“Good morning, Mia,” Max said cheerfully.
The young woman behind the desk was suddenly wide-eyed. With a stiff nod, she returned the CEO’s greeting. “Good morning, Sir. Is there any good news today? Your face looks very bright.”
A smile immediately answered the second secretary’s question. “There’s no good news yet. I still haven’t found a proper defense.”
Mia’s brow arch instantly turned into a frown. Seeing that expression, the CEO snorted in amusement.
“Today is my wife’s birthday and tonight, we have a small party at home. Come if you have time,” Max said, successfully clearing the woman’s confusion.
“No wonder you look happy. It turns out, it’s Miss Gabriella’s birthday,” Mia nodded, pouting her lips.
“Not Miss Gabriella, but Mrs. Evans,” the man corrected with narrowed eyes.
In just an instant, the woman raised a hand over her mouth. “Sorry, Sir. I used to call her that.”
Max suddenly widened a smile, understanding. Two seconds later, he took a quick breath and put on a doubtful look. “Mia, can I ask you something?”
The young woman automatically raised an eyebrow and listened.
“So …” Max said as he tapped the table with his finger, “I still don’t know what gift to give her.”
A small laugh almost escaped the young woman’s mouth. “Would you like to seek advice from me?” she guessed with wide eyes.
The man nodded with high arched eyebrows. “Yes. What do women usually like? I’ve searched from various sources, but need clarification.”
“What do you already know, Sir?” Mia asked like she was testing.
“Flowers, jewellery, dolls, expensive clothes? The thing is, I’ve already given all of that to her.”
A second later, the secretary’s lips pursed. “How about a romantic dinner?”
“Of course I have.”
Mia automatically tilted her head and placed her eyes upwards. “Then just give her what she needs most. Or perhaps, you can make something for your wife.”
“Making something?”
The secretary nodded. “It will be more romantic if you give her a gift that’s made by yourself, with love and sincerity.”
Listening to the idea, Max began to ponder. “Something I can make by myself? Mockup?”
Suddenly, the man’s eyes widened along with the curve of his lips. “Thank you, Mia. You are really smart.”
With quick steps, Max walked towards his room.
Instead of taking care of the work, the CEO actually started sketching. Every now and then, he didn’t move, trying to remember how Gabriella’s house before being razed to the ground. After a while, a mini house began to form.
“Why am I getting this idea now? I can make more complex one if I start earlier,” the man sighed.
Max didn’t touched the document or the desktop at all. He even didn’t seem to care if his work was abandoned. The gift for his wife was the highest priority for him.
Suddenly, the door opened. An unexpected figure came in and froze the CEO’s face. The warmth in Max’s heart suddenly faded.
“Sebastian? What are you doing here?”
The casual-looking man put his hands in the pockets. “There is a misunderstanding that we need to clear up. I gave you all day. Is your mind still not clear too?”
Max snorted and refocused on his little mockup. “As long as you haven’t explained why you asked for the elevator checkup, I’ll still be suspicious.”
A long sigh came out of Sebastian’s mouth. “Am I wrong if I pay too much attention to Quebracha? I just want the traffic in this building to be smooth.”
“Is that so? Then, is there no other time? Why should it be Sunday afternoon, when I was chasing the mastermind? You don’t want me to meet him, do you?”
“Just ask the technician on duty. Why did he come at that hour? I’m just asking for the checkup on Sunday. There’s no specific time in the request,” Sebastian explained with furrowed brows. He seemed disturbed by the CEO’s suspicion.
A second later, Max straightened his back and met the secretary’s gaze with an even expression. He could no longer be indifferent.
“If not you, then who is the mastermind? Can you come up with a more reasonable name?”
Sebastian gasped and immediately fell silent. After a blink, he gave an answer. “Julian.”
Tension instantly crept up, hardening the CEO’s jaw. He didn’t expect his cousin to throw the blame on someone else. “Why are you accusing my brother?”
“Think about it, who hates you the most in this company? Was that chair really meant for you? Or did you snatch it from someone else?”
