Max’s Office
Max sighs for the umpteenth time as he reclines on the chair. He has tons of work to do, but here he is, lost in thoughts and can’t even concentrate.
Thinking about Alicia and the imagination of the pain she must be passing through, he can’t help feeling guilty for hurting her. All she ever did was make sure that he was happy, she just wanted to help him get what he wanted, and now he’s trying to mess things up. Isn’t he foolish and ungrateful?
Staring at Ariel whose attention is on the screen of the desktop, he sighs briefly and reclines on the chair. He still can’t understand what he feels for this girl. Why is he getting so attached to her? Those are the questions that keep running through his mind as he stares at her from his office.
“Will you be able to hide the truth forever, Max? What if your dad eventually finds out? Do you think that you will still have the property if he ever finds out that you tricked and deceived him?” Those are the questions that he has been asking himself ever since Ariel got pregnant.
Still lost in thoughts, the sound of his ringing phone pulls his attention, and he reaches out for his phone that’s just lying on the table. Seeing his dad’s name displayed on the screen, he hesitates before he finally answers the call.
“Hello, dad,” He says on the phone as soon as he answers the call.
“Hey, son. How’re you doing today?” His deep voice sounds through the phone.
“I’m fine. How have you been?” He asks, even if he feels bored and wants to be left alone.
“I’m not feeling too well. I think I have a high fever. I will be coming over to spend some time with you and Wendy, so I won’t feel bored here. I have asked my manager to take care of my company while I’m away,” His voice sounds sick over the phone, and Max sighs silently. Having him around in his house with Ariel with them is really going to cause problems and suspicion.
“Are you there?” His dad’s voice pulls him out of his thoughts.
“Yes, I’m here. Sure, I’ll tell Alicia about it now,” He manages not to stutter, and the call drops dead afterward.
“Shit!” He curses under his breath, dropping his phone on the desk, and runs his fingers through his hair.
The sound of the noise coming from Ariel’s office pulls his attention, and he snaps his head to see Alex sitting on her desk while hovering over her like a predator. Seeing him smile at her so passionately, he slowly clenches his fists as he feels a tingling sensation in his chest. He tries not to get angry, but not when he knows how annoying his brother can be.
After trying to control his anger for minutes to no avail, he finally stands up to his feet and strides out of his office to Ariel’s.
“Max… I was about to come to your office. How have you been? It has been a while, you know?” Alex utters with a smirk dancing at the corner of his lips, while Max glares hard at him.
“Why did you come here? I thought I told you to stop showing your face here unless we’re having a meeting,” He says to Alex, anger resounding in his voice.
“Oh, come on. I’m not a plague,” Alex rolls his eyes sarcastically.
“I’m still your brother, remember?” Alex cups his cheeks in his palms when he turns to face him.
“Ariel…” He calls and pauses.
“Sir?” She finally raises her gaze from the screen of the desktop that has got her attention all this while.
“Get Mr. Ken’s file from the manager for me,” Not that he needs the file, but he just wants to distract these two. For some reason, he doesn’t feel comfortable with them being together.
She nods her head as she stands up from her seat.
“Don’t forget the date, Ariel,” Alex winks at her before she strides out of the office, while Max clenches his fists as anger spurs through him.
“What date are you talking about?” As much as he wanted to mind his business and not meddle in his affairs, his curiosity wouldn’t just stop pushing him to do this, and he just end up asking him the foolish question.
“And what business of yours is that, huh?” Alex scoffs as he finally strides into Max’s office. Walking over to the seat across from Max’s seat, he sinks into it and crosses his legs.
“I didn’t give you permission to enter my office, did I?” He says as he walks over to his seat and makes himself comfortable.
“I would’ve asked if I needed the permission, dude. Come on, don’t spoil this good time. I mean, it has been a while since I was here, and you should be happy that I came today…”
“Even I want to be happy, but too bad that I’m always disturbed about your presence, no matter how I try not to. You’re not expecting me to pretend to like your presence, right?” He rolls his eyes while having a smirk on his lips.
“You’re always looking for a way to get me pissed, and I’m glad that I’m as crazy as you are. What does it feel like to have a super cute brother like me?” Alex whines as he cups his cheeks and smiles cutely.
“Awful,” Max rolls his eyes as he finally turns his attention to his desktop.
“As you can see, I’m busy now. Don’t think of disturbing me. I’ll ask the security to throw you out,” He threatens him, not sparing him a glance.
“Your…” Hearing the footsteps behind him, he pauses and turns to see Ariel who just walked in empty-handed.
“Sir, the manager said that he already dropped the file for you yesterday,” She says to him.
“Oh, that’s true. You may go now,” He dismisses her, and she turns around before she strides out of his office, while Alex stares at her.
“You just wanted to send her away so I wouldn’t be able to talk with her, isn’t it?” Turning his attention to him, Alex asks with a smirk dancing at the corner of his lips.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” He replies bluntly, even if he knows that Alex is saying the truth. Of course, he never had any file with his manager, he just wanted her to leave this jerk’s side.
“She’s pretty and super hot, anyway,” Alex utters bluntly, earning a deadly glare from his brother.
“Don’t harass my secretary, Alex. You should take your le…”
“You look jealous. Are you cheating on your wife with her?” Alex suddenly asks out of the blue, and he freezes in his seat as his question rings in his head…