hapter 0013
It was July 17th. That morning, the sun was shining brightly, its light filtering through the curtains. Maximus had gotten up early to for a run. It was Saturday, yet he still planned to go to the office. His plans changed abruptly when his phone rang–it was his grandmother.
“Hello,” he answered, a little breathless from running.
“Maximus, my dear, I need to ask you something!”
“What do you need, Grandma?” He knew she was about to pitch him one of her crazy ideas.
“Today is Mary’s birthday! I won’t be able to be with her, and it makes me feel so guilty. Today she turns eighteen, and I couldn’t throw her a proper party.”
“Grandma! It seems like you’re not cut out for having a granddaughter. What do you want me to do? I’m going to the office today. I can’t take her with me,” he said, sounding a bit exasperated.
“My dear! Palmer Group won’t collapse if you miss a day! Come on, help out this poor old lady!” she said, using a pitiful tone.
me think about what I can do. I’m not promising anything. I’ll check my schedule, and if I can cancel something. I’ll take her out to eat.”
“Don’t be like that, dear. She doesn’t know the country. You should help this poor old lady fulfill her dreams.”
“Grandma, I know your tricks. They won’t work on me.”
“Oh, come on, my dear! You know I can’t travel far. If Peter were here, I’d ask him to do it, but he’s not, and you’re the closest thing to family she knows.”
“I’m not promising anything, okay? Besides, you could have told Peter to handle these things.”
“Thank you, my dear! I knew I could count on you,” his grandmother replied, knowing that despite his tough demeanor, he would keep his word.
Maximus stopped running and called Matthew. Deep down, he was grateful his grandmother had told him
playboy, it was Mary’s birthday. The thought of Peter getting close to this girl bothered him. Peter was fun but very liberal. He wouldn’t respect her youth and could do things she wouldn’t want.
“Matthew, I won’t be going to the office. I need to take care of some things my grandmother asked me to do. Please cancel my meetings.”
“Okay, sir. You only had meetings with me, so it’s not a big deal.”
“Understood, Matthew. Thank you.”
“Do you need me to take you anywhere?”
“No, Matthew, take the day off. I’m going out with Mary Today is her birthday, and my grandmother asked me to celebrate it with her. Do you know where I could take her?”
“Well, let me find out, and I’ll call you back. What does Miss Mary like?”
“I don’t know! That’s the problem. I don’t know her preferences very well yet. But one thing’s for sure–she
+25 BONUS
Chapter 0013
likes flowers. My study always has flowers.”
“Would you like me to buy a bouquet?”
“I think that would be a good idea. Please help me with that?”
“No problem,” Matthew said, preparing to get a nice bouquet.
These actions left Matthew a bit confused. In all the time he had worked for Maximus’s father and then for Maximus, he had rarely seen such gestures. He only knew of one person to whom Maximus had dedicated all his time and attention–Alexia Levett. She was a young, educated girl from a prominent family. Her parents were involved in exports and had showered her with luxury. Her beauty was unusual but captivating. Her eyes were a deep blue, like the ocean. Maximus was enamored with that depth. She was the only woman who could make this handsome man drool.
Now that he thought about it, Mary was completely different from Alexia. And yet, in a short time, she was bringing back the side of Maximus that used to be thoughtful and attentive to his partner.
Maximus fell asleep, lost in those good memories that seemed like they were from a distant past but were only five years ago.
