connection between them.
Still, Tony’s attention remained fixed on the conversation at hand.
Director Bridgers, despite his cordial demeanor, wasn’t blind to the situation. Beneath the smiles, there were unspoken questions. “You seem to get along with Miss Stark quite well, Tony. Are you two…?” His question trailed off, leaving the rest unsaid, but the meaning was clear.
Tony, ever the enigma, raised an eyebrow, as if genuinely surprised. “Was I that obvious?”
Director Bridgers stiffened slightly. He realized Tony was teasing him, but he couldn’t call attention to the matter without digging his own hole.
Meanwhile, Belle, who had been listening intently, felt a growing jealousy stir within her. She had heard the rumors about Tony, but seeing him in person had only amplified the attraction. As she watched him interact with Myra, she quickly spoke up, eager to redirect the conversation.
“Dad, Miss Stark is a designer for Hart Group, of course, she respects her boss,” Belle chimed in, her voice sweet but tinged with an underlying edge. “Isn’t that what you do for our family business?”
Myra, who had overheard her comment, remained silent. She knew she was caught in a web of tangled relationships. And in this moment, it felt like the game was only just beginning.