The Master Programmer-Chapter 185: Reckless Driving 1

He arrived at La Belle’s in record time. Adjusting his tie, he stepped out, exuding the kind of power that made passersby pause and admire.

Women turned to whisper behind manicured hands, their gazes trailing the confident man in the tailored suit. Men looked and then turned to their girlfriends, trying to switch the topic in any way they could.

Jason did not care about that though. None of these women were important to him. He wanted to see only one woman.

Inside the restaurant, the air was thick with murmured conversations and the scent of overpriced wine. It seemed Mia’s new boyfriend was moneyed. At least somewhat. Good for her.

Jason spotted Mia immediately, seated with a man who looked painfully ordinary in comparison to him and her. Maybe it was just Jason being jealous though. Or maybe it was a fact. One thing that was clear to Jason though was the fact that he could see that they did not belong together.

Her brown waves framed her delicate face, and her lips curved into a polite but forced smile. She was stunning as ever, but Jason noted the tension in her shoulders. She did not want to be there.

She meant her words from last time, didnt she?

Jason felt a pang of relief come to him, and he couldn’t help but smirk. Maybe he cared more about this girl than he would like to think. Jason approached, his movements unhurried but deliberate. Mia’s eyes widened when she saw him, her composure faltering as she dropped her fork on the plate.

"J-Jason?" she stammered, her voice a mix of surprise and unease. "What are you doing here?"

Jason’s smirk returned as he slid his hands into his pockets. The panic meant that Jason still had a hold on her. As expected. He really was loved and needed.

"Finding you, of course," he said smoothly, his tone layered with playful confidence. His eyes scanned her outfit—a fitted black dress that clung to her curves in all the right ways. She looked like temptation personified. So gorgeous. She was wasted on that piece of trash.

It was also official to Jason now. He was jealous and possessive. Nobody was allowed to be with Mia other than him.

Mia’s companion, a stocky man with a smug grin, leaned back in his chair. "Who the hell is this?" he demanded, his tone dripping with irritation as he looked Jason up and down. But Jason and Mia did not even turn to him, making his facial expression become even more annoyed.

Inwardly he was cursing. Why was some handsome man stepping up while they were having a lovely date like this? Why was he looking at her like that? And why did she seem to know him?

Jason turned his gaze on the man, his smirk deepening. "I’m Jason, Mia’s man. And you are?"

*Hsss!*

It seemed the passersby and the other people from the other tables seemed to have heard something because suddenly the scene went quiet. Jason did not care though. he was used to getting attention wherever he went. Mia had her hand over her mouth. And the man... Well, his face had turned into one that belonged to a pig.

The man bristled, his face reddening. "I’m Patrick. Mia’s date. And Mia doesn’t have a man. And even if she did, her man would not be someone as ordinary as you. So if you don’t mind…"

Jason chuckled, low and rich. He ignored the man’s last remark, focusing more on what he said before. "Date? Funny. Mia didn’t mention she was seeing anyone other than me." He turned to Mia, his sharp eyes locking with hers. "Is that true, Mia?"

Mia’s cheeks flushed, and she glanced between the two men. "Jason, I…" she began, but Patrick cut her off, having already noticed the weird demeanour she had.

Before when they were alone, she was standoffish and aloof, and that paired with her looks was stunning already, but now, she looked shy and a bit expectant. She was even more stunning than before, swooning like a little girl.

But that was the thing. She was not swooning for him. She was swooning for the other man!

What the hell? Was he her man? How could he allow something like this?!

Patrick turned to Jason with a fire raging in his chest, balling his fists up as if he was willing to fight. As Jason blinked at him, he confronted the new guy.

"Listen, buddy, I don’t know who you think you are, but Mia’s with me now. So why don’t you take your ego and your delusions about whatever happened between you and Mia and leave? She deserves better than you! Stop bothering us and get a life."

Jason’s smirk vanished, replaced by a cold, steely expression. "Mia’s with you?" he echoed, his voice dangerously calm. He stepped closer to Patrick, his towering frame casting a shadow over the seated man. "Let me make one thing clear. Mia isn’t anyone’s but mine."

*Hsss!!*

The restaurant fell silent. Patrons turned to watch, their meals forgotten. Oh my God… was this one of those scenes? An ex who was coming to take back his girlfriend from the new man she was with.

It was so romantic.

Looking at these two men who were about to fight over this one woman, some of the women felt themselves envious. Why didn’t they have two men fighting for them?! There was nothing good about this woman anyway. She was wearing cheap clothes and even her face wasn’t that pretty. She was just normal.

Why couldn’t these men look at them? Especially this one with the handsome face... He was gorgeous!

Mia stood abruptly, her hands raised in an attempt to diffuse the situation. "Jason, please stop. Patrick, sit down. This isn’t…"

"Quiet," Jason commanded, his tone firm yet magnetic. His eyes never left Patrick. This idiot... how could he not tell just from those words?

Mia said Please to him, but commanded Patrick. It was so easy to see who she actually respected. But with things like these, Jason just had to drive it into the man’s mind in the best way possible.

"You’re here because her parents wanted a deal sweetened. Isn’t that right? Trading her like she’s a piece on a chessboard. Do you even like her? Or do you just want to bed her and be done with it? After all, if your dad can treat her like some object, then you can do the same thing, right? As they say, like father like son."

Patrick’s face contorted with anger. "You don’t know anything about us," he spat.

Jason raised a brow, a flicker of amusement dancing across his features. "Oh, but I do. I know she doesn’t love you. She doesn’t even like you." After saying that, he turned to Mia, his eyes boring into her. "Isn’t that right, Mia?"

Mia hesitated, her lips parting as if to protest, but the truth was undeniable. "I… I don’t feel that way about him," she admitted softly.

Patrick’s fury boiled over. He lunged at Jason, but Jason sidestepped effortlessly, grabbing Patrick’s wrist and twisting it, making him plant his face on the pasta on the table.

"Gyahh!!" Patrick yelped in pain but Jason ignored it, leaning in close, his voice a low growl.

"You’ll never lay a finger on Mia again," Jason said, his tone calm yet lethal. "You will never even look at her! Do you understand me?"

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Patrick nodded frantically, his bravado crumbling under Jason’s icy glare, his face getting more of that tomato meatball soup. Jason released him with a shove, sending Patrick stumbling back into his chair, sauce on his face, looking dishevelled and disgusting like some pig.

Everyone just watched, their mouths hanging wide. Holy shit! That was... holy shit! And then in the next moment, without another word, the handsome guy turned to the girl.

"Let’s go," he said, his voice leaving no room for argument. He turned in the next moment and then left.

Mia hesitated for a heartbeat before following him, her heels clicking against the floor as she trailed behind. Again they all watched... Holy shit!! Was someone filming a movie? Because this is just way too intense!

Once outside, Jason opened the car door for her, his movements controlled and deliberate.

"Get in," Jason said with a steely gaze, but hers never met his. Once again she did as she was told and Jason went over to the other side, entering the car and then driving off without saying anything else.

As they drove, the tension in the car was palpable. Mia sat with her hands clasped in her lap, sneaking glances at Jason. His jaw was set his grip on the steering wheel firm. He looked so angry. She didn’t want him to be angry at her.

But remembering what just happened... She couldn’t help but feel her breath hitch. Her heart was racing. Jason looked so domineering. And that pig... well he was a pig! It felt like she was the one who put that bastard’s face in the spaghetti and meatballs. That made it so much more impactful.

Tuning to him and seeing how he still was saying nothing, she sighed. Please don’t be angry...