Chapter 0168
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The next morning, Maximus left for the Valeria airport, where the jet waiting to transport him was already prepared. Unlike other trips, this time he was alone. There were no young women accompanying him–a stark contrast to his usual habit of using long trips as an excuse to dazzle some unsuspecting girl. Once the trip was over or she no longer interested him, he would simply end things.
Seeing Mary again had left him unsettled. The previous night, he’d had time to reflect on his life. The woman who should have always been by his side was back, but now she wasn’t free. She was married, and from what he could see, deeply in love with her husband. The jealousy gnawed at him, and he didn’t know how to let it go.
The flight was short–only two hours to Madrid’s airport. Maximus had an important meeting scheduled for the afternoon, which gave him some free time to grab lunch either at the airport or wherever he chose. For once, neither Joseph nor Matthew was with him.
He was dressed casually, wearing a leather jacket, dark jeans, and a matching t–shirt. After dinner the night before, he had decided to shave off his thick beard and trim his hair. Seeing himself in the mirror, he’d felt old compared to Marcus. Mary still looked youthful, and if he wanted to catch her attention again, it wouldn’t be with his previous unkempt appearance.
As he walked toward a famous café, he was just about to enter when a distracted young woman bumped into him, spilling her drink all over his expensive jacket and the backpack that held his laptop. Maximus pushed up his sunglasses, his eyes locking onto the flustered woman, who immediately looked up and
said:
“Oh, I’m so sorry! It wasn’t on purpose! I’ll pay for your dry cleaning, I swear!” she said, visibly distressed.
“You should really be more careful!” Maximus replied sharply, though his irritation faded as he took in her striking face.
“Please, don’t worry. Here’s my card.” She handed him a simple card that read only one name: SeBaTer. “You can email me the bill, and I’ll pay for it. I’m so sorry again!!
“You know,” Maximus said, tucking the card into his pocket, “I think I’d settle for a coffee instead.”
The woman gave him an incredulous look, as if to say, ‘How does a coffee make up for ruining designer jacket?” She thought to herself, ‘Rich men really are eccentric.”
“Fine! Besides, I need to grab another one anyway I haven’t had breakfast, and my stomach’s empty,” she said with a smile, gesturing to her midsection.
“Your… stomach?” Maximus asked, raising an eyebrow at her choice of words.
“Oh! I mean my belly,” she corrected herself with a laugh. “My name is SeBaTer,” she added, extending her hand.
“What kind of name is that?” Maximus asked as he held the door open for her to enter the café.
“It’s my nickname. Like an online alias,” she explained. “My real name’s on my social media accounts. I’m a graphic artist, and I’m studying finance too. I take on small projects to earn extra money, and I like taking photos to sell to advertising companies.”
Chapter 0168
“One Americano with a shot of hazelnut,” the woman cold the barista.
“Make that two. I like my his shoulder.
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offee that way too,” Maximus said, eyeing the woman, who barely came up to
The barista blushed as she glanced at Maximus. She recognized him–she’d seen him here before, always with a different woman. It wasn’t unusual for this mysterious gentleman to have company.
“So, SeBaTer, what’s your real name?”
“Sorry, I don’t give my real name to strangers. It’s for safety reasons,” she replied firmly as she studied the café’s pastry selection.
She picked out a carrot cake to go with her coffee.
“Would you like anything else?” she asked Maximus,uming her gaze directly to him.
For some reason, Maximus found himself both drawn to her and slightly intimidated. There was something striking about her face, a quality he couldrit quite place. Her gray eyes, framed by thick, curled lashes, seemed otherworldly. Her dark brown hair and lightly tanned complexion gave her an exotic, mystical aura.
“Sir? Would you like anything else?” the barista repeated.
“Oh! Are you getting anything else?” Maximus asked SeBaTer.
“Yes, a slice of carrot cake, please. Honestly, I was in a hurry earlier, but after this accident, I can’t make it to where I was headed. So why worry? I’ll get there later.”
“Where were you going?” Maximus asked, his curiosity piqued.
“I was trying to book a cheap flight to Paris, but the deal window closed. I’ll try again later,” she said, pulling out her wallet to pay.
Maximus reached out, placing his hand over hers and shaking his head.
“Let me get this one. Next time, you can pay. You gave me your card, so I’ll hold you to it. Are you staying in Madrid for long? I’ll be here for a week on business.”
“Okay, fine,” she said, shrugging. “I’m visiting a friend of my mother’s, so I’ll be here a week too. If you want me to pay for the dry cleaning, you’ve got until then!”
The barista handed them their coffees. SeBaTer went to sit at a table while Maximus glanced at his watch. This brief encounter had taken up more time than he could spare–he still needed to check into his hotel.
“Well, SeBaTer, I have to go. Let’s stay in touch,” he said, taking his coffee and heading for the door.
The gray–eyed woman waved goodbye with a bright smile. Maximus felt something stir in him as he watched her. Shaking off the feeling, he slipped on his sunglasses and walked toward the car waiting for him outside.
Chapter 0169
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