Max spontaneously gulped. His hands began to clench tightly. Before he could reply, Sebastian had spoken again.
“Then, who is the most envious of you for always stealing the attention of women? Including Amber? Isn’t that Julian?”
“Your analysis makes no sense, Bas. Julian should have blessed my relationship with Gabriella to keep Amber by his side. Not the other way,” Max argued with round eyes.
“But, I don’t think so. Even though Amber is with him now, I don’t see the happiness on Julian’s face. He must be tormented because he has a future wife who loves his own brother. So, the best way to get revenge is simply to make you feel the same way.”
The CEO immediately snorted. “That doesn’t make sense. Stop inciting! You won’t be able to pit us against each other.”
“If you continue to suspect me, the real mastermind will never be caught. Use your brain properly, Max! You have one day left. Do you want to just throw your position away?”
“Don’t pretend you care,” the CEO grumbled before returning to assembling the mockup. “If you’re done inciting, please get out of here. I have to finish this before the meeting starts.”
An incredulous sigh escaped from Sebastian’s mouth. A second later, he shook his head with a resigned expression. “So, you care more about the woman than the truth and your position? Okay. In that case, I will also be silent when I see you being deposed.”
“Why are you silent? You promised to always support me. Have you changed your mind?” the CEO inquired without turning his head. His gaze only focused on the gift for his wife.
Watching Max’s unserious attitude, Sebastian’s jaw throbbed again. “It’s not me, but you who change. I will not defend someone who has given up hope. It’s just a waste of energy.”
A bland laugh suddenly sounded from the CEO’s mouth. “Why do you call me desperate?”
“Just look how you are these two days. You’re not moved to save the job. All you’re doing is normal CEO activities and making useless toys. Absolutely no attempt to find a solution. Isn’t it despair?”
The CEO’s eyebrows shot up high. “Do you forget? Surrender is not one of my attitudes. I’ll just relax when there’s nothing else to do.”
Sebastian’s eyes suddenly narrowed. Max just said something that contradicted the previous sentences. “What do you mean?”
“I’m not giving up, but waiting. Someone still refuses to confess.”
An annoyed chuckle came back from the secretary’s mouth. With a faint shake of the head, he put on a disappointed look. “Apparently, there was no point in me resuscitating you. What you’re talking about isn’t right.”
Just as Sebastian turned around, Max asked a question that made his steps freeze. “Why do you pretend you don’t know that Gabriella’s IQ is 142?”
The secretary’s eyes suddenly widened and began to tremble. After a moment of silence, he turned and looked around. “What do you mean?”
“Did you know that I searched your house? That’s when I found a collection of documents about Gabriella. Complete from A to Z.”
Realizing that he had not been careful about keeping secrets, the secretary grimaced. As quickly as possible, he racked his brains to come up with a plausible defense.
“Do you forget to ask me to find out about her?” Sebastian asked as soon as he found an opening.
“No. I clearly remember that you also reported to me. But, I wonder, why don’t you hand over all that information to me? Is it possible … you are also ordered by someone else?”
Noticing the CEO’s sharp eyes, Sebastian gulped. “Please don’t make it up.”
“Tell me who is the real mastermind!” the man said as he raised his chin. There was no more warmth on his face. Max knew it was time to show seriousness.
“Is it Julian? Amber?” the CEO guessed while waiting for his cousin’s expression to change. “If you say it now, I won’t make it difficult for you in the future.”
The corners of Sebastian’s lips began to twitch in displeasure. Once again Max pressed him, he couldn’t help but fret.
“You’re out of your mind, Max. I’m not the mastermind behind the plan to bring you down,” he said in a low, emphatic tone.
“Yes, it’s not. You’re just the executor. Therefore, I will give you a remission if you help me reveal his identity,” the CEO said while nodding, reassuringly. “So, who?”
Feeling his position getting cornered, the secretary immediately shook his head and put on a disappointed look. “It’s pointless to talk to you.”
Without saying goodbye, he walked towards the door.
“Is it my father?”
Hearing the CEO’s guess, Sebastian’s whole body immediately froze. His feet could not go any further.